Thailand Live Friday 1 Jun 2012

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Thailand Live Friday 1 June 2012

News, Bits and Tweets

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Keep up to date with live updates from the news, hour by hour.

For breaking news, national, regional and international news updates on a daily basis only, this thread is closed to commentary so that those who wish to follow the news can find it here...

Commentary is still open for Thailand news in the relevant thread posted in News Clippings.

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Thai parliament chaos over reconciliation debate

Full story:

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SKYTRAIN

BMA to close Saphan Taksin station to ease bottleneck

Thanatpong Kongsai

The Nation

Plans to spend Bt670m on walkway to Surasak Station Kanittha Thepchorn,

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is planning to close down the Saphan Taksin Skytrain station in order to ease the bottleneck over its stretch across the Chao Phraya River.

Full story:

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ANTI-GOVERNMENT RALLY

PAD continues rally against reconciliation bills

TOSSAPORN WONGWAIKOLAYOOT,

PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK

THE NATION

Photo : Watcharachai Klaipong

BANGKOK: -- Some 1,000 supporters of the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) continued their rally against the government-backed reconciliation bills for the second day yesterday as speculation grew about how things would pan out in the next few days and if the Army would keep away from the issue.

Full story:

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EDUCATION

Suchart to sue Bodindecha protesters

The Nation

Suchart

BANGKOK: -- Education Minister Suchart Thadathamrongvej is considering filing a libel suit against students and parents protesting against Bodindecha School.

Full story:

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Suu Kyi talks to Chalerm on workers' issues

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prodemocracy icon turned Myanmar parliamentarian Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday met with Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung at Government House to discuss problems faced by Myanmar workers, including abuse at the hands of Thai employers, along with other issues.

Full story:

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WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

Experts make strong case for Asean integration

ACHARA DEBOONME

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Despite the painful lessons from Europe, Asean nations are moving towards integration as a way to boost regional resilience against external shocks.

Full story:

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Suu Kyi takes centre stage on Thailand trip

BANGKOK, June 1, 2012 (AFP) - Myanmar democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi will make her first major international engagement after more than two decades of isolation when she addresses world business leaders on Friday in Bangkok.

Full story:

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Phuket beach toll rises as kitesurfing American dies

Phuket Gazette

The strong, sustained winds off Nai Harn make it one of the most popular spots in Thailand for kitesurfing enthusiasts, and the American who died was reportedly a regular on the beach.

Full story:

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Public Health Ministry plans strict measures against smoking

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Ministry reported yesterday that as many as 6 million people across the world die from smokingrelated diseases every year, and that 600,000 of these deaths are caused by secondhand smoke.

Full story:

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Hand, foot and mouth disease discovered at Yala kindergartens

The Nation

YALA: -- Two kindergartens in Yala were closed after some students were found to be infected with hand, foot and mouth disease, Dr Peerapong Paowanasutipaisit, director of Yala Hospital said yesterday.

The doctor said that since May 23, the hospital had treated 28 students from kindergartens in the municipality and found them infected with the disease.

"It is likely that the number will rise. So we suggested to the two kindergartens to suspend classes to prevent the disease from spreading," the director said.

He did not reveal the names of the kindergartens. Of the 28, 25 children were from the first school, while the remainder were from the second one.

Closing the schools will also allow relevant officials to inspect the facilities and find ways to stop the disease from spreading.

The director also recommended to parents that they monitor their children and immediately take them to a doctor if they see any symptoms of the disease.

-- The Nation 2012-06-01

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Police nab one over Yala blast

The Nation

YALA: -- Suspected insurgents detonated a 5kilogram roadside bomb in an attack aimed at a soldier patrol yesterday morning at Yala's Bacho district, while Narathiwat's 32 Special Task Force apprehended one suspect in relation to the blast.

The bomb, hidden on BachoBan Thon Road, was detonated by a cellphone at 7am, as a ninestrong team of soldiers was patrolling the route to protect teachers. The blast injured team leader Petty Officer First Class Rojana Kulampa and Private Wisan Kaewsithong.

At 10.30am, the Narathiwat task force surrounded targeted areas of Ban Bacho and Ban Duku of Tambon Bacho and nabbed a suspect for questioning. They also notified the village headman and kamnan about the reason for the arrest. Investigation of security camera footage showed two helmeted men on a motorbike planting the bomb.

-- The Nation 2012-06-01

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Former TRT execs join Pheu Thai Party

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Several executives of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party applied to become members of the ruling Pheu Thai Party yesterday, the day after their five-year political ban was lifted.

The former TRT executives started arriving at party headquarters at 9.30am. The first group to arrive included Warathep Ratanakorn, Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, Wichet Kasemthongsri, Virakarn Musiga-pong, Suporn Atthawong, Ladawal Wonsriwong, Sermsak Pongpanit and Wichit Plungsrikul.

Virakarn, formerly known as Vira, who also previously chaired the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship (DAAD), said he was willing to do anything to help the party.

He said that at this stage, he could not say whether or not he would be given a Cabinet seat, adding that he confident his experience in coordinating with the red shirts would help boost this government's stability.

Warathep said the former politicians would apply for the Pheu Thai membership at their own convenience, adding that it was up to the party to decide what responsibilities each of them would have.

He added that he thinks the former TRT executives would possibly focus on the party's work instead of becoming part of the Cabinet.

Wan Muhamad Noor, meanwhile, said that he had not be given the job of overseeing the party's affairs in the deep South as reported, adding that he was willing to do what he can to help the party.

-- The Nation 2012-06-01

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Somsak target of impeachment drive

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The Democrat Party yesterday lodged an impeachment motion against House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont for alleged bias in connection with the deliberation of the reconciliation bill on Wednesday.

Full story:

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Yingluck Bets on Army Calm as Thai Strains Rise: Southeast Asia

By Daniel Ten Kate

BANGKOK: -- As Thailand nears a showdown over the fate of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the exiled tycoon’s sister is banking on the army’s neutrality to avoid a repeat of 2008 protests that led to the ouster of a government.

Full story:

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PAD supporters gather at Parliament, multicolour group blocks Kan Ruen intersection; police advise avoiding area due to traffic /MCOT

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PAD spokesman Panthep restates plan to oppose reconciliation bills, can t confirm whether or not Yellow Shirts will storm Parliament; Depends on situation /MCOT

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Anti-reconciliation bills group led by PAD blocks Parliament to oppose deliberations; Pheu Thai MPs sneak out, may seek optional venue to convene meeting /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,136.19, down 5.31 points /MCOT

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Phuket kickboxer Aldhouse extradition hearing postponed

Phuket Gazette

Judges at the British High Court have agreed to defer the extradition hearing for Lee Aldhouse so that his lawyers will have more time to prepare their appeal. Photo: Anthony M/Wikipedia

British kickboxer Lee Aldhouse continues to fight extradition to Thailand to face charges for the killing of Deshawn Longfellow.

PHUKET: -- The UK High Court has agreed to postpone the extradition hearing of murder fugitive Lee Aldhouse so that his lawyers will have more time to prepare their case, the Phuket Gazette has learned.

Full story:

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House meeting adjourned after protesters surround Parliament

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The House meeting scheduled for deliberation of national reconciliation bills was adjourned from 9:30 am after protesters surrounded Parliament.

Full story:

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Transport poised to further upgrade Thai railway system

BANGKOK, 1 June 2012 (NNT) – The Transport Ministry is determined to further improve the country’s railway system through several projects already in execution.

Full story:

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Protesters block road preventing MPs access to Parliament

BANGKOK, June 1 - Anti-government groups on Friday rallying outside Parliament to oppose the passage of reconciliation bills to be considered today have blocked a key route preventing lawmakers from entering parliament to start deliberations.

Full story:

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HM King Bhumibol receives Lao Prime Minister in audience

BANGKOK, 1 June 2012 (NNT) – His Majesty the King yesterday granted an audience to Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Thongsing Thammavong, who is paying an official visit to Thailand at the invitation of the Thai government.

Mr. Thongsing Thammavong arrived in Thailand yesterday to participate in the 21st World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia, which Thailand is hosting from May 31 – June 1. Accompanied by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Mr. Thongsing was received in audience with HM the King at the Princess Galyani Vadhana Conference Room on the 14th floor of Siriraj Hospital.

