Thailand Live Tuesday 5 Oct 2010

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Thailand extends emergency rule in Bangkok for three months

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Phuket to lead Veg Fest spending of 33.5 billion baht

Phuket Town is the center of activities in the annual festival.

File photo by Christian Mouchet.

Bowls of fresh and pickled vegetables are a common sight on restaurant

tables in most Phuket Town restaurants during the festival.

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AOT cancels Suvarnabhumi parking concession

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Airports of Thailand (AOT) has terminated the concession of Parking Management Company limited. An auction for a new concession will be completed in 3 months.///

AOT chairman Piyaphan Champasut stated that the current company had failed to honor its commitments stated in the contract, particularly in terms of security. The chairman said the seizure of the airport car park by a group of armed men last Friday had damaged the image and reputation of the airport.

Incidents like this had happened before, so the AoT decided to cancel the concession with the Parking Management company.

Mr Piyapan further announced that the cancellation would not affect parking services at the airport, as the AOT would be in charge of collecting parking fees and ensuring security in the parking lots. The AoT will also speed up the bidding process for a new concessionaire; the whole process is expected to be completed within 90 days.

Parking Management won a concession from AOT for managing the car parks at the Airport for five years, starting in April this year until March 2015. Under the agreement, the company is required to pay the AoT a minimum of 16.5 million baht a month or 7.5% of the total revenues collected, whichever greater. concession fee of a minimum guarantee of 16.5 million baht per month or 7.5 percent of total monthly revenue.

-- NNT 2010-10-05

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Zone 2 Parking Lot At Suvarnabhumi Airport Closed Off By Armed Men

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Five flood-hit districts of Ratchaburi declared disaster areas

RATCHABURI, Oct 5 – Thailand’s central province of Ratchaburi on Tuesday designated five districts disaster zones due to forest run-off from the Tanaosri mountain range and flash floods while flooding in neighbouring Kanchanaburi became more critical.

At an urgent meeting chaired by Ratchaburi governor Suthep Komolpamorn, the provincial seat, and Pak Tho, Chom Bung, Suan Phung and Ban Kha districts were declared disaster areas.

Ratchaburi province is located 80 kilometres west of the capital.

In addition, the governor instructed disaster response and other civil servants concerned to immediately aid flood-affected residents, particularly those in the five districts.

Meanwhile, the downpour severely affected three districts of neighbouring Kanchanaburi, including the provincial seat, Sai Yok and Bo Phloi.

Flood-affected villagers phoned local government officials for help but it was difficult for officials to reach the areas as the torrential water flow which hit and cut off roads and bridges to flood-hit areas.

As a result of the deep waters, provincial authorities remain unable to use the flat-bottomed boats to visit and aid the residents.

Meanwhile, some villagers move from their homes to stay near roadside areas as the water level was measured over 6-metre deep. The water level will likely become gradually higher as Ratchaburi provincial officials have opened its flood control water gates to release some water.

In addition, the torrential water run-off swept a car away and destroyed engines of some cars.

In other weather-related development, the Meteorological Departmentwarned on Tuesday warned people of heavy rain and flash floods and reported that the tropical depression over Laos was downgraded to a low cell covering Laos and Vietnam.

This caused more rain and isolated heavy rain over the upper northeastern part of the country.

However, the monsoon still covered the southern and eastern parts. Torrential rainfall continues to affect much of lower central, eastern and southern Thailand.

The disaster areas currently included Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-10-05

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PM: Positive signs been shown after meeting Cambodia’s PM

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he believed the positive signs shown during his meeting with his Cambodia’s counterpart, Hun Sen, would lead to better bilateral ties in the future.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said after his talks with Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen in the 8th Asia Europe meeting in Belgium that ministers and journalists from the two neighboring countries would exchange visits in the next four to five months. Thailand and Cambodia will later discuss facts regarding demarcation and current issues prior to the next meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam, this month.

-- NNT 2010-10-05

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New 4th Army Region Commander appointed

BANGKOK, 5 October 2010 (NNT) - The newly-appointed Commander is prepared to continue the work in solving the southern-border provinces violence.

Former 4th Army Region Commander, General Pichet Wisaichorn, has officially handed over the position to Lieutenant General Udomchai Thammasarorat.

General Pichet personally believed that Lieutenant General Udomchai was the most suitable person to take the helm of the 4th Army Region, given both had been working together in combating insurgents in the three southernmost provinces. The new Commander is well-acquainted with the local and religious leaders and familiar with the areas.

It is a known fact that many people in the South are still afraid of officials. It is hoped that the new commander will continue to work towards changing government officials’ image in the locals’ minds.

-- NNT 2010-10-05

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Public Health Ministry warns people to be aware of contamination in vegetarian dish

BANGKOK, 5 October 2010 (NNT) -- Public Health Ministry, in cooperation with Consumer Protection Police Division, has seized a large amount of imported artificial- vegetarian food in Bangkuntien area.

Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit joined hands with Consumer Protection Police Division chief Jaturong Pumarin searching Che Yong Fhun Food Company limited in Bangkuntien district. During the search, they found a large amount of illegal artificial vegetarian food products labeled imported.

The illegal products, stored in 5 containers, included over 20 kinds of vegetarian foods containing animal-product ingredients.

The investigation team also found another factory, owned by the same company, with nearly 20 illegal items, weighing about 1,400kilograms. Police seized all the products from both places, worth over 3 million baht altogether, as evidence. Legal actions will be taken against the owners of the places.

-- NNT 2010-10-05

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Thailand, Cambodia to hold border talks in Hanoi in October

BRUSSELS, Oct 5 – Thailand and Cambodia will hold talks on their as yet unsettled border issue on the sidelines of the 17th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Hanoi late this month following the meeting of the two countries’ leaders in Brussels on Monday, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said.

Mr Abhisit said he met his Cambodian counterpart Mr Hun Sen on the sidelines of the 8th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit, being held in Brussels during October 4-5.

The Thai premier said he had discussed with Mr Hun Sen the border dispute which remains unresolved, adding that the two countries would prepare information related to the conflicts and would hold talks again when they meet on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital, Oct 28-30.

“There is no conclusion in the latest discussion which has mainly exchanged views over the dispute in an effort to press ahead for progress in tackling the issue apart from current efforts being made through parliamentary procedures and the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC),” he said.

Regarding concerns over encroachment in overlapping areas, Mr Abhisit said the two countries had talked about this problem and conceded that there were some groups of people in both countries which were dissatisfied. They wanted to solve the problem in an aggressive way, which may lead to clashes. Their leaders are duty-bound to reach better understanding among their peoples to prevent violence.

“The framework to tackle the problem is in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Thailand and Cambodia on demarcation for land boundary 2000. We must look back to the intention (in the MoU)”, he said.

The talks (in Brussels) is a good thing and frequent talks will help prevent misunderstanding that could lead to a possible clash which no one want to see, Mr Abhisit said, noting that bilateral relations now are gradually improving as the heads of both governments could hold talks and put efforts to drive concerned agencies to foster healthy relations which is considered a positive sign. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-10-05

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3 policemen, railway worker injured in Songkhla bomb attack

Songkhla - Three policemen and a railway worker were injured when insurgents detonated a bomb planted near a police booth next to a railway cross in this southern border province Monday morning.

The explosion occurred at 9:30 am at a police booth next to a railway cross of the Chana-Nathawaee railway in Tambon Banna of Chana district.

Police said insurgents slipped a homemade bomb into a garbage bin near the booth and detonated it by mobile phone.

Pol Sen Sgt Maj Erb Kaewkwanphet, Pol Sen Sgt Maj Kasem Karnchanarat and Pol Sen Sgt Maj Narin Maneechote were injured.

Kittichai Pinsuwan, a worker who was manning the railway cross, was also injured.

-- The Nation 2010-10-05

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CRIME

Red shirts security head sentenced to one month in jail

By The Nation

The Criminal Court on Tuesday sentenced a former actor and red shirts leader to one month in jail for assaulting a head of Pheu Thai election center in Surat Thani province last year.

The penalty which was commuted from two months is suspended for one year as Methee Amornwuttikun, 39, confessed.

Methee is ordered to pay a fine of Bt2,000.

Methee assaulted Aditsaraj Thampitak, 54, a head of Pheu Thai election center in Surat Thani on September 8 last year in front of the party headquarters on Rama IV road. Aditsaraj was bruised and injured.

At first, the court ruled to jail Methee for two months and a fine of Bt4,000, but it decided to commute the penalties by half and suspended them for one year as the defendant confessed and has never been jailed before.

The court also ordered Methee who had records of assaulting others not to repeat the offence. Methee complied by the order.

Methee was an actor-turned-reds leader who was in charge of security for red shirts protests. He was initially arrested for allegedly having in possession unregistered weapons but was later turned witness on red shirts trials.

-- The Nation 2010-10-05

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Westin Phuket defers taxi decision

Sirae Island Taxi Service leader Praderm Klomsuwan.

Standard rates offered by the co-op start at 300 baht for the five

kilometer journey into town.

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Thailand dismisses charges against alleged arms dealer Viktor Bout, bringing him closer to extradition (Reuters) /via @RichardBarrow:

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Sanan to Retire from Politics After Achieving Reconciliation

Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart remarked that he is prepared to retire from politics once national reconciliation is achieved.

Sanan also said that he must meet with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who he claims is at the center of the conflict, even if it will cost him his job.

Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart met with the Senate committee monitoring the political situation to report his national reconciliation plan.

Sanan said that he is serious about starting the reconciliation process because beginning 4 or 5 years ago, Thailand has been deeply divided due to selfish politicians and ideological differences among the people.

Sanan believes that reconciliation will only take place once all sides have forgiven each other and have started to work together sincerely and unconditionally.

Sanan also stressed equality.

The deputy prime minister said that he is meeting with each of the political groups to find some some middle ground that everyone can work on.

He already has plans to meet with the military leaders.

Sanan also pointed out that it is necessary for him to meet with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who has a crucial role in the ongoing political conflict.

The deputy prime minister also said that he is prepared to resign from his office to meet with Thaksin, who is a currently a fugitive wanted by Thai authorities.

Sanan stated that once he is able to bring about reconciliation in the country, he will retire from politics.

The deputy prime minister also claimed that he and the prime minister are both serious about the issue and have the same goal.

Sanan has also asked that everyone, especially the press and businesses, help promote national reconciliation.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-05

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Thai court removes hurdle to extradition of Viktor Bout

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Free checkups from Chulabhorn Epilepsy Centre available until Thursday

People can seek free counselling about epilepsy from experts at the Chulabhorn Epilepsy Centre until Thursday.

Free checkups and exhibition about proper care for epileptic patients are also available.

The centre, a part of the Chulabhorn Research Institute, has held the activities to mark the World Epilepsy Day and to help epileptic people live a normal life.

In Thailand, about 600,000 people have suffered from epilepsy. During the past 15 years, about 6,000 have sought treatment from the centre. Each year, the centre has operated on between 80 and 100 patients to improve their health conditions and their quality of life.

For more information on the centre's activities, call 08 1722 4356 or 0 2576 6680.

-- The Nation 2010-10-05

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Phuket Police crack motorbike theft gang

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SET index closed at 969.28, up 5.06; Bt/USD30.03; GBP47.60; AUD28.74; EUR41.26; CAD29.35; HKD3.86; SGD22.74; JPY35.84

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Tight security in Songkhla after railroad bombing

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US Navy Sailors enjoy their goodwill visit to Pattaya

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Red-shirt procession will begin at Ratchaprasong Intersection on Sunday to pressure for the release of red-shirt leaders. /via @Urisara_NT

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Phuket Veggie Fest: human blood needed

With hundreds of spirit mediums mutilating themselves,

blood will be in short supply during the Vegetarian Festival.

Photo by Christian Mouchet.

PHUKET: -- The Phuket chapter of the Thai Red Cross Society is asking for more blood donations to meet an expected rise in demand during the upcoming Phuket Vegetarian Festival and high season for tourism that follows.

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BREAKING NEWS

At Least Three Dead In Bomb Blast At Bangkok Apartment Building

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to be continued

Thailand Live Wednesday 6 October 2010

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