Thailand Live Today - Live Wednesday

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JOINT MILITARY TRAINING

Second Singaporean soldier accidentally shot in Thailand

SINGAPORE -- Singapore's Defence Ministry said Wednesday that two of its soldiers, not just one, were accidentally shot by a villager while they were taking part in a night training exercise in March in Thailand.

A ministry spokeswoman confirmed a report by The Straits Times newspaper, saying that, apart from a sergeant, 19-year-old Private J Pritheery Raj had also been wounded when a villager out hunting inadvertently opened fire on them.

Raj still had shotgun pellets lodged in his cheekbones and his right shoulder and was on medical leave, the report said.

On Tuesday, the ministry had confirmed that First Sergeant Woo Teng Hai, 25, suffered head injuries in the incident. He had been discharged from hospital at the end of March, the report said.

The shootings happened March 13 in a designated military training area in Thailand's western province of Kanchanaburi.

Because of limited space on its home turf, Singapore's armed forces have agreements with several countries to train on their soil.

Asked why the shootings were not reported earlier, the spokeswoman said it was usual practice for the ministry not to report on military training accidents.

-- The Nation 2010-05-26

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Foreign Press Report Arrest Warrant Issued Against Thaksin on Terrorism Charge

Various foreign presses have reported on the Thai court issuing an arrest warrant for convicted former PM Thaksin Shinawatra on a terrorism charge.

Al Jazeera reported that the Criminal Court in Bangkok has issued an arrest warrant for Thaksin Shinawatra on the charge of terrorism.

It has been widely speculated in Thailand that Thaksin funded the red-shirt movement which ended with 88 deaths and more than 1,000 injuries in total.

Al Jazeera said Thaksin was overthrown in the silent coup 2006 and has been in exile to avoid a jail term for his conviction on conflict of interest.

The majority of supporters of the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship are also supporters of the Pheu Thai Party, which has been an ally to Thaksin.

The red-shirts called for a new election and House dissolution as they deemed the current administration led by Abhisit Vejjajiva came into power undemocratically.

Wayne Hay reported for Al Jazeera from Bangkok that the new development of an arrest warrant for Thaksin is unlikely an end the conflict between the former PM and supporters of the current government.

CNN cited Thaksin saying last week that he is not the leader of the DAAD or the red-shirts, and insisting that their call for House dissolution is not on his behalf.

AFP reported that the terrorism charge warrants a maximum penalty of execution by lethal injection.

However, the warrant is being considered by many, as another new effort by the Thai government to have Thaksin extradited back to Thailand.

-- Tan Network 2010-05-26

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Australia officials to visit Aussie in Thai jail

By Agencies

Australian embassy officials are due to visit in the next few days an Australian man who was detained for allegedly violating an emergency law imposed in Bangkok.

Connor David Purcell, 29, an ex-soldier, could face up to two years in prison.

He was already sentenced to a two-month suspended jail sentence for overstaying his visa on Monday but then arrested again for violating the emergency decree imposed during violent demonstrations in the Thai capital.

Purcell was a speaker at the red shirts protests which came to an end last week after the leaders surrendered to police. The end of protests triggered riots in Bangkok.

A spokesperson for Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs said the man was detained on Sunday and charged with overstaying his visa. Australian embassy staff visited the man on Monday and plan to do so again in the next few days.

Purcell claimed he is a former Australian reservist and have a university degree from Western Australia. He said he is an admirer of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

-- The Nation 2010-05-26

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Insurgents Bomb Mazda Showroom in Yala, Killing at least 2

Reports indicate that the initial bomb at a Mazda showroom in Yala province went off a short time ago.

While authorities were investigating the scene, a second bomb was ignited. The bombs have so far injured at least 20.

Three are in critical condition. It killed two people instantly.

-- Tan Network 2010-05-26

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[Thaivisa News]

Second Singaporean soldier accidentally shot in Thailand during joint military training: http://bit.ly/bWjThF

Foreign press report arrest warrant issued against Thaksin on terrorism charge: http://bit.ly/cE9nKo

Thailand: AFP: The first blast went off in Yala, at 10:15 am (0315 GMT) in front of a car showroom, wounding eight people.

Thailand: AFP: The second exploded nearby around ten minutes later, injuring rescue workers and police who had come to..(1/2)

Thailand: AFP: ...investigate the first attack, police said, blaming suspected Islamic insurgents for the bombings. (2/2)

Thailand: Australian officials to visit Aussie (Conor David Purcell) in Thai jail: http://bit.ly/aUOzxl

[Thaivisa News]

Insurgents Bomb Mazda Showroom in Yala, Killing at least 2: http://bit.ly/967CdF

Video: BlackBerry Bold 9800 Slider running BlackBerry OS 6 [sneak preview]: http://bit.ly/czcjF5

TAN: Live interview with Vice FM Panich Vikitsreth on Thaksin's extradition coming up at 1 P.M. http://bit.ly/bWkvkN

Thai exports provide much-needed boost for economy: http://bit.ly/bSKzeB

Thailand: TAN: Vice FM Panich Vikitsreth's hopeful Thaksin will want to return to THL to defend his name in court of law.

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Court extends detention of Veera, Weng, Korkaew by 7 days

The Criminal Court Wednesday allowed police to detain Veera Musigapong, weng Tojirakarn and Korkaew Pikulthong, three red-shirt leaders, under the emergency decree for another week.

The court permission was sought and approved through a press conference from the Naresuan Border Patrol Police base in Cha-am to the Criminal Court.

The first week of the three's detention under the emergency law expires Wednesday, requiring police to seek the court's approval of their detention for another week.

-- The Nation 2010-05-26

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Thailand: MCOT: PM: Govt to spend 2011 budget to drive 8-point national strategies including reduction of social inequality

MCOT: National Telcom Commission 2 issue 3G licence 4 cellphone operators in Sep,expected 2 provide 3.9G service as 1st in ASEAN at year-end

Thailand: Court extends detention of Veera, Weng, Korkaew by 7 days: http://bit.ly/9YiZCW

MCOT: PM to brief foreign envoy, media Sat about political turmoil; 2 set up independent panel to probe deadly clashes btw army & protesters

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Thai Tourism Plans Comeback After Unrest

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thai-Tourism...st-t369315.html

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FUGITIVE EX-PM

I would not come back to France : Thaksin

France said on Tuesday it had urged ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to cancel a speech in Paris on the Thai political crisis, but the event's organisers insisted it would go ahead.

'Thaksin Shinawatra assured us he would do what was asked,' foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero told reporters, referring to French officials' demands last week that he should not speak in Paris on May 31 as planned.

Straits Times newspaper quoted Valero as telling journalists that the event, organised by a little-known think tank called the Centre of Political and Foreign Affairs, 'was no longer planned' and Thaksin 'told us he would not come back' to France.

But the head of the group of organising the speech, Fabien Baussart, told AFP: 'This event is still scheduled and it will take place whether the foreign ministry wants it to or not.'

France had earlier asked Thaksin to refrain from speaking in public during his private visit to France because of the tense situation in Thailand, where political instability has boiled over into deadly street violence.

A Thai court on Tuesday issued a warrant for Thaksin's arrest on terrorism charges, which carry a maximum penalty of death, over accusations that he has been bankrolling the protests and inciting unrest from overseas.

-- The Nation 2010-05-26

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PM to Inform Diplomats and Media about Riots and Arsons

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will organize an 'open house' meeting at Government House this Saturday.

During the meeting, he'll inform members of the diplomatic community and the media about the facts around last week's rioting and arson attacks.

-- Tan Network 2010-05-26

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PM invites envoys to briefing on Saturday

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has invited foreign enjoys to a briefing at Government House on Saturday.

Deputy PM's Secretary-General Panithan Watanayakorn, acting government spokesman, said the envoys had been invited to meet the prime minister at the Santi Maitree Building at 1 pm.

Panithan said the prime minister would brief them about the current measures for controlling the situation after the end of the red-shirt rally.

-- The Nation 2010-05-26

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[Thaivisa News]

Thai Tourism Plans Comeback After Unrest: http://bit.ly/coX99V

Bangkok: Some incredible photos from the Denver Post on the protests (Some Graphic) http://bit.ly/c8eVgC

I would not come back to France: Thaksin http://bit.ly/aA2Xny

Gold Digging Frenzy In Thailand's Sa Kaeo Province: http://bit.ly/barxwX

PM Abhisist to inform Diplomats and Media about riots and arsons: http://bit.ly/bXiZ0l

Thailand: MCOT: Thaksin lawyer petitions Court to withdraw ex-PM's arrest warrant on terrorist charges; Jatuporn offer to be witnesses

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Phuket: Patong To Get 'drunk Center': http://bit.ly/9IyfSd

Thailand: TAN: DSI joins forces wth Foreign-Min & Attorney-Generals office 2 circulate Thaksin's arrest warrant & coordinate wth Interpol

Thailand: Arrest Warrant for Thaksin Circulated Nationwide: http://bit.ly/axAH3x

Thailand: Court Sets June 18 to Decide on Thaksin's Appeal: http://bit.ly/d4dNmR

Thailand: MCOT: Thai stock index rose 7.65 points or 1.06% to close at 728.94, value Bt21,777 mln

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Arrest Warrant for Thaksin Circulated Nationwide

The Department of Special Investigations (DSI) has joined forces with the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Attorney-General's Office to hunt down former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

The arrest warrant for him on terrorism charges has been distributed nationwide. The agencies will also contact Interpol and foreign countries for his immediate arrest.

-- Tan Network 2010-05-26

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Court Sets June 18 to Decide on Thaksin's Appeal

The Criminal Court has set June 18 to deliver its ruling on the appeal by the lawyer of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra against his terrorist arrest warrant.

-- Tan Network 2010-05-26

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ARREST WARRANT ON TERRORISM

Thaksin seeks appeal against terrorism charge

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The defence team of fugitive expremier Thaksin Shinawatra on Wednesday filed a appellate writ seeking to revoke his arrest warrant on terrorism charges issued on Monday.

In addition to written arguments questioning the prosecution evidence, the defence called two key witnesses, redshirt leader Jatuporn Promphan and Pheu Thai MP Suchart Lainamngern, to testify on Thaksin's behalf.

Lawyer Thanadet Puangpool led the defence team, including Thaksin's legal adviser Pichit Chuenban.

Speaking before the Criminal Court's hearing on the defence appeals, Jatuporn said he planned to clarify that Thaksin had no involvement in the decisionmaking process in the redshirt movement and that he had no linkage to terrorism.

"I am prepared to explain to the court that core leaders of the red shirts were responsible for every move at the rally without any influence from Thaksin," he said.

He said he could vouch for Thaksin that he was not a terrorist as charged.

Commenting on the video links between Thaksin and the rally, he said Thaksin's last message to the rally was made on April 3 before the state of emergency was imposed on April 7.

During the emergency rule, Thaksin made just one video link to the rally in order to dispel the rumour about his death, he said.

The defence contends the rally was declared unlawful and unconstitutional following the enforcement of emergency rule.

Under Article 135/1 of the Criminal Code, terrorism charge is not applicable to activities of the public assembly as sanctioned by the Constitution.

-- The Nation 2010-05-26

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Two Japanese men deported over smuggling workers

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Japanese-Men...-W-t369432.html

[Thaivisa News]

Bangkok Governor: Merit-making ceremony marked a “new beginning for the city of Bangkok and the Thai people.” /via @Richardbarrow

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to be continued

Thailand Live Today - Thursday 27

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thailand-Liv...ay-t369498.html

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