Thailand Live Sunday 7 October 2012

News, Bits and Tweets

with webfact

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.

FOLLOW US:

You can also follow us on

- Twitter: http://twitter.com/georgebkk

- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ThaiVisaNews

- Google+: http://plus.google.com/116866638430460700577/

- Breaking News via SMS text messages to your mobile phone or handheld device

To subscribe dial *424010011 on AIS, One-2-Call, DTAC or True Move networks

14 days complementary subscription for Thaivisa members.

If you have questions about the Breaking News SMS service,

email: sms [at] thaivisa.com

________________________________________________________________________________

Thailand's current weather and forecasts: http://weather.thaivisa.com/

________________________________________________________________________________

Related topic: Thailand Live Saturday 6 Oct 2012

THAIVISA CONNECT

Thaivisa Forum Apps for your mobile or tablet

"Thaivisa Connect" for iPhone, iPad and iPod:

iTunes App Store:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/thaivisa-connect-thailand/id492600537

"Thaivisa Connect" for Android:

Android Market

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.quoord.tapatalkthaivisa.activity

OR

For QR code just go here with your desktop or mobile:

http://apps.thaivisa.com

Electrocution warning in flooded areas

The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK: -- Disease Control Department chief Pornthep Siriwanarangsan yesterday urged people wading through flood water to beware of the risk of electrocution, as the 2011 flood saw 128 deaths by electrocution in 20 flood-hit provinces.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....s/#entry5731118

Capital braces for Gaemi

Thanatpong Khongsai

The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK: -- BMA sets up 10 operation centres, widens sluice gates; dams upcountry release more water

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/589459-capital-braces-for-gaemi/#entry5731123

Smaller dams better than Kaeng Sua Ten, say locals

Suriyan Panyawai

The Nation on Sunday

A network of environmental groups in the North reads its statement at a Buddhist temple in Phrae

BANGKOK: --Locals and non-governmental organisations have urged the government to develop small and medium-sized dams instead of pushing for the Bt350-billion Kaeng Sua Ten dam, which they believe will not help prevent floods or drought, and instead destroy valuable teak forests and ecological systems.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/589461-smaller-dams-better-than-kaeng-sua-ten-say-locals/#entry5731131

ANALYSIS

Pheu Thai faces struggle to replace Yongyuth as leader

Prapan Jindalert-udomdee

The Nation on Sunday

ACM Sukampol Suwannathat

BANGKOK: -- Key figures in the ruling Pheu Thai Party appear to have no desire to serve as its leader. Some have quietly told confidants, while others have publicly ruled themselves out of contention.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/589462-pheu-thai-faces-struggle-to-replace-yongyuth-as-leader/#entry5731139

COMMEMORATING OCT 6, 1976

Thammasat rector worries of violence

Khanittha Thepphajorn

The Nation on Sunday

Members of the June 24 for Democracy Group place paper birds on a board as they make a wreath to commemorate the 36th anniversary of October 6, 1976. On the board and on the paper birds

BANGKOK: -- Somkit fears the tendency of people to not respect others' freedom of expression will worsen divide

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/589463-thammasat-rector-worries-of-violence/#entry5731143

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Focus will be on cultural exchange under AEC: Minister

October 7, 2012 1:00 am

Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome

BANGKOK: -- Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome from the Palang Chon Party speaks to The Nation on Sunday's Budsarakham Sinlapalavan and Wannapa Khaopa about her job after having served in the Cabinet for more than a year. She dwells on a wide range of subjects, including film ratings and her ministry's preparation for the Asean Economic Community in 2015.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/589465-focus-will-be-on-cultural-exchange-under-aec-minister/#entry5731153

Supat's wife taken to Phetchaburi

Anan Khongcharoen,

Mattana Laddasiriporn

The Nation on Sunday

Phetchaburi police yesterday took custody of the wife of Dr Supat Laohawattana, a former Police General Hospital doctor under investigation for the alleged murder of a missing local couple - Samart Noomjui and Orasa Kerdsap - to seek to detain her at the local court.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/589466-doctor-supats-wife-taken-to-phetchaburi/#entry5731160

Dr Pop hit with 2 extra charges in patient's death

The Nation on Sunday October 7, 2012 1:00 am

BANGKOK: -- Police yesterday filed two extra charges against unlicensed clinician Thanat Natveerakul, known as Dr Pop, who injected a cosmetic filler substance into the buttocks of product presenter Athitiya Eiamyai or Kratae, 33, on September 16.

This allegedly caused her to slip her coma and die on October 2.

Thanat was charged with recklessness causing another’s death - punishable by up to 10 years jail and/or a fine up to Bt20,000, plus performing an unauthorised medical procedure - which could yield up to three years jail and/or a fine of Bt30,000.

Thanat acknowledged the extra charges and spoke at Bangkok's Phahol Yothin police station for an hour, before police got his fingerprints and released him. The expect the case to be submitted to public prosecutor in two weeks.

Thanat said he applogised for Athitiya's parents and said he was ready to take responsibility.

-- The Nation 2012-10-07

Police and suspect hurt by bomb

The Nation on Sunday

YALA:--Two police and a criminal case suspect were wounded yesterday after a 20kg roadside bomb went off in Yala's Muang district while officers from Pratae station transferred the suspect to Muang Yala station.

The explosion, at 10.30am on Ban Niang-Yaha road in Tambon Yala, turned the police pick-up over. Injured were Lieutenant Thanawat Boonmak, Police Sergeant Paosi Samae and suspect Assaming Adi.

Police blamed separatists. They said suspected insurgents also planted road spikes and a suspicious box on the road to slow down investigators at the scene.

Meanwhile, a villager was shot dead and his wife injured in a drive-by shooting in Sai Buri Pattani's district yesterday.

The couple, driving their pick-up home in Narathiwat at 1pm on the highway 42 (Pattani-Narathiwat), was shot by two men on a motorcycle. Nareudom Thab-ngern, 48, died instantly while his 42-year-old wife Liab Saiyos had her arm grazed by the bullet.

Police were checking to see if the shooting stemmed from a personal conflict or ongoing violence in the region.

-- The Nation 2012-10-07

Officials face ban on eating raw fish

The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK: -- Public Health deputy minister Surawit Khonsomboon yesterday backed the idea of prohibiting state officials from eating raw fish and raw fermented fish, saying they would face a disciplinary punishment for doing this.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/589467-officials-face-ban-on-eating-raw-fish/#entry5731168

Phuket locals taught to fight crime for tourist safety project

Phuket Gazette –

Pol Gen Chalermkiat Srivorakan reiterated the importance of tourist safety in Thailand to the officers and Patong locals that attended the two-day seminar on protecting the public. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: About 150 employees in Patong, including rental car operators, motorbike taxi drivers and beach masseuses, attended a seminar this week designed to train them as active members of the Patong Safety Zone project, which has already been hailed as a success by police.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/589471-phuket-locals-taught-to-fight-crime-for-tourist-safety-project/#entry5731284

Phuket Opinion: Public transportation should take a dive

Phuket Gazette –

The massive reef cleanup demonstrated how local people acting together can bring about vitally neeeded change. Image: Gazette Graphics

PHUKET: For all the bandying about of the term “sustainable tourism”, Phuket might just have had the victory it needed in the Go Eco Phuket reef cleanup staged last weekend. That single record-breaking feat has provided a model to follow in breaking the mold of inaction and setting island development off in the right direction.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/589480-phuket-opinion-public-transportation-should-take-a-dive/#entry5731440

RT@ChadapornLin: Saen Saen Canal boat available only from Sribunrueng Temple to Chidlom today as water in canal is low due to BMA's drainage

Tropical storm Gaemi in Cambodia will downgrade to depression, move westward to Thailand's Sa Kaeo tonight /MCOT

RT@terryfrd:Big question now is whether Gaemi will move south enough to enter Gulf of Thailand & strengthen. If so, it will head for Petchaburi./CH3

RT@terryfrd:No matter what, there will be a large area of heavy rain & BKK should expect a lot of the wet stuff after midnight. /CH3

RT@terryfrd: The 2nd "fearsome" storm Pornpiroon has refused to become fierce &, if it ever does become a storm, is likely to go north away from us /CH3

RT@terryfrd: More from Plodprasop: Assuming Gaemi enters Gulf, he's warning Phetchaburi coastal residents of a storm surge similar to a tsunami. /CH3

Sandbag wall built in Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet business areas to brace for impact from storm Gaemi expected to arrive to the province tonight /MCOT

Thailand’s eastern province to be impacted by storm Sunday night

BANGKOK, Oct 7 - Thailand’s eastern province of Sa Kaeo will start to be impacted by tropical storm Gaemi forecast to downgrade to depression Sunday night.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/589459-capital-braces-for-gaemi/#entry5731866

RT@terryfrd: Ubon governor reports heavy rain in districts bordering Cambodia. Amnat Charoen reports heavy rain & winds thru much of province /CH3

59% of poll respondents say time for cabinet reshuffle while 56% of them think revamp should occur after censure debate: Suan Dusit poll. /MCOT

Phuket worker's family compensated after deadly electrocution

Phuket Gazette –

Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority workers use a ‘cherrypicker’ lift to recover Mr Wai from on top of the sign. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

