Thailand Live Wednesday 22 Jun 2011

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Thailand Live Wednesday 22 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 21 June 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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Mystery death of British tourist sparks E coli alarm in Thailand

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TELECOMS

TrueMove fires latest salvo in row over DTAC ownership

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22 Thai workers rescued in China

By The Nation

Department of Special Investigation (DSI) officials welcomed back 22 Thai nationals, who were reportedly lured to work for a criminal gang in China. The workers were rescued during an Interpol raid of the gang's premises and arrived in Bangkok on Monday night.

After collecting their records, DSI arranged for the workers to be sent back to their hometowns.

Action was taken after one of the relatives filed a complaint saying that the workers, who went to China hoping to be given work in a mobile-phone factory, were forced to dupe Thais into wiring money to the gang. Upon receiving the complaint, DSI contacted the Foreign Ministry and asked Chinese authorities to investigate.

-- The Nation 2011-06-22

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Thai Democrat Rally at Ratchaprasong 'not just to woo voters'

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Academics criticise Thai parties' over-the-top wage promises

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Asean TV vows historic election coverage

By The Nation

Asean TV officially launched yesterday with a commitment to give historic coverage of July 3 general elections in Thailand.

The English language channel will disseminate a wide range of news and information encompassing politics, economics, society, culture, entertainment and sports within the region. Its mission is to promote the Asean identity and collaboration among the grouping's countries besides improving cooperation among Asean members.

Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan yesterday sent in his congratulations live via video from New York on the launch of Asean TV, adding this is a great service to the Asean community.

Suthichai Yoon, editor-in-chief of Nation Multimedia Group, said that he was very grateful for Surin's encouraging message and hopes to see growth and cooperation between Asean and the channel.

Starting yesterday, MCOT and NBC expanded the channel to six hours a day from three since the first phase was launched in April. In the third phase, production will be increased to between eight and 10 hours daily.

MCOT has collaborated with Nation Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) to further develop a new phase for Asean TV. MCOT is a leading news organisation in Thailand while NBC is the operator of Nation Channel, Thailand's first 24-hour news channel, MCOT president Tanawat Wansom said.

Service will be extended to 120 countries on four continents this year, including almost 600 million viewers in Asean countries.

-- The Nation 2011-06-22

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Trip to Europe 'did not derail poll supervision'

By The Nation

The Election Commission held a news conference yesterday to dismiss allegations that its members had abandoned work in the run-up to the July 3 voting so they could travel to Europe.

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

Apichart said there was no justification in speculating about the election being derailed.

Accompanied by three election commissioners, Apichart departed last Thursday and returned yesterday morning. Somchai Juengprasert was left minding the fort, triggering concerns about the lack of a quorum to rule on campaign violations.

Election commissioner Sodsri Satayathum said the trip was work-related and she and her colleagues had gone abroad to ensure that expatriate Thais could cast their ballots easily. Wisuth Pothitaen, another commissioner, said the trip did not disrupt supervision of the election campaign, and argued that the work was on course.

-- The Nation 2011-06-22

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Sondhi pushes for Pheu Thai's dissolution

By The Nation

People's Alliance for Democracy leader Sondhi Limthongkul lodged a petition yesterday calling for the dissolution of the Pheu Thai Party.

PAD spokesman Panthep Pourpongpan said Sondhi would cite Thaksin Shinawatra's hold over the party as grounds for dissolution. Pheu Thai is violating the law by allowing itself to be run by Thaksin, who is a convicted fugitive as well as a banned party executive, Panthep said.

He also urged voters to cast "no vote" ballots, because if they made up the majority in 26 constituencies, then the poll results would have to be nullified automatically because the House of Representatives would not have a quorum to convene its first session.

-- The Nation 2011-06-22

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Police nab hit team suspect, hunt gunman in Bhum Jai Thai canvasser killing in Bangkok

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BURNING ISSUE

Thailand should extend its kindness to refugees a little bit longer

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DSI to look into claims against Yingluck

By The Nation

The Department of Special Investigation will form a fact-finding panel to look into perjury allegations involving Pheu Thai candidate Yingluck Shinawatra before deciding whether a full investigation should be launched.

The panel will try to clarify two questions - whether there is cause to suspect Yingluck's involvement and, if any perjury was committed, whether it would fall under DSI jurisdiction - the department's director-general Tarit Pengdith said yesterday. "The DSI will expedite the probe, and complete it as soon as possible," he said. Tarit was reacting to a petition filed by two activists, Kaewsun Atibhodi and Tul Srisomwong.

