Thailand Live Thursday 23 Jun 2011

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Thailand Live Thursday 23 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 Wednesday 22 June 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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New work permit requirements from The Labor Department

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E-COLI

Dead Briton's things 'did not infect officer'

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Thailand election: 10 days to go; don't blink

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Thailand Sets To Become Organic Farming Hub By 2015

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Pheu Thai fears '3rd party' attack during Democrat's Ratchaprasong rally

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PARKING QUARREL

Colonel's confessions over 'accident' doubted

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BURNING ISSUE

'Good talking' PM Abhisit now the subject of regular gibe

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Don't rule out the possibility of a third candidate for PM; Thai talk

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Handout policies could lead to a bigger crash; Thai opinion

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Public divided on Democrat Rajprasong rally

By PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK

THE NATION

Random interviews with workers around Rajprasong Intersection yesterday reveal divided views on what the Democrat Party's controversial electoral rally at the intersection this afternoon will achieve.

People supporting the Pheu Thai Party and the red shirts say it will make no difference, while those fond of the Democrat Party say they will try to attend the rally in front of Central World. The mall was partly burnt down in the aftermath of the bloody April and May military crackdown on the red shirts, which led to a combined loss of 91 lives on all sides.

"It depends on one's thinking. If you are red, then you will vote that way. If you are for the Democrats, then that's where the vote will go," said 21-year-old Nuan Jitranand, an employee at @net computer shop on the first floor of Central World.

Nuan, from Si Sa Ket province, refused to say which way she would vote but added that there was no consensus on who burnt down Central World, the Zen department store and the nearby Big C hypermarket, even among people working in the area around Rajprasong Intersection.

Others, like Thaweep Muenjit, a 43-year-old security guard at McDonald's at the Amarin Plaza building, said Abhisit Vejjajiva was at fault for what happened last April and May. The rally today, an attempt to claim that red shirts were responsible for burning buildings around the intersection, would make no difference, he said.

"It's pointless because people know what happened. Most people who attend will be supporters of the Democrat Party," said Thaweep. He added that he was concerned that some "third hand" could cause violence or disturbance at the rally in order to stall the election, with Pheu Thai leading in all public polls. "Red shirts won't be going there," he said.

Daen Nampho, 34, a waiter at the Tha Siam noodle shop in Central World, is a fan of Abhisit and the Democrat Party. He said he would try to attend the rally after his shift ended at 7pm.

"I like Abhisit. He's so different from Thaksin [shinawatra]," Daen explained.

Daen stopped short of accusing red shirts of burning down the buildings in the area, however, saying that he wasn't there on that day and that people at Central World had different takes on the matter. "But I heard some people say it was red shirts."

He added that the deaths of red-shirt protesters last year were inevitable. "The situation was necessary. If [the army didn't suppress the protesters] the situation may have snowballed. They needed to put it to a halt, lives had to be lost, we must consider the interests of the majority in the country."

Asked whether today's rally, which will highlight the issue of arson, would make any difference, Daen said he was unsure.

-- The Nation 2011-06-23

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'Warrants soon' on political shootings

By THE NATION

The Samut Prakan Provincial Court yesterday approved an arrest warrant for a suspect involved in the shooting of Pheu Thai MP candidate Pracha Prasopdee, just as police were preparing to seek arrest warrants for four suspects in the killing of a Bhum Jai Thai canvasser within days.

National Police Commissioner General Wichean Potephosree yesterday disclosed that the arrest warrant was already issued for Sirapong Artdej. This suspect is wanted because he owns the pickup used in the shooting of Pracha, who survived the attack.

Deputy National Police Commissioner General Panupong Singhara na Ayutthaya said the investigation into the killing of Bhum Jai Thai canvasser Suban Jiraphan was also progressing well.

"Footage from more than 100 security cameras show the faces of four suspects clearly," Panupong said.

He believed police would be able to ask the court to approve arrest warrants for these four suspects by tomorrow (june 24) Suban was killed in Bangkok last week.

A senior investigator in charge of the case, Pol Colonel Prasobchoke Phrommool, said police were questioning a man in custody, suspected of taking the gunman who killed Suban out of Bangkok.

"I gave assurance to Suban's relatives that we would make arrests before July 3, and I am insisting to them that the suspects will not be scapegoats. This has made the Jiraphan family very happy," he said.

Retired Army General Panlop Pinmanee, the Pheu Thai Party's election director in Lop Buri, where Suban was based, and Buri Ram, dismissed calls for private talks by Suban's father Kamol. Panlop said he would be free only after the election on July 3.

He denied being behind the killing of Suban in Bangkok last week, saying he was mainly based in Buri Ram and knew nothing of any violence plotted or planned in Lop Buri. Kamol on Monday called on Panlop, who remains influential after his retirement, "to stop doing anything that would set Lop Buri on fire."

