Thailand Live Monday 3 Jun 2013

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RICE-PLEDGING
Higher-than-expected losses negative for Thailand's rating: Moody's
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Recent losses and any future losses from the unmodified rice buying scheme will increase the difficulty of the Thai government's task of reaching its goal of a balanced budget by 2017, and are credit negative for the Thai sovereign, warned Moody's Investors Service.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643946-higher-than-expected-losses-negative-for-thailands-rating-moodys/

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RT@BPbreakingnews: Gold prices up 100 baht

[Lite Beer]

Narathiwat schools reopen after director’s shooting
By English News

NARATHIWAT, June 3 – Twenty-eight schools in the southern province of Narathiwat reopened today after being closed due to the shooting of a school director last week.

On Thursday, school director Awirut Yaseng of Baan Waeng school in Narathiwat was severely wounded. Almost 30 schools were then closed to review security measures after the attack.

All schools reopened Monday amid tight security. Police and military have been deployed to provide security at schools and along the travel routes of teachers.

Regarding a gun attack on a group of young people at a sports ground near a Sungai Kolok secondary school last night, Asama Lee, a schoolgirl was severely wounded and remains hospitalised.

Two other students, both 14, have been released from hospital. The police are reviewing surveillance cameras to identify the assailants. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-06-03

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Deputy PM Chalerm: NSC chief Paradorn still has authority to lead peace talks with BRN on June 13; to review talks if no progress /MCOT

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Automobile industry drives up metal demand

BANGKOK, 3 June 2013 (NNT) – Despite the lower-than-expected increase in world metal consumption, Thailand saw a 12.2 percent rise in demand for metal, thanks to the prosperity of Thai automobile industry.

According to Permanent Secretary for Industry Witoon Simachokedee, the global metal demand last year only rose 1.2 percent because of the world’s economic slowdown, especially in the Euro zone and the US. As a result, Mr. Witoon expects to see only a 2.9 percent increase in the world’s consumption of metal this year, 1.6 percent lower than the forecast.

Despite the incredibly low demand in the global market, Thailand, in 2012, saw a 12.2 percent increase in metal consumption, involving 16.6 million tons of metal used, thanks to the fast expansion in the country’s automobile industry and construction sector and a huge government investment in public infrastructure projects. The Permanent Secretary for Industry, therefore, expects this year’s growth in the Thai metal industry to be at the same level of last year.


-- NNT 2013-2013-06-03

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Central bank to keep close watch on real estate after seeing signs of speculation

BANGKOK, 3 June 2013 (NNT) - The Bank of Thailand (BoT) has detected signs of speculation in the real estate sector. The central bank says it will closely monitor the situation although there are still no factors that cause concern.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643954-bank-of-thailand-to-keep-close-watch-on-real-estate-after-seeing-signs-of-speculation/

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Foreign Affairs Minister visits Hungary, Germany

BANGKOK, 3 June 2013 (NNT) - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Surapong Tovijakchaikul is scheduled to officially visit Hungary from 3-4 June 2013. Mr Surapong will attend a meeting with his Hungarian counterpart on economic and academic cooperation between Thailand and Hungary.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643955-foreign-affairs-minister-surapong-visits-hungary-germany/

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Australia recognized third gender

NEW SOUTH WALES: -- The Court of Appeal in New South Wales admitted existence of the third sex that is neither male nor female. Thus Australia became the first country in the world to recognize 'non-specified' gender.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643958-australia-recognized-third-gender/

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Dog saves abandoned newborn baby
By English News

AYUTTHAYA, June 3 - A newborn baby girl dumped in a litter bin was rescued by a dog early morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643962-dog-saves-abandoned-newborn-baby-in-ayutthaya/

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POLITICS
Abhisit calls government to task over white-mask protests
The Nation


Abhisit campaigns for a Democrat candidate in a by-election in Bangkok Monday.//Photo : Pramote Putthaisong

BANGKOK: -- Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday urged the government to consider why people felt they had to wear a Guy Fawkes mask in protesting against it.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643965-abhisit-calls-government-to-task-over-white-mask-protests/

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11 new bridges crossing Chaopraya River to be built over next 20 years

BANGKOK, 3 June 2013 (NNT) - More bridges crossing the Chao Phraya River are expected to be built in a bid to accommodate the increasing number of commuters.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na Ranong said that during a recent meeting with economic ministers, it is agreed that the Transport Ministry’s proposal to build 11 additional bridges in Bangkok over the next 20 years will be forwarded to the cabinet for approval.

Mr Kittiratt insisted that the plan is not part of the government’s 2-trillion-baht infrastructure development project.

Prior to the construction of the bridges, environmental impact assessments will be conducted in each area in a bid to determine the community response.

Among the new Chao Phraya bridges will include those in Bangkok’s Kiak Kai area, Pathum Thani’s Sam Khok area and Nonthaburi Province’s Tha Nam Non area. The total cost of all the 11 projects is estimated at over 50 billion baht.

The Finance Minister quoted a survey as saying that the number of motorists crossing the Chao Phraya River will jump from 17.9 million per day in 2011 to 22.7 million in 2021.


-- NNT 2013-2013-06-03

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Blackout in 14 southern provinces not caused by human error: Fact finding panel /MCOT

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Dangerous jellyfish season predicted in South

BANGKOK, 3 June 2013 (NNT) – The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources are warning tourists of possible jellyfish attacks in southern coastal provinces during the rainy season.

Marine biologists have predicted a dangerous jellyfish season in Thailand as the country is entering a monsoon period. The department stated that deadly species of box jellyfish which are known for extremely potent venom can be found in many provinces on both the Andaman and Gulf of Thailand coasts.

The sting of a box jellyfish can cause excruciating pain, muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting, headaches, heart palpitations and cardiac failure.

The department has so far held forums to provide information on first-aid care to residents in Satun and Phuket provinces in case of a jellyfish sting. Experts recommended that pressure immobilization can be used on limbs to slow down the spreading of the venom. Large amounts of vinegar should also be applied before and after the stinging tentacle is removed.

Warning signs and instructions for first-aid treatments have been posted in affected areas in both Satun and Phuket.


-- NNT 2013-2013-06-03

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Chalerm skeptically welcomes NSC chief’s reinstatement
By English News



BANGKOK, June 3 – Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung said today he has no problem with the reinstatement of Thawil Pliensri to head the National Security Council (NSC) as ruled by the Administrative Court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643966-chalerm-skeptically-welcomes-n-s-c-chiefs-reinstatement/

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SET index closed at 1539.26, down 22.81; Bt/USD30.33; GBP46.05; AUD29.01; EUR39.33; CAD29.09; HKD3.90; SGD23.89; JPY30.0

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Press body decries Thai royal insult arrests

BANGKOK, June 03, 2013 (AFP) - A top world press body warned Monday that Thailand's contentious royal defamation law was creating a "climate of fear" and being misused to wrongly imprison journalists.

The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers is "deeply concerned" by the misuse of the lese majeste rules, its president Jacob Mathew said at the four-day annual World Newspaper Congress in Bangkok.

Condemning "undue arrests and imprisonments" of journalists, editors and publishers, Mathew said that the enforcement of the law runs "counter to the principles of press freedom" and is "a violation of the rights of citizens".

Anyone convicted of insulting the Thai king, queen, heir or regent faces up to 15 years in prison on each count.

"As anyone can accuse anyone else of committing an act of lese majeste, the misuse of the law has created a climate of fear," Mathew said.

The royal family is a highly sensitive subject in politically turbulent Thailand. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 85, is revered by many Thais but has been in hospital since September 2009.

Rights campaigners say the lese majeste law has been politicised, noting that many of those charged are linked to the "Red Shirt" protest movement, which is broadly loyal to fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

In January a 51-year-old editor, Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, was jailed for 11 years in connection with two articles that appeared in his magazine, to the dismay of human rights defenders.

Two months of mass street protests by the Red Shirts against the previous government in early 2010 triggered the kingdom's worst civil violence in decades with 90 people killed, mostly in a bloody military crackdown.

The authorities have blocked thousands of web pages deemed insulting to the monarchy.

Mathew addressed the issue in his speech saying "the government has shown a tendency to control the Internet, and this is a matter of concern".

The conference, attended by more than 1,500 newspaper editors and other media figures, runs until June 5.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-2013-06-03

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UPDATE:
Commerce Ministry rejects massive govt rice subsidy programme losses
By Digital Media

BANGKOK, June 3 – Permanent secretary for commerce Vatchari Vimooktayon today ruled as speculation a loss of Bt260 billion in the government’s rice pledging scheme since 2011.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643843-cambodian-rice-exports-to-thailand-rising;-n-a-c-c-to-probe-rice-scheme-testimony/#entry6469329

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Every sector must join hands in improving human resources in Thailand

BANGKOK, 3 June 2013 (NNT)- Mrs. Rarinthip Sirorat, the Deputy Permanent Secretary at Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, has said the economic and industrial sectors must establish a joint effort to improve human resources in Thailand, as the country is transitioning into ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

According to Mrs. Rarinthip, her Ministry is set to produce skilled workers and professionals to meet the demand of the real and service sectors in preparation for the AEC, by which time the nation's economic growth will rely heavily on its workforce's ability to compete against other nations'.

She added that the joint effort among various sectors and industries will help identify where the improvement is needed in order to drive forwards the economy.

She also emphasized on the contributions of women, the disabled, the elderly, and children to the growth of the country through their careers and talents. They should also improve their command of the English language as communication with foreigners will be required when the AEC finally takes shape.


-- NNT 2013-2013-06-03

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DSI to launch investigation into BMA's fire extinguisher purchase

BANGKOK, 3 June 2013 (NNT)-The Pheu Thai Spokesperson has submitted a letter to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) asking it to investigate the purchase of the fire extinguishers by the City Hall on suspicion that it was not transparent.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has earlier placed an order for 99,797 fire extinguishers with a budget of 124 million baht from B&B Trading Co Ltd. However, some of the extinguishers installed in five districts exploded last week.

Pheu Thai Spokesman Prompong Nopparit claimed there is evidence suggesting that the equipment produced by the company are sub-standard and it will not be able to fulfill the order as its factory only has the capacity of producing 5,000 fire extinguishers.

He raised suspicions as to why the BMA picks the company as the only provider of the fire extinguishers while the 60,000 extinguisher cylinders recently imported from China by the company also pose a question of standard. He added that the BMA has also broken the deal by demanding that each fire extinguisher contains 9.5 kilogram of gas instead of 9.07 kilogram as stated in the contract of purchase. Mr. Prompong said these acts are considered to be unlawful in nature.

Meanwhile, DSI Director General Tharit Pengdit said he will treat this case as an urgent matter as it is within the power of DSI to investigate any transactions that have allegedly been dealt behind closed doors for the benefit of contracting parties.


-- NNT 2013-2013-06-03

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Canadian man weds Roi Et woman, offers dowry worth THB100 million
By Coconuts Bangkok



ROI ET: Residents are celebrating a story of Cinderella-like proportions: a wealthy Canadian man has married a Roi Et woman who was born to a farmer family, and provided her with a handsome dowry to boot.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643974-canadian-man-weds-roi-et-woman-offers-dowry-worth-bt100-million/

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Capital inflows curbing measure may not be needed; baht weakened to Bt30.42/US$ vs Bt28.56 Apr19,22 (strongest since Jul 97): finance ministry /The Nation

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Thuggish Phuket taxis targeted after 12 hotels complain

Tanyaluk Sakoot

PHUKET: A meeting of all concerned is to be convened in Karon later this month to attempt to address the problem of unpleasant – in some cases thuggish – behaviour by local taxi groups.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644057-thuggish-phuket-taxis-targeted-after-12-hotels-complain/

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to continue:

Thailand Live Tuesday 4 Jun 2013

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644076-thailand-live-tuesday-4-jun-2013/