The King's general condition is satisfactory, palace officials say,with his temperature normal.
The Royal Household Bureau quoted royal physicians yesterday as saying His Majesty was eating more and sleeping well.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Industry ban raises govt fears
The government plans to appeal against a court order suspending the operations of 76 industrial projects countrywide.
It is feared Thailand will lose the confidence of investors if the suspension is not contested.
The government will file an appeal as soon as possible, particularly in the case of 14 projects worth 100 billion baht which have been granted permits to continue construction, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.
The Industry Ministry, the Council of State, the Attorney-General's Office and other agencies have been directed to come up with a plan of response in the next day or two.
The Administrative Court on Tuesday issued an injunction suspending the operating permits of 76 industrial projects, many of which are in Map Ta Phut in Rayong, which had been granted government approval. The injunction serves to prevent all operations or activities by the projects pending a further Administrative Court hearing into whether the recent approvals are in breach of the charter.
The court cited a National Environment Board decision to declare three districts in Rayong a pollution control zone, saying pollution problems at Map Ta Phut and elsewhere had worsened.
Mr Abhisit said economic ministers agreed yesterday the government should ask the court to explain its reasons and on what authority it had ordered the suspension so government agencies could use these as guidelines in reviewing industrial projects.
"In the injunction of the Administrative Court it is not clear what the government should do next, particularly in regard to the industrial projects ordered suspended," Mr Abhisi said.
"The government has already complied with Article 67 of the constitution which requires new industrial projects to conduct both environmental and health impact analyses."
Mr Abhisit said the government needed to make the regulations clear to investors if it was to build confidence.
"Investors will understand and comply with the law as long as government agencies come up with clear regulations.Any uncertainty or unclear policy will definitely affect investors' confidence."
Sorayud Petchtrakul, an adviser to the industry minister, said the AttorneyGeneral's Office would act on the ministry's behalf in filing an appeal today with the Supreme Administrative Court seeking a petition against the lower court's ruling. It will contend the permits were granted only after careful consideration."The request to petition against the suspension should not take long," he said.
It is feared Thailand will lose the confidence of investors if the suspension is not contested.
The government will file an appeal as soon as possible, particularly in the case of 14 projects worth 100 billion baht which have been granted permits to continue construction, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.
The Industry Ministry, the Council of State, the Attorney-General's Office and other agencies have been directed to come up with a plan of response in the next day or two.
The Administrative Court on Tuesday issued an injunction suspending the operating permits of 76 industrial projects, many of which are in Map Ta Phut in Rayong, which had been granted government approval. The injunction serves to prevent all operations or activities by the projects pending a further Administrative Court hearing into whether the recent approvals are in breach of the charter.
The court cited a National Environment Board decision to declare three districts in Rayong a pollution control zone, saying pollution problems at Map Ta Phut and elsewhere had worsened.
Mr Abhisit said economic ministers agreed yesterday the government should ask the court to explain its reasons and on what authority it had ordered the suspension so government agencies could use these as guidelines in reviewing industrial projects.
"In the injunction of the Administrative Court it is not clear what the government should do next, particularly in regard to the industrial projects ordered suspended," Mr Abhisi said.
"The government has already complied with Article 67 of the constitution which requires new industrial projects to conduct both environmental and health impact analyses."
Mr Abhisit said the government needed to make the regulations clear to investors if it was to build confidence.
"Investors will understand and comply with the law as long as government agencies come up with clear regulations.Any uncertainty or unclear policy will definitely affect investors' confidence."
Sorayud Petchtrakul, an adviser to the industry minister, said the AttorneyGeneral's Office would act on the ministry's behalf in filing an appeal today with the Supreme Administrative Court seeking a petition against the lower court's ruling. It will contend the permits were granted only after careful consideration."The request to petition against the suspension should not take long," he said.
3 disasters hit within 48 hours
Typhoon Ketsana, a tsunami and a major earthquake have wreaked havoc across the Asia-Pacific region as Samoa,Sumatra and Thailand bear the brunt of nature's fury.
In Thailand, Typhoon Ketsana lashed Ubon Ratchathani yesterday, dumping heavy rain and causing widespread damage to several areas. No casualties were reported.
Ketsana, which has been downgraded to a depression, was centred in Ubon's Muang district about 10am.
The Meteorological Department was expecting Ketsana to weaken as it moved further inland over Si Sa Ket, Surin, Buri Ram and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces later yesterday.
Ubon Ratchathani bore the brunt as the depression damaged more than 23,000 rai of farmland,250 local roads,nine bridges and a school, provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office head Borpit Panpinit said.
In Chon Buri, monstrous waves believed to be caused by the storm sank tourist ferries in Pattaya. No casualties were reported.
Meanwhile, a tsunami warning was lifted in six Andaman provinces last night after the Indonesian island of Sumatra was hit by an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale. News of the powerful quake, which killed 21 and left thousands trapped under rubble, triggered a tsunami warning in Phangnga, Krabi,Phuket, Ranong, Trang and Satun. Authorities at 8pm declared there was no threat.
The aftershock was not severe enough to set off a tsunami, Meteorological Department forecast centre head Burin Wetbantoeng said. Many villagers in Ban Nam Kem and Khao Lak in Phangnga's Takua Pa district ran for safety after hearing of a possible tsunami.
In Pattani, on the Gulf of Thailand coast, people were alarmed by a sudden drop in sea level near Ban Laem Nok.
Mineral Resources Department spokesman Adichart Surinkam said Ketsana, not the tsunami, had caused the unusual coastal conditions.
There was also a tsunami alert triggered by an earthquake measuring 8 on the Richter scale in the Pacific Ocean which caused the tsunami which struck Samoa and American Samoa yesterday.
Meanwhile, the government is sending 100,000 aid packages to Manila, which is facing a humanitarian crisis after Typhoon Ketsana killed hundreds and displaced hundreds of thousands more.
In Thailand, Typhoon Ketsana lashed Ubon Ratchathani yesterday, dumping heavy rain and causing widespread damage to several areas. No casualties were reported.
Ketsana, which has been downgraded to a depression, was centred in Ubon's Muang district about 10am.
The Meteorological Department was expecting Ketsana to weaken as it moved further inland over Si Sa Ket, Surin, Buri Ram and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces later yesterday.
Ubon Ratchathani bore the brunt as the depression damaged more than 23,000 rai of farmland,250 local roads,nine bridges and a school, provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office head Borpit Panpinit said.
In Chon Buri, monstrous waves believed to be caused by the storm sank tourist ferries in Pattaya. No casualties were reported.
Meanwhile, a tsunami warning was lifted in six Andaman provinces last night after the Indonesian island of Sumatra was hit by an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale. News of the powerful quake, which killed 21 and left thousands trapped under rubble, triggered a tsunami warning in Phangnga, Krabi,Phuket, Ranong, Trang and Satun. Authorities at 8pm declared there was no threat.
The aftershock was not severe enough to set off a tsunami, Meteorological Department forecast centre head Burin Wetbantoeng said. Many villagers in Ban Nam Kem and Khao Lak in Phangnga's Takua Pa district ran for safety after hearing of a possible tsunami.
In Pattani, on the Gulf of Thailand coast, people were alarmed by a sudden drop in sea level near Ban Laem Nok.
Mineral Resources Department spokesman Adichart Surinkam said Ketsana, not the tsunami, had caused the unusual coastal conditions.
There was also a tsunami alert triggered by an earthquake measuring 8 on the Richter scale in the Pacific Ocean which caused the tsunami which struck Samoa and American Samoa yesterday.
Meanwhile, the government is sending 100,000 aid packages to Manila, which is facing a humanitarian crisis after Typhoon Ketsana killed hundreds and displaced hundreds of thousands more.
Varathep found guilty in lotto case
The Supreme Court has handed down two-year suspended jail terms to a former deputy minister and two top officials for "violating laws and regulations"over the launch of the two- and threedigit lottery scheme.
The three - former deputy finance minister Varathep Rattanakorn, former Government Lottery Office director Chaiwat Pasokpakdi and former permanent secretary for finance Somchainuek Engtrakul - were however found not guilty of corruption as no embezzlement was uncovered in the case,one of the nine judges said.
The lottery scheme was initiated by the Thaksin Shinawatra administration in 2003. The 2006 coupappointed Assets Scrutiny Committee investigated the scheme for possible corruption.
The National AntiCorruption Commission pressed criminal charges on behalf of the ASC after its tenure ended last year against 47 defendants with the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.
All 30 members of the first Thaksin cabinet were implicated by the ASC for their role in issuing a cabinet resolution that approved the two- and three-digit lottery scheme. However Thaksin was not included in yesterday's judgement as the court said it would only rule on him in his presence.
The court acquitted 28 of the remaining 29, saying they were not directly involved in the administration of the GLO and therefore were not in a position to acknowledge the legalisation violated the Government Lottery Office Act.
The guilty verdict centred on legal aspects of the project which generated 123 billion baht from 2003 to 2006.The Thaksin government channelled part of the revenue to education, health and other social projects.
"Despite the fact that [the two- and three-digit lottery scheme] was a good and useful state policy, it was not allowed by law," the court said.
The Thaksin administration approved the project, claiming it would be a charity lottery scheme which was allowed by the GLO Act and entitled to a tax exemption.
But the court found it was not a charity scheme, saying its nature and procedures were different from previous charity lotteries introduced under the GLO Act. Unlike them, the twoand three-digit lottery scheme did not set revenue targets, limit the number of times it would be issued or specify the ticket sales to prizes ratio.
That meant the GLO was at risk of losing revenue and this could threaten the country's treasury and finance systems, the court said. The revenue could not be spent on social projects but had to go to the GLO.
As it was not a charity scheme it was not entitled to tax exemption, and therefore it broke tax regulations.
The court ruled Varathep, Chaiwat and Somchainuek were guilty of malfeasance because they proposed the project and went ahead with it, despite a warning on its legality from the
Senate committee on justice and human rights. The Senate panel had also advised on the legalisation needed to amend the GLO Act.
Varathep intended not to have the law amended as advised, the court said, because it would force the scheme to follow GLO procedures on revenue spending. This made the project vulnerable to corruption.
Chaiwat realised the project could result in the GLO losing revenue because he arranged to have a 20 billion baht bank overdraft on standby for the office to prepare for a loss, the court said.
Varathep was fined 20,000 baht and the other two 10,000 baht each.
The court cleared 15 other members of the GLO board who approved the spending of revenue of criminal charges because they were not aware of the legal violations.
It rejected a request from the ASC for the cabinet members to pay the GLO 36 billion baht in damages,saying there was no embezzlement found in the case.
"I don't regret initiating the scheme which was beneficial to poor children," Varathep said after leaving the court room.
"The project was just legally flawed but I never obtained personal gains from it."
He challenged the government to amend the lotteries act to solve the problem of the underground lottery which makes huge illegal profits.
All of the former cabinet members attended the hearing yesterday apart from former commerce minister Adisai Bodharamik and Thaksin.
The court has issued arrest warrants for Mr Adisai and three other defendants - Somchainuek, former GLO director Surasit Sangkapong and former finance minister Suchart Chaowisit who failed to showed up yesterday.
The three - former deputy finance minister Varathep Rattanakorn, former Government Lottery Office director Chaiwat Pasokpakdi and former permanent secretary for finance Somchainuek Engtrakul - were however found not guilty of corruption as no embezzlement was uncovered in the case,one of the nine judges said.
The lottery scheme was initiated by the Thaksin Shinawatra administration in 2003. The 2006 coupappointed Assets Scrutiny Committee investigated the scheme for possible corruption.
The National AntiCorruption Commission pressed criminal charges on behalf of the ASC after its tenure ended last year against 47 defendants with the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.
All 30 members of the first Thaksin cabinet were implicated by the ASC for their role in issuing a cabinet resolution that approved the two- and three-digit lottery scheme. However Thaksin was not included in yesterday's judgement as the court said it would only rule on him in his presence.
The court acquitted 28 of the remaining 29, saying they were not directly involved in the administration of the GLO and therefore were not in a position to acknowledge the legalisation violated the Government Lottery Office Act.
The guilty verdict centred on legal aspects of the project which generated 123 billion baht from 2003 to 2006.The Thaksin government channelled part of the revenue to education, health and other social projects.
"Despite the fact that [the two- and three-digit lottery scheme] was a good and useful state policy, it was not allowed by law," the court said.
The Thaksin administration approved the project, claiming it would be a charity lottery scheme which was allowed by the GLO Act and entitled to a tax exemption.
But the court found it was not a charity scheme, saying its nature and procedures were different from previous charity lotteries introduced under the GLO Act. Unlike them, the twoand three-digit lottery scheme did not set revenue targets, limit the number of times it would be issued or specify the ticket sales to prizes ratio.
That meant the GLO was at risk of losing revenue and this could threaten the country's treasury and finance systems, the court said. The revenue could not be spent on social projects but had to go to the GLO.
As it was not a charity scheme it was not entitled to tax exemption, and therefore it broke tax regulations.
The court ruled Varathep, Chaiwat and Somchainuek were guilty of malfeasance because they proposed the project and went ahead with it, despite a warning on its legality from the
Senate committee on justice and human rights. The Senate panel had also advised on the legalisation needed to amend the GLO Act.
Varathep intended not to have the law amended as advised, the court said, because it would force the scheme to follow GLO procedures on revenue spending. This made the project vulnerable to corruption.
Chaiwat realised the project could result in the GLO losing revenue because he arranged to have a 20 billion baht bank overdraft on standby for the office to prepare for a loss, the court said.
Varathep was fined 20,000 baht and the other two 10,000 baht each.
The court cleared 15 other members of the GLO board who approved the spending of revenue of criminal charges because they were not aware of the legal violations.
It rejected a request from the ASC for the cabinet members to pay the GLO 36 billion baht in damages,saying there was no embezzlement found in the case.
"I don't regret initiating the scheme which was beneficial to poor children," Varathep said after leaving the court room.
"The project was just legally flawed but I never obtained personal gains from it."
He challenged the government to amend the lotteries act to solve the problem of the underground lottery which makes huge illegal profits.
All of the former cabinet members attended the hearing yesterday apart from former commerce minister Adisai Bodharamik and Thaksin.
The court has issued arrest warrants for Mr Adisai and three other defendants - Somchainuek, former GLO director Surasit Sangkapong and former finance minister Suchart Chaowisit who failed to showed up yesterday.
Govt to appeal against injunction on projects
The government will today appeal the Central Administrative Court's injunction on 76 industrial projects in Map Ta Phut and nearby areas in Rayong, in a bid to minimise the impact on investor confidence.
The PTT Group and the Siam Cement Group (SCG) yesterday acknowledged that the injunction would affect their investment schemes.
PTT, which has 25 of the 76 projects affected by the ruling, is considering filing a separate appeal with the court.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who has ordered state agencies to appeal the ruling, insisted the government acted in accordance with Article 67 of the Constitution.
An appeal, if successful, would allow 14 projects that have already completed the environmental-impact assessment process, and received operating licences from the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, to proceed.
Citing the court's ruling, the premier said the government needed to reduce uncertainties as far as investor confidence is concerned.
Government agencies are alleged to have violated Article 67 in granting approval for the 76 projects to proceed even though the charter also requires a health-impact assessment, public consent and approval from the yet-to-be established independent environmental body.
Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) chairman Santi Vilassakdanont said many investors had voiced concerns over the injunction, as it ran against the government's investment-promotion policy.
Some foreign investors, particularly Japanese, have asked for clarity on the government's industrial promotion, he said.
Santi added that if the injunction were in place for a long period of time, foreign investment could shift to other countries, and without business expansion, the Kingdom's future employment prospects would be damaged.
A meeting will be called soon between the FTI, the Board of Trade and the Thai Bankers' Association to draw up proposals for the prime minister, who will attend a joint public-private meeting in the middle of next month.
In a statement yesterday, PTT said if its projects were suspended, there would be negative impacts on clients, business partners, financial institutions and supply-chain industries that could affect 100,000 jobs and local workers.
PTT chief finance officer Tevin Vongvanich insisted the group had upheld social and environmental concerns throughout its history. It has improved its operating systems and technology, he said.
EMISSIONS REDUCED
Under the pollution-reduction plan for 2007-11, the PTT Group has reduced the emission of nitrogen oxide by 43 per cent and sulphur dioxide by 45 per cent. Meanwhile, the group has reduced wastewater by 700,000 cubic metres and industrial waste by 378 tonnes per annum, he added.
SCG, another industrial conglomerate, yesterday informed the Stock Exchange of Thailand that the injunction could affect SCG primarily, but also its wholly owned subsidiary, SCG Chemicals, which is in the process of completing the construction of an upstream naphtha cracker, related downstream subsidiaries and joint-venture operations.
The original start-up for these projects was scheduled for between late this year and mid-2011.
SCG will work closely with all relevant government authorities to reach a joint solution that meets the concerns of all parties while minimising any effect on SCG Chemicals' investment projects, the group said in its filing.
The PTT Group and the Siam Cement Group (SCG) yesterday acknowledged that the injunction would affect their investment schemes.
PTT, which has 25 of the 76 projects affected by the ruling, is considering filing a separate appeal with the court.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who has ordered state agencies to appeal the ruling, insisted the government acted in accordance with Article 67 of the Constitution.
An appeal, if successful, would allow 14 projects that have already completed the environmental-impact assessment process, and received operating licences from the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, to proceed.
Citing the court's ruling, the premier said the government needed to reduce uncertainties as far as investor confidence is concerned.
Government agencies are alleged to have violated Article 67 in granting approval for the 76 projects to proceed even though the charter also requires a health-impact assessment, public consent and approval from the yet-to-be established independent environmental body.
Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) chairman Santi Vilassakdanont said many investors had voiced concerns over the injunction, as it ran against the government's investment-promotion policy.
Some foreign investors, particularly Japanese, have asked for clarity on the government's industrial promotion, he said.
Santi added that if the injunction were in place for a long period of time, foreign investment could shift to other countries, and without business expansion, the Kingdom's future employment prospects would be damaged.
A meeting will be called soon between the FTI, the Board of Trade and the Thai Bankers' Association to draw up proposals for the prime minister, who will attend a joint public-private meeting in the middle of next month.
In a statement yesterday, PTT said if its projects were suspended, there would be negative impacts on clients, business partners, financial institutions and supply-chain industries that could affect 100,000 jobs and local workers.
PTT chief finance officer Tevin Vongvanich insisted the group had upheld social and environmental concerns throughout its history. It has improved its operating systems and technology, he said.
EMISSIONS REDUCED
Under the pollution-reduction plan for 2007-11, the PTT Group has reduced the emission of nitrogen oxide by 43 per cent and sulphur dioxide by 45 per cent. Meanwhile, the group has reduced wastewater by 700,000 cubic metres and industrial waste by 378 tonnes per annum, he added.
SCG, another industrial conglomerate, yesterday informed the Stock Exchange of Thailand that the injunction could affect SCG primarily, but also its wholly owned subsidiary, SCG Chemicals, which is in the process of completing the construction of an upstream naphtha cracker, related downstream subsidiaries and joint-venture operations.
The original start-up for these projects was scheduled for between late this year and mid-2011.
SCG will work closely with all relevant government authorities to reach a joint solution that meets the concerns of all parties while minimising any effect on SCG Chemicals' investment projects, the group said in its filing.
$100bn a year needed for climate-change adaptation: WB
Developing countries will need US$100 billion (Bt3.4 trillion) a year for the cost of adaptation to climate change for the period 2010-2050, the preliminary findings of a new global study from the World Bank revealed yesterday.
"Economic growth is the most powerful form of adaptation. However, it cannot be business as usual," said Warren Evans, director of the World Bank's Environment Department.
He presented the study at a press conference at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Bangkok.
The study involves comparing a future world without climate change with a future world with climate change. The difference between these two worlds entails a series of actions to adapt to the new world conditions. The costs of these additional actions are the costs of adapting to climate change.
A key part of the overall analysis involved estimating adaptation costs for major economic sectors under two alternative future climate scenarios - "wet" and "dry" - which is based on the 2 Celsius degrees warming during the 2010-2050 period.
Under the relatively dryer scenario the adaptation cost is estimated at $75 billion per year, while under the scenario that assumes a future wetter climate it is $100 billion.
This sum is the same order of magnitude as the foreign aid that developed countries now give developing countries each year, but it is still a very low percentage of the wealth countries, the study said.
The highest costs for climate change adaptation will be borne by the East Asia and Pacific Region, followed closely by Latin America and the Caribbean, and Sub-Saharan Africa. The dryer scenario requires lower adaptation costs in total in all regions, except South Asia.
To face the prospect of huge additional infrastructure costs, as well as drought, disease and dramatic reductions in agricultural productivity, developing countries need to be prepared for the potential consequences of unchecked climate change.
In this respect, access to necessary financing will be critical, the World Bank said in its press release.
The report stresses that development strategies must maximise flexibility and incorporate knowledge about climate change as it is gained. It also finds that adaptation costs decline as a percentage of gross domestic product over time, suggesting that countries become less vulnerable to climate change as their economies grow.
"Adaptation minimises the impacts of climate change, but it does not address its causes. There is no substitute for mitigation to reduce catastrophic risks," Evans said.
"Economic growth is the most powerful form of adaptation. However, it cannot be business as usual," said Warren Evans, director of the World Bank's Environment Department.
He presented the study at a press conference at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Bangkok.
The study involves comparing a future world without climate change with a future world with climate change. The difference between these two worlds entails a series of actions to adapt to the new world conditions. The costs of these additional actions are the costs of adapting to climate change.
A key part of the overall analysis involved estimating adaptation costs for major economic sectors under two alternative future climate scenarios - "wet" and "dry" - which is based on the 2 Celsius degrees warming during the 2010-2050 period.
Under the relatively dryer scenario the adaptation cost is estimated at $75 billion per year, while under the scenario that assumes a future wetter climate it is $100 billion.
This sum is the same order of magnitude as the foreign aid that developed countries now give developing countries each year, but it is still a very low percentage of the wealth countries, the study said.
The highest costs for climate change adaptation will be borne by the East Asia and Pacific Region, followed closely by Latin America and the Caribbean, and Sub-Saharan Africa. The dryer scenario requires lower adaptation costs in total in all regions, except South Asia.
To face the prospect of huge additional infrastructure costs, as well as drought, disease and dramatic reductions in agricultural productivity, developing countries need to be prepared for the potential consequences of unchecked climate change.
In this respect, access to necessary financing will be critical, the World Bank said in its press release.
The report stresses that development strategies must maximise flexibility and incorporate knowledge about climate change as it is gained. It also finds that adaptation costs decline as a percentage of gross domestic product over time, suggesting that countries become less vulnerable to climate change as their economies grow.
"Adaptation minimises the impacts of climate change, but it does not address its causes. There is no substitute for mitigation to reduce catastrophic risks," Evans said.
Cabinet spared, but cloud over Thaksin
The Supreme Court's verdict yesterday giving three senior Thaksin Shinawatra-administration officials suspended jail terms in connection with the "on land" lottery controversy seems like a slap on the wrist.
As far as Thaksin is concerned, it's anything but.
The verdict let most of the Thaksin Cabinet responsible for the lottery scheme off the hook, but the court was clear about why: the Cabinet members who were set free had been unaware Thaksin was using them to push the controversial scheme through.
All of the Thaksin Cabinet responsible for the introduction of the lottery scheme, with the professed intention of eradicating the illegal underground lottery, had been implicated in the case following an investigation by the now-defunct Assets Examination Committee (AEC).
Found guilty were then-deputy finance minister Varathep Ratanakorn, then-Finance Ministry permanent secretary Somchainuk Engtrakul and then-Government Lottery Office chief Chaiwat Pasokpakdi. The trio were handed suspended two-year jail terms with probation.
The court suspended decisions on Thaksin, because he remains a fugitive after being convicted in another case.
The court said Varathep, acting under Thaksin's prompting, proposed the lottery scheme to the Cabinet as a special agenda item, giving the other Cabinet members no time to review the plan. While reading the verdict, the court mentioned that Thaksin had summoned senior officials involved and gave them instructions to speed up the lottery scheme.
The Thaksin Cabinet passed the new lottery scheme in 2003, saying it was designed to eliminate underground bookmaking operations. AEC investigators concluded the Cabinet resolution to legalise the two- and three-digit lottery system fell afoul of the Government Lottery Office Act, because its nature was different from the government's mainstream six-digit lottery.
The court dismissed the defendants' claim that issuing the new lottery system was based on the same principle as a "charity lottery", which required easier legal procedures. This was equivalent to saying the Cabinet made an illegal decision.
That made the court's decision to leave out most of the Thaksin Cabinet look more telling. The ruling carried an unspoken message: the Cabinet had been manipulated or used. And even though the only penalties handed down were suspended two-year jail terms, it would be foolish of Thaksin to expect the same if or when the case is revived against him.
The court's ruling prevented new brushes with then-members of the AEC after the now-disbanded body's rubber-sapling case, another budgetary scandal of the Thaksin administration, was virtually thrown out by the same court a few days ago.
The Supreme Court yesterday issued the verdict despite the no-show of four suspects: ex-Government Lottery Office director Pol Maj-General Surasit Sangkaphong (Chaiwat's successor), ex-finance minister Suchart Chaowisit and ex-Finance Ministry permanent secretary Somchainuk. A total of 47 people had been implicated.
Apart from ruling the Thaksin government could not introduce the lottery scheme under the guise of a charity lottery, the court also said the proceeds from the new lottery's ticket sales were misused and that the "tax-free" claims for the income were wrongly made.
The lottery triggered protests by anti-vice groups. Thaksin's government, fuelling controversy with the "promotion of gambling", used the funds for an education sponsorship programme that critics viewed as a populist project.
As far as Thaksin is concerned, it's anything but.
The verdict let most of the Thaksin Cabinet responsible for the lottery scheme off the hook, but the court was clear about why: the Cabinet members who were set free had been unaware Thaksin was using them to push the controversial scheme through.
All of the Thaksin Cabinet responsible for the introduction of the lottery scheme, with the professed intention of eradicating the illegal underground lottery, had been implicated in the case following an investigation by the now-defunct Assets Examination Committee (AEC).
Found guilty were then-deputy finance minister Varathep Ratanakorn, then-Finance Ministry permanent secretary Somchainuk Engtrakul and then-Government Lottery Office chief Chaiwat Pasokpakdi. The trio were handed suspended two-year jail terms with probation.
The court suspended decisions on Thaksin, because he remains a fugitive after being convicted in another case.
The court said Varathep, acting under Thaksin's prompting, proposed the lottery scheme to the Cabinet as a special agenda item, giving the other Cabinet members no time to review the plan. While reading the verdict, the court mentioned that Thaksin had summoned senior officials involved and gave them instructions to speed up the lottery scheme.
The Thaksin Cabinet passed the new lottery scheme in 2003, saying it was designed to eliminate underground bookmaking operations. AEC investigators concluded the Cabinet resolution to legalise the two- and three-digit lottery system fell afoul of the Government Lottery Office Act, because its nature was different from the government's mainstream six-digit lottery.
The court dismissed the defendants' claim that issuing the new lottery system was based on the same principle as a "charity lottery", which required easier legal procedures. This was equivalent to saying the Cabinet made an illegal decision.
That made the court's decision to leave out most of the Thaksin Cabinet look more telling. The ruling carried an unspoken message: the Cabinet had been manipulated or used. And even though the only penalties handed down were suspended two-year jail terms, it would be foolish of Thaksin to expect the same if or when the case is revived against him.
The court's ruling prevented new brushes with then-members of the AEC after the now-disbanded body's rubber-sapling case, another budgetary scandal of the Thaksin administration, was virtually thrown out by the same court a few days ago.
The Supreme Court yesterday issued the verdict despite the no-show of four suspects: ex-Government Lottery Office director Pol Maj-General Surasit Sangkaphong (Chaiwat's successor), ex-finance minister Suchart Chaowisit and ex-Finance Ministry permanent secretary Somchainuk. A total of 47 people had been implicated.
Apart from ruling the Thaksin government could not introduce the lottery scheme under the guise of a charity lottery, the court also said the proceeds from the new lottery's ticket sales were misused and that the "tax-free" claims for the income were wrongly made.
The lottery triggered protests by anti-vice groups. Thaksin's government, fuelling controversy with the "promotion of gambling", used the funds for an education sponsorship programme that critics viewed as a populist project.
QUAKES, TSUNAMI WREAK HAVOC
Towering tsunami waves churned up by a huge into the Samoan Islands on Tuesday,killing at least 120 people as they wiped out entire villages and flattened touristresorts.
And then yesterday,a powerful earthquake struck off Indonesia's Sumatra Island,toppling buildings and sparking panic among residents,officials and local television reports said.
"We have received reports many buildings, including hotels, in Padang(Indonesia)collapsed," said Rachmat Priyono, an official at Indonesia's National Meteorological and Geophysics Agency.
Telephone communications to Padang and nearby Pariaman district were cut following the quake, local residents told television reporters.
Thequake,measuring7.6 on the Richter scale, struck at 5.16 pm at a depth of 71 kilometres,about57kilometres southwest of Pariaman in West Sumatra Province.
The Pacific Tsunami WarningCentre issued atsunami alert for Indonesia, Malaysia, India and Thailand after the quake but cancelled it a few hours later.
In the Samoan Islands,monster waves that witnesses and officials said measured 3-7.5-metres high, pounded the remote Pacific islands after an 8-magnitude undersea quake struck early Tuesday morning.
While the earthquake toppled buildings and sent thousands fleeing to high ground as the tsunami approached,many others were hit by the walls of water that swept people and cars out to sea and obliterated coastal settlements.
US President Barack Obama called the incident in the outlying US territory of American Samoa a "major disaster" and vowed "aggressive"action to help survivors.
"I am closely monitoring these tragic events and have declared a major disaster for American Samoa, which will provide the tools necessary for a full, swift and aggressive response,"he said.
Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Maliclegaoi said he was "shocked beyond belief".
"So much has gone. So many people are gone," he told Australian Associated Press. "I'm so shocked,so saddened by all the loss."
The tsunamis swept across the Pacific Ocean and battered Samoa,where hospital workers said it killed at least 84 people; American Samoa,with22dead;and Tonga,where at least seven people died.
As Australia, New Zealand and the United States led with immediate pledges of assistance,scores more people were missing and feared dead in the chaos and despair that the twin disaster left in its wake.
"We are getting reports of missing people in areas where damage is extensive on the south and southeast coasts,"local journalist Jona Tuiletufuga said. "Entire villages have been wiped out."
Up to70 villages stood in the way of the waves in the worsthitarea,each housing 300-800 people, Tuiletufuga said.
Nine members of one family were killed in the village of Lalomanu in southeastern Samoa,a relative said.
And then yesterday,a powerful earthquake struck off Indonesia's Sumatra Island,toppling buildings and sparking panic among residents,officials and local television reports said.
"We have received reports many buildings, including hotels, in Padang(Indonesia)collapsed," said Rachmat Priyono, an official at Indonesia's National Meteorological and Geophysics Agency.
Telephone communications to Padang and nearby Pariaman district were cut following the quake, local residents told television reporters.
Thequake,measuring7.6 on the Richter scale, struck at 5.16 pm at a depth of 71 kilometres,about57kilometres southwest of Pariaman in West Sumatra Province.
The Pacific Tsunami WarningCentre issued atsunami alert for Indonesia, Malaysia, India and Thailand after the quake but cancelled it a few hours later.
In the Samoan Islands,monster waves that witnesses and officials said measured 3-7.5-metres high, pounded the remote Pacific islands after an 8-magnitude undersea quake struck early Tuesday morning.
While the earthquake toppled buildings and sent thousands fleeing to high ground as the tsunami approached,many others were hit by the walls of water that swept people and cars out to sea and obliterated coastal settlements.
US President Barack Obama called the incident in the outlying US territory of American Samoa a "major disaster" and vowed "aggressive"action to help survivors.
"I am closely monitoring these tragic events and have declared a major disaster for American Samoa, which will provide the tools necessary for a full, swift and aggressive response,"he said.
Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Maliclegaoi said he was "shocked beyond belief".
"So much has gone. So many people are gone," he told Australian Associated Press. "I'm so shocked,so saddened by all the loss."
The tsunamis swept across the Pacific Ocean and battered Samoa,where hospital workers said it killed at least 84 people; American Samoa,with22dead;and Tonga,where at least seven people died.
As Australia, New Zealand and the United States led with immediate pledges of assistance,scores more people were missing and feared dead in the chaos and despair that the twin disaster left in its wake.
"We are getting reports of missing people in areas where damage is extensive on the south and southeast coasts,"local journalist Jona Tuiletufuga said. "Entire villages have been wiped out."
Up to70 villages stood in the way of the waves in the worsthitarea,each housing 300-800 people, Tuiletufuga said.
Nine members of one family were killed in the village of Lalomanu in southeastern Samoa,a relative said.
HM eating and sleeping better
His Majesty the King's condition has improved, according to the latest statement from the Royal Household Bureau. "His Majesty's temperature is normal. He can take more food and sleeps well," the statement said.
Doctors continue to provide him with physical therapy, antibiotics and intravenous food.
His Majesty was admitted to Siriraj Hospital on September 19.
Doctors continue to provide him with physical therapy, antibiotics and intravenous food.
His Majesty was admitted to Siriraj Hospital on September 19.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
CAPITAL INFLOW "WOULD NEED TO BE STABILISED"
The Bank of Thailand is becoming concerned over the potential level of capital inflow to Thailand and Asia next year, as recovery in developed countries remains fragile.
The central bank is preparing measures to cope with an excessive capital inflow, which would drive up equity prices, strengthen the baht and create volatility in financial markets, BOT Deputy Governor Bandid Nijathaworn said yesterday.
"Many people are interested in the potential of economic growth in Asia next year. Capital will flow into the region, including Thailand, which will boost stock prices, strengthen the baht and create volatility," he said. "Asset prices will go up to create wealth benefits. The cost of imports will also become lower. But we have to be cautious by trying to safeguard a balance in the capital inflow."
Bandid did not spell out how the capital inflow would be stabilised in the event of a massive influx.
He said the central bank was ready to look after the baht's stability and minimise volatility in order to help business operators. The private sector has a good understanding that the current volatility of the baht is due to external factors.
There have been signs of a global recovery, but at the moment it looks fragile. Bandid said the authorities were closely monitoring economic conditions in the US, which would have an effect on Thailand.
"The baht is enjoying great stability during this time," the deputy governor said.
Although the government has introduced a series of stimulus programmes to bring about a recovery, confidence among the private sector remains subdued.
"There is a risk that spending by the private sector may not recover at the same pace as government spending. We have to monitor the situation closely," Bandid said.
Moreover, the BOT is ready to step in to help out small and medium-scale businesses, particularly in the tourism sector, that have been affected by the economic downturn.
The authorities want to make sure these small operators have access to enough capital to continue their businesses, he said.
The central bank is preparing measures to cope with an excessive capital inflow, which would drive up equity prices, strengthen the baht and create volatility in financial markets, BOT Deputy Governor Bandid Nijathaworn said yesterday.
"Many people are interested in the potential of economic growth in Asia next year. Capital will flow into the region, including Thailand, which will boost stock prices, strengthen the baht and create volatility," he said. "Asset prices will go up to create wealth benefits. The cost of imports will also become lower. But we have to be cautious by trying to safeguard a balance in the capital inflow."
Bandid did not spell out how the capital inflow would be stabilised in the event of a massive influx.
He said the central bank was ready to look after the baht's stability and minimise volatility in order to help business operators. The private sector has a good understanding that the current volatility of the baht is due to external factors.
There have been signs of a global recovery, but at the moment it looks fragile. Bandid said the authorities were closely monitoring economic conditions in the US, which would have an effect on Thailand.
"The baht is enjoying great stability during this time," the deputy governor said.
Although the government has introduced a series of stimulus programmes to bring about a recovery, confidence among the private sector remains subdued.
"There is a risk that spending by the private sector may not recover at the same pace as government spending. We have to monitor the situation closely," Bandid said.
Moreover, the BOT is ready to step in to help out small and medium-scale businesses, particularly in the tourism sector, that have been affected by the economic downturn.
The authorities want to make sure these small operators have access to enough capital to continue their businesses, he said.
Samak, Noppadon face charges over communique
The anti-graft agency plans to bring criminal charges against former prime minister Samak Sundaravej and former foreign minister Noppadon Pattama for the signing of a joint communique with Cambodia over Preah Vihear temple.
The nine members of the National Anti-Corruption Commission voted 6-3 yesterday to file the charges against Mr Samak and Mr Noppadon.
They voted 8-1 to dismiss complaints against the other 36 members of the Samak cabinet and six government officials who were included in the investigation of the signing of the Preah Vihear communique.
The NACC found the former prime minister and foreign minister negligent in their duties under Article 157 of the Criminal Code for their support of the joint communique.
It found the other cabinet members and government officials had no intention to commit alleged wrongdoing.
"Mr Samak, as head of the government, must have been aware the issue was sensitive and could affect the country's territory and lead to a social crisis," NACC spokesman Klanarong Chantik said.
Mr Klanarong said Mr Noppadon had been aware of the facts regarding the situation but proceeded to sign the communique in secret.
Mr Noppadon had ignored the advice of Foreign Ministry officials who warned him of the damage the signing of the communique would cause to the country's territorial integrity, he said.
The NACC will forward its recommendations to the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.
After learning of the NACC's ruling,Mr Noppadon said he was not surprised. There were no grounds for it,he said, and he could defend all issues raised by the NACC.
He said the joint communique did not require parliament's approval because it was not an international treaty.The document would not lead to the loss of Thai territory to Cambodia as it made clear to Phnom Penh there would be no change regarding the disputed area near Preah Vihear.
The nine members of the National Anti-Corruption Commission voted 6-3 yesterday to file the charges against Mr Samak and Mr Noppadon.
They voted 8-1 to dismiss complaints against the other 36 members of the Samak cabinet and six government officials who were included in the investigation of the signing of the Preah Vihear communique.
The NACC found the former prime minister and foreign minister negligent in their duties under Article 157 of the Criminal Code for their support of the joint communique.
It found the other cabinet members and government officials had no intention to commit alleged wrongdoing.
"Mr Samak, as head of the government, must have been aware the issue was sensitive and could affect the country's territory and lead to a social crisis," NACC spokesman Klanarong Chantik said.
Mr Klanarong said Mr Noppadon had been aware of the facts regarding the situation but proceeded to sign the communique in secret.
Mr Noppadon had ignored the advice of Foreign Ministry officials who warned him of the damage the signing of the communique would cause to the country's territorial integrity, he said.
The NACC will forward its recommendations to the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.
After learning of the NACC's ruling,Mr Noppadon said he was not surprised. There were no grounds for it,he said, and he could defend all issues raised by the NACC.
He said the joint communique did not require parliament's approval because it was not an international treaty.The document would not lead to the loss of Thai territory to Cambodia as it made clear to Phnom Penh there would be no change regarding the disputed area near Preah Vihear.
Court rules to halt industrial projects
The Administrative Court has issued an injunction suspending the operating permits of 76 industrial projects - including many at Rayong's Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate - which have been granted government approval.
The injunction serves to prevent all operations or activities by the projects pending an Administrative Court hearing into whether the recent approvals are in breach of the constitution.
The move follows a drawn-out battle between environmental activists and project companies.
The court cited the National Environment Board decision to declare three districts in Rayong a pollution control zone, saying pollution problems at Map Ta Phut and elsewhere had worsened.
"There are grounds to the petition and there is enough reason to warrant an injunction to protect the plaintiffs from further damage," the court said.
The suspension of operating permits followed an application by a coalition of environmental and community activists who claimed the permits violated Article 67 of the constitution.
The article states a project seen as harmful to the environment and people's health must be subject to public hearings before it could be endorsed.
The provision requires the government to set up an independent agency to give advice on the implementation of projects that could be harmful to people's health and the environment.
The body is to be made up of representatives of environmental and health groups, with health and environmental studies undertaken by institutes of higher education.
In the absence of the body, the Council of State has ruled that authorities could process project applications during the absence of the organic law to set up the body.
Environmentalists and activists forming the Stop Global Warming Association were appalled by the ruling and asked the court to intervene.
They have accused the National Environment Board, the secretary-general of the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning,the natural resources and environment minister, the industry minister, the energy minister, the transport minister,the public health minister and the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) of issuing unlawful orders and of negligence of duty.
Article 67 of the constitution guarantees the people's right to live in a healthy environment and the right to take part in the government's and community's protection of natural resources and the environment. The court ruled these rights must be recognised with immediate effect.
The government and relevant authorities are obliged to fully comply with this provision before it can issue a permit for projects, the court ruled.
The injunction was hailed by activists while investors reacted with caution.
"I am happy with the court's ruling,"said Suthi Atchasai, a leader of the People's Eastern Network.
"We are also planning to seek the court's decision to terminate the Industry Ministry's harmful industry list,recently announced as we think the list was drawn up without any solid research back up."
IEAT chairman Prasan Tanprasert said the agency would petition the court within 30 days. He said the IEAT was acting in accordance with the Council of State's advice."The ruling will definitely have a negative impact on the investment environment and the stalemate needs to be solved soon," he said.
Thai Industries Federation chairman Santi Vilassakdanont said investors would be more cautious, both on existing projects and with new investments.
"The ruling paints an unclear picture of investment regulations and the government needs to act swiftly to end this impasse, or else future investment will be delayed or relocated to other countries," Mr Santi said.
The injunction serves to prevent all operations or activities by the projects pending an Administrative Court hearing into whether the recent approvals are in breach of the constitution.
The move follows a drawn-out battle between environmental activists and project companies.
The court cited the National Environment Board decision to declare three districts in Rayong a pollution control zone, saying pollution problems at Map Ta Phut and elsewhere had worsened.
"There are grounds to the petition and there is enough reason to warrant an injunction to protect the plaintiffs from further damage," the court said.
The suspension of operating permits followed an application by a coalition of environmental and community activists who claimed the permits violated Article 67 of the constitution.
The article states a project seen as harmful to the environment and people's health must be subject to public hearings before it could be endorsed.
The provision requires the government to set up an independent agency to give advice on the implementation of projects that could be harmful to people's health and the environment.
The body is to be made up of representatives of environmental and health groups, with health and environmental studies undertaken by institutes of higher education.
In the absence of the body, the Council of State has ruled that authorities could process project applications during the absence of the organic law to set up the body.
Environmentalists and activists forming the Stop Global Warming Association were appalled by the ruling and asked the court to intervene.
They have accused the National Environment Board, the secretary-general of the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning,the natural resources and environment minister, the industry minister, the energy minister, the transport minister,the public health minister and the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) of issuing unlawful orders and of negligence of duty.
Article 67 of the constitution guarantees the people's right to live in a healthy environment and the right to take part in the government's and community's protection of natural resources and the environment. The court ruled these rights must be recognised with immediate effect.
The government and relevant authorities are obliged to fully comply with this provision before it can issue a permit for projects, the court ruled.
The injunction was hailed by activists while investors reacted with caution.
"I am happy with the court's ruling,"said Suthi Atchasai, a leader of the People's Eastern Network.
"We are also planning to seek the court's decision to terminate the Industry Ministry's harmful industry list,recently announced as we think the list was drawn up without any solid research back up."
IEAT chairman Prasan Tanprasert said the agency would petition the court within 30 days. He said the IEAT was acting in accordance with the Council of State's advice."The ruling will definitely have a negative impact on the investment environment and the stalemate needs to be solved soon," he said.
Thai Industries Federation chairman Santi Vilassakdanont said investors would be more cautious, both on existing projects and with new investments.
"The ruling paints an unclear picture of investment regulations and the government needs to act swiftly to end this impasse, or else future investment will be delayed or relocated to other countries," Mr Santi said.
BUS-LEASE DEAL WINS CABINET APPROVAL
The Bt66-billion NGV bus-leasing scheme, pushed by the Bhum Jai Thai Party, a powerful member of the Democrat-led coalition government, finally won the Cabinet's blessing yesterday despite strong criticism that it was more about political horse-trading.
A group of 40 senators said they would set up a watchdog to monitor the implementation of this controversial project, which originally carried a price tag of more than Bt100 billion.
The opposition Pheu Thai Party said the Cabinet's nod for this proposal was a political reward for Bhum Jai Thai - similar to its earlier stamp of approval for the Armed Forces' multibillion-baht procurement programme.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the Cabinet had made its decision based on recommendations from the National Economic and Social Development Board, which concluded that leasing was less risky than an outright purchase.
The Transport Ministry will require the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority, the city bus agency, to offer an early-retirement package to 6,000-7,000 employees so that an electronic ticketing system could be introduced to replace bus conductors.
The ministry will have to provide filling facilities for natural gas for vehicles.
Procurement of the fleet will have to be transparent, |so the ministry will have to form a committee to set a median price for the scheme while there must be competitive bidding, the premier added.
Somchai Sawaengkan, one of the 40 senators scrutinising the scheme, said he was not sure if the entire Cabinet had thoroughly examined it before giving its endorsement.
The Cabinet's backing for this scheme could be seen as part of political bargaining involving the Constitution.
Previously, Bhum Jai Thai frowned against the Democrat Party's plan to conduct a national referendum on charter amendment, but the party's position had changed lately, he said.
Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said the agreement for the NGV bus scheme to go ahead was clearly a political present for Bhumi Jai Thai, which played a leading role in installing Abhisit as prime minister early this year.
A group of 40 senators said they would set up a watchdog to monitor the implementation of this controversial project, which originally carried a price tag of more than Bt100 billion.
The opposition Pheu Thai Party said the Cabinet's nod for this proposal was a political reward for Bhum Jai Thai - similar to its earlier stamp of approval for the Armed Forces' multibillion-baht procurement programme.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the Cabinet had made its decision based on recommendations from the National Economic and Social Development Board, which concluded that leasing was less risky than an outright purchase.
The Transport Ministry will require the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority, the city bus agency, to offer an early-retirement package to 6,000-7,000 employees so that an electronic ticketing system could be introduced to replace bus conductors.
The ministry will have to provide filling facilities for natural gas for vehicles.
Procurement of the fleet will have to be transparent, |so the ministry will have to form a committee to set a median price for the scheme while there must be competitive bidding, the premier added.
Somchai Sawaengkan, one of the 40 senators scrutinising the scheme, said he was not sure if the entire Cabinet had thoroughly examined it before giving its endorsement.
The Cabinet's backing for this scheme could be seen as part of political bargaining involving the Constitution.
Previously, Bhum Jai Thai frowned against the Democrat Party's plan to conduct a national referendum on charter amendment, but the party's position had changed lately, he said.
Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said the agreement for the NGV bus scheme to go ahead was clearly a political present for Bhumi Jai Thai, which played a leading role in installing Abhisit as prime minister early this year.
Army deploys troops as Ketsana closes in
The army is mobilising soldiers to help people in the Northeast at risk from the approaching Typhoon Ketsana..
Second Army chief Wibulsak Neepal yesterday said defence forces had prepared troops and equipment to help people in the 19 northeastern provinces in the event of flash floods.
It is also feared Chanthaburi and Trat on the east coast and Ranong and Phangnga in the South will feel the impact of the typhoon, the Meteorological Department said.
Ketsana hit Vietnam yesterday and is moving westward at a speed of 15kph,it said. The storm devastated areas east of Manila in the Philippines at the weekend. The department said it was likely to move into Thailand today around Mukdahan and Ubon Ratchathani.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday issued an order for government agencies to prepare assistance for flood victims.
The Public Health and Foreign ministries were instructed to help oversee a humanitarian aid plan for people affected by the storm in the Philippines. Rice,medicine and other necessities would be sent to stricken areas soon, he said.
Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra deployed relief staff in floodprone areas and said he would monitor the water situation at the city's drainage department in Din Daeng district.
City Hall was discharging water from main canals such as Saen Saep and Phra Khanong where water was reaching high levels yesterday.
Second Army chief Wibulsak Neepal yesterday said defence forces had prepared troops and equipment to help people in the 19 northeastern provinces in the event of flash floods.
It is also feared Chanthaburi and Trat on the east coast and Ranong and Phangnga in the South will feel the impact of the typhoon, the Meteorological Department said.
Ketsana hit Vietnam yesterday and is moving westward at a speed of 15kph,it said. The storm devastated areas east of Manila in the Philippines at the weekend. The department said it was likely to move into Thailand today around Mukdahan and Ubon Ratchathani.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday issued an order for government agencies to prepare assistance for flood victims.
The Public Health and Foreign ministries were instructed to help oversee a humanitarian aid plan for people affected by the storm in the Philippines. Rice,medicine and other necessities would be sent to stricken areas soon, he said.
Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra deployed relief staff in floodprone areas and said he would monitor the water situation at the city's drainage department in Din Daeng district.
City Hall was discharging water from main canals such as Saen Saep and Phra Khanong where water was reaching high levels yesterday.
INJUNCTION HALTS PROJECTS
Thailand's industrial-investment scene yesterday suffered another blow as the Central Administrative Court issued an injunction against proceeding with 76 projects slated for Map Ta Phut and nearby areas in Rayong with a combined investment of about Bt400 billion.
The court's ruling in favour of |villagers in and outside the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate will affect |76 projects that have passed an |environmental-impact assessment (EIA).
These projects are pending construction licences under the Constitution's Article 67, which requires a health-impact assessment (HIA), public consent and approval from the yet-to-be established in-dependent environment body.
The court ruled that the minutes of a meeting of government agencies showed pollution problems from existing facilities in the area had intensified. That was enough to justify the injunction, as more industrial activity would increase the damage, it said.
The injunction will remain in place until there is a judgement in |the environmental case against a number of government agencies.
The 76 projects to be located in Map Ta Phut, Ban Chang and other areas belong to a number of major companies, including the PTT |Group and the Siam Cement Group (SCG).
The Abhisit Vejjajiva government had earlier resolved that projects in the area could proceed if they had passed the EIA stage.
On September 15, SCG-Dow Group - a joint venture between |Dow Chemical, SCG and Solvay Peroxythai - announced it had conducted a foundation-stone laying ceremony for its HPPO (hydrogen peroxide to propylene oxide)-related investments at the Asia Industrial Estate site near Map Ta Phut.
MUDDLED RULES
Unclear regulations have become one of the major concerns for foreign investors, as many industrial firms are eyeing investment in Thailand, including in steel-smelting plants.
Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu recently said Thailand should not be home to polluting heavy industries.
In a paper by the Federation of Thai Industries' communications and technical task forces - and released to the press yesterday - for a win-win solution the government is urged to allow responsible companies or projects that comply with rules to proceed, and to punish non-compliant companies. Meanwhile, industrial projects must continue to reduce pollution as in the established plan and escalate community-relations efforts.
Both the government and the industry concerned should work closely with the local community on development activities to improve people's quality of life and promote the "Eco Town" principle, the paper said.
It also said the government |should allow the 76 projects to |continue with their construction |and operation, as they have fulfilled the EIA and permit requirements, including HIAs and public participation.
Villagers in Rayong have, however, strongly opposed further industrial expansion in the area.
Yesterday's injunction was in response to a petition from the Anti-Global Warming Association and 43 villagers from Map Ta Phut.
They filed the petition against the National Environment Board and the secretary-general of the Natural Resources and Environment Policy and Planning Office, as well as the ministers for natural resources and environment, industry, energy, transport and public health and the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand.
They were alleged to have violated Article 67 of the Constitution in approving the 76 projects to proceed as planned, even though the charter had gone into effect on August 24, 2007.
The court's ruling in favour of |villagers in and outside the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate will affect |76 projects that have passed an |environmental-impact assessment (EIA).
These projects are pending construction licences under the Constitution's Article 67, which requires a health-impact assessment (HIA), public consent and approval from the yet-to-be established in-dependent environment body.
The court ruled that the minutes of a meeting of government agencies showed pollution problems from existing facilities in the area had intensified. That was enough to justify the injunction, as more industrial activity would increase the damage, it said.
The injunction will remain in place until there is a judgement in |the environmental case against a number of government agencies.
The 76 projects to be located in Map Ta Phut, Ban Chang and other areas belong to a number of major companies, including the PTT |Group and the Siam Cement Group (SCG).
The Abhisit Vejjajiva government had earlier resolved that projects in the area could proceed if they had passed the EIA stage.
On September 15, SCG-Dow Group - a joint venture between |Dow Chemical, SCG and Solvay Peroxythai - announced it had conducted a foundation-stone laying ceremony for its HPPO (hydrogen peroxide to propylene oxide)-related investments at the Asia Industrial Estate site near Map Ta Phut.
MUDDLED RULES
Unclear regulations have become one of the major concerns for foreign investors, as many industrial firms are eyeing investment in Thailand, including in steel-smelting plants.
Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu recently said Thailand should not be home to polluting heavy industries.
In a paper by the Federation of Thai Industries' communications and technical task forces - and released to the press yesterday - for a win-win solution the government is urged to allow responsible companies or projects that comply with rules to proceed, and to punish non-compliant companies. Meanwhile, industrial projects must continue to reduce pollution as in the established plan and escalate community-relations efforts.
Both the government and the industry concerned should work closely with the local community on development activities to improve people's quality of life and promote the "Eco Town" principle, the paper said.
It also said the government |should allow the 76 projects to |continue with their construction |and operation, as they have fulfilled the EIA and permit requirements, including HIAs and public participation.
Villagers in Rayong have, however, strongly opposed further industrial expansion in the area.
Yesterday's injunction was in response to a petition from the Anti-Global Warming Association and 43 villagers from Map Ta Phut.
They filed the petition against the National Environment Board and the secretary-general of the Natural Resources and Environment Policy and Planning Office, as well as the ministers for natural resources and environment, industry, energy, transport and public health and the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand.
They were alleged to have violated Article 67 of the Constitution in approving the 76 projects to proceed as planned, even though the charter had gone into effect on August 24, 2007.
King responds to medication
His Majesty the King's lung infection has been responding to medication, along with his fever, the Royal Household Bureau said yesterday.
The latest Xray showed that both the infection and flu are clearing up. His Majesty's general condition is good.
The intravenous feeding of medicine and nutrients is continuing, the Palace said in its 10th statement on His Majesty's illness.
The latest Xray showed that both the infection and flu are clearing up. His Majesty's general condition is good.
The intravenous feeding of medicine and nutrients is continuing, the Palace said in its 10th statement on His Majesty's illness.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Fever hinders King's recovery
The Committee of Royal Physicians says His Majesty the King had a fever on Sunday night.
An X-ray computed tomography scan of the chest and abdomen showed inflammation of the lungs but no abnormality of the abdomen,the 9th announcement of the Bureau of the Royal Household released yesterday said.
His Majesty has no cough. Intravenous nourishment and new antibiotics have been administered.
The King's fever subsided again yesterday morning.
His Majesty the King, who celebrates his 82nd birthday on Dec 5,was admitted to Siriraj Hospital on Sept 19 with a fever, fatigue and loss of appetite.
In the Bureau of the Royal Household's earlier announcements, His Majesty's condition had gradually improved.
An X-ray computed tomography scan of the chest and abdomen showed inflammation of the lungs but no abnormality of the abdomen,the 9th announcement of the Bureau of the Royal Household released yesterday said.
His Majesty has no cough. Intravenous nourishment and new antibiotics have been administered.
The King's fever subsided again yesterday morning.
His Majesty the King, who celebrates his 82nd birthday on Dec 5,was admitted to Siriraj Hospital on Sept 19 with a fever, fatigue and loss of appetite.
In the Bureau of the Royal Household's earlier announcements, His Majesty's condition had gradually improved.
Developing, developed countries in blame game
The start of environment talks in Bangkok has been swamped with petitions as developed and developing countries accuse each other of not doing enough to combat climate change.
There had been strong indications the two sides of the development coin were moving towards overcoming their differences and gearing up towards a new deal. But the Bangkok talks have started disappointingly and have turned into a platform for delegates to make more demands than commitments.
Developing countries yesterday called on developed nations to commit to firm emissions targets and financial assistance, while developed countries said poor nations needed to do more to cut their greenhouse gas outflow.
Green groups observing the talks called on negotiators to work harder and faster to prepare a more "precise and readable"text for the Copenhagen climate summit in December.
"Time is not just pressing. It has almost run out," UN climate chief Yvo de Boer said in his opening remarks.
Mr de Boer said he hoped the Bangkok meeting would produce clarity on developed countries' financial support to
poorer nations in tackling climate change.
"At the end of the Bangkok talks, we are expecting to see practical meaning of technology transfer and financial mobilisation," he said.
Connie Hedegarrd, Denmark's minister for climate change and energy, called on developed countries to make an urgent commitment to deliver fast-track financing for climate change adaptation.
"Developed countries must prove that they are serious," Ms Hedegarrd said in her opening speech.
"Here in Bangkok, we need to be more precise on what kind of actions should be financed."
Shortly after the opening session, the European Commission held a news conference at which it called for stronger contributions from developing countries in reducing carbon emissions growth.
"What has been missing here is concrete proposals from developing countries, including India and China,on what they will do [to cut greenhouse gas emissions]," said Artur RungeMetzger, the European Commission's chief climate negotiator.
"We need a firm commitment from developed countries and the developing countries to act."
The EC has been heavily criticised for its financing scheme. It earlier this month estimated that developing countries would need at least 100 billion euros (4.9 trillion baht) a year to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions while adapting to climate change, but pledged to pay only 2 billion to 15 billion euros a year.
Tove Ryding of Greenpeace said the EC's pledge was like "throwing the tips and running away from the bills".
There had been strong indications the two sides of the development coin were moving towards overcoming their differences and gearing up towards a new deal. But the Bangkok talks have started disappointingly and have turned into a platform for delegates to make more demands than commitments.
Developing countries yesterday called on developed nations to commit to firm emissions targets and financial assistance, while developed countries said poor nations needed to do more to cut their greenhouse gas outflow.
Green groups observing the talks called on negotiators to work harder and faster to prepare a more "precise and readable"text for the Copenhagen climate summit in December.
"Time is not just pressing. It has almost run out," UN climate chief Yvo de Boer said in his opening remarks.
Mr de Boer said he hoped the Bangkok meeting would produce clarity on developed countries' financial support to
poorer nations in tackling climate change.
"At the end of the Bangkok talks, we are expecting to see practical meaning of technology transfer and financial mobilisation," he said.
Connie Hedegarrd, Denmark's minister for climate change and energy, called on developed countries to make an urgent commitment to deliver fast-track financing for climate change adaptation.
"Developed countries must prove that they are serious," Ms Hedegarrd said in her opening speech.
"Here in Bangkok, we need to be more precise on what kind of actions should be financed."
Shortly after the opening session, the European Commission held a news conference at which it called for stronger contributions from developing countries in reducing carbon emissions growth.
"What has been missing here is concrete proposals from developing countries, including India and China,on what they will do [to cut greenhouse gas emissions]," said Artur RungeMetzger, the European Commission's chief climate negotiator.
"We need a firm commitment from developed countries and the developing countries to act."
The EC has been heavily criticised for its financing scheme. It earlier this month estimated that developing countries would need at least 100 billion euros (4.9 trillion baht) a year to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions while adapting to climate change, but pledged to pay only 2 billion to 15 billion euros a year.
Tove Ryding of Greenpeace said the EC's pledge was like "throwing the tips and running away from the bills".
Isan gets set for Ketsana
The Meteorological Department is warning 10 northeastern provinces they will bear the brunt of Typhoon Ketsana,which is moving swiftly towards the coast of Vietnam and is due to hit Thailand tomorrow.
The provinces bracing for severe weather conditions are Amnat Charoen,Buri Ram, Mukdahan, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Roi Et,Sakon Nakhon, Si Sa Ket, Surin and Ubon Ratchathani.
The typhoon is moving westward at a speed of 15 kilometres an hour.
"More rain is likely with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall," the Meteorological Department said yesterday.
"People in risk areas along foothills near waterways and in lowland areas should beware of flooding conditions during this period."
Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department chief Anucha Mokkaves said flood relief officials could handle the coming storm and all provincial agencies had been alerted to monitor the situation closely.
The Irrigation Department was also discharging water from its reservoirs to prepare for heavy rains, its directorgeneral Chalit Damrongsak said.
Anont Sanitwong na Ayutthaya, director of the Climate Impact Science and Technology Centre, said Thailand would face heavy rain but not strong winds from Typhoon Ketsana because the storm should ease while it passes over Vietnam and Laos.
