Thailand Live Friday 28 Jan 2011

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Yellow-Shirt Rally Has Not Affected Tourism: TAT

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Thailand Promotes ED95 Fuel in Push to Become World's Ethanol Hub

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Samart-Loxley Joint Venture wins bid for TOT's 3G system at Bt16.29 bln; contract to be signed in Feb /TAN_Network

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Police: Number of Protestors to Grow over Weekend

The Metropolitan Police Bureau anticipates there will be a rise in the number of yellow-shirt protesters at the Government House over the weekend.

Metropolitan Police Chief, Police Lieutenant Colonel Chakthip Chaichinda, said no violence has flared up at the protest site so far, and predicted that the number of yellow-shirt protesters in front of the Government House to grow over the weekend.

However, he believes the security measures the police have prepared will work well, as everyone must be checked thoroughly before attending the rally, especially at night, to ensure safety.

Police disclosed that an attempt to negotiate to open traffic lanes has not yet succeed, but they insisted they will continue to talk with the rally's leaders, as the demonstration is impacting the general public.

They stressed that so far there is no plan to implement force to disperse the protesters.

Police also noted that the number of attendees at the rally is far less than the anti-Thaksin movement, and that no unrest has emerged over the past three days.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-28

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Court hands down 2-m jail term, fine of Bt4,000 to massage parlor tycoon-turned-politician Chuwit for libel, suspends sentence for 2 yr /TAN_Network

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Loxley, teamed with Samart Corp, win bid for TOT's nationwide 3G rollout

Loxley, teamed with Samart Corp, win bid for TOT's nationwide 3G rollout with Bt16.29 billion; contract to be signed in February

-- TNA 2011-01-28

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Cambodian Media Report Border Tension

The Cambodian press are reporting high tension along the border over the controversial stone tablet put up and later dismantled by Cambodia, claiming ownership of the disputed territory near the Preah Vihear Temple.

Meanwhile, the Cambodian defense minister hopes border tension will ease soon.

Cambodian newspaper, the Phnom Penh Post, reported that yesterday around 40 Thai soldiers were reinforced near the disputed area, but were later withdrawn after the Thai and Cambodian military commanders sat down and reached a compromise.

The result was the destruction of a controversial stone tablet that read “Here is Cambodia”.

Preah Vihear Temple chief of security Ohm Pirom stated that both Thai and Cambodian troops have returned to their bases.

The Cambodian press also reported that Thai troops have been conducting live fire exercises along the border and quoted the Thai army deputy spokesman as claiming they are routine drills unrelated to the border tension.

The deputy spokesman said the Thai army will not further agitate the already volatile situation and will continue to prevent the situation from escalating.

Cambodian Defense Minister General Tea Bahn said he has talked with his Thai counterpart General Prawit Wongsuwan, stating there were no problems.

He said the stone tablet controversy started because Thais had previously put up a sign which angered the Cambodians and led to them putting up the stone tablet.

Tea Bahn also commented on the People's Alliance for Democracy protest, saying it is Thailand's domestic issue and urged Thailand not to pull Cambodia into the controversy.

He went on to say that as the Preah Vihear Temple is registered in Cambodian territory, it would be unlawful to try and drive off Cambodians residing in that area.

As for the caseof the two Thais still detained in Cambodia, Tea Bahn declined to comment as it is the responsibility of the court.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-28

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Si Sa Ket Locals Fear Border Clashes

Si Sa Ket villagers living along the border are reporting reinforcement of Cambodian troops armed with heavy weapons, while the Thai army has not dispatched any reinforcement near the disputed border area.

Following the controversy surrounding the Cambodian stone tablet claming Thailand invaded Cambodian territory, Second Army Region Commander Lieutenant General Thawatchai Samutsakorn and his entourage talked with the Cambodian military commander, who had agreed to demolish the controversial sign.

Despite the tablet being pulled down, Thai and Cambodian border troops are still on high alert as the situation remains tense near the disputed area.

The high border tension has stirred fear among villagers along the border.

A Sok Kam Pom resident in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district, 33 year old Prakong Kotawong, said the village is just two kilometers from the border.

Many villagers have reported seeing some 500 Cambodian soldiers arriving as border reinforcement opposite of the village whlie a large number of heavy weapons were being shipped in by trucks and motorcycles.

Border residents fear that the Cambodian troops are able to launch an attack on the Thai soil at any time.

Nonetheless, there are Thai army camps near the village, but the army has not yet sent any reinforcement there.

Meanwhile, at the border checkpoint in Phusingh district, the Thai-Cambodian border market has been extremely quiet.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-28

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Venom-Laden Words Of Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn

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PM: Thailand ready for next election

BANGKOK, 28 January 2011 (NNT) – Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has voiced his confidence that the country could move forward to a fresh election, but more evaluations of the situation are necessary due to current rallies of several protest groups.

Speaking at Parliament on Thursday, the prime minister ensured readiness of the country for the next election although the state of emergency had just been revoked and there were more groups staging their protests.

Prime Minister Abhisit believed that the situation would be clearer for him next month to say when House would be dissolved.

Regarding the charter revision on the proportion of elected and party-list MPs and election constituency, the prime minister said it would be normal that each party would need to adjust its candidates running for each constituency; however, he believed that this would not cause any problem in his ruling Democrat Party.

Prime Minister Abhisit also confirmed that his party did not receive any benefits from the change in election constituencies as accused by the opposition Puea Thai Party. He said the Democrat Party fielded candidates according to their suitability.

-- NNT 2011-01-28

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Suthep: Govt not to bow to PAD,TPN

BANGKOK, 28 January 2011 (NNT) – Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs Suthep Thaugsuban has insisted that the government could not take the demands of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and its affiliation Thai Patriots Network (TPN) regarding the Thai-Cambodian disputes.

Mr Suthep stressed that the government was not in the position to comply with the protesters’ demands because the proposed practice would exacerbate the situation. He then asked the protest groups to consider the interests of the majority and said security had been stepped up around the rally site as there were continuous reports of violence attempts.

The PAD has demanded that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva withdraw Thailand from the world heritage committee, scrap the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding inked with Cambodia and drive all Cambodians away from Thai soil.

The deputy prime minister believed that Prime Minister Abhisit would be ready to negotiate with the groups after returning from his mission to the World Economic Forum in Switzerland since negotiations were his preferred method.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, who used to take the PAD protest stage, had voiced his disagreement with the three proposals of the PAD. Mr Suthep deemed it normal for the minister to show his stance when there were discrepancies between facts and the information earlier disseminated to him.

-- NNT 2011-01-28

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Region 2 Army Unit Conducts Military Exercises Along Border

As troops posted near the disputed Preah Vihear Temple remain on high alert, the Second Region Army Commander asserts that the ongoing military exercises are not related to the border dispute.

Troops from the Suranaree Task Force remain on high alert along the Thai-Cambodian border, where checkpoints have been set up to prevent unrelated personnel from entering the disputed Preah Vihear Temple area despite Cambodia having demolished the controversial stone tablet at Kaew Sikkasiri Sawara Temple.

Nonetheless, the border situation remains normal on both sides, with troops conducting routine patrols in the area surrounding Preah Vihear Temple.

Border trade in Si Sa Ket’s Phusingh district has been relatively quiet, with many Cambodians hesitant to cross into Thailand for fear of their safety.

Some Cambodian traders have stated that although tension around Preah Vihear Temple is high, it will not affect local border trade, although they hope the two governments will resolve the situation soon.

Immigration officials at the Kabcherng district border checkpoint in Surin province commented that the reason behind the drop in Cambodian traders crossing the border is the adverse economic climate in Cambodia, which is not related to the Preah Vihear border dispute.

Earlier yesterday, the Second Army Region’s 23rd Artillery Battalion conducted military exercises, transporting artillery using Chinook helicopters to its destination, which has raised speculation that the army is preparing to mobilize its troops and equipment.

The Second Army Region’s 23rd Artillery Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Somlak Duangklang, has dismissed the speculation, saying it's a routine drill that is conducted four to five times per year, and is not related to the ongoing border dispute.

Villagers residing near the disputed area believe the Second Region Army is demonstrating its military readiness and capability following the escalating tension along the border over the past week.

Nonetheless, locals are confident the two armies have agreed not to further agitate the situation and feel the governments should sit down together to reach a compromise.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-28

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PAD to make next move after assessing weekend crowds

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Army chief of staff refutes Pheu Thai's speculation about coup on Feb 10, says Gen Dapong has no authority to be able to spearhead coup /TAN_Network

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SET index closed at 981.83, down 4.88; Bt/USD30.93; GBP49.04; AUD30.48; EUR42.27; CAD30.96; HKD3.96; SGD24.01; JPY37.20

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South Pattaya Entertainment zone raided by Pattaya Police

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Canadian Christopher Paul Neil "Mr. Swirl" Get Reduced Jail Term In Bangkok

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Phuket tourist refuge shelter on its way

The units might not be five-star quality, but guests will never be

able to complain about room prices or poor security.

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Motorbike Taxi Driver killed in drink-related knife attack in Central Pattaya

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Chaiwat pleas for reds to back yellow pushing out Abhisit

Thai Patriots Network leader Chaiwat Sinsuwong on Friday called for the red shirts to step out and join force with the yellow shirts in protecting Thai territory and protesting to oust Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Chaiwat made the remarks in his first rally speech following his yesterday's release on bail for terrorism charge in connection with the two Bankok airports seizure in 2008.

"I have received information from the TPN's legal team in Phnom Phen that Abhisit is conspiring to sell off the country to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen," he said.

He said he expected a surge of the crowds for the week-end rally.

He also revealed he had held talks with red-shirt leaders who served in the same remand facility because the two groups had the same objective to remove Abhisit from office.

-- The Nation 2011-01-28

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Government warns Phuket hotels on tax evasion

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Phuket scam artist tests the waterworks

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Thai Patriots Network to Join Hands with Red-shirt Protesters

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Phuket police raid nets bumper haul of IT goods

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to be continued

Thailand Live Saturday 29 January 2011