Thailand Live Tuesday 27 Jul 2010

[webfact]

Thailand Live Tuesday 27 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 Monday 26 July 2010

[webfact]

Pheu Thai Cry Foul Over Bangkok By-Election

BANGKOK: -- This Wednesday, the Pheu Thai Party will submit complaints to the Election Commission requesting they conduct probes into three voting irregularities that occurred during yesterday's Bangkok Constituency 6 by-election, which the party believes put its candidate at an unfair disadvantage.

Pheu Thai party spokesman, Phrompong Nopparit disclosed today that his party's legal team has compiled reports concerning three complaints and says they will be forwarding them to the Election Commission, or the EC.

The party believes the three irregularities it uncovered put its candidate, Kokaew Pikulthong, at an unfair disadvantage against the soon-to-be-announced winner, Democrat Panich Vikitsreth.

The Pheu Thai Party complained that Democrat Party leader's spokesman, Thepthai Senpong's made sarcastic remarks, saying that electing Kokaew would be the equivalent of appointing a terrorist.

They also point to comments aired on a radio program criticizing Kokaew which the party believes hurt his public image.

The party will also request that the EC investigate claims that a man dressed in a commando uniform intimidated residents of the Panya Ramintra Government Flat, stopping them from voting for Kokaew.

Phrompong will lead Pheu Thai's legal team to the EC on Wednesday morning to submit their complaints.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-27

[webfact]

CRES: Government to Decide on Emergency Rule Extension

The Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situation has confirmed that it is investigating the bombing at a bus stop in front of Big C Rajadamri branch, but stated that whether or not the incident is cause for extending the State of Emergency is at the discretion of the government.

Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situation, or CRES, Spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaeokumnerd announced toay that an emergency meeting has not been called regarding yesterday's bombing incident in front of a Big C store on Rajadamri road.

He affirmed however, that the center's executive members are closely following the matter.

Sansern acknowledged that investigating the attack is the responsibility of the CRES, and gave assurances that all of the center's commanders are working with their respective agencies.

The spokesmen nonetheless, stated that how the bomb attack will affect the State of Emergency would be determined by the administration.

Regarding former prime minister Anand Panyarachun's Reform Committee calling for the Emergency Decree to be lifted, Sansern said this is one possible course of action amongst many that are being considered, and that they are intent on acting in the nation's best interests.

He elaborated, saying that the CRES is one of the the bodies working to bring about peace in the Kingdom, but it can only make suggestions to the government.

Defense Minister and Deputy Director of the CRES, General Prawit Wongsuwan later stated that all relevant agencies have been ordered to evaluate whether the emergency rule should be prolonged.

All perspectives on the matter will be compiled by the secretary-general of the National Security Council, who also serves as the CRES's secretariat.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-27

[webfact]

Karen refugees keep on migrating to Thailand

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Ethnic Karen refugees have reportedly kept crossing Moei River into the Thai territory.

Security has been heightened at Ban Moen Lue Chai and Ban Mo Koe Thai in Tambon Valley, Phop Phra district of Tak province, while officials have been dispatched to assist 600 those migrants who crossed the river, who are now residing at the nearby Ban Moen Lue Chai School.

According to Colonel Padung Yingpaiboonsuk, Chairman of the local coordination center of the Thailand-Myanmar Township Border Committee (TBC) in Tak, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) controlled territories have been cordoned off by the Burmese authorities to keep them under the control of the Burmese government, hence the Karen's immigration to Thailand. Thailand will have to prepare living space for the refugees if situation escalated.

The DKBA split from Karen National Union (KNU) in 1995 and signed a ceasefire agreement with the junta. They were then allowed to control some businesses and freely transfer goods within the border.

-- NNT 2010-07-27

[webfact]

Govt's national anti-alcohol campaign continued

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The government's national anti-alcohol campaign has been launched for three consecutive years at the cooperation from all groups.

According to Deputy Public Health Minister, Pansiri Kulanartsiri, up to 200 billion THB has been reported as the cost resulting from alcohol’s impacts on socio-economy and people’s quality of life.

Owing to the awareness, the Alcohol Bills have been issued, in which penalties associated with this offense are a maximum fine of 10,000 THB and/or up to six-month imprisonment. The Buddhist Lent Day has also been declared a National Alcohol-Free Day.

Department of Disease Control’s Deputy Director-General, MD Prapon Tangsrikertikul speculates public participation towards the campaign to increase by 10% per year, as well as 5% increase for on-line registration.

