Thailand Live Tuesday 3 May 2011

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Thailand Live Tuesday 3 May 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 Monday 2 May 2011

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PM Abhisit orders close eye on reaction to killing of Osama bin Laden

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SPECIAL REPORT

Dire need for doctors in rural Thai areas

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Thai ICT ministry stresses caution in drafting new computer crime laws

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Nuclear power in Thailand remains on the cards for political parties

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ELECTION CAMPAIGNING

Big two agree not to mention monarchy

By The Nation

Many parties refuse to sign EC deal on behaviour

The country's two largest political parties yesterday supported an Election Commission (EC) ban on mentioning the monarchy in election campaigning.

Representatives of the Democrat and Pheu Thai parties signed an agreement prepared by the EC outlining what political parties agree to do - and agree not to do - before, during and after the upcoming general election.

The two largest parties - one or the other of which is expected to lead the next coalition government - were among 42 political parties that backed the EC-brokered deal. Fourteen other parties attending yesterday's meeting with election commissioners refused to sign the agreement, including the coalition Chart Thai Pattana, the yellow shirts' New Politics and Matubhum, which is led by former Army chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, leader of the 2006 coup.

Representatives of 56 registered political parties met with election commissioners yesterday to discuss the dos and don'ts of election campaigning. Among the party representatives were Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, Yongyuth Wichaidit from Pheu Thai, Chumpol Silapa-archa from Chart Thai Pattana, Wannarat Charnnukul from Ruam Chart Pattana and Matubhum's Sonthi.

The five-point agreement for election-campaign behaviour included:

- Refraining from involving the monarchy in election campaigning;

- Strictly following all the laws, orders and regulations regarding a general election;

- Taking no advantages from state mechanisms or resources in campaigning;

- Campaigning peacefully without threats or intimidation of competitors, and avoiding the use of violence in campaigning; and

- Sincerely accepting the election result as the will of the people.

Representatives from 42 political parties that accepted the deal signed in blank spaces beside the logos of their parties on a large board at the EC's head office. Representatives of the remaining 14 parties refused to sign.

Chart Thai Pattana leader Chumpol expressed his opposition to the rule against mentioning the monarchy in election campaigning.

He said the EC should issue clear guidelines on the matter; what could be done or what could not, in order to prevent legal problems arising in the future.

EC member Prapun Naigowit responded by saying that the election commissioners would discuss the matter in detail before the official guidelines were announced.

At yesterday's meeting, participants from most political parties - except the Democrat Party - proposed that the maximum campaign spending allowed by law should be increased from Bt1.5 million at present to between Bt2 million and Bt3 million.

In a separate function at the Rama Gardens Hotel later in the day, Prapun said the EC would ask for Bt3.81 billion to organise the general election. The request would be made to the Cabinet at today's meeting - expected to be the last before the expected dissolution of the House of Representatives later this week.

Meanwhile, veteran politician and chief adviser to the Democrat Party Chuan Leekpai said yesterday that vote buying allowed corrupt politicians to be elected and in turn allowed them to make personal gains while in power.

"A very small number of vote-buying politicians are not corrupt after they get elected. Vote-buying politicians will never become good and honest politicians. They tend to make personal gains from the taxpayer's money," said Chuan, a former Democrat leader and prime minister.

-- The Nation 2011-05-03

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Thai inflation surges above 4.0%

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His Majesty the King recovering from cerebrospinal surgery

By The Nation

His Majesty the King last night underwent cerebrospinal surgery to remove excessive fluid from his brain, according to a Royal Household Bureau statement released late Monday evening.

According to a detailed explanation of the socall shunt surgery, a tube was inserted into his spine through an opening in his stomach, a standard surgical procedure. The shunt was recommended by royal physicians and foreign experts after he had been walking unsteadily for a while, a condition considered common among elderly people. His postsurgery condition in general is good, with His Majesty able to receive normal food intakes.

Updates will be issued as he recovers from the surgery, the statement said.

-- The Nation 2011-05-03

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10-year-old boy dies mysteriously at Siam Park in Bangkok

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Consumers warned against diet coffee

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Their Majesties offer sympathy to Americans

By The Nation

Their Majesties the King and Queen have graciously sent a message of condolence to Americans after violent storms hit several states last Friday, causing a large number of deaths.

The letter, addressed to US President Barack Obama and affected families, offered sympathy and condolences over the many losses of life and property damage sustained in vast areas.

-- The Nation 2011-05-03

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Thai Army Satisfied With Border Situation After Peace Talk

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Channel 3 panel should step down over Thai soap opera: Nipit

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Bhum Jai Thai backs Chaovarat as next Prime Minister

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Top court to check poll laws

By The Nation

The Constitution Court has accepted the three amended election laws for review with a ruling expected next Monday, a source said yesterday.

Although an endorsement would come after the dissolution of the House of Representatives, expected by this weekend, the election would not be interrupted, the source said.

The court said in a statement that it had received the request for a constitutionality check from the Parliament president and asked the Parliament president, as well as the prime minister and the Election Commission chairman, to submit any documentation and explanations to the court by Friday.

The major change to the organic laws was in the mix of constituency and proportionate MPs. Directly elected MPs were reduced from 400 to 375 while party-list MPs were increased from 100 to 125 to conform with the recent amendment to the Constitution.

A Constitution Court source said the justices would meet to discuss the case on Monday and should give their approval or disapproval on the same day.

The justices needed time to study the amended laws in detail before deciding whether to clear them, the source said.

An early House dissolution would unlikely affect the laws as they had already been passed by Parliament, the source added.

-- The Nation 2011-05-03

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BTS reporting that Silom line experiencing problems; trains will be 5 mins late coming into stations /TAN_Network

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More Border Fighting Kills 1 Thai Soldier

More fighting erupted near the Ta Moan Thom Temple in Surin province last night between 9 and 11 PM. As a result, one Thai soldier was killed while four others were injured.

Thai authorities had closed down all evacuation centers yesterday afternoon and sent locals home after reassurances from Cambodian troops that they were retreating from the various dispute areas.

-- Tan Network 2011-05-03

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Silom BTS is experiencing severe tech problem. Service suspended until further notice. Via @js100radio /TAN_Network

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DPM Suthep admits difficulty in talking with Cambodia to end clashes; Osama bin Laden's death won't affect Thailand, but government will not be negligent /MCOT

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Silom-line BTS resumes services, trains will be delayed. Passengers unhappy, say down time below international standards. @js100radio /TAN_Network

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Date for House dissolution in limbo

By The Nation

The government will today submit its writ for the Constitution Court review in support of the enactment of three organic laws on the revamped electoral system, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Tuesday, though refusing to predict the date to dissolve the House.

Abhisit earlier hinted that the date for the House dissolution might be Friday or Saturday.

The high court convened yesterday to launch its review into the three laws approved by Parliament. Under the Constitution, all organic laws have to undergo a mandatory review of the high court to ensure constitutionality before enactment.

The ruling on the three laws is expected to complete on Monday, passed the date which the prime minister initially set to call a snap election.

-- The Nation 2011-05-03

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BTS Silom line halts service for about an hour due to mechanical error; service now back to normal /TAN_Network

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,091.62, down 1.94 points /MCOT

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Second Army Region Commander to Meet with Cambodian Counterpart

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Foreign Ministry drafts TOR for Indonesian observers to be stationed at 4 points; no need for Parliamentary approval /TAN_Network

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Lady Journey tourism program launched

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Security beefed up at US embassy upon bin Laden’s death

BANGKOK, 3 May 2011 (NNT) – The Thai government has stepped up security at the US Embassy in Bangkok in order to ensure safety after Usama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden was reportedly killed during the US military operations in Pakistan on Monday.

Deputy Secretary General to the Prime Minister and Acting Government Spokesperson Dr Panitan Wattanayagorn stated that all security units are pondering whether or not there will be any retaliation against US interests especially the embassy in Thailand by Mr. Usama bin Laden’s supporters.

Dr Panitan however noted that maximum security has initially come into effect at the places owned by the US in the capital city, particularly the US embassy. Despite the killing of Bin Laden, he did not think unrest would be incited in the kingdom as Thailand is not the target.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has also instructed related security units to monitor situation closely upon the death of the Al-Qaeda leader although the kingdom is not directly involved in the issue.

-- NNT 2011-05-03

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Thai-Cambodian border schools to be rebuilt soon

BANGKOK, 3 May 2011 (NNT) – Schools in Surin, Si Sa Ket ,and Buriram Provinces damaged by the border conflict will be urgently repaired in order to prepare for the opening of the new semester in the middle of May 2011.

Secretary-General of Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) Chinnapat Bhumirat has indicated that as the border situation is now considered back to normal; therefore, the OBEC will immediately start assessing the damage to all schools and calculate the repair costs.

Regarding the opening date of the new semester, Mr Chinnapat said the situation must first be reassessed for safety reason. The new semester of the 2011 academic year for every school nationwide is originally scheduled to kick off on 18 May.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat reported that a total of 26 schools in three northeastern provinces had been used as temporary shelters for 24,000 evacuees during the border clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops.

-- NNT 2011-05-03

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AFP: Thai-Cambodia border toll reaches 18

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