Thailand Live Wednesday 22 Jun 2011

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Police Probes Hit-and-Run Case

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10 million undecided voters crucial to tip outcome: Abac Poll

By The Nation

Some 10 million voters, accounting for 30 per cent of those planned to cast ballots, remain undecided for the July 3 vote, Abac Poll said in a survey released on Wednesday.

The nationwide survey was conducted on a sample group of 5,349 respondents in 28 selected provinces to gauge the sentiment on party-list candidates between June 1 and June 21.

One of the survey's conclusions drawn is some 36 million electorates, accounting for 76 per cent of eligible voters, plan to cast ballots. Given a seven per cent chance for error, the voter turnout is projected to range from 69 per cent to 83 per cent.

About 25 million, or 70 per cent, said they already made up their mind on which party to vote for.

Based on the projection of proportionate votes to be cast, Pheu Thai is in the lead to win 46 to 63 of 125 House seats up for grabs. The Democrat Party is projected to win 40 to 58 seats. Bhum Jai Thai could win up to 17 seats. Chat Pattana Puea Pandin has the potential to secure up to 13 seats. Other parties have the combined potential to grab up to 18 seats.

If the vote is to take place today instead of election day, Pheu Thai might win 55 seats, followed by the Democrats with 49 seats. Bhum Jai Thai will have eight seats and Chat Pattana Puea Pnadin is to secure four seats.

-- The Nation 2011-06-22

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Chart Thai Pattana expects to win 25-30 seats

BANGKOK, 22 June 2011 (NNT) – Chart Thai Pattana Party Chief Advisor Banharn Silapa-archa has expected that his party will win about 25-30 MP seats in the upcoming 3 July general election.

Mr Banharn, also a former prime minister, said a political party gaining the highest votes or claiming the most MP seats in Parliament will form a new government while about 25-30 seats would be acquired by the Chart Thai Pattana Party.

The ex-prime minister also dismissed speculation regarding a political intervention by the so-called “special power”. He claimed that there would be no more “special power” in politics after the military have affirmed its standpoint not to meddle in the election.

Mr Banharn believed that the election would definitely take place despite occasional unrest instigations, and that all conflicts within the society would end after the election.

-- NNT 2011-06-22

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FBI begins using social media in search for "Ten Most-Wanted Fugitives:" http://wapo.st/iqWHyh /via@TweetSmarter

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Soldiers stationed in Gavila, Chiang Mai played around with grenade which accidentally went off, killing 1 and injuring 1 /TAN_Network

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ABAC Poll finds Pheu Thai to win 55 party-list seats, Democrats 49, Bhum Jai Thai 8 but says 8 million voters still undecided /TAN_Network

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UNESCO may defer review of Cambodian Preah Vihear management plan until Friday

BANGKOK, June 22 - Today's UNESCO World Heritage Committee (WHC) meeting may defer its consideration of Cambodia's management plan for Preah Vihear until Friday, pending a Thai-Cambodian joint resolution, Thai Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suwit Khunkitti said this morning.

Mr Suwit, who heads the Thai team at the heritage committee's 35th session at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, told reporters that Thailand and Cambodia have begun talks to find a solution to their Preah Vihear dispute.

He said UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova acted as a mediator between representatives of Thailand and Cambodia.

The discussion was aimed at finding a joint solution to the disagreement related to the management plan for the Preah Vihear area as proposed by Cambodia, he said.

If Thailand and Cambodia could not agree on the resolution, the World Heritage Committee meeting could not consider the Preah Vihear management plan as Thailand stands firm that such consideration must be postponed, he said.

It is likely that the WHC consideration may be delayed until Friday, he noted.

Mr Suwit earlier said the UNESCO chief met separately with Thailand and Cambodia to work out a resolution acceptable to both sides for fear that face to face discussions between the two countries might heighten tensions. Ms Bokova wants to avoid a verbal clash during the UNESCO committee meeting.

The Thai minister said UNESCO forwarded the Thai team's resolution to Cambodia, but that the Cambodian delegation informed the world body that they could submit their own version on Wednesday.

Thailand wants the meeting to defer considering the Cambodian plan for the ancient temple listed as World Heritage Site in 2008 until the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rules on its complaint, and not until Thailand and Cambodia finish their border demarcation.

Cambodia, however, was against the idea of any postponement.

In April, Cambodia asked the court to clarify its1962 ruling on the ancient Hindu temple on its disputed border with Thailand following recent deadly armed clashes between the two neighbouring countries.

In 1962 the court ruled that the 11th century temple belongs to Cambodia.

Meanwhile, Thailand's 2nd Army Area commander Lt-Gen Tawatchai Samutsakorn said Cambodia reinforced its troops and ammunition supplies at the border and built more bunkers in existing bases. However, there is no sign of any new attack.

The general said that nonetheless he had ordered Thai troops to remain on alert around the clock.

In the zone northwest of Preah Vihear Temple, where the contested 4.6 kilometre area lies, both Thai and Cambodian troops have been deployed. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-06-22

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Abhisit Expects to Form Coalition with Bhum Jai Thai Party

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Phue Thai MP Candidates' Supporters Attacked

The homes of two supporters of Phue Thai Party MP candidates have been attacked by unidentified gunmen in the central province of Kamphaeng Phet.

The victims believe the assaults were politically motivated.

Two of the Phue Thai Party candidates' supporters in Kamphaeng Phet Province were threatened in separate shooting attacks last night as election day draws nearer.

The home of the Rotmanee family in Klongklung District was one of the homes attacked last night.

The homeowner said they heard the sound of five gunshots.

The wife, Wilairat Rotmanee, said she and her son were safe as they hid as soon as the first shot was fired and waited until morning to come out to inspect the house.

She said her house was in a mess; two bullets were found in the front door and another one shattered the glass window of a cabinet.

The other home that was attacked was the home of Sutat and Metta Wongsit, located in the same district.

At least 10 bullets were found in several spots around the house.

The door of the homeowner's truck was also hit by bullets.

Police said the victims insisted they have never had conflicts with anyone, but they speculated that the attack was result of their support for the Phue Thai Party.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-22

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Thai film wins 2 awards at Shanghai film fest

BANGKOK, 22 June 2011 (NNT) – Thai film ‘Friday Killer’, also known as ‘Pae Tha Sai’, by director Yuthlert Sippapak, has won the best cinematography and jury awards at the 14th Shanghai International Film Festival organised in Shanghai, China.

According to the film festival’s official website, ‘Friday Killer’, which grabbed the jury award, was complimented by the judging panel for having atmospheric, good-looking gangster epic similar to the one made by American film director Quentin Tarantino.

As for the best cinematography awared to Mr Tiwa Moeithaisong, the film was praised for the extremely exquisite combination of moving and tranquil scenes, which makes the film full of wits and humour, impressing all the judging panel members.

Academy Award director Barry Levinson chaired the judging panel, which also comprised British playwright Christopher James Hampton, Japanese director Yoichi Sai, Vietnamese director Tran Anh Hung, Spanish performer Paz Vega, Chinese director Wang Quan’an and Chinese performer Zhang Jiingchu.

‘Friday Killer’ is an action-drama film with comedian Suthep Po-ngam, alias Thep Po-ngam and female actor Pornpitchaya ‘Ploy’ Jindachote leading the casts as ‘Pae Ta Sai’ and ‘Dao’ respectively. The film was initially set to show in Thailand on 10 February 2011 but has been postponed indefinitely.

-- NNT 2011-06-22

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Transport Ministry Mulls Suvarnabhumi Airport Check-in Service Improvement

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Teen involved in tollway van crash charged with talking on phone while driving and negligence; juvenile court hearing scheduled for tomorrow /TAN_Network

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British, Norwegian, Swiss ambassadors to Thailand meet Pheu Thai top candidate Yingluck, exchange ideas on elections, party policies /MCOT

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Red-shirts at Ratchaprasong to 'Curse' Democrats

The red-shirt group has gathered at Ratchaprasong Intersection to conduct a ceremony to curse the Democrat Party.

The group has promised not to interfere with the Democrat's planned gathering there tomorrow but added that any red-shirts who show up are fake red-shirt members.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-22

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Red-shirt leader Thida: Abhisit out of touch with the grassroots

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Nuttawut warns red shirts against confrontation, which he said could endanger democracy./via@tulsathit /via @news1005fm

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Former assistant village chief killed by insurgents in Yala

Former assistant to village headman was shot dead in Yala's Raman district Wednesday morning while riding motorcycle to tap rubber trees.

Police at 8.05am rushed to the scene on Asong-Thathong Road to find the dead body of Beuraheng Sadimae, 37, with a gunshot in the head. His wife Yana Sadimae told police that Beuraheng was riding motorcycle to tap rubber as usual when gunmen on another motorcycle followed him and shot him dead. Police suspected the killing came from a local political conflict or the insurgent's creation of chaos in the region.

-- The Nation 2011-06-22

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Democrats' campaign plea: Stop harassing us. Pheu Thai's campaign plea: Stop framing us. /via@tulsathit

This guy beats everyone to it. (concerning campaign plea tweet) RT @yodfah: Let me say Shut up both of u /via@tulsathit

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450 policemen to keep peace at Democrat rally

By The Nation

Some 450 police officers, including 150 traffic policemen, will be deployed on Thursday to keep peace at the Democrat rally at Ratchaprasong, police legal adviser General Pongsapat Pongcharoen said on Wednesday.

"Metropolitan Police has drawn up traffic and contingency plans, including the deployment of bomb squad, to ensure the situation will not spiral out of control," he said.

Pongsapat reminded that any trouble makers trying to disrupt the rally would face arrest under the elections law.

In regard to police preparations to facilitate the balloting, he said the police forces would be mobilised to ensure social order and road flows for the Sunday's advance vote.

About 30 provinces will see the turnout of 10,000 absentee voters casting ballots per hour, triggering concern about acute traffic jam, in Bangkok's Bangkapi district, Samut Prakan, Chon Buri, Pathum Thani and Samut Sakhon.

Since the start of campaigning, police reports on campaign billboards being vandalised rose to 2009 cases. The Democrat billboards were most attacked with 1,202 cases, followed by Pheu Thai's billboards with 491 cases.

Police have been investigating 93 campaign-related complaints, including five vote-buying cases.

A total of 395 electoral candidates have requested police protection.

-- The Nation 2011-06-22

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Red-shirt leader Nutthawut claims northeastern men set to disrupt Democrat rally at Ratchaprasong tomorrow, says no affiliation with reds /TAN_Network

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At least 40 suspected al-Qaida militants escape prison in southern Yemen - AP /via@BreakingNews

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Winfried Schaefer, German, has signed memorandum of understanding to be coach of Thailand's national team /MCOT

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Foreign Ambassadors Meet Yingluck

The ambassadors of Sweden, Norway, and Britain met with Pheu Thai PM candidate Yingluck Shinawatra today to wish her a happy birthday and to discuss political and economic issues as she is a frontrunner in the election according to opinion polls.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-22

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Suspected drug dealer caught with loaded firearm in Jomtien

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Indian Tourist drugged and robbed after his last night out in Pattaya

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Tourist Police launch beach safety campaign

The front of the handbill being distributed at Phuket beaches today.

Many foreign tourists have died in Phuket trying to fight a rip current

rather than exiting it by swimming parallel to the beach.

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SET index closed at 1023.86, down 3.86; Bt/USD30.34; GBP48.94; AUD32.03; EUR43.60; CAD31.15; HKD3.89; SGD24.52; JPY37.62

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AOT to address the problem of overcrowding at immigration checkpoints at Suvarnabhumi airport

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Pheu Thai urges supporters to avoid Ratchaprasong during Democrat rally

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DSI claims 300 men trained in Cambodia on how to use M79 grenade launchers will cause chaos after election /TAN_Network