Thailand Live Thursday 9 Sep 2010

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FC Phuket hoist championship trophy, down Phang Nga FC 2-1

SWEET SUCCESS: FC Phuket celebrate their win at Surakul Stadium last night.

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Thai Foreign Min confirms strong bilateral ties between Thai-Saudi

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Thai Foreign Ministry has confirmed the strong Thai-Saudi ties, downplaying reports on sour relations over the newly appointed Provincial Police Region 5 Commander Pol. Lt.-Gen. Somkid Boonthanom.

The deputy spokesman for the Thai foreign ministry, Thani Thongpakdi, has also ensured that Muslim pilgrims traveling to the Haj will be safe, as the incident will not disrupt or limit their rights.

The appointment of the police commander has raised criticism against the Thai government, given Pol. Lt.-Gen. Somkid has been charged with an alleged involvement in the disappearance of Saudi businessman Mohammad al-Ruwaili in 1990.

Earlier, Saudi diplomat Nabil Hussein Ashri submitted a five-page document to the House of Representative’s foreign affairs committee clarifying the Saudi government’s stance on the issue. Mr Thani said that the document merely contains the details of the Thai-Saudi bilateral relationship.

The Saudi envoy has also congratulated the Police general Wichean Potephosree on his promotion as the new national police chief.

-- NNT 2010-09-09

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FBI to Investigate Bomb Threat on Thai Airways Flight

The FBI has announced that it will launch an investigation into the bomb threat on the Thai Airways flight to Los Angeles on Tuesday evening.

A bomb threat was found in the lavatory of flight TG794, from Bangkok to Los Angeles, on which 171 passengers and 18 crew were on board. The plane was searched by the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation or FBI, but no explosives were found.

The aircraft's search caused a two-hour delay for flight TG795 back to Bangkok, which safely landed yesterday.

FBI Spokesperson Laura Eimiller announced that the FBI will continue to investigate whether the threat was made by one of the passengers on board. Emiller said that so far no explosives were found on the plane or in the passengers' belongings.

Flight TG794 was approaching Los Angeles International Airport at around 7 P.M. local time, with the only pilot aware of the bomb threat.

After notifying air traffic control, the pilot was directed to land the plane at an isolated area of the Los Angeles International Airport to evacuate those onboard and to conduct an immediate search.

Emiller said no arrests have been made.

Thai Airways President Piyasawat Amranand said he believes the incident was the work of a mentally disturbed individual, aiming to cause panic among the passengers.

-- Tan Network 2010-09-09

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Thai Tourism Sector Targets 14.5m Visitors

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Yongyuth Steps Down from Leader of Pheu Thai

Pheu Thai Leader Yongyuth Wichaidit has resigned from his post. He claims the reason is not pressure from former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Newspaper reports this morning claim that sources within Pheu Thai have slated former Police Chief Kovit Wattana as the new leader

-- Tan Network 2010-09-09

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CRES: Keep Emergency Rule in Some Areas

The Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situations has announced that the state of emergency will remain in effect in some areas to ensure public safety and security.

Yesterday, the Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situations or CRES Spokesperson Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd announced that the center is concerned about the ongoing dissemination of false information regarding the security authority's duty, especially its role in the investigations of the deaths during the latest political unrest.

Sansern asked Thai people to allow the justice system to take its course and urged the public not to be victims of distorted news reports.

The CRES also held a meeting to determine whether the emergency rule should be lifted in areas still under the state of emergency.

The center concluded that the emergency decree is still necessary in some areas due to recent intelligence reports and the string of recent attacks in the country.

Sansern added that the emergency rule has increased the officials' effectiveness in preventing violent incidents.

The CRES spokesperson also repudiated the claim that the government is behind the recent attacks. The Opposition claimed that the government is creating chaos to justify keeping the state of emergency in effect.

The CRES also expressed some concern about the red-shirt rally scheduled for September 19, which will be the 4th anniversary of the 2006 coup which ousted fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The authorities are concerned that some of the activities planned at the event are in violation of the court's order.

Sansern also pleaded with the red-shirt group to consider the image of the country, which has been gradually improving since the last political unrest.

At the same time, the CRES has ordered police to keep up on intelligence reports to prevent more attacks.

The CRES spokesperson also reported an incident, in which a schoolbag was discovered under a flyover bridge in Phayathai district in the capital.

Sansern said the authorities called in the bomb squad at around 2 A.M. Wednesday morning. The squad said the bag was stuffed with two fire extinguishers filled with fertilizer-based explosives.

The bombs were live with a damage potential radius of 15-20 meters. Fortunately, the squad was able to defuse the two bombs safely.

Further investigations are ongoing to find those responsible.

-- Tan Network 2010-09-09

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Suthep confirms possible assassination attempt rumor

BANGKOK (NNT) – Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs Suthep Thaugsuban admits receiving there are reports of possible assassination to be attempted on important figures but no report of anticipating violence in the upcoming opposition rallies during the upcoming red-shirt rallies on 19 September.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep said he has instructed the police to tighten security although there has been no concrete information from intelligence agency on violence that may occur during the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship’s (UDD) demonstration. Meanwhile, the authorities have already assigned officers to guard the public figures who reportedly have been targeted for assassination.

The UDD has announced to stage their rallies in Bangkok and Chiang Mai on 19 September to mark the 4th anniversary of the 2006 military coup.

Regarding the assassination attempt, the authorities have already assigned officers to guard the public figures who reportedly have been targeted for assassination. The killing attempt rumor was earlier unveiled by Special Security Police Commander Police Major General Treetot Ronnaritthichai before it was confirmed by the deputy prime minister.

Deputy Prime Minister voiced a concern about the Police Major General’s press release of sensitive information as this which could cause panic to the public but admitted receiving such report as well.

-- NNT 2010-09-09

[george]

Not directly Thailand related but VERY interesting:

The thrilling potential of SixthSense technology [Video]

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US-Thai Authorities Offer US$2 Million for Fugitive Arrests

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Tourist speedboat heading to Koh Lan capsizes in Pattaya Bay; 20 Korean tourists safe /MCOT

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Phuket students to be punished for not wearing helmets

Standing, middle row, from left: Thung Thong Police Superintendent Kraithong Chanthongbai,

Asst Prof Methi Sunbhanich, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pekad Tantipong

and Phuket City Police Superintendent Wanchai Ekpornpit pose with students.

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PM Orders Tightened Security in Next 2 Weeks

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has ordered increased security throughout the captial during the next two weeks. The move comes after three bombs were successfully defused last night. Abhisit claims there are certain groups who do not want to see reconciliation.

-- Tan Network 2010-09-09

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Pheu Thai: Bomb disposal a pretext for the state of emergency

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Notice: From today the currency exchange rates will show the TT/SWIFT rates instead of bank notes rates previously used. http://baht.thaivisa.com

SET index closed at 921.49, down 2.39; Bt/USD30.74; GBP47.25; AUD28.22; EUR38.85; CAD29.53; HKD3.95; SGD22.76; JPY36.53

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Fully Ladened Tour Boat Sinks in Pattaya with 19 Korean Tourist Aboard

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Export jitters as Thai baht hits 13-year high

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Toxic waste collection drive in Phuket

GET ME OUTTA HERE! Corroded batteries removed after years

inside an unused device. WikiCommons photo by Mathieu Bois.

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Police Raid Technical School in Nakhon Ratchasima

In the wake of rampant school brawls, Nakhon Ratchasima police have conducted a search at a technical school as part of proactive measures to prevent future incidents.

As school violence have become more frequent in recent weeks, Nakhon Ratchasima Police decided to raid Nakhon Ratchasima Polytechnical College, to search for weapons.

According to Police Colonel Padungkiart Siripornwiwat, commander of the Nakhon Ratchasima Police Department, the raid was launched following reports that students from the college were recently involved in a brawl with Suranaree Wittaya 2 School students.

The search took about half an hour. Officers found no weapons, but did find equipment used to consume narcotics.

-- Tan Network 2010-09-09

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Residents of 14 provinces warned of flash flood and overflow river

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Meteorological Department warns people living in 14 provinces to watch out for potential flash flood and overflow river.

According to the first announcement released by Meteorological Department on Thursday, the monsoon trough will be over the Northern and Northeastern Thailand, which would result in heavy rainfalls and high-level floods afterward. Residents of Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phayao, Nan, Lampang, Lamphun, Phrae, Uttaradit, Nong Khai, Loei, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon and Nakhon Phanom can expect flash flood and overflow river in the near future.

Meanwhile, Tropical Cyclone Meranti is moving towards Southern China. Those who are about to travel to Fujian Province of China as well as Taiwan should check weather conditions before traveling.

-- NNT 2010-09-09

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Govt on High alert Ahead of Coup Anniversary

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Army Reinforces Troops on Security Watch

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[Maestro]

to be continued

Thailand Live Friday 10 September 2010

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