-- NNT 2010-07-27

[webfact]

Mae Sot-Myawaddy border closure tiff likely to ease with Thai-Myanmar talks

TAK: -- Thai Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot and his team earlier on Monday crossed the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge in Tak province to meet Myanmar officials and to discuss the ongoing Mae Sot-Myawaddy border closure.

Mr Alongkorn and relevant Thai officials met with high-ranking officials from the Myanmar capital of Naypyidaw, Aung Thein, the Myanmar ambassador to Thailand and Military Attache to Thailand Col Win Maung at the Myawaddy border trade office As head of the Thai government representatives, Mr Alongkorn discussed the continued closure of the bridge and 19 trading

ports along the Moei River for the past two weeks-- since July 12-- which brought cross-border trade and transport to a standstill.

The deputy commerce minister had earlier met in talks in Mae Sot with government officials, civil servants and entrepreneurs and company representatives to review details of the river bank protection construction on the Thai side which apparently led to the border closure.

The Myanmar action is believed to be a protest against the construction project as it diverted some river currents which the Myanmar officials believed might erode their side of the river.

During the discussion across the Moei River, Mr Alongkorn explained to the Myanmar officials that the Thai government has suspended the public works project after the Myanmar authorities submitted letters opposing the project.

Meanwhile, U Aung Thein said his country’s concerned agencies have raised the matter as a problem to the Thai authorities at least five times, adding that the border shutdown was intended to bring about a discussion.

U Aung Thein said today’s talk with the Thai government representatives and the local authorities is likely to be beneficial.

However, there is as yet no conclusion as to whether the Mae Sot-Myawaddy border will reopen, U Aung Thein said.

Representatives of both countries must discuss with their governments whether an initial agreement and request to issue from Monday’s talks is acceptable or not.

Meanwhile, both governments will raise their concerns and tentative conclusions for agreement to be carried out at the Thailand-Myanmar Township Border Committee (TBC) meeting, scheduled to be held in Tak, the provincial seat of the Thai province, on July 30, according to Deputy Minister Alongkorn. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-07-27

[webfact]

Celebrations across the Kingdom mark Asalaha Bucha, Lent Day

By The Nation

Buddhists across the country - and even tourists in hot holiday destinations - turned out yesterday to make merit to mark the Asalaha Bucha Day.

His Majesty the King had Phitsanulok deputy governor Yongyot Mekarun present a Lent candle to revered Buddha image Luang Pho Buddha Chinnaraj - at Wat Prasrirattanamahadhat Vorramahavihan - on his behalf to mark the Buddhist Lent.

To show respect for the Aslaha Bucha Day and the Buddhist Lent Day, entrepreneurs on the Rin Beach of Pha Ngan island in Surat Thani province postponed the festive full moon party from yesterday to tomorrow.

Wat Suan Mokkhabalaram - of the late highly respected monk, Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, in Surat Thani' s Chaiya district- was overwhelmed by both Thai and foreign tourists heading for the temple to make merit on the sacred day. They also listened to Buddhadasa's recorded sermons.

In Surin - the province famous for its elephants - locals and tourists offered food to monks from the backs of 83 elephant. About 5,000 Thai and foreign tourists attended, the only merit-making ceremony on elephants' backs in the world.

After the ceremony, when the elephants were being taken back to their homes, two male elephants from the group, aged 40 and 45, were slightly injured in a road accident. The six-wheel truck carrying them skidded after its driver swerved to evade a pickup truck in its traffic lane. Four mahouts and the truck's driver were hurt as well.

Roads in Pattaya were congested as locals and Thai and foreign tourists visited temples to make merit.

Security was beefed up in Yala's Betong district to ensure safety for Buddhists making merit at several temples. Local Buddhists in the province and others who live in Malaysia queued up from early morning to offer food to monks under guard of police and soldiers.

Department of Religious Affairs top officials offered food to monks at Wat Srakesa Rajavaramahavihara in Bangkok, and performed the Wien Thien ceremony, in which participants holding lotuses, joss-sticks and candles walked around the main temple building while praying along with the monks' sermons.

The department's director-general Sod Daengied said it would present candles to nine royal temples, including Wat Srakesa, to make merit.

-- The Nation 2010-07-27

[webfact]

Five rangers slightly hurt in Narathiwat bombing

By The Nation

Five rangers were slightly injured when suspected insurgents detonated a roadside bomb in an ambush in Narathiwat's Sungai Padi district yesterday.

