Thailand Live Monday 17 Sep 2012

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Thailand Live Monday 17 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 Sunday 16 September 2012

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/584607-thailand-live-sunday-16-sep-2012/

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Estonian fraudsters caught in 10 Million Baht scam

PATTAYA:-- Bangkok police arrested 2 young Estonian gang members caught in a 10 Million baht fraud .

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....m/#entry5671516

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Floods hit Sukhothai

PICHET NATEBUTR,

WATTANA KHAMCHOO

THE NATION

Officials try to fill embankment gaps as water level hits 50cm in commercial centre

SUKHOTHAI: -- Flooding raged into the heart of Sukhothai yesterday, just a few days after Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra visited the province and declared the situation there would soon return to normal.

Full story:

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5 provinces inundated

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Key provinces in the Central region are now battling floods, according to the Royal Irrigation Department.

Full story:

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Govt has set up power network of lackeys: Banyat

Somroutai Sapsomboon,

Prapasri Osathanon

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- In an interview with The Nation, Democrat party-list MP and adviser Banyat Bantadtan expressed concern over negative aspects of the ruling party's marketing strategies and fear that abuse of political power over permanent officials could plunge the country into danger.

Full story:

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Gun-toting god image recalls 2010 violence

THE NATION

PHRA RAHU, the Hindu god of darkness.

BANGKOK: -- Memories of the 2010 political violence have been revived by a new religious painting inside Wat Saket in Bangkok - depicted as Phra Rahu, the Hindu god of darkness, aiming a sniper rifle at the earth.

Full story:

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Ministry 'studying' Ombudsman's take on Thaksin passport issue

Nuntida Puangthong,

Attaphum Aungkulna

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Foreign Ministry is studying the Office of the Ombudsman's recommendation that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's passport be revoked, and will handle the case in accordance with laws and regulations, permanent secretary Sihasak Phuangketkeow said yesterday.

Full story:

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Most undecided on pick for governor

THE NATION

MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra

BANGKOK: -- Most Bangkok voters are still undecided about whom they will support for governor in the election early next year, according to an Abac poll.

Full story:

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Panyapiwat meets with Pattaya mayor

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Panyapiwat Institute of Management (PIM) will work together with Pattaya City to improve its work-based learning.

Pattaya City Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome met recently with PIM executives to discuss how to adjust its curriculum in line with the changing world. The curriculum will be bilingual in preparation for the ASEAN Economic Community.

Both agencies will collaborate with each other as a network in order to upgrade quality of education and work-based learning of PIM.

-- The Nation 2012-09-17

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Koh Samet business plan proves a winner

The Nation

SRI RACHA: -- Kasetsart University Sri Racha Campus' business plan recently won the first prize of a competition.

Students at the university had created the business plan that helped promote tourism on Samet Island during the rainy season, which usually attracts low tourist numbers.

Their plan won the 6th One-2-Call! BrandAge Award with the theme "Tic Tac Tour" around Thailand, taking photos, sharing them with others and then showing your ideas.

This competition allowed university students to create business plans that helped promote tourism in different parts of the country.

As many as 620 teams from 68 universities had submitted marketing communication plans to the judges, in which they had to hand in a book with the plan and do a marketing plan for online promotion.

So, they produced a real clip used to promote the tourist destination they chose and disseminated it online to promote the place.

Six teams representing each region competed in the final round. The winning team was given Bt200,000 in cash and a trophy. All the six teams got Bt20,000 each while others that were the second and third in each region were given Bt10,000 and Bt5,000 respectively. Also, lecturers who were advisers of these teams were awarded an amount of money.

The awards were worth Bt600,000 in total.

Somrudee Khaoto, a member of the winning team, said her team had created the plan to boost tourism and stimulate the economy of local communities on the island during the low season along with conserving the environment.

As tourists prefer not to travel to the island during the rainy season because of concern for their safety, the team also communicated with tourists by reporting weather forecasts on a website so they could check before travelling to the island. It also ensured the safety measure by usually inspecting ferries and halting ferry service immediately when weather was fickle.

Thitipong Kiewpaisal from Advanced Info Service said the competition had given a chance to students to think independently and learn from experience inside and outside classrooms. So, they could help with tourist destination promotion in every region of the country.

-- The Nation 2012-09-17

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Thailand and Toyota counting on each other

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand hopes to join the world's top 10 auto producing nations within the next three to four years, and Toyota - the largest auto company in the country - will play a major role in achieving that target.

Full story:

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Chuwit casts doubt on assessment of attacker by police

The Nation

SONGKHLA:-- Songkhla Police showed a mental health certificate from a doctor yesterday to confirm that the knife-wielding woman who attacked Rak Thailand Party leader Chuwit Kamolvisit's entourage in Hat Yai police station on Friday was mentally ill.

Thepthat Boonpattananont, Chuwit's male secretary, who needed 17 stitches for a wound to the side of his head, has already returned to Bangkok.

Pol Colonel Kritsakorn Pleethanyawong showed the initial mental health result for Khamla Mungmee to confirm that it was an assault by a mentally ill person, rather than a politically motivated attack targeting Chuwit. The certificate said she had a mental illness and should be further assessed and treated at Songkhla Rajanakarin Psychiatric Hospital. She was initially charged with assault, he said.

Chuwit told a press conference in Bangkok yesterday he questioned the police's ability to establish that the woman had a mental illness within two hours. He urged police to follow legal procedures, as in the case of a woman who stabbed four St Joseph schoolgirls in 2005. He urged national police chief Pol General Priewpan Damapong to help with this case, as it took place while he and the House committee on police were inspecting illegal casinos operating in Hat Yai.

-- The Nation 2012-09-17

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Bangkok Governor: Rainfall of over 60 millimeters will need time to drain

BANGKOK, 17 September 2012 (NNT) - M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra, the Governor of Bangkok, has stated that if the amount of rainfall in Bangkok does not exceed 60 millimeters, drainage of water will proceed normally.

However, over the past few days, the amount of rainfall was measured at 130 to 150 millimeters as a result of the heavy, continuous, whole day rainfall. The drainage in Bangkok thus required time, which had consequently led to some trapped water in certain areas. M.R. Sukhumbhand indicated that this slight flooding is considered normal.

The Bangkok Governor further stated that he was not concerned over flooding this year, as the government has had good water management strategies in place, encompassing water in upstream, mid-stream and downstream areas. As for those 27 areas located outside the protected zones, levees have been constructed to help prevent flooding. Only a few families have not cooperated with the venture.

-- NNT 2012-09-17

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Concerns over diphtheria outbreak in northern region

CHIANG MAI, 17 September 2012 (NNT) - Dr. Attapol Cheepsattayakorn, deputy director of the Office of Disease Prevention and Control, in Chiang Mai, stated that following an outbreak of diphtheria in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in May this year, there arose two suspected cases of the disease in Loei and Petchabun provinces in Thailand two months later. In the upper northern region, there are two suspected cases of diphtheria in Chiang Rai province. Both patients are not of Thai nationality.

Full story:

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EDITORIAL

Parties need to seize the day on far South

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The meeting between PM and Abhisit could yield fruit if both sides drop the politics and give it a genuine shot

Full story:

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Local Government man shot outside city pub in Pattaya

By Staff Reporter

PATTAYA: -- A local civil servant was shot and critically injured on Sunday morning

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....pub-in-pattaya/

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SET index opens flat

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thai composite stocks index (SET) opened on Monday at 1,275.20, down 0.92 points, or 0.07 per cent in line with regional shares.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 873.50, down 1.31 point, or 0.15 per cent.

Top five active (value) stocks: PTT, THAI, BTS, BBL, INTUCH, BLAND.

-- The Nation 2012-09-17

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Sukhothai flooding returns; barriers reinforced

SUKHOTHAI, Sept 17 – Floodstage has returned to Sukhothai’s provincial seat as water from the Yom River is seeping through sandbag embankments, and pouring over the top at some sites.

Full story:

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Swedish Consulate Officially Opens in Hua Hin

news Wachiraporn Janrut

HUA HIN: -- On Friday 14 September 2012, the Swedish Consulate in Hua Hin was officially opened at the Dusit Thani Hua Hin in the presence of Swedish Ambassador Mr. Klas Molin, Petchaburi Governor Khun Vinai Buapradit, local government authorities, high ranked police officers and many Swedes living in Hua Hin. The honorary consul is Khun Victor Sukseree, General Manager of the Dusit Thani Hua Hin Hotel.

Full story:

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Prem calls for nurturing of good people

BANGKOK, 17 September 2012 (NNT) – General Prem Tinsulanonda, Chief of the Privy Council and statesman has urged the Thai society to create and nurture good people, while encouraging good deeds among children.

