Thailand Live Monday 24 Sep 2012

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Thailand Live Monday 24 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 23 Sep 2012

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update:

'Killer' police doctor sacked by hospital

KWANHATHAI MALAKARN,

ANAN KONGCHAROEN

THE NATION

PHETCHABURI:-- Pol Col Supat Laohawattana, a police doctor suspected of killing at least four people and burying their bodies on his property in Phetchaburi, will be fired and his request for early retirement suspended, Pol Lt Gen Jongjet Oajenpong, chief doctor at the Police General Hospital said yesterday.

Full story:

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FLOOD

Plodprasob vows to construct Kaeng Suea Ten Dam in 5 years

Pichet Natebutr,

Manaschai Ananta

The Nation

Locals in Tambon Kabin Municipality of Prachin Buri

BANGKOK: -- Science Minister Plodprasob Surassawadee yesterday vowed to have the Kaeng Suea Ten Dam constructed in five years.

Full story:

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Thousands join drug rehab courses

Anupan Chantana ,

Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Half a million addicts have undergone voluntary rehabilitation over the past year, the most since the country started fighting drug use

Full story:

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

'Investors confident' on flood prevention

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation

Setsuo Iuchi, president of the Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) Bangkok.

Jetro urges govt to provide information in English to foreign businesses

BANGKOK: -- Though they were among those hit hardest by the devastating flood last year, Japanese investors expect that Thailand will be able to manage water efficiency and prevent serious flooding this year to ensure investor confidence.

Full story:

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Update:

Uncertainty over Yongyuth's status as minister, deputy PM

Wattana Khamchu,

Attaphum Ongkoolna

The Nation

Yongyuth

Govt claims his record was expunged 5 years ago, but Democrats say punishment is new, can't be annulled

BANGKOK: -- Even though Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit has been given a disciplinary penalty for misconduct committed in 2002, his current post may be safe because his record was expunged in 2007.

Full story:

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Mixed views on TRCT report

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The People's Information Centre (PIC) yesterday attacked the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (TRCT), claiming its final report on the 2010 crackdown plunged the country deeper into division.

Full story:

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REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Thai media need soul searching - again

Kavi Chongkittavorn

BANGKOK: -- When TV news anchor Sorrayuth Suthasanachinda was charged for embezzlement and bribery last week by the National Anti-Corruption Commission, he refused to answer questions from media and his own colleagues.

Full story:

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Water in Bangkok’s eastern canals drained to prepare for more rainfall

BANGKOK, Sept 24 – The Royal Irrigation Department has coordinated with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to drain water from Bangkok’s eastern canals into the Bangpakong River and the Gulf of Thailand in preparation for heavy rain in the next few days as forecast by the meteorological department.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....-more-rainfall/

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Thailand's skin-whitening craze reaches woman's intimate areas

Critics say vaginal whitening wash is extreme example of how cosmetic industry has changed Thai definition of beauty

Kate Hodal in Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- A new product said to make women's intimate areas "fairer within four weeks" has revived the beauty debate in colour-conscious Thailand, where fair skin is associated with opportunity, success and status, and caused critics to question when, if ever, the skin-whitening craze will end.

Full story:

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Bt2m robot scholarships open

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Thailand Robot Championship 2012 has now opened with up to Bt2 million in scholarships up for grabs. Interested teams can submit their applications until October 3.

Online applications can be downloaded at http://thailandrobotchampionship.org

The contest is being organised by the SCG, the Thai Robotics Society, Mahidol University, and the Office of Vocational Education Commission.

Winners will have an opportunity to represent Thailand in the World RoboCup 2013, to be held in the Netherlands.

-- The Nation 2012-09-24

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Green and clean is KMUTT's goal

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi has just launched a KMUTT Walk and Bike Society project, in line with its policy to become a truly green and clean campus.

KMUTT president Dr Sakarindr Bhumiratana said recently the project would promote walking and the use bicycles within the university grounds.

"Such choices of lifestyle are good for the environment and for the health of people who have embraced it," Suchada Chaisawadi said yesterday in her capacity as the KMUTT energy environment safety and health manager.

Sakarindr said KMUTT's campus was not too big for staff or students to walk or bicycle around.

She said KMUTT had announced its policy to become a green campus in 2003 and has stuck to it.

Sakarindr said in 2012, his institute was ranked the 17th top green campus in the world.

A master plan had been laid down to develop infrastructure for the goal of becoming a truly clean and green campus too. To date, the KMUTT Bike Club has more than 800 members.

"Walking and bicycling will help reduce global-warming problems," Suchada added.

-- The Nation 2012-09-24

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Flooding in Prachin Buri gradually receding after sluice gates raised higher to speed flood water drainage /MCOT

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Army chief orders more checkpoints in southern border provinces to prevent insurgent attacks /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,283.46, down 2.80 points /MCOT

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Bangkok Immigration launches re-entry permit queue online

Need a re-entry permit? Now you can apply online. File photo.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....e/#entry5694346

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THAI-MYANMAR TIES

Negotiations on nine jailed Thais to continue

BANGKOK: -- Officials of the Thai-Myanmar Township Border Committee (TBC) are preparing to negotiate with Myanmar in an attempt to help the remaining nine Thais still imprisoned.

Col Pornsak Poonsawat, the Thai co-chairman of the Thai-Myanmar Township Border Committee (TBC), said on Sunday that his side would hold talks with Myanmar officials over the release of the remaining nine Thai detainees after Myanmar on September 18 pardoned and freed 83 Thai nationals found guilty by a Myanmar court of illegal entry and encroachment on its forest territory.

Apart from the forest encroachment charges, seven of the nine prisoners were also charged with arms possession and sentenced to seven years in jail while two others-- one man and one woman-- were also charged with drug-related offences.

Thai authorities were informed by Myanmar authorities that two Thai detainees on Monday will be taken to the court in the town of Kawthaung, Col Pornsak revealed.

However, Myanmar authorities did not confirm whether the two Thais were be taken for a court hearing or for the delivery of the verdict.

In a related development, Pornpun Pupiangjai, the Second Secretary to the Royal Thai Embassy in Yangon, said that relevant officials were doing their best to assist the nine Thai detainees in the same way as the 83 Thais who earlier were pardoned by the Myanmar government.

A Myanmar court earlier handed down jail terms of three and one half years for each of the 92 Thai villagers- 82 men and 10 women - for illegal entry and deforestation after they all encroached on Myanmar territory opposite the southern province of Ranong in early July.

-- The Nation 2012-09-24

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PRACHIN BURI

Flooding in worsens but water should recede if rains hold off

The Nation

Flood in Prachin Buri of September 24.//Watcharachai Klaipong

PRACHIN BURI: -- The flooding in Prachin Buri province on Monday worsened on Monday with run off flowing in from adjacent Sa Kaew province and Khao Yai national park.

The water level in the districts of Kabin Buri and Sri Maha Pho rose to 1.90 metres. Water draining down from Sa Kaew and the park worsened the situation in many areas, cutting off access by small vehicle to many villages. The Chakraphong army camp in the province provided Unimog vehicles to transport affected people.

Meanwhile Governor Chittra Promchutima said flooding is expected to ease due to less rainfall.

The water is also expected to gradually recede after sluice gates were raised higher to speed the drainage of water on Monday, the governor said.

Provincial authorities cooperated with the irrigation department to raise two sluice gates in Kabin Buri and another in Si Maha Phot district to drain flood water into irrigation canal outlets and 24,000 acres of water retention areas, mostly paddy fields, though this will not impact farmers.

As of Monday, 11 tambons in Kabin Buri, eight tambons in Sri Maha Pho were still under water with at least 3,000 people affected.

Nearly 3,000 rai of agricultural lands were submerged with 108 roads, six bridges and 21 temples damaged as well as 22 schools affected.

Meanwhile Army Commander in Chief Gen Prayuth Chanocha said the army has provided assistance to affected people in Prachin Buri since day one and was continuing its efforts.

He provided assurances that the army would do its best to help people. However he emphasised that as nothing could be done to prevent the rain and thus steps should be taken to prepare the drainage system to cope with the additional water if more heavy rains hit the area.

-- The Nation 2012-09-24

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Krabi tour guide denies charges of sexually assaulting a Dutch tourist

Phuket Gazette

A Thai tour guide has denied charges of raping and assaulting a young Dutch model on holiday in Ao Nang (pictured), in Krabi. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- A 26-year-old Thai tour guide on trial for the alleged rape of a Dutch model on holiday in Krabi in July has denied the charge, claiming that the couple had consensual sex.

Full story:

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Pattaya Bar Girl falls from her 4th floor apartment in Central Pattaya

Full story:

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Four hurt in Narathiwat school bombing

NARATHIWAT, Sept 24 - Two school directors and two Thai army soldiers were wounded when an explosive device exploded near the entrance to a school in this southern border province today, police said.

Baan Batu School director, Kodae Laemaenae, and Baan Buenaepiyae School director, Ma Dueramae, and two unidentified army privates were injured.

The explosion took place as the school was about to hold a meeting of directors of schools in the area.

The 5-kilogramme homemade bomb was hidden near an entrance of Baan Batu School in Bacho district and was detonated by a mobile phone shortly before the meeting was to begin.

The explosion damaged a school pavilion. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-09-24

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Phichit declares four districts disaster zones

PHICHIT, Sept 24 - Phichit declared four districts in the Yom River basin as flood disaster zones, Phichit governor Suwit Watcharothayangkul said this morning.

The announcement will facilitate procedures in assisting flood victims.

The northern run-off and flash flood triggered overflowing of the Yom River and its branch canals and waterways.

The flood water level in four districts is about 1-2 metres on average.

The governor ordered district chiefs and local authorities to set up centres to monitor the flood situation around the clock.

The local disaster prevention and mitigation office reported flooding in the province’s four districts beginning September 3, affecting 1,486 households.

Meanwhile, flooding in the province’s three districts in the Nan River basin has eased and local authorities are surveying the damage. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-09-24

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Kasetsart: 1.3 million rai of farmland underwater during recent flood

BANGKOK, 24 September 2012 (NNT) - The Kasetsart University Office of Agricultural Economics (KU-OAE) Foresight Center has indicated that the flooding in the lower north and central regions have covered over 1.3 million rai of land.

The KU-OAE Foresight Center has reported the finding from satellite images of the Princess Chulabhorn Satellite Receiving Station, saying over 1.3 million rai of farmland in 14 provinces have been flooded.

Around 430,000 rai of rice fields have been damaged. The center predicted that this year's rice yields will be reduced by 210,000 tons of the country's overall production, estimated at 25 million tons. Damage is said to be around 2.2 billion baht at the moment.

The KU-OAE Foresight Center urged the government to find a short-term measures, such as low-interest loans,to assist affected farmers.

Meanwhile, a researcher from Princess Chulabhorn Satellite Receiving Station said the 14 flood-affected provinces are in low plains, where floods occur regularly; fortunately, the water just runs through and is not trapped in the fields the way it did in the 2011 flooding.

-- NNT 2012-09-24

[Lite Beer]

BOT watches personal lending, property loans

Sarun Kijvasin,

Wichit Chaitrong

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The central bank is carefully monitoring personal loans, the property market and household finances to prevent asset bubbles.

The bank would impose some measures to prevent problems such as over-stretched households or real estate bubbles, Paiboon Kittisrikangwan, assistant governor of the Bank of Thailand, said last week in an exclusive interview with Nation Multimedia Group.

The central bank will hold its annual symposium today and tomorrow. Young economists will present interesting papers to the public.

Their research includes the reasons why the central bank must be independent from political intervention and the implications of the central bank's book losses. These are hotly debated issues now.

The monitoring is in place, though the central bank acknowledged greater risks of economic slowdown.

"While the risk of inflation has subsided, the risk of economic slowdown has increased," Paiboon said.

Global inflation has eased as oil prices have dropped recently, so the threat of inflation in Thailand has abated, he said.

The latest round of quantitative easing (QE) by the US Federal Reserve will have a muted impact compared to the previous two rounds of QE. The Fed injected US$1.7 trillion (Bt52.34 trillion) into the economy in 2008 via long-term bond purchases, followed by $600 billion in 2010. The Fed now plans to buy new long-term bonds worth about $40 billion per month.

"QE saves the US economy from falling into an abyss. It does not necessarily lead to more bank lending or corporate borrowing or faster economic recovery," he said.

American banks will not lend more to support the economy if they see bleak prospects for a recovery. Then liquidity will come back to the Fed, he said.

The US economy is expected to expand at only about 2 per cent this year. It will take time for the major economies - the US, Europe and Japan - to fully rebound from the economic slump, he said.

QE would work through the capital market with little impact on the real economy, he said. The latest QE comes as a threat of global inflation has subsided.

