Thailand Live Monday 14 Feb 2011

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Thailand Live Monday 14 February 2011

News, Bits and Tweets

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Keep up to date with live updates from the news, hour by hour.

For breaking news,national, regional and international news updates on a daily basis only, this thread is closed to

commentary sothat those who wish to follow the news can find it here...

Commentary is still open for Thailand news in the relevant thread posted in News Clippings.

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Related topic: Thailand Live Saturday 12 Feb 2011

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CAPO to summon PAD chiefs over rally

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Red Shirts gather at Democracy Monument:

Opposition protesters back on streets of Bangkok

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UN should get Cambodia to hold bilateral talks: Abhisit

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Alert on people abusing Thai health scheme

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3G deal with Real Move will enable CAT to gain Bt14 billion

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STREET WISE

Police and civilians, an odd-couple marriage

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Team to plan coral bleaching research work in Phuket

By The Nation

The team of experts assigned by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to study coral bleaching in the Andaman Sea is due to meet tomorrow to discuss guidelines and data collecting at dive sites in seven national marine parks closed to tourists since January 21.

Prarop Plaeng-ngan, head of the Marine National Park Research Centre in Phuket, said yesterday the centre would ask for Bt3 million to buy diving gear and water-quality test kits from national officials.

An initial inspection found that coral at the Surin Islands was the most damaged because of the shallow sea and most was staghorn coral. It would take five years to get a clear study result in regard to the coral recovery, Prarop said.

The centre proposed three impact-reduction moves: reducing the number of tourists looking at reefs, conserving certain areas for study, and closing areas that are incubation areas for young coral. It also suggested doing dive training outside conservation areas, and named Phang Nga's Tai Muang beach as a possible site.

-- The Nation 2011-02-14

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Ubon student admits role in fatal shootings after row in Ubon

By The Nation on Sunday

Police said yesterday they had arrested an Ubon Ratchathani University student, aged 24, who helped a Ranger friend shoot an M16 rifle at his schoolmates, resulting in three deaths and one injury on Friday night.

The suspect, Pratchayanan Niyom, confessed to the crime, saying that, prior to the drive-by shooting, he, his Ranger buddy Supachoke Pimpila and several friends drank at a restaurant in front of the university and got into a row with another group of students there.

Pratchayanan's group left but claimed they heard a shot at them from the student group. While on the way home, they spotted the student group drinking at a roadside pavilion.

Supachoke told Pratchayanan to slow down and shot at them. Supachoke then got off at Thung Sri Udom while Pratchayanan was later arrested. Police charged the student with conspiring with another to commit premeditated murder and illegally carrying a gun in a public place.

The university meanwhile paid initial assistance money of Bt50,000 to each family of the deceased.

-- The Nation 2011-02-14

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Drug dealer serviced jail, say police

By The Nation

Police have arrested five people who were allegedly accomplices of a drug racketeer dealing businesss with imprisoned imates in Khlong Prem prison in northern Bangkok, along with seizing from them more than 14,000 amphetamine tablets.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, police said they last week arrested Chollawit Songsuk as a drug user, who later implicated Withawas Charnurai, as a buyer of the drug to him. Withawas was later arrested with 228 tablets in possession.

Wicharn Pholjairak, Anukorn Dejkhajorn and Nareerat Phajuthai, were later implicated by Withawas as members of a racket which deals drugs with the inmates. The three were later arrested in a sting, with 14,228 tablets and two grams of Ice flakes in their possession.

Meanwhile, a team of 300 agents from newlyestablished Office of Public Sector Anticorruption Commission (PACC) on Sunday night searched four large night entertainment venues in Songkhla's Hat Yai district, but found nothing illegal.

Following complaints by parents and members of the local publics, the PACC searched the venues to look for drugs or people under18 ravellers but found none of them. Four adult patrons' urine were testes positive for drug use, before they were fined and released.

Unconfirmed news reports said no drugs and young patrons were found because corrupt police tippedoff owners of such venues about the PACC search.

-- The Nation 2011-02-14

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Lacklustre farmers' poll

By The Nation

The firstever nationwide election of farmers' representatives under a new law setting up the National Farmers' Assembly yesterday took place with lacklusterness, with the poll little known to either the public and the eligible voters, as well as very low unspecified turnout.

In the national election at the village level, there are 43 villagers without no candidates applying while there are many villages with only one candidate, making them automatically elected.

Roi Et governor Somsak Khoaphrome blamed poor public relations campaign about the election as the reason, as both the law and the Assembly were new to the public and to farmers.

Under the law, National Farmers' Assembly consists of one member from the provincial level, who are selected internally by those coming from the district, tambon and village levels. The Assembly is the firstever body that represents farmers or people working in the agricultural sector.

-- The Nation 2011-02-14

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Wild weddings all the rage

By The Nation

"Eccentric" wedding ceremonies were held around Thailand yesterday to mark the eve of Valentine's Day, ranging from marriages underwater, on elephants' backs, in train cars and on a mountainside.

Ceremonies involving elephants were held yesterday at two events, one at Suan Nongnuch park in Chon Buri and the other at a den in Ayutthaya province. Marriages were registered at Suan Nongnuch, and the weddings of nine couples will be held today. A similar event will be held in Surin, the home of domesticated elephants in the Northeast.

The Ayutthaya event offered photo opportunities to a number of wedding couples, with nine elephants making a heart-shaped circle with each holding the other's tail with its trunk.

In Prachinburi, six couples were married on a mountainside hanging from hooked suspenders from which they made mid-air swings after the ceremony. Underwater weddings in Trang have become traditional and were held on Saturday ahead of most events.

-- The Nation 2011-02-14

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Bangkok Schools lose condom vending machines

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Hopefuls line up for Democrat jobs

By The Nation

The Democrat Party is recruiting young party members to become "future Thai leaders". The party yesterday interviewed applicants at the party's head office.

Bangkok MP Apirak Kosayothing, the Democrat election director, said 450 young people, especially new university graduates not over 35 years old, have applied to work with the party.

Apirak said he and other Democrat MPs have been interviewing the applicants since Saturday.

According to the application form on the Democrat's web site, successful applicants could become party candidates or staff of the party or policy setters.

Apirak said interviews would also be held in the provinces - in Chiang Mai on February 18, Khon Kaen on February 19, Nakhon Ratchasima from February 19 to 21 and Songkhla on February 19.

The list of successful applicants will be announced February 27 and training begins in March, Apirak said.

-- The Nation 2011-02-14

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Rayong, Chon Buri workers rally today

By The Nation

Around 1,000 workers from Rayong and Chon Buri will stage a rally at the Labour Ministry in Bangkok this morning to submit demands over a labour dispute with their employers.

The workers are from three companies - tyre-maker Maxxis, electronics-hardware maker PCB and computer firm Fujitsu. The workers from the first two firms have been camping in Bang Na area since they arrived in Bangkok on February 1.

They will be joined by Fujitsu staff today in their march through Sukhumvit Road to the ministry in Din Daeng area, which is expected to cause heavy traffic congestion.

Protesting PCB workers are demanding compensation for mass lay-offs after their factory was destroyed by a recent fire, while those from the two other companies are calling for better benefits and occupational protective measures.

-- The Nation 2011-02-14

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Jewellery and dress design courses held

By The Nation

Thanks to a project by the Vocational Education Commission (VEC), its students and teachers here have recently received an opportunity to learn firsthand from a worldrenowned jewellery designer.

Fulvio Scavia from the Scavia Jewellery flew to Thailand to share his experiences with the Thais.

During the training, he explained key concept and key stages in jewellery production before assigning each participant to design an engagement ring. Scavia then chose five most outstanding designs, honouring the persons behind the idea.

The winners came from the Kanchanaburi Vocational College, the Suranaree University of Technology, the Prae Vocational College, one each, and two others from the Jubilee Royal Goldsmith College.

Their designs were all impressive. Of them, one was based on the theme of giving and "Wai" - a Thai greeting gesture. Another design had the majestic Phanom Rung Stone Castle as the source of the inspiration. Another embraced the shape of Lum Phong flower, also similar to a water drop, to symbolise the intended message that love would not stop flowing. Another great design featured lotus, a flower commonly associated with love and respect. The other winning piece added Thai touch with decorative pearls and diamond.

The winners were contributing to a wedding event at the Centara Grande yesterday (Feb13).

In a related development, the VEC also held a fashiondesign training session for its teachers. Rattana Temniranrat, Thailand's leading designer from Niranrat Hairdressing and Dressmaking School, was a guest speaker. During the session, participants also worked on weddingdress design.

-- The Nation 2011-02-14

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'Bad history' not helping attitudes on both sides; Thailand, Cambodia

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Thai couples attempt to break world record for longest kiss

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 958.34, up 8.77 points /MCOT

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Don't waste your money on Don Muang Toll Way as traffic up there is so bad. /via @js100radio /via@veen_NT

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Yellow-Shirt PAD Refuses to Open Up Traffic

The prime minister has expressed frustration with the yellow-shirt protesters for not allowing traffic through.

He said state officials are only asking that they free up of two lanes of the road.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said of police operations to manage security as both yellow and red-shirt protests filled the streets of Bangkok over the weekend, that the government is not trying to obstruct political gatherings, but is merely asking that demonstrators abide by the law.

The prime minister said of the yellow-shirt People’s Alliance for Democracy, or PAD, that the police are only asking that two lanes of traffic be freed up, and is not asking the group to disperse.

Abhisit is puzzled with the group's refusal to compromise and yield with the request.

National Police Chief, Police General Wichien Pojpohsri, as chairman of the Center for the Administration of Peace and Order, in charge of enforcing the Internal Security Act (ISA), admitted to difficulties in negotiating with the PAD.

He said the police’s first move will be to negotiate. If negotiation fails they may decide to enforce further action. However, he gave assurances that there will be no unrest.

Wichien said the ISA, which expires on February 23, can be extended if need be.

As for any complaints to the court requesting that the PAD move off of the streets, the police chief noted that citizens who have been inconvenienced by the road closure must be the ones to file the suit.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-14

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PAD Conditionally Supports Bilateral Talks with Cambodia

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PM Confident about Clarifying Border Dispute to UNSC

The prime minister expressed confidence that Thailand will be able to make its case to the UN Security Council regarding the border conflict with Cambodia.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva stated that the reason Cambodia started firing first because it intended to draw international attention.

Cambodia then wrote a petition to the United Nations hoping a third party would intervene.

The premier went on to say that Thailand has prepared all necessary evidence and documentation, which it will present to the UN Security Council, showing that that Cambodia initiated the clashes.

The Preah Vihear Temple will be used as supporting evidence as well.

The prime minister has asked the UN to ease pressure by holding off on implementing a management plan of the disputed border area.

Moreover, Abhisit firmly stated that Thailand is ready to use military force to protect its sovereignty.

Furthermore, the prime minister reiterated to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen that no management plan will be accepted as long as the border dispute remains unsettled.

Concerning the call by the People's Alliance for Democracy to abort the memorandum of understanding, or MOU 2000, and the joint boundary committee, JBC, the prime minister stated that it would only lead to more foreign intervention, which puts Thailand at a disadvantage.

He went on to give assurances that the government will solve the problem transparently and will protect the country's rights and sovereignty.

The premier also stated in an interview that UNESCO's plan to send a special ambassador to help solve the problems in the disputed area would only increase tension.

He emphasized how sensitive the problem is, and stated that UNESCO should carefully study the facts from both Thailand and Cambodia's points of view before judging the situation.

In the meantime, there has not been an official letter from UNESCO asking for permission to enter Thailand.

The premier then stated that he believes UNESCO would not take sides and would fairly judge the issue.

Meanwhile, Abhisit is certain ASEAN would support Thailand in its intention to solve the problem through bilateral talks.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-14

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Cambodian media claims Thai military reinforcing troops at border; Suthep says he has not been briefed on arrest of 2 Cambodian spies /TAN_Network

4th Region Army commander affirms arrest of suspects in yesterday's Yala car bomb; intelligence and security to be stepped up /TAN_Network

Sugarcane farmers head for Democrat headquarters and closed off Rama VI Rd; Maxxis factory workers march to Labor Ministry from Rayong /TAN_Network

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3 killed, 1 injured in Nonthaburi road accident

Nonthaburi - Three people were killed and another was severely injured when their pick-up truck was hit by an oil truck late Sunday night.

Police said the accident occurred on the Talingchan-Suphan Buri Road in Nonthaburi's Bang Bua Thong district at about 15 minutes after midnight.

One of the slain victims was identified as Preecha Yuman, 41, the pickup driver.

One of his passengers, Saichon Pattanaraj, 35, was severely injured and rushed to the Kasemraj Bang Yai Hospital.

Police arrested the oil truck drier, Suchart Mokmek, 32, on charge of reckless driving.

Suchart claimed the pickup cut into his way, prompting him unable to put the brake in time.

-- The Nation 2011-02-14

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Schools along Thai-Cambodian border in Si Sa Ket's Kantararak resume classes after closure due to border clashes /MCOT

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Nine suspects in Yala car bombing arrested; search of Narathiwat school dormitory yields nine gas cylinders, military uniforms /MCOT

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Defence Minister: Thai Forces to Observe Procedures under MoU 2000

Thailand's defense minister reiterated that there were no clashes between Thailand and Cambodia over this past weekend.

Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan reiterated that there were no attacks at the disputed Thai-Cambodia border onver this past weekend and that the sound of the gun fire was not from the Thai side.

Prawit said it is not known whether the shots came from the Cambodian side.

Regarding the demand by the People's Alliance for Democracy that the government use military force to remove Cambodians from the disputed area, the defense minister stated that it is the government's responsibility to follow procedures under the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2000.

However, if any Thai territory is found to have been invaded, careful judgment will be used to determine whether they have violated the MoU.

The deference ministry went on the say that it is the duty of the Thai forces to protect the territory, and that close attention will be paid to the border of Chanthaburi and Trad province.

Prawit said that bilateral talks should be able to settle the situation.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-14

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F16 crashes in Chaiyaphum

Channel 7 reported that an F16 jet fighter crashed in a national park in Chaiyaphum Monday morning.

The station reported that the two pilots managed to eject their seats from the plane and parachuted to the ground safely.

-- The Nation 2011-02-14