Thailand Live Wednesday 6 Jul 2011

[webfact]

Englishman caught with firearm in South Pattaya

Follow this link:

[webfact]

German accused of selling class 1 drugs in South Pattaya

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Pakistan Business Owner arrested in 10 Million Baht Police raid in Central Pattaya

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Poll Panel Endorses Jailed Red-shirt MP's Status

Follow this link:

[webfact]

City's underground wiring progresses

Bangkok City's project to put electric wires underground, which began in 2006 and should have been completed two years ago, was delayed because of the difficulty in moving high voltage wires, Bangkok deputy governor Pornthep Techapaiboon said Wednesday.

To the question raised by Phayathai councillor Peerapol Kanokwalai at the Bangkok Council general meeting Wednesday, Pornthep said the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) had now placed wires underground in nine roads: Rajavithi, Pichai, U Thong Nai, Rajadamnoen Nok, Sawankhalok, Phaholyothin, Sukhothai, Phayathai and Ploenchit. Underground wiring at Nakhon Sawan, Phitsanulok, Phetchaburi and Sri Ayudhya roads was finished in June.

MEA faced problems in putting high voltage wires underground because of the danger of electrical discharge to passersby, he said, causing the delay.

Rama 6, Yothi and Pradipat roads should be complete in December. Only Ratchadamri road could not be worked on yet because Ratchaprasong business people wanted to change the street lamp design first, he said.

-- The Nation 2011-07-06

[webfact]

Expert warns of bird flu pandemic

A health expert has warned of a potential bird flu pandemic after noting mutations in the H5N1 influenza virus that allow it to survive longer.

Public Health Ministry senior health expert Dr Tawee Chotpitayasunondh said an avian flu pandemic could return in the near future, citing a report from 2009 that showed the H5N1 virus had mutated and could live for longer periods in animals' bodies.

"A report found changes in the structure of the H5N1 virus that was spreading in Indonesia," he said. "These changes have allowed the virus to develop so that it can live in animals' bodies for longer periods but causes less mortality than the original virus," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-07-06

[webfact]

Suspected Arson Mastermind Denies Charges

The key suspect in the arson attack on a squatter community in Pathum Thani insists he has no involvement with the other suspects wanted for the crime.

Captain Thammanas Prompao,the suspected mastermind of the arson attack on a squatter community in Pathum Thani Province, today held a press conference after he was issued arrest warrant by the Thanyaburi Dictirct Court.

The community is set up by a civic group, Assembly of the Poor.

Thammanas said some 200 men in black shirts setting ablaze and raiding the community are not staff of his security guard firm and he did not hire them to commit the crime as accused.

Thammanas stated the land plot where the community ic located is no longer state-owned or abandoned as he has already bought it from the government-run Thai Assets Management Corporation .

However, he admitted some workers of his company were present during the chaos there, but he ordered them to leave the community when the situation turned worse.

He pledged aid for those injured in the clash between the black-clad men and community members.

Thammnas remarked he did not intend to avoid the press, saying he just needed time to take a rest.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-07

[webfact]

Election candidates told to submit campaign expenses

BANGKOK, 6 July 2011 (NNT) – The Election Commission (EC) has asked political parties to submit details of electoral campaign expenses of each MP candidate within 90 days for inspection according to the electoral regulations.

Election Commissioner Sodsri Satayathum on Wednesday morning opened a training course for officials responsible for inspecting expenses of all candidates running in the 3 July election. She announced that all candidates, both elected and unelected, must submit their spending details to the EC within 90 days.

The EC allows each candidate to spend no more than 1.5 million baht in the election. The inspection will be jointly processed within 30 days by adhoc panels representing nine public organisations, after which the result will be announced. The inspection will begin on successful candidates first.

The EC however will inspect only evidences submitted by political parties and will not go into other details unless complaints are filed against specific candidates for violating the electoral laws. Any election candidates or political parties failing to submit evidences in time can be given red cards.

Ms Sodsri noted that the EC meeting today would consider whether party-list candidate Jatuporn Prompan now detained in prison lacks qualifications as a MP candidate under Sections 100, 101 and 102 of the constitution.

-- NNT 2011-07-07

[webfact]

to continue

Thailand Live Thursday 7 Jul 2011

Follow this link: