Poultry sales in Thailand fall with reported formalin-soaked decomposed chicken

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Commerce Minister Porntiva, Bhum Jai Thai Party's secretary-general, denies speculations she will be jumping ship to join Pheu Thai /TAN_Network

Thaksin: Pheu Thai to Form Govt with Small Parties; hopes to return to Thailand this Nov

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FOOD

Cambodia bans chicken products from Thailand

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Indian arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport for alleged smuggling of 20kg of ketamine; worth Bt60 million /MCOT

Drought in 41 Provinces Subside

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department has reported that the drought situation in 41 provinces has subsided.

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department Director-General Wibul Sanguanpong stated that the announcement for drought disaster zones have been revoked in 41 provinces across the nation, including Lampang, Tak, Udon Thani, Roi Et, Saraburi, Rayong, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, Trat, Phrae, Uttaradit, Chaiyaphum, and Ubon Ratchathani among many others.

However, the situation remains critical in ten provinces, namely Nan, Sukhothai, Phetchabun, Bueng Kan, Sakon Nakhon, Amnat Charoen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buriram, Yasothon and Prachuab Khiri Khan.

Those who have been affected by the drought can contact the official hotline 1784 around the clock to seek assistance and information.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-15

Pheu Thai Not Focused Solely on Amnesty Plan

After her first visit to southern Thailand went smoothly, the Pheu Thai Party's number 1 party-list candidate reiterated that the party is not focused on merely providing amnesty for her brother, but is offering to cure Thailand of its current economic and social problems.

After Pheu Thai Party number 1 party-list candidate Yingluck Shinawatra visited the southern provinces of Yala, Narathiwat, and Pattani yesterday, she said she received a warm welcome from southerners.

She thanked everyone that was receptive to Pheu Thai although she does not hope to win MP seats in area as they are not Pheu Thai strongholds.

Meanwhile, she refused to comment on Democrat Secretary-General Suthep Thaugsuban's criticism that southerners will not vote for her party because they remembered the harsh rule under her brother Thaksin Shinawatra's administration.

She reaffirms that her party is sincere towards people in the South, saying that everyone is Thai and there is no need to discriminate against fellow citizens.

Yingluck also denied that Pheu Thai intended to steal the limelight from the Democrat Party, which is scheduled to host a major rally in the area on June 21.

The PM candidate also reiterates that Pheu Thai's first action as government will not be to issue an amnesty decree.

She insists that her party will work to solve every problem, and said building national reconciliation is among one of those efforts.

She also asked that every party respect the majority of voters by letting the winning party form the next government.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-15

Army denies Suthep's meeting with Prayuth

The Army has denied speculation linking Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban to the televised speech by Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha urging for voters rally behind the monarchy and cast ballots for "good people"..

"Suthep did not paid a visit to the Army headquarters and met with Prayuth on Tuesday as speculated," Army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Wednesday.

Sansern said the Army chief made the speech in order to reaffirm the military's non-involvement in the face of the July 3 vote.

Suthep said he suspected a smear campaign by maliciously portraying the Democrats to seek the Army backing.

-- The Nation 2011-06-15

Yingluck, Opposition PM candidate, unworried by army chief’s stance

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Post Election Outlook Worries PM Abhisit

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Army denies backing Democrat

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Abhisit slams Pheu Thai's proposal to set the 3 southern border provinces as special admin zones, saying it will worsen insurgency /TAN_Network

SET index closed at 1030.31, down 4.61; Bt/USD30.33; GBP49.45; AUD32.33; EUR43.51; CAD31.25; HKD3.89; SGD24.47; JPY37.44

DTAC Defends Ownership Controversy

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Bank Claims to Foresee Chaos After Election

Executives at one of Thailand's biggest bank say they foresee chaos after the general election.

However, the private sector should not be overly affected.

Bangkok Bank Executive Vice President Veerasak Satantaviboon viewed that it is normal that the election outcome would not meet every group's demands.

He said issues of uncertainty and chaos should be contained to a short-term and should not have a significant impact on the business sector as well as the overall economy.

He expressed confidence that any political party elected by the people would focus on solving Thailand's economic situation.

He stated the policies of each political party vary only in detail, while the main themes are consistent.

Veerasak said Bangkok Bank is concerned over the issue of rising inflation.

He urges the government to come up with measures to help cope with inflation, such as adjusting the interest rate.

He said the Monetary Policy Committee will likely increase the interest rate to around 3.5 to 3.75 percent at the end of this year, rising from the current three percent.

The executive added that small and medium enterprises, or SME, credit loans should reach their targeted level at six to eight percent.

He said loans for the first quarter have expanded by more than two percent.

Moreover, Bangkok Bank has policies to support all SMEs which want to expand their market in the cyber world.

He said the bank is in cooperation with Microsoft Thailand to introduce their new Microsoft Cloud Service.

The program facilitates online sales by bringing together buyers and seller to the online world.

He said online businesses incur less costs and is efficient.

Therefore, the bank hopes to support all online businesses and has targeted sustainable growth.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-15

to continue

Thailand Live Thursday 16 June 2011

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