DBD speedily uplifts Thai service businesses ahead of AEC

BANGKOK, 28 January 2013 (NNT) - The Department of Business Development DBD is speedily enhancing the Thai service sector in line with its 2013 strategy in order to prepare Thailand for the introduction of ASEAN Economic Community.

According to Deputy Commerce Minister Nattawut Saikua, he has assigned the DBD to help the Thai entrepreneurs improve their businesses, especially those in the service industry, to be in line with the standard in the international market.

While the department last year focused on 3 major businesses, including restaurants, spas, and elderly care services, it will attend to 4 more segments this year: massage, software development, auto-maintenance, and accommodation businesses that are not hotels or resorts.

All the strategies implemented this year will be under the AEC framework, which allows commerce and trade to be conducted without barriers among members. Therefore, the Thai entrepreneurs must gear themselves up for fiercer competitions brought on by the advent of the AEC.

-- NNT 2013-01-28

Defective car license plates can be replaced for free

BANGKOK, 28 January 2013 (NNT) - The Department of Land Transport (DLT) has announced that owners of defective car registration plates can ask for a new set of plates for free from now until September 30th.

After receiving several complaints of license plates with slough surface , the department said it would be responsible for the replacement of new ones. Owners of the defective plates can ask for new sets of plates at no charge at the Transport Offices the car is registered under.

The owners will get their new plates 15 days after they file a request. They have to turn in the old plates when they pick up the new ones. The free service will be provided until September 30th, after which the car owners will have to pay 100 baht for each plate replaced.

For more information, please contact call center 1584.

-- NNT 2013-01-28

RT @TweetSmarter: #Warning —If you "confirm" your #Facebook account your info could be stolen: http://tnw.co/SUWVzQ r/t

Frenchmen Mistakenly Beaten By Brutal MiXX Bouncers

Three French tourists reported being beaten by five security guards in the MiXX Discotheque on Walking Street. The victims claimed the guards had mistakenly assumed they had thrown ice in the disco, and savagely beat them with batons, brass knuckles and stun guns.

PATTAYA – January 27, 2013 [PDN]; A report of three French tourists being beaten by bouncers at a Walking Street disco was received by Pol. Sub. Lt. Nakornrach Nonseelard, investigative officer on duty, Pattaya police station.

Full story:

Army chief insists teacher protection measures won't be changed

By English News

BANGKOK, Jan 28 – Army Chief Prayuth Chan-ocha on Monday met local officials and religious leaders in the violence-plagued southern border province of Narathiwat following the latest killing of a teacher in school.

The army commander has been briefed on the latest insurgency situation by the Internal Security Operations Command.

Gen Prayuth said the existing security measures for teachers are sufficient but the problem was with operational processes, in which local officials and teachers have to work together cooperatively.

In some areas, teachers ask for security to be provided in school, travel routes from school to home and at their houses but in other areas, officials are asked to guard only at school. If there if security in all places in all areas, an attack will not happen, Gen Prayuth said. Both Thai Buddhist and Muslim teachers were attacked, he said.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was concerned over the situation in deep South following the fatal attacks on teachers.

He said the premier instructed concerned agencies to protect teachers closely as the attacks usually occurred during lunchbreak when Muslim security personnel leave to perform religious rites.

The premier advised that teacher protection units should work in shifts so that they would be able to stay with the teachers all the time, the interior minister said.

Mr Jarupong said that Deputy Permanent-Secretary for Interior Panu Uthairat reported that local administrative bodies including the subdistrict administration,and the subdistrict and village heads' club have built a network with 8,000 members.

The network members will alert each other via short messages and inform nearby villages or subdistricts after an attack occurs to help monitor insurgent move.

Mr Jarupong said that the car stolen from the slain teacher here earlier was found with the cooperation of network members who distributed the news among themselves. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-01-28

Heavy rain expected during the next few days

BANGKOK, 28 January 2013 (NNT) - The Meteorological Department is issuing warnings for the entire country to brace for heavy rains and strong wind during the next few days.

