Thailand Live Thursday 23 Jun 2011

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Yingluck Shinawatra says she wants supporters to remain quiet for now about today's Democrat Rally and voice their opinion on election day /via@wayne_hay

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Commerce Minister: DTAC Scrutiny to be Concluded on July 4

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Trade Chamber Demands Clear Vision of Country Development in Next Govt

The Thai Chamber of Commerce is calling on the new government to reduce the economic gap and root out corruption.

It is critical of the rice-pledging scheme and warns that action speaks louder than words.

Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce or TCC Dusit Nontanakorn said the new government should have a clear vision, direction, and goals for the development of the country over the course of the next five years, so the private sector can plan their business accordingly.

He added that the private sector is also urging the new government to continue to clamp down on corruption and narrow the wealth gap by restructuring the agricultural and industrial sectors, as well as the overall economy.

Dusit said the new government should place more focus on logistics development as logistics costs in Thailand are still high, which undermines the country's international competitiveness.

He suggested that the Board of Investment review its investment privileges and withdraw assistance for certain industries that no longer need help.

Meanwhile, the TCC chairman said all the campaign promises made by political parties sound good, but implementation is important, as good plans require good execution.

Chairman of the Thai Rice Exporters Association Chukiart Opaswong noted that political parties have been unable to explain how the rice pledging scheme will be carried out, and about whether they have measures in place to maintain the country's competitiveness when rice prices soar.

With the pledging scheme, the price of long-grain rice is estimated to rise to 850 U.S. dollars per ton, while jasmine rice could sell for 1,500 dollars per ton.

The prices are deemed very high and could directly affect the country's export.

He stressed that a loan program will mean nothing if exporters cannot sell rice.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-23

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British Tourist Complains Thai Police Will Not Investigate His Ladyboy Masseur

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Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Former Red-shirt Guard

Samut Prakarn Provincial Court has issued an arrest warrant for a sniper who is a former guard for the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship.

Samut Prakarn Provincial Court has issued an arrest warrant for 37 year old Jirapong Arjdaeja, known as 'Tong' Wang Nam Kial, who is suspected of shooting MP Samut Prakarn Constituency candidate Pracha Prasopdee last May.

Yesterday, Commandander of Samut Prakarn Provincial Station, Police Major General Jitti Rodbangyang submitted a case with evidence to the provincial court before the court issued an arrest warrant.

He reiterated that all offenders must be prosecuted and punished by law.

In the initial probe, the offenders were found to be the ranger and the former guard of Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship.

He is the owner of the Toyota Pre-runner which was used in the crime.

Meanwhile, Commandander of the Provincial Station Region 1, Police General Assawin Kwanmuang said the gunman was also involved in the shooting of Lopburi Administration staff member Suban Jirapunwanich.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-23

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Third Region Army Finds No Violent Red-shirt Units in North

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AFP: Thai Democrat party to rally at crackdown site

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Strategic Airlines gets stranded Phuket Aussies home

Stranded Aussies at the Naithonburi Resort in Phuket listen to updates

as to which flights are going to carry them home.

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PAD defending second civil case for airports seizure

By The Nation

People's Alliance for Democracy leader Sondhi Limthongkul on Thursday testified in defence of the PAD-led protest and seizure of Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports in 2008.

Aeronauticial Radio of Thailand Ltd is the plaintiff in the civil litigation demanding for Bt103 million damage from 15 protest organisers, including Sondhi.

Speaking from the witness stand at the Civil Court, Sondhi said protesters were confined to their rally site, located apart from air traffic operations at the two airports.

He said the protest did not disrupt flight departures and arrivals and that the rally took place at the designated area used in past protests led by taxi drivers.

This is a second civil litigation faced by the PAD. In the first case, Airports of Thailand won the Bt522 million damage awarded by the lower court's decision. The case is under the appellate review.

-- The Nation 2011-06-23

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Defense Minister Reaffirms Political Neutrality

The defense minister has reaffirmed that the armed forces will remain neutral regardless of the election's outcome.

He has pleaded with all parties to accept the poll result.

Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan has reaffirmed that the armed forces remain neutral and will accept the poll result.

Prawit also asked Thais to exercise their rights to vote in order to move the country forward.

The minister commented on the Democrat Party's campaign rally at Ratchaprasong Intersection in Bangkok this evening, saying that it is just a normal political activity.

He believes that there will not be any incident as security at the event is being maintained by police.

