Thailand Live Tuesday 4 Sep 2012

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Thailand Live Tuesday 4 September 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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update:

RED BULL

Chaleo's grandson held

The Nation

Policeman allegedly struck by Red Bull scion's Ferrari; senior cop made 'inactive'

BANGKOK: -- It could have been explained away as another death of a policeman killed by a car on a Bangkok street at dawn on Monday. However, this time the car was a Ferrari driven allegedly by a grandson of late billionaire businessman Chaleo Yoovidhya. And the accident caught the attention of the media after a senior officer of the victim allegedly attempted to make another man the suspect during the prosecution process.

Full story:

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BANGKOK COUNCIL

Democrats surprise with victory in Pheu Thai stronghold

KORNCHANOK RAKSASERI,

PRAPHAN JINDALERTUDOMDEE,

PRAPASRI OSATHANON

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Victory by the Democrats' Bangkok council candidate Kanoknuch Narksuwannapa over Prawase Wallopbanharn from Pheu Thai was a big surprise, as Constituency 1 has been a strong vote base for Prawase's backer, Karun Hosakul, for a long time.

Full story:

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EXPORT

Too late to rescue this year's exports

PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI

THE NATION

File photo shows Commerce Permanent Secretary Yanyong Phuangrach. The Commerce Ministry yesterday brainstormed with exporters over a boost to export.

BANGKOK: -- The government should look beyond this year's export figure, which it is too late to shore up, and urgently implement measures to promote exports next year amid expectations of a worsening global economic climate.

Full story:

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FLOOD TEST

Public can monitor water-drainage tests via live feed

Anapat Deechuay

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- People will be able to monitor the upcoming waterdrainage tests in Bangkok via a live feed broadcast on websites www.thaiwater.net and www.bangkokgis.com/bkkfloodwatch. The tests will run from tomorrow till Friday.

Full story:

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Malaysia 'is not involved'

The Nation

YALA: -- Malaysia was not involved in violence in the far South despite its flag being hoisted during a series of insurgent attacks in the region last week, Ogosalim bin Omar, deputy secretary of Malaysia's National Security Council, said yesterday.

Full story:

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Amphawa's ancient shophouses saved

The Nation

Developer bows to public pressure; agrees to put controversial hotel project on hold for now

SAMUT SONGKHRAM: -- Millionaire Choochai Chairitlert has relented after media and public criticism over his ambitious project to build a luxury hotel in place of a century-old row of wooden shophouses in Samut Songkhram’s Amphawa district, telling locals at a meeting on Sunday he was ready to drop his plans. The area is famous for its wooden shophouses.

"I am ready to drop the project to dismantle these shophouses that are now considered national treasures. They will exist, but whether they remain where they are or move somewhere else remains to be discussed.

"The construction of the hotel has been called off until a final decision is made, even though I have spent so much.

"I will never be happy because even though I hail from Amphawa, I am not welcomed here," he said tearfully.

Choochai, who owns 12 of the shophouses and the land they are on, had planned to build a luxury hotel and a complex of jewellery shops - a Bt500-million project he had hoped to call "Choochai Buri Sri Amphawa".

However, the move met serious opposition from both local residents and visitors, with some launching an online campaign against the project.

Locals 'mourn' plan

Occupants of six shophouses had to move out at the end of last month when their lease expired.

The buildings were to be torn down yesterday, but the demolition was cancelled after residents started laying flowers and messages at the site in mourning.

Choochai told the meeting the flowers and messages brought tears to his eyes and he decided to "leave these treasures to society".

He said that nasty comments posted online referring to him and his project insulted him and his family, but he wasn't angry.

"If everybody agrees that the shophouses should remain as they are, they will," he said.

When asked if he would drop the project completely, he said: "It depends on the majority, if they are all against the project, I will drop it. Money doesn't matter to me."

Choochai has reportedly already spent Bt200 million on the proj-ect.

A lesson for the future

Mayor of Amphawa municipality, Sanchai Arayaasssanee, also told the seminar that the project had been prompted by the expiration of a city plan and that this issue would be a case study for future policies on deciding where investments and demolition of old buildings can be allowed.

