Thailand Live Thursday 19 May 2011

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Red Shirts to rally at Bangkok Ratchaprasong today to mark anniversary of last year's deadly crackdown. The rally is expected to end late tonight

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Court hands down 6-mo jail term for 'K Thong', an associate of 'Seh Daeng' for weapons possession; dismisses charges against 6 others /TAN_Network

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Assault Rifle Ammunition Seized in Kamphaeng Phet

Police have arrested two men and seized tens of thousands of rounds of M-16 and AK rifle ammunition in Kamphaeng Phet Province.

The Kamphaeng Phet Provincial Police have arrested two men and seized tens of thousands rounds of M-16 and AK rifle ammunition.

The suspects were driving two separate pick-up trucks, which were stopped and searched at a security checkpoint.

Police found the assault rifle bullets hidden inside the trucks' beds and doors.

Also hidden inside each truck were many more boxes and sacks of ammunition.

A total of 36,736 rounds of M-16 and AK rifle ammunition with an estimated value of nearly one million baht was discovered.

The suspects have confessed that they were hired by a man for 5,000 baht each to drive the trucks from Bangkok to Chiang Mai Province. Both have denied knowing what the cargo was.

Governor of Kamphaeng Phet Province, Wanchai Sutinsaid that according to the police intelligence report, the shipment was being transported to the armed ethnic minority groups; possibly some drug traffickers.

Wanchai also warns that the ammunition, which is believed to be transported from Cambodia through Sa Kaeo Province, could be used to cause violent incidents as the election approaches.

The police are continuing the investigation into the origin of the ammunition.

-- Tan Network 2011-05-19

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Phuket locals alarmed by tsunami-tower silence

Locals in Karon say they haven’t heard the warning tower in front of

the Hilton sound off for months. Photo; Atchaa Khamlo

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Philippine president to visit Thailand next week

BANGKOK, 19 May 2011 (NNT) – Philippine President Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III is scheduled to make an official visit to Thailand from 26 to 27 May 2011 to strengthen relations between the two countries as invited by Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

According to Information Department Director-General and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Thani Thongphakdi, the upcoming visit of the incumbent Philippine President to the kingdom is a part of his tour to all ASEAN partners to promote close relations in the region.

The Thai government will hold a reception at Government House on the day of the Philippine leader’s arrival. Prime Minister Abhisit and his Philippine counterpart then will have a discussion regarding bilateral cooperation.

Topics of discussion include trade, investment, energy, education, narcotics suppression, transnational crime eradication as well as other international problems, particularly the human right and human trafficking issues.

Prime Minister Abhisit will also host a dinner for the 15th Philippine president and his entourage at Santi Maitri Building, Government House.

-- NNT 2011-05-19

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Majority Of Thai People Back Teen Curfew After 10pm

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Rajaprasong intersection is now closed http://twitpic.com/4zjiml /via@aneksaelao

Progressive Reds, under the banner of Democracy Networks, will hold their rally near Lumpini Park calling for an end to lese majeste law. /via@aneksaelao

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Robbers shoot at money truck in Lop Buri, hoping to steal the Bt40 mln cash onboard, but they weren't successful /TAN_Network

Red-shirts start activities at Ratchaprasong Intersection; shops closed while hotels suffer cancellations of more than a thousand rooms /TAN_Network

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Ratchaprasong update: Only one traffic lane on Ploenchit; CentralWorld will be closed at 3pm; BTS/MRT operate normally. /via@USEmbassyBKK

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Central World will be closed at 3pm today due to red shirts rally /via@tukky_nt

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Meteorological Dept Warns of Flash Floods in North, Northeast

The meteorological bureau has warned of flash floods in provinces in the North and Northeast over the next few days due to continuing torrential rains.

Residents along an irrigation canal in Mae Wong and Lad Yao districts of Nakhon Sawan Province have evacuated to higher ground after the area was flooded by continuous rain and run-off from Mae Wong mountain.

Floodwaters were as deep as 30 centimeters in certain areas, although traffic along roads connecting the districts is still possible.

As flood waters rise rapidly, farmers are afraid their rice seeds could be spoiled.

