Thailand Live Wednesday 13 Jul 2011

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ASTV: Yingluck affirms she can clarify any queries EC may have and is not concerned she will not be endorsed as the public supports her /TAN_Network

ASTV: Supreme commander denies being approached for post of defence minister; says he's never had political aspirations /TAN_Network

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Chuan backs Abhisit's re-election as Democrat leader

Democrat Party chief advisor Chuan Leekpai Wednesday expressed his support for the re-election of Abhisit Vejjajiva as the Democrat leader.

Abhisit resigned as the party leader after the Democrat suffered the election defeat, failing to capture up to 170 House seats as Abhisiti targeted.

"Personally, I think Abhisit is suitable for the post. I deny that my group is against Abhisit's reelection. Actually, I have no group," Chuan said.

Chuan said it would be up to the party's members as to who would be the next Democrat secretary-general after Suthep Thaugsuban announced clearly that he would not seek another term as the secretary-general.

-- The Nation 2011-07-13

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Phuket bars asked to abstain for Buddhist holiday

Police are "asking" bars in Phuket not to serve alcohol this Friday and Saturday

out of respect for Buddhist holidays Asarnha Bucha and Khao Phansa (the start

of Buddhist Lent).

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INN: Rama II Rd's outbound lanes in direction of Mahachai closed by locals protesting coal plant, causing congestion /TAN_Network

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AFP: Thai PM-in-waiting Yingluck confident she will be cleared

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Chaiwat asks EC to dissolve six parties

Chaiwat Sinsuwong, a leader of the Assembly of Thai People, Wednesday filed a complaint with the Election Commission, seeking dissolution of six parties.

Chaiwat alleged that the six parties had allow politicians, who are under political ban, to get involved in party affairs as if they were leader or executives of the party.

The six parties are the Pheu Thai, Democrat Party, Bhum Jai Thai Party, Chart Thai Pattana Party, Chart Pattana Pua Pandin Party, and Palang Chon Party.

Chaiwat also alleged that he had evidence to prove that Pheu Thai MPs-elect were the same group with the red-shirt movement that launch arson attacks in Bangkok.

Chaiwat said the National Human Rights Commission had concluded that the red-shirt movement's protests were illegal and Yingluck Shinawatra, Pheu Thai prime ministerial candidate, had provided financial support to the movement.

-- The Nation 2011-07-13

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TELECOM

DTAC chief holds mass staff meeting

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Bank of Thailand raises policy interest rate by 0.25% from 3.0 to 3.25%, effective immediately /MCOT

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American Child Molester Arrested In Phuket Gets 15 Years

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Chamlong files suit with Supreme Court against EC and calls for nullification of poll; hearing scheduled for July 20 /TAN_Network

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Hitman’s 11-year run ends in Phuket

A screenshot from the MCOT web report showing officers escorting confessed

gunman Thanin 'Dum' Kaewsakul (pink shirt) from Thung Thong Police Station

in Kathu, Phuket. Photo: MCOT

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Red-shirt group says its supporters will not act and will wait for EC's endorsement of more MPs next Tuesday /

Army chief says he'll meet Yingluck only after EC endorses her as MP; says defence minister should be soldier /

Army chief says he's ready to be probed on the dispersal of the red-shirt gathering last year /

Abhisit not worried about delay in endorsement by EC and asks red-shirts not to pressure EC on this /

Police seize 16 luxurious cars worth Bt50 bln in Bangbuathong area that were illegally smuggled into country /

/TAN_Network

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Yingluck: New govt to push 3 mega projects

BANGKOK, 13 July 2011 (NNT) – Incoming Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has announced that her Pheu Thai-led government will push forward three mega projects including land reclamation from sea.

According to Ms Yingluck, the three mega projects include land reclamation of 200,000-300,000 rai with an operating cost of 12.5 billion baht per four square metres, rail transportation from Bangkok to other provinces and integrated water management in 25 river basins.

Ex-Prime Minister Pol Lt-Col Thaksin Shinawatra had mentioned the three projects after the Pheu Thai won the 3 July general election, saying the Pheu Thai-led government would undertake those mega projects for growth distribution.

The incoming prime minister however noted that the land reclamation to build a new city is a very big project and requires consultations as well as co-working with private-sector experts who will be invited to contribute their ideas to the government.

Ms Yingluck told the press that she will inform details of each project again once they are in progress.

-- NNT 2011-07-13

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Chinnaworn ready to take Democrat sec-gen post

BANGKOK, 13 July 2011 (NNT) – Education Minister and key Democrat member Chinnaworn Boonyakiat has voiced his readiness to perform as the new secretary-general to the Democrat Party if elected to the post.

