Thailand Live Monday 9 Aug 2010

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Thailand Live Monday 9 August 2010

News, Bits and Tweets

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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.

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Related topic: Thailand Live Sunday 8 August 2010

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PM: Can't deliver response to activist temple demands within week

BANGKOK: -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday it is impossible for him to follow and respond to all the demands lodged by activist groups to resolve the temple dispute with Cambodia within seven days.

Mr Abhisit's acknowledgment came after a debate between four senior government officials, led by himself, and an equal number of activist men. The debate was telecast live by the state-run NBT station.

The premier told members of the activist groups representing the newly-formed 'Thailand Patriot Network' and civil society groups including the yellow-clad People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) that it was impossible for his government to solve the temple crisis within seven days as they demanded saying more time is needed as the government must also listen to opinions from various other sectors.

Again, Mr Abhisit also told the activist representatives that his government had never accepted the Cambodian map showing a different border between the two neighbouring countries than that recognised by Thailand.

The prime minister urged the people to heed the King's earlier advice on solving border problems noting that it must be done through peaceful means and unity among the peoples. It is useless to wage a war to tackle such difficulties, Mr Abhisit said.

The ruling by the International Court of Justice in 1962 only stipulated that Preah Vihear temple belongs to Cambodia but the adjoining areas belong to Thailand, the prime minister said.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti said during the debate that he would not attend the upcoming meeting of the seven-member International Coordinating Committee (ICC) which would discuss management of the temple, awarded World Heritage site status by UNESCO in 2008, as he did not know details of the meeting and was uncertain whether his presence would have any binding in future.

Meanwhile, Veera Somkwamkid, leader of 'Thailand Patriot Network', who also attended the debate said afterward that he could partially accept the government's clarifications as he understood that the government has limited options for resolving the problem.

Mr Veera said the prime minister still could not promise any measures in pushing back Cambodians now settling on disputed territory near the temple.

Thai villagers living in Si Sa Ket province bordering Cambodia near Preah Vihear temple sits on a border cliff said after watching the debate that they were confident that the prime minister could resolve the Preah Vihear temple issue and also relieve their hardships resulting from tensions in the area.

The local Thai agreed that they neither wanted to see any protest nor armed clashes between soldiers of the two countries at the disputed border.

Meanwhile, after the debate, the Thailand Patriot Network dispersed from the first Army Region headquarters in Bangkok but vowed to come back to protest again after finding the prime minister’s explanation as being satisfactory 'at a certain level' but that it did not meet their demand.

Network leader Chaiwat Sinsuwong said their decision to disperse was a truce as the number of reinforcements from the group’s supporters on the second day of their gathering was not adequate. They will regroup again when they are ready, he said.

Leader Veera Somkwankid said the civil network and the PAD will hold talks later this week to set their strategies and fight in a practical way in the same direction.

He agreed that differing opinions had an impact on negotiation. Although he was still not satisfied with the government’s stance and the government could not meet their demand, he thought the government’s performance worked at a certain level.

Meanwhile, the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok Sunday opened a letter from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen -- his response to Thailand concerning the Preah Vihear issue.

It said the Cambodian prime minister sent a letter to the United Nations Security Council regarding Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's speech during his meeting with the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) on Saturday that his government might revoke the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Thailand and Cambodia if the problem cannot be solved.

Mr Hun Sen said Mr Abhisit's address was a threat to use force to solve the problem which contradicts the Charter of the United Nations. However, the Cambodian leader insisted his country would not use force to tackle a problem with its neighbour. Meanwhile, Cambodia has a right to protect its soverignty if it is invaded intentionally. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-08-09

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New Politics satisfied with recent Temple talk

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The New Politics Party has expressed its satisfaction with the recent special debate between the Government and Thais Love Nation Network representatives in regard to the Preah Vihear Temple issue as many facts have been publicized.

New Politics Party Secretary-General, Suriyasai Katasila, termed the recent opinion exchange between the Government and the civil network as initial victory of all Thais as truth, especially secret official evidence, has been unvealed in public.

Mr Suriyasai indicated that the Government and the civil network actually shared the same goal in the dispute, but there were some discrepancies in their beliefs and ideas. He said he however was positive with the climate of the debate.

The secretary-general therefore urged the public sector to cooperate with the civil sector more closely in a bid to protect the national sovereignty, by jointly drawing up an operational direction on the issue.

Mr Suriyasai nonetheless voiced his concerns that the kingdom might lose sovereignty over a piece of land if there is a change of government. He hence suggested that the current Government should give clear-cut policies to government officials responsible for this issue.

-- NNT 2010-08-09

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Govt to invite civil sector to help with Temple issue

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti has voiced his readiness to invite the civil sector to participate in the advisory panel set up to prepare evidences and clarification for the World Heritage Committee (WHC) over the Preah Vihear dispute.

Mr Suwit said he was collecting all related information as well as making appointments with involved people prior to handing over their list to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for formal appointment. He expected that the first meeting of the committee would take place very soon.

The Minister added that he was ready to clarify any suspicion about his operations made during the recent WHC meeting at Brasillia, Brazil upon demands of the civil sector. He stressed that Thailand did not lose any benefits during the WHC meeting.

The Minister has been criticized by the civil sector, especially the Thais Love Nation Network, for putting Thailand at a loss over the temple row. Nevertheless, Mr Suwit said all information could not be exposed to the public; otherwise, Thailand will be at a disadvantage in the next negotiation in the world arena.

Meanwhile, the Thais Love Nation Network has ceased its demonstration in front of Army Region 1 Headquarters temporarily while the number of its supporters has been dwindling after its leaders are satisfied with the debate result.

-- NNT 2010-08-09

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PM asked to sack Kasit for failure to perform

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The opposition Pheu Thai Party has once again demanded that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva should dismiss Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya from his position owing to his failure to solve conflicts with neighboring countries.

Pheu Thai Party Spokesperson, Prompong Nopparit, stressed that Prime Minister Abhisit should revise the roles of Mr Kasit because the Foreign Minister should have taken greater participation in solving conflicts with other countries, especially the recent border problems with Cambodia and Myanmar.

Mr Prompong questioned why Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti must be responsible for the Preah Vihear issue alone while Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs Suthep Thaugsuban had been entrusted in bilateral discussions with Cambodia.

The spokesperson also asked why Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot was sent to settle border conflicts with Myanmar instead of the Foreign Minister. He then quipped that the main duties of Mr Kasit was to hunt down ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Mr Prompong hence encouraged Prime Minister Abhisit to find a more compatible alternative for this ministerial portfolio for better image of the country because Mr Kasit was one of the 79 core leaders of the People’s Alliance of Democracy.

-- NNT 2010-08-09

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Democrat ready for ruling on party dissolution case

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The ruling Democrat Party has voiced readiness to conform with the verdict of the Constitution Court over its party dissolution case while asking the opposition Pheu Thai Party to stop intimidating the judiciary system over the issue.

Democrat Party Spokesperson, MD Buranaj Smutharaks, ensured readiness of his party to cooperate with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the judiciary system. He confirmed that the party was willing to accept the verdict no matter what the result would be.

MD Buranaj then requested that the Pheu Thai Party should stop pressuring the DSI, as well as stop interfering in the judiciary system if the judgment did not come out as they expected.

The spokesperson said such an intimidation, similar to those seen in the administration of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, had brought about the prevailing political crisis.

MD Buranaj also revealed that as far as he knew, the opposition had slandered the Democrat Party by conspiring with the former DSI Director-General and an ex-Prime Minister who was also former leader of a political party, to make the Democrat Party dissolution case stronger.

-- NNT 2010-08-09

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Female tapper, soldier killed in South

By The Nation

A female rubber tapper was killed by two gunmen armed with M16 and AK47 assault rifles while collecting latex in Narathiwat yesterday. Rattana Kwanjai, 42, was shot three times while working alone in a rubber plantation in Ruso district.

The gunmen were presumed to have returned to a nearby mountain forest. Police initially presumed they were insurgents. An autopsy will be conducted before the victim's body is given to her family for a religious ceremony.

Meanwhile, the tearful parents of Corp Suchat Sueadam picked up his body from the Yala Hospital for funeral rites. Suchat, 32, was killed on duty on Saturday. His attackers took his gun before fleeing. Suchat's funeral was held at his home in Surat Thani's Khirirat district.

-- The Nation 2010-08-09

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Phnom Penh seeks UN help

By The Nation, kyodo

Hun Sen: Thailand has troops inside Cambodian territory and is threatening to use force in violation of UN Charter; PM tells PAD in TV debate that MoU has nothing to do with 4.6 sq km of Thai territory around Preah Vihear

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Almost 50% Thais don't agree with nationalists' campaign

Public anxiety has all but overshadowed nationalistic sentiment when it comes to the contentious issue of the Preah Vihear Temple, an opinion poll has showed.

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Doctors want assembly on bill dispute

By The Nation

The Network for People's Medical Protection will push for the establishment of the Assembly of Medical Workers to overcome differences regarding the proposed Medical Malpractice Victim Protection Bill.

"The assembly is the solution," Dr Thapanawong Tanguraiwan, the network's press chief, said yesterday.

In recent weeks, doctors and organisations have quarrelled over the controversial bill.

The Public Health Ministry's attempt to form a panel to revise the draft law hit a snag late last week when many doctor groups vowed not to cooperate.

The idea about the assembly came up during a meeting between the network and representatives of medical workers on Saturday night, he said.

"We believe the assembly can give well-rounded advice on how to improve the bill," he said.

The network would submit this proposal to the prime minister tomorrow, he said.

The bill should be carefully prepared rather than rushed, he said.

"We intend to minimise any flaws in the bill and maximise its use for the people," he said, dismissing any suggestion that his group had tried to block the bill.

Saree Ongsomwang, secretary-general of the Foundation for Consumers, said setting up the Assembly of Medical Workers would "only aggravate the conflict".

"With the assembly, there will be no end in sight," she said.

If doctors support the bill's goal to protect patients, they should talk to others about which points in the draft law should be amended, she said.

The foundation along with patient networks will publish 10,000 copies of a paper exploding the myths about the current version of the bill.

"We will distribute them to members of the public shortly," she said.

-- The Nation 2010-08-09

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Academic Olympic wins don't tell whole story

By Chularat Saengpassa,

Wannapa Khaopa

The Nation

Competitions lift student interest but national standards still low

Since 1991, senior secondary school students have brought home 336 medals from international academic Olympics. They demonstrated academic excellence in science and mathematics, but it seems the number of awards is going in the opposite direction of the country's overall competitiveness in these fields.

"This will take time," Pornpun Waitayangkoon, director of the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology (IPST), said recently.

IPST is the key agency responsible for taking local students to the world's prestigious competitions.

"One or two (winners of scholarships for studies) in the UK and the US are expected to return to Thailand in 2011 as the first group, after they receive their doctorates. Most of them will become lecturers at leading universities.

"We will have them work as researchers, too. Some will probably work as researchers for the National Science and Technology Development Agency," she said.

Thailand first sent student representatives to the International Academic Olympiad Competitions in 1991, beating students from around the world in five subjects - mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and computer science. They have bagged 75 gold, 137 silver and 124 bronze medals. They also got 41 honourable mentions as well as an award for the best solution and an award for the best experiment.

With the internationally accepted performances, Thailand is honoured to host the 42nd International Physics Olympiad and 23rd International Computer Olympiad next year.

Yet, many questions were raised why, against the awards, the average scores of Thai students, as reflected in the Ordinary National Educational Test (Onet) for the five subjects, are low. In the international arena, as reflected through the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa), Thailand's ranking is also low.

Pornpun noted that it's not IPST alone in the quest to drive scientific and mathematical excellence. The agency is just playing a supporting role to the national education policy in the care of the Education Ministry. Its role is limited to improving the quality of teachers in these areas and recruiting talented students for the Academic Olympiad.

Each year, IPST is allocated Bt80-Bt90 million from the government to organise academic camps to find and train cream-of-the-crop students in the country to represent Thailand, competing in the international academic competitions, she said.

The results so far have been impressive, she said. The competition has increased Thai students' interest in scientific learning. In 1991, when the training project started, only 9,290 students applied. This year, the programme has attracted about 52,000 students.

Before students are selected, they must be trained with advanced contents of those subjects, algorithms and problem-solving in the camps. This arouses their interest in mathematics and science and improves their knowledge.

Only 23 will be chosen to represent Thailand in the Academic Olympiad.

Although many fail, they have been trained under other projects of IPST.

"All these are carried out with the Bt90 million budget," she said.

The students can also apply for scholarships under IPST's Development and Promotion of Science and Technology Talents Project (DPST), under which they are educated to be researchers and creators, and Teacher Professional Development Project (TPDP), which turns them into proficient science and mathematics teachers.

"Medals are not the only important goal of our Academic Olympiads project, but it's better when the project can encourage more teenagers to study science and mathematics," she said.

Scholarships under DPST are available for 60 students to study at the senior secondary level and 120 students to study higher education in math and science yearly, while 580 TPDP scholarships are available for those to study higher education in math and science along with a graduate diploma in the teaching profession.

Upcountry students are now given more opportunities to participate in the camps after the Promotion of Academic Olympiads and Development of Science Education Foundation under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana had set up 20 centres across the country to recruit intelligent students for selection.

Since 2001, IPST has offered scholarships to more than 100 students who participated in the Academic Olympics, to further their under- and post-graduate education in the US, the UK and Germany in fields that Thailand is weak in, such as mathematics, physics, computer science, chemistry and biology.

Ninety per cent of them received the scholarships while the rest have received scholarships from His Majesty the King to further their education abroad and study medicine locally.

From a total budget for IPST of Bt1.56 billion in the next fiscal year, 60 per cent will be allocated for scholarships with math and science talents and 40 per cent as a budget for R&D to produce good instructional media, improve curricula and run activities promoting math and science.

"This is a long-term investment. At least, some of the students who are not enlisted for the international competition are enrolled into scientific faculties in leading universities.

"As a matter of fact, we are just in the seventh year of the 20-year-long programme to produce new scientists for new research. Hopefully, this will yield a fruitful return when the programme ends. Education is not easy to achieve, it's not like just handing out scholarships."

While expecting the first doctors to return home, Pornpun is worried about how efficiently they can put their knowledge to full use. To support them, research budgets and good laboratories are required, aside from attractive salaries. Also, she observed that professional researchers do not quite enjoy high social praise like others, such as engineers.

-- The Nation 2010-08-09

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Thai Tiger Airways to rival Thai AirAsia with low-cost tickets

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Wichien tipped to be new police chief

By The Nation

Today's nomination of the new police chief should proceed without a glitch, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday, dismissing a claim by the opposition about political interference.

Abhisit neither confirmed nor denied his intention to promote deputy national police chief General Wichien Potephosree to succeed General Prateep Tanprasert, who is scheduled to retire on September 30.

An informed source said Abhisit would promote Wichien as the new police chief because he had good qualifications, was politically neutral and a senior figure. "He can work with all sides and he used to serve as an acting police chief before," the source said.

The opposition wanted to call on the Royal Thai Police board to pick the police chief in a straightforward manner without succumbing to political pressure, Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said.

