Thailand Live Wednesday 19 Mar 2014

[webfact]

Measures derived to tackle O-NET scores being below satisfactory level

BANGKOK, 19 March 2014 (NNT) – The Ministry of Education has found Prathom 6 and Mathayom 3 students' O-NET examination scores for year 2013 to be below the satisfactory level.

Office of the Basic Education Commission deputy secretary-general Kamon Rotkhlai said on Tuesday that the scores from the two grade levels were below standard, with average scores for each primary subject being less than 50%. He explained that the low scores could likely be attributed to the fact that they were derived from students nationwide, meaning that test takers in rural areas may have brought down the scores.

Mr. Kamon disclosed that the 1,000 schools where students scored the lowest will be selected as sites for a project to improve students' scores. This is believed to help the students score higher in the next education year; the target is to improve scores by 3% in every subject. The Ministry of Education will also be making improvements to teachers' teaching in localities who are weak in particular subjects; this latter initiative to send in per-subject specialists is geared towards cost-effective development.


-- NNT 2014-03-19

[webfact]

EMBATTLED PREMIER
Yingluck goes to work despite torn ligament
The Nation


Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is wheeled into the weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was in a wheelchair when she showed up to attend the weekly Cabinet meeting at the Royal Police Cadet Academy in Nakhon Pathom yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711999-yingluck-goes-to-work-despite-torn-ligament/

[webfact]

POLLUTION
Toxic smog alert near garbage fire
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- TOXIC SMOG from a landfill in Samut Prakan is threatening the health of both local residents and people working nearby - and officials believe the fire could burn for another five days.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712000-toxic-smog-alert-near-garbage-fire-in-samut-prakan/

[webfact]

POLITICAL DILEMMA
Peace talk proposal rejected by both sides
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung,
Chanikarn Phumhiran
The Nation

Premier says it is pointless as PDRC has refused to nominate mediators

BANGKOK: -- The door for negotiations to resolve the political crisis was slammed shut yesterday after caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra announced that her government would not nominate 10 individuals to mediate talks with the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712002-peace-talk-proposal-rejected-by-yingluck-and-suthep/

[webfact]

Thai Air Force radar may have detected Malaysia's MH370: Thai Air Force Chief
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, March 19 - A Royal Thai Air Force radar station in the southern region detected a passenger aircraft departing Malaysia but which U-turned to Penang which may have been the Malaysian jetliner before it went missing, according to Thai Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Prachin Chantong.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712004-thai-air-force-radar-may-have-picked-up-mh370/

[webfact]

SONGKHLA
Ministry seeks help with care of 'Turkish' refugees
Anapat Deechuay
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Foreign Ministry is seeking help from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for the care and identification of some 200 refugees of so-called Turkish origin found in Songkhla.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712005-thai-foreign-ministry-seeks-help-with-care-of-turkish-refugees/

[webfact]

BITCOIN
Bitcoin virtual currency sparks BOT warning
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Bank of Thailand has issued a warning over the digital currency Bitcoin, which cannot be used to repay debts legally in this country despite its popularity worldwide.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712006-bitcoin-virtual-currency-sparks-bank-of-thailand-warning/

[webfact]

END OF EMERGENCY
End of emergency brings hope
Business Reporters
The Nation


Foreign tourists look at sculptures at the Grand Palace in Bangkok yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- Tourism businesses and foreign investors have welcomed the government's decision to lift the state of emergency in Bangkok, expecting the move to facilitate the recovery of the tourist trade within one or two months.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712007-end-of-emergency-in-bangkok-brings-hope/

[webfact]

ECONOMIC IMPACT
Thailand could face recession if political conflict enters H2
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The already prolonged political conflict has cost the economy more than Bt100 billion, and if the unrest drags on for another six months as some have projected, it could result in a recession being posted for 2014, warn the Board of Trade of Thailand and the Thai Chamber of Commerce.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712008-thailand-could-face-recession-if-political-conflict-enters-h2/

[webfact]

Thailand at crossroads: Leaving Thaksin behind in his Dubai sandcastle
Kasit Piromya
Special to the Nation

BANGKOK: -- For centuries, Thailand has successfully warded off threats to its sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as to its monarchy. These threats came from afar in the form of Western colonial expansion and ideologies such as Communism, and from within in the form of militarism and security-obsessed nationalism.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712009-thailand-at-crossroads-leaving-thaksin-behind-in-his-dubai-sandcastle/

[webfact]

STOPPAGE TIME
Yingluck must not cry for herself
Tulsathit Taptim

BANGKOK: -- "Strangulation" is the word used in some Western media to sympathetically describe what's happening to the caretaker government of Yingluck Shinawatra.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712011-yingluck-must-not-cry-for-herself/

[webfact]

Anwar Ibrahim: the missing link in MH370 mystery?
William J Dobson
Slate
Washington


Hishamuddin Hussin, Malaysia

WASHINGTON: -- Authorities' focus on chief pilot and his support for the opposition leader lays bare the workings of a corrupt regime whose only purpose is accumulating wealth and power.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712012-anwar-ibrahim-the-missing-link-in-mh370-mystery/

[webfact]

Body of female found in plastic bag on roof of South Pattaya French Restaurant



PATTAYA: -- Police and rescue workers were called to the roof of a French Restaurant in South Pattaya on Tuesday afternoon to investigate reports that a black plastic bag had been discovered and appeared to contain the decomposed body of a female.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712013-body-found-in-plastic-bag-on-roof-of-pattaya-french-restaurant/

[webfact]

PM to face probe for Nakhon Ratchasima’s red-shirt rally



KORAT: -- The National Anti-Corruption Commission has decided to launch a fact-finding probe against caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for allegedly failing to restrain and to take actions against her two cabinet ministers who took part in February 23 red-shirt rally in Nakhon Ratchasima during which some speakers openly incited unrest and advocated violence and separatism.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712014-pm-yingluck-to-face-probe-for-nakhon-ratchasimas-red-shirt-rally/

[webfact]

Police seek cab drivers helping drunks evade arrest
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Metropolitan Police Bureau is looking into traffic law to see how they can punish taxi drivers who are reportedly hired by drunken people to drive their cars past police checkpoints, deputy bureau chief Pol Maj-General Adul Narongsak said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712015-bangkok-police-seek-cab-drivers-helping-drunks-evade-arrest/

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE
It's time to learn now, before we destroy our society
Pravit Rojanaphruk

Dear fellow Thai citizens, Are you fed up with and hopeless about politics yet?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712016-its-time-to-learn-now-before-we-destroy-our-society/

[webfact]

Human trafficking gangs 'reaching out to new groups'
Somchai Samart
The Nation



Latest batch of refugees from Turkey or western China shows Songkhla is a key staging point.

BANGKOK: -- SOME 200 refugees - possibly Turkish or Uighurs from western China - are expected to be held in the far South for one to two months while authorities clarify their nationality and whether they should be deported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712017-thailand-human-trafficking-gangs-reaching-out-to-new-groups/

[webfact]

Two grenades hurled from Thai-Belgian Bridge near Army checkpoint near Lumpini Park

BANGKOK: -- Two grenades were hurled from the Thai-Belgian Bridge onto Rama IV Road near an Army checkpoint early Wednesday, Jor Sor 100 radio reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712032-grenades-hurled-from-thai-belgian-bridge-near-army-checkpoint-lumpini-park/

[webfact]

20 billion baht ready to be disbursed to BAAC to pay rice growers

BANGKOK, 19 March 2014 (NNT) – Finance Minister Kittirat Na Ranong has indicated the 20 billion baht borrowed from the government's central budget is ready to be processed in order to pay rice growers who have been awaiting payment for their mortgaged rice.

According to Mr. Kittirat, the money will be transferred to the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), so the latter can commence paying the rice growers who have not received money owed to them under the 2013/2014 growing season. Between 150,000 to 200,000 rice growers, who received their warehouse receipts before December 9, 2013, will be entitled to money derived from the 20 billion baht amount.

In the meantime, Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan asserted the government would be able to acquire enough money from the sale of mortgaged rice to return the 20 billion baht amount to the central coffers by the May 31 deadline.


-- NNT 2014-03-19

[webfact]

RT @ChadapornLin: Constitutional Court to hold hearing on legality of recent general election, may come up with ruling

[webfact]

Political unrest causes Bt50 billion monthly damage to Thai economy
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, March 19 – Thailand’s tourism sector has been hardest hit of all sectors by the political turmoil since November during which a monthly circulating fund of Bt40-50 billion has vanished, according to the Thai Chamber of Commerce.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712037-political-unrest-causes-bt50-billion-monthly-damage-to-thai-economy/

[webfact]

Constitutional Court begins hearings today on whether to nullify the February 2 election, EC chair, Phongthep, Chaikasem to testify /MCOT

[webfact]

Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,377.39, gains 4.31 points /MCOT

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Three arrest warrants to be issued for Russian Phuket kidnapping case
Eakkapop Thongtub


Wanted: Alexander Novichkov (left) and Oleksandr Boychuk

PHUKET: -- Police will today (March 19) issue arrest warrants for three men believed to be involved in the case of missing Russian man Alexei Slabinskiy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711839-still-no-clues-to-whereabouts-of-missing-phuket-russian/#entry7580241

[webfact]

PDRC moves to withdraw arrest warrants for 19 core leaders
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, March 19 – Revoking the emergency decree today will automatically nullify various charges against 19 anti-government core leaders, according to a People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) lawyer.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712038-pdrc-moves-to-withdraw-arrest-warrants-for-19-core-leaders/

[webfact]

Chiang Mai haze situation remains critical; 16,000 admitted to hospital

CHIANG MAI, 19 March 2014 (NNT) – The haze situation in Chiang Mai remains critical, with more than 16,000 people having been admitted to hospital because of the pollution.

The sky over Chiang Mai city remains blanketed by smoke from forest fires, which have persisted over the area for more than a week. Most of the people going about outdoors were reportedly wearing face masks to protect themselves from the pollution. Visibility remains severely hampered.

Of the more than 16,000 patients admitted to hospital so far, 8,078 had heart or arteries conditions. 6,028 were diagnosed with respiratory problems, 1,352 had eye inflammation and 1,392 persons had skin conditions.

In the meantime, as many as 60,000 people have fallen ill in 8 other provinces in the North. Public Health officials are preparing to hand out 500,000 face masks to people afflicted by the haze. Locals are also advised to avoid exercising outdoors during the current period of high air particulate matter reading.


-- NNT 2014-03-19

[webfact]

Thai Commercial Attaches from worldwide will meet in Bangkok to adjust export strategy

BANGKOK, 19 March 2014 (NNT) - The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) will call commercial attaches from Thai embassies worldwide to a meeting in May to discuss international trade strategy in the second half of 2014.

Ms. Nantawan Sakuntanark, the DITP Director General, stated that the meeting would look into measures and various export promotional campaigns, aimed at maintaining the target of expanding the nation’s exports by 5% this year. She said the commercial attaches would provide updates on the latest export situation in the key economic regions such as North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania.

The Director General added those attaches have already been instructed to strengthen relationship with existing foreign trade partners and expand the network of importers in their respective countries while constantly conducting training in order to increase the efficiency of their personnel.


-- NNT 2014-03-19

[webfact]

Phuket aims for 729-million-baht biofuel production facility
Phuket Gazette


Mr Paiboon led the final EIA hearing for Phuket’s biofuel production facility. Photo: PPAO PR

PHUKET: -- The island may be in for a cleaner and greener future as Phuket officials plan to request 729 million baht to build a biofuel production facility.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712042-phuket-aims-for-729-million-baht-biofuel-production-facility/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Motorcycle gangsters throw bottle bombs, fire gunshots near Lumphini protest site



BANGKOK: -- Teenage motorcycle gangs threw three bottle bombs, fire several gunshots at the security guards near the rally site of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) at Lumphini park before dawn Wednesday but caused no injury.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712032-grenades-hurled-from-thai-belgian-bridge-near-army-checkpoint-lumpini-park/#entry7580355

[webfact]

UPDATE:

MH370 search area expanded to 2.24 million sq miles



KUALA LUMPUR: -- The total area covered by the mission to locate missing Malaysia Airlines aircraft MH370 has expanded to a daunting 2.24 million square nautical miles, as search and rescue (SAR) operations enters its 11th day.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709464-missing-malaysia-airlines-jet-carrying-239-triggers-southeast-asia-search/page-96?p=7580393#entry7580393