Thailand Live Monday 16 Aug 2010

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Thailand Live Monday 16 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 15 August 2010

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Industry Ministry: Over 700,000 sacks of sugar to be distributed into market this month

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Ministry of Industry will start distributing over 700,000 sacks of sugar into the market this month in order to ease the shortage and tackle soaring sugar prices in the country.

Industry Minister Chaiwut Bannawat stated that he had assigned related committee to expedite the distribution of 743,000 sacks of sugar, acquired through an auction, into the market nationwide this month. The first lot of 279,000 sacks of sugar will be allotted to middlemen for delivery to retail shops.

Mr Chaiwut said such move would help reduce sugar prices by up to 3 THB per kilogram, adding that the price in the country had once reached 28 THB per kilogram.

The Minister also admitted that the problem of sugar shortage was caused by oversights of related agencies, which had miscalculated the allotment, thanks to the nation’s unexpected rapid economic recovery, which, in turn, caused sugar demand to rise rapidly, resulting in shortages and price increases.

The Minister disclosed that this year’s demand for sugar in dessert and soft drinks industries is currently 20% higher than that of the same period last year.

-- NNT 2010-08-16

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PM ready to clarify temple row with UN

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The ruling Democrat Party has ensured readiness of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to clarify all accusations and solve problems relating to the controversial Preah Vihear dispute on the UN stage.

Democrat Party Spokesperson, MD Buranaj Smutharaks, stressed that the Thai Government would rather have this temple dispute solved within a bilateral framework than letting a third party’s interference or influence over the problem.

MD Buranaj’s comment came after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen questioned the Thai Government for its fear of being intervened by a third party. The Cambodian side has so far been trying to involve the UN and ASEAN to help solve the Preah Vihear conflict.

MD Buranaj indicated that it would not do any good to involve any third party with this dispute. He questioned back at the Cambodian Prime Minister why his country wanted such an intervention and how useful it could be.

The spokesperson however noted that Thai Prime Minister Abhisit would be ready to clarify any misunderstanding with the world during a UN conference from 20 to 27 September 2010 should Cambodia would really like this problem solved in the international arena.

-- NNT 2010-08-16

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Jatuporn to raise Temple row to joint house meeting

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Pheu Thai Party List MP, Jatuporn Prompan, will raise the controversial Preah Vihear dispute between Thailand and Cambodia to the upcoming joint sitting of Parliament this week.

Mr Jatuporn, also the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship Deputy Chairperson, announced on Sunday that he would speak about the issue in the joint session, which would be held from 17 to 18 August 2010.

During the session, the government is scheduled to present the minutes of the recent sessions of the Thai-Cambodian joint border committee (JBC) to the consideration of MPs and senators.

Mr Jatuporn said Thailand had made a mistake in accepting the map identified in the the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on land survey and demarcation.

Mr Jatuporn warned that Thailand might lose other pieces of land other than the 4.6 square-kilometers to Cambodia if Thailand kept using the 2000 MoU. He noted that Thailand might be at risk of losing other overlapping zones along the Thai-Lao border as well.

-- NNT 2010-08-16

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DSI to make further arrests following information from Seh Daeng's driver

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is forged ahead with interrogation on the re-arrested driver of late Army Specialist Major General Khattiya Sawasdipol, also known as 'Seh Daeng'.

According to DSI Director-General, Tharit Pengdit, military officers and security units are now responsible for jointly interrogating Seh Daeng's personal chauffeur Chakchalat “Pol” Khongsuwan, now detained in an unknown military camp on charge of terrorism.

Mr Chakchalat earlier was arrested and then released on bail on 8 March 2010 along with other suspects, including Seh Daeng himself for violating the Firearms Act.

According to Mr Tharit, initial inquiries enabled officials to gain important information, especially about financial movements of the late army specialist. A woman with the initial K in her name is said to supply funds for Major General Khattiya. Her arrest warrant will be sought at once when evidences are ready.

In addition, the DSI expects to submit the case on the Central World Shopping Complex arson for prosecution by next week.

-- NNT 2010-08-16

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Prasarn ponders wealth gap

By Achara Deboonme

The Nation

New BOT chief says helping to reduce the country's uneven distribution of wealth and tackling social issues such as welfare will need a coordinated govt response

The Bank of Thailand governor-designate, Dr Prasarn Trairatvorakul, is reaching out for co-ordinated efforts to extend the central bank's traditional role so it also encompasses social issues like income distribution and the environment.

While saying that his action plan would be revealed after discussions with BOT officials, Prasarn said he saw a need to cooperate with the Budget Bureau, the National Economic and Social Development Board and the Finance Ministry to accomplish his mission.

His concern is that the central bank might not be able to catch up with these agencies if it gets into a defensive mindset. Thailand faces challenges like the Map Ta Phut crisis, which is hitting foreign direct investment, as well as the future of the agricultural industry, the environment, manufacturing and exports.

"Looking back, it's clear that the economy had its heyday when all these units coordinated well, with support from technocrats and less political intervention," he said, referring to the days when the NESDB was led by Snoh Unakul, and the central bank by Puey Ungphakorn. "The prime ministers had time for such figures, as they sat on piles of information, demonstrated distinguished perception and possessed [social] capital."

Coordination was crucial given the change in the central bank's role, he said. Traditionally, the central bank was responsible for growth and stability. However, today, social problems in Thailand are escalating and the central bank is expected to pay attention to the problems, chiefly in terms of income distribution and opportunities.

Prasarn noted that four key pillars - economic growth, stability (internal and external), income

distribution and a green society - would guide his term at the bank.

He did, however, admit that the bank had limited tools at hand. Though financial tools can be used to control the first two pillars, the central bank has no tools when it comes to income distribution and building a green society.

"We may need to seek cooperation from private financial institutions, but this can only be done through persuasion. Unlike fiscal tools that come with an on/off switch, monetary tools, be they on or off, always have some inertia," he said.

"It would take a long time to address the income-distribution issue and requires huge funds because only a lift in wages or education will resolve it. But just hiking wages would be like giving away money that will not be spent. The multiplier effect would be low, which would not address the income distribution issue. Moreover, this would leave a small sum for investment in other areas."

Coordination is also crucial for Thailand to become a welfare state. He conceded that populist policies were good by nature, designed to help the underprivileged because most of the wealth goes to entrepreneurs, not the workforce.

However, the true virtue of the welfare would lie in the details - who is targeted and how much they are entitled to. Details must be clear because these policies need huge injections of cash, which can be supported by tax hikes. Demands for excessive funds would also encourage the government to raise their bond rates, and this would only lead to a crowding-out effect if little was left for the private sector to raise.

"If the frontline acts positively, we at the back will be okay. The central bank has a limited number of tools, amid high expectations. We need to work together," said the man who is slated to begin his five-year term in October, pending royal endorsement.

"The BOT's biggest challenge would be if it were to get involved in public policy. There are expectations, but no tools. I won't say that it does not concern us. Many private institutions are helping out and doing things that are not attached to profit maximisation. But we have no tools, and must therefore, work well with public agencies and the private sector. Using only monetary tools could be too defensive and far too costly," he concluded.

-- The Nation 2010-08-16

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2 Workers Killed, Many Trapped In University Building Collapse In Chon Buri

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Faces from famous pics attends special event

By The Nation

Within a week of a public announcement seeking their identities, seven people seen in both vintage and recent photos with Her Majesty the Queen have shown up and brought along memorable stories and impressions.

Five of them were present at a government event held yesterday at Dusit Throne Hall marking the Queen's 78th birthday. The other two were unable to make it to the event, called "Power of Love ... Mother of the Land", which ended yesterday, due to short notice.

Sakhon Nakhon native Lamai Khamtalob, 50, said she had taken her daughter Metta, 20 months old at the time, who was born without a skull, to an assembly of villagers waiting for Her Majesty to arrive, on November 15, 1983, to meet her to seek medical assistance.

She received Bt5,000 from Her Majesty to take care of the baby girl, who died afterwards as the congenital symptom is incurable.

Laerb Baisila, 73, and son Decha, 33, said Her Majesty entered their house for a brief visit in 1980, before having a chat and leaving.

Retired colonel Bunchoo Bunmanee, 73, said he still remembered the 20minute visit by the Their Majesties at a hospital where he was undergoing treatment for combat wounds in 1981.

"She touched me by my shoulder, and said: 'Don't worry. The Army doctors are good.' This has impressed me and my family to this day," he said.

Dusit Somchai said Her Majesty entered his home in Sakhon Nakhon and talked with his mother during a visit 30 years ago.

And hilltribe woman Napu Praipraditphol presented a handmade bag to Her Majesty during a visit in Mae Hong Son some 30 years ago.

The two other people identified were retired Navy Lt Commander Bunsueb Unruen, 58, who provided security for Her Majesty during a visit to Trat many years ago, and Kanya Insrisom, who met Her Majesty during a visit in Yala and received a scholarship for her sister from Her Majesty.

-- The Nation 2010-08-16

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'Mrs kor' red cash courier

By The Nation

A woman identified as Mrs Kor has been implicated by a key suspect of being a money courier for the redshirted protests in May, authorities said yesterday.

"If he further incriminates the woman and the DSI can obtain more evidence against her, an arrest warrant will be sought for this [new] suspect," Tharit Phengdit, directorgeneral of the Department of Special Investigation, said yesterday.

Jakchalat Khongsuwan, a chauffeur and personal bodyguard for Army specialist Khattiya Sawasdipol, who was killed by a sniper in the protests, is still in military custody after his arrest last week, so has not been interrogated by the DSI, Tharit said.

The woman is believed to have delivered funds to Khattiya at various places on many occasions.

Tharit said he needed to obtain more proof and question Jakchalat before deciding that she was connected to any of all the 83 people whose assets had been frozen on suspicion of funding the violent demonstrations.

The 25 suspects in the torching of CentralWorld and other buildings at the end of the protests in late May will be processed for indictment by public prosecutors next week.

In Chiang Mai, police yesterday detained a man suspected of joining an attack on the home of a People Alliance for Democracy activist two years ago and killing his father.

Daeng Puanmool, a member of the proThaksin Shinawatra Rak Chiang Mai 51 Group, was arrested shortly after midnight at his wife's house in Hang Dong district.

Five men taking part in the gang attack are serving 20year prison terms and police are going after two other men seen in media footage.

On November 26, 2009, some 200 Rak Chiang Mai 51 Group members barricaded the home of Therdsak Jiamkijwatthana in the Raming Niwet housing estate in Muang district, and later attacked a pickup truck commandeered by his father Settha and killed him. Eight men have been charged with murder including the five convicts and Daeng.

Thepthai Senapong, the prime minister's spokesman, said the opposition Pheu Thai Party had been overworried about statements by Jakchalat and most suspects implicating people in the red movement.

"This is probably because the PT members are afraid that they could be also implicated, so they usually come up with preemptive attacks that the police and the government are making arrests of scapegoats," he said.

Jatuporn Promphan, a redshirt leader and PT partylist MP, accused public prosecutors of rushing indictments against him and all red suspects in custody - by announcing the completion of all cases last Wednesday despite the lastminute legal deadline on September 7.

All the suspects, including Jatuporn, are scheduled to be escorted to the Criminal Court today for arraignment or other orders.

-- The Nation 2010-08-16

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Academic expo being held in Hat Yai

By The Nation

Prince of Songkhla University Hat Yai Campus will organize an academic expo to promote excellent researches creating knowledge for Southern region's communities.

The event, held from August 17 to 20 at the university's international conference hall, would also include the 14th higher educational program fair to be held from August 17-18 and the 1st international education exhibition to be held from August 1920. The latter exhibition would be attended by educational institutions from Asean countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia as well as domestic institutes providing international programs.

Besides presenting its various faculties' researches to the public, the event highlight was the university's researches aiming for excellence and becoming the national research university, which could be divided in seven fields. They were; the food product value adding and the southern region's food industry promotion for sustainability; the rubber innovation; the Thai peninsula natural resource's innovation and management; the medical and public health innovation responding to Southern region's needs; the materials technology research, development and application; the oil palm technology development and the studies related to the southern border provinces and multiculture.

This year academic expo would be a showdown of the university's academic research potentials through activities and exhibitions, which could be further developed and materialized to strengthen Thai Southern region's economy, according to Vice President for Planning and Development Thawat Chittrakarn. The event would also include academic seminars in various topics such as ecotourism in Songkhla river basin and ThaiMalayu multiculture, as well as a parade featuring southern people's costumes, he said, it was expected to educate interested persons especially students, teachers and parents in the 14 southern provinces.

-- The Nation 2010-08-16

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CHALK TALK

Popular science fair should be taken to cities upcountry

By The Nation

In their uniforms, young students smiled happily when their buses arrived at Bitec Bangna. Around them were students from other provincial schools, getting off the buses to get a glimpse of Thailand's advanced technology exhibited at the National Science and Fair 2010 which are taking place during August 722.

If the Abhisit government is to be commended for anything, it is its concrete efforts to allow these underprivileged students to witness development outside classrooms.

Starting in the 2009 fiscal year, the Education Ministry is allocated the average Bt345 budget per head to finance the outsideclassroom study programme. This is granted on recognition that students, confined in classrooms, could never learn how to be creative. The result is most of them would be left behind forever. When they enter the labour market, the market will be flooded with inexperienced and lowskilled labour, a contribution to the country's low competitiveness.

Based on the number of 12 million students nationwide under the Office of Basic Education Commission and privatelyrun schools, the programme entails a budget of Bt4.14 billion in a year. Notably, each year, the government pays out about Bt60 billion in medical bills to civil servants.

It is out of question if this investment is worthwhile, when you see the smiles on the visiting students' faces and their enthusiasm particularly when they participated in scientific experimentations.

Exploring the new technology on spacious exhibition areas are expected to feed in enthusiasm to pursue further knowledge. Unlike children in Bangkok who are accustomed to shopping complexes where fairs are an indispensable part, museums and many other events all year round, it is rare for the provincial students to get exposed to creative and innovative ideas, even once in a year.

But as we look on, the students' smiles are fading when heard the teachers' call out for them to return to the buses for a ride home. Some students are lucky to get a chance to hang around at the exhibition centre all day, but most students are given only a few hours. It is worth noting that the Bt345 per head budget could cover only fuel cost and food, not overstay accommodation.

For the benefits of the underprivileged, the Abhisit government should win more praise if it can set the model of crossministry collaboration. Aside from the budget to the Education Ministry, the Science and Technology Ministry is granted a huge sum for the annual fair. But it is exhibited only once in a year, only in Bangkok. This raises a big question how they handle the exhibited items after the fair. In economic term, the return could be maximised if these items can reach out to a bigger audience.

It would be a cheering for provincial students if the fair, following the opening in Bangkok, can be moved to provinces - starting with big cities in different regions. Students nearby can go to the nearest sites, and this would also allow them to spend more time at the sites.

Then, more students would get a change to witness the outside world. More will start the next day at school, asking their teachers to explain more about what they see at the exhibitions. Teachers will then know that they need to prepare for a flood of questions. Only then will the return from this investment be maximised.

Chularat Saengpassa

-- The Nation 2010-08-16

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EDUCATION

School students learn how to fight global warming

By Premyuda Boonroj

The Nation

Tokyo

Thai pupils taught ecofriendly ways of life at Toshiba camp in Japan

As the clock ticked past midnight, several highschoolers from Japan, Thailand, USA and Poland were still up working on articles for the "ActEco Journal". They wanted to show readers what they had learnt from fieldtrips about a greener lifestyle and attempts to tackle global warming.

With the theme of trying to halve CO2 emission by 2050, the 3rd Toshiba International Youth Conference brought together 19 high school students and 11 teachers early this month to review, in a journalistic way, efforts in Japan to solve global environmental challenges.

Starting off at the Chiba Prefecture's Josai Awa Kamokawa Learning Centre, the camp, organized by nonprofit organisation BeGood Cafe, got the kids to know each other and overcome cultural and language barriers through communication, teambuilding and goal sharing workshops.

From the simple and ecological community of "Kamokawa Nature Kingdom" amid Chiba's richly green mountains to the concrete jungle of Tokyo Metropolitan where existed the "Tokyo Uden 2017" biodiesel scheme and the rooftop Ginza honey project, from the Josai International University founder Mizuta Mikio's Japanese farmhouse built 150 years ago to the Toshiba Museum's modern technologies overlooking into future, these bright young minds explored, jotted down notes about, and took photos of what they had seen.

Working in three groups namely Lifestyle, Business/Politics, and Science/Technology, they produced articles about the fieldtrips for the camp's very own "ActEco Journal" at the end of each day.

On the fifth day, the students interviewed a Japanese congressman Mitsuji Ishida advocating for renewable technologies and sustainable communities in Japan, Institute for Sustainable Energies Policy researcher Shota Furuya, and the president of an environmental advocacy company called Sustena, Miyako Maekita, and wrote articles about them in the evening.

The idea of making "ActEco Journal" developed from the previous years' feedback and was to give the students a sense of mission accomplishment and a concrete result to share with others back at home, according to BeGood Cafe Chairman Kiyoshi Shikita.

Tanachit Sangchan from Assumption College Lampang said the journal made the camp positively different, helped him learning how to work with other international friends and prepared him for university workload, but he wished there were more time scheduled to write articles, as many kids worked very late and woke up next morning feeling rather sleepy.

Despite the tight schedule and pressing deadline, the students managed to complete their tasks nicely, thanked to the evening "sharing and reflection" session in which they reviewed daily lessons and make suggestions to fellow campers' article writing.

Thawatchai Sangdee from Trium Udom Suksa School said the "sharing and reflection" was a big help in exchanging with other campers who might have seen something different during fieldtrips. He also wished the camp were held in one summer rather than a week and Thailand had this kind of intensebutfun camp over environment or development topics for youths.

The conference concluded with presentations by the attending eight schools about practical measures and their postconference commitments.

Shota Utsumi and Maya Hirohara from Keio Shonan Fujisawa Senior High School vowed to promote at school the concept of local production for local consumption to cut down CO2 emission, while Hitashi First High School's Yusuke Horie and Mariko Kikuchi would start with small steps like sing ecofriendly products and organising used oil candlemaking during the school festival. Waseda University Senior High School's Shinya Hara, Ritaro Kasai and Takumi Nagashima said they considered recycling used oil from school cafeteria.

School for Environmental Studies' Diana Eng, Ashley Hernandez, Nina Luksanapol and Alejandro eyed on spreading word for a sustainable lifestyle promotion to friends and families, organising a weekend environmental conference for New York high school pupils, and doing small but matter things such as keeping a rooftop garden, buying produces from local farmer markets, and reducing plastic bag usage.

Liceum Ogolnoksztalcace nr 14 we Wroawiu students Arkadiusz Kacala and Jakub Ubysz said the camp made them realised that Poland's simple countryside lifestyle could be for sustainable future and they could still timely prevent environmental problems in Poland. High School by PolishJapanese Institute of Information Technology's Anastazja Karolewska and Aleksander Martyniak said they would explained what they have learned to peers and urge them to engage in ecological movements.

Triam Udom Suksa School's Supawich Wongkietkachorn and Thawatchai Sangdee said they would create noplastic bag campaign at school and promote the exchange of local products in community. Assumption College Lampang's Teerapat Sutjaluk and Tanachit Sangchan eyed on collecting old cooking oil from school canteen and doing a science project on Vegetable Diesel Fuel (VDF), which reduces CO2 by 2.62 kg per litre.

After this year, all schools - mostly selected by their consistent engagement in environmental activities would change, except the Polish schools that joined this conference for the second year, because each school was to participate for three consecutive years, said Fumihiko Namekawa, president of Toshiba International Foundation. While students take turns each year to attend, the teachers will remain the same persons, in order to ensure consistency and teachers' deeper understanding, he said.

In the conference, the teachers thus had a chance to enhance the abilities to promote environmental and scientific education and intercultural communication as well as networking through workshops held by the Japan Centre for International Exchange.

Next year, the conference will be held in Japan and Toshiba Thai Foundation eyed on sending Thai nongovernmental organization members to learn how to organize such event to pave way for Thailand to host the camp in future or organise a similar event in a national scale, said Toshiba Thai Foundation president Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul.

As the spirits of youths and their mentors were fuelled by new knowledge, exchange over the matter and friendship by the end of camping, they were hoped to shine on and light the way closer towards the lesspolluted and sustainable future.

-- The Nation 2010-08-16

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Hopes pinned on temple talks

By The Nation

Boundary demarcation chief hopes Parliament will okay documents and allow negotiations with Cambodia

The joint boundary demarcation chief hopes Parliament will this week approve minutes of previous meetings of the Thai-Cambodia Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) to allow talks to help resolve the border dispute.

"We hope the Parliament will approve all documents and allow us to continue negotiations with Cambodia," said Vasin Teeravechyan, co-chair of the JBC.

The Foreign Ministry was due to report to Parliament on the results of JBC meetings in November 2008, February 2009 and April 2009, he said, and will ask for approval to enable negotiations to go on.

Demarcation of the boundary has become controversial after the nationalist People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and its allies in the Senate opposed the negotiations because of fears the country will lose territory.

The nationalist group wants the government to revoke a Memorandum of Understanding signed with Cambodia in 2000, which is a basic legal instrument for the JBC and boundary demarcation.

The PAD and its allies say the MoU recognises a French map on a 1:200,000 scale, which defines Preah Vihear temple and the area around it as being in Cambodian territory.

"We want the government to terminate the MoU and force the Cambodian community near Preah Vihear out of Thai territory," New Politics Party spokesman Samran Rodphet said. The NPP is a political party formed by the PAD.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that Preah Vihear Temple was situated on Cambodian territory. But Thai nationalists argue that the court only ruled that the historic temple belongs to Cambodia and that areas adjacent to the temple still belong to Thailand.

Thailand and Cambodia have been at loggerheads since the temple was listed as a World Heritage site, as proposed by Phnom Penh in 2008. Thai nationalists have forced the government to oppose the proposal because they fear losing rights over areas near the temple.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's government has played along with the nationalist PAD to oppose Phnom Penh's World Heritage listing but it took a different stance with the MoU 10 years ago. The document was signed during a Democrat-led regime led by Chuan Leekpai.

The ruling Democrat Party considered the MOU useful for settling the boundary with Cambodia, Party spokesman Buranat Samutharak said.

However, Parliament was supposed to discuss the JBC document late last year but Abhisit's government put it off after a diplomatic row with Cambodia over an appointment of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an adviser to the Hun Sen government.

Some senators now want another delay in approving the JBC documents if they cannot get them rejected in the session this week, a source said.

