Thailand Live Sunday 27 Jun 2010

[webfact]

Thailand Live Sunday 27 June 2010

News, Bits and Tweets

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Related topic: Thailand Live Saturday 26 June 2010

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Academics urges cases of drug death during Thaksin's era to be brought to International Court of Justice

BANGKOK (NNT) – Academicians made their comments on Thaksin-era drug deaths at the debate held at Thammasat University on Saturday.

The topic has been discussed at an academic debate on whether the government should resume probe of the death toll resulted from War on Drug policy initiated by self-exiled ex Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s administration.

Flaws of the policies have been cited as the debate proceeded. All agreed that the list of traffickers was hastily conducted, while the authorities were pressurized by the tally.

Participants stated the case could be resurrected in court via the National Human Rights Commission or the Department of Special Investigation. The government can as well address the issues to the International Court of Justice, depending on the government's determination as the cases mostly involve politics.

-- NNT 2010-06-27

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CSD suppresses pirated DVDs sold on Ban Mo Road

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Over 40,000 pirated DVDs worth four million THB are seized on Ban Mo Road, an electronic market area in Bangkok, by the Crime Suppression Division (CSD).

Police Colonel Norasak Hemniti, CSD Deputy Commander, led his personnel for the suppression of pirated products around Ban Mo. Three suspects are arrested at the site with the evidence of pirated DVDs, around 40,000 pieces, worth four million THB. Those accused admitted that they were workers in the shop so the police brought them for further investigation to find the owners.

Seized DVDs of movies and music are then moved to CSD office to be later destroyed.

-- NNT 2010-06-27

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Board of Trade supports government extending Emergency Decree

BANGKOK (TNA) -- Extending the Emergency Decree now in force in the Thai capital and several neighbouring provinces, can be done if it benefits the country, chairman Dusit Nontanakorn of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade said Saturday.

Mr Dusit said the Emergency Decree enforced since April 7 during anti-government protests by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) could be extended if it is vital for Thailand's national security.

The country would suffer if undesirable things happen after the decree is revoked, he said.

His remarks were made as the government is considering lifting the Emergency Decree, probably, in the central provinces, except for Bangkok.

The government’s decision whether to revoke or retain the decree in any province depends on the security assessment by the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES).

The UDD anti-government protests were dispersed by the military on May 19.

On plans by the government to extend the economic assistance programmes designed to help low income earners for another six months until the end of 2010, Mr Dusit said the government should compare advantages and disadvantages if the programmes are extended.

Under the present programmes, about eight million households using less that 90 units of electricity per month enjoy the benefit as they do not need to pay for electricity, passengers can travel free on about 800 buses on 73 routes in the capital and on 172 third-class trains daily.

Mr Dusit urged the government to consider carefully the possible extension of the economic assistance programmes, saying that whether the extension could really help boost the national economy.

He said representatives of the provincial chambers of commerce and governors nationwide on Friday held a meeting on possible cooperation between the public and the private sector on ways to improve national economy and on how the private sector could assist in driving the government-sponsored national reconciliation plan.

The economic development committee would discuss and find the conclusion before it is eventually submitted to the Cabinet for its consideration, Mr Dusit added. (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-06-27

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Jatuporn sees plot in arrests

By Naya Jaikawang

Kesinee Taengkhieo

Supachai Petchthavee

The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai Party-list MP Jatuporn Promphan yesterday said the arrest of red-shirt guards, who have been accused of masterminding the bombing at the Bhum Jai Thai (BJT) Party headquarters, was likely a plot to discredit the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship (DAAD).

The arrests were made unusually quickly and as if police already had the suspects on hand, he said.

Jatuporn said from his inquiry with key red-shirt members in the eastern provinces about the two suspects - Khamphol Khamkhong and Dejphol Phutthajong - he had learned that the duo were not the heads of red-shirt guards as claimed, but voluntary red-shirt guards who applied via a community radio station.

Jatuporn said the DAAD had nothing to do with the bombing on Tuesday and that the bombers' arrests were solely to misinform the general public that the DAAD was behind the incident.

Meanwhile, Bang Khen police yesterday brought the two suspects to the Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court to seek their detention from Sunday to July 7, pending police investigation that would involve interviewing 15 witnesses and getting forensic test results.

Khamphol and Detphol were arrested after being implicated by attacker Anek Singkhunthod, who was injured when the bomb prematurely went off, of preparing the bomb for him and planning the attack.

Police also opposed their release on bail, citing their alleged action was harmful to others, and they might escape and carry out another similar attack. Police also applied for the detention of Anek at Bhumibol Hospital. The court granted the police detention request for all three suspects.

Earlier, Detphol, who claimed to run for an MP election under the defunct Palang Dhamma Party in 1988 but failed, told police interrogation that his group initially planned to attack the Democrat Party headquarters but the security there was beefed up so they shifted to the Bhum Jai Thai headquarters.

He said the attack was just aimed at getting the government's attention. He denied the accusation that the other cooking gas cylinder they had discarded off Soi Ram-dntra 88 in Bang Khen district was to make a bomb targeting the 11th Infantry Regiment.

Bang Khen superintendent of police, Colonel Pattana Petsayanawin, said the two suspects also identified two at-large accomplices by photos as the alleged hirer Warisriya "Ore" Boonsom, 42, and Kobchai "Ai" Boonplod, 41. It is believed that Ore and Ai have now escaped to a neighbouring country.

Later yesterday, police carrying a search warrant, inspected Warisriya's rented four-storey commercial building in Soi Choke Chai 4, as it was implicated as the gang's safehouse where they made the bomb and planned the attack. They found DAAD newspapers and stickers and collected fingerprints to compare with the suspects' to see if they had been there as claimed.

-- The Nation 2010-06-27

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'Por Waranon' passes away at 81

By The Nation on Sunday

Published on June 27, 2010

Pracha Waranon, the Thai music composer and Golden Record award-winning radio host known as "Por Waranon", died yesterday of lung disease and diabetes at the age of 81.

The composer, whose former students include National Artist Suthep Wongkamhaeng and singer Charin Nanthanakorn, retired from the music scene 30 years ago.

He had returned from Australia and lived in Pattaya for eight years before succumbing to his chronic illnesses at 5am at Bang Lamung Hospital.

His funeral is being held at Amparam Temple in Sattahip district until the cremation ceremony on Tuesday at 4pm.

-- The Nation 2010-06-27

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American football star contributes

By The Nation on Sunday

A famous American football player has donated Bt159,000 to the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre.

On invitation from the Tourism Authority of Thailand's New York office, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald recently visited the centre and underwent training as a novice mahout, centre director Worawit Rojanapaitoon said yesterday.

Fitzgerald also joined the centre's foster parent project by adopting five pachyderms named Plai Jampui, Sidor Jojo, Phang Kelang, Phang Kampan and Phang Tui, he said.

-- The Nation 2010-06-27

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Probe into male student prostitution

By The Nation on Sunday

The Higher Education Commission will probe a report that some male students in Chiang Mai are prostituting themselves to pay off soccer gambling debts.

After a meeting yesterday with the Council of University Presidents of Thailand (CUPT), Deputy Education Minister Chaiyos Chirametakorn told reporters that he urged the universities to be on guard, since some people were claiming to be students in order to boost their rates for sex services. Forging student IDs wasn't difficult, he said.

CUPT chairman Prasart Seubkha said the president of the institution in question didn't know about the rumour, which was from one source, so it was not convincing.

Many people had pretended to be students and engaged in immoral activities before, he said.

All university presidents were urged to get their deputies for student affairs to ensure that their students weren't into soccer betting and other vices, he said.

Students doing decent part-time jobs would be supported, while those working on jobs that detracted from the institution's image would be dismissed, he added.

-- The Nation 2010-06-27

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Software piracy expected to be decreased for overall country´s image

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Software Industry Promotion Agency (Public Organization) or SIPA organized a seminar on software copyright and direction for legal software use. The seminar is held with the hope to decrease software piracy rate.

According to SIPA’s seminar, software piracy rate at present is higher in number in the form of illegal software used such as operating system software, program and application software. The piracy can be divided into direct piracy which is copying and publicizing the software, and indirect piracy that is selling and distributing those pirated software. Such a piracy damages a lot to copyright owners and affects the overall economy.

The decrease of software piracy can raise the GDP due to the rise of employment rate and that results in stability of the country’s economy. On the other hand, software piracy is a major cause of damage to business overall, while the users are likely to counter several risks such as higher expenses for system management, virus and piracy law violation.

Punishment for the piracy cases is catagorized into the primary piracy which is subject to a fine from 20,000 THB to 200,000 THB and the commercial purpose action which is to be sentenced to a jail term from six months to four years, or a fine of 100,000 – 800,000 THB, or both.

Another case is minor piracy that is subject to a fine of 10,000 – 100,000 THB, while the action for commercial purpose will be sentenced to a jail term of three months to two years, a fine of 50,000 – 400,000 THB, or both.

-- NNT 2010-06-27

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Thai Red Cross dispatches medical team for free service in the Northeast

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Volunteer Office of the Thai Red Cross has cooperated with several agencies to lead mobile medical teams to serve people in Northeastern provinces to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Red Cross foundation.

The Thai Red Cross Volunteer Office along with Saeng-Saiki Hetrakoon Foundation, the medical unit of the 27th class of the National Defense College, and the Provincial Electricity Authority will lead medical team to serve the people in rural area of the Northeastern provinces of Yasothon and Mukdahan.

The medical team is providing free services for residents at Song Yae Phitthaya School in Thai Charoen district of Yasothon on 27 June, and at Dong Yen Witthayakhom School in Mueang district of Mukdahan on 28 June.

-- NNT 2010-06-27

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39 tourists were injured, 2 went missing when 2 speed boats collided off Koh Phangan at 11:45 pm Saturday night. /via @paisal_nt

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Suthep: Thaksin lawyer not allowed to probe Red Shirt unrest

BANGKOK (TNA) -- Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who oversees national security, shrugged off a proposal by an international legal adviser of fugitive ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to set up a fact-finding committee to probe violent incidents during Thailand’s Red Shirt protest.

Mr Suthep said on Saturday that the government will not allow any foreign group of persons to intervene or otherwise violate the country’s legal process.

The deputy premier's stance followed an international lawyer of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra reportedly meeting and discussing with lawyers from many countries in preparation for setting up his own fact-finding committee to investigate the clashes between the red-shirted anti-government protesters led by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and the government's security forces.

Mr Suthep commented that the former premier’s ongoing move was considered harmful and did no good to the kingdom but was aiming at his own benefit, not truly for the people. Also, he said the government will not let Mr Thaksin’s attempt achieve his goals.

“I would like to note that when Mr Thaksin was premier, many international organisations were seeking to probe the alleged extrajudicial killings of 2,500 people during his 'war on drugs' and also the killings during the unrest by insurgents in the three southernmost provinces. But at the time Mr Thaksin did not allow these agencies to enter the country and spurned the call for United Nations intervention, saying 'The UN is not my father!'. So I think that Mr Thaksin’s move must be considered a double standard,” Mr Suthep said.

Asked about the disagreement among security related agencies regarding the revocation of the Emergency Decree in some provinces, the deputy premier denied the rumours.

The extension of the emergency law enforcement depends on the resolution of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) and the officials concerned must carefully consider all related information, he said.

“CRES meets next week, intending to decide whether or not to extend the Emergency Decree before proposing it to the Cabinet. I believe that CRES can conclude information by July 7,” Mr Suthep said.

One premature bombing occurred near the Bhumjaithai Party headquarters and another happened in the red-active northeastern province of Udon Thani despite these areas being under special law enforcement. The deputy premier said that even though the special law remained in force, the ill-intentioned group continued inciting unrest.

So if the Emergency Decree is revoked, the prevention of the unrest will be difficult, said the deputy premier. (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-06-27

[george]

UPDATE:

Samui, Thailand: Senior local officials insist no one killed in boat accident off Pha Ngan, 40 injured:

http://bit.ly/c6wQi3

[george]

MCOT: Bombings at 2 public telephone booths in Chiang Mai provincial seat early hours Sunday morning, no casualties reported

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Eight of 83 on blacklist to report to DSI on Monday; Explosions in Chiang Mai

BANGKOK (TNA) -- Representatives from eight companies out of the total 83 individuals and firms blacklisted by the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) will report to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) on Monday, agency chief Tarit Pengdit said.

Companies representatives including listed SC Asset Corp, with most shares owned by the family of fugitive, ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, will report to eight sets of DSI investigators.

They will be the first respondents of the total 83 individuals and firms blacklisted by CRES for suspected financing of the anti-government protests which ended May 19 when troops approached the group's protest site at Ratchaprasong intersection.

Only authorised representatives will be allowed to meet and explain to DSI officials during the questioning, he said, adding that their supporters will be allowed to stay at a designated area within the DSI compound.

Mr Tarit said representatives of the remaining suspects on the blacklist will report to DSI after Monday.

In other developmentd, two bombs exploded at telephone booths in the northern province of Chiang Mai early Sunday, police said.

The first incident occurred at about 12.30am when a bomb exploded in a telephone booth outside a hotel in the provincial seat while the second explosion took place at a nearby housing estate.

A combined police and army force responded to the scene and collected evidence scene for further investigation.

Witnesses told police that they saw four young men riding on two motorcycles throwing some objects near the two places before fleeing toward the Chiang Mai-Lamphun Road.

Police initially believed the explosions were caused by large fireworks, aimed at causing disturbances rather than loss of life. (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-06-27

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Democrat asks Puea Thai not to create further division in society

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The ruling Democrat Party has requested the opposition Puea Thai Party not to include the political mayhem during the last two months in its political campaign for the 25 July by-election.

Democrat Party Executive, Sathit Pitutecha, stated that the Puea Thai Party should hold its election campaign creatively and not to create further rifts among people by disseminating distorted information about the recent unrest.

Nevertheless, the Democrat Party would set up a team to monitor the political campaigns of Puea Thai closely. If provocations and distorted information were found, the Democrats would ask the Election Commission (EC) to disqualify the Puea Thai candidate immediately, according to Mr Sathit.

Regarding the direction of the Democrat Party’s election campaign, Mr Sathit said both Democrat MPs and the candidate would visit people in Constituency 6, to collect first-hand information about their needs. He added that the party would clarify the recent political violence in Bangkok and the operations of security units against the street-protest of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship.

Meanwhile, Spokesperson to the Democrat Party Leader, Thepthai Senpong, voiced concerns over Puea Thai election campaigns. He called on the opposition party to focus on party policies rather than concentrating on the recent violence which would create further division within the society.

The by-election in Bangkok’s constituency 6 is scheduled to take place on 25 July 2010 in order to fill a vacant post left by Democrat MP Tiva Ngernyuang, who died of cancer.

-- NNT 2010-06-27

[Maestro]

to be continued

Thailand Live Monday 28 June 2010

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