Thailand Live Monday 27 Aug 2012

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Thailand Live Monday 27 August 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 26 Aug 2012

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MILITARY RESHUFFLE

Officials decide, not the govt: Yuthasak

Anabpan Deechuay

The Nation

Yuthasak

Deputy Prime Minister General Yuthasak Sasiprapa dismissed reports yesterday that the government had interfered in the annual military reshuffle.

BANGKOK: -- Yuthasak commented after Defence Ministry permanent secretary Gen Sathien Permthong-in submitted a letter to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra stating that military reshuffle procedures were not carried out in accordance with the Defence Ministry's regulations. Selection for the Defence Ministry permanent secretary's post, for instance, must include the most senior official, General Chatri Thidti.

Full story:

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Tax collectors recruited to refill coffers

Wichit Chaitrong

The Nation

Tanusak

Unclear where 2,300 extra staff will dig up revenue

BANGKOK: -- The Revenue Department wants to recruit 2,300 tax collectors and invest Bt2 billion in the IT system as part of the Finance Ministry's search for more income to compensate for the corporate tax cut and other populist schemes.

Full story:

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EDUCATION

Universities agree to start academic year later from 2014

Chuleeporn Aramnet

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Council of University Presidents of Thailand (CUPT) yesterday resolved to postpone the start of the academic year to August or September from 2014 onward.

Full story:

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ANALYSIS

Paradox lies at the heart of Thai quest for justice

Tulsathit Taptim,

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

Red-shirt 'terror', Army 'sniper' cases illustrate the Kingdom's dilemma

BANGKOK: -- On the surface, it seems fair. One "state" agency, the Attorney General's Office, is pursuing "terrorism" cases against some red shirt members, while one "government" agency, the Department of Special Investigation, is going after those "responsible" for shooting the red shirts.

Full story:

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Traditional games exhibition

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Unesco Bangkok, in collaboration with Museum Siam and the National Discovery Museum Institute, held an official opening ceremony for the "Traditional Children's Games in South-East Asia Exhibition" on Saturday at the Museum Siam in Bangkok.

The exhibition introduces Unesco's pilot project to use traditional children's games as a learning tool. More than 90 local games from Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Thailand are included. A user-friendly English CD, "Traditional Children's Games in South-East Asia" records children's games from 15 ethnic groups: Ahka, Cham, Chinese-Malaysian, Indian-Malaysian, Hmong, Khmer, Lao, Mon, Malay, Mon, Muslim Thai, Buddhist Thai, Tai Lue, Tai Yai and Tai Yuan. It is designed to provide teachers alternative class activities and to encourage children to use those games in their own playgrounds.

The event showcased a Learn/Play classroom session by kindergarten students from Kasem Pithaya School. There was also a short seminar, "Toys: Values, Expectations and Meaning beyond Playing" by Weerawat Kangwannawakul, Len Dai Museum coordinator from Chiang Mai, and Suchada Tansirimas, inventor mum and award-winning blogger at "Bhoomplay's blog: DIY toys & ideas for playtime with your kids". The exhibition will run until September 16 on the 2nd floor of the Museum Siam, Bangkok.

Visitors can try the games on a computer provided at the venue, as well as play with a selection of traditional toys from northern Thailand.

Learn more about the project and download the games for free at www.unescobkk.org/culture/ich/children-games.

-- The Nation 2012-08-27

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ANALYSIS

Govt ties with army strained by legal ploy

Avudh Panananda

The Nation

Defence permanent secretary General Sathien Permthong-in

Bid to pressure Democrats over 2010 crackdown appears to have backfired

BANGKOK: -- With the government struggling to pin down the Democrats, it has ended up antagonising the Army and disappointing the red shirts.

Full story:

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REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Save the country: Tell no 'white lies'

Kavi Chongkittavorn

BANGKOK: -- Kudos must go to Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na Ranong for being the first minister to tell the truth to the Thai people that he told "white lies" to instill the country's confidence about economic growth.

Full story:

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

No pressure on Bangkok to join TPP: US envoy

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation

Kristie Kenney

BANGKOK: -- The United States' decision to issue a visa to ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has no bearing on Thai politics, and Washington will not pressure Thailand to make a decision on joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, according to the US ambassador.

Full story:

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RT @RichardBarrow: The next Bangkok Car Free Sunday cycling event is on 9th September. More details soon.

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Nigerian gets death for drug trafficking in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, Aug 26, 2012 (AFP) - A Malaysian court on Sunday sentenced a Nigerian man to death after convicting him of trafficking more than 14 kilos (31 pounds) of marijuana over the land border with Thailand, a report said.

Full story:

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,241.86, up 4.67 points /MCOT

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Bangkok prepares for this year’s possible flood

BANGKOK, Aug 26- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has been bracing for possible flood and the water run-off from the North.

Full story:

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Uttaradit's Laplae district remains under floodwater, forcing several schools to close; 10,000 rai of rice fields submerged /MCOT

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Royal Rain application to be launched

BANGKOK, 27 August 2012 (NNT) - The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has announced that it is launching a new smartphone application called Phon Luang or Royal Rain, in commemoration of His Majesty’s Royal Rainmaking project.

Full story:

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Govt drafting population plan

BANGKOK, 27 August 2012 (NNT) – The government is prepared to propose to the cabinet a draft plan to help improve the potentials of Thai senior citizens and to boost population number.

PM's Office Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisarn chaired the meeting to draft the national economic and social development plan, which was initiated by the United Nations Population Fund. The meeting gathered opinions from representatives from 12 nations, which have experiences in population management. The government will draft the national population plan for 2012-2016.

Mr Niwatthamrong said birthrates in Thailand have been on a decline due to the economic and social problems, while the number of senior population is increasing. He said the government therefore will propose plans to develop the potentials of the citizens in all age groups and improve the social welfare and well-being of the elderly.

The plan will be proposed to the Cabinet for consideration and implementation.

-- NNT 2012-08-27

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Abhisit appears before DSI inquiry panel to testify regarding his Democrat-led govt s handling of 2010 Red Shirt protest; Suthep to appear this afternoon /MCOT

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Criminal Court sentences 22 Taiwanese to 3 years each jail in call centre scam; sentences commuted to 1 year six months for confessing /MCOT

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ART

How we got this far

PHATARAWADEE PHATARANAWIK

THE NATION

An astonishing array of Thai art since 1946 awaits appraisal all in one place

BANGKOK: -- Seven decades of Thai art go on display in the grand exhibition "Thai Trends from Localism to Internationalism", affording an unprecedented opportunity for critical appraisal.

Full story:

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RT @mpoppel: BREAKING -- Powerful earthquake off El Salvador coast

RT @mpoppel: Preliminary magnitude of quake off El Salvador is 7.4 per tsunami warning center; no tsunami alert

RT @mpoppel: USGS puts magnitude of quake offshore El Salvador at 7.4; struck 32 miles deep

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Ex-premier questioned on 2010 Red Shirt riots

BANGKOK, Aug 27 - Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday presented his statement to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) concerning his government's crackdown on the 2010 red-shirt protests which led to the deaths of 91 people in Bangkok.

Full story:

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Some European automakers move production base to Thailand

BANGKOK, Aug 27 – A few European automakers plan to move their base to Thailand, said Payungsak Chartsuthipol, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).

Thailand has a strong auto parts production base and up to date standard production technology, attracting more investors

The establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015 will integrate the markets of 600 million in the countries.

European automakers are interested to building truck production bases, seeing ASEAN growth as a lucrative market due to expanded transport growth.

“According to the latest figure, Thailand’s auto production this year is projected to rise to a record high 2.3 million units, higher than the 2.2 million units projected earlier. Total production from January to July totalled 1.27 million units, up 32.6 per cent from the same period last year,” Mr Payungsak said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-08-27

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SAS dismantles route to Bangkok

It is not official yet , but according to TakeOff.dk, the decision has been taking. SAS stops its route Copenhagen - Bangkok by the end of Marts 2013.

Full story:

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Russian Wife Leaps From High Rise Condo After Marital Spat

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....r-marital-spat/

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RT @AP: BREAKING: Afghan government says Taliban insurgents behead 17 Afghan civilians.

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Foreign Ministry reveals its 1-year perfomance

BANGKOK: -- ​The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed satisfaction over the government's 1-year performance, saying Thailand's trade and investment have increased due to the good relations between Thailand and its neighboring countries.

Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul has stated that due to the Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatras year-round visits to foreign countries in order to strengthen relations and economic partnerships, Thailand has seen an increase in foreign investments and tourism industry.

Trade value between Thailand and China during January to June of 2012 has increased by 17 percent year-on-year, and that between Thailand and Japan increased by 12 percent.

In tourism segment, Thailand saw a 29 percent rise in Chinese travelers which numbered approximately 1.1 million, while the number of Japanese travelers has increased by 11.5 percent, or 630,000 people.

Mr. Surapong added that there have been 215 issues discussed during the Prime Minister's visits to other countries, 27 of which have already been completed, while 188 others are in process, including trade, investment, and education.

-- NNT 2012-08-27

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Patong Hospital ramps up flood defenses

Phuket Gazette –

The car park and roads surrounding the hospital flooded last Wednesday. The 16mn baht project to ensure the hospital remains safe from rising floodwaters is expected to be complete by January. Photo: Patong Hospital

Hospital staff living on site must fight fears of torrential rain destroying their belongings while they concentrate on saving lives. Photo: Patong Hospital

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/580018-patong-hospital-ramps-up-flood-defenses/#entry5609370

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RT@191Thailand: A passenger van going from Bang Beung to Chonburi this afternoon hit a 18-wheeler truck. 1 dead & 8 injured.

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UTCC recommends that Govt focus on infrastructure to prepare for AEC

BANGKOK, 27 August 2012 (NNT) – The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce has pointed out that the government should focus more on investing in basic infrastructure to help trigger the economy and prepare for the advent of ASEAN Economic Community.

UTCC Center for Economic and Business Forecasting (CEBF) Director Dr. Thanawat Polvichai has stated that it is very challenging for the government to set this year’s export expansion at 9 percent in the face of the slowdown in exports in many countries like China, Japan, South Korea, India, and Malaysia; as a result of the global economic crisis. He expects the Thai export to grow by 6-8 percent, while the economic expansion is expected to be around 5.5-6 percent.

Dr. Thanawat suggested the government should spend its budget on basic infrastructure, developing roads in the border areas in order to support those border businesses that are mainly dependent on road transport. These developments will also prepare Thailand for the formation of the AEC as well. In the past 6 months, border trade has increased by 46 percent.

Mr. Thanawat expects a decrease in export expansion next year, saying it will be only at 5-7 percent; while the economic expansion is anticipated around 5 percent. He, therefore, recommended that the government support investment and tourism industry as well as speedily enhance people’s earnings in order to trigger the country’s economy.

-- NNT 2012-08-27