The weather bureau has reported that a high pressure cell prevails over the upper parts of Thailand, bringing thundershower to the North, Northeast, East and Central Plains. Following the bout of rains, the temperature in the country is also set to drop by 2-4 degree Celsius.

In the South, a northeastern monsoon is expected to intensify, generating more heavy rain and strong wind. All shipping should proceed with caution during January 29-31.

Bangkok has also been hit by heavy rains on Monday, causing power outage and brief flooding in many areas, particularly on Sukhumvit Road.

-- NNT 2013-01-28

Central bank sees signs of depreciating Thai currency

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Jan 28 – Bank of Thailand (BoT) Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul said today that the latest market adjustment has resulted in a weakened Thai baht after two straight weeks of rapid appreciation.

He admitted that the movement of the Thai currency is fluctuating but the central bank is closing monitoring the situation to ensure that the Thai baht moves in tandem with other currencies in the market.

Mr Prasarn said the BoT is ready to discuss with the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) its seven-point proposal to help manufacturers who have been negatively affected by the appreciating Thai baht.

“In fact the central bank has taken action on some of the FTI’s proposals. We are ready to take into consideration exporters’ request to extend the one-year deadline for holding US dollars but a time frame is necessary, or it will be too risky” he said.

He urged exporters to rely more on local currencies in their international trade to alleviate the risk of currency fluctuation.

Mr Prasarn said the BoT’s close monitoring has not found any attacks on the Thai baht and the inflow of foreign funds is mostly to invest for the short term in the bond market. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-01-28

Industrialist says stronger Thai baht only short term

By English News

BANGKOK, Jan 28 – A senior Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) officer predicted that the appreciation of Thai baht will be short term given its slight depreciation today.

FTI Secretary-General Thanit Sorat said the rapid strength of the Thai currency was mainly due to the inflow of foreign funds to turn a profit in Thailand where interest rates are higher than in western countries.

Interest rates from the government’s bonds provide 3-3.5 per cent yields, higher by 1 per cent than in the US and Europe, he said, expressing belief that the inflow of foreign funds for speculative investment in the Thai stock market will gradually slow down and the central bank has closely monitored the situation.

The current profit earning ratio in the Thai stock market has increased 16 fold which is rather high, he said.

He added that manufacturers and exporters in the automotive and electronics industries have cashed in on the strong Thai baht while small and medium-size businesses are on the losing side due to higher prices of imported raw materials.

The appreciating currency has weakened Thai exporters’ competitive edge by 1-2 per cent due to higher product prices but they are more concerned with the fluctuating currency movement rather than the strong baht, he said.

The most important factor favouring export growth is the economic stability of Thailand's trading partners, not the country's currency strength or weakness, he said, citing an example in 2011 when the Thai baht was Bt29 to a US dollar but Thailand enjoyed a 14-15 per cent export growth. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-01-28

RT@RichardBarrow: Reports of power problems across Bangkok after last night’s big storm. My house was without power for 6 hours. Paradise Park mall is closed.

RT@RichardBarrow: 1:15pm RT @MarcusBurtBKK: Electricity has gone down for most of Rama 9. Stuck in the office, no a/c and no lifts...

RT@RichardBarrow: Residents on Lad Phrao 48 have been without power for nearly 12 hours now (Pic @iPattt) twitpic.com/byw6mf

Forensic expert: Some Rohinyas have connection with RKK

BANGKOK, 28 January 2013 (NNT) - After running blood tests on detained Rohingyas in the South, a forensic expert has found that some of them use drugs, and a few of them have been trained by the RKK Muslim insurgents.

Central Institute of Forensic Science Director Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand has revealed that the DNA tests on over 800 Rohingyas indicated that some of them use drugs, but she could not find any evidence that they are connected with drug dealers.

The point of concern, she expressed, is their connection with the RKK Muslim insurgents. Reports said in 2009 some Rohingyas with Malaysian residency entered Thailand to stage an attack in the Deep South. During a recent inspection, authorities found that some of them carried with them explosive substances from India.

The officials suspected that there might be people behind their move to enter Thailand. Despite authorities' attempts to return them to their countries of origin, most Rohingyas were in fact dropped off Satun, Ranong, and other southern provinces of Thailand and some were sent to Malaysia.

Two of the Rohingyas confessed that they had been trained by the RKK to stage insurgency in the South. Given the government's lack of clear strategy to deal with the Rohingyas, Dr Pornthip expressed her worries that the issue could pose a threat to national security.

-- NNT 2013-01-28

Liquor ban proposal on hold in Phuket

Nattha Thepbamrung

Dr Saman “liquor buster” Futrakul. Photo: Manager Online.

PHUKET: -- Dr Saman “liquor buster” Futrakul’s campaign to get alcohol off Thailand’s streets has been delayed while details are sorted and because the cabinet committee is so busy, he said.

Full story:

Norwegian Shot by Ex-Wife's New Thai Husband

A 34-year-old Norwegian man was shot in the neck by a gun that discharged while he was fighting with the husband of his ex-wife in Nakhon Sawan province. The Norwegian reportedly owns the gun, and got angry after not being allowed to take his young daughter for a custodial visit.

KHAMPHAENG PHET – January 27, 2013 [PDN]; at 12 p.m., a report of a man being shot and injured was received by Pol. Maj. Paisarn Wannachai, Inspector, Meuang Khamphaengpech police station. He rushed to inspect the scene with the detective police team and the rescue officers.

Full story:

STOCK MARKET

1,482 as new SET index target

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- As the Stock Exchange of Thailand composite index already passed the previous 16-yearr high at 1,464 points, Asia Plus Securities expects a new high at 1,482 points.

The SET Index at 3.37pm rose by 8.42 points or 0.58 per cent to 1,4689 points on turnover of Bt41.6 billion.

Year to date, foreign investors are net-buyers of Thai shares, with net-buy position of Bt15 billion.

Asia Plus said in the afternoon note that Thai market has risen in tandem with Asian bourses, fuelled by stimulus measures in many countries. For example, India increased rupee-denominated bond holding by foreign investors by US$10 billion to $75 billion.

"This improved the regional sentiment and spurred speculation. In the morning, Vietnam’s bourse experienced a 3.01 per cent gain, followed by 0.47 per cent in Hong Kong, 0.29 per cent in Taiwan and 0.25 per cent in the Philippines," it said.

-- The Nation 2013-01-28

GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION

Democrat candidate targets elderly vote by promising better facilities

The Nation

File photo : Sukhumbhand

BANGKOK: -- Democrat Party candidate MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra on Monday promised to provide better care to aged Bangkok residents if he is reelected as the Bangkok governor.

Campaigning at the Bang Khun Thien Hospital for the Aged, Sukhumbhand said he built the hospital as a first step to provide comprehensive care for ageing Bangkok residents.

Sukhumbhand said in 10 years, Thailand would have some 12 million elderly people.

Apart from the Bang Khun Thien hospital, the city administration would build sheltered accommodation on the 48rai plot near the hospital so that the elderly would find it more convenient to receive medical treatment at the hospital.

He said he would also upgrade 68 Bangkok public health centres and ensure they had the doctors and nurses to take care of the aged in the areas.

Sukhumbhand said he would also set up special service counters for the aged at all 50 Bangkok districts as well.

-- The Nation 2013-01-28

BMA aims to boost voter turnout to 70 percent

BANGKOK, 28 January 2013 (NNT) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is preparing measures to increase voter turnout for the upcoming gubernatorial election to 70 percent.

BMA Permanent Secretary Chumpol Sampaopol spoke after a meeting with representatives from all 50 district offices that the agency is set to boost voter turnout in this year’s Bangkok governor election to 70 percent, as only 51 percent of Bangkok residents cast ballots in the previous election.

As part of the BMA’s PR strategy, 13 teams of officials will hold a door-to-door campaign and hand out flyers to encourage voting as well as urge all students within the capital to motivate their parents to use their rights on March 3. Campaign buses will be deployed in constituencies with low voter turnout to help raise people’s awareness. Each district office has been instructed to draw up a map to inform residents of the locations of polling booths within their respective area.

Since most of the over 6,000 polling stations in Bangkok will be located outdoors, additional tents have been prepared for the voters in case of unfavorable weather conditions.

-- NNT 2013-01-28

SET index closed at 1472.05, up 10.64; Bt/USD29.84; GBP46.85; AUD30.91; EUR39.99; CAD29.41; HKD3.84; SGD23.94; JPY32.72

Chao Phraya Express Boat Co to hike all boat services fares by Bt2 mid-March 2013 /The Nation

Narathiwat schools reopen after fatal teacher shooting

By English News

NARATHIWAT, Jan 28 - Security has been tightened as almost four hundred schools reopened in this restive southern province today after a closure in the killing of a teacher in the school's premises.

The Narathiwat Teachers Federation earlier announced the closure of 378 schools in province Friday after Chonlathee Charoenchol, a Muslim teacher at Ban Tanyong School in Bacho district, was shot in the head at the school canteen in front of 15 fellow teachers and some hundreds of students last week.

As schools reopened today, combined force of police, soldiers and acivil service workers stepped up security at schools. Helicopters have been used to observe the situation and create confidence among teachers.

Meanwhile, Narathiwat police commander Pol Col Sathanfa Wamasing led a 50-man police unit cordoning off six locations suspected as possible hiding places for Mr Chonlathee's killer.

The operation followed the arrest of two suspects who later confessed to police that they were involved with the attack at Ban Tanyong School by serving as lookouts, paving the way for four insurgents to enter the school compound and kill Mr Chonlathee.

Police said the mastermind of the attack was identified as Marorekasae Kawae, while the gunman was Isma-ae. Both escaped the crime scene with another accomplice and a driver.

Bacho Police chief Pol Col Pakdi Preechachon said police have so far questioned 12 teachers who witnessed the shooting, as well as other three persons who were at the school gate at the time the incident occurred.

Police were able to sketch an image of a suspect and were now collecting evidence to seek court approval for the arrest warrant soon. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-01-28

RT @timokl1: If you're interested in German films, @goethe_thailand has Open Air Cinema every Tuesday evening. http://www.goethe.de/ins/th/ban/en10147470v.htm

SOUTH CRISIS

Security agencies to use stricter measures to protect teachers : Jarupong

PATTANI: -- Attackers destroyed 15 security cameras and stole seven others in Pattani early Monday. They were the latest simultaneous attacks on the authorities' closed-circuit television system in the deep South since early this year.

Police were examining available evidence late Monday to check fingerprints in a bid to identify culprits.

"Attackers put car tyres that had been set ablaze and hung them over electricity cables near where the security cameras had been installed," Pattani police chief Maj General Ekapop Prasitwattanachai said.

The cameras that were burnt were in Pattani's Mayo, Panare and Thung Yang Daeng districts, he said. And the seven cameras that were stolen were from the front of the Tambon Taloh Mae Na Administrative Organisation in Thung Yang Daeng.

An explosion also erupted on Chonnabot Road in Thung Yang Daeng at around 9am yesterday. It caused no casualties.

Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan meanwhile said security officials would use stricter measures in protecting teachers in the deep South. "The latest attack on teachers took place while security officials attended prayer sessions. From now on, security officials will take turns praying," he said.

-- The Nation 2013-01-28

Taxi driver mob tears down Russian tour agency sign, forces closure

Phuket Gazette -

Locals told officials that the Russian-owned business were stealing tourists from them, having a significant effect on their income. Photo: Christian Mouchet

PHUKET: Phuket taxi drivers in the popular tourist beach area of Bang Tao today successfully staged their second protest against Russian tour companies operating in the area.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/615196-taxi-driver-mob-tears-down-russian-tour-agency-sign-forces-closure/

to continue:

Thailand Live Tuesday 29 Jan 2013