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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,096.71, up 2.70 points /MCOT

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Drug-Case Inmates to be Relocated this Week

BANGKOK: -- The Corrections Department chief expects that the transfer of inmates being detained on drug charges can take place this week as part of the department's efforts to prevent inmates from being involved in narcotics trades with dealers on the outside.

Corrections Department Director-General, Colonel Suchart Wonganandchai, today held a meeting with the panel in charge of relocating drug-convicts regarding their transfer to high security prisons.

He expects the relocation to proceed this week.

Suchart said the decision about which inmates must be relocated will be dependent on what charges they were convicted on, and decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

The director-general remarked that Khao Bin Prison in Ratchaburi Province has already transferred some of their inmates, who have just a few years of their prison sentence left to accommodate the detention of drug-case prisoners from other jail facilities.

He said he has instructed all prison commanders to carefully consider the relocation, as the transferred inmates could become frustrated.

Suchart is scheduled to inspect Khao Bin Prison's readiness today.


-- Tan Network 2012-02-07

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Cambodian Villagers Encroach on Disputed Land Around Preah Vihear

Families of Cambodian soldiers have settled around Wat Kaew Sikha Khiri Sawara, which is an encroachment on the 4.6-square-kilometer land plot around the Preah Vihear Temple that is claimed by Thailand.

About 200 Cambodians, representing 158 families from the Svay Chrum village in the northern province of Preah Vihear, which borders Thailand, gathered yesterday morning at Pathumwati Temple near the residence of the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, asking for his intervention in the land dispute with the Preah Vihear provincial authority.


In the afternoon, the office of Prime Minister Hun Sen accepted the request and asked the provincial authority to give each family with a new plot of land that is 100 square meters in the Thammachart village, which is ten kilometers from Svay Chrum.

An agreement was signed by villagers and the provincial authority concerning the resolution.

However, some Cambodian soldiers' families have relocated to Wat Kaew Sikha Khiri Sawara near the Preah Vihear temple, which lies is within the 4.6-square-kilometer disputed area of land.

Hundreds of Cambodian families are living in the area and it is quite densely populated. Meanwhile, the Cambodian government has authorized the Lee Yong Pat Group to develop the land for tourism.


-- Tan Network 2012-02-07

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Alleged 'call center' gang of expats busted in Phuket


The three Filipino suspects (seated), with arresting officers at the Tourist Police office in Phuket Town.

PHUKET: -- Phuket Tourist Police arrested three Filipino members of an alleged ‘call center’ gang for fraud, but the alleged mastermind, a Briton, remains at large.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....sted-in-phuket/

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Interior Ministry Orders 24 Provincial Governors to Prepare Plans for Upcoming Floods

BANGKOK: -- The interior ministry submitted a letter to 24 provincial governors to order them in preparing plans for the future floods and post-flood remediation measures, which they will have to present to the prime minister between February 13-17.

The interior ministry has sent a letter to 24 provincial governors to order them in preparing plans for possible floods within the upstream, midstream, and downstream areas.

The governors are required to present these plans to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra along with their process of post-flood remediation measures during her visit between February 13-17.

Upstream areas include Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Sukhothai, Uttaradit, Tak, Nan, Phrae, Lampang, Lamphun, and Phayao provinces.
Midstream areas include Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Phi Chit, Kamphaengphet, and Chai Nat provinces.

Meanwhile, the downstream areas include Suphanburi, Ayutthaya, Prachinburi, Singburi, Angthong, Lopburi, Saraburi, and Nakhon Nayok provinces.

Governors have been ordered to prepare information and launch flood-preventive measures, especially before the rainy season.

The interior ministry also asked governors to dig up new floodways and monkey-cheeks, as well as remove weeds that are blocking waterways.

The measures must also be in accordance with the water resources management of the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management.

Secondly, governors have been asked to speed up to provide a 5,000-baht flood compensation to each household that were affected by flooding, and prepare information and and plans for upcoming obstacles.

Finally, governors have to coordinate with government units in the province to establish long-term flood preventive measures of the province.

Governors must present their reports to the prime minister regarding requests in the letter, while the prime minster has scheduled to visit their areas during February 13-17.

The letter has been signed by Deputy Interior Permanent Secretary Pracha Taerat.


-- Tan Network 2012-02-07

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FM Surapong briefs Thai envoys in 5 neighbouring countries on govt policy to strengthen ties; no progress on helping 2 Thai activists jailed in Cambodia /MCOT

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Bangkokians feel at highest risk due to cost-of-living, debt: Survey



Full story: http://www.thaivisa....ng-debt-survey/

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Thammasat University Rector to Allow Student Movement Regarding Section 112

BANGKOK: -- A student organization has submitted a letter to a university rector asking permission whether the students can be involved in using the university's premises to demonstrate their stance against amending Section 112 of the Criminal Code.

Thammasat University rector Somkid Lertpaitoon has agreed to allow students to use the university's premises as a means to demonstrate thier stance against amending Section 112 of the Criminal Code.

It has been pointed out that the university's rector wishes outsiders to see that students have the freedom of thought to express themselves and reduce pressure on the university director.

For this reason, Somkid agreed with students' proposal and allowed them to demonstrate their stance about the amendment on Article 112 of the Criminal Code, while the university management board and most students are agreed to prevent further conflict and violence.

Somkid has signed to address the issue, which stated that student participation is allowed, and that they can demonstrate their stance.

Meanwhile, Somkid added that a letter from the Faculty of Journalism, which have been signed by more than 1,000 students against the Nitirat movement, will be disclosed tomorrow.


-- Tan Network 2012-02-07

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Fraudster Makes away with 7 Million Baht on Cheap iPhone-iPad Scam

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....hone-ipad-scam/

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Gold Shop Owner's Son Cuts up Millions of Baht in Banknotes

CHONBURI: -- Police have interrogated a gold shop owner and his son after the son confessed to cutting up millions of baht in 1,000-baht banknotes in protest of his father as he thought his father loved his older brother more.

Chonburi Police yesterday interrogated 30-year-old Worapan Rojsatarat and his father Worapong Rojsatarat, who owns the Rungcharoen gold shop, in Ban Bueng, Chonburi.

Police displayed evidence which consisted of about 1 million baht (US$33,000) in 1,000-baht banknotes which are cut up and burnt and were dumped in a trash can in front of the Sapmongkol store, a pair of scissors, a match box, and money bands from Kasikorn Bank.

The gold shop owner told the police the cutting up, tearing and torching of the banknotes was carried out by his son. His son then dumped the notes in a trash can about 30 meters away from their residence. He said his son was stressed out because he felt his father didn't love his 3 children equally. The father had opened another gold shop for Worapan's older brother and his wife in Pattaya City 2 years ago and would often give 100,000-200,000 baht a month to the older brother because he complained that the gold shop isn't doing well.

Worapan wasn't happy with what happened so he embezzled around 10,000-20,000 baht from the proceeds from his father's gold shop for the past 2-3 years until he accumulated 1 million baht in cash and proceeded to destroy the banknotes and dumped them. However, he saw on the internet that the police were going to pursue the destroyer of the banknotes by lifting fingerprints on them so he got scared and confessed to his father. His father then contacted the police, leading to the press conference.

The police say they won't prosecute Worapan because the banknotes he destroyed belonged to his family. They added there is no cause to prosecute Worapan for lese majeste in destroying banknotes which have an image of the King on it as he didn't have the intention to do so.

Worapan said he felt guilty for what he had done and admitted it stemmed from anger at his father as he thought he loved his children unequally. He was also worried the family's wealth will be drained because the gold shop he is taking care of isn't doing as well too and the family had to take out a bank loan to help with the situation.


-- Tan Network 2012-02-07

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Nielsen News Release: Thai Consumer Confidence Drops Five Points in Q4 2011

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....nts-in-q4-2011/

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SET closed up by 2.95 points at 1,096.96 during the Tue midday break with value of Bt12.12 bn /TANN

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Govt to launch thank you party for international community for flood help  

BANGKOK, 7 February 2012 (NNT) - The government has prepared to launch the Love Thailand party to thank the international community and organizations for their contribution to efforts to deal with the crisis during the massive flooding in Thailand.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__5036613

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Cabinet sets up another committee to revamp all water-related agencies with PM as head;replaces Anuttama with Pakdeehan as deputy spokesman/TAN_Network

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Authorities raid Trang prison; detain, move riot leaders to separate prisons
  


TRANG, Feb 7 – Trang provincial prison authorities raided inmates’ dormitories on Tuesday, detaining and separating some 100 riot leaders, and moving them to other provincial prisons to prevent further turmoil in the jail.

Trang prison commander Krit Wongvech led some 300 wardens, police and volunteers to search the prison compound in Zones 1 and 2 and detained 107 inmates involved in Monday’s riot.

Thirty were hardliners while 77 others were key followers who staged the protest, set mattresses afire and used slingshots against prison guards to vent their anger.

The 107 will be separated and moved to central prisons in Phatthalung, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkhla, Mr Krit said.

He told a news conference after separating the inmates that the prison would consider the inmates' eight-point demand including relaxation of strict jail regulations, improvement of inmates' welfare, provision of sufficient medication and clean drinking water, as well as permission for delivering parcels to the prisoners and that any issue which is beyond his authority would be forwarded to the Department of Corrections for consideration.

However, he said, the demand on transfer of four prison wardens was unreasonable as the four have performed well in intercepting drugs and mobile phones smuggled into the prison.

The transfer of the 107 inmates was aimed to prevent any repetition of the riot, he said.

Mr Krit said that the core riot leaders were mostly drug-related convicts and were involved in an earlier prison riot in Nakhon Si Thammarat.

The riot followed the prisoners learning that those convicted on drug charge would be transferred to the maximum-security Khao Bin Prison in Ratchaburi, which is more strictly regulated, so that the leaders of the inmates incited their fellows to rise against the plan which led to the riot, he said. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2012-02-07

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School janitor shot dead in Narathiwat

Narathiwat - A school janitor was shot and killed and his wife was seriously injured early Tuesday, police said.

Witthaya Ratanakul, 53, was shot at while riding his motorcycle to his rubber plantation in Bua Rangae village in Tambon Tohdeng in Sungai Padi district at 3:30 am.

Witthaya was riding the motorcycle with his wife, Wanna Ratanakul, 48. She was severely injured and rushed to the Sungai Kolok Hospital.


-- The Nation 2012-02-07

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Comptroller-General's Dept voices concern Bt7.75 mn compensation for political rally victims may not go ahead due to lack of law to support/TAN_Network

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Muslim man shot dead in Narathiwat teashop

Narathiwat - A Muslim man was shot and killed inside a teashop in this southern border province early Tuesday, police said.

Azi Mazila, 39, was shot twice on his chest with 9mm pistol while drinking tea with friends inside a shop in Moo 3 village in Tambon Sribanphot in Si Sa Khon district at 5:20 am.

Witnesses told police that Azi was attacked by a pillion rider shortly after his motorcycle parked in front of the shop.


-- The Nation 2012-02-07

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The Interior Ministry declares Chanthaburi, Chachoengsao, Kamphaeng Phet, Lamphun, Loei, Petchaburi and Sukhothai provinces as drought disaster zones

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Thai Airways to Start Direct Route Between Phuket and Stockholm

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....-and-stockholm/

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15 Nan districts declared drought disaster zones

NAN - Nan Deputy Governor Witthaya Kamol said Tuesday that all 15 districts in his province have been declared drought disaster zones.

He said the long period of no rains affected some 216,000 people from 53,183 families living 775 village in the 15 districts.

The drought affected 132,259 rai of farmland and some 1,450 cattle.

So far, the drought caused damages worth Bt59.9 million.

Declaring the disaster zones would permit the provincial administration to urgently allocate emergency fund to help affected villagers.

Witthaya said Nan Governor Pongsak Wongsamer had allocated Bt50 million from the provincial emergency fund to all district chiefs for helping affected villagers.


-- The Nation 2012-02-07

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2 Thais Jailed in Cambodia to Serve at Least 1/3 of Sentences

BANGKOK: -- The foreign minister reveals that the two Thai activists jailed in Cambodia for espionage and illegal entry will have to serve at least one-third of their sentences before the jail term could be commuted.

Foreign Affairs Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul briefed the media on the government's latest attempt to help free Thai activists, Veera Somkwankid and Ratree Pipattanapaiboon.

The two have been imprisoned in Phnom Penh's Prey Sar Prison, for illegal entry and espionage.

The foreign affairs minister said the Cambodian government has told the Thai authorities that the two activists are required to serve at least one-third of their sentences before a royal pardon could be considered.

Veera was sentenced to eight years in prison and fined 1.8 million riels , while his secretary Ratree was given six years in jail and a 1.2 million riel fine.

The duo have been in Cambodian custody since late December, 2010.


-- Tan Network 2012-02-07

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Dep PM Denies Rigging Seats in Charter Drafting Panel

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobumrung says members of the Constitution Drafting Assembly will be picked for their potential contribution to the drafting process.

He promised no special quota will be given to members of the Pheu Thai Party.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobumrung denied reports that a special quota will be given to Pheu Thai members on the Constitution Drafting Assembly, or CDA.

Chalerm issued the statement after reports have made headlines that members of the Pheu Thai Party who failed to be appointed as MPs or Cabinet members are lobbying to sit on the CDA.

The deputy PM is also undaunted by the Election Commission's comment that it has no jurisdiction to host an election for the CDA members.

He said cryptically that obstacles are meant to be resolved and not worried about.

He then maintained the spending on the Pheu Thai government's anti-drug campaign is in line with reality.

He explained that before the budget could be used, it has to be reviewed by various agencies including the Auditor General's Office.

He urged the Opposition Democrat Party to discuss any doubt it has over Pheu Thai's budget spending in Parliament.


-- Tan Network 2012-02-07

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SMART THAILAND
Entire Nakhon Nayok province to get broadband facilities: Pilot project

NAKHON NAYOK: -- Entire province to get broadband facilities, while some e-government services will also kick off

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....-pilot-project/

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Two civilians killed in Thai south shootings

NARATHIWAT, February 7, 2012 (AFP) - Gunmen shot dead two civilians in Thailand's deep south on Tuesday, police said, as the army defended its record on an eight-year insurgency in the Muslim-majority region.

Attackers killed a 52-year-old school caretaker and critically injured his 41-year-old wife at a rubber plantation in Narathiwat, one of three restive provinces near the border with Malaysia.

In a separate attack in the same province, a 40-year-old Muslim man was shot dead at a tea shop.

A complex insurgency, waged without clearly stated aims, has riven Thailand's far south for years, claiming thousands of lives, both Buddhist and Muslim, and resulting in a heavy military presence in the region.

Last month an incident in which four Muslim civilians, including an elderly man and an 18-year-old boy, were shot dead by state paramilitaries sparked an official investigation and local outrage at army activity in the area.

Army chief General Prayut Chan-O-Cha urged the military to be more cautious in the south following that shooting, but said the 40,000 soldiers and 20,000 other security officials in the south were "not sent to fight".

"You must understand that solving the southern unrest will not be through fighting but through understanding," he added.

Around 5,000 people have been killed and 8,300 wounded since the unrest began in 2004, according to local conflict monitor Deep South Watch.

People in the region complain of a long history of discrimination against ethnic Malay Muslims by authorities in the Buddhist-majority nation, including alleged abuses by the armed forces.


-- ©Copyright AFP 2012-02-07 | AFP News Sponsor
Published with written approval from AFP.