Thailand Live Monday 31 Dec 2012

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Thailand Live Monday 31 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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POLITICS

Policies threaten economy: Abhisit

Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has warned the government against continuing its populist policies in the same manner next year, saying the measures risked plunging the country into fiscal deficit and weakening the economy.

Full story:

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CHARTER REVIEW

PM: We'll seek consensus on constitution

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has downplayed concerns that changing the Constitution will cause turmoil, saying efforts will be made in the coming year to engage the public to reach a consensus ahead of the actual rewriting.

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Surin lauded as 'hard act to follow'

Special to The Nation

File photo : Surin

Five-year term saw conflicts between members, but the ex-foreign minister helped open up Asean, and Myanmar

BANGKOK: -- Former foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan today ends his five-year term as the Asean chief with a long list of pointers for steering the grouping through myriad challenges and uncertainties.

Full story:

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NEW YEAR

Temples prepare to see in 2013 with chanting, meditation

Mayuree Sukyingcharoenwong,

Wannapa Khaopa,

Jitima Janphrom

The Nation

Buddhists of various ages chant as part of New Year celebrations at Saket Temple in this file photo.

BANGKOK: -- Rather than just having fantastic fun at a party somewhere, beginning the New Year with a serene mind has become a trend. Some 30,000 temples are preparing chanting and meditating activities for tens of millions of people to celebrate 2014 in "Buddhist style".

The chanting and meditation starts on New Year's Eve and runs until New Year's Day. Such a calm celebration has been conducted for many years, especially in Bangkok, where the first official chanting ceremony to welcome the new year took place about six years ago at Saket Temple with assistance from the Pom Prap Sattru Phai District Office, according to the National Buddhism Office.

The popularity of chanting and meditation to mark the start of a new year has spread widely in the past few years.

"My first time was four or five years ago at Suthat Thepwararam Temple in Bangkok. Since then, I've practised that every new year. This year I'm thinking of a temple in Bangkok or Chiang Mai. I haven't chosen one yet," said Ging, 44, an office lady.

"Sitting inside a temple, chanting and meditating, I feel tranquil," she said. "Doing this has become a campaign so lots of people have celebrated New Year's this way. Anyhow, it's a good thing to do."

Adjima Neenungnok, 33, a medical technologist in Nakhon Pathom, said she would ask her parents and sisters to chant at a nearby temple, as they believe that it would help bring good luck to the family. She plans to do this after holding a party with her family at home on the last day of this year.

Also, Adjima treated herself by visiting Chiang Khan, a timeless, charming community in the northeastern province of Loei, to chill out in the cool breezes with her friends during the weekend before having a good time and praying for the New Year with her family.

Considering the new custom to be a good value that was worth promoting, the Sangha Supreme Council in 2010 resolved that every temple host the activity across the country, the National Buddhism Office said.

This year, the government expects 30 million people to chant together countrywide. Each region will have a main temple providing the ceremony. Of course, Saket Temple and Buddhamonthon will be the main venues in the Central region. Saket can accommodate up to 60,000 participants.

Sanam Luang will be another major venue with not only chanting but also Dhamma talks and a musical featuring the life of the Lord Buddha. Up to 200,000 Buddhists were estimated to pack the park. Phra That Doi Suthep Temple is set as the major chanting area in the North, Phra That Phanom Temple in the Northeast and Phra Borommathat Chaiya Temple in the South.

After the chanting ceremony, Buddhists can make merit on the first dawn of the year by offering alms to monks at all temples across the country as well as at Sanam Luang.

The rites will be aired live by National Broadcasting Services of Thailand and Thai TV Global Network.

Thai temples in other countries will also celebrate the New Year with chanting and meditating, so those abroad can also join the Buddhist style countdown.

Until tomorrow, Phra Dhammakaya Temple in Pathum Thani is organising a thudong pilgrimage along with chanting.

The spiritual festivities are not limited to temples. More than 2,400 inmates at a prison in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen will also chant and meditate. It will be the launch of Dhamma practice at the prison, as a series of activities will be provided for them throughout the year to inculcate Dhamma in their minds and improve their conduct.

While it is easy to go to a nearby temple to try out the Buddhist style of counting down to the New Year, if it is not convenient to go out, people can still be part of the auspicious celebrations by sitting in front of a Buddha statue at home and chanting and meditating.

For more information about the venues for chanting and meditating across the country, visit www.thaihealth.or.th/prayforlife.

-- The Nation 2012-12-31

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Alcohol crackdown in force

Wattana Khamchoo

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- As the excitement builds ahead of the New Year, authorities have busted more than 50 booze vendors over the past three days as part of the crackdown on alcohol sales at prohibited venues and during prohibited times to prevent accidents caused by drunk driving.

Full story:

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Prison warden, 2 inmates killed at Khao Bin Prison in Ratchaburi

The Nation

RATCHABURI: -- A prison warden and two inmates were killed after the guard was taken hostage at knifepoint yesterday at Ratchaburi's maximum security Khao Bin Prison. A third prisoner who surrendered was not injured.

The two inmates who were killed at 5.30pm after a two-hour stand-off with officials. They were identified as Ronnachai Sripankaew and Prasit Saensabai. The third prisoner, Sutthirat Saeng-arthit, a former police officer, survived by surrendering to officials.

Prison warden was identified as Suthep Joisriket.

Sutthirat's surrender reportedly upset the other two inmates, who slit Suthep's wrists and throat. So officials raided the building, which was under construction, where the hostage was held and shot the two inmates. Suthep, who had served at the prison for only a year, was pronounced as dead.

The drama took place after Suthep caught the trio trying to hot-wire and steal a backhoe, which they planned to use to run down a prison gate, so the trio held him hostage at knife point.

The three were imprisoned for life on murder and drug-smuggling charges. Corrections Department deputy Kobkiat Kasiwiwat said the three had planned to make their getaway assuming a shortage of guards on the holiday break.

-- The Nation 2012-12-31

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Thais content, polls claim

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- On a scale of 1-10, the Gross Domestic Happiness Index has improved from 7.40 in October to 7.53 in November and 7.61 this month, showing Thais are growing more content, Abac Poll claims.

Full story:

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5% growth expected in the year ahead: PM

Nakharin Srilert

The Nation

Yingluck vows to run a steady ship, will heed advice and criticism in 2013

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra expects economic growth of 4.5-5.5 per cent next year while the government is geared up to develop the economy as planned on expectation of annual expansion of 5 per cent.

Full story:

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Photofit image of Russian assault suspect released by Pattaya Police

PATTAYA: -- As the investigation into the case of two Russian Female Tourists who were abducted, robbed and sexually assaulted continues, Pattaya Police have now issued a Photofit of the man who is thought to have conducted the sexual assaults and they are sure he resides somewhere in the Pattaya area.

Full story:

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Obama cites new leads in Benghazi tragedy investigation

WASHINGTON: -- Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday President Barack Obama said there were “new good leads” in the investigation of the tragedy at the U.S. consulate in Benghazi.

Full story:

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Hillary Clinton in hospital with blood clot

NEW YORK: -- US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been admitted to a New York hospital for treatment of a blood clot stemming from a concussion suffered several weeks ago, her spokesman says.

Full story:

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MONEY

Taxi driver returns Bt3 million found on city street to truck crew

Jessada Jantharak

The Nation

Police and an employee of Brink

BANGKOK: -- A taxi driver yesterday returned a bag containing Bt3 million in cash to the crew of a cash-delivery truck after finding it on a Bangkok street in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Full story:

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RT @RichardBarrow: Victory Monument on a Monday is usually busy but very quiet this morning (Pic @Pat_ThaiPBS) http://thai.vi/10CJKGZ

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RT @RichardBarrow: Countdown 2013: BTS Skytrain, MRT Subway & the Airport Rail Link will extend their services tonight until 2am #Bangkok

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RT @RichardBarrow: In the first 4 days of the new year holidays in Thailand, 202 people have been killed & 1,898 injured in road accidents.

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RT @191Thailand: There has been 202 deaths on roads so far during the new year holiday in Thailand: Day 1 (33), Day 2 (38), Day 3 (77) & Day 4 (54).

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RT @RichardBarrow: The biggest Countdown 2013 events in #Bangkok tonight are at Central World, Asiatique and Sanam Luang (chanting only)

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Death toll from road accidents rises to 202; 1,890 injured in 1st four days of Seven Dangerous Days of New Year period /MCOT

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RT @Saksith: Bangkok today is as empty as many parts of Europe on a Sunday.

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RT @RichardBarrow: Boat services on Saen Saeb Canal will run as normal until 6pm on NYE #Bangkok

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Phuket moorings break loose, wreak havoc for yachtsmen at Chalong Bay

Phuket Gazette

Of the 200 new moorings dropped in Chalong Bay last month as part of a 5.8mn baht project, many of have already broken. Photo: Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- As yachts continue to arrive in Phuket ahead of the New Year's Eve celebrations and countdown tonight, the new moorings installed in Chalong Bay late last month have already wreaked havoc, with brand-new mooring lines breaking and setting boats adrift.

Full story:

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Heavy showers set to dampen Phuket new year

Phuket Gazette

A satelllite image of the region as at 4:14am today, showing Phuket in the midst of several low-prssure systems. Image: TMD

PHUKET: -- The heavy thunderstorm showers that have drenched Phuket over the past few days are forecast to continue until at least Wednesday, according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD).

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Thai death toll rises to 202 during New Year's holidays: Road Safety Centre

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Dec 31 - Thailand's Road Safety Centre reports that the death toll so far during the first four days of the New Year's holidays has reached 202, with Nakhon Pathom province seeing the highest number at 11 persons.

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No deal: Congress stares at cliff failure

Nick O'Malley

US Correspondent

WASHINGTON: Despite intense scrutiny and the growing frustration of the American public, the US Congress failed to come up with a weekend deal to avoid the sweeping tax hikes and spending cuts known as the fiscal cliff.

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RT@ChadapornLin: Swimming in Hua Hin waters forbidden by mayor following 2-3 meter waves

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Excise Department: 1.25 million car owners expected to file for tax refunds under first car scheme, totalling Bt90.5 billion, 3 times over planned target /MCOT

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Austrian Man Dies During Swim In Sriracha

SRIRACHA:--A 57-year-old Austrian man drowned while swimming at Bangphra beach in Sriracha. His Laotian girlfriend told police they were drinking and eating on the beach for the New Year festival. The Austrian then went for a swim, but quietly drowned with no one noticing, until it was too late.

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