Thailand Live Wednesday 3 Oct 2012

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Thailand Live Wednesday 3 October 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 Tuesday 2 Oct 2012

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STORM PREPARATION

Dams drained to make way for "Gaemi"

THE NATION

BMA workers use a backhoe to fill in a sinkhole on outbound Ngam Wong Wan Road in front of Vibhavadi Hospital yesterday morning. The hole, which was about one metre wide and two metres deep, caused traffic jams

BANGKOK: -- Two reservoirs in Nakhon Ratchasima are being drained in order to enable them to fully accommodate a large volume of water expected with a major storm, which will cause torrential rains this weekend.

Full story:

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SEAC4RS

No spying in Nasa study, Plodprasob tells MPs

The Nation

Thai officials will control climate research flights, mostly over sea

BANGKOK: -- Science Minister Plodprasob Surassawadee sought to allay suspicions yesterday that the US space agency's planned study of climate patterns in Thailand was actually cover for a spying mission, although he acknowledged that one of the aircraft to be used had the capability for espionage.

Full story:

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Update:

ROYAL INSTITUTE

Spellings of English-Thai words not settled

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Royal Institute secretary general Kanokwalee Chuchaiya said yesterday that correcting the spellings of the 176 words borrowed from the English language so they included tones to reflect how they are pronounced is a huge issue that needs several more steps.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....50#entry5719436

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Rice-pledging scheme could 'doom Yingluck'

Achara Deboonme,

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

Virabongsa

BANGKOK: -- Central bank chairman Virabongsa Ramangkura advises Pheu Thai govt to quickly scrap massive project, which he says is wide open to corruption

Full story:

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Israeli tourist injured and raped on Koh Phangan

Full story:

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Dr Supat may face lesser charges

THE NATION

PHETCHABURI: -- Police will still take legal action against a former Police Hospital doctor despite failing so far to locate bodies of a couple he allegedly kidnapped and murdered, a senior officer said yesterday.

Pol Colonel Pichai Pokpong, the commander of Tha Mai Ruak station in Phetchaburi, said police could still charge Pol Colonel Dr Supat Laohawatthana with unlawful detention and theft or buying a stolen vehicle based on evidence they had obtained.

Police have yet to locate Samart Numjui and his wife, Orasa Kerdsab. Three bodies found at Supat's ranch in Phetchaburi were found by the Police Forensic Medicine Institute to not match DNA of Samart and Orasa.

Samart's parents alleged that Supat abducted and murdered their son and daughter-in-law and the couple's pickup was found at Supat's Nonthaburi house.

Pichai said all the evidence was enough to make case against Supat.

Pol Lt-Colonel Sutham Pongsithong, an investigator at the police station, said Samart's father, Sawang, had filed a complaint against Polthep Suwanwichian, Supat's lawyer, accusing him of defamation in claims made to reporters that Samart and his wife had been detained by authorities in Myanmar.

Sutham said he would talk to journalists who reported Polthep's remarks before deciding whether to take action against the lawyer.

-- The Nation 2012-10-03

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STOPPAGE TIME

Yongyuth has spared us all from a mega-headache

Tulsathit Taptim

BANGKOK: -- It all began with an attempt to turn a large plot of land donated for religious purposes into a commercial windfall. The Alpine controversy's latest chapter, again, involved efforts to blur the issue. We were left wondering if it was legal, or constitutional, or ethical or political, or a bit of everything. But whatever it actually was, Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit simply had to go. And he did.

Full story:

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EDITORIAL

Fancy words can't hide ugly reality of child labour

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- PM Yingluck's speech to UN emphasised maximising human potential, but under her watch the worst forms of child labour have flourished in Thailand

Full story:

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New Phuket governor announced

Phuket Gazette

Phayao Governor Maitree Intusut (pictured) has been appointed as the new Governor of Phuket, effective immediately. Photo: PR Dept

PHUKET: -- The Thai Cabinet has officially named former Phayao Governor Maitree Intusut as the new Governor of Phuket.

Full story:

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PM hands out Yongyuth jobs to Chalerm, others

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday delegated most of the responsibilities of former deputy prime minister Yongyuth Wichaidit to Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung.

Full story:

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Red Bull heir to face additional charge

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Red Bull heir Worrayuth Yoovidhya, who was involved in a hit-and-run crash killing Pol Snr Sgt-Major Wichean Klinprasert on September 3, will meet police on October 19 to hear an additional drunk-driving charge, deputy city police chief Pol Maj-General Anuchai Lekbamrung said yesterday.

He said police were still waiting for results of Worrayuth's blood test, which initially showed traces of a narcotic substance and needed expert examination because such a substance can also be found in some medicines.

-- The Nation 2012-10-03

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EDUCATION

Thai children lag among Asian readers

PUANGCHOMPOO PRASERT

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thai children read only two to five books per year, while those in Singapore and Vietnam read 50-60 books annually, a specialist from the Office of the Non-Formal and Information Education (ONIE) said yesterday.

Full story:

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Key laws on money-laundering and funds for terrorism set to be passed

Piyanut Tumnukasetchai,

Olan Lertrattanadamrongkul

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Anti Money Laundering Office remains optimistic that it can push for the passage of two draft bills on money laundering and financial support for terrorism this year.

Full story:

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BURNING ISSUE

Thailand should help settle regional sea disputes

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- It may not have been a slip of the tongue when Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said in New York last week that she would try a "woman's touch" to help resolve the ongoing conflict in the South China Sea. The Thai Prime Minister has a reputation for choosing the wrong word and making verbal gaffes, but this time it was unlikely.

