Roi Et to host traditional merit-making festival in March

ROI ET, 24 January 2013 (NNT) - Roi Et Province is preparing to host the Boon Pawed or a traditional merit-making festival to preserve its original culture.

The Boon Pawed is the sermon on the story of Buddha's last incarnation. Apart from that, locals will dress up in traditional Thai costumes and join a decorative parade. Folk dance and plays will be part of the highlight. The grand event is aimed at promoting local tourism as well.

The Boon Pawed Festival will take place at Somdet Phra Srinagarindra Park and Bung Palanchai in Muang District of Roi Et.

In addition, the Tourism Authority of Thailand is also holding the 3rd Amazing I-San Fair at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center during January 24-27 to promote the tourism sector in the Northeast.

-- NNT 2013-01-24

Defence Minister: Southern insurgency killings severely disrupt education

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Jan 24 – Thai Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat today described yesterday’s murder of a Muslim teacher in the South as another blow to education in the region but stood firm in his belief that the existing security measures for educators needs no adjustment.

Chontee Charoenchon, a teacher at Ban Tanyong School in Bacho district, Narathiwat province, was shot dead Wednesday in front of his daughter and over 100 other students during their lunch break.

Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol said Mr Chontee was a Muslim Thai and that the school is run according to the Muslim system with security provided by other agencies, not the military.

It has been a long time since the last Muslim Thai teacher was killed, he said, calling on southerners to join hands in anti-insurgency activities.

He said the armed forces are ready to assign military personnel to help teach children if asked by the Education Ministry. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-01-24

Pheu Thai Bkk Gov. candidate Pol Gen Pongsapat leads poll (43.6%), ahead of Democrat's Sukhumbhand (36.6%): Abac Poll /The Nation

Defense Minister urges media not to exaggerate concerns over Preah Vihear case

BANGKOK, 24 January 2013 (NNT)-The Defense Minister reportedly shows no concern over the Thai-Cambodian territorial dispute, saying the media have, in fact, overreacted and that both countries will be able to sort things out.

Defense Minister Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol Suwanatat said he is more concerned about political conflicts in Thailand now, given there are already protocols in place to handle the situation over the demarcation feud.

He urged the media not to exaggerate the report on the Preah Vihear case by saying it was a matter of concern for Thailand. The Defense Minister added that the army has always complied with the government and never taken the matter over the border in their own hands.

He also stated that he is confident in his new found evidence which he will use against Cambodia in the world court. The minister however did not unveil the content of the evidence.

The Minister also mentioned that he had a telephone conversation with his Cambodian counterpart, General Tea Banh, on the principle of co-existence between the two counties, and both sides found the issue non- problematic.

-- NNT 2013-01-24

Transport Min to organize musical to honour King and Queen

BANGKOK, 24 January 2013 (NNT) - The Transport Ministry is set to organize a musical drama to honour Their Majesties the King and Queen as well as to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ministry itself.

According to Transport Minister Chatchart Sittipan, the government is joining hands with the private sector to organize a special musical drama " Klai-kang-wol Musical on The Beach" in Hua Hin to celebrate the Transport Ministry's 100th anniversary .

The musical will be about His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, depicting their talents and sacrifices they’ve made over the years. The audience will be enraptured by the fabulous drama.

The event will be held at Hua Hin Queen’s Park, Prachuap Khiri Khan Prvince, on February 20-24.

-- NNT 2013-01-24

Defense Minister urges southern residents to rise against insurgents

BANGKOK, 24 January 2013 (NNT)-The Defense Minister is urging residents of the restive south to rise up against insurgency following the recent brazen attack on a Muslim teacher in Narathiwas province.

Defense Minister Air Chief Marshal Sukhampol Suwannathat said the attack has certainly raised concerns for the safety of teachers in the three southern most provinces.

Another teacher, Mr. Cholathee Charoenchol, 51 years of age, was shot point-blank in front of students and teachers in a Muslim school yesterday. Following calls for a better security plan, the Air Chief Marshal said that the existing one was good enough.

However, the army is doing its best to maintain peace even though another agency has been tasked with providing safety for teachers and school, said the Air Chief.

The Defense Minister urged residents in the deep South to flex their muscles against the insurgents in order to protect schools.

