Thailand Live Thursday 13 December 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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Ex-Thai PM to hear murder charge over protest death

BANGKOK, Dec 13, 2012 (AFP) - Thailand's former premier Abhisit Vejjajiva is set to be charged with murder on Thursday over the death of a civilian during a military crackdown on anti-government "Red Shirt" rallies two years ago.

Full story:

SELLING OF ALCOHOL

Alcohol sales set to be banned at roadside stalls

POUNGCHOMPOO PRASERT

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Starting from the New Year holiday period, roadside food stalls will be banned from selling alcoholic drinks, while all sales of alcoholic beverages will be limited to 11am-2pm and 5pm-midnight, Public Health Minister Pradit Sinthawanarong said yesterday.

Full story:

SOUTH CRISIS

Teachers want to flee south

THE NATION

Transfer applications rise in wake of targeted killings Yingluck to visit Pattani today to be briefed on situation

PATTANI: -- A large number of Buddhist teachers in the troubled deep South have applied for transfers, with their morale at its lowest point following reports that they have become a new target group in the southern insurgency, Deputy Education Minister Sermsak Pongpanich said yesterday.

Full story:

PM'S BROTHER

Thaksin sues Boonlert, MP for defamation

Kesinee Taengkhiao,

Wisit Chavanapipatpong

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A lawyer for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday filed a defamation complaint with police against the leader of the anti-government group Pitak Siam and a Democrat MP.

Full story:

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

Experts call for end to death penalty in Thailand

PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Thailand is falling behind its neighbours when it comes to abolition of the death penalty, activists and experts said at a seminar yesterday.

Full story:

Chaiyaphum hit by drought

The Nation

THAILAND: -- Chaiyaphum's 16 districts were yesterday declared as drought-hit disaster zones, with Muang, Khon San, Ban Khwao, Nong Bua Daeng, Tepsathit, Noen Sanga, and Chaturat districts the "hardest hit".

Full story:

THAI TALK

The deep south: How many more teachers must die?

Suthichai Yoon

The Nation

PATTANI: -- Education Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana was quick to show his concern for frightened teachers in the deep South. He flew down to Pattani last Thursday to meet about 1,500 teachers who told him they want the central government to do more to make teaching children safe.

Full story:

Nearly 47 percent Thais worried about crime: Confidence in police

Full story:

Iranians moving meth across Asia: UN

SUPALAK GANJANAKHUNDEE

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Crime syndicates from Iran have emerged as a major force in trafficking methamphetamines to East and Southeast Asia, where meth is identified as the top threat, the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime said in a report released yesterday.

Full story:

Richest stockholders linked to govt, PM

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Politicians and their families, especially some people close to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her government after the latest reshuffle on October 28, rank among the richest stockholders in the country.

Full story:

Old AIT board returns to power

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Supervision of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) will return to its old Board of Trustees, a step seen as crucial in solving the crisis surrounding the institute's charter.

The crisis arose after the AIT enforced its new charter early this year, despite the fact that the Parliament has not yet ratified it. As the Thai government has not recognised its new charter, the status of AIT's degrees and its new board are in doubt. For months, AIT president Said Irandoust has refused to back down on the new charter, aggravating the crisis to the point that students and alumni pressed for his resignation.

At a meeting yesterday at which Irandoust was also present, it was agreed that the old board - whose status is recognised by Thai authorities - would return. This board will confer degrees for graduates, including those who received degrees under the new charter earlier this year. It was also resolved that Foreign Ministry deputy permanent secretary Nopadol Gunavibool will chair the board in place of Tej Bunnag in the issuance of degrees.

-- The Nation 2012-12-13

MAE WONG DAM

ONEP rejects rid's impact report again

PONGPHON SARNSAMAK

THE NATION

Panel of experts demands more details; govt mega-project put on hold

BANGKOK: -- The state environment-watch agency yesterday decided not to give the green light to Nakhon Sawan's Mae Wong Dam project, putting the government's flood-prevention mega-project in the doldrums again.

Full story:

'Few months' to stage referendum

Chanikarn Phumhiran

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Election Commission chairman Apichart Sukhagganond said yesterday that if the government chooses to hold a referendum ahead of voting on the third reading of the charter-change motion, the task should be completed in a few months. He also said the EC should need no more than Bt2 billion to complete the task.

He added that holding a referendum on the issue was in line with the Constitution Court's suggestion as it would reduce chaos in society.

-- The Nation 2012-12-13

Academics split over hearings prior to vote on charter changes

Khanittha Thepphajorn,

Chanikarn Phumhiran,

SOMROUTAI SAPSOMBOON

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The government's plan to hold public hearings and a referendum before a vote on the charter amendment in the third reading, has met with a mixed response from academics.

Full story:

PM, ministers to visit Myanmar on Monday

Piyanart Srivalo, Nakarin Srilert

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will visit Myanmar on Monday to follow up on the progress of the Dawei deep-seaport project.

Yingluck is scheduled to meet Myanmar President Thein Sein at the development site before inspecting the locations designated for the seaport and special economic zone.

The Thai delegation will include Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong, Transport Minister Chatchart Sithipan, Energy Minister Pongsak Ruktapongpisal and journalists.

The meeting between the Thai and Myanmar leaders is expected to boost confidence in the project.

National Economic and Social Development Board secretary-general Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said that during the visit, there would be a second meeting of the Thai-Myanmar commission on the joint development of the special economic zone.

Arkhom said the two countries were in the process of exchanging ideas on investment models before finalising a joint decision on the matter.

The Thai side will offer the model used in the Kingdom's Eastern Seaboard development Arkhom said. Should Myanmar agree to this model, the two countries will launch a campaign to drum up support among international investors, he added.

-- The Nation 2012-12-13

S&P says Thailand's outlook stable despite political uncertainties

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Dec 13 – Standard & Poor’s Rating Services has affirmed Thailand’s stable outlook on long-term foreign and local currency ratings, citing a favourable external position, light government indebtedness and the credibility of the country’s monetary policy as the main rating supports.

Full story:

Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,357.83, up 3.26 points /MCOT

Police to charge tour van driver today over lethal Phuket crash

Phuket Gazette

The scene on November 29 after the Phuket tour bus slammed into a pickup carrying school girls, killing 9-year-old Kunnarree Lattuada-Lancini. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Tuan Russala Samae, the tour van driver involved in the fatal crash that killed 9-year-old British International School student Kunnarree Lattuada-Lancini on November 29, has been discharged from Vachira Phuket Hospital.

Full story:

Army chief says money alone cannot end southern insurgency

By English News

BANGKOK, Dec 13 – Without civic cooperation, the decade-long violence in Thailand’s far South will not be resolved despite the government’s allocation of a huge anti-insurgency budget, according to Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha.

He was apparently referring to the government’s approval of a new Bt7 billion budget to combat the southern insurgency which has recently escalated with a series of fatal shootings of civilians and teachers.

The army chief today accompanies Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to inspect the southern region and join a meeting of state officials in charge of security.

Gen Prayuth said 70 per cent of the Bt7 billion budget (about US$225 million) will go to salaries and allowances for military forces on duty in the trouble-plagued provinces.

“Everyone has asked for total safety, which is impossible in the present situation. Not only teachers but state officials are prone to attacks,” he said. “In the past, some teachers did not want soldiers to be near them or provide security to their schools for fear of becoming targets of attack.”

He said the military is willing to withdraw its forces from the South if local security authorities including defence volunteers and police are ready to take care of the situation. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-12-13

RT @RichardBarrow: Big movie release in Thailand today is “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”. Thai movie poster: http://thai.vi/VYssCX

Google Maps native iPhone app launched on Apple's store

Full story:

Americans fight for right to bear arms - at work

Margaret Newkirk

WASHINGTON: -- Republican-dominated legislatures in at least four US states are planning to consider allowing employees to bring guns to work, turning two of the party’s traditional constituencies against each other: gun-rights supporters and businesses.

Full story:

RT @RichardBarrow: Abhisit & Suthep surrounded by their fan club - RT @Abhisit_DP: ขอบคุณทุกกำลังใจ ที่ พรรคประชาธิปัตย์ http://thai.vi/12msc08

RT@RichardBarrow: 1:31pm Abhisit & Suthep have just arrived at DSI - RT @Suthida_NBC: “อภิสิทธิ์-สุเทพ”มาถึง DSI แล้ว pic.twitter.com/wyqYW5qv

RT@RichardBarrow: Somewhere under this media scrum is Former PM Abhisit & his deputy Suthep (Pic @Suthida_NBC) pic.twitter.com/vmDG9bti

Ex PM Abhisit, ex-DPM Suthep arrive DSI to acknowledge charges of conspiring in murder of civilians during 2010 political protest /MCOT

RT@RichardBarrow: The first examination of witnesses in terrorism case against 24 UDD leaders has been postponed to Dec 14 (Bangkok Post)

RT@RichardBarrow: Prices for the new Asiatique SKY Ferris wheel: Adults 200B & kids 150B. Foreigners are 250B richardbarrow.com/2012/12/asiati…