Thailand Live Saturday 25 Aug 2012

[webfact]

Thailand Live Saturday 25 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.

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 Friday 24 Aug 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]

Suspect shot down in city drug raid

Khanathit Srihirundaj,

Piyanuch Thamnukasetchai

The Nation

Police seize a Jeep that was used to carry about 1.5 million methamphetamine tablets into a townhouse in Bangkok early yesterday. Police launched a raid to seize the shipment before it flowed into the inner zones of the capital.

BANGKOK: -- Police yesterday shot dead a drug suspect during an operation to stop the transport of 1.5 million methamphetamine tablets into inner Bangkok. The shipment could have fetched Bt450 million on the street.

Full story:

[webfact]

Counting the cost of populism

BUSINESS REPORTERS

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- As the Yingluck administration geared up for nationwide events this weekend to mark its first year in office, critics yesterday expressed concern that the government's populist policies would harm society and increase public debt.

Full story:

[webfact]

ELECTRICITY

Xayaburi hydro project on schedule, Energy Ministry says

Watcharapong Thongrung

The Nation

File photo of a hydropower in Laos

BANGKOK: -- The Xayaburi hydropower project is on schedule to begin supplying electricity in 2019, as the Laotian government has given no written notice of its cancellation or postponement, said Norkun Sitthiphong, permanent secretary of the Thai Energy Ministry.

Full story:

[webfact]

Democrats lay out govt's six key 'failings'

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Top Democrats yesterday delivered a poor scorecard for the government's first year in office, which will be marked this weekend, saying the administration had served vested interests instead of striving for the greater good.

Full story:

[webfact]

Ministers to tout achievements

PIYANART SRIVALO,

PRAPHAN JINDELERTUDOMDEE

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Ministers in Yingluck Shinawatra's government will start to announce the achievements of their first year in office next week, while the prime minister herself will offer a big picture of the administration's performance in mid-September, PM's secretary-general Suranand Vejjajiva said yesterday.

Full story:

[webfact]

Investment climate stronger than forecast: BoI

Tinnakorn Chaowachuen

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's investment environment is looking brighter than predicted, with the value of privileges granted to companies now targeted to reach Bt800 billion this year.

Full story:

[webfact]

Two Thai lese majeste convicts given royal pardon

BANGKOK, Aug 25, 2012 (AFP) - Two men were released from jail Friday after receiving pardons for insulting Thailand's revered monarchy, according to the kingdom's prison authorities.

Warawut Thanangkorn, 54, an activist for the "Red Shirt" movement loyal to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was freed from a three-year term early after a 2010 conviction for committing lese majeste.

He was found guilty of criticising Thailand's queen in a speech to Red Shirts.

A shoe repair man, Suriyan Kokpoei, 30, was also freed following his 2010 jailing for a bomb hoax to a Bangkok hospital caring for the nation's ailing King.

"They were released this morning," Sorasit Chongjaroen, superintendent of Bangkok Remand Prison said.

They were among 300 inmates pardoned across Thailand on Friday, according to Sophon Thitithammapruek, deputy director general of Corrections Department, adding the pair were freed because their "sentences are light."

The royal family is an extremely sensitive subject in politically turbulent Thailand. The king, who is revered as a demi-god by many Thais, has been hospitalised since September 2009.

Under the legislation, anyone convicted of insulting the Thai king, queen, heir or regent faces up to a maximum 15 years in prison on each count.

Observers say lese majeste prosecutions have surged following a coup by royalist generals that removed fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006. Thaksin's sister Yingluck now leads the government, but the trend is seen as likely to continue.

There are now seven lese majeste prisoners in the kingdom, but the Office of the Human Rights Commission of Thailand says an unknown number of the 241 cases brought between 2007-2012 are still under investigation.

Rights group Amnesty International views people incarcerated solely under the lese majeste law as prisoners of conscience.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-08-25

[webfact]

Frank discussion on lese majeste law

PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- A closed-door deliberation on the merits of the controversial lese majeste law was held last week at Chulalongkorn University in an attempt to build bridges and trust between supporters and opponents of the law.

The half-day event, hosted by Mahidol University's Centre for Peace Building and Research, involved some 20 key figures from both sides of the divide, including leader of the multi-coloured shirt royalist group Tul Sittisomwong and opponent of the law Thammasat University historian Somsak Jeamteerasakul. The centre's director Gothom Araya led the meeting.

Since the meeting was off the record, participants were able to speak more freely about the issue, hence it became clear after more than four hours that there still exists a deep-seated fear about the existence of an alleged conspiracy to overthrow the monarchy.

Though some supporters of the law admit that the law is too severe, carrying a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, and should be open for debate, both sides disagree on the time frame in which the law should be amended.

Some opponents of the law expressed concern that the law was exacting too high a price on Thai society in terms of freedom of expression and that the longer it remains as it is, the worse it is for Thai society.

Some royalists expressed concern, however, that any moves to amend or abolish the law would play into the hands of the alleged conspirators who want to overthrow the monarchy.

The opponents also said that the debate on the lese majeste law is just a reflection of a larger issue on what should be an appropriate role and status of the monarchy in a democratic society. However, the two sides have no consensus on the matter.

The meeting was told that perhaps all sides could reach common ground by acknowledging that there are at least three types of negative data on the monarchy: information that is false; facts that are negative but not relevant to the public; and negative facts that are relevant to the public interest.

Negative information about the monarchy deemed relevant to public interest should not be suppressed, an opponent of the law suggested.

Another participant urged society to treat criticism towards the monarchy the way society treats negative comments or criticism against politicians, adding that this was the only way to satisfy the public that everybody is equal and there is no preferential treatment.

-- The Nation 2012-08-25

[webfact]

Investigation focuses on 2 trucks in killing of MP's son

THE NATION

NAKHON RATCHASIMA: -- Police have narrowed their investigation into the murder of a government MP's son to two pickup trucks suspected of being used in the attack on Monday night.

The investigation is now focusing on the two vehicles, as they were found to meet the descriptions provided by witnesses. Also, the trucks and their drivers were missing, said Pol Lt-General Panu Kerdlapphol, commander of Provincial Police Region 3.

Chada Thaiseth, an Uthai Thani MP for the coalition Chart Thai Pattana Party, was on a vacation in Nakhon Ratchasima with his family when his son Farut was shot dead by gunmen in a pickup truck. Local investigators said a personal or political conflict could have been the motive of the shooting, though some sources said it could have been road rage.

Panu said yesterday that police investigators were still waiting to hear from people who were with the victim during the shooting, but they had refused to show up even though they were members of the damaged party.

He said the witnesses would have to produce guns used in the shootout on that day and they could be charged with carrying firearms and attempted murder, as they were involved in a gunfight. Panu said the witnesses would be summoned for questioning if they kept turning down investigators' requests.

Chief investigator Pol Colonel Wachirawit Kritritthisak, deputy Nakhon Ratchasima police chief, said that judging from the spent cartridges found at the scene, three guns had been used in the shootout - a 9mm pistol used by an assailant, a .38-calibre pistol used by Farut and another 9mm pistol.

Police were still unable to determine who used the third gun.

-- The Nation 2012-08-25

[webfact]

PM, on her weekly TV programme, thanks Thais for giving govt opportunity to work in first full year, admits she's tired but not discouraged /MCOT

[webfact]

RT @RichardBarrow: At QSNCC: Home Builder 2012, Home Buyers Expo 2012 & Cosmetics & Beauty Brand 2012 (ศูนย์ประชุมแห่งชาติสิริกิติ์)

RT @RichardBarrow: The Mall Championship Dog Show this weekend at The Mall Bang Kapi (เดอะมอล์บางกะปิ), 25-26 August

[webfact]

RT @RichardBarrow: At Impact: OTOP Midyear 2012 (Challenger 1-3), Sports World Expo (Hall 4) & China ASEAN Commodity Fair (Hall 5)

[webfact]

Angkarn Kalayanapong, renowned poet & National Artist, passes away at 86 after suffering from long-term heart disease, diabetes /MCOT

[webfact]

PM Yingluck Shinawatra invited to speak at Phuket Halal Expo

Phuket Gazette

Traditional Thai-Muslim attire on display the 2009 Phuket Halal Expo. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- The organizers of the annual Phuket Halal Expo, to take place early next month, have invited Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Asean Secretary-General Dr Surin Pitsuwan to give speeches at the event, which will have special activities in Patong and Phuket Town.

