Thailand Live Saturday 6 Oct 2012

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Thailand Live Saturday 6 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 Friday 5 Oct 2012

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CABINET RESHUFFLE

Thaksin's Hong Kong visit 'not linked'

The Nation

Noppadon insists former PM will not influence choice of party leader

BANGKOK: -- Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's visit to Hong Kong this weekend has nothing to do with the Cabinet reshuffle or the selection of a new Pheu Thai Party leader, the ex-PM's legal adviser told the media yesterday.

Full story:

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Gaemi to cover wider area

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Tropical Storm Gaemi has changed its course on its way to Thailand is now going further south, which will result in heavier rain, especially in the upper Southern region, Royol Jindon, who is involved in overall flood and water management operations, said yesterday.

Full story:

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Defiant Sorrayuth quits Journalists Association

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Far from stepping down as the host of television programmes at Channel 3 as demanded by professional organisations, embattled media personality Sorrayuth Suthassanachinda yesterday resigned from the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) after the National Anti-Corruption Commission decided to take legal action against him for alleged embezzlement.

Full story:

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Anti-riot victims win lawsuit

The Nation

250 plaintiffs injured by police in 2008 anti-Somchai rally to receive between Bt8,900 and Bt5.1 million

BANGKOK: -- The Central Administrative Court yesterday ordered that compensation be paid to the 250 people injured in a violent police crackdown on anti-government protesters in 2008 during the Somchai Wongsawat government's tenure.

Full story:

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Update:

Yingluck woos private investors for GMS as official gives briefing on Dawei

Piyanart Srivalo

Suphannee Pootpisut

Wichit Chaitrong

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The prime minister emphasised yesterday that the Greater Mekong Subregion would be a key strategic area in the near future for Thailand as well as the Asean region, and urged the private sector to help with its development.

Full story:

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Vendors in deep South still fearful of doing business on Fridays

The Nation

Soldiers provide security at a quiet market in Pattani yesterday after leaflets were widely distributed in the southernmost provinces threatening people with violence if they worked on Fridays.

PATTANI: -- Markets in Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala were quiet again yesterday with merchants and shoppers preferring to stay in for fear that trading on a Friday would make them potential targets of violence.

Full story:

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Phrae villagers 'ordain' teak trees in battle against dam

Chularat Saengpassa

The Nation

Phrae

Locals

PHRAE: -- More than 200 residents of tambon Sa Iab along with members of the Assembly of the Poor and others fighting against dam projects in Phrae province, held a traditional ordination ceremony for teak trees as part of their opposition against the government's plan to build the Kaeng Sua Ten Dam.

The ceremony was held before they took part in the "Dam and Water Management with Bt350 billion: What People will Benefit and Lose" discussion held in Phrae's tambon Sa Iab.

The tambon's headman, Seng Kwanyuen, 60, said they held the "ceremony" yesterday and today after Science Minister Plodprasob Surassawadee announced that construction of the dam would begin in April next year.

"Our standpoint has not changed over the past 30 years. We do not want the dam, because it will not help ease the flood situation and only destroy the last of the existing golden teak trees that we have. What has changed for us is that we now have more information and knowledge. We have already offered suggestions on how floods and droughts can be avoided without having to build any dams," he said, adding that politicians pushing for the dam have not paid them much attention.

If the 1.17-billion cubic metre dam is built, then the homes and farmlands of 3,600 people in the tambon will be affected.

Thong Saleetho, from the Tha Sae River basin conservation group in Chumphon, who is against the construction of the Tha Sae Dam, said she had joined the protest in tambon Sa Iab after learning that they faced the same problem.

Similarly, Chao Yencham, who is fighting against the damming up of the Chomphu river basin, said 12 members of his group participated in the "ordination" ceremony.

-- The Nation 2012-10-06

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German Nabbed For Taking Illegal Refuge In Thailand

Full story:

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Climate project with Nasa to proceed, Plodprasob says

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Science Minister Plodprasob Surassawadee said yesterday that the government would continue its cooperation on climate research with the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) after consulting with Parliament.

Full story:

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Weather official plays down minister's warning

The Nation

Plodprasob

BANGKOK: -- Responding to a statement from Science Minister Plodprasob Surassawadee calling on Bangkok residents to take a three-day break from work next week in case of heavy flooding in the city, the Meteorological Department said it was not needed and that carrying an umbrella would be enough by the weekend.

Full story:

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No new evidence uncovered in suspect's ranch

The Nation

PHETCHABURI: -- Investigators yesterday failed in yet another attempt to find additional evidence on the ranch owned by a police doctor who is suspected of having murdered three people.

However, police did get to apprehend one of the suspect's wives, who might possibly provide more information.

Wilsa Janthabanchorn, one of Pol Colonel Dr Suphat Laohawatthana's four wives, is being questioned under police custody in Phetchaburi province, where the suspect's ranch is located.

She has been on the run since news broke of three skeletal remains being discovered on the doctor's property.

Tha Mai Ruak police in Phetchaburi yesterday searched the ranch again yesterday and also pumped water out of a large pond on the property.

Taking part in the search were three sniffer dogs as well as crime-scene investigation officials equipped with metal detectors. The hunt had to be called off at 3pm due to heavy rains.

Officials also searched the concrete pillars that were believed to contain bodies, but turned up nothing.

The court, meanwhile, has extended Suphat's detention by another 12 days as requested by police.

-- The Nation 2012-10-06

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Rice policy meets aim of raising prices for farmers: minister

Pranee Muenphangwaree,

Suphannee Pootpisut

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The government yesterday said it would proceed with its policy of subsidising rice crops, insisting that it had succeeded in pushing up prices.

