Ratree to be welcomed by family

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Relatives of Thai border protester Ratree Pipattanapaibul have travelled to Phnom Penh to welcome her back to freedom when she is released from prison today.

Ratree's family reached Phnom Penh on Wednesday to await her release, scheduled for 4pm today.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Manasvi Srisodapol said the Cambodian Foreign Ministry and Corrections Department have both confirmed that Ratree would definitely be freed today.

newsjs

Cambodian officials will hold a ceremony to announce the royal pardon for Ratree at Prey Sar Prison. Once Ratree signs her name to acknowledge the royal clemency, she will be released to her relatives.

Ratree, detained in Cambodia for more than two years on charges of illegal entry and espionage, will first be taken to the Thai embassy before heading to the airport to depart from Phnom Penh at 8.40pm on Thai Airways flight TG585, which lands at Suvarnabhumi at 9.45pm.

-- The Nation 2013-02-01

Baht rise a threat to tourism: Kittiratt

Bamrung Amnatcharoenrit

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Tourism operators and Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong yesterday acknowledged that the strengthening of the baht in the long term is a new challenge for the tourism industry, especially in its attempt to achieve revenue of Bt2 trillion in 2015.

Full story:

Refugees

Raid finds empty Rohingya camp

SANTIPARP RAMASUTRA,

PIMNARA PRADUBWIT

THE NATION

HAT YAI: -- Sleeping mats and abandoned belongings were all Hat Yai police found when they raided a camp yesterday that was suspected of illegally harbouring 200 Rohingya migrants.

Full story:

Royal Household Bureau

King's knee infection improves

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- His Majesty the King's knee infection has improved but the Royal physicians still administered medication for treating the infection, the Royal Household Bureau announced on Thursday.

In its 60th statement about the King's condition, the bureau said his doctors reported that the swelling and infection have improved substantially. The King still had low fever sometimes and his breathing was slightly faster than normal. However, his heartbeat and blood pressure were normal. The doctors also reported that His Majesty could sleep well and dine "almost at a normal level", according to the statement.

-- The Nation 2013-02-01

Kamnan Poh

'Poh' arrest changes coalition's dynamics

Avudh Panananda

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The arrest of fugitive convict Somchai "Kamnan Poh" Khunpluem has a number of political implications for the ruling coalition.

Full story:

Scandal

DSI asked to probe St Gabriel's Foundation over donations

Chuleeporn Aramnet

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Network of Parents and Youth will today ask the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to investigate the use of cash donations by the St Gabriel's Foundation.

Full story:

Foreign exchange

BOT urged to consider capital controls

Business Desk

The Nation

Bank of Thailand Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul attends a seminar at Post Expo.

Experiencing appreciation in peso, Manila looks to curb fund flows

BANGKOK: -- The Bank of Thailand is under heavy pressure to weaken the baht, either by slowing down foreign-capital inflows through interest-rate cuts or slamming on the brakes through capital controls. Last year, net inflows hit US$11.49 billion (Bt342.6 billion), helping to push the baht past the 31-per-dollar level.

Full story:

Editorial

Expo bid requires public discussion on likely benefits

The Nation

Thailand's desire to host the event could have many advantages, but all opinions must be heard before huge sums of money are spent

BANGKOK: -- Ayutthaya is bidding to host the World Expo 2020, in another effort to put the nation in the international limelight. World Expositions are big events that draw a large number of international participants and visitors who come to display and experience state-of-the-art innovations and the latest scientific achievements.

Full story:

Special report

Kamnan Poh was treated at Samitivej

The Nation

He did not arouse any suspicions for nine months

BANGKOK: -- Fugitive and notorious criminal Somchai Khunpluem, who was wanted in high-profile murder and corruption cases, frequented the Samitivej Hospital's Srinakarin branch for nine months - surprisingly without arousing the suspicion of officials there. Contrary to normal practice, his familiar face has not appeared on his patient file there either.

Full story:

Ten to be questioned in Poh case

The Nation

Probe launched over sheltering, but 'not against those who lived with Somchai'

BANGKOK: -- Police are set to summon 10 people thought to have assisted or sheltered high-profile convict Somchai Khunpluem, who was arrested on Wednesday after spending years as a fugitive. The 10 will be interviewed pending possible prosecution for sheltering a criminal, which carries a two-year imprisonment sentence.

Full story:

UPDATE

Thaksin not running govt: PM

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday denied that her brother, ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, remotely controlled her government by making Skype video calls to chair Cabinet meetings.

Full story:

'Boost for Pheu Thai'

The Nation

CHONBURI: -- There are many political implications with the arrest of fugitive convict Somchai "Kamnan Poh" Khunpluem, a former Chon Buri MP said yesterday.

Full story:

Democracy calls for 'high tolerance for criticism' of public figures

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Open and public debate about all topics, including the monarchy institution, is key to a transparent and democratic society, said former Dutch Ambassador to Thailand Tjaco Van Den Hout.

Van Den Hout, who was speaking on the final day of the two-day seminar on reconciliation and freedom of expression organised by the European Union (EU) delegation in Thailand, said diversity, tolerance and broadmindedness are fundamental aspects of human rights in Europe. He stressed that high tolerance for criticism of public figures, including that of politicians and head of state and monarchy, is necessary for a democratic society. David Streckfuss, Khon Kaen-based American scholar and an authority on lese majeste law, said the minimum mandatory punishment under Thai lese majeste law, which is three years imprisonment term, is as high as the maximum sentences stipulated in Jordan, Morocco and Belgium.

Streckfuss added that during the Thai absolute monarchy, the maximum penalty under the law was only three years imprisonment with no minimum mandatory penalty, while it's now 15 years. Thailand, he said, is unique in the world when it comes to the severity of the law and the frequency of its use. The average lese majeste sentences handed down in Thailand is eight years while the conviction rate is 75 per cent, he pointed out.

Peter Mork Thomsen, a judge from Denmark who handled lese majeste cases and who was a speaker in the programme, said Danish lese majeste law had no mandatory minimum punishment like in Thailand which is three years minimum sentences. The difference with Thailand's lese majeste law is mostly seen in its application, he added.

Social critic Sulak Sivaraksa who has been charged and acquitted of committing lese majetse three times warned that the lese majeste law has develop a life of its own and is "threatening the very security of the institution it professedly protects."

Former senator Jon Ungpakorn, who is on a sub-committee of the National Human Rights Commission sub-committee on political rights, said that more international media coverage on Thai lese majeste law is a positive development. "Thai people have to respect people with different opinion," he said. Tongthong Chandransu, permanent secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office, said the law has been abused and added that it is "not beneficial to the monarchy institution in the long term".

-- The Nation 2013-02-01

Preah Vihear, baht top concerns

KORNCHANOK RAKSASERI

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The Preah Vihear Temple case will be problematic for Thailand while the strong baht and the government's spending habits are among the top concerns this year, a seminar heard.

Full story:

Bangkok Poll Tracker

Sereepisuth plays up role in 'Poh' conviction

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Independent gubernatorial candidate Sereepisuth Temeeyaves yesterday rushed to capitalise on the arrest of Somchai Khunpluem, aka Kamnan Poh, saying he was the one in charge of the corruption case against Somchai.

Sereepisuth, a former crime buster, said he had conducted the investigation straightforwardly after receiving complaints from people.

He said that if elected Bangkok governor, he would ensure that the city administration was free of corruption in any form. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration would not be free of corruption as long as it is controlled by a particular political party, he said, hence his decision to run as an independent candidate.

"If I am elected, the people will see a change in one year and the problems [caused by politically powerful and influential people] will be solved in four years."

Sereepisuth launched a new set of campaign signs with slogans such as "One vote from you can fight against seamless corruption," "One vote from you can stop the day-dreaming," and "One vote from you can stop corruption and the seizing of control of the country". |- The Nation

Sukhumbhand vows to continue water plan

Democrat candidate Sukhumbhand Paribatra yesterday announced a plan to build four more underground wastewater-treatment plants if he is elected.

He said he had drafted a plan to build underground wastewater-treatment facilities in Thon Buri, Min Buri and two other districts, during his first two terms in office, and would continue the plan if re-elected.

The four new plants would increase the capacity of wastewater treatments to 50 per cent of used tap water from the current 40 per cent, he said.

Sukhumbhand said he would also deploy mobile wastewater-treatment units to try to treat wastewater in community areas before it was released into the treatment system as a measure to increase the system's capacity.

Change of clothes|for Pongsapat

Pheu Thai candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen insisted yesterday that he exercised his voting right in the 2011 general election.

He said his rivals should not resort to dirty tactics to try and frame him.

Pongsapat yesterday campaigned at a market in the Lat Phrao area. As part of the campaign activities he tried massaging people's feet at a career training school. When he sat down to talk to students who asked him to pose for photos, however, he split the seams of his trousers, forcing him to change his clothes. Pheu Thai deputy spokeswoman Sunisa Lertphakhawat said Pongsapat's campaign team would launch seven small campaign teams to talk to voters around the capital.

Pongsapat would also set up a special team led by Pol General Priewpan Damapong, a former police chief, to seek support from police officers.

-- The Nation 2013-02-01

Charter court to rule in Varathep case

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Constitution Court will on Friday rule on whether to disqualify PM's Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn from his position in connection with the two- and three-digit lottery scheme, which he oversaw when he was deputy finance minister during the Thaksin government.

The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders convicted Varathep of offences and sentenced him to a suspended two-year jail term.

A group of 24 senators requested the court ruling on whether Varathep should be disqualified under Article 182 (3) and Article 174 (5) of the Constitution.

Each Constitution Court judge will issue a personal verdict and then participate in a vote to determine a majority decision, which is expected to be delivered at 2pm Friday.

-- The Nation 2013-02-01

49 homeless died on the street last year

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- At least 49 homeless people died on the streets last year, some of them due to HIV-Aids, and the number of people living in Bangkok's public spaces is on the rise, the Issarachon Foundation reported yesterday.

Full story:

Police station construction stalled amid corruption probe

Prasit Tangprasert,

Surasak Limseub,

Piyanuch Thamnukasetchai

The Nation

Pillars have been in place for years on an otherwise bare plot of land in Surat Thani

SURAT THANI: -- Police stations nationwide were torn down with the intention that new stations would quickly be built, but construction has slowed to a crawl amid allegations of corruption.

Full story:

Nissan reaches 2-million-vehicle milestone

The Nation

SAMUT PRAKARN: -- Japanese auto-maker Nissan recently celebrated cumulative production of 2 million vehicles in Thailand at its plant in Samut Prakarn.

Full story:

South

Slain school teacher buried

THE NATION

NARATHIWAT: -- Deputy Education Minister Sermsak Pongpanich yesterday presided over a burial ceremony featuring royally granted burial soil for Muslim schoolteacher Chonlathee Charoenchol, who was shot dead in front of students in Narathiwat's Bacho district on January 23.

Full story:

Autopsy results unclear about role of head wound in drowned Dutch tourist's death

Phuket Gazette

Stephan Buczynski’s body was found by a tourist riding a jet-ski about 500 meters off Patong Beach. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- Bangkok autopsy results have confirmed that Dutch tourist Stephan Buczynski died from drowning, but were unable to determine the role the serious wound to his head played in the incident.

Full story:

Guest column

Thailand faces a challenge to beat the middle-income trap

Chodechai Suwanaporn

BANGKOK: -- Recently, the Thai government announced its country development strategies that cover four areas: overcoming the "middle-income trap"; promoting inclusive growth; achieving a "green" economy; and improving internal processes.

Full story:

Thailand's 7-11 Operator Eyes Expansion to China, Neighboring Countries

By Payungsak Wiriyabunditkul

BANGKOK: -- Thai company CP ALL is eyeing overseas expansion in China through the increasingly ubiquitous 7-Eleven convenience stores, hoping to replicate the huge success story in the Southeast Asian market it has created over the last two decades.

Full story:

Crackdown on all foreigner owned tourism businesses in Phuket

Full story:

At Least 14 Killed, 80 Injured in Mexico Skyscraper Blast

MEXICO, February 1 (RIA Novosti) - At least 14 people were killed and 80 injured in Mexico City after an explosion rocked a skyscraper complex that houses headquarters of country’s oil monopoly Pemex, Mexican Interior Minister Angel Osorio Chong said.

Full story:

UPDATE

Crackdown begins on illegal foreigners in Phuket

Tanyaluk Sakoot

Maj Gen Choti Chavalviwat, Commander of Phuket Provincial Police.

PHUKET: -- Twelve foreigners, including people from Australia, Finland, Indonesia, Myammar, and the UK, were arrested yesterday (January 31) for working illegally in the island’s tourism industry, police said.

Full story:

Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,481.48, up 7.28 points /MCOT

RT @RichardBarrow: Bangkok Motorbike Festival at CentralWorld until Sunday

Electronic tagging instead of jail to be introduced for Thai inmates

By English News

BANGKOK, Feb 1 – Thailand will soon introduce electronic monitoring (EM) technology among offenders to relieve overcrowded prisons, according to a leading lawyer.

Full story:

Pomp and grandeur at next week’s Chinese New Year events

By English News

BANGKOK, Feb 1 – Chinese New Year will be simultaneously celebrated in 12 Thai provinces nationwide from Wednesday Feb 6 through Valentine's Day, Feb14.

The annual Chinese New Year event, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), is targeted to attract almost three million Thai and foreign tourists this year.

TAT Governor Suraphon Svetasreni predicts a combined circulating revenue of Bt10.8 billion during the one-week event which coincides with the 38th anniversary of Thai-Chinese diplomatic relations.

Yaowaraj Road, Bangkok's Chinatown, is the highlighted venue for the celebrations while other locations include Chiang Mai, Nakhon Sawan, Ayutthaya, Suphanburi, Ratchaburi, Petchaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chonburi (Pattaya), Songkhla (Hat Yai), Phuket and Trang.

The Chinese Ministry of Culture will send 180 performers from several troupes in different regions to join the celebrations with a highlight of a performance from Tibet at the inauguration of this year’s event on Yaowaraj Road on Saturday Feb 9, the Chinese New Year’s Eve.

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will preside over the opening ceremony and view the show that has been sent from Tibet, Mr Suraphon said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-02-01