Thailand Live Wednesday 1 Aug 2012

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Thailand Live Wednesday 1 August 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.

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INUNDATION

Rush to prepare for floods

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Irrigation officials are urgently fixing gates and embankments along key waterways - timely repairs that will be crucial in saving many areas in the Central region from flooding this year.

Full story:

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LESE MAJESTY LAWS

Historic round-table confronts lese majeste

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

Dr Tul

BANGKOK: -- A leading royalist and key supporter of the lese majeste law met with opponents of the law yesterday to amicably discuss and deliberate on the future of the law and how the monarchy institution might be reformed.

The historic deliberation was held by Mahidol University's Centre for Human Rights and Peace Studies. It involved leader of the multicolour shirts and staunch royalist, Doctor Tul Sithisomwong, and prominent opponents of the law such as lese majeste lawyer Arnon Nampha and red-shirt political activist Jitra Kotchadej.

Tul admitted that some royalists had abused the lese majeste law by filing unnecessary lawsuit against their political enemies, but he said he has nothing to do with such people. He urged both sides to recognise the diversity within each camp.

Tul said the law as it stands, is problematic as it conflates [melds together] defamation and the harbouring of vengeful feelings towards the monarchy institution.

Tul told opponents of the law that he believes there should be a process where any lese majeste police complaint be vetted before being accepted by police, in order to avoid abusive use of the law.

He nevertheless defended the law as necessary in order to protect HM the King, not as a person but as the head of state.

Arnon, who served as defence lawyer for high-profile lese majeste detainees such Thai-US dual citizen Joe Gordon and Amphon "Akong" Tangnoppakul, who died in prison in May this year, stood firm in his position there is a need to legally criticise the monarchy institution for the benefit of the public, and that the law is undemocratic.

Arnon welcomed the opportunity to deliberate with Tul, however, and said he recognised the need to build bridges.

Tul said he also recognised that not all opponents of the lese majeste law were "republicans" or ill-intended and urged people who have good intentions toward the institution to stay clear of those who defamed the monarchy.

Jitra meanwhile stressed the need to scrutinise monarchy institutions like that of the United Kingdom and other countries, and said many charges had been used as political tools.

The half dozen people who participated in the round-table deliberation agreed to meet again to establish rapport, become more emphatic and to build bridges - as opposed to the existing climate of mutual animosity between both sides of the political divides.

Tul later took a photograph with Arnon and another anti-lese majeste law activist, Nithiwat Wannasiri, with Tul holding a portrait of HM the King.

-- The Nation 2012-08-01

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Two major blasts hit Pattani

The Nation

PATTANI: -- A car-bomb exploded behind the CS Pattani Hotel late yesterday evening and it was followed by a blast at a power station which left several areas plunged in darkness for several hours.

The local Internal Security Operations Command office confirmed both incidents.

The blast at the hotel damaged a wall and several glass windowpanes as well as a car parked nearby. Twitter reports later said that there could be three people wounded in the bombing, but there were no details as to which site the injuries were sustained. There were also unconfirmed reports that some people were wounded from flying shards of glass.

For safety reasons, the hotel was evacuated and mobile-phone signal jammed for fear of a possible second explosion. A large number of security officials and rescue workers were also reportedly on standby.

A pickup truck, reportedly a green Isuzu D-Max, parked against the back wall of the hotel, was reportedly packed with explosives.

A similar explosion at the CS Pattani Hotel on March 15, 2008, during the time of the previous Democrat-led government, killed a security guard.

-- The Nation 2012-08-01

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KRUNGTHEP TURAKIJ TV

Krungthep Turakij business news channel ready to air

The Nation

Nation Multimedia Group chairman Suthichai Yoon, centre, poses with "Krungthep Turakij TV" team

BANGKOK: -- "Krungthep Turakij TV" will start airing its programmes today in a move to establish itself as a leading business and investment news satellite station.

Today marks the start of the trial period of the new station, which is affiliated with Krungthep Turakij newspaper, the country's first daily business paper. The official launch will take place on September 9.

"We are reinvigorating our image as the leader in business, investment and financial information content," Nation Multimedia Group president and Krungthep Turakij Media president Duang-kamol Chotana said.

She added that the station would also offer lifestyle and how-to content.

The new station will run its programmes around the clock with live content 10 hours a day.

All satellite-dish owners can watch "Krungthep Turakij TV". It can be viewed from a variety of platforms including C-Band, V/SR 30000 vertical and K-Band systems. It is also accessible via smart TV on Samsung and Sony devices, Androids, TV on mobile and Web TV services.

-- The Nation 2012-08-01

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CRIME

Condemned officers, two others freed on bail

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Five policemen convicted of killing a teenage boy as part of a government crackdown on narcotics during the first Thaksin Shinawatra government were yesterday granted temporary releases on bail.