The bomb attached to a 15-kilogram gas cylinder was detonated by a mobile phone at 11.45am on a main road in Dohaemae village in Tambon Rico while the five rangers were passing in a pickup truck heading to their base.

After the attack, police arrested two people and took them in for questioning over the incident.

On Sunday evening, defence volunteer Mahamarohsaki Srisom-on, 42, was fatally shot, once in the head and twice in the torso, in Yala's Raman district while he was riding a motorcycle home. Police suspected the murder was part of the unrest in the district.

Earlier on the same day, fruit seller Jidore Hayimama, 53, was seriously injured in the neck by a mysterious gunshot while he was selecting fruit at a market in Tambon Sateng Nok in Yala's Muang district.

Yesterday, the deputy secretary-general of the Office of the Basic Education Commission, Dr Somkiat Chobphol, presided over the royally sponsored cremation ceremony of Dusong Payae School director Pichai Seusaeng Suasaeng, 55, at Wat Noppawongsaram in Pattani's Muang district. Pichai was shot dead last Wednesday. July 21

-- The Nation 2010-07-27

[webfact]

Chulalongkorn students win prize for enterprise projects

By Wannapa Khaopa

The Nation

After devoting much time helping to improve the economy and environment of many communities, Chulalongkorn University students were given a trophy last week under the Students In Free Enterprise project.

As the winner of an award at the SIFE Thailand National Exposition, the team will represent Thai students at the SIFE World Cup in Los Angeles from October 10 to 12.

SIFE is a global non-profit organisation that supports students at more than 1,500 universities in 40 countries. Students are empowered to teach ethical entrepreneurship and business conduct in their communities. SIFE students demonstrate practical managerial skills, have hands-on experience and are committed to sustainable business.

The first runner-up was Thammasat University, while Mahidol University was the second runner-up.

Altogether 83 Chulalongkorn students from various faculties spent more than a year passing on their acquired knowledge to locals.

"We've worked really hard. We've worked as a team to achieve this goal," said Peachaya Mukyangkoon, 20, head of the Chulalongkorn team.

"Despite different perspectives between locals and our team, as they have their own way of life and outlook, we made them realise the problems they are facing instead of just telling them they are having problems before proposing various solutions, and letting them choose those they preferred," she said.

Duangkamol Sriprasart, 20, a team member, said winning or losing was not important. Using this chance to give a helping hand to locals, as she and her friends intended, was more meaningful for them.

They undertook four projects to help local people. With the "Soil Booster" project, they taught residents in Nakhon Nayok, Suphan Buri, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chachoengsao and Phitsanulok to use earthworms to produce organic fertiliser. They expanded to a secondary school in Chachoengsao, teaching students to produce such fertiliser for sale along with educating them on business skills.

They instructed the Archa community in Chiang Rai's Doi Chang district on how to create the Coffee Coff Chang brand, design the company logo and publish an informative brochure to attract local and international customers under the Bean of Wealth project. They also educated the community on how to keep accounting books and develop a website.

The Green Roof project opened a website as a knowledge centre to encourage Bangkok residents to make their own heat-resistant "green roofs". The website presents all sorts of tricks and tips and a do-it-yourself video. Visitors who joined this campaign posted photos of their green roofs on the website to share with other visitors.

The Money Synthesis project helps reduce human errors in the manual accounting system used by the Pangpuay community bank in Ratchaburi. The students introduced user-friendly software to assist the bank in running its accounting function and operations.

Duangkamol said that with the knowledge they passed on to people in those communities, they could practise self-development and family development.

"Our university has a SIFE club open to students from every faculty to participate in to continue our work with locals. Seniors have trained younger students to run the operation and come up with more creative projects to help improve local people's quality of life," she said.

Duangkamol said her team had put in place role models in many communities. She hopes to expand the impact of such role models to as many communities as possible before presenting their work on the world stage.

The award for faculty adviser of the year went to Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy (CRMA) faculty adviser Capt Chatayan Wiphatthanananthakul. The Stock Exchange of Thailand's best financial literacy awards went to Chulalongkorn, Thammasat, CRMA and Mahidol University. The Spirit of SIFE Awards were given to Yala Islamic University, Hat Yai University, Kasetsart University's Si Racha campus and Nakhon Phanom University.

The national competition was held at Chulalongkorn's Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration.

