Thailand Live Friday 23 Jul 2010

[webfact]

Thailand Live Friday 23 July 2010

News, Bits and Tweets

with webfact

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

For breaking news,national, regional and international news updates on

a daily basis only, this thread is closed to commentary so that those

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

Commentary is still open for Thailand news in the relevant thread posted in News Clippings.

FOLLOW US:

You can also follow us on

- Twitter: http://twitter.com/georgebkk

- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ThaiVisaNews

- Breaking News via SMS text messages to your mobile phone or handheld device

To subscribe dial *424010011 on AIS, One-2-Call, DTAC or True Move networks

14 days complementary subscription for Thaivisa members.

If you have questions about the Breaking News SMS service,

email: sms [at] thaivisa.com

________________________________________________________________________________

Thailand's current weather and forecasts: http://weather.thaivisa.com/

________________________________________________________________________________

Related topic: Thailand Live Thursday 22 July 2010

[webfact]

Japan seeks detail on death of cameraman in Thai protests

HANOI (AFP) -- Japan said Thursday it hopes to receive further information from Thailand about the death of a Japanese cameraman shot more than three months ago during protests in Bangkok.

Hiroyuki Muramoto, 43, of the Thomson Reuters news agency, was shot in the chest by an unknown gunman on April 10 while covering unrest involving Thai troops and anti-government "Red Shirt" protesters.

"We hope that more detailed information may be forthcoming," Japanese deputy press secretary Hidenobu Sobashima told reporters on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) security dialogue.

He said Japan understands the Thai government is doing what it can on the case but if foreign ministers from the two countries meet at the ARF, "it may be natural to express the concern once again."

Shortly after Muramoto's death Japan's Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said his ministry "would make diplomatic efforts to call on the Thai government to firmly pursue the facts of the case."

Thailand's Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya declined to comment to AFP.

Muramoto was one of two foreign cameramen killed during the Bangkok unrest in April and May. Ten other journalists were wounded.

In a report this month, the watchdog Reporters Without Borders called on Thai authorities to publish final reports on the death of Muramoto and Italian photographer Fabio Polenghi "as soon as possible."

They were among 90 people -- mostly civilians -- killed in the April and May unrest surrounding the protests, which ended in a military crackdown.

A Thai inquiry led by a former attorney general has been appointed to investigate the loss of life, but Kanit Nanakorn said his aim was to establish facts rather than responsibility.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-07-23

[webfact]

DSI to charge Seh Daeng’s aide for terrorism this month

BANGKOK, 22 July 2010 (NNT) - The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is planning to lodge terrorism charges against Mr Surachai Thewarat, close-aide of late army specialist Major-General Khattiya Sawasdipol, within this month.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Thawal Mangkhang, in charge of terrorism cases, disclosed today that the DSI officials were in the process of gathering evidence before presenting the case to the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) for prosecution by the end of this month. He said additional questioning was not needed as the DSI currently had solid evidence to file charges against the suspect.

Recently, Mr Surachai, close-aide of Major-General Khattiya or Seh Daeng, was arrested in Lop Buri province and admitted to engaging in armed attacks against government forces during the months-long mass rally of the anti-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD).

The detainee was found to have been involved in eight cases of terrorist attacks as well as underground movements before and after the UDD protest. He has been detained at the Bangkok Remand Prison.

-- NNT 2010-07-23

[webfact]

Gold Robbery Suspects Nabbed in Chonburi

Region 4 police have arrested two more suspects wanted for the robbery of a gold shop in Udon Thani province, but did not find any of the stolen items with them.

Two women identified as Kesorn Bunpeng, 24, and Pratthana, 17, were arrested at a hotel in Chonburi's Bang Lamung district after the two were issued arrest warrants for their alleged involvement in the robbery of Eng Num Huad gold shop in downtown Udon Thani.

The pair confessed that they collaborated with Jessada Kumpo, 21, and a 17-year-old man named Em to rob the gold shop.

The two other suspects were arrested along with gold necklaces weighing about six kilograms.

Both women claimed that Jessda dropped them off in Udon Thani's Kumpawapee district after the robbery.

They then caught a bus to Kalasin to wait for him to pick them up, but he was arrested and they decided to flee to Chonburi.