Associate Professor Siriwan Silaphatcharanant from Chulalongkorn University lauded Choochai for his decision to review the project, adding that architectural adjustments could be made to the hotel project, such as making it a low-lying building, should the project continue.

In earlier interviews with the press, Choochai said he did not intend dismantling the shophouses but instead wanted to make them taller.

However, he said, engineers had recommended that he tear them down because the foundations had been weakened by termites.

-- The Nation 2012-09-04

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2011 flood crisis cost Thailand Bt1.4 trillion; 65,000 lost jobs

PUANGCHOMPOO PRASERT,

THAMMARAT KITCHALONG

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Last year's flood crisis has cost some 65,000 people their jobs and caused economic losses of about Bt1.425 trillion, a researcher told reporters yesterday.

Full story:

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Sing Buri cops nab yaba pills, ice

The Nation

SING BURI: -- Police in Sing Buri arrested a drug suspect and seized 12,943 yaba pills and 56gm of crystal meth "ice" on Sunday.

Suwicha Dokmaithes, 34, confessed he bought the drugs from a gang in Saraburi Prison.

Drug Suppression Police also announced the arrest of Sompol Saelisor, 27, and Nipon Seloh, 36, plus 10kg of crystal meth in Kamphaeng Phet's Klong Klung district on Friday.

The two were stopped while driving two pickup to Bangkok. They said this was their first time and they were to be paid Bt50,000 each.

In another case, Panupong Panklang, 25, and Wannatip Saengngam, 23, were nabbed on Saturday at a checkpoint in Sa Kaew along with 4,000 yaba pills. They said they had been paid Bt30,000 each to transport the pills.

-- The Nation 2012-09-04

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258 congestion spots identified

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Traffic Command yesterday revealed 258 spots that cause severe traffic congestion, according to a recent poll of police officers from 88 stations.

There are 84 bad intersections, 90 bottlenecks, 41 troublesome Uturns and 43 problematic bus stops, that will be discussed at a Land Traffic System panel meeting next month.

Police also issued a notice of traffic changes around Siriraj Hospital to make way for the construction of two additional lanes along the railway and Bangkok Noi canal from September 7. The Bt120million project will take a year to complete.

-- The Nation 2012-09-04

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Yingluck Campaigns To Stop Violence Against Women And Children

Full story:

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Yingluck calls for new approach

Anapat Deechuay,

Nantida Puangthong

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra called yesterday for a new approach in tackling the country’s water woes, highlighting the need for regional centres to monitor the flood situation.

Full story:

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MP won't let dead son be exhumed

The Nation

NAKHON RATCHASIMA: -- Chada Thaiseth, the Chart Thai Pattana Party MP for Uthai Thani, has refused to allow his son Farut's body to be exhumed in the probe into the fatal gunfight by people in Farut's car and another on August 20 in Nakhon Ratchasima's Pak Chong district.

Chada will explain his decision, which stems from religious beliefs, at a press conference tomorrow.

Provincial Police Region 3 chief Panu Kerdlarppol has ordered the case to be wrapped up by the end of this month. He affirmed that a suspect in the case, Mun Poolsap, a 40yearold building contractor who says he shot at Chada's car in selfdefence after being fired upon first, wasn't a scapegoat. The case was based on forensic results, Panu said, adding that if Chada would allow the body to be exhumed, it would bolster the case.

-- The Nation 2012-09-04

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Police to probe 9 more 2010 deaths

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation has decided to get the Metropolitan Police Bureau to look into the deaths of nine more "victims" during the 2010 crackdown.

Full story:

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Court to consider Yoswarit plea

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court will consider a request to temporarily release red-shirt co-leader Yoswarit "Jeng Dokjik" Chooklom on bail.

Full story:

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BURNING ISSUE

Bt30 - a valued name for a health scheme

Avudh Panananda

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Policy branding is the name of the game for the big rival parties - the Democrats and Pheu Thai.

