Thailand Live Thursday 10 Jun 2010

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Thailand Live Thursday 10 June 2010

News, Bits and Tweets

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Related topic: Thailand Live Wednesday 9 June 2010

Thailand Live Wednesday 9 Jun 2010 - Thailand Forum

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UAE pledges not to shelter Thaksin

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to Thailand Mohammed Ali Ahmed Omran Al Shamri meets Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Panich Vikitset today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

After the Thai political updates have been explained to the UAE Ambassador, Mr Panich thanked the UAE government for deactivating a travel warning to Bangkok following the prolonged political unrest. International tourists have now starting to resume their trips to Thailand, particularly the UAE citizens who receive medical care in the capital.

The UAE Ambassador lauded Thailand for the government reassurance on the situations at the international briefing presided over by the Thai Prime Minister. However, the international body still needs to keep track on the situation in Bangkok and upcountry. The UAE Ambassador has also agreed to keep monitoring the situation and not to let anyone use the UAE as their base for any political activities.

Furthermore, the UAE has not confirmed the country participation in the signing of the UN Treaty on Extradition, while the Thai Foreign Ministry had suggested the Prime Minister to pay another official visit to the UAE.

Following the tracking of self-exiled-ex Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Mr Panich stated the process was pending for the relevant information to be sent to the Thai government. Presently, Mr Thaksin has not made any political activities and there has been no report of his appearance.

The Vice Foreign Minister, however, affirmed that the government will expedite their task to extradite Mr Thaksin. Meanwhile, the official visiting schedule to Montenegro by Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya has not been set. The meeting with the Montenegrin government was planned in a bid to explain that Mr Thaksin’s lawsuit has no linkage to his rifts with the Thai government.

-- NNT 2010-06-09

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Govt Insists Unrest Probe Head Qualified

BANGKOK: -- The prime minister insists he will not change the head of the independent body investigating last month's political unrest as requested by the main opposition party.

Prime Minister Abhsiit Vejjajiva believes a majority of the society would approve of the appointment of former attorney general Kanit Na Nakorn as chairman of the fact-finding panel for the political unrest and is confident that all parties will give their cooperation.

Abhisit said Kanit has promised him that he will conduct a transparent investigation and proposed that representatives from the red-shirt group take part in the probe.

The premier also referred to the Pheu Thai Party's recommendation that international organizations be asked to investigate the unrest, saying that it is part of the ploy by his ousted predecessor to seek intervention from outside.

Deputy Prime Minister in charge of national security Suthep Thaugsuban said Kanit has a clean background and credibility.

Suthep insisted that Kanit has no close relations with any member of the government coalition as accused by the opposition Pheu Thai Party and pointed out that Kanit was also a co-founder of the dissolved Thai Rak Thai Party, of which most of Pheu Thai MPs used to be members .

The deputy premier said he is not surprised by Pheu Thai's disapproval and their argument is spontaneous .

The list of panel members will be put forward for Kanit's approval and he will evaluate their qualifications prior to deliberation by the Cabinet.

Suthep gave assurance that the panel is formed to provide the truth to the public, not to misrepresent the facts surrounding the red-shirt protests.

Pheu Thai party-list MP and red-shirt core leader Chatuporn Prompan claimed that Kanit has close ties with the ruling Democrat Party and in the past, he did a favor for the party's chief adviser Chuan Leekpai during the Sor Por Kor land reform scandal which occured while Chuan was serving as prime minister nearly twenty years ago.

Chatuporn suggested Doctor Banlu Siripanj to replace Kanit as the panel's chief given his quality of being widely accepted by all parties and his recent work as the chairman of the panel investigating corruption in the health ministry's medical supply procurement, which led to the resignation of its minister then.

The red-shirt leader affirmed he is ready to cooperate with the panel but it must be truly impartial.

-- Tan Network 2010-06-09

[Maestro]

DEFAMATION SUIT

PM testifies against Jatuporn's allegations

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Wednesday presented to the court photos of former prime ministers in audience with HM the King during the first hearing of a defamation suit against Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Prompan, concerning allegations that Abhisit behaved improperly during an audience with the King.

The premier filed a defamation suit against Jatuporn following his allegations at a Pheu Thai press conference last year that the premier sat on a chair during an audience with HM the King.

Jatuporn said that the premier tried to be equal to the King, as no premiers had been seated in a similar manner in the past.

Abhisit on Wednesday presented photos of former premiers, Anand Panyarachun, Banharn Silapaarcha and the late Samak Sundaravej during their audiences with the King.

The photos showed that all three premiers had sat on chairs.

He quoted former PM Chuan Leekpai as saying that in some audiences with the King, the prime minister would sit on a chair during his reporting to the King when it was appropriate to do so.

Abhisit testified to the court that he had followed orders and suggestions by the Royal Household Bureau during his audience with the King.

"When I finish my reports (to the King), I always prostrated myself before the King," he said.

Therefore what Jatuporn is alleging is groundless, he told the court.

Jatuporn was also present in the court. The plaintiff and the defendant did not speak to each other.

Jatuporn will testify at the second hearing scheduled for June 30.

-- The Nation 2010-06-10

[Maestro]

EC chairman appoints 7 representatives to work on party dissolution case against Democrat

Election Commission chairman Apichart Sukhagganond Wednesday appointed seven representatives to work with attorneys on the Democrat Party dissolution case.

The case involves a controversial Bt258-million donation the party received from TPI Polene.

Thanapit Mulpruek, chief of the Special Case Department at the Office of the Attorney-General, said the joint committee would gather more evidence and witnesses to complete the reports before filing the case with the Constitution Court.

Besides Thanapit, deputy attorney-general Waiyawut Lortrakul is one of the members.

-- The Nation 2010-06-10

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DSI looks for terrorism links to seized weapons

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) yesterday inspected war weapons and valuables seized during the Thai troop operation to retake the red-shirt rally site on May 29.

The items were divided into 14 groups: 11 guns (including one Tavor rifle, one M79 grenade launcher and an AKA rifle); 17 ammunition rounds; 25 bombs (including M26 grenades and C4 bombs); 12 firecrackers; three bullet proof vests; 13 communication devices; 47 valuable items; 41 vehicles and seven motorcycles.

The vehicles included a black Mercedes sedan belonging to red-shirt leader Kwanchai Praipana; a black Mitsubishi pick-up truck owned by another leading member, Methee Amornwutthikul; a six-wheel truck used as a rally stage, and an air-conditioned container adapted to a meeting room.

The agency is investigating if the items, seized from Rajaprasong Intersection and Wat Pathum Wanaram from May 20-June 4, were related to law-violating cases, especially the alleged terrorism. DSI deputy chief Narat Sawettanat urged owners of less-likely-relevant items, such as cars and motorcycles, to testify before reclaiming them.

As for valuables, owners must present receipts or ownership evidence to reclaim them from the Evidence Storage Division Director Lt-Colonel Suthiporn Charoenphut at the 11th Infrantry Regiment, he said.

-- The Nation 2010-06-10

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Child's skeleton from Ayuttya period found

By The Nation

Ayutthaya

AYUTTHAYA: -- An ancient skeleton, of a child believed to date from the second defeat of the Ayutthaya kingdom period 240 years ago, was discovered on Tuesday in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district in Ayutthaya.

Independent archaeologist Worapot Hiranyawutikul and Ayutthaya Historical Park cultural academic Pisa Santadkan found the skeleton while digging at Wat Thammikarat in tambon Tawasukree during a landscaping project.

They found the one-metre tall skeleton, with some pottery, 40 centimetres below the soil's surface.

Worapot said he estimated the age of the child as between 10 and 12 and that it was alive during the second defeat around 1767.

The area is not a graveyard, he said, and they could not conclude the child's cause of death yet.

However, Pisa said experts would examine the bones to find out more about them later.

They will continue their excavations to find more archaeological evidence about the temple's background. People have different ideas about when Wat Thammaram was built - before or in the Ayutthaya kingdom era.

Pisa said previously skeletons of a mother and her child hugging each other had been found at the temple and they were believed to be from the same period as the child skeleton.

-- The Nation 2010-06-10

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Students attack rival school truck, wound 2

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police yesterday searched the Bangkok School of Industrial Technology in Soi Ramkhamhaeng 28 for youngsters who opened fire at a student truck and seriously injured two students from the Technology Bangkapi School on Tuesday.

Police searched all rival schools in the neighbourhood, including BITS, where they found five knives in the restroom and a ping-pong bomb hidden under a desk, deputy city police chief Boonsong Panich-attra said. They seized for inspection several motorcycles with no licence plates.

The Tuesday attack was reportedly launched by five youngsters on two motorcycles who threw a bottle and opened fire at the truck, resulting in the injuries.

Teacher Prajerd Jan-ngam said student brawls had been a long standing tradition at the schools. Staff had reduced them by conducting weapons' searches and ending classes early to avoid clashes with rival students.

He said the school's students hadn't had an inter-school fight for some time now.

-- The Nation 2010-06-10

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A Society At War With Itself: Yes, That Is Thailand

OPINION - June 10

A Society At War With Itself: Yes, That Is Thailand - Thailand Forum

Thaksin Slams Anupong For Crackdown On Red Shirts

Thaksin Slams Anupong For Crackdown On Red Shirts - Thailand Forum

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WORLD CUP 2010

Inmates set to show off their soccer skills

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The "prison football" tournament, organised during the two previous World Cups, begins today at Khong Prem prison in northern Bangkok.

Of more than 10,000 foreign inmates belonging to 90 nationalities, seven-a-side teams will represent their respective countries participating in the 2010 World Cup, Thanis Sriyaphan, a deputy Corrections Department director-general, said yesterday.

Any nine-member team of all 32 nations, which features seven players and two coaching staff members, are mixed with Thai inmates in case all nine inmates of the same nationality are available.

The three-member refereeing staff in each match is also made up of foreign inmates. South Africa, who feature in the opening match against Mexico, are fully represented by all seven players of South African nationality, while Mexico are using some Thai inmates.

All matches in the "World Cup 2010 Behind Bars" are played one day before the actual matches scheduled on June 11 to July 11, meaning the opening match is played today. Thai PBS will broadcast today's event at 10 am and the closing ceremony on July 10.

The prison football was held in parallel with the two previous World Cup events. In 2002 Nigeria clinched the prison trophy, and in 2006 Germany won it, while Brazil and Italy won the Fifa World Cups during those years, respectively.

Thanis said both prison teams were successful in the prison World Cup event because they were full of patriotic spirit in addition to no language barrier.

The seven first-team players are mainly those serving time at the Khong Prem prison while the substitutes are mostly from the maximum-security prison Bang Khwang in Nonthaburi. The training and coaching were provided by local football clubs and the Sports Authority of Thailand, which also gave Bt1 million to fund the prison football.

Foreign players have been selected from those categorised "best-behaviour inmates" to encourage good behaviour among all inmates. Around 300 Thai and foreign spectators and cheer-leading staff are also selected from those with best behaviour.

Thanis said tight security was maintained during the event with a 100-strong force of extra prison guards provided throughout the one-month period. Betting on football among inmates is prohibited and under careful surveillance, he added.

-- The Nation 2010-06-10

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BoT: Banknotes with letters linked to ex PM Thaksin will be sifted out

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Bank of Thailand (BoT) admits there are banknotes stamped with red letters, linked to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatara, spreading around Northern and Northeastern areas.

Those stamped banknotes are confirmed as legal tenders, but they will be sorted out of the system, said Mr Voraporn Tangsangasri a BoT Executive. As reported, such scattered banknotes are in small number and the BoT has already cooperated with commercial banks to monitor and draw them from the system to be forwarded to the BoT for destruction.

However, since early June, several banks and shopping malls have circulated letters for their branches to monitor and be careful in receiving 100-baht bank notes from customers if they are marked with such red letters.

-- NNT 2010-06-10

[Thaivisa News]

A society at war with itself: Yes, that's Thailand

Thailand: Thaksin slams Anupong for crackdown on red shirts

UAE pledges not to shelter Thaksin

Thailand: Govt Insists Unrest Probe Head Qualified

Thailand: PM Abhisit testifies against Jatuporn's allegations

Thailand: EC chairman appoints 7 representatives to work on party dissolution case against Democrat Party

[Thaivisa News]

Thailand: DSI looks for terrorism links to seized weapons

Thailand: Child's skeleton from Ayuttya period found

Bangkok: Students attack rival school truck, wound 2

Bangkok: Prison inmates set to show off their soccer skills

Thailand: Banknotes with letters linked to ex PM Thaksin will be sifted out

66 million mobile-phone numbers in use in Thailand: 88% prepaid & 10.7% post-paid Mobile numbers reach 66M in first quarter /via @RichardBarrow

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Malaria outbreak in Ranong raises infection toll to 644

RANONG (NNT) -- Over 640 people of both Thai and Burmese nationals have been found ill with malaria in the latest outbreak in the southern province of Ranong.

The Public Health Office of Ranong revealed that the accumulated number of malaria-infected patients since 1 January 2010 had reached 644. Out of this number, 61% are Thai while the rest are Burmese. However, no casualties have been reported.

