Thailand Live Tuesday 22 Feb 2011

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Police arrest 'Red Siam' leader Surachai Danwattananusorn at Nonthaburi home for allegedly insulting monarchy /MCOT

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6.3 magnitude earthquake rocks New Zealand's Christchurch, multiple deaths, damage reported; Stampede in Mali kills dozens; Egypt seeks Mubarak assets freeze /Thaivisa

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Christchurch airport ceased operations after earthquake brought down city’s electricity; http://bit.ly/gcIRe6 /via@marisa_nt

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British Coroner queries Chiang Mai death plunge

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 985.86, down 9.81 points /MCOT

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Surachai detained on lese majeste charge

By The Nation

Special Branch Police on Tuesday arrested splinterred-red leader Surachai Danwattananusorn or Sae Dan and charged him for rally remarks deemed offensive to the monarchy in December.

Surachai, taken from his home in Nonthaburi and detained at Chokchai police station, declined to give his statement, reserving his right to testify in courts.

He said he was facing more than 10 cases for lese majeste offence, therefore he deemed it appropriate to present his defence in courts rather than talking to police.

A remand hearing for custody is scheduled for Wednesday.

-- The Nation 2011-02-22

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Four Cabinet members targetted for impeachment

By The Nation

The Pheu Thai Party has targetted the prime minister and three ministers for impeachment proceedings ahead of the upcoming censure debate on work performance.

The censure and impeachment targets are PM Abhisit Vejjajiva, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai and Information and Communication Technology Minister Chuti Krairiksh.

Based on recommendation of MP Mingkwan Saengsuwan, the main opposition party is expected to lodge the impeachment motion by Friday.

Under the Constitution, the censure is linked with impeachment proceedings if the debate will touch on alleged irrigularities.

In regard to the timing for censure, the opposition MPs have yet to finalise their decision to grill the government choosing between two dates - next month or in April after the Songkran holiday.

The Mingkwan faction wants the April censure in order to maximise the impacts right before the anticipated House dissolution in May or June. The other faction argues for the March grilling to take advantage of economic and political woes plaguing the government.

-- The Nation 2011-02-22

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Police Arrest 'Red Siam' Leader

Police have arrested a leader of the red-shirt faction, Red Siam, at his residence in Nonthaburi province on lese majeste charges.

Police from the Metropolitan Police Region 4 apprehended Surachai Sae-dan, a core member of the anti-government Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship's Red Siam faction, at his home in Nonthaburi province late.

A group of red-shirt supporters gathered in show of support for him during the arrest.

The arrest was made based on an arrest warrant issued on January 7 that charged the red-shirt leader with lese majeste after he gave a speech that was deemed to have insulted the monarchy late last year.

Surachai refused to provide the police with information, saying only that he will testify and defend himself in court.

Surachai did not post bail, citing his mission to make certain laws obsolete.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-22

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Suthep is confident govt will come up with solution for palm oil shortage and high price by the end of the day /TAN_Network

PM meets executives of Shin Corp; promises fair playing field for all mobile phone companies /TAN_Network

Thai Baht Falls as Middle East Tension Boosts Appeal of Dollar /Bloomberg

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Labour Ministry spokesman says there are more than 20,000 Thai workers in Libya, communications very difficult / CH3 /via@terryfrd

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Thai Labour Ministry prepare to evacuate Thai workers from Libya within 2 hours. They would be taken to Tunisia by air, to Malta by sea and Italy & Egypt by air. There are about 23,000 Thais in Libya. /NATION

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Hun Sen asks Cambodian FM Hor Namhong to cancel signing of ceasefire agreement because Thailand asked Indonesia to visit disputed land /TAN_Network

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Major quake devastates New Zealand's Christchurch, at least 65 dead

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PAD leaders report to police

The 10 leaders of People's Alliance for Democracy, including Sondhi Limthongkul and Chamlong Srimuang, on Tuesday reported themselves to police to acknowledge charges related to their protests despite the Internal Scurity Act.

Sondhi said he and other PAD leaders had complied with the summonses issued by the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order.

All 10 leaders denied violating the ISA, completed the booking process and and promised to submit their written statements within 30 days.

-- The Nation 2011-02-22

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Court grants temporary release to 7 detained Red Shirt leaders, one supporter, banning them to leave country or incite protesters /MCOT

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ASEAN ministers to discuss Thai-Cambodia conflict

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Seven Thai red shirt leaders freed on bail

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German forger arrested with equipment for producing millions of fake baht notes

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Cabinet extends Internal Security Act usage in 7 districts of BKK to end on March 25 /TAN_Network

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ISA extended to March 25

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the extended enforcement of Internal Security Act from tomorrow to March 25, national police chief General Wichean Potephosree said.

Under the recommendation from the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order, the ISA enforcement will cover Bangkok's seven districts - Dusit, Pomprap, Phra Nakhon, Pathumwan, Wangthonglang, Watthana and Ratchathewi.

The security measures are designed to rein in protests by the red and yellow shirts.

-- The Nation 2011-02-22

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Rice farmers block traffic in Ayutthaya

About 1,000 rice farmers from 22 central provinces on Tuesday set up road blocks in Ayutthaya, calling on the government to meet their four demands.

The demands include the increase of paddy price from Bt10,000 to Bt14,000 per ton with the quota of each farming family to sell from 25 tons to 40 tons of paddy.

The protesting farmers set the seven-day deadline.

Provincial police are negotiating to open the road blocks.

-- The Nation 2011-02-22

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PAD leaders report to police

The 10 leaders of People's Alliance for Democracy, including Sondhi Limthongkul and Chamlong Srimuang, on Tuesday reported themselves to police to acknowledge charges related to their protests despite the Internal Scurity Act.

Sondhi said he and other PAD leaders had complied with the summonses issued by the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order.

All 10 leaders denied violating the ISA, completed the booking process and and promised to submit their written statements within 30 days.

Emerged from the meeting with police, Sondhi said his defence team was exploring a possibility of initiating a counter suit for wrongful enforcement of the ISA.

He vowed to carrying on the protests until the government agreed to cancel the 2000 memorandum of understanding on the border dispute with Cambodia.

-- The Nation 2011-02-22

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AFP: Thailand, Cambodia agree to accept observers: ASEAN

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SET index closed at 987.21, down 8.46; Bt/USD30.53; GBP49.15; AUD30.44; EUR41.23; CAD30.89; HKD3.91; SGD23.68; JPY36.48

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Phuket consuls keep pressure on tuk-tuk, jet-ski scams

German Honorary Consul Dirk Naumann asks why a trip from Patong to

Phuket Airport in an open-air tuk-tuk costs three times as much as a trip

from central Bangkok to Suvarnabhumi Airport in an air-conditioned taxi.

Phuket Marine Police chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut denied that influential

figures were involved in systematic extortion of tourists who rent jet-skis in Phuket.

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Chalerm asks for one hour to grill gov't

Pheu Thai MP Chalerm Yoobamrung has reserved one hour to grill the government during the Thursday's debate following the government's annual report on performance.

Chalerm said he would outline the lapse of performance in seven areas - the economy, the social condition and livelihood, the national security, the foreign affairs, the promotion of democracy, the country's administration and the rising prices coupling with the shortages of consumer's goods.

-- The Nation 2011-02-22

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Police Welcome Protesters' Countersuit Threat

A city police commander says he is not worried about the legal action by the People's Alliance for Democracy against officers involved in the summons for the group's alleged violation of the security law.

Deputy Metropolitan Police Commissioner Police Major General Amnuay Nimmano said People's Alliance for Democracy leader Sondhi Limthongkul has the right to file charges against the police for unlawfully summoning him to hear his charges of violating the Internal Security Act.

Amnuay said nine out of ten people recently summoned by the police have already reported to the investigators.

Amnuay said Thai Patriots Network leader Thosapol Kanthima failed to show up so a second summons may be issued for him in seven days.

If he fails to show up for the second time, investigators will seek the court's approval of an arrest warrant against him.

Amnuay insisted the police have the responsibility to enforce the law and commented there is still no particular law for handling gatherings so they must rely on the existing laws.

He went on to say the arrest of a Red Siam core element Surachai Saedan last night was from his numerous lese majeste charges.

The group is a faction of the red-shirt movement.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-22

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Two Russian tourists injured in assault and robbery

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Phuket police seeking survivor of assassination attempt

Col Chote Chitchai: 'The [shooter] is still in Phuket and we will

probably arrest him soon.'

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AFP: Thailand developing dengue vaccine: researcher

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