Thailand Live Monday 27 Sep 2010

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Thailand Live Monday 27 September 2010

News, Bits and Tweets

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Keep up to date with live updates from the news, hour by hour.

For breaking news,national, regional and international news updates on

a daily basis only, this thread is closed to commentary so that those

who wish to follow the news can find it here...

Commentary is still open for Thailand news in the relevant thread posted in News Clippings.

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Related topic: Thailand Live Sunday 26 September 2010

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PM: Foreigners see bright future of Thai econ

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Foreign countries are interested in the current economic condition of Thailand due to its continuous expansion, according to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Speaking in his weekly TV program “Confidence in Thailand with Prime Minister Abhisit”, the Prime Minister said the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) was impressive with Thailand’s outstanding Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figure of nearly 8% this year.

Thailand’s unemployment rate currently stands at 1% while public debts are in the range of 42-43%. Exports have expanded by 30% while the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index ascends by 30% in terms of Thai baht and 35% in the US dollar.

The Prime Minister attributed the current economic expansion to the Government’s successful planning in 2009 which had led the export sector and the stock market to grow dramatically. He expected that the Thai economy would be growing up continuously under the 2012 Strong Thailand Scheme of the Government.

Nevertheless, Prime Minister Abhisit expressed his concerns over the ongoing controversies at the Map Ta Phut industrial estate in Rayong as well as the stuck 3G license auction, which might impede the economic expansion.

Regarding the domestic politics, the Prime Minister admitted that the situation posed an obstacle as the Government’s reconciliation plan was still under way. However, he believed that investors would have correct understanding that political conflicts were not economic problems.

-- NNT 2010-09-27

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Blast at Nang Lerng instigated for chaos

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The recent explosion at the Nang Lerng horse racing course is only aimed at creating confusion in the society, according to National Police Chief Police General Wichean Potephosree.

Pol Gen Wichean said the site of bombing had been under security watch before the explosion. However, it was not the failure of intelligence gathering of both police and the Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES), he noted.

The National Police Chief pledged that the police would try their best to safeguard and take care of the situation.

On Sunday morning, a bomb went off outside the Nang Lerng horse racing course damaging its wall as well as a nearby flyover.

Nevertheless, there were no casualties in the incident.

Regarding two other bomb blasts in Taling Chan area and in Soi Sathu Pradit 29 of Rama III Road on 24 September 2010 which injured

three people, Police General Wichean said a citizen has offered a reward of 100,000 THB for anybody who could provide a tip-off to the arrest of the culprits.

-- NNT 2010-09-27

Related topic: Bomb Blast Outside Bangkok Stables

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Bhumjaithai seeks to strengthen ties with Chart Thai Pattana

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Interior Minister and Bhumjaithai leader Chavarat Charnvirakul has accepted that his party is coordinating with another coalition partner, Chart Thai Pattana Party, in creating a political joint venture in a bid to boost political strength.

Mr Chavarat said that in the same way as a business joint venture, political alliance was necessary in order to bring strength to political parties.

Bhumjaithai and Chart Thai Pattana are currently joining hands to issue the amnesty act in order to pardon protesters of both the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) from legal punishments.

In response to a query on Bhumjaithai’s support for him to become the next prime minister, Mr Chavarat said he would not vie for the position, reasoning that he is not qualified since a Prime Minister must be selected among MPs, according to the Constitution.

Asked if the Bhumjaithai Party would join hands with the opposition Pheu Thai Party in forming a new government if the Democrat Party was dissolved, Mr Chavarat said anything was possible if the situation provided.

-- NNT 2010-09-27

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PM: Thailand, Cambodia to work towards restoring bilateral ties

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Thailand and neighboring Cambodia will spare no efforts trying to improve the badly-soured bilateral relations, according to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Speaking in his weekly talk show, "Confidence in Thailand with PM Abhisit", the Prime Minister stated that the two countries would work together to strengthen bilateral ties, saying the two sides agreed to that effect during his sideline talks with his Cambodia counterpart Hun Sen, while both of them were attending the UN General Assembly and the ASEAN-US Summit in New York. In addition, the two nations agreed to enhance the relations by promoting constructive activities and avoiding military confrontations, as well as fostering co-operation at several including ministerial levels.

The latest row between Thailand and Cambodia regarding the border dispute took place after Cambodia proposed its unilateral management plan to list the ancient Preah Vihear temple as a world heritage site to the World Heritage to Committee (WHC); the move was strongly opposed by the Thai government.

-- NNT 2010-09-27

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Democrat Pary has several choices to become PM in case of political accident

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The ruling Democrat Party has many choices to be chosen as prime minister if there is a political accident, according to Democrat Party Executive Sathit Pitutecha.

Mr Sathit stated that he personally could accept anyone to sit in this important position as long as the person was legitimately selected by the majority votes in Parliament.

Referring to the impending court ruling on the dissolution case of the ruling Democrat Party, Mr Sathit said that his own party had many alternatives to replace Prime Minister Ahbisit, but who would be the right person depended on the situation when the time came.

The party executive noted that the national political situation had been improving continuously, but it could be even better if the opposition Pheu Thai Party could prevent its MP Jatuporn Prompan from having leading roles in the Party.

BMr Sathit suggested that the Pheu Thai Party should get rid of Mr Jatuporn, also the Deputy Chairperson of the anti-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship.

-- NNT 2010-09-27

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Dust whipped up as Thai Democrats await dissolution ruling

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ANALYSIS

Should PM Abhisit beware of 'Korn-don Brown'?

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PM Abhisit unfazed by Thai leadership talk

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CURRENCY

Outflow stimuli won't affect Baht's strength much: researchers

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National body proposed to lift reading standards

By Wannapa Khaopa

The Nation

World literacy leaders Japan and South Korea highlighted as models

Japan's literacy rate has reached 99 per cent, while South Korea's literacy rate has reached 93.5 per cent, according to United Nations Development Programme Report 2007/2008 and World Factbook 2008 respectively.

But, believe it or not, before both countries enjoyed taste of success, they faced deterioration after the end of World War II in 1945, including educational deterioration. The literacy rate of South Korea was only 20 per cent due to poverty, whereas the educational curriculum of Japan was considered fail at the same time, as students were aggressive. They skipped classes due to too much content to learn.

Sixty-five years later, Japan and Korea can prove that they are able to successfully improve their literacy, using different strategies to promote reading among their citizens.

A Thailand Knowledge (TK) Park forum was held last week (September 23) at the Novotel Siam Square Hotel in Bangkok in a bid to voice ideas of relevant organisations to the government so to promote the country's reading policy.

Wattanachai Winichakul, head of academic department of TK Park, who presented research on reading promotion strategies of the two countries, said South Korea was just a developing country, the same as Thailand, 30 years ago, but now South Korea was ranked the first in the world for students' reading literacy in 2006 by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Thailand was in the 41st rank.

He said what behind the success was that its government had clear policy to promote reading and improve small and big libraries across the country to encourage people to make use of the libraries, seeking knowledge. On the other hand, Japan's citizens, especially housewives, had played a key role in improving children's reading along with government sector. Later, information technology became both countries' strategies to encourage reading.

South Korea's government sector has well integrated their work with private sector and civil society. With an aim to increase reading literacy, its government has run a campaign encouraging people to read and use libraries. The National Library of Korea was established in 1945. And later in 1955, the Korean Library Association was set up with a mission to build up small libraries in villages and there were 35,000 small libraries nationwide in 1970. Private sector established Daehan Library Research Association to send mobile libraries to approach people, he said.

"Also, Korean citizens instill reading in their children. Every house has a bookcase containing books telling Korean histories and encyclopedias giving information about the world. They have their children read the histories to foster nationalism and the encyclopedias to learn what happened outside the country," said Assist Prof Parit Wongthanasen, a lecturer at Korean Language Section of Prince of Songkla University, Pattani campus.

Parit said Korean schools provided periods to teach students to analyse contents after reading.

Wattanachai added that Korea had tried to adjust standard and friendlier atmosphere of libraries to attract more children while miracle library project opened spaces at libraries for children to play and use their imagination. Then, it had moved forward to build up National Digital Library since 1977 to facilitate readers.

Meanwhile, in Japan housewives have volunteered to open "Bunko", private children's libraries in Japan at home and public places to promote reading among Japanese children for 30 years. There were 4,000 Bunkos countrywide in 2006. Moreover, from small children's libraries, four Bunkos have combined and become Tokyo Children's Library in 1974, according to Wattanachai.

In 2002, Japan's government sector built up National Diet Library (NDL) to serve people. It has three branches, including Tokyo Main Library, Kan-sai-kan of NDL and International Library of Children's Literature (ILCL). They link the information to serve people.

