Thailand Live Monday 29 Nov 2010

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Prosecution summary so far: Dems were prosecuted under a proper, legitimate process. /via@tulsathit

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 986.82, down 4.89 points /MCOT

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THAIVISA NEWS: Comedy legend Leslie Nielsen dies at Florida hospital

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Prosecutors ending closing statement now, with call for party dissolution and political ban on party executives for 5 yrs /via@tulsathit:

Chauncey Leekpai starts his verbal closing argument /TAN_Network

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Chuan starts Dems' closing statement, saying he will focus on what's not entirely on the party's papers to court. /via@tulsathit

Chuan looks set to amplify conspiracy theory, a key argument in Democrat defence. /via@tulsathit

Chuan denies Dems were elusive on facts and obsessed with technical assaults. /via@tulsathit

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Chuan: Conspiracy against Dems started from very beginning, from the legal action against TPI, when PPP was in power (Samak). /via@tulsathit

Chuan: Wrong beginning led to wrong process, and court has its own precedents on wrong process. /via@tulsathit

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Chuan: The case proceeded unlike all others. Despite claims to contrary, EC was under red pressure, with explicit arson and death threats. /via@tulsathit

I'm not accusing EC of being cowards. Fear is not wrong. I believe whoever went through that will have fear: Chuan. /via@tulsathit

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Chuan: 3 inquiries concluded Dems did nothing wrong. If this had been another case, it would have been all over. /via@tulsathit

Constitution Court begin hearing final arguments in Democrat Party case. Chuan is confident party will survive /BkkPost /via@RichardBarrow

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Two Bombs Reported as By-Election Approaches in Nakhon Ratchasima Province

As the by election in the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima approaches, two bomb attacks have been reported near the homes of two election canvassers, but fortunately, no casualties were reported.

Chokchai district police in Nakhon Ratchasima province said two bombs were found near the houses of two election canvassers for the Phue Thai Party, as the constituency six by election is set to take place on December 12.

Police added that bomb experts managed to defused the bombs successfully and have prohibited people from going near the sites.

They believe the upcoming by-election in the province's constituency six could be the motivation for the bombs having been planted.

Meanwhile, one sub-district head in the province, Nam Plotkratok, said electoral candidates from the Phue Thai and Bhum Jai Thai parties have already kicked off their electoral campaigns in the area.

However, most eligible voters are unaware that the by election will take place soon.

Nam said he will launch a public relations campaign this week to encourage voters to exercise their rights.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-29

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Chuan: Pheu Thai has been pressuring court. They r clever enough to know there's no contempt of court when Constitution Court's concerned. /via@tulsathit

Chuan: They set out to destroy judges one by one. Focus of intimidation shifted from EC to court. /via@tulsathit

Chuan: Those trying to destroy court have influence, money and ppl working for them in court. /via@tulsathit

Chuan: They tried similar 'clip' strategy during Thaksin share concealment case./via@tulsathit

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Chuan: one witness was some1 fired by ex-Dem sec gen Pradit and who became active red shirt. /via@tulsathit

Chuan giving instances of where witnesses were coached into giving false information. /via@terryfrd:

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SUMMARY

DEMOCRAT DISSOLUTION TRIAL

Chuan starts his closing statement

By The Nation

Democrat Party's legal team chief Chuan Leekpai on Monday defended charge of misuing public fund of Bt29 million in his closing statement, saying the conspiracy against his party started from very beginning, from the legal action against TPI, when now-defunct People Power Party PP was in power.

Chuan said he would focus on what's not entirely on the party's documents to the Constitution Court.

Focusing on the conspiracy theory, Chuan denied the party was elusive on facts and obsessed with technical assaults.

"It took years for conspiracy bids under Thaksin regime to reshuffle personnel and interfere independent organisations," Chuan said.

Referring to controversial court clips, Chuan, former party leader and former premier, said they tried similar video clip strategy during Thaksin share concealment case.

Pheu Thai has been pressuring court. They are clever enough to know there's no contempt of court when Constitution Court's concerned.

Those trying to destroy court have influence, money and people working for them in court.

They set out to destroy judges one by one. Focus of intimidation shifted from EC to court.

Pheu Thai has been pressuring the charter court and they are clever enough to know there's no contempt of court when Constitution Court's concerned.

Chuan said he is not accusing EC of being cowards. Fear is not wrong. I believe whoever went through that will have fear.

The case proceeded unlike all others. Despite claims to contrary, EC was under red pressure, with explicit arson and death threats. "Wrong beginning led to wrong process, and court has its own precedents on wrong process," he said.

-- The Nation 2010-11-29

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One troop injured in Yala bomb attack

Yala - Insurgents detonated a bomb in this southern border province Monday morning to ambush a patrol unit of troops, injuring one of them.

Police said the attack occurred at 8:05 am on the Yala-Betong Road in Ban Hae village of Tambon Ban Hae in Thanto district.

-- The Nation 2010-11-29

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Chuan: Posters may have been made in advance, but it had been approved. Only that spending was restricted by fiscal yr rule of subsidy. /via@tulsathit

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Chuan: EC witness was so merciless (on poster spendings), as all parties do it the same way. /via @Aim_NT /via@tulsathit

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Chuan: It was never known before that 3 previous inquiries found Dems not guilty. EC only presented evidence that benefit prosecution. /via@tulsathit

Chuan ends statement by expressing sympathy to court, "our last resort of justice and integrity". /via@tulsathit

Chuan still keeps talking, however, though it seems like he's wrapping it up. /via@tulsathit

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Chuan has ended closing statement. /via@tulsathit

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Court taking a break for a meeting. When judges come back, we should hear some important news. /via@tulsathit

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Health Assembly to propose unwanted pregnancy as national agenda

BANGKOK, 28 November 2010 (NNT) - As the number of unwanted pregnancies has reportedly been on an increase, the Health Assembly is preparing to propose the issue as the national agenda.

A seminar was held to brainstorm ideas on solutions to teenage unwanted pregnancy problems in order to propose the ideas as the national agenda in mid December. Participants preferred to solve the serious problem through a systematic approach rather than change the existing abortion law.

Prime Minister’s Office Minister Ongart Klampaiboon has requested that men be more responsible, asking the society to stop thinking that women alone are to blame, not men.

Meanwhile, the 2,002 illegally aborted fetuses will be kept until the entire legal process has run its course before being cremated or buried.

-- NNT 2010-11-29

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URGENT!!! RT @Aim_NT: 2pm the court delivers verdict! /via@tukky_nt:

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Constitution Court will deliver verdict in Democrat case at 2 pm

The panel of Constitution Court judges announced that the court will deliver a verdict in the Democrat Party dissolution case at 2 pm.

The court made the announcement after the party and the Election Commission made closing statements in the morning.

-- The Nation 2010-11-29

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Constitution Court to hand down verdict on Democrat dissolution case at 2 P.M. today /TAN_Network

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Phuket hails Rino’s recovery

Young Rino all smiles after the surgery.

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If the six judges vote 3-3, Dems get benefit of the doubt. /via@tulsathit

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Apart from reds, yellows, Dems; Thai gamblers r waiting eagerly 4 the verdict. Police threaten a crackdown. #ch9 /via@tulsathit /RT@veen_NT

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Clarification: The 3-3 benefit-of-the-doubt tweet is based on unofficial interpretation of law requiring majority vote 2 dissolve a party. /via@tulsathit

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Court starts issuing verdict on Democrat Party dissolution case related to misuse of Bt29 million in political campaign funding /MCOT

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Court to rule first which law applies. /via@tulsathit

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Businessmen think the verdict on Democrat dissolution case won't have much effect on business factor. #nationchanel /via@veen_NT

Judge Nurak Marpraneet is reading the Constitution Court's verdict. /via@tulsathit /RT @Aim_NT

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If old law (1998) is applied, there will be no five-yr ban. If court applies new law (2007), it will be first blow on Dems. /via@tulsathit: