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Thailand Live Saturday 3 Jul 2010


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Thailand Live Saturday 3 July 2010

News, Bits and Tweets

with webfact

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

For breaking news,national, regional and international news updates on

a daily basis only, this thread is closed to commentary so that those

who wish to follow the news can find it here...

Commentary is still open for Thailand news in the relevant thread posted in News Clippings.

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Related topic: Thailand Live Friday 2 July 2010

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ONEP: Temperature will rise by 2 Celsius in the next 30 years

BANGKOK (NNT) -- In the next 30 years, the average temperature in Thailand will rise by 2 Celsius degree, according to the Office of Natural Resource and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP).

ONEP Deputy Secretary-General Ms Araya Nantapotidej cited that the rise in temperature derived from the green house gas emission. She said developing countries had higher proportion of green house gas emission than developed countries. Those countries including Thailand were thus required to restrict on their emission.

The rise in temperature will result in shorter cold period particularly in Northern Thailand. Ecology and various plants will also get the impact and some may be damaged from temperature increase, said Ms Araya.

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-- NNT 2010-07-03 footer_n.gif

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Police Vow to Step Up Efforts to Prevent Student Fights

The Metropolitan Police Bureau will discuss measures to prevent violent fights amongst students from rival schools with executives from 28 educational institutions. The law on criminal association will be seriously enforced in dealing with this problem.

Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Police Lieutenant General Santhan Chayanont said his bureau will be more proactive in its efforts to deal with violent fights between students who attend competing technical institutes.

The laws will be strictly enforced, especially against seniors who recruit and support younger students to engage in fighting with students from other institutes who they regard as their adversaries.

Santhan added that the police have a list of students who are often involved in violent fights and these students will be closely monitored.

Police officers will be patrolling at-risk institutions 24 hours a day in an effort to reduce the chances of potentially violent student gatherings.

More police officers will also be on patrol at department stores and bus stops where fights between students often take place.

The police are trying to be more proactive in dealing with this problem and are hoping to prevent violent clashes between the students.

The law on criminal association will be seriously enforced and offenders will face ten years in jail and/or 20,000 baht in fines.

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-- Tan Network 2010-07-03

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Court denies bail for 11 detained Red Shirt leaders

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's Criminal Court on Friday rejected a bid for bail for 11 detained anti-government Red Shirt leaders, citing concerns over their possible flight to evade prosecution, as the detainees face charges with severe punishment.

Karom Ponthaklang, lawyer representing the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) on Friday sought for a second bail attempt for the detained protest leaders after the court rejected the request on June 15.

Among the UDD leaders now being detained at Bangkok Remand Prison were Veera Musikapong, Weng Tojirakarn, Korkaew Pikulthong, and Natthawut Saikua.

The court early June granted unconditional bail to fellow Red Shirt leader who is also a member of parliament from the opposition Puea Thai Party, Jatuporn Prompan, after he had posted one million baht as collateral for his bail bond.

The UDD leaders were charged of terrorism after their anti-government campaign turned violent with grenade attacks and arson in the Thai capital and some provinces in North and Northeast.

They surrendered to police and announced the end of the ten week demonstration on May 19 as troops closed in on their rally site at Ratchaprasong intersection.

In the second bail bid, Mr Korom offered Bt2 million as bail bond for each leader, while Mr Veera's wife posted Bt3 million for her husband.

Thida Tojirakarn, Dr Weng's wife, said her husband will not flee prosecution as he has must run his medical clinic. She said the protest leader's congenital disease and allergies will recur when he stays in a confined area.

The court, however, denied granting temporary release of the detained leaders saying the accused may escape as they face severe punishment, even the death penalty. (MCOT online news)

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-- TNA 2010-07-03

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FLOODS

Downpour brings capital to a halt

By The Nation

Published on July 3, 2010

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Bangkok traffic came to a halt until nearly noon yesterday after torrential rains at dawn left most of the capital heavily flooded.

Congestion was at its worst at ten key intersections where traffic lights had stopped working due to short circuits caused by floods, prompting traffic police to manually direct the cars. Traffic radio station, Jor Sor 100, said more than 400 commuters called to complain about the traffic and report the situation from 6am to noon, when things got better.

Many main thoroughfares in the suburbs and several roads downtown were under at least 40 centimetre of water. The traffic was at a standstill for more than an hour on many roads.

Sanya Cheenimit, director of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Drainage and Sewerage Department, said the rain hit 152mm - a record in several years - exceeding the 60mm that the drainage system can handle.

He said flooding in Bangkok and adjacent areas would be worse in September and October, when sea levels will rise and streams from the North reach the capital.

All three major roads on Bangkok's Thon Buri side on the Phra Nakhon side were all heavily flooded and jammed for long hours, including Charan Sanitwong, Issarapharp and several sections of Ratchadaphisek.

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-- The Nation 2010-07-03

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SYMPOSIUM

Media personalities divided over emergency extension

By Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

Whoever is in power must recognise that there must be room for difference of opinion, said Suranand Vejjajiva, a cousin of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and a columnist at The Bangkok Post newspaper.

Suranand was speaking yesterday at a symposium on media freedom organised by Chulalongkorn University's Institute of Security and International Studies (ISIS) and funded by the European Union.

He said Thailand is currently facing many censorship problems.

"Who's going to define national security? What constitutes lese majeste? Who is going to define that? ... We're living in special circumstances because the emergency decree is out there. ... Right now you can close down community radio without having to go through the judicial process," said Suranand.

The emergency decree, he added, enabled the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to detain "Voice of Taksin" editor and red-shirt key member Somyos Phruksakemsuk for three weeks although no coherent charge was ever made against him.

"No one can explain that to him.

"There are no clear rules of engagement on what you can do and what you can't," said Suranand, who admitted that when he was in charge of the government-controlled media under the Thaksin Shinawatra administration, some Thai Rak Thai MPs wanted to shut down anti-Thaksin ASTV television.

The government at that time sought the court's opinion and was told it would be unconstitutional.

Suranand said a lot of mainstream media are too accommodating of the current government and have overblown the fear of Thaksin as a threat to the "super structure" of the Kingdom, while in fact Thaksin is merely a threat to the present government.

Very few print media continue to ask what happened with the 90 deaths, he said.

"[As for] The Nation and The Bangkok Post, I don't see them asking anymore," he said, adding people were being forced by the media and the government into believing in "one-sided propaganda", which dictates that: "You have to be united in only one direction" and that, "anyone who has a different opinion is loyal to Thaksin and disloyal to the King".

Presenting a different view, Thepchai Yong, director of TPBS television and former group editor of The Nation, said that according to a recent poll, a majority of Thais could accept the extension of the state of emergency.

Thepchai said the mainstream media today is not controlled by any generals and some self-censorship is practised because the media themselves are "mindful of the public" which is politically divided.

Some truths out there are not uncovered by the media because "they may play into the hands" of those with ill-intentions towards society.

"The Thai media are Thai. They have been like that for decades," he said, adding, that the mainstream media should themselves look back and reflect on their role in order to regain the lost trust.

"How can they win back the trust that they have lost. This is a big question.

"It has less to do with the issue of media freedom. The Thai media have all the freedom in the world to report on what they want to report."

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-- The Nation 2010-07-03

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CENSUS

Census expected to yield details on aging population

By The Nation

The government will spend Bt800 million to conduct a new nationwide census which could be used to formulate public policies in preparation for the country's aging society.

The government will spend Bt800 million to conduct a new nationwide census, which will be used to formulate public policies in preparation for the country's ageing society.

More than 70,000 people will be hired to help with the task, for example by campaigning for people's cooperation.

The census will cover all residents on Thai soil, not just Thai citizens.

"So you can expect to see the size of the population much bigger than the figure from the last census," Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.

The last census was conducted in 2000. Back then, it showed Thailand had 60,917,441 people as its population.

"We have to take alien workers into consideration too. Their number in Thailand has been rising fast," Abhisit said, "Their presence has a huge impact in providing of public services too."

The premier said it would take just a bit over one month to gather information in the field but it would take many more months to analyse the information.

"It will be good if everything is completed within a given time frame given. However, accuracy must be a priority. We have to rely on the census information for quite a long time," he said.

Abhisit said insights from the upcoming census would be used to help the government manage the national budget and design social-welfare measures in preparation for the country's ageing society.

"The information from the census will help with policy-making both at local and national levels and in various aspects," Abhisit said. He added that the private sector could also use the information for planning business expansion or introducing new businesses.

The premier insisted that the census was usually more accurate than smaller surveys conducted for specific purposes, such as for delivering help to farmers or elderly people.

The first census in Thailand was conducted in 1911 during the reign of King Rama V. About 8,131,247 people lived in Thailand at that time.

In modern days, HM the King Bhumibol Adulyadej has also paid attention to censuses. He asked for briefings when the last two censuses were conducted in 1990 and 2000.

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-- The Nation 2010-07-03

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Youth do have time for elderly : study

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

School-going children and working adults have a positive attitude toward the elderly, a study has discovered.

The younger generation does not believe that older people are boring or a burden on their families, the study revealed. The elderly, on the other hand, get the most happiness from visits by their offspring.

The findings by researcher Kanchana Tangchontip of the Institute for Population and Social Research at Mahidol University, were presented at the "Value of the Elderly from the Eyes of Thai Society" seminar.

The study, involving 614 respondents in the school-going and working-age groups in Bangkok and nearby provinces, showed that they believe the experience of old people is valuable, especially where the value of money is concerned.

The study also found that students in a higher socio-economic strata are more likely to hold positive attitudes toward elderly, but there is no similar relationship among the working-age population.

Another study entitled "The Economic Value of Thai Elderly", presented by Kusol Soonthorndha, also from the institute, showed that more elderly people were working because they were poor and did not want to be a burden on their children.

At the same time they want to lower the demands on public finances, reduce the age-dependency ratio and raise their dignity.

The study found factors that influenced their continued participation in the work force are lack of education, no pensions, children, debt, demands of daily living and chronic illness.

In a bid to reduce the elderly-dependency ratio and burden on the government from elderly welfare, a study conducted by Pramote Prasart-kul has suggested Thailand redefine the minimum age of people called "elderly" from 60 to 65.

"If this new definition is used, the ratio of elderly in 2010 will be 8 per cent of the total population, increasing to 11 per cent within the next 10 years.

However, Kritaya Archavanitkul, deputy director of the institute, said changing the minimum age for people to be called "elderly" would affect many who receive pensions and other social welfare from the government.

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-- The Nation 2010-07-03

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Six soldiers among those killed in three South attacks

By The Nation

Another powerful explosion hit the deep South yesterday, killing three soldiers on village patrol in Yala province.

The impact of the homemade bomb, believed to contain an explosive weighing 20 kilograms, killed Sergeant Wirayuth Wangklin, Lance Corporal Wirachart Boonkua and Private Kammaruding Tuwi while they were going past a rubber plantation in the border province's Yaha district. The pickup truck was completely wrecked, while their bodies were disfigured beyond recognition.

The bomb, put in a cookinggas cylinder and buried under the tarmac, is believed to have been detonated with a mobile phone.

This is the third attack targeting security forces in the South this week.

On Monday, a soldier and two teachers were injured when a bomb, also buried under the road, exploded in Narathiwat's Si Sakhon district.

On Thursday night, a powerful explosion killed three paramilitary troopers and two community leaders, leaving the pickup truck they were travelling in completely wrecked in Narathiwat's Rusoh district.

Two men were arrested yesterday in connection with this explosion.

Brothers Marosudi and Mamaroki Sika were taken into custody during a raid of their home in Rusoh led by some 50 policemen and soldiers. During the raid, police uncovered 50 homemade bombs, 100 large firecrackers, a hood, a rifle scope and camouflage attire.

The suspects, taken to the local police station for interrogation, said the items belonged to a friend whose name they did not know.

Narathiwat Governor Thanon Vejkorakanont said yesterday that the recent attacks were aimed at terrifying local community leaders because the authorities were successfully forging closer ties with villagers and winning more support from them.

"The authorities' community relations work has drawn more cooperation from the villagers. So village leaders are being targeted in a bid to undermine the efforts," he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is in charge of security affairs, yesterday said the recent political unrest in Bangkok had deflected his attention from the insurgency problems in the deep South. He promised to visit the restive region more frequently and focus on development projects aimed at increasing the local residents' revenue.

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-- The Nation 2010-07-03

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No plan to dissolve house this year: PM

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday that he had no plans to dissolve the House of Representatives this year, but was not ruling out the possibility of an abrupt political change leading to an early general election either.change leading to an early general election either.

"I can't give you a 100-per-cent guarantee. We are in a parliamentary system and some political changes could lead to House dissolution. But my intention is to see the country stable until at least the end of the year, so the reconciliation plan can progress. Part of the plan is to hold a new general election next year," the prime minister said.

He was speaking to reporters at Government House after answering calls from the public as part of the "Six Days and 63 Million Ideas:

Moving Thailand Forward" campaign. Abhisit said a man from Khon Kaen had called yesterday to tell him that early House dissolution would be a better move for ending the political conflict. The man said that he believed that most Thais wanted to see peace restored.

Abhisit said he responded by saying that his government had not ruled out the idea of dissolving the House and holding early general elections, but they wanted to see a friendlier political environment first.

The premier answered four calls during the 10 minutes he spent manning the phones yesterday. The campaign, into its second day yesterday and being broadcast on Channel 7, has several television actors and celebrities participating. Unlike Thursday, when the campaign was launched, there were no system glitches because more switchboards were added.

Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij, who was also manning the phones at Government House yesterday, said of the 10 calls he answered yesterday, only one was related to politics, when the caller accused the government of condoning double standards. He said other callers had complained about problems in the economy, the rising cost of living as well as higher debts compared to income - issues that he said are "very important and need to be addressed urgently".

Korn said one of the calls was from a truck driver, who complained that highway police officers repeatedly demanded bribes from him while he ran goods from Ranong to Samut Songkhram, and another was from a security guard, who said he earned just Bt7,500 a month for 12-hour shifts and that this was not enough for his family.

The finance minister said the government was addressing these problems through measures like pushing for higher minimum wages and introducing asset and property taxes.

He also said that government measures for bringing down poor people's cost of living was not part of a populist policy aimed at wooing votes. "My view is that the government is helping poor people and whatever measures are introduced, it is the people who will benefit. That's the main point," Korn said.

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-- The Nation 2010-07-03

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Police Vigilant over Attack-prone Infrastructure

The metropolitan police have deployed additional forces as a measure to safeguard attack-prone sites.

After a meeting of police commanders to discuss preventive measures against possible attacks from anti-government elements, metropolitan police chief Police Lieutenant General Santhan Chayanont said police divisions have been assigned to safeguard various infrastructure, including power plants, water treatment plants and oil depots.

Out of the 63 energy plants, 15 will be under police watch from 6 P.M. to 6 A.M., while additional security personnel will be deployed at certain oil depots.

The Metropolitan Police Division 1 will be responsible for the 24-hour safeguard of important government installations, such as Government House, Parliament and the Supreme Court.

The metropolitan police chief commented that police will be on high alert since intelligence reports suggested that violence instigators are still lurking and waiting to attack.

He went on to say Bangkok must remain protected under the Emergency Decree to assure maximum efficiency of security operations.

Police have also deployed additional units to ensure the safety of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban following intelligence reports on possible assassination plots against key government figures.

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-- Tan Network 2010-07-03

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Two Suspects Nabbed for Narathiwat Blast

Authorities have arrested two brothers suspected of taking part in last night's bomb attack that killed five security officers in strife-ridden Narathiwat province.

The two suspects, identified as Masuedee and Maroki Zika, were arrested with 50 grenades and firecrackers, magazines of AK-47 rifle and camouflage outfits in Nararathiwat's Rue Soh district.

The pair denied involvement in last night's bomb attack that killed five security officers in Rue Soh district. The officers transferred them to Rue Soh police station for further investigation.

Investigators believe the crime was the work of an RKK faction operated by Mama Sanae.

The ambush took place on a village road in Rue Soh district. Insurgents detonated a 20-kilogram explosive concealed in a drainage pipe when the officials traveled into the targeted area.

The blast killed all five officers. After the explosion, insurgents moved in and stole the brigade's firearms before making their escape.

Commander of the Joint Civilian, Police and Armed Force, Lieutenant General Kasikorn Keereeesri, this morning presided over the Buddhist bathing rite for Sergeant Kiatichai Yaemthap and paramilitary volunteers Pasakorn Soomprakarn, two of the five victims.

The rest of the bodies have already been transferred to their home provinces for religious ceremonies.

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-- Tan Network 2010-07-03

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Banteng spotted in Kuiburi National Park after 10 years of disappearance

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Kuiburi National Park Officials reported of a banteng spotted among a herd of guars (Bos guarus) in the Kuiburi National Park located in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province after 10 years disappearance from the site.

“Banteng” in scientific name “Bos javanicus”, also known as Tembadua is a species of wild cattle found in South East Asia. It is one of the protected species in Thailand and is in endangered group. Such a discovery of a banteng in the National Park therefore indicates the fertility of the forest.

Kuiburi National Park Head Bunlue Poonnin cited that 200 rai pineapple plantations within the Park has been restored into a grassland in response to His Majesty the King’s initiative , with 13 ponds dug as the main food source of wild animals such as elephants, gaurs and bantengs.

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-- NNT 2010-07-03 footer_n.gif

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1 died of dengue fever in Yala province

YALA (NNT) -- One person has died of dengue fever in the southern province of Yala . Meanwhile, the number of people infected by the deadly virus has reached nearly 400.

Updating the statistics of people who have come down with the dengue fever in Yala province during the first half of the year,Yala Provincial Hospital Director Kuldej Techanaparak disclosed that close to 400 people have already been infected by the disease. Muang district of Yala has the highest number of patients, followed by Betong ,and Yaha districts. One person from Tharnto district was reported to have died after he had been taken to the hospital.

Patients infected with Dengue fever are between 15 to 25 years of age.

The doctor has urged residents to be cautious as the fever has been found in several areas of the province, adding that not only children could be infected with the disease, but also adults. He also said the symptoms of the dengue fever tended to be more severe in adults than in children.

Yala hospital has already set up a war room, of which the mission is to bring the disease under control. Mobile units would also be dispatched to fumigate areas where patients have been found.

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-- NNT 2010-07-03 footer_n.gif

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Thai police probe drug motive in gruesome murder of Malaysian

Alex Teng

The Star

CHIANG MAI: -- A former horse owner was brutally murdered, chopped into 10 pieces and packed in plastic bags before the remains were dumped along a roadside in Pa Daed in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Thai police believe Kwa Hock Choon, 41, a native of Penan, Malaysia, was killed in connection with drug-related activities, especially along the Thai-Burma border.

“Kwa was believed to have been tied up, beaten and tortured before he was chopped with an axe into 10 pieces,” said a Thai police spokesman.

Police believe the gruesome murder was drug-related after they detained seven people, including a 38-year-old Malaysian and his 29-year-old Thai wife, in a series of raids in Chiang Mai and Haadyai several days after the remains were found on June 15.

The source said Thai police, during investigations into the killing, stumbled upon the activities of a major transnational drug syndicate that operates along the Thai-Myanmar border.

Kwa was an accomplished horse owner on the Malaysian racing circuit and had won the 1-million-ringgit Yang di-Pertua Negri Gold Cup with Centroview in 1999.

He was also the winner of the 500,000-ringgit Coronation Cup in 2001 with Baby Tycoon and the 500,000-ringgit Tunku’s Gold Cup in 2002 with After Me Please.

A close friend who declined to be named said Kwa planned to make a comeback to horse racing this year after missing from the local circuit two years ago. “I spoke to him last month and he was keen to make a comeback.”

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-- ANN 2010-07-03

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By-election Campaigning Moves Forward

The Democrat Party candidate for Bangkok's constituency 6 by-election Panit Wikitset is going door to door in Klongsamwa district today to campaign. The Pheu Thai Party, whose candidate remains detained in jail, will hold a major rally this evening in Bungkum district.

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-- Tan Network 2010-07-03

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New Politics Party to Choose New Leader Today

The New Politics Party is holding a meeting of its members and executive board at the Nimibutr Building at the National Stadium. The gathering is to choose a new leader following the resignation of Sondhi Limthongkul.

Of the six names nominated by Sondhi, five have withdrawn leaving only acting party leader Somsak Kosaisuk.

The process of the election for the party leader should be completed by 1 P.M.

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-- Tan Network 2010-07-03

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Thai police probe drug motive in gruesome murder of Malaysian

1 died of dengue fever in Yala province

Banteng spotted in Kuiburi National Park after 10 years of disappearance

Two suspects nabbed for Narathiwat blast

Bangkok Metro Police vigilant over attack-prone infrastructure

No plan to dissolve house this year

Germany still has confidence in Thailand:

A victory for Thailand in Washington:

Six soldiers among those killed in three South attacks

Study: Youth do have time for elderly

Census expected to yield details on aging population

Media personalities divided over emergency extension

Downpour brings capital to a halt

Court denies again bail for 11 detained Red Shirt leaders

Police vow to step up efforts to prevent student fights

Thailand: Temperature will rise by 2 Celsius in the next 30 years

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PM More Careful on Reports of Possible Assassination

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva assures he is more careful after reports about possible assassination attempts against him. He adds if former PM Thaksin Shinawatra returns to Thailand, he has to be subjected to Thai law like everyone else.

He also confirms there is no need to probe the spending of the Center for Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) as it was according to procedure.

The prime minister stands firm in his belief that Argentina will win the World Cup 2010.

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-- Tan Network 2010-07-03

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New Politics Chooses Somsak as Leader

The New Politics Party meeting has elected acting leader Somsak Kosaisuk as the party leader following the resignation of Sondhi Limthongkul.

Somsak, who's a well-known labor union activist, vows to build the party to truly represent the people.

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-- Tan Network 2010-07-03

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"SMILE@Ratchaprasong" frenzied with shoppers

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The square in front of Central World Shopping Complex located in the heart of Bangkok on Friday night was swarmed with thousands of people who went to shop at the SMILE@Ratchaprasong event, kicking off for the first day.

The SMILE@Ratchaprasong event organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports aims at rebuilding the good image of Bangkok as well as helping entrepreneurs who have been affected by the recent rally.

The three-day event features many activities, including music performances by famous artists and various stage entertainments, photography competition and flea market with sales of creative items. The shopping malls in the area are offering up to 80% discount on brand-name products while a daily raffle gives away tour packages to lucky shoppers.

SMILE@Ratchprasong will be held until 4 July, from 18.00-24.00 hrs.

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-- NNT 2010-07-03 footer_n.gif

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UNWTO pledges support for Thailand’s tourism

BANGKOK: -- The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has pledged to continue supporting Thailand’s tourism industry which has been affected by anti-government protests and the clashes between the protesters and security forces in the Thai capital on May 19.

The pledge was made by UNWTO secretary-general Taleb Rifai during a meeting with Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports Chumpol Silapa-archa on Friday.

Representatives of several agencies as well as the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), from public and private sectors, also attended the meeting.

Mr Rifai reportedly told Mr Chumpol that UNWTO with its 155 country membership is ready to assist Thailand in crossing over the current tourism business crisis and that it is confident that it could do so.

However, Thailand must look toward the future and not the past and prepare to adapt its economy to green by taking responsibility on environmental issues on a sustainable basis as well as improving tourism measures such as exempting visa fee for tourists travelling to Thailand, which is now extended until next March 31, and halve the aircraft landing fee.

Mr Chumpol said Thailand still prioritises the tourism business sector as its most important industry and the government has urgently allocated budget to stimulate tourism in the country and to assist tourism operators, especially small and medium tourism enterprises.

Mr Chumpol cited a World Bank report which forecast that the Thai economy would grow 6.1 per cent in 2010 which shows that there are no negative factors slowing down Thailand's economy even though there was a military crackdown. (MCOT online news)

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-- TNA 2010-07-03

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