Full story:

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Yongyuth promises to lift his game soon

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Interior Minister and Deputy Premier Yongyuth Wichaidit defended his record in running the Interior Ministry yesterday, saying the public may not be aware of much of the work because it was low profile. He also had to spend a lot of time accompanying Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Full story:

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Danish Man Robbed by Bar Girl in Chiang Mai

Full story:

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Fitch report affirms Thailand's corporate strength

Full story:

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Green Mile star Michael Clarke Duncan dies at 54

Michael Clarke Duncan 2009. File photo. Source: wikimedia

LOS ANGELES: -- Actor Michael Clarke Duncan, who rose to prominence playing a death row inmate in the acclaimed film The Green Mile, has died at the age of 54.

Full story:

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RT @Tulip_Oum: Flash food early morning has inundated 5 villages in Lampang's Mae-Mor district. ~fm96.5 8am

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RT @ACSBKK: US citizens: ACSBKK will be in Pattaya this Thurs for routine consular services. Stop by and see us. http://1.usa.gov/NCRIqi

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,240.77, up 5.29 points or 0.43 % /MCOT

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DITP to hold “Export Clinic”, help Thai exporters

BANGKOK, 3 September 2012 (NNT) – The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) is preparing to hold an event called “Export Clinic” to provide Thai exporters with information regarding economic insight.

DITP Director General Nuntawan Sakuntanaga stated that the International Trade Training Institute will host the “Export Clinic” event which will provide exporters with business insight regarding opportunities in Europe during crisis and economic situations in various regions such as Latin-America, Africa, and the Middle East. The provided information includes knowledge of products, must-know information in each market, exporting opportunities, obstacles, and solutions.

The “Export Clinic” will be held on September 17th, 2012 at Swissotel Le Concorde Bangkok. Applications can be downloaded on www.ditp.go.th

For further information, please call 0-2513-1909, ext. 326, 329

-- NNT 2012-09-04

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Tickets to Thailand's National parks to be sold by Convenience Store 7-11

By Staff Reporter

BANGKOK: -- A huge change in the way that we, both Thais and foreign visitors, buy tickets for National parks is underway in Thailand, according to the Ministry responsible for their management.

Full story:

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Thailand grapples with killer student gangs

by Aidan Jones

Lopburi, Thailand, Sept 4, 2012 (AFP) - Sweat dripping from their foreheads as they complete a set of press-ups, students at a Thai army boot camp are momentary allies, but a spate of gang shootings suggests it is an uneasy peace.

Full story:

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Chiang Mai residents warned of heavy rain, particularly in Hang Dong, Samoeng, Chom Thong and Fang districts /MCOT

Heavy downpour, flash flood force evacuation of villagers in Lampang's Mae Mo district; mother with 10-day newborn baby rescued /MCOT

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The Met: Flash flood warnings issued for North, Northeast and Central region

BANGKOK, 4 September 2012 (NNT) - The Meteorological Department has issued a weather warning for residents in the North, the Central region, and the Northeast to brace for heavy rains and flash floods during September 4-6.

According to the weather bureau, a strong monsoon trough prevailing over the lower northern, central and northeastern provinces, and a southwest monsoon covering the Andaman Sea and most of Thailand are set to bring widespread heavy rains and scattered thundershowers.

Residents living near hillsides and waterways in affected provinces, which include Mae Hong Son, Phayao, Phrae, Utthradit, Sukhothai, Tak, Mukdahan, Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Ratchasima and Lopburi are advised to closely monitor the situation and to follow weather updates.

Residents affected by the floods are urged to contact their local Disaster Prevention and Mitigation office, or to call their 1784 hotline for further assistance.

-- NNT 2012-09-04

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Bangkok's art-focused library with an eye to the future

BANGKOK: -- An art-focused library was recently built in Bangkok with an eye to the future. Contemporary art activist Narawan Pathomwat is not only an avid reader. She has gradually collected thousands of books --mostly on art, which is her favourite subject, and also on other subjects.

Full story: