Thailand Live Wednesday 5 Sep 2012

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RT @BreakingNews: Quebec premier-elect Pauline Marois is still inside Metropolis, in good condition - @CBCMontreal

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Education Ministry to present one-year performance

BANGKOK, 5 September 2012 (NNT) - The Ministry of Education is presenting its one-year performance report today, outlining its most urgent policies which include offering Bachelor degree programme studies at polytechnics and universities of applied sciences and implementing measures to ease the feuding of students.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra earlier assigned each ministry to report its achievements to the public to ensure that its important policies had been implemented in the first year of her administration

Deputy Education Minister Sakda Kongpetch said today’s presentation will cover the ministry’s important agendas such as its plan to introduce bachelor degrees of vocational studies and the enrollment of feuding students into military camps and Buddhist seminars.

He elaborated that on the agendas will also be the ministry’s stricter admission criteria for universities, and its future plans to tackle shortage of teaching supply.

The Deputy Minister also responded to concerns surrounding the implementation of the government’s tablet scheme that the Education Council’s office is organizing handwriting contests and quizzes in classrooms.

-- NNT 2012-09-05

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Court rejects Red Shirt activist Jeng Dokchik's bail bid after lawyer gives Bt500,000 cash collateral;insufficient indication that he repented his actions /MCOT

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Increased water levels in Buriram’s dams ease fears of worsening drought crisis

BURIRAM, 5 September 2012 (NNT) - Following bouts of heavy rains in the region, the Buriram Irrigation Office has confirmed a rise in their major dams’ water level.

According to Irrigation Office director Yongsuk Prapapansak, after two weeks of continuous rainfall, water volume in the province’s 22 reservoirs and dams have jumped up by nearly 50%, or 146 million cubic meters.

Several Northeastern provinces have been hit by severe drought, with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra instructing relevant agencies to supply water to drought-stricken zones and to conduct rain-making operations.

The steady decrease of water levels in Buriram’s dams and reservoirs had earlier sparked fears that the region will be further depleted of drinking and irrigation water.

Mr Yongsuk affirmed that the amount of water in major dams will be sufficient for irrigation throughout the year. As a precaution, however, the Irrigation chief said water cannot just yet be released for agricultural purposes.

-- NNT 2012-09-05

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Drainage tests inundate rice field in Thailand’s old capital

AYUTTHAYA, Sept 5 – More than 1,000 rai of paddy field in this 'rice bowl' province, 76km north of Bangkok, was flooded Wednesday as the water level rose one metre higher than the Chao Phraya river, the lifeline of the central plains.

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Tight security for PM Yingluck’s visit to southern border

NARATHIWAT, Sept 5 – A 500-strong police and provincial security force plus an Army company were deployed at the provincial hall in this southern province since this morning as Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will make an inspection trip to the trouble-plagued area later in the afternoon.

The premier was scheduled to meet with governors of five southern provinces and possibly visit the Narathiwat department store which was destroyed last Friday.

The special force providing security to the premier are military, police and provincial personnel while the Fourth Army Region set up a centre to coordinate all agencies concerned.

Speaking to reporters before travelling to the region, Ms Yingluck said the trip was to follow up on the southern situation and get a first-hand account from officials there.

The premier said she would discuss with southern officials regarding obstacles in executing the government's announced royal decree on tackling urgent situations in the South. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-09-05

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Northern flood: Disaster declared in Lamphun district

LAMPHUN, Sept 5 – Authorities in this northern province have declared one of the Lamphun's five inundated districts a disaster zone after three consecutive days of downpour.

The Mae Ta River has overflowed, damaging houses, farmland, roads and bridges in five districts: Mae Ta, Ban Thi, Pasang, Li and Thung Huachang.

Lamphun Governor Surachai Kan-arsa, declaring Mae Ta a disaster zone, reported that 176 families were affected by flash floods which have damaged 16 homes, 171 rai of paddy field, three rai of corn field, 20 rai of longan orchards, five roads and Mae Ta bridge.

The authorities were assessing damages in four other districts to determine if they would be declared disaster areas, he said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-09-05

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Elusive Gas Tank Thief Apprehended In Satthip

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Govt vows to tackle irregularities around flood compensation payout

BANGKOK, 5 September 2012 (NNT) – The government has vowed to tackle any irregularities surrounding the state-sponsored compensation for last year’s flood victims.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubumrung said on Tuesday that the Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) will have to pull all of its resources to uncover all irregularities surrounding the flood compensation payout.

Mr. Chalerm’s comment was heard after PACC had reported its finding of possible irregularities in the Northeast.

But the Deputy PM maintained that the report remains a speculation until the investigation team finds concrete evidence, while assuring that anyone found guilty of graft will be punished.

He has also expressed confidence that there is no corruption among policymakers and affirmed that the latest transfer of the PACC chief to be the Deputy Permanent Secretary to Justice is genuinely a promotion.

-- NNT 2012-09-05

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PTT to host Thai chess competition

BANGKOK, 5 September 2012 (NNT) – The PTT Public Company Limited has announced that it will host the Thai chess competition in November to promote Thai chess to the world.

The PTT said the competition will be organized to preserve the Thai chess and uplift the game to the international level. The competition is divided into three categories: youth, general public, and team.

Thai chess has pieces moved and positioned differently from regular chess; for example, the Thai Queen only moves one square diagonally while a regular Queen can move any number of squares vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.

Applications can be downloaded at www.lovemakrukthai.com from September 4th-October 15th. Applicants will have to pass the first round before entering the tournament during November 2-4 at Siam Paragon.

-- NNT 2012-09-05

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Cabinet informed of the progress on elevated dam constructions in Chao Phraya and Nan rivers

BANGKOK, 5 September 2012 (NNT) – The Cabinet has acknowledged some progress on the construction of elevated dams in the Chao Phraya and the Nan rivers.

Deputy Government Spokesperson Pakdehan Himathongkham said that the weekly Cabinet meeting, on Tuesday, was informed of the progress in the construction of elevated dams in the Chao Phraya River and the Nan River.

The project is under the supervision of the Marine Department.

Mr. Pakdehan said that the Bureau of the Budget has recently allocated 239 million baht from the 2012-2014 fiscal budget to be used in the exploration, design and study of environmental impact of the planned constructions.

He added that the Marine Department is selecting the adviser to be in charge of these works before the Term of Reference (ToR) is drafted.

The Deputy Government Spokesperson stated that the project has already been presented to the Strategic Committee for Water Resource Management (SCWRM)

-- NNT 2012-09-05

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NHSO agrees to provide anti-HIV drugs to patients sooner

BANGKOK, 4 September 2012 (NNT) – The Board of the National Health Security Office (NHSO) has approved a plan to extend all HIV/AIDS patients’ rights to receive medications in an earlier stage of illness.

Based on the NHSO Board’s resolution, Public Health Minister Wittaya Buranasiri pointed out that Thai citizens with HIV/AIDS will be able to obtain anti-HIV medicines once their CD4 cell count drops to 350 cells per cubic millimeter or lower, which is sooner than before. The drugs will be available to all gold card holders at state hospitals around the country, starting October 1.

The new plan is also an extension of an initial policy to provide anti-HIV drugs for patients with selected conditions, such as hepatitis B and C, diabetes, and high-blood pressure as well as post-pregnancy mothers and seniors over 50 years old.

Mr Wittaya said that the government will need an extra budget of 321 million baht during 2013-2016 to implement this plan, which is expected to help save the lives of more than 1,374 HIV/AIDS patients.

-- NNT 2012-09-05

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Water flow testing of Bangkok canals to evaluate drainage system effectiveness begins; water discharged to Thawi Watthana canal for 4 hours /MCOT

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Industry Minister: Bright future for Thai automotive industry

BANGKOK, Sept 5 – Thailand’s automobile production capacity will reach three million vehicles annually at some point in the next few years, Industry Minister Pongsawat Svasti said today.

Outlining a rosy future for the country’s automobile manufacturing industry, the minister said the growing trend has led to Chinese investment in Thailand – to be confirmed in the near future.

By November this year, the total production should reach two million vehicles, moving Thailand to the ninth rank in automobile manufacturing worldwide, he said.

He indicated that the growth in the automotive industry has contributed to other linked industries including electronics and software.

Pitak Pruittisarikorn, executive vice president of Honda Automobile (Thailand), said the automotive industry in Thailand in the second half of this year will remain bright thanks to the government’s first-car tax deduction scheme.

He said Honda’s factory in the Rojana industrial estate in the outskirts of Bangkok which was completely flooded last year resumed production last April.

Pending bookings for Honda vehicles are currently at 60,000 units, he said, adding the company would gradually hand over vehicles to customers within three months of their making bookings.

Honda Thailand will probably manufacture over 200,000 vehicles from April to December of its total production capability of 240,000 units, he concluded. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-09-05

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Telecom regulator NBTC fines DTAC Bt10 million for recent mobile phone network downage; DTAC admits fault, will pay fine /MCOT

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GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS

Thailand's ranking improves, amid challenges

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- After having fallen for six years in a row, Thailand halts the negative trend and improves by one place in this year's Global Competitiveness Index 2012-2013.

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Floods ease in Lampang

LAMPANG, Sept 5 – Flooding in seven districts of this northern province has eased after two days of floods while damage was initially estimated at no less than Bt30 million.

Chamnan Liebloke, chief of Huamuang Subdistrict Administrative Organisation (SAO), said Wednesday that most of flooded crops under his supervision are rice and corn, covering about 800 rai, public utilities and roads.

Province-wide an initial assessment showed more than 4,000 rai of crop land and 73 fish breeding ponds were damaged.

Mr Chamnan said a village of some 200 ethnic minorities was virtually cut off from the outside world after a bridge was damaged by floods.

In Mae Ta district, the water level in some areas was 50cm deep but the volume of water in a canal leading to Ban Nong reservoir remained high. Residents on both sides of the canal were instructed to be on a round-the-clock alert. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-09-05

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Yoswarit's bail request rejected

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court today rejected the request of redshirt leader Yoswarit Chuklom to be released on bail on the grounds that he has not done enough to show his remorse.

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AoT presents schools with textbooks to promote learning experience for children

BANGKOK, 5 September 2012 (NNT) – Suvarnabhumi Airport has given hundreds of books to local schools, libraries and youth centers as part of its campaign to support the Thai education system.

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Bank of Thailand keeps policy interest rate unchanged 3%

BANGKOK, Sept 5 – The Bank of Thailand (BoT) on Wednesday decided to keep the policy interest rate unchanged at 3 per cent.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....te-unchanged-3/

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Four soldiers wounded in Narathiwat booby-trap bomb

NARATHIWAT, Sept 5 – Hours before Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was to visit Narathiwat today four Thai Army soldiers were wounded in a bomb booby-trap incident as they were on foot patrol today.

The soldiers saw a cloth placard with a challenging message while they were on a routine foot patrol. They stepped on a bobby trap when they walked to pull it out.

All were rushed to hospital.

In Ruso district, a special unit of paramilitary rangers clashed with suspected insurgents for about 15 minutes during a search at a targeted area.

During the exchange of gunfire, one suspected insurgent was killed. Three others were detained.

The incidents occurred hours before Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is visiting Narathiwat today to follow up the latest situation and meet local officials to learn about the on-site problems at the provincial hall.

The premier was scheduled to meet with governors of five southern provinces and possibly visit the Narathiwat department store which was destroyed last Friday.

A special force providing security to the premier is comprised of the military, police and provincial personnel while the Fourth Army Region set up a centre to coordinate all agencies concerned.

Speaking to reporters before travelling to the region, Ms Yingluck said the trip was to get a first-hand account from officials there.

She would discuss with southern officials regarding obstacles in executing the government's announced royal decree on tackling urgent situations in the South. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-09-05

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WATER DRAINAGE TEST

Flooding in Ayutthaya unrelated to water drainage test: Royol

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The operation chief of the government's water drainage test has denied reports that the current flooding in Ayutthaya is the result of the test that started on Wednesday.

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Central Wage Committee maintains minimum wage at Bt300

BANGKOK, 5 September 2012 (NNT) - The Central Wage Committee has announced that the country’s daily minimum wage policy will be maintained at 300 baht and will be implemented nationwide on January 1, 2013.

Permanent Secretary for Labor Somkiat Chayasriwong said that the wage panel agreed that the 300-baht minimum wage scheme will be implemented at the beginning of 2013 and will continue to be in use for another two years, from 2014-2015.

Mr Somkiat said that the Central Wage Committee has resolved to uphold the policy after carefully studying the effect of imposing the scheme in 7 pilot provinces.

The committee is also expected to issue new measures to cushion the impact of the new wage hike on small and medium-sized enterprises within the next three months.

-- NNT 2012-09-05

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Thaksin photo leads to questions for police chief

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Metropolitan Police commissioner LtGeneral Khamronwit Thoopkrajang has found himself in trouble after boasting about his links to fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Green Politics coordinator Suriyasai Katasila Wednesday said he would this week launch legal and ethical proceedings against Khamronwit.

Suriyasai plans to petition the National Anti Corruption Commission to look into Khamronwit's lapse of duty in not arresting Thaksin, despite six outstanding warrants.

He will also ask the Office of the Ombudsman to rule whether Khamronwit has violated the ethical standards for law enforcement officers.

-- The Nation 2012-09-05

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SET index closed at 1233.84, down 2.47; Bt/USD31.15; GBP49.21; AUD31.51; EUR38.84; CAD31.35; HKD4.00; SGD24.78; JPY39.53

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TELECOM

Dtac fined Bt10mn for service failure

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Total Access Communication Plc (Dtac) solemnly accepts the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission's Bt10 million fine, for the mishap that affected 20 per cent of its clients.

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TAXI

Taxi complaint hotline buzzing

The Nation

File photo

BANGKOK: -- The Land Transport Department has received more complaints about taxi drivers refusing to take on passengers after it became an offence punishable by arrest since September 1.

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Thailand Live Thursday 6 Sep 2012