Thailand Live Thursday 13 Sep 2012

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Thailand Live Thursday 13 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 Wednesday 12 2012

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Bangkok warned of flood threat as heavy rain predicted

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Residents in 27 at-risk communities in Bangkok have been warned to brace for floods this weekend as heavy rains are expected from tomorrow (Friday) until Monday.

Full story:

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INUNDATION

Flooding caught Sukhothai officials napping

PONGPHON SARNSAMAK

JANJIRA PONGRAI

THE NATION

SUKOTHAI: -- The unexpected flooding in Sukhothai municipality, affecting more than 2,500 households in six communities since Sunday, reflects clearly the failure of local authorities and the government to handle the emergency situation.

Full story:

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Chalerm: Government's drug suppression campaign exceeds target

Full story:

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SOUTHERN UNREST

Yingluck, Abhisit to seek answers

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva will sit together next Tuesday to discuss the situation and consider solutions to restore peace in the restive South.

Full story:

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DEATH OF PAWANA

Foul play not suspected: police

The Nation

NAKHON PATHOM: -- The evidence strongly suggests that former actress Pawana Chanajit met her death in an accident, rather than by foul play, a senior police officer said yesterday.

Full story:

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BURNING ISSUE

Sudarat bides her time, at least for now

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Veteran politician Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan recently announced on her Facebook page that she would not contest the upcoming Bangkok gubernatorial election as a Pheu Thai Party candidate, but she did not rule out the possibility of running as an independent.

Full story:

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Giftza penalised for drunk driving

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Phra Khanong Court yesterday sentenced singer Piya "Giftza Girly Berry" Pongkulapa to a suspended two-year jail term, Bt3,500 fine and 12 hours of social work for driving under the influence of alcohol.

She was also ordered to report to probation officials four times in one year.

The court initially sentenced her to two months in jail and a Bt6,000 fine, but halved the sentence - which was suspended for two years - and a fine of Bt3,500 because it was her first offence. "I'm sorry that I could [have] possibly caused an accident. I won't do it again," she said.

Giftza was arrested on Tuesday for driving under the influence of alcohol in Bangkok's Suan Luang district, prompting RS CEO Surachai Chetchotisak to enforce company policy by banning her from working for between three and six months.

-- The Nation 2012-09-13

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GOVT-TO-GOVT RICE DEALS

Deals boost ability to pay back much of pledging budget

Petchanet Pratruankrai

The Nation

Officials from the Commerce Ministry recently inspected rice under the government price pledging scheme at registered rice mills in Suphanburi. The government forecast to pledge a total of 26 million tonnes of paddy rice both main crop and second crop for

BANGKOK: -- The Commerce Ministry has promised to pay back the government at least Bt275 billion next year from the budget allocation for financing the rice-pledging scheme, as it is confident sales of 8 million tonnes under government-to-government rice deals can be achieved.

Full story:

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Elevated Airport Rail Link to de-link from SRT

BANGKOK, Sept 13 -- The State Enterprise Policy Office (SEPO) on Wednesday approved a plan to separate the Airport Rail Link from the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), setting it up as a new state enterprise to better operate the Airport Link system, according to Deputy Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt.

Full story:

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Huge drug hauls

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The secretary-general of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, Pol General Adul Saengsingkaew, yesterday announced the achievement record of its anti-drug policy.

In one year, police arrested 369,841 drug suspects and seized more than 26 million yaba tablets, 1,408.78 kilograms of "ice", 254kg of heroin, 1,600kg of marijuana and 4.5 million pseudoephedrine tablets. He said they also seized assets worth Bt1.663 billion from 4,700 cases, while the drug-rehab programme had rehabilitated 580,000 addicts.

-- The Nation 2012-09-13

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Inmates complain of insect bites

The Nation

RANONG: -- The 92 Thais at the Kawthaung (Koh Song) prison in Myanmar are distressed by a plague of fleas and ticks, prompting the prison's officials to ask Ranong Hospital to send bug repellents and medicine to treat bites and allergic reactions.

Reports said many inmates were allergic to the insects. After humid weather caused by heavy rain, the insects reproduce rapidly at Ban Kao Mile Prison. The Thais were arrested by Myanmar soldiers in July for illegal entry. Ranong health official Dr Thongchai Kiratihatthayakorn said the prison had requested the medicine, and the hospital had supplied it.

-- The Nation 2012-09-13

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15 provinces affected; EMIT sends in medical teams

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Dr Chatree Charoencheevakul, secretary-general of the Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand, said yesterday that the provinces affected by flooding are Sukhothai, Angthong, Pichit, Ayutthaya, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Uttaradit, Chiang Rai, Nakhon Sawan, Lampang, Lamphun, Suphan Buri, Sa Kaew, Phetchabun and Saraburi, with the first five being the hardest hit.

Full story:

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Health budget request trimmed by almost a third

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet yesterday trimmed a budget request for 2013 submitted by the National Health Insurance Office (NHSO) from the Bt157.3 billion sought to Bt109.8 billion, saying that the amount could be increased after parliamentary scrutiny.

Full story:

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Thawil denies order to kill reds in 2010

PIYANUCH THAMNIKASAETCHAI

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- There was never an order to shoot down red-shirt protesters in 2010, but security officers had to arm themselves in order to deal with unknown armed men, Thawil Pliensri, secretary of the now-defunct Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) told the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) yesterday.

Full story:

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NACC finds proof of graft in MCOT deal

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- A subcommittee of the national anti-graft agency has discovered that some people involved in a controversial deal between a TV production firm and state-run media enterprise MCOT, had committed wrongdoing causing the state to lose more than Bt130 million in advertising revenue.

Full story:

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Heineken's Thai rival makes bid for Tiger Beer parent

by Bernice Han

Singapore, Sept 13, 2012 (AFP) - A Thai group on Thursday made an Sg$8.7 billion ($7.1 billion) offer for Singapore's Fraser and Neave (F&N) group, the parent of an Asian brewer about to be taken over by Dutch giant Heineken.

Full story:

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Authorities in Sukhothai are repairing leakage on dyke while flood level begins to recede; flood expected to reach Bang Rakam in 3d /Nation

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Floodwaters recedes slightly in Sukhothai

SUKHOTHAI, Sept 13 – Flooding in Sukhothai has slightly dropped by 30-50 centimetres in some areas after a gabion rock and sand bag wall slowed the access of swift flowing water from the Yom River.

The floodwater began to stabilise after soldiers worked to build gabion barrier behind the eroded flood wall.

The next step, another gabion wall line will be built 50 metres away behind the first one to stop the flow from the Yom River. This measure is likely to affect some nearby residents but will protect most areas.

Despite the improving overall situation, however, some floodwater continues to emerge from sewers at some locations.

Mayor Pichate Thaikla of Sukhothai municipality said he is awaiting clarity on compensation from Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra during her visit to the province today. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-09-13

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PM inspecting flood-hit Sukhothai, Phitsanulok today

BANGKOK, Sept 13 – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is inspecting the old capital of Sukhothai and neighbouring Phitsanulok provinces, severely battered by flooding since early this week.

Describing Sukhothai as the most critically-affected province, the premier said emergency workers have been sent to alleviate the situation. She will inspect the flooded areas in person to monitor counter-flood operations and give moral support to people.

Other areas will have to be fully prepared for floods as waters will move from Phrae province through Sukhothai to the central plains, she said.

Ms Yingluck asked the public to refrain from describing the government’s flood prevention as “controllable or uncontrollable” for “this is a natural disaster which is hard to predict.”

She said officials have been instructed to assess the water situation in flood-prone areas and regularly forward information to the Water and Natural Disaster Management Committee.

Residents living near canals should keep an eye on the water level and alert the authorities if necessary, the prime minister said, calling on people to immediately evacuate if warned by the authorities.

On flood prevention for eastern and western Bangkok, Ms Yingluck said drainage has been effective on the eastern and western parts and the situation is under control.

However, torrential rain may have inundated some areas but the drainage system has greatly improved, she assured.

On the opposition’s criticism that her inspection of flood-hit areas was too slow, the premier said she had no problem with the criticism and that her field trip could not immediately solve the problems.

She said is was sometimes better to work in Bangkok and assign Cabinet members to the field or coordinate with the army to assist people. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-09-13

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,259.58, down 0.38 points /MCOT

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Focus

Hundreds jailed by 'fake' bomb detectors in Thai south

by Aidan Jones

Yala, Thailand, Sept 13, 2012 (AFP) - Implicated by the wand of a "bogus" bomb detector, Hassan became one of hundreds detained in Thailand's insurgency-racked south because of equipment that experts say is useless.

Full story:

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BOI moves forward with plans to the development of Thai professionals

BANGKOK, 13 September 2012 (NNT) – The Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) has signed an agreement on academic collaboration with the Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology, aimed at helping develop the skills of Thai personnel.

BOI Secretary General Atchaka Sibunruang revealed on Wednesday that the BOI has recently signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology, which is intended to create and strengthen the network of state agencies and education institutions.

Mrs. Atchaka said that, under the agreement, BOI will help facilitate the internship of students at companies, which have received investment privileges from the government.

She added that the planned coordination is aimed at allowing students to get work-related practical experiences.

The BOI Secretary General went on to say that the initiative has been implemented to help develop the human resources of Thailand, as the labor shortage in the country has increasingly been affecting the industrial sector.

She said that similar collaboration has been achieved between BOI and a number of education institutions located on the eastern seaboard.

-- NNT 2012-09-13

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PM leaves Bangkok by helicopter to inspect flood conditions in Ayutthaya, Nakhon Sawan, Phitsanulok, Sukhothai /MCOT

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Govt to seek new committee overseeing water system project bidding

BANGKOK, 13 September 2012 (NNT) – The government is prepared to issue a royal decree appointing a new panel which will oversee procurement of private companies to be responsible for constructing sustainable water systems throughout the country.

In his capacity as vice chairman of the committee on the design of sustainable water management and flood prevention systems, Deputy Transport Minister Chatchart Sithipan, revealed that the committee will propose to the cabinet the issuance of a royal decree setting up a panel to ensure transparency of the biddings for the construction of the country’s water management systems. The new committee will be headed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The government has set aside 305 billion baht for the construction of sustainable water management projects. Mr Chatchart stressed that the process to select bid winners for the projects should remain the duty of government officials. He added however that budget disbursement for the construction, which is usually paid by instalments, must be carefully planned and conducted in a transparent manner.

-- NNT 2012-09-13

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Phitsanulok's Phrom Phiram district critically flooding

PHITSANULOK, Sept 13 -- Thailand's new season of floods continues here with northern runoff from Phrae and Sukhothai and continuous rain causing water in the Yom River to overflow, flooding homes and farmlands in Phrom Phiram district.

Waters from the old Yom River flooded homes, paddy fields and other agricultural area in the district as the Tha Ma Kham Canal, a branch of Yom River, also overflowed to flood the district.

Residents quickly moved their valuable possessions to higher ground fearing that the water would rise due to the continious rain since early morning.

Many farmers harvested their crops early to ease damage from the flood after more than 2,000 rai of paddy field were under flood water.

The Royal Irrigation Department Phitsanulok office diverted water from the Yom River to the old Yom River to reduce the volume of water passing through Sukhothai, causing the flood in four Phrom Phiram subdistricts. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-09-13

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PM observes flood situation in northern and central provinces

BANGKOK, 13 September 2012 (NNT) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is today visiting the flood-prone provinces of Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, Nakhon Sawan and Phitsanulok to inspect the flood situation.

This morning, Ms Yingluck visited affected residents in Bang Bann district of Ayutthaya and delivered necessity supplies to each household. She inspected damages sustained by the rising floodwater in flood-hit areas.

In the afternoon, the Prime Minister and her delegation will move to Nakhon Sawan to observe the province’s rainfall telemetering stations before travelling to Sukhothai to be briefed on the progress of the flood control measures.

In Sukhothai, Prime Minister Yingluck will also inspect the province’s eroded levees beneath the flood walls through which the overflow from the Yom River had seeped. Ms Yingluck will later present flood victims with necessity bags.

The Prime Minister will conclude her tour with a meeting with Department of Internal Trade officials in Phitsanulok on issues surrounding the rice-pledging scheme.

-- NNT 2012-09-13

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Industry Min believes Thai industrial estates capable of flood handling

BANGKOK, 13 September 2012 (NNT) – Industry Minister M.R.Phongsawat Svastiwat believes that the six industrial estates in the central part of Thailand are capable of coping with flood.

According to M.R. Phongsawat, the 6 central industrial estates have been prepared for the upcoming flood by reinforcing their flood walls with 12-meter deep piles making them more resistant to strong vibrations.

Meanwhile, Governor of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) Verapong Chaiperm has revealed that flood prevention in 5 out of the 6 industrial estates has been 90% complete.

He expressed concern that Saharattananakorn Industrial Estate has been building a 6-kilometer floodwall which is now 25% complete. The works is expected to be finished in 45 days.

-- NNT 2012-09-13

[Lite Beer]

Two luxury vehicles seized in Songkhla

SONGKHLA, Sept 13 - Two luxury vehicles were seized at the Sadao border checkpoint in the southern province of Songkhla bordering Malaysia, according to a senior official.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/584064-two-luxury-vehicles-seized-in-songkhla/#entry5661713