Typhoon Ketsana is now moving away from the Philippines after it devastated many parts of the country. The death toll there has reached 140.
The Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman said no Thais living in the Philippines had been affected by the typhoon after it hit Manila.
The Philippines appealed for international help yesterday and warned a new storm could strike this week, with tens of thousands of citizens still displaced from their homes.
At least 32 people were reported missing, and authorities were still trying to verify scores of unconfirmed deaths,including in hard-hit Manila and nearby Rizal province, where there were reports about 99 more people had died, Defence Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said.
Tens of thousands of Philippines residents began a massive clean-up of the carnage left by Typhoon Ketsana,which struck on Saturday, bringing the region's worst flooding in 42 years and triggering deadly landslides.
The extent of the devastation became clearer yesterday with mud-covered communities, cars upended on city streets and huge numbers of villagers without drinking water, food and power.
Since the storm struck, the govern-ment has declared a "state of calamity"in metropolitan Manila and 25 stormhit provinces, allowing officials to use emergency funds for relief and rescue.
The homes of more than 450,000 people were inundated. About 115,000 of them were brought to 200 schools,churches and other evacuation shelters,officials said. Troops, police and volunteers have been able to rescue more than 7,900 people, Mr Teodoro said.
He told a news conference help from foreign governments would ensure the Philippine government could continue its relief work. Government welfare officials have begun focusing on providing food, medicine and other necessities to those in emergency shelters.
President Gloria Arroyo has said Ketsana and the flooding were "an extreme event" that "strained our response capabilities to the limit but ultimately did not break us".
The US has donated US$100,000(3.3 million baht) and deployed a military helicopter and five rubber boats manned by about 20 American soldiers from the country's south, where they have been providing counter-terrorism training. The United Nations Children's Fund has also provided food and other aid.
Officials expected the death toll to rise as rescuers penetrate villages blocked off by floating cars and debris.
The 42.4cm of rain that swamped metropolitan Manila in just 12 hours on Saturday exceeded the 39.2cm average for all of September, chief government weather forecaster Nathaniel Cruz said.
The provinces bracing for severe weather conditions are Amnat Charoen,Buri Ram, Mukdahan, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Roi Et,Sakon Nakhon, Si Sa Ket, Surin and Ubon Ratchathani.
The typhoon is moving westward at a speed of 15 kilometres an hour.
"More rain is likely with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall," the Meteorological Department said yesterday.
"People in risk areas along foothills near waterways and in lowland areas should beware of flooding conditions during this period."
Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department chief Anucha Mokkaves said flood relief officials could handle the coming storm and all provincial agencies had been alerted to monitor the situation closely.
The Irrigation Department was also discharging water from its reservoirs to prepare for heavy rains, its directorgeneral Chalit Damrongsak said.
Anont Sanitwong na Ayutthaya, director of the Climate Impact Science and Technology Centre, said Thailand would face heavy rain but not strong winds from Typhoon Ketsana because the storm should ease while it passes over Vietnam and Laos.
Typhoon Ketsana is now moving away from the Philippines after it devastated many parts of the country. The death toll there has reached 140.
The Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman said no Thais living in the Philippines had been affected by the typhoon after it hit Manila.
The Philippines appealed for international help yesterday and warned a new storm could strike this week, with tens of thousands of citizens still displaced from their homes.
At least 32 people were reported missing, and authorities were still trying to verify scores of unconfirmed deaths,including in hard-hit Manila and nearby Rizal province, where there were reports about 99 more people had died, Defence Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said.
Tens of thousands of Philippines residents began a massive clean-up of the carnage left by Typhoon Ketsana,which struck on Saturday, bringing the region's worst flooding in 42 years and triggering deadly landslides.
The extent of the devastation became clearer yesterday with mud-covered communities, cars upended on city streets and huge numbers of villagers without drinking water, food and power.
Since the storm struck, the govern-ment has declared a "state of calamity"in metropolitan Manila and 25 stormhit provinces, allowing officials to use emergency funds for relief and rescue.
The homes of more than 450,000 people were inundated. About 115,000 of them were brought to 200 schools,churches and other evacuation shelters,officials said. Troops, police and volunteers have been able to rescue more than 7,900 people, Mr Teodoro said.
He told a news conference help from foreign governments would ensure the Philippine government could continue its relief work. Government welfare officials have begun focusing on providing food, medicine and other necessities to those in emergency shelters.
President Gloria Arroyo has said Ketsana and the flooding were "an extreme event" that "strained our response capabilities to the limit but ultimately did not break us".
The US has donated US$100,000(3.3 million baht) and deployed a military helicopter and five rubber boats manned by about 20 American soldiers from the country's south, where they have been providing counter-terrorism training. The United Nations Children's Fund has also provided food and other aid.
Officials expected the death toll to rise as rescuers penetrate villages blocked off by floating cars and debris.
The 42.4cm of rain that swamped metropolitan Manila in just 12 hours on Saturday exceeded the 39.2cm average for all of September, chief government weather forecaster Nathaniel Cruz said.
BIDDING TO START FOR NEW PHUKET CONVENTION CENTRE
Bidding will be held by December this year for the construction of an international convention centre in the southern island resort of Phuket.
Deputy Finance Minister Pruttichai Damrongrat said the project would cost Bt3.74 billion, using budgets from fiscal 2010-12 under the Thai Khemkhaeng stimulas programme.
Construction of the facilities for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions are expected to provede new economic opportunities in the southern island province.
The project will be located on a 150-rai plot owned by the Treasury Department, close to Phuket Airport.
Construction will take about two years. Pruttichai said the project needed an environmental-impact assessment before work could begin.
Sources said the site might face a shortage of fresh water during the dry season. In addition, the location is not close to most hotels, and it takes about an hour to drive to popular Patong Beach.
Overall, the Phuket convention centre will be designed to serve 2 million visitors a year.
Besides the four exhibition buildings, there well be a four-star hotel with 350 rooms.
Its carpark will accommodate 1,000 cars and buses.
Pruttichai said Phuket had already been allocated a Bt779-million budget for fiscal 2010 under the Bt1.43-trillion economic stimulus package, which runs through fiscal 2012.
Deputy Finance Minister Pruttichai Damrongrat said the project would cost Bt3.74 billion, using budgets from fiscal 2010-12 under the Thai Khemkhaeng stimulas programme.
Construction of the facilities for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions are expected to provede new economic opportunities in the southern island province.
The project will be located on a 150-rai plot owned by the Treasury Department, close to Phuket Airport.
Construction will take about two years. Pruttichai said the project needed an environmental-impact assessment before work could begin.
Sources said the site might face a shortage of fresh water during the dry season. In addition, the location is not close to most hotels, and it takes about an hour to drive to popular Patong Beach.
Overall, the Phuket convention centre will be designed to serve 2 million visitors a year.
Besides the four exhibition buildings, there well be a four-star hotel with 350 rooms.
Its carpark will accommodate 1,000 cars and buses.
Pruttichai said Phuket had already been allocated a Bt779-million budget for fiscal 2010 under the Bt1.43-trillion economic stimulus package, which runs through fiscal 2012.
Manila appeals for international aid
The Philippines government has appealed for international help after massive flooding set off by a tropical storm at the weekend left at least 140 dead.
Defance Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said yesterday that help from foreign governments will ensure that the Philippine government can continue relief work following massive flooding set off by Tropical Storm Ketsana.
Authorities are concerned there could be more bad weather on the way.
Teodoro said government forecasters have monitored a low-pressure area over the Pacific that could develop into a storm and possibly hit the country later this week.
He said at least 140 people were killed and 32 missing after Saturday's storm caused widespread flooding in Manila and other northern parts of the country.
The Philippines could be hit with a new typhoon as it struggles to cope with the worst flooding in more than 40 years, the government's weather forecaster said yesterday.
A tropical depression and a low-pressure area were both in the Pacific Ocean and heading in the Philippines' direction, said weather station forecaster Nathaniel Cruz.
"There is the very big possibility [the tropical depression] could further intensify into a typhoon," he said in a television interview.
"We will closely monitor this," he said.
However, both potential storms were too far away to have any effect on the country for at least two days, he said.
The depression was heading for the northern part of the main island of Luzon, where Saturday's disaster struck, but it was also possible that both weather disturbances would not reach the country, he added.
Tropical storm Ketsana dumped one month's worth of rains on the capital and surrounding areas of Luzon in a few hours on Saturday, causing massive flooding that left at least 86 dead and displacing more than 430,000.
Some of the floodwaters in Manila had still not receded after more than two days.
Although Ketsana was already well clear of the Philippines, the government's weather bureau forecast scattered showers and thunderstorms for Luzon yesterday.
Defance Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said yesterday that help from foreign governments will ensure that the Philippine government can continue relief work following massive flooding set off by Tropical Storm Ketsana.
Authorities are concerned there could be more bad weather on the way.
Teodoro said government forecasters have monitored a low-pressure area over the Pacific that could develop into a storm and possibly hit the country later this week.
He said at least 140 people were killed and 32 missing after Saturday's storm caused widespread flooding in Manila and other northern parts of the country.
The Philippines could be hit with a new typhoon as it struggles to cope with the worst flooding in more than 40 years, the government's weather forecaster said yesterday.
A tropical depression and a low-pressure area were both in the Pacific Ocean and heading in the Philippines' direction, said weather station forecaster Nathaniel Cruz.
"There is the very big possibility [the tropical depression] could further intensify into a typhoon," he said in a television interview.
"We will closely monitor this," he said.
However, both potential storms were too far away to have any effect on the country for at least two days, he said.
The depression was heading for the northern part of the main island of Luzon, where Saturday's disaster struck, but it was also possible that both weather disturbances would not reach the country, he added.
Tropical storm Ketsana dumped one month's worth of rains on the capital and surrounding areas of Luzon in a few hours on Saturday, causing massive flooding that left at least 86 dead and displacing more than 430,000.
Some of the floodwaters in Manila had still not receded after more than two days.
Although Ketsana was already well clear of the Philippines, the government's weather bureau forecast scattered showers and thunderstorms for Luzon yesterday.
MRTA SEEKS INCLUSION OF ARBITRATION CLAUSES
Tha mass Rapid Transit Authority will seek Cabinet approval to include arbitration clauses in its multi-billion baht construction and loan contracts using Japanese funds.
MRTA chairman Suphoth Sublom said the request for arbitration clauses had been made by the Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA), which would fund the MRTA's Purple Line mass-transit project.
The Purple Line will run from Bang Sue to Bang Yai.
The Cabinet earlier ordered all state agencies to avoid including clauses in contracts requiring the use of an arbitration committee to settle disputes between state agencies and private companies.
MRTA would also seek an increase in the construction budget for the Blue Line to Bt52.4 billion.
The order was issued after arbitration committees ruled the government was liable to large amounts of compensation in such contractual disputes.
Cases involving construction and concession contracts for the Bang Na-Bang Pakong and Don Muang tollways are among the examples.
However, the JICA insists arbitration clauses are needed for construction of the Purple Line.
Suphoth said the MRTA would also seek Cabinet approval to increase the construction budget for the Blue Line, which will run from Bang Sue to Tha Phra and from Hualamphong to Bang Khae, from Bt48.8 billion to Bt52.4 billion.
If approved, the MRTA will proceed with plans to invite bids to implement the scheme. Otherwise, the scheme will have to be revised.
The Blue Line will involve five contracts costing Bt75.9 billion, including Bt48.8 billion for civilconstruction work and Bt25 billion for tracks and train bodies.
MRTA chairman Suphoth Sublom said the request for arbitration clauses had been made by the Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA), which would fund the MRTA's Purple Line mass-transit project.
The Purple Line will run from Bang Sue to Bang Yai.
The Cabinet earlier ordered all state agencies to avoid including clauses in contracts requiring the use of an arbitration committee to settle disputes between state agencies and private companies.
MRTA would also seek an increase in the construction budget for the Blue Line to Bt52.4 billion.
The order was issued after arbitration committees ruled the government was liable to large amounts of compensation in such contractual disputes.
Cases involving construction and concession contracts for the Bang Na-Bang Pakong and Don Muang tollways are among the examples.
However, the JICA insists arbitration clauses are needed for construction of the Purple Line.
Suphoth said the MRTA would also seek Cabinet approval to increase the construction budget for the Blue Line, which will run from Bang Sue to Tha Phra and from Hualamphong to Bang Khae, from Bt48.8 billion to Bt52.4 billion.
If approved, the MRTA will proceed with plans to invite bids to implement the scheme. Otherwise, the scheme will have to be revised.
The Blue Line will involve five contracts costing Bt75.9 billion, including Bt48.8 billion for civilconstruction work and Bt25 billion for tracks and train bodies.
HM cured of lung infection
His Majesty the King has recovered from a lung infection and fever and is in a good condition in general, the ninth Royal Household Bureau statement said last night.
After His Majesty developed fever yesterday, the royal physicians examined him and diagnosed a lung infection. They did not find any stomach infection, and His Majesty does not have a cough.
After His Majesty was administered a new type of antibiotic and fed intravenously, his fever subsided, and his condition returned to normal yesterday morning, the statement said.
After His Majesty developed fever yesterday, the royal physicians examined him and diagnosed a lung infection. They did not find any stomach infection, and His Majesty does not have a cough.
After His Majesty was administered a new type of antibiotic and fed intravenously, his fever subsided, and his condition returned to normal yesterday morning, the statement said.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Abhisit calls for common stand on climate change
Developing and industrialised countries will have to set aside their own interests for the sake of the common good if the global effort to tackle climate change is to succeed, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says.
The two-week Bangkok climate change talks, which start today, are an opportunity for countries to plan for tomorrow, Mr Abhisit told the United Nations General Assembly in New York at the weekend.
"Thailand will spare no efforts in ensuring that the Bangkok climate change talks will make tangible progress towards a successful Copenhagen conference," he said, referring to the climate change summit in Denmark in December when countries are hoping to seal a new deal to combat climate change.
At a UN summit on climate change last week, industrialised countries agreed to set clear goals and targets to combat climate change.
The Bangkok meeting brings together almost 3,000 delegates from over 190 countries to prepare the negotiating text for the new agreement.
The new climate deal will replace the Kyoto Protocol's carbon emissions reduction agreement that expires in 2012.
The main goal of the Bangkok talks is to shorten the 280-page text, which is the product of a series of negotiations held over the past 18 months, into a 20-to 30-page draft agreement for the Copenhagen summit.
This will be harder than it sounds, as participating countries will not want any changes which will put them at a disadvantage.
Developing countries worry they will be forced into a deal which will hurt their economic growth and efforts to tackle poverty.
Developed countries fear they will have to give an unfair advantage to the developing world if they are obliged to cut their own greenhouse gas emissions while developing nations do not face the same obligation.
Four key topics to be debated at the Bangkok talks include greenhouse gas emission reductions, adapting to climate change, low-carbon technology transfers,and financial mechanisms to fight climate change.
Thailand's 20-strong negotiating team is headed by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti.
As a developing country, Mr Suwit said, Thailand wanted to see industrialised countries fulfil their pledges on greenhouse gas cuts and financial support for climate change programmes in poor nations.
As the host, Bangkok will try to break through any deadlocks at the negotiations.
"I'm confident the Bangkok talks will make significant progress for the Copenhagen conference,"the minister said.
Thailand's position at the climate talks will be in line with Asean's stance, and that of the Group of 77, to create a "common voice" for developing countries, said Saksit Tridech, permanent secretary for the environment.
Thai officials have met several times in recent months to work out the country's stance at the climate change negotiations. The Thai position was endorsed by the cabinet last week.
On the issue of a greenhouse gas reduction commitment, Thailand supports keeping intact the Kyoto Protocol's obligations, which call for industrialised countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2% from 1990 levels, Mr Saksit said.
Bangkok opposed calls by some industrialised nations to scrap the Kyoto pact's obligations."The Kyoto Protocol must stay in spirit and greenhouse gas reductions in developing countries must be made on a voluntary basis," he said.
Further talks were still needed on some issues.
"We are better prepared than the previous climate change talks because state agencies are now more aware of the importance of the climate change negotiations."
The two-week Bangkok climate change talks, which start today, are an opportunity for countries to plan for tomorrow, Mr Abhisit told the United Nations General Assembly in New York at the weekend.
"Thailand will spare no efforts in ensuring that the Bangkok climate change talks will make tangible progress towards a successful Copenhagen conference," he said, referring to the climate change summit in Denmark in December when countries are hoping to seal a new deal to combat climate change.
At a UN summit on climate change last week, industrialised countries agreed to set clear goals and targets to combat climate change.
The Bangkok meeting brings together almost 3,000 delegates from over 190 countries to prepare the negotiating text for the new agreement.
The new climate deal will replace the Kyoto Protocol's carbon emissions reduction agreement that expires in 2012.
The main goal of the Bangkok talks is to shorten the 280-page text, which is the product of a series of negotiations held over the past 18 months, into a 20-to 30-page draft agreement for the Copenhagen summit.
This will be harder than it sounds, as participating countries will not want any changes which will put them at a disadvantage.
Developing countries worry they will be forced into a deal which will hurt their economic growth and efforts to tackle poverty.
Developed countries fear they will have to give an unfair advantage to the developing world if they are obliged to cut their own greenhouse gas emissions while developing nations do not face the same obligation.
Four key topics to be debated at the Bangkok talks include greenhouse gas emission reductions, adapting to climate change, low-carbon technology transfers,and financial mechanisms to fight climate change.
Thailand's 20-strong negotiating team is headed by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti.
As a developing country, Mr Suwit said, Thailand wanted to see industrialised countries fulfil their pledges on greenhouse gas cuts and financial support for climate change programmes in poor nations.
As the host, Bangkok will try to break through any deadlocks at the negotiations.
"I'm confident the Bangkok talks will make significant progress for the Copenhagen conference,"the minister said.
Thailand's position at the climate talks will be in line with Asean's stance, and that of the Group of 77, to create a "common voice" for developing countries, said Saksit Tridech, permanent secretary for the environment.
Thai officials have met several times in recent months to work out the country's stance at the climate change negotiations. The Thai position was endorsed by the cabinet last week.
On the issue of a greenhouse gas reduction commitment, Thailand supports keeping intact the Kyoto Protocol's obligations, which call for industrialised countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2% from 1990 levels, Mr Saksit said.
Bangkok opposed calls by some industrialised nations to scrap the Kyoto pact's obligations."The Kyoto Protocol must stay in spirit and greenhouse gas reductions in developing countries must be made on a voluntary basis," he said.
Further talks were still needed on some issues.
"We are better prepared than the previous climate change talks because state agencies are now more aware of the importance of the climate change negotiations."
HM King improves
His Majesty the King is in good condition and is eating more food, the Royal Household Bureau says.
Royal physicians were quoted by the bureau in its latest update yesterday as saying the King's condition was improving. They are continuing to give him physical therapy and antibiotics.
The King, who celebrates his 82nd birthday on Dec 5,was admitted to Siriraj Hospital on Sept 19 with fever,fatigue and loss of appetite.
Royal physicians were quoted by the bureau in its latest update yesterday as saying the King's condition was improving. They are continuing to give him physical therapy and antibiotics.
The King, who celebrates his 82nd birthday on Dec 5,was admitted to Siriraj Hospital on Sept 19 with fever,fatigue and loss of appetite.
Lean on Burma, says Ban
UN secretarygeneral Ban Ki-moon has called on a ministerial meeting of Southeast Asian nations to take a tougher line on Burma in the hope its military junta will free political prisoners and hold fair elections.
Mr Ban told the meeting late on Saturday (yesterday, Thai time) that it was in the best interest of the rest of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations to lean on Burma to free political prisoners, including democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The 64-year-old Nobel Peace laureate has been in detention for 14 of the past 20 years, since leading a pro-democracy uprising that was crushed by Burma's military junta. Asean members generally refrain from criticising one another.
"Our collective interest is to find ways to encourage Myanmar (Burma)to free Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners, start a genuine political dialogue and create conditions conducive to credible elections," Mr Ban said.
Burma's ruling junta last week released at least 25 political detainees as part of an amnesty, but that figure was believed to be only about 1% of all political inmates being held.
Authorities want the former prisoners to participate in next year's vote.
Mr Ban called the amnesty "a step in the right direction [that] falls short of expectations" and said next year's election had to be credible.
"Next year will be critical," he said."The first planned election in two decades must be held in an inclusive and credible manner if they are to advance stability, democracy, reconciliation, national development and respect for human rights."
Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein is scheduled to speak at the UN General Assembly's ministerial meeting today,the highest-ranking junta official to do so in 14 years.
"Myanmar has an opportunity to demonstrate to its people and to the international community its clear commitment to an inclusive political tran-sition," Mr Ban said."It is an opportunity Myanmar should not miss.
"Asean countries have an important role to play in this effort - first and foremost to ensure the well-being of the people of Myanmar, but also in the wider interest of peace and security in the region."
Washington has traditionally been Burma's strongest critic, applying political and economic sanctions against the junta.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said last Thursday sanctions against Burma would continue, as part of a wider strategy on Burma.
"Engagement versus sanctions is a false choice in our opinion, so goin g forward we will be employing both of those tools".
Mr Ban told the meeting late on Saturday (yesterday, Thai time) that it was in the best interest of the rest of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations to lean on Burma to free political prisoners, including democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The 64-year-old Nobel Peace laureate has been in detention for 14 of the past 20 years, since leading a pro-democracy uprising that was crushed by Burma's military junta. Asean members generally refrain from criticising one another.
"Our collective interest is to find ways to encourage Myanmar (Burma)to free Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners, start a genuine political dialogue and create conditions conducive to credible elections," Mr Ban said.
Burma's ruling junta last week released at least 25 political detainees as part of an amnesty, but that figure was believed to be only about 1% of all political inmates being held.
Authorities want the former prisoners to participate in next year's vote.
Mr Ban called the amnesty "a step in the right direction [that] falls short of expectations" and said next year's election had to be credible.
"Next year will be critical," he said."The first planned election in two decades must be held in an inclusive and credible manner if they are to advance stability, democracy, reconciliation, national development and respect for human rights."
Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein is scheduled to speak at the UN General Assembly's ministerial meeting today,the highest-ranking junta official to do so in 14 years.
"Myanmar has an opportunity to demonstrate to its people and to the international community its clear commitment to an inclusive political tran-sition," Mr Ban said."It is an opportunity Myanmar should not miss.
"Asean countries have an important role to play in this effort - first and foremost to ensure the well-being of the people of Myanmar, but also in the wider interest of peace and security in the region."
Washington has traditionally been Burma's strongest critic, applying political and economic sanctions against the junta.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said last Thursday sanctions against Burma would continue, as part of a wider strategy on Burma.
"Engagement versus sanctions is a false choice in our opinion, so goin g forward we will be employing both of those tools".
US emissions bill "might not pass in time"
The passage of a US bill capping carbon emissions before a major UN climate conference in December would help the United States extract concessions from other countries, though time is running out, the chief US negotiator at climate talks in Bangkok said yesterday.
"The more specific we can be, the easier it is to press others to be equally specific," Jonathan Pershing said. "We have a lot of things we want from countries. We want significant action from other developed and developing countries ... The less we can put on the table, the harder it is to achieve that outcome."
Nations will meet in Copenhagen at the year's end to try to reach a deal to replace the Kyodo Protocol, which expires in 2012. The US House of Representatives in June passed the first US legislation to cap carbon emissions. The Senate is embroiled in the health-care debate, but it is expected to take up the proposed law early as this week.
Pershing said he doubted there's enough time to pass a bill and acknowledged that will put the Obama administration at a "bit of a disadvantage" when it negotiates such issues as emissions targets, financing levels and commitments from developed countries.
Negotiations over a UN climate pact resume todya in Bangkok, where some 1,500 delegates from 180 countries will try to reduce the 200-page draft agreement to something more manageable.
"The more specific we can be, the easier it is to press others to be equally specific," Jonathan Pershing said. "We have a lot of things we want from countries. We want significant action from other developed and developing countries ... The less we can put on the table, the harder it is to achieve that outcome."
Nations will meet in Copenhagen at the year's end to try to reach a deal to replace the Kyodo Protocol, which expires in 2012. The US House of Representatives in June passed the first US legislation to cap carbon emissions. The Senate is embroiled in the health-care debate, but it is expected to take up the proposed law early as this week.
Pershing said he doubted there's enough time to pass a bill and acknowledged that will put the Obama administration at a "bit of a disadvantage" when it negotiates such issues as emissions targets, financing levels and commitments from developed countries.
Negotiations over a UN climate pact resume todya in Bangkok, where some 1,500 delegates from 180 countries will try to reduce the 200-page draft agreement to something more manageable.
MANILA BATTLES DELUGE
Atleast 73 people were killed and more than 330,000 others displaced after the heaviest rain in more than four decades plunged the Philippine capital into turmoil, officials said yesterday.
The nine-hour deluge across Manila on Saturday submerged houses, washed away shanties and turned roads into raging rivers, forcing terrified residents to seek refuge on top of homes or cars where they waited for more than 24 hours.
"I am calling on our countrymen ... to please stay calm," President Gloria Arroyo said, as she set a deadline of nightfall yesterday for the military and other rescuers to save those who remained stranded.
The downpour from tropical storm Ketsana left some areas of Manila under up to six metres of water and its ferocity shocked a country that is used to being battered by typhoons.
"This is the worst that I have seen," Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said of the extensive flooding. Arroyo said more rain had fallen on Manila and surrounding areas than on New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina devastated the US city in 2005.
The confirmed death toll was 73, with 23 others still missing, Teodoro said yesterday evening.
He added that more than 337,000 people in Manila and five outlying provinces were displaced, with nearly 60,000 people staying in evacuation centres.
And even though the rain eased yesterday, rescuers said they feared the death toll might rise because receding floodwaters could expose more bodies.
By yesterday night, more than 5,000 people had been saved, but many others were frantically waiting for help while battling thirst and hunger, meaning Arroyo's deadline to rescue everyone during daylight was not met.
Philippine Red Cross chairwoman Gwendolyn Pang said rescuers were struggling to reach many areas, with highways rendered impassable.
"This has never happened before. Almost 80 per cent of metropolitan Manila is underwater," she said. Adding to the chaos, telephone and power services were cut off in the worst-affected areas.
Ketsana alert
Thailand could be affected by tropical storm Ketsana from tomorrow night until Wednesday morning although the impact is unlikely to be too severe, Boontham Tanglamlert, a Meteorological Department officer, warned yesterday.
The nine-hour deluge across Manila on Saturday submerged houses, washed away shanties and turned roads into raging rivers, forcing terrified residents to seek refuge on top of homes or cars where they waited for more than 24 hours.
"I am calling on our countrymen ... to please stay calm," President Gloria Arroyo said, as she set a deadline of nightfall yesterday for the military and other rescuers to save those who remained stranded.
The downpour from tropical storm Ketsana left some areas of Manila under up to six metres of water and its ferocity shocked a country that is used to being battered by typhoons.
"This is the worst that I have seen," Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said of the extensive flooding. Arroyo said more rain had fallen on Manila and surrounding areas than on New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina devastated the US city in 2005.
The confirmed death toll was 73, with 23 others still missing, Teodoro said yesterday evening.
He added that more than 337,000 people in Manila and five outlying provinces were displaced, with nearly 60,000 people staying in evacuation centres.
And even though the rain eased yesterday, rescuers said they feared the death toll might rise because receding floodwaters could expose more bodies.
By yesterday night, more than 5,000 people had been saved, but many others were frantically waiting for help while battling thirst and hunger, meaning Arroyo's deadline to rescue everyone during daylight was not met.
Philippine Red Cross chairwoman Gwendolyn Pang said rescuers were struggling to reach many areas, with highways rendered impassable.
"This has never happened before. Almost 80 per cent of metropolitan Manila is underwater," she said. Adding to the chaos, telephone and power services were cut off in the worst-affected areas.
Ketsana alert
Thailand could be affected by tropical storm Ketsana from tomorrow night until Wednesday morning although the impact is unlikely to be too severe, Boontham Tanglamlert, a Meteorological Department officer, warned yesterday.
LOW EXPECTATIONS OF BANGKOK CLIMATE TALKS
Two years ago, governments from around the world came together on the island of Bali and agreed to urgently rein in the heat-trapping gases blamed for deadly heat waves, melting glaciers and rising seas.
But with just over two months left to reach a deal at a conference in Copenhagen on fighting climate change, negotiations have bogged down over the big issues of emission targets and financing for poor nations. The climate negotiations resume tomorrow in Bangkok, but a growing chorus of voices is warning a pact may be out of reach this year.
"The odds of concluding a final compregensive treaty in Copenhagen are vanishingly small. Many world leaders have started to acknowledge that," said David M Rubenstein, senior fellow for energy and the environment at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.
At Copenhagen, the international community will try to forge a pact to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.
UN climate chief Yvo de Boer told The Associated Press on Friday that negotiations were far behind where they should be. But he said he remained confident a deal would be reached in Copenhagen and that pushing negotiations into 2010 was not an option.
Many activists said they were disappointed that a G-20 meeting ended Friday in Pittsburgh without an agreement on financial assistance to help poor countries shift to clearner economies.
"With 72 days to Copenhagen, rich countries have once again refused to put up the funds needed to deliver the deal in Copenhagen," David Waskov, a climate adviser for Oxfam America, said in Pittsburgh.
"For the hard-hit countries already on the front lines of climate change, the rich countries' failure to act is particularly devastating," he added.
At the Bangkok meeting, the second to last before Copenhagen, 1,500 delegates from 180 countries will try to reduce the 200-page draft agreement to something more manageable. Along the way, they hope to close the gap between rich and poor positions and come close to agreement on such issues as reducing deforestation and sharing of technology.
The two-week meeting follows a UN climate summit last week in New York, where 100 world leaders expressed their support for a deal.
President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao, leaders of the world's two biggest greenhousegas emitters, each vowed tough measures to combat climate change. Japan's new prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, pledged his government would seek a 25-per-cent cut in emissions from 1990 levels by 2020.
"One of the big questions for Bangkok is whether the positive, qualitative spirit we saw from heads of state and ministers [in New York] will trickle down to the negotiating level and make countries more willing to clear away some of underbursh of the text," said Alden Meyer, director of strategy and policy for the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Most countries want a new climate pact that includes measures limiting temperature increases to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, a level necessary to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
UN climate chief Yvo de Boer said negotiations were far behind where they should be. But he said he was confident a deal would be reache din Copenhagen.
But with just over two months left to reach a deal at a conference in Copenhagen on fighting climate change, negotiations have bogged down over the big issues of emission targets and financing for poor nations. The climate negotiations resume tomorrow in Bangkok, but a growing chorus of voices is warning a pact may be out of reach this year.
"The odds of concluding a final compregensive treaty in Copenhagen are vanishingly small. Many world leaders have started to acknowledge that," said David M Rubenstein, senior fellow for energy and the environment at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.
At Copenhagen, the international community will try to forge a pact to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.
UN climate chief Yvo de Boer told The Associated Press on Friday that negotiations were far behind where they should be. But he said he remained confident a deal would be reached in Copenhagen and that pushing negotiations into 2010 was not an option.
Many activists said they were disappointed that a G-20 meeting ended Friday in Pittsburgh without an agreement on financial assistance to help poor countries shift to clearner economies.
"With 72 days to Copenhagen, rich countries have once again refused to put up the funds needed to deliver the deal in Copenhagen," David Waskov, a climate adviser for Oxfam America, said in Pittsburgh.
"For the hard-hit countries already on the front lines of climate change, the rich countries' failure to act is particularly devastating," he added.
At the Bangkok meeting, the second to last before Copenhagen, 1,500 delegates from 180 countries will try to reduce the 200-page draft agreement to something more manageable. Along the way, they hope to close the gap between rich and poor positions and come close to agreement on such issues as reducing deforestation and sharing of technology.
The two-week meeting follows a UN climate summit last week in New York, where 100 world leaders expressed their support for a deal.
President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao, leaders of the world's two biggest greenhousegas emitters, each vowed tough measures to combat climate change. Japan's new prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, pledged his government would seek a 25-per-cent cut in emissions from 1990 levels by 2020.
"One of the big questions for Bangkok is whether the positive, qualitative spirit we saw from heads of state and ministers [in New York] will trickle down to the negotiating level and make countries more willing to clear away some of underbursh of the text," said Alden Meyer, director of strategy and policy for the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Most countries want a new climate pact that includes measures limiting temperature increases to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, a level necessary to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
UN climate chief Yvo de Boer said negotiations were far behind where they should be. But he said he was confident a deal would be reache din Copenhagen.
HM has no fever, is sleeping better
His Majesty the King has no fever and is able to sleep more on his eighth day of treatment at Siriraj Hospital, according to the Royal Household Bureau's statement yesterday. The bureau, in its seventh statement, said His Majesty's fever had disappeared, his blood-test result was normal and he was sleeping better.
His Majesty was admitted to Siriraj Hospital after developing fever and not eating last weekend.
A large number of people continue to flock to the |hospital to sign their names |in the get-well books provided by the Royal Household Bureau.
Those signing get-well |messages yesterday included Wadeng Pateh, 95, who met the King on one of his tours many years ago and who |travelled from Pattani's Sai Buri district; a group of Boxing Association of Thailand members; and National Anti-Corruption Commission secretary-general Klanarong Chantik.
His Majesty was admitted to Siriraj Hospital after developing fever and not eating last weekend.
A large number of people continue to flock to the |hospital to sign their names |in the get-well books provided by the Royal Household Bureau.
Those signing get-well |messages yesterday included Wadeng Pateh, 95, who met the King on one of his tours many years ago and who |travelled from Pattani's Sai Buri district; a group of Boxing Association of Thailand members; and National Anti-Corruption Commission secretary-general Klanarong Chantik.
OBAMA KEEN ON ASEAN-US SUMMIT
US President Barack Obama has confirmed to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva that he would like the first ever Asean-US Summit to take place in Singapore later this year.
The two leaders met prior to the G-20 Summit session on Friday at the David L Lawrence Convention Centre in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Abhisit welcomed Obama's keen interest in Asean-US relations.
"It will commemorate the most productive and enduring relationship Asean has with its dialogue partners," he said, according to a source attending the meeting.
Thailand currently holds the Asean chair and the PM was representing the grouping at the G-20 Summit.
The source said the US president had also informed Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan, who was accompanying Abhisit, that he would like to see US-Asean engagement becoming even more productive and meaningful in all areas.
This came one day after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made public at a Friends of Burma meeting at the United Nations that there would be a review of US-Burma relations.
"The president appears to be very keen and very clear about his desire to see our partnership moving onto a higher plane. That is very encouraging and gratifying indeed," said Surin when asked via e-mail about Obama's comments to Abhisit.
Since the Asean meeting in Phuket in late July, Asean and US diplomats have been engaged in a frenzy of activity to improve the Asean-US dialogue partnership, which is 32 years old.
A new momentum toward better relations has gained pace since the new US administration came into power in January. Clinton's visit to the Asean Secretariat in Jakarta in February - the first ever by a US secretary of state - promised a reversal in the long-standing US low-profit engagement with the grouping.
The US in July signed an agreement to accede to the Asean Treaty of Amity and Cooperation after 17 years of consideration.
The accession has increased mutual confidence between Asean and the US.
A total of 26 countries have now signed the 1976 regional code of conduct.
The first Asean-US Commemorative Summit, which was originally planned for September 2007, is expected to take place in Singapore when the island-state hosts the next summit of leaders from the Asia-Pacific Economic Coo-peration (Apec) countries in November.
Most Asean countries and the US are part of Apec.
Surin also said via e-mail that Asean-US relations being put back on centre stage formed part of Washington's Asian diplomatic drive.
At the G-20 Summit, Abhisit reiterated the role that Asean+3 (China, Japan and South Korea) was playing in solving the global financial crisis.
He discussed the regional liquidity-support mechanism known as the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralisation, which will become effective later this year.
He said the multilateral selfhelp mechanism would enable Asean+3 countries to systemically support each other in solving their liquidity problems.
KEY AGREEMENTS
These are the main points of agreements by leaders of the Group of 20.
ECONOMIC GROWTH: Support economic activity until recovery is assured. Finance ministers will develop coordinated exit strategies from stimulus efforts at appropriate time.
NEW ROLE FOR G-20: G-20 will replace the G-8 as the main forum for coordinating global economic policy. The G-20 includes rapidly industrialising nations such as China, India and Brazil that are not part of the wealthier G-8.
MORE REGULATION: Improve the regulation, functioning and transparency of financial and commodity markets "to address excessive commodity price volatility". Financial institutions "must be subject to consistent, consolidated supervision and regulation with high standrads."
BONUS PAYMENTS: Tie bank executives' pay more closely to long-term performance of their investment decisions. Discourage guaranteed multiyear bonuses, which encourage risky investments.
TRADE: Oppose protectionism. Swiftly implement the $250-billion (Bt8.38 trillion) trade finance initiative. Oppose new barriers to investment or to trade in goods and services.
FOSSIL FUELS: Phase out inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies and push toward investment in cleaner energy sources. "Spare no effort" to get a global warming agreement passed in Copenhagen, Denmark in December.
BALANCED GRWOTH: Take steps to ensure "strong, sustainable and balanced growth" and to build a stronger international system. Monitor economic policies to pursue sustainable patterns that don't rely heavily on huge exports from a few countries and huge consumption by a few others.
POOR PEOPLE: Through the World Bank and regional development banks, take steps "to increase access to food, fuel and finance among the world's poorest while clamping down on illicit outflors".
The two leaders met prior to the G-20 Summit session on Friday at the David L Lawrence Convention Centre in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Abhisit welcomed Obama's keen interest in Asean-US relations.
"It will commemorate the most productive and enduring relationship Asean has with its dialogue partners," he said, according to a source attending the meeting.
Thailand currently holds the Asean chair and the PM was representing the grouping at the G-20 Summit.
The source said the US president had also informed Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan, who was accompanying Abhisit, that he would like to see US-Asean engagement becoming even more productive and meaningful in all areas.
This came one day after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made public at a Friends of Burma meeting at the United Nations that there would be a review of US-Burma relations.
"The president appears to be very keen and very clear about his desire to see our partnership moving onto a higher plane. That is very encouraging and gratifying indeed," said Surin when asked via e-mail about Obama's comments to Abhisit.
Since the Asean meeting in Phuket in late July, Asean and US diplomats have been engaged in a frenzy of activity to improve the Asean-US dialogue partnership, which is 32 years old.
A new momentum toward better relations has gained pace since the new US administration came into power in January. Clinton's visit to the Asean Secretariat in Jakarta in February - the first ever by a US secretary of state - promised a reversal in the long-standing US low-profit engagement with the grouping.
The US in July signed an agreement to accede to the Asean Treaty of Amity and Cooperation after 17 years of consideration.
The accession has increased mutual confidence between Asean and the US.
A total of 26 countries have now signed the 1976 regional code of conduct.
The first Asean-US Commemorative Summit, which was originally planned for September 2007, is expected to take place in Singapore when the island-state hosts the next summit of leaders from the Asia-Pacific Economic Coo-peration (Apec) countries in November.
Most Asean countries and the US are part of Apec.
Surin also said via e-mail that Asean-US relations being put back on centre stage formed part of Washington's Asian diplomatic drive.
At the G-20 Summit, Abhisit reiterated the role that Asean+3 (China, Japan and South Korea) was playing in solving the global financial crisis.
He discussed the regional liquidity-support mechanism known as the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralisation, which will become effective later this year.
He said the multilateral selfhelp mechanism would enable Asean+3 countries to systemically support each other in solving their liquidity problems.
KEY AGREEMENTS
These are the main points of agreements by leaders of the Group of 20.
ECONOMIC GROWTH: Support economic activity until recovery is assured. Finance ministers will develop coordinated exit strategies from stimulus efforts at appropriate time.
NEW ROLE FOR G-20: G-20 will replace the G-8 as the main forum for coordinating global economic policy. The G-20 includes rapidly industrialising nations such as China, India and Brazil that are not part of the wealthier G-8.
MORE REGULATION: Improve the regulation, functioning and transparency of financial and commodity markets "to address excessive commodity price volatility". Financial institutions "must be subject to consistent, consolidated supervision and regulation with high standrads."
BONUS PAYMENTS: Tie bank executives' pay more closely to long-term performance of their investment decisions. Discourage guaranteed multiyear bonuses, which encourage risky investments.
TRADE: Oppose protectionism. Swiftly implement the $250-billion (Bt8.38 trillion) trade finance initiative. Oppose new barriers to investment or to trade in goods and services.
FOSSIL FUELS: Phase out inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies and push toward investment in cleaner energy sources. "Spare no effort" to get a global warming agreement passed in Copenhagen, Denmark in December.
BALANCED GRWOTH: Take steps to ensure "strong, sustainable and balanced growth" and to build a stronger international system. Monitor economic policies to pursue sustainable patterns that don't rely heavily on huge exports from a few countries and huge consumption by a few others.
POOR PEOPLE: Through the World Bank and regional development banks, take steps "to increase access to food, fuel and finance among the world's poorest while clamping down on illicit outflors".
Thursday, September 24, 2009
HM regains strength, gets his appetite back
His Majesty the King is continuing to regain his strength and is eating more meals, the Royal Household Bureau says.
The committee of royal physicians yesterday reported His Majesty had no signs of fever in the past 24 hours, the bureau said.
The King could eat more meals and was undergoing physical therapy to regain his strength. Blood tests revealed no growth of bacteria.
The King was admitted to Siriraj Hospital on Saturday with a fever, fatigue and loss of appetite.
Meanwhile, Thanpuying Putri Viravaidya, deputy private secretary to the King, said His Majesty had asked the committee to produce books and CDs of the Supreme Patriach's sermons so his words could reach young people.
They will be given to schools and libraries to mark the monk's 96th birthday on Oct 3. The Supreme Patriarch is being treated at Chulalongkorn Hospital.
The committee of royal physicians yesterday reported His Majesty had no signs of fever in the past 24 hours, the bureau said.
The King could eat more meals and was undergoing physical therapy to regain his strength. Blood tests revealed no growth of bacteria.
The King was admitted to Siriraj Hospital on Saturday with a fever, fatigue and loss of appetite.
Meanwhile, Thanpuying Putri Viravaidya, deputy private secretary to the King, said His Majesty had asked the committee to produce books and CDs of the Supreme Patriach's sermons so his words could reach young people.
They will be given to schools and libraries to mark the monk's 96th birthday on Oct 3. The Supreme Patriarch is being treated at Chulalongkorn Hospital.
HIV trial provides hope
A breakthrough in the world's largest and long-running HIV vaccine trial has given new hope in the battle against HIV/Aids.
The results of the trial carried out in Thailand released yesterday show the vaccine has 31.2% efficacy in preventing HIV/Aids infections.
Although its effectiveness did not reach the 50% efficacy rate needed to apply for a vaccine licence, and the vaccine, tested on over 16,000 volunteers in Chon Buri and Rayong, cannot lower the level of virus in the blood,the result was considered a success.
"The outcome represents a significant finding in HIV vaccine development because for the first time ever there is evidence that an Aids vaccine has preventive efficacy," Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said.
"Although it is not high enough for use, the result will help future vaccine research and development."
No previous vaccine trials have shown evidence of success against the virus.
Jerome Kim, deputy director (science)of the US Military Research Programme,a partner in the project, hailed the results as a big step forward.
"Although the results were modest,this is a very important scientific advance and gives us hope that a globally effective vaccine may be possible in the future,"Col Kim said.
Researchers would have to determine why the vaccine worked, he said.
Other project participants are the National Institute of Health and vaccine manufacturers Sanofi Pasteur and Global Solutions for Infectious Disease.
The Thai Phase III HIV vaccine clinical trial began in October 2003.
The so-called prime-boost test combines two vaccines - Alvac, which was created by France-based Sanofi Pasteur,and Aidsvax B/E, made by Global Solutions for Infectious Disease - to stimulate different immune response systems simultaneously.
Each volunteer was given a vaccine or a placebo over a one-year period and checked after at least three and a half years.
It was controversial at the beginning mainly because of the previous failure of the Aidsvax component. Initially, the US$105 million (3.5 billion baht) project also faced a shortfall in volunteers.
Principal investigator Supachai Rerksngarm said infected volunteers developed roughly the same amount of virus in their blood whether they were given the vaccine or the placebo.
At the start of the trial, none of the volunteers was infected. Half received the vaccine and the rest were given a placebo. Of the placebo recipients 74 of 8,198 became infected compared with 51 of 8,197 who received the vaccine.
Two volunteers also died.The vaccine was tested on volunteers - all HIV negative men and women aged from 18 to 30- at average risk of infection starting in October 2003.
Dr Supachai said it would take some time before a new Aids vaccine trial would start as scientists still had to analyse what particular response was effective in the clinical trial held in Thailand.
Scientists also have to report findings on volunteers and decide if a longterm project monitoring volunteers should be carried out since the efficacy did not match the researchers' goal.
Mitchell Warren, executive director of the New York-based Global Advocacy for HIV Prevention, said talks about the effect of the vaccine were needed.
US ambassador to Thailand Eric John hoped the result would help Aids vaccine research.
"This trial will be recognised. The conclusion has brought us one step closer to Aids vaccine development."
The results of the trial carried out in Thailand released yesterday show the vaccine has 31.2% efficacy in preventing HIV/Aids infections.
Although its effectiveness did not reach the 50% efficacy rate needed to apply for a vaccine licence, and the vaccine, tested on over 16,000 volunteers in Chon Buri and Rayong, cannot lower the level of virus in the blood,the result was considered a success.
"The outcome represents a significant finding in HIV vaccine development because for the first time ever there is evidence that an Aids vaccine has preventive efficacy," Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said.
"Although it is not high enough for use, the result will help future vaccine research and development."
No previous vaccine trials have shown evidence of success against the virus.
Jerome Kim, deputy director (science)of the US Military Research Programme,a partner in the project, hailed the results as a big step forward.
"Although the results were modest,this is a very important scientific advance and gives us hope that a globally effective vaccine may be possible in the future,"Col Kim said.
Researchers would have to determine why the vaccine worked, he said.
Other project participants are the National Institute of Health and vaccine manufacturers Sanofi Pasteur and Global Solutions for Infectious Disease.
The Thai Phase III HIV vaccine clinical trial began in October 2003.
The so-called prime-boost test combines two vaccines - Alvac, which was created by France-based Sanofi Pasteur,and Aidsvax B/E, made by Global Solutions for Infectious Disease - to stimulate different immune response systems simultaneously.
Each volunteer was given a vaccine or a placebo over a one-year period and checked after at least three and a half years.
It was controversial at the beginning mainly because of the previous failure of the Aidsvax component. Initially, the US$105 million (3.5 billion baht) project also faced a shortfall in volunteers.
Principal investigator Supachai Rerksngarm said infected volunteers developed roughly the same amount of virus in their blood whether they were given the vaccine or the placebo.
At the start of the trial, none of the volunteers was infected. Half received the vaccine and the rest were given a placebo. Of the placebo recipients 74 of 8,198 became infected compared with 51 of 8,197 who received the vaccine.
Two volunteers also died.The vaccine was tested on volunteers - all HIV negative men and women aged from 18 to 30- at average risk of infection starting in October 2003.
Dr Supachai said it would take some time before a new Aids vaccine trial would start as scientists still had to analyse what particular response was effective in the clinical trial held in Thailand.
Scientists also have to report findings on volunteers and decide if a longterm project monitoring volunteers should be carried out since the efficacy did not match the researchers' goal.
Mitchell Warren, executive director of the New York-based Global Advocacy for HIV Prevention, said talks about the effect of the vaccine were needed.
US ambassador to Thailand Eric John hoped the result would help Aids vaccine research.
"This trial will be recognised. The conclusion has brought us one step closer to Aids vaccine development."
Respect MPs memo "was not an order"
Members of the House of Representatives have come under fire over an alleged order requiring parliament officials to show more respect towards MPs.
It is understood the order was issued in a secretariat memo circulated among officials attached to parliament.
Sources said it had been issued based on an observation by a House committee vetting the budget bill for 2010 fiscal year, although a committee member denied it.
House of Representatives secretarygeneral Pitoon Pumhiran said the issue arose from a misunderstanding.
On Wednesday, a director of the central administration attached to the Secretariat of the House of Representatives sent a memo to agencies under the secretariat.
Citing observations made by the House committee that some parliament staff did not show enough respect to MPs, the memo reminded them of their obligations towards elected representatives.
Mr Pitoon insisted the memo was not an order to be imposed on the officials. The memo had merely compiled suggestions and complaints aired by MPs during a House panel meeting deliberating the budget bill. Some MPs had complained officials were not showing them enough respect.
Mr Pitoon said it was his duty to receive the feedback and find ways to make improvements based on suggestions made by MPs.
Mr Pitoon stressed that parliament staff were not obliged to wai MPs as a gesture of respect, although he said it was in keeping with tradition to show respect to each other.
Puea Thai Party MP for Yala Sugarno Mata admitted he had floated the idea for parliament officials to respect and wai MPs.
Puea Thai MP for Chachoengsao Thitima Chaisaeng, who sat on the House budget panel, said the alleged order had tarnished the reputation of parliament as a whole. She thought it was wrong to force parliament staff to grovel to MPs.
It is understood the order was issued in a secretariat memo circulated among officials attached to parliament.
Sources said it had been issued based on an observation by a House committee vetting the budget bill for 2010 fiscal year, although a committee member denied it.
House of Representatives secretarygeneral Pitoon Pumhiran said the issue arose from a misunderstanding.
On Wednesday, a director of the central administration attached to the Secretariat of the House of Representatives sent a memo to agencies under the secretariat.
Citing observations made by the House committee that some parliament staff did not show enough respect to MPs, the memo reminded them of their obligations towards elected representatives.
Mr Pitoon insisted the memo was not an order to be imposed on the officials. The memo had merely compiled suggestions and complaints aired by MPs during a House panel meeting deliberating the budget bill. Some MPs had complained officials were not showing them enough respect.
Mr Pitoon said it was his duty to receive the feedback and find ways to make improvements based on suggestions made by MPs.
Mr Pitoon stressed that parliament staff were not obliged to wai MPs as a gesture of respect, although he said it was in keeping with tradition to show respect to each other.
Puea Thai Party MP for Yala Sugarno Mata admitted he had floated the idea for parliament officials to respect and wai MPs.
Puea Thai MP for Chachoengsao Thitima Chaisaeng, who sat on the House budget panel, said the alleged order had tarnished the reputation of parliament as a whole. She thought it was wrong to force parliament staff to grovel to MPs.
Club to protect online news content
Major news groups yesterday jointly committed themselves to enriching the value of their online content while countering the threat from copy-and-paste websites and "netizens" used to getting everything for free.
While the formation of the Online News Producers Club was aimed primarily at protecting the proprietary material of news websites, it may underline the readiness of the print-media industry, which also operates most of the top news websites, to find a firmer commercial foothold in cyberspace.
A joint declaration forming the club was signed by 13 major online news-content providers: ASTV Manager, Thai Rath Online, Daily News Online, Matichon, Post Publishing, the Nation Multimedia Group, Siam Sport, INN Online, Thansettakij Online, Dara Daily Online, Nawnha Online, Siam Rath Online and Thai Post Online.
This is the first formal collaboration of journalists to deal with the current situation where many commercial websites borrow copyrighted material to post on their websites without permission.
The club will be patient and diplomatic at first in trying to convince the commercial websites with pirated news to halt their activities, said Nation Broadcasting president Adisak Limprungpatanakij.
The club wants them to add RSS feeds to their websites, so visitors interested in articles can receive the news from their sources directly, he said.
NO TO PIRACY
"We don't want to limit the news accessibility of people, but we want the owners of commercial websites to be aware of the fact that we have to invest in news production, so they should respect the copyrighted content and not pirate it," Adisak said.
"We always welcome them to make a link back to the original source of news. That would be a better way out for both the websites and the news producers."
The club will select its president and form committees to map out a strategy and measures to promote the proper use of online news among Internet communities and websites.
With news groups still struggling to find a workable online business model, the situation has been hampered by the proliferation of pirated content on commercial websites, a big stumbling block to any plan to charge readers for online news.
All news websites in Thailand are now free, but media-industry observers believe local operators will sooner or later follow the trend of their Western counterparts, who are moving faster towards charging for online news.
While online ad revenue has been increasing, the rise is not fast enough for the print industry to make a drastic switch to a virtual business. Trying to charge readers also carries a risk of sabotaging present online ad revenue, which depends largely on the number of visitors to each website.
While the formation of the Online News Producers Club was aimed primarily at protecting the proprietary material of news websites, it may underline the readiness of the print-media industry, which also operates most of the top news websites, to find a firmer commercial foothold in cyberspace.
A joint declaration forming the club was signed by 13 major online news-content providers: ASTV Manager, Thai Rath Online, Daily News Online, Matichon, Post Publishing, the Nation Multimedia Group, Siam Sport, INN Online, Thansettakij Online, Dara Daily Online, Nawnha Online, Siam Rath Online and Thai Post Online.
This is the first formal collaboration of journalists to deal with the current situation where many commercial websites borrow copyrighted material to post on their websites without permission.
The club will be patient and diplomatic at first in trying to convince the commercial websites with pirated news to halt their activities, said Nation Broadcasting president Adisak Limprungpatanakij.
The club wants them to add RSS feeds to their websites, so visitors interested in articles can receive the news from their sources directly, he said.
NO TO PIRACY
"We don't want to limit the news accessibility of people, but we want the owners of commercial websites to be aware of the fact that we have to invest in news production, so they should respect the copyrighted content and not pirate it," Adisak said.
"We always welcome them to make a link back to the original source of news. That would be a better way out for both the websites and the news producers."
The club will select its president and form committees to map out a strategy and measures to promote the proper use of online news among Internet communities and websites.
With news groups still struggling to find a workable online business model, the situation has been hampered by the proliferation of pirated content on commercial websites, a big stumbling block to any plan to charge readers for online news.
All news websites in Thailand are now free, but media-industry observers believe local operators will sooner or later follow the trend of their Western counterparts, who are moving faster towards charging for online news.
While online ad revenue has been increasing, the rise is not fast enough for the print industry to make a drastic switch to a virtual business. Trying to charge readers also carries a risk of sabotaging present online ad revenue, which depends largely on the number of visitors to each website.
HOPES RISE FOR HIV VACCINE
The world's largest HIV/Aids vaccine trial-conducted in Thailand over the last several years-shows it is now possible to produce a powerful prevention against the viral killer.
"The outcome represents a breakthrough in HIV-vaccine development, because for the first time ever there is evidence an HIV vaccine can be effective," Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said yesterday.
However, while the Phase III trial, carried out jointly by the US military and Thai scientists, found the experimental vaccine was 31.2-per-cent effective in reducing the risk of infection, it failed to reduce the HIV virus in the blood of infected persons.
Dr Supachai Rerk-ngarm, project director for Thailand's Phase III HIV vaccine clinical trial, said researchers had targeted a 50-per-cent efficacy rate but that the outcome was less: 31.2 per cent.
"Although it's not high enough for use just yet, this is significant evidentce that can lead to higher vaccine efficacy in the future. Whether the vaccine will be licensed or what furthe studies need to be done, data will be considered thoroughly by Thai and international experts," he said.
Colonel Jerome Kim of the US military's HIV research programme said via a video link that there could be an effective vaccine in the near future.
"This is a turning point for the perspective of vaccine research," he said. "I believe that from now, scientists around the world will convene and discuss among each other on how to develop the next generation of HIV vaccine in the future."
The Thai experiment, known as RV 144, tested the "prime boost" combination of two vaccines: Alvac HIV vaccine (the prime), produced by Sanofi-Pasteru; and Aidsvax B/E vaccine(the boost), produced by Global Solotions for Infectious Diseases.
This combination was based on an HIV strain that commonly circulated in Thailand.
VOLUNTEERS
The RV 144 was designed to test the vaccine strategy's ability to prevent HIV infection and reduce the amount of HIV in the blood (viral load) of those who became infected after they enrolled in the study.
The Public Health Ministry conducted the study, which was sponsored by the US Army Surgeon-General with US$105 million(Bt3.52 billion), while Mahidol University and the Armed Forced Research Institute of Medical Science, operating out of Thailand, helped conduct the trial.
The Phase III vaccine study was launched in 2003 and involved 16,402 non-infected volunteers aged 18-30 at average risk of HIV infection.
Half of them received the prime-boost vaccine combination and half received a placebo.
The vaccinations ended in July 2006, and the volunteers took an HIV test every six months for three years.
They received counselling on how to prevent infection with HIV at the beginning of the study and every six months after the start of the trial, for a total of three-and-a-half years.
The International Data and Safety Monitoring Board did not identify any safety concerns after they met eight times since the trial's inception.
The study vaccines did not cause HIV infection, because they are not made from and do not contain the ednire virus, live of killed.
"The outcome represents a breakthrough in HIV-vaccine development, because for the first time ever there is evidence an HIV vaccine can be effective," Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said yesterday.
However, while the Phase III trial, carried out jointly by the US military and Thai scientists, found the experimental vaccine was 31.2-per-cent effective in reducing the risk of infection, it failed to reduce the HIV virus in the blood of infected persons.
Dr Supachai Rerk-ngarm, project director for Thailand's Phase III HIV vaccine clinical trial, said researchers had targeted a 50-per-cent efficacy rate but that the outcome was less: 31.2 per cent.
"Although it's not high enough for use just yet, this is significant evidentce that can lead to higher vaccine efficacy in the future. Whether the vaccine will be licensed or what furthe studies need to be done, data will be considered thoroughly by Thai and international experts," he said.
Colonel Jerome Kim of the US military's HIV research programme said via a video link that there could be an effective vaccine in the near future.
"This is a turning point for the perspective of vaccine research," he said. "I believe that from now, scientists around the world will convene and discuss among each other on how to develop the next generation of HIV vaccine in the future."
The Thai experiment, known as RV 144, tested the "prime boost" combination of two vaccines: Alvac HIV vaccine (the prime), produced by Sanofi-Pasteru; and Aidsvax B/E vaccine(the boost), produced by Global Solotions for Infectious Diseases.
This combination was based on an HIV strain that commonly circulated in Thailand.
VOLUNTEERS
The RV 144 was designed to test the vaccine strategy's ability to prevent HIV infection and reduce the amount of HIV in the blood (viral load) of those who became infected after they enrolled in the study.
The Public Health Ministry conducted the study, which was sponsored by the US Army Surgeon-General with US$105 million(Bt3.52 billion), while Mahidol University and the Armed Forced Research Institute of Medical Science, operating out of Thailand, helped conduct the trial.
The Phase III vaccine study was launched in 2003 and involved 16,402 non-infected volunteers aged 18-30 at average risk of HIV infection.
Half of them received the prime-boost vaccine combination and half received a placebo.
The vaccinations ended in July 2006, and the volunteers took an HIV test every six months for three years.
They received counselling on how to prevent infection with HIV at the beginning of the study and every six months after the start of the trial, for a total of three-and-a-half years.
The International Data and Safety Monitoring Board did not identify any safety concerns after they met eight times since the trial's inception.
The study vaccines did not cause HIV infection, because they are not made from and do not contain the ednire virus, live of killed.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Mafia suspect used crocodile as "enforcer"
Italian police have seized a crocodile allegedly used by a suspected mafia boss to intimidate people into paying protection money,officials say.
The 40 kilogramme,1.7-metre-long reptile was kept on a terrace equipped with a small pool.
The crocodile was discovered during a search at the house of the suspected mafia boss near the southern town of Caserta.
"The crocodile was fed live rabbits,a spectacle neighbours could watch from surrounding terraces," police anti-mafia squad official Maurizio Vallone told the German press agency dpa.
The suspect who has been charged with the illegal possession of animals,is believed to run several racketeering operations in Caserta, an area where the Naples version of the mafia the Camorra is highly active.
The 40 kilogramme,1.7-metre-long reptile was kept on a terrace equipped with a small pool.
The crocodile was discovered during a search at the house of the suspected mafia boss near the southern town of Caserta.
"The crocodile was fed live rabbits,a spectacle neighbours could watch from surrounding terraces," police anti-mafia squad official Maurizio Vallone told the German press agency dpa.
The suspect who has been charged with the illegal possession of animals,is believed to run several racketeering operations in Caserta, an area where the Naples version of the mafia the Camorra is highly active.
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