Thailand Live Monday 11 Jun 2012

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Thailand Live Monday 11 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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ANALYSIS

Viewers held 'hostage' in Euro telecast debate

Usanee Mongkolporn

The Nation

Croatian supporters, one of them wearing a shirt of Celtic Glasgow shirt, arrive at the railway station in Poznan, Poland, 10 June 2012. Croatia will face Ireland in a Group C soccer match of the UEFA EURO 2012 soccer championship in Poznan, on June 10th.

NBTC right to look into rules governing access to free-TV programming

BANGKOK: -- The row between TrueVisions and GMM Z arose from a lack of industry rules and fiercer competition in the pay TV segment. Sadly, this would have gone undetected if some consumers had not been held "hostage".

Full story:

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Watchdog drawing up list of programmes that can be broadcast

Usanee Mongkolporn

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The national broadcasting and telecom regulator has drawn up rules on the telecasting of copyrighted programmes on free TV channels to guarantee those viewing them - whether via a TV antenna, the pay-TV set-top boxes, or any other platforms - will have equal access to some of these copyrighted programmes.

The move is in response to requests to the watchdog by pay TV operators - as well as the holders of the broadcasting rights of highly popular programmes - to set clear rules regarding the broadcasting of copyrighted programmes on free TV channels.

Natee Sukonrat, broadcasting committee chairman of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), said the committee was drawing up the 'must carry' rules to oblige all cable TV, satellite dish TV, and pay TV operators, and the future terrestrial digital TV operators, to air all free TV channels.

Moreover, it is compiling a list of the copyrighted programmes that subscribers of these TV operators will have equal rights to enjoy when they are telecast on free TV channels - and they will have no right to block them. These could include the Olympic Games or Asean Games and other content - but the list will not include some programmes such as the English Premier League. The NBTC has already introduced rules requiring importers and local makers of all kinds of TV set-top boxes to apply for its import and manufacturing permits and to explain how they'll be used.

All the rules are to prepare the industry to switch from the analog TV system to terrestrial digital TV. The watchdog is set to auction the licences to offer commercial digital TV services early next year, he added.

Last week, major pay TV operator TrueVisions said the government or the NBTC must establish a clear rule that free TV operators must not limit rights of viewers to watch any of their programmes, regardless of the devices or platforms the programmes are received on. TrueVisions subscribers, who do not have set-top boxes of the content provider GMM Z or a conventional TV antenna, have yet to be able to view the Euro 2012 soccer matches, which started on Friday on Channel 3, 5, and 9, by using their existing TrueVisions set-top-boxes. Normally they can view all free TV channels via the boxes. TrueVis-ions and GMM Z of GMM Grammy are expected to conclude this week if GMM Z will allow TrueVisions' subscribers to view the programmes via their own boxes.

TrueVisions asked the NBTC last week to look into why its subscribers could not view the matches via their boxes. The watchdog then made an order for TrueVisions to enable its subscribers to view all free TV programmes carried in its pay channel as usual, and according to its contracts with subscribers. This prompted TrueVisions to talk with GMM Grammy to seek ways to settle the problem.

The NBTC broadcasting committee will also decide today if TrueVisions is failing to comply with the order to enable its subscribers to view all free TV programmes on its network. An NBTC source said TrueVisions might not face a penalty given it has tried its best to meet the NBTC order.

-- The Nation 2012-06-11

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'Politics is the ruin of our school system'

Chularat Saengpassa

Wannapa Khaopa

The Nation

Academic cites lack of both good ministers and officials

BANGKOK: -- A prominent educator has accused the government of not being interested in educational reform and says no efforts can be seen in moves toward a better system. He insists such reform is necessary, including an improvement in classrooms, if the country's education quality is to be upgraded.

Full story:

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Police hunt for chemical attacker

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Acting on widely circulated postings in the social media about a serial chemical attacker in Bangkok, police are now dispatching teams of detectives to roam Bangkok streets to sift for clues, while security camera footage is being scrutinised.

Full story:

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400 homes in Phrae affected by flooding; rail line cut

The Nation

PHRAE: -- Apart from ongoing heavy flooding in the South, Phrae province in the North yesterday faced a flash flood, with more than 400 households based in Long district affected.

Full story:

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Democrats to walk if bill goes to vote

The Nation

Democrat supporters attend a big rally organised by the party at Wong Wian Yai Sunday to oppose the reconciliation bill, which they say aims to help the ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

BANGKOK: -- The opposition Democrat Party yesterday threatened to walk out of Parliament if the Pheu Thai-led coalition goes ahead with a third reading of the charter amendment bill tomorrow.

Full story:

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EDITORIAL

On a road to nowhere with self-serving MPs

The Nation

Politicians disappointing us at a time of great economic uncertainty

BANGKOK: -- Over the past few weeks, the performance of Thai MPs, in both government and opposition parties, has been disappointing - even at a time when voters may want them most.

Full story:

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REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Behind the new surge in the Thai-US alliance

Kavi Chongkittavorn

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Yingluck government - or to be more accurate, the government of her brother, Thaksin Shinawatra - is doing everything it can to get US President Barack Obama to stop over in Bangkok, however briefly, before or after he attends the East Asia Summit in Phnom Penh in mid-November.

Full story:

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Few qualms over corruption

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A significant number of people in their twenties believe a corrupt government is acceptable provided they stand to gain personally from such a government, according an Abac poll released yesterday.

Full story:

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Cabinet asked to bring back asst perm secretary position

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet will be asked tomorrow to restore the bureaucratic position of assistant permanent secretary, which was abolished as part of 2001 reforms.

A well-informed source from Government House said the Office of the Civil Service Commission will raise the proposal of reviving the appointment of assistant permanent secretaries during the weekly Cabinet meeting.

The positions will have C-9 ranking, which is the same level as deputy director-generals of departments.

The source said the Office of the Civil Service Commission invoked the CSC Administration Act of B.E. 2551 to make the proposal. It assigned the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission to amend the second paragraph of Article 21 of the Bureaucratic Administrative Act to include the position of assistant permanent secretary.

During the 2001 bureaucratic reforms, the positions of assistant permanent secretaries were dissolved to streamline the chain of command in each ministry.

In the new proposal, the Office of the Civil Service Commission proposed that each ministry should have no more than four assistant permanent secretaries. But if a ministry requires more than four, extra assistants must be transferred within two years.

CSC Secretary-General Nonthi-korn Kanchanajittra said the CSC Office considered that the assistant permanent secretaries were still needed to help in the administrative work of permanent secretaries.

But the new assistant permanent secretaries would not be inserted into the existing chain of command. They would report directly to permanent secretaries to assist their work, Nonthikorn said.

After the Cabinet approves the proposal, each ministry will be able to create the positions immediately, he added.

-- The Nation 2012-06-11

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Students continue with flood help

The Nation

LOPBURI: -- The New International School of Thailand (NIST) continues its flood relief efforts by providing support for Wat Bang Phueng school in Lopburi, and the Lamlukka public library in Pathumthani, both of which were submerged for several weeks from May 25 last year under a metreandahalf of water.

Wat Bang Phueng School in Lopburi was identified as needing to rebuild staff housing and refurbishing of furniture.

In addition, the Lamlukka public library was also identified as needing support for its library and for community vocational programmes.

Twentyfive students, staff, and teachers from NIST as well as a handful of students from Bangkok Patana School visited Wat Bang Phueng School on April 29 to deliver supplies paid for by donations. NIST students are continuing to work with two families of children with special needs whose homes were submerged for weeks.

On May 20, 18 students, staff, and parents from NIST visited Lamlukka public library to deliver the donated goods and help with the repainting.

Irene Laochaisri, a year 12 student, said: "I had a great time talking with many people while trying to avoid trails of ants as I painted the walls of a bathroom and splattered paint on my hair."

-- The Nation 2012-06-11

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Australian schools showcased

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Australian secondary schools promise they will provide Thai students with English language skills, topquality education, safe environment and preparation for world class universities.

CETA Worldwide Education, Thailand's only Australian secondary school specialists, is connecting parents and students with leading Australian secondary schools during its annual Australian Secondary School Exhibition and cocktail party scheduled for June 30 at the Plaza Athnee Bangkok.