Full story:

[webfact]

PM pleased with government’s 1-year performance

BANGKOK, Aug 25 - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra reportedly expressed her satisfaction on Friday over the performance of her government’s first year in office.

Full story:

[webfact]

RT @BBCBreaking: #Samsung says it will appeal against US court ruling that it must pay #Apple more than $1bn in damages http://bbc.in/OB9ATU

[webfact]

PM: Tired but not discouraged as government marks one year in office

BANGKOK, Aug 25 - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday thanked the Thai people for giving the opportunity for her government to work in first full year, while admitting that she sometimes felt tired but not discouraged.

Full story:

[webfact]

Bail Jumping Brit Re Arrested For Child Molestation

PATTAYA: -- A 47-year-old British man who evaded prosecution charges of raping a 9-year-old boy in 2008 was arrested in a Jomtien apartment. He had been freed after paying the bail in his initial arrest, but failed to appear in court afterwards.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....ld-molestation/

[Lite Beer]

“Government Meets People for Quality of Life” Project opened at Rajamangala Stadium

BANGKOK, 25 August 2012 (NNT) – The Prime Minister has chaired the official opening of the government’s latest campaign to promote the quality of life of Thai people.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, on Saturday, officially opened the “Government Meets People for Quality of Life” Project at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok.

The official opening was also joined by many Cabinet ministers, including Deputy PMs Yongyuth Wichaidit, Gen. Yuthasak Sasiprapa, Kittiratt Na-Ranong and Chumpol Silapa-archa, as well as representatives from various state and state enterprise offices, business operators and members of the public.

The PM stated during the opening speech that the government has continued to systematically solve all social and economic problems through such campaigns as the new minimum daily wage and salary, the First Car/First Home initiative, the debt moratorium project and the SML village fund campaign.

Prime Minister Yingluck said that the government is determined to promote the quality of life of Thai people and in order to help boost Thai economic growth in time for the realization of the ASEAN Community in 3 years’ time.

-- NNT 2012-08-25

[Lite Beer]

PM Yingluck pledges to further improve Thai OTOP

BANGKOK, 25 August 2012 (NNT) – The Prime Minister has pledged to further improve Thailand’s OTOP items to international standards During the weekly “Yingluck Government Meets the People”, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said that the government is prepared to continue assisting Thai producers in the development of OTOP products by finding more added values to the local items.

The PM stated that the government is determined to push the Thai creations into the international markets while helping producers of quality OTOP items to speedily secure intellectual property rights.

The Premier added that the government will also lend hands to producers, who still need more assistance in the areas of design and cost management as well as the strengthening of related OTOP alliances.

She went on to say that more education and knowledge related to sources of funding will also be offered to Thai OTOP producers in order to help expand their production and distribution throughout Thailand, and hopefully in other countries in the future.

-- NNT 2012-08-25

[Lite Beer]

Families of Phuket disco fire accept Bt1mn compensation

Phuket Gazette –

Booncherd Budkror wais as he accepts a cheque for Bt1mn in compensation for the death of his daughter Duangporn at Tiger Discotheque in Patong, Phuket on August 17. Photo: Golf Thairath.

Somboon Sudtasorn, mother of the late Nipaphat Sudtasorn, accepted the check and left quietly with relatives, declining to comment to the media. Photo: Golf Thairath.

