mazeltov

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Somyot, the editor of a magazine that supports the "Red Shirts", held a news conference on May 21 at which he called on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to resign and vowed to continue the opposition movement's struggle.

A day later, an arrest warrant was issued for him under the emergency rule.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Excellent work once again by the PM. Me and many of my anti-red brothers on this forum are so proud of our PM and his dedication to democracy, free speech and reconcilliation. <img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" />

So, are you saying that the editor was arested the next day specifically because he 'held a press conference calling on PM Abhisit to resign'. Is that correct?

Can you please substantiate that this is specifcally true, or is it perhaps possible the arrest was speciically in regard to previous actions / written articles from the editor?

Abhisit will sue you and you will get 6 month or one year jail term if you claim that he is unusual rich or if you dare to say that Abhisit had improperly behaved during an audience, he will bring you to the criminal court too.

If Farang wants to come to Thailand, they should contribute to the local economy too.

Next time, they bring their own van, to visit their own bars, and drink their own beers, and perhaps even import their own girls (from the Philippines).

Contribute to the local economy? Why?

They are free people, free to go anywhere they choose, they don'y have to come to Phuket, nobody 'has to come' to Phuket, and maybe soon with the negative reputation it's strongly building nobody will come.

Nice if the US Navy does decide to come here and nice if they spend some money, but I say again, they don't HAVE TO spend money. You, Khun Rucharee are not god, you cannot dictate or make rules about what they should do, it's their choice.

Maybe in the future they will come to Phuket for supplies and all stay on the ship, would you blame them, and I say again, you cannot tell them what they should do, it's their choice.

well, concentrating on doing local business is 'Sufficiency Economy'. Khun Rucharee advocates one of the key strategies of the Democrats, can't be wrong, right?

...

PM Abhisit seems to be successfully handling several items of importance and apparently this lobbyist deserves zero importance on his priority scale.

EXACTLY!

Same for today at the Ministry of Science and Technology: PM Abhisit handles several items of importance on his priority scale.

If Farang wants to come to Thailand, they should contribute to the local economy too.

Next time, they bring their own van, to visit their own bars, and drink their own beers, and perhaps even import their own girls (from the Philippines).

The drivers were apparently angry that the sailors were boarding passenger vans provided for them free of charge by Glenn Defense Marine, a private firm based in Bangkok that has a contract with the US Navy to provide support services for visiting US Navy ships.

So Bangkok is not Thailand then I assume.

its definitely not local. and nothing in the sense of Sufficiency Economy

If Farang wants to come to Thailand, they should contribute to the local economy too.

Next time, they bring their own van, to visit their own bars, and drink their own beers, and perhaps even import their own girls (from the Philippines).

And I hope if the Thai navy ever visit the coast of the States they recieve the same treatment. But of course they won't because that is not how developed countries welcome guests.

Tourists don't have to use the tuk tuks. It's up to them how they get from A to B.

Where did these people get that feeling of self-entitlement to tourists money? it's a dangerous game when you look at tourists like they're second class citizens.

move on. visit some developed country. problem solved.

All asked to stop calling for emergency decree revocation

BANGKOK, 14 June 2010 (NNT) – The ruling Democrat Party has pleaded all organizations to stop pressing the government to revoke the state of emergency enforcement, reasoning that absence of the security law will help spawn the terrorism network.

Spokesperson to the Democrat Party Leader, Thepthai Senpong, shrugged off the demands and pressures to have the state of emergency inactivated. He believed that those organizations had been misled or had not received correct information.

Many organizations both domestic and international, such as the National Human Rights Commission, the opposition Puea Thai Party, and Amnesty International, have been pressing the government to put an end to the security law as they deem it a violation against human rights.

The spokesperson expressed his opinion that the state of emergency must be kept in effect and said that only ill-intentioned people would be suffering from the law while ordinary citizens would neither be affected nor have their human rights violated.

Mr Thepthai explained that revoking the security law would only promote terrorism to expand further as these ill-intentioned people would make their movements after the security law inactivation. He noted that cancelling the security law without thorough assessment would affect the nation.

Deputy Chairperson of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) and Puea Thai MP, Jatuporn Prompan, earlier warned the government of the third round of protest after the revocation of the state of emergency.

All asked to stop calling for emergency decree revocation : National News Bureau of Thailand

-- NNT 14 June 2010

PM denies conflict of interest, reconciling with terrorists under reconciliation plan

BANGKOK, 13 June 2010 (NNT) - Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has dismissed allegations over the government's plan to reconcile with the terrorists and act unethically.

Speaking on his weekly talk show on Sunday, " Confidence in Thailand with PM Abhisit", the Prime Minister was responding to the recent criticism over the government's reconciliation plan by reaffirming that the government never reconciled with terrorism-related groups or committed any conflicts of interest under the reconciliation roadmap.

He insisted that the state authorities would seriously take legal actions against terrorism-related suspects in the recent political violence in order to speedily bringing back normalcy and peace to the country.

PM Abhisit added that the 5-point roadmap to political and national reconciliation has been progressively executed with the participation of all relevant sectors. He also invited everyone in the nation to take part in the government's reconciliation process as all Thais share a love for peace and desired to see the country move forward.

PM denies conflict of interest, reconciling with terrorists under reconciliation plan : National News Bureau of Thailand

-- NNT 13 June 2010

Abac Poll: Failure of national reform plan likely

BANGKOK, 13 June 2010 (NNT) - The majority of people have expressed no confidence over the success of the government's national reform plan, says recent ABAC Poll.

According to the survey conducted by ABAC Poll Research Center among people on their views towards national reform, the majority of the respondents or 70% stated that they currently had personal problems. 40.1% said the government officials were viewed as key trouble makers, followed by the general public (36.6%) and the government (23.3).

Asking about the main causes of the public's grievances, the majority of the respondents or 61.9% said the conflicts of interests and corruption activities (61.9%), followed by the unjust acts and double standard practices (43.9%) and other related inappropriate acts.

68.8% of the respondents recommended the establishment of the committee for reforming and tackling people's problems at the provincial level. 43.9% said the state officials needed to be reformed, followed by politicians and business operators (32.6%).

The survey also indicated that the majority of the respondents or 66.3% showed no confidence over the accomplishment of the national reform plan while 33.7% thought differently. The people urged the government to resolve the economic problems, followed by poverty and social disparities.

11.2% of the respondents agreed with the House dissolution and fresh elections while 4.5% wanted Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to step down.

Abac Poll: Failure of national reform plan likely : National News Bureau of Thailand

-- NNT 13 June 2010

"Democrat Party executive member Satit Pitutecha warned the government not to be careless since it was possible that Thaksin would do that."

This prove that Democrat MPs are up for sales, else Shortie has nothing to worry about, has he?

555

TOGETHER WE CAN GRAND ...

The Puea Pandin members deep sixed were mostly replaced with more loyal ones.

It also gave a stern object lesson to others that this will not be tolerated.

The lesson being if you want at the trough, don't drop the ball and don't try to

blackmail the lead party in the government.

...

In the censure motion debate Puea Pandin allowed their MPs to vote free. they gave full support for Abhist. But not for Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul and Transport Minister Sophon Saram, both from Bhum Jai Thai Party, targeted for suspected graft violations. Sophon is also responsible for that road project through Khao Yai National Park.

with the cabinet reshuffle the Dems demonstrated that they didn't hear the signals. It would have been a wise decision to replace these two. but i didn't happen, guess why? because the Bhum Jai Thai Party is probably the blackmailer here. And with the recent rumour and more important the denials it looks like, there are some more coalition MPs who are unhappy with the latest cabinet changes(specially the non changes)

a lesson? a lesson of what? mulishness and self-opinionatedness? Abhisit is history soon.

Tasteless photo deleted. Even if it was from the paper.

I can understand that TV is moderating tasteless pictures but if it was relevant to the topic discussed, then may I have the link to the picture please. Please PM if you don't want the newspaper link in TV. The topic of wounded and/or dead people are spot on for this topic

Apologies if picture was off-topic

It wasn't off topic.

calling it "tasteless" a view from an North American, Western European background.

the article from The Nation. a memento mori photography.

the article about nameless innocent victims without a lobby.nobody came to claim their bodies. some already denying that these person ever existed.

but you will not forget after you saw that photo. i saw the photo, it is in my head. i will remember.

People take pictures of the Summer,

Just in case someone thought they had missed it,

And to proved that it really existed.

Fathers take pictures of the mothers,

And the sisters take pictures of brothers,

Just to show that they love one another.

You can't picture love that you took from me,

When we were young and the world was free.

Pictures of things as they used to be,

Don't show me no more, please.

People take pictures of each other,

Just to prove that they really existed,

Just to prove that they really existed.

People take pictures of each other,

And the moment to last them for ever,

Of the time when they mattered to someone.

People take pictures of the Summer,

Just in case someone thought they had missed it,

Just to proved that it really existed.

People take pictures of each other,

And the moment to last them for ever,

Of the time when they mattered to someone.

Picture of me when I was just three,

Sucking my thumb by the old oak tree.

Oh how I love things as they used to be,

Don't show me no more, please.

And how long has it been since his conviction?

Coincidentally, as of today, it's been 600 days since he was convicted and sentenced to 2 years in prison for corruption.

Incidentally, it's also been 682 days since Potjaman was convicted and sentenced to 3 years in prison for tax evasion.

Neither has served any time on these convictions.

and for how many days the police is considering to stripping his rank of?

nearly same same:

they do that since court found that Pol. Lt-Col. Thaksin had violated Article 100 and Article 102 of the National Counter Corruption Act, which states that government officials and their spouses are prohibited from entering into or having interests in contracts with state agencies.

<b>Thaksin may lose his rank</b>

Police are considering stripping former PM Thaksin Shinawatra of his rank of Lieutenant-Colonel for his conviction in the Ratchadaphisek land purchase case. Police spokesman Police Lieutenant-General Watcharapol Prasarnratchakit said the disciplinary division and human resources office, among others, were studying the move. He said they would have to wait for 30 days before proceeding as Thaksin, convicted of violating the anti-graft law, could appeal if he can produce new evidence.

meanwhile the government is very busy too. Using all means to get Pol. Lt-Col. Thaksin. Full power since at least April 2009.

Good Luck to all involved. Keep it up!

This guy Thaksin wont stop. He needs to suffer the same fate as Seh Daeng. He's crying for international intervention something he shrugged off a premier. "The U.N. is not my father". He slaughtered 100's of muslims and assainated thousands of "suspected" drug suspects. Now he wants a "neutral" panel to investigate. The man is desperate to regain money and power at any costs.

When Thaksin said "the UN is not my father" he meant that he isn't worried about when the UN comes to Thailand and does an independent investigation.

Thaksin "slaughtered 100's of muslims and assainated [sic] thousands of "suspected" drug suspects." - that isn't true and nothing more than a very stupid propaganda lie.

sticking to the facts not a stronghold of the Thaksin haters.

Guess it is their different education that separates Thaksin haters at this board from other members.

Although K. Thaksin didn't personally slaughter anyone (as far as I know), he had it done. If K. Abhisit can be accused of killing innocent protesters, why can't we say some like this about K. Thaksin. Fair's fair, and all posters here seem to (dis)like double standards.

next to the 'who pulled the trigger' issue ...

fair comment? standard comment?

recommending the use of deadly force to stop Thaksin. deliberately misquoting him and telling lies. exaggeration and unsubstantiated claims.

maybe a standard here at the board and/or a standard for you.

"slaughtered 100's of muslims and assainated [sic] thousands of "suspected" drug suspects.

please tell me where these numbers coming from?

There is also a difference between the numbers of homicides happen during the time a PM is in power and how actively he is involved in the commando structure of security measures that lead instantly to a bloodshed.

not that i am denying any deaths and cases where nobody knows who killed these people.#, but these figures above are just false. The Thaksin regime was not free of wrongdoings, but that doesn't mean you can tell any lie about them. If you want condemn Thaksin, was is your right to do so, stick to the facts, don't exaggerate, don't simplify or you will lose credibility.

The problems in the South are to complex to blame solely Thaksin for it. As for the numbers of death in the insurgency related violence, it increased significant after Thaskin was ousted. from Jan 2004 till Sept 2006 (2 years 9 month) the death toll was somewhat of 1400 death and reached 3000 death in march 2008 (around 1 year 6 month later) it became clearly more worse after Thaksin.

