Thailand Live Friday 7 Mar 2014

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Rice exporters warned to stop spreading rumors to lower rice prices

BANGKOK, 7 March 2014 (NNT) – Deputy Minister of Commerce Yanyong Phuangrat warned rice exporters on Thursday to stop spreading rumors of a low price trend for Thai rice, as the latter seek to buy rice into their stockpiles at a cheaper price.

According to Mr. Yanyong, allegations of lowered prices of Thai rice usually get spread around during periods when the government auctions off rice in its stockpile, with the intention to hammer down the price of rice, so the exporters can buy rice at a cheaper price and resell it for a higher profit margin. He warned exporters to stop doing that or else they will be put under monitoring by Internal Trade Department officials, who will scrutinize them for violation of the law on prices of goods and services.

Mr. Yanyong said the United States' Department of Agriculture expects that worldwide rice production will drop significantly due to the El Nino effect. Rice producers in Asia, India and Australia are expected to be hard-hit. He added that Thailand is also facing a drought problem that is expected to cause production of off-season rice to drop by 30-50%.

The minister added that rice traders are likely to hoard rice during this period in order to maintain their stock in the later part of the year when the production of rice drops and no rice reaches market.


-- NNT 2014-03-07

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POLITICS
Satish appeals to HM over govt order to deport him
The Nation


Arthit Sehgal, a brother of Indian-born businessman Satish Sehgal, files a petition with His Majesty the King through the Royal Household Bureau at the Grand Palace yesterday, seeking a royal pardon following an order to deport Satish.

BANGKOK: -- Attempts were under way yesterday to stall a deportation order against Indian-born businessman Satish Sehgal for joining the anti-government protests.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709119-satish-appeals-to-hm-the-king-over-thai-govt-order-to-deport-him/

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THAI-JAPANESE RELATIONS
Japan SMEs eye Thailand
Erich Parpart
The Nation

Kingdom being viewed as trading hub for Asean region in new wave of investment, seminar hears

BANGKOK: -- A second wave of Japan's investors, especially small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), are seeking to invest in the Asean region and believe that Thailand could be a trading hub for the region despite the ongoing political conflict.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709122-japan-smes-eye-thailand/

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ELECTRONIC MONITORING
Street racers to be monitored with electronic anklets
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Electronic monitoring (EM) will soon be used to keep track of young offenders who have been given suspended prison terms for misdemeanours, in order to give them a chance to rehabilitate themselves, a senior Bangkok North Municipal Court judge said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709123-bangkok-street-racers-to-be-monitored-with-electronic-anklets/

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PARTITION
Govt 'obliged to act against secession calls in city'
Panya Thiosangwan,
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung
The Nation

Army chief says CMPO, administration are dutybound to take criminal action

BANGKOK: -- The government is obliged to deal with extensive secession calls made by red-shirt groups based in Bangkok and adjacent areas under the state of emergency, while the Army has taken action against those making similar calls in the North, Army commander General Prayuth Chan-ocha said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709124-general-prayuth-govt-obliged-to-act-against-secession-calls-in-city/

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ENVIRONMENT
Proposed projects 'will destroy Krabi'
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

Coal seaport, power plant will ruin largest seagrass area, fossilised shells

BANGKOK: -- Fossilised shells at a beach dating back 75 million years and over 10,000 rai of the country's second-largest seagrass area in Krabi would be destroyed if the coal seaport and coal-fired power-plant project go ahead, an environmental watch agency warned yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709127-proposed-projects-will-destroy-krabi/

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OVERDRIVE
Only three pillars of hope left standing
Thanong Khanthong

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's political situation is now even more precarious. We have been gripped by crisis for the past four months, with confusion growing by the day. And nobody is daring to predict how or when the crisis will end. Let's review some of the earlier assumptions, before we attempt a fresh assessment of the unravelling political scene.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709129-only-three-pillars-of-hope-left-standing-thai-opinion/

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EDITORIAL
Security forces under the spotlight in deep South
The Nation

Few locals believe the official version of the killings of the three boys in Narathiwat

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709130-security-forces-under-the-spotlight-in-deep-south-thai-editorial/

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In support of Satish Sehgal
Cod Satrusayang
Special to The Nation


Satish Sehgal

BANGKOK: -- For a man who has stood by Thailand, investing heavily in the nation for the better part of three decades, deportation seems like the short end of the stick. And it is. It can be argued that Satish Sehgal was in violation of the law.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709131-in-support-of-satish-sehgal/

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Analysis shows Pheu Thai's popularity waning: academic
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A Thammasat University political scientist yesterday launched a website that helps Thais follow politicians' performance by presenting an analysis of the unofficial results of the February 2 election - and he says the analysis shows that the popularity of the ruling Pheu Thai Party is declining.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709132-analysis-shows-pheu-thais-popularity-waning-academic/

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BURNING ISSUE
Secession talk leaves red-shirt movement vulnerable to clampdown
Supon Thanukid
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- It took the red shirts a long time to mobilise people in support of the government, with the anti-government protest starting four months ago.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709133-secession-talk-leaves-red-shirt-movement-vulnerable-to-clampdown/

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Corruption is 'part of Thai mindset'
Takayuki Kanaboshi
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Corruption has become a part of people's mindset here in Thailand, where "cheating" is tolerated, Chalermchai Boonyaleepun, president of Srinakharinwirot University, told a seminar on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709134-corruption-is-part-of-thai-mindset/

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Temporary elected 'People's Parliament' proposed
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A temporary "People's Parliament" should be established to bypass the country's political deadlock, a noted academic proposed while participating in a seminar panel yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709135-temporary-elected-peoples-parliament-proposed-thailand/

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Two foreigners to be deported in separate cases
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Immigration police have arrested two foreign nationals for separate alleged crimes committed outside Thailand, and are set to deport them to face prosecution in their countries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709136-thai-immigration-police-two-foreigners-to-be-deported-in-separate-cases/

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Russian found dead in Jomtien Condominium



PATTAYA: -- On Thursday Morning Police and rescue workers were called to a hi-rise condominium on Jomtien Beach to investigate the discovery of a Russian who had died some days before in a 15th floor apartment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709137-russian-found-dead-in-jomtien-condominium/

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Pattaya Student arrested in Russian Bag Snatch case from North Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- An 18 year old student was arrested and a 15 year old accomplice was able to escape following a bag snatch from a Russian Tourist in the Naklua area on Thursday morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709138-pattaya-student-arrested-in-russian-bag-snatch-case-from-north-pattaya/

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Patong police delay action on tourist extortion claims
Phuket Gazette


Col Sakchai, installed as Acting Superintendent of the Patong Police on Tuesday, says the daily operations of the police station will come first. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- Patong Police Acting Superintendent Sakchai Limcharoen confirmed today that no immediate action will be taken over claims that officers under his new command stand accused of extorting money from tourists.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709139-patong-police-delay-action-on-tourist-extortion-claims/

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Education official sounds literacy alert
The Nation

About 580,000 Thais aged over 15 years are completely illiterate, Education Ministry permanent secretary Suthasri Wongsamarm said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709140-education-official-580000-thais-aged-over-15-years-are-completely-illiterate/

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Official reassures beneficiaries dropped from Bt30 scheme
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Underprivileged or marginalised people who were stripped of their entitlements to free or low-cost government medical services because of communication problems within the Public Health Ministry still have rights as beneficiaries of the scheme, a deputy permanent secretary of the ministry said yesterday.

A total of 202,139 beneficiaries under the so-called Bt30 universal healthcare scheme run by the National Health Security Office are in this situation, said Dr Songyos Chaichana. Because of internal communication problems within the NHSO, their names were recently dropped from a list under the scheme. However, the official said their original rights still stood.

Most of these beneficiaries are hilltribe people or Thais living in remote areas, or people with unclear nationalities born or residing in Thailand. Songyos said the ministry had issued an order to make sure that NHSO or government hospitals and clinics provide medical services to these people according to professional ethics and regulations.

The ministry and the NHSO held a meeting last month to ensure that the former would continue to support payment of the per-head subsidy for the Bt30 universal healthcare scheme to the latter.


-- The Nation 2014-03-07

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Pretty in pink: Thai Army chief proposes curtains for bunkers

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709003-pretty-in-pink-thai-army-chief-proposes-curtains-for-bunkers/

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Erawan Medical Centre: Gunshots heard at protest area; PDRC guards wounded, one at Lumpini Park, one in Wireless Road /MCOT

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A man who claimed he was detained, beaten, tied up and thrown into the river by PDRC guards accused Issara Somchai of issuing a "kill order" for him. /Bangkok Post

Using Facebook, PDRC leader Taya Teepsuwan announces political pause after family menaced with unlikely incidents /MCOT

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Two injured in shootings near Lumpini rally site: Erawan centre

BANGKOK: -- A woman and a man were injured near the Lumpini Park rally site early Friday, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Erawan Emergency Medical Service Centre reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709169-two-injured-in-shootings-near-lumpini-rally-site-erawan-centre-bangkok/

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Kotee ready to fight eye for eye, tooth for tooth



BANGKOK: -- Hardcore redshirt leader Kotee strongly blasted the army chief for what he claimed is unjust and biased practise in dealing with redshirt people, and vowed to put up eye for eye and tooth for tooth fight to protect democracy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709170-hardcore-redshirt-leader-kotee-ready-to-fight-eye-for-eye-tooth-for-tooth/

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CMPO chief ready for talks with PDRC leader



BANGKOK, 7 March 2014 (NNT) – Center for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) chief Chalerm Yubamrung says he is ready for talks with protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban to settle differences and seek solutions to the ongoing political conflict.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709171-chalerm-ready-for-talks-with-suthep/

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,355.92, up 3.71 points /MCOT

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PM vows to continue her duty until the new Govt is formed



BANGKOK, 7 Mar 2014, (NNT) Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has reiterated that she will continue doing her duty until the new government is formed, as stated in constitution.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709180-pm-yingluck-shinawatra-vows-to-continue-her-duty-until-the-new-govt-is-formed/

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Total contributions to BAAC's fund for rice growers' assistance stood at 331.9 million baht at end of Thursday

BURIRAM, 7 March 2014 (NNT) – Buriram Governor Thongchai Li-adun on Thursday led businessmen and other members of the public in the province to make contributions to the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives' (BAAC) fund for assistance of rice farmers.

The group made contributions in both options provided by the BAAC: non-interest bearing deposits and accounts with 0.63% interest per year. Staff at the BAAC branch in Buriram expected no less than 15 million baht of contributions to pour into the fund on Thursday.

In Nakhon Phanom, deputy provincial governor Somchai Witdamrong and BAAC staff also made contributions to the fund on Thursday. The total amount of money owed to the farmers in Nakhon Phanom was 2.1 billion baht, of which 700 million has already been paid out, leaving 1.4 billion baht outstanding.

The amount donated to the first type of fund, which was for money donation, stood at 13.3 million baht. The amount contributed into the second fund, which yields no interest to the depositor, stood at 258 million baht. The amount deposited in the third type of fund, which provides 0.63% annual interest, stood at 60 million baht.

-- NNT 2014-03-07

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Air Force chief vows tough action on secession banners



BANGKOK: -- Air Force commander-in-chief Air Chief Marshal Prachin Chantong today vowed to take legal action against people who placed secession banners in Don Muang.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709182-thai-air-force-chief-vows-tough-action-on-secession-banners/

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RT @tulsathit: Air force chief on Surapong's obsession with UN mediating role in Thai crisis: Isn't it our problem?