Thailand Live Wednesday 9 Jan 2013

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Thailand Live Wednesday 9 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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Businesses unimpressed by govt 'compensation' to deal with wage hike

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet yesterday approved 16 measures aimed at helping owners of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) affected by the Bt300 daily minimum wage, said Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong. Key among the measures is an increase in the profit ceiling for tax exemption, from Bt150,000 to Bt300,000 per annum, which will benefit around 210,000 SMEs at a cost to state revenue of Bt2.8 billion, said Kittiratt.

Full story:

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Environmental panels for impact study to be dissolved

Janira Pongrai,

Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

Critics fear move aimed at pushing approval for Bt350bn water projects

BANGKOK: -- The National Environmental Board (NEB) will dissolve three expert panels that study impact assessment reports for government projects and other activities, in a bid to end what officials say is a double standard in such reports for state projects versus private-sector projects.

Full story:

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Bangkok polls set for March 3

The Nation

Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra giggle during a meeting with the party

BANGKOK: -- The capital's gubernatorial election has been set for March 3 and applications will be accepted from January 21 to 25, chairman of the Bangkok Election Commission Pol Maj-General Thaweesak Toochinda said yesterday.

Full story:

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Plan shows govt's 'true intent'

The Nation

Democrats condemn move to cut key courts, agencies via new charter

BANGKOK: -- Radical proposals by a House working committee - to dissolve top courts and key government agencies - showed the "true colours" of the ruling Pheu Thai Party and its push to write a new constitution, the opposition Democrat Party said yesterday.

Full story:

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TV3 urged to let NBTC view cancelled show

Veena Thoopkrajae,

Watchiranont Thongtep

The Nation

A woman holds up a sign saying 'Fear State' during a seminar yesterday on the cancelled TV series 'Nua Mek 2' at Chulalongkorn University.

Supinya to ask NBTC to verify broadcaster's claim that 'Nua Mek 2' episodes broke law; Thaksin's son says show should be aired

BANGKOK: -- Adding to the public pressure on Channel 3 over its controversial decision to drop the "Nua Mek 2" television series, the broadcaster was urged at a Bangkok seminar yesterday to send the unaired episodes of the show to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to verify that its content violated broadcasting regulations, as Channel 3 claims.

Full story:

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Political instability main worry for tourism industry

BAMRUNG AMNATCHAROENRIT

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The tourism outlook remains bright this year, but clouds lie ahead, especially political instability as the major threat to foreign visitor sentiment, according to the Centre for Economic and Business Forecasting.

Full story:

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TOPPAGE TIME

TV soap ban shows many heads are in the clouds

Tulsathit Taptim

BANGKOK: -- Like many others, my first reaction, when I heard of the controversy, was "Nua Mek what?" Two days later, again, like many others, I was googling like crazy, looking for updates, comments and video clips. My social media timeline was so full of it, and you couldn't leave home without equipping yourself with some background about that soap opera - if you didn't want to be dubbed a dinosaur.

Full story:

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EDITORIAL

Sweep it under the carpet and no one will notice

The Nation

There is no political will to bring an end to the southern insurgency because our leaders see it as localised and manageable, despite daily deaths

BANGKOK: -- For a man who seems reluctant to go to the deep South, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung always succeeds in getting himself associated with developments in the restive region. Chalerm shoots himself in the foot with some off-the-wall statements about how the conflict could be resolved and how others have got it all wrong.

Full story:

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UPDATE

Tuk-tuk, jet-ski, taxi scams: Ambassadors name the bane of Phuket

Phuket Gazette

Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut (left) looks on as British Ambassador Mark Kent shows him a website listing scores of incidents in which tourists were beaten, robbed and scammed by tuk-tuk and taxi drivers in Phuket. Photo: PR Dept

Full story:

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Iranian tourist attacks Phuket parking attendant

Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- Iranian tourist Khalili Sina today attacked a Phuket parking service operator who was trying to shift the tourist’s rented jeep.

Full story:

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PAD demands govt reject ICJ's role in temple dispute

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) yesterday submitted a seven point demand that the government reject the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in the border dispute with Cambodia.

