Bhum Jai Thai ready for early poll: Chaovarat

By The Nation

The Bhum Jai Thai Party is always prepared if the prime minister will dissolve the House and call for a snap election early next year, Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul said on Wednesday.

"Politicians must be ready to contest the elections at anytime," he said.

Chaovarat said his Bhum Jai Thai was buoyed by its by-election victory in Nakhon Ratchasima and Surin.

"If I had known about my party's increased popularity, I would have fielded by-election candidates for all five constituencies," he said.

-- The Nation 2010-12-15

Police Conduct Purge Of South Pattaya To Ensure Safety Of Tourists

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All banks cut fees for money transfers to fixed rate at maximum 12 baht per transaction Dec 15 /MCOT

All banks cut fees for money transfers to fixed rate at maximum 12 baht per transaction Dec 15 /MCOT

Govt not condoning extrajudicial killing: Abhisit

By The Nation

The government has no policy to condone or encourage police to commit extrajudicial killing against a drug suspect, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Wednesday.

Abhisit said police had confirmed drug and murder suspect Charnchai Prasonsilp died in a gunfight while trying to flee on Sunday.

"Everyone, including police officers, is under the rule of law and the government's stand is clear - the law must be enforced in a straightforward manner on illicit drug cases," he said, voicing his disapproval for extrajudicial or silence killing.

Charnchai, aka Joke Phaikhiew, died in a crossfire with police. He was wanted for shooting death a six-year-old boy on Saturday. The incident led to the discovery of his involvement in the illicit drug trade in Ayutthaya.

-- The Nation 2010-12-15

Mayor of Pattaya Celebrates 37th Birthday

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Teenage motorbike theft gang caught by Banglamung Police

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SET index closed at 1035.47, down 1.94; Bt/USD29.94; GBP46.98; AUD29.59; EUR39.73; CAD29.64; HKD3.85; SGD22.70; JPY35.54

Thailand hosts Asia-Middle East Dialogue

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Police to Investigate Politicians' Links to Drug Gang

The acting chief of the Provincial Police Bureau 1 vows to find out the masterminds behind the drug trafficking ring in Ayutthaya province after two of its members were found responsible for the road rage shooting that killed a 12 year old boy.

Senior Police Adviser Police General Assawin Kwanmuang, also acting commissioner of the Provincial Police Bureau 1, met Deputy Prime Minister in charge of national security Suthep Thaugsuban earlier today to update him on the progress on crime and narcotics suppression.

Assawin insisted there was no foul play behind police's extrajudicial killing of drug suspect Charnchai Prasongsin, alias Joke Paikeow, who was also a suspect in the road rage shooting that killed 12 year old Phokin Deephiu in Ayutthaya province on December 4.

The general insisted the slain suspect is not a scapegoat in the boy's murder case while the arrest of his brother Noppol Prasongsin, alias Jib Paikeow, will lead to the arrests of more people in the drug trafficking ring in Ayutthaya.

He also affirmed police will investigate if local politicians have connection with the siblings and their drug trafficking.

Suthep, meanwhile, paid a compliment to Assawin for the arrest of another suspect in the much publicized shooting case and noted that the crime had depressed the general public.

The deputy premier commented Assawin should be given the permanent post of the commissioner of the Provincial Police Bureau 1, considering his efficiency.

He also assigned Assawin to launch a probe into delayed work of police officers in Ayutthaya.

-- Tan Network 2010-12-15

Cabinet to Consider Emergency Rule Repeal Next Week

The prime minister dismisses a speculation on sacking the special investigation agency chief, saying the government still trusts his capability.

A deputy premier, meanwhile, says the repeal of the emergency rule in Bangkok and nearby provinces will be put forward for the Cabinet's decision next week.

Deputy Prime Minister in charge of security affairs Suthep Thaugsuban said the Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situation, to which he is adviser, will submit its report on the current situation to the Cabinet meeting on December 21 for its decision whether to lift the state of mergency in Bangkok and three outlying provinces.

Suthep said if the decree is lifted , regular laws will take its place and the police will play a key role in handling the situation.

The deputy premier also dismissed a claim by the Pheu Thai Party spokesman that director general of the Department of Special Investigation, Tharit Pengdit, will be sacked, saying the government is still satisfied with his work.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he had no idea about the government's wish to dismiss the DSI chief and remarked his deputy Suthep has already clarified about the department's problem on inadequate staff.

Abhisit said the Cabinet, therefore, has already endorsed the DSI's plan to recruit more staff members and he believed its work will improve then.

He also insisted the government is still confident in Tharit and advised the latter not to be discouraged by the speculation.

-- Tan Network 2010-12-15

Train Service Partly Resumes after Derailment

Efforts to salvage derailed train carriages from the track in Trang province are underway.

Meanwhile, the train service from Nakhon Si Thammarat's Thung Song district to Bangkok has returned to normal after earlier interruption from another derailment.

Yesterday, an express train traveling from Bangkok to the southern province of Yala jumped the track near Chong Khao Village between Ron Phibun and Thung Song districts in Nakhon Si Thammarat.

In a separate incident, the express train Number 83, travelling from Bangkok to Trang, derailed in Trang's Muang district just ten kilometers away from the Trang railway station.

Fortunately, only a few passengers suffered minor injuries in the two mishaps.

In the latest development, the rail service between Thung Song district in Nakhon Si Thammarat and Bangkok has resumed after workers spent the entire night salvaging the detailed carriages and repairing the railway.

Meanwhile, the efforts to salvage the derailed carriages and repair the damaged railway in Trang are still underway.

Two Bangkok Trang express trains had to stop at Thung Song station instead.

The full rail service is expected to resume by tonight.

-- Tan Network 2010-12-15

Phuket’s first night tsunami drill hailed a success

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Phuket Pirates: Being evil isn’t all it’s cut out to be

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AFP: Thailand's Red Shirts to step up activities: new head

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Time magazine names Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg 2010 Person of the Year

to be continued

Thailand Live Thursday 16 December 2010