Thailand Live Monday 28 Feb 2011

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Police Regain Control of Two Traffic Lanes from PAD

Earlier this morning at around 6 A.M., metropolitan police were able to regain control of two traffic lanes of Ratchadamneon Nok Road, immediately in front of the Education Ministry.

Members of the People's Alliance for Democracy did not put up a fight and allowed authorities to re-open traffic on those two lanes.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-28

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PM: Thailand Will Not Withdraw from World Heritage Committee

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Bangkok Merchants Fear Repeat of Unrest After Bail of Red-shirt Leaders

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PAD protesters agree to clear Rajdamnone Road for traffic

Protesters led by the People's Alliance for Democracy agreed to open two lanes on the Rajdamnone Road for traffic Monday morning.

At 6:30 am, police took about 30 minutes to clear tents and other belongings of the protesters on the road to allow motorists to use the road.

The protesters cleared the road from the Makkhawan Rangsang Bridge to the Misakawan Intersection.

-- The Nation 2011-02-28

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Thailand's 'Yellow Shirt' PAD partially vacates protest site

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PM: Palm Oil Crisis Near an End

The prime minister says the palm oil crisis is easing and that the government will reassess the situation next week.

He also hinted at a possible minimum wage increase in a bid to deal with surging goods prices.

During his weekly television address, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said regarding the current palm-oil crisis that the situation is improving, with oil palm outputs expected to pick up and eventually help bring an end to the domestic shortage.

He said that the government will reassess the situation next Tuesday.

The premier told the public not to panic and stock up palm oil, affirming that the pink-capped palm oil will be available nationwide in two days, at the price of 47 baht a bottle.

Concerning rising goods prices, Abhisit explained that a surge in goods prices is a global issue, and he said his administration is currently considering further increases to the minimum wage as part of their measures to deal with the problem.

He went on to say that prices have recently gone up sharply due to zooming oil prices which is an effect of the ongoing protests in the Middle East.

Abhisit affirmed the use of the state Oil Fund to subsidize diesel, natural gas for vehicles or NGV, and liquefied petroleum gas or LPG.

Regarding progress on the national reform under the Strong Thailand scheme, Abhisit said at least 400,000 unregistered workerS will be enrolled in the state's social security system during the first phase of the program.

As with the five billion baht loan scheme for informal workers, he said it is proceeding on schedule in the metropolitan area, and is now expanding to the provinces.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-28

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Phuket to survey options for burying beach-front power lines

Power cables burn in front of the Jintana Plaza in February 2009.

The complex, located on the beach road, was the target of numerous

arson attempts in 2008 and 2009. Photo by Christian Mouchet.

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DSI: court issues arrest warrant for 5 suspects in anti-Monarchy case; 30 more to be arrested /TAN_Network

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Thai TVs and Radios to Switch to Digital System in 2015

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Russians Burgled on Pratamnak Hill

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Pattaya: Frenchman Caught with Ya-Ice at Traffic Checkpoint

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Border Trade Improves as Conflicts Subside

Border trade in the northeastern region is improving. Meanwhile, a tourist attraction near the Preah Vihear Temple will be closed until the situation improves.

Border trade in the northeastern province of Sisaket is returning to normal as Cambodians are flocking to Thailand to buy household goods.

Chairman of Buriram Chamber of Commerce Weeradet Tangtrongwetkit said there have been increased commercial activity along the border now that the confrontation has subsided.

He has vowed to push for the opening of a market at the Saitaku gate in Ban Kruat district along the border to boost the economy there.

As for the border situation in the Kantoralak district in Sisaket province, military officers continued to safeguard the Huaydan and Phunoi gates, prohibiting residents and farmers from engaging in agricultural activities.

Sisaket provincial governor Somsak Suwansucharit disclosed that the Pha Mor-E-Dang cliff near the Preah Vihear Temple has been shut down for visitors due to security concerns.

He said he will discuss the issue with the armed forces soon.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-28

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Avoid Sukhumwit Soi 31 & 33 as Soi Phrom Chit is closed due to protests. Map: http://j.mp/eHEquK /via @mark_soi31 /via@RichardBarrow

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Upcoming Thai general election will be fierce: Poll

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Lawyer submits new bail application for 22 red shirts in Udon Thani

Udon Thani - A lawyer Monday renewed an effort to have 22 red-shirt people being remanded here freed on bail.

Kanistha Ratthakan, a lawyer of 22 red-shirts charged with setting fire to the Udon Thani Provincial Hall, submitted a bail application to the Udon Thani Court at 9:30 am.

Kanistha said her earlier application was rejected by the court because of the fear that the 22 suspects would jump bail.

In the new application, she mentioned the release of seven red-shirt leaders by the Criminal Court to try to have the Udon Thani Court released the 22 suspects on bail.

