Thailand Live Monday 30 Jul 2012

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Thailand Live Monday 30 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 Sunday 29 Jul 2012

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Pheu Thai's struggle to find common stand on charter change

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The ruling Pheu Thai Party has reaffirmed its stand to push for charter change although it remains undecided on the format and scope of the rewriting.

Full story:

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Beware: online scams are thriving

The Nation

BANGKOK: - These days, anyone can buy or sell almost anything over social media.

But there are fraudsters out there who hide behind the anonymity of the Internet to rip off shoppers.

Full story:

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SPECIAL

'Like' it? Buy it

The Nation

Torboon Puangmaha, former CEO of Sanook Online Co

BANGKOK: -- Online shopping is not a totally new concept. But social media, offering the advantage of personal "trust", whether it's real or not, is helping spread it like wildfire on both sellers' and consumers' fronts. And not surprisingly, among those wholeheartedly embracing this phenomenon are Thais. Veena Thoopkrajae reports.

Full story:

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Facebook: gateway for entrepreneurs

Veena Thoopkrajae

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- In pre-social media times, we used go to Chatuchak Weekend Market or a gift fair to shop for new and niche products.

Full story:

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Chatu Mongol critical of govt on reserves

Wichit Chaitrong

The Nation

Forex holdings not there to turn a profit, ex-chairman says

BANGKOK: -- The former chairman of the Bank of Thailand last week sharply criticised the current chairman and the government for its attempt to exploit the country's international reserves and for its lack of fiscal discipline.

Full story:

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Water-retention plan compensation details to be released soon

Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The government will soon be able to announce the exact amount of compensation to be paid to people whose land is within designated waterretention areas that will be used starting from this year's flooding season, according to a senior watermanagement official said.

Full story:

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Top cop backs Duang transfer

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Metropolitan Police Chief Pol MajGeneral Kamronwit Thoopkrachang yesterday defended the appointment of Duang Yoobamrung as a police lieutenant under the Metropolitan Police Bureau after accusations of favouritism spread online

Full story:

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45% of Thais seek compromise: poll

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A plurality of Thais believe that having those on opposing sides of the political conflict take a step back for the sake of compromise, and examine their conscience, would be the best solution to the polarisation facing the country, according to a Suan Dusit poll released yesterday.

Full story:

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Three arrested in shooting deaths of soldiers in Pattani

Wattana Kamchu

Panya Tiewsangwan

The Nation

PATTANI: -- Three men have been arrested for their alleged role in Saturday's fatal shooting of four soldiers, according to Pattani Governor Thira Mintarasak.

Full story:

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HAZE

Smog from Indonesia blanket Songkhla Sunday

The Nation

Miss Thailand contestants pose for photos at Samila Beach on Saturday. Smog from Indonesia's forest fires have obscured one of two famous islands behind them.//Santiparb Ramasutra

SONGKHLA: -- Smog from a forest fire in Indonesia's Sumatra blanketed Songkhla over the weekend, but particle dust levels are within the safety standard.

Smog from the forest fire covered Thailand's southern provinces and affected visibility in the morning, Thai News Agency reported.

The southern meteorological centre inspected satellite images and detected 194 hotspots on Sumatra island, dropping from 681 hot spots. Winds from a southwest monsoon drove the smog over the area, while absence of rainfall has prolonged the smog’s presence.

Although dust particles measured in the atmosphere by the pollution control department was still within the safety standard, children and the elderly were advised to avoid outdoor activities.

In Trang’s ten districts, all road lights have been turned on to facilitate motorists driving in poor visibility. The local disaster prevention and mitigation office have also requested health masks from the Public Health Ministry to distribute to affected residents.

-- The Nation 2012-07-30

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Visitors urge caution in tablet PC use

Wannapa Khaopa

The Nation

Eric Mazur

Foreign academics warn of unready teachers,too young students

BANGKOK: -- Two worldrenowned visiting professors have warned that tablet distribution to Thai first graders may cause problems if the Education Ministry does not give teachers and parents an understanding of effective tablet use and how to handle students using the tablets.

Full story:

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Thai to put off new plane purchases

Bamrung Amnatcharoenrit

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- National carrier Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) will delay the purchase of 47 new aircraft due to its poor financial performance this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....al-performance/

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,184.00, up 5.99 points /MCOT

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RT @tulsathit: Govt parties are expected to reach some kind of agreement today on charter rewrite, less than 2dys before Parliament reopens.

