Thailand Live Wednesday 1 Jun 2011

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Thailand Live Wednesday 1 June 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 Tuesday 31 May 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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3 injured in explosion at yellow-shirt rally in Bangkok

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AFP: US: Coming months key for Thailand ties

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AFP: Alleged UAE animal smuggler escapes Thailand

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ELECTION

My Govt would boost confidence: Yingluck

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Bangkok kidnapper returns baby due to remorse, guilt

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ANALYSIS

ICJ ruling just before poll could hurt Thai Democrats

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Former allies still stirring the pot: Thailand election

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Israeli man arrested in Bangkok for double murders in Belgium

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Smoking still one of the biggest killers

By The Nation

More than 42,000 smokers die each year in Thailand from lung cancer and other respiratory complications, though the number of young smokers continues growing, representatives of the Public Health Ministry said in a ceremony marking the World No Tobacco Day yesterday.

Thailand has 10.3 million smokers, of whom 540,000 are women. Over the past four years, the number of smokers aged between 15 and 18 has increased from 7.25 per cent to 7.62, and those aged between 19 and 24 from 21.27 to 22.19.

As for underage buyers of cigarettes, 91 per cent of the vendors never ask for a proof of age or identification. The ministry also found that 39 per cent of the people surveyed were exposed to second-hand smoke.

Each year, up to 5 million people die from smoking across the world and this number could potentially increase to 8 million in the next 20 years if anti-smoking measures and laws are not effectively enforced.

At a ceremony marking the World No Tobacco Day, recognition awards were presented to six people in charge of local anti-smoking campaigns and 32 other activists. The World Health Organisation has recently launched a worldwide campaign called the "WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control".

-- The Nation 2011-06-01

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Man gets life in jail for murder of woman in 2009

By The Nation

A former HomePro store janitor - who robbed, attempted to rape and killed a hotel employee at a bus stop in Bangkok's Bang Kapi district in October 2009 - was sentenced to life in prison yesterday.

The Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court initially sentenced Suwit Boonpairoj, 26, to death for robbery and murder, but reduced the sentence to life in prison on grounds that his confession was useful to the legal process.

The lawsuit stated that Suwit took two ya ba (speed) pills on September 29, 2009, and committed the crime on the morning of October 1 against Sasiprapa Wingwon, 29, while she was waiting for a bus to work near Soi Ramkhamhaeng 64-66.

When Sasiprapa refused to hand him money, Suwit dragged her to a wooded area 10 metres behind the stop and punched and strangled her, before he drowned her in a flood pool.

Suwit took her Bt120 in cash and removed her pants to rape her, but a passer-by saw him, so he fled. He was later arrested by police and confessed to the crime.

The victim's mother Saengdao Wingwon said she was still sad about losing her daughter and felt the punishment was too light. She planned to consult a lawyer on an appeal to seek heavier punishment.

-- The Nation 2011-06-01

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Chuwit wants parties banned

By Khanittha Thapphajorn

The Nation

Rak Prathet Thai Party leader Chuwit Kamolwisit said he was working to get three political parties dissolved for letting banned politicians play an explicit role in politics.

Chuwit said he would file complaints against Chart Thai Pattana, Bhum Jai Thai and Chart Pattana Puea Pandin parties, because the parties' key members are people whose voting rights have been revoked and yet they publicly comment on policies.

"Why are people whose rights have been revoked so eager? They don't even have the right to vote. I will ask the Election Commission to dissolve these parties especially where Banharn Silapa-archa is concerned. What he is doing is not right. He acts as if he is the party leader when he does not have any voting rights. In my opinion, a party with majority votes should form the government and the party leader should be the prime minister. I will push for this if I win the July 3 election," he said.

Chuwit was referring to Banharn's earlier remark that he supported his party's adviser Sanan Kachornprasart as the next premier. Banharn's voting right was revoked for five years in 2008 and his brother took over as leader of Chart Thai Pattana Party, which was formed after the Chart Thai Party was disbanded.

-- The Nation 2011-06-01

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Ratchaprasong network warns protesters of legal action

By Somthawil Thepsawat,

Kornchanok Raksaseri

The Nation

The network of sufferers of the political rallies in the Ratchaprasong tourist mecca have submitted an ultimatum to the protesters, demanding that they organise their gatherings better or face legal action.

Members of Prachathipatai Mai Lamert (Democracy Without Infringement), Ratchaprasong traders and workers yesterday proposed nine guidelines for rallies in the area.

They include 14-day prior notice of planned rallies, 5,000 protesters or a two-hour limit per rally, car parking for the protesters that would not take up traffic space and open lanes for traffic.

Chai Srivikorn, a group leader, said the group also asked protesters not to block Ratchaprasong Intersection and not to allow vehicles or vendors in the protest area. The group requires good protest management and security as well as joint management by state officials, protesters and the community.

"For the latest rally on May 19, our group asked the protesters not to close Ratchaprasong Intersection or block the entrance of the Arnoma Hotel and Big C shopping centre. We had sent the nine guidelines to the protest leaders and asked for their cooperation on May 17 but they did not respond. The rally turned out to be very similar to what happened on May 19 last year," Chai said, referring to the political turmoil and chaos last year.

The group would submit its proposal to the Metropolitan Police this week.

Tourists are now avoiding the Ratchaprasong area as they know the rallies are set for around the 10th and 19th of each month. This has caused tremendous hardship for the businesses in the area, he said.

The group members have surveyed the protest damage in case they have to take legal action. They understand that the protesters have political rights but want them to be aware of the impact on other people.

"Protesters always say that damage can bring bargaining power. Each group of protesters then rallies for political leverage. The rallies are set up and systematically turn into wars and lead to a bad tradition," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-06-01

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Singapore skincare course not certified in Thailand, Medical Council warns

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Pheu Thai pledges 'energy' credit cards

By The Nation

Pheu Thai has promised to issue "energy" credit cards to drivers of taxis, motorcycle taxis and commuter vans if the party is elected to lead the next government.

In light of the positive response to issuing credit cards for farmers, public transport workers should be entitled a roving credit to refuel their vehicles, Pheu Thai campaign strategist Pichai Naripthaphan said yesterday.

The credit limit would equal the average monthly spending on petrol and natural gas, he said.

The party will negotiate with energy suppliers to provide a special discount and cumulative points for each card, he said, explaining that the points could be redeemed for benefits similar to a pension scheme.

-- The Nation 2011-06-01

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Hangover II: Bad fiction, films fine - it's bad reality that really upsets

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Widow seeks progress from probe into general's death

By The Nation

The widow of Romklao Thuwatham, the Army officer killed in a clash with red-shirt protesters near the Phan Fa Bridge on April 10 last year, submitted a request to Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday for progress on the probe into the death of her husband and four other soldiers.

Nicha Thuwatham said she had been quiet to date, as she had not wanted to create an issue during the political turmoil. But with the situation improved and an election looming, she decided to ask for progress of the probe into her husband's death, as well as other soldiers killed that day.

She wanted the Army to be a representative to get agencies involved in the investigation to get the culprits punished according to the law.

Romklao, the deputy chief of staff at the 2nd Infantry Division, was killed by a grenade fired at troops who were attempting to disperse red-shirt protesters in Soi Dinsor. A colonel at the time, he was promoted after his death to the rank of general.

Pol Lt Col Payao Thongsen, an officer with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), explained yesterday that the DSI probe clearly found that the soldiers killed on April 10, including Gen Romklao, had died as a result of an attack by a team of "men in black" who supported the red-shirt protesters.

However, it couldn't be proved clearly who the "men in black" - seen firing at officers on video footage - were. Gen Romklao was killed by shrapnel from an M79 grenade, which wasn't a weapon the security force used in the operation, he said, adding that eight soldiers and two police had been killed in clashes on April 10.

Payao said that, while red-shirts were preparing to sue for compensation via the Civil Court, state officials were also gathering evidence to call for compensation as well.

He said the death of security officers and protesters were similar in the aspect that the officers were killed by "men in black" whose real identity remained unknown, while the protesters were victims of state officers but it was unclear who the officers were and "which side" they were on.

-- The Nation 2011-06-01

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Democrats in TV debates

By Atapoom Ongkulna

The Nation

The Democrat Party has agreed to join policy debates on TV on June 23 and 24, which will be held by a group of non-partisan agencies, the party spokesman said yesterday.

Democrat spokesman Buranaj Smutharaks said the party had confirmed with the organisers that it would take part in debates on those days.

Buranaj said the debates would be broadcast live by Channel 11, Channel 9 and Spring News TV and would be arranged by Sri Pathum University's State Policy Research Centre.

On June 23, the top party-list candidate of six prominent parties will be asked to express their political vision.

The June 24 debate will be for the first party-list candidate and two aides to express their vision.

"The Democrats are ready to join the debates and we would like Yingluck [shinawatra from the Pheu Thai Party] to propose her policies to the people during the debates [also]," Buranaj said.

-- The Nation 2011-06-01

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Police keeping close eye on candidates' aides

By The Nation

Police yesterday warned election candidates against letting their aides carry firearms during campaign rallies, saying that any armed person would be arrested on sight and the candidates charged with violating electoral regulations.

Pol General Pongsapat Phongcharoen, chief of the centre in charge of security in the run-up to the July 3 election, also warned supporters against obstructing the political activities of their rivals.

Since it is known that many candidates get their aides to intimidate their rivals, any former police or military officers found working with politicians would be asked to verify their role in the rallies and be questioned by police or Election Commission officials, he said.

In addition to the two men believed to be career gunmen who surrendered on Monday, a few more on the blacklist should be turning themselves in soon, Ponsapat said. He also added that the investigation into a policeman's not-so-neutral behaviour during a rally in Bung Kan province was close to completion.

Nationwide, more and more election banners and hoardings are being vandalised, with 88 cases involving 430 banners lodged so far. Pongsapat said it was up to the local EC officials to remove banners or hoardings that were obstructing private property or traffic.

"Anybody who adds graffiti to the banners or draws in eyeglasses or a moustache on the candidate's photo would also be subject to fines," he added.

