Thailand Live Monday 23 May 2011

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Thailand Live Monday 23 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 Saturday 21 May 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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AFP: Thai police arrest alleged top tiger trafficker

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Hard to prove reds, Pheu Thai are one

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Pheu Thai takes early lead: poll

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SPECIAL

Major parties reach out via social media

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Retailers expect windfall from election campaigns

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Rival political parties promise billions for infrastructure

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Papers suggest Thai Finance Minister Korn as new IMF head

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ANALYSIS

3G deal will give True, CAT the edge

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Student killed by medical overdose

By The Nation on Sunday

A 16-year-old student was found dead in his bedroom in Muang district of Nonthaburi.

He was believed to have died after taking an overdose of a short-term memory-impairment medicine.

The mathayom 6 (Grade 12) student, Siraphop Rattakul, was found dead in his school uniform. His hands and feet were tense. Police found no signs of violence, but only an empty packet of the medicine.

Krittaya Klamsom, his mother, said he suffered from short-term memory impairment and needed to see doctors and take the medicine to ease the impairment regularly. He looked stressed after coming back from school and went directly to his bedroom on Friday evening.

Police and staff from the Central Institute of Forensic Science Thailand said they believed Siraphop took all the tablets in the packet, which later caused him to die from shock.

However, Siraphop's body will be sent to the institute for an autopsy to discover the real cause of his death.

-- The Nation 2011-05-23

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Strict scrutiny of ID cards for children

By The Nation on Sunday

The governor of Ranong, Wanchart Wongchaichana, said yesterday he had ordered state officials in every district to strictly screen children who would be issued ID cards, following the new identification card act, to prevent the issue of Thai ID cards to aliens.

The third act will take effect in July, when children aged 7-14 years old will be issued ID cards. Currently, only citizens aged 15 years and over are issued ID cards.

Wanchart said as there were many immigrant workers in Ranong, many of them wanted to acquire the ID cards. A top official in the province was fired after he helped Rohingya and Burmese people acquire the type of ID cards issued to stateless Thais and sea gypsies.

"This case proves that some officials try to abuse authority for their own benefit. To prevent it from happening again, I will punish any officials engaged in wrongdoing," he added.

-- The Nation 2011-05-23

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Thaksin's sister Yingluck cries again in Phayao while campaigning

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49 road racers rounded up

By The Nation

Police yesterday seized 96 motorbikes and arrested 49 people including young racers and the adult organisers of last night's motorcycle race on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road.

The 25 underage racers had their names recorded and were released to their parents while 24 adults have been put in police custody pending prosecution.

The organiser was identified as Phongphat Phoojaroenthua, who used a sedan to block a long highway section to make way for the motorcycle race.

The race take places every week, on a long stretch of the highway from Lat Phrao Intersection to Ngam Wongwan road. Police used a number of trucks and taxis, and two garbage trucks, to trap the racers when they make a turn at Lat Phrao intersection, after completing their fourth labs.

When facing police's barricade, the young racers abandoned their motorcycles and run through shops and private premises in panic. Most of them fled while those arrested could not manage to escape police's human clamp, made of 47 policemen and a large number of volunteers.

Pol Lt Colonel Sanong Saengmanee, traffic chief at Vibhavadi Police Station, said the race on this highway took place twice a week - at a smaller size every Wednesday night when the racers made agreements and race conditions, and the full-scale race on Saturday night.

-- The Nation 2011-05-23

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Dusit Poll: What party for you?

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Crackdown on racers in Ubon Ratchathani

By The Nation on Sunday

Police yesterday rounded up 104 street racers and seized 97 motorcycles in Ubon Ratchathani.

About 100 police officers were deployed to raid the street racers. They arrested suspects aged between 14-18 years old. Two of them showed traces of drug use in their urine tests, and face a drug charge.

Meanwhile, parents of other suspects were told to take them back home after police admonished them for the illegal racing. Police threatened to press charges against them if they did it again.

-- The Nation 2011-05-23

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HM the King's health improving

The health of His Majesty the King is improving.

"Father told me that he would walk within two months," Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Valayalaksana told a Sakhon Nakhon gathering of volunteer doctors yesterday.

The King had cerebrospinal surgery on May 2, but the Princess quoted him as saying just a week later: "Two months from now on, I will show you I can walk."

His Majesty's willpower had been boosted by goodwill extended by his subjects, ranging from presents to signatures on get-well messages. "His morale has improved following the concerns and goodwill of the people." she said.

-- The Nation 2011-05-23

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EDUCATION

Award-winning young Thai scientists show the way

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Fire breaks out at slum community behind Bangkok University

A massive fire broke out at a slum community behind the Bangkok University in Klongtoey district Monday morning.

The fire broke out at the Ban Kluay Tai community near the Art Narong expressway exit at 6:20 am.

The fire swept through the shanty houses quickly, causing thick smokes.

Motorists on the expressway slowed down as they passed the spot.

Six fire engines were still trying to put the blaze under control.

-- The Nation 2011-05-23

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4th installment in "Pirates of the Caribbean" series captured $90 million in box office treasures as Jack Sparrow's latest adventure debuted at number one /MCOT

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Pongpang Subdistrict Admin chief assassinated because of election; Chiang Mai governor upset w Chalerm's statement about impartiality /TAN_Network

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,063.76, down 9.18 points /MCOT

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Abhisit Appeals to Younger Voters

The election campaigns for the July 3 poll are already in full swing. PM Abhisit Vejjajiva made an appearance at Bangkok's teen central, Siam Square, on the weekend. This is part of the Democrats' attempt to garner the votes of the younger generation voters.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva launched the Democrat Party's campaign effort at Siam Square in front of the Digital Gateway complex. The campaign focuses on getting the support of the "new" generation of voters.

