Thailand Live Thursday 22 Jul 2010

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11-16 Aug 10 Mo Chit station escalator at Park&Ride side will be temporary closed due to scheduled maintenance. Sorry for any inconvenience /vias @BTS

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Bangkok is recovering well

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Thailand steps up efforts to restore diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The advisor to the House Committee on Labor Affairs is preparing to seek Saudi Arabian King Abdullah's forgiveness for the country's failure to solve cases of Saudi jewelry theft and murder of Saudi diplomats.

Democrat Party MP for Phitsanulok and the committee's advisor, Nakorn Machim, disclosed on Thursday that the committee and 13 labor organizations will co-sign a draft letter in a bid to seek for the King’s pardon so that diplomatic relations between Thailand and Saudi Arabia can be restored.

Saudi Arabia has downgraded cordial ties with Thailand after Kriangkrai Techamong, a Thai worker from Lampang who worked at the palace of King Fahd (Abdullah's predecessor) of Saudi Arabia and stole the jewels in 1980s, followed by the death of his cousin, Mohamed Al Luviri. Thai workers have been unable to work in the country since then. However, the issue was brought up during the meeting with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in order to continually solve the problem, approval results should be carried out within two-week time, said Mr Nakorn.

Following the progress on labor recruitment in the Middle East, the Prime Minister had welcomed Israeli Ambassador to Thailand, Itzhak Shoham on Wednesday on the occasion of his assumption of duties in the Kingdom. Mr Shoham pledged to increase recruiting opportunity for Thai labor to enter Israel’s agricultural sector. Meanwhile, Labor Minister, Chalermchai Srion, said remedial means to prevent excessive commission charge from brokers should be complete within one month.

-- NNT 2010-07-22

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Thai PM Abhisit sued for attempted murder

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Typhoon Chantu heads for Southern China

Typhoon Chanthu is expected to hit Guangdong province, Guangxi region and Hainan Island in Southern China this Thursday afternoon.

Flights were cancelled and more torrential rain and flash floods are expected.

China Meteorological Administration estimated the wind strength of Chantu typhoon at 126 km. per hour (or 78 mph).

China's floods this year, the deadliest in a decade, have killed over 700 people and caused over USD 500 million in damages.

-- The Nation 2010-07-22

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Update: Thai PM: Myanmar will re-open Mae Sot-Myawaddy border checkpoint soon

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Commercial banks are gradually increasing their interest rates

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Six ambassadors visit Pheu Thai exhibition on crackdowns

Six foreign ambassadors Thursday visited the Pheu Thai Party's exhibition of the crackdowns on red-protesters.

The ambassadors from Germany, Netherlands, Poland, South Africa, Nigeria and Laos, visited the Seven Days, Seven Sufferings, which is held for the fourth day Thursday at the Pheu Thai head office.

Pheu Thai leader Yongyuth Wichaidit received the envoys at 10 am and guided them to see the exhibition.

Other envoys from 17 other countries also visited the exhibition. The party has invited envoys from 75 nations.

-- The Nation 2010-07-22

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PAD Leader Sondhi Withdraws All Defamation Cases Against Red Shirt Leaders

Leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy Sondhi Limthongkul has agreed to withdraw all defamation suits against the red shirt leaders.

The court mediated seven hours of talks before the suits were withdrawn.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-22

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Security Precautions Taken Ahead of Thaksin's Birthday

The Provincial Police Bureau 3 has reported no unbecoming political activities in eight northeastern provinces, but authorities are still vigilant ahead of the red-shirt celebration of Thaksin Shinawatra's birthday.

Provincial Police Bureau 3 Commissioner Police Lieutenant General Dechawat Ramsompob reported that political activities and related moves in eight northeastern provinces, namely Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket, Ubon Ratchathani, Amnat Charoen and Yasothorn, remained peaceful and orderly.

To celebrate ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra's birthday on Monday, red-shirt elements will hold a merit-making ceremony at Phra Narai Temple in Nakhon Ratchasima. They claimed no political rally would be held on Thaksin's birthday.

Nonetheless, in the best interest of public safety, Nakhon Ratchasima authorities will closely monitor the birthday celebration.

Dechawat said even though dubious activities were not detected, extra precautions will be taken at high-risk areas in major provinces, such as Nakhon Ratchasima and Ubon Ratchathani.

As for the progress in the provincial hall arson case, police have apprehended more than 20 suspects, most being local residents. The case has been transferred to the Department of Special Investigation.

Meanwhile, Chantaburi provincial police chief Police Major General Itthipol Piriyapinyo said that precautions have also been taken since red-shirt elements in the area and neighboring provinces will assemble for Thaksin's birthday.

Security forces have been sent to monitor the situation and coordinate efforts by local red-shirt leaders to abide by the law. Nonetheless, Itthipol believes that violence will not erupt.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-22

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PM Denies Postponing Myanmar Trip over Border Dispute

The prime minister has refuted speculation he has put off a scheduled visit to Myanmar due to its current closure of an entry point between Thailand's Mae Sot district and Myawaddy.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva spoke of Myanmar's decision to close a border crossing between Tak's Mae Sot district and Myawaddy in response to the construction of an erosion wall on the Moei River bank on the Thai side

Abhisit reiterated that provincial authorities have ceased the controversial construction and clarified the matter to their Burmese counterparts.

He called for any contentious issues to be brought up during the upcoming joint border committee meeting and asked Myanmar to reopen its border.

The PM confirmed he has indefinitely postponed his scheduled visit to Myanmar early next month, citing timing inconvenience.

He denied speculation that his decision came in response to Myanmar's border closure, affirming Thai-Burmese relations remain normal.

Abhisit also brushed aside speculation that Myanmar is unhappy with Thailand's choice of Kasit Piromya as foreign minister.

He noted that Kasit's interaction with the neighboring country has been proceeding without any problem.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-22

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SET index closed at 833.01, up 2.08; Bt/USD31.91; GBP48.55; AUD27.93; EUR40.87; CAD30.33; HKD4.05; SGD23.13; JPY36.52

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Impact from Tropical Storm Conson raises water level in Thai dams

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Typhoon Chantu enters China; torrential rains over Thailand particularly in northern part; Bangkok hit by heavy rain causing traffic chaos /via @MCOT

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PM: New police chief to be named next month

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has confirmed that the board of the Royal Thai Police will convene next month to pick the new national police chief.

Prime Minister Abhisit announced today that the board of the Royal Thai Police would tentatively hold a meeting within August in order to select the new national police chief after the agenda had undergone a series of delays.

In early September last year, the then Police Chief Police General Patcharavat Wongsuwan tendered his resignation after being transferred by the Prime Minister to an inactive post at the Prime Minister’s Office. His deputy Police General Thanee Somboonsap was appointed as his replacement and held the post briefly until his retirement on 30 September. Incumbent Acting Police Chief Police General Pateep Tanprasert was then nominated.

-- NNT 2010-07-22

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PM Shrugs Off Thaksin's Message

The prime minister says he is unaware that fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra has made a telephone call to Pheu Thai Party's northeastern MPs and notes he is only interested in the public's well-being.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he had heard reports on ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra making a phone call to Pheu Thai MPs representing northeastern provinces.

During the call, Thaksin reportedly said that “our time of happiness is coming soon”.

However, the prime minister stated he did not understand what Thaksin meant and his interest is only in the well-being of the Thai people.

Meanwhile, during the Pheu Thai Party's meeting yesterday, the Isaan Pattana faction, led by Somsak Kiartsuranont and Paichit Sriworakan, demanded removal of Thaksin's brother Payup Shinawatra as northeastern region president due to his below-par performance.

Payup apologized for his questionable work and promised to improve. He also called Thaksin and asked him to help talk to the Isaan Pattana faction MPs.

During the call, Thaksin urged everyone to stay calm and said “our time of happiness is coming soon”. He was notified about the internal dispute and is looking into the situation.

At the end of the call, the northeastern Pheu Thai MPs sang Happy Birthday to Thaksin for his upcoming birthday on Monday.

However, after the call, an MP who sympathized with Payup demanded change in the leadership of the Isaan Pattana faction and called on Paichit to apologize to Payup.

Nonetheless, other MPs cut off the dispute and urged fellow members not publicly discuss the conflict.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-22

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Urgent: The reconciliation committee has called for end to state of emergency. /via @tulsathit

"We'd like to see govt apply political measures as key strategy (to achieve reform). Ending SOE shud b a good start," the panel says. /via @tulsathit

Abhisit was leaning toward lifting SOE but Suthep insisted it was still needed to maintain law&order. /via @tulsathit

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Anand, head of the reform (reconciliation) commt, suggested Thailand's problems require more political than legal solutions. /via @tulsathit

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Red-shirt, yellow-shirt leaders drop eight libel suits between them

The head of the yellow shirts and the red shirts' key leaders Thursday agreed to drop the eight libel lawsuits between them in a settlement brokered by the Criminal Court.

Sondhi Limthongkul, co-leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, met with Veera Musigapong and Nattawut Saikua, leaders of the red shirt movement, at the court on Ratchadaphisek Road. After seven hours of a discussion mediated by court officials, they decided to drop the cases they filed against their rivals on the other side.

Sondhi filed two libel lawsuits against Veera and six other red shirt leaders while Veera sued Sondhi in six other libel cases. The legal action stemmed from the political disputes between the leaderships of the red shirts and the yellow shirts.

Veera and Nattawut were taken from the Bangkok Remand Prison, where they have been detained along with other red shirt leaders on the charge of terrorism in connection with the recent political unrest. Only Nattawut was shackled while at the court.

-- The Nation 2010-07-22

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How to keep Pheu Thai MPs happy

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to be continued

Thailand Live Friday 23 July 2010

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