Of the 430 banners and hoardings vandalised so far, 361 belonged to the Democrats, 43 to Pheu Thai and the rest to other smaller parties. A night watchman was arrested in Prachaup Khiri Khan yesterday for removing a Democrat Party banner, but he was released later because the banner was obstructing a private road.

Of the 2,422 constituency candidates, 151 have asked for police protection. Pongsapat said there were 10 high-profile candidates who would be given police protection even though they have not asked for it.

Meanwhile, police in Kanchanaburi are concerned about the traditional post-election attacks on canvassers who failed to secure votes. Provincial police chief Chote Weeradejkamhaeng said police were closely monitoring career gunmen believed to be heading to this province to carry out contract killings.

-- The Nation 2011-06-01

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Pathum Wan district office to control Siam Square vendors

By The Nation

The Pathum Wan district office will take over the responsibility of managing roadside vendors near Siam Square from Chulalongkorn University, which has been unable to tackle the problem, which for months has made the area look ugly and inconvenienced pedestrians.

Officials from the university, the district office and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will meet on July 10 to discuss details about the operations and the takeover, which was ordered by the Central Administrative Court.

The court ruling says that the Pathum Wan district office has jurisdiction over the pavements, as they are public areas, and is therefore authorised to regulate the vendors who use them, even though Chula owns Siam Square and its surrounding area.

Over the past year, Chula has set up large shelving units carrying plant pots on the pavements in order to discourage vendors from putting up their stalls. However, the vendors have been secretly killing off these plants and using the shelving units to display their goods.

At a press conference yesterday, the university's deputy rector Assoc Prof Phermyos Kosolphan issued an apology to pedestrians for the ineffectiveness of the shelving units, which have made walking down the pavements difficult for many months. The shelves were removed yesterday as a result of the agreement.

BMA spokesman, Jate Sophisphongsathorn, said drastic action, including a daily fine of up to Bt2,000, would be imposed on uncooperative vendors. "Pavements are public areas that belong to all pedestrians, be they on foot or on wheelchair," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-06-01

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Peruvian Man Made To Purge A Kilo Of Cocaine From His Stomach Following Arrest

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Abhisit heads for campaigning in Silom area; spending tonight at temple in Lamphun; confident of no chaos during campaigning in North /TAN_Network

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Triple bombings in Yala rubber plantation; two killed, including Kabang deputy district chief; six wounded /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,076.91, up 3.08 points /MCOT

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2 killed, 6 injured in Yala triple explosions

Yala - An assistant district chief and defence volunteer were killed in a bombing ambush in this southern border province Wednesday morning. The explosion and two related blasts also injured a civilian and five officials.

Asman Haomahsa-ae, 33, the assistant chief of Kabang district, were travelling with defence volunteers, police and troops in several vehicles to check an explosion in a rubber plantation in Luboh Banyang village in Tambon Kabang when insurgents detonated a road-side bomb to ambush them.

Asman and Usaman Jehni, a defence volunteer, were killed in the explosion. Four defence volunteers were also injured.

The explosion in the rubber plantation also injured a villager.

When a bomb disposal officer was checking the road-side explosion scene, he stepped on a bomb trap and was injured.

-- The Nation 2011-06-01

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Thailand's natural gas reserves to run out in 18 years

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PM Insists Cambodia Must Not Pressure World Court

The prime minister slams Cambodia's efforts to try to pressure the International Court of Justice but says that he believes that Cambodia's stance would not affect the court's decision.

The Thai defense team says it is well-prepared for court's decision on the injuction for the removal of Thai troops from the area, expected in the next three weeks.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was critical of Cambodia, saying the country's effort to pressure the International Court of Justice would not affect the final decision of the court.

Abhisit said that Cambodia would take every opportunity to gain advantage over Thailand to win the case.

As for former PM Thaksin Shinawatra's interview stating that the Thai-Cambodian conflict broke out after Thai troops instigated inhumane, murderous clashes and the invasion onto Cambodian territory, Abhisit said he does not believe Thaksin actually said that.

He argued that the problem is chronic and began in the Thaksin era, but stated that the current government is trying hard to resolve the issue.

Meanwhile, Abhisit wondered why Cambodia is double-crossing Thailand despite the fact that Thailand has extended help to the country, especially in nation-building and national reconciliation, as well as trade and investment.

At the same time, the Natural Resources and Environment Minister and the head of the Thai delegation at the World Heritage Committee meeting, Suwit Khunkitti disclosed that he has already presented the minutes of the World Heritage Commission meeting to the caretaker government.

Suwit will be participating in the World Heritage Committee meeting with the 29 other member states that is being held from June 19 to 29.

He plans to arrive a few days earlier to hold bilateral talks with all of the stakeholders, including a discussion with Cambodia's representatives, to defend Thailand's interests.

He also added that the government is not worried about the decision by the world court on Cambodia's request for an injunction for Thailand to remove troops from the disputed territory.

The court is expected to finalize its decision sometime in the next three weeks.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-01

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BoT meets today to discuss policy interest rate; analysts expect another rate increase by 25 basis points to curb inflation /TAN_Network

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PM: Drug suppression plan efficient

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