Thailand Live Thursday 15 Nov 2012

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Thailand Live Thursday 15 November 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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MAXIM MAGAZINE

Buddhists offended by sexy magazine spread

PAKAMARD JAICHALARD

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Photos of lingerie models cavorting with Buddha statues published on the Internet by a men's magazine have caused an outcry among Thai Buddhists.

Full story:

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WILDLIFE

Big-wigs 'threaten park rangers'

The Nation

KAENG KRACHAN: -- Many government officials and influential figures go on illegal hunting trips to Kaeng Krachan National Park and threaten rangers trying to stop them, the park's chief warden said.

Full story:

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MINISTER CHARUPONG

Witty new Pheu Thai leader is wary of Pitak Siam movement

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Charupong Ruangsuwan is no Chalerm Yoobamrung, but in Thailand's political context, the soft-spoken - albeit witty - new leader of the Pheu Thai Party seems to have hit the ground running. During a two-hour meeting with Nation Multimedia Group executives and senior editors yesterday, he demonstrated just enough of why he was selected for a job that requires a great balance of assertiveness, loyalty and flexibility in front of the media.

Full story:

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Defence pact with US 'only reaffirms ties'

The Nation

Sukampol says no parliamentary approval needed; assures there's no govt policy to contain China

BANGKOK: -- The 2012 Joint Vision Statement for the Thai-US Defence Alliance, to be signed during the visit of US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta today, posed no legal difficulties in terms of the Constitution and would have no impact on strategic ties with China, Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat said.

Full story:

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EDITORIAL

Where do we stand on the world stage?

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- With China and the US as suitors, Thailand has to tread carefully while also determining what its own strategic priorities should be.

Full story:

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REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Regional rice pool concept a non-starter

Suthichai Yoon

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- All signs point to the newly reshuffled Cabinet pressing ahead with the controversial rice-price mortgage scheme despite vehement opposition from most non-government parties concerned.

Full story:

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Obama, PM to make live address

Piyanart Srivalo,

Anapat Deechuay

The Nation

President to be granted audience with His Majesty at 5pm Sunday

BANGKOK: -- Modern Nine TV will telecast live a joint announcement by US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra after the Thai and US delegations complete their negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a Cabinet member and a well-informed Government House source said yesterday.

Full story:

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BURNING ISSUE

Pojaman's loss is Yaowapha's gain in Cabinet

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Not everybody was happy with the outcome of the latest Cabinet reshuffle - and that was not unexpected. But what was unexpected was that the once powerful faction of Pojaman na Pombejra, the ex-wife of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was also deeply disappointed.

Full story:

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Security outside Parliament to be tightened up

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Security will be beefed up for the upcoming censure debate in case Parliament is encircled by demonstrators from a nearby anti-government rally.

Full story:

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House panel urges Sorrayuth to step aside

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Anchorman Sorrayuth Suthassanachinda should be held to the same ethical standards as the officials he covers in his news stories and take leave pending the outcome of his fraud indictment, a House committee said in a report yesterday.

The report on the Sorrayuth case, compiled by the House committee on political development, will be circulated to all parties concerned, including Channel 3 and all political parties, within two weeks.

In one of its recommendations, the report urged the TV station to comply with the media ethics code by taking Sorrayuth off the air.

Committee chair Suppachai Srilar said he was disappointed that Sorrayuth had failed to cooperate with the hearing on his indictment handed down by the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

"The House committee gave Sorrayuth the opportunity to present his side of the story - just as he did when checking on public officials - but he refused to testify," Suppachai said.

In graft cases, the public officials involved are obliged to suspend their duties once the NACC rules that it suspects wrongdoing in order to pave way for prosecution, he said. The report called on Sorrayuth to step aside until the judicial review is complete.

Sorrayuth has been accused of fraud in connection with a news production contract between his Rai Som company and MCOT.

-- The Nation 2012-11-15

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Girl spends 3 days with mother's body

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A 3-year-old girl was found with the lifeless body of her mother, who had been dead for three days, in their townhouse in Thung Kru district yesterday. The girl thought her mum, who had a history of epilepsy, was sleeping.

Police found the body of Oranatchada Thaisakulthong, 35, who had been dead for at least three to four days, at 12.30pm at her three-storey townhouse in Sin Thawee Housing Estate.

The room wasn't ransacked and the air-conditioner was still running, while the girl was with the mother's elder sister Juthamon.

After neighbours noticed that the mother had not gone to work since Monday and the child, wearing a bloodstained shirt, was seen wandering around inside the house, they called Oranatchada's sister Juthamon, who then called police.

The family told police they thought the death was due to epilepsy so they didn't want to press any charges. The girl would be raised by her aunt.

-- The Nation 2012-11-15

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Treatment for botched enlargements

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police General Hospital has set up a special team to treat patients suffering from complications after undergoing penis-enlargement injections.

Full story:

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Queen Elizabeth asks PM about Their Majesties' well-being

The Nation

LONDON: -- Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom has inquired about the well-being of Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said after an audience with the British monarch during her trip to the country.

"The queen's words are important for the long-term relations between Thailand and the United Kingdom, as well as for the good relations between the royal families of the two countries," Yingluck told reporters yesterday.

Yingluck's official visit to Britain began on Monday and ends today. Its aim is to cement ties and forge greater cooperation between the two countries. She held a bilateral meeting with British counterpart David Cameron and jointly announced the establishment of a strategic dialogue of high-level officials between the two countries.

She also met with British business executives, visited a Tesco Superstore to participate in Thai Rice Week, and took a trip along the Thames River to tour flood-prevention barriers and take in the sights.

-- The Nation 2012-11-15

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UPDATE:

CONDO PROJECT

Developer vows to boost safety after mishaps

SOMLUCK SRIMALEE,

THANATCHAPONG KONGSAI

THE NATION

Lak Si District Office orders suspension of construction after 10kg debris fell on nearby homes

BANGKOK: -- Asian Property Development yesterday vowed to boost safety measures at one of its residential projects after 10-kilogram steel sections repeatedly fell on nearby homes, causing some property damage but no casualties.

Full story:

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Oil workers come ashore as tropical depression heads for Gulf

THE NATION

SONGKHLA: -- In the wake of an approaching tropical depression, workers on offshore oilrigs in the Gulf of Thailand have evacuated to the mainland for the first time this year.

Full story:

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Thai youth shine at Robot Olympiad

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Thai students won two gold, one silver and one bronze medal, along with four honourable mentions at the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) 2012, held in Kuala Lumpur from November 9-14.

The group returned to Thailand on Tuesday night at 11.10pm.

The Thai youth managed to win a clutch of top prizes in the contest, which was attended by 413 teams from 30 countries. The "Lang Kao" team from Chaiyaphum Pakdichumpol School and the "Aladdin" team from Chiang Mai University each won a gold medal, while the Saint Gabriel's College team's football-playing robots won a silver and a bronze. The "Lang Khao" team also won two honourable mentions, while Bangkok's Yothinburana School and Thainiyomsongkroa School each won an honourable mention.

Office of the Basic Education Commission chief Chinnapat Bhumirat said his office joined forces with the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology (IPST) and Gammaco (Thailand) Co Ltd to select 30 primary and upper-secondary student teams for WRO 2012.

The students competed in the autonomous robot category - in which each team had to create a program to control robots to perform a field mission - the autonomous robot category under the theme "human-robot communication"; and in the football-playing robot category. Each category was further divided into three age groups: under-12, under-15 and under-18. This was the first year a university-level contest was organised, allowing Chiang Mai University students to join in, Chinnapat said.

"Lang Kao" team member Patcharatun Suttichat said she first became interested in robotics competitions two years ago, finding them challenging and fun, while also helping her concentrate on tasks and boosting her self-confidence. She was happy to win the gold medal, as last year her team won a bronze in the same category. She said the secret to success was to practice, learn from one's mistakes and be disciplined.

Congratulating the students on their success, Chinnapat also thanked the many agencies that helped the Thai youth to shine on the international stage, especially Thai Airways with transport assistance, IPST and Gammaco.

-- The Nation 2012-11-15

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Army chief in Yala to prepare for PM's visit

The Nation

YALA: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will visit the deep South province of Yala next week to preside over the opening of a new highway section in Than To district, Army commander-in-chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha said yesterday.

Prayuth was speaking during his visit to the province to prepare for Yingluck's visit, scheduled for November 22, and to be briefed on the situation in the region, which has been hit by daily violence.

Yingluck is scheduled to chair the opening ceremony of a 1.125-kilometre stretch of the Yala-Betong Highway in tambon Mae Wat. The section runs across the Banglang Reservoir. The Army was assigned to construct the route and completed it within 720 days as planned.

Prayuth said the government and the Army remained concerned about the safety of residents of the province and the region, who continue to suffer from insurgent attacks almost every day.

"At present, there are security problems in the province and it is difficult to ensure 100-per-cent safety as long as some groups of people still want to see violence. I believe some people may support the groups without knowing or understanding the real situation. They may be brainwashed or support the groups because they fear for their safety," he said.

Meanwhile, a Yala Islamic Committee member was gunned down on Yaha-Kabang Road in the province as he was riding in a pickup truck to pick up his child in tambon Patae.

Police found the body of Abdullatae Tohdei, 50, in the driver's seat, riddled with six bullets. Several 11mm cartridges were found at the scene.

An initial investigation showed that the victim was on his way to pick up his children when two men who had been following Abdullatae on a motorcycle fired at him. His vehicle skidded off the road.

-- The Nation 2012-11-15

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Democrat Party claims government using DSI against it

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Democrat Party yesterday accused the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) of allowing itself to be used as a political tool against the opposition.

Full story:

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Opposition MP denies avoiding military service

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Democrat Party MP Sirichok Sopha, who represents Songkhla, yesterday denied dodging the draft after a general filed a complaint to the Defence Ministry accusing Sirichok and deputy party leader Korn Chatikavanij of escaping military conscription.

Full story:

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Despite the hype over Obama's visit, Thailand must take lead

Titipol Phakdeewanich

Special to The Nation

BANGKOK: -- US President Barack Obama will be making his first visit to Thailand this weekend as part of a wider tour of the region, where the focus will be on the East Asia Summit in Cambodia and a historic visit to Myanmar. No doubt there will be significant hype in the national media when President Obama arrives in Thailand, despite this aspect of his tour being primarily a diplomatic courtesy call to mark 180 years of Thai-US relations.

Full story:

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Yingluck sets goal of high-income nation

NAKARIN SRILERT

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's administration has set an ambitious goal of developing Thailand into a high-income country in five to 10 years through policies for promotion of research and development, income equalisation, capacity-building for small and medium-sized enterprises, and environmental enhancement.

Full story:

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Phuket Governor called on to curb 'out of control' corruption

Phuket Gazette

Soi Bangla, lined on both sides with bars and clubs, is the heart of the nightlife industry of Patong. Photo: Gazette file

Patong Entertainment Business Association President Weerawit Kurasombat asked that the Governor help curb the extortion of nightclubs and other entertainment venues by government officials. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- Patong Deputy Mayor Chairat Sukban and Patong Entertainment Business Association President Weerawit Kurasombat today called on the Phuket Governor to investigate rampant extortion by government officers.

Full story:

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Thailand, United Kingdom push bilateral 'Strategic Dialogue'

By Digital Media

LONDON, Nov 15 -- Thailand and UK have agreed to push forward their establishment of a ‘Strategic Dialogue’ as a mechanism for high-level bilateral discussion to follow up and set directions of mutual cooperation in various dimensions in the future.

Full story:

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RT @KristieKenney: RT @USEmbassyBKK #POTUS: Pres. Obama is the 5th U.S. president to visit Thailand while in office. #BOrakBKK

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,275.79, down 3.50 points /MCOT

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US defence chief to renew military ties in Thailand

Full story:

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More Bangla raids to come, vows Chairat

Phuket Gazette

Touts on Patong's Soi Bangla using slow lorises, a protected species, to make money from tourists will be targeted in the raids, said Patong Deputy Mayor Chairat. Photo: S Reynolds

PHUKET: -- Complaints from tourists have prompted Patong Municipality to launch a campaign to rid Soi Bangla of touts who charge tourists for having their photos taken with slow lorises, a protected species.

Full story:

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Aussie balcony plunge survivor on the road to recovery

Phuket Gazette

Australian John Hurley underwent surgery yesterday afternoon at Vachira Phuket Hospital (pictured). He is conscious and responding to stimuli, reported hospital staff. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- The Australian man who fell 18 floors from a Patong hotel balcony on Tuesday is recovering from an operation to repair a ruptured spleen and to start correcting his shattered right leg, which was nearly torn off in the impact.

Full story: