Thailand Live Thursday 3 Jan 2013

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Thailand Live Thursday 3 January 2013

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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SURAT THANI

UK cautions citizens after Pha-ngan killing

KORNCHANOK RAKSASERI,

SOMCHAI SAMART

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The British ambassador has warned his countrymen to exercise caution when travelling in Thailand, following the killing of a British tourist by a stray bullet at a New Year's beach party on the popular island of Pha-ngan.

Full story:

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DSI: govt should scrap BTS deal

Chanikarn Phumhiran,

Anuphan Chantana

The Nation

Tarit to ask interior minister to cancel BMA contract allowing BTSC to operate Skytrain for further 13 years

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation will ask the interior minister to cancel the contract signed by the Bangkok governor for the extension of the Skytrain's operations without the minister's permission, the DSI chief said yesterday.

Full story:

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Govt agency launches Malay-language TV in deep South

Pakorn Puengnetr

The Nation

"Hari suara kita" - from now on, we have "our voice".

PATTANI: -- That's what the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) will tell local residents from today in the predominantly Malay-speaking region - that they will have television programming in their own language for at least 30 minutes a day initially.

SBPAC Secretary-General Thawee Sodsong hoped the new TV broadcast via satellite would help illustrate that Thailand is no longer a mono-cultural society, but has plural cultures in the deep South - with the ethnic Malay, Muslim majority having a TV channel presenting programmes in Malay.

People in the southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat have long been forced to learn the Thai language, which has been for more than a century the sole official language since this country modernised its education system.

Cultural and historical grievances have caused uprisings and armed struggle in the province over the past century. The current wave of violence erupted in early 2004, claiming some 5,000 lives since then.

The SBPAC's TV station is not the first Malay-speaking station in the deep South. Three stations - Channel 5, Channel 11 and Thai PBS - present programmes in Malay, but they are not popular.

The launch there of a new television station by the state authority is regarded as a tool for Bangkok and Malay-speaking natives to communicate with each other and to relieve frustration.

Televised via C-band satellite since January 1, the station is on-air only 30 minutes (8-8.30pm) a day for now. But it will run 24-hour programming within six months or a year.

The SBPAC has also been running 24-hour radio programmes and allowed joint productions by local producers.

Programme content includes Islamic religious affairs, education and sport, voice from locals, economics and living standards, talk shows on a southern peace solution, culture, tourism and general news.

Media producers under the SBPAC's network will be allowed to participate in making programmes that reflect the voices of local people.

The SBPAC's public relations department will produce programmes on the economy, livelihood development and government policy.

"We intend to make both television and radio as people's stations, with real participation from local people," said Piya Kittavon, deputy secretary-general of the SBPAC.

Local residents said it's better tohave more Malay-language television in the deep South. "As it is Malay-language television, their producers should be Malayu [ethnic Malays] who speak to their Malayu audience," said community leader Ibrahem Muhammadseng from Pattani's Ko Pho district. "We would have a channel to tell the truth."

-- The Nation 2013-01-03

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Sigh of relief as the US avoids fiscal cliff

Sucheera Pinijparakarn,

Nongnapas Maipanich,

Suphannee Pootpisut

The Nation

Deal expected to benefit Thai exports through greater demand, more stable greenback

BANGKOK: -- The US lawmakers' decision to avert the "fiscal cliff" has given the Thai economy short-term relief, as this can foster export demand and return some stability to the global financial markets.

Full story:

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TJA

Political divide, journalist ethics the biggest media stories of 2012

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Political polarisation and ethical double standards were the two biggest media issues of 2012, according to the Thai Journalists Association.

Full story:

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THAI TALK

Challenge for the PM is to address sensitive questions

Suthichai Yoon

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra chooses her exposure to the press very carefully. She rarely gives "exclusive" interviews to the media, and when she does, it can be quite revealing, especially on sensitive issues about her elder brother Thaksin.

Full story:

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EDITORIAL

Ideology and freedom to take a backseat in media

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The divided news industry in Thailand may be too busy with business challenges this year to worry too much about principles

Full story:

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Abhisit stripped of military record

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Defence Ministry yesterday revoked Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva's commission, removed his rank and expunged his records as if he had never served in the military.

Full story:

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Pheu Thai set to back Pongsapat in city poll

Somroutai Sapsomboon,

Chanikarn Phumhiran

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai is expected to announce deputy national police chief Pol General Pongsapat Pongcharoen as its candidate for Bangkok governor, once a royal decree calling for the election comes into effect, a party source said yesterday.

Full story:

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Anutin downplays defection

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Bhum Jai Thai Party leader Anutin Chanweerakul said yesterday that he was confident the remaining 25 MPs under his party's banner would be able to work well in Parliament now that the Machima group has defected.

He said he would rather have 25 MPs who are united than 34 with different opinions when voting in Parliament. However, he said, he would not officially remove the seven MPs, or two others from Si Sa Ket and Ratchaburi who have recently announced their loyalty to the Machima group, from the party.

Anutin was speaking after Somsak Thepsutin, a key member of the faction, announced the group's plan to leave the party in the new year.

-- The Nation 2013-01-03

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Abhisit nod to Banharn role

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday that he saw no problem if Banharn Silapa-archa, the de facto leader of the Chart Thai Pattana Party, takes over his role in bringing about political reconciliation in the country. However, Banharn must keep in mind the roots of the problem, especially corruption, Abhisit said. The best way is for the government to perform its duty to manage the country, he said.

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said Banharn could act as an intermediary because polls have found that people want politicians to stop sparring and end the conflict among several sides, so that harmony can be restored.

-- The Nation 2013-01-03

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Election cases set to begin

Chanikarn Phumhirun

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Supreme Court's Election Division is scheduled to hear on March 14 a red-card case against Pheu Thai Party Bangkok MP constituency 12 Karun Hosakul, chairman Chaiyasit Trachutham said yesterday.

Full story:

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Election Commission sets up panel to study next move on charter change

Chanikarn Phumhirun

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Election Commission has formed a panel to work with PM's Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn in preparing for a referendum vote on charter change.

Full story:

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BURNING ISSUE

Environment ministry in grip of factional power struggle

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- It seemed the conflicts inside the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry were over when the Cabinet resolved on December 18 to appoint Manophat Huamuangkaew as the new director-general of the National Parks and Plant Conservation Department.

Full story:

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More than 900 guns seized in Bangkok last year

Full story:

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UPDATE

First 6 days of New Year Holiday see 332 deaths

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The road toll for the first six of the so-called seven dangerous days of the New Year holiday period stood at 332 deaths and 3,037 injuries in 2,884 accidents nationwide, the National Road Safety Centre said yesterday.

Full story:

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CRIME

Police suspect 'professionals' in ATM break-in

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police suspect that thieves who yesterday morning pried open an ATM machine of the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives in Surat Thani's Tha Chana district and got away with Bt700,000 cash were professionals.

Following the robbery report at 7am, Tha Chana superintendant Pol Colonel Chinnawat Premsa-nga led a team to inspect the scene and found evidence that the bandits broke in via the bank's back door and cut the CCTV system and Internet connection, before breaking into the ATM to take out four cash boxes.

The investigation found that the bandits stole the Bt700,000 remaining in the machine. Police also found an employee uniform shirt and a pair of rubber gloves near the machine. At 10am, police retrieved the three cash boxes in a palm plantation and found footprints.

Chinnawat said the bandits appeared to be professionals with technical expertise and might not be locals.

-- The Nation 2013-01-03

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HEALTHCARE SCHEMES

Govt looks to rein in budgets

CHULARAT SAENGPASSA,

PONGPHON SARNSAMAK

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The government will likely limit the budget for its medical insurance schemes this year after healthcare costs ballooned over the past few years.

Full story:

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UPDATE

Suspects in sexual assault/robbery of Russians presented

The Nation

PATTAYA: -- National Police chief Pol General Adul Saengsingkaew joined Russian Deputy Consul-General Alexey Budanov in a press conference yesterday to discuss the arrest of three men accused of raping, assaulting and robbing two Russian women at a reservoir in Bang Lamung in Chon Buri late on December 26.

Full story:

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Australian falls to death in Phuket

Full story:

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Drug-resistant malaria in Thailand threatens deadly global 'nightmare'

By Ian Williams, NBC News

MAE SOT, Thailand -- Clipboard in hand, Dr Francois Nosten worked his way down a ward of malaria patients. He stopped in front of five-year-old Ayemyint Than, who sat to attention and smiled. The smile told Nosten as much as his lines of graphs and figures.

Full story:

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Park visits double over festive period

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The number of visitors to national parks during this New Year holiday period is expected to be double that of last year, said Manoepat Huamuangkaew, director general of National Parks, Wildlife and Conservation Department.

The most popular national parks this holiday season are Khao Yai, followed by Erawan and Doi Inthanon. About 70 per cent of the country's 148 national parks have reported 580,000 visitors, mostly Thais, to the parks between December 1, 2012 and January 1, 2013, compared with 440,924 in 2012.

When the remaining parks report their visitor numbers, the figure is expected to rise to double last year's number.

The department placed limits on visitor numbers and set up service zones for tourists so as to minimise the impact on the environment and wild animals over the busy holiday period. A centre was set up in each national park to ensure the safety of the tourists and their belongings.

The department plans more facilities in the parks next year, including public toilets and parking spaces, in response to the rising number of visitors.

The department's website, www.dnp.go.th, reported that in the 2012 Budget Year (October 2011-September 2012) 9.9 million tourists visited national parks. April (1,492,376 visits) was the most popular month, followed by January (1,328,034), December (1,245,551), March (908,655) and August (740,634). The most popular national park was Khao Yai, followed by Namtok Phliu, Mu Koh Chang, Namtok Chet Sao Noi and Doi Inthanon.

-- The Nation 2013-01-03

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Hillary Clinton out of hospital

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been released from a New York hospital and is expected to make a full recovery from a rare blood clot in her head, a top aide says.

Full story:

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Thailand shooting: how could my son's life be taken so recklessly?

LONDON: -- The family of Stephen Ashton, the British tourist shot dead in Thailand on New Year's Eve, spoke today of their "complete devastation" and questioned how a life could be taken so recklessly.

Full story:

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,410.52, gains 3.07 points /MCOT

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Human Rights Watch urges Thailand: 'Don’t deport Rohingya boat people'

Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- International human rights agency Human Rights Watch today called for the Thai government to immediately halt its plan to deport ethnic Rohingya back to Burma.

Full story:

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New Year road accidents casualties: 365 deaths,3,329 injured in 3,176 cases nationwide during Dec.27-Jan.2 /The Nation

[Lite Beer]

RT@veen_NT: Govt 1st car scheme buyers must not change their car ownership in 5yrs otherwise Excise Dept will seize the money(tax return). via @teamkorn