Mr Chinnaworn admitted that at present, there is no clarity about the selection of the Party’s new secretary-general to replace outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who has resigned and becomes acting secretary-general.

Mr Chinnaworn added that the party will hold a meeting of MPs and executive members on 19 July to select a new board. He said he is ready to perform in the secretary-general’s post if entrusted by the meeting. He noted that so far he has been working for the party regardless of positions.

Mr Chinnaworn elaborated that the party is still supporting outgoing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who has resigned from the top seat of the party to show responsibility for the defeat in the 3 July general election. Both Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep are expected to be re-elected to their previous positions in the party.

The minister noted that no matter who will be taking the helm, everyone in the party is ready to carry on their duty in line with the party’s policy and in a democratic manner since over 10 million voters have given support to the party.

-- NNT 2011-07-13

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Cultural festival 2011 to be held on July 23

The Education & Cultural Fest 2011 will be happening in Bangkok to make people understand more about Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and English cultures.

The colourful event will run from 9am to 4pm on July 23 at the Technology Promotion Association (Thailand - Japan). Shows include Thailand's Khon (mask dance), Chinese martial arts, Japan's aikido, KPop Cover Dance, Chinese and Japanese calligraphy, and Japanesestyle floral arrangements.

Demonstrations include how to produce Thaitraditional toys, bookmarks, dolls and books.

-- The Nation 2011-07-13

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British convict arrested in Bangkok

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Two Buddhist brothers killed in drive-by shooting in Pattani

Pattani - Two Buddhist brothers were killed in a drive-by shooting in this southern border province Wednesday morning.

Police said the two brothers were construction workers and were riding their motorcycle to work in Pattani downtown when two insurgents on a motorcycle caught up and opened fire at them.

Police said Jerb Chuwaen, 54, died at the scene. His younger brother, Worasak Chuwaen, 32, died at the Pattani Hospital.

-- The Nation 2011-07-13

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Police Nab Woman Suspected of Dealing Cocaine to Thai Celebs

Crime Suppression Police have arrested a woman and seized 12 grams of cocaine concealed in head bands.

The suspect confessed to the crime and admitted to having dealt drugs to a once-successful singer.

Crime Suppression Police arrested a woman identified as Nongnuch Ranadthaisong and seized 12 grams of cocaine packaged in 12 plastic bags together with a 2,500 baht cash, five bank passbooks, and velvet hair bands used to hide the drugs.

Acting on a tip-off that the suspect was a drug dealer selling cocaine to well-heeled clients at popular nightlife areas in Bangkok like Ekkamai and Thonglor, the police carried out a sting operation, agreeing to buy drugs from her and have them hand-delivered at a bus stop on Praditmanudham Road.

Nongnuch confessed that she and her Nigerian husband have been dealing drugs for over a year.

She alleged to have a formerly successful male singer among her regular clients.

The woman claimed the singer orders cocaine two or three times a week and still owes her 8,000 baht.

The police are expanding the investigation and have warned celebrities to stay away from drugs if they don't want to get caught.

The police have charged Nongnuch with possession with intent of selling, of Class 2 narcotics.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-13

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SET index closed at 1077.4, up 15.01; Bt/USD30.10; GBP47.98; AUD31.99; EUR42.22; CAD31.14; HKD3.86; SGD24.47; JPY37.72

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AFP: Thailand Raises Rates As Inflation Worries Grow

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Polish tourist vanishes after Phuket vacation

Andrzej Kiezik was last seen at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok at

about noon on July 6, after arriving there on a Bangkok Airways flight

from Phuket.

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TAT expects tourist number to exceed 18 mn this year

BANGKOK, 13 July 2011 (NNT) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is anticipating the total number of foreign tourists coming to Thailand throughout 2011 to surpass 18 million while deeming Russia as the market with the highest potential in Europe.

Ms Juthaporn Rerngronasa, TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, indicated that the number of foreign visitors to Thailand within this year had a tendency to touch 18.3 million, as opposed to the previous target of 16.5 million. Out of the number, about 5.15 million are expected to come from Europe and generate 280 billion THB for the Kingdom.

The projection is based on the tourist number during the first six months of this year, which stood at 9.85 million and was expanding by 28.13 percent, along with the rapidly growing number of European visitors of 2.72 million. For the entire year, up to 800,000 travelers are likely to come from Russia alone while remarkable growths are also being seen in the UK, Middle Eastern and Canadian markets.

According to the TAT’s projection for 2012, 5.4 million people from Europe, including 1 million Russians, will arrive in Thailand, generating 370 billion THB which is half the country’s total tourism revenue of 765 billion THB.

-- NNT 2011-07-13

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to continue:

Thailand Live Thursday 14 Jul 2011

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