Thailand Live Friday 18 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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Related topic: Thailand Live Thursday 17 Jan 2013

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UPDATE

INCONCLUSIVE INQUEST

Democrats demand action against reds

The Nation

Chalerm says court yet to point out killer; DSI insists murder charges against Abhisit, Suthep will stay

BANGKOK: -- Democrat MPs yesterday called on the government to investigate and prepare to take legal measures now that the Criminal Court has found that the red shirts also used weapons during the 2010 political turmoil.

Full story:

BANGKOK GOVERNOR

Sudarat vows to stand by Pongsapat

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Sudarat Keyuraphan, former executive of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, yesterday pledged full support for Pheu Thai's Bangkok governor candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen.

Full story:

ABE'S VISIT

Japan 'very interested' in Dawei Port project

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plants a jackfruit tree in the compound of the Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology in Bangkok yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- Japan sought to strengthen its strategic partnership with Thailand yesterday by expressing an interest in taking part in the project to develop Dawei Port in Myanmar and other infrastructure development projects in Thailand.

Full story:

ROHINGYA MIGRANTS

UN set to begin assistance measures

THE NATION

Ministries to discuss whether to set up a camp, Chalerm says

BANGKOKL -- Relief operations by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to help Rohingya migrants are set to begin in earnest now that Thai authorities have given the go-ahead, agency spokeswoman Vivian Tan said yesterday.

Full story:

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Baht among biggest gainers as dollar index rises

The Nation

Low yields in US, Japan and strong economic fundamentals behind inflows

BANGKOK: -- The Asia Dollar Index, which tracks Asia's 10 most-used currencies excluding the yen, has risen 0.4 per cent this year and the Bloomberg-JPMorgan Latin America Dollar Index is up 0.7 per cent.

Full story:

High baht yet to hit tourism, operators say

Bamrung Amnatcharoenrit

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The stronger baht has not flustered the tourism scene so far, but operators are monitoring the situation closely so that they can make adjustments to cope with any change in the business environment.

Full story:

EDITORIAL

Autonomy is not the only solution for the deep South

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Policies that offer justice, equal opportunities and a sense of inclusion are more important to people in the troubled region than handouts and other short-term schemes

Full story:

BURNING ISSUE

Red shirts' amnesty plan is short on details

Avudh Panananda

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The debate over amnesty in connection with the 2010 political mayhem will not make headway unless the red shirts get down to the specifics of what such legal absolution would entail.

Full story:

Bt100 million of Saxena's cash found

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Legal Execution Department has retrieved another Bt100 million in assets from Switzerland that belonged to Indian businessman Rakesh Saxena, sentenced last year to 10 years in prison for embezzlement from the now-defunct Bangkok Bank of Commerce. Saxena fought a 13-year battle against extradition from Canada before his return to Thailand last year.

Department chief Wisit Wisitsora-at said yesterday the department joined with the Office of the Attorney General and the Bank of Thailand to uncover more hidden assets in Switzerland, Bt415 million of which had been previously retrieved. An estimated Bt100 million more is scattered all over Europe, and will also be recovered soon and used to pay the failed bank's creditors, Wisit added.

-- The Nation 2013-01-18

UPDATE

French, Swedish fugitives nabbed

The Nation

PHUKET: -- Phuket Immigration Police have arrested two foreign fugitives - a Frenchman accused of sexually assaulting a disabled person and a Swede wanted for fraud and tax evasion.

Full story:

Panel probes treatment of Nation photographer by parliament medics

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- MPs yesterday complained about medical services at Parliament House, as the House Affairs Committee probed the treatment of a Nation photographer who collapsed outside the Parliament last Thursday.

Full story:

Experts call on govt to drop draft targeting migrant kids

PONGPHON SARNSAMAK

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's reputation in the international arena will be badly affected if the government approves a ministerial regulation potentially affecting millions of stateless children living in Thailand, a legal expert said yesterday.

Full story:

Algeria hostage drama

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Foreign Ministry was yesterday checking to verify a report that Thai workers were among a group of foreigners being held hostage by an al Qaeda-linked group at a natural-gas complex in Algeria, Information Department director-general Manasvi Srisodapol said.

Full story:

Two Phuket motorcyclists die in separate accidents

Phuket Gazette

Rescue workers attend the accident scene 500 meters north of the notorious Baan Ko En ‘death bend’ in Thalang. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

PHUKET: -- The deadly stretch of Thepkrasattri Road that runs through the northern Phuket village of Kor En claimed another life before dawn today after months of no serious accidents.

Full story:

171 Rohingya refugees arrested north of Phuket

Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- The flow of Rohingya fleeing Myanmar continues unabated with Border Patrol Police in Phang Nga, the province immediately north of Phuket, today taking into custody two boats carrying 171 Rohingya men, women and children.

Full story:

Jeng Dokjik released on bail

BANGKOK, 18 January 2013 (NNT) - The Criminal Court has accepted a 500,000-baht bond put up by Jeng Dokjik or Yoswaris Chuklomand, a leader of the red-shirt, and granted him temporary release on bail.

The court ruled that Jeng Dokjik was guilty of lese majeste in the speech he gave during a United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship rally on March 29th, 2010.

Jeng Dokjik’s original sentence was 3-year imprisonment without suspension but was reduced to 2 years because of his cooperative testimony.

However, his lawyer put up 500,000 baht to secure his temporary release, which was accepted by the court, reasoning that the red-shirt leader was unlikely to escape prosecution.

