Thailand Live Tuesday 5 Jul 2011

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PTT Pipeline Repairs to Take Time

PTT has closed its underwater pipeline valves and believes repairs may take longer than expected after seawater was found to have seeped into the pipes.

PTT Chief Executive Pailin Chuchottaworn said that PTT divers have successfully closed the 24-inch pipe that was damaged earlier yesterday.

PTT is currently inspecting the extent of the damage and Pailin believes there is seawater inside the tubes and that it may take some time to drain all the seawater and moisture so that normal operations can resume.

As for finding an alternative source, PTT has distributed a total of 30 million tons of bunker oil to power plants as well as 70,000 tons of liquid natural gas to ensure adequate supplies. PTT is urging gas refineries to meet demand.

The gas pipeline accident occurred on June 25 on the tube linking the pipeline with Platong gas field.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-05

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Abhisit voices support for quick formation of new govt but asks it not to review Thaksin's cases /

Abhisit adds the public will decide whether he should return to post of Democrat leader /

Yingluck says ministerial appointments will not be discussed until EC endorses election result and predicts no political wrangling for posts /

Suthep notes if Yingluck operates on Thaksin's orders, new govt won't last; return to Democrat sec-gen post depends on party leader /

/TAN_Network

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Abhisit: No regretting decision to dissolve Parliament; Reconciliation is not amnesty /MCOT

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Yingluck: Too early to decide cabinet line up, members could be recruited from experts outside of parties /MCOT

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Aussie woman missing, feared drowned off Phuket

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Filipino injured in Phuket motorbike crash

Kusoldharm Phuket rescue workers provide emergency first aid

to Mr Dilag. Photo: Wichai Witthawat

Rescue workers said accidents often occur on the dimly lit road after dark.

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Two suspected wildlife smugglers detained with 1,000 animals

NONG KHAI, July 5 – Two wildlife smugglers on Tuesday were arrested in the northeastern province of Nong Khai while transporting 1,000 wild animals worth a half million baht (about US$1700) in Pak Khat district, according to provincial police.

Personnel from Forest Protection Unit 1 and Nong Khai police arrested Natthawit Kampathick and Jutuporn Tonglong near the Mekong River in Pak Khat district.

While inspecting their vehicle, the authorities discovered about a thousand wild animals hidden inside 186 plastic containers, including 85 boxes of monitor lizards, 17 boxes of pythons and 84 boxes of rat snakes.

The detainees said they were hired for Bt1,000 (about $30) by a wildlife trafficking agent in Autthaya, to transport and send the wildlife to the Mekong River where other agents would take the animals to Laos, and transhipment to customers in Vietnam.

Mr Natthawit and Mr Jutuporn were charged with some illegal wildlife-related actions.

Meanwhile, some of the confiscated animals will be freed in forest areas of Chaiyaphum's Phu Khieo district and others will be sent to a zoo in Khon Kaen. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-07-05

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Chuwit reported to be seeing Abhisit today to join forces in the Opposition

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Yingluck: No way to work with Bhumjaithai

BANGKOK, 5 July 2011 (NNT) – Incoming Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from the Pheu Thai Party has affirmed that her party will certainly not work with the Bhumjaithai Party due to the difference in their political ideas.

Ms Yingluck, also the youngest sister of ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinwatra, dismissed a rumour that her party asked some Bhumjaithai key figures to join her coalition government. She said that political ideals of the two parties are totally different and hence they will not join hands.

The persons in the rumour are Mr Somsak Thepsuthin and Mr Sora-at Klinpratoom, who served as Labour minister and Information and Communication Technology minister respectively in the Thaksin administration in 2005.

Ms Yingluck added that Pheu Thai has currently invited four political parties to form the coalition government, namely Chart Thai Pattana, Chart Pattana Puea Pandin, Phalang Chon and Mahachon Parties. She said she will confirm the press again if more parties will take part.

Regarding the recent resignation of Mr Abhisit Vejjajiva from the post of Democrat Party leader, Ms Yingluck refused to give comments on the matter, saying it was the internal issue of the Democrat Party and it was the intention of Mr Abhisit himself.

-- NNT 2011-07-05

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EU congratulates Thailand’s successful election

BANGKOK, 5 July 2011 (NNT) – The European Union (EU) has congratulated Thailand for the successful 3 July general election with a hope that the result will unite Thai people and move the country forward.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission Catherine Ashton has issued a statement congratulating Thai people for the orderly arrangement of the 3 July general election.

Ms Ashton expressed the EU’s hope that the outcome of the election will unite all political groups together to solve political and social problems in Thailand, help enhance strong relations with the EU as well as strengthen the role of Thailand in ASEAN and the global arena.

Meanwhile, the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has increased the level of travel warning for people going to Thailand from the lowest to third level although the recent general election went on smoothly. Taiwanese tourists hence are warned to exercise caution for journeys to Thailand.

The China Post reported that Mr Chen Mingcheng, the director of Taiwan's representative office in Bangkok made such a suggestion to the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs as he set up a special team to evaluate the situation, but said the final decision depends on the ministry itself.

-- NNT 2011-07-05

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Truth and Reconciliation commission in no rush to push for an amnesty

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Commerce Ministry Uncertain About DTAC

The Commerce Ministry said they will not yet confirm whether DTAC is being held by nominee shareholders.

Commerce Ministry Permanent Secretary Yanyong Puangraj commented on the probe being conducted into the Total Access Communication, or DTAC, saying that is still uncertain whether the company has violated the Foreign Business Act by allowing foreigners to hold the majority of its shares via Thai nominees.

She said DTAC is currently being accused of being a foreign company with nominee shareholders who are Thai.

However, she said she cannot confirm theses facts, as DTAC did not show up to clarify the case as they'd been appointed to do.

Yanyong said the case will be submitted to the courts for further investigation, and they will look into the company's cash flow and their loan documentation.

He added that the case will be handled cautiously and fairly to make sure it does not deteriorate investor's confidence.

Department of Business Development, Director-General Banyong Limprayoonwong said that the probe into the DTAC case has already been completed.

However, he refused to reveal the results before getting the Commerce Ministry's approval.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-05

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AFP: Thaksin's party in power talks after Thai vote win

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Democrats Back Abhisit to Retake Helm

Key members of the Democrat Party are voicing support for Abhisit Vejjajiva to resume his post as party leader following his abrupt resignation.

Democrat Party key members Korn Chatikavanij and Apirak Kosayothin, who are seen by many as favorites to become the new party leader, both insisted that they will not take the helm of the party, while expressing support for Abhisit Vejjajiva to retake the post.

They said at the party's upcoming general assembly, Abhisit will be nominated for the post.

Many Democrats believe the incumbent party leader still has the fire in him and will not leave the party behind.

According sources, the Democrat Party cited Pheu Thai Party's sweep of the northern and northeastern regions' votes as reason for its defeat, as there are a number of House seats in these regions.

The Democrat Party also faced accusations regarding multiple protest-related deaths during last year's political riots in Bangkok, which undermined its popularity and made it unable to penetrate the party's rival's stronghold.

In addition, the problem of rising consumer prices over the past six months may have resulted in the public having negative feelings towards the ruling Democrat Party.

Without this as an issue, the Democrat Party would not have lost the election by this wide a margin.

However, the Democrats said the party will give the Pheu Thai Party a chance to work and they expect things will get more intense around December, which is when ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has announced he would return.

They also believe Thaksin will try to get back his 46 billion baht of seized assets, using last year's protest deaths as a bargaining chip.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-05

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Myanmar's Suu Kyi welcomes Thai poll outcome

BAGAN, July 5, 2011 (AFP) - Myanmar's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday welcomed Thailand's election outcome, which paves the way for Yingluck Shinawatra to become the country's first female prime minister.

"I like that she's a woman but the most important thing is the relationship between the two nations and our people," Suu Kyi told reporters on the second day of her visit to the ancient temple city of Bagan in central Myanmar.

"We also have to welcome the government democratically elected by the people," she said, also expressing hopes that ties with neighbouring Thailand would remain strong under 44-year-old Yingluck's administration.

Yingluck's Puea Thai party, allied to her brother Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted in a coup five years ago, stormed to a majority victory in Sunday's vote, taking a majority of the seats in Thailand's lower house.

While Suu Kyi's own opposition party won a landslide election in Myanmar in 1990, the military junta never allowed it to take power, and she has spent much of the last two decades in jail or under house arrest.

The 66-year-old Nobel peace laureate was sidelined in the first election to be held since then, in November last year, and her party was disbanded by the generals for boycotting the vote.

The junta's political proxies claimed an overwhelming victory in the poll, which was marred by widespread complaints of cheating and intimidation.

Suu Kyi is on her first trip outside Yangon since being freed from years of house arrest a few days after the election and politics is not on the agenda.

But the high-profile vacation is seen as test of her ability to travel freely around the country, albeit under the watchful eyes of the regime.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-07-05

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US ready to work with Thai new government, Opposition

BANGKOK, July 5 – The US ambassador to Thailand on Tuesday met outgoing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and congratulated him for conducting a smooth election, saying that the United States is ready to work with both the new government and the Opposition.

US envoy Kristie Kenney met Mr Abhisit at Government House after meeting Yingluck Shinawatra, the Pheu Thai prime ministerial candidate on Monday to congratulate her on her victory.

Ms Kenney said the Thai people should be glad with the election, and that it is important to see the makeup of the new government being formed.

The US is ready to work with the opposition and the civil society sector, which will be mechanism to drive the country and its economy as well as fostering bilateral ties.

"We congratulate the people of the Kingdom of Thailand, our long-time friend and ally, for their robust participation in the July 3rd parliamentary elections. The choice of who will lead Thailand now rests with those representatives elected by the Thai people," said an embassy statement issued on July 3.

"We look forward to working with the next Thai government to broaden and strengthen our alliance, which is based on shared values and mutual respect. The United States also looks forward to working with the opposition and non-partisan civil society, as we have always done," said the statement.

Mr Abhisit told reporters after meeting with the US envoy that the United States has kept a close watch on Thai political developments, including the general election, which ran smoothly without any disruption and came out with a clear result.