Chief investigator of Region 4 police, Police Colonel Yanyong Wejosot stated police were tipped off when Pratthana contacted her mother, who works in Chonburi.

The mother was told that both suspects were staying at a hotel in Bang Lamung.

Yanyong, however, said investigators did not find any stolen gold ornaments in their hotel room and the suspects claimed they did not take any of them.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-23

[Maestro]

LESE MAJESTE?

Senator defends actor's speech

By The Nation

Published on July 23, 2010

In defence of Pongpat Wachirabanjon, Senator Kamnoon Sidhisamarn said yesterday that the actor's speech at the Nataraj Awards was meant to protect the monarchy and was not within the frame of lese majeste as accused.

As secretary to the Senate's adhoc committee on the protection of the monarchy, Kamnoon said the word "father" indicated Thai people's reverence for His Majesty. The committee will next week invite acting police chief, city police chief as well as inspectors involved in the People's Alliance for Democracy's airport seizure and Pongpat's case to explain if the action taken by the police force was fair, he added.

Meanwhile Deputy Metropolitan Police Chief Pol MajGeneral Amnuay Nimmano insisted that Pongpat had not been charged, and that the police only wanted the actor to explain himself now that singer Phumpat Wongyachavalit filed a lese majeste complaint against him. Pongpat has until today to present his side of the case.

However, Amnuay said: "If lawyers and [Thailanguage] experts say that Pongpat has not said anything inappropriate, he does not need to meet the police. Or he could send a letter explaining his speech. If he is able to explain and answer questions clearly, the police will not take any legal action against him."

Pongpat's wife Thanya Sophon said the actor was willing to provide information and did not need to make any preparations because he had done nothing wrong.

-- The Nation 2010-07-23

[webfact]

Governor challenged over CCTV camera deal

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A cleangovernment activist yesterday urged Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra to look into a "suspicious" move to procure several thousand surveillance cameras for the city - and ensure the deal's transparency.

"Otherwise, I will petition the National AntiCorruption Commission," said Nakboon Akrabut, who chairs the Good Governance Group. He is also an adviser to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Officials Club.

The BMA's Traffic and Transportation Department has called for tenders on five projects involving the installation of more than 3,000 CCTV cameras in the capital.

The bidding process shows many irregularities, such as setting a minimum requirement of Bt65 million for bidders, he said.

"This condition has screened out so many firms. In the end, there are just nine companies taking out bidding documents for the five projects and seven of them are related," he said.

-- The Nation 2010-07-23

[webfact]

DSI warrant out for burnings 'mastermind'

By By Sompoch Sombat

The Nation

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) Northeastern Operation Centre has issued an arrest warrant for the mastermind who allegedly hired eight people to carry out arson in Khon Kaen during the May riot.

Centre chief Pasakorn Jenpravit yesterday said investigators had interviewed some 90 witnesses and found eight terrorist suspects who had been among the protesters on May 19. Four people currently detained for arson will also be charged with terrorism, he said.

Most of the detained suspects had reportedly confessed to investigators that they had been hired to burn state properties to create chaos, Pasakorn said. The court had approved warrants for the arrest of these people and he believed the DSI would locate the ultimate mastermind.

Acting Khon Kaen governor Payat Charnprasert, in his capacity of special case deputy chief investigator, commented on progress in probing the burning of the provincial hall and a provincial station of the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT).

As of yesterday, investigators had gathered enough evidence to proceed with legal action against 64 people, 37 for the provincial hall fire and 27 for the TV station blaze, he said.

So far 12 people had been arrested, seven in the provincial hall case and five involving the TV station, he said.

-- The Nation 2010-07-23

[webfact]

Doctors unite to fight malpractice bill

By The Nation

Deputy Public Health Minister Pansiri Kulnartsiri

A group of doctors and medical professionals met the prime minister yesterday to voice their opposition to a bill aimed at protecting patients from medical malpractice.

The group said the principles behind the bill were good, but only a small number of people could benefit while it was detrimental to health professionals.

The group called on the bill to be withdrawn from next month's House session and certain conditions be altered or revoked.

Dr Prasobsri Ungthaworn said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva did not say whether the bill, proposed by the Public Health Ministry, would be put on hold.

"If promulgated without alterations, the law will result in largescale divisions between patients and doctors, whose relationship now remains good," she said.

The bill is aimed at protecting patients from malpractice and compensating them or their kin handsomely in case they are injured, paralysed or killed during treatment. However, doctors and medical professionals say they are being put under unfair pressure to not make any mistakes, because the bill also subjects them to criminal prosecution.

Meanwhile, Deputy Public Health Minister Pansiri Kulnartsiri voiced her support for the Public Health Professionals bill, which she said would provide better public health services in suburban and remote areas.

The bill will redefine the role of more than 980,000 public health volunteers and give them moral support and allowances in exchange for better services. The bill was endorsed by the Cabinet on July 13 and will be vetted by the House in next month's session.

-- The Nation 2010-07-23

[webfact]

Udon Thani squatters warned on TAMC land grab

By The nation

Acting Udon Thani governor Wirat Limsuwat yesterday warned people against joining efforts to grab land plots under the care of the Thai Asset Management Corporation (TAMC).

"I have told police to monitor all movement in their jurisdiction and take strict action against illegal activities," Wirat said.

He said he had instructed police and district chiefs to act against the encroachment on TAMC plots of land.

The Council for People from the Four Regions has led the landgrabbing efforts. It has encouraged its members to occupy many TAMC land plots in the Northeast on grounds the government has long failed to tackle the plight of landless people.

To counter the council's move, the TAMC has lodged complaints with police over the encroachment, noting that the land plots are foreclosed assets that will soon be auctioned off in line with legal procedures.

However, the council's members show no sign of giving up. Member Oy Praphasai said she would by no means vacate the TAMC plot she was now occupying.

"If the government wants us to leave, it must allocate land plots to us as it has promised," the 50yearold woman from Si Sa Ket province said.

Oy joined the council late last year in the hope of acquiring farmland adequate to support her children.

"I own 1 rai of land in Buri Ram, but that's not adequate to support the whole family," she said.

She has four children. Her husband has long left the secular world and entered the monkhood.

"My eldest daughter has had to leave school so she can work odd jobs and find money to support the family as well," Oy lamented.

-- The Nation 2010-07-23

[webfact]

Old Army tanks to help grow reefs

By The Nation

The Royal Thai Army yesterday handed over 25 tanks that were in disrepair to be used as materials for artificial reefs in the Gulf of Thailand on the shores of Narathiwat and Pattani.

From yesterday to Sunday, the Chinesemade 30T692 tanks, used by the Army since 1987, will be transported to Bangkok's Klong Toei Port before being shipped off to Narathiwat.

This project is meant to lend a hand to Her Majesty the Queen's moves to help the local fishery industry along the coasts of Narathiwat and Pattani as well as rehabilitate the sea in the area.

-- The Nation 2010-07-23

[webfact]

End emergency soon, Anand urges Thai govt

[webfact]

Send Thaksin down: In Praise of the Prison Option

[webfact]

Pheu Thai in tug-of-war with DSI

[webfact]

Five top contenders in race for police chief post

By Avudh Panananda

The Nation

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday vowed to select a new national police chief by next month, ensuring a smooth transition before the retirement of incumbent chief General Patheep Tanprasert on September 30.

"I plan to call the meeting to name the police chief by next month," he said in reference to the convening of the Royal Thai Police Board to nominate Patheep's successor.

In preparing for the police reshuffle, Abhisit said he would soon meet with Patheep and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban to give his policy directive on police assignments.

"For the upcoming rotations, I will give two guidelines: first, seniority should be given more weight, and two, in case of bypassing seniority, there should be a clear explanation so as to ensure transparency in the job assignments," he said.

Suthep, who chairs the Police Service Commission, is in charge of drawing up the list for police rotations and the prime minister is responsible for the nomination of the police chief via the board.

After the abrupt removal of General Patcharawat Wongsuwan last August, Abhisit and the board could not form a consensus on the nomination of a new chief.

Instead of forcing a vote on the issue - which could have become a political embarrassment - Abhisit opted to name General Wichien Potephosree as caretaker chief for about 10 days before picking Patheep as the acting chief.

Patheep is working without a permanent appointment by royal command. The nomination of the police chief has become a highly contentious issue coinciding with the political turmoil. And the issue, remaining unresolved for a year, is poised to return and haunt Abhisit for a second time.

Although a dozen police generals are potential candidates for the job, five have emerged as strong contenders.

General Prewpan Damapong is the deputy national police chief with the most seniority. He was bypassed in last year's promotion because of his weakest link - he is the brother-in-law of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. With a year left before retirement, he is likely to be overlooked again.

General Wichien is in the race once again. After failing to secure the job last year, he won the consolation prize by moving up a notch from an advisory job to the position of deputy national police chief. His chance of getting the top job is still not very good. He reportedly lacks the backing of the police rank and file.

General Adul Saengsingkaew is one of the top contenders because of his cordial ties with the Democrats and politicians from the coalition and the opposition. He is reportedly close to Suthep. His flaw is that he is considered a soft leader - when faced with a crisis, he seems to be indecisive. But his strength is that both yellow and red shirts claim him as their "friend".

General Pansiri Prapawat is tipped to be the lead contender about whom Abhisit is giving the most thought. He has a good track record for police work. He is seen as a politically astute officer. He enjoys support from the military, the security agencies and several ranking Democrats. His weakness is that a number of the yellow shirts view him as red-leaning, hence opposing his nomination.

General Panupong Singhara na Ayutthaya has emerged as another strong contender. He is in charge of terrorism and other offences involving the red shirts. He is known as a crime-buster. His flaw is that he is seen as a lapdog of the government. If promoted, he might trigger the wrath of the red shirts and the Pheu Thai Party.

Should a stalemate happen in the nomination process, General Watcharapol Prasanrajkit may emerge as a dark horse. His chance is remote at this juncture because his experience is in administrative affairs rather than crime suppression. But he is seen as keeping good contacts with the power brokers and leading figures. The wind of fortune may blow his way if Abhisit is forced to overcome an impasse.

-- The Nation 2010-07-23

[webfact]

China executes 13 Thai women for smuggling illegal drugs...Thai Rath headline this morning /via @suthichai /via @RichardBarrow

[webfact]

Thai Reds and Yellow Shirts settle libel lawsuits

[webfact]

Fanelli arrest: Phuket Police to share Bt50,000 reward

Mr Fanelli with top-ranking Phuket City Police at the July 18 press conference.

[webfact]

Detained Protest Leader Carries Thai Opposition Poll Hopes

[webfact]

DSI Investigates Murders During Thaksin's War on Drugs in Kalasin Province

Members of the Department of Special Investigation and the National Human Rights Commission have traveled to Kalasin province to investigate 28 murders that took place during the War on Drugs initiated by then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Member of the National Human Rights Commission, Doctor Niran Pitawatchara, Director of the Department of Special Investigation's Special Crime Division Colonel Piyawat Kingkade and a number of officials traveled to Kalasin province to investigate the 28 murder cases that took place in the province during the War on Drugs initiated by then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Prior to this, the Department of Special Investigation, or the DSI, had criminally charged six police officers from the province with committing an extrajudicial murder by hanging Kiattisak Thitboonkrong, a 17 year-old suspect.

The case has been designated a special status case by the DSI since opening in 2004.

The DSI has pointed out that there could be as many as 100 disguised murders similar to Kiattisak's case, but evidence could be gathered to reveal only 28 cases -- all of them involving the Kalasin Provincial Police Bureau.

The National Human Rights Commission blames the Thaksin administration's anti-narcotic policy for these extrajudicial killings. Officials say they will not only investigate the murders, but also educate people on how to protect their own civil rights.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-23

[webfact]

Corn-Pledging Dispute Possible Motive in Murder of Public Warehouse Official

Mae Sot police are investigating the murder of a public warehouse official in Tak province. A dispute related to the government's corn-pledging scheme is among possible motives for the shooting.

Mae Sot police, along with military officers from the 4th Infantry Regiment, carried out a search around a corn silo at Baan Mae Geud in the Mae Sot district of Tak province, on suspicion that it could be linked to the recent death of a public warehouse official.

On Wednesday, Sukrit Sribusayadee, an administrative official from the Public Warehouse Organization, or PWO, was found shot dead in his car, near a restaurant on Mae Sot – Oom Pang Road.

Two 9-millimeter pistols and 5 bullets were discovered at the silo. Police said the gunman might have practiced shooting there just a few days before the murder.

Police are focusing their investigation on looking into conflict of interests in connection with the government's corn pledging program.

