Thailand Live Monday 4 Jul 2011

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18 fugitives arrested at Pattaya Polling Station:

Shooting incident at Toyota Car Showroom in Pattaya:

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Lawyer Clarifies Red-shirt Leader's Voting Absence

The attorney for a Pheu Thai MP-elect who is still confined in a prison submitted an explanation over his client’s absence from voting with the district office to ensure that his client will not be disqualified from assuming a parliamentary post..

Winyatti Chatmontri, a lawyer representing Pheu Thai’s party-list MP-elect Jatuporn Prompan, also a red-shirt core leader, today submitted a statement to the Wangthonglang District Office over his client’s absence from yesterday’s election.

The attorney reasoned that Jatuporn is still being held in the Bangkok Remand Prison after the court revoked his bail.

The lawyer also presented a letter from the prison warden confirming his confinement and the petition he filed to the court asking for temporary release for Jatuporn to cast his ballot.

The appeal, however, was turned down.

The similar petition will be forwarded to the Bangkok Election Commission and the central poll body for deliberation.

Winyatti said the Constitution Court will rule if Jatuporn is still qualified to assume an MP post.

He went on to say Jatuporn’s absence from voting should have no legal effect on his MP post given the poll panel has never disqualified him as a candidate.

The lawyer stated he will include the poll panel’s endorsement of Jatuporn’s status as an MP in the fresh petition to be submitted with the Criminal Court next week asking for his release.

He commented Jatuporn can exercise his privilege as an MP against being jailed only when the new House is convened.

Meanwhile, Jaturporn’s wife Prompatsorn Prompan said she met her husband at the prison this morning and added he was very happy with the Sunday’s election results.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-04

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Sanan hopes Bhum Jai Thai will understand Chart Thai Pattana

Chart Thai Pattana Party chief advisor Sanan Kachornprasart Monday expressed confidence that the Bhum Jai Thai Party would understand why the Chart Thai Pattana had to leave its alliance to join the Pheu Thai coalition.

The Chart Thai Pattana and Bhum Jai Thai declared their alliance before the election saying they would stay together even if they would have to become opposition parties together.

But a day after the election, the Chart Thai Pattana joined the Pheu Thai-led coalition.

Sanan told a press conference that he believed the Pheu Thai had real intention to bring about reconciliation in the country.

When asked how he would settle differences with the Bhum Jai Thai after the Chart Thai Pattana failed to keep its words, Sanan said: "Friends should understand each other. Politicians understand well what has happened."

-- The Nation 2011-07-04

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Suthep confirm he will not return as Democrat Party secretary-general after Abhisit's resignation as party leader /MCOT

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SET index closed at 1090.28, up 48.80; Bt/USD30.32; GBP48.72; AUD32.44; EUR43.99; CAD31.52; HKD3.89; SGD24.63; JPY37.39

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Chart Thai Pattana Let Down by Disappointing Poll Results

The Chart Thai Pattana chief adviser has admitted he was disappointed by the results of the election and the party's losses in Suphanburi Province.

He also said he is on good terms with the Bhum Jai Thai Party and proposed that it join the new coalition government.

Chart Thai Pattana chief adviser Banharn Silpa-archa said after hearing the poll results that he was disappointed and ashamed that his party won fewer seats than it projected, particularly in Suphanburi Province, where they lost one seat to the Pheu Thai Party.

When asked about the possibility of joining the next coalition government with the Pheu Thai Party, he said it is a decision for party leader Chumphol Silpa-archa to make.

Banharn asserted that relations with the Bhum Jai Thai Party remain normal and he personally hoped Bhum Jai Thai will consider joining the coalition government.

He said he will raise the proposal with the Pheu Thai Party. However, he must wait for Pheu Thai's response since it previously announced it will not work with Bhum Jai Thai.

However, Banharn feels the two parties can discuss possible cooperation.

Regarding relations with the Democrat Party, Banharn stated that he has scheduled a lunch with Democrat secretary general Suthep Thaugsuban after receiving very surprising phone calls from Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and Suthep last night.

Banharn concluded that the Pheu Thai Party is able to form the next government with 290 seats, but having 300 seats will be a safer bet.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-04

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Joint Private Committee (representing key business sectors) has urged new govt not to introduce any divisive amnesty programme. /via@tulsathit

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AFP: Thai stocks end nearly 5% higher after election

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Thai People's Expectation on New Prime Minister

People from many provinces throughout the country are expecting the first Thai woman prime minister to implement the Pheu Thai Party's campaign promises.

Many have expressed hope that the country will move toward a more positive direction.

After the unofficial poll results have been released, showing that the Pheu Thai Party has won the majority in the House seats, some residents of Chiang Mai Province said that they are happy to see Yingluck Shinawatra, who is the Pheu Thai's Number One party-list MP, becoming the first woman prime minister of Thailand.

Meanwhile, they have pleaded with the new administration to solve economic problems, particularly the cost of living.

One day after the election in Satun Province, many also want the government to look after the people's livelihood and solve the issue of poverty.

The southerners are also waiting for a positive change.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-04

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Ex-Democrat Secretary General Suthep Not to Retake Post

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Cambodia Welcomes Pheu Thai's Victory

The Cambodian foreign minister welcomes the Pheu Thai Party's victory in Thailand's general election and calls for peaceful Cambodian-Thai relations.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong welcomed the victory of the Pheu Thai Party in the general election, and said he hoped the two countries would be able to repair relations.

The remark came at a meeting with Japanese ambassador Kuroki Masafumi at the Cambodian Foreign Ministry's headquarters.

Relations between Cambodia and Thailand have been fraught in recent time, with numerous clashes at the border that resulted in many killed and injured on both sides.

Phnom Penh in 2009 appointed former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military coup, as a government economic adviser.

The Thai government, led by Abhisit Vejjajiva, retaliated by recalling its ambassador from Phnom Penh.

Hor Namhong said he hoped the new Thai government would be able to resolve its differences with Cambodia.

The two countries have been at loggerheads since July 2008, when the Preah Vihear Temple, which is under Cambodia's jurisdiction, was granted the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, World Heritage status, which Thailand opposed on the grounds that the land around it had never been demarcated.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-04

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Police Keep Watch on Post-election Situation

Police will remain alert of possible violence until Thursday after yesterday’s election before re-estimating the security situation nationwide.

Senior Police Adviser Police General Pongsapat Pongcharoen, who is in charge of overseeing security for the election, said the police chief has ordered a crackdown on criminal activities from July 1 to 7.

Police will also remain vigilant in 61 constituencies in 25 provinces.

Pongsapat said his agency will keep a watchful eye on various provinces, namely Sukhothai, Chaiyaphum, Maha Sarakham, Si Sa Ket and Buri Ram, where MP candidates may likely see yellow and red cards from the Election Commission.

He then remarked that all MP-elects will be escorted by police officers until the Election Commission certifies the poll results.

Authorities will re-estimate the situation after July 7 to decide whether they should provide further protection for the MPs.

Police spokesman Police Major General Pravuth Thavornsiri stated 67 complaints have been filed following Sunday’s election.

A dozen of them are about alleged vote-buying.

A total of 15 are on attempts to threaten the lives of candidates.

A score of them are about ballot tearing .

Another two involve voters bringing ballots out of the polling station.

The remaining 28 are violations of the ban on alcohol sale.

He then said the ballot boxes left stranded in Tak’s Umpang and Moei districts due to torrential rain arrived at the Election Commission headquarters today and the vote counting should be completed by tonight.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-04

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BANGKOK

Elevated road, bridge close on Sunday for minimarathons

The Rama VIII Bridge will be closed to traffic between 5.30am and noon on Sunday for events being held in honour of His Majesty the King.

Deputy Metropolitan Police Commissioner Maj General Panu Kerdlarpphol said today the adjacent elevated Borommaratchachonnanee Road would also be closed at certain times of the day.

The Nurses' Association of Thailand and the organiser of the Bangkok Triathlon are scheduled to organise minimarathons there on Sunday.

Panu told motorists to avoid the Rama VIII Bridge and the elevated Bomrommaratchachonnanee Road on Sunday.

"Please use the Somdej Phra Pinklao Bridge and the Boromratchachonnanee Road instead," he said.

For traffic inquiries, please call 1197.

-- The Nation 2011-07-04

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CRIME

Parking rage incident girl interrogated

By The Nation

The 19-year-old girl at the centre of a much publicised "parking rage" incident today reported to police and stood by her father's statement that he was driving the car that injured a female doctor on June 4.

Pinpisut Phuklan spent more than three hours being interrogated today. She refused to give any interview to the media.

Since her father, Colonel Saksit Phuklan, came forward and took responsibility for the injuries to the doctor, doubts have been growing as to whether he was trying to protect the real culprit.

As he works for the Royal Thai Army, the case will go to the military court if he is charged.

To date, police have not yet pressed charges against anyone. Saksit described Dr Hathaiporn Imwittaya's injuries as being caused by an accident but Hathaiporn's mother insists these are the result of a deliberate attack.

Pinpisut reportedly quarrelled with Hathaiporn before the serious injuries were inflicted. The victim is now slowly recovering from her brain injuries.

-- The Nation 2011-07-04

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to continue

Thailand Live Tuesday 5 Jul 2011

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