SIFE was sponsored by Nation Multimedia Group, KPMG Phoomchai Group, the Stock Exchange of Thailand, Capital Market Academy 9 Alumni, HSBC Thailand and 11 agencies.

-- The Nation 2010-07-27

[webfact]

Saraburi egg producers upset about proposed power plant

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

Nong Saeng, Saraburi

A group of egg farmers with hens in Saraburi and Ayutthaya provinces are pressing the government not to permit a private company to build a 1,653 MW natural gas power plant in Nong Saeng district.

Even though the natural gas thermal power plant has yet to be built, the contractors have stopped adding hens to their farms, as they fear the construction and operation of such plants would affect egg production. They said egg-laying hens were sensitive to stress, especially to sound and bright light.

Yupin Sooksathan, a 32-year-old farmer who keeps hens under contract in Ayutthaya province's Phachee district near the proposed site of the power plant, said for the breeding company had told her for the first time it would not send laying hens to her farm anymore.

Yupin is one of five poultry farmers in Phachee district where she's been keeping laying hens under contract for 15 years- a business that makes at least Bt400,000 to Bt500,000 a year.

Yupin said she had visited the contractor's office at Saraburi and asked them to resume sending laying hens to her farm but there had been no response.

She said a representative from a company planning to build the natural gas thermal power plant had visited her and offered her a large amount of money as compensation - but she refused it.

She said she did not want to abandon her hen farm because she wanted to keep it for her children.

"I still have no idea what to do. The only thing that I can do now is wait until the end of this year and see what will happen," she said.

Amphai Wong-anu, a 40-year-old broiler chicken farmer in Nong Saeng district, said her farm was also hit by the proposed power plant.

She said the contractor would not deliver broiler chickens to her farm anymore as he was afraid it could not produce good quality birds as it is a kilometre from the plant site.

Amphai said she also did not want compensation from the. company, even though she was capable of earning Bt 1.2 million a year from her broiler chicken farm.

However, so far, no state agency had provided assistance to her or to another 19 broiler chicken farmers in Nong Saeng and Phachee districts.

The natural gas thermal power plant is due to be constructed at Nong Saeng and operated by the Power Generation Supply Company.

It will supply electricity to the Energy Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat). The project's environmental impact assessment has already been approved. It is now waiting for a licence from the Energy Regulatory Commission to operate the power plant.

The Saraburi government agency, meanwhile, had planned to announce Nong Saeng district as an agricultural and residential area, which would prohibit any industrial activity operating there. But the plan has been held over for five years since the agency conducted a public hearing in 2005.

A group of 70 villagers filed a petition last March to the Central Administrative Court against the Minister of the Interior, Department of Public Works, Town & Country Planning, and state agencies, over the delay in announcing Nong Saeng as an agricultural and residential district in which industrial activity is banned.

If the Saraburi government agency fails to announce Nong Saeng as an agricultural and residential district, individuals can conduct industrial activity in the area, as there are no regulations to stop them.

-- The Nation 2010-07-27

[webfact]

Boost for security following Big C bomb

By Panya Thiewsangwan

Khanathit Srihirundaj

The Nation

Prime suspect who planted M67 explosive caught on security camera; CRES, police to meet tomorrow

Security at public places will be tightened after Sunday's bombing in downtown Bangkok, Defence Minister General Pravit Wongsuwan, who is also deputy director of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), said yesterday.

Meanwhile, Pol Colonel Phanupong Singhara revealed that a suspicious person who might have planted the M67 grenade that went off in front of Big C Rajdamri Shopping Mall, killing one man and wounding several other people, was caught on a security camera.

Saying that the CRES had urged the Metropolitan Police chief to proceed urgently with the investigation of the blast, Pravit said that they would discuss this incident in detail in a meeting tomorrow. (July 28)

He said he had assigned the CRES to prepare information for the meeting about beefing up security at public places such as shopping malls, bus stops, subway stations and the Mor Chit Bus Terminal.

Pravit said the CRES would not finger any group as having carried out the bomb attack, pending the result of the police investigation.

Dismissing a rumour that state officials set off the blast to create an excuse for prolonging the emergency rule, Pravit insisted that the government wanted peace and order and the CRES objected to anything that would cause violence and chaos.

He said he was not sure whether the incident was linked to politics.

CRES spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Pravit had suggested that police check all security cameras in nearby areas. He also affirmed that the incident had nothing to do with a supposed bid by the CRES to extend the emergency rule.

