Thailand Live Tuesday 21 Jun 2011

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Police Ready for Democrat Speech Downtown

City police says it's prepared for the Democrat Party's poll speech scheduled for Thursday at Ratprasong intersection.

Senior Police Advisor, Police General Ponsapat Pongcharoen stated that the Metropolitan Police Bureau has been instructed to formulate security measures for the Democrat Party's speech it's planning to give downtown on June 23.

Security will cover a number of details such as the location for the stage, traffic management, checkpoint installation, and even a talk with the red-shirt group.

Meanwhile, the senior advisor added that police will coordinate with the Election Commission to deal with voters who will attend the advance poll on June 26.

He said police will help in various matters such as voters who show up late, a traffic plan, security measures for people's valuables, and unused ballot protection.

The police general expects Bangkok's Bangkapi District and Chonburi's Banglamung will likely see a high turnout.

More than 60 percent of ballots have been sent out to poll stations nationwide.

Six million ballots in Bangkok have been sent and 65 million tickets in the provinces have been distributed, while 39 million ballots are still to be transported this week.

Police Spokesperson, Police Major General Prawut Tawonsiri disclosed that security officers will keep a close watch on risky constituencies across the nation, as there could be some intensified violence against political party canvassers ahead of the poll.

He added that MP candidates have called for special protection from police officers, and some 370 policemen have been deployed to protect the candidates.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-21

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Abhisit appears to admit the margin of possible poll defeat is widening http://bit.ly/5rINK /via@sutichai

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Abhisit campaigns in South; Yingluck celebrates 44th birthday

BANGKOK, June 21 - Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and senior executives from his Democrat party--Thailand's oldest--began campaigning Tuesday in their historic stronghold, the country's upper southern region, with their first stop at Hat Yai, the commercial district in Songkhla before travelling further south to the border region.

Mr Abhisit, who arrived at Hat Yai last night along with party principals including Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, Deputy Interior Minister Thaworn Senneam and Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office Satit Wonghnongtaey walked from a Hat Yai hotel to meet the public at Kim Yong market and having breakfast before leaving for the southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala.

They are scheduled to spend all day campaigning in the three provinces before returning to Bangkok in the evening.

Mr Abhisit expressed no worry to travel to the violence-plagued provinces, saying that he had visited the provinces many times while serving as prime minister.

He insisted that his party was on the right track in its policy focusing on fair treatment and local development to tackle the region's problem, while criticising his main rival Pheu Thai Party's proposed special administrative zone as simply a symbolic gesture which will further cause communication gap between the locals and authorities.

With less than two weeks before the July 3 general election, the Democrat party leader said he expected that his party would win more seats than in the last election.

Meanwhile, Abhisit's main political rival, Yingluck Shinawatra, the opposition Pheu Thai's top party-list candidate, on Tuesday celebrated her 44th birthday at her home with her husband Anusorn Amornchat, president of handset distributor M-Link Asia Corp and their son-Supasek.

The family jointly offered food to nine monks at their home in Bangkok.

Ms Yingluck, the youngest sister of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, said she wished the country would move towards national reconciliation and harmony.

On her birthday, Ms Yingluck was scheduled to pay respect to Phra Pathom Chedi, the tallest stupa in the world in Nakhon Pathom before visiting Wat Rai Khing to make merit and returning for a rally near the Rama VIII Bridge in Bangkok. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-06-21

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Army chief urges rethinking proposed special administrative zones in Muslim South

BANGKOK, June 21 – The current administration structure Thailand’s the southern border provinces should remain intact but the idea of establishing the area as a special administrative zone should be reviewed, army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said Tuesday.

“Thailand still needs both the central and local administration. Anyone who thinks otherwise must reconsider it as that may weaken the state’s power in the future,” Gen Prayuth said before leaving for the southern border provinces Tuesday morning.

The army chief warned that weakening the state’s power would be worrisome.

“Thailand is not a big country like some other countries which have vast areas. Thais are Thais. We do not have to model on their models,” he added.

Gen Prayuth has visited the South to follow up progress on resolving the problems, based on strategic plans assigned six months ago.

Statistics on the violence showed that the number of attacks has dropped but they still occur. Due to several factors, proactive actions by officials and attempts by suspected insurgents to cause fear among the public, Gen Prayuth said, the authorities must take proper proactive and defensive measures for the safety of officials and innocent people.

Implementation of measures for development and creating understanding must continue, he said.

Progress can be seen in measures taken in particular with local residents cooperating more with the authorities working in the area, Gen Prayuth said. Travel to work and school and to meetings and social events are safer (than before).

This indicates that the situation has improved as a result of several measures being implemented consistently, he said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-06-21

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Pheu Thai Party Leader Wishes for National Unity on Birthday

The Pheu Thai PM candidate wishes for national reconciliation as her 44th birthday gift.

This morning, Pheu Thai Party's number 1 party-list MP candidate Yingluck Shinawatra and her family offered alms in front of her house in Soi Yothinn Pattana 44 to celebrate her 44th birthday.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai Party chairman in the Bangkok area Vichai Meenachainan and other Pheu Thai MP candidates visited and wished her happy birthday at her home.

Yingluck said unity among Thais is the only gift that she would like to receive this year.

She took the opportunity to announce that although she is not as physically strong as men, she intends to dedicate herself to serving all Thais.

She said she would resolve the political stalemate by using a woman's gentleness to call for an end to violence.

Yingluck also asked all parties to accept the vote result after the election by letting the winning party form the next government.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-21

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Democrat economic policies superior and practical: economists poll

By The Nation

A sample group of 73 economists from 26 think tanks have given a better report card on economic policies to the Democrats than that of Pheu Thai's, Abac Poll said in a survey released yesterday.

The Democrats received a higher approval rating in seven of nine key policies, which the economists saw as feasible, realistic and practical.

Only two Democrat platforms appeared unrealistic to impletment. The two are the eradication of illicit drugs and the expansion of broadband services to every tambon in four years.

The highlights of Democrat policies included the minimum wage hike, the farmer income guarantee, the farm debt refinancing, the concessionary education loan and the development of Laem Chabang harbour city.

The two parties were on par in regard to the commuter train network linking Bangkok and five surrounding provinces.

Pheu Thai policies got the least approval rating for the credit card project for farmers and the rice pledging scheme. The two policies were deemed unrealistic and impractical.

-- The Nation 2011-06-21

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Chuvit questions Democrat’s campaign at Ratchaprasong

BANGKOK, 21 June 2011 (NNT) – Rak Thailand Party Leader Chuvit Kamolvisit has questioned the Democrat Party about its appropriateness to launch an election campaign at the shopping intersection of Ratchaprasong in the heart of Bangkok.

Speaking in a press briefing, Mr Chuvit questioned Democrat Party Leader and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva if it is appropriate for the Democrat Party to refer to all the political violence in the past two years during its political campaign in Ratchaprasong area.

The outspoken party-list candidate asked why the prime minister, who has never clarified the incident in the past two years, has chosen to elaborate this issue just 11 days before the upcoming election. He said staging a big campaign in Ratchaprasong will cause trouble to businesses in the area.

Ratchaprasong Intersection was the major rally site of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) last year where 91 people were killed in the military cordoning operation while Zen department store and other buildings nearby were burned at the end of the protest.

Mr Chuvit also criticised the prime minister and the Democrat Party for trying to sway voters who remain undecided, but he believed that people have their choices in mind but just refuse to disclose their decision with pollsters.

-- NNT 2011-06-21

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Two dead, many injured in Phuket school van crash

The crash resulted in long traffic tailbacks on Phuket's north-south artery

for most of the morning. Photo: Wichai Witthawat

More than 10 children survived the crash with only minor injuries.

Photo: Wichai Witthawat

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HM the King scheduled to view Chao Phraya River from Siriraj Hospital pier again this evening with naval boats to provide security /TAN_Network

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DSI to probe on Yingluck for perjury

By The Nation

The Department of Special Investigation will form a fact-finding panel to probe into alleged perjury involving Pheu Thai candidate Yingluck Shinawatra before deciding whether to launch a full investigation into the issue.

The panel will try to clarify two legal questions - whether there is cause to suspect Yingluck's involvement and whether such perjury, if committed, would fall under the DSI jurisdiction, DSI director general Tharit Pengdit said on Tuesday.

"The DSI will expedite the probe, expecting its completion soonest possible," he said.

Tharit was reacting to a petition filed by two activists, Kaewsun Atibhodi and Tul Srisomwong.

Kaewsun and Tul spearheaded a campaign to solicit 3,953 signatures to back up the petition charging Yingluck for false testimony in connection with the asset seizure case involving ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The two also lodged complaints at the National Anti Corruption Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Office of the Attorney General.

-- The Nation 2011-06-21

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EC denies job truancy

By The Nation

The Election Commission on Tuesday held an urgent press conference dismissing the allegation for abandoning work at a critical time in order to travel to Europe before the July 3 vote.

"The trip was made at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to check on the preparations for advance balloting," EC chairman Apichart Sukhagganond said in reference to the trip to Denmark and Iceland.

Apichart said there was no justification to speculate about the vote being derailed.

Accompanied by three election commissioners, he departed on Thursday and returned this morning. Only election commissioner Somchai Juengprasert was left the fort, triggering concern for a lack of quorum to rule on campaign violations.

Election commissioner Sodsri Satayathum said the trip was work-related and not for pleasure. She said she and her colleagues were obliged to ensure smooth balloting for Thais living overseas.

Another commissioner Wisuth Pothitaen said the trip did not disrupt the supervision for the vote, arguing work progress was on course.

-- The Nation 2011-06-21

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Veteran Democrat MP Suwaroj dies of lung cancer

Former Democrat MP Suwaroj Palang died of lung cancer Tuesday.

Suwaroj, the 24th Democrat party-list candidate, was pronounced dead at the Siriraj Hospital at 12:50 pm.

Suwaroj has earlier been elected as a Chumphon MP for seven times

-- The Nation 2011-06-21

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Australian flag carrier Qantas cancels all flights into and out of Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra as Chilean ash cloud wreaks havoc /MCOT

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PAD to petition for Pheu Thai disbandment

People's Alliance for Democracy leader Sondhi Limthongkul has scheduled on Tuesday's afternoon to lodge a petition calling for the disbandment of Pheu Thai Party.

PAD spokesman Panthep Pourpongpan said Sondhi would cite the domination of Thaksin Shinawatra as ground for party dissolution.

Thaksin is a convicted fugitive and barred party executive and Pheu Thai has violated the political law by succumbing to his domination, Panthep said.

He also urgedvoters to cast blank ballots, arguing if the no votes made up the majority in 26 constituencies, this would tantamount to an automatic nullification of the vote because the House of Represenatives would not have a quorum to convene its first session.

The PAD's no vote campaign is designed to force every party to agree to reform the political system.

-- The Nation 2011-06-21

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Court dismisses request for bail for red-shirt leaders Jatuporn and Nisit, saying there is no new reasoning for their release /TAN_Network

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Brit cops first victims as hackers unite against governments

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AFP: Qantas cancels all Sydney, Melbourne flights on Wednesday

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Activists seek DSI lawsuit against top-listed Pheu Thai candidate Yingluck, Thaksin's youngest sister

BANGKOK, June 21 - Activists on Tuesday asked the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to take legal action against Yingluck Shinawatra, youngest sister of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, top listed candidate of the Pheu Thai Party, accusing her of perjury and falsified stock trading in connection with the assets concealment case involving her brother and his then wife.

Tul Sitthisomwong and Kaewsan Atibodhi, former member of the now-defunct Assets Examination Committee (AEC) and a few associates, petitioned DSI Director-General Tharit Pengdit.

The DSI chief said it was the first case such a large number--almost 4,000 complainants. He pledged to set up a working group to consider whether there are grounds for legal action against Ms Yingluck and whether it falls under DSI authority.

The agency will speed up its work on the case as the accused was a high-profile politician and the case draws public attention. The department will periodically update the public about progress on the case.

Dr Tul argued that the move was not aimed at harrassing Ms Yingluck as claimed by the Pheu Thai party but is meant to seek justice and fairness for all investors.

Mr Kaewsan said he and other fellow activists will also ask the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to investigate alleged perjury and counterfeit share trades in connection with Ms Yingluck's past Shin Corp shareholding.

Thailand's highest court ruled on Feb 26 last year to seize Bt46 billion ($1.4 billion) from ousted prime minister Thaksin's $2.29 billion in frozen assets, saying he had illegally concealed his ownership of stock in Shin Corp., the family's telecommunications empire, and abused his authority by crafting government policies to benefit Shin Corp's businesses.(MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-06-21

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HM the King proceeds to Siriraj Hospital pier to enjoy scenic view of Chao Phraya River amid crowds of well-wishers /MCOT

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Phuket bluebottle scare: the coast is clear

A Portuguese man o’ war washed up on a beach in Brazil.

Photo: Pixelschubser

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SET index closed at 1027.72, up 14.63; Bt/USD30.42; GBP49.25; AUD32.10; EUR43.55; CAD31.01; HKD3.90; SGD24.50; JPY37.74

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Historical Park Under Restoration After Flooding

The Fine Arts Department is preparing to restore historical heritage sites in the northeastern provinces following last year's flash flooding.

The Director of the Fine Arts Department region 12 in Nakorn Ratchasima Province Sakchai Pohnantawanich said Phimai historical park is one of the hardest hit areas in the northeastern province.

Phimai was under two meters of water late last year, damaging the east and west walls.

He stated that the government allocated nearly 25 million baht to renovate Phimai.

The process has already commenced, and it will be complete within 300 days from June 17.

In addition, the department is working in cooperation with Phimai National Museum to find precautionary measures against flash flooding in the future, including the move of three thousand historical antiques to the second floor of the building.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-21

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Phuket sleepwalker fights for life after two-storey fall

The corner room from which Mr Worrawut suffered his tragic fall.

Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

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Illegal Immigrants and fake government officials arrested by Pattaya Tourist Police

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Police Volunteer killed in Sriracha road accident

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Shooting at East Pattaya Internet Games Shop

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DTAC Shareholding Probe to Conclude in 10 Days

The Commerce Ministry expects the investigation to determine the ownership status of DTAC, one of Thailand's largest mobile phone operators, to be finalized in 10 days.

Permanent Secretary of Commerce Yanyong Puangraj said the panel in charge of investigating True Corporation's complaint against DTAC is expected to be wrapped up in 10 days.

True Move has filed a complaint against DTAC accusing it of being a foreign entity by law.

True Move indicated DTAC should be regarded as a foreign entity since its shareholding structure comprises only 28.65 percent Thai ownership.

Under the Thai law, foreign ownership is limited at 49 percent.

The ministry has asked an ad hoc panel to find out if 56 Thai juristic companies, among 30,000 shareholders of DTAC, are in fact nominees for foreigners to hold stake in the company.

True Corporation filed a complaint with the Crime Suppression Division, calling for legal action to be taken against DTAC for violating the Foreign Business Act.

The previous finding by the Business Development Department suggested DTAC's shareholding structure is still in compliance with the law given 51 percent of its stares are owned by Thai nationals.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-21

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Bail request for Red Shirt leaders Jatuporn, Nisit rejected again

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Thailand Live Wednesday 22 Jun 2011

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