-- The Nation 2011-02-28

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Contract expired: No more lifeguards at Phuket beaches - Tourists will now have to watch out for themselves

Tourists on Phuket beaches now have no lifeguards to protect them.

Photo: Pimwara Choksakulpan

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Five more workers killed, raising gas explosion toll to seven

Chaiyaphum - Five more workers succumbed to their severe burns Monday, raising to seven the death toll in the gas explosion of a tapioca plant here.

The five workers were identified as Wongduen Thochai, 39, Pradit Sriwilai, 35, Luan Thochai, 67, Prapol Patama, 37, and Narong Patama, 18.

The bio gas pipe of Chaiyaphum Starch Co Ltd exploded on Friday, sending massive fireballs to engulf and severely burn over 30 workers.

Two days later, two of the workers succumbed to the burns.

-- The Nation 2011-02-28

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Interior Ministry denies buying BB phones for district chiefs

Interior Minister Chavarat Chanweerakul Monday denied that his ministry used the state budget to buy BlackBerry phones to 873 district chiefs nationwide.

Chavarat said the ministry simply paid for the airtime of the district chiefs and the mobile phone operators gave the handsets to the district chiefs as part of its marketing campaign.

He said the operator would like the district chiefs to use the same model of phone.

Deputy Government Spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said since the handsets of the district chiefs were old, the operator offered to change them for free as part of the promotion.

-- The Nation 2011-02-28

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People's Alliance Urges Govt to Ensure Safety

The People's Alliance for Democracy asks the government to ensure safety of its protesters after a road near the group's rally site has been re-opened.

Core leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, or PAD Major General Chamlong Srimuang said his group has never agreed to reopen a road at the Education Ministry as claimed by the city police and said the government forced it to do so throgh police officers.

Chamlong stated the police and the government must hold responsible any unexpected incident stemmed from passing vehicles.

Chamlong said the police's claim of finding guns in the rally site was baseless as the group bans its protesters from carrying fire arms or alcohol beverages into the area.

Chamlong remarked the PAD still has to plan to expand its rally site at the moment and cited the police's push for his group to lift the roadblock as a tactic to disrupt the protests.

The PAD's core leader then stated the refusal on the Thai Broadcast Journalist Association's suggested dialogue with the government on the policies concerning Thai-Cambodian border disputes was the latter's ignorance on his group's proposal on giving airtime for the two sides to present its own information on different days.

He insisted the denial was not from his group's preference for the once-sided debate.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-28

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Veera/Ratri Have Signed Petitions for Cambodian Pardon

Secretary to the Foreign Minsiter Chavanond Intarakomalyasut has revealed after meeting with Thai Patriot Network leaders Veera Somkwamkid and Ratri Pipattanapaiboon that both have signed petitions for a pardon. The two remain in custody in Cambodian prison after being found guilty to a number of crimes. Chavanond refused to give reasons as to why they agreed to sign the petition, saying their families would explain their actions to the public.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-28

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AFP: Thai agency denies pressure in cameraman probe

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SET index closed at 987.91, up 2.00; Bt/USD30.46; GBP48.98; AUD30.85; EUR41.81; CAD31.08; HKD3.90; SGD23.81; JPY37.10

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200-strong protest as Nongprue Permanent Secretary is ordered to move

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Counterfeit Branded Items seized at North Pattaya factory

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Norwegian Man Arrested In Pattaya For Buying Sex From 17-Year-Old Girl

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Father And Daughter Seriously Hurt In Road Crash In Sattahip

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Phuket cobras running out of room, into houses

HOODED DANGER: The female cobra rises to strike.

Sayon Thommapun of Chalong Rescue with his assistant – and the snake.

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TOLLWAY ACCIDENT

Teen driver's case goes to juvenile court

By The Nation

The case of the 17-year-old girl, who involed in a fatal accident on December 28 which killed nine people and injuring several others, was handed over to the Central Children's and Juvenile Court prosecutor on Monday.

Metropolitan Police Bureau deputy commissioner Amnuay Nimmano said police investigators believe the suspect should be charged with reckless driving, which caused deaths and injuries, as well as driving without a licence.

The suspect is currently in the custody of the Juvenile Observation and Protection Department.

In response to the defence lawyer's comment that there were no traces showing the car ever hit the van, Amnuay said the police had enough evidence, such as security camera images, witnesses and forensic proof, to prosecute the suspect. In addition, he said, Thammasat University will file a civil lawsuit for compensation on Thursday and police investigators will also submit a report to the court in which the owner of the car, a Honda Civic, will be charged for allowing someone without a licence to drive.

-- The Nation 2011-02-28

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HM the King expresses concern about drought situation and asks rain-making officials to look into possibility of artificial rain-making /TAN_Network

Singapore's Apache helicopter holds emergency landing in Saraburi due to mechanical failure; 2 pilots safe /TAN_Network

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Thai Airways enforce waistline rules on their flight attendants

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