In his speech delivered during a scholarship-giving ceremony, General Prem said the concept of morality and ethic is very important to the society. The concept is needed to be instilled in Thai children, so that they will grow up to be good people with honesty and ethics. The General also urged all related personnel to help embed the concept of morality and ethic in children’s minds.

His Excellency also told the scholarship winners to follow the vows they have given for the sake of the country.

Over 1,800 scholarships were awarded at the event, with a combined value of 5.4 million baht.

-- NNT 2012-09-17

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Thaksin should stay out of Thai politics: panel chief

BANGKOK, Sept 17, 2012 (AFP) - The head of an independent Thai reconciliation panel called on former leader Thaksin Shinawatra to stay out of the country's turbulent politics ahead of a key report on deadly 2010 protests Monday.

Full story:

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US Embassy in Bangkok issues security warnings to citizens in Thailand

BANGKOK, 17 September 2012 (NNT) -The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok has updated its security warnings to U.S. citizens in Thailand, following a spate of attacks and protests worldwide over a film made in the US deemed insulting to Islam.

Full story:

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PM asserts government doing its best to handle flood; Disaster agency says 11 provinces, 50,000 households affected /MCOT

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PM thanks private sector for taking care of canals

BANGKOK, 17 September 2012 (NNT) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra thanked the private sector for cooperating with the government in taking care of local canals in a move to help prevent floods.

The premier presented awards to private companies and residents living near canals, who participated in the clean canal project, in appreciation for their help. The private companies, government agencies, state enterprises, and people along the water ways have completed the canal dredging and cleaning project on 307 canals throughout Bangkok.

The project not only helped improve the canals’ atmosphere but will also help prevent flood in Bangkok. The government is preparing to launch this project in other canals throughout the nation.

-- NNT 2012-09-17

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7 more tourist centers to be opened in big cities

BANGKOK, 17 September 2012 (NNT) – The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is set to spend over 10 million baht to set up 7 more tourist centers in big cities across Thailand after receiving complaints of frauds and scams from tourists.

Full story:

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11 provinces affected; Residents near foothills warned of flash floods, landslides

BANGKOK, Sept 17 - People living along foothills are warned of possible flash flood, forest runoffs and landslide during the next few days, said the chief of Thailand’s disaster prevention agency on Monday.

Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation chief Wiboon Sanguanpong reported that to date, 43 districts have been flooded in 11 provinces, including Lampang, Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Chai Nat, Suphanburi, Angthong, Ayutthaya, Chaiyaphum, and Prachinburi.

Mr Wiboon said a total of 142,537 people have been affected in the new round of flooding.

The department has asked provincial offices to stand ready for an escalating situation and informed residents in the foothills and low-lying areas to prepare for possible flash floods, forest run-off and landslides due to heavy rain during the next four to five days, said the agency chief.

At almost the same time a similar number of districts have been facing drought, Mr Wiboon said, reporting that 41 districts in four provinces have been affected by a lack of water since mid-August, affecting more than 300,000 residents of Buri Ram, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phatthalung were hit by drought, while crops on nearly 1.7 million rai of farmland have been damaged. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-09-17

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Inaugural charter flight from Hat Yai launched for Hajj pilgrimage

SONGKHLA, Sept 17 - The inaugural charter flight from Hat Yai International Airport has been launched on Monday for Thai Muslims wishing to join the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, the centre of worldwide Islam in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

The Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC) together with the Religious Affairs Department and related agencies jointly organised this year’s event to send off pilgrims on their pilgrimage to Mecca.

Thai Airways charter flight TG8500 will land at Jeddah, the principal gateway to Mecca, Islam's holiest city.

The atmosphere at Hat Yai airport is lively with families of Muslim Thais in Thailand's five southern border provinces to see 295 pilgrims off at the airport.

Some 13,000 Muslim Thais will go to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj this year, 9,000 from the southern border provinces. Nineteen flights are being operated during this Hajj season between September 17-26. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-09-17

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HUMAN RIGHTS

UNDP-led HIV/AIDS education programme for Thai police

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- As many as 10,000 junior Thai police officers per year will soon receive education on HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination due to a new partnership signed today, by the Royal Thai Police, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Foundation for AIDS Rights and the Department of Rights Protection of Ministry of Justice.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/584963-undp-led-hivaids-education-programme-for-thai-police/#entry5673399

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RT@Porpich: 1:58pm Phitsanulok to Sukhothai route, 2 sides of the road still inundated