Thailand Live Friday 12 Nov 2010

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CRES to closely monitor political activities Nov 13,14 and 19; urges would-be demonstrators to comply with law, stage brief rally /MCOT

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BURMA

Burmese junta signs order to free Aung San Suu Kyi : BBC

Reports are coming out of Burma saying the military authorities have signed an order authorising the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The Nobel laureate has been detained for 15 of the past 21 years, and her house arrest term expires on Saturday.

There has been increased police activity outside her house in Rangoon, but as yet no official confirmation.

However, Suu Kyi is not expected to accept a conditional release if it excludes her from political activity.

She was originally due to be released last year, but a case involving an American who swam across Inya Lake to her home, claiming he was on a mission to save her, prompted the latest 18-month detention.

The BBC's Alastair Leithead in Bangkok says a number of sources inside Burma have told the BBC that documents authorising Ms Suu Kyi's release have been signed.

There has been increased police activity outside her home in University Avenue in Rangoon, Burma's biggest city.

Her supporters, who have been publicly counting down the days to the end of her current term of house arrest, have been gathering at the headquarters of her political party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), in anticipation of her release.

The increasing speculation that the ruling generals may sanction her release, follows the country's first elections in 20 years.

Burma's biggest military-backed party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), has already claimed an overwhelming victory, although no official results have been released.

The vote was widely criticised as neither free nor fair, and opposition groups inside Burma say it was rigged against them.

The NLD - which won the last election in 1990 but was never allowed to take power - was ordered to dissolve after refusing to take part.

-- The Nation 2010-11-12

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INUNDATIONS

Death toll of floods reach 206 Friday

By The Nation

Security volunteers help harvest rice in Kalasin.

Flood-related death toll in Thailand rose to 206 on Friday while 21 provinces remain under water, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported on Friday.

The total number of victims in the upper part of Thailand was recorded at 146 while 60 others in the southern provinces.

Meanwhile the flood situation in the northeastern province of Kalasin has worsened after water from the Chee River overflowed the embankment to three districts , including Kongchai district.

Local villagers had to move their belongings to higher ground.

Defence volunteers have been deployed to help harvest rice to reduce damage.

In Buri Ram, public health officials offer consultation at public health centre in Phutthaisong district to help flood-affected victims to recover from stress and depression.

The villagers would be instructed to practice proper hygiene to prevent any possible outbreak of disease after floods recede.

Meanwhile in the southern province of Trang, floods have receded in five districts while four other districts are now still under floodwaters. Four people have died from the floods and about 7,000 households have been affected.

In Pattani's Yaring district, vocational students offered post-flooding service to repair electrical appliances and local authorities helped cleaning and repairing houses.

-- The Nation 2010-11-12

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PM Abhisit: State of Emergency Could End by New Year's

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CRES To Beef Up Security Ahead Of Bangkok Red-Shirt Rallies

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Norwegian jumps to death from Phuket hotel

Phuket: -- A Norwegian tourist jumped to his death from the 14th floor of a hotel on this tourist-destination island Friday, police said.

Police was informed that Heljeheth Jon Kristian, 26, jumed from the 14thf floor at Phuket Palace Hotel in Tambon Patong at 11 am.

Kristian checked into the hotel on November 2 and was staying in a room on the third floor.

His body has been sent for autopsy at the Patong Hospital.

-- The Nation 2010-11-12

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SET index closed at 1018.86, down 11.00; Bt/USD29.70; GBP47.52; AUD29.10; EUR40.26; CAD29.35; HKD3.83; SGD22.76; JPY36.1

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Phuket landing fees slashed to lure more tourists

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Briton stabs himself, sets Pattaya apartment on fire

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[Maestro]

to be continued

Thailand Live Saturday 13 November 2010

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