He later said it would be the decision of the Ministry of Education whether to replace teachers in the area with border police, adding that the army would be ready to lend a helping hand whenever it was needed.

-- NNT 2013-01-24

Finance Ministry discloses government's income and spending

BANGKOK, 24 January 2013 (NNT)-The Ministry of Finance has disclosed that the government earned 94 billion baht higher in revenue in the previous financial year compared to that of the year before.

According to Director-General of Fiscal Policy Office Dr.Somchai Sujjapongse, during the first quater of 2013 fiscal year which began from October to December 2012, the government collected almost 500 billion baht.

The figure is higher than the amount collected in the prior year by almost 95 billion baht, or by 23.3%. Dr. Somchai said the majority of the revenue came from VAT and vehicle tax, which indicated improving economy.

Other sources of income, he said, were from the bidding of the 3G licenses and the first-car policy. The government, during the same period, spent 786 billion baht or nearly 300 billion baht higher than it did the year before.

The higher spending was due to the government's economic stimulus policy as well as the delay in the enforcement of the spending bill during the previous fiscal year. Given the income and expenses, the country ran a balance of budget deficit of 404 billion baht.

Dr. Somchai also pointed out that the Thai economy is growing continuously as a result of domestic consumption as well as government’s spending while the treasury reserves remain strong.

He said this will enable the government to continue to promote investment and encourage consumer spending to further drive the Thai economy this year.

-- NNT 2013-01-24

2010 POLITICAL MAYHEM

Abhisit, Suthep file lawsuit against DSI chief and officials

The Nation

File photo : Tarit

BANGKOK: -- Former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and former deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban on Thursday filed a lawsuit against the chief of the Department of Special Investigation and three other officials

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SOUTH CRISIS

Schools in Narathiwat closed following killing of teacher

The Nation

NARATHIWAT: -- Twenty-one schools in Narathiwat's Bajoh district were temporarily closed on Thursday after a teacher was shot dead in front of students at Ban Tanyong School in the district on Wednesday.

The schools are scheduled to reopen on Monday. Chonthee Charoenchon, 51, was shot in the head twice in the school’s canteen, which was crowded with almost 300 students, by one of four suspected insurgents who had arrived on two motorcycles. Police said the suspects posed as parents of students.

Chonthee’s keys were snatched from his belt and the attackers made off with the teacher’s Nissan sedan.

The schools were closed as teachers, students and parents have no more confidence in the security measures. The body of the teacher, the 158 th teacher gunned down in the south, was buried yesterday.

Police said they would question teachers at the scene to get an idea of the identities of the suspects and make sketches to compare with those of criminals in police files.

Meanwhile Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat described yesterday's killing of Chonthee as another blow to education in the region but stood firm in his belief that the existing security measures for educators need no adjustment.

Sukumpol said the victim was a ThaiMuslim and that the school is run according to the Muslim system with security provided by other agencies, not the military.

It has been a long time since the last Muslim Thai teacher was killed, he said, calling on southerners to join hands in antiinsurgency activities.

He said the armed forces are ready to assign military personnel to help teach children if asked by the Education Ministry.

-- The Nation 2013-01-24

S&P keeps Thailand’s BBB+ rating unchanged, saying economic fundamentals positive but political uncertainty continues to be risk factor /MCOT

S&P keeps Thailand’s BBB+ rating unchanged, warns of state splurge

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Jan 24 – Rating agency Standard & Poor’s today maintained Thailand’s credit rating at BBB+, saying the country’s economic fundamentals are positive but political uncertainty continues to be a risk factor.

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Mathias Cascarino and Stephen Meleady to Meet in Farang Super Fight at Lumpinee Stadium

BANGKOK: -- Two of the top ‘farang’ super featherweights currently competing in Thailand are going head to head at Lumpinee Stadium on February 2nd when Stephen Meleady takes on Mathias Cassarino.

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Thailand wins ADB grant for water management, rail improvements

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Jan 24 – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to extend financial and technical assistance to Thailand on water management and rail development, a Finance Ministry senior official said today.