Full story:

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20,000 CCTVs for Bangkok

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Governor Sukhum-bhand Paribatra yesterday promised to have more than 20,000 security cameras up and running across the capital before the end of this year. So far, half of them are already in place.

Full story:

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Provincial admin database crashes

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Provincial Administration Department's household-registration database crashed yesterday

Full story:

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Myanmar seeks medicine for Thai detainees in bad health

The Nation

RANONG: -- Myanmar wants Thailand to provide medical supplies after some of the 92 Thais jailed in Kawthaung province fell ill, Colonel Pornsak Poonsawat said yesterday.

Pornsak is chief of the Township Border Committee (TBC) and commander of the 25th Infantry Regiment task force.

It is reported that the request had been made via the Thai embassy in Myanmar.

The border committee has been coordinating with Ranong Hospital to provide medication for illnesses such as high blood pressure, stress and maternity concerns, he said, adding that it was also providing household remedies.

Myanmar authorities have also asked for the names of the detainees' relatives, so they can identify those who come to visit them in jail. Only one relative per prisoner is allowed to visit per day.

A court in Myanmar's Kawthaung province has sentenced the detainees to three-and-a-half years in jail for deforestation and illegal entry - the first two of the five counts that all 92 were charged with. The other three counts they are being investigated for are growing illicit drugs including cannabis and kratom; illegal possession of firearms and military weapons; as well as obstructing officials.

The 92 villagers, 82 of whom are men, maintain that they were lured by a broker to clear a plot of land that they later learned was beyond the area Thais are allowed to use.

Pornsak said that, so far, cases related to the other offences have not progressed. Those who were only penalised for illegal entry or deforestation and had nothing to do with other serious offences could have their sentences commuted or be pardoned later, he said.

-- The Nation 2012-08-01

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Free eye surgery for Mother's Day

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- As part of a project launched to mark Her Majesty the Queen's 80th birthday on August 12, people suffering from cataracts can have their eyes checked for free on August 10 between 7am and 5pm at the 11th Infantry Regiment's army club in Bangkok's Bang Khen district. Patients will also be provided free cataract surgery.

This project is being repeated because only 60 out of 350 patients could be given free cataract surgery under a similar project organised to mark HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn's birthday on July 22. The free surgery is sponsored by the Army, the Internal Security Operations Command, Samut Sakhon's Ban Phaeo Hospital and the National Security Business Association.

-- The Nation 2012-08-01

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FORESTRY DEPARTMENT

National parks chief face transfer

JANJIRA PONGRAI,

PONGPHON SARNSAMAK

THE NATION

Believes move may be linked to him razing illegal resorts in Thab Lan Park

BANGKOK: -- The chief of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation cried foul yesterday over his imminent transfer. Damrong Phidet said he had heard he would be transferred out of the top job at the parks department.

Full story:

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SOUTH CRISIS

Centre set up to deal with south unrest

ATTAPOOM ONGKULNA,

PANYA THIEWSANGWAL

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The government yesterday set up a permanent operation centre, integrating 17 ministries under three deputy prime ministers, to deal with the unrest in the South.

Full story:

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'No rush' to move on charter

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The government will not rush to finalise its decision on the format for rewriting the charter, PM's Office Minister Woravat Auapinyakul said yesterday.

"We are not in a hurry and will strive to increase public participation in the matter," he said.

Woravat said the prime minister had instructed Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit to organise a series of public hearings in order to gauge sentiment before deciding how to proceed with the next move on charter change.

The coalition parties will not adopt a stand on the charter rewriting format at this juncture, he said.

The government and coalition allies are still determined to rewrite the charter but need time to choose the right format, he added.

-- The Nation 2012-08-01

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Pheu Thai duo guilty of libel

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court yesterday found Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit and co-defendant Kiatudom Menasahwat guilty of libel and handed down one-year jail terms, suspended for two years as they were first-time offenders.

In its verdict, the court reprimanded the pair for failing to verify the information before holding a press conference to attack Constitution Court president Wasan Soypisudh on June 8, 2010.

The court said the pair had falsely and maliciously portrayed Wasan for lacking impartiality.

In addition to the suspended imprisonment, the pair were told to pay a fine of Bt50,000 and publish a summary of the verdict in three newspapers for seven days.

Reacting to his conviction, Prompong said he respected the judicial decision but he would seek an appellate review in a bid to overturn the ruling.

In a separate case, the Attorney General has postponed a lawsuit against Democrat MP and spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut and his deputy Mallika Boonmeetrakul for allegedly defaming Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra over remarks about the "Four Seasons scandal" as prosecutors have not finished their investigation report.

-- The Nation 2012-08-01

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Poisonous pufferfish balls found at Samut Sakhon fish factory

By Coconuts Bangkok

SAMUT SAKHON: -- The owners of a fish processing factory in Samut Sakhon are in deep water after inspections turned up traces of poisonous pufferfish in their fishballs.

Full story:

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RT@ChadapornLin: Police:CS Pattani bombing was car bomb,5 injured;hotel had been bombed before-no cars allowed to park in front;pick up w/bomb parked in back

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Government agreed to raise credit limits for flood-affected entrepreneurs

BANGKOK, 1 August 2012 (NNT) – The government is ready to raise credit limits for business operators who have been hit hard by last year’s severe flood crisis.

Industry Minister M.R.Phongsawat Svastiwat said that the government’s Economic Affairs Screening Committee, which is chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong, has approved the revision of the state-sponsored soft loan program for flood-hit entrepreneurs.

The review, especially for the 100-billion-baht budget allocated for SME operators, resulted in the increase of each borrower’s credit limit from 10 million baht to 30 million baht.

M.R.Phongsawat expects an increase in the number of flood-hit SME borrowers from the current 25 percent of all operators, after the revision has been made.

In addition, the Economic Affairs Screening Committee also agreed to extend the loan application period for SME borrowers from October 31st to December 31st, 2012. The resolution will accordingly be submitted for Cabinet approval, said the Industry Minister.

-- NNT 2012-08-01

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RT@RichardBarrow: Parents of British backpacker Kirsty Sara Jones, who was murdered in Chiang Mai in 2000, are coming to Thailand to ask police for an update

RT@RichardBarrow: Kirsty's parents will arrive in Thailand on 7 August & are offering a 1 Million Baht reward for info leading to the arrest of the murderer.

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,197.61, down 1.69 points /MCOT

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Tourism industry continues to expand despite Eurozone debt crisis

BANGKOK, 1 August 2012 (NNT) – The central bank has assured that the tourism industry has continued to expand despite the financial crisis in Europe.

Full story:

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RT @mpoppel: For those who had doubts. Via AP: Nephew says celebrated author, playwright and commentator Gore Vidal dies at age 86.

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Health Ministry: HFMD easing gradually

BANGKOK, 1 August 2012 (NNT) – The Thai Health Ministry has announced that the hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) outbreak in the country has been gradually easing.

Permanent Secretary to Health Ministry Dr. Paijit Warachit revealed on Tuesday that, after constant monitoring, the Ministry has found signs of continued reduction in the spread of HFMD in the country.

According to Dr. Paijit, the number of HFMD in the northern region has increased from June’s record of 1,200 per week to 2,000 per week around 2 weeks ago, before dropping to 800 per week now.

The Permanent Secretary to Health Ministry has expressed his confidence that the spread of the disease will decrease more considerably within 6 weeks from now.

However, Dr. Paijit said that he has still urged all related provincial governor to continue the sanitation of all infected areas and the promotion of hygienic habits among young children.

In addition, he has urged parents with children who have high fever to immediately seek medication attention, particularly after there has been a report of an increase in the spread of dengue fever, which shares preliminary conditions with HFMD.

Dr. Paijit said that there have been more than 26,000 people diagnosed with dengue fever and 27 deaths from the infection since the beginning of this year.

-- NNT 2012-08-01

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TDRI: Populist policies create more public debts and corruptions

BANGKOK, 1 August 2012 (NNT) – The Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) has advised the government to reconsider its populist policies as they create more public debts and open chances for more corruption activities.

TDRI Research Director for Macro-economic Development and Income Distribution Somchai Jitsuchon stated that even if the Thai GDP growth this year is 7%, he would not consider it a high growth because the economy last year was slow. He suggested a five-year economic outlook should be able to tell the real growth. He said that the government’s populist policies are obstructing the economic growth as they show lack of spending discipline, affecting the nation’s finance and pave the way for more corruption activities.

Meanwhile, Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) Chairman Payungsak Chartsutthipol said corruption is among the biggest problems hindering the country’s growth, especially when the government has many projects planned.

Executive Vice President of Bangkok Bank PCL Kobsak pootrakool speculated that the economic growth this year will be only 5-6%. He said the last quarter in particular will experience high growth compared to the same period last year, when the nation was hit by the devastating flood. He added the European economic crisis will also have impacts over the Thai economy, especially in the export sector.

-- NNT 2012-08-01

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Thai students win 10 medals from mathematics olympiad

BANGKOK, 1 August 2012 (NNT) – Thai students have once again put Thailand on the map, bagging 10 medals from the Southeast Mathematics Olympiad (SMO) 2012 in Fujian, China.

Twelve Thai students arrived in Thailand on Tuesday night after successfully competing in the Southeast Mathematics Olympiad (SMO) 2012, held between July 24 and 31. They were warmly welcomed home by families, friends, and teachers.

The students won one gold, five silver, and four bronze medals. Over 160 competitors from the Philippines, Macao, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, and Thailand participated in the event.

Mr Poomirat Kobkuachaipong from Satit Patumwan Demonstration School, the gold medalist, said he will apply his experience from the competition to his study. He also recommended other students to read and practice on exercise books regularly.

Meanwhile, Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) Secretary-General Chinnapat Bhumirat congratulated the students and said the OBEC will continue to improve the Thai education system and students’ potentials. He added it will encourage Thai students to compete more often on the international level.

-- NNT 2012-08-01

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Deputy PM Yuthasak admits unity lacking among agencies addressing southern violence; no need for curfew in southern provinces /MCOT

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Special Report: Thai Women’s Day

BANGKOK: -- Although women have played bigger roles in the society in recent decades, gender inequalities and other disadvantages are somehow perceivable. 1 August of every year is when the importance of Thai women is being highlighted amidst social promises to uphold their images with respect.

1 August has been designated by the Cabinet as the Thai Women’s Day since 2003 after permission was granted by HM Queen Sirikit, who is highly regarded as the Mother of the Land and the pride of Thai women. August was the most preferred choice for the Day because it relates to the auspicious month of August, the birth month of HM the Queen. The cattleya “Queen Sirikit” orchid has been used as the symbol for the Thai Women’s Day.

On July 31 this year, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra allotted a 20-million-baht budget to the women’s fund of each province in an effort to uplift the quality of life for Thai women.

Prime Minister Yingluck presided over the official opening ceremony of the Women Empowerment Fund Program at Impact Muang Thong Thani. Representatives from women’s groups nationwide were invited to participate in the ceremony.

The event features several exhibitions on women’s roles to mark the Thai Women’s Day as well as an exhibition in honor of Her Majesty the Queen on the occasion of her 80th birthday anniversary this August 12.

At the opening ceremony, Ms. Yingluck authorized the transfer of 20 million baht to the bank account of the women’s fund in each of Thailand’s 77 provinces, totaling 1.54 billion baht. Throughout the program, an average of 100 million baht will be allocated to each province, or a total of 7.7 billion baht for the whole country.

The government’s Women Empowerment Fund has been set up to promote gender equality and women’s rights and to improve the economic and social conditions for Thai women. It also aims to strengthen women’s groups and provide assistance to the underprivileged in anticipation of many changes during the transition of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations into the ASEAN Community in 2015.

The Yingluck administration’s main policies include encouraging women’s participation in the country’s development, ensuring security in their lives as well as empowering their roles at all levels.

-- NNT 2012-08-01

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Phuket's first 'Safety Zone' set up in Patong

Phuket Gazette

Provincial Police Commander Chonasit Wattanavrangkul (left) checks the live streaming video from the CCTV cameras on an iPhone while local businessman Preechavude ‘Prab’ Keesin looks on. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

‘Prab’ Keesin, son of the Mayor of Patong, points out one of the new CCTV cameras and signs. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

PHUKET: -- In the wake of several high-profile violent crimes that have rocked Phuket over the past few months, Phuket Police are moving ahead with their plan to set up “safety zones” in key tourist areas, starting with Patong.

Full story:

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Robert Amsterdam Law Firm Terminates Lobbying Contract With Thaksin

Full story:

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Yuthasak asserts curfew not needed in southern border region

BANGKOK, Aug 1 - Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapa admitted Wednesday to a lack of unity among agencies in addressing southern violence, but said the current situation does not warrant curfew enforcement in response to the incidents.

Yuthasak pointed out that an integrated response is needed among 17 ministries and that each ministry will have to assign staff to the regional command centre for assignments could be unified and more effective.

The minister made the statement following last night’s car bomb attack targeting the CS Pattani Hotel in Pattani's provincial seat which injured three people.

Sukumpol said the latest attack was an attempt to show the capability of an insurgent movement for others to realise their significance and caused a heavy loss for the army.

Following his discussions with the top brass, the minister concluded that army personnel in the region are vulnerable as they shoulder varied tasks including drugs and contraband goods crackdown, therefore other agencies should also support their work.

Sukumpol said he asked the air force to provide reconnaissance aircraft to support patrol duty of army personnel to ensure their safety.

The request followed stepped up insurgent attacks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan including the killing of four rangers on a motorcycle patrol in Pattani's Mayo district on Saturday and two soldiers shot dead in a drive-by killing in Narathiwat on Monday.

Meanwhile, Col Pramote Prom-in, an Army spokesman, said security will be increased in coordination with key agencies including the Internal Security Operations Command and the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre, as well as 66 agencies of 17 ministries to further protect seven economic zones in four provinces --Yala's Betong district and provincial seat, Narathiwat's provincial seat, Tak Bai and Sungai Kolok districts, Pattani's provincial seat and Hat Yai district in Songkhla province.

Stringent measures will be put in place as well as military reinforcements for better security in economic and safety zones. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-08-01