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Posted

Thailand Live Friday 6 July 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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Related topic: Thailand Live Thursday 5 Jul 2012

Posted

King to visit flood victims, open irrigation projects

The Nation

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BANGKOK: -- His Majesty the King will tomorrow visit victims of last year's flood in Nonthaburi by boat before heading back to Bangkok to preside over the inauguration of five royally initiated irrigation projects.

The ceremony will take place at the Irrigation Department's headquarters in the capital even though the projects are located in five provinces.

His Majesty and HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn are scheduled to leave the riverside Siriraj Hospital, where he has been undergoing treatment for several years, at 4.30pm. The Angsana, provided by the Navy, will take the royals northward on the Chao Phraya River and pass through the Lad Kret and Om Kret canals so that they can visit people hit by last year's flood crisis.

The muchbeloved monarch and his daughter are expected to reach the Irrigation Department at about 6.45pm. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and other top officials will report on the five irrigation projects to His Majesty.

At 7.05pm, a multimedia presentation on the projects will be given.

At 7.40pm, governors of the provinces where the irrigation projects are located will lead local officials and people in paying their respects to the royals. His Majesty will view the proceedings via a video link.

At 7.50pm, His Majesty will place his hand on the symbols of the five projects to mark their official inauguration while still on the boat. After that, thousands of people in the five provinces will form a "Long Live the Royals" message to express their devotion to the King and Princess.

After the ceremony ends, the Angsana will return the royals to Siriraj Hospital.

Pol MajGeneral Anan Srihirun, deputy Metropolitan Police commissioner, said more than 200 officers would be deployed to provide security for the boat trip.

When the Angsana sails under the Pinklao, Rama VIII, Krung Thon, Rama VI and Rama VII bridges, they will be closed to traffic, he said.

The cruise will cover a distance of 30 kilometres. People can gather along the riverbank of the Chao Phraya to catch a glimpse of His Majesty and the Princess.

In Kalasin, where the Lam Payang Bhumibhat Diversion Tunnel will be inaugurated, the locals were excited about the prospect that their expression of loyalty to the King could be covered and relayed to Bangkok for His Majesty to witness via the video link.

"Tens of thousands of people are expected to turn up at the spot covered by the video link during the inauguration ceremony," Governor Somsak Suwansujarit said.

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-- The Nation 2012-07-06

Posted

BROADCASTING

Scramble to prevent blank TVs

WATCHIRANONT THONGTEP

THE NATION

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BANGKOK: -- Authorities will launch frantic efforts to help almost 7 million satellite TV households watch the Olympic Games, who might otherwise miss out on the quadrennial event beginning in London this month.

Full story:

Posted

CHARTER CHANGE

'Rewriting violates democratic principles'

Kittipong Thaveevong,

Somroutai Sapsomboon

The Nation

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Witnesses for petitioners say sovereignty rests with public

BANGKOK: -- Amending the Constitution to allow a new one to be written is the "destruction of the current charter and violation of the principles of democracy", law professor Suraphol Nitikraipot said yesterday - the first day of the Constitution Court trial against the proponents of the amendment bills.

Full story:

Posted

POLITICS

Somsak: Delaying charter, unity debates was my idea

The Nation

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Somsak

BANGKOK: -- In an audio recording of his comments to key Pheu Thai Party supporters in Phetchabun province, House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranond claimed he was behind the Yingluck Shinawatra government's retreat on the charter-amendment and reconciliation bills.

Full story:

Posted

QUAKE

Thailand's 15th faultline discovered in Nakhon Nayok

Janjira Pongrai

The Nation

NAKHON NAYOK: -- A new faultline, caused by a previous earthquake, was found in Nakhon Nayok province and could be considered the country's 15th active faultline, a seminar of geological professionals and related agencies was told yesterday.

Full story:

Posted

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Don't follow Greece's hidden-debt path: Ammar

WICHIT CHAITRONG

THE NATION

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BANGKOK: -- The government's attempt to hide public debt could lead to a sovereign debt crisis similar to the one Greece faces now, noted economist Ammar Siamwalla has warned.