The minister also reported that he has ordered the army hospital to closely monitor the condition of Major Doctor Hathaiporn Imwittaya, the victim of a hit-and-run incident.

As for the army colonel who has confessed to being the driver who hit the doctor, Prawit said that it will be up to police to find out the truth and that he has not been informed whether the vehicle, owned by the army, has been impounded as evidence.

The investigation team will interrogate wife of the, Colonel Saksit Pu-glun, to clarify some discrepancies in his testimony.

Police also said that whether more witnesses will be summoned will be determined by the course of the investigation.

About a statement made by the victim's mother that the colonel was just a scapegoat, the police simply said that due to the ongoing investigation, the colonel has not yet been charged.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-23

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Five Iranians arrested in separate 'ice' smuggling cases at Suvarnabhumi

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PM Abhisit asserts Democrat rally at Ratchaprasong will be 'constructive'

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Traffic Lanes to Be Closed for New Train Line Construction

Lanes next to the traffic island on Charansanitwong and Petchkasem roads will be closed at night from now on as construction of the Blue Line electric rail project commenced last night.

The permanent closure of those lanes is scheduled for mid-July onwards.

Ronnachit Yaemsa-ard, acting governor of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand, held discussions with the Metropolitan Police Bureau regarding plans to manage road traffic during the construction of the Hua Lamphong-Bang Khae and Bang Sue-Tha Phra sections of the Blue Line electric train project, which covers a total distance of 27 kilometers.

Construction began last night, starting with the removal of trees and utility systems on the traffic island.

One lane next to the traffic island in both directions of Charansanitwong and Petchkasem roads is closed during the night from now on.

Each lane next to the traffic island on Petchkasem, Charansanitwong, Charoenkrung and Rama IV roads will be closed permanently, starting from mid-July until the completion of construction in 2016.

Ronnachit said expropriation of land is about halfway to completion while contractors have obtained an initial approval to carry out survey and relocation works, but are still awaiting an official permit.

He concluded that the overall progress is on schedule.

He added his agency will launch a website for the Blue Line rail project as a channel to communicate with and receive complaints from the public within two weeks.

Metrolitan Police Deputy Commissioner in charge of traffic control Police Major General Phanu Kerdlarppol said roadside parking will be prohibited at all time on Charansanitwong and Petchkasem roads to alleviate congestion.

He added warnings and detour signs will be put up to guide motorists around the construction area.

The Blue Line rail project consists of two sections. The first section is the construction of a 13-kilometer elevated railroad from Bang Sue to Tha Phra.

The second section involves construction of an underground railway stretching 14 kilometers from Hua Lamphong to Bang Khae.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-23

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Govt Cash Card Refinancing Takes Off

The finance minister said three state banks will launch the cash card refinancing scheme tomorrow.

Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said three state banks will be involved in the cash card refinancing project in the initial phase.

He said those interested can sign up for the program at Krung Thai Bank, the Government Savings Ban, and the Islamic Bank of Thailand or IBank.

IBank President Teerasak Suwanyot said the bank will offer one billion baht for the refinancing scheme out of the total ten billion baht budget, while Krung Thai and the Government Savings Bank will each offer 4.5 billion baht in loans.

He said the conditions of the new refinancing scheme will not be different from the credit card refinancing program launched recently.

He said each borrower will be able to take out a maximum of 300,000 baht with a 14-percent annual interest rate against the credit card refinancing program's interest rate of ten percent, and a repayment period of one year to three.

He added that the borrowers mush have good credit history and cannot obtain loans of more than five times their monthly salary.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-23

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BTS Skytrain On Nut- Bearing extension starts operating Aug 12, free rides until Jan 1, 2012, Bangkok governor says during trial run /MCOT

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PM Deems Thaksin Major Snag to National Unity

The Democrat Party leader believes ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is the mastermind behind the movement of red-shirt protesters who have been harassing him during his campaign tour.

Prime Minister and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said it is undeniable that ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is behind the movement of red-shirt supporters protesting against him everywhere he goes during his election campaign tour.

He added that all placards with messages aimed at attacking him imply links to the convicted politician.

Nonetheless, Abhisit assured that his party will be able to restore national unity if elected to resume office.

He said if the party fails to gain support from the majority of voters, that will mean the public is happy with the current state of the nation.

The premier revealed that he never feels angry nor wants to take revenge when people protest against him.

He only wants to tell the public that he simply could not accept an amnesty proposal because it's for the sake of certain individuals, and it will not lead the country to national harmony.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-23

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Vote buying on the rise in Phuket: Governor

Buying votes by 'national ID card buying' is on the rise in Phuket,

said Governor Tri Augkaradacha.

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More bluebottles wash ashore in Phuket

One of the bluebottle's few natural predators, the Loggerhead sea turtle,

is now believed extinct in Phuket waters. Photo: Dan Hartwright

Most of the bluebottles that have washed ashore in the past week have

been fairly small. Photo: Dan Hartwright

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Democrat Leader Slams Amnesty Effort

The Pheu Thai Party chief says his party has never had any resolution on the amnesty plan.

Meanwhile, the Democrat leader has affirmed his stand against the amnesty push for any wrongdoer, adding that the seized 46 billion-baht assets will not be returned to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as he has been found guilty in the case.

A debate, organized by the Open Forum for Democracy Foundation and the People's Network for Election in Thailand, was held earlier today between six representatives of the country's six major political parties, the Democrat, Pheu Thai, Chart Thai Pattana, Matubhum, Bhum Jai Thai and Chart Pattana Puea Pandin.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva expressed his viewpoints on the reconciliation push by insisting that the plan will have to be implemented without benefiting any particular group or individual.

Abhisit said the government must enforce the law and promote respect for the law among the public.

He also slammed the Pheu Thai Party for its amnesty push, saying several key members of the party have been mentioning the drive on many occasions.

The Democrat leader stood firm against the amnesty plan and insisted that the government will not return the seized 46 billion-baht assets to someone who committed wrongdoings, referring to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was also sentenced to two years in jail in a corruption case.

Pheu Thai Party leader Yongyut Wichaidit countered Abhisit in the debate that his party has no amnesty policy for any particular individual and has never had any party resolution on the matter from its executive members.

Yongyut said the amnesty push is a mere opinion from some party members.

Commenting on whether there will be an amnesty, Yongyut said the matter rests with a committee which will be set up to push forward reconciliation in the country.

The Pheu Thai leader insisted that his party's policies aim at amending rather than seeking revenge.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-23

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SET index closed at 1014.13, down 9.73; Bt/USD30.35; GBP48.53; AUD31.88; EUR43.28; CAD31.10; HKD3.89; SGD24.45; JPY37.45

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No scarlet fever outbreak in Thailand

BANGKOK, 23 June 2011 (NNT)-Spokesperson of the Department of Disease Control Dr. Rungrueng Kitphati said no report of death related to scarlet fever had been found in Thailand, while urging the public to remain calm.

Following the outbreak in Hong Kong, Dr. Rungrueng reassured that the number of patients with scarlet fever was small and no one had died from the disease yet. He further explained that people who have contracted the scarlet fever may have the following symptoms; a sore throat, a fever, visible rashes across the torso and neck.

The disease is identified as a type of bacteria called Group A streptococcus and infection is airborne. It can be found in all age groups although it is more common in children aged 2-8 years old. Anyone with similar symptoms should seek medical attention.

People are advised to wash their hands frequently, stay in a well ventilated space and cover their mouths and noses when sneezing. According to the Department's statistics, 50 provinces across Thailand have been reported to have scarlet fever patients in the past 3 years.

They are more of them in the Northern and Northeastern regions with an estimation of 1,600-1,800 patients per year. Since the beginning of year until 10 June, 2011, there have only been 524 patients with scarlet fever in Thailand.

-- NNT 2011-06-23

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Village headman in Kokkotao Subdistrict, Suphan Buri shot dead by gunman on pick-up truck wielding M16; politics believed to be motive /TAN_Network

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Governor tries out BTS extension

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra Thursday tested the On Nut-Baring Skytrain extension which will be open for public use on August 12 and provide free rides until January 1, 2012.

Sukhumbhand led city executives to test the system at each of the extension's five stations covering 5.25 kilometres. Bangkok City invested Bt50 billion in its construction.

The project is designed to ease traffic congestion in the area, especially from Phra Khanong to Bang Na Intersection, and reduce personal car usage. It was expected to serve 120,000 commuters per day, he said.

On June 28, Sukhumbhand is scheduled to inspect the progress of another Skytrain extension, from Taksin to Phetchakasem, and push for its projected opening on December 5, 2012.

-- The Nation 2011-06-23

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Thailand Live Friday 24 Jun 2011

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