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Chalerm to recruit police as teachers in Deep South

BANGKOK, 24 January 2013 (NNT) - Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung has proposed a plan to recruit border patrol police officers as teachers in the Deep South in the wake of another deadly gun attack on educators.

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ABAC Poll puts Pongsapat on top in every field

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Jan 24 – Democrat candidate Sukhumbhand Paribatra is trailing behind his strongest rival, Pheu Thai candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen, in the March 3 Bangkok gubernatorial election, according to a poll announced today by Assumption University.

The ABAC Poll, conducted by the university’s research centre, asked 1,766 respondents during its Tuesday-Wednesday survey whom they would elect if they went to the polls on that day. Pol Maj Gen Pongsapat was the top choice with 41.8 per cent saying they would vote for him, followed by former Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand, 32.1 per cent, and former national police chief Seripisut Temiyaves, 14.3 per cent.

The ABAC poll results contrast strongly with an earlier survey by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) which said Wednesday that 20.60 per cent of city voters would cast their ballots for Mr Sukhumbhand while 19.13 per cent favoured Gen Pongsapat.

Regarding the most-favoured candidate, Pol Gen Pongsapat placed first with 43.6 per cent, Mr Sukhumbhand second (36.6 per cent) and Pol Gen Seripisut third (15.6 per cent).

Whose capability impressed them most? Almost half of the respondents, or 45.2 per cent, praised Gen Pongsapat while 36.5 per cent named Mr Sukhumbhand and 15.3 per cent Mr Seripisut.

Whose campaign style did they like most? Forty-two per cent gave the highest credit to Gen Pongsapat, followed by Mr Sukhumbhand (35.8 per cent) and Mr Seripisut (14.6 per cent).

Asked about the candidates’ sincerity, 41 per cent said Gen Pongsapat was the most sincere, while Mr Sukhumbhand received 37.7 per cent and Mr Seripisut 15.2 per cent.

Who would they rely on to solve the people’s economic and cost of living problems? Gen Pongsapat was most reliable with 43.1 per cent, Mr Sukhumbhand with 38 per cent and Mr Seripisut at 14.9 per cent.

Who would be the best to solve the city’s traffic woes? Gen Pongsapat was top with 44.7 per cent, followed by Mr Sukhumbhand with 32 per cent and Seripisut 15.8 per cent.

Whose campaign posters did they like most? The results were 40.9 per cent for Gen Pongsapat while Mr Sukhumbhand received 35.4 per cent and Mr Seripisut 17.8 per cent.

Which candidate did they like most? Gen Pongsapat, candidate No. 9, was most likeable with 44.6 per cent while Mr Sukhumbhand (No. 16) was given 33.8 per cent and Mr Seripisut (No. 11) got 15.5 per cent.

On the question of changes for Bangkok after the election, 80.3 per cent of the respondents said they wanted to see changes at high to highest levels while 17.4 per cent looked forward to medium change.

More than half, or 61.3 per cent, said they would go to the polls while 38.7 per cent said they would not. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-01-24

SET index closed at 1449.09, up 9.89; Bt/USD29.69; GBP46.91; AUD31.14; EUR39.43; CAD29.51; HKD3.82; SGD24.04; JPY33.17

Chiang Rai declares 80 dangerous days to curb haze crisis

CHIANG RAI, 24 January 2013 (NNT) - Chiang Rai provincial authorities are set to toughen measures to avoid the repeat of last year’s man-made haze crisis.

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British man claims money left in taxi

By Coconuts Bangkok

Sudjai Chaihabood (center) and John Richard Duffy (right) Photo: Dailynews

BANGKOK: -- John Richard Duffy, a 60-year-old British businessman, came straight back from Myanmar yesterday night after learning about a cash bag that he had left in the back of a taxicab.

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Swiss student tourist Janisch out on bail

Phuket Gazette -

Ms Janisch was released on bail after her mother appeared in Ranong Court to post 130,000-baht bail bond. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: A Swiss national held by Ranong Immigration since December 25 on charges of stealing an officer’s camera was released on bail yesterday after her mother appeared in Ranong Court to post 130,000-baht bail bond.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/614000-missing-swiss-student-tourist-alive-and-well-in-thai-prison/page__st__225#entry6048915

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Thailand Live Friday 25 Jan 2013

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