A health personnel in Ranong said that malaria patients could be found throughout the year but the disease usually spreads heavily during the rainy season. Medical teams have been dispatched to risky areas in the province to provide blood test and prescribe medication to those infected free of charge in order to control the spread.

Teams of disease controlling unit have been dispatched to spray houses with disinfectant and to encourage people to protect themselves against malaria.

The suppression however faces some difficulties as Burmese workers living in risky areas along the Thai-Burmese border are frequent migrants. The weather condition and southern terrains also favor the reproduction of the malaria transmitter, Anopheles mosquito. People are advised to seek blood checks at district disease-control units if they have high fever.

-- NNT 2010-06-10

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Regional Police Seeking Out Arsonists, Rioters

The Provincial Police Bureau 3 chief has ordered extra efforts be put towards apprehending school arsonists and May 19 rioters as well as red -shirt leaders reportedly hiding in areas under the bureau's jurisdiction.

Provincial Police Bureau 3 Commissioner Police Lieutenant General Dechawat Ramsompop said that investigations into the torching of schools in the northeastern provinces of Surin, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani are currently underway.

In addition to a school in Surin, the province also saw fires set to the provincial hall and one Buddhist temple.

Police are coordinating with local leaders and school administrators at the crime scenes in an attempt to collect information that may lead to the arrests of the arsonists. Authorities have not yet been able to confirm whether the incidents were politically motivated or not.

A search for red-shirt core leader Suporn Attawong has also been launched in areas under the regional police bureau's jurisdiction after intelligence reports indicated that Suporn was evading arrest by hiding out in the lower northeastern region.

No signs have yet been found, however, that he is hiding out in the area.

The Provincial Police Bureau 3 is also on the hunt for May 19 rioters in Khon Kaen province.

A total of 183 arrest warrants have been issued for those involved in the unrest but so far, only four people have been brought into custody.

The Department of Special Investigation has decided to join the effort after the Kon Kaen governor admitted that local authorities were making little headway.

One of the school fires that occurred in Ubon Ratchathani has been ruled out as organized arson.

Investigators have reported that no traces of fuel or flammable substances were found at the scene of the blaze, thus leading them to believe the incident was more likely the result of an electrical short circuit.

-- Tan Network 2010-06-10

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Analysis

Lost in the Hunt for Thaksin

Up until this point, it is clear that the East European country of Montenegro under Milo Djukanovic’s leadership will not extradite convicted former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to Thailand, even if our court issued an arrest warrant for the telecom tycoon on terrorism charges.

That means before the public prosecutor will submit a request to the Montenegrin government or seek cooperation from Interpol for Thaksin’s extradition, the former Thai leader, who is also a Montenegrin citizen, might have to live and die away from his homeland, without eventually getting tried.

Despite its refusal to hand over the multibillionaire to Thai authorities, Montenegro said it will prosecute Thaksin under its own court if there is sufficient evidence to prove that he has engaged in terrorist acts. However, it seems that the statement is meant only to reaffirm the juridical power of Montenegro, rather than having a real application in regards to Thaksin’s case. The relationship between Thaksin and the Montenegrin government, therefore, is just like the ties he has with the governments of other countries in which he took refuge – a symbiotic one.

There have been a lot of difficulties in the hunt for Thaksin since the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions handed him a 2-year jail sentence in the Ratchada land case. The most significant fact lies in the government’s poor communication and clarification of the issue to the international audience that has proved to lag behind the telecom magnate’s effort through foreign media to whitewash his crimes.

In principle, when the prosecution process comes to the filing of charges against a suspect, a responsible authority can make a request to Interpol for the arrest of the suspect. Take the extradition of Riduan Isamuddin, or Humbali, a leader of the Jemaah Islamiyah militant group, and two other conspirators to the United States in 2003 for example.

However, the truth is the social status of Thaksin is very different from other terrorism suspects, as he and his network of supporters could roll out effective local and overseas propaganda campaigns that obscure the application of terrorism on his case. Even Interpol itself is uncertain about its authority to arrest the convicted Thai politician.

Taken from Editorial, Kom Chad Luek newspaper, June 9th, 2010, page 4

Translated and rewriteen by Wacharapol Isaranont

Please note that the views expressed in our "Analysis" segment are translated from local newspaper articles and do not reflect the views of the Thai-ASEAN News Network.

-- Tan Network 2010-06-10

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Govt holds merit-making ceremony for Thailand

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The government has organized a merit-making ceremony at Government House featuring rites from five main religions in Thailand to bring good fortune to the country after struggling over the recent political mayhem.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Thursday morning presided over the merit-making ceremony. There were about 500 participants, including cabinet members and their spouses, advisors to the prime minister, police and military top brasses, heads of public and private sectors, and religious leaders.

The ceremony commenced at 7.30 hrs at the lawn in front of Thai Khu Fa Building of Government House. Prime Minister Abhisit and his spouse Dr Pimpen lit up joss sticks and candles to start a Brahmin ceremony to worship and pray for peace in Thailand.

The ceremony then continued at Santi Maitri Building as clergies from the five religions chanted and conducted religious rites for peace and good fortune of Thailand, including Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Sikhism, respectively.

-- NNT 2010-06-10

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THB undergoes slight weakening

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Thai currency opens at 32.59-32.61 THB against the USD this morning, weakening in response to the regional currencies.

At today’s market opening, the baht fell slightly from yesterday’s closing at 32.58-32.60 THB to 32.59-32.61 THB per USD. The market’s overall sentiment is quite stable as there is no new factor to influence the baht while other currencies in the region are undergoing some changes.

The Japanese yen this morning stands at 91.17-91.20 against the USD, up from 91.43-91.46. The euro also strengthens up from 1.1967 to 1.1975 per USD.

Today, the Thai baht is expected to shift within the range of 32.55-32.70 THB per USD and may further strengthen slightly.

-- NNT 2010-06-10

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Bank heist: Colombian gang arrested in Krabi

Bank Heist: Colombian Gang Arrested In Krabi - Thailand Forum

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Suthep says not time for lifting emergency yet

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Thursday that the state of emergency in Bangkok and other provinces could not be lifted yet.

Suthep said the government has yet to watch out for possible untoward incidents for a while.

"It's not time for lifting the state of emergency yet," Suthep said.

-- The Nation 2010-06-10

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Interior Ministry to launch television channel

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Ministry of Interior is prepared to launch a television channel to provide information about the ministry’s missions and projects.

The channel, called the Mahadthai Channel or directly translated as Interior Channel will start broadcasting on 14 June 2010.

According to Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul, the Mahadthai Channel is a vital communication medium that will reach out to the public at the provincial level. The channel will inform the public of the ministry’s as well as the government’s policies such as protecting the nation’s important institutions, measures to tackle drugs, and information about natural disasters, Mr Chavarat said. The minister also detailed that the channel will promote provincial products under OTOP, launching the OTOP Shop Channel.

The channel will allow public participation; the public can engage by phoning into the program, Mr Chavarat said.

The Mahadthai Channel can be viewed on C-Band of ThaiCom 5 satellite.

-- NNT 2010-06-10

[Thaivisa News]

Thailand: PM presides over 5-religion ceremony to boost public's morale: http://bit.ly/ajHrAt /via MCOT

Malaria outbreak in Ranong raises infection toll to 644

Chicago Blackhawks Win the Stanley Cup Chicago Blackhawks Win the Stanley Cup - CBS News /via @CBSNews

Regional Police Seeking Out Arsonists, Rioters

Chinese farmer fends off eviction with home made cannon: http://bit.ly/b93sZ7 /via @torrentabuse

Analysis: Lost in the Hunt for Thaksin

[Thaivisa News]

Govt holds merit-making ceremony for Thailand

Thailand: Thai currency undergoes slight weakening

Wounded Canadian photographer, Chandler Vandergrift, relives near-death clash in Thailand http://bit.ly/b1dM2l /via @RichardBarrow

Bank heist: Colombian gang arrested in Krabi

Thailand: Suthep says not time for lifting emergency yet

Finance Min admits sales of Strong Thailand bonds lower than expected; confident will achieve goal by June 11 /via TAN

Interior Ministry to launch television channel

Consumer confidence index in May hits 4-month high thanks to easing political situation, promising Q1 data, dropping oil prices:UTCC /v MCOT

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Arrest warrant to Interpol under translation, according to police commander

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The arrest warrant for ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatara is expected to be submitted to the Interpol soon, said Pol Maj Gen Terdsak Rujiwong, the Commander Foreign Affairs Division of the Royal Thai Police (RTP).

The foreign affairs commander said that currently the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is waiting for the arrest warrant to be translated into English before sending it to Interpol. The warrant was not translated by the Foreign Affairs Division of the Royal Thai Police due to concerns that it might not correlate to the translations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pol Maj Gen Terdsak said.

The Criminal Court in late May granted the DSI an arrest warrant for Mr Thaksin for terrorism charges and being linked to the anti-government demonstrations that resulted in deaths and public sabotage.

Regarding the Royal Thai Police's cooperation with the Interpol, Pol Maj Gen Terdsak said that cooperating with the Interpol is an intricate process due to many procedures. He also expressed uncertainty that the Interpol might not agree to the terrorism charges filed by the DSI. The Interpol might regard it as a political matter, revoking any interferences on the matter, Pol Maj Gen Terdsak said.

-- NNT 2010-06-10

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Hotels slash prices to spur tourism

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Many hotel entrepreneurs have cut down their room rates by 50-75% in the Thailand Tourism Festival 2010 (TTF 2010) organized at Impact Challenger Hall 1-3, IMPACT Muang Thong Thani from 9 to 13 June 2010.

Many people reportedly flocked to the event, featuring many activities such as Thai cultural shows and models of architecture of each province in Thailand, as well as attractive tour packages with amazing discounts for popular accommodations offered by more than 400 hoteliers.

The TTF 2010 is arranged in a bid to stimulate the domestic tourism in the upcoming low season as well as help hotel entrepreneurs affected from the recent political unrest.

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor, Surapol Savetserani, said the organization had spent a total of 75 million THB on the event which is expected to attract more than 200,000 visitors. He expected that about 250 million THB would be circulated in the five-day event.

-- NNT 2010-06-10

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Justice Minister: PM orders reinstating committee to investigate extrajudicial killings of drug suspects during Thaksin administration s war on drugs /via MCOTEnglishnews

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Local Red Shirt leader shot dead in Nakhon Ratchasima

NAKHON RATCHASIMA (TNA) -- A local leader of the anti-government Red Shirt movement was killed by gunmen on Wednesday night in this northeastern province.

Pol Col Wicharawit Kritrittasak, deputy commander of the Nakhon Ratchasima provincial police said Sakrin Kongkaew, 24, was shot dead in Buayai municipality.

Col Wicharawit said investigators questioned witnesses and collected circumstantial evidence, but no one could give clear description of the gunmen as the attack occurred at night, and it was hard to see the faces of the attackers.

According to the initial investigation, the police believed there were at least two assailants and the motive behind the killing was presumed to be linked to personal or political conflict.

Mr Sakrin also known as Uan Buayai, a key Red Shirt leader in Nakhon Ratchasima, was earlier summoned to report to the authorities at Suranaree army camp here on May 2.

The Red Shirts staged a mass rally in Bangkok from mid March to May 19 when they dispersed from the Ratchaprasong area following a military operation to retake the protest site amid shopping malls and business offices.

Some angry protesters torched 39 spots in the capital, while Red Shirt supporters burned provincial halls in four northeastern provinces. (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-06-10

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Police Commission to decide on request for Thaksin's police rank revocation

The police personnel commissioner has requested the Police Commission to decide whether former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's police rank of lieutenant colonel could be revoked.

Pol Lt Gen Natthapit Sanitwong, commissioner of the Police Personnel Bureau, said his agency had to pass on the matter to the Police Commission for making a final decision because Pheu Thai MPs were opposed to the revocation on ground that Thaksin is not active officer.

The bureau was asked to consider revoking Thaksin's police rank after he was guilty of abusing authority and given a jail term.

-- The Nation 2010-06-10

[Thaivisa News]

Arrest warrant to Interpol under translation, according to police commander

Bangkok: Hotels slash prices to spur tourism

Australian Conor Purcell to be detained for 4 more days in Thai prison. Lawyer opposing extension. /via @seacorro @RichardBarrow

BMA Traffic & Transport Dep: 86 CCTVs in 8 locations were damaged in protest, takes 30 days to return to normal at Bt27 million cost /V MCOT

[Thaivisa News]

Pic of Brit Jeff Savage in chains and lying on floor in pain http://bit.ly/a2U5SG (playing up to camera or real?) /via @RichardBarrow

Thailand: Local Red Shirt leader shot dead in Nakhon Ratchasima

At 6pm the redshirts will be gathering peacefully at Victory Monument to remember their heroes with flowers and candles. /via @veen_NT

Pheu Thai party rejects PM reconciliation plan, calls it an attempt to whitewash crimes. /via TAN

Police Commission to decide on request for Thaksin's police rank revocation