Thailand and Laos have a long history of cordial relationship, as witnessed in many cooperation projects, particularly the royally initiated Huay Sone Huay Sua (KM 22) in Vientiane, Laos, which has served as a full-cycle learning center for agricultural development in that country.

In terms of education, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has provided educational sponsorships for Lao students at the Ethnic Cultural School of Orphans (KM 67) to take further studies in the fields of medicine and information technology at the Burapha University in Thailand. HRH also provided assistance for the improvement of public infrastructure and educational buildings as well as the promotion of nutrition and health of school children in Laos.

In terms of public health, the two countries have arranged a series of training courses and study trips for Lao students to visit leading hospitals in Thailand. They constantly organize conferences to promote the skill and knowledge of medical and public health personnel in Laos, particularly those residing in remote rural areas.

-- NNT 2012-06-01

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Thailand postponed deadline for nationality verification of alien workers until 14 Dec 2012

BANGKOK, 1 June 2012 (NNT) – The special committee in charge of illegal alien workers has agreed to extend the deadline of the nationality verification process to the end of the year.

Labor Minister Phadermchai Sasomsub said on Thursday that the Illegal Alien Workers Management Committee has resolved to allow the nationality verification of immigrant workers from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia for another 6 months.

Originally, the deadline of the process was set on June 14th. Now, the period is extended to December 14th, 2012.

Mr. Phadermchai said that, currently, around 900,000 immigrants are undergoing the verification process.

He said that deadline postponement will be proposed to the Cabinet for approval within 2 weeks.

The Labor Minister added that the committee meeting has resolved to appoint Labor Permanent Secretary Somkiat Chayasriwong as the chair of the sub-committee, tasked with the study on social security benefits for alien workers.

Mr. Somkiat said that the study is expected to take 2 months to complete.

-- NNT 2012-06-01

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Special Report: World Milk Day

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has chosen 1 June to be the World Milk Day, urging countries and organizations to take this occasion to campaign on the importance of milk among people. At present, over 35 countries around the world, including China, India, Vietnam, Australia, and Denmark, have been regular participants of the World Milk Day celebration.

Public campaigns, encouraging people to drink milk for better health and protection against osteoporosis, are held on the occasion. The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry has cooperated with the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), organizing activities at Siam Square.

Exhibitions on milk, ice-cream making demonstration, and milk tasting are parts of the event. Milk, yogurt, and cheese are offered for free to encourage dairy product consumption. The campaign is set to promote the benefits of milk, which is a natural healhful drink full of nutrients that the body needs. People at all ages are advised to drink milk for their own health.

In Thailand, the milk consumption is still considered low. According to statistics, an average Thai person drinks only 10 liters of UHT milk per year. This is one of the reasons why many Thais are facing the calcium deficiency problem and suffering from osteoporosis as they get older.

Milk and milk-derived products are basic, easy-to-find food loaded with nutrients; they are among the richest sources of calcium, which is essential for bone repair and strengthening. People are recommended to drink milk regularly since early age in order to build up bone mass before it starts to wear down at middle age.

Besides calcium, milk also contains potassium and magnesium, which help regulate the blood pressure, as well as carbohydrate and proteins essential for normal body functioning. Many people are mistaken that milk is fattening, but, in fact, fresh milk contains only 3.9% fat while low-fat and skim milks have only 1.7% and 0.3% respectively.

-- NNT 2012-06-01

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SET index midday down 12.39 pts, 1.09 pct

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thai composite stocks index (SET) index at midday Friday stood at 1,129.11, down 12.39 points, or 1.09 per cent in line with regional shares on concerns that EU debt crisis could affect global economic growth.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 781.99, down 9.55 points, or 1.21 per cent.

Top five active (value) stocks: AAV, PTTGC, ADVANC, BBL, PTT.

-- The Nation 2012-06-01

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CONTROVERSIAL BILL

Protesters seal off access to Parliament

The Nation, Thai News Agency

Photo : Prasert Thepsri

BANGKOK: -- Lawmakers were denied access to the Parliament on Friday by anti-government protesters rallying outside Parliament to oppose the reconciliation bills expected to be considered today.

Full story:

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House meeting to convene at 1:30 pm despite blockade

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- House Speaker Somsak Kiartsuranon scheduled a House meeting at 1:30 pm although protesters were still laying siege to Parliament.

Full story: