320 killed on highways in seven days of Songkran

BANGKOK, April 18--- Thailand’s death toll from road accidents nationwide during Thailand’s traditional week-long Songkran new year reached 320 with the number of injuries at 3,320 persons, according to the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department.

During seven days of the Songkran holiday from April 11-17, 320 deaths were reported, rising by 49 persons compared to the same period last year, Deputy Prime Minister/Interior Minister Yongyuth Vichaidit told a news briefing on Wednesday in his capacity as director of the Road Safety Centre.

There were 3,129 accidents in total.

The deputy premier said that the northernmost province of Chiang Rai recorded the highest number of accidents at 125 and the highest number of casualties at 124.

Meanwhile, the southern province of Surat Thani had the highest death tally at 13 persons.

However, six provinces, including Nakhon Phanom, Trat, Trang, Pattani, Ranong and Satun, recorded no deaths from road accidents.

The major cause of accidents was attriibuted to drunken driving, followed by speeding, Mr Yongyuth explained.

He said that the road safety centre would compile the 7-day road accident statistics and provide suggestions to report to the Cabinet later and coordinate with concerned agencies to come up with measures and plans, aiming to reduce the number of deaths and injuries to zero.

In an attempt to cut the number of traffic accidents and casualties to the lowest levels possible, the government launched its campaign during the "Seven Dangerous Days" beginning April 11 through 17 to raise awareness among motorists to drive more carefully during Thailand’s traditional new year.

How Thailand can become the 'Detroit of Asia'

BANGKOK: -- Most people in Thailand believe that the country's potential in every sector will help it become the largest auto-producing nation in the region.

Thailand has been referred to as the "Detroit of Asia" for many years, although the basic foundation of the country was never planned to serve the expansion of auto production in the long term.

During the past several years, labour wages in Thailand have risen according to the higher cost of living, which is normal in a free global economy. But there has been a shortage in the workforce below the bachelor degree level because mistakes have been made in the planning of the national education system, which is not in harmony with the development of the country. There are also other factors, including a split in society due to politics.

Corruption by government officials at every level, the inability to effectively deal with natural disasters that are growing stronger each year, as well as the announcing of a free-trade area that allows tax-free imports in many areas, all come together in lowering Thailand's importance as an auto production base. There has even been talk recently about relocating the production bases for automobiles and parts to other countries in the region.

Initially, Vietnam was considered an important competitor to Thailand, but I’ve always said that Vietnam and the Philippines - that used to be a production base many years ago - are still far away from being able to compete against Thailand even in the near future.

However, the country we should be looking at the most is Indonesia. Almost every major auto manufacturer has an assembly plant in Indonesia, and though they are mostly joint-venture companies with local shareholders, the pattern was seen before in Thailand. There are chances that the brand owner may decided to increase its stake in these operations, which is not difficult these days since trade and investment barriers are more difficult to put up.

The benefit of relocating production from Thailand to Indonesia is that brand owners do not have to start from scratch in terms of investment, especially major Japanese auto-makers that have long been present in Indonesia.

According to the JAMA (Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association), Toyota has invested in Indonesia since 1971 and Mitsubishi entered that country in 1973. Other Japanese companies such as Hino, Honda, Isuzu, Nissan and Suzuki have all invested in Indonesia.

At the same time, the political situation in Indonesia has become more stable, unlike in Thailand where more and more conflicts are taking place, and there seems to be no quick solution. Indonesia's corruption problem is also improving, but corruption in Thailand is bound to become worse. There have been accusations of corruption in every government project, even the country's national disaster-relief projects.

Another important factor for investment is the sales figure in each country. Being able to sell thousands of vehicles in the home country dramatically helps lower production cost due to a larger economy of scale. This makes vehicles more price competitive when exported.

According to the sales figures of JAMA members in the Asean region in 2011, Thailand is the largest market with sales of 746,000 vehicles, followed by Indonesia with 728,101.

Malaysia is a distant third with 399,946 vehicles, followed by the Philippines with 135,296, Vietnam with 45,042 and Singapore with 16,883.

You can see that only Thailand and Indonesia have the same level of sales.

But Indonesia has a much larger chance of growing than Thailand. The 250 million people in Indonesia are enjoying increased income every year, and this will help accelerate auto sales there as compared to the 65 million people in Thailand.

As a Thai citizen who wants to see continued growth of automobile production in Thailand, the region's leader, I also want to see authorities make an attempt to improve the foundation in every sector so it is in harmony with growth.

This means supporting the auto-parts industry, having a long-term energy plan that is trustworthy, clear tax policies and development of skilled workers for factories that need to be improved urgently.

Otherwise, the phrase "Detroit of Asia" would just be a joke and Indonesia will eventually grab the title of the largest auto producer in Asean.

Plan to give MPs iPADs and smart phones comes under fire

BANGKOK: -- A government plan to give MPs and senators Tablet PCs and smart phones have been heavily criticised by social media users and some parliamentarians.

Senator Rosana Tositrakul, was one who opposes the idea. "Our country already has much debt so we should save the money," she said.

Rosana said the notebook computer that MPs and senators get should be enough for their work. "No need for tablets or mobile phones."

Deputy Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanij revealed the plan to buy tablet computers for senators and MPs to a Senate committee last Wednesday and the meeting had no comment on it, Rosana said. She is a member of the Senate panel on preventing corruption and promoting good governance.

On Twitter, many users questioned whether the parliamentarians will utilise the devices.

@paenewfolder said: "I think it is more or less surely about commission. Are (the gadgets) necessary for them? No. But they will take them if they are given. But what they are going to use the gadget for?"

@Bodee said: "It is important who started this, and what the prime minister thinks about it. The public should now."

@kidousenshi posted: "What kind of an iPhone costs over Bt70,000? NACC should investigate."

Deputy House Speaker Charoen Jankomol yesterday confirmed the Bt50-million plan, saying that with such a budget they could purchase handsets and licensed programmes. Some 700 sets of equipment would be procured and the next step was to identify equipment specifications.

Tablets and smart phones would be provided to MPs, senators and senior officers of the Parliament (director level and upper).

Charoen said earlier the Parliament secretariat had identified the "best" available equipment.

Democrat MP Boonyod Suktinthai, a member of the House Affairs committee, said the panel had not officially discussed the issue but there had been talk that a survey should be conducted to learn about parliamentarians' needs and necessities.

He explained that the House Speaker had authority to decide what to do with funds remaining from last year. In this case, Deputy House Speaker Charoen was in charge of the project.

Boonyod said he only knew about plans to give out iPad tablet PCs, but not iPhones as well.

"Some MPs are used to the laptop they are using, and they don't want to learn to use the touch screen. I still see some MPs carrying the Toshiba laptops nowadays," he said.

Boonyod was referring to Toshiba laptops bought by the Parliament and given to the previous group of House MPs to work on. They signed forms noting that they had been given the laptops on loan and some were still using them.

Meanwhile, some new MPs had received Lenovo laptops, allegedly donated by the Chinese government, instead of Toshiba laptops, which some former MPs had failed to return to the Parliament.

Boonyod gave an example of the air-card Internet-connection device that Parliament provided to MPs, as a problem in the past. While many members did not use it, Parliament needed to pay a monthly fee for this.

However, Boonyod said he did not think any MP would complain if they were given iPADs or tablets.

"It is human nature. When something is given for free, we accept without complaining. If any MP doesn’t use it, (he or she) can let their secretary or assistant use it. MPs won't complain about getting free items. They will complain only if they don't get it or they don't get it equally to what other MPs get."

Boonyod said a concern was that Parliament might buy the products at higher prices than it should pay. And applications would make the cost more, so applications should be provided only if necessary.

Government chief whip Udomdej Ratanasathien said the project was Parliament's plan for human resource development and to use the equipment for communication and coordination. It was no problem that some parliamentarians already had such equipment as it was for the welfare of MPs and he believed they would utilise it to some extent.

A key Pheu Thai member, who asked not to be named, said that in the latter period of the Abhisit Vejjajiva government, Pheu Thai Party gave each MP an iPhone 4 handset so they could talk to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra via Skype - so they could see each other's faces and hear their voices. Thaksin also had phone numbers of all MPs and followed their popularity.

The giving away of mobile phones was due to thinking about the next election, he said. Many MPs were not familiar with the use of smart phone or learning new programmes. They asked their children to teach them how to use them and thought it was their burden having to carry another phone besides their own.

Bangkok Council chairman Suthichai Weerakulsoonthorn, meanwhile, said yesterday the council also planned to give Tablet PC to its members, so they can receive complaints from people via Facebook and email. The council would use its own budget, as Tablet PCs were no longer very costly. He insisted the project would happen.

Thai activist jailed for seven and a half years for royal 'insult'

A Thai political activist was sentenced on Tuesday to seven and a half years in prison in the latest in a series of convictions under the kingdom's controversial royal defamation laws.

Thai political activist Surachai Danwattananusorn also known as Surachai Sae Dan, 71, arrives for his trial, where he is accused of lese majeste charges, at the criminal court in Bangkok

The Criminal Court in Bangkok found Surachai Danwattananusorn guilty of insulting the Thai monarchy during several public speeches he gave to supporters of his "Red Siam" group in 2008 and 2010.

"This case is political motivated," his lawyer Karom Polpornklang told AFP, adding that he planned to appeal the verdict.

Red Siam is a hardcore offshoot of the Red Shirt movement, which is broadly loyal to fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by royalist generals in a 2006 coup.

Two months of mass anti-government protests by the Red Shirts in Bangkok in 2010 descended into the kingdom's worst political violence in decades, with more than 90 people killed in a military crackdown.

The royal family is an extremely sensitive subject in Thailand, but calls for reform of the strict lese majeste legislation have grown following several high-profile convictions.

A 61-year-old man was jailed in November for 20 years for sending text messages deemed insulting to the monarchy, while a US citizen in December was handed two-and-a-half years in prison for defaming the king.

Rights groups say the use of the rules to suppress free speech has worsened under the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra - Thaksin's sister - who rode a wave of support among Red Shirts in an election last year

Dangerous haze in six provinces:

CHIANG RAI:-- Smog levels soar in Phayao; plane delayed by poor visibility in Lampang

Six province in the Upper North were covered by unsafe levels of haze, the Pollution Control Department reported yesterday.

Air in the provinces contained fine particles beyond the acceptable level of 120 micrograms per cubic metre (mg/m3). The latest reading of particulate matter of up to 10 micrometres (PM10) in the province of Phayao was as high as 237 mg/m3, the agency warned.

Lampang had poor visibility of just 800 metres yesterday morning due to dust levels of 200 mg/m3.This caused the air traffic control tower there to order a Bangkok Airways Bangkok-Lampang flight to circle the airport until visibility improved to 1,000 metres before landing, creating a one-hour delay.

The air-quality testing point at Yupparaj School in downtown Chiang Mai reported a level of 128 mg/m3. A level of 173 was reported at Lampang's city shrine; while a station at Tambon Tha Si Health Promotion Hospital reported 207; and Mae Moh waterworks authority office reported 210.

Chiang Rai reported 152 mg/m3, Nan reported 152 and Phrae reported 233. In the region, only Mae Hong Son reported a safe level of 112.

Chief of Chiang Mai's environmental office 1 Apiwat Kunarak said the overall fine-particle dust situation was bad this year and might prove to be worse than 2007 for eight northern provinces in the long term. Some places had already endured seven or eight days of unsafe fine-particle dust - compared to two or three days of unsafe readings at most places in 2007.

Apiwat said the situation was the result of people continuing to disregard authorities' request to stop outdoor burning, especially farmers clearing fields.

Chiang Mai Public Health deputy official Dr Surasing Wisarutrat said officials had asked schools not to make students line up outdoors for the morning flag-raising routine and would issue a formal letter tomorrow seeking their cooperation.

Some 50,000 facemasks were also dispatched to 25 district hospitals for distribution to respiratory patients, he said.

Chiang Rai Governor Thanin Supasaen invoked the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act 2007's Article 15, concerning forest-fire control and prevention, to require farmers near forests to ask permission from their kamnan, or village headman, before burning grass or farm waste and to build firebreaks. Lamphun Governor Surachai Khan-arsa instructed officials and local administrative bodies in Li, Thung Hua Chang, Ban Hong, Pa Sang, Mae Tha, Ban Thi, Wiang Nong Long and Muang districts to send 200 water trucks to spray all roads up to 10 times a day. Lamphun was recording 2,500-3,000 respiratory patients a day.

Tak's Mae Sot and other border districts were covered with fine-particle dust created by outdoor burning in Thailand and Burma, causing eye irritation for some people, while motorists had to drive cautiously due to poor visibility. Flights operated as normal, although some planes had to circle several times before landing due to poor visibility

Thailand Post Inspects All Parcels to Deter Parcel Bombing

BANGKOK: -- The Thailand Post Company has tightened security to inspect all parcels and prevent possible bomb attacks.

Thailand Post Company Managing Director Anusra Chittmittrapap says the company has tightened security in response to the recent triple blasts that rocked Soi Sukhumwit 71 in Bangkok last week.

Anusra said the company has imposed a blanket inspection of all parcels sent from overseas as well as domestic parcels. Officials are also recording the senders' names and addresses.

She said in the event that suspicious parcels are found, the company will coordinate with security agencies to inspect them with a bomb inspector device.

Moreover, she reported that about 2 million parcels are sent and received domestically, and 60 percent of these are sent through the Express Mail Service or EMS. Meanwhile, approximately 76,000 parcels are sent from overseas to Thailand per month, and 49,000 of them are sent via EMS.

Anusra added that Thailand Post has signed a contract with IMPACT Exhibition Management Company to offer logistics services to facilitate those entrepreneurs who will rent display booths at the exhibition. The company will transport their products as well as provide a warehouse to store them during the exhibition.

Thailand Post pointed out that its service will help lessen the burden on entrepreneurs and reduce the amount of cargo at the exhibition site. Approximately two million baht is expected to be generated in the first three months after the service resumes.

Moreover, the company's turn over this year is anticipated to stand at 2 to 3 billion baht. As for the fast approaching ASEAN Economic Community or AEC in 2015, Thailand Post has educated its employees regarding the matter and has already set a development plan in place.

HIV-positive cabdriver admits sexual assaulting and robbing passengers

BANGKOK: -- An HIV-positive taxi driver has been arrested for robbing and raping many of his passengers in Bangkok.

Kaew Sangmuang, 43, claimed he had used condoms every time he had sex because he did not want to spread the deadly virus.

Police yesterday urged victims to come forward and contact Phraya Thai Police Station.

Kaew was arrested on Saturday after he stole a computer notebook from a regular customer and demanded Bt6,000 from a woman to return it. In response to her complaint, police arrested Kaew as soon as he showed up at a superstore in Lat Phrao, where his victim pretended to give him the money.

A search of his cab uncovered national identity cards for nine of his victims and 22 SIM cards.

Cornered by the evidence, Kaew confessed he had raped many passengers aged between 18 and 22 years old. He had also robbed or stolen items from other passengers.

To date, at least seven victims have lodged complaints against him.

"I pretended to have love interest in them and promised to give them some money. Then, I brought them to hotels to have sex after which I would steal their belongings. I also raped some passengers," he said.

Kaew said he sometimes tricked passengers into leaving the cab to help withdraw cash from his bank account via an ATM.

"I promised to wait in the cab. But after they got out, I sped away with their belongings," he said.

Last October, a woman lodged a complaint against Kaew with Lat Phrao Police accusing him of stealing her handbag, with Bt1,000 in cash and a cell-phone in it.

On December 14 last year, another woman lodged a complaint against him with Bang Chan Police accusing him of stealing Bt5,000 in cash, a gold necklace, an iPhone, and her handbag.

On December 26, another victim filed a complaint with Beung Kum Police accusing Kaew of stealing Bt500 in cash, an ATM card, and a cell-phone from her.

Three days later, another victim told Hua Mark Police Kaew stole Bt10,000 in cash, a Blackberry cell-phone, and three passbooks from her. On January 22, another victim complained to Min Buri Police that Kaew stole her Blackberry and Bt5,000 in cash.

And on February 10, two dumb women lodged complaints at Lat Phrao Police saying that he raped and robbed them.