Thailand Live Friday 8 Jun 2012

[webfact]

Thailand Live Friday 8 June 2012

News, Bits and Tweets

with webfact

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.

FOLLOW US:

You can also follow us on

- Twitter: http://twitter.com/georgebkk

- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ThaiVisaNews

- Google+: http://plus.google.com/116866638430460700577/

- Breaking News via SMS text messages to your mobile phone or handheld device

To subscribe dial *424010011 on AIS, One-2-Call, DTAC or True Move networks

14 days complementary subscription for Thaivisa members.

If you have questions about the Breaking News SMS service,

email: sms [at] thaivisa.com

________________________________________________________________________________

Thailand's current weather and forecasts: http://weather.thaivisa.com/

________________________________________________________________________________

Related topic: Thailand Live Thursday 7 Jun 2012

[webfact]

THAIVISA CONNECT

Thaivisa Forum Apps for your mobile or tablet

"Thaivisa Connect" for iPhone, iPad and iPod:

iTunes App Store:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/thaivisa-connect-thailand/id492600537

"Thaivisa Connect" for Android:

Android Market

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.quoord.tapatalkthaivisa.activity

OR

For QR code just go here with your desktop or mobile:

http://apps.thaivisa.com

[webfact]

CONTROVERSIAL BILL

Charter amendment is legal: Attorney General

The Nation

Changes not aimed at overthrow of political system; fiery debate looms

BANGKOK: - The Attorney General's Office said yesterday that government-sponsored bills to amend the Constitution were not aimed at overthrowing the political system, as has been alleged in petitions filed separately by five groups of people.

Full story:

[webfact]

SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION?

School turns away third-sex trainees

The Nation

Natee

BANGKOK: -- The Network of Sexual Identity is planning to take action against Suankularb Wittayalai School for not allowing university students of the third sex to do their teaching apprenticeships there.

Full story:

[webfact]

POLITICS

Yingluck likely to skip controversial session today

The Nation

Yingluck

BANGKOK: -- The spotlight will be on a special House-Senate meeting in the Parliament today when MPs will discuss the Constitution Court's injunction last Friday in regard to charter-change legislation.

Full story:

[webfact]

PROFILE

Top judge has led a life full of achievements

The Nation

Wasant: Very tolerant of criticism

BANGKOK: -- Many comments by Constitution Court president Wasant Soypisut have been quoted by the media - and become the talk of the town when he was criticised - after the top judge ordered Parliament to suspend the final reading of the government's charter amendment bill.

Full story:

[webfact]

His Majesty to inaugurate monument to his brother

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The King Rama VIII monument at the foot of Rama VIII Bridge on Thon Buri side will be inaugurated tomorrow in a ceremony to be presided over by Their Majesties the King and Queen.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said yesterday the project was close to completion, as was the landscaping of the 35-rai Rama VIII Park nearby, which is home to up to 15,000 floral and decorative trees.

A hall underneath the monument, which features a statue of His Majesty's older brother - the tallest of him ever built - will house a permanent exhibition about the late king's life and will feature rare photographs.

Their Majesties, accompanied by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, will be presiding over the inauguration ceremony at 5.15pm tomorrow. The ceremony will be broadcast live on all state television channels.

-- The Nation 2012-06-08

[webfact]

SOUTH CRISIS

Pattani school burned to ashes

The Nation

PATTANI: -- THE BAN BEU Nae Pi Nae Community School in Pattani's Yarang district is burned to ashes in a suspected insurgent attack on Wednesday night.

The fire started at about 8pm, the time when volunteers and janitors had gone out to pray. Police quoted witnesses as saying that four men had arrived in a pick-up truck, broke into the premises and later piled up books and set them alight. No injuries have been reported so far.

Security officials believe the incident was in retaliation to the arrest of several insurgency suspects over the past few days. retaliatory act by insurgents against the arrest of many suspects in security cases during the past few days.

-- The Nation 2012-06-08

[webfact]

OVERDRIVE

No to America's use of U-Tapao

Thanong Khanthong

US chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey (L) shaking hands with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra during their meeting at Government House in Bangkok on 05 June 2012.

BANGKOK: --Thailand's strategic location in Southeast Asia makes it vital for the United States to secure a hold on the air base and naval base at U-Tapao on the Gulf of Thailand.

