Thailand Live Thursday 20 Dec 2012

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Thailand Live Thursday 20 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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F1: Ecclestone gives Bangkok Grand Prix the green light

Ecclestone at the 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix. File photo, source: wikimedia

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....he-green-light/

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Watch out for govt tricks on charter change, Jurin warns

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The government might try some trick with a public referendum in order to succeed in its push to write an entirely new constitution, the opposition chief whip warned yesterday.

Full story:

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UPDATE:

Special centre set up to deal with cases against Abhisit, Suthep

Full story:

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'New breed' teachers take over in Pattani

SUPITCHA RATTANA

THE NATION

PATTANI: -- A crop of "new breed" teachers have taken up their posts at schools in Pattani, replacing those who requested to move out of the southern province's violence-prone areas.

Full story:

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UPDATE:

Plodprasop released on bail in alleged tiger export case

Full story:

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New master plan on all land usage

Nakarin Srilert

The Nation

National map to guide agriculture zones, help cut crop subsidies, and lift farmers' incomes

BANGKOK: -- The government plans to draw up a nationwide "Master Map" to consolidate the plethora of available maps and guide proposed plantation zoning. The move aims to eventually reduce agricultural subsidies and lift farmers' incomes.

The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency will be brought in to create a single map through the use of satellite data, with information on conservation areas, plantation areas and privately owned land - with details from the Lands Department - collected by various agencies.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra chaired a workshop yesterday on agricultural zoning, during which participants studied the proposal completed by the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB).

The move forms part of the government's goal of increasing the size of the agricultural sector, and concurrently raising farmers' incomes.

As things stand, 32 government units use their own maps with nine different scales, the PM said. She told participants that the wide variety of maps, which often led to incorrect data and misguided policy-making, should be standardised.

The Master Map, to be completed by all governments units, would enable the country to maximise land use. It would also be integrated with other plans for industrial promotion, marketing and logistics, which would help reduce production costs as a whole, she said.

"It's not that we will limit farmers' choices, but this will provide alternatives in light of climate change," the PM said.

Her government has been heavily criticised over its agricultural subsidies, particularly the rice-pledging scheme.

The World Bank economist yesterday projected the cost of the scheme at Bt376 billion for the 2011/2012 harvest season, with losses estimated at Bt115 billion. The cost for the current harvest season is projected to be Bt432 billion, with losses estimated at Bt132 billion.

Agricultural zoning will focus on six main economic crops, including rice, feed-grade maize and tapioca. The combined plantation areas for the crops cover 107 million rai.

According to Nirutti Khunwat, an adviser to the science minister, economic crops are currently grown sparsely around the country.

-- The Nation 2012-12-20

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World Bank paints improved economic future for Thailand

Full story:

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Row over change to historic Supreme Court

Pakamas Jaichalard

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Fine Arts Department is trying to inspect construction inside the Supreme Court's compound amid growing concern the work may endanger two registered national historical buildings.

"These registered buildings must be neither dismantled nor changed," the department's director-general Sahawat Naenna said yesterday.

He said the buildings might undergo interior improvement but any work of that kind must first receive approval from his department.

The reported plan to dismantle buildings inside the Supreme Court's compound has caused public uproar. Several people have vented their frustration in the online community and demanded that such a plan, if any, be immediately scrapped.

Wirat Chinwinigkul, secretary-general of the Office of the Judiciary, has assigned Court of Justice spokesman Sittisak Wanachakit to head a panel seeking opinions from the public on the construction of the new building for the Supreme Court.

Establishment of the panel is aimed at countering the negative comments.

"I can assure you that no dismantling of the existing building has started," Sittisak said.

He also ordered the creation of a new Facebook page yesterday to deal with the online criticism against the construction plan.

Sahawat yesterday said his department had received a letter and photos regarding the reported plan from the Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage (ASA). Tarapong Srisuchart, the director of the department's Bureau of Archaeology, has been assigned to look into the issue.

"The bureau dispatched officials to the Supreme Court's compound a week ago but the officials were denied entry," Sahawat said.

He said his department would urgently ask the Supreme Court for permission to check the site.

