Thailand Live Monday 19 Jul 2010

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Thailand Live Monday 19 July 2010

News, Bits and Tweets

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

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Related topic: Thailand Live Sunday 18 July 2010

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PM: Wat Pathumwanaram probe in progress

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Police are speeding up the investigation for six bodies found in the sanctuary of Wat Pathumwanaram Monastery during the political abyss, according to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

As detailed by the Prime Minister, the police are working following the criminal code along with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and other committees such as the fact-finding panel headed by Prof Dr Kanit Na Nakorn.

Prime Minister Abhisit believed that people had greater understanding towards the recent political bloodbath. However, there were efforts by certain groups of people to create confusion among the public. He said the Government would keep on creating better understanding with people.

The six bodies, including nursing volunteers, were shot dead in Wat Pathumwanaram Monastery, which was declared a sanctuary for all sides during the political turmoil. Investigation is underway.

In his response to a call by the coalition Chart Thai Pattana Party for charter amendment before a house dissolution, the Prime Minister said a panel was pondering this issue, and that the coalition partners used to agree that academics be invited to conduct a study on this matter.

Prime Minister Abhisit voiced his confidence that all coalition parties would give recognition to the National Reform Committee led by ex-Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun and the National Reform Assembly led by senior citizen MD Prawase Wasi.

-- NNT 2010-07-19

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EC urged to step up campaigns for 25 Jul by-election

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The opposition Pheu Thai Party has called on the Election Commission (EC) to launch a campaign to encourage eligible voters to cast their votes in the 25 July by-election in Bangkok’s Constituency 6 to achieve the voter turnout target of 70%.

Pheu Thai Party Spokesperson, Prompong Nopparit, voiced his concerns that there might be fewer people going out to cast their ballots in the 25 July by-election due to the long official holidays covering Asalha Puja and Khao Phansa Buddhist Lent) days.

Prime Minister’s Office Minister Ongart Klampaiboon, also head of Democrat MPs for Bangkok, last Sunday gave a similar suggestion to the EC.

The by-election in Bangkok’s Constituency 6 will take place on 25 July 2010 from 8.00 to 15.00 hrs while the advance voting dates are set on 17 and 18 July from 8.00 – 17.00 hrs. The by-election is scheduled to fill a post left vacant by Democrat MP Tiva Ngernyuang, who died of cancer.

Mr Prompong also demanded that the EC take greater care of the ballot boxes collected from the advance voting which was estimated to draw higher turnout than the previous poll.

-- NNT 2010-07-19

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Poll: Thais worried about high cost of living

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Rising cost of living and expensive goods are the two issues Thai people are worried most as found by the recent survey conducted by Suan Dusit Poll of Rajabhat Suan Dusit University.

Suan Dusit Poll on Sunday reported the result of its survey on the topic: “The most worrying, depressing, and paranoid things of Thai citizens at present”, conducted with 1,056 respondents in Bangkok and vicinities from 15 to 17 July 2010.

The five most worrying issues of Thai people included high cost of living and expensive goods at 46.53%, political situation at 19.05%, debts, interests and loans at 14.43%, plunders and unsafe life at 10.38%, and flood from continuous heavy rainfalls at 9.61%.

As for the five most depressing issues, 32.86% of the surveyed people voted for political instability, 25.34% for conflicts among politicians, 23.19% for household economy and cost of living issues, 10.72% for crimes and spread of narcotic drugs, and 9.61% for frequent brawling of students from different academic institutions

Regarding the five most paranoid things, 30.29% of the respondents specified unsafe life and properties, 28.44% on underground movements of ill-intentioned people, 24.42% on political problems, 10.81% on higher price of consumer products and 6.04%.on many pandemics during this rainy season.

-- NNT 2010-07-19

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Biology students win gold in Korea

By The Nation

Four Thai students have won four medals including three golds in the 2010 International Biology Olympiad (IBO) held in South Korea.

Together with the organising staff and the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology leadership figures who funded and trained the Thai students, they will arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport at 11.50 am today boarding TG651, after competing with 233 students from 58 countries in the annual event held July 1118 in Changwon.

The three gold medalists are Natthaphong Sanguankiattichai, of Bangkok Christian College, Natthawat Leelahakorn, of Triam Udom Suksa School and Thanat Chotijarumaneewong, of Triam Udom Suksa Phattanakarn School. The silver medalist is Thitikorn Kittibunya, of Triam Udom Suksa School. All of them boys studying in the upper secondary level.

There are no details about the overall results of the annual event, or over whether they are the only four Thais students parcitipating.

Natthaphong said teachers with good teaching techniques could keep students interested in the biology subject while supportive families and learners' good attitude could help develop themselves.

Nathawat sadi sharing of knowledge among good students with those weaker was important and the gold medal was good to him because it gave him a broader chance to teach and share the knowledge to others.

Thanat said his basic interests in biology together with his chance to experience realistic labs had prompted him to further progress on the subject, and camaraderie among classmates help make the knowledge more concrete, because difficult terms are taught to each other using friendly and familiar language.

Thitikorn said "doing your best" was his motto and a key to his success. "Good attention to lecture and regular extra study in addition to routine homeworks can also help," he said. "Teachers with vast knowledge and open attitude to students' comments and feedbacks can also inspire students to their extended quest for knowledge," he added.

-- The Nation 2010-07-19

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Firm offers Japanese science experiments

By Wannapa Khaopa

The Nation

Interesting and delightful science experiments can help students spark imagination, boost learning and lure students to like science. Soon, such experiments - done in classrooms at 18,000 schools and tutorial schools in Japan - will be brought to Thailand.

The experiments can also help science teachers, who have not graduated directly in science and may not be familiar with preparing experiments for students, make their science classrooms more interesting.

Nanmeebooks last Thursday officially launched the science experiment classroom project at its office in Bangkok after it adopted this educational service from Gakken Educational Co.

Tetsuya Onodera, president of Gakken Educational and CEO of Gakken Jyuku Holdings, said Gakken had long experience in producing standard and interesting instructional media and educational books and magazines to educate Japanese students.

"Japanese students have fun when they join classes that teach our science experiments," said Onodera during the launch.

Grade 16 students are eligible to attend these experiment classrooms. They will learn about air, magnets, sounds, batteries, electricity, static electricity, vibration, pressure and freezing point from over 150 experiments provided for teaching in one year.

He said the experiments would encourage them to ask 'why' and 'how' and challenge students to find answers.

Students do the experiments along with other classmates and their teacher first, then each do their own handson experiments. Finally, they complete their learning by drawing and noting down what they have learned from their experiments on their notebooks.

Animations are presented to explain principles of the experiments more clearly to make students better understand. Both teachers and students are given science kits.

Suwadee Chongsatitwattana managing director of Nanmeebooks said Japanese staff from Gakken would train her staff, who would act as core trainers for Thai teachers.

Nanmeebooks would introduce the science experiment classroom to interested schools during the National Science and Technology Fair to be held from August 16 - 17 at Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Bitec).

"This will be the first move. So, interested people and private schools can contact us to join a meeting to held at the fair to learn more about the project," she said.

"We also plan to open a few science experiment classrooms at the office of Nanmeebooks in Bangkok, which we expect to launch late August or early September. So, parents can take their children to do the experiments with us as well," Suwadee added.

Each school would pay about Bt592,000, but Suwadee said this was not final. The company would try to control the price so more schools would have access to use the Japanese experiments.

-- The Nation 2010-07-19

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Govt milking guard's arrest: PT

By The Nation

Surachai Thewarat

Anger over DSI updates on Surachai case

BANGJOKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) expects terror suspect Surachai Thewarat to implicate expolice and military officers who gave arms training to him and other blackshirt guards, and planned grenade and other attacks during the redshirt protests in May, DSI directorgeneral Tharit Phengdit said yesterday.

"If he agrees to talk about those officials, his information will be useful in linking them with the redshirt movement, as they were present and jointly planned many attacks designed by the late [Army officer] Khattiya Sawasdiphol, whom Surachai was close to. Surachai is scheduled for questioning [today] with DSI agents at the Bangkok Remand Prison. We hope he will talk about those officials," he said.

The suspect's arrest last week and information he volunteered had confirmed intel tipoffs about armed violence by the redshirt movement, and the existence of armed 'men in black', he said, adding that details supplied by Surachai had been well supported by information from the DSI's investigation.

"The DSI is not relying on only information by Surachai, but it has obtained crucial details gathered from three groups of witnesses: the eyewitnesses to the incidents, special witnesses with inside info now under DSI protection, and intelligence military officers who blended in with redshirted demonstrators during the protests in May," he said.

Before Surachai was arrested last week, the DSI was planning to set up another "sting" to buy more war weapons from his network in order to arrest two more suspects linked with the armed violence: Rachote Wongyord and Suraphas Janthima. "But the DSI aborted that plan when Surcachai was arrested," he said.

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit dismisseed DSI public statement that Surachai took part in eight grenade and gunfire attacks during the street fighting in May.

He said the suspect was only 25 and had never served in the military or received any arms training. "He is pictured like a superhero, who could launch many attacks amid tight security provided by tens of thousands of police and soldiers," he said.

He called on the government and DSI to make public their progress on Surachai's case only when it the entire process was completed, saying the government was taking advantage of the case by painting the late major general as a scapegoat to whitewash itself from using violence during the redshirt protest.

Prompong also said the DSI's periodic release of information on the case's progress was also intended to discredit the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship and its leader Korkaew Phikulthong, who is campaigning in a byelection in Bangkok on July 25.

-- The Nation 2010-07-19

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Thai Govt eyeing 2G, 3G licence transition

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Banned Thailand ad should be seen on TV

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Cabinet may lift emergency in some areas

By The Nation

The Cabinet will consider lifting the state of emergency in some provinces tomorrow, as demands for the situa-tion to return to normal had been growing from human rights groups, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.

"I have asked concerned agencies to review the situation in provinces still under the state of emergency and some provinces in which the emer-gency has already been lifted. If the situation is back to normal, we can lift it in some provinces, but not all," Abhisit told reporters.

The premier is authorised to both declare and lift a state of emergency, imposed to enable officials control difficult situations.

Abhisit decided to continue enforc-ing the emergency law in 19 provinces when the state of emergency expired on July 7.

Civic and rights groups have called on the government to lift the law, say-ing it allows security officials to vio-late basic rights of the people.

The Centre for Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) has rec-ommended the government continue enforcing the emergency law to con-trol anti-government red shirts.

The law has allowed the govern-ment to detain hundreds of red-shirt protesters and their leaders. Their media outlets have also been shut down and assets of their supporters frozen.

Human rights lawyer Sarawut Pratoomraj said if Abhisit's govern-ment aimed to be democratic, it should not enforce the law to violate people's rights.

"The government wants to have national reconciliation, but you can-not reconcile with anybody under such a draconian law," Sarawut said.

The opposition Pheu Thai Party also called on the government to lift the state of emergency in the remain-ing 19 provinces, notably the capital, where a by-election in the sixth con-stituency will be held late this month.

Government spokesman Panitan Wattanyagorn said all security-con-cerned agencies were instructed to evaluate the situation in all provinces under the state of emergency and report to the prime minister before tomorrow's Cabinet meeting.

CRES spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the centre had not yet discussed the prime minister's plan to lift the state of emergency, but he noted that the PM may rely on information from other agencies when making his decision.

Meanwhile, CRES chief and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban has yet to return from an overseas trip.

Abhisit said he did not need to wait for Suthep to make the decision since other senior officials, including Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, were in charge.

-- The Nation 2010-07-19

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Boosting Thai tourism - conditions for inbound charter flights eased

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Thailand may need a national education agenda

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Mindful changes needed to weed out corruption in Thailand

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DSI to Hold Presser on Sae Deang's Right Hand Man

The Department of Special Investigation will hold a press conference to provide further details on a suspect who they believe is Sae Deang's right hand man amidst allegations he's a scapegoat.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-19

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Meteorological Dept: Prevailing southwest monsoon is rather strong triggering torrential rain, isolated heavy rainfalls /via @MCOT

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Sale of monk-offering sets under surveillance

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Prime Minister’s Office Minister Ongart Klampaiboon has cautioned entrepreneurs to neither sell poor quality monk-offerings nor mix expired products into offering sets upon the upcoming Asalha Puja and Khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent) Days.

Mr Ongart, who also supervises the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB), said he had ordered the OCPB to conduct a random study to inspect the quality of monk-offering sets in the market. He added that he would go out to survey the sales on 21 July by himself.

The OCPB has been receiving complaints from both laypeople and monks alike about substandard monk-offering sets. A large number of Buddhists are expected to buy monk-offering sets this week in preparation for the merit-making ceremony on the Asalha Puja and Khao Phansa Days.

Entrepreneurs are warned not to include expired products into their monk-offering sets or they will face serious punishment. Mr Ongart cited for instance the failure to detail products in offering sets is subject to imprisonment of not more than six months and/or not more than 50,000 THB fine.

In addition, edible products should be separated from non-food products in offering set arrangement in order to avoid contamination. Canned food products used in monk-offerings should be able to last at least six months before expiring dates.

-- NNT 2010-07-19

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Meteorological Dept Warns of Flash Floods as Bkk Traffic at Standstill on Monday Morning

Thailand's Meteorological Department has issued its latest warning of heavy rain and flash floods. The agency said that a south western monsoon in the Andaman Sea is causing very heavy rain in various parts of the country. Residents in foothill areas in the North, Northeast, and East should beware of flash floods during the next couple of days, especially during today and tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Monday morning rush hour is at a standstill in some areas of Bangkok. The southern parts of the capital, namely the Ratchaburana leading all the way to Ladkrabang areas, are experiencing heaving isolated rain showers.

The Meteorological Department forecasts that around 60 percent of Bangkok will see heavy rainfall throughout the day. Temperatures to range from 25 to 33 degrees Celcius with winds up to 15 to 30 kilometers per hour.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-19

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Government to Lift Emergency in Some Areas Tomorrow

At tomorrow's weekly Cabinet meeting, officials will consider lifting the state of emergency in some provinces. The reconsideration of the situation comes amidst demands from human rights groups for the government to return normalcy as soon as possible.

The opposition Pheu Thai Party has repeatedly called on the government to lift the state of emergency in the remaining 19 provinces, especially in Bangkok, where a by-election in Constituency 6 will be held this coming Saturday.

Government Spokesperson Panitan Wattanyagorn said all security related agencies have been instructed to evaluate the situation in all provinces under the emergency decree and report back to the prime minister before tomorrow's Cabinet meeting.

CRES spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the center had not yet discussed the prime minister's plan to lift the state of emergency, but said the prime minister could rely on information from other agencies when making his decision.

Reporters have questioned the timing of the move as CRES Director and Deputy Prime Minister in charge of national security Suthep Thaugsuban has yet to return from an overseas trip to China.

Prime Minister Abhisit, meanwhile, said he did not need to wait for Suthep to make the decision since other senior officials, including Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, were in charge.

Abhisit decided to continue enforcing the emergency law in 19 provinces when the state of emergency expired on July 7.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-19

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Laos-China border earthquake rippples to Chiang Rai

CHIANG RAI (NNT) -- An earthquake of 4.5 magnitude shook the Laos-China border, with its effects felt in three districts on the Thai side.

Amid torrential rains, the Chiang Rai Meteorological Department reported that the quake occurred at 19.53 hrs yesterday, with its epicenter located at the border of Laos-China, 161 kilometers east of the Chiang Saen district of Chiang Rai.

Residents in Chiang Saen, Wieng Kan and Muang districts in Chiang Rai province have reported the impact of the quake, especially those residing in tall buildings. Fortunately no damage of injuries have been reported.

-- NNT 2010-07-19

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PM: Decree extension to be examined this week, new elections scheduled early next year

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has hinted at the lifting of the Emergency Decree in some provinces where security concerns no longer exist. He has also indicated that the government might allow a fresh general election next year if situation returns to normal

Mr Abhisit said that the domestic situation has gradually returned to normal, adding that during this week, the government will consider revoking the decree in some of the 19 provinces; the decision will be based on the reports of the Center for the Resolution for Emergency Situation (CRES).

The Premier cited that the government has already forged understanding with the public. It also has expedited measures to help riot-stricken business operators, and spared no efforts towards achieving national reconciliation.

The new election, tentatively scheduled for early next year, will be held based on the condition that it is conducted without any threats, violence, and within the scope of the law.

He added that the Emergency Decree has been extended in Bangkok and 19 other provinces because it is needed as a tool to maintain order. Based on intelligence reports by the CRES and other related units, there have been some potentially violent movements in some parts of the country.

The Premier said he is willing to visit the North and the Northeast if it is called for; however, he expresses his concerns that the visit might lead to violence and cause uneasiness among security personnel.

-- NNT 2010-07-19

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King makes merits on 15th anniversary of demise of the Princess Mother

BANGKOK (NNT) -- His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej yesterday presided over a merit-making ceremony to mark the 15th anniversary of the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Srinagarindra, the Princess Mother.

The ceremony was held privately on the 14th floor of the Chalerm Phra Kiat Building at Siriraj Hospital, where His Majesty is temporarily residing for the convenience in taking physical rehabilitation. The ceremony began at 17.57 hrs with His Majesty the King, accompanied by Their Royal Highnesses Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Princess Chulabhorn, lighting candles and incense sticks and laying royal tributes to the Triple Gems as well as to the late His Majesty King Rama VIII, Their Royal Highnesses the Prince Father and the Princess Mother, and Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana, the Princess of Narathiwas.

A chapter of 10 monks chaired by the abbot of Pak Nam Monastery then chanted the liturgy. The abbot, Venerable Phra Maha Ratchamangalajarn, later gave a sermon dedicated to the late King, the late Princess Father and Princess Mother and the late Princess of Narathiwas.This was followed by His Majesty the Kiing pouring water of dedication as a tribute to the late king and the late prince and princesses.

During the ceremony, His Majesty the King had ordered officials of the royal court to put up photographs of the late King and the late Prince and Princesses to represent their relics.

-- NNT 2010-07-19

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A car belonging to Somyos Soponwimonrat, a reporter of Daily News & Ch7 attacked by string of bullets, while parking in his house. /via @TAN_network

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Meteorological Dept warns of downpours across Thailand

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Meteorological Department warns of flash floods in the North, Northeast and East of Thailand while heavy rains are to be expected across the country in the next few days.

The Weather Forecast Division announces that on Monday every part of the country will see some downpours. People living in flood-prone areas especially on the hill near waterways in the northern, northeastern and eastern regions should be watching out for flash floods during the week.

70% of the North of Thailand should expect thunderstorms with heavy rains in Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Phrae, Uttaradit, Tak, and Kamphaeng Phet.

Scattered heavy showers are expected in 60% of the areas in the northeastern, the eastern and the central regions particularly in Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chantaburi, and Trat.

Bangkok and vicinities will have the highest temperature of 33 degrees Celsius.

-- NNT 2010-07-19

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Three shot dead in restive Thai south

YALA (AFP) - Suspected Islamic separatists shot dead three people, including one Malaysian, in the latest violence in Thailand's insurgency-plagued southern provinces, police said Monday.

The 57-year-old Malaysian was gunned down early Sunday at his karaoke business in the border town of Sungai Kolok in Narathiwat province.

The same day in neighbouring Pattani province, a 50-year-old Buddhist teacher was shot dead at his home by suspected militants, while a 54-year-old Muslim man was killed in a drive-by shooting in front of a mosque, police said.

Thailand last week extended emergency rule in three troubled southern provinces until October as it struggles to quell unrest that has left more than 4,100 people dead in six years.

Insurgent attacks by a shadowy mix of Islamist and separatist militants have targeted both Buddhists and Muslims, including many civilians.

Yala provincial governor Krisada Boonrach vowed a crackdown on militants after two people were killed by landmines in an apparent new tactic by the suspected militants, who often use guns or roadside bombs.

A police officer died in hospital over the weekend after a landmine blast Friday, when a Buddhist rubber tapper was killed by the same type of device.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-07-19

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3 more die of dengue fever last week

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Three more casualties from the dengue fever have been reported in the past week while the Ministry of Public Health is on high alert for the outbreak.

Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said the dengue fever infection toll continues to rise. The accumulated number of patients now stands at 36,087 nationwide or 56.81% per 100,000 population.

Three people, one each in the southern province of Yala, the eastern province of Trat, and the northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom, died from the disease last week, raising this year’s toll to 36 or 0.1% of the total number of infected patients.

The ministry has instructed local public health units across the country, especially in risky areas, to submit reports on the infection and casualty rates as well as the mosquito larvae index to the Office of the Permanent Secretary, to keep a close watch on the spread situation. The outbreak is found rampant in the central region, followed by the South, the Northeast and the North respectively.

However, the ministry affirmed that so far no mutated strains of dengue fever have been discovered.

-- NNT 2010-07-19

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Indebted farmers protest at Government House

BANGKOK, July 19 – Three hundred farmers gathered mid-day Monday at Government House, demanding that the Abhisit Vejjajiva government tackle their debt problems, while the administration plans to seek an additional budget of Bt12 billion to help farmers.

Farmers led by Prayuth Veerakitti erected a stage outside Thailand's seat of government threatening to prolong their protest if their demands are not met.

They demand that the government speed the transfer of their debt to the Farmer’s Reconstruction and Development Fund and help restructure the remainder of their debt.

Protesters called on the government to help block any attempt by creditors and state-owned banks to file bankruptcy lawsuits against the farmers and their guarantors. They also urged the government to set resolution of the farmer debt problem as a national agenda.

Representatives of indebted farmers met with Prime Minister's Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey who is acting secretary-general of the Farmer’s Reconstruction and Development Fund but no conclusion has been reached.

Mr Sathit said the Cabinet earlier allocated a budget of Bt2 billion to finance the fund but conceded that the funding might not be enough.

The government will seek another Bt12 billion budget to help resolve the farmer debt problem by means of the fund.

The Cabinet last month approved a debt restructuring scheme to help 80,000 farmer members of the Farmers' Reconstruction and Development

Fund.

The government has worked with state banks including the Government Savings Bank, Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), Krung Thai Bank and the Government Housing Bank to halve the debt by 50 per cent on condition that debtors must enter occupational retraining and do not create new debts.

The repayment period for the remainder of their debt was extended to 15 years with the interest rate set at the Minimum Retail Rate (MRR) of three per cent. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-07-19

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Transport Ministry Demands 1st Phase of Dust-Free Road Be Completed This Year

The Transport Ministry is looking to complete the first-phase in the construction of 3,200 kilometers of dust-free roads by the end of this year. The ministry is also finalizing plans to solve traffic problems at the government center on Chaengwattana Road.

The Transport Ministry Permanent Secretary, Supoj Saplom said the first phase of the Dust-free Road project, covering approximately 3,200 kilometers of roads, is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

He added that approximately 15 billion baht has been allocated for the first-phase of the construction project and the money will be taken out of the 400-billion-baht loan budget.

However, Supoj noted that the remaining 4,000 kilometers will be constructed using funds from the 2011 fiscal budget. The second-phase of construction is expected to kick-off in October. He estimates that the entire project to be completed in 4 or 5 years.

The official acknowledged that although the project may not produce significant economic benefits, it will improve the living standards in rural areas.

Regarding solutions to traffic problems at the government center on Chaengwattana Road, Supoj said the study panel has recommended construction of three new routes and entrances.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-19

He expects to submit a feasibility report to the committee overseeing the project, which is to be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister for economic affairs, Trairong Suwannakhiri, some time next month.

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Opposition marks 2nd month anniversary of bloody protest in Thai capital

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's main opposition Puea Thai Party on Monday opened an exhibition to mark the two-month anniversary of the recent bloody protest in the capital.

The seven-day exhibition opening today through July 25 is aimed at highlighting the pain of the Red Shirt protesters who joined the group's ten weeks of demonstrations demanding that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolve the House and call a fresh election.

The exhibition is being held at the party's headquarters and is divided into two sections, represented by white and black boxes.

The white section represents the life of human beings in which no one has the right to kill another person without a judicial process, while the black presents corruption, divisiveness and what the party claims is the Abhisit government's practice of double standards.

Puea Thai party leader Yongyuth Vichaidit said as he opened the exhibition that political demonstrations are considered normal in every country, but he described using arms to disperse demonstrators is a “cruel act”.

Mr Yongyuth said the exhibition will serve as a reminder for Thai people and he prays that such an incident will not happen again.

The Red Shirt rally which began March 14 turned violent with multiple grenade attacks and shootings at various locations in Bangkok.

They intensified their campaign by moving to Bangkok’s prime Ratchaprasong retail area and encamped there for over a month forcing shopping malls and businesses to close their facilities.

The protests ended when troops sealed off the area and pressured the protest leaders to surrender to police on May 19. Eighty-nine people were killed and nearly 1,900 were wounded during several clashes between army personnel and protesters.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit reaffirmed on Monday that his government gives importance to promoting and protection of the public's freedom and rights.

The premier made the remarks as he presided over the launching of the 2nd National Human Rights Plan, while conceding that some human rights violations occurred as a result of the lack of effective cooperation among concerned agencies.

Mr Abhisit said the ongoing political conflict is a challenging issue and that some human rights were violated during the recent riots, but his government has set up an independent committee to probe the disturbances.

"This is a major challenge and remains a major conflict," said the prime minister. "Apart from the normal work of all ministries and agencies, the government is pushing the reform process [ahead] and probing to establish facts."

Mr Abhisit expressed hope that all parties, agencies and the public will cooperate and push forward the human rights agenda to prevent possible violation.

The premier emphasised the government's focus on human rights as a crucial base of the strength of society economy and politics, as well as impacting the well-being of the people and the country's image. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-07-19

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Russian maestro in Thai court on child sex charge

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MOPH urges more people to get free flu vaccines

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Ministry of Public Health has urged people in the risk groups who have not received the free anti-flu vaccines to do so before 31 October 2010 after the number of recipients was found below target.

Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit expressed his concerns about people’s health as influenza A(H1N1) and seasonal flu were expected to make a comeback this rainy season. Hence, he urged people in the seven at-risk groups, including pregnant women, people weighing over 100 kilograms, chronic disease patients, brain disorder patients and medical staff, to get free vaccination from now until 31 October.

Mr Jurin indicated that there had been only 30,000 people coming to get vaccinated at the ministry since the campaign started on 1 July, explaining that people’s immunity might not be fully developed in time for the nearing spread of the diseases.

2.1 million doses of vaccines against three strains of influenza, consisting of influenza A (H1N1), influenza B and influenza A (H3N2), have been prepared by the Public Health Ministry. People in the risk groups who are interested in receiving the free injection can contact any hospital under the Ministry’s supervision.

-- NNT 2010-07-19