Thailand Live Tuesday 8 Feb 2011

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PAD Supporters Distribute Booklets on Border Dispute

Supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy are distributing booklets explaining the Thai-Cambodia border issue to people on Bangkok's business avanue of Silom.

A group of supporters of the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy, or PAD distributed 3,000 booklets about the Thai-Cambodia border dispute to passersby in Silom.

The booklet was put together by PAD Spokesperson Panthep Puapongpan, who outlined 33 points regarding the issue and gives information on whether Thailand has lost territorial integrity.

The PAD supporters claim that the purpose of the booklet distribution is to inform the public about the issue and the argument being put forth by the PAD that Cambodian settlers have encroached onto Thai soil.

Meanwhile, the majority of the people who have received the booklets are of the opinion that the government needs to be more clear about where it stands on the issue and keep the public informed about facts.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-08

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PAD not welcome at Surin border: local leader

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 982.76, down 2.87 points /MCOT

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Thammasat prof on Thai PBS says border conflicts are a favourite rallying issue for disgruntled political groups. /via@terryfrd

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DPM Suthep To Ask Cabinet to Approve Implementation of ISA

In this morning's Cabinet meeting, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of national security will ask his fellow Cabinet members to approve the implementation of the Internal Security Act. If approved, the ISA will be enacted in the Dusit district (areas around the Government House and Parliament Building) between February 9-23. The preparation is in fear that the People's Alliance for Democracy may decide to storm the Government House.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-08

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Security Measures Prepared for Bangkok Red-shirt Gathering on Feb 13

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AFP: Nationalism behind Thai-Cambodian rift: experts

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HM the King bestows 1,200 blankets to residents affected by Thai-Cambodian clashes /TAN_Network

Cambodian FM Namhong said to be traveling to US to meet UN, affirms no negotiations with Thailand unless UN Security Council mediates /TAN_Network

Army spokesman cannot confirm injury of Hun Sen's son;says Thai soldier captured by Cambodia cannot be tried; border situation improves/TAN_Network

Cambodia to release Thai soldier arrested during clashes at 10.30am; Thai military attache to escort him back to Thailand /MCOT

Saothongchai village headman asks PAD supporters not to gather at Si Sa Ket province near border /TAN_Network

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Sondhi advises RTA to seize Ankor Wat among others as tactical move to get PV back. http://j.mp/gHoprh (link in Thai) /via@Thai_Talk:

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Army upholding international law in self-defense operations

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Thailand sends letter to UNSC explaining border fighting

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BKK Poll: 80.2% not happy with govt's efforts to solve conflict with Cambodia /TAN_Network

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PAD to file suit with Court if Cabinet invokes Internal Security Act; delegation to visit Kantaraluck, Si Sa Ket on Feb 11 /TAN_Network

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Kantalalak Distritc Office's Relief Center urgently needs a lot of napkin for children call 045-661422 and 045-612589. /via@pattweet_NT

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TAT to Estimate Impact on Tourism from Thai-Cambodian Clashes

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Breaking News: Thai-Cambodia border close indefinitely as conflicts continue

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Senate Holds Urgent Meeting on Border Clashes

The Senate has called an urgent meeting to discuss the border clashes with Cambodia, while the foreign minister vows to defend Thailand on the international stage in every possible way.

In an urgent Senate meeting to discuss recent clashes at the Thai-Cambodia border, most senators voiced concerns about the situation, fearing it would get out of hand.

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan and Foreign Minister Kasit Biromya.

The senators called on the administration to do its best to protect the nation's sovereignty, while proposing countermeasures such as border closures, suspension of aid programs or downgrading diplomatic relations, to pressure Cambodia.

Meanwhile, Kasit said the government has been exercising restraint, because Cambodia is a neighboring country.

However, he noted that Cambodian troops launched the initial attack, which targetted Thai civilians.

The foreign minister insisted that Thai soldiers were forced to retaliate, but had no intention of hurting Cambodian civilians nor cause damage to their homes.

He said his ministry is ready to take part in either multilateral or bilateral meetings to clarify the issue and defend the nation.

TODAY, the Foreign Ministry is taking foreign diplomats and international reporters on a tour to examine the damage caused by Cambodian troops' attacks at the Bhumisarol village in the Kantaralak district in Si Sa Ket province.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-08

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Thai soldier handed over to Thai military attache in Phnom Penh, to return at 6pm /TAN_Network

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Poll Shows Thai Public Approves of Army Response to Cambodia

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Cambodia frees Thai soldier captured during cross border clash

BANGKOK, Feb 8 -- Cambodia on Tuesday handed over a Thai soldier captured during the cross border clash between Thai and Cambodian troops on Saturday morning near the Preah Vihear Temple back to the Thai authorities in Phnom Penh following a request by the Thai Defence Ministry.

Lt Gen Nim Sovath, chief of the Defence Ministry's Department of Politics and Foreign Affairs, witnessed the handover of Pte Songkran Thongchompoo who was captured by Cambodian troops during Saturday's clash to Col Direk Bongkarn, military attache at the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh.

The hand-over was held at the Cambodian Ministry of Defence.

It was also witnessed by military attaches from Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Russia, Singapore, the UK and the US.

Pte Songkran would then return to Thailand via the Poi Pet-Aranyaprathet checkpoint at Sa Kaeo province and is expected to arrive Thailand at 6pm.

There was no fighting between Thai and Cambodian troops overnight.

Since the fighting erupted Friday, one Thai soldier was killed, 25 were wounded and one civilian died in the clashes. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-02-08

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Border clashes cause a loss of Bt110 million in export to Cambodia daily

BANGKOK, 8 February 2011 (NNT) – A series of border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia have affected the overall Thai exports to the neighboring country, as the volume is dropping by about 110 million baht each day, according to Commerce Minister Pornthiva Nakasai.

Ms Pornthiva admitted that the border skirmishes since 4 February 2011 have affected exports to the neighboring country, especially those sent through Chong Sa-Ngam and Ban Don Ao border passes in Si Sa Ket and Chong Jom pass in Surin. She said the cross-border exports have fallen by 20-25% or about 30-40 million THB daily. The minister added that she hoped the situation would not be prolonged.

Regarding the Thailand Exhibition 2011 scheduled in Phnom Penh from 17 to 20 February 2011, Ms Pornthiva said 90% of the participating entrepreneurs asked for a postponement in order to allow assessment of the situation first.

The minister continued that the delay of the event has already caused a15-million-THB loss in terms of initial on-spot purchases and has been affecting many businesses continuously worth altogether 75 million THB.

-- NNT 2011-02-08

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Govt sets up 2 news coordinating centers

BANGKOK, 8 February 2011 (NNT) – The Thai government has set up two news coordinating centers at the Royal Thai Army Radio and Television Channel 5 and the state-owned National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT) to provide accurate news regarding the Thai-Cambodian border clashes.

According to Deputy Secretary-General to the Prime Minister and Acting Government Spokesperson Dr Panitan Wattanayagorn, Army Spokesperson Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd will be responsible for providing news and intelligence reports via Channel 5 while Prime Minister’s Office Minister Ong-art Klampaiboon will be working with media members at Government House.

The spokesperson also expressed condolences on behalf of the Thai government for families of those killed in the border clashes. He then passed his moral supports to military officers working to protect the national sovereignty, saying that it was necessary for Thailand to exercise inherent right of self-defense.

Dr Panitan then expressed his appreciation towards neighboring countries and the United Nations for listening to all sides of the story. He believed that the international communities have given recognition to the Thai diplomatic policy and measures so far.

The deputy secretary-general however stressed that Thailand reserves its rights to solve this problem on the bilateral basis since both sides know the backgrounds of the problem the best. He voiced his confidence that Thailand and Cambodia can still work on this problem together.

-- NNT 2011-02-08

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URGENT!! Cabinet has resolved to impose Internal Security Act around Govt House, Parliament from Feb 9-23 / via @tukky_nt @jin_nt /RT @veen_NT:

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Travel Agencies Cancel Trips to Cambodia

The association for domestic travel has canceled all trips to Cambodia for February and will wait until peace is restored to ensure travelers' safety.

President of the Association of Domestic Travel, Mairat Peerayarnkoset, stated that with the border conflict continuing, all Thai travel agencies have canceled their trips to Cambodia through this month.

All trips have been postponed until the situation is once again peaceful. For trips in May, travel agencies will assess the situation before making any decision.

Travel agencies are looking forward to the situation returning to normal soon before there is any further damage to the tourism industry.

Executive vice president for travel and leisure marketing of Krungthai Card Public Company Limited, Pittaya Vorapanyasakul, said the Thai-Cambodian armed conflict will affect travelers psychologically, but this remains a short term concern.

She added she was less concerned that the situation would affect travelers who use credit cards and projected that the use of credit cards will grow by no less than 12 percent this year as targeted.

Krungthai Card company, the Thai Travel Agents Association, the Association of Domestic Travel, Thai-Amadeus Southeast Asia and Thaivivat Insurance will hold the Thai International Travel Fair 2011 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.

The fair will be held on February 24 to 27 and is expected to see 800,000 visitors and put 1.2 billion baht into circulation.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-08

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Cabinet approves Internal Security Act enforcement in 7 Bangkok districts; ISA

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Jatuporn's coup story fabricated to drive wedge: Thepthai

By The Nation

Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan had fabricated an alleged coup plot in order to drive a wedge between the government and the armed forces, Democrat MP Thepthai Senpong said on Tuesday.

"I urge every Pheu Thai MP to stop spreading lies," he said, alluding to a Thai adage of "pan nam pen tua".

Thepthai was reacting to Jatuporn's remarks on Monday that a coup plot was being hatched by five figures.

He said the government had a good working relationship with the armed forces. This was in stark contrast to the situation when Pheu Thai was in power and failed to win the respect of top military leaders, he added.

According to Jatuporn, the coup plotters are tycoon Prayad Boonsung, Army Chief-of-Staff General Dapong Rattanasuwan, retired General Saprang Kalayanamitr, businessman Piya Malakul and People's Alliance for Democracy Sondhi Limthongkul.

-- The Nation 2011-02-08

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Rolls Royce arrives in the refugee camp with a famous monk - http://yfrog.com/h33rrcjj /via@RichardBarrow /via@vaitor

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Cambodian Ambassador to Thailand claims the Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia

BANGKOK, 8 February 2011 (NNT)-Her Excellency Ms You Ay, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Cambodia to Thailand has called on both sides to settle their differences by adopting the Joint Border Committee (JBC)’s framework.

During the 8th Southeast Asian Seminar at Thammasat University, H.E. You Ay said the relationship between Thailand and Cambodia are more siblings-like rather than being neighbors as both nations share common denominators such as language, lifestyle and traditions.

According to the Cambodian Ambassador, Thailand and Cambodia are relying on their own map of the Preah Vihear where both countries claim their ownership of the territory. The Cambodian ambassador has stressed that the International Court had already verified the accuracy of the Cambodian map; therefore, the row over the overlapping land should have come to an end.

She cited that any disagreements should be solved through the framework established under the JBC guidelines proven to have fixed border disputes between Cambodia and Vietnam before. H.E. You Ay said if border fightings still continue, it will be impossible for Thai and Cambodian citizens to travel to their respective country.

In an attempt to promote good relations, she also urged a new generation of teachers to teach their students the truth about the Preah Vihear case and told the press to keep to the truth in their reports. The Ambassador denied the death toll of 16 Cambodian citizens during the clashes as being exaggerated.

-- NNT 2011-02-08

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AFP: Thailand invokes special laws for political rallies

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PAD Protest Leaders Wary of Govt Crackdown

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