ILCL has friendly atmosphere and equipped with facility to arouse children to read. It also allows school libraries to borrow its resources to teach students.

Japan also has a five-year plan to improve school libraries to meet standard. It has allocated 100,000 Yen. The project will end 2011.

Its government has increased students' access to books, using information and technology to share resources between community and school libraries. They were told to create online public access catalog to serve library users.

Learning how both countries successfully increase reading literacy and overcome their deterioration, the forum urged the Thai government to set up or seek an organisation to mainly create the country's reading strategy plan. There are various organisations in Thailand promoting reading but they do in their own way. The organisation will integrate their work in the same direction.

It urged to establish children and youth's libraries with good atmosphere nationwide to lure more of them to use libraries. Students should be taught to analyse literature in educational curriculum.

The forum also said Bunko idea should be implemented in Thailand to give more access to books to children in communities. Local administrative organisations should become partnership of school and community libraries so that they could help provide budget to improve those libraries.

-- The Nation 2010-09-27

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Diverse ways in which to Raise

By Chularat Saengpassa

The Nation

Teachers' quality has been top of the list of mustdo things to improve Thailand's declining education standard. There've been some efforts, with the latest being the government's approval of generous pay adjustment. But will this lead to the better future?

The Education Ministry is hopeful that the pay adjustment would prevent brain drain problem particularly for teachers in physics and science fields who could be lured to other fields that offer higher pays. Now new teachers with 2year training enjoy nearly Bt12,000, same as newentry doctors.

In a way, this will encourage some brilliant students to pursue teaching career. But will money alone solve the quality problem? It's hardly so. What also count are enthusiasm as well as a more integrated scheme to enhance the teachers' skills.

The government's allocation of Bt1billion to finance Teacher TV programme for three years is a good start. It delivers some ideas for teachers about how to improve their skills. But without actual training programmes, it is questionable whether this investment will succeed. Most teachers admitted that they seldom tuned on the programme as it's aired as early as 5.50am.

It is understandable, teachers in big cities are leaving home at the time to beat traffic while those in provinces are still in bed. Some who managed to watch could also make an excuse: teachers in Britain are fully equipped with tools. Here not all schools have science laboratories.

As shown in Teacher TV last week, an actual training is necessary. Physics teacher Singh is a good teacher. He is dedicated, with good preparation for the class. He prepares questions to raise students' attention. He wins commendation from an inspector but he said he wants to become a better teacher.

Singh got the chance. He was given a course for voice training. The idea is how to project voice to get attention. Then he was trained on nonverbal things. Usually he pointed a finger to students who gave the right answers to his questions. The trainer told him that to show greater sincerity to students, he should maintain the position of his hand for some time.

Singh was impressed with the trainings, so was I.

Just money alone would not help without teachers' enthusiasm and a scheme to enhance the effectiveness of interaction with students.

In Thailand, teachers are indeed required to attend so many training courses. But most of them concentrate on their knowledge in the subjects. They are asked to complete tests. Those with good knowledge are recommended and guaranteed bright future, regardless of the success rate of their inclass performance.

A pilot training programme on teaching skills should be initiated. When it comes to teaching skills, there are many ways to enhance them not just how to plot questions for the class.

If possible, send a few to personality improvement institutions like John Roberts Power. Then these teachers could train others. In any fields, people with strong personality are usually innovative. And they can become the change agents.

Hopefully, the government sees to this point or the TV programme and the payrise would not lift Thailand's education standards.

Chularat Saengpassa

-- The Nation 2010-09-27

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M16 ammo found in bushes

By The Nation

More than 5,000 rounds of live ammunition were found amid the thick growth of weeds along a local road in Lop Buri yesterday morning.

They are designed for use with M16 machine guns.

Lop Buri police chief Maj General Chatchai Tang-iam yesterday led a team to inspect two suspicious bags, which were labelled as containing fertiliser but in fact contained a huge amount of bullets.

People alerted police about the bags after they were clearly abandoned there.

The serial numbers of the ammunition were now being examined to check whether it was the lot stolen from a military arsenal in Lop Buri.

Several weapons have been stolen from the arsenal lately, and police are now going after the culprits in the case.

-- The Nation 2010-09-27

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Suthep favoured for by-election

By The Nation

The three branches of the Democrat Party in Surat Thani voted yesterday to enter Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban in the Surat Thani by-election.

The branches voted unanimously to have Suthep contest the by-election in the southern province's Constituency 1.

The by-election will be held on October 31 to fill the House seat of former MP Chumpol Kanchana.

Chumpol was disqualified after the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Office found him guilty of concealing debts.

Before the branches cast the vote, Chumpol apologised to Democrat members in the Surat Thani branches. He said he was disqualified because of an accounting error.

Chumpol said his supporters wanted his family members to contest his House seat but he had asked Suthep to run in the by-election.

Chumpol explained that Suthep could help enhance the coalition's stability by becoming an MP and helping to control how coalition MPs vote in Parliament.

Initially, a party member nominated Chumpol's wife, Sopha Kanchana, for the Democrats' endorsement as the by-election candidate but she withdrew herself.

Satang Wongrod, chairman of the main branch in Surat Thani, said the Democrat leader would be informed of the branches' decision.

Suthep resigned as an MP in July last year after the Election Commission resolved to ask the Constitution Court to consider whether he was disqualified as an MP for holding shares in firms prohibited by the charter. The court later dismissed the case against Suthep following his resignation.

Meanwhile, Democrat MP for Songkhla, Wirat Kalayasiri, said Suthep was not preparing to become the next prime minister by contesting for the vacant House seat.

Wirat said Suthep would be listed as the candidate because he was very popular in the province.

Indeed, even Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday he had read a piece of political analysis that speculated that Suthep would become the next prime minister.

Thepthai Senpong, spokesman for the Democrat leader, said the party's screening committee, chaired by Banyat Bantadtan, had yet to consider endorsing Suthep as the candidate for the by-election.

If endorsed, the meeting of Democrat MPs would be informed accordingly.

-- The Nation 2010-09-27

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Thai Democrats could win general elections if poll held now

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Blast seen as 'political'

By The Nation

A 'harmless' explosion yesterday outside the Nang Lerng Royal Turf Club, only a few hundred metres from Government House, was meant to create trouble for the government, National Police chief Wichean Potephosree said.

The home-made device containing fertiliser and diesel fuel was electronically detonated at about 40 minutes after midnight under a pedestrian flyover in front of Gate 2 of the club, but no casualties were reported, police said.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva summoned Wichean to report on the incident and told reporters that officials were investigating the bomb. Wichean said he told Abhisit the motive was politics.

National Police adviser General Panupong Singhara na Ayutthaya said the device was similar to those found at a shop-ping mall and the Public Health Ministry last month and was believed to have been contrived by the same group. The bomber wanted to stir up turmoil and disturb social order, he said.

The blast could be a factor in Abhisit's decision on lifting the state of emergency. The PM said he was considering cancelling the decree in Udon Thani, Khon Kaen and Nakhon Ratchasima.

New York-based Human Rights Watch called last week for the government to scrap the state of emergency, saying the law sup-pressed people's fundamental rights. The government extended the decree "to prevent possible violent or unlawful activities. It remains in effect in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani and Nakhon Ratchasima.

Abhisit said he explained the situation to representatives of HRW while he was in New York for the UN General Assembly. The organisation misunderstood some points, he said. The state of emergency did not affect the normal lives of people, he told them.

HRW claimed the law was being used to hold people, mostly red shirts, without charge for up to 30 days in unofficial places of custody.

But Abhisit said people were only held in widely known prisons.

-- The Nation 2010-09-27

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EDITORIAL

Website arrest was unwise, politically wrong

By The Nation

Jiranuch's detention a real spoiler of hopeful peace moves

It was so absurd some people saw it as an anti-government conspiracy. The arrest on Friday of a senior staff of the Prachathai website, Jiranuch Premchaiporn, who was accused of disseminating lese majeste contents on her website, which is perceived as being sympathetic to the red shirts, was uncalled for and very counter-productive politically. Whether she would be released or not doesn't matter. Damage has been done, and what a timing. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was in New York when the chief of a rebellious yet respected news website was detained.

Jiranuch, 43, was detained at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport upon returning from Finland where she had attended a media liberty event. She was taken into police custody at a time when "reconciliation" at long last was being taken seriously thanks to positive gestures from Thaksin Shinawatra, the peaceful rally of the red shirts a week ago, a campaign by a coalition partner as well as lobbying efforts by Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart. If none of the "signals" truly represents real hope for political peace, at least they did not serve to widen the national divide. Jiranuch's arrest, on the other hand, was the real spoiler.

Prachathai has for years been serving as an alternative news website. Sometimes this news and commentary outlet became controversial, but which news organisation hasn't in the midst of our political crisis? Prachathai's role is not much different from ASTV's website except for the fact that they are on the opposite side of the conflict. When it comes to hard-lined comments, stances and overzealous readers, both news outlets probably cannot beat each other. This only means the Thai authorities must be very careful in dealing with the freedom of expression flourishing on both websites to avoid charges of discrimination, injustice or double-standards.

Like the rest of the world, Thailand has been grappling with the new-found freedom provided by the digital media. The US authorities' problem with wikileaks.net confirms that even the biggest flag-bearer of democracy doesn't quite know how to handle the phenomenon or navigate the increasingly blurry line between freedom and national (or even international) security. Thanks to our long-lasting serious political conflict, Thailand can probably say we have had a head-start when it comes to dealing with the "freedom" issue. This, however, doesn't mean we know better, as underlined by various incidents which have been capped by Jiranuch's detention.

The action against Jiranuch is unwise and politically wrong, considering its potential effects on fledgling reconciliation efforts. Moreover, people who know Jiranuch- including many fellow journalists- speak of a decent person who can be anything but a threat to national security. A hard-liner she probably is, but an insurgent she is absolutely not. That the arrest triggered a storm of criticism and drew much attention on social media on Friday should provide the government with enough clues how society perceives this latest political incident.

Chiranuch, as a former web master of the now defunct prachatai's webboard, which staff insist is separated from prachatai.com the newspaper, has an ongoing case against her for violating the computer crime law. The charges came after a number of postings by web board members were deemed to constitute an act of lese majeste.

Like it or not, the arrest will draw local and international attention back toward the lese majeste issue. This is unhealthy and could even be more damaging to the beloved monarch than offensive comments on websites themselves. Of course, the laws are there and there may have been some violations, but this is an issue that deserves everything but rigid legal enforcement. Tolerance, understanding, maturity and sympathy must be allowed to play key roles - not only for offenders' sake, but also for everyone's as well as our nation as a whole.

-- The Nation 2010-09-27

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Thai operators may help govt resolve 3G deadlock

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Police Hunting Down Suspects in Murder of Cop in Mae Hong Son

Police are searching for suspects in the brutal murder of a police officer in Mae Hong Son province.

Police are looking for clues in the fatal shooting of Police Senior Sergeant Major Thongchai Muansutthipong , who was a criminal investigation officer at the Mae Hong Son police station.

Police said the murder investigation is focusing on several suspects who are believed to have known the victim well.

Thongchai was shot with a 9-millimeter pistol several times while he was jogging on Baan Maeki – Pratu Muang Road in the Mae Ngao sub-district. There were bullet wounds found in the back of his neck, as well as his left cheek and torso.

His body was discovered in a bush on the side of the road.

Police also found several cuts on his face and a bruise they determined had been caused by a blow from a hard object. Authorities are conducting an autopsy of the victim's body at Maharaj Nakhon Chiang Mai Hospital.

Investigators suspect that the motive for the murder was personal.

-- Tan Network 2010-09-27

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PM says Bangkok bombs must be stopped

BANGKOK: -- After a series of explosions in the Thai capital during the past few weeks, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday that the concerned authorities must find ways to end such incidents.

Mr Abhisit, who had just returned home after attending the UN General Assembly in New York, said he worries about the recent explosions in Bangkok and he plans to bring the issue for discussion by the Cabinet.

Issues to be discussed include how to prevent heavy weapons to be used in carrying out violence. Concerned authorities must be alert in preventing bomb explosions in the capital.

The latest incident took place at 12.30am Sunday when a bomb exploded beneath a flyover near the Nang Lerng horse racing course (Royal Turf Club). These incidents took place despite Bangkok being under an emergency decree.

Mr Abhisit declined to say that the explosion before dawn Sunday was aimed at challenging the state authority.

Meanwhile, national police chief Pol Gen Vichien Poteposri briefed the prime minister on the Bangkok bombing incidents, reportedly telling him that no army reinforcements are needed to assist police in maintaining peace.

Pol Gen Vichien said wellwishers had offered rewards totaling Bt400,000, or Bt100,000 for each of four bombing incidents, to persons providing clues leading to the arrest of the as yet unidentified bombers.

The four incidents include the latest bomb near the Nang Lerng horse racing course (Royal Turf Club) and three others outside Santirat Wittayalai school in Bangkok on September 8 and at parking areas of a shopping mall and the Public Health Ministry in Nonthaburi.

Pol Gen Panupong Singhara na Ayutthaya, an adviser to the national police chief, said police bomb experts believed the bombers in four incidents were the same persons.

Several witnesses had been questioned by police, Gen Panupong said, adding that police believed that the attacks were aimed at creating unrest and paranoia in the country. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-09-27

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 961.10, up 9.20 points /MCOT

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Nang Lerng bomb found linked to previous attacks

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Police found links between Nang Lerng’s bomb attack and the three previous bomb cases around Bangkok.

Explosive experts confirm that the bombs planted at the Nang Lerng Horse Racing Course on Sunday and those at the Mall Department Store, the Ministry of Public Health and Santirat School earlier this month were skillfully made by the same person.

Police have retrieved several pictures of suspects and their cars from some of the locations. They believed some witnesses had seen the culprits before the crime occurred. Investigations are still underway.

The latest blast of the series took place outside the Nang Lerng Horse Racing Course in Bangkok on Sunday with no report of casualties. The authorities believed the incidents are aimed at creating chaos. A citizen has offered a reward of 100,000 THB for anybody who could provide information identifying the suspects involved in the instigation.

-- NNT 2010-09-27

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United Nations to appoint space ambassador to act as first contact for aliens visiting Earth

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The Blackberry (BB) Syndrome

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Italian Woman Attack by Armed Intruder in her Pattaya Home

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BOMB ATTACK

Deputy PM Suthep apologises for failing to prevent attacks

By The Nation

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuagsuban on Monday apologised to the public that the authorities could not prevent reoccurrence of bomb attacks, saying stricter measures would be imposed to control the situation.

Suthep was responding to series of bomb attacks in Bangkok, including in front of Royal Turb Club, a few hundred meters from the Government House, over the weekend which injured no one.

He issued the apologies although police speculated that the attacks were caused by personal conflicts.

"It is my duties to handle the situation. I would like to apologise to the public for our mistakes and loopholes that allowed the bomb attacks in the country," Suthep said.

Police have been instructed to set up more checkpoints and increase patrol units to prevent the attacks but failed to prevent the activities.

On Sunday, a home-made device containing fertiliser and diesel fuel was electronically detonated at about 40 minutes after midnight under a pedestrian flyover in front of Gate 2 of the club.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva summoned Wichean to report on the incident and told reporters that officials were investigating the bomb. Wichean said he told Abhisit the motive was politics.

National Police adviser General Panupong Singhara na Ayutthaya said the device was similar to those found at a shop-ping mall and the Public Health Ministry last month and was believed to have been contrived by the same group. The bomber wanted to stir up turmoil and disturb social order, he said.

-- The Nation 2010-09-27

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Police Chief meets Deputy PM Suthep to report on security situation; four bombings on weekend work of one group, sets Bt100,000 reward /MCOT

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Police Charged with Murder of Girlfriend's New Lover

A former police officer has been charged with murdering his girlfriend's lover in the western province of Tak .

Former police officer, Police Senior Sergeant Major Amonthep Utthiya has been charged with the murdering his girlfriend's new lover on Saturday night.

Police said there were two victims in Saturday night's incident, identified as 22-year-old Charatsee Suwan and 24-year-old Pornkasem Nai-ong. Both victims were shot seven times each.

The female victim sustained serious injuries, while the man was pronounced dead at a hospital in the Mae Sod district.

The accused said he suddenly lost his temper when he learned that his girlfriend wanted to break up with him to start a new life with her new lover.

The former police officer went on to say that he accepted the charges, claiming that the love affair was the only issue in the case.

-- Tan Network 2010-09-27

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Thai 3G auction derailed

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Royal Thai Police steps up patrols, increases checkpoints in Bangkok

The Royal Thai Police have stepped police patrols and increased the number of security checkpoints in the capital to try to prevent more bomb attacks, the police spokesman said Monday.

Police spokesman Pol Maj Gen Prawut Thawornsiri said about 300 to 400 mobile checkpoints have been set up in Bangkok and outer areas to try to thwart more bomb attacks.

Prawit said the security patrolling would be stepped up especially at sensitive areas which could be targets of bomb attacks, such as Ban Phitsanulok, the Government House and residences of important figures.

-- The Nation 2010-09-27