Prompong voiced concern that Abhisit, in his capacity as chairman of the police board, would wield power to nominate his favourite rather than the most-qualified candidate.

He said it was high time for police officers to run their own affairs and free themselves from their political overseers.

Democrat MP Sathit Pitutecha said regardless of who gets the job, he expected the new police chief to enforce the law without fear or favour.

In the past, political predicaments persisted because police opted to turn a blind to the rule of law, he said.

"In a recent example, the red-shirt rally spiralled out of control because police were reluctant to do their job in enforcing the law," he said.

He said he was closely monitoring the performance of police in his current post as chairman of the House committee on police affairs.

Next week he will make an inspection trip to check on complaints related to illegal gambling in Police Region 2, covering the eastern provinces, including Chon Buri and Rayong.

Complaints filed at the House alleged that provincial police had failed to crack down on operators of illegal slot machines, which are allegedly popular with small gamblers.

-- The Nation 2010-08-09

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CHALK TALK

Learning trends through handheld devices

By PIYAKORN PUSAWIRO

New technologies can bring much excitement to learners. As a student two decades ago, I myself was very much excited about a big mainframe computer- even though I could only work on it via a remote terminal.

I really did not mind waiting for at least one day to see the result of my work with the computer.

Years later, I was also fascinated when the increasingly advanced technology allowed me to work on a personal computer.

Given that I have never forgotten those wonderful experiences, I have found smart phones cool devices for learning and teaching.

Smart phones like Android, iPhone, and Blackberry are now a big trend. A large number of people, including students, carry them around to stay connected with not just their friends or family, but also the Internet.

Therefore, it is now time for teachers/lecturers to start working with these devices on their mission to help their students to learn better.

There is a massive amount of knowledge namely open content, including free online lessons and courses, out there in the Internet. Teachers/lecturers should therefore first of all guide their students on which ones to pick and which to rely on.

Indeed, so many contributors now download lessons and useful educational content online for others to use for free or at very little cost. As most contributors are well-educated and work in the educational sector, their created content is really a good option to traditional textbooks.

Many free lectures are also available via iTunes and YouTube. Such open content has significantly boosted the availability of information to students and independent learners. Students, so far, should be advised about where to look. Students need the skills of finding, assessing, interpreting, and synthesising information, which the teachers/lecturers can help cultivate.

Then again, there is technological help for those who know where the assistance lies. For example, there is the technology trend for collective and selective content. Known as aggregation, it is the process of transparently gathering together distributed pieces of online content. Such content can then be categorised by the relevant topic or the author.

Really Simple Syndication (RSS) readers or feeds are one way to aggregate data. With such a tool, learners can easily track a distributed conversation that takes place across blogs, Twitter, and other publishing platforms, as well as pull in relevant resources from news feeds and other sources.

Such technology can make a big difference in the educational sector.

Thanks to it, students can access their course materials, discussions, assignments, and grades almost anytime, anywhere if their teachers/lecturers have jumped on the bandwagon and made the utmost use from the available technology.

In fact, teachers/lecturers and students can even share their thoughts, ideas, and experiences related to learning via mobile or handheld devices.

Several universities, after all, have already made their courses available for mobile delivery.

Although this increasingly hi-tech world is changing the role of teachers/lecturers from the transmitter of knowledge to facilitators or coaches for learners, their role is still very important.

Therefore, I would like to encourage my fellows to learn how best to apply the new technologies relating mobile devices, portable computers, handhelds, or any Internet-capable devices to the learning context.

Then, design your course and class activities in a way that matches the new generation's lifestyle.

PRIYAKORN PUSAWIRO

Learning Scientist

Computer Engineering Department, KMUTT

pusawiro [at] cpe.kmutt.ac.th

-- The Nation 2010-08-09

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Fund set up to support Her Majesty the Queen’s initiative on narcotic solutions

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will chair a special program at Government House on Monday night (9 August 2010) to draw public donations to a fund set up in honor of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit and to support her fight against narcotic drugs.