Thirty commandos from the Crime Suppression Division have been sent to Lop Buri to assist in a joint investigation and boost security. They join a company of special operations police officers already stationed in the province.

Meanwhile, 450 police officers, including 150 in riot gear, will today be stationed at Ratchaprasong Intersection, where the Democrat Party will hold a major rally.

The party's plans have been opposed by red shirts, who deem it a provocation and have threatened to launch a counter-rally nearby.

Traffic might be closed or limited there and in adjacent areas. Police are negotiating with red-shirt leaders against holding a counter rally or carrying out any activities in violation of electoral regulations, as the Democrat rally was part of a lawful political campaign, said Pol General Phongsaphat Phongcharoen, a commander in charge of security.

A total of 395 candidates from 12 parties are now under police protection and 2,009 election signboards have been vandalised, said Phongsaphat. Police have seized 3,062 handguns, 34 assault rifles and 42 grenades in raids and arrests to prevent political violence.

-- The Nation 2011-06-23

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Teen charged with 'reckless driving'

By The Nation

The Juvenile and Family Court prosecutor will file charges of reckless driving causing deaths and injuries and using a mobile phone behind the wheel against a 17yearold girl who was involved in a fatal expressway accident last December 27.

The crash killed nine people and injured several others. The suspect will meet with the prosecutor and be brought to the Juvenile and Family Court today at 10am. After that the families of the dead and injured will be notified so that if they wish they can file suits at the court for compensation.

-- The Nation 2011-06-23

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Two killed as attacks continue in southern Thailand

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Parties warned against making too many

By The Nation

Big Businessmen and academics have warned political parties against making "unreasonable" election promises such as vowing to hike the minimum daily wage, saying such moves would cause inflation, boost the price of commodities and increase the cost of living.

At a press conference held yesterday at the Federation of Thai Industries, deputy FTI chairman Thanit Sorat said high wages would endanger the entire economic system, trigger a further pay rise for officials, boost the price of farm products and cut exports due to higher operating costs.

Citing an FTI calculation, he said the minimum wage should be no more than Bt220, especially since the last raise was 10 per cent, which set the minimum daily wage at Bt215.

Assoc Prof Siriphan Noksuan, from Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Political Science, said the government had failed to prevent conglomerates from monopolising businesses, and wages should be increased in line with the price of goods.

"In the US, an egg is priced at around Bt3.50, but they go for between Bt5 and Bt7 in Thailand. Why is that? No political parties seem to show any interest in solving this problem or including this issue in their election promises," she said.

She called on political parties to say how they would improve vocational and other career skills, such as fluency in English, so Thais can compete with other workers in the region.

So far, not a single party had said how it would prepare Thailand for the launch of the Asean Economic Community in 2015, which would see workers migrating to the Kingdom from across the region, she said.

Meanwhile, chief of the Foundation for Consumers, Saree Ongsomwang, said offering high wages to workers could be seen as "buying votes", especially since politicians don't seem to care about poor services in the socialsecurity system.

-- The Nation 2011-06-23

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'Planking' monk faces charges

By The Nation

An assistant rector of Mahamakut Buddhist University filed a police complaint yesterday at the Crime Suppression Bureau against a monk who was photographed "planking" while wearing a saffron robe.

Bringing information and photographs to the police, Songkran Achariyasap said he had taken personal action so that other monks didn't follow this "bad example".

He said people who did not understand the notion of "planking" could misunderstand the photograph, believing that the monk had supernatural powers.

Songkran said the monk belonged to Wat Klang Kred in Nonthaburi but was expelled after the planking photograph was posted on the Internet.

-- The Nation 2011-06-23

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Soldier killed in grenade mishap

By The Nation

One soldier was killed and another seriously injured at the 33rd Military Circle Kawila Camp in Chiang Mai when a grenade they were playing with fell on the ground and exploded.

The explosion happened early yesterday at the camp's weapons storage facility, killing Private Ekkachai Khatthinon and injuring Private Wallop Tanatha, who was taken to Kawila Hospital.

Third Army Commander LtGeneral Wanthip Wongwai, who was at the camp to explain antidrug operation policy and stopped by to inspect the scene and visit the injured soldier, said the incident was an accident, rather than terrorism or foul play.

-- The Nation 2011-06-23

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CAMPAIGN POLICIES

Parties pandering to voters

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

The National Health Commission (NHC) has criticised all political parties over their public policies, saying their impact would be negative and they would do nothing to eradicate inequality in society.

The NHC condemned policies based on promotional marketing strategies it said were aimed at attracting voters with free public services with no concern for the sustainability of the country's budget.

"All political parties still think that Thai people are just waiting for someone to give them money - [and so] their public policies do not eliminate inequality and conflict in society," NHC secretarygeneral Dr Amphon Jindawattana said yesterday.

Speaking at a roundtable discussion titled "How Can Political Parties' Policies Aim Their Priorities at Public WellBeing?" Amphon said party policies had never implemented best practice, especially those aimed at decentralising central authority to local administrations.

"This is a big issue that would resolve not only public health issues but also other problems in the community," he said. In the past local authorities had great difficulty in asking the central government to allocate budgets to resolve problems in their communities.

"Political parties did not want to get involved in any conflicting issues. They would rather keep quiet," he said.

Dr Piya Hanvorawongchai of Chulalongkorn University's faculty of medicine said party policies were not designed to resolve public health problems such as decentralisation of government power; public and local authority participation; the Public Health Ministry's domination of public health direction; medicalpersonnel management; and the relationship between patients and medical workers.

"Some political parties just copy public policy from the Constitution," he said.

Moreover, they did not give priority to prevention of noncommunicable illness such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.

Former National Reform Committee secretary Dejrat Sukkamnerd said no political party would give an assurance that it would comply with the Constitution's Article 67 (2), requiring state agencies and private companies to conduct environmental and health impact assessments on potentially harmful projects.

"The country cannot step forward if political parties do not come up with clear answers on this mechanism," he said.

Dejrat said that when looking at political parties' policies overall, he found they all considered voters as customers, not citizens.

-- The Nation 2011-06-23

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Phuket father, daughter die in paraquat murder-suicide

Arga's Salaeng parked at Phuket City police residences in Koh Sireh.

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Chuan, Suthep, Abhisit, Korbsak would speak to the crowd at Central World as election enters last leg -- True 99 /via@ThanongK

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Obama address: United States will bring 10,000 troops out of Afghanistan by the end of 2011, and 33,000 U.S. troops by summer 2012 /BNONews

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Democrats to rally at area in front of Central World starting from 5pm /TAN_Network

Abhisit claims Thaksin behind red-shirts' disruption of his campaigning but Yingluck denies that /TAN_Network

Yingluck says Pheu Thai's legal team will keep close eye on Democrat's Ratchaprasong campaign today to possibly sue for defamation /TAN_Network

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AFP: "Hangover II" no headache for Thailand

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AFP: Colourful characters spice up Thai election

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Chinese artist Ai Weiwei released on bail

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Democrats expect to win in 130 of 375 constituencies

By The Nation

The Democrat Party has released a survey conducted on its electoral candidates following a month of campaign making a projection to grab 130 House seats, including 22 from Bangkok, via direct vote in 375 constituencies.

The party is expected to win 55 seats via proportionate vote for party-list candidates.

In addition to Bangkok's 22 seats, the Democrats are projected to secure 24 seats in the Central Region, 12 in the East, 48 in the South, 15 in the North and nine in the Northeast.

About 26 constituencies are under the neck-and-neck race and the balloting outcome might favour the Democrats.

Additional seats could come from Bangkok (five seats), the Central Region (six seats), the East (three seats), the South (two seats), the North (six seats) and the Northeast (four seats).

The projection indicates a major defeat in Chon Buri where the Democrats would loss five of eight seats being contested. A surprise victory is expected in Udon Thani, seen as the capital of the red shirts, where the Democrats might grab two seats.

-- The Nation 2011-06-23

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Army Hosts International War Game

The Thai army hosts a multinational war game at Prachuap Khiri Khan's Thanarat Camp to promote its peacekeeping cooperation with foreign armed forces.

The international war game is codenamed Aiyara Guardian 2011 with military officers from 13 counties in Asia and the Pacific and Africa, including host Thailand and Cambodia while their Preah Vihear dispute remains unsettled.

The Aiyara Guardian 2011 drill is the biggest international peacekeeping exercise and also the first time for the Thai army to display its strength to foriegn armed forces.

The war game started on June 18 and is scheduled to complete on July 1 .

Director of the peacekeeping operation center, Major General Ruampol Meechu-at, said the international drill is aimed to strengthen the country's military relations with others.

He said the war game features practice stations which are handling of patrol and checkpoints, protection of military logistic motorcades, offensive operations and security and disarmament processes.

Organizers said the participation of several countries, including Cambodia, attested the country's military cooperation with others remains strong and the drill will help improve work of the Thai army's 980 Special Force which has been sent to join the peacekeeping operation in Dafur , Sudan.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-23

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,017.67, down 6.19 points /MCOT

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Motorists and commuters should expect heavy traffic and delays as Democrats are due to rally in front of Bangkok's CentralWorld around 5 pm today

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Deputy PM Suthep ready for Democrat Party Ratchaprasong rally Thursday evening; confident police can control situation /MCOT