Rescue workers prepare Mr Wai’s body for the journey to Vachira Phuket Hospital. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: The Arrow Media advertising company has agreed to pay 100,000 baht compensation to the family of one of its workers who was electrocuted by a bare high-voltage power line at the Darasamuth Intersection on September 28.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/589526-phuket-workers-family-compensated-after-deadly-electrocution/#entry5732123

Thailand feels the pinch with threat of blacklist looming

BANGKOK, Oct 7 - Thai Justice Minister Pracha Promnok admitted today that Thailand needs to urgently issue two pieces of legislation to combat money laundering and financing of terrorism.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/589534-thailand-feels-the-pinch-with-threat-of-blacklist-looming/#entry5732285

68% say govt should continue rice pledging scheme while 89% want govt & opposition to discuss flood-related resolution: ABAC poll /MCOT

Next Mobile Cabinet Meeting on Samui Island in the South

Samui Island, or Ko Samui, in the southern province of Surat Thani will be the venue for the next mobile Cabinet meeting, the seventh of its kind under the Yingluck Shinawatra administration.

The meeting is scheduled for 21-22 October at International School of Tourism, which is part of Surat Thani Rajabhat University.

During the trip to Surat Thani, Cabinet members will make an inspection tour of the provinces in the Gulf of Thailand cluster, which, apart from Surat Thani, includes Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Phatthalung. Prime Minister Yingluck will visit the Sufficiency Economy Learning Center in Phunphin district, Surat Thani, on 21 October, before traveling on board a special ferry to Samui Island on 22 October for the mobile Cabinet meeting.

Surat Thani is preparing to seek Cabinet approval for five major projects, namely the construction of a hospital, the establishment of a school, the development of the Sufficiency Economy Learning Center in Phunphin district, water management in Samui district, and a program in preparation for the ASEAN Community by Surat Thani Rajabhat University.

As for water management, Samui district plans to ask the Cabinet to approve a five-billion baht fund to ease water shortages during the dry season and tackle the flood problem during the rainy season. The fund will also be used to develop the road around Samui Island.

Set in the Gulf of Thailand and accessible by air from Bangkok, Samui Island is about 84 kilometers from the town of Surat Thani. It is the third-largest island in Thailand, after Phuket Island in the southern province of Phuket and Chang Island in the eastern province of Trat.

Like Phuket, Samui combines natural beauty with an exceptionally good standard of hotels, spas, and other tourism facilities. Because of its rich coconut groves, Samui is ranked as one of the largest coconut “plantations” in the world. Most Samui residents are engaged in coconut growing and tourism-related businesses. The coconut tree is regarded as a symbol of this enchanting island. Fruit grown in abundance on Samui Island include langsat, or lanzon, durian, rambutan, and mangosteen, which have become the island’s cash crops.

Samui district covers an area of 252 square kilometers and has a population of more than 53,700. As it welcomes about 3,000 foreign tourists each day, the tourism business in this province has grown rapidly.

A report prepared by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment cites water shortages as a severe problem faced by Samui Island. Because of the growing number of visitors and the rapid development of the island itself, the environment there has been threatened. These problems need to be tackled urgently, as Samui is striving to develop itself into a quality and sustainable tourist destination.

Foreign Office, The Government Public Relations Department, Office of the Prime Minister

Storms strike Pattaya and surrounding areas

PATTAYA:--The weather front predicted for the whole region has hit the city and surrounding areas hard over the weekend. In many cases causing severe flooding

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/589528-storms-strike-pattaya-and-surrounding-areas/#entry5732137

PM urges all relevant agencies to be on high alert during storm Gaemi, closely monitor storm-related situations: Govt spokeperson Sansan /MCOT

Thailand's eastern province braces for storm Gaemi

SA KAEO, Oct 7— Local residents in Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet district were building flood embankment while Army Rangers have been deployed to border villages to brace for tropical storm Gaemi, which was forecast to hit this eastern province tonight.

Municipal workers and residents built one metre-high floodwalls in business areas in order to mitigate possible impact of the tropical storm.

Kornchai Srithanakul, Aranyaprathet municipal mayor, said relevant officials were on standby. A warning was issued to local people in at-risk areas.

Also, some 6,000 additional sandbags were provided to residents.

Paramilitary personnel along with flat-bottomed boats and life vests were mobilised to checkpoints in villages in Tha Kham subdistrict in order to immediately help villagers in case of an emergency.

Tha Kham subdistrict comprising nine villages were severely flooded in late September. Some areas were reportedly still under rehabilitation. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-10-07

RT@tulsathit: A telecom academic/activist to seek Administrative Court injunction of a new 3G bidding, saying public interests are not guaranteed.