Full story:

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THAI board sets talks with new president

BAMRUNG AMNATCHAROENRIT

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Thai Airways International's board of directors will meet with the company's new president Sorajak Kasemsuwan next Friday to discuss how to maintain the national carrier as one of the world's leading airlines.

Full story:

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Mobile expo targets Bt1.6 bn sales

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Thailand Mobile Expo 2012, the largest mobile-telecommunications expo in the country, is expected to draw 630,000 people Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok, generating Bt1.6 billion worth of business from the four-day event that ends tomorrow.

Opas Cherdpunt, chief executive officer of M Vision, which organised TME 2012, said more than 40 brands of mobile phones, tablets, accessories and computers were showcasing their latest products.

For example, Samsung Electronics (Thailand) has brought its latest smart phone/tablet hybrid, Samsung Galaxy Note II, which is not yet officially launched in the market, to sell at TME 2012. AIS will join with Samsung and movie company GTH to launch its new "movie store" service exclusively for Samsung Galaxy users.

-- The Nation 2012-10-06

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Man with gibbon escapes Bangla loris raids

Phuket Gazette

PHOTO FINISH: Two of the suspects hold slow lorises after being arrested for using the protected animals to charge tourists for photos. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Environmental crime police and Phuket wildlife conservation officers are on the lookout for a man who escaped arrest with a gibbon last night after a raid on Patong’s Soi Bangla netted five touts charging tourists for taking photos with protected animals.

Full story:

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RT @RichardBarrow: 6 October - RT @ThaiAirways: This morning, THAI has operated its first A380-800 flight, TG 600 from Bangkok to Hong Kong

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Science & Foreign ministers stand in for PM on her weekly TV programme, assert NASA project is suitable for Thailand to prevent flood /MCOT

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Outfall of tropical cyclone expected to hit Phuket

Phuket Gazette

The outfall from Cyclone Gaemi is expected to combine with the prevailing southwest monsoon over the Gulf of Thailand, the South and the Andaman Sea, including Phuket. Image:TMD

The cyclone is forecast to make landfall today. Image: TMD

PHUKET: -- A “tropical cyclone” warning was issued by the Thai Meteorological Department this morning for “Gaemi” which is currently in the middle of the South China Sea, but expected to make landfall today.

Full story:

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Farewell to Phuket Governor Tri

Phuket Gazette

Tri Augkaradacha was Governor of Phuket for two years, culminating with his retirement on September 30, bringing to an end 36 years of civil service.

SPECIAL REPORT: Letter from the Governor

PHUKET: -- Over the years, my top concerns for Phuket have been flooding, traffic and wastewater. Flooding and traffic are no longer grave concerns for me because many projects have already received funding and many are already underway.

Full story:

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Storms hit Pattaya. More to come

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....a-more-to-come/

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Thailand will benefit from NASA’s U-Tapao project: FM Surapong

BANGKOK, Oct 6 - Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul reaffirmed on Saturday that the country will benefit from the climate study project at U-tapao airport by NASA, while saying Thailand will lose advantage from politicalising the issue.

Full story:

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Water agency urges public to monitor advice from local authorities for storm Gaemi

BANGKOK, Oct 6 -- The Water and Flood Management Commission urged public to listen and monitor advice from local authorities for storm Gaemi, as different areas have different responses to handle the situation.

Full story:

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RT@RichardBarrow: Thai Trends at the Bangkok Art & Culture Center. Free exhibition until 4 November pic.twitter.com/iEnBRbzZ

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Phuket village headmen rally against new election law

Phuket Gazette –

Village Headman Club President Gomin Nopparat (left) hands a letter of protest concerning the new amendment to Deputy Governor Chaiwat Tepee. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: More than 200 subdistrict chiefs and village headmen gathered at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday morning to protest the amendment of a law dictating the amount of time between their elections.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/589326-phuket-village-headmen-rally-against-new-election-law/#entry5729643

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THAI Airbus A380-800 inaugural flight takes off to Hong Kong

BANGKOK, Oct 6 -The first of Thai Airways International (THAI)’s Airbus A380-800 jetliners inaugurated the first commercial services on Saturday with a flight to Hong Kong.

Full story:

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BMA expects storm Gaemi to indirectly affects Bangkok on Saturday, staff will be deployed to 10 flood risk areas in case of heavy downpours /MCOT

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Culture ministry prepares to tackle floods at historic sites

BANGKOK, Oct 6 - The Ministry of Culture is preparing measures to protect Thailand's historic sites from possible flooding in several areas, said Minister Sukumol Kunplome on Saturday.

The culture minister made remarks as Thailand prepares for storm Gaemi amid concerns that ancient ruins and historic sites might be submerged.

Ms Sukumol said she has instructed the Fine Arts Department director-general Sahawat Naenna and concerned officials to coordinate with local authorities for canal dredging to facilitate rapid water drainage from the sites, as well as collect information on the past records of flooding to serve as reference for the current situation assessment.

Officials were also assigned to outline their urgent plans seeking budget allocations to support flood-prevention operations, said the culture minister.

Ms Sukumol added that 133 historic sites were damaged by last year's nationwide flooding. The restoration works was complete in 66 locations, while operations are underway in the remaining 67.

The culture minister said she has instructed the Fine Arts Department chief to closely follow up on pending restoration work, as current flooding in some areas may delay the process, while the repair work needs companies with requisite expertise to perform such delicate tasks. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-10-06

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to continue:

Thailand Live Sunday 7 Oct 2012

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/589380-thailand-live-sunday-7-oct-2012/