Thailand Live Thursday 24 Feb 2011

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 996.25, up 5.34 points /MCOT

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Government Satisfied with Asean Meeting

The government has expressed satisfaction with the results of the informal Asean meeting on Tuesday.

It was agreed at the meeting that a team of observers will be sent to the disputed area at the Thai-Cambodian border.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya reported the results of the informal meeting of Asean foreign ministers in Jakarta to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at the Parliament immediately on his return to Thailand yesterday.

Kasit stated that both Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to allow approximately 15 observers from Indonesia, the current Asean chairman, to observe the disputed area along the Thai-Cambodian border.

An equal number of observers, which will consist of unarmed military officers and civilians, will be sent to both sides of the border.

At the same time, the Thai government is planning to press forward with the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission and General Border Committee meetings.

Deputy Prime Minister in charge of national security Suthep Thaugsuban has also expressed satisfaction with the results of the Asean meeting and the decision to send observers to the disputed area.

Suthep claims this will bring the two countries back to the negotiation table, which the Thai government has advocated all along.

He believes this will ease the cross-border tension.

Regarding a local officials' attempt to file a case with the International Criminal Court, seeking 3 billion baht in financial compensation from Cambodia for damages incurred on civilian communities, Suthep said he is unaware of the issue, but doubted that it is possible.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-24

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Deputy PM Confident Palm Oil Crisis is Resolved, Downplays Conflict with Coalition Partner

The prime minister says the measures taken by the palm oil panel to tackle the domestic shortage can be expected to have an effect in a few days.

Meanwhile, the deputy prime minister is not concerned about the possibility of the government's mishandling of the palm oil crisis being brought up in the upcoming censure debate.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva expressed confidence that the measures introduced by the National Palm Oil Policy Committee to solve the palm oil crisis will show some results in a couple days.

He denied that the Democrat Party blamed its coalition partner Bhumjaithai Party for mishandling the shortage of palm oil.

Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai, a Bhumjaithai Party MP, has been at the center of talks about who to blame for mishandling the palm oil crisis.

Deputy Prime Minister in charge of national security Suthep Thaugsuban, as chairman of the National Palm Oil Policy Committee, assured that the import of an additional 30,000 tons of crude palm oil is the best solution to the palm oil shortage at the moment, as it will benefit both farmers and individual consumers.

He said the second lot of cooking palm oil with pink caps will be available to the market in three days, and it will be sold at a capped price of 47 baht per liter, for both palm oil in bottles and barrels.

The deputy prime minister added that the Department of Special Investigation has been given the authority to prosecute retailers engaged in hoarding or overpricing.

Meanwhile, Suthep said he believes the conflict over palm oil imports will not prompt the Bhumjaithai Party to give controversial information to the Opposition for the forthcoming censure debate.

He noted that the Commerce Minister should not take the personal opinions of Democrat MPs too seriously.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-24

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7 Red Shirt leaders released - A Catalyst for Peace or Chaos

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UNESCO envoy and 5 reps from member countries to meet Hun Sen on Feb 27; visit Preah Vihear on March 1 /TAN_Network

Red-shirt leader Kwanchai says 7 released leaders to run as partylist MP candidates for Pheu Thai Party to gain MP immunity /TAN_Network

PM: House dissolution could happen in April and elections held in end-June /TAN_Network

PAD files suit against PM, Cabinet, and police chief for unlawful invoking of security act; requests emergency court session /TAN_Network

CORRECTION: PAD submits request for emergency session on PM, Cabinet, police chief's unlawful invoking of security act with Civil Court/TAN_Network

PAD spokesman Parnthep affirms court will hold emergency session to review suit of unlawful revocation of security act against PM /TAN_Network

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Thailand Prepares to Evacuate Workers in Libya Via Boat

The Thai Foreign Ministry will later today hold a press conference on its tactics to bring several thousand Thai laborers in Libya to safety.

It is believed that authorities will use boats to transport the laborers out of various areas across the country.

Because Libya had earlier closed down its air space, Thai Airways International will not be facilitating the evacuation.

The Thai nationals will be brought to Greece or Italty where officials will further assess the situation before moving forward.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-24

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PAD Opposes Third Party Intervention

The yellow-shirt group's spokesman says allowing Indonesian observers to enter the disputed area is equivalent to surrendering territory to Cambodia.

Spokesman of the People's Alliance for Democracy or PAD, Panthep Pua-pongpan said that allowing Indonesian observers to monitor the disputed area will put Thailand at risk of losing the disputed land to Cambodia, as the action puts Cambodia at an advantage with the international community.

The spokesman said that Thai parliamentary endorsement of the three memos by the Joint Boundary Commission or JBC, as requested by Cambodia Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, will also put Thailand at a disadvantage.

Panthep also said that a statement of Var Kim Hong, Chairman of the JBC, accused Thailand of trespassing Cambodian territory as outlined by the map using the ratio of 1:200,000.

Cambodia had referred to the map and has demanded Thailand to withdraw its troops from the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda, which, he claims, is on Thai soil.

Allowing a third party to intervene will facilitate Cambodia's plan to uphold the map ratio of 1:200,000 under the MOU signed in 2000 and the TOR, which outlined the rights to inspect the Thai-Cambodia territory.

The spokesman explained that having Indonesian observers positioned in the area will allow Cambodia to place military troops along the disputed area.

Thailand would not be able to protect its sovereignty under the intervention of a third party.

He said if Cambodia were to place their troops at Phu Ma Khua, which, he also claims, is on Thai soil, inviting a third party would be the same as having a witness to ensure that the land Cambodia claims actually belongs to them.

As for the movement of the PAD, the spokesman said that they will take legal action as the situation has worsened, and Thailand is at higher risk of losing territory.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-24

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PM: Thais to be evacuated by boats and no impact on Oil Fund from Libya riot

BANGKOK, 24 February 2011 (NNT)-Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is confident the ongoing unrest in Libya will not affect Thailand’s Oil Fund, adding the government is prepared to evacuate Thai workers trapped in the riot-torn country.

Under the evacuation plan, Thai labors are to leave Libya by boats; however, they are advised to remain in their camp for the time being given it is risky now to travel to the pier. Even though there have been reports of looting in the camp by rioters, it is still the safest place at this time for Thai workers, said Mr. Abhisit.

As regards the impact of rising oil prices, the premier said Thailand had 8-9 billion baht in the Oil Fund, enough to maintain the fuel prices in the country amid rising global oil prices until April. However, should the prices continue to hike after April, the government would re-assess the situation in order to come up with new measures aimed at helping people cope with rising energy costs.

He also affirmed that he would not allow the Oil Fund to be in the red; in the meantime, minimum wages would be increased in line with the prices of consumer products, which would inevitably rise as a consequence of higher production costs. Factors such as inflation rates and the economic growth, expected to expand as little as 3.5-4%, will be taken into account to determine what the wages will be.

-- NNT 2011-02-24

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2 countries issue travel warning against traveling to Thai-Cambodian border

BANGKOK (NNT) – Travel warning has been issued against the disputed area on the Thai-Cambodian border by two countries, which are Australia and Taiwan, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

Following the TAT board meeting, TAT Governor Surapol Svetasreni confirmed that the enforcement of the Internal Security Act (ISA) in seven districts of Bangkok had not created any concern among tourists. Besides, no travel alert has been issued against the capital city by any country despite the current political demonstrations.

On the other hand, Australia and Taiwan have warned their citizens to avoid traveling to the Preah Vihear Temple area, where cross-border fighting between Thailand and Cambodia recently took place.

Citing the statistics as of 1-22 February 2011, the TAT Governor however indicated that the number of foreign passengers’ arrivals at Suvarnabhumi International Airport reached 945,168, an increase of 7.22 percent from last year.

-- NNT 2011-02-24

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Corrections Chief Unfazed by Prison Visits of Bailed Red-shirt Leaders

The head of the Department of Corrections voiced no concern about the seven red-shirt leaders, who have been released on bail, visiting red-shirt members who remain in prison, as long as they abide by regulations.

The Department of Corrections Director-General Chartchai Sutthiklom said the seven key leaders of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship or DAAD, who have been granted temporary release on bail, are allowed to visit red-shirt members who remain in detention at fourteen prisons.

He said that there is no problem as long as the visitors follow procedures and abide by the prison rules and regulations.

Chartchai said he is not concerned that such visits will put pressure on the authorities to release other red-shirt detainees.

He noted that a prison chief is allowed to testify about the good behavior of red-shirt inmates, as long as there is a court order requesting their testimony.

However, sources revealed that many detained red-shirt members do not have money to pay for bail, nor access to legal assistance.

As such, it remains uncertain whether any other red-shirt members will be released on bail, after having been imprisoned since the prolonged red-shirt rally ended in May of last year.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-24

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Celebrities to Join Event to Pay Respect to His Majesty the King

A number of celebrities gathered at a press briefing to announce their participation in a campaign to celebrate 20 years of social security, and to pay homage to His Majesty the King by signing well-wishes on postcards.

Celebrities announced in a press briefing that they will partake in a campaign to pay homage to His Majesty the King, and to acknowledge 20 years of social security in Thailand.

A number of activities will be organized to pay respect to the Monarchy as well as to provide a chance for employers, employees, and labor forces across the country to express their love and affection for the Monarchy.

One of the activities includes writing well-wishes on postcards, which will be collected to make a “throne of love” as a gift from the people to His Majesty the King.

Celebrities planning to participate in the event include popular celebrities such as Cris Horwang, Cheer Thikumporn, Amy Klinpatoom, Stefan Thisit, New Pongsakorn, and many others.

The event will be held at Impact Arena tomorrow from 1:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.

Anyone who wants to participate but cannot attend the event can write well-wishes on a postcard addressed to Postbox 20 Klong Toey Post Office 10111.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-24

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Quake in Laos caused cracks on walls of structuring housing Phra That Chae Haeng in Nan province; Fine Arts Dept to look at /TAN_Network

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Over 2,000 Thais have left Libya; remaining Thais there are safe, Thai envoy to Libya said /NATION

2,000 Thai workers evacuated from Libya; centre to be set up to help 20,000 workers, ferry being chartered to transport them from Libya /MCOT

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PM denies dual nationality

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Thursday confirmed his Thai citizenship even though he was born in England, rebutting an opposition lawmaker's allegation for having dual nationality.

"I am a Thai with clear intent not to hold British citizenship," he said.

Abhisit said he had to apply for entry visa to England just like other Thais and that he did not avail himself of any services such as education reserved for British citizens.

The Election Commission had already ruled out his dual nationality, he added.

Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan, speaking from the House floor during the performance debate, alleged the prime minister's dual nationality.

-- The Nation 2011-02-24

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LIBYA ON THE BRINK

Thailand prepares ships to evacuate Thai workers

By The Nation

Thailand plans to send ships to Libya to evacuate about 20,000 Thai workers in the country, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Thursday.

The timing of the evacuation remains unclear as the port is far from where many Thais are working and traveling in Libya is unsafe, he told reporters.

"We are considering about the timing and process because of the distance between where the Thais stayed and the port. We are worried that there could have possible chaos on the way," he said.

However the Thai government has already prepared ships and transportation for the workers.

The prime minister said that the government will evaluate and monitor the situations closely.

-- The Nation 2011-02-24

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Phuket Zoning, Environment rules on firing line at public seminar tomorrow

It is scenes such as this, at the south end of Phuket, that the new regulations

are designed to protect. Photo: Jeeheon Cho

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Arrested woman selling niece's (16) sexual services

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Time's up for 2 fake watch peddlers

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Another red released on bail

The Criminal Court on Thurday approved the temporary release of red supporter Somchai Paiboon, held in remand for terrorism charges in connection with the last year's riots.

The court set bail at Bt100,000.

Somchai's release came in the wake of Tuesday's bail for seven red leaders and a supporter. The bail approval was based on the linkage of his case to those involved the seven leaders.

Somchai is a former councillor from Bangkok's Bang Bon district before joining the red-shirt movement.

-- The Nation 2011-02-24

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SET index closed at 977.22, down 13.69; Bt/USD30.53; GBP49.24; AUD30.47; EUR41.78; CAD30.76; HKD3.91; SGD23.70; JPY37.07

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Phuket Blues Rock Festival set for blast off tomorrow

The Curtis Salgado Band arrived safely in Phuket last night after a

35-hour trip from the USA. Seen here at dinner at Skipper's are

(L to R): Curtis Salgado, Rich Harper, Chris Cooke, Danny Leoni

and Festival Director Andy Andersen.

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Released Red Shirt leader Kwanchai to contest election as Pheu Thai party-list candidate

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AFP: Thai police free women from illegal baby farm in Bangkok

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Arrested German national Lars Scheffczik denies involvement in one million Euros internet scam: Phuket

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AFP: Thai PM Abhisit says he may be British

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HIV up among Phuket ladyboys

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to be continued

Thailand Live Friday 25 February