Thailand Live Thursday 28 Apr 2011

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Thailand Live Thursday 28 April 2011

News, Bits and Tweets

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Keep up to date with live updates from the news, hour by hour.

For breaking news,national, regional and international news updates on a daily basis only, this thread is closed to commentary so that those who wish to follow the news can find it here...

Commentary is still open for Thailand news in the relevant thread posted in News Clippings.

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Related topic: Thailand Live Wednesday 27 Apr 2011

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Lifeguards return to Phuket beaches

The lifeguards are back, in greater numbers and with more equipment.

Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

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Thai-Cambodia border conflict festers

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Thai Energy Minister backs nuclear power despite slide in first plant launch

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New Politics Party leader Somsak challenges NPP poll boycott

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NUCLEAR CRISIS

Japan Embassy reassures Thai govt over radiation food safety

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THAI TALK

No party is willing to serve dutifully in opposition

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STOPPAGE TIME

An exciting time to be a conspiracy theorist

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Authorities paint a misleading picture in Thailand's deep South

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Japanese Tourists Allowed to Stay Longer in Thailand

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Thaksin and Pheu Thai have 'failed the red shirts'

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Man held for killing policemen pleads not guilty

By The Nation

A man who was arrested for killing the superintendent of Sai Ngam Police Station in Khamphaengphet has pleaded innocent.

Narong Thongchai, 43, was nabbed at 8.30pm on Tuesday in Nakhon Phanom. The fatal attack on Pol Colonel Krirkrit Niyomserm took place on April 19 in Nakhon Sawan.

Speaking at a press conference, Narong yesterday denied the charge that he killed Krirkrit, saying that he had not left Nakhon Phanom since last August.

Police believe Narong has been involved in six murders, including the one that claimed Krirkrit's life. However, Narong has admitted to two murders.

In the first case, he was convicted of shooting dead a local politician in Kanchanaburi and was sentenced to one year in jail. He jumped bail.

In the second case, he gunned down a man after receiving payment from the victim's wife. He jumped bail in this case as well.

-- The Nation 2011-04-28

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Friction over wastewater fee collection

By The Nation

Many offices of the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority have put up banners protesting the plan that requires it to help collect wastewater treatment fees from the public.

"The National Environment Board believes that waterworks' offices across the country should be in charge of fee collection because it will cut costs," Deputy Bangkok Governor Pornthep Techapaiboon said yesterday, adding that legally, all local bodies had the right to collect wastewater treatment fees.

Pornthep said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration spends Bt2.09 per litre for treating wastewater in the capital, but it collects just Bt0.25 per litre from the public. The amount of wastewater created in the capital is more than 3 million cubic metres daily.

-- The Nation 2011-04-28

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BURNING ISSUE

Mingkwan and Supol face an uncertain future

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Rak Santi takes a few leaves out of Thai Rak Thai's book

By ATTAPOOM ONGKULNA

The Nation

The Rak Santi Party yesterday unveiled improved versions of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai party's policies and said it expected its Bangkok MP candidates to be well received by the voters.

In a merit-making and official opening ceremony of the party at its headquarters yesterday, party chairman Purachai Piumsombun said it would field candidates for all the 375 constituency and 125 party-list seats in the House of Representatives. The party is stressing non-partisan and corruption-free politics.

Party leader Pol Lt-General Thawin Surachetpong said Purachai was chosen by party executives to serve as chairman as he was the most experienced politically, and enjoyed high credibility in the eyes of the public. Therefore, he will be the commander of its political wing.

Purachai said he was confident that Rak Santi would win some party-list seats, while its Bangkok candidates were also very qualified.

"Most of Rak Santi's Bangkok MP candidates are people from the new generation. They are capable and have the same ideology as the party. Political experience is not a priority. Rak Santi's candidates work sacrificing their time, money, knowledge and wisdom," Purachai said.

He said that no political party had so far sought a political alliance with Rak Santi. The party was ready to cooperate with other politicians, including Pheu Thai's Mingkwan Sangsuwan, if they shared the same ideology.

