Thailand Live Monday 31 Jan 2011

[webfact]

Democrat MP: Thaksin's Phone-in Halted MPs from Switching Parties

Follow this link:

[webfact]

UDD moves rally site on 13 Feb to Criminal Court

Follow this link:

[webfact]

1 of 7 Thais arrested by Cambodia, Samdin Lertbutr, filed criminal suit against PM,Suthep,Kasit,Prawit for negligence causing territory loss /TAN_Network

[webfact]

Suvarnabhumi expects 2.3 million passengers during Chinese New Year

BANGKOK, 30 January 2011 (NNT) - The Airports of Thailand (AOT) has estimated that the passengers traveling in and out of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport would reach 2.3 million during the Chinese New Year period.

The AOT expected around 180,000 passengers at the Suvarnabhumi Airport during the Chinese New Year from 1 - 13 February, which would account for 2.3 million in 13 days. It said the figure would be the highest since the Airport’s opening.

According to the AOT, the Airport this year will welcome 440,000 more passengers compared to the Chinese New Year in 2010, or 23 percent increase.

The AOT stated that most of the passengers during the period will be from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, as the number of passengers from this group has been increasing throughout the year. Airport officials have been putting Chinese language onto direction signs, brochures, and other information notes. During the Chinese New Year, the Airport also provides officials who can speak Chinese on the field to give assistance to Chinese-speaking passengers.

During the period, the AOT reported that 467 extra flights have been added to the regular schedule, 65 percent of them are flying between Suvarnabhumi and China, Hong Kong or Taiwan.

-- NNT 2011-01-31

[webfact]

Deputy PM Discusses PAD Rally

The deputy prime minister in charge of national security addressed the issues of the yellow-shirt rally and the controversial Cambodian flag at a temple near the Cambodian border.

He is calling on all sides to be moderate in their actions as security officers are attempting to tackle the situation the best they can.

Deputy Prime Minister in charge of national security Suthep Thaugsuban noted that the three proposals put forth by the People's Alliance for Democracy are not likely to be met as they are not feasible solutions and would pose an even greater problem to the nation.

Suthep also urged demonstrators at the Government House to disperse, since their protest is creating traffic congestion.

He did say that the Metropolitan Police Force would only use soft measures such as negotiations in dealing with the protesters and that they are ready to talk with the PAD if requested.

He went on to say that the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Army are trying to address the issue of the controversial Cambodian flag that is being flown at a temple, and has urged all sides not to demand violent measures.

As for the current status of the Cambodian-Thai border, Suthep stated that there is no need to worry about it at this time, stressing that the real problem stems from ill-intentioned people who leak unfounded gossip to create anxiety amongst the general public.

He insisted that the armed forces are working very hard to protect the nation's sovereignty and that the government does not have any intention of complicating the matter.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-31

[webfact]

Robert Amsterdam announces filing of suit against Thai govt, military for crackdown on red-shirt protest with Intl Criminal Court /TAN_Network

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Nigerian woman arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport with three kilos of 'ice' worth Bt9 million; arriving from Kenya, heading to Cambodia /MCOT

[webfact]

Govt, Private Sector Downplay Impact of Political Uncertainty on Thailand Tourism

Follow this link: Tourism:

[webfact]

Use of narcotics in Thailand worrying Ministry of Health

Follow this link:

[webfact]

THAI to send chartered flight to pick up stranded Thais in Cairo

The Foreign Ministry will ask the Thai Airways International to dispatch a chartered flight to pick up Thais stranded at the Cairo International Airport following unrest in Egypt.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Thanee Thongpakdee said the chartered flight would pick up 45 Thais who want to go home.

He said the flight should leave Thailand before midnight as the Thai authorities need to first seek permission to enter Egyptian airspace.

Some 80 Thais have been stranded in Cairo but only 45 wants to return home. The rest are mostly workers, who want to fly to Europe and Libya, he said.

-- The Nation 2011-01-31

[webfact]

Thailand sending aircraft to evacuate Thais stranded in Egypt

BANGKOK, Jan 31 -- Thailand's Foreign Ministry is coordinating with Thai International Airways (THAI) to provide a special flight to pick up some 80 Thai nationals stranded at Cairo airport in Egypt as anti-government protests in Egypt ran into the seventh day and showed no sign of easing, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongpakdi.

Ministry Information Department director-general Thani said there are some 80 Thais at the airport, 45 of whom wanted to return to Thailand, while the rest are Thai workers want to travel to European countries.

It was expected that the special THAI flight would be ready before midnight as time is needed to gain permission to fly over Egyptian airspace, he said.

However, he said, the Thai embassy officials in Cairo had given initial assistance, including providing food for the Thais who were stranded at the airport.

Mr Thani said the ministry was informed that the situation in Egypt is still worrisome and the airport was considered a safe place so that the ministry has advised the Thais to stay at the airport to await the plane.

The foreign ministry spokesman also urged Thais in Cairo to stay at home given that curfew enforcements being put in place in the Egyptian capital and other cities, he said.

Countries worldwide have warned against visiting Egypt and began evacuating their citizens Sunday as Egyptian protesters camped out in central Cairo on Monday and vowed to stay until they had toppled President Hosni Mubarak.

The violent protests have left at least 100 people dead so far. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-01-31

[webfact]

PM promises speedy help for Thais stranded at Cairo airport; expresses concern PAD's rally may hurt Veera's case /TAN_Network

[webfact]

Cambodia Threatens to Open Fire on Thailand

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Nigerian Woman Arrested At Suvarnabhumi Airport With 3 Kg Of 'Ice' Worth US$300,000

Follow this link:

[webfact]

SET index closed at 964.1, down 17.73; Bt/USD30.94; GBP49.01; AUD30.61; EUR42.02; CAD30.88; HKD3.96; SGD23.97; JPY37.53

[webfact]

Police suspect murder as man is found hanging from bridge in East Pattaya

Follow this link:

[webfact]

27 year old woman found dead in East Pattaya

Follow this link:

600,000 Baht armed robbery of 7-11 manager outside bank in North Pattaya

Follow this link:

Two Russian Tourists Fall Victim To Bag Snatch In North Pattaya

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Phuket In Eye Of National Park Corruption Storm

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Stray Myanmar bomb injures Thai soldiers

BANGKOK, January 31, 2011 (AFP) - A new round of fighting between state troops and ethnic Karen rebels in Myanmar injured two Thai soldiers when a bomb landed across the border, an army official said Monday.

"Last night there was the sound of an explosion in our camp and two of our men suffered wounds to their arms," said Colonel Supachok Tawatpeerachai, based in western Tak province.

The Myanmar junta has been fighting ethnic rebels for decades in eastern Karen state, sending civilians pouring into neighbouring Thailand, where tens of thousands of refugees live in camps.

Tensions soared in Myanmar on a rare and controversial election day in November, when rebels occupied Myawaddy town in Karen state, sparking a government army counter-attack and a mass exodus of civilians into Thailand.

Subsequent sporadic fighting at several points along the border has caused continued displacement.

Civil war has wracked parts of Myanmar since its independence in 1948, although most insurgent groups -- who seek more autonomy and rights -- have agreed to ceasefires with the junta.

Myanmar's new parliament opened on Monday, in which parties from some of the country's diverse ethnic minority regions have a degree of representation.

But people in large areas were barred from voting in the poll.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-01-31

[webfact]

AFP: Thai opposition calls for world court probe

Follow this link:

[Maestro]

to be continued

Thailand Live Tuesday 1 February