Meanwhile, Pol Colonel Phanupong, an adviser to the Royal Thai Police, said after a meeting yesterday at the Metropolitan Police Bureau that investigators would try to locate the person seen on a surveillance video.

Phanupong said the bomb was an M67 grenade modified to be detonated by a timer, and it had a 15-metre radius of destruction. He said the bomb's assembly was complicated and difficult to do - unlike Southern insurgents' bombs that simply focused on using a large amount of an explosive substance to maximise destruction.

The investigation also found similarities to the May 14 bomb in Khokhram police jurisdiction and the April 3 bomb in Nang Leung jurisdiction but police were not sure yet whether the same group was responsible for all three. Sunday's bomber might have come from a different group and just had similar bomb-assembly knowledge, Phanupong said.

The camera footage of the possible bomber would be used along with evidence and witnesses' testimony in the investigation, which has made good progress, he said, adding that he would keep the work organised to prevent mistakes and to speed up the probe.

Police investigators now give equal weight to a political motive and a desire to create chaos. Phanupong said the city police had assigned more officers to patrol duty to prevent a recurrence of the incident.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Dr Malinee Sukvejvorakij and head adviser Wanlop Suwandee yesterday visited the bomb victims at the Police General Hospital and Hua Chiew Hospital and presented Bt5,000 to each of them.

Pavorn Pornniphet, a 17-year-old student who suffered injuries to his right leg and right torso, said he had been heading home from a study session when he passed the bus stop where the bomb went off.

Malinee also gave Bt5,000 assistance money to Pranee Charoenwong, the ex-wife of the man killed by the blast, Tawatchai Thongmak, 51, in the hospital's lobby. Pranee, who had three children with Tawatchai, said she had heard that her ex-husband had been unemployed for three months and was looking for a job when he suffered the fatal injuries.

At Hua Chiew Hospital, Veerasak Saetae, 40, who suffered wounds to his head and right leg, said he had been about to take a bus home after going to the National Library looking for recipes for an examination for a hotel chef position.

As Veerasak must undergo surgery to remove shrapnel from his head, Malinee said the city would ask the hotel to postpone the chef exam.

-- The Nation 2010-07-27

[webfact]

Give up the booze, Pansiri urges

By Duangkamon Sajirawattanakul

The Nation

If Thais refrained from drinking alcohol for one day, the country could save Bt540 million, Deputy Public Health Minister Pansiri Kulnartsiri said yesterday.

If people kicked their boozing habit during the three months of Buddhist Lent, they would be healthier physically and mentally, would be left with enough money to splurge and save, and would enjoy a warmer family life with more time to spend together, she said.

During a press conference marking National Stop Drinking Day, which coincided with Buddhist Lent Day, Pansiri said hitting the bottle had caused losses of Bt200 billion per year in economic, social and quality of life aspects.

The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act of 2008 also prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages on Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha, Asalaha Bucha and Buddhist Lent days, she said. Offenders could face up to six months in jail and/or up to a Bt10,000 fine.

Citing a 2007 National Statistical Office report that 15 million Thais aged over 15 were drinkers, with about 11.5 million of them of working age, Pansiri warned that most drinkers will suffer from health and social problems such as road accidents and domestic violence.

-- The Nation 2010-07-27

[webfact]

Expert Sees Crucial Need For Responsible Thai Tourism

[webfact]

The Americans debate Thailand's Thaksin

[webfact]

Bomb aims to destabilise Thailand, Senator says

[webfact]

SIDEDLINES

Election victory, but a rude awakening for the Thai Democrats

[webfact]

Sanam Luang's Forgotten Homeless

BANGKOK: -- The cultural and historical epicenter of Thailand is undergoing a facelift. The 30-acre park, known as Sanam Luang has been closed off for 300 days to make way for a 180 million baht project to renovate and landscape the area. However, the park wasn’t exactly unoccupied. Our reporter, Dusita Chumsri takes a closer look into the lives of the dispossessed.

They live among us, but we often don’t see. They approach us, but we often ignore. As we go about our daily lives, somewhat oblivious to what is going on around us, we rarely stop and think about how lucky and easy we have it.

Of the 65 million in Thailand, more than 10% live below the poverty line lacking access to life’s basic necessities. They are the forgotten, the invisible members of our society.

