Thailand Live Saturday 8 Sep 2012

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Thailand Live Saturday 8 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 Friday 7 2012

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Ministry to cut officials' access to social media

Wattana Kamchu

The Nation

Source: wikimedia

BANGKOK: -- Interior Ministry officials will be able to access the popular social-networking website Facebook only during their lunch break after a ban goes into effect from October 1.

Full story:

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Floods after Thursday's rain raise questions on drainage

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Yesterday's flooding in many Bangkok areas pointed to flaws in the capital's drainage systems, according to experts, some of whom also questioned the government's decision to direct upriver run-offs into the sea through the heart of the capital.

Full story:

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Priewpan might run for Bangkok governor

PIYANART SRIVALO,

PIMNARA PRADABVIT

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Outgoing National Police chief Pol General Priewpan Damapong yesterday emerged as one of the Pheu Thai Party's candidates in the race for the Bangkok governor's post next year.

Full story:

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One million cameras will spy on future Bangkok criminals

Full story:

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Abhisit, Mahathir offer ideas on bringing peace back to South

THE NATION

HAT YAI: -- The former prime ministers of Thailand and Malaysia, Abhisit Vejjajiva and Dr Mahathir Mohamad, met yesterday to speak about their vision of peace for the South of Thailand, which is predominantly Muslim and has been hit by insurgent attacks since 2004.

Full story:

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ANALYSIS

How to remove Yongyuth gracefully?

AVUDH PANANANDA

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The clock is ticking and the government will eventually have to make a decision on the fate of Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit.

Full story:

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Like it or not, corruption is the name of the game in Thailand

Full story:

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ECB move lifts world stocks

Business Reporters

The Nation

A businessman walks past an electric quotation board flashing the Nikkei index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange yesterday. Tokyo stocks jumped 2.20 per cent, in line with a regional rally following gains on Wall Street and in Europe, after the European Central

BANGKOK: -- Thai investors warned that bond buy would not solve basic issues plaguing euro zone

Full story:

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Chronic diseases haunt Thai population

BANGKOK, Sept 8 – Non-contagious chronic diseases kill more than 100,000 Thai people a year, almost half of them under the age of 60.

Full story:

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Thai customs slap Bt50mn fine on 20 grey auto dealers

Full story:

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Panel delays decision on land documents

WATTANA KHAMCHU

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The Interior Ministry's committee in charge of revoking documents on land plots related to the Alpine Golf Club has decided to postpone the action, saying it needed time to study relevant laws first, a source said yesterday.

Full story:

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Govt to import saline-solution bags amid nationwide shortage

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Even though it is nearly a year since severe flooding hit Thailand, one of the country's four manufacturers of saline solution for kidney dialysis is still feeling the pinch.

"Hospitals nationwide only have access to about 50,000 bags of this saline solution," Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri said yesterday.

He added that the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) would distribute these bags among medical facilities to ensure that the patients are provided for.

GPO chief Witit Artavatkun said yesterday that 20,000 bags had been sent to facilities that were in urgent need.

He also disclosed that his organisation had placed orders for more than a million of the saline solution bags from India, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

"The product will be delivered over the next month," he said, explaining that the first shipment of 22,800 bags will arrive on September 13, and another 600,000 will be delivered on September 17 and 18.

Witit explained that the manufacturing process of saline solution for kidney dialysis was different from other medication.

"After the saline solution is produced, it needs to be stored for 15 days and then its quality has to be tested. Only those with satisfactory results can be sold," he said.

According to him, Thailand has the capacity to produce about 120 million bags of this saline solution each year. However, as one of the factories was flooded last year it has not been able to return to full capacity yet.

-- The Nation 2012-09-08

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'Transfer not related to graft probe'

Piyanut Tamnukasetchai

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Justice Minister Pracha Promnok insisted yesterday that he was not interfering with investigation into corruption by transferring a senior graft buster but was, in fact, paving the way for the man's career advancement.

Pracha, accompanied by senior ministry officials, visited the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission to explain his decision of moving Dusadee Arayawuth out of his post as PACC secretary-general.

"I stand firm in providing my full support to the battle against corruption and will not allow anything to block the investigation," he said, adding that making Dusadee the Justice deputy permanent secretary was in no way linked to his work at the PACC.

He reminded critics that he had personally chosen Dusadee to lead the PACC and now he deemed it appropriate to give him a new job with a greater scope of responsibility. Pracha went on to say that he had consulted with relevant officials, including PACC chairman Sophon Chantrema, before finalising his decision.

The minister said that in his new job, Dusadee would be put in charge of supervising drug-suppression measures as requested by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung. He explained that this new responsibility would help Dusadee advance further in his career.

As for naming Dusadee's successor, Pracha said that since the appointment would go into effect on October 1, he still had time to complete the nomination process, adding that PACC's Civil Service Sub-Commission would convene soon to vet candidates for the job.

Should the nomination fail to be completed on time, he said he had the mandate to name a caretaker, who would possibly be a PACC insider or a senior official from outside.

He reaffirmed that regardless of the PACC line-up, probes into corruption would stay on course.

Following Pracha's remarks, Sophon said neither the PACC board nor the minister had made a final decision on Dusadee's successor.

He also dismissed speculation that his son, an official at the Department of Special Investigation, was a candidate for the job, saying his son had no seniority to justify this appointment.

-- The Nation 2012-09-08

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Train ticket booking via call center made easier

BANGKOK, 8 September 2012 (NNT)-The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has made ticket booking via its call center 1690 easier by allowing callers to pay for the tickets at any of the more than 200 kiosks nationwide.

Full story:

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Female Police Officer Draws Her Gun In Dispute With Chevrolet Dealer

Full story:

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Hydro-Agro Informatics Institute chief, Irrigation Dept confident govt can handle flood this year; Ayuthaya inundation unrelated to BKK flood test /MCOT

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Thai PM arrives in Russia for 20th APEC Summit until Sunday

VLADIVOSTOK, 8 September 2012 (NNT) – The Prime Minister has arrived in Russia, where she will join Asia-Pacific leaders in the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.

The Public Relations Department reports that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and the Thai delegation, on Friday night, arrived on Russky Island in the city of Vladivostok, Russia, the site of the 20th APEC Summit.

The gathering of the Asia-Pacific state and business leaders have been scheduled during September 7th and 9th in Russia, with the official opening ceremony set on September 8th.

This year’s theme of the meeting is “Integrate to Grow, Innovate to Prosper” and the various discussions during the 3-day gathering will focus on 4 main areas, including the trade and investment liberalization and the regional economic integration, the stabilization of food supply, the creation of reliable supply chain, and the cooperation towards innovative growth.

The Thai PM told reporters she will raise the issue of Thailand’s concerns over the eradication of trade barriers and its stance to be a leading ASEAN member country in the areas of transportation connection.

PM Yingluck is scheduled to hold many bilateral meetings with counterparts from the Asia-Pacific region to discuss collaboration on trade and investment, especially with the leader of Russia, which has recorded the highest trade with Thailand, when compared with other Eastern European nations.

-- NNT 2012-09-08

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46 Anniversary of Star Trek: https://www.google.com

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Social Development Ministry to prompt young generations for ASEAN Community

BANGKOK, 8 September 2012 (NNT) – The Social Development and Human Security Ministry is set to organize this year’s National Youth Day celebrations, in another bid to help prompt Thai youths for the realization of the ASEAN Community.

Social Development and Human Security Minister Santi Promphat said on Friday that a number of interesting activities have been set to mark this year’s National Youth Day on September 20th.

Mr. Santi stated that all activities are aimed at enabling Thai youths to reach their potential, with things set to kick off on September 19th at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani.

The Social Development Minister said that the National Youth Day celebrations include the sales of products made by the youths and various youth performance shows from all regions as well as a campaign to boost Thai youths’ awareness of the arrival and the significance of the ASEAN Community in 2015.

The official National Youth Day opening ceremony is scheduled on September 20th at the Thai-Japan Youth Center in Bangkok, and will be chaired by HRH Princess Srirasmi, who will bestow awards to more than 150 outstanding youths as well as individuals and organizations that have contributed greatly to the development of Thai youths and children.

The Thai Cabinet reached a resolution on June 18, 1985 to declare the 20th of September of every year as the National Youth Day, as this day was the birthdays of King Rama V and King Rama VIII, who both ascended to the throne at a very young age.

-- NNT 2012-09-08

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Thai, Malaysia leaders hold bilateral talks, affirms good ties, to jointly develop border area; Malaysia to support with southern violence /MCOT

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Fuel tariff to raise 18 satang during Sep-Dec

BANGKOK, 7 September 2012 (NNT) – The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved the raise of fuel tariff (FT) by 18 satang per kilowatt-hour during the last 4 months of 2012.

Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairman Direk Lavansiri has revealed that during the month of September to December of 2012, the fuel tariff will be raised by 18 satang in line with higher gas and coal prices.

The actual FT charge should have been at 38.24 satang, but the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has decided to subsidize it by 20.24 satang per unit in order to help consumers shoulder the burden of electricity bills. The subsidy will cost around 10.5 billion baht at this stage.

As a result, the total FT after the raise (18 satang) will be at 48 satang per kilowatt-hour. Coupled with the base electricity price of 3.23 baht per unit, the price of electricity per unit before value-added tax (VAT) will be 3.71 baht.

-- NNT 2012-09-08

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Phuket hacks back drug 'growers' in Thalang

Phuket Gazette

More than 60 kratom trees were cut down or uprooted in Thalang and set alight yesterday. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada (in pink) joined Thalang officers for the burning of the kratom trees. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

PHUKET: -- Thalang police and district officers hacked open a path for progress in the war on drugs in Phuket by cutting down more than 60 kratom trees in Srisoonthorn yesterday.

Full story:

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Water management in Bangkok will be more effective than last year: Water agency

BANGKOK, Sept 8 -- Water management in Bangkok this year would be better than last year, while water handling on the eastern side of Bangkok has changed from testing to implementation, effectively preventing floods in Lat Phrao and Senanikom areas, according to a senior official of Water and Flood Management Commission (WFMC).

Full story:

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Reports come in that the train service between Chiang Mai and Lampang has been suspended. Landslide blocks road near Khun Tan station

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British Man Missing In Thailand

Full story:

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RT@tulsathit: Defence Minister Sukampol visiting Thaksin in UK has prompted rumours they would discuss military reshuffle.

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Chalong seeks B300mn for Phuket flood prevention

Phuket Gazette –

Chalong Mayor Samran Jindaphol (right) explains to one of his staff how important it is to have requested 300 million baht to erect retaining walls along the canals in the area. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

A team of officers inspect one of the drains that may cause flooding if blocked by debris dumped by the side of the road. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/582930-chalong-seeks-b300mn-for-phuket-flood-prevention/#entry5647024

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RT@RichardBarrow: Auction going on at the Dept of Land Transport for car license plates. ญอ 9999 just went for ฿3,700,000 pic.twitter.com/7XA5nB3w - TR @spin9