Full story:

[webfact]

Metered taxi co-op moves to boost fleet at Phuket Airport

Phuket Gazette

The Phuket Taxi Meter Service Co Ltd is asking to add 30 more cars to the 80 they already have stationed at the airport. Photo: Gazette file

Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada used the meeting to outline some of the basic standards necessary to help clean up the image of Phuket’s taxi drivers. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

PHUKET: -- The Phuket Taxi Meter (PTM) Service Co Ltd yesterday filed an official request to add 30 cars to their fleet of 80 metered taxis at Phuket International Airport.

Full story:

[webfact]

Mother, child, die in flood, storm havoc in South

TRANG, June 8 -- Strong winds and three-metre waves caused seawater to surge into more than 80 fishing village households in Kantang district of southern Trang province on Thursday.

Full story:

[webfact]

State of disaster declared in parts of Chumphon

The Nation

CHUMPHON: -- A state of disaster emergency has been announced in four Chumphon districts - the first in this wet season - following flash flooding, which had inundated 40 per cent of areas overnight.

Full story:

[webfact]

PM hands out first free tablets

Jeerapong Prasertpolkrang

Saowanee Nimpanpayungwong

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- After waiting for months that the government announced its policy of distributing tablets to Prathom 1 (Grade 1) students across the country, the One Tablet Per Child (OTPC) project was yesterday kicked off officially.

Full story:

[webfact]

Protest chief accuses schools of graft

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- An anti-corruption group, which recently staged a hunger strike to protest against the expulsion of poor students from Bodindecha School, yesterday lodged a petition with a special House panel accusing this and 14 other schools of being corrupt in many procurement deals.

The chief of the anti-corruption network, Mongkholkit Suksitthanatharanont, said the petition was based on complaints from several businesses that had lost in the bidding process for school supplies. Democrat MP Watchara Phetthong, who is spokesperson of the House panel vetting the 2013 national budget, received the petition.

Mongkholkit also repeated his attack on Education Minister Suchart Tadathamrongvej for his policy on tea money, which resulted in the Bodindecha School students being expelled and the following hunger strike.

-- The Nation 2012-06-08

[webfact]

L'OREAL BRANDSTORM 2012

Chula team to represent Thailand in Paris

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A team of students from Chulalongkorn University have won the national finals of "L'Oreal Brandstorm 2012" and will represent Thailand at an international contest on marketing strategies in Paris next week.

Full story:

[webfact]

RESHUFFLE

Khamronwit set to take job as city police chief

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Pol Maj General Khamronwit Thoopkrajang will be officially named today (June 8) as the new chief of Bangkok's Metropolitan Police Bureau, in place of Pol Lt General Winai Thongsong, who has been sent to an inactive post.

Full story:

[webfact]

Red shirts petition for charter court judges' impeachment as Jatuporn calls for mass action

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Red-shirt co-leader Jatuporn Promphan called yesterday for one million red shirts to take to the streets to send a signal to the Constitution Court that people will not accept another judicial coup, during remarks made to supporters in front of the Parliament.

Full story:

[webfact]

Experts question court decision over charter amendment bill

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Legal experts yesterday questioned the Constitution Court's decision to review petitions filed against the proponents of a new constitution.

Full story:

[webfact]

MPs file complaint against Abhisit, Suthep

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Two Pheu Thai MPs yesterday filed a complaint against Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban for obstructing legislative action in relation to unruly behaviour inside the House last week.

Warachai Hama and Prasit Chaisrisa called on the Department of Special Investigation to look into the case as per Article 116 of the Criminal Code, under which interrupting a House session is considered an offence.

The MPs said the unruly incidents were meant to force the House to postpone deliberation on the reconciliation bill.

In the first incident, a number of Democrats forced House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont off his speaker's dais, and in the second incident, opposition lawmakers started hurling books and papers at the speaker after he called for a vote on making the bill top priority.

DSI director-general Tarit Pengdith said he would check the relevant laws to see if the case would come under his agency's jurisdiction. The DSI board is scheduled to convene on June 27, and will approve the investigation if the case is seen to warrant one, Tarit said.

-- The Nation 2012-06-08

[webfact]

Skytrain deal could be made void: DSI chief

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Bt190-billion contract awarded to the operator of the Skytrain may become void if evidence shows the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) had no right to seal the deal, Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Tharit Pengdit said yesterday.

Full story:

[webfact]

Action sought against apartment building owners

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A group of youth advocates yesterday called for action against owners of apartment buildings that changed the names of their premises in order to enjoy easier regulations allowing the sale of alcohol nearby.

