Thailand Live Saturday 2 Jul 2011

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OPINION: WATCHDOG

Post-election scenario has investors wary

By Nophakhun Limsamarnphun

A chaotic outcome is expected as a result of tomorrow's general election in which about 35 million Thais are expected to cast their votes.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/479589-post-election-scenario-has-investors-wary/

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OPINION: EDITORIAL

A mistake to snub Unesco heritage convention

By The Nation

It appears that Thailand has cut off its nose to spite its face in the dispute over Preah Vihear Temple and adjacent territorial claims

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/479533-revoke-preah-vihear-as-world-heritage-site-suwit/page__view__findpost__p__4527400

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Aussie family doubt suicide claim by Phuket police

Australian tourist Marc Gerard Hoy fell from the sixth-floor balcony of the hotel.

PHUKET: The family of Australian tourist Marc Gerard Hoy, 34, who fell to his death from the sixth floor of a Phuket hotel last weekend, have expressed doubts that he committed suicide.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/479593-aussie-family-doubt-suicide-claim-by-phuket-police/

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Land Dept. claims 90% of prime Phuket land controlled by foreigners

Aerial shot of Patong beach, Phuket.

Photo: Nicky Vermeulen

Foreigners found guilty will have their land seized before being deported

PHUKET: Phuket leads all of Thailand in the amount of land held by foreigners, with up to 90 per cent of prime beachfront land being illegally held through Thai nominees, claims one of the country’s top land officials.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/479594-land-dept-claims-90-of-prime-phuket-land-controlled-by-foreigners/

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EC ready for election and expects unofficial results by 9pm tomorrow; election fraud complaint in Si Sa Ket being probed / TAN_Network

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Police chief orders 100,000 force to take care of election but worries abt situation tonight;42 non-neutral officers reported,13 transferred /TAN_Network

Over 100,000 police deployed nationwide to ensure safety on election day; suspected biased officers ordered transferred/MCOT

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Thailand's political parties launch last minute campaign

BANGKOK, July 2 -- Thailand's political parties on Saturday commenced their last minute campaign on the eve of election day to draw votes in general election which was seen as key test of kingdom's ability to dig its way out of long and bloody political crisis.

The top Pheu Thai party list candidate for the premiership, Yingluck Shinawatra, youngest sister of ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra started the last day of the campaign on a motorcade along the major roads and landmarks in Bangkok including Victory Monument, Ratchawat, Tao Poon, and Chatuchak weekend market.

Political parties are prohibited from any campaign activity after 6 pm Saturday until midnight Sunday, July 3.

Ms Yingluck expressed confidence that Pheu Thai party would win over 250 seats from a total of 500 seats which are up for grabs.

There are 375 constituency seats available from 76 provinces including Bangkok, which has a quota of 33 of those seats. The remaining 125 seats will be decided by the party list vote.

Ms Yingluck said she believed that the voters would give her and Pheu Thai party's opportunity to work for the country, as she had seen during 40 days of campaigning to clarify the party's platform and policy, that the public had given her warm welcome.

However, she said it was too early to talks about forming the new government as it has to wait for the Election Commission (EC) to officially verify the poll result. If Pheu Thai win election, the government forming process would start, though she did affirm that Pheu Thai would likely not form a coalition with Bhumjaithai Party, citing their policy differences were too great.

She also affirmed that her brother Thaksin has nothing to do with the Pheu Thai as the party has an administrative team to run and making decision.

Meanwhile, incumbent Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, in his capacity as Democrat Party leader, along with leading party members, commenced a final Democrat poll campaign near Sanam Luang releasing seven groups of motorcades to campaign around Bangkok.

Mr Abhisit urged the voters to exercise their rights and make a decisive choice between the Democrat and Pheu Thai parties?. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-07-02

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Si Sa Ket and Buri Ram ECs prepare substitute polling stations near border if clashes occur; Unofficial poll results expected by 9-10pm/ MCOT

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Democrat confirms no talks with others over Govt formation

BANGKOK, 2 July 2011 (NNT) – Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has reaffirmed that there have not been any discussions with other parties over the establishment of the next government while urging all Thais to vote tomorrow.

Mr Abhisit encouraged all eligible voters to exercise their rights in the general election tomorrow and expressed belief that the Thai people no longer wished to suffer from political turmoil and problems that stemmed from only one individual. He asked the voters to be decisive and move forward with the Democrat and the country.

On the other hand, the Democrat leader insisted that all sides must accept the election result no matter how it turned out and respect the parliamentary system. He then reiterated that no ties had been formed so far with any other party for the establishment of the new coalition government as any action would have to depend on the outcome of the poll.

In response to ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s claim that he was not trying to meddle in Thai politics, Mr Abhisit expressed wonder over the meaning of his slogan ‘Thaksin thinks, Pheu Thai does’.

-- NNT 2011-07-02

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Phuket politician cleared of vote-buying allegation

PHUKET: Five days after it was seized, over half a million baht has been returned to a former Phuket politician cleared of vote-buying allegations.

Prasong Trairat, a former president of the Thepkrasattri Tambon Council, today went to Cherng Talay Police Station to collect 542,000 baht in assets taken from his home in Thepkrasattri by a provincial police anti-vote-buying task force.

Officers with a search warrant on the night of June 26 seized the money from Mr Prasong's home, but never filed charges against him.

Mr Prasong pled his case before the local media, saying the money was from a family business.

The seizure caused him a great deal of personal damage and he intends to file charges against the state officials involved, he said.

-- Phuket Gazette 2011-07-02

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World’s largest floating book fair heading back to Phuket

The 400 volunteers on board 'Logos Hope' represent 45 nationalities.

The 'Logos Hope', like her predecessors, sails continuously around the world, taking with her the world's largest floating library from port to port.

PHUKET: After six years since their last visit aboard the MV Doulos, the crew aboard the MV Logos Hope will be returning to Phuket, bringing with them more than 5,000 books as part of their “global mission to serve humanity

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/479609-worlds-largest-floating-book-fair-heading-back-to-phuket/

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Phuket Police doubt British woman's rape allegation

PHUKET: CCTV images and other evidence have cast doubt over a British woman's claim that she was raped at knifepoint by a Phuket tuk-tuk driver, Phuket Police say.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/479630-phuket-police-doubt-british-womans-rape-allegation/

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Phuket gears up for election weekend

110,138 eligible voters designated to vote at 151 polling stations in constituency one, and 185,368 designated at 186 polling stations in constituency two

PHUKET: More than 300 polling stations will be set up across Phuket for the island’s nearly-300,000 registered voters to cast their ballots in the general election tomorrow.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/479631-phuket-gears-up-for-election-weekend/

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Mo Chit bus terminal crowded with passengers returning home for Sunday general election, Heavy traffic at Mittaphap Rd leading to NE region / MCOT

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Yingluck holds final campaign around Bangkok

BANGKOK, 2 July 2011 (NNT) – Prime ministerial candidate of the Pheu Thai Party Yingluck Shinawatra has launched her final campaign rally around Bangkok ahead of the general election tomorrow.

As part of the Pheu Thai Party’s last campaign activity for Bangkok, Ms Yingluck this morning boarded a red jeep alongside Pheu Thai leader Yongyuth Wichaidit and other party core members in order to canvass around the capital prior to the 3 July election. The group is set to travel on eight routes today, beginning at the party headquarters. After making her first stop at the Victory Monument, the number one party-list candidate of Pheu Thai headed to Bang Sue Station of the MRT subway to take a train to Chatuchak Weekend Market.

During the rally, Ms Yingluck thanked her supporters for the warm welcome and urged everyone to come out to vote tomorrow. She said she believed most people had already made up their mind and she felt confident that Pheu Thai would win more than half a quorum, insisting that her party would work hard to stamp out national problems.

The candidate is scheduled to visit the Charan Sanitwongse-Pinklao area later in the day before returning to the Pheu Thai Party Headquarters.

According to the electoral law, all vote canvassing must stop at 18.00 hrs. today.

-- NNT 2011-07-02

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Unofficial poll result will be known after 9pm: EC

BANGKOK, July 2 - Election Commissioner Prapun Naigowit expressed satisfaction over the preparation of the general election on Sunday and expected that the unofficial result of the poll could come out after 9pm.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/479637-unofficial-poll-result-will-be-known-after-9pm-ec/

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Chairman of a polling station in Phichit hit and killed a 9-yr-old boy in his haste to deliver ballots to polling station / TAN_Network

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Chavalit says Pheu Thai has the right to bring Thaksin back; says Democrats shouldn't try to form govt if it doesn't win most seats / TAN_Network

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Election? It's a tough call

By The Nation

If there's one thing these prominent citizens agree on, it's that the next government has to try harder

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/479644-election-its-a-tough-call/

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EC worries over possible rain on election day

BANGKOK, 2 July 2011 (NNT) – Election Commissioner Praphan Naikowit has expressed concerns over the weather condition on the day of election, urging voters to arrive at the polling station early in order to avoid possible rain.

As Thailand is now in the rainy season, Mr Praphan admitted feeling concerned that the wet weather would discourage eligible voters from coming out to cast ballots in the general election tomorrow. He thus suggested everyone to arrive at the polling booth early in the morning to evade inconveniences should it rain.

After the ballot boxes are closed at 15.00 hrs, the Election Commissioner estimated that the unofficial result would be known by 21.00 hrs. The ballot counting process will be broadcast live via the TV Pool of Thailand and the public will learn of the outcome at the same time as the electoral officials do.

In the meantime, Mr Praphan reminded all internet users to be cautious when posting political comments online after 18.00 hrs today as any statements in favor of certain political parties might be deemed as a violation of the electoral law.

-- NNT 2011-07-02

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To my English-native audience, tonight is traditionally called "Howling Night", as vote-buyers often pay late visits to targeted homes /Via@tulsathit

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Thaksin Shinawatra will read a brief statement to the media, no questions, on Monday morning in Dubai, following Thailand's election. / Via@wayne_hay

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Scattered rain expected in northern, central and eastern parts of Thailand on July 3: Meteorological Dept/ MCOT

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Free MRT service from 6am-4pm tomorrow to promote going out to vote/ TAN_Network

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to continue

Thailand Live Sunday 3 Jul 2011

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