Full story:

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Women being wooed into drugs trade: police

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police yesterday urged Thai women to beware of African drug traffickers who they said were luring females into romantic relationships and then using them as drug mules.

Full story:

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Charter, temple, layoffs spark most protests

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The charter amendment bill, the Preah Vihear Temple dispute, and job cuts were the three main issues for anti-government protests between October and December last year, police spokesman Piya Uthayo said yesterday.

Piya said police had recorded 633 protest rallies nationwide over the three-month period, 264 of which were sparked by political issues and 399 by business issues. Bangkok was the police jurisdiction with the highest number of rallies, at 218, of which 107 were deemed political protests and 111 business protests.

Khon Kaen (Region 4) saw 77 protests, the second-highest number during the period, while Surat Thani (Region 8) saw the third-highest number, at 71, said Piya.

-- The Nation 2013-01-09

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Civil servants face axe for excess sick-leave

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Supervisors at state agencies will be able to fire civil servants whose sick-leave exceeds 120 days in a fiscal year, under a regulation approved by Cabinet yesterday.

The regulation, proposed by the Civil Service Commission, will also give supervisors the power to dismiss any official who has taken more than 60 days of sick leave for two consecutive years.

"The regulation will not apply to officials who have been injured or fallen ill because of their duties," deputy government spokesman Parkdehans Himathongkom said.

He said supervisors must first send the officials in question to a state hospital for an examination.

"A doctor's opinion will be used to determine whether the officials are fit to remain in service," Parkdehans said.

-- The Nation 2013-01-09

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Govt urged to back bloodtests campaign

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Free blood tests offered by the Thai Red Cross between November 30 and December 1, 2012, found that 3.6 per cent of the those tested were HIV positive. The tests were offered at five Bangkok malls, with 432 men and 256 women tested.

The free blood tests were held to mark World Aids Day.

Aids Research Centre director Dr Prapan Panupak yesterday urged members of the public to get tested for HIV so they could receive advice about how to protect themselves against the virus, or timely treatment if needed. He said that all government hospitals offered free blood tests twice a year, while advice was available by calling the hotline 1663 between 10am and 8pm.

Aids Access Foundation director Nimit Tian-udom urged the government to support a campaign for people to get their blood tested.

-- The Nation 2013-01-09

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Hacker held pending extradition

Anuphan Chantana,

Noppadol Srithaweekard,

Wasinat Kreungchai

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok's Ratchadapisek Criminal Court yesterday ordered that Algerian hacking suspect Hamza Bendelladj, 24, be detained pending extradition to the United States for prosecution over banking fraud.

Full story:

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Fine Arts Dept endorsed demolition in 2011: court

Kesinee Tangkhieo

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Fine Arts Department signed a document on May 10, 2011 endorsing the planned demolition of buildings in the Supreme Court compound on Rajdamnoen Avenue, Courts of Justice spokesman Sittisak Wanachakit said.

He made the revelation at a press conference yesterday as he sought to end public uproar over the ongoing demolition of several court buildings, including the one that the department later identified as having "historical value".

However, Sittisak said that according to this official agreement, only the building behind the statue of late Prince Rabi Badhanasakdi would be conserved.

"We have a written agreement to prove this fact," he added.

He also pointed out that ancient buildings in the court's compound were mere memorials to the return of an independent judiciary, which was threatened after the signing of the Bowring Treaty. The 1855 treaty signed by the United Kingdom and Thailand was meant to liberalise trade with foreigners.

"These buildings are not the birthplace of judicial independence," he said. "Representatives of relevant agencies, including the Fine Arts Department, did not say anything about a historic building when all relevant authorities voiced their opinions about constructing a new office for the court in 2007."

He said the construction plan was revived in 2006 to honour His Majesty on the occasion of his 80th birthday. According to Sittisak, HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn placed the foundation stone for the court's new offices on behalf of His Majesty in 1992. Construction was later suspended because of the huge budget, and only revived once the country's finances became strong.

Sittisak said some former chiefs of the Fine Arts Department had used the budget to take overseas trips to examine court buildings in foreign countries and gather information for the design of the court's new offices.

"The Fine Arts Department should know about this," he said in response to threats from the department.

Sittisak added that the government had approved Bt3.7 billion for the construction of the new offices, and thanks to a transparent bidding process, the winning bidder agreed to complete the project for Bt2.52 billion only.

"This means we have saved about Bt1.2 billion," he pointed out.

-- The Nation 2013-01-09

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Thailand’s imports of luxury goods increased almost 50%

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Jan 9 – Thailand’s imports of luxury goods last year skyrocketed with fruit, perfumes, cosmetics and leatherware topping the list with a combined value of US$1.2 billion (Bt38.4 billion), according to the Customs Department.

In its report to the cabinet on Tuesday, the department said the highest imported value of $457 million (Bt14.1 billion) went to fruit in the 2012 fiscal year (Oct 2011-Sep 2012) representing a 37.66 per cent increase, followed by perfumes and cosmetics at $445 million (Bt13.8 billion), a 17.09 per cent increase from the 2011 fiscal year, and leather bags and belts at $337 million (Bt10 billion), an increase of 33.57 per cent.

The Customs Department also reported that the value of imports increased on 13 luxury items, including eyeglasses (40.59 per cent increase), clothing for men. women and children (33.57 per cent increase) and cigarette lighters (28.23 per cent increase). (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-01-09

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Unemployed to get assistance from Labour Ministry

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Jan 9 – The Labour Ministry has prepared 120,000 jobs for workers who may lose their jobs due to the Bt300 minimum wage, while more than 2,400 currently unemployed persons have sought compensation from the Social Security Office.

Full story:

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,422.72, up 5.39 points /MCOT

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Inside the Dog Condo: Bangkok's abandoned animals face nightmare conditions at Wat Suan Kaew

By Nicholas Altstadtm

PAWS director Amy Baron. Photo: PAWS

BANGKOK: -- Imagine a one-acre mud pit filled with feces and urine, walled-in by a haphazard two-story tenement stifled not only by a tropical sun, but by the stench and body heat of over 1,000 dogs, 300 cats, a handful of rabbits and a couple of pigs.

Full story:

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ukhumbhand appears before DSI to acknowledge allegations against him concerning BTS contract; to submit resignation this afternoon /MCOT

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Sunee Plaza Boy Bars Targeted By Pattaya Police 30 Day Crime Crackdow

Full story:

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HSBC's Ping An deal in danger of collapse: reports

HONG KONG, Jan 9, 2013 (AFP) - A multi-billion dollar deal in which banking giant HSBC was set to sell its stake in China's second largest life insurer Ping An to a Thai firm is in danger of collapse, reports said Wednesday.

Full story:

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Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand acknowledges hearing DSI charges against him concerning BTS contract but denies all charges /MCOT

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24.4% of 958 foreigners polled by Abac said Thailand is leading investment destination choice in Asean,but political uncertainty,graft are drawbacks /The Nation

[Lite Beer]

PM advises children to keep discipline, seek knowledge outside classroom

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Jan 9 – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra instructed young people to have discipline and be eager to learn outside the classroom ahead of national Children’s Day on Saturday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/610639-pm-advises-children-to-keep-discipline-seek-knowledge-outside-classroom/

[Lite Beer]

Two Vietnamese trawlers impounded for violating Thai waters.

By Digital Media

CHON BURI, Jan 9 - The Royal Thai Navy and Marine Police, in a joint operation, intercepted two Vietnamese squid fishing boats which were trawling illegally in Thai waters.

Vice Admiral Rungsak Serisawat, First Region Navy Commander, in his capacity as director of the Thailand Maritime Enforcement Coordinating Center Region 1, led the mission to stop the two ships and arrest their captains and crews. 21 men altogether.

The trawlers were intercepted while catching squid near Chon Buri's Koh Chuang in the upper Gulf of Thailand and the two vessels were taken to the Royal Thai Navy pier at Chon Buri's Sattahip district this morning.

The Vietnamese detainees and the boats have been taken to Sattahip police station for further investigation.

They face charges of illegal entry into the kingdom, intrusion into an exclusive economic zone in Thai waters and violating Thailand's Fisheries Act. (MCOT online news).

-- TNA 2013-01-09