The group showed up at the Office of Welfare Promotion, Protection and Empowerment of Vulnerable Groups and submitted a petition calling for strict inspection of buildings, which the owners are seeking to change the name of, especially if they are located near schools or universities. The office regulates the service of apartment buildings across the country.

Suthep Sodchuen, chief of the Friends of Youth for Development, said owners of dormitories or buildings where students lived had a tendency to change the names of the premises so pubs and nightclubs can operate in the vicinity legally. Many buildings have pubs or pool halls operating on the ground floor, which allow youngsters in.

Pinchai Pinkaew, the office director, said there were around 60,000 apartment buildings in service but only 18,000 of them had registered so far. There are 284 apartment buildings near 11 educational institutions, but only 148 had registered.

-- The Nation 2012-06-08

[webfact]

Virabongsa endorsed as chairman of BoT

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Former Deputy Prime Minister Virabongsa Ramangkura has received the royal endorsement as the new chairman of Bank of Thailand.

With the appointment taking effect on June 1, Virabongsa will be in office for a year and 3 months before he reaches the retirement age at 70 under the Bank of Thailand Act.

-- The Nation 2012-06-08

[webfact]

ANALYSIS

Parliament to spin political roulette wheel

Avudh Panananda

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand is treading a dangerous path because the anti- and pro-government camps are bent on manipulating the rule book without heeding the referees.

Full story:

[webfact]

BKK Call 'Center Scam' Gang Drove British Soldier To Commit Suicide

Bangkok police arrested a 'call center' scam gang operating from a rented house on Sukhumvit road. The gangs modus operandi: entice the victims to reveal their personal information and transfer their money to the scammers' bank account. One of the victims an ex-British soldier lost his saving and killed himself.

Full story:

[webfact]

Today's legislative vote on charter change

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The ruling Pheu Thai Party will comply with the today's outcome of a consultation among MPs and senators on whether to vote on charter change, party MP Phiraphan Phalusuk said on Friday.

"If following the consultation, lawmakers decide to cast votes for the third reading of the charter change bill, then there will be a voting," he said.

Phiraphan said the decision will hinge on how MPs and senators draw their legislative conclusion.

The court order to delay voting will not be a crucial factor because it is not in accordance with the prescribed procedure, he said.

The Office of the Attorney General issued a prosecution ruling that there was no cause to suspect the unconstitutionality of the charter change.

The legaladvisory p anel of Parliament viewed the court order as not binding to the legislature because it was not a verdict.

Opposition whip Pirapan Salirathavibhaga said those pushing for vote in defiance of the court order would have to be hold accountable for their action.

"As sanctioned by the Constitution, any judicial decisions of the Constitution Court are binding to Parliament," he said.

-- The Nation 2012-06-08

[webfact]

RT @terryfrd: Thai PBS reports that govt & opposition whips have agreed that 3rd reading of const amendment bill NOT be considered today.

RT @terryfrd: Thai PBS reports that today's session of parliament could still be chaotic as some PT MPs are prepared to castigate judges during debate

[webfact]

Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,115.65, down 2.88 points /MCOT

[webfact]

Flash flood hits Phrae, cuts off roads, railway link, school forced to close /MCOT

[webfact]

Red Shirts waiting to open way for MPs

BANGKOK, June 8 - The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), the red shirt movement, camped out near Parliament Thursday night, waiting to open the way for members of the upper and lower houses, both senators and MPs, to enter the building for today’s joint session.

Full story:

[webfact]

Flash flood cuts railway, roads in North

PHRAE, June 8 - Flash floods have hit several areas in Phrae, cutting a rail line, while train service to the north have been suspended in Uttaradit.

A number of local roads in Phrae's Den Chai district were cut off and soil on mountainsides slid down, blocking roads. Flooding is as deep as two metres in some spots. Ban Huay Rai school was forced to close.

A section of the rail track in Denchai district was swept away by floodwaters after become loosened, prompting a Bangkok-Chiang Mai special express train to stop at Sila-ard station in Uttaradit. Passengers were transported to their destination by buses. Continued heavy rains interfered with railway repairs.

In Phichit, a week-long heavy downpour caused the Yom River to become swollen, and it overflowed its banks in Sam Ngam district, flooding homes. Local residents moved their belongings and pets to higher ground as their homes are under one metre of water. Floodwaters continue to rise due to continuing rainfall. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-06-08