Thailand Live Wednesday 21 Nov 2012

[webfact]

Thailand Live Wednesday 21 November 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 Tuesday 20 Nov 2012

[webfact]

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

[webfact]

PM, Wen to witness signing of rice deal

Petchanet Pratruangkrai,

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

Wen Jiabao, Premier of China listens during the 7th East Asia Summit plenary session as part of the 21st Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 20 November 2012. Cambodia is playing host to the 21st ASEAN summit

However, document will not specify precise amount Beijing will buy, despite earlier proposal for 5m tonnes a year

BANGKOK: -- Thailand and China will sign a memorandum of understanding on rice trading during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit today, but the document will not contain a commitment from Beijing on the quantity of rice it wants to buy.

Full story:

[webfact]

Cabinet members to go on standby during anti-govt rally

The Nation

BANGKOK: - Nine Cabinet members will be on standby to convene an urgent meeting over the weekend should the anti-government rally, expected to attract up to 50,000 people, escalate into violence.

Full story:

[webfact]

Villagers join up to clean Klity Creek

CHULARAT SAENGPASSA,

PONGPHON SARNSAMAK

THE NATION

Kanchanaburi

Plan of action being studied, after long wait for courts to order help

KANCHANABURI: -- Despite hope that the Supreme Court will issue a final verdict ordering the Pollution Control Department (PCD) and relevant agencies to clean up their lead-contaminated creek, residents of Lower Klity in Kanchanaburi are now trying to get their lives back to normal and looking for ways to clean the stream themselves.

Full story:

[webfact]

Thailand to host meeting on Mekong development

The Nation

File photo: Mekong river. Source: wikimedia

BANGKOK: -- Thailand will host the International Conference on Sustainable Development in the Lancang-Mekong Sub-Region next year to push for natural-disaster management, development and security in the Mekong River and its basin, a government official said yesterday.

Full story:

[webfact]

Seductive dangers of a coup mentality

Pravit Rojanaphruk

THe Nation

BANGKOK: -- It is both myopic and ironic that the leader of a group of citizens who claim to want to protect the country would begin his campaign by calling for a military coup. That's precisely what Pitak Siam (Protecting Siam) group leader retired General Boonlert Kaewprasit did when he launched the movement some weeks ago.

Full story:

[webfact]

UPDATE

Sondhi trials delayed for a month for health reasons

Kesinee Taengkhiao

The Nation

Sondhi

BANGKOK: -- Public prosecutors have agreed to postpone the trial for People's Alliance for Democracy leader Sondhi Limthongkul to December 20 for health reasons.

Full story:

[webfact]

Senate to hold government scrutiny on Wednesday

Khanittha Thepphajorn,

Atapoom Ongkulna

The Nation

The Senate has agreed to open a debate to scrutinise the government next Wednesday as proposed by the Cabinet.

BANGKOK: -- Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanich said yesterday he had been informed unofficially by PM's Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn that the Cabinet would not be able to attend the Senate meeting on Friday and Saturday as requested by the Senate. So the Senate's general debate on the government's performance would take place on Wednesday before the closure of the parliamentary session on the following day.

Full story:

[webfact]

Court to decide if Varathep is qualified for Cabinet post

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Constitution Court agreed yesterday to rule on a complaint that PM's Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn should be disqualified from office because he was convicted of offences related to the two- and three-digit lottery.

Full story:

[webfact]

Ringtone offer masks porn sites

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Family Network for Media Watch president Anya-orn Panicheungrat said her group had discovered that the phrase 'free ringtone' was being used on websites to disguise links to adult websites.

The network said the free-ringtone label had allowed many porn sites to get around screening by officials and avoid being blocked.

The volunteer group had received complaints about this, Anya-orn said. She urged that such sites be closed.

Websites with adult content used the phrases "Voice of motorcycle MP3" and "Free ringtone", which linked to pornographic videos and pictures. Anya-orn said she was worried about children and students accessing the sites.

She called on the Technology Crime Suppression Division to quickly block the sites in order to protect children, families and society.

-- The Nation 2012-11- 21

[webfact]

Reversal of glucosamine ban opposed

PONGPHON SARNSAMAK

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- A board member of the National Health Security Office (NHSO) yesterday protested the public health minister's reversal of a ban on glucosamine for treatment of arthritis patients under the civil-service insurance plan.

Full story:

[webfact]

Thailand's challenge: a shift to innovation-led growth

George Abonyi

Special to The Nation

A man walks past a model of a Japanese lucky cat outside a new shopping mall in Bangkok in July.

