Thailand Live Friday 7 Sep 2012

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Thailand Live Friday 7 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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Related topic: Thailand Live Thursday 6 2012

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update

TEEN SUICIDES

Health official sounds alarm

Duangkamol Sajirawattanakul

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Suicide is the No 3 cause of Thai teenagers' deaths, with 852 teen suicides from 2007 to 2011, or an average of 170 cases per year, Mental Health Department deputy chief Thawee Tangseri said yesterday.

Full story:

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FATAL HIT-AND-RUN

Drunken-driving charge to be added in Ferrari crash

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Krating Daeng managing director Worrayuth Yoovidhya will soon be charged with drunken driving over the fatal hit-and-run in which a policeman was killed, police said yesterday.

Full story:

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Ranong faces more floods, landslides

Boonleun Promprathankul,

Parinya Iamtarn

The Nation

Large parts of Ranong province were flooded yesterday after a heavy downpour. Residents in risky zones have been told prepare for evacuation if the situation worsens.

RANONG: -- Large parts of Ranong province were flooded yesterday after a heavy downpour. Residents in risky zones have been told prepare for evacuation if the situation worsens.

Full story:

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ANALYSIS

Democrats, Pheu Thai play waiting game on BKK governor's race

Somroutai Sapsomboon

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The upcoming Bangkok gubernatorial election will see the arch-rival Democrats and Pheu Thai fighting for the top city post, but neither party is ready to announce who their candidates are.

Full story:

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ANALYSIS

Pheu Thai may field Kittiratt for governor

POLITICAL DESK

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The ruling Pheu Thai Party's desperate search for a suitable candidate for next year's Bangkok gubernatorial election may be over, with Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong likely to be selected.

Full story:

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Sereepisuth wants to make 'an even bigger name'

Chularat Saengpassa,

Tanatpong Kongsai

The Nation

Sereepisuth

BANGKOK: -- Declaring he's "the new alternative", former police chief Sereepisuth Temeeyaves talks to The Nation's general news editor Chularat Saengpassa and Tanatpong Kongsai about his decision to run as an independent for the post of Bangkok governor.

Full story:

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ANALYSIS

State firms on lookout for new chiefs

Business Desk

The Nation

Sorachak

Will political intervention determine who takes reins at THAI, MCOT, TOT, four banks?

BANGKOK: -- The impending appointment of new chiefs for seven state enterprises just as the Pheu Thai government completes its first year in office raises questions whether political intervention will spike.

Full story:

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Second test today of Bangkok's flood

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The government will run water-drainage test in the eastern part of Bangkok today to study the efficiency of its flood diversion tunnel and the capacity of canals to handle large amounts of rainfall, the National Water Resources and Flood Policy Committee (NWRFPC) said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....oday-7-sep-2pm/

UPDATE

Water agency cancels Friday water flow testing on east side of Bangkok after heavy rain, flooding in many locations /MCOT

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More CCTVs to be installed in capital

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A million more closed-circuit TV cameras will be rolled out across the city to reduce crime and boost public safety.

Metropolitan Police chief Khamronwit Thoopkrajang said yesterday during the signing of an agreement with TOT acting president Montchai Noosong to install the equipment that he hopes would boost police efficiency and shorten their response time.

The cameras would be placed at important state offices such as Government House and Parliament, as well as VIP residences and public places. They would be linked to the bureau's CCTV centre and 88 police stations, he said.

-- The Nation 2012-09-07

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Police nab fraud suspect

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Crime Suppression Police have arrested Praisit Chaiya, 41, on suspicion that he is part of a gang that cheated people by using fake black-dyed banknotes.

Found at his home in Bang Khun Thien district were 2,600 bogus Bt1,000 banknotes, a safe full of counterfeit US$100 bills, three million pieces of paper cut to the size of a dollar, two printers, several chemicals, one note-counting machine and one note-testing device.

Praisit, who was arrested two years ago after trying to return phoney bills to a Government Savings Bank branch, is also wanted for a Pathum Thani land scam. Police nabbed him and found the evidence, which Praisit claims belongs to a foreign friend.

-- The Nation 2012-09-07

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Five arrested in drug raid

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Four men and a woman were arrested and 10 kilograms of crystal meth worth Bt30 million seized in Bangkok.

Tharit Pengdit, director-general of the Department of Special Investigation, told the press yesterday that a combined force nabbed the suspects when they made the delivery at Big C Rattanathibet and arranged for payment at a hotel in the Ratchadaphisek area.

The suspects belong to a new North-based ring with links to major drug dealers in the North and Bangkok, he said.

In Chiang Mai, two men were detained at a Chiang Mai-Fang Road checkpoint in Chaiya Prakan district at 4am and 500,000 yaba tablets recovered from a pick-up truck, which they tried to hide in a hidden compartment.

The duo, Sirachat Saethao, 28, and Sakthichai Jitrakan, 38, reportedly confessed to transporting "ice" from Mae Ai district to Pathum Thani once before.

-- The Nation 2012-09-07

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Fund to block land grabbing in South

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Following His Majesty's the Queen's concerns over reported land grabbing in the deep South, the government is considering setting up a Bt1.2-billion mortgage fund to prevent speculative land-buying in the region, Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said yesterday.

The fund would allow Buddhist and Muslim landowners to take loans at low interest that they can repay once the southern unrest subsides, he said.

Villagers had complained that a group of people was buying up property, so Region 4 of the Internal Security Operations Command sent a team to check the frequency of people moving in and out and found grounds to believe them.

The team will probe if the speculative land-buyers were linked to the insurgency, said Colonel Pramot Phrom-in, deputy spokesman for ISOC Region 4.

-- The Nation 2012-09-07

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Wage hike will stimulate economy: expert

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The increase in the daily minimum wage to Bt300 in another 70 provinces, which was approved on Tuesday and will go into effect on January 1 next year, will help stimulate consumption of domestic products and be beneficial to the economy in the long run, a Chulalongkorn University economics lecturer commented yesterday.

Full story:

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Asean in Phuket: Immigration to launch fast-track entry for tourists

Phuket Gazette

Tourists arriving at Phuket Airport are well-accustomed to long waits at the immigration-clearance counters. Photo: Gazette file

An artist's impression of the immigration arrivals queue after the expansion project at the airport is complete. Image: AoT

PHUKET: -- The Commissioner of the Thai Immigration Bureau has announced that a new automated entry system will be installed at all airports in the country, including Phuket. The system will allow passengers to enter the country without having to endure long immigration lines.

Full story:

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Pattaya to Hua Hin Ferry proposals discussed in meeting

Full story:

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RT @191Thailand: A passenger van on the BKK-Prachuap Khiri Khan route crashed early morning in Pran Buri. Reports of 3 dead & 6 injured.

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Water agency cancels water flow testing east of Bangkok after heavy rain

BANGKOK, Sept 7 – The plan to test water draining preparedness in eastern Bangkok’s canal system on Friday have been cancelled due to the large amount of rain yesterday, according to Dr Royal Chitradon, chairman of the Water and Flood Management Commission's sub-committee on water situation analysis.

Full story:

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Saichon Konjen wins second bronze medal

LONDON, Sept 7 -- Wheelchair racer Saichon Konjen won his second bronze medal of the 2012 London Paralympic Games in the men's 800m T54 wheelchair racing event yesterday.

Mr Saichon, who earlier grabbed a bronze medal in the 100m T54 wheelchair race, finished fourth, crossing the line in 1 minute 38.51 seconds.

It was at first understood that he missed the medal, but Chinese athlete Zhang Lixin, who finished second, was disqualified after the race, changing the overall results.

When Marcel Hug of Switzerland took the silver from Zhang Lixin it meant that Mr Saichon took the bronze after all.

The gold medal went to David Weir from Great Britain who won his third gold of the London Paralympics.

Thailand has now won three gold medals, one silver and two bronze, and ranks 31th at the medals table. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-09-07

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,255.23, up 11.31 points /MCOT

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PM leaves Bangkok for Russia to attend APEC Vladivostok summit Saturday-Sunday to build Thai role in international arena /MCOT

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Thai Smile launches new Phuket routes

Phuket Gazette

Prasert Tanhansa, manager of the THAI district sales office in Phuket Town. Photo: Orawin Narabal

PHUKET: -- Thai Smile Air, the new regional sub-brand of Thai Airways International (THAI), will launch daily direct flight services from Phuket to Bangkok and Chiang Mai starting next month.

