Thailand Live Saturday 1 Jan 2011

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Thailand Live Saturday 1 January 2011

News, Bits and Tweets

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Related topic: Thailand Live Friday 31 Dec 2010

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Happy New Year 2011

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NEW!

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Royal greetings

By The Nation

His Majesty the King yesterday conveyed his New Year wishes to the Thai people, wishing all to be happy, with love and forgiveness, and to cooperate and share ideas with one another for the happiness, prosperity and security of individuals and the country.

In a televised address last night, the King said that all people have the same desire - to be happy and prosperous, and wish the country to be secure and peaceful. The King said he wished very much to see Thais happy and giving one another love and compassion, kindness, forgiveness, assistance as well as wishing each other well with sincere hearts. Everyone and all sectors could cooperate and share ideas to create happiness, prosperity, security for themselves and the country, which is what everyone wished to achieve, he said. The King also asked the power of the Buddhist Triple Gems and all sacred beings to protect all people to be happy, to have no suffering, and to have no dangers, throughout the new year.His Majesty the King's 2011 New Year card was also unveiled yesterday, in keeping with a tradition of the beloved monarch designing the greeting card for his subjects on this occasion every year.

In the card, framed by rows of smiling faces, the King, wearing a cream-coloured suit, is sitting on a chair placed between two small tables and decorative flower bushes. His Majesty is flanked by his pet dogs, with their names in Thai placed near them.

-- The Nation 2011-01-01

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HOLIDAY CHAOS

79 killed in first two of Thailand's 'seven dangerous days'

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Thai Govt to unveil New Year gift today

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Arrested Thais were on Cambodian territory: Kasit

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Girl, 17, admits to speeding before deadly crash with van, apologises for the casualties

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Seven kids injured as park ride breaks

Seven children, the youngest being just three, were injured Friday after their ride at the DreamWorld amusement park broke down.

The Crazy Bus, which was carrying about 30 adults and children at the time of the accident, fell to the ground after its support broke off. A woman said her nephews had sprained their ankles and were being treated at a hospital nearby.

-- The Nation 2011-01-01

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THAI-KHMER BORDER CONFLICTS

Diplomat chosen to lead Thai-Cambodia border body

By Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

Asda

Career diplomat Asda Jayanama has been selected as the new chief of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC).

He replaces soft-spoken diplomat Vasin Teeravechyan, who resigned after political pressure from the nationalist People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

"The Foreign Ministry chose Ambassador Asda to take the job and nobody raised any objections," said foreign minister's secretary Chavanond Intarakomalyasut.

The position of JBC chief is a hot seat, as the PAD has accused the government of risking loss of sovereignty over the areas adjacent to the Preah Vihear temple in its negotiations on the boundary demarcation.

The yellow-shirt group demanded that Abhisit Vejjajiva's government scrap the memorandum of understanding on boundary demarcation signed with Cambodia in 2000.

The PAD was concerned that the 2000 MoU recognised a French map drawn to 1:200000 scale, which indicated the disputed area was under Cambodia's sovereignty.

Vasin decided to step down on November 1 as Senator Khamnoon Sitthisamarn of the PAD criticised him in a parliamentary debate, saying he relied too much on legal documents, including the map and the Siam-Franco Treaties of 1904 and 1907, in the boundary negotiations.

Asda has no legal background. He was Thailand's ambassador to many nations, including Vietnam, Singapore and New Zealand. His last position before retirement was ambassador to the UN. Asda has good connections with the PAD and is known for criticising former PM Thaksin Shinawatra and ex-foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai.

The minutes of JBC meetings are now under parliamentary reading and there is no clear time frame when the commission can continue its work.

The Parliament has extended its second reading from 30 days from November 11 to 90 days, and the PAD has threatened to call a massive rally when Parliament finishes its second reading.

PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul said yesterday that his group would review its rally plan. The group previously called a protest for December 11 against Parliament's consideration of the JBC document.

-- The Nation 2011-01-01

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THAI-CAMBODIA TIES

Cambodia asked to allow families to visit 7 detained Thais

By The Nation

Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh has requested Cambodia to allow families of seven detained Thais to visit them in prison, Thai Foreign Ministry's spokesman Thani Thongpakdi said Friday.

The request is expected to be approved in the next few days, he said.

The seven Thais including a Democrat MP were held by Cambodian troops on Wednesday and charged with illegal entry and illegally entering a Cambodian military base in Cambodia's Banteay Meanchay province.

They are now detained in a Phnom Penh prison pending court trial.

Thani said that an embassy officials visited the group recently. The official quoted them as saying that they were not aware that they trespassed into the Cambodian soil while they were inspecting the site close to Sa Kaew province of Thailand.

When they were informed that the site is in the Khmer soil, they said they had no intention to break the laws. "They just strayed into the Cambodian land. They had no any intention to break the law," the spokesman said.

-- The Nation 2011-01-01

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BORDER DISPUTE

Thai commander visits site in question

By Thai News Agency, The Nation

First Army Commander Lt Gen Udomdej Setaboot on Friday visited the site where seven Thais including a Democrat MP visited and later were held by Cambodian troops on Wednesday.

The commander and his team also held talks with Cambodia's Region 5 Army commander Lt Gen Boon Seng to avoid misunderstanding between the countries.

Gen Udomdej and his team including Sa Kaeo governor Sanit Naksooksri, Burapha Task Force commander Maj Gen Walit Rojanapakdi inspected the area and met in closed door talks with Gen Boon Seng.

Sanit quoted Gen Boon Seng as saying that the case was now being considered in court procedures and the Cambodian government could not interfere.

The Cambodian troops detained the seven Thais, including Democrat Party MP Panich Vikitsreth and members of yellow shirt movement while they inspected the border areas near Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province, which borders Sa Kaew province of Thailand.

Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya on Thursday went to Phnom Penh in a bid to secure their freedom. The seven who were brought to Phnom Penh appeared in Court and were charged with illegal entry and illegally entering a military base along the border/

The penalties are up to six months and one year in jail, respectively.

Gen Udomdej said earlier that the situation at the border in Sa Kaeo remained normal and that there was no reinforcement of troops by either Thailand or Cambodia.

-- The Nation 2011-01-01

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Suthep may 'direct' Democrat campaign in upcoming elections

By The Nation

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva hinted yesterday that Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban would be appointed as director of the campaign for the upcoming general elections.

Korbsak Sabhavasu, meanwhile, will be assigned to oversee the Democrat Party's election policy, as well as its strategy and platform. Sources say work on paving the way for the general election could begin early in the year. The ruling Democrat Party is planning to offer better security and social welfare, as well as promise to overhaul the economy and society in its electoral campaign.

When asked if the current coalition partners would come together again after the election, Abhisit said he could not answer on behalf of others, adding that each and every party had the voters to answer to in terms of what constitutes their electoral promises and policies.

Though he ruled out any chance of the Democrat Party joining hands with Pheu Thai before the elections, Abhisit admitted that he did not know what would happen between now and election day.

The premier admitted that the next election would be an intense battle and said that most people wanted it to be a smooth democratic transition. He said he also hoped there would be no violence.

When asked if the Democrats might penetrate the Northeast, a region long dominated by Pheu Thai, the premier said he was confident his party would win more votes there but added that it would be difficult to expect a marked increase in the number of MPs. "Our votes in the Northeast used to be around 7 per cent when we became government. Now it's around 30 per cent," he said.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai's secretary-general Suphon Fong-ngam admitted that some votes in the region would be lost to other parties and added that there was a need to adjust his party's policies, including a restructuring of its management structure. However, he added that Pheu Thai would be ready to defend its turf.

Suphon added that his party would stress its populist policies as well as support "the people's struggle". He said the party was divided on whether to include former premier Thaksin Shinawatra's return to the Kingdom as part of its policy platform, because there were pros and cons owing to Thaksin's divisive character.

-- The Nation 2011-01-01

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Reports link two more civilian deaths to Army

By Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

Two more cases from the 10 reports purported to be leaked from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) claim that soldiers were likely behind the deaths of two more bystanders during the April/May rally.

The reports, obtained by The Nation, stated that 71-year-old Boonmee Rermsuk was likely killed by a bullet from a line of soldiers. The bullet hit Boonmee on May 14 in front of the Rabiang Thong restaurant on Rama IV Road near Lumpini Park. He became fatality No 92 when, on July 28, he succumbed to a blood infection from a bullet wound in his abdomen.

The alleged report said Boonme's recorded statement soon after he was shot revealed that he believed the bullet came from the direction of the soldiers' barricade on Rama IV Road. Boonmee was paying his bill at about 4pm in front of the restaurant and insisted he had nothing to do with the protest.

This coupled with the forensic report and four witness accounts led investigators to conclude the shooting was "likely to be that of a soldier" acting on duty, according to the report.

Another bystander also killed by a gunshot was Pan Kamkorng, a taxi driver who was watching the soldiers shooting at a van heading towards an Army barricade on Rajprarop Road on May 15. Witnesses said Pan was shot after several rounds had been fired. A high-velocity bullet hit his upper left arm, cutting a main blood vessel. The blood loss proved fatal.

One witness, a police officer, name withheld, said Pan was a mere bystander. Another witness - witness No 2 - and a security guard concurred. The report concluded the death was "likely caused" by a soldier's bullet and recommended the case be taken up further by police and judicial system.

The 10 allegedly leaked reports obtained by The Nation concluded that 13 of 16 fatalities investigated were likely caused by soldiers acting on duty. They urged police to investigate and courts to consider the cases in accordance with law.

-- The Nation 2011-01-01

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Bomb suspect arrested in Yala

By The Nation

Yala

A man was arrested yesterday in Yala's Muang district over suspicion of planting a bomb on Wednesday because the suspect matches the image of a bomber captured on security camera.

Police raided the home of suspect, Abdulrahman Tengsa, and discovered a large number of amphetamine tablets and drug-use equipment, a switchblade, Army camouflage uniform, Bt241,700 in cash, a pistol holster and many rounds of ammunition. Abdulrahman has been charged with drug dealing and is being held for further questioning.

The security-camera footage shows a man who looks like Abdulrahman parking the Mazda pick-up truck, which carried a home-made bomb inside a fire extinguisher and exploded on Wednesday. The man was caught on camera parking the vehicle next to a pavement and getting out from the passenger door.

Meanwhile, an ambush on Thursday night in Pattani killed a Marine sergeant major and wounded a conscript while their squad was on their way back to base after patrolling.

Marine Sergeant-Major Burin Jadpon, 52, and Private Yuwae Bueraheng, on the last motorcycle in the squad of four, were gunned down by around 10 insurgents. The other six Marines managed to duck and return fire, before the attackers fled under the cover of darkness and rain. Yuwae sustained serious injuries from multiple bullet wounds.

Burin has been given a posthumous promotion and will be provided with a full military honour during his funeral in Chon Buri's Sattahip district. He is survived by his wife and two sons.

-- The Nation 2011-01-01

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DSI turning up heat in fight against white-collar crime

By Piyanuch Thamnukasetchai

The Nation

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will proceed against companies who give false information to the authorities to avoid paying taxes, DSI chief Tharit Pengdit said yesterday.

Since its establishment seven years ago, the DSI has managed to find and recover unpaid taxes worth Bt14.5 billion, he said.

In 2009, DSI recovered unpaid taxes and imposed fines totalling Bt2.98 billion. In the year just ended, the DSI recovered unpaid taxes and imposed fines totalling Bt102 million.

Tharit cited the case of Rich Monde (Bangkok), which cost the country Bt1.5 billion in unpaid taxes on imported alcohol. The company has told the DSI that it will pay the proper taxes and fines.

Tharit said DSI experts have predicted that economic crimes will be on the rise this year, as tax evaders and other white-collar criminals find new ways to engage in transnational illegal activities.

Tharit admitted that banking and stock-market crimes were very complicated and difficult to prove, control and prevent, while the agencies dealing with such crimes had some limitations hence investigations proceed slowly and are not up to date. He said the DSI had to work closely with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Tharit said that the important economic crimes the DSI was currently working on included the case of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and others' alleged failure to thoroughly report their assets to the SEC. These included shares in Win Mark - when Thaksin and his family members sold their shares at Shin Corp to Temasek Holdings via another company called Ample Rich. The agency was issuing summonses and warrants for suspects and witnesses to give information, he said. Another case is that of Krung Thai Bank executives' alleged corruption by approving loans to a company under the Krisadanakhon Group. Tharit said investigators had interviewed 148 witnesses and traced money transaction routes in that case.

Other high-profile cases included the Picnic Corp share speculation; the issuing of false rice-trading documents by President Agri Trading to borrow from various banks, causing damage of Bt10 billion; and SECC Auto Sales and Services' alleged embezzlement of money from a company registered with the Thai stock exchange, causing damage worth Bt300 million.

-- The Nation 2011-01-01

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Snatch and Grab! Foreigners Rob Gold in Pattaya

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EDITORIAL

An opportunity for Thais to rebuild the ties that used to bind

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Temperature drops 1-2 degrees Celsius in Bangkok; Cooler weather in northern, northeastern, central, eastern Thailand; abundant rain, high waves in South /MCOT

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Phuket Person of the Year Award a triumph for charity

Proud Trio: Khun Wipa at the graduation of PIWC scholarship

students Wannisa Nojakul (left) and Poramet Sae-na (right).

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151 dead, 1,811 injured in 1,696 road accidents during first three days of "Seven Dangerous Days" /MCOT

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New Year road toll rises to 151

New Year Eve saw 684 road accidents happen, killing 72 people and injuring 716 others, the road safety centre announced Saturday.

At the end of Friday, the third of the seven dangerous New Year holidays, the accumulated death toll of road accidents nationwide has climbed to 151, Phirapat Booncharoen, an assistant the justice minister announced.

Motorcycles were accounted for 84.46 per cent of the road accidents, he said.

-- The Nation 2011-01-01

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Thailand Automotive Institute targets Thai production of 2.6 million cars, to become world's 10th ranking vehicle manufacturing base /MCOT

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SANTANA Live in Bangkok 2011

Tuesday March 1

Carlos Santana, File photo

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EAGLES Live In Bangkok 2011

Sunday February 20

The Eagles, File photo

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Topic continues:

Thailand Live Sunday 2 January

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