BANGKOK: -- China has become the largest market for Thai exports, and enthusiasm is high for the Asean Economic Community (AEC), targeted for 2015. Asian emerging markets are expected to create new opportunities that the troubled US and EU economies no longer provide. But caution needs to temper optimism: neither China nor the AEC is likely to become a "regional growth locomotive" in the near future. And getting more out of Asian emerging economies will entail a shift in perspective from exporting to innovating for these markets.

Full story:

[webfact]

National parks reveal earnings on daily basis

JANJIRA PONGRAI

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- National parks across the country are revealing income from admission fees on a daily basis in a move to counter corruption allegations and the figures are available on the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) website.

Full story:

[webfact]

Troops in quarantine

BOONPIM BAIYA

THE NATION

Uttaradit

UTTARADIT: -- Close to 30 troops from a military camp in Uttaradit have been quarantined after coming down with high fever and a severe cough at around the same time.

The privates were put in quarantine at the Pichai Darbhak Military Hospital.

"Of them, 19 were hospitalised on Monday night, while 11 others were sent to the same hospital the next afternoon," Uttaradit Military chief Maj-General Pichet Sukpongpisit said yesterday.

He said a dormitory at the Phra Si Phanommas Military Camp was closed, cleaned and disinfected. "Three of the privates have lung infections."

He said two doctors from Royal Thai Army's Medical Department would be sent across to determine the cause of the mass illness.

"We suspect mycoplasma, which hit 100 conscripts in Uttaradit in June," Pichet said. Results of lab tests should be out today.

-- The Nation 2012-11- 21

[webfact]

Mosque hit by bomb; Rail track repairs continue

THE NATION

NARATHIWAT: -- Explosives stuffed inside a bottle damaged a motorcycle parked at a small mosque in Narathiwat's Rusoh district yesterday but caused no injuries.

Police were called at about 11am and rushed to scene with a bomb squad and forensic officials.

Debris from the home-made bomb, placed in a bottle, was retrieved. The explosion left a hole an inch deep and four inches wide. A motorcycle with a Yala licence plate parked near the scene was damaged by shrapnel.

Initial police inquiries found that two men on a motorcycle entered the mosque and went to wash their faces at a water tap near the building.

They reportedly took the opportunity to place the bottle of explosives near the motorcycle. The blast occurred about two minutes after they left.

Meanwhile, rail services to and from Narathiwat's Sungai Kolok station are due to resume today, said Piraphon Tapvej, head of the Railways of Thailand's southern centre.

Services were suspended early on Sunday after a big bomb hit a compartment on Train 435 on the Yala-Sungai Kolok route.

Police said the bomb was put close to rail tracks and triggered by insurgents just as the ill-fated compartment carrying security volunteers passed the spot. The train had slowed because of a slope, enabling the insurgents to easily choose their target.

Three volunteers were killed and scores of people injured.

The clean-up, track repairs and removal of damaged carriages, were initially due to be completed yesterday but got delayed until today to allow daily trains to and from Sungai Kolok station to start running again.

Meanwhile, police and army officials met to review security for trains after the fatal attack in Narathiwat's Rangae district.

They agreed they would change the landscape through which the 14 daily trains to and from Sungai Kolok pass. Some parts of the route are sheltered with thick forest while others are sloped.

They said this terrain allowed insurgents to attack the trains.

The 24-kilometre route passes 14 villages and four tambons. Four of the villages are considered risky areas. The meeting agreed to boost patrols along the route passing the four villages and that villagers should be assigned to join the patrol teams.

-- The Nation 2012-11- 21

[webfact]

Asean seminar course delayed

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Council of University Presidents of Thailand has decided to adjourn a seminar course on Asean. Semester 1 was scheduled for August - December 2013 following a basic course for new students; and Semester 2 was listed for January - May 2014.

However, the president of Thammasat University, Dr Somkid Lertpaithoon, said the seminar needed to be moved to a later date because the Asean Economic Community, originally due to start on January 1, 2015, will be delayed until December 31, 2015 as some countries are not ready for the new expanded community.

-- The Nation 2012-11- 21

[webfact]

Crackdown on import of fake goods urged during high season

PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Patent and copyright owners have urged the government to work seriously to end the import and trade of illegal goods because the sale of such counterfeits is booming during the current tourism high season.

Full story:

[webfact]

Phuket mass fish deaths put flood-prevention project on hold

Phuket Gazette

Hundreds of dead fish lined the banks today after work began on a 25-million-baht dredging project to prevent flooding in Phuket Town. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

A digger remains idle after workers dredging the popular Phuket Town pond were ordered to stop. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Dredging of a popular fishing pond in Queen Sirikit Park in Phuket Town is on hold after hundreds of fish were found dead along the banks of the pond this morning.

Full story:

[webfact]

Train service in South resumes today after being suspended to repair damaged railway carriages, track following Sunday's bombing /MCOT

[webfact]

Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,277.92, up 1.51 points /MCOT

[webfact]

Chinese premier begins official visit to Thailand

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Nov 21 -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has begun his official visit to Thailand this morning and will have an audience with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej later today after meeting with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Full story:

[webfact]

BILLIONAIRES' MOVES

Dhanin, Charoen 'eyeing insurance investments'

Achara Pongvuthitham,

Chamnan Noisamran

The Nation

Two Thai billionaires are apparently seeking to build up interests in the insurance business.

BANGKOK: -- Dhanin Chearavanont looks to be interested in taking a stake in Ping An Insurance Group, China's second-largest insurer, while Charoen Sirivadhanabhaki is showing an interest in taking over ING Group's life-insurance business in Thailand.

Full story:

[webfact]

Two soldiers, one villager wounded in Narathiwat ambush bombing of routine security patrol for teachers /MCOT

[webfact]

RT @HuffingtonPost: Happy 65th anniversary to Queen Elizabeth II & Prince Phillip! http://huff.to/10769um

[webfact]

RT @RichardBarrow: Sukhumwit Fair 2012 at The American School of Bangkok (Suk Soi 49/3) on Saturday 1st December 2012 http://thai.vi/TeUbN4

[Lite Beer]

One Phuket snorkeler drowns, one sent to hospital

Phuket Gazette –

Two female tourists were taken to hospital following separate snorkeling incidents on Koh Racha. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

PHUKET: Two snorkeling incidents on Koh Racha, about 25 kilometers south of Phuket, have left a Chinese woman dead and an Indian woman in hospital.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/599646-one-phuket-snorkeler-drowns-one-sent-to-hospital/#entry5864929

[Lite Beer]

RT@veen_NT: Celeb chef Tommy Tang is busy preparing #Thanksgiving dishes with @KristieKenney at her residence this morning pic.twitter.com/9Zc6LaoB

[Lite Beer]

Thai, Chinese premiers meet media after talks, signing of rice deal; agree to enhance all aspects of bilateral ties /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

Academics see different Thai energy industry future after AEC

BANGKOK, Nov 21 - Academics and others considering the impact the coming ASEAN community have expressed conflicting interpretations on the future of Thailand's energy industry once the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) takes effect in 2015.

They had their say at a seminar on 'Adjusting Thailand's energy industry to welcome AEC', held in the Thai capital.

Deputy Permanent-Secretary of Energy Kurujit Nakornthap said that Thailand's energy industry must prepare for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in terms of knowledge, energy consumption behaviour, finding alternative news and energy resources.

Several countries began speaking of energy subsiding cancellation to reduce their governments' burden.

Thailand currently uses nearly 4.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas every day, which will rise to 5 billion cubic feet/day next year. The government must negotiate with neighbouring countries on finding an energy resources supply to avoid an energy shortage.

In a related comment, Fiscal Policy Research Institute Foundation deputy director, Pit Nitsamer, said the government must find ways to buy cheap electricity from Laos. Once the tranmission line system is linked to all ASEAN countries, Thailand will have Malaysia and Singapore as competitive buyers of Lao-produced electricity, and must therefore face higher power prices.

He supported the idea of abolishing energy subsidies, as energy prices for gas, oil, coal, and electricity will finally need to depend on world prices. The subsidy for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices by using energy ‘credit cards’ should be provided for only some users.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) vice chairman of the executive board of directors of the Institute of Industrial Energy Hin Navawongse, said Thailand is the second largest importer of energy at 1.15 million barrels/day after Singapore. It inefficiently consumes energy at a higher level on average when compared to other countries and income with the Thai government continuously subsidising energy prices.

Once the AEC takes effect and the government continues this subsidy, Thailand will in effect automatically subsidise energy prices for ASEAN as a whole, therefore creating a greater burden for Thailand itself as well as a tendency of lacking energy.

Mr Hin believes that the government should more quickly adjust the structure of energy prices appropriately and deal with the upcoming changes accordingly. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-11-21