Thailand Live Friday 16 Jul 2010

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Thailand Live Friday 16 July 2010

News, Bits and Tweets

with webfact

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

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Related topic: Thailand Live Thursday 15 July 2010

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27 provinces facing severe drought

BANGKOK (NNT) -- A total of 27 provinces are experiencing severe drought conditions, according to the Department of

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM).

The DDPM reported that 27 provinces throughout the country remained troubled by the drought crisis. The affected areas

cover 12 provinces in the North, 11 in the Northeast and 4 in the Central.

The department has reportedly allocated the affected residents with about 276 million liters of water for drinking and

household consumption. About 1,001 ditches and barrages have been set up while 776 water sources have been

excavated.

Drought-stricken residents are advised to call the DDPM Hotline 1784 for any urgent assistance around the clock.

-- NNT 2010-07-16

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Chinese, Japanese tourists begin returning to Thailand

BANGKOK: -- Chinese and Japanese tourists have begun to return to Thailand in numbers, and more are expected to visit

in the third and fourth quarters of this year, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa.

Speaking after a monthly meeting with tourism operators, he said the number of Chinese and Japanese arrivals in Thailand

had begun to increase.

Unless there are untoward incidents in Thailand, the tourism situation would improve considerably in the third and fourth

quarters of 2010.

As at the end of June, he said, the number of foreign arrivals reached 7,487,880, up 13.29 per cent from the 6,609,313

arrivals registered in the same period last year.

Unless there are untoward incidents [political disorder or violence], he said, the number of foreign tourists would surge to

14,975,760 as targeted.

The minister said that many countries which had earlier issued warnings against travel to Thailand had scrapped their

cautionary messages. At present, Saudi Arabia is only the country which continues the warning. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-07-16

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Thais satisfied with Govt’s relief measures extension

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Most Thai people are satisfied with the Government’s six-month extension of the relief measures,

deeming the move beneficial, especially for low-income workers.

The majority of Thai citizens expressed satisfaction with the prolonged implementation of the relief measures, citing that it

was a good opportunity for low-income earners to save on their living expenses. They also called for the Government to

continue extending the measures after their expiration.

In an effort to help shoulder people’s financial burdens, the Government recently decided to prolong the cost of living relief

measures for another six months. The free services on third-class trains and public buses as well as the free electricity were

extended until 31 December 2010 while the price stabilization of LPG and NGV will be maintained until 28 February 2011.

-- NNT 2010-07-16

[Maestro]

SMS case against PM: NACC decides today

By Attayuth Butrsripoom,

Samatcha Hoonsara

The Nation

Published on July 16, 2010

Even if it goes ahead with case against Abhisit and Korn for alleged misuse of messaging services, the move won't have immediate impact on their positions

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) will decide today whether it will proceed with the case against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij over their alleged misuse of mobile-phone short message services (SMS) in December 2008, officials said.

However, even if the NACC decides to pursue the case, it will have no immediate impact on Abhisit's and Korn's positions.

It was widely expected earlier that the commission would announce its final decision on the case, which could have resulted in the pair's suspension if the ruling was that they were guilty.

But the commission will not announce anything more than whether it considers there are sufficient grounds to pursue the case, said commission secretary Apinan Isarasena na Ayuthaya.

"If the commission has all the information and sees no point in charging the prime minister and the minister, their cases will be dropped," he said.

"But if there are some grounds, we would ask them to provide evidence and give their accounts to defend themselves."

Only after they had done so would the NACC rule on whether there were sufficient grounds to punish them, he said.

The panel investigating the case has recommended that the NACC drop the case for lack of solid evidence, according to a source close to the panel.

Abhisit and Korn were accused by the opposition Pheu Thai Party and Senator Ruangkrai Leekit-wattana of receiving assets worth more than Bt3,000 when they asked three mobile-phone operators to send Abhisit's SMS to 17 million cellphones across the country.

Korn, on behalf of Abhisit, asked the operators to send the message one day after Abhisit took office in December 2008, saying "this is your new prime minister, may I ask you to help bring our country out of crisis. If you are interested in receiving further messages from me, please [reply] to 9191 (Bt3 per message)."

Ruangkrai said the anti-graft body took more than a year and a half to consider the case, perhaps a bit longer than other cases.

As a complainant, Ruangkrai said the commission was supposed to ask him to give his account to the investigative panel but that had not happened.

If the commission does not drop the case today, it will drag on even longer, he said.

Article 103 of the anti-graft law prohibits government officials from accepting any assets worth more than Bt3,000. If found guilty, they can be jailed for a maximum of three years or fined a maximum of Bt60,000 or both.

They could be also impeached from their positions in accordance with the Constitution.

Ruangkrai said it was a technicality of the law that any officials who accepted assets worth more than Bt3,000, with or without wrongful intent, must be punished. But such officials might not be impeached if they can prove the act was unintentional, he said.

"It is very obvious that the prime minister and finance minister knew that sending a message has its cost, and a message to 17 million subscribers is absolutely more than Bt3,000," Ruangkrai said.

Previously, Korn admitted during a censure debate in Parliament that he did not pay for the message transfer but asked for cooperation from the three operators to do it free of charge, Ruangkrai said.

However, a close aide to Korn said the SMS case depended on how it was defined and how it was intended. "If it was meant to benefit the prime minister, then he is guilty, but if it was meant to benefit the country, then the Bt3,000 limit under the law doesn't apply," he said.

-- The Nation 2010-07-16

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Phrae villagers gather to oppose dam

By The Nation

PHRAE

Residents of Ban Sa Eiub in Phrae's Song district camped outside Phrae's provincial hall to protest against the Kaeng Sue Ten Dam project yesterday.

The villagers set up tents and took turns to speak on a makeshift stage against Phrae Governor Somchai Hattayatanti's collection of signatures from people supporting the Kaeng Sue Ten Dam. The villagers refused officials' request for them to move their rally to the nearby Rama 9 public park as they claimed the state office and street were built by tax money and they had a right to use them for the gathering.

At 3pm, they submitted a letter to Somchai telling him to cancel the gathering of signatures and putting pressure on schoolchildren to support the dam.

The tambon Sa Eiub Environmental Conservation Committee also issued a statement condemning Somchai for ordering civil servants, state employees and public schoolchildren to support the project and join a prodam rally on this morning in front of the province hall. They said such action was an abuse of authority to benefit some politicians and a violation of people's rights. They urged the governor to change his mind and join forces with people to protect the teak forest and become a good example for youth in conserving the environment.

As the protest might last into today, when Somchai has urged civil servants and schoolchildren along with Yom River Basin residents to show support to the dam project, Phrae police chief MajGeneral Chalongchai Burirat told officials to keep peace and order at the rally site to prevent the two sides from clashing.

-- The Nation 2010-07-16

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Environmentalist wants 'harmful business' list expanded

By The Nation

Srisuwan Janya, chairman of the Stop Global Warming Association

A noted environmentalist yesterday requested that nine types of businesses be included among those deemed harmful to human health and ecology so that they must undergo health and environmentalimpact assessments as mandated by the Constitution.

Responding to an order given last week by the prime minister to reconsider putting 18 "harmful businesses" on a watch list, Srisuwan Janya, chairman of the Stop Global Warming Association, said another nine businesses should be added to the 18, and all them should be subjected to the EIA and HIA tests.

Among the nine additional businesses proposed by Srisuwan are petroleum exploration and drilling operations, ore mills, mines and quarry operations, industrial sanddredging operations and even golf courses. "These operations, which cause devastating impacts to ecology and the environment, were surprisingly left off the watch list," he said.

The other businesses Srisuwan proposed for the watch list are steel mills, biomass production, and all projects relying on genetically modified farm products, as well as electricity production relying on fuels that are toxic.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva last week ordered a fourparty commission working on unlocking legal restriction on various projects relating to the Map Ta Phut industrial estate in Rayong to review the watch list, saying it lacked sufficient details. The commission initially ruled that some of the 18 businesses did not need to undergo EIA/HIA.

-- The Nation 2010-07-16

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Insurgent suspect wanted for murder dies in Pattani firefight

By The Nation

Provincial governor Theerathep Sriyaphan

A suspected insurgent much wanted for multiple murders and terror attacks was killed in a firefight yesterday with security officials in Pattani province.

Police said Sabuding Deng was a righthand man to senior insurgent leader Mahama Jaja, much wanted himself. The death of Sabuding has prompted provincial authorities to heighten security to cope with possible retaliatory attacks by fellow insurgents.

After the firefight, which followed a security blockade of two houses, police also arrested a suspect, Ismael Yaena, near the scene. Army Sergeant Anucha Sapsin was shot in the left hand.

Sabuding had been sought for various crimes under eight arrest warrants, including the murder last August of a border patrol officer, who was also a teacher, and two other murders, in addition to an arson attack on a school in tambon Sakhor Bon subdistrict in February last year.

Police and military officers negotiated with Sabuding for hours with the help of imams and local officials before the raid into the house where he was hiding.

Provincial Governor Theerathep Sriyaphan said the security alert followed intelligence reports that Mahama himself had become active in the province together with Sabuding, possibly for planning for future attacks, before Sabuding was located and later killed.

-- The Nation 2010-07-16

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More landless work to foil TAMC plot auction

By The Nation

Khon Kaen

More than 200 local people yesterday joined efforts already underway to seize land plots from the Thai Asset Management Corporation (TAMC) which plans to auction them.

The protesters, many of them landless, have argued that some of the foreclosed plots were public land before investors submitted them as collateral.

The Council for People from the Four Regions has led the efforts to keep these foreclosed assets for its landless members and has asked the government to not let TAMC auction off these land plots to investors.

Thousands of the council's members have already occupied many of the foreclosed land plots under TAMC care.

The Network of Northeast People, which is a part of the council, said yesterday more than 200 poor people rushed to ask for a share in the 1,024rai land plot on the Mitrapab Road in Ban Nong Kham - Nong Waeng, Khon Kaen's Phra Yuen district.

The network requires them to become members first, for a Bt230 fee.

Some council members have already erected tents or built temporary shelters on the TAMC land plot.

The network's key member, Chusak Jantasuk, said each landless farmer registering with the council should be given 15 rai of land each.

"We hope the TAMC will give this land plot to farmers. However, whether this dream will become a reality depends on our negotiations with the government," he said.

Chusak said all new members were warned that success was not guaranteed.

"They understand and have joined us on a voluntary basis," he said.

Khampan Pochada, 67, was among the new members of the network.

"I am now living on a temple's land plot and working odd jobs," he said, "It will be very good if I can have some one or two rai(s) for growing rice".

He said he had lived near the plot TAMC planned to auction off since he was a child and saw an investor simply take it away.

"I remember it as public land," Khampan said.

So far, he understands he might not get what he wants, even if he joined the council or the network.

"I understand the land plot now belongs to the state," Khampan said. "We cannot simply take it by illegal occupation".

-- The Nation 2010-07-16

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Global warming and health talks

By The Nation

Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit

Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit yesterday presented a fourpoint strategy to tackle the impact of global warming on health at the "2nd Ministerial Regional Forum on Environment and Health in Southeast and East Asian Countries" held in South Korea's Jeju City.

The forum is attended by delegates from South Korea, Japan, China, Mongolia, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand. Jurin said Thailand has implemented national environmental health strategy 1 after it was approved by the cabinet in 2009. The strategy - consisting of the issues of water pollution, global and regional air pollution, sanitation, and the Health Impact Assessment (HIA) - was integrated into the 10th National Economic and Social Development Plan, he said. Sanitation development included the "green and clean hospital" project to reduce greenhouse gas emission and promote recycling at 600 hospitals, and the "clean food good taste" project to improve fresh markets' sanitation, he added.

-- The Nation 2010-07-16

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Unesco to consider new heritage sites

By The Nation

Phu Phra Baht Historic Park

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee will consider elevating 32 sites to "world heritage" status and expanding the territory of 28 world heritage sites, a senior official said yesterday.

The agendas would be tabled at the committee's 34th general assembly from July 25August 3 at Brasilia City, said deputy permanent secretary for culture and committee member, Somsuda Leeyawanich. They would also consider 39 sites on a list of "world heritage in danger", she said, determining next year about which sites should be demoted.

As for the proposal to elevate Udon Thani's Phu Phra Baht Historic Park as a world heritage, she said the Office of Archaeology was making a nomination file for the committee's consideration, which should be complete by next February. The file would then be assessed before proposing to the World Heritage Committee at their 35th meeting in Bahrain, she added.

-- The Nation 2010-07-16

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Thinktank says hospitals overcharge for medicine

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Red guard fugitive Surachai nabbed on terrorism charges

By The Nation

Police arrested fugitive redshirt guard Surachai "Rang" Thewarat in Lop Buri yesterday on terrorism charges. Surachai, 25, was a close associate of the late "Seh Daeng," MajGeneral Khattiya Sawasdipol.

Surachai reportedly has admitted being with others who launched M79 grenades at a police flat on May 15, and attacked a police checkpoint near Lumpini Park with rifle fire, causing two deaths, on May 8.

Surachai, who was on the Department of Special Investigation's (DSI) "most wanted" list, was captured in a hotel room in Lop Buri's Muang district during a morning raid led by Pol MajGeneral Thanapol Sonthes, commander of the Special Patrol and Operations Division, or 191 police.

Thanapol said Surachai was wanted on three warrants on charges of terrorism, violating the emergency decree and bodily assault. Police knew Surachai had fled to Cambodia after May 19, but returned to Thailand on June 26 and had been hiding in the North, Northeast, and the East regions before moving to the Lop Buri hotel where he was captured, he said.

Pol Colonel Panurat Lakboon, deputy commander of the 191 police, said the initial investigation revealed Surachai, who had been involved in many violent incidents in Bangkok, was efficient in using weapons and welltrained. After questioning, police would hand Surachai over to the DSI, he said.

Surachai reportedly told police he was a close aide to MajGeneral Khattiya for many years and served as a trainer in the "King Taksin warriors" for eight years.

He also reportedly admitted he was one of the "men in black" who launched M79 grenades at a Lumpini police flat on May 15 and that he fired an M16 rifle at a security checkpoint at the Saladaeng intersection on May 8, when two officers were killed.

MajGeneral Khattiya planned and commanded every attack, Surachai said, but he declined to say how many people were involved. Surachai also reportedly said MajGeneral Khattiya took him and other "men in black" to undergo weapons and tactical training in Taiwan, Panurat said.

An informed source reported that, after Surachai returned to Thailand on June 26, he reunited with former subordinates of MajGeneral Khattiya. He contacted his wife, saying he was staying in a Lop Buri hotel and would send her some money after completing an important mission.

The source said the mission was believed to be related to the July 12 assassination of Nakhon Sawan provincial administrative organisation president, Amnat Sirichai.

In addition, police would also look into an alleged plot to assassinate Thailand's key person with assistance from Lop Buri local politicians, the source reported.

At DSI headquarters, directorgeneral Tharit Pengdit said yesterday deputy national police chief General Panupong Singhara na Ayutthaya had contacted him about handing over Surachai to the agency. Warrants had been issued against Surachai alleging involvement in the M79 grenade to attacks on the BTS station in Saladaeng and the police checkpoint near Lumpini Park. Police and DSI officials would interrogate him further on these matters.

Meanwhile, Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Maj General Sumet Ruangsawat, said the police investigation into the Amnat Sirichai assassination was ongoing and, if evidence was found implicating Surachai, he would be charged accordingly. But for now it would be best to let the investigation run before commenting.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said yesterday he had received the report about Surachai's arrest and would wait on the DSI investigation results.

He affirmed there was no scapegoatcapturing in the case and the authority already had details of several operations carried out during the redshirt rally.

-- The Nation 2010-07-16

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UPDATE

Thai workers head for blueberry fields in Finland

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Did Abhisit text himself into more trouble?

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Finance Ministry calls for further talks on impact of 3G licences

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Television is killing cinema - Thai drivers are killing themselves

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President Obama names veteran diplomat Kristie Kenney as US ambassador to Thailand, replacing Eric John who is completing three years in his post /MCOT

related topic:

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BP stops oil leak

British Petroleum finally stopped the 184 million gallons of oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, the first time in three months.