PHUKET: Families of the two Thai victims killed in the Tiger Discotheque fire on August 17 accepted compensation cheques of 1 million baht each during a ceremony in Phuket yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/579638-families-of-phuket-disco-fire-accept-bt1mn-compensation/#entry5604000

[Lite Beer]

Myanmar court sentences 8 Thais to prison on illegal weapon possession for 7 years each /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

National Blood Center to offer special services to Rh- donors

BANGKOK, 25 August 2012 (NNT) – The National Blood Center, Thai Red Cross Society, has opened the campaign “You are a Special Person (Rh-) Who We Care About”.

This is the second year for the campaign. It aims to provide special benefits for a particular group of blood donors, those with Rh- negative blood, who have donated for three or more times, in the year 2012 (from January 1 to December 2012).

These blood donors are given the privilege to receive special blood tests that will allow them to learn whether they have unwanted chemicals in their blood, as well as examinations for liver cancer, upper intestinal tract cancer, along with other examinations.

All of these services will be provided free of charge at the National Blood Center, Thai Red Cross Society, on Henry Dunant Road.

This campaign is intended as a gesture of thanks to this special group of donors who possess a rare blood type. Among Thais, only three out of every thousand people donate blood regularly.

The Thai Red Cross Society said blood donations not only help save other people’s life, but also maintain the health of the donors. It suggested that people make blood donations regularly.

-- NNT 2012-08-25

[webfact]

Police admit rising tobacco, alcohol taxes affect crime rates

BANGKOK, 25 August 2012 (NNT) - Police Major General Parinya Chansuriya, deputy commander of the Metropolitan Police, believed the recent increase in alcoholic beverage tax would have more pros than cons.

Full story:

[webfact]

Loan shark bagman shot in Phang Nga

Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- A debt collector for a local loan shark survived a bullet wound to his back inflicted by a gang of teenagers in Phang Nga yesterday afternoon.

Full story:

[webfact]

Thailand’s coral reefs 50% gone: Phuket marine biologist

Phuket Gazette

Hard corals, like this one off Koh Lanta, are at greatest risk. Photo: Quinet

Phuket Marine Biological Center director Pinsak Suraswadi: more than 50 per cent of Thailand’s coral reefs have been destroyed. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

PHUKET: -- With coral reef systems in Thai coastal waters at a “crisis” level, the director of the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) has vowed to step up his department’s efforts to mitigate the damage caused by the fishing industry and other human factors.

Full story:

[webfact]

AOT stepping up security at Hat Yai Airport

BANGKOK, 25 August 2012 (NNT) – The Airports of Thailand (AOT) has stepped up its security measures at the Hat Yai Airport, following continued violent incidents in the southern border region.

Full story:

[webfact]

Eight Thais sentenced to 7 years in Myanmar jail for illegal weapon possession

RANONG, Aug 25 - Eight Thais were sentenced seven years in Myanmar jail for illegal possession of military weapons, an additional verdict on top of illegal entry and deforestation charges, said a senior Thai border committee chairman on Saturday.

Col Pornsak Poolsawas, chairman of Thailand-Myanmar's Township Border Committee (TBC) at Ranong-Kawthaung said eight of 92 Thais now detained by Myanmar authorities were taken to hear their additional verdict at a local court on Friday and each received seven years in prison.

The eight detainees earlier admitted to the court that they possessed firearms only for self defense, as the area where they stayed was in the forest.

A local court earlier handed down three years and a half jail term for 92 Thai villagers-- 82 men and 10 women -- for illegal entry and deforestation.

Eight of them faced additional charges of illegally possessing weapons, while another two were charged with drugs-related offenses.

With the Friday ruling, these eight people will be jailed for ten and a half years, a verdict which the reporters described as obviously causing worries to the prisoners as they heard the ruling.

It is expected that the Myanmar court will rule on drugs charges against two Thais within the month.

The 92 Thai villagers were detained for encroaching onto Myanmar territory early July. The detainees maintained they were lured by a broker to clear the land which they later learned was beyond the areas authorised by the Myanmar officials for Thais to use for cultivation. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-08-25