Thai News | 1com News Thailand

China Rocks with 7.8 Quake

A 7.8-magnitude seismic activity felt as far away as Bangkok killed more than 700 inhabitants and covered thousands in rubble in Sichuan province of southwestern China. Establishment spokesmen said they feared 5,000 or more were killed and Chinese President Hu Jintao planned “all-out” efforts to help 900 school kids buried in rubble.

At least four adolescents were established as dead after the earthquake caused several school buildings to collapse and bury nearly 900 students at the Juyuan Middle School in Sichuan’s Dujiangyan city, approximately 100 kilometers from the epicenter of the earthquake, the official Xinhua news agency quoted local government officials as having said.

The official Xinhua news agency quote officials from the Sichuan regional catastrophe relief headquarters as saying that up to 80% of buildings in Beichuan had collapsed after the earthquake.

It said officials also projected that about 10,000 people were hurt in Beichuan, which is about 100 kilometers from the epicenter of the quake.

The quake also inflicted damage to Sichuan’s capital, Chengdu, and the nearby city of Chongqing. At least 45 inhabitants died in Chengdu, where rail and air services, were suspended.

Officially, more than 600 people were injured, 58 of them critically, government media quoted the provincial seismological bureau as saying.

Administration and local officials said the quake struck at exactly 2:28pm local time (1:28pm in Thailand) although shock waves would not have been felt in Thailand for several minutes. Wenchuan County, Sichuan province was the epicenter. It was felt in cities hundreds of kilometers away, including Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, in addition to Bangkok.

“Major tremors” were felt by the populace of cities nearer to the epicenter, as well as Sichuan’s capital, Chengdu, and nearby Chongqing, the official news agency Xinhua said.

China Rocks with 7.8 Quake

Hair Still Seen as Threat to Educators

In a worldwide phenomenon that is also present in Thailand. Educators who are required to wear conservative haircut, on in mail educators who suffer from balding, like to get even for the injustice they suffer by controlling the youthful exuberant style favored youngsters who still have hair they can do something with. If a female’s hair is too short, the student gets an extension to make certain her hair meets policy with the hair styling rules set by balding educators with no imagination or sense of fun. Students’ styles are funky now - and that’s the way they enjoy it. But weird, unconventional hairdos for high-school pupils will hair don’ts next week when the school term starts.

No one’s looking ahead to crew-cuts and bobs, but that’s the imperative and all good effects must come to an end when school is in session.

Above and beyond a bad-hair nightmare, parents will be summoned to school for counseling, while grades can be adversely affected if pupils attempt resist the style at Suankularb Wittayalai Nonthaburi school, which will follow the Education Ministry’s edict.

It was great while it lasted. Korean, bangs, Red, blonde, bright brown, short, long and curly styles are stylish all summer.

Before the new school term starts, all hair will have to be a natural color. But what about the style of the cut? “They don’t understand - it’s a big quandary for kids,” a student complained

So far, there is no compelling scientific that associate hair length and color to academic achievement.

Hair Still Seen as Threat to Educators

Weather Reporting Oversight Leads to 102,000 deaths in Burma

According to Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama, Thailand will act as a intermediary to help with the progress of global aid provisions to cyclone stricken Burma, which are obstructed by the military rulers, and are stuck in Thailand

The moves come as the UN estimates up to as many as 102,000 people could have died as a result of Cyclone Nargis and about 220,000 people are still reported missing.

Mr Noppadon said he intends to leave for Burma tomorrow to set in motion additional aid and request the Burmese generals to make available wider admission and to allow foreign help for the cyclone sufferers.

He said he will also ask that overseas experts be permitted to enter Burma to give charitable aid to the cyclone victims.

He went on to say that foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) will convene in Singapore on May 19 to confer about ways to be of assistance the Burmese victims.

The amount of people reported missing after the cyclone hit has risen to approximately 220,000, the United Nations alleged, and it feared of ecological damage, bloodshed and mass exodus within the country.

U.N. assessment of 55 towns and villages in the Irrawaddy delta and other disaster stricken areas found that as many as 102,000 inhabitants could have died in the cyclone, which struck fragile homes with severe winds and massive waves on May 2.

The United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stated ”Based on these assessments, the UN estimates that 1,215,885 to 1,919,485 people have been affected by the cyclone, the number of deaths could range from 63,290 to 101,682, and 220,000 people are reported to be missing,”

The State-run television in Burma reported last evening that the fatality toll had risen to more than 28,458 and 33,416 people was missing.

It has been reported that the Burmese government issued no warnings about the cyclone although Indian weather service claims the gave The Burmese government repeated warnings up to three days in advance.

Weather Reporting Oversight Leads to 102,000 deaths in Burma

Thailand Coup Poll | over 50% of Thai Citizens think there will be another Coup

55.6% percent of Thai people polled think there will be another coup within the next 6 months, a leading poll said on Sunday. The poll was conducted by Assumption University in Thailand. The Poll said that of 3,404 people surveyed in Thai Poll, 55.6% said that Thailand might have a coup during the next 6 months and 54.6% expected, unexpected events to, perhaps violent events or rioting. Only 53.6% of Thai people polled in survey done from May 6th to 10th expected PM Samak to remain as prime minister, 87.8% of people polled in Thailand said they expect a higher cost of living. And 80% expect a higher Crime Rate.

Thailand Coup Poll | 50% + Thai Citizens think there will be another Coup

Proposed Ban on Mobile Phones in Thai Theaters | 1com Thailand Editorial by David Barkdull

I waited a few days to cool off after reading about the proposed ban on mobile phones in theaters to combat high levels of intellectual-property rights (IPR) violations in Thailand. I thought the Deputy Commerce Minister would be censured or replaced by now for what could win him the Dumbest Idea of the Year Award. While I cooled my heals and watched for heads to roll over this I have been contacted by several people who wanted to know if this was some kind of elaborate May Fool’s Day joke. Now it appears this is real as no retraction has been published.

We know that the ministers and their underlings will talk to any reporter about anything if given the opportunity. It may be the media to blame for this by asking a mid-level functionary, “What’s happening?” My question is, Can our mobile phones film a video for 90 to 120 minutes with sound? Mine cannot and none of my friends can do it either. Lines are no fun. Ticket lines, snack lines, lines for the metal detector and now maybe check lines for you mobile phones. What happens when they lose your phone? Who is going to go to the movies to be subjected to this type of extraordinary security measure? Is the Commerce Ministry aware that pirated movies actually are received in the country online and uncut from places like China, Malaysia and the United States?

I think the Deputy Commerce Minister should think about what he is saying before he blurts out that IPR violations have destroyed the country’s image in the eyes of the international community. He is the one who is tearing down the image of Thailand while giving the world press something funny to write about. Someone in authority needs to assure the public that the government is working for the people and not for likes of Disney and Sony.

1com Thailand Editorial by David Barkdull

Samak Might or Might not do Something

The Office of Prime Minister’s Office Minister Chusak Sirinil has denounced frequent media reports that he and federation partners have agreed to disband parliament and call fresh elections as soon as parliamentarians complete constitutional amendments. He said a snap vote would be “the last resort” and would be a verdict that would have to be made by the person in charge of the People Power party (PPP). That is Mr. Samak. He went on to dismiss public concern voiced by the Doctors Network, saying charter amendments are obligatory and for the country’s best interests. He said the government was prepared to listen to advice, but will need to thrash out the issue amongst the six alliance party leaders to find a termination to the issue.

Thai Election Commission (EC) chairman Prapan Naikowit urged all sides to judge the charter amendments carefully to avoid any conflicts. On behalf of the EC, he supports the idea of forming a full Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) and calling for public contribution to the process.

Some newspapers reported on Wednesday that Mr. Samak and influential persons of his five federation partners have agreed to use their majority in parliament to bring to a close debates on amendments on their own, and then to call a new election. The only person authorized to dissolve the House is the Prime Minister. Prime Minister Samak is unpredictable in both speech and action. Stay tuned for more nonsense.

Samak Might or Might not do Something.

From today it is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving in Thailand in a vehicle on a road

From today it is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving a vehicle on a road, unless using a hands-free device. Police want to publicise the ban before getting tough and will probably issue cautions at first.

”First, we’ll warn violators to alert them to the danger. ”We will fine the stubborn ones from May 20 onwards,” said deputy Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Panu Kerdlarbpol.

Police have been told to take pictures of drivers who flout the ban, to serve as evidence.

After the grace period ends, offenders will be fined 400 to 1,000 baht. They will also receive 10 penalty points.

Sixty points normally results in the suspension of a driver’s licence. But drivers who break the phone ban a second time will also have their licence suspended. They will be told to attend a three-hour driving safety course, and required to sit an exam to get their licence back.

”These penalties are still too light,” company employee Itipol Kanjanarat, said. He demanded harsher action after he was nearly involved in a collision with a truck driver who was talking on his mobile phone.

The driver was so preoccupied on the phone that he could not decide whether to go straight or make a turn, he said.

Some countries in the Middle East jail offenders briefly, and impose fines. This would immediately reduce road accidents if it were applied here, he said.

However, Pol Maj-Gen Panu believes if officers enforce the ban strictly, the number of accidents will decrease. Only drivers who use hands-free devices such as Small Talk or Bluetooth will be exempt. Those devices allow users to chat on the phone without using their hands.

In Nakhon Ratchasima, hands-free devices have become popular since news of the ban spread. A local trader said sales had increased by up to 40%

From today it is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving in Thailand in a vehicle on a road

Burma | Hillary Clinton Pretends to Care about Someone Else during Campaign

Hillary Clinton stopped glorifying herself for a few seconds yesterday to state, “I call on the junta that has ruled Burma for so many years to please, please, let the rest of the world in to help.” Clinton called on the administration in Burma to permit global relief workforce into the nation to help the assistance effort subsequent to a cyclone that killed thousands of inhabitants.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the people,” Clinton alleged at a campaign assembly late Tuesday after polls had closed in the presidential primary contests in Indiana and North Carolina. The weekend cyclone killed more than 100,000 people. The brutal junta has long been unwilling to allow international organizations into the country but appears to be lessening that position following the destructive storm.

The White House previously on Tuesday announced an additional $3 million in aid to help with the relief effort while hoping to influence the ruling generals to open the country to international help. Burma has plans for a referendum to permanently install military rule and continue its violent oppression of the populace. American oil firms including Union 76, Haliburton, and Chevron are close allies with the Burmese government and profit greatly from its oppressive policies such as slave labor, murder and rape to terrorize the population and increase profits for the junta and its business partners.

Burma | Hillary Clinton Pretends to Care about Someone Else during Campaign

Rumors of Coup Rumors Rumored

Thai Gen Boonsrang Niempradit said yesterday that heresy and rumors about higher up armed forces officers that had gathered with privy council president Gen Prem Tinsulanonda on Wednesday evening to confer about a possible military coup to crush Thai democracy and overturn the will and representation of the Thai people were “unfounded”.

The Supreme Commander claims he was busy welcoming his Indonesia equivalent the preceding night so it was impractical for him to meet with Gen Prem at the same time. He also went on to explain that the Air Force Chief and previous performing chairman for the Council for National Security, Chalit Phukphasuk was as well unavailable, being on his way returning from Chiang Mai yesterday so there was no possible way he could have even held talks with Gen Prem.

Coup rumors continue to circulate since it is believed widely in the Army that that Thai people voted incorrectly in the elections recently, even though the charter that was authored undemocratically by the armed coup installed on Sept. 19, 2006 representing the Thai military, pushed for a different outcome. Many feel the army will act again to overturn democracy in Thailand, and reinstall military rule. This is deemed necessary by the military since under democracy, because the Thai people often vote for the wrong candidates.

Rumors of Coup Rumors Rumored

Human Rights Commission in Thailand Hears Complaints

In spite of the founding of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) under the 1997 Constitution, human rights mistreatment is out of control in Thailand. Less privileged people all over the country are still being disadvantage by wealthy businessmen, state agency representatives and officials, and even sometimes the government itself, mainly due to their lack of information about laws and their civil rights, and for the reason that they have limited funds and means to protect themselves.

Some improvement, nevertheless, has taken place in the Northeast, a region long plagued by shortages of funds and lack of education. A discussion group on human rights security was held late last month by the NHRC and Khon Kaen University. The participants were activists from the northeastern provinces and dignitaries from several universities in the nearby region.

Frequent cases of human rights neglect were reported, mostly by villagers who have been harassed for trespassing on public and military land. In a quantity of cases, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand laid high-voltage power transmission lines over private property, ensuring the landowners werenot able to pledge their own land as collateral for loans. In one case, wealthy businessmen were allowed to rent land in set aside forests but landless villagers who have lived there forever were arrested for trespassing.

In the city of Udon Thani, villagers affected by potash mining begun without their knowledge were arrested when they organized against it. The most horrific case of all is the arrest of a poor woman who had just given birth to twins less than a month before. The police kept her locked in jail at a police station, leaving her babies screaming in hunger an suffering malnutrition.

Nearby villagers were above all perplexed as to why municipal prosecutors chose to prosecute them rather than the foreign mining company who caused the problems. Worse news yet, surveys are being conducted for forthcoming potash mining projects in six other provinces: Chaiyaphum, Nong Khai, Sakon Nakhon, Maha Sarakham, Khon Kaen and Nakhon Ratchasima.

A little known civil law, amended during the Thaksin Shinawatra government reduces the right to land ownership to only 100 metres below ground to benefit mining companies. The villagers claim the state arbitrarily did this without consulting them. This was also one of the complaints, since it deprives land holder of not only mineral wealth, but their land can be destroyed without compensation.

Human Rights Commission in Thailand Hears Complaints