-- NNT 2013-01-18

Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,429.46, up 8.51 points /MCOT

Accused Rapist Faced Angry Lynch Mob In Pattaya

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....mob-in-pattaya/

7 Million Baht Raid Of South Pattaya It Center By Pattaya Police

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....pattaya-police/

Gaddafi's Son Saif Al-Islam Appears In Libyan Court

MOSCOW, January 18 (RIA Novosti) – Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam has appeared before a court in Libya for the first time since he was captured in 2011, media reported.

Full story:

Thailand, Japan to expand cooperation on economic development

By English News

BANGKOK, Jan 18 – Thailand and Japan have agreed to enhance their cooperation and partnership in various development mega projects, especially regarding high speed trains, massive anti-flood system and industrial development related to Myanmar's Dawei deep seaport and related infrastructure on the Thai-Myanmar border, it was reported last night.

Full story:

Japanese PM cancels part of Asia trip due to hostage crisis: Kyodo

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Kyodo news agency reported that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has cancelled part of his scheduled trip in Southeast Asia due to the hostage crisis in Algeria.

The Friday report quoted a deputy chief cabinet secretary.

-- The Nation 2013-01-18

King praises Japan as model for natural disaster recovery

By English News

BANGKOK, Jan 18 -- His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Thursday told visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that Japan is a model for natural disaster response and dealing appropriately with other problems, as he expressed appreciation for the close ties between the two countries.

Mr Abe and his wife Mrs Akie Abe, who were on a two-day official visit to Thailand, were granted an audience by His Majesty the King at Siriraj Hospital on Thursday evening.

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra led the Japanese premier to the audience with the monarch.

Mr Abe then presented His Majesty the King a letter from the Japanese emperor, conveying his thanks to the Thai people for their kindness in extending assistance to the Japanese people in the time of their disasters.

The monarch, in his reply, praised Japan for its technological advancement, fortitude and harmony, which he hoped would lead the Japanese people to weather their time of trials, catastrophes and economic hardships which occurred in their country.

The king expressed his belief that the Japanese response and approach to their problems would provide a good example for other countries.

King Bhumibol also expressed admiration for the close ties enjoyed by the two royal families and the peoples of Japan and Thailand, which he said would help the already good bilateral relations to be further strengthened. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-01-18

Thailand declares war on piracy, intellectual property violation

By English News

BANGKOK, Jan 18 – Thailand will set up a special centre to crack down on intellectual property infringement with tough government action against violators, according to Deputy Commerce Minister Nattawut Saikua.

Full story:

Pattani village head shot dead in his car, driver seriously wounded, in attack at Mayo district mosque /MCOT

Southern residents warned of widespread heavy rain,flash floods risk this Fri.-Mon.:Disaster Prevention & Mitigation Dept /The Nation

Export-Import Bank earns 1.1 billion baht profit in 2012

BANGKOK, 18 January 2013 (NNT) – The Export-Import Bank of Thailand (EXIM) has announced that it made over 1.1 billion baht in profit in 2012, adding that its non-performing loans (NPLs ) were down by 16 percent.

According to President of Export-Import Bank of Thailand Kanit Sukonthaman, the bank last year saw a rise in its net profit by as much as 82 percent, or around 1.1 billion baht; 495 million baht higher than the previous year's figure of 605 million baht, thanks to the interest rate increase on medium- and long-term loans and reduced expenses.

He added that the value of last year’s non-performing loans stood at 2.8 billion baht, a drop of 16 percent year-on-year.

To enable the Thai SMEs to achieve their full potential, the bank has been holding roving seminars in major cities throughout the country year round. Over 1500 SME entrepreneurs have so far attended and benefited from the seminar, which has been designed to give them a grounding in exporting procedures and risk management.

As for 2013 strategic plan, the Export-Import Bank of Thailand is targeting a 5-percent growth in loans, while maintaining its profit margin at the same level.

-- NNT 2013-01-18

NBTC: “Viewers will not need new TV sets for digital system”

BANGKOK, 18 January 2013 (NNT) – The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has come out to calm nationwide viewers, who have been anxious about the country’s changeover from analog to digital television.

Full story:

TAT: Most tourists unaware of domestic tourism promotional campaigns

BANGKOK, 18 January 2013 (NNT) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is surprised by a finding, which shows most travelers remain unaware of the many domestic tourism promotional campaigns, which it has introduced.

The TAT has recently collaborated with the National Statistical Office (NSO) in conducting a survey among some 68,000 travelers across the country regarding the Thai tourism industry in the past year.

The survey found that the number of local travelers rose 54.8% year-on-year in 2012, with the Northeast noted as the most popular destination where 34.2% of holidaymakers journeyed to.

The second-most popular region was the central plain, where 30.7% of Thai travelers opted for in 2012, while 18.2% went to the East and 15.9% chosen the upper part of the North.

The study also uncovered that more and more local holidaymakers have decided to plan their trips themselves rather than turning to travel agents.

The TAT revealed that, on average, each traveler spent 2,694 baht per trip last year.

But what startled them the most is the result of the traveler’s awareness of the TAT’s tourism promotional campaign “Tiew Hua Jai Mai – Muang Thai Yang Yuen”, or literally translated as “A New Heart of Travel – A Sustainable Thailand”. The survey stated that only 38.5% of the respondents have heard of this campaign, while 61% of them are unaware about how or what they will benefit from it.

-- NNT 2013-01-18