Cambodia claims the Thai government is stalling the JBC negotiations and has sought help from other countries, as well as Asean and the United Nations to try to resolve the conflict with Thailand.

Prime Minister Hun Sen sent letters to the UN claiming that Abhisit had threatened to use force against Cambodia. Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong sent a letter to the current Asean chairman, Vietnam, to seek help, saying the two countries aren't able to solve the problem bilaterally.

-- The Nation 2010-08-16

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Probe into burned mall, cinema to be completed this week

BANGKOK: -- Investigations into the burning of CentralWorld, Thailand's largest shopping mall, and a nearby cinema, by anti-government protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatopship (UDD) in May are expected to be wrapped up this week, according to Tharit Pengdit, chief of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).

Mr Tharit said DSI is now in the process of concluding investigations on terrorism conducted by the 'Red Shirt' movement of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), and that he expects the probe into the burning of CentralWorld and the Siam Theatre could be completed within this week.

The shopping mall and the cinema were among 39 places burned in Bangkok at the end of the Red Shirt protest ended, following the surrender of the protest leaders on May 19.

Regarding the detention of 37-year-old Chakchalat (alias Pol) Khongsuwan, chauffeur of late 'Red Shirt' military strategist Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, Mr Tharit said the man was one of the 25 terrorists who had been charged by DSI. He is being detained under the emergency decree, and since he was formerly a marine, the DSI has decided to investigate him along with military and security officials.

Mr Chakchalat, for whom an arrest warrant was issued earlier, was re-arrested by officers from the 191 Special Branch Police (police emergency centre) and is now detained at an undisclosed army camp for further questioning.

Mr Tharit said his agency is now tracking suspects implicated by Mr Chakchalat, who had close connections with the late Gen Khattiya and allegedly financed the UDD during its demonstrations. They will be arrested once solid evidence is obtained.

However, Prompong Nopparit, spokesman of the opposition Puea Thai Party, argued Sunday that it was rather fishy in both charges and the re-arrest of Mr Chakchalat was because the authorities claimed that he had confessed but Mr Prompong said the suspect did not do so to any charges.

Also, security officials had asked DSI to keep Mr Chakchalat as witness so that he could throw blanket charges against the deceased Red Shirt activist general and other persons in the case which is not fair as the witness was pressured, said Mr Prompong. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-08-16

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Bottled water price regulation starts today(Aug16) 5-600cc & 1,500cc to cost 7Bht,14Bht; violators face 7yrs jail term & fine 140,000Bht. /via @TAN_Network

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PM hints at the canceling of emergency decree in 3 provinces as proposed by DPM Suthep /via @TAN_Network

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Cabinet to Meet Today to Make Time for Joint Parliament Meeting Tomorrow

The Abhisit Cabinet is scheduled to meet this morning at 9 A.M. instead of its usual Tuesday meetings to make time for a joint Parliament session tomorrow before the Lower House votes next year's budget bill on August 18 and 19. On today's agenda, Cabinet will deliberate on various issues. One issue being closely watched is the appointment of several key positions in various ministries.

Two permanent secretaries will have to be selected for the Finance and the Agriculture ministries. Various other ministries will be proposing favorites for director general positions in many key departments.

Other issues being watched are proposals by the Commerce Ministry to alleviate the costs of consumer goods in various sectors. Officials say the Thai economy has improved considerably in this year, despite political uncertainty, which has caused inflation to spike. The costs of goods will, inevitably, increase as well. The Commerce Ministry will propose measures to reduce tax on various types of raw materials.

The price of swine feed, for example, will be reduced by at least 95 satang per unit. This is expected to bring down the price of pork at meat markets considerably.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-16

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Deputy PM Suthep to ask PM to consider revoking Emergency Decree in three provinces--Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Ubon Ratchathani /via @MCOTEnglishnews

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Thai politicians seen in unfavored light by general public

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Rescuers search for 2 workers missing in Burapha University construction collapse

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Thai stocks open down 3.54 pt, 0.41 pct

Thai composite stocks index (SET) opened on Monday at 858.62, down 3.54 points, or 0.41 per cent.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 583.16, down 2.57 points, or 0.44 per cent.

Top five active (value) stocks: TMB, ITD, TRUE, PTT, TT&T.

-- The Nation 2010-08-16

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New Politics demands 2000 MoU scrapped

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The New Politics Party has demanded that the Government should have the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) revoked and push back Cambodians encroaching the disputed area.

New Politics Party Acting Spokesperson, Samran Rodpetch, voiced supports to movements of the civil sector, especially its Thais Love Nation Network, to tear the 2000 MoU because Thailand would be at risk to lose the overlapping land.

Mr Samran further suggested that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the military, and security units must pressure the Cambodians living around Preah Vihear Temple to evacuate and tell the world that the disputed land belongs to Thailand, not to Cambodia. Measures to be taken should be other things else from tradional protests.

Meanwhile, New Politics Party Acting Secretary-General, Suriyasai Katasila, advised that the Government should appoint a panel to clarify the truth to the world and devise a method for efficient explanations to the international community on whether or not Cambodia distorted the information.

Mr Suriyasai said that Cambodia had been trying to involve international organizations and superpowers in the Preah Vihear dispute because it knew well that those countries had benefits in Cambodia.

-- NNT 2010-08-16

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3.3-magnitude quake hits Si Sawat district of Kanchanaburi; tremor felt in Ta Kradan sub-district /MCOT

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Thepthai: Red-Shirt Splinters Still Share Mutual Aim

The personal spokesman for the Democrat Party leader said the Red Siam group is one of many splinter groups branching off from the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship, and that it has an aim of carrying out activities intended to topple the government.

Spokesman for the Democrat Party leader Thepthai Senpong said several groups of red-shirt supporters have distanced themselves from the mainstream Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship, including the Red Siam group, which is led by Surachai Darnwattananusorn.

He added that these splinter groups still have the same objectives, which are to overthrow the government, seek amnesty for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and push for the establishment of a new national government.

He said the red-shirt groups' objectives are in keeping with what Pheu Thai Party Chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has been calling for all along.

The spokesman warned the red-shirt protesters that any attempt to overthrow the government and tear up the Constitution would be deemed a terrorist act.

Regarding progress in the prosecution of red-shirt leaders facing terrorist charges, Thepthai said authorities are pursuing investigations, but that some Pheu Thai MPs have obstructed the work of officials by criticizing and discrediting the Department of Special Investigation and the agency's director-general Tharit Pengdit.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-16

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UPDATE

Five summoned by police related to building collapse

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BMA conducts R&D to help create sustainable Bangkok

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has vowed to help solve the social disparities, while a research team has been set up to pinpoint the problems and stimulate the public participation for a sustainable city.

After chairing a meeting on research and solutions to solve social disparities in Bangkok, Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra disclosed that BMA has joined hands with the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) conducting research and analyzing the problems facing Bangkokians, in order to pinpoint the needs of the community following the recent political unrest.

MR Sukhumbhand said that six points have been indicated for further research, including the education system accessibility, youth development, community physical development, poverty eradication and community strength development, unfair practices by the state, and accessibility to the state’s resources. The Bangkok governor said that it would take about eight months for the researchers to complete the study, the results of which will be translated into action, leading to sustainable development of the capital.

-- NNT 2010-08-16

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PM Abhisit Signs Order Canceling Emergency Decree In 3 Thai Provinces

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Red Shirt leaders including Veera in Court for 1st hearing on terrorism cases, all deny charges; Court to consider witnesses and evidence on Sept 27 /via MCOTEnglishnews

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Suicidal Italian remarkably survives 6-storey fall in Pattaya

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Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Udon Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Khaen & Samut Prakarn remain under SOE. /via @tukky_nt