Thailand Live Sunday 20 Jun 2010

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A wild elephant attacked 3 tourists at Khao Yai National Park on Saturday night. But all victims are now in safe conditions. /via @Urisara_NT

Public Health Ministry orders nationwide seizure of fruit-flavored mouth sprays

Thaksin: govt painted reds & Thaksin as anti- monarchy group for their own justification. /via @veen_NT

If u don't read Thai, u don't miss much. Thaksin tweets read more like rants. He says govt is worse than military dictatorship. /via @veen_NT

Insects oozing out of a man's sores, which became media sensation, not symptom of mysterious disease

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Opposition Puea Thai Party to field Red Shirt leader Nattawut in by-election

BANGKOK (TNA) -- Thailand's Opposition Puea Thai Party (PTP) will consider the qualifications of Red Shirt leader Nattawut Saikua, currently detained on charges of terrorism, to contest a by-election in Bangkok scheduled for July 25, said Jatuporn Prompan, another leader of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD).

Mr Jatuporn said the PTP will consider fielding Mr Nattawut to contest the by-election under the party banner in order to also reveal the truth on the mass gatherings of UDD protesters.

The more than two-month protest by UDD demonstrators in the capital ended on May 19 after a military operation to retake the protest area in Ratchaprasong. A number of UDD core leaders are now detained, including Mr Nattawut, on charges including terrorism.

The by-election is being held to replace late Democrat MP Thiwa Ngernyuang, who died of cancer on June 11.

If the party agrees, Mr Nattawut must request a temporary release from the court so that he may submit an application to contest the by-election as required by the election law.

In a related development, Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office Ongart Klampaiboon said the ruling Democrat Party will meet this week to find a suitable person run in the by-election.

Asked whether the State of Emergency, imposed by the government since April 7, would affect campaigns by candidates, Mr Ongart said he did not think so. He suggested there would be no problem if the PTP boycott the upcoming by-election as the Democrat Party would urge eligible voters to go to voting booths as many as possible and vote for his party candidate.

The election law stipulates that an election candidate would be automatically elected if the person gains more than 20 per cent of the total votes even though he is contesting alone. (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-06-20

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Investors warned of bogus foreign gold investment firms

Investors Warned Of Bogus Foreign Gold Investment Firms - Thailand Forum

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350,000 Baht/month to rent a shop-house?! 350,000 Baht/Month To Rent A Shop-House - Thailand Forum

Investors warned of bogus foreign gold investment firms

Opposition Puea Thai Party to field Red Shirt leader Nattawut in by-election

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Thanarat Rd widening project ready for probe

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Transport Minister Sopon Zarum has voiced readiness to be investigated by all sides regarding the controversial project to widen Thanarat Road leading to Khao Yai National Park.

Mr Sopon affirmed his readiness to be inspected by all organizations in regard to the controversial road widening project. He deemed such an investigation normal and said that the project’s implementation was done according to the law.

The minister stressed again the ministry’s sincere intention in implementing the project, saying it would be the role model because the road would be the first to be connected with a forest conservation zone.

Mr Sopon noted that his ministry did not ignore environmental issues; however, he would like all sides to abide by the law. He accepted that the lawsuit filed against the ministry would affect construction projects of many other roads connected to national parks.

The minister added that he had ordered his officials to make visits to each area and correct understandings with the locals to prevent occurrences of similar incidents.

The Thanarat Road widening project has become an issue of public controversy due to environmental impacts and a risk to the world heritage status of Khao Yai National Park.

-- NNT 2010-06-20

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PM Abhisit: Probe of possible bribery may be in order for withdrawing names from blacklist

PM Abhisit: Probe Of Possible Bribery May Be In Order For Withdrawing Names From Blacklist - Thailand Forum

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Mafia Thai Loan Sharks: Mafia Thai Loan Sharks - Thailand Forum

PM Abhisit: Probe of possible bribery may be in order for withdrawing names from blacklist: PM Abhisit: Probe Of Possible Bribery May Be In Order For Withdrawing Names From Blacklist - Thailand Forum

Khao Yai National Park: Thanarat Rd widening project ready for probe

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Apirak asked to seek qualified candidate for 25 Jul by-election

BANGKOK (NNT) – Prime Minister's Office Minister Ongart Klampaiboon has asked Prime Minister's Advisor and former Bangkok Governor, Apirak Kosayodhin, to help screen a suitable candidate for the 25 July by-election in Bangkok’s constituency 6.

Mr Ongart stated that Mr Apirak would head the panel to select a suitable candidate for the ruling Democrat Party. Mr Ongart is actually responsible for the party’s elections in Bangkok, but he admitted that he was unable to fully perform the task due to several engagements in the newly assigned ministerial portfolio.

The minister elaborated that Mr Apirak would meet with the candidate selection committee of the party next week to consider qualifications of each candidate of the party and select only one of them to compete in the upcoming by-election.

At present, there are five candidates with almost equal qualifications. Only one will be named next week for the by-election held to find a replacement for late Democrat MP Tiva Ngernyuang, who recently passed away due to cancer.

Meanwhile, the opposition Puea Thai Party is considering sending for the election Mr Nattawut Saikua, the secretary-general of the anti-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) and a detained suspect on terrorism charge.

Mr Ongart also said he did not expect any problem for the party to launch election campaigns in the electoral area.

-- NNT 2010-06-20

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Indian tourists love Thailand, despite turmoil

Weeks of violent anti-government protests have failed to stop Indian tourists and others from flocking to Bangkok, the capital of Thailand and one of the most compelling Asian destinations for globetrotters, especially shoppers.

Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, director of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), New Delhi, says Thailand's tourism industry is resiliently getting into recovery mode after weeks of political turmoil in April-May that spilled on to the streets, leaving around 90 people dead.

According to latest figures released by TAT, the country received 6,563,099 visitors from January to May this year, registering a 16.07 percent year-on-year growth. From India alone, 277,393 tourists visited Thailand during this period.

TAT director Ayudhya, however, admits that the protests hit Bangkok when Indian tourist arrivals were at their peak.

'India is among the primary short haul markets for us and we value Indian travellers. Yes, the tension surely came in when the Indian market holiday season was getting to its peak, but the positive side was that there were many repeat visitors who travelled to Thailand anyway by avoiding Bangkok and heading straight for our regional holiday spots,' said Ayudhya.

Story continues: sify.com

-- SIFY.COM

2010-06-20

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to be continued

Thailand Live Monday 21 June 2010

Thailand Live Monday 21 Jun 2010 - Thailand Forum

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