Thailand Live Friday 14 Sep 2012

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Thailand Live Friday 14 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 13 2012

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DEATH OF PAWANA

Mystery surrounds death of "Pearl of Asia"

PHOCHANA PHICHITSIRI

THE NATION

NAKHON PATHOM: -- The death of 69-year-old former actress Pawana Chanajit on Monday has shocked her fans and is a more perplexing mystery than the plot of any movie she starred in during her glorious three-decade career.

Full story:

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FLOOD

PM vows quick aid for Sukhothai

JEERAPONG PRASERTPONKRANG

THE NATION

SUKHOTHAI: -- The floods in Sukhothai should subside in two days and remedial action will be reaching those affected very soon, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday.

Full story:

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WHITE LIES

Kittiratt denies he lied about export projections

The Nation

Kittirat

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong told the House yesterday that he did not tell lies about this year's export projections.

Full story:

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TRCT FINAL REPORT

Both sides blamed for violence

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

Commission says 'men in black' may have got cooperation from red shirts

BANGKOK: -- The long-awaited final report from the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (TRCT) on the 2010 crackdown, which was obtained in advance by The Nation, shows that the so-called "men in black" had received cooperation from red-shirt guards. It also said that security officers eventually used live bullets, deployed snipers and were likely responsible for the six deaths at Wat Pathumwanaram on May 19, 2010.

Full story:

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BANK OF THAILAND

Virabongsa airs doubts about Prasarn

Sarun Kijvasin

The Nation

Virabongsa Ramangkura

BANGKOK: -- Virabongsa Ramangkura, chairman of the central bank's board of directors, expressed his dissatisfaction with the performance of the Bank of Thailand governor but refused to reveal whether the board itself on Wednesday night approved of Prasarn Trairatvorakul's record.

Full story:

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Bungalow, bridge in Koh Chang face demolition

The Nation

TRAT: -- Authorities at Trat's Koh Chang National Park announced that a bungalow and an 80-metre-long hanging bridge near Sea View Resorts and Spa would be torn down because they are located on state-owned land.

The announcement also urged the individual who built the structures to present the authorities with a land title deed within 15 days or the park will demolish them. The manager, meanwhile, said he had only just joined the hotel and had no idea who had built the bungalow or the bridge.

-- The Nation 2012-09-14

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BMA calls on people to stop driving

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is calling on residents to use their personal cars less often and utilise the public transport system instead.

Full story:

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Printing machine blows up in Lat Phrao

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A 16-year-old printing machine at Bangkok's Kurusapa Lat Phrao Printing Press exploded yesterday, injuring three workers and causing damages worth at least Bt35 million.

Pol Colonel Setthasak Yimcharoen of Chokchai police station said the explosion of the "Commercial Web" printing machine had also caused the printing house's ceiling to collapse and the windows to shatter. The three workers suffered from burns, and one of them is in serious condition. Police are investigating the cause of the explosion.

Officials at the printing house said the machine, which could print 18,000 copies an hour, had been imported from Japan about 16 years ago and was checked on a weekly basis. The printing house is located at Lat Phrao Soi 59.

-- The Nation 2012-09-14

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Thailand says Myanmar preparing for refugee return

BANGKOK, Sept 14, 2012 (AFP) - About 120,000 Myanmar refugees in Thailand may return home within a year, the kingdom's National Security Council said Thursday, following recent talks between the two nations.

Full story:

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PACC

Prawase gives up hopes for chief's post

The Nation

Prawase

BANGKOK: -- A hopeful for the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) secretary general's post gave up on applying for the position Thursday after he met strict opposition from other PACC staff who said they wanted one of the incumbent deputy chiefs to be chosen.

Pol Colonel Prawase Moolpramuk, a deputy directorgeneral of the Department of Special Investigation, said he had only agreed to apply for the post after he was told to do so by Justice Minister Pracha Promnok. "I had better not apply because I don't want to cause any conflicts," he added.

Pracha had said earlier that he needed two days to decide whether he would appoint an outsider as the next PACC chief or promote a deputy since incumbent Dussadee Arayawuth will be moving over to the Justice Ministry on October 1.

-- The Nation 2012-09-14

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Injured man admits he planted bomb

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police arrested a man believed to have been injured by a bomb in relation to the South insurgency after he reportedly confessed that he planted the mine to harm security officials but ended up hurting himself by stepping on it.

Woha Baeloh, 42, who lost both his legs after stepping on a mine on Monday and remains in hospital at Rangae district, confessed that he had made a bomb and planted it under a tree near the Tonyongmas-Yi Ngor Road. He said he had also hung Thai and Malaysian flags on the tree to attract Thai officials.

The suspect told police that he worked with 10 other insurgency sympathisers and had planted seven bombs in the Rangae district since August 31. It is suspected that the mine which nine-year-old Muhammadsafik Lateh lost his right leg to was also planted by Woha.

-- The Nation 2012-09-14

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Two luxury vehicles seized in Songkhla

Full story:

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Naked Women Found Tied Up And Severely Beaten In Love Hotel

Full story:

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PM Yingluck heads to Krabi over disaster preparedness

Phuket Gazette

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrives at the Phuket Airport in March. On Saturday, she will head a conference with the governors of five Andaman provinces to discuss disaster preparedness. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

PHUKET: -- Officials in Krabi province, across Phang Nga Bay from Phuket, are ramping up security ahead of a lightning visit by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday, when she will head a meeting of provincial governors from the five provinces of the “Andaman cluster” to discuss “disaster preparedness”.

Full story:

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AUTO TALK

Poorly skilled drivers and the law

Pattanadesh Asasappakij

Apart from the regular launching of new models, the big news concerning automobiles in Thailand is the fatal road accidents.

BANGKOK: -- While some accidents lead to many deaths, other accidents may have just one casualty, but even the name of the driver involved can make headlines.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....e-law-thailand/

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Damrong to ramp up Phuket national park probe

Phuket Gazette

The investigation team believe the boundary markers were issued illegally. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

Mr Damrong says he has 3,500 rai of Phuket land to investigate. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- The Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Conservation, Damrong Phidet, has warned that come September 25 he will order 400 officers to start a full-scale investigation into land encroachment along the boundaries of Phuket’s Sirinath Marine National Park.

Full story:

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Thailand’s Flood Defenses to Fail Again?

by Joshua Kurlantzick

BANGKOK: -- Last year, flooding in Thailand breached defenses across the country, ruining many of the industrial estates on the outskirts of Bangkok, bringing the capital to a halt, and resulting in billions of dollars in damage and decisions by several major electronics components manufacturers to either abandon Thailand operations or open new operations to build disc drives and other parts in countries safer from flooding.

Full story:

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Ayutthaya town to stay dry - at least for now

AYUTTHAYA, Sept 14 - Six districts in Thailand’s firmer capital of Ayutthaya, 67 km north of Bangkok, have been inundated but the governor remains confident that the provincial seat will be safe from floods.

Full story:

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Big days of scary ghosts

SAKON NAKHON, Sept 14 – A festivity to extend offerings to hungry ghosts and the deceased will be held for the first time in this northeastern province of Thailand along the Mekong River.

The major objective of the event is to encourage Buddhists to make merit at temples during the three-month Buddhist Lent, the rainy season retreat.

Students of various schools will make effigies of hungry ghosts--sometimes called wandering souls in nearby countries such as Vietnam and China--to join a parade as part of the festivity, to be held at Wat Phra That Cherng Chum today and tomorrow (September 14-15).

The scary imaginative figures of hungry ghosts are symbols of fear among Thai Buddhists who are told that they will be born a hungry ghost in the next life they fail to make merit and do not follow the Lord Buddha’s teachings. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-09-14

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Higher water level predicted in lower Chao Phraya riverside

BANGKOK, Sept 14 – The water level in the lower Chao Phraya River, from its origin at Nakhon Sawan province and as it flows south through the central plains, will be higher, the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) warns.

The RID Water Assessment Centre reported that it has prepared food prevention plans in light of water runoff from the North, and instructed provincial officials along the Chao Phraya River to closely monitor the situation as well as warn residents.

The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy downpours in the northern and central regions on September 13-17, thus contributing to increasing water levels in various rivers which flow into the Chao Phraya at Nakhon Sawan.

The Irrigation Department has mapped out a water management plan using the Chao Phraya Dam in Chai Nat province as a 'water release centre' letting water from the North to flow out at a volume of 1,800-2,000 cm/s.

With this plan, water will be pushed into the Gulf of Thailand at a significant speed, and the water at Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong and Ayutthaya—all located below the dam—will be 25-50 centimetres high.

The Irrigation Department has also advised provincial administrations in the Chao Phraya region, including Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Suphan Buri and Ayutthaya, to instruct residents to closely monitor the situation and move their belongings to high ground. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-09-14

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,274.04, up 16.35 points /MCOT

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Actions on surrendered militants to be thoroughly discussed

BANGKOK, Sept 14 – Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapa is scheduled to meet the Thai Army's Fourth Region commander in the South today to discuss further actions against a group of southern insurgents who this week reported to the authorities.

He said the crucial issue is whether the government can enforce Article 21 of the Internal Security Act against the underground insurgents who showed up.

“If we do not agree to implement Article 21, those people who have created unrest may turn against the authorities,” he pointed out.

Article 21 of the Internal Security Act states that a wrongdoer who innocuously violates the law and surrenders to the authorities may be allowed to undergo training for the maximum of six months. After the training under conditions set by the court, criminal charges may not be filed against such returnees.

The purpose of the stipulation is to enable a wrongdoer to turn a new leaf for the sake of the country’s internal security.

Gen Yuthasak was apparently referring to a group of militants in the southern province of Narathiwat who this week met with Fourth Army Region Commander Lt Gen Udomchai Thamsarorach.

