World Habitat Day demonstrators call on gov't to address community issues

BANGKOK, Oct 1 – More than 1,500 people rallied at the Thai capital’s historic Royal Plaza today, calling on the Thai government to solve the country’s habitat and settlement problems.

Under the gaze of the King Rama V, Chulalongkorn, astride a noble charger, the demonstration in front of the old Parliament was not ar from the United Nations Asian and Pacific regional headquarters and Thailand’s Government House.

Commemorating UN-designated World Habitat Day, demonstrators from the Community Organisations Development Institute (CODI) and a number of other habitat-related networks said they wanted the Thai government to include settlement problems in the national agenda.

The demonstrators planned to move to the UN headquarters on Rajdamnoen Avenue, the Ministry of Transport and Government House later in the day.

Somboon Singkhing, a CODI member, said more than 100,000 families have been affected by the government’s mega projects including the construction of dual-track railways, Bangkok electric mass transit rail systems, and the building of dams and flood-control dykes.

Some villagers are engaged in legal disputes with the government, he said, adding that the government should advocate laws to endorse local community management of resources for human settlements, and that an ad hoc committee should be set up to solve the pending problems.

The United Nations has declared the first Monday in October the World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of human settlements and the basic right to adequate shelter for all. The theme for this year is “Changing Cities, Building Opportunities.” (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-10-01

Chinese market likes Thai leeches, earthworms, geckos

NAKHON PHANOM, Oct 1 – A small village in this northeastern Thai province is cashing in on odd ‘products’ from the soil making total earnings of over Bt100 million for villagers each year.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/588217-chinese-market-likes-thai-leeches-earthworms-geckos/#entry5714563

MARKETS

SET index surpasses 1,300pts

BANGKOK: -- The Stock Exchange of Thailand composite index has further moved up, closing above 1,300 points at noon.

The index gained 2.32 points or 0.18 per cent from the previous closing, to 1,301.11 points. if it stays at this level at the close, this will be yet another 16-year high.

Brokerage houses foresee great volatility this week, mainly by external factors.

"Indeed, at the current valuation, the index is at an expensive level, with the forward 2012 price/earning ratio at 14.1 times against a 13.1-times median and forward 2012 price-to-book value ratio of 2.2 times, against the 2-times median. As the index is heading to 1,300 points, investors should be careful," Surachai Pramualcharoenkit, executive director

of Trinity Securities, said in "Market View" column in The Nation.

Though convinced that the index would surpass 1,300 points this week, Chaiyaporn Nompitakcharoen, head of tactical research of Bualuang Securities, warned that the EU should remain in trouble on risk of a currency break-up, as banking union, fiscal union and political union all appear to be under a cloud.

"Fund inflows into Asia can be expected. Though for now it seems that this capital will flow into the Thai fixed-income market rather than equities," Chaiyaporn said.

-- The Nation 2012-10-01

Domestic travel growth hit by flooding

BANGKOK, 28 September 2012 (NNT) - Thailand’s domestic tourism industry is experiencing a slowdown due to growing fears of potential flooding.

During a monthly meeting between the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) and other related agencies, the Association of Domestic Travel (ADT) disclosed that package tour sales in the first half of October dropped following bouts of heavy rains across the country. Due to concerns over possible flooding, Thai travelers opted to stay home in order to save money for post-flood home repairs.

Meanwhile, TAT Deputy Governor Sansern Ngaorungsi said during the meeting that the rapid growth of low-cost airline flights had enabled younger tourists to travel independently with more ease. In the next 8 years, this demographic group will comprise around 50% of the total number, leaving the other half to those traveling in package tours.

The TAT suggested that tour operators should offer wider choices of tailor-made holidays to accommodate all budgets and tastes.

The TAT also projected that the number of international tourist arrivals will reach 22.4 million, up from the previous projection of 20 million. The number of Asian tourists is estimated around 15 million out of the total tourist arrivals.

-- NNT 2012-10-01

POWER

Banpu plans no provision against court judgement

BANGKOK: -- With confidence in winning the appeal against Siva Nganthavee and his associated companies, Banpu Plc announced that it would not set aside provision to cover damages associated with the court case.

"With these reasons, the Company and its subsidiary have no need to set the provision in the financial statements for the damages as stipulated by the judgment," said Somruedee Chaimongol, chief financial officer, in a statement to the Stock Exchange of Thailand today.

The announcement effectively stopped losses in the company’s share price. Today, the price was added by Bt8 to Bt400. On Sept 21, upon the Civil Court’s Sept 20 ruling that it must pay damage to Siva Ngantavee and group, the stock immediately lost Bt38.

Brokerage report said the provision, of about Bt33 billion, would immediately force Banpu to swing to a net loss this year.

Banpu said that after consultation with legal advisors, the company has been firmly assured that there are both factual and legal grounds to appeal the judgment, and has been advised that the company and its subsidiary will, in no circumstances, be held liable for the damages for information, investment and expenditures, and also in no circumstances, be held liable for the loss of opportunity from the former Hongsa Project of the plaintiffs, which had been earlier terminated by the Lao government.

The board of directors and the management decided to appeal the ruling.

-- The Nation 2012-10-01

CONSUMER PRICES

Inflation up 3.38% in September

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Inflation edged up by 3.38 per cent in September, due mainly to higher food and beverage prices, according to the Commerce Ministry's data.

Consumer prices went up 0.34 per cent from the previous month.

In the first nine months of this year, inflation was up 2.94 per cent - well within

the annualised target of 3-3.4 per cent.

The Bank of Thailand’s Monetary Policy Committee will convene on October 17. There is an expectation that with easing inflation and export slowdown, the MPC may decide to cut the policy rate from 3 per cent. In the previous two meetings, some members of the MPC supported a rate cut, to spur the economy affected by weakening demand for Thai exports

-- The Nation 2012-10-01

AirAsia takes off from new hub at old Bangkok international airport

BANGKOK: -- Regional budget carrier AirAsia started operations from its new Thailand base Monday, the day the nation's airports authority consolidated low-cost carrier services at Bangkok's old international airport.

Thai AirAsia Co Ltd had been based at Suvarnabhumi Airport, but the government urged it to move to Don Mueang Airport to release pressure on the overtaxed and troubled-plagued Bangkok hub that opened in 2006.

"I am satisfied with the operations at the (Don Mueang) Airport sofar, including immigration and check-in services, which have not caused any flight delays," Thai AirAsia chief executive Tassapon Bijleveld told Thai PBS television.

"At Suvarnabhumi, delays inlanding queues and the cost of aircraft circling the airport added 2 to 3 per cent to our operating costs." Thailand’s second-largest carrier by revenue and passenger volume joined Nok Airlines Co Ltd, Orient Thai Airlines Co Ltd, Solar Aviation Co Ltd (Solar Air) and charters at Don Mueang, which reopened in March after being forced to close in October last year because of Thailand’s worst flooding in more than 50 years

-- The Nation 2012-10-01

RT@RichardBarrow: The 17th Book Expo will take place at QSNCC (ศูนย์การประชุมแห่งชาติสิริกิติ์) from 18-28 October 2012

SOUTH CRISIS

One killed, two injured in Pattani shootings

PATTANI: -- Violence in the deep south province of Pattani continued unabated Monday with insurgents separately launching individual attacks, killing person and injuring two others.

Liki Kuno, 20, was on his way back home from a friend's house in Tung Yang Daeng district shortly after midnight when he was shot. He died at the scene.

Later, insurgents shot at Waeuseng Ngaeyeng, 35, who was about to park his car in the garage of his house in Nong Chik district at 2.10am before escaping the scene. Waeuseng was rushed to Nong Chik Hospital and his condition is now stable.

At 5.40am, Wilaiwai Sansara, 50, a road sweeper from Panare district, was at her job in Tambon Panare municipality when unknown number of insurgents fired at her. She was sent to Panare Hospital for treatment.

-- The Nation 2012-10-01

Yala police commissioner condemns "random shootings"

Bomb squad uses a remote-controlled robot to check a suspicious box left on a road in Narathiwat's Bajoh district Monday. The robot then defused bomb hidden inside.//Photo : Charoon Thongnual

YALA: -- A provincial police commissioner in Yala on Monday condemned attacks by insurgents on civilians in the province, which have led to several deaths and injured many others including a pregnant woman.

Pol Maj Gen Peera Boonlieng said there were about 10 attacks on civilians during the weekend, resulting in three people being killed and about eight suffering injury.

"The injured included a three-month-pregnant woman who was riding on a motorcycle in Bannang Sata district. She was shot from behind," Peera said.

"I want to condemn the attackers and the public should do the same as she and the other parties were innocent and had nothing to do with the insurgents' ideological fighting. They should fight enemies not spectators; they are innocent people, particularly the women," he said.

He considers the insurgents are changing tactics, as it is rare that they ride around on motorcycles and shoot randomly.

-- The Nation 2012-10-01

4 arrested allegedly with 1 million meth pills

CHIANG RAI: -- Four men were arrested along with over one milion Yaba pills, worth Bt300 milion in street value, in Chiang Rai's Mae Chan district on Sunday, deputy prime minister Chalerm Yubamrung told a press conference Monday.

