Thailand Live Saturday 23 Feb 2013

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Student group calls on govt to pull troops out of South
Wattana Khamchu
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Student Federation of Thailand (SFT) has called on the government to withdraw troops from the restive South, revoke the emergency degree and opt for peace talks to solve the insurgency in the region.

The SFT in association with the Community Potential Foundation on Thursday held a seminar entitled "Marohso Chantarawade and Comrades: Siam rebels or Pattani hero warriors?"

Wattana Wan, representative of the Turn Left Organisation, said the clash on February 13 in Narathiwat, which left 16 insurgents dead with no casualties among security officials, has sparked local hatred against state officials and caused many people to join the insurgency.

He said condemning any party would not bring about solutions. The insurgency is triggered by a group of people upset about past incidents and the establishment of the Thai state, he said, adding that the rebels don't want to be ruled by the state.

"I suggested that the government withdraw all troops from the area and let the locals decide what kind of administration they want,'' Wattana said.

Artef Sohko, coordinator of Youth for Development, said the government cannot deny that there has been a liberation movement organised by some local people against the Thai state.

"Wednesday's clash left 16 insurgents dead. Even though they were defeated, they have won public sympathy,'' he said.

After beating the people of Pattani long ago, the Thai government has been trying to change the local residents. "If you ask locals there, you will know what they want,'' he said.

He disapproved of the government's enforcing of Article 21 of the security law to allow insurgents to enter into plea-bargaining arrangements and to undergo training for six months, saying the best solution is to go to the negotiable table.

Chalida Thacharoensak, a representative of Community Potential Foundation, said that at the root of the insurgency is discrimination against locals through the enforcement of the emergency decree and security laws.

"Locals know what is happening. The state cannot achieve victory by deploying hundreds of thousands of troops there. It is time to tell the truth. At the same time, the warriors should call for a truce and enter peace talks for the sake of the community,'' she said.


-- The Nation 2013-02-23

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No upset victory expected in city polls
Budsarakham Sinlapalavan
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Two leading pollsters say they doubt if there will be an upset victory in the upcoming Bangkok gubernatorial election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/621236-bangkok-gubernatorial-election-no-upset-victory-expected-in-city-polls/

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BOT 'coping with inflows'
Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn
The Nation


Bank of Thailand Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul appears at the first

BANGKOK: -- Central bank chief says it's a myth that high interest rate attracting capital; Prasarn says measures to tackle influx awaiting nod from Finance Ministry

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/621237-bank-of-thailand-coping-with-inflows/

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Insurgents lob grenades into police station
The Nation

PATTANI: -- Six policemen in Pattani's Kapho Police Station were wounded after three M-79 grenades were lobbed into the precinct's compound yesterday evening.

It is believed that insurgents took advantage of lax security because police officers were playing sports inside the compound. The grenades landed on a police truck, but injuries sustained by the six officers are not serious.

A manhunt is underway to locate the attackers, who are believed to be hiding in the overgrown area behind the police station.

Earlier yesterday, two soldiers were injured in two other bomb attacks in the province.

The first explosion took place at 7.40am in Kapho district and was allegedly aimed at a mounted patrol carrying six soldiers. Nobody was injured.

The second bomb went off at about 8am and injured two soldiers patrolling on foot in Khok Pho district. The soldiers were part of a protection unit escorting teachers.

Meanwhile, a bronze Honda Civic sedan was seized from a garage in Yala's Muang district late on Thursday night over suspicion that it was being installed with explosives.

Garage owner Wae-u-seng Simayo said the vehicle, which carries a Malaysian licence plate, belonged to a man he only knew as Yi, who had brought it to the garage two days ago.

Wae-u-seng and security officials later tried to contact Yi, but he could not be reached.

The authorities have released a list of five vehicles and are looking out for two other cars that they believe might be used as car bombs for insurgent attacks.

The Honda sedan they have seized is not on the list nor does it match the other two vehicles.


-- The Nation 2013-02-23

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LIKE IT, SHARE IT
Candidates make big IT promises
Asina Pornwasin

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok is not only Thailand's capital, but is also fast becoming an IT capital. For instance, people living in Bangkok have been the quickest in the word to adopt social media, and in just a few years it has more than 12 million Facebook users - ranking it as one of the highest in the world. Jakarta comes in a close second with 11.6 million users followed by London and Mumbai.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/621239-bangkok-candidates-committed-to-turning-the-city-into-a-high-tech-capital/

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ANALYSIS
PM may seek Malaysian role in peace process during KL visit
Don Pathan
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's visit to Malaysia on Thursday will address the possible role of Kuala Lumpur in facilitating a peace process between Bangkok and the Malay Muslim separatist movement.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/621240-yingluck-may-seek-malaysian-role-in-peace-process-during-kuala-lumpur-visit/

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Electricity agencies scramble to avert April blackouts, increase reserves
Watchara Pussayanawin
Watcharapong Thongrung
Tinnakorn Chaowachuen
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) is seeking cooperation from all parties in reducing power consumption to avoid a shortage in April while it attempts to shore up its reserve power supply by 291 megawatts.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/621241-electricity-agencies-scramble-to-avert-april-blackouts-increase-reserves-thailand/

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Thai energy demands to double in 25 years: study
The Nation



Annual consumption growth of 2.6 per cent projected; Kingdom to stay net fuel importer

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/621242-thai-energy-demands-to-double-in-25-years-study/

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EDITORIAL
Politics bids farewell to a controversial son
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Veteran power broker Sanan Kachornprasart died at a time when he sought to be seen as a moderator in Thailand's deep political divide

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/621243-politics-bids-farewell-to-a-controversial-son-thai-editorial/

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3G NETWORK
TOT, CAT nod to roaming between 3G networks
Usanee Mongkolporn
The Nation

Sharing limited to 400,000 users from each side

BANGKOK: -- State agencies TOT and CAT Telecom have signed a memorandum of understanding for one year of roaming between their two third-generation cellular networks to benefit their subscribers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/621244-t-o-t-c-a-t-nod-to-roaming-between-3g-networks/

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BANGKOK POLL TRACKER
Preliminary results by 9pm on March 3
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Unofficial results of the Bangkok governor election are expected by 9pm on March 3, the Bangkok election director said yesterday.

Weera Yiprae said ballot counting would be carried out at each polling station and would start at 3.30pm.

He said each polling station would cater to about 800 voters, so the counting at each station should take about an hour.

All the counting should be complete by 6pm, after which the ballot boxes and results from all stations would be sent to the district offices, where the results would be compiled.

Movie theatres to screen Democrat ad

The Democrats will step up their campaign to re-elect Sukhumbhand Paribatra by buying time to air new campaign ads in move theatres, the candidate's campaign manager said yesterday.

Ongart Klampaibul said the new campaign ad would show what the Democrats plan to do in the next four years, should Sukhumbhand be re-elected. The movie will be shown five times a day, he said.

The party will also stage an election campaign event at the Royal Plaza starting at 6.30am today.

Party leaders and members will gather and join the election campaign to help Sukhumbhand. The Democrats would then travel in vehicles to all 50 Bangkok districts.

Deputy Democrat leader Alongkorn Pollabutr will lead a boat procession to campaign on the Thon Buri side of the city.

The Democrats will regroup at the BMA public ground at 4pm to deliver a speech on "The Facts that Bangkokians Must Know".

A Democrat source said the speech would highlight key political developments in 2009 and 2010, apparently highlighting political violence related to red-shirt protesters.

The Democrat leaders will focus on the campaigns on the Thon Buri side tomorrow.

Pongsapat vows decentralisation

Pheu Thai candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen yesterday promised that under his leadership the power of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration would be decentralised to Bangkok communities.

He said he would allow committees in the communities make their own decisions on how to solve problems.

Pongsapat said he would set up forward offices under the district offices as venues to distribute low-priced consumer goods to low-income people in the communities.

Pongsapat said he had not been aware of Sripathum University's invitation to him to join a policy debate on Thursday.

He said he was not angry that the debate organiser used a Furby doll in lieu of him during the debate.


-- The Nation 2013-02-23

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More Thais own smartphones than laptops: survey
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- In this post-PC era, more Thais own smartphones than laptop computers, and three in four of them have more than one mobile device, according to a survey of company workers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/621245-more-thais-own-smartphones-than-laptops-survey/

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Ivory traders meet to head off sanctions
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Ivory industry representatives and wildlife officials yesterday took another step to shake off Thailand's image as the world's second-biggest destination for illegal ivory shipments.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/621246-thai-ivory-traders-meet-to-head-off-sanctions/

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Officials' attitudes to female inmates remain poor
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Despite the Kingdom's development of a new set of standards emphasising gender sensitivity to supplement the existing 1955 United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, many challenges remain, particularly in changing the attitude of prison staff, an international meeting on the subject in Bangkok was told.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/621247-officials-attitudes-to-female-inmates-remain-poor-thailand/

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SOUTH VIOLENCE
Ministry backs enforcement of ISA
The Nation

Move may open way for insurgents to join govt plea-bargaining deal

BANGKOK: -- The Justice Ministry yesterday pledged full support for the enforcement of the Internal Security Act (ISA) to pave the way for Muslim militants to be pardoned under a plea-bargaining scheme.

A decision on the expansion of the ISA enforcement areas would be made before the current period of emergency decree enforcement is due to be renewed on March 19, Justice Minister Pracha Promnok said.

The support was expressed during a meeting of the Operational Centre for the Implementation of Policy and Strategy to Resolve Problems of the Southern Border Province held at the Justice Ministry.

The meeting was chaired by Pracha and joined by representatives of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), the National Security Council, the Central Institute of Forensic Science, the Royal Thai Police and the Office of the Attorney-General.

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung and the Isoc proposed that the ISA should replace the enforcement of the emergency decree in most parts of the deep South so that Muslim militants could enter a plea-bargaining scheme under Article 21 of the law as a way to bring about peace in the region.

Currently, the ISA is enforced in four border districts of Songkhla - Thepha, Chana, Saba Yoi and Na Thawi - and in Pattani's Mae Lan district.

Following the three-hour meeting, Pracha told reporters that the Isoc had been assigned to consider expanding the areas of ISA enforcement.

The Isoc would be required to inform the operational centre of its decision. The centre would in turn inform the Cabinet for a final decision, Pracha said.

"The decision on the ISA expansion before the [three-month] enforcement of the emergency decree expires on March 19 will depend on the actual situation," Pracha said.

Pracha said that if the ISA's Article 21 is enforced to pardon militants, the Isoc would set up a screening committee to identify eligible militants, as opposed to those insurgents who have committed serious crimes. Pracha said public prosecutors would sit on the screening committee.

Pracha added that government agencies concerned would step up coordination of law enforcement for areas outside the ISA enforcement.

Charnchao Chaiyanukit, deputy permanent secretary for Justice who heads a subcommittee in charge of law enforcement at the operational centre, said it was expected that the Isoc would announce new areas under the ISA enforcement before March 19.

Charnchao said the meeting also discussed ways of showing leniency to militants if they live outside the areas under ISA enforcement.

He said all security agencies would have to consider which groups or which individuals should be allowed to enter the plea-bargaining scheme.

"It will be the first time that leniency will be granted without the enforcement of Article 21," Charnchao said.

He added that it would require several steps before more areas of ISA enforcement would be announced.


-- The Nation 2013-02-23

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Oscar Pistorius granted bail

A South African court grants Oscar Pistorius bail ahead of his trial after his lawyers successfully argued that the "Blade Runner" was too famous to flee.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/621249-pistorius-freed-on-bail/

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PM urges Thais to help save energy, believes will avoid power crisis on April 5, seeking additional gas supply for electricity generating /MCOT

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Thailand's longest bridge to connect Samut Prakarn and Samut Sakhon



BANGKOK, Feb 23 – The Transport Ministry has unveiled a multi-million-baht project to construct Thailand’s longest cable-suspension bridge linking two seaboard provinces of Samut Prakarn and Samut Sakhon, according to a senior official.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/621273-thailands-longest-bridge-to-connect-samut-prakarn-and-samut-sakhon/

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3 Million Baht Russian Tour Company Scam reported to Pattaya Police Chief

PATTAYA: -- A Russian Travel Agency is once again under the spotlight and is thought to have sold an estimated 3 Million Baht’s worth of non-existent tour packages to Russian Tourists.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/621272-3-million-baht-russian-tour-company-scam-reported-to-pattaya-police-chief/

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Makha Bucha Day


Wat Phra Kaew, or Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is Thailand's primary and most important temple
File photo, source: wikipedia.org

Makha Bucha is one of the most important religious festivals celebrated in Thailand, and is done to venerate the teachings of Buddha. In 2013, Thailand will celebrate this public holiday on the 25th of February which falls on the full moon day of the third month in the lunar calendar. “Makha” is the Thai word for the third Lunar month, while “bucha” means to honor or to venerate.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/621284-makha-bucha-day/

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Five police are still in hospital after M79 attack in Pattani
By Digital Media

PATTANI, Feb 23 -- Five policemen were still undergoing treatment in Pattani hospital after a police station in Kapho district was attacked by M79 grenades on Friday night.

Eight policemen in Pattani's Kapho Police Station were wounded after three M79 grenades were fired into the station's compound.

All eight officers were sent to the Pattani Hospital but the doctors have allowed three of them to return home, so five were still admitted at the hospital.

According to the initial investigation, the police were working as normal, with some of them exercising, when an unknown number of assailants fired M79 grenades into the station.

The first round fell in front of the police residential flat behind the station, the second one hit a police truck and the third one landed in the grounds of the station.

Windows at the station were shattered while six private cars belonging to police were also damaged from the explosions. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-02-23

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PM urges public to have confidence in government plan to address power issue
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, Feb 23 -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday urged the public to have confidence in the government's plans and measures to address the possible power supply crisis in April because of an expected disruption of natural gas supplied from Myanmar.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/621315-yingluck-urges-public-to-have-confidence-in-government-plan-to-address-power-issue/

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Mangrove flyover given start date, plans tweaked
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- A May start date for the long awaited 170-million-baht Klong Koh Pee flyover project, which will now traverse 700 meters of protected mangrove forest, was announced yesterday by the Phuket Governor.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/621317-mangrove-flyover-given-start-date-plans-tweaked-phuket/

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Too sexy? Luk thung
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- Ong-art “Aerk” Lederer, a 25-year-old Thai-German luk thung country singer, is facing a barrage of online criticism for a super sexy music video that he says was only meant to help fund his mother’s cancer treatment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/621320-thai-german-luk-thung-singer-facing-a-barrage-of-criticism-for-sexy-music-video/

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UPDATE
Swede suspected of “buying” 11 year old Thai girl
BY ANDERS HOLM NIELSEN

BANGKOK: -- A 65 year old Swede is suspected of buying sex with an 11 year old girl in Thailand via two women. The Swede is now wanted by the Thai police but has left the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/620749-women-arrested-for-pimping-11-year-old-girl-on-bangkoks-soi-cowboy/?p=6142438#entry6142438

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US allows business with four Myanmar banks

WASHINGTON, Feb 23, 2013 (AFP) - The United States authorized US entities to do business with four major Myanmar banks Friday, extending the easing of economic sanctions on the former pariah state.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/621335-u-s-allows-business-with-four-myanmar-banks/

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The Thai Baht exchange rate and the future of farangs in Thailand

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/620836-the-thai-baht-and-the-future-of-farangs-in-thailand/

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Wow! How it feels [Through Google Glass]

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/621339-how-it-feels-through-google-glass/

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Ethnic Karen arrested with illegal silvery langur meat
By Digital Media



RATCHABURI, Feb 23 -- An ethnic Karen was arrested in Ratchaburi with more than 200 kilogrammes of silvery langur meat while on delivery to trader.

Ratchaburi's Suan Phueng district chief Rangsan Tancharoen on Saturday inspected the meat and entrails of the silvery langur, also known as the silvered leaf monkey which is a protected species under Thai law.

Mr Rangsan said that the joint operation of military and police located a suspicious pick up truck bearing Prachuap Khiri Khan licence plates at Baan Huay Phak in Suan Phueng district.

The authorities found four fertilizer bags in the back of the vehicle which contained 206 kiliogrammes of salted silvered langur meat and entrails.

The driver told the authorities that he was only hired to deliver the meat to another trader and would receive Bt1,500.

He faces prosecution for processing and selling the protected wild animal species, as well as Bt40,000 fine and 4 years imprisonment. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-02-23

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Lamphun declares 7 districts disaster zones from drought with initial relief budget allocated at Bt40 million /MCOT