And that death toll is the total number of deaths, including all victims of the insurgency related violence. victims of bomb attacks, drive by shootings, beheaded farmers, murdered teachers, assassinated police officers, dead terrorists, killed nurses, state officials ...old people, young people, children, people of all religions, buddhist, muslims. and yes, amongst the death are muslims who died in clashes with security forces. but 'slaughtered 100's of muslims???'

for the sake of a cheap argument 'blamers' seems to be not much interested to have a look at the details, at the circumstances, the personal involved, what leads to it, how was it investigated and to what a degree Thaksin could be hold accountable for, even if he wasn't pulling the trigger.

Without looking at the details and study the cases you will also fail to learn from it. learning to avoid same or similar things in the future. just repeat it again, as excuse you can always point at former wrongdoer. and the best part is, when you team up with the one who actually pulling triggers, you may don't have to be afraid of a coup.

"Anything but Marxist"? Here is the cover of Red Power Magazine, from April 2010. The cover reads: The Russian Revolution - The anti-royalists in the early of the 20th century - History will not forgive us if we do not seize the power at this moment.

There is still a difference between a Marxist and Leninist. And that magazine don't represent the entire red movement.

there are also some who argue (PAD et al.) the reds have ultra neo-liberalist leaders and that under Thaksin the peace and unity of the society was endangered by the vices and amorality of capitalism.

simple arguments never work.

Prime Minister Abhisit was right when he pointed out that the yellow shirts were not hel_l-bent on demolishing a rival political party. The campaigns against the Samak government, he noted, began after the ruling People Power Party vowed to launch constitutional changes to absolve Thaksin and bring him back from exile. That PPP government could still be here, although Samak has passed away, if it had just concentrated on real national issues.

What?

PPP could be still in power when they would had not provoke the yellow shirts? Or focussed their work on 'real national issues'? Is the last sentence also something Abhisit had 'noted'? Isn't that implying they where removed for political reasons?

What are the 'real national issues'? - The UNESCO,Preh Vihar, Cambodia issue? The Singapore Temasak deal? Allowing more foreign investment? Free Trade Agreements? This ultra right wing extremism and nationalistic frenzy does more damage to Thailand than any good and definitely don't bring the democratic process anyhow forward.

And like it or not, if the PPP government were going to launch constitutional changes, that would had been done with measures and actions that were legal, constitutional and a parliamentary process? done with the power the constitution itself and the electorate gave them? Unlike the illegal and unconstitutional way the putschists removed the 1997 constitution for the 2007 constitution. The PPP government would have done it according to the rules, according to the existing laws without violating them.

And also totally unlike the Abhisit government. What is that constitution, that the PPP government was not allowed to change, worth at all if the current government can just suspend it for convenience, replacing it with ISA and SoE laws, actually violating the constitution and denying their people basic constitutional rights.

All done for the sake of 'real national issues'? If you are not 100% for Abhisit you are against Thailand?

Now everybodies national duty is to LOVE SHOPPING, buy more longan garlic everything - support Thailand. CHAI YO.

DEFAMATION SUIT

PM gets proof to rebut Jatuporn

By THE NATION

Published on June 10, 2010

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday displayed pictures of his three predecessors receiving a royal audience, to rebut charges by Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan who had accused him of misconduct by being seated on the same level as His Majesty the King.

Speaking as plaintiff in his libel lawsuit at the Criminal Court, Abhisit contended Jatuporn had defamed him by saying he was the only prime minister to sit level with His Majesty while delivering a report.

"The Royal Palace was responsible for arranging the settings for the royal audience and before being seated, I prostrated myself to pay respect to the King," he said.

He said former PM Chuan Leekpai had confirmed every prime minister would be seated in accordance with the court protocols when granted a royal audience.

He also sought and received the court's permission to show pictures depicting his predecessors, Banharn Silapa-archa, Anand Panyarachun and Samak Sundaravej seated in the same manner during their meetings with the King.

A month after the government switch from Pheu Thai-led alliance to Democrat-led coalition, Jatuporn said last January the prime minister had acted as if he was an equal of the King, judging from the picture depicting his seating.

The court has scheduled to hear the defence testimony on June 30. Jatuporn is expected to take the witness stand to testify in his own defence.

In another development, the Criminal Court granted a one-week extension to the emergency detention for three red-shirt leaders, Veera Musigapong, weng Tojirakarn and Kokaew Pikulthong.

The three are being detained at the Naresuan base of the Border Patrol Police in Cha-am, Phetchaburi until next Wednesday.

For security reasons, the court hearing took place via video conference between Bangkok and Cha-am. The authorities cited the ongoing investigation into the unrest triggered by the red-shirt rally as grounds for detention. The three did not oppose being held under the emergency rule.

PM gets proof to rebut Jatuporn

-- The Nation June 10, 2010

'Guest' is normally used by the Thaier than Thai / Thai apologist element to describe us.

You said it Jack, totally agree

read your books, kilgore:

Listen: We are here on Earth to fart around. Don't let anybody tell you any different!

let the people say that they are guests here, why not? the 'thai apologist' remark mostly come from the grumpy old expat who doing it wrong.

but okay, the 'Thaier than Thai' faction don't get it right either.

I vote for Alien. i can perfectly live with that. the legal alien. probably on transit, for an indefinite time. in between something. i like how it keeps me in a distance. that i am the stranger. why insist to become a resident? why give up the freedom of an alien? with this attitude i could have staid back home. born, school, work, death. i moved away from that. I am a wanderer, taking a rest here. since quite a while. i don't demand guest rights. and i don't have a mission.

good luck.

If 80.7% of the population wants to bet, just possibly, it should be legal?

:rolleyes:I bet you 550 baht they dont stop gambling! did you see Abhisit is not supporting England but Argentina!!! Showing his true colours now I cant say I'm surprised he cheats in everything else so why not turn his back on the country that supported him for so long! I trust this man as far as I can throw him call Thaksin a cheat and unloyal take a look at the PM!!!!!

:bah:I say again ARGENTINA! For fxxcks"] sake!

you are asking for it.

4 minutes of history everybody in my generation seems to remember. everybody likes it. always good to make new friends during times like a world cup.

Look at the democrats, they did the same thing - just on a more masseive scale and eventually they will be dissolved.

Eventually they will be dissolved?

How are you privy to this information? The case against the Democrats is ongoing. Nobody knows if the will or if they won't be dissolved.

One thing we do know is that if they are, the reds will embrace the decision as just, despite their claims of the system being infair and rigged when the PPP was dissolved.

you are right, the court didn't came to an judgement yet.

But the thing you don't know is that there is a 90% confidence that the democrats will get dissolved. According to Maj-Gen Kittisak Ratprasert it will happen after the 12. August. (source: Thai Rath) I think we can consider and trust Maj-Gen Kittisak Ratprasert as a reliable source in that issue.

and keep that distinction in mind when talking about the alleged red "terrorists" or all that "crimes" Thaksin is accused of but was never found guilty by a court.

who is a better candidate to head a thai govt.... the male prison-escapee XXXXXX or ex-coup leader sonthi ....?

note: edits in quote, XXXXX for improper spelling of the name of a Montenegrin with a migrant background.

is there are reason that you are pushing here the gender issue of the male prison-escapee or were you just in need of some adjective?

i am only curious, but after some other board member had to pointed out that the ex-coup leader* has more than one wife i find that odd.

*at all: or is it coup's Ex-leader/ ex-putschist/ refined putschist / ex-putsch for democratic reform leader / charming general and outspoken ex-rebel leadel / former Thaksin's general/.../...?

ps. are you a non-native English speaker and probably also not using the latin alphabet in your native language and on your computer? i am asking because you are using a different transliteration of the Montenegrins name. but here at this board they stick to the english variant Thaksin, other variants maybe not wrong in your country of origin but can here be interpreted as unfunny pun and they insist on Thaksin as the only valid one and other are against the rules and can bring you into problem.

The Irrawaddy has published a letter US senator Jim Weeb wrote to U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton. Webb visit recently the region and writes about North Korea, Burma and also Thailand.

I will quote only the beginning, introducing and the part where he writes about Thailand.

Webb isn't the man in charge, but he claims to know a couple of things, so he makes some recommendations what should be done and as a side effect we get some information about the current state.

Follow the link to get to the original article that contains the letter. It will be essential to read all for getting the context if your are interested. There are also more informations about Eric John, the current US ambassador in Bangkok.

No further comment - i will let it to the high level diplomats and the board own experts who got their Ph.D. with a thesis in US foreign policy in SEA to comment it. USA related topics have also the tendency that people with different humour misunderstand each other and some get emotional and some get agitated and other patriotic. sometimes fun to watch, not so funny to get involved.

^^

55 difficult to get rid of politicians, they are already everywhere. it is a pandemic.

Puea Thai petitions against Suthep over Samui land controversy

BANGKOK, 10 June 2010 (NNT) - The opposition Puea Thai Party has filed complaints with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) accusing Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban of illegal issuance of title deeds on Koh Samui.

Puea Thai Party Spokesperson Prompong Nopparit today travelled to file a letter with DSI Director-General Tharit Pengdit asking him to lodge charges against Mr Suthep and his son, Mr Tan Thaugsuban, for transferring title deeds on Koh Samui in the southern province of Surat Thani to others illegally.

At the same time, Mr Prompong believed that Mr Suthep also illegitimately possessed plots of land on the island but concealed them from the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

The spokersperson also rushed the DSI to file lawsuits against Mr Suthep, state officers and people involved in this misconduct and to send the investigation results to the Department of Lands in order to withdraw their entitlement to the state properties.

As a response, Mr Tharit pledged that the DSI would expeditiously process the impeachment complaints filed by the Puea Thai Party, saying that the issue must be considered step by step before a decision could be made whether to conduct an interrogation of the accused.

Puea Thai petitions against Suthep over Samui land controversy : National News Bureau of Thailand

-- NNT 10 June 2010

The Nation comes with the headline of the week:

BREAKINGNEWS »

ICT Ministry bets it can reduce World Cup gambling

The Information and Communications Technology Ministry plans to reduce online betting during the World Cup to 3040 per cent of online gambling transactions.

The ministry is collaborating with the Royal Thai Police, the Culture Ministry and the Education Ministry in a bid to prevent Thais from making use of online gambling technology during the tournament, ICT Minister Juti Krairerk said Friday.

During his first two days on the job, Juti's ministry blocked 246 gambling websites on both local and international servers. The Royal Thai Police will levy charges against local websites offering online gambling.

Moreover, TOT, a state agency under the ministry, will monitor telephone numbers that have been flagged for undergoing unusually heavy use during the tournament, in order to determine whether they are being used for gambling.

ICT Ministry bets it can reduce World Cup gambling

-- The Nation June 11, 2010

Extended detention of Red News editor rejected

BANGKOK, 11 June 2010 (NNT) - The Criminal Court has turned down the Center for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation’s (CRES) request to extend the detention of anti-government activist Somyot Prueksakasemsuk.

The court ruled not to extend the detention of Mr Somyot as requested by the CRES, reasoning that the extension would be unjustifiable as the situation had returned to normalcy and acts of violence no longer existed. The CRES is required to release the detainee on the expiration date of his custody.

The court earlier approved the prolongation of Mr Somyot’s detention for seven days until 13 June 2010.

Mr Somyot, editor of the Red News magazine and core figure of the 24 June Group, along with Mr Suthachai Yimprasert, lecturer of Chulalongkorn University, last month turned themselves in to the authorities on the charge of violating the Emergency Decree. The two were detained at Adisorn military camp in Saraburi province. Mr Suthachai was later released.

Extended detention of Red News editor rejected : National News Bureau of Thailand

-- NNT 11 June 2010

CRES: Emergency Decree remains necessary

BANGKOK, 11 June 2010 (NNT) - The declaration of the State of Emergency is still needed in an effort to maintain peace and order in the country, according to the government's Center for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES).

In his capacity as the CRES Director, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuagsuban chaired a meeting of the center on Friday with the attendance of several high-ranking government authorities. The session focused on a discussion on the necessity of the continuation of the Emergency Decree in Bangkok and 23 other provinces.

The CRES resolved to continue imposing the State of Emergency in all designated zones in a bid to prevent recurrences of the anti-government movements, which were still evident in some areas. In addition, the center has urged the National Security Council (NSC) to speedily compile all evidence and information related to the 19 May riots and distribute them to the public in the form of VCDs.

The key state officials present at the meeting included Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, Permanent Secretary for Defense General Apichart Penkitti, Army Chief General Anupong Paochinda, Navy Chief Admiral Kamthorn Phumhiran, Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Itthiporn Supawong, Deputy Army Chief General Prayuth Chanocha, Assistant Army Chief General Teerawat Boonyapradap, Assistant Army Chief General Wit Thephasdin na Ayudhya and Army Chief-of-Staff General Pirun Paewpolsong.

CRES: Emergency Decree remains necessary : National News Bureau of Thailand

-- NNT 11 June 2010