Thailand Live Tuesday 5 Jul 2011

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Red-shirt Leader Warns against Internal Power Struggle

A red-shirt leader has warned that any internal struggle over Cabinet posts in the new government could damage both the red-shirt movement and the Pheu Thai Party.

Kwanchai Praipana, one of the key red-shirt leaders, said it was expected that Pheu Thai Party would win most of the MP seats in the North and the Northeast.

Despite being a red-shirt leader himself, Kwanchai does not believe red-shirt MP-elects should be given ministerial seats.

He said the red-shirt leaders should be content with just being MPs.

Kwanchai admitted appointing red-shirt members as Cabinet ministers would make reconciliation difficult for the incoming government.

Kwanchai is a key red-shirt figure who leads the red-shirt movement in Udon Thani.

He is also one of the 125 Pheu Thai party-list MP candidates.

Kwanchai also commented on a speculation that Nattawut Saikua, one of the core red-shirt leaders, would be appointed as Prime Minister's Office minister.

He said Nuttawut's skills are fitter for the government spokesperson post.

Unlike Nuttawut or other leaders of the red-shirt movement, Kwanchai believes Jatuporn Prompan should be given a deputy minister post in the Cabinet.

Jaturporn is currently being held at the Bangkok Remand Prison on terrorism and lese majeste charges.

Kwanchai also told members of the media that he will soon speak to former prime minister and mentor of the Pheu Thai Party Thaksin Shinawatra.

He plans to persuade Thaksin not to give any ministerial post to red-shirt leaders so as to pave the way for national reconciliation.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-05

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Pheu Thai Cautioned against Meddling in Thaksin's Cases

The outgoing prime minister advises the incoming government not to intervene in pending criminal cases against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra because it will lead to a new round of chaos.

He voices support for the speedy formation of the new government.

Outgoing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva met with US Ambassador to Thailand Kristie Kenny this morning to discuss issues about the election.

He advised the new government to focus on solving problems for the public rather than trying to overturn court rulings or review cases against former

He is happy new prime minister-to-be Yingluck Shinawatra will let fact-finding committee head Kanit Na Nakorn continue his reconciliation work.

He also voiced support for the speedy formation of the new government to prevent a political vacuum.

He also said Yingluck must lead a government for the people rather than for her own brother.

Abhisit added that since the Pheu Thai-led coalition has more than half of the House seats, the Democrat Party does not need to nominate a candidate to compete for the premier post in the convening of the House.

He declined to comment whether he will take up the post of the Democrat Party leader again after resigning yesterday to show his responsibility for the party's defeat in the poll.

However, Abhisit admitted it is up to the party and its members who they will want to elect to the new party executive board.

Outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban commented that the public should monitor whether the new government will interfere in cases against Thaksin.

He said that if it wants to push forth reconciliation, it should not touch this issue as the majority of the public would be against such a move.

He also believes the red-shirt group will try to distort what happened during its protests in 2009 and 2010 now that a number of the red-shirt movement have been elected to the House.

Suthep congratulated Yingluck for her pending role as prime minister and hoped she will do the right things.

He also warned Thaksin not to interfere with the incoming government as doing so will just put a faster end to it.

Suthep reiterated he will not flee charges stemming from the dispersal of the red-shirt protests last year.

As for the post of Democrat secretary general, Suthep said it will depend on the new party leader.

He stated he is tired from his work as secretary general and wants some time off to prepare for the Democrat Party's new role as the Opposition.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-05

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Chiang Mai Zoo: Another Baby Panda Expected in 10 Days

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Yingluck: Too early to decide cabinet line-up

BANGKOK, July 5 - Key Pheu Thai Party leader Yingluck Shinawatra, set to become Thailand's first female prime minister, on Tuesday denied reports of a completed cabinet lineup, saying her party is awaiting the Election Commission’s poll results certification.

Ms Yingluck, who earlier jointly announced with leaders of four smaller parties to form a new coalition government with 299 seats, made the denial following reports that the cabinet portfolios have been allocated.

She stated she must wait for the official endorsement of the Election Commission (EC) on Sunday's poll results before selecting her cabinet ministers.

Pheu Thai won a majority of 265 seats out of the total 500 parliament seats and has announced it will form a new government with the Chartthaipattana, Chart Pattana Puea Pandin, Palang Chon and Mahachon parties, with 299 seats in total.

Regarding the possibility of awarding key Red Shirt leaders positions as cabinet ministers, the prime minister-to-be said there's still no discussion on the issue.

"I reaffirm that, as of now, there are no Red Shirt leaders' names in the cabinet lineup. Our cabinet members must be well-qualified and have competency in the required field but we will not wall in any person, either inside or outside the party."

Ms Yingluck said it is still too early to tell who will be ministers, but she will do her best for the overall picture of the cabinet.

Following analysis of foreign media that the Pheu Thai-led government will be in office for less than three months if it appoints ministers who are unacceptable to the public or proceeds with an amnesty for deposed ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Ms Yingluck reasserted her government will not do things for "one person" only.

Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement hailing the "orderly conduct" of Thailand's July 3 general election and "the promise by all parties to respect the will of the Thai people as expressed through the democratic process."

The UN chief also expressed hope in his statement that "the elections mark an important step towards genuine reconciliation, long-term stability and consolidation of democratic norms in the country." (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-07-05

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EC to Approve Poll Results by July 12

The Election Commission is planing to approve the general election results on July 12.

The poll panel reveals it has received more than 190 complaints on possible electoral fraud which will be investigated within 30 days.

Election Commissioner Prapan Naigowit announced the election results will be endorsed on July 12.

The poll panel is planning to investigate 190 complaints on possible electoral fraud within 30 days.

Most of the complaints were filed in the northeastern part of the country.

In one case, police arrested a canvasser suspected of vote-buying along with 300,000 baht in cash, a gun and ammunition in Maha Ssarakham Province.

A list containing the names of other canvassers in the area was also found on him.

The provincial election authority believes that there were three other canvassers working with him.

The case file will be submitted to the Election Commission in 10 days.

Any candidate found involved in any electoral fraud could be disqualified and barred from future elections.

Complaints have also been filed against Matubhum and Bhum Jai Thai candidates in Si Sa Ket and Buri Ram provinces.

The local poll panel will file its reports with the central Election Commission in 15 days.

The Election Commission has thanked voters for exercising their rights in the July 3 poll which saw 75-percent voter turnout, the highest ever since the first poll was held in 1933.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-05

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EC reports official election poll result with PT at 265, Dem 165, BJT 34, CTP 19, CPP 7, PC 7, Chuvit 7, Purachai 1 /TAN_Network

CORRECTION: EC reports official election poll result with PT at 265, Dem 159, BJT 34, CTP 19, CPP 7, PC 7, Chuvit 7, Purachai 1 /TAN_Network

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EC Announces Official Thailand Election Results

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10 women rescued from alleged sex operation in Prachuap

Prachuap Khiri Khan's Muang district police Tuesday arrested two karaokebar operators and rescued six Thai women and four Lao females aged 14-24.

Rampeung Thanompeud, 48, and Samrerng Yodpan, 26, were initially charged with procuring women under 18 for prostitution and human trafficking, but the duo denied the charges. Police also seized Bt7,500 cash.

The arrests stemmed from a complaint filed with police by a woman claiming that her 17yearold daughter, who had been missing from their home in Nakhon Nayok's Muaung district for a month, had been forced into prostitution at the karaoke bar.

-- The Nation 2011-07-05

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Rak Thailand and Democrat preparing to work together

BANGKOK, 5 July 2011 (NNT) - Head of Rak Thailand Party, Chuwit Kamolwisit went to see Abhisit Vejjajiva at Democrat Headquarters to discuss working together as the Opposition.

In the absence of Mr. Abhisit, Mr Chuwit talked to democrat chief advisor Chuan Leekpai, asking for suggestions on working with the Democrats in the Opposition in parliament.

The Rak Thailand Party Leader agreed with Mr Abhisit’s resignation after the party suffered a loss in the election, but he believed Mr Abhisit was most suited for the opposition leader position.

He commented that the Democrat Party had shown good works as the opposition, daring that Pheu Thai may not be able to keep its office longer than six months.

Mr Chuwit said his first task after the establishment of the new government was to probe qualifications of each minister in the Cabinet. He added other pressing issues that need to be looked into include the probe into the 91 dead during the red shirt crackdown and the abolition of the red shirt and other colored shirts to create reconciliation in the country.

-- NNT 2011-07-05

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SET index closed at 1084.59, down 5.69; Bt/USD30.32; GBP48.65; AUD32.37; EUR43.95; CAD31.52; HKD3.89; SGD24.60; JPY37.27

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PATTAYA

20th Asian Marathon 2011 Coming To Pattaya:

International Child Exploitation Conference in Pattaya planned for October:

Danish Resident Caught-Up In South Pattaya Necklace Snatch:

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Activist Group against Yingluck's PM Nomination

A political activist airs his disapproval against the nomination of Pheu Thai top party-list MP-elect for the primer post.

He believes her alleged act of perjury when she testified in the assets seizure case against her brother Thaksin Shinawatra should render her ineligible.

Core leader of the Network of Citizens against Amnesty for Thaksin, Tul Sitthisomwong, met with officials of the Department of Special Investigation today.

He submitted new evidence to back the group's complaint against the Pheu Thai Party’s top party-list MP Yingluck Shinawatra for perjury.

The group believes Yingluck should face legal action for allegedly giving a false testimony when she testified in the assets seizure case against her brother Thaksin Shinawatra.

Part of the new evidence is documents on Yingluck’s testimony statement that she made in court while she was the CEO of SC Asset company.

Tul then expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of response from the secretary general of the Securities and Exchange Commission to the network's earlier petition.

He warned the commission's inaction could be deemed as dereliction of duty.

Tul went on to comment that due to the unclear nature of the perjury case against Yingluck, she should not be nominated for the premier post.

He added that Yingluck is not a party leader nor its executive. Tul advised Pheu Thai to nominate its other key figures, such as Mingkwan Saengsuwan or Police General Pracha Promnok, for the post instead.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-05

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FLASH: Western Japan earthquake magnitude is 5.4 - NHK /via@Reuters

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AFP: Up to one million Thais deprived of vote: watchdog

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Thailand Live Wednesday 6 Jul 2011

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