In Phitsanulok Province, many districts, including Muang, Chumsaengsongkram and Bangrakam, remain inundated by floods, mostly on agricultural land.

The provincial irrigation office has arranged to slow the release of water from the Kwae Noi and Sirikit dams and has coordinated with local authorities in Sukhothai Province to restrict the release of water through the Hat Sapaan Chan sluice gate from 100 to 40 cubic meters per second.

In Lampang, villagers in Baan Pha Lard are clearing away silt now that floodwaters have subsided.

However, flood warnings are still in place in some areas where rain continues.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department said heavy rains are expected to continue in northern Thailand as storm systems are passing over the lower North, and the upper central and the lower northeastern regions.

Those residing on hillsides and near watercourses are advised to watch out for flash flooding.

-- Tan Network 2011-05-19

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3 students injured in bomb attack on bus

Samut Prakarn - Three technical school students were severely injured when students of a rival school threw a homemade bomb at them while they were riding a bus to school Thursday morning.

Police said the attack occurred on a No-133 bus when it stopped at a bus stop in Bang Plee Muang Mai in Samut Prakan.

The three are students of Kanchanapisek Technical School in Samut Prakan.

Police said about 20 students of the Kanchanapiske school were riding the bus to school but when the bus stopped at the spot, they encountered some 20 students of Bangkok Technology School. One of the students from the rival school threw a bomb at them.

Police said Ekkaluck Sinual, 18, lost his right hand after he grabbed the bomb and tried to throw it back. The bomb exploded in his hand.

Shrapnel from the bomb also injured Wiwat Putnor, 18 and Wirwat Torsup, 18.

-- The Nation 2011-05-19

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PAD Leader Sondhi: Thaksin to Monopolize Political Power

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Central World has decided to close with the red-shirt rally in proximity while Siam Paragon remains opened /TAN_Network

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Red-Shirt Protesters Mark First Anniversay Of Crackdown

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AFP: Thailand's election race heats up as Reds rally

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Yingluck says red-shirt leaders in 'safe zone' on party list due to several factors

Pheu Thai prime minister candidate Yingluck Shinawatra admitted that most red-shirt leaders were put in the "safe zone" of the Pheu Thai's list of party proportional voting candidates.

Being in the "safe zone" means they are guaranteed House seats if the Pheu Thai and Democrat have similar performance in the July 3 election.

Yingluck said the Pheu Thai did not give a quota to a particular group but the places of red-shirt leaders on the list were considered based on several factors.

-- The Nation 2011-05-19

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SET index closed at 1077.5, up 1.59; Bt/USD30.12; GBP48.52; AUD31.98; EUR42.83; CAD31.00; HKD3.87; SGD24.17; JPY36.64

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Police arrest no. 5 on hitmen list as he was running a police checkpoint in Nakhon Si Thammarat carrying narcotics in his vehicle /TAN_Network

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Yingluck: Amnesty Involving Ex-PM Thaksin Not Priority

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Bangkok: Fire at Soi Charoennakorn 21 razes 5 houses already; blaze still not controlled while traffic has become congested /TAN_Network

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Police Ordered to Maintain Neutrality in Election

The deputy city police chief has instructed all police officers to remain neutral and prohibited them from serving any political purpose.

Deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Police Major General Kririn Inkaew, who is responsible for all security-related matters involving the upcoming election, said police maintained security during this morning's party-list MP candidate registration.

So far, there were no reports of irregularities or illegal acts by candidates or their supporters.

The metropolitan police were assigned by the National Thai Police Office to maintain security during four different periods of the election.

These four periods are preparation, the run-up to the election, the election day itself and possible post-election disruptions.

In addition, he has instructed all officers to remain neutral and prohibited them from serving any particular politician or political party during the election campaigning.

Kririn said if candidates want extra security, they must submit their requests in formal writing.

He said police officers found to serve any politician would be seconded to headquarters.

-- Tan Network 2011-05-19

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Two Nigerians arrested with ‘ice’ worth US$33.000 in Bangkok

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Phuket AirAsia workers in late night car crash

The remains of the Phuket-registered Honda City car.

Photo: Wichai Witthawat

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continues

Thailand Live Friday 20 May 2011