Thailand Live Monday 8 Oct 2012

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Thailand Live Monday 8 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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Gaemi enters Thailand; downpours hit provinces

Patinya Iamtarn

The Nation

Downgraded to depression, but officials prepared to tackle floods and traffic jams

BANGKOK: -- Tropical depression Gaemi has entered Thailand, spreading downpours over many provinces across the country.

Full story:

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Charupong tipped as Pheu Thai chief

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Transport Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan, the current secretary-general of the Pheu Thai Party, is now tipped to become the party's leader, while Viroj Pao-in is expected to be named as interim chief today. The 17-member Pheu Thai Party executive is expected today to name a caretaker leader pending convening of the party convention to elect a new leader and executives.

Full story:

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Ties with Thaksin not behind rise to top of NSC: Paradorn

ATTAYUTH BOOTSRIPOOM, JEERAPONG PRASERTPONKRANG, ANAPAT DEECHUAY

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Lt-General Paradorn Pattanatha-butr is seen by his critics as having won the position of National Security Council (NSC) secretary-general because of his close ties with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Full story:

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SPECIAL

Is it a 'low' risk?

Thanapat Kitjakosol

The Nation

Residents living near gas pipelines fear harm from leaks and explosions because of old pipes, lack of details

BANGKOK: -- Residents with homes near gas pipelines in Bangkok and other regions say they live in fear of gas leaks, explosions and other fatal accidents following a series of incidents recently. They claim gas leaks are happening more often and that pipelines, some of them laid 32 years ago, were not installed in accordance with international safety standards.

Full story:

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EDITORIAL

Alpine bomb defused but new headache for PM

The Nation

Yingluck's challenge: Find a new interior chief who's bold - but not too bold

BANGKOK: -- Yongyuth Wichaidit's decision to leave the Yingluck Cabinet to prevent the never-say-die Alpine scandal from erupting anew has given the prime minister another kind of headache. Not only was he deputy prime minister, the least complicated position to refill, but he was also interior minister, one of the most controversial and potentially explosive Cabinet slots to put someone in.

Full story:

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2.1-gigahertz 3G spectrum auction likely to be a buyer's market

Usanee Mongkolporn,

Sirivish Toomgum

The Nation

Pacharasut Sujarittanonta

BANGKOK: -- In what seems to be a match between supply and demand, the auction of nine 2.1GHz spectrum slots on October 16 is expected to turn into a buyer's market.

Full story:

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Children must be given friendly spaces

Wannapa Khaopa

The Nation

Representatives of Asean children explain their recommendations at the first Asean+3 workshop on children's rights.

BANGKOK: --"When the children are sad, make them happy. When the children are hungry, make them full. When the children want to speak, give them time to talk," a representative of Asean children told agencies at a recent regional meeting on children's rights.

The representatives from seven Asean countries and China declared they wanted "child friendly spaces" for youngsters to enjoy playing and sharing with adults, as well as to improve their development.

They were speaking at a regional workshop on Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the first ASEAN+3 workshop on children's rights hosted by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) late last month in Thailand.

"One recommendation was for governments and non-government organisations to create these child friendly spaces in schools and communities - allowing them to voice their opinions on what they wanted from friends and adults," said Warangkana Mutumol, Children on the Move Project Coordinator of Save the Children, who was conducting "brainstorming" sessions for children.

Seven-year-old boy, Tou Tou, the youngest representative from China, drew a picture showing a child-friendly space he wanted.

Warangkana said child friendly spaces would provide children with protected environments in which to join in organised activities to play, socialise, learn and express themselves. The spaces were playgrounds in which adults and children worked together to design playthings or toys made of materials easy to find, like banana trees or used tyres, to develop learning activities.

"Young children enjoy playing, but adults should not forget teenagers want something more than just playing. Teenagers told us at a child friendly space we provided for flood-affected children that they wanted knowledge useful in their lives, such as sex education and health education," Warangkana said.

Child representatives also said they wanted governments to introduce and enforce laws on violence against children and disseminate knowledge and information about children's rights and how to protect themselves from abuse and exploitation.

Children should be allowed to create a committee to help in monitoring and reporting on violence against children. All must be accessible to education and the government should provide quality education for all.

"The policy (for children) is good, but the problem is its implementation," said Norisa I. Sabirin, a girl from the Philippines and Muhamad Ibrahim b Zaharuddin, a boy from Malaysia.

All the young people, including those from other countries - Mao Rosmey from Cambodia, Gayatri Wailissa from Indonesia, Nisnani Waseng from Thailand, Nguyet Minh Dong from Vietnam and Elton Seah Ding Qi from Singapore - agreed that children's voices must be heard more by their governments so they understand the problems and can provide what children really want.

"The meeting gave topics that are common issues or problems all countries have encountered and are considered important. After discussions and field visits, the participants came up with recommendations for their own countries, ACWC (the Asean Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children) and NGOs.

"ACWC will follow up to see how much they are able to implement these recommendations a year after the meeting," said Saisuree Chutikul, from ACWC.

Pinchai Pinkaew, the director of the Office of Welfare Promotion, Protection, and Empowerment of Vulnerable Groups at MSDHS, said the meeting concluded that regional collaboration to create child protection standards had to be formed in response to the negative impact of migration in the region. It also emphasised the importance of information and best practice exchange to learn from each other how to protect and promote children's rights and improve the capability of practitioners in member countries.

He said the recommendations and conclusions from the meeting would be proposed to the next Senior Officials Meeting on Social Welfare and Development or SOMSWD. He hoped the recommendations and conclusions would be implemented and lead to policy integration and collaboration among the member countries on children's rights.

Wichien Chawalit, permanent secretary for MSDHS, said SOMSWD and ACWC must be a significant mechanisms that support and follow up on progress of children's issues in the Asean+3 countries.

"We want authorities to treat well all children from all Asean countries when they stay in these countries," Saisuree said.

-- The Nation 2012-10-08

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Grisly killings in Bangkok

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police yesterday uncovered two grisly killings - in one case a wife beheaded her bedridden spouse and in the other a husband slashed and stabbed his wife to death in a jealous rage. In the first case, Bang Khun Non police detained Pornsuree Deepaew, 36, on suspicion of beheading her husband Prasit Seesomboonyanon, 47, who suffered paralysis for the past two years.

Full story:

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MURDER

Family of slain man voice concern over son, 3

Jim Pollard//The Nation

Oswald Duvel

BANGKOK: -- The family of a South African man shot dead in Thailand last week voiced concern yesterday over the well-being of his dead brother's young son.

Full story:

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Two Thais win at Computer Olympiad

The Nation

CHIANG MAI: -- Two Thai students from Wichai Wittaya School in Chiang Mai have won gold medals and three others silver medals in the 4th International Computer Project Olympiad.

The gold medallists, Aphisan Sukosi and Sivakorn Lekprayura, competed in the "Digital Content" category with a project called Introduction to Chiang Mai and Thailand.

Teetat Bainain, Chonchanok Sankasem and Thoranin Chaiyakam were awarded the silver medal in the programming category, creating the Protein Transcription Game.

The international competition was hosted in Turkmenistan from September 11-15.

-- The Nation 2012-10-08

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Finnish man fatally stabbed by Thai Girlfriend in South Pattaya

PATTAYA: -- On Sunday evening at 6pm Pattaya Police received reports of a foreign man who had been stabbed and was lying in the middle of a street presumably dead.

Full story:

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Storm Gaemi downgraded to active low pressure cell, to move along monsoon trough across Central, public warned of severe weather conditions during 1-2 days: Weather agency /MCOT

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RT @RichardBarrow: The BMA hotline for people in Bangkok worried about floods is 02 2485115 - 20 lines open 24hrs - TR @pr_bangkok

City Hall's Drainage & Sewerage Dept: system ran normally without problem after heavy rainfall across Bangkok; traffic moves slowly /MCOT

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Thai woman nabbed at Suvarnabhumi Airport with 4kg 'ice'

BANGKOK, Oct 8 - A Thai woman was arrested at the country's main international airport for smuggling four kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as ice, worth Bt14 million, customs officers reported.

Full story:

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Overnight rain in Sa Kaeo due to impact of Gaemi

SA KAEO, Oct 8 -- Continuous rain has fallen in the eastern province of Sa Kaeo since Sunday night as the province tropical depression “Gaemi” passed over the area, despite being downgraded to an active low pressure cell early this morning.

Full story:

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,307.99, down 3.36 points /MCOT

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RT @tulsathit: Presumably, "real" Pheu Thai leader will have to be selected again at the end of this month or so.

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Storm Gaemi downgraded to low pressure cell

BANGKOK, Oct 8 - Meteorological authorities have downgraded tropical storm Gaemi just a low pressure area, but rainfall metropolitan Bangkok will continue into Tuesday, according to the Water and Flood Management Commission (WFMC).

Full story:

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USS John C Stennis and USS Mobile Bay docked in Phuket until Thursday

Phuket Gazette

E-2C Hawkeye used in flight missions over Iraq. Photo: Chris Hudon

Rear Admiral Charles M. Gaouette speaks to local media aboard the USS Stennis. Photo: Chris Hudon

PHUKET: -- THE USS John C Stennis and USS Mobile Bay have docked in Phuket to give their complement of 5,350 servicemen and women the chance to grab some 'R and R' before possibly being re-deployed in the Middle East.

Full story:

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German restaurant destroyed by fire in Jomtien

Full story:

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No flood problem in Bangkok

BANGKOK, Oct 8 - Bangkok’s 50 districts are under the influence of low pressure weather system cell with Gaemi-induced mild downpours all day, but there is no flood problem on the capital’s roads or canals as water drainage is proceeding smoothly.

Drainage and Sewerage Department director Sanya Cheenimitr said continuing rain since last night in the capital was influenced by the downgraded low pressure cell from the storm Gaemi.

The rain has continued all day Monday with an average rainfall of 30 millimetres and water drainage in the canal network is functioning normally.

Government workers from the city and various agencies are on duty at at-risk areas until the situation returns to normal.

The flood prevention centre of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration reported the highest rainfall at 29 millimetres in Yannawa district so far today.

The meteorological department forecast rain will continue for next two days before gradually subsiding.

Meanwhile, passenger commuter boat service in Saen Saeb canal is operating from Wat Sriboonrueng temple pier to Pratunam pier as water level is low from Pratunam to Phan Fah bridge after municipal workers drained water from the canals in preparation for the rain. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-10-08

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Govt's one-year performance report going to cabinet

BANGKOK, Oct 8 - Minister to the Prime Minister's Office Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisal said on Monday that the report on the Yingluck Shinawatra administration's performance during its first year in office will be submitted for cabinet approval tomorrow.

Full story:

[Lite Beer]

Wiroj Pao-in named acting Pheu Thai Party leader

BANGKOK, Oct 8 -- The ruling Pheu Thai Party acting executive board selected Wiroj Pao-in, party-listed MP, as its acting leader and said it will hold an extraordinary meeting later this month to choose its new executive board.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/589736-wiroj-pao-in-named-acting-pheu-thai-party-leader/#entry5734891

[Lite Beer]

GAEMI

Rains will continue into Tuesday

BANGKOK: -- Downpours in Bangkok caused by Gaemi will continue into Tuesday, said the Water and Flood Management Commission (WFMC)'s member Royal Chitradon.

His office has monitored water drainage in Bangkok’s western canals and found that water flow is better than last year. Equipped with information technology system network data, sluice gates are working efficiently.

Personnel are on stand-by and the Royal Thai Navy has cooperated in dredging canals, installing pumps and providing water pushing boats.

There is no cause for worry in Western Bangkok but in the eastern reaches of the city there is concern about water draining into the Bang Pakong River due to downstream flooding in Chon Buri.

The office is working with city hall to drain water to canals and a water pumping station aims to divert it directly to the Gulf of Thailand.

He said provinces experiencing heavy rainfall include Chanthaburi, Rayong, Phetchaburi, Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi, Uthai Thani and Bangkok.

The storm is passing Chanthaburi and Rayong as it crosses over the Gulf of Thailand.

Nakhon Si Thammarat and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces in the south, and Nakhon Ratchasima and Buri Ram in the northeast are also affected.

In reporting the downgrade, the meteorological department said tropical depression Gaemi was now active low pressure. Torrential rain and isolated heavy rain are likely in the East, the Central and the upper South. People should beware of severe weather conditions during the next day or two.

-- The Nation 2012-10-08

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DRUG SMUGGLING

Woman carrying crystal meth arrested at airport

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A Thai woman was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Monday for trying to smuggle four kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as ice, worth Bt14 million, into the country.

Full story:

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Fire damage to Phuket LPG cargo ship estimated at B400k

Phuket Gazette

The fire destroyed the communications room, but was soon contained and did not spread to the main LPG storage tanks, which were empty. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

A fire-response team heads out to assess the blaze before committing firefighters on board the ship. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

PHUKET: -- Damage to the liquid propane gas (LPG) cargo ship that caught fire off Phuket yesterday may reach up to 400,000 baht, the Phuket Gazette was told today.

Full story:

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Defence volunteers ambushed in Pattani's Yaring district; three volunteers killed, four guns stolen /MCOT

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Rare 'hairy leg mountain crab' spotted in Phuket

Phuket Gazette

Prarop Plaeng-Ngarn, chief of the Phuket Marine National Park Research Center, holds up the crab whose species was previously thought to be extinct on the island. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

Now seen on Phuket: the ‘Hairy leg mountain crab’. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- A rare type of crab, thought to be extinct on Phuket, was recently found on the island, years after any previous confirmed sightings were reported.

Full story: