Thailand Live Friday 22 Mar 2013

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Two arrested for Chatuchak stabbing
Patinya Iamtan
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Two men who seriously wounded a Thai Post journalist during a robbery in Soi Suea Yai Utis Yai in Bangkok's Chatuchak district early Tuesday, say they had no intention of hurting the victim but reacted when he put up a fight.

Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Khamronwit Thoopkrajang presented the two suspects at Thursday's press conference. They are Preecha Wararam, 19, who robbed and stabbed the victim Suwat Panjawong, 29, in the neck and Saran Chunim, 23, who was driving the motorcycle while Preecha scouted for victims. The duo, nabbed at an apartment in Soi Suea Yai Utis on Wednesday along with the getaway motorcycle, face charges of robbery and attempted murder.

Metropolitan Police Division 2 chief Suthee Nanekantee said the duo reportedly confessed to police, admitting they had assaulted the victim but saying they didn't intend to cut or murder him. The duo claimed the victim resisted the robbery and that the stabbing was accidental.

Suthee said Saran had reportedly committed similar crimes and was wanted in Nonthaburi's Bang Bua Thong district as well as by Chokchai police. He also faces charges for taking yaba.

After the press conference, police took the pair to reenact the crime at the scene and pointed to the roadside bushes where they dumped the knife.


-- The Nation 2013-03-22

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UPDATE

AIR QUALITY
Haze in 9 northern provinces reaches critical stage
JANJIRA PONGRAI,
PRAPAPORN KREUNGEW,
KANNIKA WIJITSAKOLKAN
THE NATION



CHIANG MAI: -- As the haze from outdoor burning worsened in the nine upper northern provinces, despite the January 21 Cabinet's 100-day resolution banning burning until April 30, representatives of Karen hill tribes in Chiang Mai and Lampang provinces filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission's (NHRC) sub-panel on land and forest, claiming the ban violated their rights.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/627505-chiang-mai-steps-up-law-enforcement-to-reduce-burning/page-2#entry6227516

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Remote-control car locks vulnerable, tests reveal
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- Signal interference blocks locking mechanisms in four major vehicle makes flaw allows thieves to prevent cars from being locked and to prey on owners

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/627658-remote-control-car-locks-vulnerable-tests-reveal/

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Nation Group plans documentary tie-ups
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Nation Group is teaming up with television networks in the Asia-Pacific region to produce international-standard documentary films for digital television stations, Nation Multimedia Group editor-in-chief Thepchai Yong revealed yesterday.

The rights for the digital stations will be auctioned later this year,

Thepchai added that the Nation Group was also planning to produce several documentaries reflecting regional lifestyles, history and culture, as well as issues in Asia-Pacific.

He also exchanged views on documentary production with executives from several television stations at the "Asian Side of the Doc" - the biggest yearly forum and exhibition featuring Asian documentaries held in Kuala Lumpur from March 19-22.

Executives of leading television stations, independent documentary producers and distributors who are at the forefront of the sector from 35 countries attended the event.

The main objective of the forum is to provide a stage where documentary producers and television stations in Asia and other regions can meet and share experiences as well as co-produce documentaries.

Thepchai met Afendi Hamdan, chairman of Malaysia's state-run National Film Development Corporation, which has been playing a role in promoting the production of films and documentaries in Malaysia. They shared ideas on producing a documentary on Thailand's violence-torn three southernmost provinces.

"We agree that both Thai and Malaysian television stations should help people in the two countries understand the situation in the South through a documentary that provides them with well-rounded information from both sides," he said.

The plan, which will mark the first such cooperation between the two countries, is being formulated as the Malaysian government plays a mediator's role to bring about peace talks between the Thai government and the insurgent group Barisan Revolusi Nasional.


-- The Nation 2013-03-22

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Six senators withdraw support for charter amendment bills
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Six senators have withdrawn their names supporting three bills for Constitution amendment submitted to Parliament on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/627659-six-senators-withdraw-support-for-thai-charter-amendment-bills/

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INFRASTRUCTURE
Korn questions Bt2-tn loan bill
Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn
The Nation


Korn Chatikavanij

BANGKOK: -- Democrat Party deputy leader Korn Chatikavanij yesterday expressed serious concerns about the Bt2-trillion infrastructure borrowing bill proposed by the Yingluck Shinawatra government as it might violate the Constitution, which stipulates that any government expenditure should be allocated only through the fiscal expenditure budget bill.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/627660-former-finance-minister-korn-questions-bt2tn-loan-bill/

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BAHT

Baht takes a dip on dollar buying

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The baht retreated yesterday on impulse buying of US dollars, while concern over speculation in the stock market lingered despite days of profit taking.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/627661-thai-baht-takes-a-dip-on-dollar-buying/

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HOUSING
Rise in mortgages poses threat, says KResearch
Sucheera Pinijparakarn

BANGKOK: -- Even though there are no signs of bubbles yet, the rise in outstanding mortgages to individuals as a proportion of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) is likely a high risk to the country when the cycle of interest rate starts to rise, Kasikorn Research Centre has warned.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/627663-rise-in-mortgages-poses-threat-says-kasikorn-research/

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EDITORIAL
Exam scandal exacerbates an ongoing problem
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The quality of education in this country cannot improve until teachers' working conditions and teaching standards are upgraded.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/627664-exam-scandal-exacerbates-an-ongoing-problem-thai-editorial/

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Parliament will not cooperate if PM refuses to attend: Wisut
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Deputy House Speaker Wisut Chainarun warned Thursday that the Parliament would not cooperate with the Cabinet if Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra continued ignoring her parliamentary duties.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/627665-thai-parliament-will-not-cooperate-if-yingluck-refuses-to-attend-wisut/

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BURNING ISSUE
Revising law on dissolution key to charter change
Avudh Panananda
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Pheu Thai Party seeks a master key to unlock all the political barriers standing in the way of its drive to bring about amnesty and charter change.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/627666-revising-law-on-dissolution-key-to-thai-charter-change/

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Flood plans doomed to fail, engineers warn
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The government's ambitious Bt350 billion water and flood management plans will likely fail to be completed within the five-year deadline due to environmental hurdles and opposition from communities over land expropriation, the Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT) warned yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/627668-thai-govts-flood-plans-doomed-to-fail-engineers-warn/

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Drunk attacks Nation Group cameraman
Angkoon Tawanwong
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Nation TV cameraman, who had to be taken to Siriraj Hospital for knife wounds after a drunkard attacked him on Wednesday, will undergo an operation today to repair a ligament in his left index finger.

Pittaya Thong-ee also needs stitches on his right eyelid. He has wound in his neck too.

According to eyewitnesses, Pittaya entered a karaoke lounge in the Bangkok Noi area at around 10pm and greeted a friend who was sharing a table with a man police identified as Yuttana Pipitniphon, 47.

Pittaya exchanged a few pleasantries with the man, who suddenly got up and lunged at him with a knife. The photographer tried to block the knife with his left hand and hurt his index finger. He was also slashed on the eyelid.

Pol Lt-Colonel Kittisak Suwanrat, an on-duty officer at Bangkok Noi Police Station, said Pittaya had no idea why he was assaulted.

"Perhaps it was the result of a misunderstanding during the greeting or inebriation," he said.

Yuttana has no criminal record and now faces charges of aggravated physical assault.

According to Pittaya's younger sister, the owner of the karaoke-lounge owner said Pittaya greeted his friend and wai-ed Yuttana after walking in.

Yuttana then asked him, "Do you know me?", before trying to attack him when Pittaya said "no".


-- The Nation 2013-03-22

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Health professionals threaten action if demand ignored
Khanittha Thepphajorn,
Poungchompoo Prasert
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Some 500 public health professionals and workers from related sectors rallied yesterday outside Parliament, threatening to suspend healthcare services if the House failed to pass the draft legislation on public health professionals, during this parliamentary session.

The demonstrators, led by Public Health Club of Thailand head Paisal Boungchuad, also submitted an appeal to Deputy House Speaker Charoen Chankomon, urging the House to consider their demands before the legislation became law on April 18, or else they would suspend public health services at local-level government health clinics.

Charoen explained that following amendments made by the senate, the draft bill was currently being considered by the joint committee of the lower and upper house, and that he would table the demonstrators' demands at the joint committee meeting on March 27.

Democrat MP for Phitsanulok, Warong Dejkitvikrom, commented that if the Pheu Thai Party MPs cooperated with MPs from the Democrat party, the joint committee's review would be completed by March 27 - in time to pass the draft bill within this parliamentary session.

In related news, Public Health Minister Dr Pradit Sinthawanarong yesterday said he was not concerned about a separate protest by rural doctors - conducted Tuesday in front of Government House - demanding Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra remove him from the top post. The protesters have vowed to rally every Tuesday until their demands are met.

Pradit also affirmed that the rural doctors' allowance adjustment would be a flat rate based on the "Pay for Performance" (P4P). The move, which has upset rural doctors, would ensure the system's sustainability and provide work motivation, Pradit said.

It will be submitted for the Cabinet's consideration next Tuesday and expected to come into effect from April 1.

Pradit said those doctors who served in the three southernmost provinces and islands would still receive the allowance without any cuts.

He added that the March 25 meeting of the National Health Security Office Board would consider the proposal to transfer the salaries of medical staff paid by the Public Health Ministry to the NHSO, so that this budget would be permanent.


-- The Nation 2013-03-22

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Witnesses in cheating case face threats
Supinda na Mahachai
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Key witnesses in the case related to cheating in the recruitment exams for assistant teachers have complained that they are facing threats and intimidation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/627669-witnesses-in-cheating-case-face-threats-assistant-thai-teachers/

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SOUTH CRISIS
Pattani blast kills boy, injures several others
Parez Lohasan,
Nakarin Chinnavornkomol
The Nation



PATTANI: -- A motorcycle bomb exploded in Pattani yesterday, killing a nine-year-old boy and injuring 12 others just days ahead of the official first round of peace talks between the National Security Council and the BRN-Coordinate.

The negotiations will start on Monday.

Police believed the blast in the heart of Pattani town was staged to fan unrest in the deep South.

Nisoplian Nisani, 9, died immediately, while his mother Waeleemag Jehloh, was among the injured. Most victims are now being treated at the Pattani Hospital.

Pattani Governor Pramuk Lamun expressed his condolences to the victims' families and convened an urgent meeting with security officials.

"We will examine recordings from security cameras and will nail down the culprits," he said.

About five kilograms of explosives were stuffed inside the motorcycle, according to police. The vehicle was parked in front of a bakery shop in a flea-market before the explosives were triggered at around 1.40pm yesterday.

Apart from casualties, the blast damaged seven motorcycles and three cars. It also shattered the windows and doors of many buildings nearby, including Pattani Probation Office and a local police cooperative.

Defence Minister ACM Sukampol Suwannathat said yesterday that the peace talks could take time but it was designed to create peace for the South border provinces.

An ongoing wave of violence has plagued Thailand's deep South for about a decade already.

"Those who have come to the negotiation table wish to see peace, but it's too early to predict the negotiation results," Sukampol said.

He said relevant parties must let the peace talks run its course before concluding on the results. He also tried to dismiss concerns that relevant authorities might agree to a separatist deal.


-- The Nation 2013-03-22

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Second batch of airport protesters charged in court
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, March 22 – Fourteen ‘Yellow Shirt’ People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) activists were formally charged in Thailand’s Criminal Court in connection with the 2008 invasions into Bangkok’s two major airports.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/627679-second-batch-of-airport-protesters-charged-in-court-bangkok-2008/

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Public Health Ministry warns nationwide schools to be vigilant about possible dengue attack

BANGKOK, 22 March 2013 (NNT) – The Public Health Ministry is warning nationwide schools to watch out for and do more against possible dengue fever spread after the new school year opens in a few months.

Advisor to the Minister of Public Health Pasit Sakdanarong said on Thursday it is forecast that between 120,000 and 150,000 people will fall prey to dengue fever, with more than 100 lives likely to succumb to the virus, this year.

The Public Health Ministry also estimated that medical expenses related to dengue treatment will amount to as much as 2 billion baht.

Mr. Pasit said the ministry has already brought the issue to the attention of the Cabinet since March 12, in order to call on all state agencies to help get rid of mosquito-breeding grounds throughout the summer time, when the extermination of the larvae is easy and efficient.

He pointed out that schools across the country may be the most-worrying place as they tend to miss out on attention and action during the summer break, and eventually there may be more mosquitos around when the new school year begins in May.

Therefore, the Advisor to the Health Minister has been calling for cooperation from the Education Ministry to inform all schools to rid themselves of larvae during the months of March and May.

He also asked the Education Ministry to consider adding more lessons on dengue and how to prevent it in order to help students protect them from the deadly virus.


-- NNT 2013-03-22

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SRT to proceed with dual-track railway construction plan

BANGKOK, 22 March 2013 (NNT) – The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is set to proceed with the much-anticipated plan to construct the dual-track railway system, tentatively around the end of the year.

SRT Governor Prapat Chongsanguan revealed on Thursday that the construction of the dual-track railway system on 6 routes is anticipated to commence within this year.

The planned routes, which have received green light from the Cabinet, include the 187-kilometer Jira-Khon Kaen line, the 148-kilometer Lop Buri-Paknam Po line, the 132-kilometer Map Kabao-Jira line, the 165-kilometer Nakhon Pathom-Nong Pladuk-Hua Hin line, the 167-kilomter Prachuap Khiri Khan-Chumphon line and the Kaeng Khoi-Klong 19 line.

Mr. Prapat stated that all routes have passed the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) while the contractors are anticipated to be found before the end of 2013.

In addition to these lines, the SRT is planning to invest more in existing electric rail routes in Bangkok and nearby provinces, such as the Airport Link ad the Rangsit-Thammasat Red Line train.

He added that all extension projects are to be completed within 7 years, with funding drawn from the government’s 2-trillion-baht infrastructure mega projects.


-- NNT 2013-03-22

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Rice growers threaten to protest banning of 18 strains of rice in pledging program

BANGKOK, 22 March 2013 (NNT) – Rice growers are asking that the government postpones imposing a limit on accepted strains of rice allowed to enter the rice-pledging program.

According to the Thai Rice Growers Association, some farmers were thrown into discontent after the National Rice Policy Committee revised its criteria for rice-pledging, banning the pledging of 18 strains of inferior-quality rice. The farmers had already invested in growing these strains for the year, and damage would be incurred if the government goes ahead with the banning of fast-growing rice strains. The association also viewed that the government was breaking its promise to rice growers with the revision, because the policy clearly stated that the pledging program would cover every grain of rice.

The association said rice growers will rally for a demonstration against the exclusion of the rice strains if the government insists on disallowing the strains into the pledging program.

The National Rice Policy Committee indicated that the criteria revision was aimed at encouraging a switch to higher quality rice strains, which would effectively increase the standard of Thai rice in general.


-- NNT 2013-03-22

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,517.21, down 12.31 points /MCOT

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Thailand implicated in Chinese 'honey laundering' scheme
By Coconuts Bangkok


Bees and honeycomb: two items absent from the manufacture of Chinese honey

BANGKOK: -- According to Business Insider, Thailand is being used by China for purposes of illicit “honey laundering.”

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/627685-thailand-implicated-in-chinese-honey-laundering-scheme/

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Hi-So Holidays Harder To Afford For Phuket Tourists

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/627688-hi-so-holidays-harder-to-afford-for-phuket-tourists/

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2 killer whales rescued in Trat

BANGKOK, 22 March 2013 (NNT) – Two killer whales stuck in fishnets were rescued near Koh Chang by Department of National Parks officials. They are now under the supervision of a veterinarian team from Chulalongkorn University.

According to the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, the 2 killer whales are now recovering from their injuries. However, one of them still needs a physical therapy as it is unable to move. The officials have to put the injured whale in a life vest and dangle it with a rope just on the surface of the water to enable it to breathe. The whale is also being provided with vitamins and medicines, while food has to be given through a tube as it denies to eat. Meanwhile, the other injured whale is now in better condition, able to move freely.

The head of the veterinarian team said the condition of the severely-injured whale is still worrisome, because an infection has been found in its lungs. The doctors will keep giving antibiotics and other necessary medicines to the whale until it gets better.

-- NNT 2013-03-22

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Thailand sees continuing decline in rice exports
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, Mar 22 – Thailand’s rice exports in the first two months of this year dropped both in volume and value, the Rice Exporters Association reported today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/627722-thailand-sees-continuing-decline-in-rice-exports/

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9 districts of Tak declared drought zones

TAK, 22 March 2013 (NNT) - Tak provincial authorities have declared 9 districts drought disaster zones as the province continues to battle both drought and haze.

Tak governor Suriya Prasartbandit said over 150,000 residents were affected by the worsening drought. Mae Ramard is the worst-hit out of the 9 districts which include Mae Sot and Sam Ngao.

The provincial administration of Tak has allocated a 27-million-baht budget to build reservoirs, carry out dredging works and deliver water to affected areas.

Meanwhile, forest fires and hot spots were detected in 5 border districts raising the temperature and reduce visibility in the area. Slash-and-burn agricultural practices and land-clearing by fire for sugar cane cultivation are widespread in these districts.

-- NNT 2013-03-22

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SET index midday Fri,dropped sharply by 60.58pts,3.96% at 1,468.94 amid concerns over PM's future and Bt2.2tn infrastructure projects /The Nation

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Diner Alert: Nine Thai foods you should avoid in summer
By Coconuts Bangkok


Larb

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Disease Control has issued a list of nine Thai dishes that could potentially cause diarrhea during the summer.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/627778-diner-alert-nine-thai-foods-you-should-avoid-in-summer/

[Lite Beer]

PRACHIN BURI
Horrific bus accident kills 2, injures 54
The Nation

PRACHIN BURI: -- Two people were killed and 54 others were wounded when a bus carrying students on a field crashed in Prachin Buri's Na Dee district early this morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/627793-two-killed-54-injured-in-horrific-bus-accident-in-prachin-buri/

[Lite Beer]

Muslim village official in Pattani's Yaring district shot dead by presumed insurgent while at a singing bird contest; police tighten security /MCOT