Thailand Live Wednesday 7 Jul 2010

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Thailand Live Wednesday 7 July 2010

News, Bits and Tweets

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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 Tuesday 6 July 2010

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Foreign Minister Kasit reaffirms Thailand’s adherence to democracy

BANGKOK: -- Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Kasit Piromya reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to democracy and to equipping Thai citizens with a better understanding of democracy which not only includes elections, but also issues of accountability, good governance and freedom of expression.

Mr Kasit, from Friday through Sunday attended the High-Level Democracy Meeting of the Community of Democracies, held in Krakow, Poland, marking its 10th anniversary.

The meeting presented member countries with a forum for discussion on strengthening democratisation in countries across the globe, focusing this year on how to empower civil society to play a more active role in supporting democratisation.

Mr Kasit reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to democracy and to working closely with the community, particularly in terms of education for democracy to help Thai citizens gain improved and more comprehensive understanding of democracy -- not only including elections, but to also engage in issues of accountability, good governance and freedom of expression.

To further their cooperation on these and other issues, the minister invited the Community’s Warsaw-based permanent secretariat to visit Thailand at a mutually convenient time.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Mr Kasit also held corridor meetings with his counterparts from Montenegro, Lithuania and Sweden.

As for his meeting with Milan Rocen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, the two discussed how to forge closer bilateral ties and co-operation, especially in terms of trade and investment.

As for the issue of fugitive ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Mr Kasit informed his Montenegrin counterpart that the former prime minister had been actively supporting political activities in Thailand while travelling overseas using his Montenegrin passport.

He said Thailand’s respects Montenegro’s sovereign right in this regard and believes that this would not affect both countries’ desire to further develop their bilateral ties.

In this connection, the Montenegrin Foreign Minister invited Foreign Minister Kasit to visit Montenegro in the near future to further discuss how to deepen and broaden relations between Thailand and Montenegro.

With Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Azubalis, Mr Kasit discussed Thailand’s interest in greater cooperation in such areas as high technology and the green economy as the kingdom moves towards a more knowledge-based society.

Meeting with Carl Bildt, Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Thai foreign minister expressed Thailand’s wish to learn more from Sweden’s experience in democracy development, particularly in the areas of decentralisation, civic participation, and transparency. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-07-07

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BMA to join hands with social networks to combat HIV/AIDS

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) prepares to team up with social networks to campaign against HIV/AIDS with an aim to reduce the number of new infected patients.

After chairing a meeting held to find suitable measures to deal with the problem of HIV/AIDS, Deputy Bangkok Governor MD Malinee Sukavejworakit stated that the disease was still a serious concern in the Thai society. She cited that the number of the infected was on an upward trend, especially in younger age groups. The deputy governor hence encouraged related agencies to hastily create good understanding with people about the deadly disease and how to protect themselves from it.

MD Malinee also mentioned that the BMA would collaborate with social networks to launch a campaign to promote social acceptance of patients living with HIV/AIDS in order to give them a chance to live a normal life. She noted that the campaign would not be successful unless all sides cooperated. According to the deputy governor, the effort will also aim to cut the infection rate, control the spread of the disease and reduce premature pregnancies among teens at the same time.

-- NNT 2010-07-07

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BOTCHED BOMB ATTACK

Suspect has notes on how to make bombs : police

By THE NATION

Published on July 7, 2010

Tips on how to make bombs were allegedly found in a notebook belonging to Warisriya Boonsom - a suspect behind the botched blast at Bhum Jai Thai Party office.

Warisriya, who is now in detention, admitted owning the notebook but denied writing down the tips.

"The notebook was found inside her luggage bag," Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Tharit Pengdit said yesterday.

Warisriya and Kobchai Boonplod were arrested in Cambodia last Saturday and extradited back on Monday. They fled Thailand on June 23, one day after the blast occurred.

Both Warisriya and Kobchai are now detained at the DSI facility.

DSI senior official Lt-Colonel Sittiporn Charoenput said Warisriya was apparently suffering stress after she was interrogated. She was seen weeping on arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Monday.

"But her condition is now improving a bit. At least, she could eat after asking for some khao mun gai (chicken rice) for breakfast," Sittiporn said, as he led a media tour through the DSI facility.

He said the facility - which has 18 detention cells, each with a bed and bathroom - was maximum security. Each room was for one suspect only and DSI officials would monitor them all.

During the tour, reporters ran into Warisriya as she was brought to her cell. She was shocked to see reporters and stood speechless briefly before bowing her head.

Kobchai's mother Yuppadee Boonplod showed up at the DSI to visit her son yesterday evening. She said tearfully she did not believe her son was involved in the blast.

"He's a quiet, kind-hearted and helpful man. He has never harmed anyone." Yuppadee also denied reports Kobchai and Warisriya lived as husband and wife. "They just shared the same political ideology."

Yuppadee said Warisriya insisted she never said some red shirts betrayed her and Kobchai.

Central Investigation Bureau deputy-commissioner Maj-General Panya Mamen said Warisriya and Kobchai had confessed to buying a cart for the self-confessed bombers and giving them accommodation, but denied knowing about their bomb plot.

"We are going to check their phone-call records and we are digging deep into where the explosives and other equipment for the plot came from," Panya said.

He said Kobchai and Warisriya did not clearly specify who betrayed them.

"They said they went down to the lobby of a hotel in Siem Reap because someone told them via a phone call red-shirt leaders would meet them there. But when they came down, they met Cambodian officials instead and were arrested," Panya said.

Commenting on the case, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the investigation was seeking to find out who else was involved.

Warisriya has been quoted as saying that Payap Panket and DJ Aom, Kanyapak Maneejak, had betrayed her and Kobchai.

Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday expected the couple would give crucial details leading to the arrest of more people in the case. "Based on evidence and ongoing investigation, I am convinced these two suspects played a key role."

Asked if Thailand would ask Cambodia to arrest more suspects on its soil, Abhisit said the government had to analyse information from various sides first. "But we will of course seek co-operation from Cambodia too".

-- The Nation 2010-07-07

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Thais freed after Indonesian coal protest

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

Jakarta

A group of 12 Greenpeace activists - including four from Thailand - were released by Indonesian police yesterday after being detained for 30 hours for campaigning against the use of coal and coal plants in Indonesia.

The Thais detained were Suthi Attchasai, a core leader of the Eastern People's Network and a member of the four-party Map Ta Phut committee, a Chachoengsao province villager, and two Greenpeace staff members. They are expected to return to Bangkok at noon today.

Suthi said the police had arrested them on July 5 while they were attending a media conference at Cirebon, a city on the north coast of Java, 250 km east of Jakarta.

Suthi said the press conference was organised near a coal plant construction site. The plant's staff had complained to police about the demonstration.

Shortly after the press conference started, a group of 70 local villagers joined in, clapping their hands as if in support of the demonstration.

Then the police suddenly descended on the Greenpeace activists. They were taken to Cirebon station and detained for 30 hours. Suthi tried to send messages to Thai reporters, and colleagues, asking for help.

"It was a tough time for me and I was under stress as no one could help us. Moreover, the police could not speak English," Suthi said. Greenpeace denounced the detention of the anti-coal activists, saying that it was unwarranted and unjust.

Police there claimed the group had conducted the campaign without permission as they entered Indonesia on tourist visas. They were accused of causing chaos during the campaign.

Also detained and freed were activists from China, India, Philippines and Indonesia.

Suthi travelled to Jakarta last Saturday to join the group of activists who are demanding all governments and people reduce the use of coal.

Accompanying him was Tara Buakamsri, campaign manager for Greenpeace in Bangkok. Tara was not detained in Cirebon as he was not at the press conference.

Thai NGOs alerted the Thai Embassy in Jakarta about the matter.

Suthi said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya had helped him contact the Indonesian government to release him and other detained environmental activists.

-- The Nation 2010-07-07

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EC 'could still disqualify Kokaew'

By ATTAYUTH BUTRSRIPOOM,

NAYA JAIKAWANG

THE NATION

Kokaew

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai Party candidate Kokaew Pikultong was qualified to stand for the by-election in Bangkok's Constituency 6, a poll official said yesterday.

Election director Manas Pasartrat said he had verified the qualifications of all the six candidates and found no unqualified candidate.

However, Election Commission chief Apichart Sukhagganond is still bound to investigate if Kokaew's qualifications are proper, as has been requested.

The EC was tipped to approve Kokaew by a Commission source, who said earlier that it could still move to disqualify or punish Kokaew later if his candidacy was found to be illegal.

Kokaew is one of the red-shirt leaders currently detained at Bangkok Remand Prison.

On Monday, the EC was asked to verify Kokaew's Pheu Thai Party membership, partly because he is being held in detention.

According to the party's regulations, people who have been "detained under court or legal orders" are not allowed to become members, and anybody violating this regulation will lose their membership.

The Constitution stipulates also that an MP candidate should belong to a political party for at least 90 days prior to an election.

EC chairman Apichart, in his capacity as political party registrar, had to investigate to find the true facts, including summoning Pheu Thai registrar Kamol Bandaipetch, according to the source, who asked not to be named.

The Constituency 6 by-election director had the authority to announce if Kokaew was eligible to stand. But if officials found out later Kokaew was not qualified to stand, the election director could request a Supreme Court order to disqualify him. However, the court would have to make such a ruling at least three days before the poll date.

"In this case, the safest decision for the election director is to firstly announce Kokaew's candidacy, as looking into the issue needs some time. If the EC disqualified him but the court later ruled him eligible, the EC could be sued," the source explained.

If a court disqualifies Kokaew, the political party registrar could take legal action against Kokaew and Pheu Thai Party leader Yongyuth Wichaidit.

The penalties for a person who applies - or a party that fields - an ineligible candidate are severe. Conviction for such offences could result in a jail term of one up to 10 years, a fine of Bt10,000 to Bt200,000 and the revoking of voting rights for 10 years.

Pheu Thai Party registrar Kamol said Article 102 of the Constitution said that a person detained by court or legal order was prohibited from voting but not prohibited from being a candidate.

"Any laws or regulations that are in breach of the Constitution have no effect," he said, adding that although the Political Party Act said Kokaew's membership ends, the charter protected his right as a Thai citizen.

-- The Nation 2010-07-07

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Probe into 'Democrat' plots on Samui

By THE NATION

Niphon

The Land Department has launched a probe into two plots of land on Koh Samui linked to two Democrats, Deputy Interior Minister Thaworn Senneam said yesterday.

He vowed to determine if the law had been broken and if suspicion of wrongdoing was warranted.

The plots are located at Khao Phaeng in on Samui Island, in Surat Thani province.

Democrat Party executive Niphon Promphan and Tan Thaugsuban, son of Deputy Prime Minister Suthep, claim ownership of the plots, which critics say were obtained in dubious circumstances.

Opposition lawmakers claim both Niphon and Tan were involved in a land-grabbing scheme.

Thaworn said the key to solving the matter was to trace records related to ownership of the plots.

He said the main opposition party, Pheua Thai, had no links to the private affairs of either Tan or Niphon.

The probe was designed to safeguard government interest and dispel any lingering doubts, he said, dismissing claims he has sought to protect his party's reputation.

In the case involving Tan, the probe would check on records issued before and after the claim of ownership, he said.

Before Tan bought his plot, the land document was upgraded from Sor Kor 1 to Nor Sor 3. And following his purchase, the claim certificate on the plot was transformed into a title deed or full title ownership.

Under the 1954 Land Code, a Sor Kor 1 certificate is a transitional document to note possession of land. It is a first step to the eventual issuing of a certificate of use or title deed. An occupant of a vacant plot can obtain the certificate after settling on the land for six months unopposed.

To the state, the certificate is a claim to the plot - but not a right to ownership.

Under the 1936 Land Code, a Nor Sor 3 certificate establishes a temporary right to occupy the plot. It is issued on a transitional basis with the understanding of an eventual upgrade to a title deed.

The Land Department probe is to determine how and why the original records for the Sor Kor 1 certificate on the plot were reported missing. This is vital to prove the upgrading of the land documents was proper.

In the case involving Niphon, his plot was suspected of having unlawfully overlapped on a watershed area, which was donated by the Arkorn Huntrakul estate to the state.

The donated land is presently under the jurisdiction of the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry.

The probe will focus on checking whether the alleged overlap did occur. If the plot is found to encroach on the watershed, Niphon has pledged to return it to the state.

-- The Nation 2010-07-07

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RED SHIRTS RALLIES

Germany informed of Thai govt's side of story

By Sopaporn Kurz

The Nation

Berlin

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya met his German counterpart Guido Westerwelle in Berlin on Monday as part of his move to present the government's side on the recent turmoil to the international community.

Fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra's legal adviser Noppadon Pattama recently completed a trip to the US and Europe to voice the red-shirt protesters' side of the story.

In a joint press conference with Kasit, Westerwelle said Germany had been closely observing the political situation and developments in Thailand. He said it was deplorable that people had ended up losing their lives, but his country still supported the government's sustainable solutions and its five-point reconciliation plan.

"Germany will support and stand by the Thai government on the path of dialogue and reconciliation," Westerwelle said, adding that democracy in Thailand was mutually beneficial to both countries.

According to Kasit, Westerwelle had revealed that Noppadon was told that Thaksin was not welcome in Germany, regardless of which country's passport he was carrying.

Thailand and Germany's bilateral diplomatic relations will mark their 150th year in 2012, and preparations for the celebrations will begin in 2011.

During his three-day visit, Kasit met various representatives from both government and private sectors, including the German Council of Foreign Relations, to promote an understanding of the Thai political situation.

Kasit's visit to Germany was in response to Thaksin's camp presenting their side of the situation to European Union (EU) officials. Noppadon, former foreign minister and Thaksin's lawyer, was reportedly spotted in Brussels last week.

Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to Kasit, said EU officials were aware of the red-shirt side's lobbying attempts, and had decided to handle the case very carefully. "They said they would not take the issue to the executive level. At most, it will only be a hearing," he said.

So far, he said, the government had garnered positive response from European countries. The EU is supporting the reconciliation plan and has agreed to not intervene in Thai politics. He added that the government did not underestimate the other side and would continue to closely monitor all movements.

-- The Nation 2020-07-07

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Cultural heritage to be registered

By The Nation

The tale about the origin of "Dao Lukkai" Pleiades star cluster and a textbook for Thai traditional tattoos were among those registered as cultural wisdom heritage this year.

Secretary-general of the National Culture Commission Somchai Seanglai said yesterday that 21 items would be officially registered in four fields on July 30.

They were the Muay Thai martial art; six items classed as performance arts, including the "Phi Pat" (a Thai orchestra consisting of five groups of wood and percussion instruments) and the "Likae" musical folk drama; plus four items in the handicraft category, such as the Royal barges and the Mud-Mee silk cloth.

Ten items were in the literature category, including the "Dao Lukkai" tale about a hen and her six children, the chant about parents' loving kindness during the Buddhist monk pre-ordination ritual, and the textbook for Thai traditional tattoos.

-- The Nation 2010-07-07

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Thailand: Is it too late for us to mend Thailand's corrupt ways?

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Conspiracy, crime, conflict: A normal week in Thai politics

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Friendship economics: a lesson from the Northeast that could end mob rule

By Wichit Chaitrong

The Nation

Thousands of us have flocked to trade fairs organised by the Bangkok administration and government agencies aimed at lending a helping hand to vendors whose businesses were wrecked by the recent political unrest.

Such trade fairs can be viewed as "friendship economics", whereby shoppers buy goods partly for their utility and partly out of consideration for the vendors' welfare.

Shoppers have been able to express their sympathy with large numbers of both big and small businesses who weren't able to sell their products and services for two months due to roads blockaded by red-shirt protesters in the heart of Bangkok's business district.

Such friendship economic activity in Bangkok and other big cities is likely to be a temporary phenomenon, ending when business gets back to normal, but could we make it a permanent feature of Thai life?

The answer is yes, "together we can" (to borrow a phrase from the Bangkok governor).

Thailand is actually no stranger to friendship economics - it has existed for generations in the rice paddies of the Northeast. A vast rice field is typically owned by several farmers, with each holding a small plot of about 10 rai.

Many of these plots are "landlocked" in the middle of the field and cannot be accessed by public road. But this is not a problem, as farmers do not apply private property rights strictly in the way that landlords in modern economies do.

Farmers whose plots are landlocked are given free access by the owners of the surrounding land. They are free to bring supplies in or transport out their harvest at any time. Nor do farmers whose plot is connected to a public road erect barriers to prevent others crossing their land.

Even if a dispute arises over one plot owner's buffaloes eating the rice plants of others, farmers never resort to blocking paths or erecting fences against buffaloes.

Disputing parties usually go to the headman or a respected person in their village and ask him or her to mediate and find a settlement. Usually, the mediator will advocate that one party offer a fixed amount of money or rice for compensation to the other party.

We can say that disputes among farmers do not disrupt the flow of economic activity in their communities. No one tries to blockade paths in the rice field and there is absolutely no blockading of public roads in their communities.

Such friendship economics is widely practised by farmers in the Northeast and forms part of an unwritten constitution for village life that has brought peace and harmony for communities for as long as locals can remember.

If farmers strictly applied rights of private ownership, the cost of producing rice would rocket. If they erected fences or blocked paths when farmers fell into dispute with their neighbours, their communities would fall into chaos.

Yet many farmers from the Northeast joined the red shirt's road blockade recently. (Some readers may argue that those farmers applied double standards while they were protesting against what they called double standards).

The real lesson we can learn from both the yellow-shirt blockade of Bangkok's airports and the red-shirt blockades in Bangkok and other parts of the country is that such blocking of free passage damages the economic and social fabric of the whole country.

The government is pushing for a new law to govern future political rallies but it may not be effective since protesters often break laws. And some critics argue it will adversely affect the public's right to voice political dissent.

More laws, however, are unnecessary if we can take heed of our recent political lessons and appreciate the wisdom behind the traditional practice of friendship economics.

Then we may be able get rid of mob rule without scores of deaths, thousands injured and an economy left bruised and battered.

-- The Nation 2010-07-07

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Army chiefs fly South to discuss new tactics

By The Nation

Army leaders paid a visit to the deep South yesterday to discuss tactical changes for local security agencies in the wake of unusually frequent insurgent attacks, which have killed nine soldiers in a week and injured scores of civilians.

Army commander General Anupong Paochinda along with deputy Prayuth Chan-ocha and other officials arrived yesterday at Camp Sirindhorn in Pattani's Yarang district and met with local military and civilian officials, including Fourth Army chief Lt General Wichet Wisaijorn.

After visiting a local medical unit, which provides dental care and medical services to local people in the province, security officials discussed the situations and potential tactical changes to cope with increasingly high rates of insurgent attacks, which have been more frequent and seen the use of war weapons and industrial explosives, instead of home-made weapons, like before.

Giving details on the Army's medical services, Anupong said 122,642 locals had been given dental care and treatment in the year up till Monday.

He did not reveal details any new military tactics or measures to be employed in response to more frequent attacks in the troubled region.

Before the Army chiefs' visit, a rubber tapper was killed after he stepped on a landmine laid in a rubber plantation in Yala's Than To district. Chiang Rai native Chua sae Yang died instantly after stepping on the home-made mine, which was a metal box with 5kg of explosives in it.

Than To police said the mine was suspected to have been laid by insurgents.

-- The Nation 2010-07-07

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Thai Govt Ignores Red Shirts Rights: NHRC

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Russian conductor charged, arrested in Thai sex probe

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National Reform Hotline Program Concludes with More Than 50,000 Calls

More than 50,000 calls were answered as the 6-day national reform hotline program came to an end yesterday.

The Prime Minister's adviser, Abhirak Kosayothin reported the results of the government's hotline program in which the public was invited to give their opinions about national reform.

He said officials received more than 50,000 calls. At the top of the list were complaints about household economic issues followed by the political matters, social welfare, the education system, and cost of living.

Abhirak added that the government will classify all of the complaints into six areas, including economics, law enforcement, social welfare, education, environment and natural resources, health care, and public communications.

He pledged that the authorities will deal with urgent issues immediately, such as informal debt, for which the Finance Ministry recently opened a special hotline to accommodate non-bank borrowers.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-07

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Metropolitan Police's Weekly Report

The Metropolitan Police Bureau has reported on its work this past week, citing many arrests in various crimes, ranging from automobile thefts and robberies to intellectual property violations.

In its weekly report, the Metropolitan Police Bureau said that it has arrested Rathapong Kongsensri and Boonma Wannao, leaders of an automobile theft ring in Din Dang area, and confiscated a number of stolen vehicles.

Both suspects have confessed that the stolen cars were delivered to Cambodia.

The suspects had been stealing cars, mainly Toyota and Ford brands, in the Bangkok Metropolitan area.

The alleged car robbers said they would usually sell the cars to a Cambodian citizen for 70,000 to 100,000 baht each.

The investigation team is hunting down additional members of the ring.

Meanwhile in the Thonburi area, the Metropolitan Police Bureau said it has apprehended Prinya Sirikajorndejsakul, Kanyarak Pokthong, and a 14-year-old juvenile, and seized a purse, a motorcycle, a locally-made shotgun, and several stolen items.

Prinya has confessed that he had been working with the boy to commit robberies in many areas of Bangkok. They would hold the stolen items in exchange for ransom from the victims.

Another police team of investigators raided a warehouse in the Jatujak area after being granted a search warrant.

They discovered approximately 25,000 counterfeit brand-name and smuggled goods with an estimated total value of about 20 million baht.

The items have been seized, and the warehouse operator has been criminally charged.

-- Tan Network 2020-07-07

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Thailand's unique monkey business troupe

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Report: Royal Thai Navy unmanned underwater vehicle

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Phuket Ghostbusters: illegal guide crackdown looms

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CRES: No rift with Govt about Emergency Decree

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Spokesperson to the Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd has dismissed the speculated internal conflict with the Government over the extension of the emergency rule.

Colonel Sansern, also army spokesperson, stated that the Government had the authority to determine the scope of the state of emergency while the CRES was only responsible for evaluating the situation and presenting the recommendation.

The Cabinet on 5 July 2010 resolved to extend the imposition of the Emergency Decree only in 19 provinces, including Bangkok, contradicting with the proposal of the CRES to keep enforcing the special law in all 24 original provinces.

Colonel Sansern said he understood that the Government wanted to keep positive image of the kingdom and must answer all public questions about the matter, making it unable to follow the CRES recommendations. However, he affirmed that there was no rift between the Government and the military.

The spokesperson added that the Government could enforce the Internal Security Act (ISA) in five provinces, where the Emergency Decree was revoked, to curb situation if the violence was renewed.

The five provinces are Si Sa Ket, Kalasin, Nan, Nakhon Sawan and Nakhon Pathom.

-- NNT 2010-07-07

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Thai police arrest world-class Russian pianist

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Thai Hoteliers opens price war as business faces long road to recovery

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The situation of hotel business in Thailand has not shown any sign of recovery with the reservation rate still unable to gain ground despite the high season forcing a number of hoteliers to start a price war.

President of the Thai Hotels Association (THA) Prakij Shinarmornphong said the forward booking rate for the high season has come to a halt since the street protest occurred in Bangkok. The predicament is forcing the operators into a vigorous price competition which is hoped to increase their sales by 15-20%.

Mr Prakij believed that the intensive price strategy will cause the room rate in 2011 to level off or adjust up by no more than 5% which was considerably low.

