Thailand Live Friday 4 Feb 2011

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One soldier killed, 4 seriously wounded in bombing while escorting teachers in Yala's Raman district /MCOT

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AFP: Australia lets Thai oil firm stay despite spill

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PAD gives Govt until Feb 5 to help jailed Thais

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Thailand's DPM Suthep Supports Joint Registration of Preah Vihear Temple

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BAAC Moves Forward with Help for Taxi; 100 Million Baht to be Allocated by Taxi Co-ops

The bank for agriculture announced that a taxi company has shown interest in taking out a 100 million baht loan from the government Pracha Wiwat budget, confirming a speedy progress to the government's help to taxi drivers.

The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Co-operatives (BAAC) announced progress of a program under the government's Pracha Wiwat package, saying that a certain taxi operator has expressed interest in taking out a 100 million baht loan to channel the loans for taxi drivers at an interest rate of 12 percent per year.

The BAAC plans to set the program's interest rate at 4.75 to 6.75 percent per year, which is expected to be applicable by February 14.

The BAAC has allocated a 400 million baht budget under the government's Pracha Wiwat policy, in which 200 million baht is allotted to help taxi drivers, while the other 200 million is for motorcycle taxi drivers and street merchants.

BAAC President Luck Wajananawach said the office of Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij is coordinating with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to ensure that all applicants will be eligible to take out loans at the 50 designated areas in Bangkok, and to make sure the loan information is sent to the Finance Ministry.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-04

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Kasit thanks Cambodian FM Hor Namhong for coordinating meeting with Veera in jail; said Cambodia promised to bring down flag /TAN_Network

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338 Thais arrive home on second special flight

BANGKOK, Feb 4 - A second batch of Thais earlier stranded in riot-torn Egypt arrived at the Thai capital's Suvarnabhumi Airport Friday morning on a special chartered flight, while the Foreign Ministry said it planned to send another flight to evacuate a hundred Thai nationals tomorrow.

Today's flight carried 338 Thais, mostly students and workers, and arrived at 9.10am on the national carrier Thai Airways International (THAI) chartered flight TG 8831, amid greetings from their families.

The first batch of 68 Thais earlier evacuated from Cairo International Airport were brought home safely early Wednesday by chartered flight after spending three difficult days at the airport because of a shortage of food.

The foreign ministry earlier said 2,600 Thai nationals remain in Egypt and that no Thai casualties were reported.

Some students told the media that they decided to return home after receiving warnings about the violent protests in Cairo, but said they would return to Egypt to further their studies once the situation returns to normal.

Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya on Thursday said the government may arrange a third special flight to take more Thais home on Saturday after some 800 Thais who feel trapped in Egypt had shown an interest to return home.

At least eight people have been killed and about 900 injured in two days of fighting around Tahrir Square.

Embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, 82, told ABC television in an interview that he was fed up and wants to resign, but he said he can't for fear the country would sink into chaos. He said he was very unhappy about the two days of clashes in central Tahrir Square.

Mr Mubarak has ruled the country for three decades. He has announced he would not stand for election to a sixth term in September, but would finish his mandate to guarantee an orderly transition. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-02-04

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Abhisit Claims A Higher Approval Rating Than Thaksin

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Suthep shrugs off PAD’s criticism on palm oil

BANGKOK, 4 February 2011 (NNT) – Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs Suthep Thaugsuban has voiced no concerns after the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has criticized him for his involvement in the alleged corruption in palm oil business.

As the chair of the national oil palm panel, Mr Suthep stated that he will not counter the PAD’s allegation because what the latter said is not true. He added that the PAD does not have any facts on hand, and its attempt to criticize the government on this issue is aimed at inciting hatred among people.

The deputy prime minister however admitted that the palm oil problem has been serious with palm oil supplies falling short and consumer demand remaining large; therefore, the government has no choice but to import oil palm into the country.

As part of the plan to intensify its demonstration, the PAD earlier announced that it would expose corruption practices in the Democrat administration, the hoarding of palm oil in particular. It alleged that some politicians gained profits from the hoarding in the past few months.

As for security measures at the PAD rally site, Mr Suthep said that he had conferred with National Police Chief Police General Wichean Potephosree to ensure the orderliness in keeping the demonstration from intensifying. He also stressed to the police chief that violence would not be used to disperse the crowd.