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Water level continues to rise in Mekong River

Bangkok, July 30 2012 (NNT) – Water level has been rising continuously in the Mekong River, Chiang Rai province. More than 1,000 rais of corn fields have been damaged. While Chiang Saen district has warned local people in the area to be on the lookout.

Due to China's releasing of dam water into the Mekong River, the water level in the river has been gradually rising since yesterday. While in the Chiang Saen area, the water has already overflowed the banks and covered over 1,000 rais of corn fields. In some areas, the water level is reported to be as high as 2 meters.

The water level in the Mekong River is reported to be 7.89 meters by Hydrology and Water Management Center of Chiang Saen District, which is considered high at the moment, but still below the crisis level. Additionally, the officials have warned the people in that area to be on a lookout for the rising level.

Meanwhile, power boats in the Mekong River have become immobilized due to the danger that might occur. However, the border crossing service is still operational with extreme caution.

-- NNT 2012-07-28

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Commerce Ministry to extend price-pegging scheme

BANGKOK, 30 July 2012 (NNT) – The Commerce Ministry is planning on extending the price-pegging scheme on all products to help consumers cope with high living costs.

After finding most consumers satisfied with the price-pegging scheme, Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom said the ministry will ask for cooperation once again from merchants and manufacturers to maintain their product prices further. The scheme was initially set for four months and will expire on September 30th.

In the meantime, the ministry is keeping an eye on the LPG price adjustment and will study the effects from the new increase.

-- NNT 2012-07-30

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Chalerm suggests charter amendments be done article by article

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said Monday that charter amendments should be done on article by article basis.

He said amending the Constitution by articles would be faster than setting up a constitution drafting assembly to write the entire charter.

-- The Nation 2012-07-30

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Thai students win one each gold, silver, bronze medals at International Chemistry Olympiad in US /MCOT

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Cabinet not deliberates charter amendments: Yongyuth

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister and Pheu Pheu Thai leader Yongyuth Wichaidit said the Cabinet will not discuss charter amendments during its mobile meeting Monday.

Yongyuth said the Cabinet would leave it to coalition whips to discuss what to do next after the Constitution Court ruled that a new draft charter should not be written unless a public referendum is held first.

-- The Nation 2012-07-30

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RT @RichardBarrow: BTS on the Thonburi side will open 2 more stations on 5 December 2012 & then 3 more on 12 August 2013 - TR @khajochi

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Bone fragment of Lord Buddha installed at Phuket temple

Phuket Gazette

The bone-fragment of the Lord Buddha was installed in the Chedi Dok Bua Kaew at Nakaram Temple on Friday. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

ICT Minister Anudit Nakorntap (left) chaired the event, which Phuket Senator Thanyarat Achariyachai (right) also attended. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- A bone-fragment relic of Lord Buddha was respectfully installed at Chedi Dok Bua Kaew “Crystal Lotus Pagoda” in Nakaram Temple, Wichit, during a ceremony on Friday.

Full story:

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National reconciliation bills to be put on hold: Somsak

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- House Speaker Somsak Kiartsuranon said Monday that the four national reconciliation bills will be put on hold until the coalition partners reach a common stand on the issue.

Somsak said the four bills will not be deliberated when the House convenes the first meeting for the new parliamentary session on Wednesday.

One of the four bills was sponsored by Matubhum Party leader Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin.

-- The Nation 2012-07-30

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Security to be tightened in far South to cope with rising violence: Defence Minister

YALA, July 30 –Thai Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannatat on Monday expressed condolences over Saturday’s Pattani attack which left four soldiers dead, admitting a new security beef-up is necessary to cope with rising violence.

Air Chief Marshal Sukampol apologised to southern border residents for any inconvenience which may follow as security measures now in place to deal with the violence there could not control the situation.

He said he has discussed with the Army Region 4 commander supervising the area on the next steps but could not reveal the plan now.

"Measures to maintain law and order in the restive South will be stepped up," the defence minister said. "The unusual level violence during this year’s Ramadan is caused by some groups who want to create more violence."

Meanwhile, Opposition and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva today urged the government to review its current policy and approach in tackling the southern insurgency.

Mr Abhisit suggested that the prime minister and her Cabinet should analyse the situation, review its policy and implementation as there were signs indicating more violence since March following bombings in Yala and Songkhla's Hat Yai commercial district.

