Thailand Live Tuesday 8 Jun 2010

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Thailand Live Tuesday 8 June 2010

News, Bits and Tweets

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Keep up to date with live updates from the news, hour by hour.

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Related topic: Thailand Live Monday 7 June 2010

Thailand Live Monday 7 Jun 2010 - Thailand Forum

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Thai king tells new ministers to 'work with honesty'

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Thailand's revered king called on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his new cabinet ministers Monday to "work with honesty", in his first public remarks since the end of deadly street protests.

"Ministers should follow the oaths and work with honesty and dedication," King Bhumibol Adulyadej told the ministers as they took the oath of office at the hospital where the 82-year-old monarch has been staying since September.

"Everybody should have a strong intention to work honestly for the benefit of the country," the king said in televised remarks.

Abhisit has reshuffled his cabinet, appointing eight new ministers, in a move seen as being aimed at shoring up his hold on power after the mass anti-government protests and a rift in his fragile ruling coalition.

There are no changes to the key roles of finance, defence and foreign ministers.

The king, the world's longest-reigning monarch and considered a demi-god by many Thais, was admitted to hospital in September for treatment of a respiratory condition.

He has appeared in public several times since then but has made no explicit public comment on Thailand's recent deadly unrest.

The king has no official political role but has been a stabilising force during six turbulent decades on the throne.

During a 1992 uprising the king summoned military and protest leaders who, according to protocol, crawled towards him on their knees in dramatic televised scenes which effectively brought the violence to an end.

He spoke on television in late April for the first time since the "Red Shirt" protests began in mid-March, talking of the need for peace, but avoided specific mention of the crisis as he addressed newly appointed judges.

The two-month rally sparked outbreaks of violence that left a total of 89 people dead, mostly civilians, and nearly 1,900 injured, in clashes between demonstrators and troops. They ended after a deadly army crackdown on May 19.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-06-07

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Party 'seeking to undermine the army'

By Panya Thiewsangwan

The Nation

Published on June 8, 2010

Distributing video in bid to create public doubt: Sansern tells reporters

The Centre for Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) yesterday asked why an unnamed political party had distributed a video clip with images of soldiers in plainclothes taking part in a military operation during the recent political turmoil.

CRES spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd said it appeared the party's move was aimed at arousing public suspicion in regard to the operation.

"The political party is trying to undermine public confidence in the military and authorities and arouse suspicion about whether they acted straightforwardly as had been described," the spokesman said.

Sansern, who is also the Army spokesman, said the soldiers were in plainclothes during an operation near the Bon Kai community - but they were just carrying food supplies to colleagues manning a checkpoint there. He said they had not worn uniforms in order to avoid becoming targets of revenge.

According to the spokesman, one soldier in plainclothes ended up carrying an M16 assault rifle after a colleague engaged in an operation was injured and taken out of the area on a stretcher.

"The gun belonged to the injured soldier. The soldiers providing protective fire during the withdrawal and the soldiers sending food supplies were different groups. They had different missions," he explained.

The spokesman said it was difficult for the Army to explain every image of the deaths that occurred during the recent turmoil.

"Those involved with the protest also have to explain why terrorists carrying weapons were present in the protest area. Also, many of the weapons seized from the military and shown on stage during the protest have yet to be returned. How can you explain these things?" he said.

Sansern insisted the facts he provided were true and that it would depend on the public what to believe "between two people who give different facts about the same story".

The opposition Pheu Thai Party recently displayed the video clip in question showing a man in plainclothes carrying an M16 among a group of soldiers.

Sansern told a press conference yesterday's CRES meeting at Army headquarters was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban. At the meeting, police said that 29 people had been arrested for violating emergency laws and 56 suspects were still at large. Another 818 people had violated the Penal Code while being involved with the recent turmoil and riots.

The spokesman said that the

permanent secretary of the Foreign ministry, Veerasak Footrakul, told the CRES meeting the Ministry would give more details to Brunei about the recent riots because

fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was still allowed to enter that country.

Thaksin has been charged with terrorism acts in connection with the political turmoil.

-- The Nation 2010-06-07

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Thailand's Sirikit Dam water hits 18year low

Thailand's Sirikit Dam Water Hits 18Year Low - Thailand Forum

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Dozens made sick by chlorine leak

By The Nation

RAYONG: -- Yesterday's chlorine leak at a factory in the Hemaraj Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate left more than 100 people sick, 18 of them critically.

Following the report of the accident in the afternoon, police sealed off the plant.

Some 100 workers and residents, including three primary schoolchildren, were taken to nearby hospitals with symptoms such as fainting, coughing and difficult breathing.

The chemical stench forced a factory downwind to send 100 workers to the Rayong civil service complex and disturbed patients at Map Ta Phut Hospital. However the odour faded enough for the hospital to call off an evacuation.

The cause of the leak was said to be a 5,000-tonne chlorine container, whose base had subsided, causing it to tilt and spill the strong-smelling chemical substance that knocked out many workers on site.

Weerapong Chaiperm, deputy governor of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, said he had dispatched officials to spray down the scene, conduct air quality tests at downwind locations and rush the victims to hospitals.

-- The Nation 2010-06-08

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Rioters and red leaders face lawsuits for damage in Bangkok

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Criminal and civil lawsuits will be lodged soon against red-shirt leaders and rioters known to have caused damage to city administration property during the riots last month, deputy Bangkok governor Phornthep Techaphaibool said yesterday.

An initial estimate found damage of about Bt182 million was done to property owned by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and five district offices. This includes damage to traffic lights, sidewalk pavements and surveillance cameras.

The BMA has been given a policy directive from Deputy Interior Minister Thaworn Senniam to pursue criminal and civil lawsuits against all known assailants responsible for vandalism and arson attacks damaging buildings and government property.

The damage reported in five districts included: Bt760,000 in Klong Toei, Bt500,000 in Din Daeng, Bt547,000 in Bang Rak, Bt5.05 million in Pathum Wan and Bt2.9 million in Sathorn.

The BMA would seek a Bt500-million subsidy from the government to pay for restoration projects which will be officially worked out soon, Phornthep said, once a total damage report was officially completed.

Meanwhile, in Chiang Mai, a team of 300 police raided a red-shirt community radio station in Muang district to seize broadcasting equipment and dismantle a tower on the roof of the Grand Warorot Place hotel.

Two disc jockeys accompanied the officers during a search within the radio station to witness the police action. A confrontation was reported when 20 local red shirts gathered and shouted angry words at police, before they dispersed without incident.

The hotel has served as an unofficial headquarters of the anti-government red shirts in Chiang Mai. Police put up steel barricades to block surrounding streets during the six-hour operation.

"They had papers from the Justice Department," one witness said. "We were unhappy, but there was nothing we could do about it."

The proprietor of the hotel backed establishment of the radio station to counteract alleged mainstream media bias against the red shirts. But critics said the station incited violence in both Bangkok and locally. The father of an operator of an anti-red-shirt radio station was murdered in Chiang Mai two years ago.

The crackdown on the Rak Chiang Mai 51 radio station is the latest in a series of actions against pro-red-shirt radio operations and Internet sites.

Three more red-shirt radio stations face police action after two others, including one anti-red, were closed under the state of emergency for inciting hatred and instigating violence.

-- The Nation 2010-06-08

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Arson shocks authorities

By Supinda Na Mahachai,

Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

Student who set fire to prestigious science school sent for mental evaluation

Authorities yesterday sent a 16-year-old boy who set fire to Mahidol Wittayanusorn School - the country's top science secondary school - to the Galya Rajanagarindra Institute to find out his reasons for doing it.

"At this stage, it's not conclusive whether the boy [whose identity is being withheld, because he is a minor] suffers from mental health problems or not. We need time to study and evaluate his condition," said Dr Chatree Bancheun, director of the Mental Health Department.

Mahidol Wittayanusorn is the country's only specialised science school designed to train top students in science and mathematics, with many former students winning international awards.

Critics said it could have failed to provide sufficient counselling to students, because most were under heavy pressure to excel.

The boy's torching of his own school building on Sunday, causing an estimated Bt130 million in damage, has doubly shocked authorities, because he said it was inspired by the Bangkok red-shirt attacks.

He was quoted by the provincial governor of Nakhon Pathom province, where the school is located, as saying he saw adults burn down buildings in the capital during last month's riots and wanted to do the same.

The boy's father, Weeraphol, whose surname has been withheld, told police the arson suspect had been complaining about hard work at school and that he was getting "so distressed he did not want to study there any more".

Mahidol Wittayanusorn School director Yuwadee Nakhaphadulrat said the boy was a straight-A student until recently, when his grade-point average (GPA) slipped to 3.1.

Prof Dr Krisanapong Kiratikorn, a school adviser, said about 90 per cent of students graduating from the school achieved a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Some students could get a GPA of 4 in their studies in Mathayom 3 from other schools - but when they entered this school, their GPA grade might slide down to 3. "They needed to adjust themselves, after which their GPA could be higher," he said.

Nakhon Pathom Governor Panatda Disakul said the boy told him he copied what he had seen on television as the red shirts burned Bangkok buildings last month. "The boy said it seemed okay for adults to burn the buildings, so he decided to copy them. However, when the blaze escalated, he called the 191 emergency line several times. Examination of the calls shows this to be true," Panatda said.

"He said if he could turn back the clock, he would not have set the fire."

The governor described the boy as polite, calm and sweet.

Nakhon Pathom police chief Colonel Surapot Pisutwong said the boy's father told him his son was the older of his two children and a top student before entering the school. "His studies in Mathayom 5 dropped dramatically. The boy told his father he did not like to study there and wanted to return to his Udon Thani school."

Mental Health Department deputy director Dr Vachira Pengchan said the Galya Rajanagarindra Institute would observe the body's behaviour for two weeks like his family and the inquiry officials had requested.

But he refused to speculate whether stress or observational learning had affected the body's mental condition.

Institute director Dr Sirisak Thitidilokrat said the student was already under psychiatric care, in order to find out about his motives.

"The boy has cooperated well with the team of psychiatrists. His parents also come to the institute to visit him and give information about his behaviour to psychiatrists. This should benefit his rehabilitation," he said.

Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat said he had ordered agencies to conduct in-depth research into problems of this kind, in order to learn more about their cause.

He has asked the government to provide Bt130 million from its central budget to repair the school. Additionally, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has offered assistance for the school.

It will reopen next Monday.

-- The Nation 2010-06-08

Related topic: Thai Boy Tired Of Study Set School Block Alight - Thailand Forum

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'CONNECTED' HOMES

CAT builds Bt6bn fibre-optic network

Thailand's CAT Builds Bt6bn Fibre-Optic Network - Thailand Forum

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Suthep: Retention of CRES necessary

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Director of the Center for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) Suthep Thaugsuban insists the agency still has to remain although the overall political situation in the country has returned to normal.

Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs Suthep Thaugsuban, as the director of the CRES, stated that it was deemed necessary to continue the operation of the state’s ad hoc unit CRES as well as the imposition of the emergency decree.

Mr Suthep said the retention of both the law and the operation center would allow officers to work more efficiently on returning peace and order to the society as soon as possible. The authority is in pursuit of numbers of felons and has successfully made an arrest on many.

The government will consider lifting the State of Emergency when the situation is deemed appropriate.

-- NNT 2010-06-08

[Thaivisa News]

Jatuporn, Karun at court. Wichien's lawyer seeks postponement to June 21.

Thailand: Party 'seeking to undermine the army'

Thailand: Dozens made sick by chlorine leak

Rioters and red leaders face lawsuits for damage in Bangkok

[Thaivisa News]

Thailand: Arson shocks authorities

Thailand's CAT Builds Bt6bn Fibre-Optic Network

Thailand's Sirikit Dam Water Hits 18Year Low

Longtime Thailand-based journalist Beril Linter's take on Thai crisis is well worth reading: Riots in Thailand | Red Shirts Versus Yellow Shirts /via @jayarc @terryfrd

Red Shirt supporters r waiting 4 Jatuporn Prompan at the Criminal Court (and so is DSI). Red Shirt supporters r waiting 4 Jatuporn Prompan at the Crim... on Twitpic /via @babyfishie

[Thaivisa News]

Thailand: More redshirts at the court... http://twitpic.com/1uwpzq /via @babyfishie

Jatuporn and Karun at the court now /via @jin_nation @tulsathit

Thailand: Suthep: Retention of CRES necessary

Thailand: Jatuporn, Karun at court. Wichien's lawyer seeks postponement to June 21. /via @tulsathit

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Red Shirt Leaders Arrive at Criminal Court

Red shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan has arrived at the Criminal Court following summons from the Department of Special Investigation.

Pheu Thai MP Wichien Kaokum however has postponed his appearance to June 21.

-- Tan Network 2010-06-08

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The World Cup Fever In Thailand

The World Cup Fever In Thailand - Thailand Forum

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Jatuporn and Karun report to DSI

BANGKOK: -- Puea Thai Party MPs - Jatuporn Prompan and Karun Hosakul turned up early Tuesday at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to face terrorism charges.

DSI issued summonses on June 3 for three Opposition Puea Thai party MPs --Jatuporn, Karun and Wichien Khaokam -- to report to DSI investigators at Criminal Court today.

-- The Nation 2010-06-08

[Thaivisa News]

Thailand: Red Shirt Leaders Arrive at Criminal Court

The World Cup Fever In Thailand: The World Cup Fever In Thailand - Thailand Forum

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BMA: Rally, riots cause 182mn-THB damage to public properties

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The recent anti-government mass protest in the capital has caused over 182 million THB worth of damages on public properties, according to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) spokesperson Thanom Onketpol.

Mr Thanom revealed that the mass rally and the city riot which reigned throughout Bangkok in the past few months had caused extensive damages on many public properties including hundreds of street lamps, overpasses, trees, roads, bus stops, and vehicles. An estimated cost of damages is around 182.4 million THB.

Moreover, the Rama 6 Monument at Lumpini Park, where clashes broke out several times, is also badly damaged. The BMA is working to restore the marble floor, electricity system, fountain basin, and power control panel in the area as quickly as possible.

The estimation does not cover the damage to private properties, which have also been vandalized by rioters.

-- NNT 2010-06-08

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Bt16.8 Billion To Help Thai Tourism Operators

Bt16.8 Billion To Help Thai Tourism Operators - Thailand Forum

[Thaivisa News]

[blog] New iPhone 4 in Thailand by September 2010: New iPhone 4 in Thailand by September 2010 « Using an iPhone in Thailand /via @RichardBarrow

INN: Chanasongkram Police Station arrests a male suspect believed to be involved in Central World torching /via TAN

BP buys Google, Yahoo search words to keep people away from real news on oil spill disaster BP buys Google, Yahoo search words to keep people away from real news on Gulf oil spill disaster /via @legalnomads

Thailand: Bt16.8 Billion To Help Thai Tourism Operators

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Police Arrest Suspect in Central World Torching

Chanasongkram Police Station has arrested a male suspect believed to be involved in Central World torching.

The suspect is reportedly from Chainat province and was allegedly caught on closed circuit cameras.

-- Tan Network 2010-06-08

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DSI opposed to Jatuporn, Karun's bail

The Department of Special Investigations Tuesday expressed opposition to the request of Pheu Thai MPs Jatuporn Promphan and Karun Hosakul to be released on bail.

Jatuporn and Karun turned up at the Criminal Court Tuesday morning in line with a summon order of the DSI. The DSI asked the court to approve the two's 12-day detention pending further investigation in the case that they allegedly instigated others to commit act of terror.

The two MPs' lawyer, Kharom Polthaklang, submitted cash of Bt1 million for each of them as a guarantee for their release on bail.

The court is still considering whether to grant bail them.

-- The Nation 2010-06-08

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Thai PM Abhisit Picks Ex-Attorney General To Head Protest Probe

Thai PM Abhisit Picks Ex-Attorney General To Head Protest Probe - Thailand Forum

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Feng shui concerns over Phuket tunnel project

Feng Shui Concerns Over Phuket Tunnel Project - Thailand Forum

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Court Approves Police Request to Keep Red Leaders in Custody for Another 7 Days

The Criminal Court has approved a request by police to hold five red shirt leaders, including Nutthawut Saikua, for another seven days.

-- Tan Network 2010-06-08

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Tampered bank notes are declared invalid

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Bank of Thailand has declared the tampered 100-baht bank notes circulated mainly in the Northeast invalid. Users are also subject to prosecution by related laws, with life imprisonment as the maximum penalty.

The tampered bank notes carrying a lèse majesté text claiming that fugitive ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is the reincarnation of King Taksin the Great with a pledge of allegiance have been widely circulated in the Northeast. Commercial banks now refuse to accept them as legal tenders. People are advised to be careful and make sure that they are not handling invalid bank notes.

-- NNT 2010-06-08

[Thaivisa News]

Thailand: Police arrest suspect in Central World torching

Thailand: Aussies win Seniors World Cup in Phuket

Thailand: DSI opposed to Jatuporn, Karun's bail

Thailand: Red Shirt guard arrested after CCTV footage captures him in CentralWorld; arson suspect denies charges /via MCOT

[Thaivisa News]

Thailand: Feng shui concerns over Phuket tunnel project

Thailand: Court Approves Police Request to Keep Red Leaders in Custody for Another 7 Days

Tampered bank notes are declared invalid

We're still waiting for whether the court will grant bail to Pheu Thai MPs Jatuporn & Karun. DSI opposes to the two's bail. /via @veen_NT

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Cabinet Halts Khao Yai Road Construction

Today's Cabinet meeting Cabinet has ordered to halt construction on the controversial Khao Yai road from Kilometer 2 to 10.

It also approved the appointment of former Attorney General Kanit Na Nakorn as head of fact finding committee on violent incidents stemming from red shirt protests.

-- Tan Network 2010-06-08

[Thaivisa News]

Thailand: Cabinet halts construction on Khao Yai road from Kilometer 2 to 10 /via TAN

Cabinet approves former Attorney General Kanit Na Nakorn as head of fact finding committee /via TAN

Thailand: Sathit: There will be a merit making of all religions at Government House on June 10 /via @naya_nna @veen_NT

AFP: Cambodian, Thai troops clash on border, June 8th 2010

AFP: Cambodian and Thai troops exchanged fire briefly on their border Tuesday, a Cambodian official said.

AFP: "It was a misunderstanding because the area is a place where illegal smuggling of timber usually takes...(1/2)

AFP: ...place," the spokesman said, adding that the exchange of fire ended after the two sides contacted each other. (2/2)

70 sickened in Rayong chemical leak remain hospitalised: 70 sickened in Rayong chemical leak remain hospitalised /via MCOT

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Thai Criminal Court Grants Bail To Jatuporn, Karun

Thai Criminal Court Grants Bail To Jatuporn, Karun - Thailand Forum