Thailand Live Tuesday 14 Sep 2010

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"Passion for Fashion" show raises money for Phuket charity

A Thai model dressed in one of the many "Nude is Rude" pieces

featured in the fashion show. Photo by Apinun Saithong.

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Suthep apologizes for tsunami alert error

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs Suthep Thaugsuban has apologized for the mistakes in the tsunami warning system at Ban Nam Khem , Phang-nga Province.

In the wake of the six false alarms at the tsunami warning tower in Ban Nam Khem, Mr Suthep offered his apology to the public for the blunder. He said he would have the issue investigated, and plans would be devised to prevent a recurrence of such a mistake.

The Deputy Prime Minister also dismissed the speculation that National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) Director Wiriya Mongkolweerapan would be dismissed for the error, saying that would be too harsh a punishment.

According to Mr Suthep, the authorities have kept the tsunami warning system active, and have held an evacuation drill in the six provinces every year in order to keep the locals alert and informed of what they should do if the gigantic surge of water is about to hit.

The tsunami evacuation exercise, presided over by the Deputy Prime Minister himself, was conducted on Monday morning in six Andaman coastal provinces, including Ranong, Trang, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, and Satun.

-- NNT 2010-09-14

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Phayup to nominate Yongyuth as Pheu Thai leader again

Phayup Shinawatra said Tuesday that he will nominate former Pheu Thai Party leader Yongyuth Wichaidit as the Pheu Thai leader again.

Phayup, a younger brother of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the chairman of the Pheu Thai northeastern MPs, said Yongyuth is the most qualified for person for the post of the party leader.

Earlier, it was speculated that former police chief Pol Gen Kovit Wattana would become the next party leader but it was confirmed Tuesday that Kovit would not accept the post.

-- The Nation 2010-09-14

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Thai Society Is Now Immune Against Red Shirt Rallies

-- Tan Network 2010-09-14

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BMA postpones Bangkok Shopping Week scheduled for Sept 18-Oct 11 in Ratchaprasong as Red Shirts plan to hold events in same area /via @MCOT

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EC endorses victory of 47 Bangkok councillors

The Election Commission Tuesday officially endorsed the elections of 47 Bangkok councillors.

Suthep Romyanon, the chairman of the Bangkok Election Committee, said there were no complaints against the 47 winners so the EC resolved to endorse their victory.

-- The Nation 2010-09-14

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PM admits intelligence agencies warn govt of assassination plans

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva Tuesday admitted that intelligence agencies have warned the government of assassination plans against important persons.

He said the warning was made now and "and we have to be careful".

The prime minister was commenting on an interview of First Army Region Commander Lt Gen Kanit Sapithak that there were assassination attempts against certain VIPs.

-- The Nation 2010-09-14

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Surveillance Footage Shows Chiang Mai Bomb Suspects

Surveillance camera footage has given police clues about the suspects in the grenade attack on the business of Newin Chidchob's father-in-law in Chiang Mai as local entrepeneurs rail against possible reimposition of the Emergency Decree.

Chiang Mai police have acquired footage from closed-circuit cameras around the residence of Kanaen Supa, father-in-law of Bhum Jai Thai Party de facto leader Newin Chidchob, in an effort to identify the assailants involved in the grenade attack on the building.

Images from the cameras showed two pick up-trucks entering the area from Pratu Suan Prung Intersection and speeding towards Airport Intersection on Mahidol Road after the attack.

A check of the license plates of both vehicles only showed that they were fake, leading police to believe the perpetrators were well prepared.

As the event came ahead of a planned red-shirt gathering on September 19, Chiang Mai Police Commander Police Major General Sommai Kongwisaisuk stated that he has instructed officers to be on high alert.

He also called for tight control on the anti-government group but declined the need for the state of emergency to be restored.

Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce President Narong Kongprasert supported the police chief's sentiment, placing his faith in local authorities to maintain peace without the need for emergency rule.

Businesses throughout the province have ruled out the need for the special law to be reimposed, fearing its effects on their operation.

Residents of the northern province have called for stricter security and urged all sides to act constructively.

-- Tan Network 2010-09-14

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PM: No report Saudi Arabia will close embassy in Thailand, affirms bilateral ties remain unchanged /MCOT

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Kittipong appointed new Thai ambassador for US

The Cabinet Tuesday approved the appointment of Kittipog na Ranong as the new ambassador for Washington DC.

Kittipong, the director-general of the East Asia Department, will replace Don Pramudwinai, who has resigned.

-- The Nation 2010-09-14

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Flood Crisis in Provinces Remains Woeful

Local highway officials in Chiang Rai province have begun repairing the road leading up to Wawee Mountain after the surrounding terrain collapsed.

Meanwhile, the flood crisis in various provinces remains worrisome.

In Chiang Rai's Mae Suay district, over 50 meters stretch of road leading up to Wawee Mountain have been damaged after the surrounding terrain collapsed.

The Local Highways Department has brought in heavy machinery and began making repairs.

Head of Chiang Rai's Local Highways Department, Anek Nuttakosit, said that repairs are underway and a temporary detour route is being created which is expected to be completed by next week .

As for other areas in Chiang Rai, flash floods are having far-reaching effects on the province's roads and have damaged more than 100 households in Nang Lae subdistrict.

A local military unit has been dispatched to provide assistance to distressed locals.

Meanwhile, Phitsanulok's Bang Rakum district continues to face hardship under a month-long flood crisis due to constant torrential rain and strong river currents.

Locals were forced to move their belongings to higher grounds and they have urged the government and disaster relief agencies to quickly send aid to the flood-hit area.

The flood situation in Nakhon Sawan's Chumsaeng district remains woeful since the area is the converging point of the Chao Phraya River's tributaries.

Moreover, the stagnant floodwater has begun to emit foul odors.

-- Tan Network 2010-09-14

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SET index closed at 921.39, down 15.65; Bt/USD30.63; GBP46.99; AUD28.46; EUR39.33; CAD29.68; HKD3.94; SGD22.78; JPY36.57

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'Run4Rino Charity Run' in Phuket next month

Ten-year-old Rino Mangon Vogt, who suffers from the

rare and potentially fatal condition known

as Ebstein's Anomaly.

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Huge drug find incinerated

Samut Prakan: -- Up to 50 tonnes of Safrole, a precursor chemical for ecstasy pills, were destroyed in a furnace Tuesday.

Financially speaking, it was the biggest destruction of precursor chemicals used in illicit drugs in Thailand.

The haul, seized three years ago at Laem Chabang Port in Chon Buri, contained enough Safrole to produce 63 million ecstasy pills. Each pill is sold for Bt1,000 or up to Bt1,500.

The huge amount of Safrole intercepted in Bangkok was about to be shipped to China and the US.

The Office of the Narcotics Control Board ordered Akkhie Prakarn to burn the seized Safrole. The company said it took about 12 hours to destroy the 50 tonnes in a co-current rotary furnace.

-- The Nation 2010-09-14

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Phuket sea gypsies perform turtle exorcism ritual

Sea gypsy shaman Hari Fongsaitan puts his hand on the head

of one of the sea gypsies who ate the contaminated meat,

but survived.

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Landmines wounds another elephant

By The Nation

Another elephant has stepped on a landmine in Burma's border area and returned to Thailand with serious injuries.

Boonmee, a 10-year-old cow elephant, was admitted to the Friends of the Asian Elephant (FAE) Foundation's Elephant Hospital in Lampang at 1.30am yesterday.

Her right front foot had deep and wide lacerations.

After stepping on the landmine, Boonmee had to walk for two days to get out of the Burmese jungle. She then boarded the ferry and was put into a truck for the Elephant Hospital.

The hospital's veterinarians have already cleaned her wounds and given her antibiotics as well as painkiller.

"We are closely monitoring her condition," the hospital's director Preecha Puangkham said.

Preecha, who is also a veterinarian himself, said he was worried the wounds might affect Boonmee's ability to balance herself and to walk around.

"It's necessary that we prevent infection," Preecha said.

Boonmee was the fourth elephant to come to his medical facility with a landminerelated wound.

All four elephants sustained the injuries while carrying logs in Burma's border area opposite Thailand's Tak. The other elephant victims were Motala, Mosha, and Kaphae

Some have needed and been fitted with prosthetic legs.

-- The Nation 2010-09-14

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COUP ANNIVERSARY

Shopping week at Rajprasong postponed to avoid reds protests

By The Nation

Bangkok authority has postponed "Bangkok Shopping Week" scheduled to be held every weekend this month in Ratprasong area to avoid red shirt's protest set to be held this weekend.

Bangkok's deputy governor Thaya Theepasuwan said that the festival, initially set to be held every weekend from September 18 until October 11 at Ratprasong, is organised to help businessmen who have been affected by red shirts' protests in April and May.

"We decide to delay the shopping week to be near the end of this year to avoid possible confrontation between the vendors and the red shirts," she said. There would be about 2,000 shops planned to join the festival, Thaya said.

The red shirts plan to hold a gathering on September 19 to mark the fourth anniversary of the coup d'etat that ousted ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

In addition, concerts which were planned to happen near CentralWorld shopping Complex on that day would also be postponed.

The postponement of the two-week festival is estimated to cost about Bt300 million, she said.

-- The Nation 2010-09-14

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Panitan: Govt gearing up for UDD’s planned moves

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Government is on alert for the planned movements of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) on 19 September, according to Acting Government Spokesperson Dr Panitan Wattanayagorn.

Asked about the Government’s preparation to handle the upcoming UDD rallies in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Dr Panitan stated after the Cabinet meeting today that the Government deemed the safety of all citizens as its priority. He assured that concerned officials would be deployed in surrounding areas of the rally sites to prevent civilians from unexpected violence and to ensure no blockage of traffic. The police will be the main force in keeping the situation under control while the military will be prepared to provide reinforcements if necessary.

The spokesperson stated that the UDD’s movements would be acceptable as long as the group abided by law. He indicated that the Center for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) would keep a close eye on the situation, especially at Ratchaprasong Intersection in Bangkok, although the current atmosphere was still normal.

-- NNT 2010-09-14

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Abhisit opposed to amnesty

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva Tuesday voiced objection to a push to grant amnesty to protesters involved in the turmoil in 2008 and 2009, arguing this might fuel the political turbulence rather than bring about reconciliation.

"The government has no policy on this issue," he said, suggesting for the coalition Bhum Jai Thai Party to check back with society before making any hasty move.

Abhisit said in contrary to his junior coalition partner's expectation of reconciliation, the issue of amnesty would intensify the animosity because opponents will likely resume street protests.

-- The Nation 2010-09-14

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Yongyuth re-elected as Pheu Thai leader

The Pheu Thai Party Tuesday re-elected Yongyuth Wichaidith as the party leader.

Yongyuth was elected with 267 votes by Pheu Thai MPs and party executives. Six MPs and executives voted against him and four abstained. Two ballots became invalid.

-- The Nation 2010-09-14

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to be continued

Thailand Live Wednesday 15 September 2010

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