Kaewsun and Tul collected 4,100 signatures to back up the petition accusing Yingluck of providing false testimony during Thaksin Shinawatra's assets-seizure case.

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 2011-06-22

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GUEST COLUMN

Officials should not try to whitewash the government; Thai opinion

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Court to hear chicken scandal case

By The Nation

A court will begin hearings into a much-publicised case involving chicken carcasses soaked in formalin in early August.

The trial was scheduled after public prosecutors decided to pursue legal action against three suspects for unauthorised transportation of animal bodies. The three suspects have already pleaded guilty to the charges.

Police have pressed charges against five suspects, one of them a worker, over formalin-soaked chicken found at some meat-dissecting facilities in Nakhon Ratchasima's Pak Chong district earlier this month. Two other suspects have denied any wrongdoing.

All five have been released on bail.

Pol Colonel Wachirawit Kritrittisak, deputy head of Nakhon Ratchasima police, heads the investigation team. Since the formalin-soaked chicken was exposed, many consumers have become worried they might have consumed the contaminated meat.

"We are investigating the case further," Wachirawait said yesterday.

He refused to elaborate, saying that disclosure of details could hurt efforts to nail the culprits.

Deputy Nakhon Ratchasima Governor Pititham Thitimontri said yesterday that disciplinary probes against some senior officials over their perceived negligence would likely be concluded within five days.

"But at this point, there is already clear evidence that the Pak Chong district chief and Pak Chong livestock-development chief have been negligent," he said.

He said he had already informed the supervisors of complaints against the two officials.

"My probe is ongoing. Many more officials have been implicated," Pititham said.

-- The Nation 2011-06-22

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Thai Govt must face up to coming society of elders

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Thai woman in new attack on Abhisit

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Thai Democrat policies get the thumbs up

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52 students ready to graduate

By The Nation

Sumon Chaisakol, rector of E-Sarn University, revealed yesterday that only 52 students had attended classes on campus, but were short of some documents.

The screening committee has so far checked out 765 of the 1,273 graduates, he said, adding that they had been split into four groups. The first group consists of 52 graduates who attended all classes on campus; the second covers 146 students who studied on campus, but not all the required subjects; the third covers 66 students who studied off-campus in all required subjects; and the last is of 501 students who studied off-campus and not all subjects. Students in all four groups lack documents.

He said the committee would investigate further and certify the graduation of 52 students first, because they only needed to pass the skills test. The initial result would be submitted to the supervisory committee today.

-- The Nation 2011-06-22

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'Continue good education policies'

By The Nation

A former senior education official yesterday urged political parties to ensure that good long-term education projects continue.

"Don't be preoccupied with sensational short-term policies. They may sound good, but they are not the real thing," said Khunying Kasama Varawan na Ayutthaya, a former secretary-general of the Office of Basic Education Commission.

Kasama was speaking at a seminar on educational policies co-hosted by the Thai Journalists Association, Education Reporters Club and For Thailand Group.

In the speech, she also warned against the changing the education minister often. "Officials are fed up dealing with a minister who is like a trainee," she said.

Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat said his party would continue to implement the 15-year free education scheme if it is re-elected. "We also plan to grant loans to 250,000 more children," he said.

Kanawat Wasinsangworn from Pheu Thai Party said his party was planning to offer a three-year moratorium to teachers who owe no more than Bt500,000.

-- The Nation 2011-06-22

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Abhisit expects to be able to join hands with Bhum Jai Thai to form govt; Suthep confirms Democrat's rally at Ratchaprasong tomorrow /TAN_Network

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Mother of doctor in a coma after hit-and-run believes colonel who turned himself in isn't the driver, police assure no arrest of scapegoat /TAN_Network

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2nd Army Area commander: Cambodia reinforces troops at border, Thai army also stations soldiers there /MCOT

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Truth to come out at Ratchaprasong rally: Suthep

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,033.44, up 5.72 points /MCOT

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PAD gathered in front of UNESCO office at 10am but protest will be short; PAD leader Chamlong confirms the group will end protest on June 29 /TAN_Network

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Democrat Defends PM Against Red-shirt Allegations

The Democrat Party deputy leader defends his party leader against allegations that he was responsible for the deaths during last year's red-shirt protest.

Democrat Party deputy leader Korbsak Sabhavasu defended Prime Minister and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva against allegations related to the incident at Ratchaprasong Intersection last year, saying Abhisit has been listening to demands of the red-shirt group and working toward national unity.

He added that those who claim to be promoting reconciliation may in fact be the ones who caused the most problem.

Korbsak noted that the claims by the Pheu Thai Party-List MP candidates Yingluck Shinawatra and Nuttawut Saikuea, that their party has no authority over the red-shirt group, suggest that the group is ready to disrupt the election campaigns of other political parties.

Regarding the attempt to seek amnesty for convicted politicians including deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the Democrat deputy leader said acquittal of criminal convictions is impermissible.

Chief adviser to Chart Thai Pattana Party leader Banharn Silpa-archa said he is fed up with politics that he feels like being ordained and spending some time in priesthood.

However, he said if granted a pardon within the next two years, he may still consider resuming his political career and be able to help solve the political conflict in the country.

Banharn called on all parties to leave behind past conflicts and help the country move forward.

He also expressed concern over violence during the campaign period, as political parties are trying to pull out all the stops to win the election.

Banharn warned the Democrat Party to be vigilant during its major campaign rally at Ratchaprasong Intersection this Thursday.

The veteran politician believes that even if the Pheu Thai Party wins the election, no separate government will be formed with the help of the military as many have speculated, and there will be no intervention from any groups.

Meanwhile, he admitted that his party may win fewer House seats than expected, saying the party may get 25 to 30 seats.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-22

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Chatuchak Vendors Demands Contract Extension

The Chairman of Chatuchak market, popularly known as JJ Market, demands the Transport Ministry offer a revised rental contract by late this year with fairer costs.

The Chairman of Chatuchak market trade association Chatree Soponbannarak, on behalf of all vendors at Chatuchak, sent a letter to Supoj Sublom, Permanent Secretary of Finance Ministry and the board director of Thailand State Railway, to solve problems concerned with area administration at Chatuchak, the famous weekend market.

The association is making four demands. First, the Transport Ministry must renew all leases for another 30 years by January 1, 2012, as soon as the current contract is terminated.

Second, the Transport Ministry, Bangkok City, and vendors should determine a final cost for rentals that is accepted by all three parties, within one month.

Third, vendors strongly protested a new plan to increase rent to 15,000 baht per month, equivalent to 1,200 baht per square meter annually.

They claim this rate is unfair, and that rent should not be higher than the Marketing Organization for Farmers counterpart.

And lastly, the vendors ask that all concerned with running Chatuchak do so as a market truly belonging to the people, without intervention by capitalist groups with hidden agendas.

Chatree said the association sent its requests six months ago to acting PM Abhisit Vejjajiva, it has received no response.

Consequently, he plans to propose the requests to the next government.

Meanwhile, Supot Sublom stated that with the current rental contract, the State Railway can collect only 24 million per year, while the organization faces nearly 70 billion baht in debt, and the government and the Finance Ministry are pushing the organization to make more money.

Therefore, increased rent is necessary.

However, he said that vendors can sign a contract with the Thailand State Railway directly after the current contract ends.

He also insisted that the rental cost will not be much higher than the current one.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-22

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KBank: Political Turmoil Likely to Linger on

Kasikorn Bank says the political turmoil in Thailand is likely to continue for at least seven years and rising inflation will be the key factor impeding economic growth this year.

Kasikorn Bank Executive Vice President Wasin Wanichworanant is of the opinion that the ongoing political problem will unlikely go away even after the general election.

He said it may take five to seven years for conflicting parties to start fence mending.

Wasin, meanwhile, expects the domestic economy will be dampened by a higher inflation rate, with growth projected at 3.6 percent.

He said with rising inflation, more political involvement will be seen in the economy as all political parties are proposing populist policies like a minimum wage increase and cost-cutting measures.

The top executive advised businesses to brace for rising labor and energy costs, the launch of the ASEAN free trade zone, and a volatile global economy.

Kasikorn Bank expects its loan growth to exceed the target of 4 to 6 percent this year in light of a favorable first half year result, with loans issued to private utilities accounting for as much as 19 percent of the bank's total loans.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-22

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PAD Gathers at UNESCO Office

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) gathered at the UNESCO office on Sukhumvit Road since 10 A.M. to hand a letter of protest on the issue of Preah Vihear Temple to the UNESCO Thailand director.

The group's core leader Maj. Gen. Chamlong Srimuang affirmed the group will cease its protest at Makawan Rangsan Bridge on Ratchadamnoen Avenue on June 29.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-22