Thailand Live Sunday 31 Oct 2010

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Thailand Live Sunday 31 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 Saturday 30 October 2010

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Cambodian defence minister hospitalised in Thailand

BANGKOK (AFP) - Cambodia's Defence Minister Tea Banh was hospitalised in Thailand on Saturday because of pains caused by gallstones, Thai officials said.

Tea Banh is expected to stay at a Bangkok hospital for one or two days, Thai Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon told AFP, adding that his condition was not serious.

He was in Thailand to attend a meeting on border relations in the coastal resort city of Pattaya, about a two-hour drive from Bangkok, at which the two nations agreed to boost cooperation on migration and landmine removal.

According to the Thai government-owned news website MCOT, Tea Banh began suffering pain after playing a round of golf on Friday but continued with the meeting.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-10-31

[george]

Thailand "deadliest" destination for Aussies

Full story:

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Democrats Score Landslide Victory in Surat By-Election

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Chalerm warns of violent protest if Thai polls not called soon

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Night vendors slam Chula's 'strong-arm' tactics

By PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK

THE NATION ON SUNDAY

Evening clothes vendors illegally occupying part of the footpath at Siam Square claimed to be owned by Chulalongkorn University condemned strong-armed tactics by the university, which has deployed dozens of "hired men" wearing pink university polo shirts since Thursday to threaten them and keep them away from the area.

A brief skirmish occurred on Friday night and the situation remained tense.

"We're afraid we will be attacked. These men are like hoodlums hired to hurt people," said Pongtapat Porntaweewat, a key member of the community of 100 or so vendors told The Nation. Pongtapat called for leniency and argued that the "night market" brings more cash to the local community.

The university sees it differently, however. In a leaflet issued by the university in September jointly with the police and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the university's property bureau claim that "90 per cent" of pedestrians are affected by the night market, which blocks the thoroughfare every evening.

They also claimed that it has affected nearby businesses, which pay legitimate taxes and rent and the vendors have become a risk for "accidents and crimes".

The vendors have regrouped in a bid to negotiate since Thursday but said they felt threatened by the hired men.

One hired man, who asked not to be named, told The Nation they were being hired "as long as it takes" to make sure vendors do not reoccupy the area, which has been fenced off.

Prior to the crackdown, the place had become a magnet for young shoppers and tourists to flow through in order to browse or shop.

The vendors claim they paid "fees" to the BMA, amounting to some Bt3,000 per month per vendor and insist the land does not belong to Chulalongkorn University but is a public area.

Chulalongkorn University political scientist Pitch Pongsawat said if the hired men were truly not staff, then it was giving the university a bad name "because they are donning Chula shirts". That meant the university was acting no differently from "mafia" by "subcontracting violence".

"They resort to violence to solve problem. This is no different from using soldiers to clear red shirts," Pitch said.

Pitch said the university had become too preoccupied with generating maximum money out of their land while failing to ensure that there be space for art and other activities.

In an attempt to win public support, the vendors started asking passers-by to fill in a survey on whether people support the idea of having them in the area or not.

"Do you think if nobody helps us, we should be fighting or not?" was one of the nine questions on the survey.

-- The Nation 2010-10-31

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FLOOD CRISIS

Toll hits 100 as Ubon gets ready

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Two killed, one hurt

By The Nation

Two residents in the far South were killed in separate drive-by shootings yesterday while another was injured in a bomb attack at a rubber plantation.

Village headman Arun Thongsai, 48, was shot dead on the Na Pradu-Sai Khao Road in Tambon Sai Khao in Pattani's Khok Pho district yesterday afternoon. He was shot several times in the body by a gunman riding pillion on another motorcycle.

Arun was pronounced dead at Khok Pho hospital. Police blamed separatist militants.

Earlier at 8.45am, in Narathiwat's Ra Ngae district, separatists allegedly destroyed longan trees near the entrance of a rubber plantation in Tambon Maleubotok to lure state officials and planted a bomb. Plantation owner Tolae Karee, 46, stepped on the device while inspecting the damaged trees and sustained injuries to his right arm and right leg.

A 78-year-old man was shot dead while riding a motorcycle on Lam Mai-Ban Si Kong Road in Yala's Muang district yesterday morning. Ruen Chuaynukul was shot once in the head by two men on another motorbike and died instantly.

-- The Nation 2010-10-31

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Men caught with pills

By The Nation

Police presented a Thai man to the media yesterday arrested recently for alleged drug dealing. Jittiphum Phetthes was found with 72,000 ya ba (speed) tablets, which he claimed belong to a prisoner in Klong Prem Jail, and 3kg of crystal methamphetamine hydrochloride.

Jittiphum, 33, was nabbed after his alleged associate Pinit Misapak and three others were arrested in Lop Buri along with 4,000 ya ba tablets. Pinit allegedly admitted he and Jittiphum dealt drugs from a Nonthaburi apartment.

Jittiphum told police the pills belonged to a drug inmate and he had been asked by a friend to rent a room to keep the drugs in exchange for Bt20,000 payment per lot.

Jittiphum, who had served five years in prison for selling ya ba, also reportedly confessed to having a motorbike garage shop as a "cover" business in Bangkok's Lak Si district while he and associates sold drugs to people at clubs and youths in Bangkok and nearby areas.

-- The Nation 2010-10-31

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Students to get 50% BRT discount

By The Nation on Sunday

From tomorrow, students under 25 will get a 50-per-cent discount for fares on Bangkok's Bus Rapid Transit coaches.

Bangkok Deputy Governor Theerachon Manomaipibul said the Central Land Transport Committee approved the plan, allowing students aged under 25 to pay Bt5 instead of the usual Bt10. Elderly peeople and city officials and employees will enjoy a waiver of the BRT fare, he added.

-- The Nation 2010-10-31

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City officials probe scaffolding accident

By The Nation

Public Works officials from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will call parties involved in a fatal accident at Central World on Friday for talks next week about the cause of the tragedy.

Two workers were killed and six others injured after the scaffolding collapsed at the Zen Department Store, which is being rebuilt after being set ablaze during the May protests.

Department chief Jumpol Sampaopol inspected the scene early yesterday and said it seemed the scaffolding had collapsed because it couldn't contain the weight of a floor laid on it. Officials wanted to find out if the incident stemmed from recklessness or miscalculation.

He said the design submitted for permission was initially found to be legal, but the reconstruction was now suspended pending an inspection by engineers and a police investigation. Next week, he would call related parties to discuss the matter, he said.

Jumpol confirmed his office generally issued clear orders for building demolition and construction, but said they would strictly supervise demolition of the building.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Malinee Sukvejchavarakit yesterday visited three injured workers who remained at Police General Hospital. Two were still in the ICU - Jamnian Boonyong, 44, whose right arm was amputated, and Jamnong Boonyong, 17, who suffered a severe liver injury.

-- The Nation 2010-10-31

Related topic:

Scaffolding In Front Of Central World Bangkok Collapses, Killing 2

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More clips posted on Net

By ATTAYUTH BUTRSRIPOOM,

KORNCHANOK RAKSASERI,

PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK

THE NATION

Pheu Thai alleges judges favoured people hired by court

A new series of video clips re-lated to the Constitution Court was posted on YouTube late on Friday night and early yesterday.

The three clips show some judges allegedly discussing what to do if video clips are released about them being involved in helping people get jobs at the court.

The clips show two court judges and the sound of their conversation with Pasit Sakdanarong, the former secretary of the Constitution Court president. The discussion seems to suggest that the Pheu Thai Party would reveal clips about some judges helping people seeking to become officers at the court in an examination.

In the conversation, one of the judges said exam papers were |given to people close to many of the judges. They also discuss the motivation of the person releasing the video clips and giving them to Pheu Thai Party.

They said the video clips were recorded on a court judge's laptop computer and a device within an encyclopedia, and that the files could not be copied.

The conversation also has the three agreeing they would insist on their innocence and say that the clips were doctored. They would not allow the clip to be examined as the facts would show up. They planned to blame a former senior officer of the court and say the clips were released and linked to the Democrat Party dissolution case to distract people's attention.

Reporters from The Nation tried yesterday to contact judges from the Constitution Court and people mentioned in the clips for reaction, but they did not answer the calls.

Red-shirt lawyer Picha Wichitsilp on Friday filed a complaint with the National Anti-Corruption Commission against four Constitution Court judges - Boonsong Kulbuppha, Supoj Kaimook, Chalermphol Ek-uru and Udomsak Nitimontri - for allegedly illegally favouring some people close to them in the selection of court personnel.

Sanit Jon-anan, head of the court's committee investigating the previous series of video clips, said the committee would have to consider carefully whether the three |new clips were related to those |posted two weeks ago. Otherwise, |it was up to the court's judges whether to appoint another investigation panel, especially as some members were mentioned in the new clips.

It also depended on the content of the clips whether a criminal case could be started and proceed against people who released the clips, Sanit said.

The latest clips, titled "Behaviours of Thai Constitution Court," were put on YouTube on Friday night by "Ohmygod3009". The clips were 13.20, 3.42 and 4.18 minutes long respectively.

"Ohmygod3009" is the same name used by the person or people who posted the video clips of judges meeting to discuss the Democrat Party dissolution case and a meeting between Democrat MP Wiruch Romyen and Pasit.

Constitution Court president Chat Chonlaworn fired Pasit after the first series of video and sound clips was posted two weeks ago.

Pitch Pongsawat, a political science lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, said while the content of the clips was debatable in terms of authenticity and significance, the public should have access to them so they can judge it for themselves.

The video clips posted by "Ohmygod3009" and the user's history could still be accessed However, another YouTube user, called "MrThaipresident", also posted the latest three video clips, but his or her information could not be accessed. The following message appeared: "This URL has been blocked by a Court order [as] it could have an affect on or be against the security of the Kingdom, public order or good morals."

-- The Nation 2010-10-31

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EDITORIAL

Help for the flood victims must be the top priority

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Russian President Medvedev sends condolences to Thailand over flooding

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[george]

Increasing 'Marriage Migration' To Sweden

Marriages between older Swedish men and young women:

Full story:

[george]

A van fell down from Expressway on RamaVI Rd in Bangkok. It is on fire, at least 1 dead, several injured. Some get stuck. /via @js100radio

Rama 6 van horror update: 7 dead, 6 injured, 2 seriously. Heavy jam. /MCOT

[george]

The Rama 6 accident scene is around Soi 35 near Sam Sen school. Please avoid the area.

Traffic on RamaVI in front of Samsen school closed after the accident.. /The Nation

Update: 8 dead. /TNN

Van engulfed in flames kills 7 persons, injures 6 others, severely hurts 2 persons after van falls from expressway onto Rama VI Rd; heavy traffic reported /MCOT

[george]

Speeding van falls off Bangkok expressway, killing at least eight

Full story, pics:

[Maestro]

to be continued

Thailand Live Monday 1 November 2010

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