BP will test the leak stoppage for the next 48 hours to ensure the leak is fully resolved.

-- The Nation 2010-07-16

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Police to Probe Trajectory of Nakhon Sawan Administrative Chief

Police has brought in 3D technology to dramatize the assassination of the Nakhon Sawan provincial administration chief, to investigate the trajectory and distance of the bullets.

Police from the Scientific Crime Detection Division visited the Nakhon Sawan Provincial Hall, the scene where Nakhon Sawan Provincial Administrative Organization Chief, Amnart Sirichai, was assassinated on July 11th.

The authorities used the ScanStation, a 3D technology, to dramatize the crime scene to draw details of the assassination with a comprehensive 360-degree perspective.

The procedure will be able to accurately measure the trajectory of the bullets fired and thus help identify the direction of the bullets and where they had been fired from.

Meanwhile, police are still working to track down the gunman by probing suspected vehicles.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-16

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DSI to Unfreeze Accounts of Alleged Red-Shirt Financiers Proven Innocent

The Department of Special Investigation has planned to ask the Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situations to unfreeze the assets of some individuals who have been cleared of the accusation of being red-shirt financiers.

Permanent-Director of the Department of Special Investigation or DSI, Tharit Pengdit, has announced that the department will submit a report on the financial investigation of the individuals and businesses suspected of financially supporting the red-shirt movement, to the Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situations or CRES.

Tharit claimed that the financial investigation of 21 individuals has been completed.

Tharit also said the department has categorized the suspected individuals and businesses into three groups, white, gray, and black groups.

The DSI will make a recommendation to the CRES to unfreeze the assets of those in the white group, and those in the gray group will be considered on case-by-case basis.

However, terrorism charges could be brought against those in the black group.

Tharit added that the second round of the financial investigation, of 53 individuals, is not yet complete.

He urged the people who have not yet reported to the DSI to do so as soon as possible, or they could risk being criminally charged.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-16

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Seh Daeng Right-hand Man Suspected of Arms Dealing

Seh Daeng's right-hand man has been arrested in Lopburi province. Initial reports suggest that he could be linked to arms dealing and involved in 8 red shirt-protest related incidents including the shooting of Col Romklao Thuwatham, who was killed during clashes with the red-shirt protesters and an attack on an army oil depot.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-16

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NGV buses leasing scheme hopeful to receive nods

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Transport Minister Sopon Zarum expects the Cabinet to give a green light to the controversial 4,000 NGV buses leasing scheme during its next weekly meeting.

Mr Sopon stated that his Ministry had already conducted additional studies, earlier required by the Cabinet, in its effort clear up all doubts as regards the issue. He confirmed that details of the project were complete indicating that the bus rental price was reasonable..

The Minister added that the results and details of the studies had already been forwarded to the Secretariat of the Cabinet. He said there was no need to discuss it further with other coalition partners, and hoped that the issue would be approved by the Cabinet next Tuesday.

Mr Sopon said that his Ministry had done its best to push forward the project, stressing once again that the 4,000 NGV buses leasing project would benefit all commuters, allowing them to use quality buses. He said he saw no reason why the project should be delayed any further.

The Minister noted that free non-air-conditioned buses would still be available for low-income earners.

The 4,000 NGV buses leasing scheme has been initiated by the coalition Bhumjaithai Party, who takes the helm of the Ministry of Transport.

-- NNT 2010-07-16

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Pridiyathorn turns down offer to lead Pheu Thai

Incoming Bank of Thailand governor MR Pridiyathorn Devakula on Friday admitted he had turned down a job offer to lead the opposition Pheu Thai Party.

"Pheu Thai did recruited me but that was in the past which happened before the unrest," he said, in an interview given to Krungthep Turakij online edition.

Pridiyathorn said he was offered the job by a Pheu Thai official who is a few year younger than him, dismissing speculation that ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra had contacted him personally.

-- The Nation 2010-07-16

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Tropical Storm Conson to Cause Heavy Rain in North and East

The Meteorological Department has warned of possible flooding and heavy rains in the North and East from today to Sunday due to the tropical storm Conson.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-16

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More Chemical Leak at Ayutthaya Jewelry Plant

Following a similar incident yesterday evening, a jewelry plant in Ayutthaya province sees more chemical leak this morning. Employees fled for the lives while more than 50 have been transported to the hospital.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-16

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NACC Finds Thaksin Guilty of Corruption in TPI Rehabilitation Plan

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has found former PM Thaksin Shinawatra and his associates guilty of corruption in carrying out the rehabilitation plan of TPI, the country's largest private firm debtor in Thailand.

The case will now be sent to the Supreme Court for political postholders for a final verdict.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-16

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Russia agrees to pay off 40mn USD rice debt to Thailand

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Russia has accepted to pay off a debt worth 40 million USD owed to Thailand for rice purchases; details of the payment will be negotiated in August.

Speaking after meeting with the Deputy Finance Minister of Russia, Commerce Minister Pornthiva Nakasai revealed that the federation has agreed to settle a 40-million-USD liability through amortization. The state representatives from Thailand and Russia will meet between 9-11 August to discuss the details and procedure.

Ms Pornthiva expects both countries to pursue goods exchange programs as a part of the Brother Trade project. However, the list of items to be traded has not yet been defined. Thailand may trade agricultural products for chemical fertilizers which are the main product of Russia and sell it to Thai farmers at low prices.

Moreover, trade representatives from various industries will be granted an opportunity to establish business talks with Thai goods importers in Russia to broaden their markets.

Russia has a population of 140 million people and has high purchasing power. In the first 5 months of this year, Thailand has already exported 241 million USD in goods to Russia.

-- NNT 2010-07-16

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Army Region 2 Chief Denies Cover Mission to Undermine Pheu Thai Party's Northeastern Stronghold

The commander of Army Region 2 is defending the military's sufficiency economy program, after the opposition Pheu Thai Party alleged that the program is in fact a cover for the operation to weaken the Pheu Thai presence in the northeastern region.

Army Region 2 Commander Lieutenant General Weewalit Jornsamrit has dismissed claims by the Pheu Thai Party that the military is deploying officers to an operation that aims to undermine the position of the party and the red-shirt group in the northeastern region.

He explained that the operation in question is in fact a program initiated by the Internal Security Operations Command, to promote sufficiency economy in 19 northeastern provinces, covering 322 districts.

Weewalit noted that nearly a thousand officers will be in the field to offer aid to locals suffering from various problems, primarily the ongoing drought.

He added that some of them will be assigned to national reconciliation work.

The commander reaffirmed the military's neutrality and commitment to helping those experiencing hardship. He called on the opposition party not to make further allegations.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-16

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Udon Thani Gold Shop Thieves Arrested After Dramatic Chase

Police have arrested a group of suspects dressed in soldier's uniforms for robbing gold worth over 10 million baht from a gold shop in Udon Thani, after a dramatic chase which ended in another province.

After a prolonged and dramatic car chase, which was tracked by a helicopter, robbers of a gold shop were arrested in Khon Kaen province.

The culprits reportedly robbed more than 10 million baht worth of gold from a shop in Udorn Thani province using long knives and assault rifles. Police immediately tracked them down in dramatic fashion.

Police and crime detection officers have investigated a vehicle with no license plate believed to belong to the thieves, who parked in Soi Boonchai, not far from Eag Nam Huad Gold shop in Udorn Thani province.

In the car, investigators found, four gold trays, a license plate, a rucksack, an army hat, and a 1-baht gold necklace that fell near the car.

A witness said there were four culprits, who were dressed like soldiers and carried rifles.

They stormed into the gold store and managed to grab four trays of gold necklaces weighing up to 5 baht, all worth over a million baht each.

Police later estimated between 400 baht of gold worth more than 10 million baht had been taken.

In the latest update, police said they have arrested two suspects, 18-year old Udon Thani resident, Chatchai Nommanas and 17-year old Thanit Sopee from Nakhon Sawan.

Long knives and an AK-47 rifle were confiscated from the culprits.

Both suspects admitted to committing the crime, as they were in desperate need for cash to repay debts to their bookies after losing bets in the World Cup.

Police said that they will continue to hunt for the accomplices on the run.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-16