sriracha john

NEW LTTE LEADER KP WAS BETRAYED BY HIS OWN MEN

Sources close to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and other Tamil sources believe that KP alias Selvarasa Pathmanathan was betrayed to the Sri Lankan authorities by tipping off his whereabouts before being arrested on Interpol warrants.

Well informed Tamil journalist D.B.S. Jeyaraj said, “It is widely believed that the arrest was made possible through “inside information” supplied by some members of the LTTE abroad who were opposed to KP donning the tiger leadership mantle after the demise of supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran.”

The journalist further said that contrary to earlier reports he was not arrested in Bangkok, Thailand but in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia while he was meeting a London delegation in a hotel.According to him he was taken from the Malaysian capital to Bangkok, Thailand before being flown to Colombo on a special flight where he is being interrogated by Sri Lankan detectives.

The Jeyaraj report said, “He had received a call on his cellular phone. KP had then signaled to his visitors that he was going out to the corridor and walked away while conversing on the phone."

“He had not returned for a long time and when the worried visitors from Britain went out in search there was no sign of the new global tiger chief."

“Meanwhile the friend who had been talking to KP on the phone had heard a sudden thud and some noise while chatting. The phone went dead and repeated calls were not successful."

“The friend then alerted some assistants of KP in Malaysia who went in search of KP to the place where he was staying in KL. The place was empty, but KP’s insulin and syringes and other medical stuff was still there.”

KP, a witty man who, with ease, made deals on gun running with some of the most tough arms dealers in the world also had his enemies inside the LTTE. Once he retired to the unknown married a Thai woman when others who were greedy of his arms procuring business took over. But he had to come as the others were not as capable like him. When he took over as the LTTE leader others opposed him on flimsy grounds.

Jeyaraj said, “(His leadership) was vehemently opposed by a section of the Diasporic tigers led by Perinbanayagam Sivaparan alias Nediyavan”

Speculators have said most of the LTTE elements would start fighting for the millions of dollars piled up in places like London.

Although KP was the most precious prize they wanted the government is also on the look out for others. President Rajapaksa speaking in Kandy said,that the government is also on the manhunt for the other remnants of the LTTE. Another on target is believed to be Castro who was also on LTTE’s procurement business.

- Lanka Web / 2009-08-07

General Chavalit urges all to love one another

BANGKOK, 7 August 2009 (NNT) - Former Prime Minister, General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, suggested to all Thais to examine the details of the petition process for a Royal Pardon of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra before conducting any movement.

As the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) is preparing to submit the amnesty petition for Thaksin, General Chavalit commented that people should carefully consider the details of the process and think rationally before taking any action.

He also urged Thai people to love one another and jointly seek solutions to the current conflict while expressing his wish for the government to fully allow public participation.

In addition, General Chavalit insisted that he was too old to take part in politics again.

-- NNT 2009-08-07

Police confirms Tamil Eelam Tigers core leader not arrested in Bangkok

BANGKOK, 7 August 2009 (NNT) – The Special Branch Police has confirmed that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam core leader was not arrested in Bangkok as earlier claimed in the news report, saying that the arrest took place in Singapore.

Special Branch Police Commander Police Lieutenant-General Theeradej Rodpothong confirmed that the arrest was made by the Singaporean authorities in Singapore, not in Thailand as some news reports said earlier.

Police Lieutenant-General Theeradej elaborated that the arrested Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam core leader had a wife in Thailand and usually made movements in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. He said therefore the news report of the arrest was then linked to Thailand.

-- NNT 2009-08-07

PM orders probe of report that Tamil Tiger leader arrested in Thailand

BANGKOK, Aug 7 (TNA) - Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Friday that he has ordered the country’s security agencies to provide details following a news report that the head of Sri Lanka's recently defeated Tamil Tiger separatists was captured in Thailand.

The French news agency Agence-France-Presse (AFP) earlier reported that Selvarasa Pathmanathan, a foreign-based leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was returned to Sri Lanka on Thursday for questioning after being arrested in Thailand.

Mr Pathmanathan assumed the leadership of LTTE overall following the death of its supreme leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, in the separatist organisation’s last stand against Sri Lankan security forces in mid-May.

The Thai premier said he was informed of the matter late Thursday night and he had assigned the security agencies to seek more details.

Acting Government Spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said an initial report said Pathmanathan had travelled in and out of Thailand but it was not identified where he was arrested.

Mr Panitan, however, noted that Mr Pathmanathan reportedly was married to a Thai and lived in the northern part of the country.

Meanwhile, Thailand's Special Branch police chief Theeradej Rodphothong said that the LTTE head was captured in Singapore, not in Thailand.

Lt-Gen Theeradej noted that Thailand was mentioned in the news report becuase the LTTE head formerly had a Thai wife and he usually moved among three Southeast Asian countries--Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

-- TNA 2009-08-07

Three Chiang Mai Red Shirt leaders surrender to police

CHIANG MAI, Aug 7 (TNA) – Three anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leaders in the northern province of Chiang Mai turned themselves in to the police for their alleged involvement in clashes with the police last month.

Arrest warrants were issued for five local leaders of the UDD in connection with disturbances during the visit of Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij to the province in July.

Apichat Insorn, Somchai Kunacharatdej, and Sarayuth Suyasak on Friday surrendered to police at Phupingrajanivej police station while two others are still at large.

The five local UDD leaders were charged with illegal assembly by more than 10 persons, inciting chaos, and obstructing police operations during the two-day visit of Finance Minister to Chiang Mai on July 16-17.

However, the trio later on Friday were released on Bt300,000 bail.

In mid-July, the UDD in Chiang Mai, supporters of convicted and on-the-run ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, protested near Chiang Mai University, where Mr Korn met government officials discussing policy implementation.

Some police were hurt during the clash as they tried to block protesters from entering the university.

Another clash between Thaksin supporters and the authorities occurred at a police station where a leading UDD member was detained after being arrested earlier for possession of a handgun and ammunition at Chiang Mai airport.

-- TNA 2009-08-07

Sri Lanka snares new Tamil Tiger head overseas

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka on Friday said it had captured and was interrogating the new head of the Tamil Tigers, their most-wanted target since crushing the separatist rebels and their 25-year insurrection in May.

But mystery remained over exactly where Selvarajah Pathmanathan, who ran the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's (LTTE) lucrative arms and smuggling operations for decades, was arrested.

Pathmanathan is the public face of the LTTE's post-war remnants and the highest-ranking Tiger still alive, after troops killed LTTE founder Vellupillai Prabhakaran in the war's cataclysmic final battle on the northeastern coast on May 18.

The fact that Pathmanathan was in Sri Lankan custody helped push the Colombo Stock Exchange to its highest level in more than 14 months, gaining 0.7 percent in the first 90 minutes of trade.

Sri Lanka declined to say where he was arrested, after initially saying Pathmanathan -- better known by his nickname KP -- had been picked up in Thailand.

"We are quite capable of demolishing LTTE activities anywhere in the world. We have the capacity and assistance," defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said.

Thailand's prime minister on Friday denied Pathmanathan had been arrested there. The LTTE, in an emailed statement, said he had been arrested by Malaysian intelligence officers on Wednesday, but Malaysian authorities denied that.

MANHUNT

Sri Lankan officials said diplomatic necessities precluded naming the exact location where he was arrested.

"It is a sensitive issue and the government wants to respect the wishes of all parties involved," a senior Sri Lankan official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Thai authorities arrested Pathmanathan in 2007 and were ready to hand him over on condition their involvement was not known.

But he escaped after Sri Lanka publicised his arrest there, and Thailand denied he was ever in custody, diplomats with knowledge of the incident say. Earlier this year, Sri Lanka was infuriated when a European diplomat met KP in Kuala Lumpur.

Sri Lanka has stepped up diplomatic and intelligence efforts to hunt down Pathmanathan since he assumed the mantle of the new LTTE leader after Prabhakaran's death.

After a brief feud with other LTTE officials overseas, which analysts say was over control of the hundreds of millions in hidden Tiger assets, Pathmanathan emerged as the new leader.

He pledged to create a government-in-exile to push the LTTE's vision a separate nation for Sri Lanka's minority Tamils in a non-violent and democratic way.

One of the original Tigers, Pathmanathan dodged authorities for nearly three decades and built the LTTE's smuggling, weapons procurement and fundraising capacity into a multi-million dollar enterprise known as the "KP Department."

At the height of his powers, KP operated a fleet of freighters for smuggling, dealt in arms bazaars in Eritrea, to Afghanistan and Ukraine and raised millions from fundraising appeals and outright extortion from expatriate Tamils.

Long believed to be in hiding in bases from Myanmar, Malaysia and Thailand, he had dozens of passports and more than enough money to buy his way out of trouble -- security experts say the LTTE was earning between $200 (119 million pounds)-300 million annually.

However, the LTTE's presence on U.S., EU, Indian and Canadian terrorist lists sharply curtailed his operations, and KP re-emerged earlier this year when Prabhakaran named his old friend the LTTE's head of international relations.

-- Reuters 2009-08-07

Former public health minister Sudarat Keyuraphan is being treated for typeA (H1N1) influenza

Remember, this is the same health minister who was in office during the great bird flu cover up.

Another crime against humanity, unfortunately often forgotten about, that should be added to the TRT charge sheet. The hypocrisy of her trying to score political points by bleating about catching a virus everyone knows exists in Thailand, when people died as result of her government's cover up of the bird flu virus here is disgusting. As are the red thug apologists postings trying to score the same points in this thread.

"The European Union (EU) has blasted Thailand for covering up the bird flu outbreak and misleading its consumer protection commissioner David Byrne during a visit here last month, press reports say."

Bird Flu Minister Sudarat and her chicken...

Thailand denies Tamil Tiger leader arrested in country

BANGKOK, Aug 7 (TNA) - Thailand on Friday denied reports that the new leader of Sri Lanka's recently defeated Tamil Tiger separatists was captured ant an undisclosed location in the kingdom, while foreign media said the rebel leader was arrested in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur.

The comments of the Thai government and security agencies came after Sri Lanka's Island newspaper reported that Selvarasa Pathmanathan, a foreign-based leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), was taken to Sri Lanka on Thursday for questioning after being arrested in Thailand.

Mr Pathmanathan assumed the overall leadership of LTTE following the death of its top leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, in the separatist organisation’s last stand against Sri Lankan security forces in mid-May.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said after receiving the report that he ordered Thai security agencies to seek further details on the arrest of Pathmanathan. better known as KP, while the Thai Special Branch commander Theeradej Rodphothong insisted that the LTTE head was captured in Singapore, not in Thailand.

Pol Lt-Gen Theeradej noted that Thailand was mentioned in the news report because the LTTE head formerly had a Thai wife and he usually moved among three Southeast Asian countries--Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

Gen Theeradej added that a Thai court had issued an arrest warrant against KP last November, as he was wanted by the Sri Lankan government.

Acting Thai government spokesperson Panittan Wattanayakorn earlier admitted that an initial report showed Pathmanathan had traveled in and out of Thailand because he was married to a Thai and formerly lived in the northern part of the country.

However, Agence-France-Presse (AFP) and the Associated Press (AP) later quoted the Mr Panitan as saying that Thailand’s National Intelligence Agency confirmed that Mr Pathmanathan was arrested in Kuala Lumpur Wednesday night and was transferred to Sri Lanka via Bangkok.

The Associated Press also quoted an LTTE statement that their leader was arrested Wednesday in a Kuala Lumpur hotel, but Malaysian officials declined to comment.

Where the Tamil leader was arrested remains unconfirmed. The French agency later quoted a Sri Lankan military spokesman saying only that Pathmanathan "was arrested abroad" without saying where.

-- TNA 2009-08-07

Suspect in Sondhi's Case Files Suit against Chief Investigator

Sergeant Panya Srihera, formerly of the Special Warfare Unit in Lop Buri and a suspect in the assassination case against People's Alliance for Democracy

Panya submitted evidence to accompany his suit, arguing that he was not in Bangkok when Sondhi was attacked on April 17.

The evidence comprised photos showing him taking part in a merit-making rite at Din Daeng Temple in Trat province, with former Defence Minister General Chetta Thanajaro presiding over the ceremony.

Temple Unsupportive of Alibi by Suspect in Sondhi Case

A Buddhist temple in Trat says it cannot confirm that a suspect in the assassination attempt against the core leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy joined its merit-making event on the day of the attack in April as he has claimed.

Representative of Din Daeng Temple in Trat province, Prasarn Nujjarin, said he could not confirm if Sergeant Panya Srihera participated in the monk robe-offering ceremony on April 17, the day of the attack on the People's Alliance for Democracy leader Sondhi Limthongkul took place in Bangkok.

Panya has been issued an arrest warrant for possible involvement in the case.

In his complaint of malfeasance against the chief investigator of the case, Police General Thani Sombunsap, Panya claimed his alleged involvement in the crime was implausible as he joined religious activities at Din Daeng Temple on the same day Sondhi was attacked.