The victim was known to be overseeing more than 20,000 tons of corn that was being kept at the PWO's storehouses in Pop Phra, Mae Sot and Oom Pang districts.

Police have also learned that some of the corn stocks that were intended to be distributed to a dealer in Nakhon Sawan province are being withheld due to a pending quality inspection.

Police have offered a 100,000 baht reward for any information leading to the arrest of the culprit.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-23

[webfact]

Pattaya police, on operation to crack down on illicit drugs, arrest 20 suspects, seize large amount of ice, cocaine /via @MCOTEnglishnews

[webfact]

TONIGHT! 'Patong Cocktail Marathon 2010' starts in Phuket

A bartender practices his 'flair' skills at the 2007 Patong Carnival.

File photo by Stephen Fein.

[webfact]

Thailand motorists alert:

New laws for red plates (dealer plates) - Maximum 1 month or 3,000 km or face up to 2,000-10,000 Baht fines

[webfact]

Public Health Ministry to use Singapore model for revamp of Thai health care

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Ministry of Public Health is eyeing Singapore’s health system as a model to develop health care in Thailand.

Director-General of the Department of Disease Control, MD Manit Teeratantikanon, explained today that health promotion in Singapore is derived from an analysis of people’s lifestyles and behaviors. He said Thailand could also use this method to establish a suitable health care system.

Mr Manit stated that Thailand has adequate resources to develop health services to a high standard but lacks funding and a directly responsible agency. He said he would propose this idea to Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit for consideration.

Representatives from ASEAN countries, China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea this morning joined the ASEAN+3 Public Health Minister Meeting to discuss health security, focusing on health care for impoverished people as well as financial management.

-- NNT 2010-07-23

[webfact]

PMs Office Minister: Ranong to be boosted as world-class tourist destination and shipping hub

[webfact]

Australian, French, British nationals arrested at Pattaya sex party using a variety of class-1 restricted drugs

[webfact]

TERRORISM

DSI detains Rachata for allegedly involving in Bangkok chaos

By The Nation

Department of Special Investigation has detained Corporal Rachata Wongyod, known as a right hand man of slain Khattiya Sawasdipol, on suspicion that he involved in several attacks during political violence.

The detention of Rachata followed recent arrest of Surachai or Rang Thevarat who was charged with terrorism.

DSI sources said Rachata and Surachai were close and both right-hand men of Khattiaya or Seh Daeng who was shot dead during the May violence.

The sources said that the detained Rachata is the one the DSI wanted, not the one who just had the same names.

DSI would report the arrest to Center for the Resolutions and Emergency Situation this afternoon as Rachata is a corporal attached to an army unit

in Prachaub Khiri Khan's Pranburi district.

Initial reports quoted Rachata as denying any involvement in the Bangkok violence. He however admitted that he used to join the red shirts protests.

He was quoted as telling the DSI that he sometime "observed" meetings of "black shirt warriors" which planned counter attack against the government troops.

-- The Nation 2010-07-23

[webfact]

Police seize drugs and guns in multiple raids around Pattaya

[webfact]

Bank of Thailand encourages government to lift state of emergency to restore confidence among foreigners, boost tourism /MCOT

[webfact]

DSI Chief's Wife Dragged into Red-shirt Funding Case

Pheu Thai Party MP and red-shirt core-leader Jatuporn Prompan has threatened to release information that would implicate the spouse of Department of Special Investigation Director Tharit Pengdit as a financier of the recent anti-government protests.

Jatuporn Prompan, red-shirt leader and Pheu Thai MP, called the Department of Special Investigation's, or DSI, detention of red-shirt guard Surachai Tewarat a farce.

He said that a police sting operation that located Surachai but did not result in his immediate release as well as the DSI's promise to care for his child while using his mother and wife as witnesses underlined rediculousness of the case.

Jatuporn also launched a threat towards DSI Director Tharit Pengdit over the department's probe against suspected red-shirt financiers.

The MP stated that he has compiled his own information to incriminate Tharit's wife as an anti-government moneybags.

The red-shirt leader traveled to the Criminal Court this morning to take the stand as defendant in a libel case filed by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The PM accused Jatuporn of defaming him in an advertisement alleging he had aspiration to match His Majesty the King.

The outspoken Pheu Thai MP denied any concern over the trial, saying he is ready for its outcome even if he does not receive justice.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-23