Thailand Live Friday 28 Dec 2012

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Thailand Live Friday 28 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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NEW RULES

DNP chief slammed for reported easing of booze ban

Duangkamon Sajirawattanakul

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Stop-Drink Network Office director Songkran Pakchokdee yesterday slammed Manopat Huamuangkaew, director-general of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department (DNP), for easing the alcohol ban at national parks by allowing drinking at park lodges.

Full story:

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GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION

Divided Democrats back Sukhumbhand for city

Tanatpong Kongsai,

Prapasri Osathanon

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Democrat Party has decided to field incumbent Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra to run for a second term and is confident he will win the gubernatorial election on February 17, party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said yesterday.

Full story:

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Phuket Island, a paradise for many, and hell for others

Full story:

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Police investigators told to accept lot drawing for positions in Thai south

Full story:

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Russian Husband commits suicide in Jomtien Hotel after split with his Wife

Full story:

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Injured 2010 protesters want legal action against former key govt leaders

Full story:

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PERSON OF THE YEAR

The fight has begun

The Nation

A fledgling anti-corruption network gives hope to the nation

BANGKOK: -- Loosely formed in 2010, the Anti-Corruption Network this year has become a key organisation that has shed unprecedented light on corruption in the country. This group, comprising entities from the public and private sectors, is pushing hard in its campaign against corruption at the corporate and national levels, with the ultimate goal of ensuring fairness to all Thais and lifting the country's image globally.

Full story:

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EDITORIAL

Next year, the govt must adjust its economic strategy

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Populist schemes are unsustainable, distort the market and will have a long-term adverse effect on the nation's economy and fiscal security

Full story:

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Court rejects Abhisit's suit against Jatuporn

Kesinee Taengkhio,

Piyanut Tumnukasetchai

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court yesterday dismissed a libel case lodged by former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva against red-shirt leader and former MP Jatuporn Promphan, ruling that the verbal attack between the two was just politics and had no legal grounds for defamation.

Full story:

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PAD leaders plead not guilty in trials over 2008 protests

Anuphan Chanatana,

Kesinee Taengkhiao

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- In two separate trials yesterday, nine yellow-shirt leaders pleaded not guilty to criminal violations in connection with the 2008 protests at Government House and Parliament.

Full story:

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SKYTRAIN CONTROVERSY

DSI to charge city officials over Bt190-bn deal with BTSC

Piyanuch Thamnukasetchai,

Thanatpong Kongsai

The Nation

Execs of BMA, KT and Skytrain operator accused of bypassing govt

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is preparing to charge top executives of the city administration with malfeasance in the awarding of a Bt190-billion contract to the Skytrain operator, while the accused are scrambling to prepare their defence.

Full story:

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One dead as holiday road danger period begins

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The first traffic death of the "seven dangerous days" of the New Year's break was reported last night just hours after the government launched its road safety campaign aimed at cutting casualties this season by 5 per cent.

Full story:

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Abrupt transfers for park chiefs

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The chief wardens of six major national parks have been given lightening transfers for "easier management" of illegal occupations.

Manaphat Huamuengkaew, the new director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, yesterday vowed to carry on with the planned dismantling of illegally built resorts on Samet Island, while the encroachment at other parks would be further dealt with.

The six national parks are Samet-Khao Laem Ya Park in Rayong, Ao Phang Nga Marine Park, Similan National Marine Park, Surin National Marine Park in Phang Nga, Doi Phu Kha National Park in Nan and Kitchakood National Park in Chanthaburi.

A department source said such abrupt transfers were not usual and would create problems managing those parks at this time of the year when hordes of tourist were visiting. The transfers have demoralised park officials and rangers.

A prospective replacement for Samet would possibly lead to delays in demolishing the illegally built resorts there, because the official was close to influential locals with connections to the resort owners, the source said.

A source at the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry said that more high-profile transfers would follow after the New Year break, targeting about 20 chief wardens and managers of a few other major parks as well as a division director, whose transfer requires the approval of the permanent secretary.

Arkhom Namkham, chief warden of Samet, said the reassignment was fine with him but he had not yet seen the order.

"I am willing to follow the orders of my superiors and am always ready to carry out any instructions," he added.

-- The Nation 2012-12-28

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Thai national, 29, arrested for smuggling 3.2kg of 'Ice'

AsiaOne

SINGAPORE: -- A 29-year-old Thai national has been arrested at Changi Airport for attempting to smuggle in 3.2kg of 'Ice'.

Full story:

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World's longest High-Speed Rail Line Opens In China

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....opens-in-china/

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RT @mpoppel: AP source: Retired Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf has died in Tampa, Florida.

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General Norman Schwarzkopf Dies Aged 78

Former US President George HW Bush calls General Norman Schwarzkopf "one of the great military leaders of his generation".

TAMPA: -- General Norman Schwarzkopf, who commanded the US-led coalition that drove Saddam Hussein's forces out of Kuwait in the 1991 Gulf War, has died.

Full story:

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RT @RichardBarrow: Serena Williams withdrew from tennis exhibition vs Victoria Azarenka in Hua Hin due to injury. Li Na will replace her /via @Lerlaforever

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No holiday for Thai police on New Year’s holiday

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Dec 28 – Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubumrung has banned police throughout Thailand from taking leave during the New Year’s celebration.

In a video conference with provincial and southern border police on Thursday, he clearly announced that police nationwide must be on special alert and provide security to the public during the New Year’s festival.

He admitted having safety concerns with the huge gathering scheduled at the New Year countdown at Central World, one of Bangkok’s busiest shopping zones, fro, New Year's Eve December 31 into January 1 and the fragile situation in three southern border provinces.

“We must adopt precautionary measures though there has been no sign of violence so far,” Mr Chalerm said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-12-28

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1 Million Baht “locker” theft from South Pattaya Condominium

PATTAYA: -- At least 1 Million Baht’s worth of Gold, cash and other valuables are thought to have been stolen from lockers situated in the reception area of a South Pattaya Condominium block.

Full story:

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,401.91, gains 4.72 points /MCOT

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INSTAGRAM

Suvarnabhumi Airport most popular location 2012

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Suvarnabhumi International Airport has beaten Disneyland, the Eiffel Tower and Times Square to be the most "Instagrammed'' location in the world for 2012.

Full story:

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Government asserts Bt2 trillion loans manageable

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Dec 28 – The Thai government’s plan to seek Bt2 trillion loans will raise the country’s public debt to 49.9 per cent in 2016, a level which is manageable, according to the Finance Ministry.

Full story:

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Four Thais jailed over 54 Myanmar migrant deaths

BANGKOK, Dec 28, 2012 (AFP) - Four people smugglers were sentenced to up to 10 years in prison by a Thai court after 54 illegal workers from Myanmar suffocated to death inside a seafood container, an official said Friday.

Full story:

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RT @191Thailand: Thailand Dangerous on Day 1: Chiang Mai (4 road deaths) & Bangkok (3 deaths). Drunk driving was the main cause of accidents

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Two dead in Phuket on first day of new year road-safety blitz

Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- Two people have died on Phuket’s roads within the first 24 hours of the annual Seven Days of Danger new year road-safety campaign, according to the official Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Phuket branch (DDPM-Phuket) statistics issued today.

Full story:

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Narathiwat flood situation eases

By Digital Media

NARATHIWAT, Dec 28 - Flooding in this restive southern province eased Friday, but riverside areas remain under water.

Narathiwat's special flood response centre said the weather conditions have improved in the southern border province with more sunshine and no more downpours.

Floodwaters have receded in most parts of the 13 districts earlier declared flood disaster zones.

However 57 villages in low-lying areas along Sungai Kolok, Bang Nara and Saiburi rivers in seven districts -- the provincial seat, Sungai Kolok, Tak Bai, Rangae, Chanae, Sukhirin and Ruso-- remained inundated as the river levels continued higher than normal, spreading through surrounding low-lying areas.

Officials have already provided initial assistance including 4,385 relief supply kits to the flood victims, as well as food, water, and medicine.

The centre reported today that the week-long heavy downpours earlier prompted the province to declare 13 districts disaster zones as 27,637 households in 208 villages were hit by floods.

Some 345 residents were forced to evacuate to safer ground, while flooding also damaged 13 roads, two bridge approaches and two dykes. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-12-28

[Lite Beer]

Trade robust at Thai-Lao border

By Digital Media

NAKHON PHANOM, Dec 28 – Border trade with the Lao PDR in Thailand's northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom is vigorous at the start of the New Year festival, with a large number of Lao having crossed the border to buy goods on the Thai side.

Markets at the Thai-Lao border in Nakhon Phanom are vigorous as Lao traders came to buy and order goods for resale in their hometowns during the New Year festival. They also bring farm products to sell on the Thai side.

As a result, exports at the Thai-Lao border in Nakhon Phanom doubled from 4-5 million baht to 10 million baht.

All agencies concerned were instructed to set up checkpoints to prevent smuggling illegal items along the border during the New Year. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-12-28