Full story:

Posted

MIGRATION

Proposed plan for pregnant migrant workers misguided

Henry Lewis

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Non-governmental organisations and the academia yesterday spoke up against the Labour Ministry's plan to deport migrant workers who get pregnant while in Thailand.

Full story:

Posted

Lampang police seize Bt36 million in illicit drugs

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LAMPANG, July 6 - Two drug traffickers were arrested for possession of illicit drugs with a street value of Bt36 million in this northern province on Thursday.

Police Region 5 commander Pol Lt-Gen Suthep Dejraksa said Chaliew Luecha, 54, and Suchin Malisa, 51, were arrested with about 100,000 pills of drugs and four kilogrammes of heroin.

The two men were driving separate pick-up trucks on their way to Bangkok but were stopped by police at a checkpoint in Lampang's Sobprab district.

During the search, Mr Chaliew claimed that he was a local reporter in Bangkok and vicinity areas.

Gen Suthep said, according to the investigation, the two were hired to transport the drugs from Chiang Mai to the capital with two cars.

Mr Suchin drove the first vehicle, followed by Mr Chaliew's car in which drugs were hidden in the car's tyres. (MCOT online news)

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-- TNA 2012-07-06

Posted

INUNDATION

Flood alert system improved: PM

Piyanart Srivalo

Prapasri Osathanont

The Nation

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BANGKOK: -- Flooding earlywarning systems will perform better this year than last as all alerts will be integrated and coordinated before reaching the public, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday.

Full story:

Posted

Dengue fever outbreak expected

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Dengue fever has claimed 18 of the 17,086 patients this year, which is considerably more than the number affected in the same period last year, Bureau of Vector Borne Diseases Director Dr Wichai Satimai said.

He said the number of people who have died from dengue fever Type III, which is a more severe infection, mostly took place in the South. The Type III virus seems to be on the rise and the authorities will be handing out a handbook to help diagnose the disease. He has also urged communities to destroy mosquito larvae.

Chiang Mai health official Dr Wattana Kanchanakamol said that so far 200 dengue fever infections have been reported and the numbers are expected to rise in the JulySeptember period, which is why his office is campaigning for people to take protective measures. Citing the trend of a dengue fever outbreak occurring every other year - 2010 saw 6,000 patients and three deaths, and 2011 only saw 600 patients and no deaths - he said this year could result in a severe outbreak and hence officials should destroy larvae and fumigate homes.

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-- The Nation 2012-07-06

Posted

PM seeks to protect Ang Thong

The Nation

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ANG THONG: -- As land subsidence problem in Ang Thong worsen, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday instructed the Mineral Resources Department to inspect the areas and take protection measures, especially for riverside communities.

Presiding over a meeting held to discuss previous subsidence in Tambon Pho Sa that damaged 14 homes, Yingluck said the area would be declared a disaster zone, while the Interior Ministry’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department is preparing to evacuate residents from risky areas.

Meanwhile, a 100metrelong section of a road along the Chao Phraya River in Tambon Yan Seu, Ang Thong's Muang district, subsided at 6am, resulting in a newly constructed flood barrier to collapse. Local resident Amporn Klinpayom said the area had been subsiding since last week and now it was impassable. Initial inspection found a layer of mud four or five metres underneath, which resulted in the soil sliding away into the river, he said.

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-- The Nation 2012-07-06

Posted

Police widen exam-cheat probe to govt officials

The Nation

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BANGKOK: -- Suspects arrested for their alleged roles in a police examcheating scheme will be required to pay a total of more than Bt100 million in compensation for money spent on tests that had to be scrapped, a Royal Thai Police spokesman said yesterday.

Full story:

Posted

DSI 'faces lawsuit if it takes up Skytrain case'

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Department of Special Investigation (DSI) board members risk legal action if they take up the awarding of a new contract to the Skytrain operator as a special case, an adviser to a senior Bangkok official said yesterday.

"The DSI board should carefully check the 2007 Constitution and the 1999 Decentralisation Act before issuing a resolution," Assawat Apaiwong said yesterday. He is a legal adviser to Deputy Bangkok Governor Thirachon Manomaipiboon.

His comments followed reports that the DSI was preparing to intervene in the Bt190billion contract awarded to the BTSC - the current operator of the Skytrain - by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)'s investment arm, Krungthep Thanakom (KT).

Assawat insisted that the BMA and KT acted legally, adding that any rush to issue a resolution could land the DSI board members in trouble. "We could file complaints against them with the National AntiCorruption Commission," he said.

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-- The Nation 2012-07-06

Posted

Officials, newsmen make it to safety

The Nation

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: -- Some 600 officials and members of the media, stranded at the Khao Luang National Park in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Phipun district on Wednesday due to a road blockade held by some disgruntled locals, managed to make it to safety early yesterday, an informed source said. The road was blocked by locals angered by officials moving in to destroy buildings and rubber plantations believed to be encroaching on 248 rai of the national park.

Some 30 protesters, led by local politician Peerapan Suwanopas and Tambon Khao Phra Mayor Phayung Somsab, used a backhoe to dig up the only road leading out of the park. Deputy provincial governor Suthipong Terdrattanapong later agreed to meet the protesters' demand, including compensating them for the destroyed trees and letting them tap the remaining rubber trees. The villagers also demanded that the stranded officials and journalists leave their vehicles behind as a guarantee that their demands would be met today.

However, at about 10pm, once most of the protesters had left, the stranded officials joined forces to fix the road and drove out of the area at 1am.

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-- The Nation 2012-07-06

Posted

Day two for charter change inquiry

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Constitution Court is on Friday to hear eight defence witnesses before concluding the inquiry on the charter amendment bill.

Should the high court find to have collected sufficient testimonies and evidence to form a decision, the verdict session will be scheduled later this afternoon.

Pheu Thai MP Samart Kaewmechai, also one of the bill co-sponsors, said former Supreme Administrative Court president Bhokin Bhalakula will be a star witness to rebut issues raised by opponents of charter change.

Bhokin will testify in the afternoon.

Yesterday former charter writer Surapon Nitikraipot gave a compelling testimony against the bill.

His key argument is the Constitution was directly endorsed by the people through the referendum vote, hence in his opinion, Parliament has no mandate to undo the charter before receiving the people's consent.

The defence witnesses include Samart, Bhokin, PM's Office Minister Woravat Auapinyakul, Pheu Thai Party leader Yongyuth Wichaidit.

The remaining witnesses are coalition chief whip Udomdej Ratanasatien, Chart Thai Pattana Party leader Chumpol Silapa-archa and his party's MP Paradorn Prisanananthakul.

House speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont or his designated counsel Wattana Sengpairoh is also scheduled to testify.

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-- The Nation 2012-07-06

Posted

Travel business expert predicted Thai purchasing power to drop 30%

BANGKOK, 6 July 2012 (NNT) – A travel business expert has predicted that the purchasing power of Thai consumers will soon drop significantly due to a number of risk factors.

Mr. Krit Patarapal, Managing Director of P.K. Exhibition Management Company and the organizer of the tourism promotion event “Thai Teaw Thai”, said that Thailand will likely be under the pressure of deflation at least until next year.

He believes that Thai consumers’ purchasing power will drop around 30 percent, mainly due to 3 worrying factors. They are natural disasters, economic conditions and political uncertainties.

Mr. Krit suggested that travel business operators and related entrepreneurs should come up with more appealing events, which focus on respective seasons, in order to convince travelers that their money will be well-spent.

He also called for new holiday destinations as alternatives to existing locations while easing on the pricing strategy.

And as a boost during the low travel season, Mr. Krit said that a special tourism promotion event has been scheduled from July 5th to 8th at Queen Sirikit Center in Bangkok.

He expects as many as 100,000 visitors, who will spend around 200-300 million baht altogether, during the 4-day event.

Moreover, a big holiday extravaganza is set to take place either in August or September, with more than 400,000 visitors likely to check out some 1,300 booths of travel-related businesses and spend approximately 500 million baht on holiday plans.

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-- NNT 2012-07-06 footer_n.gif

Posted

300 policemen on security mission during HM the King's visit to royally-initiated projects

BANGKOK, 6 July 2012 (NNT) – Two companies of police officers have been assigned to be in charge of security during the royal visit of HM the King to Nonthaburi to open royally-initiated projects on Saturday.

Deputy Metropolitan Police Commander, Police Major General Anan Srihirun, said on Thursday that security plan has been laid out along the Chao Phraya River, which will be the route for His Majesty the King to travel from Siriraj Hospital to Koh Kret in Nonthaburi Province, before he opens 5 royally-initiated projects at the Royal Irrigation Department on Saturday.

Police Major General Anan stated that the royal trip, which is expected to last 4 hours, will entail the closure of 5 bridges over Chao Phraya River, including the Phra Pin Klao Bridge, the Rama VIII Bridge, the Krung Thon Bridge, the Rama VI Bridge and the Rama VII Bridge.

The Deputy Metropolitan Police Commander assured that all bridges will be reopened as soon as possible in order to avoid complicating the traffic conditions in related areas.

According to Police Major General Anan, 300 police officers have been planned to station along the route to provide security and facilitate the public.

He added that the Metropolitan Police Bureau will be assisted with officers from related agencies, including the Royal Thai Army Region 1, the Royal Thai Navy, the Marine Department, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Metropolitan Electricity Authority and the Royal Irrigation Department.

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-- NNT 2012-07-06 footer_n.gif

Posted

Special area prepared for the public to receive the royal trip on Saturday

BANGKOK, 6 July 2012 (NNT) – Officials have designated an area for member of the public to receive HM the King during the royal trip to Nonthaburi on Saturday.

Pakkred District Chief Wisit Phuangphet said on Thursday that the preparation for the reception of the royal visit on Saturday is more than 80 percent completed.

HM the King and HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn are scheduled to travel along the Chao Phraya River to inspect 5 royally-initiated projects on July 7th.

Mr. Wisit said that all houses and establishments along the route have been cleaned up and decorated with Thai flags, the royal flags and the pictures of HM the King.

He added that all state officials will be in full uniforms and the people of Pakkred will adorn pink shirts to receive HM the King.

The Pakkred District Chief expects that the space along both banks of the Chao Phraya River and Klong Lad Kred will be able to accommodate up to 20,000 people, who wish to be a part of the royal trip.

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-- NNT 2012-07-06 footer_n.gif

Posted

Apple iPad 'Mini' rumors heat up; launch seen by year's end

by Zack Whittaker

Two reports suggest Apple is cranking up its supply chain partners in preparation for a fall debut of a long-awaited and highly-anticipated smaller iPad version.

Full story:

Posted

Thai victims of land scam detained in Myanmar

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RANONG, July 6 – Thai and Lao rubber workers being held in Myanmar by that countries authorities reportedly have been misled and victimized by brokers telling them the land—inside Myanmar—was in Thailand and that it was available for sale and settlement.

Full story:

Posted

Thai court verdict 'may spark more violence'

Nirmal Ghosh

The Straits Times

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's Constitutional Court has begun hearings in a case that threatens to plunge the country into a deeper political crisis and another round of violence in the coming months, analysts say.

Full story:

Posted

Suvarnabhumi Airport runway fixed, operational Friday

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BANGKOK, July 6 - A five-centimetre deep depression on the western runway of Suvarnabhumi Airport has been fixed and can now operate normally, according to Somchai Sawasdeepon, Suvarnabhumi Airport director.

Full story:

Posted

Three justices not excused to exit charter change inquiry

BANGKOK: -- Constitution Court president Wasant Soypisudh and two justices, Nurak Marpraneet and Suphot Khaimuk will remain presiding over the inquiry on the charter amendment bill after the high court panel turned down their respective requests to withdraw themselves.

Wasant said the Friday's inquiry session was slightly delayed because the panel had to review the status of three justices, including himself.

He said the three wanted to exit the inquiry due to concern about prejudiced decision since they gave interviews about the case.

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-- The Nation 2012-07-06

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