Thailand Live Wednesday 6 Nov 2013

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Transport Minister Appalled By Minivan Safety Standard
By Khaosod Online



BANGKOK: -- Transport Minister Charchart Sittipan said he had instructed the authorities to urgently tighten the safety measures applied to public minivans, after he had personally discovered that much of the safety policies are blatantly ignored by the minivan drivers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679695-thai-transport-minister-appalled-by-minivan-safety-standard/

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Thai-Cambodia Border Village Emptied Ahead Of Temple Verdict
By Khaosod Online

BANGKOK: -- Residents of Phum Salon village, which sits on the border of Thailand and Cambodia, have fled their abodes amid the fears of a potential military conflict between the two nations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679697-thai-cambodia-border-village-emptied-ahead-of-temple-verdict/

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Japanese Senior Police 'Concerned' By Amnesty Plan
By Khaosod Online



BANGKOK: -- A high ranking Japanese officer has expressed his concern that the ′amnesty-for-all′ proposed by Pheu Thai Party might stall the investigation into the death of the Japanese reporter killed in 2010 crackdown.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679698-japanese-senior-police-concerned-by-thai-amnesty-plan/

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Don Mueang makeover set to handle 28-30 million pax annually
By English News



BANGKOK, Nov 6 -- Don Mueang Airport in northern Bangkok is being renovated to cater at least 16 million passengers this year and up to 28-30 million once completed in May 2014.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679699-don-mueang-makeover-set-to-handle-28-30-million-passengers-annually/

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PM discusses cooperation in defense industry with world military leaders

BANGKOK, 6 November 2013 (NNT) – The Thai Prime Minister has welcomed top military officers from around the world who are currently on a visit to Thailand to take part in the “Defense & Security 2013”.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679700-pm-yingluck-discusses-cooperation-in-defense-industry-with-world-military-leaders/

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Govt 'ready to retreat'
THE NATION



Skepticism about PM's statement that they will abide by Senate decision on amnesty bill; rally to continue until bill withdrawn

BANGKOK: -- The Pheu Thai government appears to be retreating from its stance on backing the controversial amnesty bill, which is facing growing public opposition, while the Senate also seems to be ready to reject the bill.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679701-thai-govt-ready-to-retreat/

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Amnesty bill would kill 25,355 graft cases: NACC
Piyanut Tumnukasetchai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) yesterday issued a statement opposing the amnesty bill on grounds that it would absolve thousands of graft violations, including hundreds against top politicians.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679702-thai-amnesty-bill-would-kill-25355-graft-cases-nacc/

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UPDATE:

Locals at border towns very concerned
Nuntida Puangthong,
Pongpat Traipipat,
Surachai Piraksa
The Nation



Many worry about clashes erupting no matter which direction the verdict goes

BANGKOK: -- WITH AN International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on the Preah Vihear case expected on Monday, high-ranking officials have gone to the border province of Si Sa Ket to allay fears among local people.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679697-thai-cambodia-border-village-emptied-ahead-of-temple-verdict/#entry7005220

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GOOGLE

Why not Thailand?

Eric Schmidt

Special to The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Eric Schmidt sees huge opportunities ahead if Thailand can free up Internet use.

This country has what it takes to be a major player in Asia, says Google's CEO, but not without an Internet that looks more like the rest of the world's

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679704-googles-eric-schmidt-why-not-thailand/

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UPDATE:

NATION ANALYSIS
Confused remarks spark anger
Jintana Panyaarvudh
The Nation


Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra delivers a statement on the amnesty bill at Government House yesterday.

Yingluck gets her team to call media to clarify stance, says she is ready to back down

BANGKOK: -- The statement Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra delivered at lunchtime yesterday initially appeared to add fuel to the fire.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679610-prime-minister-yingluck-shinawatras-speech-on-the-amnesty-bill/page-4?p=7005232#entry7005232

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Starbucks defends logo lawsuit against Thai stalls
Kesinee Tangkhieo
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Starbucks on Monday publicly defended its lawsuit against two Thai coffee stalls, claiming it has to protect its standards.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679705-starbucks-defends-logo-lawsuit-against-thai-stalls/

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INVESTMENT
Germans 'keen to invest' in Thailand
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- German enterprises in Thailand said they are keen to invest and expand their businesses in this country, especially to take part in the Bt2-trillion infrastructure development project. However, they also maintained that corruption is unacceptable and should be seriously tackled under the law.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679706-germans-keen-to-invest-in-thailand/

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RICE PLEDGING LOSS
Post-audit panel puts pledging loss at Bt330 bn, and rising
The Nation


Rice Pledging loss

BANGKOK: -- The Post Audit Committee yesterday revealed that the government faced a combined loss of Bt330 billion during its past three rice-pledging projects, amounting to 58.8 per cent of the total spending of Bt600 billion on the programme during the period.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679707-post-audit-panel-puts-rice-pledging-loss-at-bt330-bn-and-rising/

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EDITORIAL
When a million screens light up
The Nation

Pheu Thai may have underestimated a powerful weapon being launched against its amnesty bill

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday seemed to characterise the growing protest against the amnesty bill as a conspiracy against her administration. By claiming the protesters were aiming to "distort" or "create misunderstanding", she appeared to overlook a crucial fact - that the anti-bill network is widespread and amplified by a powerful tool, the social media.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679710-thai-editorial-when-a-million-screens-light-up/

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Tuk-tuk ejection scheme draws mixed reactions
Phuket Gazette


Some tuk-tuk drivers are worried that police won't be able to spot black plate taxis that are stealing public parking spots. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- As the clock starts to tick down on a plan to evict tuk-tuk drivers from parking spots in Patong, response from tuk-tuk drivers varies from flat refusal to requests for fairness in the application of the new measure.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679711-phuket-tuk-tuk-ejection-scheme-draws-mixed-reactions/

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151 get death, 158 awarded life sentence for horrendous Bangladesh mutiny
English.news.cn

DHAKA, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- A court in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka on Tuesday awarded death to 151 guards of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), previously known as Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), who in February 2009 staged a two-day horrendous mutiny in the country's paramilitary force's headquarters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679712-151-get-death-158-awarded-life-sentence-for-horrendous-bangladesh-mutiny/

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
The Dems' "Double A" team
Hataikarn Treesuwan
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- When senior Democrat MP and former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban blew a whistle to start the Samsen rally against the amnesty bill last Thursday, his stance was translated into English and announced to protesters right away by two young bloods - party MPs Akanat Promphan and ML Apimongkol Sonakul.

The 27-year-old Akanat, and Apimongkol, 35, are Bangkok MPs who have degrees in engineering from Oxford University. They have similar personalities, hairstyles, costumes, and are the same height.

This pair jumped into the rally as spokesmen.

Akanat said the Democrats knew this gathering would grow into an international issue. So they wanted translators who can give correct information to foreigners, especially the international media.

"Initially, protest leaders discussed how to choose one [person]. But they finally chose us because we are junior politicians who are close aides for them. It's easy to order us about," he said.

Referring to their first speech on the Samsen stage, they spoke with powerful voices and a good accent. It made many protesters feel they were hearing a declaration of war.

"You know we asked what we should say, while Suthep was playing a big role on stage," Apimongkol said with a laugh. Akanat added that they were not only translators but protesters. Everything they do, it's natural.

Both admire party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, who has a degree from Oxford University like them.

On day two, Suthep ordered Akanat and Apimongkol to act as spokesmen at the rally, saying "I don't want to speak too much. I will talk to the reporters as necessary. Please talk to them instead of me."

"If someone needs to be Ajarn Panitan [Watanayakorn, a former government spokesman] or 'Kai Oo' [Army spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd], you can deal with that by yourselves," Suthep told them.

Panitan and Sansern were spokesmen for the Centre for Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) during the red-shirts protest three years ago. They announced key messages from CRES in Thai and English on Nation Channel, one to three times a day. Most Thais remember them, and some admire them like superstars.

Every day, the double "A" spokesmen start by reviewing the mainstream media, meeting with leader protests, translating Thai announcements into English, and communicating with the foreign media, Apimongkol said.

"Now we are finding a Chinese translator to join with us," he said.

Akanat is the middle child of Srisakul Promphan and Porntep Techapaibul. After they divorced, his mother became Suthep’s common-law wife.

He said that when Suthep told Srisakul he would take his fight against the amnesty bill to the street, she didn't oppose him, but just said "do it now".

"Suthep is very serious and dedicated about this fight. If he was to die on the stage, that would show it. For me, I don't help because I'm a family member. It's because my heart trusts him."


-- The Nation 2013-11-06

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PM on fact-finding mission over ferry-sinking, oil spill
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is leading a three-day fact-finding mission to Chon Buri, Rayong and Chantaburi, government spokesman Teerat Ratanasevi said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679713-pm-yingluck-on-fact-finding-mission-over-ferry-sinking-oil-spill/

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Security officials worried ICJ verdict may fuel internal political conflict
Pakorn Peungnetr
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THE MOST worrisome situation from the viewpoint of security, in the aftermath of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) verdict on the Preah Vihear Temple, is the internal political conflict, rather than any military reaction from Cambodia, security sources said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679714-preah-vihear-security-officials-worried-icj-verdict-may-fuel-internal-political-conflict/

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1 killed in forest shooting
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Illegal loggers shot dead forest officer Pipat Klangpraphan in Mukdahan early yesterday.

Seven officials, including Pipat, were patrolling forested areas of the Phuphathoep National Park in the early hours when they noticed some 30 illegal loggers with several felled Siamese Rosewood trees.

The officials shot into the sky twice to warn the loggers before moving to make arrests. However, some loggers shot back and a bullet hit Pipat in the head.

The gunfire exchange lasted for about five minutes, after which the loggers retreated. Inspection showed the trees were over a century old. Police have launched a manhunt for the loggers.

-- The Nation 2013-11-06

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Police to summon Jakkrit's wife's half-brother again
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A half-brother of Dr Nithiwadee Phucharoenyos, wife of slain Olympian shooter Jakkrit Panichpatikum, will be summoned for questioning again in a day or two, police said yesterday.

The ongoing investigation has suggested that a family dispute might be a motive behind Jakkrit's murder. The sportsman was gunned down on October 19. Earlier this year, his wife and his mother had made a public complaint of domestic violence.

A police source said yesterday that a relative of Nithiwadee's half-brother would also be summoned for questioning.

Police have already interrogated some 60 witnesses and uncovered useful information, including the fact that Jakkrit knew he was being targeted and had changed his place of stay frequently to protect himself.


-- The Nation 2013-11-06

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Bill uncertainty poses problems for Democrats
Hataikarn Treesuwan
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Leaders of the Democrat protests fear a conflict in their ranks if the government appears to withdraw its support for the blanket amnesty bill.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679715-thai-amnesty-bill-uncertainty-poses-problems-for-democrats/

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Doctors, health workers join nationwide amnesty protest
Pongphon Sarnsamak,
Budsarakham Sinlapalavan
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Thousands of state and private medical workers have protested in front of hospitals nationwide against the blanket amnesty bill, demanding the Senate - scheduled to begin its reading of the bill on Monday-- withdraws the controversial bill from deliberation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679717-doctors-health-workers-join-nationwide-thai-amnesty-protest/

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Chula, other schools stage protests
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Thousands of Chulalongkorn University lecturers, staff, students and alumni yesterday gathered in front of the statues of King Rama V and King Rama VI to rally against the amnesty bill.

Among institutes staging protests opposing the bill were Khon Kaen University, King Mongkut University of Technology Thon Buri, Walailak University in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Prince of Songkla University and Chiang Mai University.

Thammasat University is set to organise a rally tomorrow morning at its Tha Phrachan Campus.

Some groups rallied in support of the bill in Chiang Mai, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen and Chanthaburi.

Meanwhile, thousands of state and private medical workers, including those from Siriraj Hospital, have protested in front of hospitals nationwide against the blanket amnesty bill, demanding the Senate, which is scheduled to begin its reading of the bill on Monday, withdraw the controversial bill from deliberation.

-- The Nation 2013-11-06

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Thai Immigration: Good news for holders of UK, USA, Japan, Germany, France, Canada and Italy passports

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679721-good-news-for-holders-of-uk-usa-japan-germany-france-canada-and-italy/

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An online petition to gather 1 mn signatures to stop amnesty bill has drawn over 545,000 supporters in less than 2 weeks

Red-shirts to protect govt, as overthrowing govt is real motive of Democract Party-led amnesty rallies,UDD co-leader Nattawut Saikuar said

/The Nation

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Thailand signs agreement to sell 1 million tons of rice per year to China

BANGKOK, 6 November 2013 (NNT) – Thailand has reached agreement with the Chinese government to sell 1 million tons of rice per year to the latter, with delivery for the first year of sales to commence in December.

According to Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan, the two countries have signed agreements to collaboratively undertake studies on the development of the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima-Nong Khai rail line in exchange for Thai agricultural produce. Under the deal, 50% of the costs of the high-speed rail line will be paid to China in the form of farm produce, and the remaining 50% will be in cash. The agricultural produce will be based on the global reference prices. However, he said this agreement was by no means a construction contract.

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the draft of the agreement to sell 1 million tons of rice to China each year, based on the price in the global market. Deliveries for the 1st year will take place over 3 phases: between December 2013 and April 2014, between May 2014 and October 2014 and between November 2014 and December 2014. 500,000 tons of rice will be shipped during the first phase, 300,000 tons during the second phase, and the remaining 200,000 tons in the third phase.


-- NNT 2013-11-06

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Suranand: no intention to inflame tensions with anti-amnesty groups

BANGKOK, 6 November 2013 (NNT) – Prime Minister's secretary-general Suranand Vejjajiva asserted on Tuesday the prime minister intended to clarify that the government respected the parliamentary procedure in place regarding the passing of laws, in her speech expressing the government's readiness to adhere to the decision by the Senate.

Mr. Suranand said the statement by some groups alleging the prime minister's speech about respecting the authority of the Senate was intended to inflame the anti-amnesty protesters was far-fetched misinterpretation of Ms. Yingluck's speech. He said that Ms. Yingluck had made it clear that the government did not interfere in the legislative process, and that it wanted all senators to exercise their best judgement on the bill. The House of Representatives will accept the verdict of the Senate, and the declaration by the prime minister meant the government was willing to heed opinions that differed from its own.

Mr. Suranand added that the government hoped the anti-amnesty bill protesters would try to understand the prime minister's intention and help to move the country forward, by stopping acts that may cause rifts or conflicts and by lending their participation to foster unity.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Tuesday declared the government was ready to accept the decision by the Senate whether or not to pass the amnesty bill.

Ms. Yingluck affirmed the the law was meant to grant amnesty to those afflicted by political events and the 2006 coup, which were not covered by the rule of law. The bill was not intended to cover up any corruptions, as alleged by some parties.

The prime minister said the government would not use a House majority to pass the law if it went against the feeling of the public, and that it was the goal of the current administration to stop the creation of rifts within the country.

Ms. Yingluck said she would like all members of the Senate to exercise their best judgment in deliberating the amnesty law on November 11, when the Senate members will vote on whether to pass the bill.

-- NNT 2013-11-06

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Phuea Thai says will respect Senate decision whether to pass amnesty bill

BANGKOK, 6 November 2013 (NNT) – Phuea Thai Party Secretary-General Phumtham Wetchayachai (ภูมิธรรม เวชยชัย) said on Tuesdaythat the Phuea Thai and other coalition parties will respect the Senate's decision whether to pass the amnesty bill, and that no deliberations have been made over the draft version proposed by Police Captain Chalerm Yubamrung.

According to Mr. Phumtham, the aim of the amnesty law is to create unity within the country and allow the nation to move forward. The Phuea Thai and other parties that form the ruling coalition are willing to back down to the point where discussions could continue with all sectors of the public. The parties are also willing to accept the Senate's decision regarding the passing of the bill. The parties will listen to the voice of the public, after the majority of people have overtly disagreed with the amnesty law. However, they would continue to clarify the bill to the public.

The Phuea Thai secretary-general added that government parties have not yet discussed the version of the bill proposed by Labor Minister Chalerm.


-- NNT 2013-11-06

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PM Yingluck: Amnesty bill not money bill

BANGKOK, 5 November 2013 (NNT) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra confirms the amnesty bill is not a money bill and promises that the government will not use the House majority to force the bill on the Thai people.

Ms Yingluck on Tuesday said the amnesty bill should not be exploited as political tool and expressed concerns over the conflicts caused by the legislation. The premier claimed that distorted information had led to the misunderstanding that the amnesty bill was a money bill which must be signed by her first; she insisted that no documents on such matter had been signed to date.

Ms Yingluck reiterated that everything she had done was in the best interest of Thailand and the government’s goal was to create national reconciliation.

The House of Representatives has already passed the amnesty bill, which is now strongly criticized for its power to cancel corruption cases, especially those involving former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

-- NNT 2013-11-06