In conjunction with HM the Queen’s birthday on 12 August, the government is calling on people in all sectors to contribute to the so-called “Fund for the Mother of the Land” established to boost the empowerment of rural communities in their fight against narcotics. The village empowerment has actually been launched for quite some time but the fund will be used to double the number of villages participating in the anti-narcotic project.

The program will be held at Santi Maitri Building in the Government House from 21.30 to 24.00 hrs and will be broadcast live via Modern Nine TV. Activities in the program will reflect Her Majesty the Queen’s concern over narcotic problems and royal graciousness in providing a fund to the Office of the Narcotics Control Board to support sustainable solutions to the problem.

Charitable people are invited to make contributions to the Fund at the city hall in every province, all district offices or via the Bangkok Bank’s Ratchadaphisek Rd Branch saving account no. 1954739569.

-- NNT 2010-08-09

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Thailand to explain to UN concerning Hun Sen's claim

Thailand would explain to the United Nations its stance on the Phra Viharn Controversy to counter Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen's letter to the UN which decry claims that Thailand is ready to abrogate rulings on the mutual border.

Government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn told reporters on Monday that Foreign Minister officials and legal experts are meeting to outline letter to be sent to the UN to explain to the UN about the matter.

-- The Nation 2010-08-09

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Student injured when passenger bus shot at

PATHUM THANI: -- A vocational school student was severely injured when a passenger bus was fired at by a student from a rival school Monday morning.

Thanapol Sridanai, 16, a student of Don Muang Technical College, suffered from multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to the Ake Pathum Hospital.

Police said a student of Pathum Thani Technical College fired a shotgun at the bus No 118, which it ran past a group of the Pathum Thani Technical College students at about 7:30 am.

Thanapol and several other Don Muang Technical College students were riding the bus.

-- The Nation 2010-08-09

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Suthep affirms no war with Cambodia

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Thailand will not use force against Cambodia as alleged by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, according to Deputy Prime Minister overseeing Security Affairs, Suthep Thaugsuban.

The Cambodian Prime Minister recently handed over a letter to the UN, accusing Thailand of violating the UN Charter by threatening military action to solve the Preah Vihear dispute.

Mr Suthep said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be in charge of clarifying the matter and stressed that Thailand wishes to resolve its dispute with Cambodia peacefully.

The Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that Thai troops would not move into Cambodia, but assured their readiness to protect national sovereignty. Mr Suthep refuted the closing of trade.

Regarding the special debate between the Government and the Thai Patriots Network in regards to Preah Vihear on Sunday, Mr Suthep said it was a good opportunity to elucidate the situation to the public.

-- NNT 2010-08-09

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Meteorological Dept: Scattered rain and isolated heavy falls are likely over country. Wind and wave have rather strong, ships should proceed with caution /via @MCOTEnglishnews

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FC Phuket breeze past Hatyai FC, 2-0

FC Phuket hope to advance out of the AIS Regional League Division 2

to become the third southern team in Division 1, where Songkhla

and Narathiwat currently play.

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Flood situation in northern region easing

CHIANG RAI (NNT) -- People in the northern provinces of Chiang Rai and Nan have started a clean up effort with the flood situation alleviating while in Phichit locals fear the worst for their over one month submerged rice fields.

Farmers in the central province of Phichit are trying to clear waterways to drain water out of their land as soon as possible after an overflow put over 800,000 square meters of paddy fields under water. They said the rice fields would be completely destroyed if not drained within 3 days.

Meanwhile, locals in Nan province have started cleaning their houses after water levels dropped. Local authorities are coordinating with relevant agencies to help restore antiques and ancient remains damaged by inundation.

Chiang Rai Administration has dispatched mobile kitchens to various areas in the province to allow people to make meals for themselves. Over 2,600 households in 5 districts have been left without basic necessities.

-- NNT 2010-08-09

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THB strongest in 2 years

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Opening at 31.96-31.97 THB against the USD this morning the Thai currency was its strongest in 26 months.

Financial analysts from the Bank of Ayudhya reported the Thai baht opening at 31.99-32.00 THB per USD this morning, up from 32.05 THB on Friday. The value has climbed to its highest value value since May 2008.

Experts believe the trend will continue for some time. A recent lackluster employment report from the US has shifted interest to other currencies. Investors are turning to Asian currencies as the US interest rate is expected to remain low . The US may need to impose new measures to boost its economy.

The Thai baht is expected to move within the narrow range of 31.90-32.00 THB against the USD today.

-- NNT 2010-08-09

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Red-shirt Leaders Face More Charges

The special investigation agency will seek four more charges against detained red-shirt core elements for their roles in the May riots.

Director general of the Department of Special Investigation, or DSI, Tharit Pengdit, said his agency's investigators have resolved to file four more charges against red-shirt core leaders, including Weera Musikapong, Jatuporn Prompan, Weng Tojirakarn and Nutthawut Saikua.

Those charges involve inciting social disorder, assembling to stage chaos, disobeying the authorities' order to cease gathering and violating the emergency law.

Thirteen other red-shirt members will also face the same charges.

Tharit said further investigation and footage on red-shirt speeches during the protests suggested they committed more crimes, apart from acts of terrorism.

He stated his department will present evidence and the accused to prosecutors of the Special Litigation Department on Monday.

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathawipak has forwarded his statement to the Attorney General's Office, asking its panel in charge of terrorism charges to finalize its decision whether to indict the suspects before their detention term expires.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-09

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Suthep denies govt used double standard in favor of PAD demonstrators

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban Monday denied that the government used double standard law enforcement and allowed yellow-shirt demonstrators to rally in Bangkok despite the state of emergency.

Suthep said the authorities did not practice nonfeasance by failing to arrest demonstrators led by the People's Alliance for Democracy.

The PAD led demonstrators to rally outside the Government House on Saturday, demanding the government to annul its memorandum of understanding with Cambodia on border demarcation.

Suthep said he had checked with the authorities and was informed that they had properly complied with the laws when dealing with the PAD-led protesters.

Suthep said that although the yellow-shirt protesters violated the rally ban in Bangkok, they had not yet violated four prohibitions, including obstructing traffic.

-- The Nation 2010-08-09

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Abhisit says cancellation of demarcation MOU with Cambodia may be last option

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told the People's Alliance for Democracy that the cancellation of the border demarcation memorandum of understanding with Cambodia will be done only if the border disputes cannot be solved.

Abhist was speaking when he met PAD leader Chamlong Srimuang and PAD demonstrators at the Thai-Japanese Stadium in Din Daeng at noon Saturday.

The PAD called on the government to cancel the 2000 MOU and take the disputed plot near Preah Vihear Temple.

"I confirm that the MFA has been working hard on this, to make sure our rights haven't been breached," Abhisit said.

"About the land encroachment, we will cancel the MOU if the problem can't be settled. We will use both democratic and military means," Abhisit said, referring to the plot near the temple.

-- The Nation 2010-08-09

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Suthep denies Thai troops encroached on Cambodian soil

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban Monday denied that Thai troops had encroached on Cambodian territory as alleged by Phnom Penh.

He admitted that Thai troops had been deployed to defend Thai territory along the border but the troops had not encroached upon Cambodian territory.

Suthep said Cambodia had its rights to deploy troops to be on alert along the borderline as long as the troops would not encroach on Thai soil.

The deputy prime minister said the situation has not yet warranted the closure of border checkpoints along Thai-Cambodian border.

-- The Nation 2010-08-09

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Thai Patriots Network Calls Off Protest Due to Low Support

A civic group called the Thai Patriots Network called off their gathering in front of the headquarters of the Government House after demonstrating to demand the government protect Thai soveriegnty. .

About 100 members of the Thailand Patriot Network called off their gathering in front of the Government House at about 3 PM on Sunday.

Chaiwat Sinsuwong, a leader of the network, said it is was the consensus of the group's leaders that the number of supporters was too low to mount a movement.

He insisted that their calling off the gathering is just a pause. The group will recruit more supporters and plans to achieve their goal without unnecessary street protests. Veera Somkwamkid, core leader of the network, said their calling off the rally stems from the government's plan to divide citizens who are concerned about the Preah Vihear Temple issue and its surrounding area into two groups; his network and the PAD.

While supporters of People's Alliance for Democracy, or PAD, organized their gathering at Thai-Japanese Sports Complex in Din Daeng, the supporters of Thai Patriots Network held their gathering in front of the Government House and the headquarters of the First Army Area.

He said this resulted in a low number of supporters attending the gathering in front of the First Army Area, and admitted they couldn't achieve their goal.

Veera suggested that the PAD and his network should discuss a common strategy to work together towards the same goal.

He said that both groups can work together so long as they are sincere in their movement.

Veera added that the televised badminton game with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had nothing to do with the calling off of the gathering.

He said there is no need for a second talk with the government as the premier made it clear he has no intention of canceling the MoU signed in 2000 during the administration of Chuan Leekpai.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-09

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Cambodian Paper Blasts Thailand over Preah Vihear Row

Cambodia's government newspaper has called on Thailand to end its “obstruction” of the Preah Vihear land management plan as military forces have affirmed their readiness to respond with force to any attempt of encroachment.

A state-run newspaper in Cambodia today ran an article attacking Thailand's objection to Cambodia's land management plan for Preah Vihear Temple.

It called on Thailand to cease its “obstruction” as well as claim of the right over the 4.6-square kilometer area around the temple.

The Cambodian government has affirmed that it wished to continue good relations with Thailand, but cited the 1907 Siam-French accord as definitive proof it has the right over the Preah Vihear perimeter.

The article said Cambodia is still open to negotiations, but Thailand's unacceptable conditions and lack of an ambassador in the country have made pursuing talks difficult.

It blamed the current situation on the current Thai administration, noting that military relations between the two nations remain good.

The article blasted the Thai government for using the border issue as a political tool, urging it to dispatch an ambassador to Phnom Penh soon.

Alluding to dissatisfaction over rumors that Cambodia has appointed deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser, the paper stated that Thaksin is nowhere near Cambodia and that the country's laws do not permit him to take such a position.

On a planned protest by Thai social groups near Preah Vihear Temple, the paper stated that the Cambodian military has been ordered to respond with force to any invasion.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-09

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Thai Superstar Bashed & Robbed on Pattaya Beach Road

PATTAYA: -- A famous Thai musician has been assaulted & robbed along Pattaya’s Beach Road on Monday morning. Despite the presence of several witnesses, the group of offenders managed to flee the scene with over Bt80,000 in cash and valuables.

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Suthep vows to prosecute PAD if guilty

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs, Suthep Thaugsuban, has vowed to take legal action against the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) if it is found guilty of staging a rally under the state of emergency enforcement

Mr Suthep said that the Center for Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) had ordered security officers to abide by the procedures; otherwise, they themselves would face prosecution for dereliction of duties

The Deputy Prime Minister, however, noted that security officers had strictly followed the procedures in handling demonstrations, ranging from negotiating with to explaining to the protest groups consisting of the PAD and the Thais Love Nation Network members.

Asked if the protesters would be prosecuted, Mr Suthep responded that authorities were ready to take action against them if they violated the law. He also confirmed that there were no double standards in what he was doing, as there were no reasons for him to do so.

The protesters gathered in front of Army Region 1 on Sunday afternoon, but dispersed a short while later after the number of supporters dwindled. Meanwhile, the opposition Pheu Thai Party slammed the Government for its failure to take action against the protesting group.

-- NNT 2010-08-09