Prasarn said no one at the ceremony knew Sergeant Panya.

He added the ceremony was hosted by former leader of Chart Thai Pattana Party, General Chetta Thanajaro, his wife, and a number of military officers.

What is noteworthy is that the previous abbot of the temple, Phra Thanom, disappeared two weeks after the ceremony while his pictures taken during the event also went missing. He was said to have moved to Sa Kaeo province.

Meanwhile, current abbot Luangpoh Jeen Buddhasaro said he knew nothing about the fugitive suspect because he just moved to the temple in late April.

-- Tan Network 2009-08-07

Two other red-shirt supporters who faced the same charges, Jack Pattaya and

Jack Pattaya?

Chief adviser to the pro-red-shirt Rak Chiang Mai 51 group, Petchawat Wattanapongsirikul, said his group has collected some 300,000 signatures to back the Royal Pardon campaign for ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra

a violent gang of criminally-charged thugs is a wonderful association for the Reds petition attempt.

Chiang Mai Red-Shirt Protesters Report to Police

Three red-shirt protesters in Chiang Mai wanted for last month's unruly protest report to police before they are released on bail guaranteed by an MP from the opposition Pheu Thai Party.

Three members of the red-shirt network in Chiang Mai, Apichart Insorn, Somchai Kunajarasdej and Sarayut Suyasak, turned themselves in to investigators at Puping Rajanives police station.

The three faced arrest warrants for besieging the police station and blocking the road around the auditorium of Chiang Mai University during a protest on July 17 against the Finance Minister's visit.

They were later released on bail guaranteed by a Chiang Mai Pheu Thai Party MP.

Two other red-shirt supporters who faced the same charges, Jack Pattaya and an unidentified man, have yet to report to the investigators.

Chief adviser to the pro-red-shirt Rak Chiang Mai 51 group, Petchawat Wattanapongsirikul, said his group has collected some 300,000 signatures to back the Royal Pardon campaign for ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and 30,000 of them will join the red-shirt rally to submit the petition in Bangkok on August 17.

Petchawat also said he is preparing to press charges against a high-profile Cabinet member but declined to give further details, claiming only that he has obtained solid evidence to prove a severe criminal offence by the minister.

-- Tan Network 2009-08-07

City's fire-trucks payment freeze rejected

The Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court on Friday rejected an application from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration for an injunction suspending payment of the sixth of nine scheduled installments on the scandal-ridden fire truck and boat purchase. The petition was filed by the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) on behalf of the BMA. The sixth installment on the highly controversial contract, 780 million baht to Steyr Co, the Austria-based supplier, is due on Monday.

The court ruled that City Hall had not presented sufficient evidence to prove that there were irregularities in the payments of previous installments. The BMA had pinned its hopes on today's court ruling. The city administration believed that a decision in its favor would boost its chances of terminating the controversial 6.7 billion baht contract and of seeking a refund of the previous installments.

The prosecutors asked the court to rule on three points: the suspension of the sixth installment and remaining payments totaling 2.7 billion baht, the annulment of the purchase contract, and

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-- Bangkok Post 2009-08-07

Court refuses to suspend payments to Austrian fire vehicle supplier

The Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court Friday refused to issue an injunction to suspend payments to the Austrian supplier embroiled in a fire-vehicle scandal.

The sixth installment is due on Monday.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration asked the court to issue an injunction to allow it to suspend the sixth payment pending a judicial review whether the contract with the Austrian supplier, Steyr Daimler Puch could be annulled.

The court reasoned that the evidence produced by the BMA during the emergency hearing Thursday was not strong enough for establishing a proof of foul play that warranted the suspension of the remaining payments.

-- The Nation 2009-08-07

Going further back into the accused's background is a separate murder case from 2005 involving a 2003 murder... this one in Thailand...

Paul Cryne not guilty of murder

Prosecutor may appeal verdict

Pattaya city court has acquitted 57 year old Brit Paul Cryne of murdering Coventry man Robert Henry, aged 42, two years ago.

A judge on September 23 summed up that it would be an unsafe conviction as neither DNA evidence nor two autopsy reports, one in Thailand and one in UK, bore out initial claims that Cryne had shot Henry in his car in Jomtien.

The body was found near a canal in Sattahip in October 2003, "riddled with bullets" according to an initial account.

Cryne has always strenuously denied the charge, claiming he was a patsy set up by the real killers.

Henry had brought millions of pounds to Thailand and opened a time-share company called Stag, bought substantial property here and opened two safe deposit boxes in Siam Commercial Bank. After the murder, Henry's common law wife Khun Wilai Chiewcharn accused Manchester born Cryne of complicity in the murder.

She also claimed to have had an affair with Cryne who was arrested and later bailed.

He had to resort to begging from friends and doing odd jobs as he was unable to return to UK to draw a disablement pension.

Under Thai law, the public prosecutor has 30 days in which to appeal the not guilty verdict at Rayong appeal court and it is not yet known if he will do that, or let the matter drop.

In the meantime, Cryne has to reapply for bail, a process which can take several days, and he found himself rearrested for the interim period. Cryne is a qualified Olympic swimming coach and a member of the professional associates of lifeguards. He is mentioned in the Guinness book of records for underwater feats. The British embassy was said to be closely monitoring the developments.

- Pattaya Today / 2005-09-29

Sri Lankan military questions captured Tamil rebel leader

Colombo - The new leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebel movement has been arrested outside Sri Lanka and returned home for questioning, Defence Ministry spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said Friday. He said Kumaran Pathmanathan, also known as KP, was arrested Thursday in a country in the "Asian region," but declined to name the country, saying that it would hamper the investigation.

Earlier reports said the newly designation rebel leader was arrested in Thailand, but the Sri Lankan High Commission in Bangkok denied the report.

Thai police said he was arrested in Singapore and only transited through Bangkok early Friday en route to Colombo.

Other reports suggested he was nabbed in Malaysia.

"After the LTTE was crushed they hoped that the movement could be revived with the emergence of Pathmanathan, but we have proved that we have the capability of getting to them wherever they emerge," Rambukwella said.

Remnants of the Tamil rebel movement appointed Pathmanathan as their leader last month after they were defeated by the Sri Lankan Army and the previous rebel commander, Velupillai Prabhakaran, was killed in battle on May 18.

"There were some doubts about the government's achievements of crushing the LTTE after Pathmanathan surfaced. Now there can't be any doubts about that," he said.

Pathmanathan had been known as the rebel movement's main arms procurement agent and had been operating in Thailand and other countries, although his recent whereabouts had not been known.

He is also wanted by India in connection of the assassination of former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.

"We are willing to consider any request from any country keeping with the conventions or treaties we have with them to allow Pathmananthan be questioned," Rambukwella said.

He said that Pathmanathan was being questioned by local defence authorities but did not disclose details of confessions or statements made by the rebel leader.

Pathmanathan has a Thai wife and in the past had often been in and out of Thailand.

In a statement issued last month, the LTTE rebels said they had set up a new headquarters and formed sector-based working groups and an executive committee to continue their struggle for a separate homeland for Sri Lanka's minority Tamils. They did not say where their new headquarters was located.

The Sri Lankan government has vowed not to allow the rebel movement to rise again after it killed its entire leadership to end a 26-year-long armed conflict in the northern and eastern parts of the country.

About 10,000 rebels are said to have been arrested or surrendered to security forces, and some of them are currently undergoing rehabilitation, the government said. Others are to be charged with crimes.

- DPA / 2009-08-07

The new image of Kumaran Pathmanathan.

Asian Tribune / 2009-08-07

Man back in UK to face murder trial

A FORMER Teignmouth lifeguard was brought back to the UK yesterday to face a murder charge.

Police from Surrey returned from Thailand with 61-year-old Paul Cryne who lived in Bitton Avenue for many years before emigrating.

Officers had sought his extradition following the murder of Sharon Birchwood.

Ms Birchwood, 52, was murdered at her home in Ashtead, Surrey, in December 2007.

Cryne appeared at Guildford Magistrates' Court where he was remanded in custody.

He will next appear at the Old Bailey on September 3.

Cryne holds the world record, set in 1984, for completing a 24-hour underwater swim. He became the first person to complete the swim of almost 50 miles non-stop in Qatar in the Arabian Gulf.

After being injured in a diving accident, he retired to Thailand with a disability award. He had previously worked as a swimming coach and lifeguard and lived in Teignmouth for about eight years.

- Herald Express / 2009-08-07

KP arrested, brought to Colombo

Sri Lanka confirms that LTTE’s remnant group leader Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP has been arrested, brought to Colombo and now he is ‘vomiting’ to his Sri Lankan interrogators.

A source very close to the Sri Lanka President’s office told Asian Tribune that on Thursday President Mahinda Rajapaksa received a call from the Defence Ministry that KP has been arrested and brought to Colombo.

The source further added that Mahinda Rajapaksa received this call immediately after his prayers at the Temple of Tooth in Kandy, (Dalada Maligawa) appealing to the Deyeo – (God) ‘for strength to unite the country and bring about a sustainable peace in Sri Lanka.’

Though it was reported that KP was arrested in Thailand, (even in the Asian Tribune) the news is being contradicted by many LTTE sources living in the West.

According to “Puthinam,” a pro-LTTE Tamil language news portal, which promoted KP as the new leader of the LTTE, reported that KP was arrested in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in a joint operation conducted by Sri Lankan and Malaysian intelligence officers and not in Thailand.

Puthinam also published a new image of KP, which is completely different from what all the medias so far carried.

According to Puthinam, on Wednesday, KP went to the ‘Tune Hotel’ located at the Jalan Tuanku Absdul Rahman, in Kuala Lumpur to meet with the visiting Late B. Nadesan’s brother and son.

Puthunam further revealed that while he was closeted in the hotel room with the visitors, he received a call and he came out of the room to continue his conversation.

“When KP came out of the room he was apprehended by the Malaysian and Sri Lankan intelligence operatives and packed off to Colombo on Thursday, after holding initial investigation and confirmation that they have netted the right person.

Asian Tribune further learnt that the map of the arrest of KP was ‘sketched out’ by the arrested LTTE leaders, who are in the custody of the Sri Lankan Army and especially by a former LTTE intelligence chief.

In the meantime, Asian Tribune also learns that already RAW, – Research Analysis Wing – the intelligence unit of India is in touch with Sri Lanka regarding KP, as he is wanted in the Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination.

Furthermore it is rumored that Sri Lankan intelligence has initiated a secret move to net a high profile New York based LTTE Lawyer.

- Asian Tribune / 2009-08-07

Thaksin's Sister Testifies at Asset Seizure Trial

A sister of the fugitive and ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra gave her testimony at the section for criminal cases for persons in political positions of the Supreme Court, regarding the seizure of 76 billion baht in assets of the former premier.

In the ongoing trial of the confiscation of 76 billion baht worth of assets belonging to the former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his immediate family members, Thaksin's younger sister, Yingluk Shinawatra said she purchased two million units of shares from Thaksin in 2001, as he was preparing to enter politics.

She admitted that they didn't inform the Securities and Exchange Commission of the transaction as she thought it was a small transaction and it did not require notification.

During the trial, Yingluk broke into tears when asked about her relationship with Thaksin.

She said Thaksin was like a father to her as he paid for her education after their mother passed away.

Yingluk said Thaksin was a good brother who always took care of her family.

The court also summoned a representative from ICT Morgan, an independent financial consultant, to testify regarding his advisory role in the selling of Shin Corp shares to Temasek Holdings.

The Attorney-General's Office submitted a request to the court to seize assets valued at 76 billion baht belonging to Thaksin's family, as well as interests generated from the assets, in a bid to put them into the nation's treasury. The assets in question were believed to be acquired with conflicts of interest.

-- Tan Network 2009-08-07

Rail link 'will start running in December'

Construction of the long-delayed Airport Link is now nearly complete and the first trains will start running in December, State Railway of Thailand (SRT) governor Yutthana Thapcharoen said on Thursday.

Work on the 26 billion baht rapid transit system, linking the 28 km between Suvarnabhumi airport and Makkasan train station in Bangkok, is now 98 per cent in done, Mr Yutthana said. Testing was already underway, including safety and train control systems.

Transport Minister Sophon Zaram said he had directed the SRT to speed up the electric train project to ensure it can start operating by December as planned. The SRT was also told to clear up problems with the railway union to prevent any further delay.

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-- Bangkok Post 2009-08-06

UDD sets time, date for petition

The red-shirts will submit their petition seeking a Royal Pardon for fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra at 1.30pm on Aug 17, Veera Musikhapong, a core leader of the United front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), said on Thursday afternoon.

On that day, at least 1,000 Buddhist monks and 1,500 representatives of UDD will deliver more than 600 boxes of evidence and lists of people who had signed in support of the petition to the Office of His Majesty’s Principal Private Secretary, he said.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/1513...ition-on-aug-17

-- Bangkok Post 2009-08-07

Tamil Eelam leader not arrested here

Panithan Wattanayakorn, acting government spokesman, has denied a news agency report that the new leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka has been arrested in Bangkok.

“The Tamil Eelam leader was not arrested in Thailand as was reported by a foreign news agency,” Mr Panithan said on Friday morning. He admitted that the person concerned had made visits to Thailand.

State security agencies were checking information relating to the case, he said.

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-- Bangkok Post 2009-08-07

Priewpan angered by 'snub'

Deputy National Police Chief Police General Priewpan Damapong has expressed outrage over the appointment of Police General Wichien Pojphosri as caretaker Police Chief.

The officer yesterday said the snub could deprive him of a chance at the police force's top job. Police General Priewpan said Police General Wichien's appointment indicated possible tampering with the coming annual reshuffle in which a new police chief would be named.

Police General Priewpan, an elder brother of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's ex-wife Potjaman. He said, "I will fight, definitely. And I will not be fighting with police, but politicians."

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-- Bangkok Post 2009-08-07

Court to rule on fire trucks payment today

The Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court will today decide whether to suspend payments to the Austrian supplier embroiled in a fire vehicle scandal.

The sixth installment is due on Monday (August 10).

The court convened an urgent hearing yesterday to see if an injunction should be issued, following a request filed by public prosecutors. The court is due to announce its decision today.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) asked public prosecutors to take action on its behalf.

"We cannot accept procurement from a project that lacks transparency," Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said yesterday.

An informed source revealed the BMA needed to turn to the court or else its executives could be deemed negligent for failing to pay for fire vehicles as per a legal contract.

"Charges are likely because the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has already concluded that the deal is mired with graft," the source said.

NACC has already recommended legal action against two former city governors, plus several former cabinet ministers.

BMA has now sought to annul the purchase contract for the fire vehicle project and to get back more than Bt4 billion already paid to the supplier, Steyr Daimler Puch.

The supplier will be asked to pay back the total sum, plus interest of 7.5 per cent a year.

The court is expected to look into those matters later.

The procurement of the fire vehicles was based on a contract signed many years ago by a former interior minister and the then Austrian ambassador to Thailand.

But the NACC has said the deal was not complete and thus the Bt6.68billion purchase contract should not be legal binding.

Sukhumbhand said yesterฌday he would respect the court's decision. He said the BMA had prepared guidelines on how it should proceed if the court ruled in their favour, but the Austrian supplier refused to recognise it.

"We have a plan but I can't disclose it at this point," he said.

He noted that the initial deal and purchase contract were both signed in Thailand and, thus, covered by Thai law.

-- The Nation 2009-08-07

Brother of Thaksin's ex-wife Potjaman, Police General Prieopan Damapong

Prieopan upset at missing out

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday dismissed concern about a potential lawsuit related to his decision to name the acting police chief, arguing his justification in selecting General Wichien Potposri over General Prieopan Damapong.

"I strictly followed Article 72 of the Police Act in naming the acting police chief and Wichien was the senior-most officer, elevated to the full rank of general before his peers," he said.

Abhisit said his endorsement for Wichien was based on suitability for the job as well as seniority.

He ruled out an allegation Wichien was barred from entering the grounds of palaces. The issue arose when Wichien was transferred back to the Royal Thai Police following his tour of duty with the Royal Palace - but was already resolved, he said. His privilege of working within the palace grounds was cancelled during the transfer process.

Prieopan, an in-law of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, said he felt he'd been victimised after Wichien bypassed him to get the job. Under the police chain of command, he was the most senior deputy chief, second only to national police chief General Patcharawat Wongsuwan.

He could not understand why his seniority had been overlooked - he was acting police chief 22 times when Patcharawat was absent from duty.

During the Surayud Chulanont government, he said he twice missed promotion because he was unfairly seconded from the police service to Government House.

As Patcharawat approaches retirement in September, Prieopan said he was once again being victimised, as evidenced by Wichien's bypassing of him.

He said he would fight for justice, but stopped short of saying if he would sue Abhisit.

Patcharawat blamed a political conspiracy to deny him his due promotion. He said he had never ridden on Thaksin's coattails to advance his career. He pleaded for a fair review of his performance instead of sidelining him because of the politics related to his family ties.

-- The Nation 2009-08-07