Thailand Live Wednesday 29 Jun 2011

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First ever tweet from Pope Benedict XVI…is from an iPad: http://bit.ly/j3aLuK /via @TweetSmarter

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Moderate 5.6-magnitude earthquake hits off Indonesia's Sumatra island, local geophysics agency says, but there are no initial reports of damage or casualties /MCOT

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Former Local Official Calls for Justice After Police Seized Cash

A former Thep Kasat Tri Sub-district administrative organization chief executive is calling for justice after his cash, totalling 500,000 baht, was seized by police officers.

A former chief executive of the Thep Kasat Tri Sub-district administrative organization in Phuket Province has complained about his cash being seized by police officers, saying the money is not involved in vote-buying, and it is simply cash for his business.

Prasong Trairat claimed that local police officers searched his home on June 26 and seized his cash as they believe the money could be involved in vote-buying.

He added that he asked police officers when he will get the cash back, but he did not receive a clear answer, as the Phuket officers claimed the money has been sent to the Election Commission in Bangkok for verification.

Prasong insisted the sum is only for his business liquidity as he runs a variety of business such as apartment rentals, cosmetic shops, and second-hand cars.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-29

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PAD Slams Abhisit for Exploiting Preah Vihear Temple Issue for Campaign

The spokesperson for the People's Alliance for Democracy has accused the Democrat Party leader of shamelessly exploiting Thailand's withdrawal from the World Heritage Committee for election campaign.

On June 28 at the People's Alliance for Democracy rally in Bangkok, Spokesperson for the People's Alliance for Democracy Panthep Puapongpan pointed out that the reason why the government decided to pullout from the World Heritage Committee was because the committee has agreed to allow Cambodia to enter the disputed area to repair the damaged Preah Vihear Temple.

Panthep said this will make it impossible for Thailand to expel Cambodian encroachers from the Thai soil.

Panthep also added that the UNESCO have slyly put the deliberation of the land management plan proposed by Cambodia on the World Heritage Convention's agenda without Thailand's prior consent.

The UNESCO also announced that it had no plan to deliberate the plan only after Thailand has stated its intention to withdraw from the committee.

Panthep believes that the UNESCO is hoping that Thai government would reconsider withdrawing from the committee and to simply pass on the problem to the next administration.

The PAD spokesperson also accused Democrat Party Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva of exploiting the issue for the election campaign.

He mentioned that initially, Abhisit was only intending to have the deliberation of the land management plan postponed, not for Thailand to pullout its membership from the convention.

Panthep said that the Democrat Party has been shamelessly claiming credit for Thailand's withdrawal from the World Heritage Committee even though the Democrat-led government has been allowing Cambodia to encroach on Thai soil.

The PAD spokesperson added that when Abhisit was the Opposition, he strongly expressed his opposition to the registration of the Preah Vihear Temple as one of the World Heritage site but at the convention, the government changed its position by only asking for the deliberation of the land management plan to be postponed.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-29

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AFP: Thai troops accused of pre-vote intimidation

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Thai military denies planning attack on Cambodia

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PM assures no attempt to overthrow election but it may be postponed in some areas with flooding /TAN_Network

PM slams Cambodian PM Hun Sen for interfering with Thailand's affairs /TAN_Network

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Abhisit promises Bt2,500 immediate salary hike to EGAT employees upon his visit to the EGAT Bangkruay office if he is voted into power /TAN_Network

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22 provinces warned of possible flash floods, mudslides

BANGKOK, 29 June 2011 (NNT) – The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has issued a warning for possible flash floods and mudslides in 22 provinces of the northern, eastern and southern regions during this period.

The 22 provinces comprise Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Lampang, Lamphun, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Phrae, Nan, Tak, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Uttaradit, Phetchabun, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat, Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi and Trang.

DDPM Director-General Viboon Sanguanpong said villagers are warned to prepare for heavy rain from 28 to 29 June 2011 while those residing in risky spots such as on hill slopes and nearby waterways in the aforementioned provinces, are suggested to observe any unusual signals in the nature closely in order to be able to evacuate in time.

In addition, waves off the western coast of Thailand during this period are expected to be 2 metres high. Fisher folks should be cautious when sailing at sea while small boats are advised to remain ashore for the time being.

The DDPM has dispatched officials to risky zones to monitor the situation closely. Villagers suffering from flooding, storms and landslides are urged to seek assistance from the office by dialling its emergency line 1784, which is available around the clock.

-- NNT 2011-06-29

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Sanoh says he will quit politics if Yingluck does not get to become PM; confident Pheu Thai will win more than 300 seats /TAN_Network

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Chuvit urges EC to work harder

BANGKOK, 29 June 2011 (NNT) – Rak Thailand Party Leader Chuvit Kamolvisit has encouraged the Election Commission (EC) to take proactive actions against electoral frauds as their possibilities are high, especially at the provincial level.

Speaking during his election campaign in Bangkok, Mr Chuvit, a former massage business owner, stated that his team had found a number of electoral frauds so far. Among those cases, police officers arrested an election canvasser giving away money to people in the central province of Sukhothai.

The outspoken candidate warned that provincial ECs are very dangerous as they are close to local politicians while some of them are former government officials and many electoral staff members in polling stations are government officials with close relationship with politicians.

Mr Chuvit narrated that election can be cheated in many ways, including adding pre-marked ballots or swapping ballot boxes from advance election, offering bribes to local electoral staff members, counting ballots falsely usually found in polling stations with no observers as well as fabricating incidents leading to red cards and others.

Mr Chuvit noted that the EC must urgently take action since vote buying is highly rampant, especially when the election is drawing close. He added that advance elections, both inside and outside the country, are prone to frauds because ballot boxes may be swapped any time while being kept in unsecured places.

-- NNT 2011-06-29

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Man arrested with Bt130 million worth of illicit drug in Bangkok

A 40-year-old man was arrested in Bangkok's Lak Si district along with 400,000 Yaba tablets and 10 kilogram of crystal meth, worth Bt130 million totally, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Police Lieutenant General Chakthip Chaijinda said Wednesday. Police also found an AKA rifle, a pistol and ammunitions in the suspect's car.

Sunthorn Kaewthong reportedly told police that he was unemployed and he delivered drugs twice before, each time he got paid at Bt100,000 to support his family.

Patrolling police found the suspicious Sunthorn in his car at Soi Chinkhet 2/46, and presented themselves to search his car and found the drugs and the guns.

-- The Nation 2011-06-29

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7 rounded up on drugs, arms, theft charges in Phuket

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EC: 111 electoral fraud complaints filed so far

BANGKOK, 29 June 2011 (NNT) – More than 100 complaints on possible electoral frauds have been filed to the Election Commission so far, most of which concern defamation and intimidations.

Election Commissioner Sodsri Satayathum stated that the EC has dropped ten cases from the complaints filed so far. Most of them are related to groundless defamation.

As for the issuance of red cards, Ms Sodsri said the cards mostly involve vote-buying. She invited people who have witnessed vote buying to submit evidence to the EC for further investigation.

There are 111 complaints of possible electoral frauds filed to the Election Investigation Operation Centre of the EC from 23 May to 28 June 2011. Out of the number, 51 cases are about defamation, threats and deception, 17 on cash distribution and 4 on entertainment arrangement during election campaigns. 20 involve lack of political neutrality of electoral officials and 19 on electoral placards and inappropriate election campaigns.

The EC also reported that 410 complaints were filed via telephone and the internet.

-- NNT 2011-06-29

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American fugitive nabbed in Chon Buri

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Ethanol Buses Set for Test Run in Bangkok

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SET index closed at 1033.26, up 19.76; Bt/USD30.67; GBP48.92; AUD32.32; EUR44.04; CAD31.23; HKD3.94; SGD24.68; JPY37.63

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Flood disease hits 7,000 Thais

More than 7,000 people are suffering from flood-related diseases in Nan province, two days after the remnants of Typhoon Haima hit parts of Thailand.

Most are suffering from athlete's foot, insect stings and injuries from flood-related accidents.

One person died in the floods, Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Paijit Warachit said.

The ministry has sent 18 medical teams and 5,000 medicine sets to help flood-affected people, he said.

"We need to find patients who are suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and epilepsy to help them access lifesaving drugs immediately," Paijit said.

-- The Nation 2011-06-29

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Gulf of Thailand gas leak under control, power generation unaffected: PTT

BANGKOK, June 29 - Thailand’s largest energy conglomerate PTT Plc said its gas leak in the Gulf of Thailand since last Saturday is under control and has not affected the country's power generation capacity.

According to PTT Chief Executive and President Pailin Chuchottaworn, a smaller 24-inch diametre pipe link supplying the main line was broken, but no damage was initially found to the major 34-inch diametre pipeline and related gas distribution pipes.

Mr Pailin said his company is organising divers and equipment to shut off the valve there within Saturday, and will later closely monitor the pipelines for further repair needs.

If no sea water is found to have leaked into the tube system, PTT's gas transfer will resume within a short period of time. Otherwise, the sea water must first be piped away.

A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) was previously sent into the sea to monitor the pipeline and provide information to help estimate the time needed for the repairs.

PTT on Sunday announced the amount of gas leaking off the eastern province of Rayong's coast had reached around 600 million cubic feet per day, affecting the company's ability to transfer natural gas to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and other gas separation plants.

The company is sourcing 10 million litres of stove oil supply per day and about 70,000 tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for power plants to meet demand. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-06-29

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AFP: Britain sees surge in parental child abduction abroad

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Butti killing: Kavatassi denied bail

Denis Kavatassi facing charges for conspiracy to commit murder

has been denied bail by Phuket Provincial Court.

Photo: Yodsak Jaran

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PM Shrugs Off Cambodian Leader's Rant

The prime minister slams his Cambodian counterpart for criticizing Thailand's withdrawal from the World Heritage Committee.

Acting Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva slammed the strong reaction from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen concerning Thailand's withdrawal from the World Heritage Committee.

On the challenge from Hun Sen for Thailand to send an official letter of resignation from the World Heritage Committee to the body, Abhisit said it is none of the Cambodian leader's business but it is something Thailand will have to discuss with UNESCO.

He affirmed this is not being turned into a domestic political issue.

He added that the Thai military is not planning an offensive against Cambodia as claimed but he simply ordered the army to be on alert for any possible clash that could break out.

The army has pledged to protect Thailand's sovereignty and Thais living along the border while evacuation drills have been carried out.

The situation along the border is normal although there are reinforcements of Cambodian troops but the Thai military said there is no reason for a clash.

Abhisit stated if a clash breaks out at the border, the Election Commission will be the one to decide whether to postpone the election there, the same way it is considering whether to delay the election in flood-affected areas.

He also stated that Thais should decide for themselves whether they want to vote for his Democrat Party, which has always worked hard at protecting the country's sovereignty or for another political party which has close ties to the Cambodian prime minister.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-29

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to continue

Thailand Live Thursday 30 Jun 2011

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