Thailand Live Friday 8 Oct 2010

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Phuket Police investigate mystery crash fatality

The late Mr Worrawit's ID card listed him as a Muslim

resident of tambon Srisoonthorn, Village 4.

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Edu Ministry plans 2 make English Thailand's "2nd language", requiring big changes in teaching policies/methods. /TR @Kom_chad_lue /via @tulsathit

One of the English-as-2nd-language measures is putting mother-tongue teachers in various state schools - Edu minister. /via @tulsathit

Local English teachers at secondary schools, meanwhile, must be those who "major" in English only - Edu minister. /via @tulsathit

About 500 state schools are targetted for the first stage of the English-as-2nd-language programme. /via @tulsathit

Retired American teachers are tentatively viewed as a key workforce for this English language campaign. /via @tulsathit

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Rocket launcher, ammo found in Bangkok: police

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House Committee Investigates Men in Black at Suvarnabhumi Airport

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Bangkok Police Prepares for Upcoming Red-Shirt Rally

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New data suggests the Danube river has not suffered environmental damage from the Hungarian toxic sludge spill. /via @SkyNewsBreak

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No linkage between Bang Bua Thong blast and southern violence: Prayuth

By The Nation

Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha on Friday dismissed speculation about the involvement of southern insurgents and the Bang Bua Thong explosion on Tuesday.

"The woman captured by the security camera is not a Thai Muslim but put on a dress like a southern native," he said, citing an official report.

The woman in question had a headscarve when she paid a visit to the apartment room before the explosion, triggering speculation.

In regard to ammunitions, including rocket propelled grenades, found near the old headquarters of Pheu Thai Party, the Army chief said the types of ammunitions did not match those deployed in the military service and had not been used in Thailand before.

He denied the ammunitions were stolen from the military storage facilities.

In the face of escalating violent incidents, the security forces will step up checks and conduct searches on suspicioius premises as a precaution, he said, pleading for the public understanding for any inconveniences caused at road checkpoints.

-- The Nation 2010-10-08

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Remand for a red guard linked to M-79 attacks

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court on Friday approved the12-day remand of red guard Aram Saeng-arun suspected of involving in M-79 attacks between November 2009 and May this year.

Aram, known as an armed guard working under the late Maj General Khattiya "Seh Daeng" Sawasdipol, was arrested on Thursday.

In its request for remand, the Department of Special Investigation said it needed time to take the statements of 30 individuals to shed light on the terror attacks involving Aram.

Under the direction of his superior officer Khattiya, Aram carried out a number of sabotages and clashed with the security forces with the aim to force the government to dissolve Parliament and call for a snap election as per the demand of the red shirts.

Aram is facing charges related to terrorism. The defence did not oppse the remand.

-- The Nation 2010-10-08

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Warrants sought for two suspects in Bang Bua Thong blast

By The Nation

The Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation has sought and received the court-approved warrants to arrest two suspects involved in the Bang Bua Thong blast on Tuesday, national police chief General Wichean Potephosree said on Friday.

Although suspected bomber Samai Wongsuwan died at the scene, his two accomplices, Kasit Thanarat and Amporn Jaikorn, remain at large.

Wichean said he assigned his two deputies, General Pansiri Prapawat and General Panupong Singhara na Ayutthaya, to co-supervise the Bang Bua Thong case.

-- The Nation 2010-10-08

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DSI Chief: A Group is Planning More Attacks

The DSI chief has said that there remains violent conspirators planning attacks, such as the recent bomb blast in Nonthaburi province.

However, locating these terrorists remains a challenge due to various factors.

Department of the Special Investigation of DSI Chief Tharit Pengdit said that the DSI may accept the bombing at Samarn Metha Mansion in Bang Bua Thong district of Nonthaburi as a special case.

If evidence shows that the case has a connection to four earlier blasts, then it is thought to be one of the country's security affairs which is under the jurisdiction of the DSI.

As it is a sensitive issue, he refused to confirm a report that 64 men in black have been planning to attack provinces under the state of emergency.

Despite this, Tharit admits that DSI intelligence found that a secret force is planning to create continuous chaos.

However, the DSI chief cannot pinpoint a definite area or predict the frequency and level of violence with regards to the intelligence report, as it depends on many factors.

Meanwhile, the military commission chaired by Pheu Thai's Nakhon Ratchasima MP, Police Lieutenant Colonel Somchai Petprasert invited Bang Bua Thong's bomb related agencies to clarify the details of their findings.

Despite identification evidence, police have yet to conclude that Samai Wongsuwan, the tenant of room 202, is among the four bodies found at the scene.

Confirmation awaits investigation results.

In similar news, an investigation is also underway regarding whether Samai has any links with the anti government red shirt group or past insurgent attacks in the capital.

The military commission chair is also concerned that the incident could be related to the ongoing southern insurgency.

In this regard, spokesperson for Democrat Party leader Thepthai Saenpong, stated that evidence found at the bombed mansion in Bang Bua Thong district links the incident with the red shirt movement, but that the military commission is trying to distort the issue by calling a meeting, despite it not being in the scope of the commission's responsibility.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-08

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Pattaya Vegetarian Festival 2010 Commences at Larn Poh

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Old Phuket Town project wins Thailand Tourism Industry award

Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupapana poses

with the Kinnaree won by the city for its Old Phuket

Town project.

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PM: Finance Ministry to propose Cabinet measures to fight baht surge Oct 12, help exporters; denies dumping key coalition partner /MCOT

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Traditional Festival Held in Nakorn Sri Thammarat

A traditional Thai procession was held in Nakorn Sri Thammarat province.

Thai desserts and a ghost parade are involved in the ceremony.

A traditional Thai procession called 'Mab'was held in the southern province of Nakorn Sri Thammarat.

The rite is organized to pay homage to ancestors, featuring five Thai desserts and a ghost parade called 'Pret' in the cavalcade.

The Mab ritual ceremony is held annually in the month of October.

The procession started at the provincial hall and ended at Wat Prasrimahatat.

Residents and civil servants lined up to watch the parade.

The most beautiful float in the parade was awarded a trophy by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, and a 230,000 baht cash prize.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-08

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NONTHABURI BLAST

Police identify woman in headscarf

Maid of the ill-fated mansion has confirmed that Amporn Jaikorn was a woman in headscarf wanted by police in connection with the Nonthaburi's bomb blast.

The maid, whose name is not revealed, identified Amporn from the photo shown to her by police. She also said that Amporn was a regular visitor to Rm 202 rented by Samai Wongsuwan, a suspected bomb maker, killed when explosives accidentally went off on Tuesday.

The blast at the mansion killed four, including Samai.

Pol Col Sophon Puengchai, a police commander in Nonthaburi said that police have so far questioned about 40 people, including owner of the mansion, tenants, and neigbhours, in a bid to hunt for the big fish in the Nonthaburi bomb incident.

Police are confident that the bomb making in Rm 202 can be linked to several bomb attacks in Bangkok.

"Tapes used in other attacks can match with the tapes we found from the mansion's explosion site," he said.

Pol Col Sophon said that Samai appeared to be only a bomb maker, not the big fish. "Samai's bank account had not much money and only an amount of between 5,000 to 10,000 were deposited into his bank account," he said.

-- The Nation 2010-10-08

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The Nobel peace prize has been awarded to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo.

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Pattaya residents mark the 40th Anniversary of the death of famous Thai Actor

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CURRENCY

BOT signal for weaker baht urged

By The Nation

Thai National Shippers' Council Chairman today urged the Bank of Thailand to send the market a strong signal that it would intervene the foreign exchange market to weaken the baht against dollar.

Paiboon Phonsuwanna said that exporters have been hard hit by the strong baht in the past 3-4 months. He said the central bank should signal that foreign capital inflows would be subjected to a cost; for example, some kinds of taxes. He noted that the measures having launched so far would not immediately halt inflows, and the impacts are expected only in the next 3-5 years.

He also added that the policy rate hike could worsen the situation.

"If the central bank sends a strong signal for a weaker baht, even though it does not have any actions, this should slow down the appreciation pace," he noted.

-- The Nation 2010-10-08

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2 Hmong arrested with 10 kilos of 'ice'

Police have arrested two Hmong for possessing 10 kilos of ice (crystal methamphetamine) with intention to sell.

The haul is worth Bt10million in Bangkok, and much more in overseas markets.

The suspects, Neng or Por sae Lee, and Kuasa sae Wang, were nabbed on Thursday night in a sting operation in Chiang Rai.

Their accomplice, known only as Jit, fled the scene before the arrest was made.

Pol Maj General Chaiya Siriamphankul, acting chief of Provincial Police Region 5, Friday told a press conference that the suspects were parts of a big drug-trafficking network.

-- The Nation 2010-10-08

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SET index closed at 963.19, down 7.71; Bt/USD29.97; GBP47.38; AUD29.25; EUR41.63; CAD29.40; HKD3.86; SGD22.78; JPY36.15

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Lawyer for Russian alleged arms dealer Viktor Bout appeals Criminal Court decision to drop charges of money laundering and wire fraud against his client /MCOT

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Viktor Bout Appeals Thai Court Ruling

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Climate Change Fatal For Phuket

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PM Abhisit: Cabinet to consider measures to help businesses affected by baht rise

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Iranian arrested at Suvarnabhumi with 3 kgs of 'ice' worth US$350,000

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to be continued

Thailand Live Saturday 9 October 2010

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