Thailand Live Monday 13 Sep 2010

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PM denies Chiang Mai request to reimpose emergency decree; government will consider if CRES asks to reimplement decree to maintain security there /MCOT

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Anupong expects no violence on 4th coup anniversary

Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Anupong Paochinda expressed confidence Monday that police will be able to keep law and order and prevent untoward incidents.

Anupong said he had assessed the situation and believes that the rally to mark the 4th coup anniversary on September 19 would be held within the legal limit.

The Army chief said the organizers of the rally had already coordinated with police so they would not violate the laws.

Anupong said police would be in charge of keeping security on the coup anniversary day and the police would focus on negotiating with the demonstrators and would refrain from using violence.

He said he expected no untoward incidents by any third-party group either because the society members would alert police before such incidents happen.

-- The Nation 2010-09-13

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Suspect Sketch Released in TMB Money Truck Heist

Police have released a sketch of a suspect in the money truck robbery at Seacon Square Shopping Center on Thursday.

Deputy Commander of Metropolitan Police Region 4 Police Colonel Anut Kredmanee revealed that they have released the sketch of a suspect who robbed a vehicle that was transporting money from the Thai Military Bank at Season Square Shopping Center last Thursday.

The police drawing shows the suspect as a 40-year-old man with a square face and short hair and 170 centimeters tall.

The sketch was drawn according to information provided by a cleaner who saw the suspect sitting in the bed of a pick-up truck that was used in the robbery as it was leaving.

Anut said investigators are making progress in tracking down all of the suspects, as they are believed to be hiding somewhere in the country.

He added that the driver of the money truck will be called in for interrogation.

Police linked the suspect to the same gang that robbed Farmhouse and Samco armored trucks three years ago.

Any information about the man in the sketch should be reported to the Praves Police Station or the Metropolitan Police Region 4 office.

-- Tan Network 2010-09-13

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Seh Daeng's Daughter Seen in Red-Shirts' Activities on Sunday

To commemorate the 2006 coup and fourth month anniversary of the bloody protest dispersal on May 19, the Red Sunday group organized a bicycle parade from Ratchaprasong intersection to Sala Daeng intersection yesterday.

Hundreds of red-shirt protesters, led by Sombut Boonngarmanong, the leader of the Red Sunday group, took part in a bicycle parade from Ratchaprasong Intersection to Sala Daeng Intersection yesterday.

The parade was one of many activities held to mark the four years since the 2006 coup d' etat and four months since the bloody dispersal of the red-shirt protest on May 19.

Khattiyaa Sawasdipol, the daughter of the late radical red-shirt member and former Army Specialist, Major General Khattiya, also known as Seh Daeng, was also seen at the Sunday activities.

Sombut said his group will organize another event, called “Letters to Heavens,” this coming Sunday.

Meanwhile, he thanked the prime minister for having announced that the government would not interfere with the group's activities.

-- Tan Network 2010-09-13

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Senator urges govt to check report of Thai workers killed by troops in Libya

Senator Krirk Kalayanamitr called on the government on Monday to investigate whether two Thai workers had been killed and dozens others injured by troops in Libya during a protest for pay increase.

Krirk alleged that the Libyan government had covered up the fatal crackdown against Thai workers.

He said he had learnt of the incident from a Thai worker from Sakon Nakhon, who was sent back from Libya following the incident. The worker, Songkram Sirichomphu, told him that Thai workers' contracts were annulled following the protest.

Krirk said the group of Thai workers working for a condominium construction project protested to demand pay increase.

"I would like to call on the government to investigate this and provide help to laid-off Thai workers," Krirk said.

Krirk was speaking during a senatorial meeting.

-- The Nation 2010-09-13

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Central World is scheduled to b opened on Sept 28. #whatsup /via @veen_NT

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Road Collapse After Landslides in Chiang Rai

A 100 meter stretch of road in the northern province of Chiang Rai has been destroyed, prompting the authorities to declare the area a disaster zone.

Heavy rainfall have caused a massive landslide of a road in the Mae Srauy district in Chiang Rai leaving a 100-meter long and 20 meter-wide gap on the road used by many tourists.

News reporters were coincidentally at the scene, and the camera crew was able to capture footage of the road collapsing. Many bystanders were seen standing dangerously close to the growing gap in the road.

No casualties have been reported, but the road is likely to be closed for repair for quite some time.

After an initial investigation, authorities declared the area a disaster zone and have bared trucks and people from going near the road.

Provincial governor Sumet Saengnimnuan also inspected the scene.

Authorities added that they will request a budget to repair the damage as soon as possible, that the landslide is seriously affecting 20,000 residents in 23 villages.

Around 500,000 kilograms of corn a day are transported from the villages to markets outside the area using this road.

Residents said they have to bypass the road and use another route, which requires them to travel 30 kilometers out of their way.

-- Tan Network 2010-09-13

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400 police to keep security at Rajprasong on Sunday

The Metropolitan Police Bureau will deploy 400 anti-riot police to keep security at the Rajprasong Intersection when the red-shirt movement organises activities to mark the 4th coup anniversary, the bureau chief said Monday.

Pol Lt Gen Santhan Chayanon, the metropolitan police commissioner, said the 400 police would prevent the red-shirt people from moving from the intersection to other places.

The bureau expects that some 2,000 to 3,000 red-shirt people would join the symbolic protests, during which the demonstrators will tie red ribbons and release red balloons at the intersection.

Santhan said 400 policemen should be enough to control the situation but other policemen at 88 police stations would be on stand by and ready to provide reinforcements.

The Centre for Resolution of Emergency Situation has been informed of the police's security measures, Santhan said.

-- Tan Network 2010-09-13

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Chiang Mai has not yet asked for state of emergency to be reimposed

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Australian Charity Rescues Child Sex Workers In Thailand

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PM Spokesperson: Planned Rally Merely “Symbolic”

The personal spokesperson for leader of the Democrat Party says he believes that the red-shirt rally scheduled for this upcoming September 19 will merely be a symbol for the anti-government movement.

Personal Spokesperson for the Democrat Party Leader, Thepthai Senphong commented on the red-shirt rally scheduled for September 19, saying it is merely symbolic, and an attempt by some of the remaining red-shirt leaders to demonstrate to the public that the anti-government movement remains active.

Thepthai predicted that the rally will not be prolonged and only a small number of protesters will turn up for the event. He also believes that authorities will be able to provide sufficient security at the gathering.

Thepthai also said that the the Pheu Thai Party has not been able to repudiate claims that someone ordered the party to select retired Police General Kowit Wattana as its next leader.

The PM's spokesperson believes that Pheu Thai Party is attempting to sever its ties with the anti-monarchy movement by installing a well-known royalist as the party leader.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the recent string of attacks in the country, Rayong MP Satit Pitutacha, who is also a member of the House committee on police affairs has urged police to be more aggressive rather than defensive in preventing a repeat of recent incidents.

Satit also indicated that MP Jatuporn Promphan, a red-shirt leader, has been summoned to appear before the committee on September 15. Jatuporn made unsubstantiated claims that it was actually the government that was behind recent attacks.

As a member of the Democrat Party's executive committee, Satit said that the red-shirt group has a right to conduct the rally.

However, he is asking the protesters to refrain from wearing red shirts in an effort to prevent potential violence, which could in turn affect investor confidence.

Satit also said that there must not be any attempt to incite violence by distorting the truth.

Meanwhile, security authorities will keep a close eye on the rally and those who violate the law will be dealt with immediately.

-- Tan Network 2010-09-13

[george]

Chinese official suspended for touching Thai transvestite's breasts:

Full story and pics

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7 Pheu Thai MPs return from meeting Thaksin in Russia

Seven Pheu Thai Party MPs have returned from meeting former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Russia, one of them said Monday.

Lop Buri MP Suchart Lainamngern said he and six other Pheu Thai MPs travelled to Moscow to meet Thaksin on September 11.

Suchart said the former prime minister is still healthy.

Suchart said Thaksin wanted to see reconciliation happen in the country and wanted to all Pheu Thai MPs to push for reconciliation.

Thaksin will also draft new election campaign platform for the Pheu Thai, Suchart said.

-- The Nation 2010-09-13

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SET index closed at 937.04, up 12.47; Bt/USD30.60; GBP47.23; AUD28.38; EUR39.12; CAD29.57; HKD3.93; SGD22.74; JPY36.28

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Fast-track immigration channel opened for Thai workers at Suvarnabhumi

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Drug Distribution Center uncovered at South Pattaya Snooker Club

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Drug Distribution Center uncovered at South Pattaya Snooker Club

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Thai Twins arrested following necklace snatch from Irish Tourist

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46 year old man accused of sexually assaulting 10 year old girl in Pattaya

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Mor Chit-Civil Service Complex BRT route cancelled

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has cancelled the Bus Rapid Transit's Mor Chit-Civil Service Complex route and will have Premiere Metro Bus Ltd launched a bus service on the route instead starting from September 18, Deputy Bangkok Governor Theerachon Manomaipibul said Monday.

After the BRT's pilot route of Chong Nonsi-Ratchapreuk was criticised by motorists for worsening the traffic jams in the area because it took over one lane from them, the city was considering an initial solution of having Premiere Metro Bus Ltd bus operate on the future BRT routes.

One of the BRT routes to face the axe is the 14km BRT Mor Chit-Civil Service Complex route, which would overlap with the 36km subway "Pink Line" (Khae Rai-Pak Kret-Min Buri route), he said.

The city would have the company's bus service running on the 30km route from the Victory Monument to Pak Kred.

-- The Nation 2010-09-13

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A man was found dead inside the parking building of the CU Book Centre in Siam Square. Victim identified as Suriya Sae-eug /via @Urisara_NT:

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M69 grenade found at Chiang Mail-Lamphun highway roadside pavilion; Authorities believe it belongs to teenaged gangster or persons wanting to create disturbance /MCOT

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Thai authorities concerned further red shirt strife will elevate stress

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[Maestro]

to be continued

Thailand Live Tuesday 14 September 2010

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