Thailand Live Saturday 9 Oct 2010

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Thailand Live Saturday 9 October 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...

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Related topic: Thailand Live Friday 8 October 2010

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5 More PAD Members Dispute Arrest Warrants

Five more members of the People's Alliance for Democracy are disputing arrest warrants issued over their involvement in the airport protests in 2008, with two previous cases put off for further review.

Nutthaporn Tohprayoon, an attorney representing five members of the People's Alliance for Democracy, or PAD, including Weera Somkwamkit and Chaiwat Sinsuwong, filed objection to arrest warrants issued for his clients in court today.

Nutthaporn questioned the legality of the charges against his clients on the basis of a lack of evidence.

He claimed that investigators have failed to prove that his clients committed any wrongdoing while they were protesting at Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi airports in 2008.

He also submitted a request to delay an arraignment for the five.

Investigators have brushed off an assurance by the five that they are not evading arrest, prompting Nutthaporn to prepare a petition to the prime minister calling for responsible officers to be replaced.

The court today delayed a hearing on whether to revoke arrest warrants against PAD supporters General Pathompong Kaysornsuk and actress Sirilak Pongchoke, as it will have to review the matter further.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-09

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Suspected Militant Held in Ubon Ratchathani

Investigators are seeking court approval for the detention of a former military man arrested yesterday in Ubon Ratchathani on suspicion of being a member of the black shirt armed group that staged terror attacks during the red-shirt protests in April and May.

Staff of the Department of Special Investigation, or DSI, this morning brought Aram Saeng arun, suspected of armed attacks during the red shirt protests, to the Criminal Court to seek its approval for his 12 day remand for further interrogation.

Aram is a close aide of the late pro red shirt army officer Major General Kattiya Sawasdipol, who was assassinated near the rally site in Ratchaprasong area.

DSI investigators charged Aram with being an armed militant and accessory to incidents of unrest during the red shirt protests in April and May, including the fierce gunfight between black shirt militants and security forces at Kok Wua Intersection, where a score of officers and protesters were killed.

He denied all the charges.

Investigators said in a statement to the court that the release of the suspect will give him a chance to escape or stir more chaos as the security situation remains volatile.

Police apprehended Aram yesterday in the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani.

He used to be a paramilitary trooper of Pakthongchai Army Camp in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Investigators said Aram was convinced by Kattiya to take part in violent activities during the red shirt protests.

The suspect was believed to have been in charge of distributing firearms to black shirt gunmen and to have taken part in some terror attacks.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-09

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Narathiwat Garage Hit by Grenade Attack

Unknown perpetrators fired an M-79 grenade at a local auto repair shop in Narathiwat province.

Fortunately, no one was injured in the attack.

The incident took place at an auto repair shop in Narathiwat's Muang district earlier this morning when an M-79 grenade was fired at the place.

The grenade punched a hole through the shop's roof and the consequent blast scattered shrapnel at the scene. Two cars parking nearby were also damaged.

An initial investigation found that at around 3 A.M. today, a loud bang was heard from where the auto repair shop is situated.

Police officers were deployed to find the source of the noise but could not detect anything at that time.

Later in the morning, the garage owner came to open his business and found the damage before reporting the incident to the police.

The police expected that the grenade attack was either aimed at threatening the owner or stirring a situation.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-09

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New Army Commander Visits Restive South

The new army chief has traveled to the three southernmost provinces to brief security agencies on his policies to deal with the ongoing violence following his inauguration last week.

Earlier today, new Army Commander in Chief General Prayuth Chan ocha and his entourage traveled to the Sirindhorn Army Base in Pattani's Yarang district to inspect the unit's peacekeeping operations.

The visit to the South is Prayuth's first official task as army commander in chief.

The new army chief paid his respects to the King Naresuan Shrine before having a meeting with Region 4 Army Commander Lieutenant General Udomchai Thammasaroratch, commander of the Southern Police Operations Center, Police Lieutenant General Paitoon Chuchaiya, and the governors of the three southernmost provinces.

Prayuth briefed the security units on his policies for the restive South and updated them on peacekeeping efforts.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-09

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Wage panel to discuss minimum wage hike

By The Nation

The Central Wage Committee will convene on October 11 to discuss how the daily minimum wage can be adjusted.

The wages look set to increase, as civil servants have already been given a pay raise.

Labour Minister Chalermchai Srion said yesterday that the higher wages should go into effect by January 1 as a New Year's gift from the government. However, Chalermchai dismissed reports that the minimum daily wage would rise to Bt250.

"The prime minister wants to see the minimum wage increase but he doesn't mean that workers in all provinces will get Bt250 a day," he said.

-- The Nation 2010-10-09

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Their Majesties make a man's wishes come true

By The Nation

Their Majesties the King and the Queen yesterday graciously provided assistance to Mueang Taptimjeen, a resident of the Amphawa district in Samut Songkhram, who had petitioned Their Majesties for help earlier.

Privy Councillor Kasem Watanachai yesterday presided over a ceremony handing over money and items over to Meuang. Later, Kasem and other officials later also handed out 500 bags of relief items to flood victims in Amphawa. The locals were also offered free medical treatment and dental care from mobile units under the auspices of Their Majesties.

In Phetchaburi, the Rajaprajanugroh Foundation under His Majesty's patronage also provided relief items to 2,000 families in floodhit zones.

-- The Nation 2010-10-09

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Narcotics bureau breaks up drug trafficking gang

By The Nation

The Narcotics Suppression Bureau has broken up a gang trafficking the precursor chemical for methamphetamine.

The six suspects arrested earlier this week confessed that since 2008 they had smuggled in about 27 million tablets of medication containing pseudoephedrine. This medicine is widely used to treat colds, though it contains an important precursor chemical for the production of methamphetamine.

As for the 2.7 million tablets of cold medication found this week, police said, they could be used to produce about 8 million tablets of methamphetamine.

The six suspects are also wanted in 22 other cases.

Meanwhile, on Thursday night police arrested two Hmong men for possessing 10 kilograms of "ice", which is worth Bt10 million in Bangkok and a lot more overseas.

The suspects, Neng or Por sae Lee, and Kuasa sae Wang, were nabbed in a sting operation in Chiang Rai. Their accomplice, known only as Jit, escaped arrest.

Pol MajGeneral Chaiya Siriamphankul, acting chief of Provincial Police Region 5, told the press yesterday that the suspects were part of a big drugtrafficking network. "We are investigating the case further and will arrest all the culprits," he said.

Neng and Kuasa confessed that they were paid Bt100,000 to deliver the drug.

-- The Nation 2010-10-09

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FILM-ANNIE SAGA

Journalists group condemns 'tasteless' Annie Brooks coverage

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NONTHABURI BLAST

Thai Police name pair sought after Nonthaburi blast

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MERCHANT OF DEATH

Bout files appeal to delay extradition further

Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout yesterday lodged an appeal with the Appeal Court designed to delay the process of extraditing him to the United States.

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EDITORIAL

Threat of bubble economy looms again for Thailand

Tsunami of liquidity surging into the country from developed world needs to be stemmed

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BANTAMWEIGHT

Worawuth vows worthy fight in Surat Thani poll

By Budsarakham Sinlapalavan

The Nation

The October 30 by-election in Surat Thani is a two-horse race between the ruling Democrat Party and the opposition Pheu Thai Party.

But judging from the two candidates' stature and their parties' popularity among the electorate, it is not an equal race.

Pheu Thai is fielding local red-shirt leader Worawuth Wichaidit to contest for a vacant parliamentary seat in the southern province's Constituency 1 against Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban, who has just stepped down as deputy prime minister in charge of security affairs.

It is a fight between an ant and an elephant. Pheu Thai leaders and Worawuth, who is contesting his first election, have admitted there is only a slim chance of his victory, but he says he will fight the best he can.

"I have much less experience than Khun Suthep. He has been MP for several consecutive terms. You can say he is a heavyweight boxer while I am just a junior [bantamweight]; the gap is huge," Worawuth said.

"I am well aware I have only a little chance of winning, but I will fight the best I can. I consider it a success to be able to compete with Khun Suthep; the world can see a junior like me fighting a heavyweight. I have nothing to lose in this fight."

Worawuth, who is a relative of Pheu Thai leader Yongyuth Wichaidit, also admitted to the Democrat Party's huge popularity in the South, and Surat Thani in particular.

"The South is the Democrat Party's stronghold, and they win the elections every time, whoever they field as candidates," he said, confirming a joke among the southerners that a power pole or a kilometre marker could win an election in the South if they ran under the Democrat Party.

Worawuth says he plans to visit the constituents at home in addition to campaigning onstage at major locations throughout the constituency. He will focus on tourism, which he says is a major income earner for Surat Thani.

He said that being a red-shirt leader, he believed people viewed him as a "fighter for democracy" against a government he said did not come to power through a truly democratic means. He would consider it a success to be able to change the mind of one in every 100 Democrat supporters in the South.

Worawuth, 48, is a Surat Thani native. He graduated with a degree in education from Rajabhat Chandrakasem University in 1986. One of his brothers and a relative contested past elections against Democrat candidates but never won.

Having no experience with local politics, Worawuth in 1991 became secretary to politician Veera Musigapong, who would later become an important red-shirt leader and a close ally to billionaire-turned-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Worawuth began joining red-shirt rallies last year, first acting as a stage emcee and later addressing the protesters and becoming a protest leader in the demonstrations this year that led to riots and arsons in Bangkok.

His opponent, Suthep, 61, won the previous general election in Surat Thani's Constituency 1 in 2007. However, in July last year Suthep resigned as an MP after the Election Commission ruled he had unconstitutional shareholding. Suthep's brother Thanee defeated a Pheu Thai candidate by a large margin in the subsequent by-election in August last year.

The upcoming by-election was called after Democrat MP Chumpol Kanchana was removed at court order for failure to disclose his financial information properly. Suthep emerged as a surprise choice, as a member of Chumpol's family was earlier expected to run under the Democrat banner.

Suthep was selected amid speculation he could serve as a "substitution prime minister" in case Abhisit Vejjajiva is banned from politics with a dissolution court verdict against the ruling party. There was also a rumour that Suthep's nomination as Democrat candidate was expected to help end a brewing conflict among aspiring MPs within the party.

-- The Nation 2010-10-09

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CENTRAL LAB

NACC needs to further investigate Newin case

By The Nation

Newin

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) said yesterday that its investigation panel had found some grounds to the allegations of collusion related to a food-examination laboratory, but that it could not make any charges because it needed more evidence.

The NACC yesterday released the results of its panel meeting on Thursday regarding veteran politician Newin Chidchob, who was deputy agriculture and agricultural cooperatives minister at the time, and associates allegedly colluding over the construction and procurement of equipment for the Central Lab, which examines agricultural and food products.

The investigation found that the NACC did have the authority to investigate cases involving state officials allegedly colluding with private companies. However, NACC said many more issues related to the case needed to be studied and that a panel, led by member Methi Krongkaew, had been given the job.

The issues that NACC still has to consider include the status of the staff. Though the Finance Ministry holds a 49 per cent stake in the agency, with the rest held by the Office to Promote Small and Medium Enterprises, its officials are still state officials according to the law, the NACC statement said.

Another issue to be discussed is whether the project bids had been rigged. The panel members split between seeing only private companies' staff violating the law and whether state officials conspired, the statement said.

-- The Nation 2010-10-09

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Thai FM Korn rules out return to capital control

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The red shirt procession in Bangkok on Sunday starts at 1pm at Ratchaprasong & finishes at Victory Monument at 5pm /via @RichardBarrow

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2,700 Police Officers for Sunday's Red-shirt Rally

The police spokesman reveals 2,700 police officers have been prepared for Sunday's rally by the red-shirt group. The group are gathering to mark 6 months after the deaths of their fellow comrades on April 10 during clashes with the authorities at the Kokwua intersection. The group will be gathering at the Democracy Monument and along Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue. Police expect the gathering to be as orderly as the previous one at the Ratchaprasong intersection.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-09

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Court Approves Arrest Warrant in RPG Discovery

The Criminal Court has approved an arrest warrant for a man identified only as Utane, who rented an apartment room close to the old Pheu Thai Party headquarters in the Saphan Luang area. Police found an RPG rocket launcher, several grenades and other weapons in the room. The apartment owner says the man used to work for the Pheu Thai Party and had rented the room several months ago but had not been back since August.

Police are trying to investigate if the rocket launcher was used in an attack at the Defence Ministry.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-09

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Phuket crime statistics: September 2010

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THAI to proceed with Thai Tiger Airways operation

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Shell Increases Gasohol Price

Shell has increased gasohol prices by 60 satang per liter today. Bangchak has delayed its hike to wait to see the Singapore retail price on Monday.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-09

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Police to be deployed at sensitive areas; protesters gear up for Red Shirt rally

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Princess Recovering from Thyroid Surgery

Her Royal Highness Princess Chualabhorn has undergone thyroid surgery at Chulalongkorn Hospital and is now recuperating.

Doctors said the surgery went well.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-09

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All 5 Sattahip Navy Volunteers arrested in Pattaya murder case

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Cambodian Pattaya hotel worker killed in hit-and-run accident

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Raw Scallops cause death of a Chef on Fishing Boat

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Meat vendors blame Cambodia for supply problems at Pattaya markets

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Phuket remembers Nick Jackson

CAPTAIN NICK: Nick Jackson was well known on Phuket for operating game-fishing charters.

PHUKET: -- The final service for Nick Jackson – well-known for founding the popular Katoeys R Us bar in Patong, and more recently for his game fishing tours off Phuket – will be held at the temple across from Loma Park in Patong tomorrow morning.

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to be continued

Thailand Live Sunday 10 October 2010

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