Thailand Live Thursday 26 Aug 2010

[webfact]

Red-shirts Cancel Protest at Privy Council Chief's Home

The red-shirt group has canceled plans to protest and wear black at Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda's home, on the occasion of his birthday today. They were asked by the police to refrain from the protest.

The group will instead gather at Imperial Lardprao, the headquarters of their People Channel, at 1 P.M.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-26

[webfact]

Sondhi and PAD Deny All Charges in Airport Closures

People's Alliance for Democracy leader Sondhi Limthongkul and key PAD speakers and supporters have denied all charges filed against them in relation to the protests at the Don Muang the Suvarnabhumi airport in 2008. Sondhi has also threatened to file a counter lawsuit against the lead police officer in charge of the case

-- Tan Network 2010-08-26

[webfact]

Rainfall Wreaks Havoc in Thailand

Heavy rainfall is wreaking havoc in the north and northeastern areas of Thailand, as a landslide blocked a road and destroyed as many as 100 homes.

News reports say a landslide has blocked road number 108 in the northern province of Mae Hong Son, following a downpour a few days ago.

Authorities said a landslide and a mudslide in Kun Yuam District of Mae Hong Son Province has sealed off road number 108 following a heavy downpour a couple of days ago.

They explained that the road was suspended for at least 10 hours, and the landslide was reportedly almost one meter high in some areas.

Officials managed to clear the obstacle and dispatched volunteers to help, as this road is always busy.

A Mae Hong Son highway official added that the 164th and 165th kilometers of road number 108 is also cut off by torrential water and cautioned travelers to use caution.

In Bahn Fang district in the northeastern province of Konkaen, a storm blew away the roofs of more than 100 houses.

Authorities have been sent to provide assistance for the victims, but they said there is still continuous rainfall in the area.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-26

[webfact]

50 foreigners dead in Phuket this year

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Thai court to consider US' request against Bout in September, not October as earlier reported : lawyer

Follow this link:

[webfact]

PM: UNESCO ready to help solve temple row

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The UNESCO has ensured its readiness to cooperate with Thailand to help solve the controversial Preah Vihear Temple dispute, according to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Speaking after meeting with ambassadors from the UNESCO on Wednesday, the Prime Minister informed the press that the discussion did not touch on the Preah Vihear overlapping zone; however, the UNESCO had voiced its readiness to listen to and give cooperation with Thailand.

Prime Minister Abhisit noted that many representatives from the UNESCO also supported the stance of Thailand regarding the temple spat. He then expressed his appreciation and hoped that the matter would be solved in the way that Thailand had been proposing.

The discussion went on for about 20 minutes on Wednesday afternoon at Parliament. There were six Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives to the UNESCO from six countries including, Senegal, Egypt, Congo, Gabon, Angola, and Cameroon in the discussion.

Thailand has been insisting its intention to have the temple row solved in the existing bilateral channels. Prime Minister Abhisit himself earlier announced his readiness to talk with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen during the upcoming Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in October.

-- NNT 2010-08-26

[webfact]

Phayao, Mae Hong Son hit by Mindulle

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Tropical storm Mindulle has battered several provinces in the North and Northeast, causing flash floods that have destroyed crops and homes.

Floods inundated Mae La Noi district, in Mae Hong Son province, damaging homes along Highway 108. In addition, the rains caused a landslide that blocked 8 sections of Highway 108 near the 160-173 kilometer markers in Khun Yuam district. The road connecting the districts of Mae La Noi and Nong Haeng was also blocked, but was later cleared by workers

Deputy Director of the Hydro Power Plant in the Northeast Pisut Chokkatiwat has disclosed that the water level in Ubonrat dams has risen quickly; if it continues to rain, authorities will have to open the flood gates to prevent damage to the dam. The province will inform people who live downstream of the date the gates will be opened, so they could be prepared against inundation brought on by water rushing out of the dam when the floodgates are opened.

-- NNT 2010-08-26

[webfact]

Gold price may rocket to Bt19,000, 1-baht weight

Follow this link:

[webfact]

THB hits 26-months high against USD

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Thai currency opens on Thursday at 31.44-31.45 THB per USD against the regional trend as a result of a continual capital inflow, pushing it the up to 26-months high.

The Thai Baht on Thursday opens this morning at 31-47-31.49 THB per USD, up from 31.48-31.50 THB at yesterday's closing, and continues to increase until it reaches 31.44 THB per USD. The trend is speculated to rise in opposite direction to other Asian currencies.

Financial analyst said the market was still keeping an eye on the US economic figures such as the durable goods purchase order quantity, new property sales in July and weekly oil inventory report. Meanwhile, the domestic factors to be monitored are the capital inflow and speculation on the Baht after the Bank of Thailand (BoT) has stepped in to control the currency flux.

Today Thai baht is expected to shift within the range of 31.40-31.50 THB against USD.

-- NNT 2010-08-26

[webfact]

Authorities bidding to nab UDD leaders in Cambodia

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Authorities are taking their utmost attempts to arrest all core leaders of the anti-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorships (UDD) escaping to Cambodia, according to Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan.

General Prawit said related authorities were operating to track and arrest all UDD key figures fleeing arrest warrants and now hiding in Cambodia; however, he said the details of the matter could not be revealed at present.

Although some UDD core leaders have surrendered themselves to the police, others with arrest warrants, especially rabble-rousing heavyweights apparently have been hiding the neighboring country to avoid legal punishments after provoking riots and national turbulence last May.

The Minister also refused to comment personal relationships between family of ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and family of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Regarding three Thai people detained in Phnom Penh, General Prawit said the authorities are taking the legal procedures to bring them back to Thailand and believes the situation will resolve just fine.

-- NNT 2010-08-26

[webfact]

Will Viktor Bout be extradited to the USA?

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Sondhi Acknowledges Terrorism Charges for seizing Suvannabhumi and Don Muang airports

Follow this link:

Edited August 26, 2010 by webfact

[webfact]

Phue Thai to retaliate its six rebellious MPs

The Pheu Thai Party has decided not to endorse re-election bids of its six MPs in retaliation for their voting with the coalition to support the Budget Bill, party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said on Thursday.

"The party will not allow the six to adopt its banner at the next general election," he said.

Prompong said the six, tipped to defect to Bhum Jai Thai Party, were rebellious as anticipated and that his main opposition party was satisfied with its performance during the budget debate.

-- The Nation 2010-08-26

[webfact]

Woman dies in Phuket car crash

The wreckage of the victim's Toyota Vios early this morning.

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Phuket Software Park announces "Tech Talk" schedule

Software Park Phuket, located on Chao Fa West Road northbound in Wichit.

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Uttaradit hit by flashflood, rescue operation underway

UTTARADIT (NNT) -- The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) is expediting rescue operation for flood victims in the northern province of Uttaradit.

Officials from the Uttaradit Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office and local military officers are speedily providing assistance for residents plagued by flashflood caused by a heavy overnight downpour in Thong Saen Khan district.

Over 1,000 households have been devastated by the disaster. More help and the overall damage assessment are on the way.

Residents of the province have been instructed to stay on high alert of the flood situation amidst persisting rainfall during this period.

-- NNT 2010-08-26

[webfact]

Baht Bus Cooperative meeting with Pattaya Police Chief

Follow this link:

Honda Racing Fest 2010 arrives in Pattaya this weekend

Follow this link:

TAT sponsored Golf Familiarization Trip to Pattaya

Follow this link:

[webfact]

SET index closed at 886.1, up 1.59; Bt/USD31.03; GBP48.20; AUD27.27; EUR39.36; CAD29.06; HKD3.94; SGD22.76; JPY36.31

[webfact]

139th Chon Buri Buffalo Racing Festival 2010 Announced

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Swedish Fugitive Caught in Pattaya

Follow this link:

/video added

[webfact]

Thai Ambassador: Not Sure When 3 Thais Will Be Released

The Thai ambassador to Phnom Penh said he is not sure when the 3 Thai nationals, arrested last week, will be released by Cambodian authorities.

The 3 have asked him to assure their families that they are being treated well.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-26

[webfact]

Police impostor has extorted cell phones, cash from many students at a shopping mall in Nakhon Ratchasima in the past month. /via @Urisara_NT

[webfact]

Lamphun downtown declared disaster zone

In Lamphun, only the Mueang district where more than 4,000 families became flood victims was labelled the disaster-hit zone.

The Rajaprajanugroh Foundation will deliver 2,000 sets of relief items to the affected people in Lamphun at 1pm Friday.

-- The Nation 2010-08-26

[webfact]

Chiang Rai schools closed indefinitely because of floodings

Chiang Rai Governor Sumeth Saengnimnuan was preparing Thursday to declare many districts in his province as disaster-hit zones too.

Flash floods already hit seven districts there, affecting more than 10,000 people.

"The declaration will take place after the damage-surveying process is completed," he said.

In Phaya Mengrai district, Mae Luang Uppatham, Ban Kalae, Sop Pao, Mae Pao Community, Sansalikwittaya schools have been closed indefinitely in the face of rising floodwater. In the worst-hit spots, the floodwater was up to two metres deep.

"Many roads are now impassable," Phaya Mengrai district chief Soratorn Santad said.

-- The Nation 2010-08-26

[webfact]

Five Iranians Arrested At Suvarnabhumi For Smuggling 'Ice' Worth US$1.3mil

Follow this link:

[Maestro]

to be continued

Thailand Live Friday 27 August 2010

//CLOSED//