Thailand Live Saturday 23 Oct 2010

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Thailand Live Saturday 23 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...

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

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Related topic: Thailand Live Friday 22 October 2010

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Teacher shot dead in troubled Thai south

PATTANI (AFP) -- A Muslim schoolteacher was among two people shot dead Friday by suspected militants in Thailand's troubled south, police said.

The 32-year-old religious teacher was gunned down as he left a mosque in Yarang district of Pattani province after Friday prayers. The motive of the attack was unknown.

"He was shot twice and died instantly in front of the mosque," Police Lieutenant Pawee Munmuang said by telephone.

In a separate incident elsewhere in Pattani, a 48-year-old Buddhist man was shot dead in a drive-by shooting, officials said.

Shadowy insurgents have waged a violent campaign in the region since early 2004, leaving more than 4,300 people dead, both Muslims and Buddhists.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-10-23

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UN chief to visit Thailand next week

BANGKOK: -- United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to visit Thailand on Tuesday as a guest of the Thai government on his way to attend the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Vietnam.

Mr Ban together with his spouse -- Mrs Ban Soon-taek, will make a working visit to Thailand on October 26, prior to attending the 3rd ASEAN-UN Summit on Friday (October 29) in Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital.

This visit is arranged following an the invitation earlier extended by Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva when he met with Mr Ban while attending the official opening of the Exhibition to promote the Enhancing Lives of Female Inmates (ELFI) Project on October 6 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The Secretary-General’s visit to Thailand will provide a good opportunity for him to familiarise himself with the constructive role of Thailand in the region, as well as an opportunity for both parties to discuss issues of common interest including: Thai-UN cooperation, ASEAN-UN, the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the UN Partnership Framework and Thailand’s role as Chair of the UN Human Rights Council.

He will arrive in Bangkok in the morning of October 26 and will have a bilateral meeting with the prime minister at Government House, followed by a luncheon hosted by the premier. A joint press conference is scheduled to be held later.

Tuesday afternoon, the UN chief will meeting with the UN team at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) offices on Ratchadamnern Road, and deliver remarks on the occasion of UN Day, and will leave Thailand in the evening for Cambodia before proceeding to attend the 3rd ASEAN-UN Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The Secretary-General's working visit is part of a four nation-tour in Asia, visiting Thailand, Cambodia, Viet Nam and China. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-10-23

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Thai govt blasted for mishandling flood crisis, lack of planning

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Special branch Police to guard Thai judges after death threats claimed

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EDITORIAL

Smokescreen Of Thai Patriotism Can't Hide Our Failings

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Policeman guarding Suthep's home faces attempted murder charges

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The policeman who guards former deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban's home in Bangkok's Taling Chan district allegedly injured a woman yesterday with gunshots that he claims were aimed at a vehicle taking part in street racing nearby.

Pol Lance Corporal Niphon Unjai faces attempted murder charges lodged against him by Rattisak Nomkaew, 22, the husband of Kanokkan Snohkiat, 23, who sustained a gunshot wound to her leg. The couple is especially enraged because Kanokkan was holding her baby daughter while seated in the family sedan, which was close to the pickup truck that was pulled over by Niphon.

The police officer has not been relieved of his duties despite the complaint filed against him yesterday morning. The incident took place at 2am on Thursday night, when the couple, along with their daughter and Kanokkan's mother, was heading home using the western outer ring road.

Meanwhile, the two top policemen at the Taling Chan police station issued contradicting statements over the issue. Pol Lt-Colonel Siriphong Phuensongkhram said Niphon told him that he had not pulled over any cars or fired any shots from his service pistol.

Station chief Pol Colonel Phong Khlaikhlueng said Niphon had told him that he fired some shots at the pickup truck to stop the racing.

Gun residue tests are being done on Niphon's uniform and his hand, while the bullet that was lodged in Kanokkan's leg is being verified. Phong said if test results showed Niphon was guilty, he would face criminal charges.

Suthep has not made any public statements over the incident.

-- The Nation 2010-10-23

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PM Abhisit says students come first in Thailand's education reform

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On HM's advice, flood barrier built for Korat hospital

By The Nation

Thanks to His Majesty the King's advice, the inundated hospital in Nakhon Ratchasima is preparing to dry its facilities and resume surgical services within the next four days.

His Majesty has recommended building an embankment to guard against flood water and pump out what was already inside.

His suggestion was intended to help the hospital return to its full service as soon as possible for the benefits of patients, Dr Thawatchai Kamontham said yesterday in his capacity as a health supervisor to the Nakhon Ratchasima Public Health Office.

Nakhon Ratchasima, including its capital, has been facing its worst floods in decades. Since Monday, Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital has been unable to operate normally in the face of rising water levels. It even had to transfer some of its 1,200 inpatients to other medical facilities because its first floor was flooded.

Thawatchai said His Majesty said via Rajaprajanugroh Foundation chairman Distorn Vajarodaya that the hospital should be able to rely on a temporary anti-flood embankment.

"Now, sandbags are being formed into an embankment. Officials will soon pump flood water out of the hospital building," he said.

Thawatchai believes Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital will be able to resume surgical services for patients by Tuesday. "The Chalerm Phrakiat Building should also be open to both inpatients and outpatients by then."

He said the hospital had efficient systems in place to deal with wastewater and infected waste.

Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima was one of four state hospitals heavily hit by floods.

He said he would report to the Cabinet about the damage floods had caused to hospitals at its meeting October 26 on Tuesday.

"For hospitals in flood-prone areas, the Health Service Support Department is providing temporary embankments and pumps to ensure that they will be able to serve patients even if floods surround their compounds," Jurin said.

-- The Nation 2010-10-23

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Floods have hit 1.28 million victims, govt says

By The Nation

More than 1.28 million people have been suffering from the recent floods, according to the Department of Disaster Mitigation and Prevention.

From October 10 to yesterday, floods ravaged 29 provinces and claimed as many as 19 lives.

Among the worst-hit provinces are Lop Buri, Chaiyaphum and Nakhon Ratchasima.

In Lop Buri, the flood-water level rose by 40 centimetres to more than 3 metres in many villages yesterday. Some locals were seen on the roofs of their completely flooded homes.

"We cannot even live on our second floor," Orawan Yisoon said.

She complained that she and her three-year-old daughter had lived on the rooftop for two days.

"The sun is scorching during the day," the mother said, "then when night falls, we have to bear throngs of mosquitoes."

The 30-year-old woman said she wanted to get a boat so that she could travel around.

Lop Buri Governor Chatchai Promlert yesterday ordered the evacuation of flood victims from many villages out of concern that the water level might rise further and endanger lives.

In Nakhon Ratchasima, the water level was climbing by 1cm every hour in Phimai district. The provincial irrigation office believes the floods will begin to subside on Tuesday if no more rain comes. In Mueang district, the situation was improving but metre-deep flood water was still all around.

A large number of flood victims are surviving on relief items handed out by authorities and various organisations.

-- The Nation 2010-10-23

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FLOODS

Flows from North due as rainwaters set to break from Chao Phya Dam

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NEW ARMY COMMANDER IN CHIEF

Army Chief calls on Thais to keep HM out of politics

By Panya Thiewsangwan

The Nation

The Army chief insisted yesterday that there was no royal interference and that people should stop trying to involve the monarchy in politics.

Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, who assumed the post of Army chief on October 1, said His Majesty was saddened to see his people were suffering from natural disasters and conflicting with each other.

He said that despite the anonymous claims and allegations made online and in leaflets, His Majesty had never interfered in politics or international relations.

"I speak with my honour that His Majesty has never interfered in any issues - politics or international relations - as has been alleged. He has no need to get involved in those matters and he is not in a position to seek more [wealth or power]," Prayuth said.

"He has always cared about his people's happiness, and it's time that we care about his happiness. The King has had a difficult life for more than 80 years and has worked for more than 60 years."

He said His Majesty should be credited for Thailand's relatively stable society. "Without him, the country could not have been so peaceful. Thailand would survive, but not in the way it is now."

The Army chief also called on Thais to help protect the monarchy and ensure that people who make false allegations against the monarchy get punished. He also called on those making inflammatory remarks out of misunderstanding or with no harmful intent to stop doing so.

"It's not right to attack anyone in the shadows. If you want to express your views, you should come out in the open to speak and explain. Those who say they have nothing to do with [such attacks] should come forward and help get rid of this thing," he said.

Prayuth was speaking to the media while presiding over a religious ceremony at the Army headquarters to mark the centenary of King Rama V's death. The headquarters are near the late monarch's equestrian statue at the Royal Plaza.

The Army chief said people involved in conflicts should try to settle them through legal proceedings, instead of trying to get the monarchy involved.

The Army chief also defended the role of the security forces in the recent political unrest, saying the authorities did not wish to use force, but they had to comply with the law.

"We all regretted the loss of lives and injuries. I want to tell you sincerely that soldiers, police and civilian authorities did not want anyone to get injured or killed," he said.

Prayuth said it appeared as if there was a "good versus bad" battle going on in Thai society, saying that the bad ones were those who have no morals or ethical values.

"These bad people can become good people by purifying their minds and obeying the rules and regulations. If Thailand does not respect laws and regulations, we can't survive," he said.

-- The Nation 2010-10-23

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COURT'S CONTROVERSIAL CLIPS

Wiruch claims defamation in video scandal

By The Nation

Democrat MP Wiruch Romyen yesterday filed a police complaint charging two people for defamation related to the court-video scandal.

In his complaint lodged at the Crime Suppression Division, Wiruch accused Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit and Pasit Sakdanarong, former private secretary to the Constitution Court president, of defamation.

He submitted copies of five video clips posted on YouTube as evidence.

He said Prompong and Pasit were part of a smear movement formed to sway the judicial decision in the Democrat Party dissolution trial.

Pasit had sprung a trap by inviting him to dinner to skew the information and portray him and his main coalition party as trying to lobby for a favourable decision, Wiruch said in the complaint.

He said he did not initiate the legal proceedings earlier because he did not want to transgress on the judiciary. Pasit had been fired on Monday, paving the way for him to take action.

-- The Nation 2010-10-23

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Thai police raid warehouse full of reptiles

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PM Abhisit leads officials in wreath-laying at King Rama V statue at Royal Plaza marking Chulalongkorn Day before inspecting flood situation in Chaiyaphum /MCOT

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Pathum Thani raises height of makeshift dyke as Chao Phraya River water level keeps rising; Northern trains can't enter Bangkok, halt at Lop Buri due to flood /MCOT

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Thai Floods Death Toll Jumps To 32

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BKK Next in Flooding

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department warns that Bangkok is next in the wake of catastrophic flooding in the Northeast and Central regions. It warns communities along the Chaopraya River to erect sand bag barriers to help alleviate the situation.

Nakhon Ratchasima province, which was hit hard by the floods, is now seeing water receding in 5 districts. Pimai district is said to be in critical condition.

-- TNA 2010-10-23

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HM the Queen has granted Bt500,000 frm her personal fund 2 aid flood victims through Thai Red Cross Society /RT @RynnerleinCFCx /via @tulsathit

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PM to hold meeting on flood prevention measures for Bangkok, central provinces

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will Sunday hold a meeting of agencies concerned to discuss measures for preventing flooding in Bangkok and other central provinces, PM's Office Minister Ong-arj Klampaibool said Saturday.

Ong-arj said the prime minister is concerned about possible flooding in Bangkok and nearby provinces, such as Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani.

-- The Nation 2010-10-23

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Site foreman shot dead in Sattahip

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Crime Suppression Police lead major clean-up of crime around Pattaya

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HRH Princess Sirindhorn sends help to flood victims in Ayutthaya

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Saturday sent foods and other basic necessities to flood victims in Ayutthaya province.

The princess had military officers and cadets of the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy send aid to residents of Moo 1, 2 and 3 villages in Tambon Bankoom in Bang Bal district.

Roads to the villages were under two-metre-high water and the villagers travelled by boats to a road to receive the aid.

-- The Nation 2010-10-23

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Irrigation Dept warns ppl along Chao Phya banks in Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi &Bkk 2move belongings to high grounds now. /RT @suthichai /via @tulsathit

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to be continued

Thailand Live Sunday 24 October 2010

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