The deputy premier said one of the concerns was the various criminal offences committed by some of the 'surrendered' people. He said further that he must discuss with the Fourth Army Region commander for clarity.

It remains unclear whether the insurgents, or militants surrendered, turned themselves in with the notion of 'surrender', or if they saw themselves as simply coming to discuss the situation with the authorities.

In any case, the general assured them that the government will treat them fairly while the military, police and attorney general are discussing the issue.

According to Gen Yuthasak, everything must be clarified within the next few days in time for a meeting between Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her predecessor Abhisit Vejjajiva, also leader of the opposition Democrat Party.

He described a meeting between Ms Yingluck and Mr Abhisit as a good sign in tackling the southern unrest. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-09-14

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Meteorological Department warns of heavy rain during the next 4-5 days

BANGKOK, 14 September 2012 (NNT) – The weather bureau has warned the whole country to brace for more heavy rain during the next 4-5 days.

The Meteorological Department on Thursday night issued its 7th announcement, suggesting that the monsoon trough over the country’s northern and northeastern regions are getting stronger due to the active high pressure area in the southern region of China.

The announcement stated that the monsoon trough is expected to move downward to cover the central plain and the eastern seaboard during September 14th and 15th.

Such development, coupled with the strong southwest monsoon in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, prompted the Meteorological Department to warn the country, except the east coast of the South, to brace for

It also forecast that waves in both the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand can be as high as 2 meters during this period.

In addition, the announcement stated that typhoon Sanba, which has been hovering over the east of the Philippines, with wind speed of 195 kilometers per hour at the center, will likely move toward Japan’s Okinawa during September 15th and 16th while posing no impact on Thailand.

-- NNT 2012-09-14

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Authorities inspect water system in Bangkok

BANGKOK, 14 September 2012 (NNT) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Council (BMC) has inspected the readiness of the water pumping station in Bangkok Yai District, in preparation for high tides during September 13-17.

BMC Chairman Suthichai Weerakulsunthorn and his entourage yesterday visited Bangkok Yai District to follow up on the works of its water pumping station. They also traveled along the Bang Luang Canal to inspect the water situation and found that the water level was normal.

Nineteen water pumps have been installed and ready to operate. The water gates in the district receive water from the Phasi Charoen, Bang Wa, Sanam Chai, Bangkhuntien Canals and release it into the Chao Phraya River. If the water level is 90 centimeters above sea level, the gates will be closed and water will be released through transport gates to maintain the water level in accordance with the plan. If it rains at the same time, the water pumps will be activated.

The BMC representatives also discussed with the Bangkok Yai officials regarding emergency procedures and solutions to maintain the water level within 24 hours. The district office has already prepared sand bags in case of emergency.

Bangkokians are warned to prepare for possible flooding caused by heavy rain, northern runoff, and high tides during September 13-17. For more information and assistance, they can call 1555 around the clock

-- NNT 2012-09-14

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PM Yingluck brushes aside reports of broken dam in Chaiyaphum

PHITSANULOK, 14 September 2012 (NNT) – The Prime Minister has brushed aside reports of a broken dam in Chaiyaphum Province.

Full story:

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PM asserts water situation under control; denies rumour Chaiyaphum dam failed, says it is only leaking; orders speed up of Yom River drainage /MCOT

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HM the Queen sends relief bags to Ayutthaya flood victims

PHRA NAKHON SI AYUTTHAYA, 14 September 2012 (NNT) - Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, Honorary President of the Thai Red Cross Society, has generously sent necessity items to flood victims in Ayutthaya Province in order to alleviate their hardship.

As six districts of Ayutthaya have been inundated, Her Majesty the Queen has expressed her concerns over the well-being of the residents. She has assigned Thai Red Cross Society Secretary-General Pan Wannamethee to hand over 2,000 relief bags to the flood victims in Bang Ban District.

Six districts in Ayutthaya: Phak Hai, Bang Ban, Sena, Bang Pa-in, Bang Sai, and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, have been declared flood disaster zones. Since September 4th, the Thai Red Cross Society has cooperated with other agencies in sending mobile medical units to provide treatments to affected residents and assess the situation in areas with mudslides in Chiang Mai, Lampang, Sra Kaeo, Sukhothai, and Ayutthaya.

-- NNT 2012-09-14

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DIT inspects flood provinces to ensure sufficient products

BANGKOK, 14 September 2012 (NNT) – The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) has assured consumers that products and services are sufficient in flood-affected provinces so that the victims can cope with the situation.

The DIT said it has sent officials to flood-affected provinces to inspect products and services, making sure they are enough for everyone during the flood crisis.

Meanwhile, the department also said the government has been imposing policies, such as rice and cassava mortgaging schemes, to uplift Thai agricultural products for the well-being of farmers. It said although the mortgaging prices are set higher than market price, retail prices of farm products would be maintained so that consumers are not affected.

-- NNT 2012-09-14