One dead, thousands flee as volcano erupts in Indonesia

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A very generous Nation Channel analysis for Democrats. 44 seats against PhuaThai 15 and News Politics 1. (plus 1 independent) /via @tulasathit

Foreign investors show interest in Phuket mega projects

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Vote tallying begins for Bangkok city, district councillor elections after polls close; Election Commission says no election fraud found /MCOT]

41.9 % or 1.68 million voters turned out at the last Bangkok city Council election on July 23, 2006. /via TR@pranot /via @veen_NT

City clerk says initial survey found that voter turnout for city and district council elections was around 30 per cent /TR @pranot /via @tukky_NT

Shame on Bangkokians - the vote turnout is initially reported at 30% - which would b almost 12% down from the 2006's. /via @veen_NT:

Pheu Thai to unseat Sirichok

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The opposition Pheu Thai Party will seek impeachment against Democrat MP for Songkhla Sirichok Sopha for abuse of authority following his meeting with suspected Russian arms dealer Viktor Anatolyevich Bout in prison.

Opposition Pheu Thai Party Spokesperson Prompong Nopparit stressed Mr Sirichok, also the close aid of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, had nothing to do with the case because he was not relatives or lawyer for Mr Bout.

Mr Prompong believed that the MP might use the authority of the executive branch given either by Prime Minister Abhisit or Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga to verbally request or pressure prison officials to allow his meeting with the Russian arms dealer.

The spokesperson noted that actually no one, even political position holders or lawyers, could be allowed to meet with prisoners during official holidays and non-visiting hours. He then demanded that the Department of Corrections exposed information about the matter.

Mr Prompong elaborated that Mr Sirichok’s action could be deemed an intervention into the operation of officials and the judiciary, which also breached Section 266 of the Constitution. He said the MP status of Mr Sirichok hence could be terminated according to Section 106 of the charter.

The spokesperson concluded that his party would collate evidences and seek impeachment via the Election Commission, House Speaker Chai Chidchob, and then the Constitutional Court respectively.

-- NNT 2010-08-29

PM not behind Sirichok’s visit to Bout

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has never asked his close aide Sirichok Sopha, a Democrat MP for Songkhla, to call on suspected Russian arms dealer Viktor Anatolyevich Bout, affirmed Spokesperson to the Democrat Party Leader Thepthai Senpong.

Mr Thepthai said the opposition Pheu Thai Party was trying to defame the Prime Minister by claiming that he was behind the private visit of Mr Sirichok to Mr Bout, dubbed ‘the Merchant of Death,’ at Bangkhwang Central Prison earlier.

The spokesperson vowed that Prime Minister Abhisit had no connection with the matter, saying that Mr Sirichok decided to do it by himself. He then confirmed that the Prime Minister did not protect Mr Sirichok as well.

The Government was accused of making a secret deal with Mr Bout by asking him to implicate ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for supplying weapons for the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) during its street-protests from March to May 2010.

The spokesperson hence demanded that the Pheu Thai Party should stop involving this issue in the politics since it might negatively affect international relationships between Thailand and Russia as well as the US.

-- NNT 2010-08-29

Two Iranians arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport for smuggling 6.2 kg of crystal methamphetamine or 'ice', worth nearly Bt22 million/MCOT

Former US policeman held In Bangkok over sex crimes and people smuggling:

Toddler shot dead in restive Thai south: police

NARATHIWAT, August 29, 2010 (AFP) - A two-year-old boy was shot and killed on Sunday by a group of suspected insurgents in Thailand's violent south as he travelled to a national park with his parents, local police said.

The armed men, on a pick-up truck and a motorcycle, opened fire on the Muslim family's car in Narathiwat province, police said.

The boy and his father were both wounded and taken to hospital, where the toddler died shortly after, becoming the latest victim of a spike in violence during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.

The incident followed the roadside killing of a Thai defence volunteer, aged 41, who was shot in the early hours of Sunday morning in the same province as he returned from work.

Thailand last month extended emergency rule in the three troubled Muslim-majority southern provinces until October, as it struggles to quell unrest that has left more than 4,100 people dead in six years.

Shadowy Islamic militants, whose exact goals are unclear, have targeted both Buddhists and Muslims, including many civilians.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-08-29

13 Young Thai Women Condemned to Death in China

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Former US Policeman Held In Bangkok Over Sex Crimes And People Smuggling

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Iranians arrested for smuggling 6kg of 'ice' at airport

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Democrat Sweep 210 Out Of 256 Bangkok District Council Seats

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to be continued

Thailand Live Monday 30 August 2010

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