Thailand Live Tuesday 7 Jun 2011

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Chart Thai Pattana Affirms Alliance with Bhum Jai Thai

Chart Thai Pattana insists the party's political cooperation with the Bhum Jai Thai Party remains unchanged and they will decide their future after the poll.

At the same time, it pledges to help build amity between the prime ministerial candidates of the two major parties.

Chart Thai Pattana chief adviser Banharn Silpa-archa said he will attempt to build good relations between Democrat Party leader AbhisitVejjajiva and the Pheu Thai Party's number one party-list MP candidate Yingluck Shinawatra after the July 3 election.

Banharn said he has no objection for the Pheu Thai and Democrat parties to join hands to form the new government, but suggested such cooperation is unlikely.

He maintained Chart Thai Pattana is still an alliance of Bhum Jai Thai and advised the latter not to be panic with the speculation Pheu Thai will bring his party into its government coalition alone.

Banharn said Chart Thai Pattana will not accept Pheu Thai's offer until the poll results are known while his party and Bhum Jai Thai will discuss their decision on whether they will work in the government coalition or the opposition bloc.

He said the decision will depend on the situation.

Banharn suggested an amnesty can be granted to those convicted unfairly or though unlawful means.

He insisted he will push for an amendment of the Constitution's Articles 237 and 68 on the dissolution of political parties.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-07

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BoT denies rumoured Bt10 billion withdrawal from banking system in last two weeks; no irregular withdrawals found, ready to inspect if requested /MCOT

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Army Pledges to Support Election

The army urges all its units to conform to election laws and encourages people to vote in the upcoming election.

Army spokesperson Colonel Sirijan Ngathong said the army strongly supports the July election and the campaign encouraging people to cast their ballots.

In addition, Sirijan said the army is allowing any party to campaign at military bases and to have access to military broadcasts.

She also reiterated that the army has instructed all its units to abide by election laws.

She also revealed that an ad hoc office for narcotics control will be established to tackle the drug situation and educate people in Bangkok and outlying areas on drugs, while encouraging addicts to seek rehabilitation.

At the army's monthly meeting, military forces were recognized for sacrificing for their homeland.

She added that the army is working to increase welfare for its personnel, including compensation for soldiers wounded on duty.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-07

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“Vote No” Campaign Moving On

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Security units working to unveil plots against monarchy

BANGKOK, 7 June 2011 (NNT) – Security units are collating information on plots to overthrow the monarchy earlier exposed by the now dissolved Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES).

Army Spokesperson Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd stated that the CRES had worked in cooperation with many security units at the time when it was in operation, and the result indicated that the attempt to abolish the monarchy were real.

Colonel Sansern’s statement was intended to counter information given by Dr Suthachai Yimprasert, a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, who said the conspiracy against the monarchy as disclosed by the CRES was only based on speculation with no clear evidence.

The CRES during the political mayhem last summer exposed a conspiracy against the monarchy. A number of people and businesses were alleged of being involved in the plan of the anti-monarchy network.

Asst Prof Suthachai Yimprasert later filed libel suits against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban and Colonel Sansern for disseminating information about the plot to the public.

The spokesperson said the court had already examined the case which was later withdrawn from the court. Despite that fact, Colonel Sansern said Asst Prof Suthachai still tried to tell the society during his activities with the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) that the exposed plot was groundless.

Colonel Sansern, also former CRES spokesperson, said he had never mentioned in court if people involved in the alleged conspiracy were guilty or innocent because he had no duty to compile evidence against them. He however cited the Department of Special Investigation, which is still responsible for this issue, as saying that progress of investigation into the attempt is seen in upto 20 cases.

-- NNT 2011-06-07

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NSO: 258,000 people jobless in Apr 2011

BANGKOK, 7 June 2011 (NNT) – The number of unemployed people in April 2011 was 258,000, down from the same period of last year by 166,000 people, according to the National Statistical Office (NSO).

The unemployment rate in April 2011 was at 0.8%. The number rose from March 2011 by 9,000 people. Out of the total of the unemployed in April, 86,000 had never worked before, while 199,000 others had some work experience, down from last year’s figure by 84,000.

Classified into types of industries, 88,000 unemployed people used to work in the service and trade sectors while 69,000 and 42,000 others were from the manufacturing and agricultural sectors respectively.

Breaking down by educational qualifications, 79,000 of the jobless had graduate degrees, followed by those finishing grade 9, grade 12 and primary schools with 66,000, 52,000 and 49,000 in number respectively. There were 39,000 jobless people with no educational backgrounds or with education lower than the primary level.

A total of 37.37 million people gained employment in April 2011, including 12.66 million people in the agricultural sector and 24.71 million people outside the agricultural sector.

-- NNT 2011-06-07

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Academic Firm on Legal Action against Thaksin's Sister

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Development Megaproject in Store for Ploenchit Area

Five business giants join hand in a 50 billion-baht investment in the Ploenchit City project which is meant to transform the Ploenchit and Wireless Road area into a new Bangkok landmark.

Five business groups have partnered in the project to develop the Ploenchit and Wireless Road area into the Ploenchit City with an investment of 50 billion baht.

The group of five in the partnership are Bank of Ayudhya, Central Retail Corporation, Noble Development, Univentures and Nai Lert Group.

Chart Chirathivat, managing director of the Central Embassy Project, said the Ploenchit City project aims to become a new shopping and economic hub for Bangkok with a number of shopping centers, condominiums and financial institutes in one place.

He added the Ploenchit City will be linked to nearby transport services for more travel convenience.

The collaboration is intended to promote economic development and tourism and pave the way for the advent of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.

The project is expected to be completed in 2016 and to break even in five to ten years.

Executives of the five business groups compared the project to partnering of good neighbors who want to make the Ploenchit area a center for economy, trade and investment in the future.

The project will be characterized by structures with outstanding architectural designs and luxurious stores, five-star restaurants and premium-grade hotel chains.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-07

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Thailand ranks 78th in world corruption index

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Bangkok ranks 2nd in ASEAN as city with highest living cost

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Commerce Ministry cuts reference price for pork to Bt130/kg retail and Bt69-70/kg wholesale

Central bank governor denies reports Bt10 bln disappeared from cash circulation; police chief says media misunderstood

Red-shirt leader Nattawut to file suit against former AEC member Kaewsan and multicolored shirt leader Tul for defaming Yingluck

/TANN

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Thai Police to probe Bt10 billion vote-buying fear: Suthep

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Democrat leader Abhisit will chair 1st mass rally in BKK Fri. All party candidates from Northern provinces will join. /via@ThaiElection11

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SOUTH CRISIS

Insurgents fired M-79 at Pattani's police station

Three civilians were injured when insurgents fired M79 grenades at a police station in Pattani this morning.

The insurgents reportedly fired the grenade while some 20 policemen were observing the national flag raising routine in front of the police station at 8am. It missed the target and landed in the Khok Pho district office's car park, slightly injuring defence volunteer Sathit Nualthong, 38. A second grenade landed in front of a photocopy shop, slightly injuring two female bystanders Ratree Ingkaew, 33, and Supaporn Waenkaew, 32. The three were taken to Khok Pho Hospital.

The Pattani Governor, who inspected the scene, said that police suspected militant separatists fired the grenades from the railway behind the district office compound.

-- The Nation 2011-06-07

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AFP: Thailand to deploy 100,000 police for election

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SET index closed at 1034.75 down 11.41; Bt/USD30.16; GBP49.48; AUD32.11; EUR44.10; CAD30.80; HKD3.86; SGD24.41; JPY37.34

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Phuket dinghy found adrift, deckhand missing

The section of Phuket's Chalong Pier where the dinghy, found adrift,

would normally be tied up in the morning.

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Phuket light-rail plan inches forward

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German health authorities say further 94 people have been sickened by deadly E.coli outbreak - AP /via@BreakingNews

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to continue

Thailand Live Wednesday 8 Jun 2011

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