The exhibition is being organised by the Australian Education Assessment Services and supported by the Australian Trade Commission and Embassy in Thailand.

Twentyeight schools will be represented at this event which claims to be the largest secondary school exhibition in Thailand.

Over Bt5million in scholarships and fee reductions are being offered by the schools and families can visit the exhibition for more information.

In addition, CETA is organising a front page newspaper contest for students aged 1216. Students are encouraged to design a front page newspaper for the year 2022 for a chance to win scholarships worth over Bt500,000 towards study at top Australian secondary schools. Students must register online at www.ceta.co.th to join the contest.

Australia is a world class leader in education and a popular choice for secondary school education among international students. There are 500,000 international students in Australia, with about 27,000 Thai student enrolments across all educational sectors. The number of Thai students enrolled in secondary schools in Australia is around 600. It also provides a safe, comfortable and friendly environment.

Andrew and Tracey Gray, CETA managing directors said: "Some Thai students we've worked with have been accepted by prestigious universities such as Melbourne, New South Wales and Monash."

Attendees are requested to preregister for this event at www.ceta.co.th/registration. Admission is free. For more information, contact 026658100.

-- The Nation 2012-06-11

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Plan would throw open degraded forest areas to farming

Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry is now planning to award rights to over 450,000 people to utilise over 6 million rai of degraded forest reserves nationwide.

"We have to accept the truth there are more than 400,000 people living in forest reserves. The only way to protect forest areas from deforestation is by giving people rights over forestland and allowing them to use the land," permanent secretary Chote Trachu said yesterday.

Instead of taking legal action against people who are considered to be living illegally in forest reserves in mountainous areas, the ministry's plan is aimed at encouraging them to continue living in the forest reserve, utilising the land and helping the ministry to recover and protect the degraded areas.

Chonlatid Suraswadi, deputy directorgeneral of the Forestry Department, said the ministry would this week ask Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to take the situation into consideration and approve the plan during her inspection trip to floodhit areas from Bangkok up to the North.

People's rights to forestland will be issued under Article 16 of the National Forest Reserve Act of 1985, which allows individuals to live in or utilise forest reserves.

In exchange for being allowed to occupy and utilise forest reserves, people will be asked to enter into an agreement with the ministry that prohibits them from transferring their land rights, called "Sor Tor Kor", to their family members or from selling their land.

They are allowed to use the land only for environmentally friendly farming and for growing trees.

For example, if people have 100 rai in forest areas, they will be asked to divide their land into two parts. About 30 per cent will be used for agricultural purposes and 7o per cent for reforestation.

Only people living in degraded forest reserve areas will be eligible for land rights.

People will not be allowed to live on and utilise forestland in headwater areas, on high mountain slopes, in mangrove forests and in atrisk forest biodiversity areas. The expansion of plantations in forest reserves is banned.

The Forestry Department will send its officials to verify the utilisation of the land.

"People's rights to forestland will be immediately cancelled if we find that they do not use their land for agricultural purposes or that they sold it to someone else.

"They can't file any lawsuit to ask for compensation for the withdrawal of their rights," said Samak Donnapee, chief of the Forest Land Management Bureau, which oversees the project.

Under this project, the ministry expects that about 1.8million rai of degraded forest reserves will be recovered soon, he said.

The ministry also wants to overcome the land conflicts in forest reserves between officials and people living in the disputed areas.

About 200,000 people are living in Zone C forest reserves located in headwater areas. The ministry is now working to find a fix to the problem - whether to give them the right to continue living on their land or to move them out of Zone C areas.

"This resolution will depend on the government's policy," he said.

Since the ministry's project to issue Sor Tor Kors was launched in 2000, about 3,000 people have been given the land document.

But the scheme was suspended due to a change of government and forest reserve management policy.

To restore degraded forest reserves, the ministry will also implement another project called "Change rice farms for forest areas".

The project is aimed at promoting people whose paddy field is located inside a forest reserve and is at risk from natural disasters such as landslides and flashfloods to move out and grow rice in nearby areas.

The ministry will provide ricegrowing areas for them and also will teach them how to raise rice and vegetables on terraces.

The ministry expects to get back 3,300 rai of forest reserves from people living in six watershed areas - Ping, Wang, Yom, Nan, Sakraekrang and Pasak.

"We hope this will be a longterm measure to resolve the conflict over the utilisation of forest reserve land and to rehabilitate the degraded areas," Samak said.

-- The Nation 2012-06-11

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TOURISM

Thailand's still 'favoured tourist destination'

BAMRUNG AMNATCHAROENRIT

THE NATION

Operators warn political uncertainty and cases of cheating could deter foreigners

BANGKOK: -- Foreign tour operators acknowledged that Thailand's popularity is on the rise and that it still remains a favourite regional destination, but they say problems in the Kingdom remain widespread and stand to hurt tourist sentiment.

Full story:

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Suspects deny 'execution' of Phuket woman

Phuket Gazette

Police escort Phuket murder suspect Sanguan Phu-ngern, 26, to further questioning at Thung Thong Police Station. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

A Phuket Police officer inspects the hands of murder suspect Savit Jongruk, 28, Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- The three men arrested for the shooting murder of 55-year-old Sumittra Namfak in Phuket yesterday have denied the charges.

Full story:

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RT @veen_NT: “@Ryn_writes: A 71y-old German man died of cardiac arrest while watching Euro 2012 at home in Surat Thani. #ch3 TR @sawetachai”

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RT @RichardBarrow: Schedule of #Euro2012 tonight Thai time: France vs. England at 11pm on CH.3 | Ukraine vs. Sweden at 1:45am on CH.3

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Landslide fears prompt Phuket Governor to push for Patong Hill road repairs

Phuket Gazette

A last-minute push to fix the Patong Hill road is underway as fears of another landslide on the traffic-heavy hill grow. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- Governor Tri Augkaradacha is pressing the central government for an emergency 80-million-baht budget to shore up Phra Barami Road on Patong Hill, which is deemed at high risk of collapse from landslide due to heavy monsoon-season rain.

Full story:

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PM kicks off tour to inspect progress of flood prevention measures

BANGKOK, June 11 -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra begins her four-day flood trail excursion to eight provinces, covering areas from downstream upstream to the north, to inspect flood prevention measures progress.

Ms Yingluck will chair a National Water Resources and Flood Policy Committee meeting before leading officials to Pathum Thani to inspect the Chulabhorn sluice gate and the flood control dyke along Khlong Rangsit.

After that, she will proceed to Rojana Industrial Estate in Ayutthaya to preside at a ceremony handing over financial support to build flood prevention dykes at six industrial estates and parks in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani.

In Ayutthaya, the premier will also review a flood response plan drill at Sena district and water retention areas in Bang Ban district before returning to Bangkok.

On Tuesday, Ms Yingluck will chair this week’s Cabinet meeting before leaving for Sing Buri's Phrom Buri district to inspect the flood retention area, Lam Chuad sluice gate at Phra Ngarm subdistrict, and the dredging of Maenam Noi River in Bang Rachan district.

On the same day, he will also visit Chai Nat and take a boat trip to inspect Chao Phraya River dredging in the Sing Buri-Chai Nat course and visit the Chao Phraya Dam to view a demonstration of the Single Command Centre's operation from Government House.

She is scheduled to stay overnight in Chai Nat.

On Wednesday, Ms Yingluck will be briefed by ministers responsible for flood response and also chair a videoconference meeting with governors in the Chai Nat area.

She will move on to Phitsanulok's Bang Rakam district to see a water retention area, before visiting Sukhothai to inspect the Ban Hat Sapan Chan and Khlong Hok Bat sluice gates which divert water from the Yom River to the Nan River.

The premier and her entourage will visit Tak, staying overnight at the Bhumibol Dam.

On Thursday, the last day of the trip, Ms Yingluck will be briefed on the water level at major dams and hold a teleconference with governors in the vicinity of Tak.

She will then take a helicopter to Chiang Mai to inspect the dredging work of the Ping River and be briefed on the overall progress of flood response preparedness in upstream, midstream to downstream areas.

She will return to Bangkok on Thursday. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-06-11

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,145.98, up 18.88 points /MCOT

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Airport Link to buy 7 more train compartments

BANGKOK, 11 June 2012 (NNT) – The State Railway of Thailand (SRT), operator of the Airport Link, said it will purchase seven more train compartments to accommodate passengers using City Line.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na Ranong held a discussion with the Transport Ministry concerning the administration of the Airport Link. The Express Line running between Makkasan and Suvarnabhumi Airport has reportedly been receiving only 10 percent of the Airport Link overall passengers, while the City Line has been popular.

Mr Kittiratt said the Airport Link serves around 55,000 passengers per day, exceeding the target at 42,000 passengers. The operator is preparing to buy seven more train compartments, worth 2 billion baht to accommodate the increasing number of passengers.

He stated that as the process takes around two years before the trains will be in service; therefore, the operator must decide soon.

The SRT is also studying extension routes from Phaya Thai Station to Don Mueang Airport to facilitate passengers with connecting flights between the two airports. However, the plan has not been concluded as there will be a construction of the MRT’s Red Line from Sam Sen to Rangsit crossing over the same area.

-- NNT 2012-06-11

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Defence minister says he not object to his removal

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Defence Minister ACM Sukampol Suwannathat said Monday that he would not mind if he would be removed from the Cabinet.

Speaking to a program of Spring News satellite TV, Sukampol said the prime minister would have the full say as to whether to remove him from the Cabinet.

Sukampol was commenting on speculations that he would be removed because he failed to respond to the government's policies to seek tighter control of the armed forces.

"I have no problem about it no matter how the speculations were. A Cabinet reshuffle would depend on the prime minister. There will be no turmoil because of the reshuffle," Sukampol said.

But Sukampol denied that he had failed to respond to the government policies.

He said he had been carrying out his responsibilities to the best of his abilities after receiving orders and policies from the prime minister.

Sukampol said he sometimes reported on his work to the PM's secretary-general.

"I have always carried out all the orders given to me," Sukampol added.

He said he would like to know who raised the allegations that he refused to respond to the government's policies.

Sukampol added that he is confident that no coup will be staged.

-- The Nation 2012-06-11

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Six wounded--2 police officers, 4 villagers--by M79 grenade fired at Pattani police checkpoint Sunday night /MCOT

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10 districts of Surat Thani declared flood disaster zones; Body of missing Egyptian tourist recovered after Phang-nga flood, transferred for autopsy /MCOT

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Two policemen, 4 Muslim youths injured in M79 attack in Pattani

The Nation

PATTANI: -- Insurgents fired an M79 grenade at a police checkpoint in Pattani late Sunday night, injuring two policemen and four Muslim youths, police said Monday.

The attack occurred at 10:10 pm at a road checkpoint in front of Yarang police station.

Six policemen were manning the security checkpoint to deter attempts to smuggle illegal items.

Police said an unknown number of insurgents who were hiding behind the Tambon Yarang clinic fired the M79 grenade the checkpoint. Police said the four youths were happening to pass by when the attack was made.

-- The Nation 2012-06-11

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RT @tukky_nt: FLASH: TrueVisions made compensation for their subscribers by upgrading package for free during #Euro2012. Via @Pat_ThaiPBS

RT @tukky_nt: RT @molineux99: @tukky_nt what about those subscribers that already have the top package....upgrade to???? >free a la carte

RT @tukky_nt: TrueVisions' compensation will start from Jun 11-July 10. #Euro2012

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Six wounded in Pattani grenade attack

PATTANI, June 11 - Six people including two police officers and four villagers were wounded in an M-79 grenade attack at a police checkpoint in Pattani Sunday night.

Police collected evidence at the site outside the Yarang police station Monday morning. Shrapnel from an M-79 grenade was found at the scene.

Investigators said an unknown number of gunmen hid behind the health centre opposite the police station, firing an M-79 grenade at the checkpoint.

Police searched the area but the attackers fled through a wooded area. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-06-11

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A 50-yr old scavenger suspected of splashing acid at people in Bangkok admitted to police he committed such attacks 30 times /The Nation