Thailand Live Thursday 10 Feb 2011

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PM calls on PAD to open up 2 lanes of road to traffic /TAN_Network

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Air Force spokesman says Thai Air Force flights above Preah Vihear Temple is for practice purposes and not to challenge Cambodia /TAN_Network

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SET index closed at 949.09, down 20.80; Bt/USD30.63; GBP49.10; AUD30.67; EUR41.72; CAD30.63; HKD3.93; SGD23.86; JPY36.86

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ASEAN OFFICIAL STATEMENT

ASEAN chair invited to UNSC meeting on Cambodian-Thai Border Dispute

By ASEAN Secretariat, 10 February 2011

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Driver error blamed for road crash on the outskirts of Pattaya

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Central Pattaya entertainment area raided by Pattaya Police

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Thailand ranks 60th in global download and upload speeds, with an average of 5.91Mbps & 1.39Mbps respectively /BkkPost /via@RichardBarrow:

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Border Troops on High Alert Despite Battle Lull

Thai and Cambodian border troops are still on high alert following the third day of ceasefire.

Meanwhile, the Region 2 Army and Si Sa Ket provincial officials are initiating repair efforts in areas affected by the fighting.

Earlier today at Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district office, the Second Army Region's Civil Affairs Division Director Colonel Chinkaj Rattanakitti and Si Sa Ket Deputy Governor Winai Sitthimongkol briefed the press on the current situation of the Thai- Cambodian border tension.

They said although tension has relaxed considerably, troops stationed at the disputed border area are still on the highest alert and have been ordered to strictly adhere to the Defense Ministry's policy on protecting Thailand's sovereignty as their top priority.

Thai forces are prepared to respond if Cambodian troops launch an offensive on the Thai soil while troops have been ordered to observe the United Nations Charter and international rules of engagement.

Following the ceasefire, the Region 2 Army has turned its focus to repairing damaged areas and rehabilitating the public's mental health by sending a team of experts to talk with villagers who have returned to their homes.

Province officials have brought in live bands to play at emergency centers to help alleviate stress among affected locals.

Chinkaj slammed certain press agencies and newspapers for reporting on the mobilization activities of Thai troops after the army had specifically requested the media not to report on such moves as it may spark further tension with Cambodia.

According to the damage assessment report on February 4, a total of three fatalities have been reported.

While two were soldiers, the other was a civilian.

Out of the 18 reported cases of injuries, 14 were soldiers and four were villagers.

A total of 30 homes were damaged and seven others were completely destroyed.

Officials are aiming to reconstruct the destroyed homes by next Monday with an estimated budget of 200,000 baht per house.

Repairs on damaged homes are expected to be completed within 45 days.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-10

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Yellow Shirts vow not to stop rally

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PAD must yield traffic lanes: PM's ultimatum

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Two Area Army Chief Sees Improving Border Situation

The head of the Region 2 Army says he believes Thailand and Cambodia can have dialog in the near future after the present border tensions show signs of easing.

Region 2 Army Commander Lieutenant General Tawatchai Samutsakorn said the Thai-Cambodian border situation is improving and he expects there will be negotiations between the two governments soon if no clashes erupt in next two or three days.

Tawatchai stated the Thai and Cambodian troops working in the border areas have partially re-assumed their coordination.

Tawatchai said he will seek a meeting with the Si Sa Ket governor in the next couple of days to decide when residents who evacuated their homes can return.

He insisted the recent transport of firearms and soldiers to the area has nothing to do with border tension, saying they are for the regular military exercises.

Tawatcai suggested the situation has not reached the stage where air strike operations are being considered.

He insisted the army's operations must heed the safety of the people living in the border areas and the country's sovereignty.

The Region 2 commander reiterated his agency has always followed the terms of the Memorandum Of Understanding countersigned in the year 2000 by Thailand and Cambodia over the dealings of disputed border areas.

He also insisted the Thai armed forces have never violated the United Nations's charter.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-10

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Pattaya A-Go-Go Staff Beat Up Foreign And Hi-So Customers

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to be continued

Thailand Live Friday 11 February