Thailand Live Tuesday 7 Jun 2011

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Thailand Live Tuesday 7 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 Monday 6 June 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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POLITICS

'Yingluck seeking to whitewash her brother's crimes'

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Close watch on E coli to prevent outbreak in Thailand

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GENERAL ELECTION

Abhisit rejects claims Army made him PM

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ANALYSIS

Gloves off in poll battle: Thailand election

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ANALYSIS

Not enough House seats to back up parties' claims

By The Nation

If the estimated number of House seats to be won by the country's two largest political parties in the July 3 election is true, there will be insufficient seats in the House of Representatives for all of their MPs.

Based on their recent surveys of the constituents, the Pheu Thai Party forecast that it would win between 270 and 300 House seats, compared to 203 seats the Democrat Party expected to win.

The upcoming election is to fill 500 seats in the Lower House - 375 from constituencies all over the country and another 125 from the party-list election.

A Democrat source said yesterday that according to the party's recent survey, the two parties are still in a neck-and-neck competition with a margin of only 10 seats between the election winner and the first runner-up.

The Democrats expect to win 50-53 seats from the party list, with Pheu Thai hoping to win another 50 and the rest going to smaller parties, according to the source. In constituencies, the Demo-crats expect to win 30 out of 33 seats in Bangkok, 50 from the South, 40 from the Central region, 10 from the Northeast and 20 from the North.

A Pheu Thai source said the party expects to win 60-70 House seats from the party-list election. Of the constituency MPs, 23 would come from Bangkok, 95-102 from the Northeast, at least 50 from the North, at least 38 from the Central and eastern seaboard regions, and one or two from the South.

The source said that previously Pheu Thai expected to win between 210 and 220 House seats but that recent developments against the government's popularity could result in increased support for the opposition party.

According to the source, Pheu Thai's prime ministerial candidate Yingluck Shinawatra's popularity was growing while Democrat leader and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's support was waning.

-- The Nation 2011-06-07

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Red moon eclipse visible June 16

By The Nation

A perfect lunar eclipse will be viewable in Thailand on June 16 for 3.39 hours - the longest in the past four years.

The spectacle will begin at 1:22am, reach full stage at 2:22am and end at about 4am, Saran Posayajinda, a senior government astronomer, said yesterday.

This appearance is unique with the moon in red, together with the Milky Way visible throughout the period and beyond.

The moon will also pass in front of a star called 51 Ophiuchi, which from the Earth will look like it is travelling behind the moon in glowing red.

"This is a rare phenomenon indeed," he said, without mentioning whether it would occur only once and for all, or could be repeated in the years to come.

The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand invites the public to witness the event at observation sites in Chiang Mai, Chachoengsao and Songkhla, said Saran, a deputy NARIT director.

"In case there are clouds or rain that can obstruct a glimpse of the eclipse, which is not possible at all three locations, it will be recorded through telescopes," he added.

-- The Nation 2011-06-07

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EDITORIAL

If everyone votes, poll result will be fair enough

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AFP: Poll watchdog raises Thai vote-buying fears

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Thaksin amnesty 'not top priority'

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Hunt for drug dealer who shot man

By THE NATION

An investigation is underway into the murder of a disabled man in Bangkok last Sunday by a suspect on the run from a drug bust.

Caretaker prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva attended the funeral of Chinnathat Saensuk, 48, yesterday at a temple near a slum in Bangkok Noi. He expressed condolence to the victims' family and vowed a swift arrest of fugitive Thammanoon Tankee.

The killing made headlines as Chinnathat was shot dead, probably because Thammanoon suspected he was a lookout for a team of police who arrested fellow suspect Chanont An-jaroen in a "sting".

Witnesses told reporters that Thammanoon fled from the sting off Soi Arun Ammarin 24 and found himself facing Chinnathat, who was unable to walk, sitting on a chair.

Thammanoon allegedly fired a shot at Chinnathat's right temple and kept running, before fleeing on a motorcycle parked nearby.

Bang Yi Khan police said they did not expect Thammanoon to surrender, and that "ultimate measures" were authorised if he resisted arrest.

Meanwhile, Huay Khwang police in Bangkok arrested the son of a former Democrat Party candidate for allegedly buying illegal stimulants from two suspected drug dealers arrested earlier.

Sarathorn na Songkhla, the son of Prajakchai, a former candidate on the ruling party's party-list, stomped at a photographer who took his photo at a court, after his arrest on Sunday evening.

Sarathorn was arrested in a sting with cooperation from Wiwat Wangkusol and Thantawan Khaofang, who were nabbed in a sting on Saturday. The suspects set Sarathorn up after agreeing to sell 20 grams of 'ice' for an unknown amount of money.

Wiwat and Thantawan were charged with possessing illegal drugs with intent to sell in the sting.

Police found a large amount of narcotics in their apartment. The drugs were worth more than Bt160,000.

A photographer from the Daily News, filed a complaint for assault against Sarathorn for stomping on his leg and criminal property damage after his camera dropped to the ground as he fell over.

The judges were undecided on whether Sarathorn should face an extra charge for violating court regulations or disorderliness.

-- The Nation 2011-06-07

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BMA sets Bt55 bn budget

By The Nation

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is cooking up its biggest budget ever. "We have set expenditures at Bt55 billion," Bangkok Deputy Governor Thirachon Manomaipiboon said yesterday.

Although the 2012 fiscal year budget is very large, it does not stretch fiscal discipline thin, he said.

The capital's savings are also the most ever.

"We have more than Bt30 billion in the bank," he said.

The BMA has set a big allocation for the mid-2012 budget because it believes the central government will likely reimburse it for certain shared expenses later.

"With the election in July, it is highly likely that the central government's 2012 annual budget will come out rather late," he said.

The 2012 fiscal year starts on October 1.

-- The Nation 2011-06-07

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CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

'Day fine' system in Thailand would hit rich harder, avoid jail

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POLITICS

Yellow shirts plan 3-day rally from Friday

By THE NATION

The yellow shirts yesterday announced the start of a three-day rally in key areas in Bangkok, while insisting their campaign posters asking people to abstain from voting in the July 3 election were legal.

"Anybody bringing down the posters must face full legal action as they are part of our 'Vote No' campaign. This is our party's election campaign. Anyone obstructing this is the enemy of democracy," said Pheu Fah Din Party secretary general and MP candidate Samdin Lersbusya.

A press conference was called after some of the group's posters were taken down by Bangkok municipal police last week. The posters and banners include some with pictures of people with animal-heads and the message "Don't let animals get into Parliament".

Samdin said the party did not oppose people voting for good MP candidates, but if they found no one suitable, the law already allowed voters to abstain.

Election Commissioner Prapun Naigowit said the EC was probing the issue, but he personally felt the posters were inappropriate. MP candidates and voters could file complaints if they regarded the posters as misleading or causing a public disgrace.

People's Alliance for Democracy spokesman Pathep Puapongpan said the "Vote No" rally were be staged from Friday till Sunday. It would include a march from the King Rama VI monument in front of Lumpini Park via Silom to Charoen Krung Road, from Victory Monument via Phaholyothin Road to Chatuchak Park, and from the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, Pathumwan Intersection to Ratchaprasong and Pratu Nam.

He said the group would not block roads but some traffic lanes might be affected.

-- The Nation 2011-06-07

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BURNING ISSUE

Expect a change for the better: Thai opinion

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Barge owner faces lawsuit for compensation

By The Nation

Relevant authorities will decide on Thursday about a lawsuit - likely to demand hefty compensation - from the owner of a sugar barge that sunk in Ayutthaya a week ago.

After the barge sank in the Chao Phraya River on May 31, water became so polluted that fishes in floating baskets and the natural waterway died en masse.

Pollution Control Department chief Supat Wangwongwattana said yesterday that governors from five affected provinces, and officials from agencies such as the Fisheries and Marine departments had been invited to the meeting on Thursday.

"We will prepare a lawsuit against the barge owner in line with environmental laws," he said.

There were two dimensions to the damage done by the accident, he said. The first part related to losses suffered by individuals or people who owned fish in floating baskets. The second part was environmental damage and cost of tackling the pollution.

Four years ago, a private firm was hit with a lawsuit demanding Bt41 million in compensation over another sugar barge that sank.

"As for the new case, we shall come up with a conclusion on June 9," Supat said.

The sunken barge had polluted water in Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Bangkok and Samut Prakan. But he said the quality of water in the Chao Phraya had begun to return to normal.

Supat said officials had used micro-organisms effectively to get rid of the leaking brown sugar.

Latest checks showed the water quality was back to normal in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani.

"The water quality in Bangkok and Nonthaburi has also improved," he said.

Another official said the barge should be salvaged by the end of the week.

-- The Nation 2011-06-07

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Locals off to Shanghai film festival

By The Nation

Film directors, actors and actresses will head to China for the Shanghai International Film Festival, which runs from June 11-19.

"The Office of Contemporary Art and Culture has been assigned to participate in the event," Prarop Laowanich, deputy permanent secretary, said yesterday.

This is the first time for Thailand to join this international film festival.

The agency will host the Thai Night reception at the Crowne Plaza Shanghai to offer Thai and Chinese entrepreneurs an opportunity to meet.

The Shanghai International Film Festival has selected many Thai productions for screening, including "32 December Love Error", "Cool Gel Attack" and "A Little Crazy Thing Called Love".

Chanthawit Thanasewi has also been named a rising star by Chinese moviegoers, Prarop said.

-- The Nation 2011-06-07

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Vote may not heal deep divisions, monitor warns

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Apple Inc took big step toward getting people to store and access their data on Internet as CEO Steve Jobs emerges from medical leave to present iCloud music-streaming service /MCOT

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Ban Ki-moon formally asks members of UN to support his candidacy for second five-year term as UN secretary-general-- goal he looks almost certain to achieve. /MCOT

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Supreme Court rejects a suit on poll nullification

By The Nation

The Supreme Court has cited its lack of jurisdiction as ground to throw out a suit questioning the mandate to organise the July 3 vote.

As co-complainants, Army officer Maj General Napol Kochkaew and activist Somkid Homnaet contended that the royal decree on the general election was wrongfully enforced by the Election Commission and the prime minister.

The co-complainants said the prime minister had interfered with the electoral process and that the EC had failed to stop barred party executives, including former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, from getting involved in the campaigning.

The suit was filed on June 1 seeking the judicial intervention to nullify the upcoming balloting.

The high court ruled that its Elections Division had no purview over the decree enactment.

-- The Nation 2011-06-07

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Suspected insurgents shoot M-79 grenade at Pattani's Khok Pho district office; volunteer, villager wounded /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,043.47, down 2.69 points /MCOT

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Yingluck campaigns in Nakhon Panom this morning and wraps up her northeastern tour with visits to 3 other provinces later in the day

Abhisit campaigns at Bangken fresh market in BKK where he faced a red-shirt supporter

Abhisit says he is ready to discuss reconciliation with Yingluck and Sanan; wants public to write the script instead of politicians

PM to discuss sunken sugar barge in Ayutthaya and compensation for affect locals in today's Cabinet meeting

Yingluck denies her popularity is waning and says it is too soon to talk about teaming up with the Democrats after the poll

/TAN_Network

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It is estimated by 2014, more people will acess the Internet via mobile phones than via desktop computers. /via@suthichai

There are 48 million people in the world who have mobile phones, even though they do not have electricity at home. /via@suthichai

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Acting Deputy Public Health Minister Pansiri resigns from post to take part in local election /TAN_Network

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Thai navy anti-piracy unit to join int’l operations off Somali coast next month

BANGKOK, June 7 -- The Royal Thai Navy will dispatch 369 navy personnel manning two vessels to join international maritime patrol operations fighting piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Somalia, on July 12, according to a senior navy officer.

Vice Admiral Taweewut Pongpiptat, assistant navy chief-of-staff for tactical operations, told a media briefing that the 140-day mission will begin next month with a Bt360 million (some US$12 million) budget allocated for the joint operations with 25 other nations.

The Thai navy contingent is set to depart from Chuk Samet port in the eastern province of Rayong on July 12.

The two Thai navy vessels joining the upcoming international anti-piracy mission are HTMS Narathiwat and HTMS Similan with two units from the Naval Special Warfare Group and two helicopters, Vice-Adm Taweewut added.

However, the media are not invited to accompany the navy unit in order to follow up and report news related to this mission as the Royal Thai Navy is preparing two personnel to record operations footages and reports. Both are ready to report and broadcast any urgent incidents or situations immediately via the satellite-based equipment installed on the two vessels.

Previously, 350 Thai navy personnel were dispatched to join the international naval force combating piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia on Sept 10 last year.

The Gulf of Aden is located in the Arabian Sea between Yemen and Somalia, connecting with the Red Sea and is part of the important Suez Canal shipping route with some 21,000 ships passing through annually.

Rising piracy and armed robbery in the area has caused economic problems to many countries, especially those whose economies depend on maritime commerce.

Several Thai-flagged vessels have been hijacked by Somali pirates, including three fishing boats with a total of 77 crew members aboard who were seized in April 2010. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-06-07

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Stage at Pheu Thai Rally in Sakon Nakorn Collapses

Reports are indicating that the stage used in a Pheu Thai Party rally in Sakon Nakorn Province collapsed while Yingluk Shinawatra was speaking. According to reports, two cameramen fell while officials moved in to remove Sanoh Tienthong off the stage. No reports of any injuries so far.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-07

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Change of Govt Seen Unaffecting Preah Vihear Dispute

The Foreign Ministry reckons that the change of government is not likely to affect the nation's standing in the Preah Vihear conflict as the evidence is strong.

Director general of the Foreign Ministry's Information Department, Thani Thongphaksi, said he believed the change of government is unlikely to affect the pending Preah Vihear case as the Thai lawyer team has devised a good framework right from the start.

He noted that only some points in the case, such as the addition or omission of some issues, will change under the next government.

Regarding the result of the International Court of Justice's hearing on Cambodia’s complaint over the case, Thani disclosed the Thai lawyers are confident in the evidence they have submitted.

But he said the Thai government should implement any policy along the border with more caution as the World Court is keeping a close watch.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-07