Thailand Live Tuesday 23 Nov 2010

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Thailand Live Tuesday 23 November 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 Monday 22 Nov 2010

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PM: Cambodia's move to propose mangement plan around Preah Vihear temple will not happen

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has clearly told Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen that Thailand opposes Cambodia's move to propose the plan to develop the area around the ancient Preah Vihear temple to the Unesco's World Heritage Committee.

In his weekly Sunday program, the premier disclosed that he had met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at the 4th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit, held in Phnom Penh, to discuss the Preah Vihear issues. Mr. Abhisit said he had told Hun Sen that Thailand would consider watershed marks as the border between both countries. He also told his counterpart that Thailand would abide by the International Court of Justice's ruling in 1962, but did not agree with Cambodia's move to submit its management plan for the Preah Vihear to the World Heritage Committee in June next year, as it could lead to more conflicts between the two neighbors.

According to the premier, he will do his best to protect the country’s sovereignty, and will continue to solve the conflict through peaceful means to avoid violence. He has also asserted that the government has no hidden agenda in the Preah Vihear issue.

-- NNT 2010-11-23

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Thai jewelry market to expand by 10-15 percent next year

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Deputy Minister of Commerce Alongkorn Ponlaboot has voiced his confidence that the Thai jewelry market will expand by 10-15 percent this year, and will gain a foothold in China.

Deputy Minister of Commerce Alongkorn Ponlaboot said that Thailand has a great potential in jewelry making and exporting. The sector’s export volume ranked third among all export products, fetching in 260 billion baht for the country. It has also generated employment for at least one million Thai workers. The Ministry has been in full support of the sector in order to increase its value.

As for the World Jewelry market is expected to expand by 18 percent this year, the ministry will do what it takes to expand the Thai jewelry business into international markets.

As the Thai jewelry market is predicted to grow further by 10-15 percent, with the total value of 35 billion baht next year, Thailand, to achieve that goal, will co-operate with China to establish jewelry markets in the cities of Chong Xing, Hong Kong, Shiang Hai and Tian Jin.

-- NNT 2010-11-23

[george]

At least 339 killed after stampede at Cambodia festival

Cambodia stampede 'biggest tragedy' since KRouge: PM Hun Sen

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FOETUS HORROR

Senate fights bill on legal abortion

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Thai Govt Plans New Tax To Cut Alcohol Consumption

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PREAH VIHEAR CONTROVERSY

Tourists back at Phra Viharn park, temple out of bounds

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CHARTER AMENDMENT

Police warn demonstrating Yellows to be peaceful

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D is for 'daeng' at red shirts' favoured coffeehouse

By BUDSARAKHAM SINLAPALAVAN

THE NATION

At the height of the red shirts' rally in the Ratchaprasong business district this year, a coffeehouse was quietly opened in another corner of Bangkok that would later become a gathering place for many red shirts.

D Coffee serves as an old-style rendezvous for political enthusiasts from the red-shirt movement at a time when people go online and join social networking websites to air their political views.

The shop is in the Pracha Uthit area in a wooden building unmistakably painted red. There are red flags at its front, and the interior is decorated with objects synonymous with the red-shirt movement.

A wall features a big photo of the group's "Three Buddies" - leaders Veera Musigapong, Jatuporn Promphan and Natthawut Saikua. Natthawut is being detained in connection with the political unrest while Veera has been released on bail and Jatuporn manages to stay away from jail by citing his immunity as an MP.

On a nearby corner, the wall is decorated with photos of the red shirts joining political activities, and a message board containing words of encouragement from visitors and customers.

One small corner in the shop is reserved for souvenirs such as T-shirts and handmade key chains with designs that promote the red-shirt cause.

The shop's manager, who declined to give his real name and preferred to have himself identified as "Nueng Pracha Uthit", said D Coffee (D stands for daeng, which means "red" in Thai) is a meeting place for the red shirts to have some drinks and snacks while exchanging views. Some customers also bring their own food and share them with others.

The shop opens at 7am and closes as late as midnight sometimes, when customers refuse to end their conversations earlier, according to the manager.

Nueng, who could not hide his wary look, said he and the shop's staff refused to give their real names because they were concerned about their safety.

He claimed that once an informer of the government's Centre for Resolution of the Emergency Situation had come to the shop, possibly to collect information. "We were aware about his status but we didn't ask," he said.

"Oud", the shop owner's brother, said profit was not the main goal of the business. "We just want to provide an area for expression. We are not doing the business for profit; we just want to earn enough to cover the costs of rent and utilities," he said.

Regarding the shop's clear political stance, Oud said the business was doing well, and even better than ordinary coffeehouses in the area, as most of its customers are red-shirt people.

"There are some customers who are not red shirts. In fact, we welcome people of all political colours, but most customers are aware that this is a shop for red shirts because of its clear design," he said. Oud also said the shop had never had any threats despite its clear political stance.

A regular at the shop, "Yuth Bang Mod", said many red shirts including himself often met there to talk about political issues.

"This is a space for us to come together and exchange views," he said.

-- The Nation 2010-11-23

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BY ELECTION

Pheu Thai to contest all 5 by-election seats

By The Nation

The opposition Pheu Thai Party yesterday registered to stand against coalition candidates in all five by-elections to be held on December 12 in Bangkok, Surin, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen and Ayutthaya.

The by-elections were called to fill the seats left vacant after six MPs were disqualified by the Constitution Court for unconstitutional shareholding.

The sixth MP is from the party-list system of proportional representation who has been automatically replaced by the next person on the list.

The ruling Democrat Party registered to contest in Bangkok and Khon Kaen, the coalition Bhum Jai Thai Party in Surin and the coalition Chart Thai Pattana Party in Ayutthaya. In Nakhon Ratchasima, Boonjong Wongtrairat, the constituency's disqualified MP who last week resigned as deputy interior minister, did not show up on the first day of registration yesterday. The candidacy registration in all five constituencies ends on Friday.

Four candidates registered to contest the Bangkok by-elections yesterday, according to Constituency 2 election director Saisri Hirunprasert-wut.

Three of the four candidates showed up before the registration began at 8am and had to pick ballots to decide their campaign numbers. The Pheu Thai's Pongpisut Jitsophon got number 1, Democrat candidate and former Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin number 2 and Jamras Inthumarn from the lesser-known Thai Por Pieng Party number 3. The fourth candidate was the leader of the newly registered Thummatipat Party, Thanwa Krairiksh, who is a relative of Information and Communications Technology Minister Juti Krairiksh from the Democrat Party.

Many Pheu Thai supporters held posters with messages criticising the Democrat Party's policies and the Democrat-controlled Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's controversial plans for the city, such as the Bus Rapid Transit project. Some Pheu Thai fans also shouted "Did you solve the fire-engine problem?" when Apirak showed up at the Yannawa district office for election registration. The ex-Bangkok governor was indicted by the National Anti-Corruption Commission in the fire-engine purchase scandal.

Apirak told reporters yesterday he was not worried that the Pheu Thai would focus on attacking him over the fire-engine case. He said this would be his first MP election. "I hope the voters in Constituency 2 will give me a chance to serve them," he added.

Pheu Thai's Pongpisut expressed confidence of strong support from the constituents, saying he has worked in the area for more than 20 years. "I have no worry, although the Democrat Party dominates Constituency 2 and state power may be used in the campaigning," he said.

Senior figures from both Democrat and Pheu Thai parties appeared to offer moral support to their candidates.

In Khon Kaen, the Pheu Thai fielded Preechaphol Pongpanit, whose disqualification by the court led to the by-election, while the Democrat Party fielded former educator Athipprach Thadpichayang-koon.

Senior Democrats in the Northeast were among their candidate's supporters yesterday while the Pheu Thai candidate was backed by his parents, former senator Rabiebrat and former deputy interior minister Sermsak and a large group of red shirts.

In Ayutthaya, the Chart Thai Pattana's Kuakul Danchaiwijit, who last week resigned as deputy transport minister, registered to contest along with Pheu Thai's former local administrator Ong-art Wachira-pong. Kuakul was among the six MPs disqualified by the court for constitutional shareholding.

-- The Nation 2010-11-23

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Gunfight kills wanted insurgent, wounds another

By The Nation

A much-wanted insurgent was killed yesterday in a gunfight with security forces in Pattani's Ya Rang district, while another insurgent was captured.

The dead man, Phaisal Kalatae, alias Pajoo Awaeh-etae, had been wanted in 20 cases, including several murders and bomb attacks in ambushes in which he was believed to have been involved.

A warrant had been issued for the detainee, Hamasakee Hayeehama.

An underground hiding place was discovered near the fight scene containing military uniforms and cooking utensils. Soldiers found an AK-47 rifle in a nearby home.

A brief manhunt continued after the gunfight, following trails of escape from the scene, but no insurgents were found.

The gunfight saw an Army conscript wounded. He was flown to a hospital in Songkhal province and is reported in a stable condition.

-- The Nation 2010-11-23

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Fewer hurt as Loy Krathong goes natural and cautions

By Jeerawan Prasomsap,

Warattaya Chailangka

The Nation

Natural krathong vessels were more popular among Bangkok residents who joined in yesterday's Loy Krathong festivities.

And at Chiang Mai International Airport, officials found fewer flying yipeng lanterns falling on its runways this year.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)'s officers collected 946,868 krathong vessels, 81 per cent - or 767,533 - of which were made of natural materials. Only around 13 per cent or 118,575 were made of foam materials, and six per cent - or 60,730 - were from other types of materials.

The total amount of vessels was about seven per cent up on last year, an increase of 5,721. He said BMA would bury the biodegradable natural vessels, while the foam ones would be sent to a recycle plant.

Raweewan Nettrakavessana, director of the airport said only 400 yipeng lanterns released during the recent Loy Krathong celebrations had been found on the runways, compared to 1,000 last year.

The airport continued implementing its special airline timetables during the celebrations until last night. The timetables had the last aeroplane take off from the airport before 6.30pm before lantern releases and had international flights land at the airport after 11pm to avoid accidents caused by the flying lanterns.

Chiang Mai authorities had collaborated with local administrative organisations in areas surrounding the airport to limit numbers and periods when the lanterns were released.

Raweewan said local people had sent the airport letters warning of their lantern releases - 4,450 on 13 oxxasions- from November 19-22. As many as 3,000 were released in Sansai district of Chiang Mai.

In Samut Prakan province, revellers enjoyed a new idea of floating krathong vessels through a water slide, which sent the vessels down to the Chao Phrya River.

On a darker side to the celebrations, accidents were reported in different provinces which killed and injured several revellers. In Kanchanaburi province, two road accidents killed 11 and injured one.

Thirteen revellers in Bangkok were injured, mostly by firecrackers. Firecrackers also injured one in Prachin Buri, while two were injured.

Six people were killed in a road accident in Nakhon Ratchasima during the holiday.

A man in Lampang drowned in the Wang River after he swam to collect coins in floating krathong vessels; and a boy died from the same cause in a reservoir in Ubon Ratchathani.

-- The Nation 2010-11-23

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Archive upgrade to save old films

By The Nation

The Ministry of Culture will invest Bt1.7 billion to renovate the Thai Film Archive in a bid to conserve valuable old films.

Culture Minister Nipit Intarasombat yesterday revealed the renovation would take four years from 2011 to 2014 and required budget of Bt1.782 billion.

Previously, Cabinet had approved the ministry's plan to renovate the archive that will be a public organisation.

Nipit said Cabinet would approve a Bt120 million budget for the first year.

The archive's duty is to maintain all types of valuable old films for young generations and to develop, conserve, research and disseminate those films. Nipit said he believed the archive should rush to improve and repair the films, many of which are useful for research.

The archive is on Buddha Monthon Road 5 in Nakhon Pathom province.

Culture Ministry permanent secretary Somchai Seanglai has urged the use of containers with air conditioning to preserve the films rather than construction of a big building that would require more budget and longer time.

He said he had assigned the archive to select and prepare 10 historic old films for the public to watch.

-- The Nation 2010-11-23

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Birth-control measures planned for migrant workers

By The Nation

In a joint move to tackle human trafficking and foreign children born in Thailand, the Labour and Social Development and Human Security ministries are planning to impose contraception on migrant workers.

The Labour Ministry said it was focusing on the boom of children born to migrant workers, with the Social Development and Human Security Ministry saying such children were prone to be victimised by human trafficking due to their illegal residence.

A meeting between the two ministries and national police, Interior and Public Health Ministries as well as the National Security Council will soon be called to discuss measures.

Labour Ministry spokesman Sutham Natheethong said the number of children born to migrant workers or without Thai nationality was growing. "The problem will become long-standing and grow more difficult to solve, if it's not tackled now," he said, adding that Thailand would study and perhaps follow measures adopted by countries such as the US and Singapore.

Saengmuang Mangkorn, of MAP Foundation, condemned the government's birth control and repatriation policies. "Both practices are in violation of human rights and any new policies should regard their basic rights as normal Thais," he added.

He added that the authorities should instead give them financial aid and further develop existing local birth-control programmes, he added.

-- The Nation 2010-11-23

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Free condoms to publicise Aids Day

By The Nation

Students will hand out free condoms to people in Bangkok on December 1, World Aids Day, as part of the campaign to raise awareness of HIV/Aids.

The condoms will be distributed together with Aidsinformation cards.

The national committee on Aids prevention and related solutions yesterday disclosed that schools under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) would assign students to help with the campaign.

It is expected that about 500,000 condoms will be distributed on World Aids Day.

Population and Community Development Association chairman Mechai Viravaidya, widely known as Mr Kingdom for popularising condoms, has worked with the committee.

-- The Nation 2010-11-23

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MERCHANT OF DEATH

Wife wants Viktor Bout brought back to Thailand to face charges here

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[george]

Myanmar suspends nine news journals for Suu Kyi coverage

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Policeman gets death for shooting soldier

By By Kesinee Taengkiew

The Nation

In a hearing witnessed by more than 200 soldiers, the Criminal Court yesterday sentenced a police sergeant to death for killing a soldier in Bangkok's Chatuchak district. The shooting took place on March 11, 2008, after the two quarrelled over the arrest of vendors selling counterfeit CDs.

Pol Sergeant Prasart Jantima, 32, looked very upset when he heard his sentence for pre-meditated murder. At the time of the shooting, Prasart was working for the Prachachuen Police Station in Bangkok, while his victim, Lance Corporal Chaiwut Prasomsri, was a member of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters' Support Services Department (SSD).

The court was told that Prasart and his colleague Pol Sgt-Major Pawarit Jongpitakpong were in plainclothes when trying to arrest the vendors. Chaiwut's friend, Master Sergeant First Class Wichit Uafuaklang intervened out of concern that the vendors were being harassed.

Prasart and Pawarit responded by showing the weapons they were packing, prompting Chaiwut to pull out a gun on them. Second-lieutenant Pichet Pimthong witnessed the incident and stepped in to break it up. Prasart and Pawarit were then asked to produce their police identification, which they did, and the four separated.

A little later, Chaiwut went to buy food and when he returned he found Prasart had pushed Wichit to the ground and handcuffed him. Pawarit was told to watch over Wichit. Prasart then shot Chaiwut to death.

The soldier's wife, Nokkaew, filed a lawsuit against the two policemen. The court acquitted Pawarit on grounds that he had no idea Prasart was going to commit murder as he had been told to keep a watch on Wichit.

"I still miss my husband," Nokkaew said as she broke down in tears yesterday. She has been given a job with the SDD to help provide for their young son.

"I fully support the verdict. It's brutal murder," Wichit said yesterday.

-- The Nation 2010-11-23

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Supporters of People's Alliance for Democracy Begin to Gather in Front of Parliament

Members of the People's Alliance for Democracy have begun to gather in front of Parliament in a move to protest against the government's plans to amend the 2007 charter. PAD core leader Chamlong Srimuang has already arrived at the protest site, the other core leaders are expected to arrive soon.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-23

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From CH 3 coverage, PAD crowd outside parliament appears to be in low 100s at moment. /via@terryfrd

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4 companies of metropolitan policemen deployed to guard Parliament

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[george]

AFP Update: Cambodia festival stampede leaves almost 350 dead

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BlackBerry begins new corporate push

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[george]

Another Abhisit flip-flop vendor arrested

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PM arrives at Parliament for charter amendment debate

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has entered Parliament compound to attend the parliamentary deliberation of charter amendments.

He entered the compound via the entrance on Ratchvithee Road to avoid yellow-shirt protesters who were gathering on U-Thong Road.

-- The Nation 2010-11-23

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,010.70, down 8.49 points /MCOT

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Joint Parliament session opens debate on charter amendments as PAD rallies outside opposing charter changes /MCOT

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British PM David Cameron Cancels Vacation in Thailand

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Famous Country Singer's House Robber Caught

A man was arrested and found to be in possession of a collection of valuables that were stolen from the house of a famous country singer, widely known as Jingreed Khao.

Pathumthani Police arrested 41 year old Pairoj Bunnruang and seized a variety of stolen jewelry and gold ornaments at his residence in Bangkhae area, following a robbery at the home of Surang Phew-on, a well known female country singer widely known as Jingreed Khao Wongthewan, on November 11.

The man admitted to his crime and said he had sold some of the stolen valuables to get money to buy a car.

Police have yet to retrieve a diamond bracelet and a ring that are worth a combined 370,000 baht.

The singer spoke through her tears, saying that she was very happy to get her jewelry back because they were the rewards of her hard work.

She said she appreciated the work of the police officers, who were able to find the robber and get some of the stolen items back.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-23