The premier said he told Ms Kenney that he had no regrets regarding his decision to dissolve the lower house of parliament and subsequent defeat in the general election, as he had earlier said clearly that the election process would bring back normalcy to Thailand. He also reaffirmed that he would accept what the majority of voters had decided.

He said the issues that the United States paid attention to included that of ousted fugitive premier Thaksin Shinawatra and the reconciliation process.

Mr Abhisit said he would like to urge the new government under the helm of Thaksin's youngest sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, to not revive the Thaksin case and that any attempt to overturn the court verdict could renew the conflict. In addition, he asserted there must be no hidden agenda in the fact-finding process on the clashes between the Red Shirt movement and security forces last year, in which 91 people died. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-07-05

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Too soon to form Cabinet: Yingluck

By The Nation

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Yingluck: New cabinet to look attractive

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If Yingluck wants to appoint me Minister of Culture, I'll believe they stand for real change.”... Yes. One tambon, one opera pls. /via@somtow /via@veen_NT

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UN chief Ban Ki-moon hails "orderly conduct" of Thai general election won by main opposition party allied to ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra /MCOT

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DSI: lawyer of Red Shirt leader Arisman, with outstanding warrant on terrorism charges, contacts for his client's surrender /MCOT

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Yingluck doomed under Thaksin's shadow: Suthep

Designate Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra should step out of ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra's shadow in order to avoid an early collapse of her government, Democrat Suthep Thuagsuban said on Tuesday.

"Yingluck governs under Thaksin order, the Pheu Thai-led government will see a quick ending due to the lack of credibility," he said.

Suthep said the people's mandate given to Pheu Thai did not mean that any attempts to trample over the rule of law would be tolerated.

He reminded the incoming government that turmoil would erupt once again if the amnesty was granted to an individual like Thaksin

-- The Nation 2011-07-05

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Abhisit not to contest Yingluck in PM race

By The Nation

Outgoing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday said the winning Pheu Thai Party should be allowed to nominate its candidate for the position of prime minister uncontested.

Abhisit ruled out speculation that he would contest Pheu Thai candidate Yingluck Shinawatra in the race for top job when the House convened to elect the new prime minister next month.

"I think the position of prime minister should not be contested because Pheu Thai has already achieved the simple majority, which is a clear mandate," he said.

Commenting on the future of his Democrat Party, he said he wanted his fellow Democrats to reflect on the election defeat in order to chart a new course for the party.

He said he had not had time to think things through on wheter he should accept a second nomination to lead the party if asked by the Democrats.

The issue of party leadership should not be decided by personal attachment to any individuals, he said.

He said he was not in the position to chart the course for his party since he led the election campaign and lost.

"I have already resigned my party leadership, hence this is not the time to air my views," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-07-05

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Phuket car thief hears 'God', surrenders to police

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CABINET

Suchart eyeing Finance portfolio

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Chuwit vows tough scrutiny on Pheu Thai

By The Nation

Incoming opposition MP Chuwit Kamolvisit on Tuesday pledged to closely scrutinise the performance of Pheu Thai-led government.

"The Yingluck Shinawatra coalition might collapse in less than six months in the face of the tough opposition bench," he said.

Chuwit said the government would be under his close scrutiny should the Cabinet be formed on partisan quotas and filled with nominees from powerful families.

As the opposition lawmaker, he said he would begin working by checking the credentials of ministers. He warned the incoming government not to appoint the red shirts to the Cabinet.

Commenting on reconciliation plan, he said instead of pushing for amnesty, Pheu Thai should focus on uncovering the truth on the 91 deaths in the last year's riots.

-- The Nation 2011-07-05

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Security Measure Tightened for Yingluck's House

Security measures have been stepped up at the residence of the soon-to-be first female prime minister of Thailand.

Region 4 Metropolitan Commander, Police Major General Suti Nerakanti, stated that security measures at the house of Yingluck Shinawatra at Soi Yotinpattana Three on the road under the Ekkamai-Ram Intra expressway in the Klong Kum District have been stepped up.

He explained that security officers are taking turns safeguarding the house around the clock and that there are plainclothed police officers deployed inside the house.

The commander added that he has tasked the Lat Phrao Police Station with stepping up security measures at the house, and that a police booth will be installed soon after she officially becomes the prime minister.

He said he is confident that officers are able to handle protesters, due to the tightened security measures.

Meanwhile, security at the residence of former premier Abhisit Vejjajiva at Soi Sukhumvit 31 has been minimized as soldiers have already been removed from the site due to easing political tension.

Only police officers from the local police station and the Crime Suppression Division are still stationed at the house.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-05

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Arisman Ready to Turn Himself In

The chief of the Department of Special Investigation has revealed that Arisman Pongruerngrong's lawyer has contacted the agency, saying the fugitive is ready to turn himself in.

Arisman was a part of last year's red shirt riots and fled before other red shirt leaders turned themselves in to authorities. He is wanted on terrorism charges.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-05

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Chalerm reportedly says he won't accept House speaker post, prompting speculation he wants a Cabinet seat. /via@tulsathit

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AFP: Thailand's first female PM no victory for feminism

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