At a recent meeting of the THA members, they decided to organize “Amazing Thailand Grand Sale” from 29 July to 2 August 2010 whereby over 600 hotels nationwide will offer “buy 1 get 1 free” privilege together with many other special promotion packages to help boost the tourism.

-- NNT 2010-07-07

Related link:

Thailand Hotel Rates

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Oil Boat Blazed While Setting Off to Myanmar

A long-tailed boat loaded with gasoline was set ablaze while setting out for Myanmar.

A fire broke out on a long-tailed boat docked at the bank of Moei River in Mae Sod area of Tak province. The boat was loaded with 3,000 liters of benzene, which was to be transported to Myanmar.

It took firefighters over an hour to get the fire under control, preventing it from spreading to an oil storeroom nearby.

Police believe the fire was caused by leaking oil that was ignited by a spark from the boat's engine.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-07

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DSI Files for Detention of Alleged Masterminds of Bombing Near Bhumejaithai HQ

The Department of Special Investigation has sought a Criminal Court order for the detention of suspects in the bombing attack at the Bhumjaithai Party's head office.

Department of Special Investigation, DSI, Director-General Tharit Pengdit said his agency has filed a request with the Criminal Court's order to detain Warisareeya Boonsom and Kobchai Boonplod, who have been accused of masterminding the bombing at the headquarters of Bhumjaithai Party.

He said the DSI has sought the court's permission to prohibit bail for the two suspects.

The couple will serve 12 days for the first detention period, if the court approves the DSI's request.

They have both been charged with 3 counts, including possession of bomb-making materials, conspiracy in a bombing, and terrorism.

Following the court session, the suspects were brought to the DSI head office for further interrogation. According to Tharit, the agency will call forward 20 more witnesses to testify.

Tharit added a request has also been filed for further detention of the three other suspects apprehended earlier, including Detchpol Puttajong, Kampon Kamkong and Anek Singkuntod.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-07

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Court approves first detention of 2 suspected masterminds of Bhum Jai Thai bomb attack

The Criminal Court Wednesday approved the first detention of two suspected masterminds of the botched bomb attack at the Bhum Jai Thai Party.

The court approved the request of the Department of Special Investigations to detain Warisriya Boonsom and Kobchai Boonplod from July 8 to 19.

Kobchai will be detained at the Bangkok Remand Prison while Warisriya will be detained at the Central Women Prison.

-- The Nation 2010-07-07

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Thailand: Oil boat blazed while setting off to Myanmar

Thai Hoteliers opens price war as business faces long road to recovery

A sneak peek at iPhone 5: http://bit.ly/iPhonePreview // hahahaha /via @Dany_k about /via @ceoSteveJobs

Famed Russian conductor Mikhail Pletnev has been arrested and charged in Thailand with r_ping a boy aged under 15:

Thailand: CRES: No rift with Govt about Emergency Decree

Phuket Ghostbusters: illegal guide crackdown looms:

Bangkok: One-stop service center established to boost Thailand in world ranking of business friendliness:

Thailand's unique monkey business troupe:

Report: Royal Thai Navy unmanned underwater vehicle:

Bangkok Metropolitan Police' weekly report

Thailand: National reform hotline program concludes with more than 50,000 calls

Reminder: Last semifinal match Germany vs Spain @1.30am on Ch3. The winner will play Netherlands in final on Sunday night. /via @tukky_nt

Thai Govt ignores red shirts rights:

Thailand: Army chiefs fly South to discuss new tactics

Thailand: Friendship economics: a lesson from the Northeast that could end mob rule

Conspiracy, crime, conflict: A normal week in Thai politics:

Thailand: Is it too late for us to mend our corrupt ways?:

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Carrefour, the world's second largest retailer to leave Thailand

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Phuket karaoke killing: teen arrested

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PM says weapon amnesty bill will be passed in 3 straight readings

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Wednesday that the bill to grant amnesty to those who return state weapons will be passed in three straight readings once the new parliamentary session begins.

Abhisit said the government has not choice but having to rush to pass the bill to encourage those who possess the state weapons to return them.

-- The Nation 2010-07-07