The prime minister said that if the Democrats win the upcoming election and lead the new government coalition, he will immediately follow up on policies already implemented by the Democrats. Some of these key policies include the 15-year-free education policy and the plan to grant a total of 25,000 scholarships to needy students.

Touching on the much-talked about reconciliation plan, Abhisit said that a person who can solve a political deadlock must be neutral, law abiding and impartial. He took the opportunity to criticize the Pheu Thai Party after they named dozens of red shirts as party-list MP candidates. The PM doubted Pheu Thai party's ability to bring about national reconciliation.

Abhisit added that if he wins the election, he will first resolve economic difficulties. On the other hand, if the voters elect the Pheu Thai party into office, the party will focus on granting amnesty to former PM Thaksin Shinawatra and all of the red shirts, who are facing political charges.

Speaking to voters, he said he is ready to demonstrate his vision as a PM candidate, but not to challenge anyone. He said he believes a policy debate can certainly create conflicts, but subsequent discussions can solve them.

In addition, he insists that election fraud must be deterred. He encouraged people to inform the Election Commission or police officers if they know of any unlawful acts.

During the event, a victim of May 19 protest last year, whose store burned was burnt down, asked the PM why she should vote for him. Abhisit insisted there were three reasons. First, he's promised to resolve economic problems immediately. Secondly, he has two years experience in managing the government and the country. And third, he has no conflict of interest and no agenda of creating a political stalemate.

-- Tan Network 2011-05-23

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Thailand Supports Singaporean Finance Minister as New IMF Chief

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1 Suspect Dead, 2 Officers Wounded in Nonthaburi Drug Bust

An undercover drug operation in Nonthaburi province ends with one suspect dead and two officers injured.

The shootout erupted during a drug bust at the Nonthip Condoville condominium in Soi Sripornsawan in Nonthaburi province.

The entire incident was captured on a security camera.

One of the suspects, who was identified as Sombat Chankree, shot and wounded two officers as police entered room no.358.

The suspect was shot dead while trying to escape.

The injured officers were Police Senior Sergeant Major Sakchai Krasaeyan and Police Senior Sergeant Major Nithit Hongdamnern.

Both were hospitalized at Phra Nangklao Hospital.

Their condition is now stable.

31 year old Phuwanas Kantasit, who acted as civilian decoy, was found dead at the crime scene.

Police seized drug paraphernalia and 10 meth-amphetamine pills, and arrested two other suspects, Winai Klongkhone and Sombat's sister Chadaporn Chankree.

Police conducted the drug bust after receiving tips about a drug delivery at the condominium.

-- Tan Network 2011-05-23

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Close Aide to Chart Pattana Puea Paendin Leader Killed

Police are hunting for a suspect in the murder of a member of the Chart Pattana Peua Pandin Party.

Friends and relatives attended a funeral service held for Wanida Setaputta, a council member of the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Administration Organization, at Sutthajinda Temple.

Wanida was known to have close ties to Chart Pattana Peua Pandin Party leader Suwat Liptapanlop.

She was shot dead at her residence on Friday's night, allegedly by her husband, Sawai Khanthapaiboon.

Provincial Police Region 3 are hunting for the suspect and have coordinated with the immigration police to prevent the suspect from leaving the country.

Wanida's family is calling on the husband to surrender to the police.

The authorities believe Sawai is currently taking refuge at a relative's or a friend's house.

Suwat expressed his condolence for Wanida's family and admitted that her death could affect the party's election success.

Wanida is extremely popular among her voters.

Earlier this month, key member of Chart Pattana Peua Pandin Party Pairoj Suwanchawee had died of lymphoma.

-- Tan Network 2011-05-23

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Red-shirt leader Jatuporn brought to court in prison garb to give testimony in defamation case filed by Abhisit /TAN_Network

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Chavalit denies going back to New Aspiration Party; says he's been talking to different parties about reconciliation /TAN_Network

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Public support keeps King in high morale

BANGKOK, 23 May 2011 (NNT) – Every single small souvenir that well wishers brought for hospitalized King Bhumibol Adulyadej has given His Majesty great morale, according to Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn, the king’s youngest daughter.

The Princess told a mobile medical team under the royal patronage while on her visit to Sakon Nakhon Province that the King who underwent an operation on May 2 was recovering well. She cited him as saying seven days after the operation that he felt much better and more agile. “His Majesty even told me he would show he could walk in two months’ time,” the Princess said.

Princess Chulabhorn reiterated that His Majesty was under good medical care and was impressed with all bits and pieces that people from all corners of the country had brought for him while coming to sign the royal visitors’ books at Siriraj Hospital.

The Princess also expressed her admiration for members of the mobile medical team, formally known as the the Princess Mother’s Medical Volunteer Foundation unit, for their assistance in taking care of people who were the most important resources for national development, particularly the poor living in remote areas. His Majesty always asked about the work of the mobile medical team although he was in the hospital, the Princess said.

HRH Princess Chulabhorn has been made the honorary chairperson of the Princess Mother’s Medical Volunteer Foundation since 2009, succeeding Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana, the Princess of Naradhiwas. The position has prompted Her Royal Highness to travel to all provinces to inspect rural people’s health and monitor the work of the medical volunteers, as well as give them moral support.

-- NNT 2011-05-23

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MAJOR NEWS: AFGHAN TV SAYS TALIBAN LEADER MULLAH OMAR IS DEAD. (Unconfirmed so far) /BNONews