-- NNT 2011-02-04

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PM awaits talks with PAD, urges setting no ultimatum as patriotic protest movement could damage Thai interests /MCOT

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Government Charges Manufacturer for Overpricing Soybean Oil

The government has reported that soybean oil has been overpriced, while offering rewards for those who report hoarding or overpricing practices.

The Department of Internal Trade or the DIT has reported that a major soybean oil manufacturer has intentionally inflated prices by selling 200,000 liters of soybean oil at 48.55 baht per liter, exceeding the price ceiling of 46 baht set by the government.

The manufacturer has been criminally charged for illegal overpricing, a crime carrying maximum penalties of 7 years imprisonment, a 140,000 baht fine, or both.

Currently, the production cost of soybean oil is 39 baht per liter.

Any major supplier who practice overpricing may upset the market and worsen the current shortage problems.

Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai has ordered the DIT to inspect the supply of soybean in the country.

If any irregularities are found, the department will take action immediately.

Anyone who witnesses hoarding or overpricing is urged to call 1569 at once.

Those who report these crimes will be given rewards at 25 percent of the value of the fines.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-04

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One soldier killed, 2 wounded in Yala bombing

YALA, Feb 4 -- One soldier assigned to a teacher protection unit was killed and two others were wounded in a roadside bombing in Yala on Friday, and three Thai Buddhist local residents were wounded in a shooting attack in the insurgency-plagued province of Pattani.

Three soldiers were wounded as they were on foot patrol escorting teachers in Yala’s Raman district

Cpl Padungpong Song-archin, 25, was severely wounded and was later pronounced dead on the way to Raman Hospital.

Meanwhile, Defence Volunteer Noppadol Meeboon, 28, received shrapnel wounds on his back and torso, and defence volunteer Chaiporn Photaret, 26, had constricted breathing and continued ringing in his ears afterward.

An initial investigation found that a homemade bomb buried near a rubber tree was triggered as the eight member teacher escort unit was patrolling the area on foot to provide security for teachers en route to school in violence-plagued Raman district.

Local authorities concerned presumed that the attack was made by a group of insurgents.

In the nearby province of Pattani, gunmen on Friday fired military weapons to three ethnic Thai villagers in Yarang district, wounding all three, according to Pol Lt-Col Tuanday Juthanan, deputy superintendent of Yarang police station.

Currently the three wounded are under medical treatment at Yarang Hospital.

The local police and official concern are inspecting the crime scene and set up a team to hunt the assailants.

The shooting was aimed at inciting unrest in the area where most ethnic Thai Buddhists live.

Resurgence of violence in the southernmost region since January 2004 has left over 4,100 people dead. Suspected insurgent attacks often target government officials, civil servants and teachers as they are considered as representatives of the government. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-02-04

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Purple Pee Patrol Arrest 20 in Pattaya’s Gay Zone

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Major Blaze at Sri Racha Warehouse

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Popular Phuket expat resident Mick Tonkin is dead

The popular Mick Tonkin will be remembered for his dry sense of humor

and ever-present smile.

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Govt will not tolerate PAD's raid of Government House: PM

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Friday that the government will not tolerate if the People's Alliance for Democracy will try to break into and seize the Government House.

The PAD has threatened to raid and occupy the Government House to pressure the government comply with its demands regarding to the border disputes with Cambodia.

"We insisted that the intrusion into the Government House cannot be done," Abhisit said.

He said police were also trying to convince the PAD leaders to stop occupying traffic space to minimize impact on motorists.

-- The Nation 2011-02-04

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It was just 10am, but PAD Gov. House rally comprised almost entirely of children & elderly. Maybe 300? /via @BKKApologist:

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Kasit, Cambodian counterpart insists good bilateral ties

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong Friday insisted to use the Thailand-Cambodia Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) as a key mechanism to develop good bilateral ties.

Kasit met Hor Namhong in Siem Reap Friday morning both in a four-eye meeting and the JBC meeting.

Kasit talked to his Cambodian counterpart for 20 minutes before the JBC meeting began at 8:45 am.

Hor Namhong opened the meeting by saying the JBC meetings helped the two countries improve bilateral ties very fast.

Hor Namhong said results of the JBC meetings would be used as guidelines for improving the ties of the two countries.

-- The Nation 2011-02-04

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AFP: Cambodian, Thai Troops Clash Near Disputed Temple

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Gunshots are being heard every now and then along Thai - Cambodian borderline, a school director in Si Sa Ket says. /via@Urisara_NT

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Thai & Cambodian soldiers clash near disputed temple amid a rise in tensions between the two countries /BBC

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SET index closed at 984.78, up 4.18; Bt/USD30.65; GBP49.36; AUD31.06; EUR41.68; CAD30.90; HKD3.93; SGD23.94; JPY37.35

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EGYPT

Thai Muslims protest against Mubarak in Bangkok

The Nation

Thai Muslims and Egyptians demonstrated peacefully outside the Egyptian embassy in Bangkok Friday, shortly after 338 Thais were evacuated from Cairo.

About a dozen demonstrators, calling themselves the Muslims 4 Peace group, chanted slogans against Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak and waved posters in Arabic demanding his resignation.

"Mubarak get out!" they chanted.

The protestors, most of whom were Thai Muslims, said they had come to show support for antigovernment demonstrations in Cairo.

I want to help the protestors over there," said Pramote, who graduated from an Egyptian University 15 years ago. "I want to go there and strangle Mubarak."

Islam is a minority religion in Thailand, where 90 per cent of the population is Buddhist.

"We don't want to see Egypt turn into a Muslim fundamentalist country," said Ezzat Hassane Alsalameeny, an Egyptian national who is a teacher in southern Thailand. "We just want to see change, and we hope for a better future."

Earlier Friday, a charter flight brought 338 Thais stranded in from Egypt following the violence.

It was the second governmentsponsored evacuation flight from Cairo to Bangkok.. The first evacuated 87 Thais on Tuesday.

Most of the returnees were Thai Muslims who had been living in Cairo as workers or students.

An estimated 2,500 to 3,000 Thai nationals remain in the Egyptian capital, where antigovernment protests have closed banks and shopping centres, making daily life increasingly difficult.

"I think the protest will continue for some time because neither the protestors nor the government is ready to give up," said one of the Thai students who returned to Bangkok Friday.

"The government should send a bigger plane next time to get more people out before Egypt shuts down the airport," she said.

-- The Nation 2011-02-04

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PM Still Hopeful on Talks with Protesters

The prime minister still hopes the People's Alliance for Democracy will accept his proposed dialogue to settle its disapproval of the government's handling of border conflicts with Cambodia.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the government is proceeding with arranging for negotiations with the protesting People's Alliance for Democracy, or PAD, but details cannot be given at the moment.

Abhisit confirmed he has received phone calls from some of the group's supporters after his number was announced on the rally stage and he has explained to them about the government's policies.

The prime minister, however, said such a move was violation of his privacy.

Abhisit asked the PAD to exchange information with the government as the group's grievances stemmed from the difference between the information it has obtained and that in the hand of the authorities.

He cautioned the group to beware of the impact from its plan to step up its protests.

The prime minister said the PAD's demand for cancellation of Thailand's membership of the World Heritage Committee will put the country at a disadvantage on the international stage.

He said Cambodia has sent a letter to the committee to air its disapproval against its meeting to be held in Thailand this year, claiming that Thais are calling for withdrawal of the country as its member.

The prime minister still hopes the People's Alliance for Democracy will accept his proposed dialogue to settle its disapproval of the government's handling of border conflicts with Cambodia.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the government is proceeding with arranging for negotiations with the protesting People's Alliance for Democracy, or PAD, but details cannot be given at the moment.

Abhisit confirmed he has received phone calls from some of the group's supporters after his number was announced on the rally stage and he has explained to them about the government's policies.

The prime minister, however, said such a move was violation of his privacy.

Abhisit asked the PAD to exchange information with the government as the group's grievances stemmed from the difference between the information it has obtained and that in the hand of the authorities.

He cautioned the group to beware of the impact from its plan to step up its protests.

The prime minister said the PAD's demand for cancellation of Thailand's membership of the World Heritage Committee will put the country at a disadvantage on the international stage.

He said Cambodia has sent a letter to the committee to air its disapproval against its meeting to be held in Thailand this year, claiming that Thais are calling for withdrawal of the country as its member.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-04

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Thai Troops Detained by Cambodian Forces

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Israelis offer Phuket tech and security support

Ambassador Itzhak Shoham met with Governor Tri Augkaradacha

in Phuket yesterday.

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Phuket puts on spectacular Chinese New Year show

Thai and Chinese dancers perform as the Chinese goddess Guan Yin.

Photo: Pimwara Choksakulpan

The Chinese acrobats kept the audience's attention with some impressive moves.

Photo: Pimwara Choksakulpan

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to be continued

Thailand Live Saturday 5 February