Full story:

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Canal people demand Thai style for hotel

KAMPANART KHANTRAKUL

THE NATION

Samut Songkhram

AMPHAWA: -- People in Amphawa, famous for its floating market and canal way of life, yesterday challenged plans for a controversial European-style hotel in the area.

They told the owner he must limit its planned foreign decorations and add more of a Thai-style flavour to the building, which is now under construction.

A public hearing also demanded that some 12 decades-old wooden houses owned by the hotel be restored according to the same original Thai style.

Chuchai Chairittilert, owner of the Chuchai Buri Sri Amphawa Hotel, said he agreed to follow the meeting's resolutions. He would adjust the old buildings' style, bringing their patterns and colours in line with local culture as well as decreasing the European decorations. He would not tear down the old houses but improve their conditions and keep their style.

The agreements came after a discussion between Chuchai and 300 people who represented local residents. For their consideration, he proposed six plans for adjusting the buildings, to bring their patterns and colours in line with local culture as well as decreasing foreign influence.

"I will do everything that local people here want so we can work together happily. I'm happy that Amphawa people have given me a warm welcome. My project will bring them incomes so they will live happily. An amount of the hotel's revenue will be spent on conserving the culture and way of life here," Chuchai said.

An academic who is helping restore the floating market said she found that other high buildings were being built along the canal. Chulalongkorn University will help local authorities create laws to regulate the construction, she said.

-- The Nation 2012-10-03

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Senators ask for court review of NACC nominee's qualification

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Some senators plan to ask the Constitution Court look into the qualifications of Pol General Sathaporn Laothong, who has been appointed to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. But a member of the selection committee has insisted the panel was careful and that Sathaporn had the correct qualifications.

Appointed Senator Somchai Sawaengkarn said he and other senators signed a petition to the Ombudsman to request that the court review Sathaporn's qualifications. They cite a split among senators on whether Sathaporn's former position as a police inspector-general was the same rank as a director-general.

The Senate voted 76-43 after a heated five-hour debate on Monday to appoint Sathaporn to the anti-graft commission. He replaces Medhi Krongkaew, who retired.

To serve on the NACC, members are required to have public-administration experience as a director-general or the same level of authority.

Somchai said while the national police chief was considered as powerful as a director-general, a police inspector-general was on a lower level.

-- The Nation 2012-10-03

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Wichean unfazed by latest move to transport

Panya Thiosangwan,

Somthawin Thepsawat

The Nation

Wichean

BANGKOK: -- It might seem odd to see a former police chief and security czar taking up the position of permanent secretary at the Transport Ministry - but Wichean Potephosree agreed to the job because his boss assigned him and he was proud to do so.

Full story:

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RT @ChadapornLin: Graduation ceremony at BITEC Bangna causing traffic congestion at Bangna intersection

RT @ChadapornLin: Traffic backs up to km6 on Bangna inbound due to congestion from graduation ceremony at BITEC

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Update:

Korean tourist snorkeling death ruled as 'drowning'

Phuket Gazette

Doctors at Phi Phi Island Hospital have ruled that 29-year-old Korean tourist Jungkook Kim died of 'drowning'. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- Hospital staff in Phuket have confirmed that “drowning” has been listed as the official cause of death of the 29-year-old Korean tourist found dead while snorkeling at Phi Phi Island on Saturday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....d/#entry5719792

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Women's Museum, most attractive tourist site in Hanoi

Hanoi, Oct 3 (VNA) -- The Vietnamese Women’s Museum has been ranked first among 80 attractive tourism destinations in Hanoi in 2012 by the world’s largest travel website “TripAdvisor”.

Full story:

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PM orders agencies to prepare response measures for Gaemi

BANGKOK, Oct 3 -- Prime Minsiter Yingluck Shinawatra on Tuesday has ordered agencies concerned to prepare response measures for tropical storm Gaemi that will impact Thailand over the weekend.

Full story:

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,309.04, up 3.38 points /MCOT

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RT @RichardBarrow: Unemployment among the Thai work force dropped to 0.6% in August. Number of registered unemployed is 224,000 (BkkPost)

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RT @KristieKenney: Talented musicians @PayeViertrio play to celebrate Chevron's 50 yrs in Thailand http://thai.vi/RzcoDi

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update

Thai nightclub owner charged over deadly blaze

BANGKOK, Oct 3, 2012 (AFP) - Thai police have charged a nightclub owner with gross negligence over a fire that killed four people, including two foreigners, on the holiday island of Phuket, an official said Wednesday.

Full story:

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Fossil shell cemetery was discovered in Krabi

Phuket Gazette

Elephant bone, says Mr Chob; dinosaur bone, say the villagers. Call in the experts they all say. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- A villager clearing land to plant oil palm trees in Krabi last month unearthed what he believes is fossil graveyard.

Full story:

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Village head shot dead in Narathiwat

NARATHIWAT, Oct 3 - A village head was killed in his home, which is also a local food shop in the southern border province of Narathiwat.

Village headman Anan Aahamae, 46, was shot dead in his home where he and his wife were selling food.

Two men came to eat breakfast and one of them drew out a gun. Mr Anan ran to get his gun but he was shot first, six times, as 10 customers were sitting in his shop.

The killer took the victim's weapon and fled the scene. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-10-03

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Sattahip: Reward Offered For Navy Murderer

Full story: