Thailand Live Tuesday 20 Jul 2010

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NEW ARMY CHIEF

Two contenders vying for position of Army chief

By The Nation

Gen Pirun

Deputy Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha and Army chief of staff General Pirun Paewpolsong have emerged as two leading contenders for the position of Army chief, the permanent secretary for Defence said on Tuesday.

"Prayuth and Pirun are well qualified for the job," General Apichart Penkitti said in reference to the search for a successor to Army chief General Anupong Paochinda who is scheduled for retirement on September 30.

Apichart said Anupong's successor must have a strong character with a firm determination in the face of the volatile situation.

He also dismissed speculation that Prayuth is tipped for the job to ensure the control of the military by the power clique known as the "Eastern Tigers".

-- The Nation 2010-07-20

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Cambodia Denies Harboring Wanted Red-Shirt Leader Arisman

Cambodian authorities have dismissed a report that core red-shirt leader, Arisman Pongruangrong is currently hiding out in Cambodia, calling it "baseless".

Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesman Koi Kuong shrugged off reports that one of the core red-shirt leaders, Arisman Pongruangrong, is taking refuge in Cambodia.

He noted that officials stationed at all of the country's borders confirmed that they have not seen any trace of the man.

Earlier, Surachai Thewarat, a suspected red-shirt militant and a close aid to the deceased red-shirt Major-General Khattiya Sawasdipol, told the Thai press that he had met with Arisman in Cambodia and insisted that the red-shirt leader is still hiding out there.

The Cambodian official is of the opinion that Surachai made up the story to blame Cambodia, in the hopes of seeking a reduced punishment.

Kuong stressed Cambodia's stance against terrorism, saying that the Cambodian government is willing to extradite terror suspects if requested to do so by any country.

The Cambodian authorities previously denied reports that Arisman and another red-shirt leader, Suporn Atthawong, are hiding at a casino in Poipet.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-20

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Opposition Leader Confident His Party Will Win 300 Seats in Next Election

The president of Pheu Thai Party MPs has threatened to transfer the Chief of the Department of Special Investigation for failing to bring criminal charges against TPI Polene for making an illegal financial contribution to the Democrat Party, should his party come to control the government by winning 300 MP seats next election.

President of Pheu Thai Party MPs, Chalerm Yoobamrung criticized Chief of the Department of Special Investigation, or the DSI, Tharit Pengdit for failing to bring criminal charges against TPI Polene for allegedly making an illegal 258 million baht of financial contribution to the ruling Democrat Party despite, what he called, 'overwhelming evidence'.

Chalerm claims that the financial contribution was illegally taken out of the stock market and was siphoned through a proxy company and deposited into a bank account owned by a relative of one of the Democrat's executive members.

The president of Pheu Thai Party MPs also said that Tharit would be transferred should his party take control of the government. He has boasted that Korkaew Pikulthong, the Pheu Thai candidate in the upcoming Bangkok by-election, is becoming more and more popular amongst voters.

When asked if he is concerned about how this would affect the Democrat Party's dissolution case, Chalerm responded that they are entirely different matters as the dissolution case involves electoral laws while TPI Polene has violated securities regulations.

Chalerm has also stated that he does not really want to see the Democrat Party disbanded because the Pheu Thai Party will certainly win at least 300 MP seats in the next election due to the fact that Thai citizens can no longer accept the double-standards practiced by the government.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-20

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Phuket Architect & Engineering Exhibition starts July 29

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Puppy pity powers Phuket pair up Mt Kinabalu

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Bt1.55b funding needed for Phuket underpass projects

Darasamuth School Intersection at rush hour.

(File photo)

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Son-in-law sought over Phuket home blaze

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Thai embassy in Budapest to take care of Thakin's affairs in Montenegro

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Royal Thai Embassy in Budapest, Hungary, has been assigned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take care of self-exiled ex Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s affairs in Montenegro.

Speaking after attending the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Acting Government Spokesperson, Dr Panitan Wattanayakorn, disclosed that the Thai embassy in Budapest had been tasked to cooperate with Montenegrin Government in order to keep track of people’s departures and arrivals in the country. The case was cited similarly to that of Australia since the country had no embassy in Myanmar so the Australian Embassy in Thailand had been tasked to take charge of Myanmar's affairs.

The establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Montenegro especially in terms of security would benefit the tracking process of Mr Thaksin as well as promoting positive diplomatic relations in the future.

-- NNT 2010-07-20

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Thailand to promote nuclear energy in medical uses

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP) plans to use nuclear energy, especially radioactivity for medical purposes including cancer treatment and sterilizaion of medical equipments.

According to OAP Secretary-General Prapaipit Suprarot, radioactivity can kill cancer cells as well as prevent their spread in human body. Moreover, the radioactivity treatment helps extend the lifespan of patients by 10-30 years with less side effects than chemotherapy.

Radioactivity is expected to be available for cancer treatment worldwide by 2045.

According to a survey of the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer kills one person every six seconds. It is the number one killer of Thai people. Radioactive treatment is saving life of 200,000 cancer patients in Thailand each year. It is also used in Pap Smear tests on about three million women annually.

In the near future, gamma irradiation will be used to disinfect medical equipment as the method assures complete cleanliness. It is expected that promotion of radioactivity application will make Thailand the world’s no.1 exporter of medical tools. The country is currently in the second place.

-- NNT 2010-07-20

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Red-shirt Leader Faults DSI's Work

A red-shirt core leader has criticized the Department of Special Investigation's arrest and investigation against a suspected red-shirt militant as unaccountable.

Jatuporn Prompan, a core leader of the anti-government red-shirt group, was referring to the Department of Special Investigation's, or DSI, arrest and interrogation of Surachai Thewarat, a close aide of the late radical red-shirt supporter Major General Khattiya Sawasdipol.

Jatuporn said the DSI's actions was unaccountable. He noted the DSI earlier accused Surachai, also known as "Rang", of being involved in eight grenade and gun attacks during the May unrest and claimed that Surachai would disclose details about the attacks.

Jatuporn said Surachai has refused to confess to the crimes and the DSI, instead, held a press conference about war weapons said to have been seized from the suspect to divert public attention.

Jatuporn also spoke of the Appeals Court's dismissal of a request for the temporary release of Korkaew Pikulthong, Pheu Thai candidate for the Bangkok Constituency 6 by-election.

He said he and other Pheu Thai MPs have stepped in to help campaign for votes and Korkaew's popularity is quite good.

He added that, from the end of this month, his party will begin a large-scale political campaign in the provinces, ahead of the next general election expected in the first half of next year.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-20

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Ayutthaya Residents Inspect Historical Site Renovations

Residents of Ayutthaya province are preparing a request that they will submit to their governor calling for the inspection of Strong Thailand Scheme following allegations of corruption.

Leader of the Ayutthaya Lovers Network, Kalayanee Juprang disclosed that she will be calling for a probe into renovations of Ayutthaya's historical sites and provincial shrine under the Strong Thailand Scheme, after leading residents and members of the press called attention to the project.

Kalayanee's network has observed that some of the work being done under the Strong Thailand Scheme are redundant, such as changing bricks along pathways, as they were laid just two years ago. She also said that some repairs involve removing parts of original structures.

Kalayanee's network suspects that several projects being undertaken as part of the renovation were created merely as a way of accessing the scheme's funds.

The network also noted that many of the projects were never proposed to Ayutthaya's central council.

The network will submit its probe request to the governor of Ayutthaya tomorrow as well as a request that the Fine Arts Department remove columns erected to delineate a parking lot next to the province's former hall.

The Fine Arts Department and Ayutthaya Historical Park Office has been entrusted with over 18 million baht to revamp the province's historical sites and provincial shrine. The project is scheduled to be completed on November 11th of this year.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-20

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SET index closed at 824.41, down 5.99; Bt/USD31.92; GBP48.47; AUD27.79; EUR41.38; CAD30.07; HKD4.05; SGD23.14; JPY36.47

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Blackout: No power, water in parts of Phuket Town tomorrow

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Fears of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) outbreak in Phuket

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to be continued

Thailand Live Wednesday 21 July 2010

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