Thailand Live Wednesday 23 Feb 2011

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STOPPAGE TIME

If you want to fry Abhisit, fry an omelette and go from there; Opinion

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Deputy PM Suthep: cheap pink-lid 1-liter bottled palm oil to be released to markets in 3 days to help alleviate shortage /TAN_Network

Deputy PM Suthep: release of 8 detained red-shirt members should help improve political situation /TAN_Network

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Thai PM sends letter of condolence to his New Zealand counterpart over deadly quake in Christchurch; Thailand to allocate Bt2.3 million to aid victims /MCOT

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Thai ambassador to NZ in interview with CH 3 says they still have not located 6 of about 2000 Thais in Christchurch area. /via@terryfrd

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PM: Palm Oil Crisis Caused by Poor Assessment

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has blamed the current elevated price of palm oil on an inconsistent assessment of the import of 120,000 tons of crude oil.

Yesterday at the Government House, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he has assigned the National Palm Oil Policy Committee, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, to address the current shortage of palm oil as soon as possible and with transparency.

He also noted that the investigation into possible foul play will continue.

Regarding the solution to the problem, the prime minster indicated that, initially, there will be an adjustment of the import quantity to alleviate the shortage.

Abhisit noted that there will be some cost to the state, which is currently being calculated.

When asked where the government has gone wrong in its attempt to solve this persisting shortage, the prime minister answered that there has been an inconsistent assessment of the import of 120,000 tons of crude palm oil.

He added, however, that after having talked with the committee the matter has been settled.

Abhisit admitted that the government will have to improve its problem management capacity.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-23

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BORDER DISPUTE

Thai army to stay put at the border : Army Chief

By The Nation

Thai army will not withdraw its troops along the Thai-Cambodian border particularly in the disputed area if Cambodian troops are still there, Army Commander in Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha said Wednesday.

The general said that the Thai troops will surely retaliate if Cambodia opened fires on the Thai side.

"Our duty is to protect our border and sovereignty," he told reporters.

Skirmish between Thailand and Cambodia on February 4 killed three Thais and destroyed houses and buildings in Si Sa Ket's Kantaralak district.

Prayuth was speaking after Thailand and Cambodia agreed during Asean foreign ministers in Jakarta on Tuesday that Indonesia would send its observers to both sides of the border to observe the ceasefire.

Prayuth said the agreement was a positive sign of the attempt to settle the dispute, but he still waited and see if it would bring good result.

-- The Nation 2011-02-23

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BORDER DISPUTE

Unesco to visit Thailand this Friday : Panithan

A Unesco team will visit Thailand this Friday to collect information concerning the Thai-Cambodian disputes over Preah Vihear Temple, Government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn said Wednesday.

However they may not be allowed to go to the border as the situation there is still tense and sensitive, Panithan said.

-- The Nation 2011-02-23

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Thai police probe mysterious death of British couple in Chiang Mai

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Constitution Court dismisses Pheu Thai's suit for a review of the charter amendment, saying it does not fall under its jurisdiction /TAN_Network

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6 Thais Missing After Christchurch Quake

The Thai ambassador in New Zealand has revealed that six Thai women remain missing after Christchurch experienced a devastating earthquake.

Search efforts are being made to find them.The Thai prime minister, meanwhile, has sent a condolence letter to New Zealand's lost as a result of the quake.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-23

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Government Prepares for Upcoming 15-Hour Debate

The Democrat Party has appointed representatives to promote the government's work in an upcoming debate and has set up a Facebook and Twitter team to respond to all questions.

Democrat Party Deputy Spokesman Varong Dejkitvikrom announced after the meeting of representatives that the debate will last as long as 15 hours starting from 10 A.M. and ending at midnight and will be broadcast live.

The spokesman also requested that all speakers stick to the facts to avoid any confusion.

Those at the meetings have decided to appoint 20 representatives to prepare for the debate this Thursday.

The appointees will be divided into two groups, one to defend the government and the other to promote the government's work.

The party has also set up a Facebook and Twitter account to answer questions from the public, which is to be led by former Bangkok governor Apirak Kasayothin.

The spokesman also announced the result of a poll survey showing that 70 percent of the people see Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva as an appropriate leader and feel he should continue in his position, while alternatives such as Mingkwan Sangsuwan gained 20 percent.

The democrat meetings also discussed the palm oil issue, saying the shortage problem must be solved first, and then adjustments to the prices can be made.

Those at the meeting requested that the Ministry of Commerce clarify to the people the delay in oil import as well as the distribution process.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-23

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Army heads on the chopping board for southern violence

By The Nation.

Two Democrat MPs on Wednesday called for the resignations of Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha and 4th Army Region commander Lt General Udomchai Thammasarorat, demanding accountability for the escalating violence in the three southernmost provinces.

"The Army chief and the 4th Army Region commander should be held accountable for their failure to map out a correct solution for the strife-torn region," the two said in a press statement.

The two are Prasert Pongsuwansiri from Yala and Anwar Salaeh from Pattani.

The increase in bombing incidents eroded the public trust in the performance of security authorities. The local residents have begun to question whether the deployment of troops was a problem rather than a solution to the violence, the statement said.

-- The Nation 2011-02-23

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French tourist drowns in Phuket

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3 Swedes, 4 Norwegians arrested in call centre gang crackdown

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Storm Disaster in Pattaya

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Constituttion Court rules not to review charter amendments

The Constitution Court on Wednesday ruled it had no purview over the legislative process leading to the passage of charter amendments on February 11.

The decision effectively dropped a joint petition of senators and opposition MPs who wanted to derail the amendments on the framework for negotiating international agreements and on the electoral system.

Key sponsors of the petition, including Pheu Thai MP Surapong Tojakwichaikul and senator Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, argued that the votes on the amendments were taken in violaion of the legislative rules government parliamentary meetings.

-- The Nation 2011-02-23

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Six Thai students missing

Six of Thai students are still missing in the deadly quake in Christchurch, New Zealand, Thai Ambassador to New Zealand Noppadon Theppitak revealed yesterday.

There were 11 Thai nurse students in the collapsed CTV building, the Ambassador said.

Five have been located, but six could not be accounted for so far, the ambassador said. The Thai nurse students were studying language when the CTV building collapsed.

Noppadon said the Embassy was very worried about the missing Thais and Thai staff from the Embassy will inspect the place Thursday.

The six students who are still missing are identified as Thanida (Koy), Wanphen (Nok), Pimporn (Meaw), Siriphan (Fon), Jitra (Ta), Haruetaya (Jeab). Hotline for Thais in New Zealand: 001 64 214 19300. Ambassador's phone number is 001 64 214 03570.

-- The Nation 2011-02-23

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Chinnicha faces losing House seat for false asset statement

The National Anti Corruption Commission on Wednesday decided to seek the judicial review to back up its ruling to disqualify Pheu Thai MP Chinnicha Wongsawat from Chiang Mai, a niece of ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The NACC ruled that Chinnicha had falsified her asset statement, an offence punihsable by removing from House seat and banning from holding political office for five years.

Under the anti-graft law, the NACC ruling will be forwarded to the Supreme Court for mandatory review.

-- The Nation 2011-02-23

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NEW ZEALAND QUAKE

Thailand to allocate Bt2.3m to quake-hit Christchurch

By Thai News Agency

The Nation

Thailand will donate Bt2.3 million to New Zealand to help the victims of the earthquake that shattered Christchurch, the second largest city.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, on behalf of the Thai government and Thai people, expressed deep condolences over the deadly quake.

The condolence was conveyed to his New Zealand counterpart John Key.

Meanwhile, Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Theerakul Niyom sent letters of condolences to their counterparts as well.

In a related development, the government is discussing with the New Zealand government officials to give more assistance and to dispatch relief supplies for the survivors.

One of New Zealand's worst earthquake disasters, 6.3 magnitude tremor, struck Tuesday as the streets of Christchurch were filled with lunchtime shoppers. At least 75 were reported dead and some 300 others missing and many buildings collapsed in the country's deadliest quake in 80 years.

Responding to the earthquake, the New Zealand prime minister on Wednesday declared a national state of emergency.

-- The Nation 2011-02-23

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Security Stepped Up for Deep South Locals

The army chief voices his concern for the safety of local people in the deep South who have been cooperating with state officials while ordering security forces to step up preventive measures against more insurgent attacks.

Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha said security officials are taking more proactive measures to counter the ongoing violence in the southern border provinces.

He noted that to solve the problem effectively, only appropriate policies and strategies are not enough and more cooperation from local people is needed.

Nonetheless, Prayuth expressed concern for the safety of local people in the strife-torn region who have been cooperating with security officials.

e added he has ordered security forces to step up protective measures among citizens.

The army chief admitted that the operations in the deep South at present are different from the suppression of criminals as citizens have become a prime target of the attacks.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-23

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BREAKING NEWS: Phuket’s Laguna Beach Resort sold

Phuket's Laguna Beach Resort has been sold to Singapore-based

equity firm Recap.

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Finn fights off knife-wielding thugs in Phuket Town

Finnish tourist Heikki Antero Malkki had just arrived in Phuket

when he was attacked.

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SET index closed at 990.91, up 3.70; Bt/USD30.47; GBP49.19; AUD30.41; EUR41.62; CAD30.73; HKD3.90; SGD23.71; JPY36.58

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PM to send charter amendment for royal endorsement tomorrow /TAN_Network

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini says estimates of 1,000 dead in Libya unrest 'credible', from Reuters /via@BBCBreaking

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Traffic tickets down last year: Police

About 1.8 million traffic tickets - about 150,000 per month - were issued in Bangkok last year, with parking in prohibited areas accounting for the greatest number of tickets, the Metropolitan Police said Wednesday.

The 408,000 tickets issued at Bangkok's 30 red-light-camera intersections represented a lower figure than the previous year's 549,840 cases as motorists increasingly hit the brakes.

Metropolitan Police chief Pol MajGeneral Panu Kerdlarppol said 1,856,625 traffic tickets were issued last year, compared with the previous year's 2,423,202 tickets.

He said the 566,000ticket decrease might have resulted from the allocation of more police manpower to providing security at protest sites last year, affecting traffic-law enforcement.

-- The Nation 2011-02-23

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Bangkok to spend Bt15bn to build 'super skywalk'

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Released Red-shirt Leaders to Address Bangkok Rally

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Private fuel distributors to hike benzene and gasohol prices by 50 satang/lr tomorrow; PTT, Bangchak to wait until after EPPO meeting /TAN_Network

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Cambodian media reported that Cambodian FM Hor Namhong to hire foreign lawyer to appeal to Intl Court to re-read verdict on Preah Vihear /TAN_Network

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AFP: Thai police seize six tiger cubs: wildlife group

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