Thailand Live Thursday 15 Jul 2010

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Thailand Live Thursday 15 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

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

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Related topic: Thailand Live Wednesday 14 July 2010

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PM Open to Early House Dissolution

BANGKOK: -- The prime minister says he may disband the House before the end of its term, if this will help move the country forward.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva remarked that the Lower House could be dissolved before the end of his government's tenure, if it

will help drive the country forward. However, he would only do so on the precondition that there is no recurrence of violence.

Abhisit stated that he is scheduled to hold a meeting tomorrow with the chief adviser of his Democrat Party, Chuan Leekpai, to

discuss the party's legal fight in the dissolution case stemming from alleged unlawful acceptance of 258 million baht in donations.

The prime minister said he and Chuan will consider details of the evidence that the party plans to present at the hearing by the

Constitution Court.

In a separate dissolution case concerning alleged misuse of the political party development fund, Abhisit said he is confident that

the party's legal team is capable of clarifying the case to the court.

He also denied speculations about an internal rift over the dissolution case.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-15

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Top Democrat Confident Party to Escape Dissolution

The secretary-general of the Democrat Party denies that the party is mapping out a long-term plan to cope with its possible

dissolution over the 258 million-baht donation case while expressing confidence that his party would not be disbanded.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, in his capacity as secretary-general of the Democrat Party, said he is confident that

his party would not be dissolved over its alleged acceptance of 258 million-baht in illegal donation from TPI Polene.

He believes the court will accept documents the party will use to defend itself in the case.

Suthep denied reports on the registration of a new party, Thai Khemkhaeng, as a substitute in case the Democrat Party is

dissolved.

He affirmed the Democrat leader and executives have never been involved in any illegal donation case.

Suthep added he also believed that the opposition Pheu Thai Party could not exploit the situation to tighten relations with coalition

parties and persuade them to form a new government.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-15

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EMERGENCY DECREE

26 community radio stations shut down

By Chularat Saengpassa

The Nation

People in red-shirt media face legal action, says radio watch project

Using the emergency decree, authorities have recently shut down 26 community-radio stations in nine provinces and pressured six others to discontinue their services.

As many as 84 community-radio stations have been blacklisted and their activities closely monitored in the latest round of political unrest. At least 35 people related to these media outlets - like radio hosts, station chiefs and executives - are already facing legal action for allegedly mobilising their listeners to the red-shirt rally in Bangkok, for broadcasting what was going on at the rally site and for distorting information.

"However, there are no clear details to substantiate these charges," Campaign for Popular Media Reform (CPMR) secretary-general Suthep Wilailert said yesterday.

He was speaking at a seminar about the fate of community radio stations under the state of emergency.

CPMR organised the seminar under its Community Radio Watch project, which has received support from the Heinrich Boll Foundation.

Suthep said the authorities had in many cases threatened the community radio stations because sometimes up to 200 soldiers turned up in full force to seize their equipment.

In Ubon Ratchathani, some 200 officials showed up to shut down a community radio station. In Chiang Mai, up to 500 officials were deployed to close down another community radio station.

Suthep said some of these officials were even carrying machine guns.

According to him, some community radio stations continued to operate but with much restriction. For example, they have to put up a board saying, "No comments on political situation" to remind their staff to not cause trouble for the stations.

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) supervises community radio stations, but with the emergency decree in place, security agencies have the mandate to intervene.

"If national security is involved, the immediate closure of a community radio station is possible," Dr Surat Metheekhul of NTC said.

However, he said NTC would look into complaints about alleged unfair closures.

National Federation of Community Radio Station secretary-general Wicharn Oun-ok said the hosts of community radio stations tended to speak in laymen's language and made casual remarks the way people did in their everyday life.

"Their speeches may be rousing and emotional sometimes. But to be fair, the authorities should clearly specify what can and cannot be broadcast," he said.

Wicharn, however, said it was not possible to completely bar radio-show hosts from discussing politics.

"Community radio stations cannot be packed with just farming techniques," he pointed out.

Dr Niran Pitakwatchara, a commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission, said the shutting down of community radio stations could backfire on the government.

He also vowed to look into how the shutdown of community radio stations had violated the rights of people.

Thammasat University's law lecturer Sawatree Suksri said Thai law used very board terms like national security and good public morals in controlling media.

"Such terms are too broad," she said, adding that even in an abnormal situation, authorities should not muzzle media because people should receive information from all sides so they can make decision themselves on what to believe.

Sirote Klampaiboon from the Mahidol University's Centre for Human-Rights Studies and Social Development said community radio stations should not be prosecuted for their political stance.

"If they have a political conviction, that should not be a problem. Such outlets belong to communities and people. They should be independent from the central government," he said.

"Let the communities take care of their own radio stations. We must have trust in the communities' abilities to do so".

-- The Nation 2010-07-15

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PM Abhisit: Verdict on dissolution likely by October

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Name-dropping ex-Army major accused of swindling

By The Nation

Police have arrested a retired Army major, alleging he is a con artist who duped his victims out of hundreds of millions of baht by citing bogus connections with famous people, including Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda.

The arrest followed a tip-off by the latest victim, a government teacher, who was told by Panote Adisakthada that he could enlist her son into the Expressway Authority of Thailand in exchange for Bt200,000 through his special connection as an aide, by the name of Maj-General Phitsanu Phutthawong, to Prem.

After the first Bt50,000 pay?ment, the woman contacted Si Sao Thewes residence, where Prem resided, and later met the real Phitsanu. She then filed a complaint with police, who arrested Panote, 43, in a sting arranged on Tuesday to pay him the remaining amount.

Panote resigned from the Army with the rank of major in 2003 because of poor health, and later ran many businesses, including providing protection to nightclubs in the Ratchadaphisek area. He has been charged with fraud and assuming other people's identi?ties.

In addition to a number of arrests for similar crimes over the past three years, the suspect recently served a brief prison term after an arrest in February for extorting Bt100,000 from a woman who believed he could help secure a huge loan from a bank for her.

-- The Nation 2010-07-15

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FIRE TRUCK SCANDAL

BKK Governor support investigation panel

By The Nation

Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra yesterday voiced support for an investigation into the fire-trucks scandal which subjected government officials to civil compensation, saying the issue could be solved and his predecessor Apirak Kosayodhin's self-imposed political restrictions could be taken off.

The government recently set up a committee to look into the wrongdoings and corrupt acts by members of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)'s officials to subject them to compensatory duties. The panel has 60 days to complete the task.

"The investigation results will make everything about the fire-trucks scandal clear and enable the BMA to go ahead with utilising the [confiscated] fire trucks," he said. He added Apirak would be uneasy about taking on a ministerial post in the future.

The BMA bought hundreds of fire trucks and fire-fighting equipment from Austrian manufacturer Steyr Daimler Puch several years ago, but the contract was made invalid and vehicles confiscated by the National Anti-Corruption Commission, which ruled that the vehicles were overpriced and indicted many TRT ministers and BMA officials over corruption.

To pursue the matter through an arbitrary board, he said the BMA had submitted a list of members to a mediating panel, without giving further details.

"All I can tell is they are not Thai, Austrian, French or American," he added.

-- The Nation 2010-07-15

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ACADEMY FANTASIA

"Mark V11" withdraws, apologises to PM

By The Nation

Reality show contestant Withawat "Mark V11" Thaokhamlue yesterday announced his withdrawal from the popular Academy Fantasia Season 7 contest and said he was willing to apologise to PM Abhisit Vejjajiva for insulting him on his Facebook page before he entered the competition.

Withawat's father defended his 17-year-old son, saying the teenager was loyal to the monarchy and the alleged lese-majeste message on his page was doctored.

The controversy emerged when messages posted on Withawat's Facebook page criticised the prime minister rudely, allegedly insulted the country's top institute, and attacked another reality show contestant, Patipan "Zen The Star" Lohsathien.

Organisers debated if Withawat should be dropped from the competition.

Withawat, along with his family members and their lawyer, appeared at a news conference yesterday to clear up the issue. Father Wathanyu Thaokhamlue said the family would like to confirm they had been loyal to the Thai monarchy and were proud to have been born in this country with its beloved monarch. He said his wife had served the royal family during her nursing career in Chiang Mai 13 years ago.

"I taught my son to be loyal to the monarch and I confirm that my son had never posted any lese-majeste message. We had already filed a police complaint at Chiang Mai because the message was doctored," he said.

"As for his political opinion, Mark admitted he posted the message against the PM. My family and I are very sorry for what happened and apologise to the PM for my son's harsh words. If the PM gives us a chance, I would bring my son to apologise to him in person," he added.

Wathanyu said he would ask True Vision executives to allow Withawat to perform on stage in the contest's first episode on July 17, before he resigned from the show, so his son could fulfil his dream.

Withawat said he was sorry for what happened and vowed he didn't have any intention of insulting the beloved monarchy. He said the messages were some teenage thoughts expressed without thinking them through. He also asked for another chance from the society and said that he apologised to the PM. "If I saw the PM, I would bow down and apologise to him," he said adding that he also didn't mean to verbally attack Patipan.

Withawat said he would be responsible and withdraw from the Academy Fantasia Season 7 contest and promise to never attend any reality show again.

Withawat revealed he would continue his studies in Thailand and admitted he was very sad to lose the opportunity in Thai entertainment business circles. He said he promised not to post rude messages anymore.

Chiang Mai's San Sai police station superintendent Pol Colonel Wisut Poonchan said Withawat's mother had filed a police complaint that her son's Facebook message had been doctored, causing the misunderstanding that he had insulted the country's top institution.

Since the complaint was filed without presented evidence, witnesses nor accusations against anyone, the police only recorded the complaint.

-- The Nation 2010-07-15

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Landless occupy TAMC plots to block sales

By The Nation

Guided by a non-governmental organisation, thousands of landless people have moved into and made use of various land plots under the management of the Thai Asset Management Corporation (TAMC).

The corporation is reported to be in the process of auctioning off these foreclosed plots.

"If we don't occupy these plots, they will be auctioned and passed on to investors," Passawai Kaewnam said yesterday. He heads the Mukdahan branch of the Council for People from the Four Regions.

He said the council's members had occupied nearly 400 plots of land in the Northeast, where most of the foreclosed assets under TAMC care are.

"We have informed the government in writing that we are opposed to the auction of foreclosed plots," Passawai said.

He said underprivileged people needed such land plots as a basis for a roof over their heads. Somjit Jantasuk, a leading member of the council in Khon Kaen, said more than 1,000 members had built structures on most of the 39 TAMC land plots in that Northeastern province.

-- The Nation 2010-07-15

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Standards set for public health officials

By The Nation

The Cabinet has approved an Act setting standards for public health officers at provincial and districtlevels as well as those working at tambon health stations, Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said yesterday.

In addition to the existing six healthrelated professions, most of which involve providing medical treatments to sick people, this new law will elevate disease control and prevention to professional level and cover all public health officials nationwide, Jurin said.

Later, a public health professional council will be established to set and supervise work standards, as well as be in charge of registration, issuing licences and maintaining codes of practice.

The permanent secretary for Public Health will lead the council until all committee members and a council president is chosen, he explained.

-- The Nation 2010-07-15

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Burmese processing centre opens in Ranong

By The Nation

Thai Labour Minister Chalermchai Srion and Burmese Foreign Minister Maung Min yesterday visited the Burmesenationality identification centre, which recently moved from Koh Song to Ranong's Kofuk Pier.

Accompanied by Ranong Governor Wanchat Wongchaichana, the two ministers also presided over an official opening ceremony of the centre, which is run by 20 Burmese staff and is set up to identify nationalities and issue temporary entry documents for 800 workers a day.

The centre, which was moved to Thailand on July 1 and is to be open until the end of October, should help workers submit nationality identification requests and documents faster, more conveniently and with less expense, Wanchat said. It may also facilitate Thailand's request to have such centres in Tak's Mae Sot district and Chiang Rai's Mae Sai district, he added.

According to the Department of Employment, 833,013 of the 1,079,991 Burmese workers registered in 2009 asked for work permits and the nationality identification process. About 94,000 received permits. Thai Interior Ministry and Immigration Police will deal later with those 246,978 workers failing to undergo the nationality identification process.

-- The Nation 2010-07-15

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Ubon court denies bail for mother jailed over city hall riot

By The Nation

The Ubon Ratchathani Court has denied bail for Sineenat Chompusapet, a 29yearold garbage collector who joined the May 19 cityhallburning riot, was shot in the leg, and was jailed for obstructing officers' work, breaking into a state office and causing property damage, a local official said yesterday.

As her husband Somboon Simma, 30, fled to avoid arrest, Sineenat's three children aged six to 10 were left with her 82yearold grandmother, whose sole income was the government's Bt500 monthly allowance.

Thavee Poungsuk, chief of Sawang Wirawong district's Tambon Kaengdom Administrative Organisation, said the agency had initially helped her family with food supplies and also had donated Bt50,000 on Monday so the family could pay for Sineenat's bail application, but the bail was denied. About Bt45,000 in donations was also raised to help the family, he said.

Ubon Ratchathani Police have applied for arrest warrants for 41 demonstrators for obstructing officers' work, intruding on a state office and causing property damage. Six have been arrested, while the rest remain at large. The punishment for the three charges is a 15year jail term.

-- The Nation 2010-07-15

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Phrae governor pushes for dam project

By The Nation

The governor of Phrae has given local government offices and schools until Friday to complete the collection of signatures from people supporting the longdelayed Kaeng Sue Ten Dam project, a source said yesterday.

According to a letter sent to all schools by acting director of Phrae Education Area 1, Governor Somchai Hattayatanti has instructed all provincial government offices and schools to gather the names of those supporting the project so the governor can submit them to the government. The letter also urged schools to lobby for the dam among its teachers and students, have them sign in support as well as participate in a prodam rally on Friday morning in front of the city hall.

However, Sanyan Khamneung, an official of the "Living River Siam Project", along with other people against the dam project said the governor's action was against the country's reform policies, which aim to allow community participation in politics and resource management. In addition, they said, he was abusing his authority by supporting a project that benefits those in power and disregards people's opinions and environmental damage.

Sanyan said residents of Ban Sa Eiub - a village that will be adversely affected if this dam is built - will be holding a protest outside city hall today and on Friday, in the name of the Assembly of Poor, they will negotiate with the government.

-- The Nation 2010-07-15

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Methplagued Thailand assists study on addiction

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PM Abhisit: Govt should take back seat on media reform

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Thai Talk: Democracy suffers when we hear what we want to hear

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Travel Industry Expected to Earn Bt1.8 Bln

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is confident the Kingdom's travel industry will bounce back during the second half of the year, expressing hope that the “Amazing Thailand Grand Sale” event will stimulate 1.8 billion baht in circulation for the sector.

Deputy governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, or TAT, Pensuda Prai-aram, disclosed today that the TAT has proposed 360 million-baht worth of tourism stimulus measures to the Budget Bureau.

The push will involve no less than 12 activities during the low-season months of August and September.

The TAT is also working with NCC Exhibition Organizer in holding the “Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2010”.

The ongoing event features over 800 booths of travel businesses and discounts as high as 80 percent on travel packages. Some 150,000 people are expected to attend the fair and 150 million baht will likely be generated.

Since the event kicked off on June 15 in eight provinces across the Kingdom, the TAT has voiced satisfaction with public response. It projects that the Thai travel industry will earn 1.8 billion baht in revenue this year, up from 1.4 billion baht last year.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-15

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US envoy plans Thailand mission

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Foreign investors expand stake in Thailand, says PM

BANGKOK, July 15 – Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Wednesday said that foreign investors have continued their plans to expand their stakes in Thailand, despite investment problems in the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate.

The premier discussed his assessment in his keynote speech delivered at a seminar “The Prime Minister Meets Japanese Investors” held by the Thailand-Japan Association and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce to keep more than 300 Japanese and Thai businesspersons informed regarding the Thai government’s policy, political situation, and economic situation and Thailand's overall prospects.

The Japanese remain the top investors in Thailand in terms of their investment volume, he said, adding that Thai economic fundamentals are rather strong given the sound growth rate in many areas.

Tourism business is the main sector adversely affected by the recent political crisis.

Mr Abhisit said Thailand’s economic stability in the medium and long terms measured by reserve capital, currency exchange rate, and the inflation rate remains manageable.

He conceded the post-political rally activities such as the rescue measures for affected businesses and investigations into the incident would proceed as planned, as do efforts to resolve the investment suspensions in Map Ta Phut.

It is expected doubts and uncertainties on these matters would ease by the end of this year.

Mr Abhisit said Japanese and foreign investors are not discouraged by the Map Ta Phut problems as they still move ahead with their plan to

expand their investment stakes in Thailand.

The premier told Japanese investors that the Thai economy is likely to grow 6 per cent this year while the International Monetary Fund projected the economy would expand 7 per cent.

To meet the projection, he said, the government must accelerate implementing its state-supported investment projects and rehabilitating the tourism sector.

-- TNA 2010-07-15

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Phuket Immigration launches on-line alien tracking project

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Seh Daeng's Right Hand Man Arrested

Seh Daeng's right-hand man has been arrested in Lopburi province.

Initial reports suggest that he has admitted to shotting M79 grenades at various targets during the red-shirt protest. He's now being sent to Naresuan Camp.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-15

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Governor Claims Cambodia Has Canceled Its "National Hatred Day"

The Sri Saket governor claims that he has received word that Cambodia has canceled its National Hatred Day, which was orignially scheduled for today. The anti-Thai campaign was part of Cambodia's efforts to stir patriotism sentiment ahead of attending the World Heritage Committee meeting on July 25.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-15

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Chalerm refuses to campaign for the red shirts

Pheu Thai MP Chalerm Yoobamrung on Thursday denied any involvement with the red shirts and said he would not join the red rallies in the Northeast.

"My Pheu Thai Party has no involvement in the Northeast rallies as planned by the red shirts," he said in reference to the Wednesday's announcement for the pre-election campaign.

Chalerm said it was a misunderstanding that he would be one of the rally speakers at rallies participated by the red shirts.

-- The Nation 2010-07-15

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Police Investigate 159 Million Baht Nakhon Ratchasima Co-op Embezzlement

The police have arrested an accountant involved in the 159-million baht Nakhon Ratchasima co-op embezzlement.

A police team is investigating the case of 49-year-old Pornsawan Ngao-Koh, who has been arrested for embezzling 159 million baht from a co-op in Nakhon Ratchasima province.

In the latest development of the investigation, the police arrested another suspect, 36-year-old Savaluk Pankamolsilp, who was an accountant at the co-op and has already confessed that she has assisted Pornwawan in cooking the account book.

Also, the authorities have seized 5 million baht in a savings lottery account that was purchased by Pornsawan last April.

Prior to this, the police confiscated the house, land, and cars belonging to Pornwawan, and will investigate the financial status of her family members.

The investigation has not been able to link the case with any government officials.

The police will also investigate the co-op committee members, especially those who have the authority to issue checks. If any evidence of wrong-doing is found, those responsible will be prosecuted.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-15

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Thai tourism to recover soon

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Red-shirt terrorist suspect arrested in Lop Buri

By The Nation

Police have arrested red-shirt guard Surachai "Rang" Thewarit, wanted for terrorism charge, in Lop Buri and will hand him over to the Department of Special Investigation this afternoon.

DSI director general Tharit Pengdit on Thursday confirmed the arrest of Surachai, who has a warrant out for involving in the firing of M-79 grenade launchers to attack the BTS station in Saladaeng and the police checkpoint near Lumpini Park during the red-shirt rally.

The attacks caused two deaths, including a policeman, and a number of injuries.

Deputy national police chief General Panupong Singhara na Anyutthaya said following his arrest, Surachai admitted his involvment in the M-79 attacks. He also told police some useful informations about the men in black, believed to belong to the armed unit of the red shirts.

Based on his initial statement given to Panupong, Surachai, seen as close to the late Maj General Khattiya "Seh Daeng" Sawasdipol, said he was sent by Khattiya to receive his training in Taiwan.

After the end of the red-shirt rally in May, he fled to Cambodia before returning to his Buri Ram home on June 26. He said he was in Lop Buri to plan for an assasination which he did not elaborate.

-- The Nation 2010-07-15

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Baiyoke Tower Owner Denies Having Financed Red Shirt Movement

BANGKOK: -- Panlert Baiyoke, a well-known businessman, has denied having financed the red-shirt movement by showing his financial statement to the Department of Special Investigation.

Panlert Baiyoke, a well-known businessman, a former deputy secretary-general of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, and the owner of Baiyoke Tower, has reported to the Department of Special Investigation or the DSI for the second time to repudiate the claim that he was one of the red-shirt movement financiers.

He was accompanied by his attorney and a branch-manager of the Thai Military Bank, who backed Panlert's claim that his financial transactions were made for business purposes.

Panlert has also demanded that the DSI and the Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situations unfreeze his assets as his business has been suffering from the seizure.

Panlert threatened to file a lawsuit against the CRES for abuse of authority if his demand is not met.

Meanwhile, 52 individuals and businesses have been summoned to the DSI for the second time, to explain their suspicious financial transactions, from today until August 9th.

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's family members are scheduled to appear before the DSI on July 21.

The politicians linked to Thaksin have been summoned to appear on July 22.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-15

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Update: Cambodia bans rally against Thailand

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NACC Postpones Decision on PM's SMS Case

The National Anti Corruption Commission (NACC) has postponed delivering its verdict on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij's SMS case to tomorrow at 9 A.M., citing delays with documents.

The case involved short messages sent to the Thai public when the administration came into power with complaints that the PM and the finance minister benefited from the service provided by mobile phone companies.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-15

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SCB raises interest rates

Siam Commercial Bank on Thursday took the lead in raising their interest rates, with all fixed deposit rates being increased by 0.1-0.55 per cent point per annum.

SCB President Kannikar Chalitaporn said this follows the Bank of Thailand's decision on July 14 to raise the policy rate by 25 basis points.

SCB's rates increase are effective as of this Thursday.

-- The Nation 2010-07-15