Purachai made it clear that while the party would accept politicians from other parties, it would not encourage defection.

Among the 14 key policies unveiled yesterday was a public healthcare system developed from the popular Bt30 scheme started by the Thaksin Shinawatra government. The Village Fund project will also be developed as a banking project for the poor.

The Rak Santi Party also proposes to promote "hi-tech agriculture" and "agricultural zoning" to improve farming and agriculture.

Purachai, known as "Mr Social Order", was interior minister under Thaksin and one of Thaksin's close aides at one time.

Purachai's close aide Noppadon Inna said the party's 33 Bangkok MPs candidates would canvass on the party platform while tapping their diverse strengths.

-- The Nation 2011-04-28

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CIB chief pushes for barracks

By The Nation

Chief of the Central Investigation Bureau, LtGeneral Pongpat Chayaphan showed up at the national police headquarters yesterday to push for the urgent implementation of a plan to build flats for the police force.

Pongpat spent up to two hours demanding to meet national police chief General Wichean Potephosree, but to no avail. Wichean apparently had engagements elsewhere and did not return to the office yesterday.

"I am worried that there's no progress in the plan at all," Pongpat said. "I have to speak up for junior policemen."

He was accompanied by more than 50 policemen.

"Some policemen have to commute between Ayutthaya and Bangkok everyday because they don't have a place to stay in the capital," Pongpat said.

Should the Bt8billion plan go ahead, 5,000 housing units would be available for policemen.

Wichean, who is in Khon Kaen, said he would meet Pongpat when he returns.

"The construction of police flats will, of course, go ahead. I have already assigned a deputy national police commissioner to lay down a system for the implementation of the plan," Wichean said.

-- The Nation 2011-04-28

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Cambodians bringing in the big guns

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Abhisit: "Cambodia said it was ready to talk, so why don't they stop shelling?" /via@suthichai

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Capital inflow, outflow becoming more balanced, says Bank of Thailand

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,105.54, up 4.19 points /MCOT

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US ambassador meets PM Abhisit, urges Thailand, Cambodia to act with restraint to resolve dispute through peaceful means, negotiation /MCOT

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Thai - Cambodian Situation

- Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand regarding the situation along the Thai-Cambodian border on 25 - 26 April 2011

With regard to the situation along the Thai-Cambodian border on 25-26 April 2011, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand wishes to state the following:

1. 25 April 2011

1.1 Some news reports have quoted Lieutenant General Chhum

Socheat, Spokesman of the Cambodian Ministry of Defense as saying that "at 1: 45 p.m. Thai forces had fired six rounds of artillery in the area near Ta Moan temple." Thailand categorically denies such a fabricated statement because the Thai troops did not open fire at the Cambodian troops as alleged. On the contrary, at 13.55 hours, the Cambodian troops started firing five artillery rounds into the area around Ta Kwai Temple in Phnom Dangrak District, Surin Province, Thailand. The Thai troops, in exercising utmost restraint, did not respond to the said armed attack.

1.2 From 18.00-21.10 hours, the Cambodian troops resumed firing into the area around Ta Kwai Temple and Ta Muen Temples in Surin Province of Thailand, using small arms, mortars, and artilleries. The Thai troops were forced to react proportionately with mortars and artilleries. The exchange of fires in the area around Ta Kwai Temple and Ta Muen Temples ended around 21.10 hours. The result of the armed attacks by Cambodia left four Thai soldiers injured.

2. 26 April 2011

2.1 The unprovoked armed attacks by Cambodia started again from 01.00 -04.00 hours, with the use of small arms, rocket propelled grenades and hand grenades. The result of the armed attacks by Cambodia left three Thai soldiers injured.

2.2 From 15.30 – 23.30 hrs., the Cambodian troops fired artilleries, including BM 21 multi-rockets launcher into the area around Ta Kwai and Ta Muen Temples, as well as the area of civilian residences. The attack resulted in the death of one Thai civilian and injury of two Thai civilians and twelve Thai soldiers.

3. Thailand’s position

3.1 The repetition of these provocative acts of aggression left the Thai troops with no choice but to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as in protection of the Thai civilians in the area, by using proportionate means with necessity, under international law, and strictly directed at only military targets.

3.2 Thailand categorically rejects the accusation of Cambodia on the utilization of toxic gas and chemical weapons by the Thai Army during the clashes. It was only in response to the firing artilleries from Cambodian troops into Thai territory that the Thai Army fired smoke shells as a warning signal, causing no harm on people. In addition, Thailand does not possess any chemical or biological weapon in its stockpile.

3.3 Thailand therefore protests in the strongest terms the repeated unprovoked armed attacks by Cambodia which are in clear violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. Thailand also condemns Cambodia’s acts of aggression and all falsified accusations made thus far against Thailand. Thailand hereby demands an immediate end to such provocative attacks by Cambodia and calls on the Cambodian side to resolve disputes through peaceful dialogue under existing bilateral mechanisms.

27 April 2011

http://www.mfa.go.th/web/3034.php

-- MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, KIngdom of Thailand

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British Honorary Consulate Pattaya - May Closure Dates

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AFP: Thai-Cambodia clashes continue, toll rises

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Burmese workers seize plant, take security officer hostage

Phetchabun - Burmese workers staged a protest and seized a frozen chicken factory and held a security officer hostage Wednesday evening.

The hostage taking drama continued until Thursday while police tried to negotiate for the workers to end the protest.

At the height of the protest, the number of protesters grew to about 1,000 and they also took the manager of the plant and a police officer, Pol Sgt Thongsuk Thongthai, hostages.

The factory is located in Tambon Kanju in Bueng Samphan district.

The protesters released the manager late at night and released the policeman in the morning but they continued to hold the security officer hostage.

The protesters claimed that their peers were harmed by security officers of the plant and they demanded better living and working conditions.

At press time, the number protesters dropped to about 400 and the tension has eased, police said.

-- The Nation 2011-04-28

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US ambassador discusses border dispute with PM Abhisit

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Criminal Court hands down life sentence for serial killer in the murder of prostitutes in Udon Thani /TAN_Network

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TAT: Thai-Cambodian Clashes Cause Tourist Cancellations

The Tourism Authority of Thailand says the Thai-Cambodia conflict has prompted tourists to cancel trips and has affected border trade.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand or TAT Governor Surapon Sewataseranee has said the Thai-Cambodia border skirmish has caused all Thai tourists to cancel their trips to Nakhon Wat and Nakhon Thom of Cambodia.

Moreover, the closure of the two border crossings at Surin and Srisaket provinces has caused Thais traveling to the casino in Cambodia to cancel their trips as well.

However, Surapon said hotels are experiencing higher occupancy rates due to authorities going to the area for work.

He said the conflict has affected border trade and has created a loss of about 10 million baht per day.

The TAT will work on clarifying to tourists that there are other travel destinations that are far from the conflict and are safe to visit, such as Prasart Meung Tum, Prasart Panom Rung, and the Surin elephant village.

More information on travel destinations can be obtained from the TAT's website.

-- Tan Network 2011-04-28

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Thai Action Film Bags Two International Awards

The master of Thai action movies is celebrating winning two awards for his film at an American film festival.

After bagging the Best Executive Producer and Best Stunt awards at the Action Fest 2011 in the United States, director of 'Kot Soo Kot So' or Bangkok Knockout, Panna Ritthikrai said he is very happy to have made a Thai film that is recognized at the international level.

While the director said he was surprised he had won the awards, he is considered a master of Thai action films.

Panna suggested that such action film awards usually go to those from the US or France.

Panna attributed the success of his film to its fresh style of action scenes and incorporated Thai culture.

The director looked very cheerful and smiled throughout his interview with media representatives.

Panna is now working on a sequel to the renowned Thai blockbuster movie Tom Yam Goong.

-- Tan Network 2011-04-28