The central bank has not lowered the policy rate from the current 3-per-cent level because it has to take into account the steep rise in bank loans, which last month surged 16-17 per cent, which was quite high.

Due to lively lending, a rate cut may not be appropriate. Some lending, particularly for consumption, shot up 30 per cent, he said.

Taking into account inflation, the real interest rate is close to zero, which is quite supportive of economic growth. The central bank is also keeping a close eye on household debts and property loans.

-- The Nation 2012-09-24

[Lite Beer]

Thailand ready for capital inflows

The Nation September 24, 2012 1:42 pm

BANGKOK: -- Bank of Thailand is on alert for more capital inflows to be driven by the US's third round of quantitative easing (QE3) which has so far strengthened the Thai baht by 1-2 per cent, said governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul.

Yet, he personally believes that much of excess liquidity would go to Latin America, where return on investment is higher than Asia.

Prasarn noted that fund flows in the last eight months showed some balance, with inflows to the equity and bond markets worth US$10 billion against outflows of some $8 billion. This has helped limit the baht appreciation against US dollar.

"The private sector should come up with risk management measures, as the central bank will strike foreign exchange stabilisation only when the rates are not in line with economic fundamentals. We won’t run against market mechanism. The central bank has tools which are somewhat effective. However, such action carries a cost. This requires the combination of foreign exchange and interest policies, as well as other regulations. Certainly, consequences from the euro crisis require a close watch by the central bank," he said.

Against greater risks of economic slowdown, he noted that the Monetary Policy Committee would maintain the policy rate at this level. A rate cut is not in the picture, he said, due to robust bank lending. A rate cut would only fuel the lending and serve as a wrong signal to the market, and could pose risks to the economy, he added.

-- The Nation 2012-09-24

[Lite Beer]

Govt: Water situation normal except in Phitsanulok, Prachin Buri

BANGKOK, 24 September 2012 (NNT) - The Water Management Operation Center has insisted that the water situation in most provinces have returned to normal except in Phitsanulok and Prachin Buri.

The Water Management Operation Center stated that the water levels in the flooded areas in the North and Central regions have subsided, except in Bang Rakam District in Phitsanulok and Mueang District in Prachin Buri, where the water has overflown the banks. The center, however, expected that water levels will be reduced in a few days.

It also stated that Typhoon Jelawat, which has increased its speed from level three to four, has moved upward to Taiwan; thus Thailand is safe from the storm. According to the center, the precipitation in Thailand this year has so far measured 1,200 millimeters or 20% less than the amount of the same period last year.

As for the concerns for drought, the Center insisted that there will be enough water as the Bhumibol and Sirikit Dams are holding around 60% of their capacity. It expected that by the end of the rainy season, both dams will have had 80% of water in them; enough for agriculture next year.

-- NNT 2012-09-24

[Lite Beer]

2,000 people made ill by floods each day

BANGKOK, 22 September 2012 (NNT) - Minister of Public Health Wittaya Buranasiri has reported that almost 2,000 people are suffering from illnesses caused by floods each day with 111 people experiencing stress.

Mr Wittaya and MD Narong Sahamethaphat, the director-general of the Department of Mental Health, accompanied by senior Public Health officials, on Saturday traveled to flood-hit Si Maha Pho district in Prachin Buri province to hand out relief supplies and first-aid kits to affected people. The minister and his entourage then visited mobile medical units which were assisting the flood-stricken residents.

According to the minister, 16 provinces have been submerged so far, and half of the number are in the central region. 30 medical mobile teams are dispatched to aid 2,000 people daily. Most of the flood victims are reported to suffer from a headache, followed by athlete’s foot and flu. 38 out of the 111 people with stress from the flooding situation have been under close care by medical staff.

The minister warned people who lived in flooded areas, especially small children, of drowning and eye infections. Swimming and walking in flood water are strongly discouraged.

-- NNT 2012-09-24

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Yongyuth faces NACC ruling of severe malfeasance in Alpine case

BANGKOK, 23 September 2012 (NNT) - The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has found Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit guilty of severe malfeasance in the Alpine golf course case.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/586291-yongyuths-future-in-the-balance/#entry5694864

[Lite Beer]

RT@Porpich: 2:21PM Water reached Ayudthaya and slowly overflowing Bangpa-In area bit.ly/PAguJF