Sahawat said the Supreme Court's representative met with him a month ago to discuss a plan to construct the new building for the court. The court's representative was told that the two registered historical buildings were national heritage and must not be dismantled or changed.

One of these buildings is behind the statue of the Father of Thai Laws, while the other sits by the Lod Canal. These two registered national historical buildings inside the Supreme Court have received several awards, including from the ASA.

judicial history

According to conservationists, the buildings were constructed in 1939 to mark a significant milestone in Thailand's judicial history, the so-called return of "complete judicial independence" in 1938.

In the eyes of many Thais, the Kingdom had lost some of its judicial independence when it signed the Bowring Treaty in the reign of King Rama V. Moreover, these buildings were constructed in the modern style to reflect the new ideologies of people at the time the country welcomed democracy.

"These buildings are not simply where judges work. These buildings have much relevance to Thai politics and society in the modern era," a Facebook user said on Saturday.

A source said the dismantling of the important buildings would be completed by March or April. Hole digging and many other works related to the construction had already begun.

Wirat has insisted the court has proceeded cautiously and done everything in consultation with relevant organisations, including the Fine Arts Department.

"We first started a plan to construct a new building in 1991," he said.

Information provided by Wirat, however, suggested the building by the Lod Canal would be dismantled.

"We will conserve the building behind the statue," he said.

-- The Nation 2012-12-20

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NEW YEAR

TAT optimistic of new year spending after 2011 disaster

BAMRUNG AMNATCHAROENRIT

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Travellers during the New Year holidays are expected to spend more than Bt13.1 billion, says the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Full story:

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Chatchart to listen to noise at Suvarnabhumi

Nongnaphat Maipanit

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- In a bid to better understand the complaints about excessive noise from neighbours of Suvarnabhumi Airport, Transport Minister Chatchart Sithipan says he's planning to spend at least six hours in the area and perhaps even sleep overnight there.

Full story:

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Convicts face a cooler ride to jail

PIYANUCH THAMNUKASETCHAI

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet has approved a Bt492million budget for the purchase of 300 air-conditioned vehicles to transport prison inmates.

Full story:

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Spare Yingluck from doomsday, 32% of Thais plead

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is the politician most Thais would like to see survive "doomsday" - which some people fear will arrive tomorrow due to ancient predictions made by the Mayan people of Central America - Suan Dusit Poll said yesterday.

Full story:

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UPDATE:

I knew nothing about Rames attack, says police chief

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Metropolitan police chief Kamronwit Thoopkrachang has ordered his deputy Maj General Ittipol Piriyapinyo to take charge in the case of Democrat deputy spokesman and lawyer Rames Rattanachaweng who was severely attacked on Monday night.

Full story:

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Court defers judgement in Somyos lese-majeste case to Jan 23

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court has deferred its ruling in the lese-majeste case against Voice of Taksin editor Somyos Prueksakasemsuk to January 23, citing changes in the panel of judges who handled the case for the delay.

The announcement was made yesterday as one of the four presiding Criminal Court judges spent 30 minutes reading out an earlier ruling by the Constitution Court affirming the constitutionality of the lese-majeste law in front of Somyos.

Somyos appeared in court along with more than 100 supporters and observers, including those from the German and British embassies.

Thai people's reverence for His Majesty the King, said the female judge, citing the Constitution Court's ruling, "is a unique characteristic found in Thailand and unlike anywhere else".

The judge further quoted from the Constitution Court's ruling by adding that violating the lese-majeste law by defaming the monarchy was tantamount to "hurting the feelings of Thai people", thus the harsher penalty compared to defaming an ordinary person was "justified".

Somyos, who appeared in orange prison clothing and was shackled at the ankles, later said he would seek yet another bail hearing soon, adding to the 12 bail requests that have been denied over the past 17 months since he was detained.

He described the negative impact on him and his family of the repeated denial of bail as "incalculable". "It testifies to the fact that Thailand is not yet a fully democratic society," Somyos told The Nation.

Karom Poltaklang, his lawyer, said no arrest warrant had been issued against exiled red-shirt leader Jakrapob Penkair, who was named by Somyos during his testimony earlier this year as the man behind the two articles which resulted in his being charged under lese-majeste law.

This is a good sign, Karom said, adding that Somyos was the editor of the magazine and not the writer of the articles in question. What's more, he said, the content of the articles, which were written with fictitious characters, was also subject to interpretation.

-- The Nation 2012-12-20

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EDITORIAL

Mass shooting tragedy could happen here

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand is awash with illegal firearms amid lax law enforcement, making it not inconceivable for someone to embark on a killing spree like those seen all too often in America

Full story:

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THAI TALK

Charter reform: The question is in the question(s) asked

Suthichai Yoon

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- If you really listened to Premier Yingluck's story about the proposed constitutional amendment, you might have been led to believe that it's about the separation of power between the executive and legislative branches.

Full story:

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4.6-Richter quake shook Myanmar early Thur,Mae Sai; tremors felt in buildings in Chiangmai /The Nation

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President Obama is Time magazine's Person of the Year 2012, the 2nd time he received this honor /The Nation

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Chumphon palm oil growers protesting falling price, accept government offer to buy product at Bt4/kilo, end Phetchkasem Road blockade /MCOT

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Land, air services set for New Year’s holiday travellers

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Dec 20 – Thailand’s rail and air travel services will be augmented to cope with a massive increase of holidaymakers during the New Year’s celebrations, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) announced.

Full story:

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,378.25, down 0.15 points /MCOT

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New requirement for new Thai companies: Paid-up share capital

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....-share-capital/

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Income tax cuts in Thailand announced this week

Full story:

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Criminal Court rules authorities killed 14-year-old boy on Rachaprarob Road during 2010 violence /MCOT

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PM attends ASEAN-India Summit in New Delhi today

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Dec 20 – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra leaves for New Delhi today to join the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit focusing on enhanced economic cooperation and partnership in developing land, sea and air infrastructure among member countries.

She said the two-day summit is to mark the 20th anniversary of relations between ASEAN and India. The theme of the summit is ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace and Shared Prosperity.

Trade, investment, economy and connection of land transport routes as well as cooperation on culture, education, medical science, military training exchanges are the major issues to be discussed, she said.

High on the agenda for bilateral talks is the Thai-Indian Free Trade Agreement to boost the two countries’ trade and investment, the premier added.

Ms Yingluck is scheduled to visit Bangladesh after the ASEAN-India Summit for bilateral talks on cooperation and partnership in trade and investment, and cooperation on security, intelligence, and suppressing human and drug trafficking.

A Thai business delegation from various industrial sectors will accompany the premier to Bangladesh to explore the possibility of trade cooperation. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-12-20

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Thailand needs urgent action on human trafficking

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Dec 20 – Thai frozen food operators today called on the Foreign Ministry to take immediate action, especially on human trafficking, to unlock Thailand from being designated by the United States Department of State on its Tier 2 Watch List.

Full story:

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Chiang Mai, Uttaradit declared cold disaster zones

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Dec 20 - Thailand's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department on Thursday declared the northern provinces of Chiang Mai and Uttaradit as cold disaster zones.

Director-General Chatchai Promlert said the announcement covers five districts of the two provinces. The cold spell is affecting 169 villages and almost 20,000 households there.

Concerning drought, 240 districts of 22 provinces have been declared disaster zones in many northeastern and some northern provinces, he noted.

Meanwhile, the director-general said there will be more rain in the South, while heavy rain will occur in Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, according to the Thai Meterological Department.

Small boats should avoid going off shore during December 20-25 due to possible strong winds in the lower part of the Gulf of Thailand from Surat Thani province downward.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department has ordered prevention and mitigation offices nationwide to be prepared for a cold spell, strong winds, and possible flash floods which could affect lives and safety of local residents as well as farmers' crops.

Officials are to monitor the situation and be on high alert round the clock from today through Monday. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-12-20

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Arson blamed for Phuket beach blaze

Phuket Gazette

Shop owner Man Thonglor believes that his minimart was set on fire. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

PHUKET: -- A fire engulfed a small beachfront minimart at Surin Beach and spread to four other shops early this morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....et-beach-blaze/