Full story:

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Govt confirms its ability to block the influx of drugs into Thailand

BANGKOK, 7 September 2012 (NNT) – The government has assured that all state agencies related to the drug clampdown policy will be successful in blocking the influx of narcotics into the country.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Ubumrung said on Thursday that the nearest, main drug production base is still Myanmar, which remains out of reach for Thai officials to launch a clampdown.

Despite this, the government is simultaneously implementing 4 agenda to rid Thailand of narcotics, including prevention, suppression, rehabilitation of addicts, and awareness-raising campaigns.

As for the report from the Army’s Pa Muang Force that up to 500 million speed pills are waiting to be smuggled into Thailand, Mr. Chalerm is confident that Thai officials are higly capable and will be able to intercept the shipments.

-- NNT 2012-09-07

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The Met: More weather warnings for Central, Northern and Northeastern region

BANGKOK, 7 September 2012 (NNT) - The Meteorological Department continues to issue weather warnings of heavy rains to residents of 10 provinces in the Central region, the Northeast and the East.

According to the weather bureau, a low pressure cell covering the Martaban bay and the Western part of the Central region coupled with a strong southwestern monsoon prevailing over the Andaman Sea, the Gulf of Thailand and the Southern provinces are causing widespread heavy rains and scattered thundershowers.

Residents in 10 provinces which include Tak, Kamphaengphet, Nakhon Sawan, Kanchanaburi, Trat, Ranong and Phang-Nga are advised to brace for heavy rains set for tomorrow.

All shipping should proceed with caution as strong winds are generating high waves in the Upper Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea.

-- NNT 2012-09-07

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Tak flooded after two days of heavy rain

TAK , 7 September 2012 (NNT) – A two-day long heavy rain has caused flooding in Tak Province, especially in Aum Pang and Mae Sod, where flashflood rushed through, sweeping tons of stones and soil down from mountain top.

Full story:

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PM attends APEC Summit in Russia

BANGKOK, 7 September 2012 (NNT) – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has left Thailand for Russia to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, which is held on Russky Island, off the coast of Vladivostok, Russia

Ms Yingluck is set to attend the 20th APEC Economic Leader’s Meeting: Vladivostok, Russia during September 8-9. The theme of this year is “Integrate to Grow, Innovate to Prosper.” The meeting is focused on the liberalization of trade and investment, food security, reliable supply chain, and the facilitation of innovative exchanges.

The Premier is also scheduled to attend the APEC Economic Retreat under the topic of “Establishing Reliable Supply Chains.”

-- NNT 2012-09-07

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Chiang Mai declares 15 districts as flood disaster zones

CHIANG MAI, Sept 7 - Residents in the northern province of Chiang Mai have been warned of continued heavy rain, as 15 districts have been declared disaster zones.

Full story:

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BMW to use Thailand as manufacturing base for big bikes

BANGKOK, Sept 7 - BMW is to use Thailand as a base for manufacturing big bikes, according to Thailand's industry minister.

Full story:

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DITP helps Thai entrepreneurs penetrate Russian market

BANGKOK, 7 September 2012 (NNT) – The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) is supporting Thai entrepreneurs in penetrating the Russian market by participating in the “World Food Moscow 2012” exhibition.

DITP Director-General Nuntawan Sakuntanaga has stated that with the ongoing “APEC SUMMIT 2012: APEC Ministerial Meeting” and the “APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting”, the DITP has sent trade delegations to Vladivostok and Saint Petersburg for trade negotiations in order to expand the market of Thai products. Additionally, the DITP is taking part in the “World Food Moscow 2012”, in which over 20 Thai companies are participating so that Russian importers get to know Thai products better.

She added that Russia has been Thailand’s number 1 trade partner in Eastern Europe. Last year, Thai exports to Russia were worth 1.1 billion US dollars. Moreover, Russia has a policy to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to the country by offering many promotional privileges which will be advantageous to Thai entrepreneurs.

-- NNT 2012-09-07