“There have been warnings of more intense violence in the area. The assigned operations of one single command was insufficient to solve all the problems in the region. The government should enlist help from academics with knowledge and understanding in the region,” the opposition leader advised.

Mr Abhisit also noted that a visit by those who are in charge of far southern policy was also crucial as it will boost morale of local residents. If the premier’s schedule is hectic, she could also assign deputy premier who supervises security matters or other ministers to visit the people.

The opposition leader also advised the government to clarify the situation in the violence-plagued provinces to the world community to create better understanding on the matter.

Violence however continued unabated with four border patrol police officers were severely wounded in a bombing in Yala municipality on Sunday.

The border patrol police were attacked one kilometre from the office of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), Region 4.

A bomb disposal squad on Monday inspected the old market area in the Yala municipality after a 10kg bomb hidden in a flower pot exploded injuring four border patrol police officers on patrol.

The wounded officers were rushed to hospital. A police vehicle was damaged by the bomb. Police said it was the work of insurgents. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-07-30

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First group of Thais returns home from Syria

BANGKOK, 30 July 2012 (NNT) – A group of 10 Thai people in Syria has returned to the Kingdom, while the rest of those who have requested to be sent home will return within August 1st.

Amidst escalating violence in Syria, thousands of people, including Thais, are fleeing the country or the areas where battles are intensifying. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Thani Thongphakdi has revealed that the first group of Thais, consisting of 10 people fleeing Syria, has arrived in Suvarnabhumi Airport on Monday morning.

Overall, 22 Thais in Syria have requested to be sent home to avoid clashes in the war-torn Middle Eastern country. Mr Thani said five more people would arrive in Bangkok on Tuesday, and seven more on Wednesday.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry has sent consulate officials to facilitate Thais in Syria who want to leave the country. The spokesperson said on Monday there is no more Thai requesting to return home, although the violence has been escalating. If requested, the ministry is ready to give its full support in helping the remainingThai people to return home.

-- NNT 2012-07-30

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TWIPLOMACY

US president : World's most popular leader on Twitter

Agencies and Bernama

Obama

US President Barack Obama has topped the league of world leaders with 17 million followers on Twitter, according to a survey of the social networking usage by heads of government.

Full story:

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Public-Private Partnership: 10 new northeastern roads endorsed

SURIN, July 30 - Construction of ten more routes in Thailand's Northeast with a budget of Bt18.6 billion was endorsed by the Public-Private Partnership Committee meeting in this northeastern province today.

Deputy Prime Minister/Finance Minister Kittiratt Na Ranong said the committee agreed on the new infrastructure, affirming that the big-budget routes will be put in the government's Bt2 trillion loan package.

The new roads include two parts of Highway 304 Kabin Buri-Pak Thong Chai (with completed environmental impact studies), a ring road around Nakhon Ratchasima's provincial seat at a budget of Bt4.6 billion, Highway 205 Non Thai-Nong Bua Kok, and expanding four-lane Highway 201 Sikhio-Nong Bua Kok.

A double-track railway linking Nakhon Ratchasima-Surin-Buri Ram-Si Sa Ket-Ubon Ratchathani is expected to be complete by 2019, Mr Kittiratt added.

Expansion of Ubon Ratchathani airport is also planned (passenger terminal, aircraft parking), with a budget of Bt360 million to support 4 millton passengers/year to be renovated in 2014-2016.

Another project approved at Monday’s committee meeting included an elephant-assistance project.

Surin’s Dong Pu Din Forestry Plantations has 7,000 rai of farmland as denuded forest.

Concessions are needed for the private sector to take over and develop the area to become the world's biggest home to elephants so that the place becomes one of Surin's main tourist attractions. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-07-30

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Abhisit explains why he wore red

BANGKOK: -- Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva Monday explained he wore a red-shirt to join a rally on Sunday as a symbol that fights for righteousness were beyond political divisiveness.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/573594-abhisit-explains-why-he-wore-red/#entry5530620

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POLITICS

National reconciliation bills to be put on hold: Somsak

The Nation

Gen Sonthi

BANGKOK: -- House Speaker Somsak Kiartsuranon said Monday that the four national reconciliation bills would be put on hold until the coalition partners reach a common stand on the issue.

Full story: