Thailand Live Friday 25 Feb 2011

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PAD Oppose Summonses over Charges Relating to Airports Seizure in 2008

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Thai Patriots Network Seeks Red Cross Assistance for Two Thais Jailed in Cambodia

The Thai Patriots Network is requesting assistance from the Red Cross to facilitate a meeting for network members and the two detained activists in Cambodia before the deadline to file for appeals expires in four days.

Members of the Thai Patriots Network, led by Chaiwat Sinsuwong and Momluang Wanwipa Charoonrote, submitted a letter to the Red Cross requesting assistance to arrange a meeting between the network's members and the two activists, Veera Somkwamkit and Ratree Pipattanapaibul, Thais found guilty of tresspassing and espionage by the Cambodian Court. .

Chaiwat said that Veera and Ratree have only four days left to file appeals with the Cambodian Court.

However, he said there have been delays and he has not heard confirmation from the Thai government about a meeting with the detainees.

The Cambodian government also claims Thailand has not sent any information regarding a meeting with the two detained activists.

As such, the Thai Patriots Network is asking the Red Cross to step in and provide assistance in this matter.

The network leaders said that if the embassy and the Foreign Affairs Ministry approve the visit tomorrow, the Thai Patriots Network's core members Karun Sai-ngarm and Momluang Wanwipa will travel to Cambodia to meet with the two activists.

However, if the trip is rejected, the network will send only Karun to meet with the detainees.

The Thai Patriots Network leaders believe the prime minister is not working to the best of his ability to help the two Thais detained in Cambodia.

Wanwipa said that she is concerned that both Veera and Ratree are being detained without visitations from outsiders.

She also asked the Red Cross for assistance regarding the rights of the detainees, but has yet to hear back from the organization.

She believes politics is involved, and is the cause of the delays in the appeals of the two activists.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-25

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PTT increases oil prices by 50 satang/liter

BANGKOK, 25 February 2011 (NNT) – Motorists will be hit harder in their pocketbooks, thanks to giant refinery PTT Plc increasing its retail oil prices by 50 satang per liter for all products, except for Gasohol E85, which will be increased by 30 satang,;starting today at 05.00 am onwards.

Based on the latest price adjustment, today’s retail oil prices in Bangkok and vicinities are as follows:

Benzene 91 price rose from 40.74 baht to 41.24 baht per liter.

Gasohol 95 price increased from 36.34 baht to stand at 36.84 baht per liter, while Gasohol 91 price rose from 33.84 baht to 34.34 baht per liter.

Gasohol E20 price rose from 32.94 baht to 33.44 baht per liter, while Gasohol E85 price increased by 30 satang, from 21.42 baht to 21.72 baht per liter.

Prices of all diesel products remain at 29.99 baht per liter since the Committee on Energy Policy Administration (CEPA) has been trying to keep the diesel price below 30 baht per liter by using the money from the fuel oil fund.

-- NNT 2011-02-25

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UNESCO special envoy on Preah Vihear Temple Koïchiro Matsuura will discuss his mission with FM Kasit and Natural Resources and Environment minister Suwit this afternoon /MCOT

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Labor Ministry officials leave to help Thai laborers in Libya; 4,000 Thai laborers to be brought back tomorrow /TAN_Network

Deputy PM Suthep affirms army chief fine about criticism on southern policy from Democrat MPs; defence minister defends army chief /TAN_Network

Deputy PM Suthep says PM does not have to give up British citizenship; claims opposition failed in govt's performance debate /TAN_Network

UNESCO's special envoy to meet PM this afternoon; acting govt spokesman affirms group will not visit disputed territory /TAN_Network

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Suvarnabhumi to Get 4 Billion Baht to Facilitate Rising Traffic

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Thailand ‘Best Tourist Country’ for 9th consecutive year in Sweden’s top tourism award

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Thaksin Urges Abhisit To Move Faster Towards National Reconciliation

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PAD silent as UNESCO envoy on Preah Vihear meets PM in afternoon;saying it is useless as it earlier demanded Thai withdrawal from World Heritage Committee /MCOT

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Suthep Concerned about Red-shirt Rally in March

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UPDATE

Elephant tragedy victim still in Phuket ICU

Russian tourists feed the elephants at a privately-run trekking operation

in Phang Nga.

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Isarn comes alive in Phuket

A model shows off an Isarn silk garment at the fair.

A woman demonstrates traditional silk weaving techniques.

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Suthep calls to apologise to Army chief

By The Nation

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Friday said he had made a telephone call to Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha to apologise for remarks made by four Democrat MPs.

"Yesterday I reprimanded the four Democrats for making disparaging remarks about the Army chief," he said.

Suthep said he had not had a chance to meet Prayuth in person but made the apology via telephone.

He said the four tried to air the sentiment of their constituents from three southernmost provinces and that he cautioned them in demanding the removal of Prayuth for his lapse of duty to quell violence in the South even though they said they were not seious in the demand.

"This is not a matter to speak lightly," he said.

He said he understood why young Army officers were angry at the disparaging remarks.

-- The Nation 2011-02-25

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12 suspected members of RKK detained by special unit in Yala, confessing attack on army outpost in Rangae district last month, 6 other attacks /MCOT

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Pattaya: Rumanian Caught Stealing from Exchange Booths

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UPDATE

2 More French ATM Fraud Gang Members Arrested

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Thaksin to write book on solutions to Thai economic woes

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MISSING THAIS

Thailand still hope for miracle

By The Nation

Thailand still has a high hope rescuers can find six Thais still missing after an earthquake hit Christchurch, New Zealand on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry's deputy spokesman Thani Thongpakdi said Friday.

"We hope that miracle will happen in our attempt to find the missing Thais," the spokesman said.

The six Thais were nursing students who studied language at the CTV building that collapsed after the quake. New Zealand expected there were probably 100 people, including Chinese and Japanese students, trapped under the ruins of the building.

Thani said in a news briefing that a Thai was injured during the quake. He was treated and already discharged from the hospital, he said.

Latest report showed that 18 Thais, including 10 students, have registered with the embassy their wishes to return home. The rest were four Thai tourists and four others were those residing in New Zealand.

The quake destroyed large parts of the city with 113 bodies so far pulled from the rubble.

Thani said that the quake also damaged houses of ten Thais who are now residing with their relatives.

Meanwhile six Thai disaster victim identification police will travel to Christchurch on Saturday.

-- The Nation 2011-02-25

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Sanan to resume reconciliation talks next week

By The Nation

Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart on Friday confirmed he would next week resume meeting with relevant parties in order to bring about reconciliation.

Sanan admitted he would contest for a House seat if he could not complete his mission to mend fence before the House dissolution. He also denied having aspired for the position of prime minister.

"I intend to retire from politics and if I can forge reconciliation before the elections, then I will not seek to get elected," he said, explaining he would need to be MP in order to continue mediation efforts.

He said as a go-between, he would meet with political parties and various interest groups to find a common ground to bring all sides to the negotiating table and end the political divide.

He said he wanted to leave a legacy of bringing back the political normalcy.

In regard to the issue of amnesty for fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, he said the issue at hand was about overcoming the differences among the rival sides.

-- The Nation 2011-02-25

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Public Health pressing for cleaner public restrooms

BANGKOK, 25 February 2011 (NNT) – The Ministry of Public Health will press ahead with its campaign for cleaner water closets, starting from 3 March 2011 onwards, after only 31% of the public restrooms in petrol stations have been found to have passed sanitary standards in a recent survey.

Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit stated that the Department of Health under the ministry had signed an agreement with a network of petrol stations requiring them to improve sanitary conditions in their public lavatories for the sake of better public health.

According to the recent survey, only 31.75% of public water closets at petrol stations on main roads were found to have passed the hygienic standard. Many petrol stations do not even have separate restrooms for male and female patrons. Other problems included lack of clear signs and hygienic standard.

Choliform bacteria – the major cause of diarrhoea, cholera and dysentery – are the most frequently found: on 85.3% of the toilet hoses,on 50% of the lavatory floors, and on 31.0% of the toilet seats of the stations surveyed. Most of the bacteria detected are from faeces.

Mr Jurin then announced that the ministry will dispatch its officials to all stations across the country to survey and inspect hygienic standards of their public restrooms; from 3 March 2011 onwards.

-- NNT 2011-02-25

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Election Commissioner Sees No Problem with PM's Dual Citizenship

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People's Alliance against ASEAN Presence in Disputed Territory

The People's Alliance for Democracy notes if Cambodia allows Indonesian troops, sent to observe the Thai-Cambodian border situation, to stay at Kaew Sikha Khiri Sawara Temple, this will attest its claim that Thailand has already lost its territory.

Spokesman of the People's Alliance for Democracy or PAD Parnthep Puapongpan said the Cambodian troops' occupation of Kaew Sikha Khiri Sawara Temple in the overlapping area shows Thailand has already lost its territory.

Parnthep stated the government's inaction against the ruling by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN on a permanent ceasefire permits Cambodia to seize the disputed area indefinitely and the observation by ASEAN's force there will bar Thailand from pushing out the Cambodian troops.

Parnthep remarked there are photographic evidence that shows that Kaew Sikha Khiri Sawara Temple was built in 2003, not in 1998 as claimed by Cambodia.

He said Cambodia's false claim stemmed from the fact that the memorandum of understanding signed by the two countries in the year 2000 bans any change on the disputed territory.

The PAD spokesman then suggested the 15 Indonesian soldiers, sent to observe the border situation in Cambodia, must be watched whether they are taken to the Kaew Sikha Khiri Sawara Temple.

If they are, it means the area is now owned by Cambodia.

He said if Thailand still has the right over the area around the temple, those 15 should be allowed to stay only at the foothill of Preah Vihear Temple.

Indonesia, as the chair of ASEAN this year, has sent 30 of its military officers to the Thai-Cambodian border area.

The Indonesian force is divided into two squads, made up of 15 each, which have been dispatched to both Thailand and Cambodia to ensure the two countries follow the ceasefire ruling.

Yesterday, Parnthep and his group's coordinator Prapan Khoonmee filed a complaint with the Civil Court, seeking an injunction against the Internal Security Act's ban of gatherings in seven districts in Bangkok.

The court has scheduled February 28 for an emergency hearing.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-25

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American robbed at gun point in Central Pattaya

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New Zealand quake deaths top 100 /CNN

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First 33 Thai workers from Libya arriving at Suvarnabhumi on Saturday

BANGKOK, Feb 25 - The first 33 Thai workers earlier stranded in anarchic Libya are scheduled to arrive at Thailand's Suvarnabhumi Airport early Saturday morning, while another 12 will arrive later in the day.

Silver and Gold Development Placement Co managing director Kaysorn Santipithaksakul said her company has sent some 6,000 Thai labourers to work in the oil-rich state and 45 of them will return to their homeland via several flights.

The first batch, 33 people, are scheduled to arrive at 7am tomorrow by Qatar Airlines, while the rest will board other flights and reach Thailand the same day.

Ms Kaysorn said more Thai labourers will return to the kingdom in the following days.

Several thousand other Thai workers are now at the Libyan border with Tunisia, waiting to evacuate there to an assistance centre for Thai labourers to be set up, according to the company.

Company advisory board chairman Chakrit Suwannasarn is now leaving for Tunisia together with Labour Ministry spokesman Sutham Natheethong to seek diplomatic assistance for them to enter Tunisia.

The Department of Employment Director-General Jeerasak Sukhonthachart earlier said 42 job placement companies had sent 23,000 Thai workers to Libya.

Meanwhile, Thai foreign ministry spokesman Thani Thongpakdi said on Friday the ministry will evacuate Thai workers there via two routes as the situation in Libya remains violent and chaotic.

He said some 2,000 workers will embark on a ferry from Tripoli to Tunisia, where they will board flights to Thailand. The same ferry, once finishing its first mission, will return to Libya to carry another 2,000 Thais to Rome.

The remainder are moving to the south of Libya where the situation remains safer and there is a temporary assistance centre which could shelter up to 4,000 workers. They will stay there, awaiting for further situation assessment, Mr Thani.

The spokesman added the Ministry of Defence will also dispatch a medical team to provide medical services to Thai workers in Libya, while noting that transport and communication in Libya still has problems, the Thai embassy there must coordinate with Thai workers via their job placement companies.

Mr Thani added that a ship the government is preparing for the help of Thai people will also bring dried food and water to distribute to Thai labourers stranded in Libya.

Countries worldwide are sending planes and warships to evacuate tens of thousands of their nationals to flee the chaos in Libya following brutal crackdown which erupted since Feb 15 and opponents of Libya's longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi vowed to march on the capital Tripoli to topple the four-decades-old regime.

Foreign media reported Mr Gadhafi on Thursday accused fast-spreading uprising in his country was driven by "trigger-happy" youths "stoned with drugs" supplied by Osama bin Laden's network.

More than 300 people, including 111 soldiers, have been killed in protests against Ghadafi's rule. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-02-25

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Foreign Ministry: National Police Bureau sending 7 experts to New Zealand tomorrow to search for, identify 6 missing Thais /MCOT

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Protest Group Seeks Removal of Restrictions

The Thai Patriots Network resubmits its petition asking the court to nullify the ban on people from joining protests in the areas, including those near its rally site.

The ban earlier came into effect when the Internal Security Act was invoked at the beginning of this month.

Core leader of the Thai Patriots Network Chaiwat Sinsuwong said the group decided to resubmit the petition after the ban issued under the Internal Security Act expired.

At Chaiwat's side are TPN's key member Thossapol Kanthima and leader of the People's Assembly of Thailand Admiral Bannawit Kengrian.

Both Chaiwat and Kanthima are facing arrest warrants for their alleged violation of the security law by holding a rally in a prohibited area.

Chaiwat accused Prime Minister AbhisitVejjajiva and national police chief Police General Wichein Podposri of violating the people's basic rights to join a peaceful gathering.

The TPN leader also asked the court to nullify the announcements issued under ISA that made certain buildings and some routes off limits.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-25

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Villagers alarmed as sound like bombing heard from Phu Makua, Si Sa Ket, bordering Cambodia; Thai Defence Council supports Thai-Cambodia JBC to resolve border dispute /MCOT

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SET index closed at 985.91, up 8.69; Bt/USD30.46; GBP49.03; AUD30.67; EUR42.00; CAD30.94; HKD3.90; SGD23.73; JPY36.97

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Chavanond: Foreign Ministry awaiting decision of families of activists Veera and Ratree whether to appeal court verdict

Chavanond: Foreign Ministry awaiting decision of families of activists Veera and Ratree, now in Cambodian jail, regarding whether to appeal court verdict; Thai embassy in Phnom Penh is not obstructing other activists from visiting, but visits are subject to Cambodian authorities' consideration for permission

-- TNA 2011-02-25