Presenting the four suspects - a former drug convict released in 2009 Chamnong Yeubao, 36, Sombat Srisongsom, 50, Nawasit Sitthichodok, 38, and Naratip Porchae, 33, and the 1,094,000 Yaba pills - Chalerm said this drug bust was a joint operation of the Special Branch Police, the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, the Provincial Police Region 5 and Chiang Rai Police.

They arrested Chamnong and Sombat in a pickup truck along with the drugs then extend to arrested the implicated Nawasit and Naratip at a garage in the same district, he added. They were charged with having Yaba in possession with intent to sell.

-- The Nation 2012-10-01

Thailand works to become regional hub of robotic surgery

BANGKOK, Oct 1 – Thailand’s oldest hospital, Siriraj, is yearning for an ambitious position as Southeast Asia’s hub of robotic surgery given its success of over 1,000 cases by robotic surgical system and the latest launch of the second highly-calibre da Vinci robot.

Udom Kachinthorn, dean of Siriraj’s School of Medical Science, on Monday unveiled da Vinci robot II with a live vision of its surgery on a patient with prostate cancer and distal colon tumours.

Siriraj Hospital has treated over 1,000 patients, mostly cancer related, with the first minimally invasive robot since February 2007—the highest record in Southeast Asia.

With two da Vinci robots, the hospital wishes to give surgical treatments to more patients and aims to position Thailand as the hub of robotic surgery in the Southeast Asian region.

Thanyadej Nimmanvudhipong, chief of the Faculty of Medicine, said the da Vinci system is mainly used for complex surgeries such as prostate, colon and gynaecological treatments.

The procedure is less painful for patients who suffer less blood loss. It enables a shorter hospital stay and a rapid recovery.

Dr Thanyadej said the cost for a robotic surgery is three times higher than a normal procedure which costs Bt100,000.

Thailand currently has five surgical robots, two at Siriraj and each at Chula Hospital, Chiang Mai Hopsital and a private hospital.

Chaiyong Nuanyong, chief of the Faculty of Urology, said the Da Vinci Robot II is equipped with two sets of consoles for master controls and four robotic arms.

The first arm is for an endoscopic camera giving the surgeon three-dimensional image at 10 times biggest than the actual size. The stereoscopic vision is relayed via three other arms.

The system scales, filters and translates the surgeon's hand movements into more precise micro-movements of the instruments, which operate through small incisions in the body.

A da Vinci robot costs Bt120 million. It is called da Vinci in part because Leonardo da Vinci invented the first robot and also because he used anatomical accuracy and three-dimensional details to bring his works to life. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-10-01

Crab army marches on Phuket streets

Phuket Gazette –

WE COME IN PEACE: Having waited for a low tide thousands of mangrove crabs migrate to egg laying sites within Phuket’s mangrove forest. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: Phuket Town residents received a shock yesterday as they witnessed an invading army of crabs marching through the streets in the direction of the nearby mangrove forest and sea.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/588238-crab-army-marches-on-phuket-streets/#entry5714888

Local product fair to continue Tuesday despite M79 attack

NARATHIWAT, Oct 1 - A local products fair in the southern border province of Narathiwat is continuing as scheduled, through tomorrow, despite the event being attacked by assailants firing two M-79 grenades into the festivities on the weekend.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/587974-score-of-people-wounded-in-m79-attack-in-narathiwat/page__st__50#entry5714899

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POPULISM

First-car scheme tax rebates paid to 47 scheme

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Ministry of Finance today paid out Bt3.6 million tax rebates to 47 individuals joining the government's first-car buyer scheme.

As of today, 250,744 individuals have registered for tax rebates worth a total of Bt18 billion. Rebates will be gradually paid on every 5th and 20th day of each month. The first-car buyer scheme targets to draw upto 500,000 buyers.

Deputy Finance Minister Viroon Tejapaibul said that today marked the 1st anniversary of the scheme.

"This is to assure the general public that the project has been on the run and has achieved targets," he said.

The scheme was originally planned to last in a year. However, it was extended to cover reservations made before the end of this year, to help auto makers who had to halt production after last year’s flood disaster.

The scheme is one of major factors driving Thailand’s automotive industry this year. The industry expects the output to surpass 2 million units for the first time in history, since the industry took shape about five decades ago.

-- The Nation 2012-10-01

SET index closed at 1299.71, up 0.92; Bt/USD30.65; GBP49.38; AUD31.65; EUR39.34; CAD31.02; HKD3.95; SGD24.80; JPY39.09

POLITICS

No pressure on PM for Cabinet shakeup

The Nation

Warathep//Photo : Pramote Putthaisong

BANGKOK: -- Former Thai Rak Thai executives are not pressuring Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to reshuffle the Cabinet to make positions for them, a former office holders said Monday.

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Thailand Live Tuesday 2 Oct 2012