Unwanted and rejected by her own family and children, she is forced to live on the streets. She is one of hundreds of dispossessed that have taken refugee in Sanam Luang, the cultural and historical epicenter of Thailand.

This ‘Field of Kings’, as it is sometimes known, is paradoxically the unofficial shelter for hundreds of homeless Thai’s. Night after Night about 300-1200 dispossessed would roll out their straw mats and gaze at the most idyllic view in the country.

But idyllic as it may seem, this park serves as a window into the sociopolitical realities of Thailand.

One man has become their glimmer of hope.

Nathee Sornwaree is the founder of Issarachon, a foundation that has worked to help the homeless in this area for the past 7 years.

Strength, at this moment in time, is what these people need most. Forced to move, since the closure of Sanam Luang, life for these homeless has become a lot tougher.

The faces of children stand out from the crowd. The innocent children helplessly sucked into this cycle of poverty have become one of the main concerns for Issarachon.

As difficult as it may be to raise a child under these conditions, many parents seem shrug off the idea of handing their child over to authorities and orphanages.

The reality of life on the street is hard to swallow for many. But at the same time, it is a reflection of many of the deep-rooted problems that exist within our society. Once sucked into this life, many find it hard to break away.

They remain to roam the streets as ghosts, the invisible and the forgotten as they have lost hope in society and feel that society have lost hope in them.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-27

[webfact]

Monsoon prevails over northern, upper central, & northeastern of Thailand; increasing chances of heavy downfall throughout country /via @TAN_Network

[webfact]

Echoes of Bangkok's New Year blasts in 2007

[webfact]

Poll: half of Thai youth do nothing on Buddhist Lent occasion

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Poll says half of Thai youth are not interested in religious activities on the Buddhist Lent occasion.

The poll was carried out by the Ministry of Culture in a bid to sound out opinions of 8,095 children aged 13-22 toward the Buddhist Lent festival.

Base on the poll, 76.12% knows that the Buddhist Lent Festival starting on the first day of the waning moon of the eighth lunar month to the fifteenth day of the waxing moon of the eleventh lunar month, while 78.63% knows that the Buddhist Lent is a time that monks and novices are devoted to study and meditation and not venturing out for a period of three months.

Half of the sample group or 57.03% had planned to give alms on the Buddhist Lent Day followed by making merit but the other half or 42.97% had not planned to be engaged in any religious activities on the day.

According to Culture Minister, Nipit Intarasombat, the responders had suggested the Ministry to come up with activities that would help promote the importance of Buddhist occasions and continually publicize campaign on anti-enticement practices during these occasions.

Meanwhile, the Buddhists guidebooks should be published and given out to educational institutions nationwide and that the Ministry should also promote the candle making activity and traditional candle offering ceremony to be widely known among children in all areas.

-- NNT 2010-07-27

[webfact]

Airport Link is closed today due to public holiday /via @js100radio /via @TAN_Network

[webfact]

Chamlong to rally on Preah Vihear despite emergency rule

People's Alliance for Democracy co-leader Chamlong Srimuang will today rally to oppose the Cambodian plan on administering Preah Vihear Temple, a World Heritage Site, which he deems in violation of Thai territorial integrity.

The rally is to take place at the United Nations Building on Rajdamnoen Nok Avenue, an act in defiant of the state of emergency.

"Thai patriots and I will rally because we are not certain that the government will succeed in opposing the temple administrative plan," Chamlong said.

-- The Nation 2010-07-27

[webfact]

New US rules to allow "jailbreaking" of iPhone

[webfact]

New Politics Party Urges Government to Arrest Mastermind of Bangkok Bomb

Acting leader of New Politics Party calls on the Abhisit administration to take legal action against those responsible for the bomb attack in front of a Bangkok shopping mall.

Acting leader of New Politics Party, Somsak Kosaisuk has urged the government to bring those responsible for the bomb attack outside of the Big C Supercenter to justice.

However, he refused to speculate on who is behind the attack, saying such a remark would be groundless.

When asked if the explosion could result in the extension of the Emergency Decree, Somsak said the existence of the decree does not matter since there is already Criminal Law prohibiting such violence, stating that it is sufficient for dealing with any possible attack.

He went on to point out that the problem stems from the government's failure to exercise adequate law enforcement, police officers who are reluctant to use their authority and the fact that there has been no Police Chief appointed yet.

Acting spokesperson for the New Politics Party, Samran Rotphetch, suggested that the government gradually lift the Emergency Decree in the provinces, but suggested the government use caution in considering whether to revoke it in Bangkok.

Newly-elected Democrat MP in Bangkok, Panich Vikitset said he does not believe the bomb attack was politically motivated, but he said he was saddened to learn of the incident.

The Prime Minister's close aid, Sirichok Sopa, said the premier, who is currently on vacation, is aware of the bomb attack, but refused to comment whether or not explosion would influence his decision to lifting the state of emergency.

Sirichok added that the premier has been informed about the attempt to wreak havoc in Bangkok, adding that it is hard to identify potential targets and places.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-27

[webfact]

ROAD AND TRAFFIC TECHNOLOGY

New Thailand car tags available next month

[webfact]

PM orders security beef-up following Rajdamri bombing

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has instructed police and relevant agencies to tighten security in the capital and solve the bombing incident outside Big C on Rajdamri Road in a speedy manner, government spokesman Panithan Wattanayagorn said on Tuesdya.

Abhisit will tomorrow's afternoon meet with national police chief General Patheep Tanprasert and National Security Council secretary general Thawil Pliensri in order to check into the progress of the investigation into the bombing, Panithan said.

-- The Nation 2010-07-27

[webfact]

Wife of DSI Head Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Red-Shirt Leader

Chief of Department of Special Investigation's wife has filed a defamation lawsuit against MP Jatuporn Promphan for making a claim that she demanded 150,000 baht in bribes from a tax evasion case suspect.

Chief of the Department of Special Investigation, Tharit Pengdit announced that his wife, Wansamol Pengdit filed a criminal defamation lawsuit against Jatuporn Promphan, an MP and a key red-shirt leader, for claiming that she demanded 150,000 baht in bribes from a businessman in exchange for dropping tax-evasion charges against him while she was an official at the Revenue Department.

Tharit believes that the claim was aimed at discrediting him. He said he also expects more accusations against him in the future.

The DSI chief said that he is currently being targeted by many people from the Justice Ministry, the department itself and from the Pheu Thai Party.

However, he has vowed that he will continue to perform his duties with honesty.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-27

[webfact]

Puea Thai MP, Red Shirt leader Jatuporn says he believes bombing outside Big C aimed at maintaining state of emergency in capital /via @MCOTEnglishnews

[webfact]

Big C bomb not link with emergency rule lift

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan has dismissed the speculated relationship between the recent explosion in front of BigC department store in Ratchadamri area and the widespread demand for the state of emergency revocation.

The Minister believed that the incident could have been engineered by ill-intentioned people. He said CCTVs on the scene were not working and the police must take some time to investigate and gather evidences before an arrest of the bombers could be made.

According to initial police investigations, the explosion was caused by an M67 grenade modified for greater damages. General Prawit said Metropolitan Police Chief, Police Lieutenant General Santhan Chayanont and his team are following up the case and making a satisfactory progress.

General Prawit, also the Deputy Director of the Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES), noted that the center would enforce stricter security measures in public places, bus stops, department stores, underground stations, including Mo Chit bus terminal.

The Minister stressed that the explosion had nothing to do with the issue of whether to revoke the emergency rule. He said the CRES would try its best to prevent violence from intensifying, and that the Government would not utilize the bombing incident as a tool to keep the special law in effect.

-- NNT 2010-07-27

[webfact]

PREAH VIHEAR TEMPLE

Chamlong protests against Cambodia's temple listing

By The Nation

Leader of yellow shirts Chamlong Srimuang on Tuesday led a protest against Cambodia's attempt to list Preah Vihear temple as a UN World Heritage.

The protest in front of UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's Bangkok regional office started on Sukhumwit Road at 10am.The gathering has worsened the traffic congestion.

Chamlong said the protest is aimed at opposing Cambodia's listing of the temple as Unesco World Heritage Site and condemning the Unesco.

The Hindu temple near the Thai-Cambodian border was listed in July 2008 as a World Heritage Site, but Thailand has been lobbying member countries to delay Phnom Penh's management plan owing to disputes in areas adjacent to the temple.

The Thai authorities want Cambodia's management plan to be delayed until the border dispute is settled.

The rally on Tuesday is an act in defiant of the state of emergency which has been imposed in Bangkok and other provinces.

Chamlong told reporters earlier that Thai patriots and he rallied because we are not certain that the government will succeed in opposing the temple administrative plan," Chamlong said.

-- The Nation 2010-07-27