Thailand Live Monday 18 Jul 2011

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Thailand to Proceed with Mega Transport Project

The State Enterprise Policy Office is consulting with the Transport Ministry in regards to their logistics construction plans for rail, road, and boat transportation systems.

The State Enterprise Policy Office, or SEPO, Director-General Somchai Sujapongse said SEPO has been in consultation with the Transport Ministry over their 10-year-plan for logistics construction for rail, road, and boat transportation systems.

Somchai said SEPO has also been in discussions with the Finance Ministry, Budget Bureau, and the Office of National Economic and Social Development about the construction plan.

He said the logistics construction plan will use both public money from the governmental budget and will also be open for the private sector to jointly invest.

He added that SEPO hopes that 20 percent of the project will be a joint-investment by the private sector.

He hopes to settle on a clear construction plan to attract more private investors in the future as this would help reduce cost for the government.

Somchai said officials are currently working on rules and regulations that would allow the private sector to jointly invest in government project.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-18

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ABAC Poll: People unhappy with EC’s decision

BANGKOK, 18 July 2011 (NNT) – The majority of the people are unhappy with the decision of the Election Commission (EC) not to certify MP status for key elected candidates in the first round, according to a recent survey by Assumption University Research Centre (ABAC Poll).

The survey was conducted with 2,114 respondents across the country after the EC had resolved not to endorse as MPs outgoing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, incoming one Yingluck Shinawatra, as well as other key elected candidates.

71.3% are not pleased with the decision of the EC, while 54.7% of them are afraid that political violence might ensue as a result of the EC's failure to endorse the two key politicians. 57.8% of the respondents are also disappointed with the decision of the EC.

80.4% of the respondents want to give a chance to Ms Yingluck to perform as the first female prime minister. Asked if they want elected core leaders of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) to take ministerial posts, 55.3% say yes, whereas the rest of 44.7% think otherwise.

65.3% of the respondents oppose to ex-Prime Minister Dr Thaksin Shinawatra involving in the formation of the new cabinet for fear of protests, which might lead to another round of political conflicts and controversies in the society.

-- NNT 2011-07-18

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Foreign Ministry to Resolve Boeing 737 Seizure Case

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Pheu Thai Shrugs off Democrat's Call for Dissolution

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Rayong Villagers Protest Against New Industrial Estate

Angry villagers from Baan Khai District in Rayong Province gather in front of a facility belonging to IRPC Public Company in the province to protest against plans to build a new industrial compound there.

Some 200 villagers from Bangbutr and Nong Bua sub-districts in Baan Khai District of Rayong Province gathered in front of IRPC's facility in Muang Rayong District in protest against the company's new industrial estate project after it was announced in the Royal Gazette recently.

Group leader Settha Pitudecha said that the project is located in an agricultural conservation area and is also close to a water source.

He added that the environmental and health impact assessments were not properly conducted as there was no public hearing and villagers were only allowed to observe the meetings.

Previously, thousands of locals had expressed their concerns about the project and filed petitions with relevant agencies regarding the matter.

The group has plans to stage a rally at the Baan Khai District office to gather support and they will be filing additional petitions with concerned agencies against construction of the new industrial estate.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-18

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Khon Returns to Stage in August

A Khon play returns to the stage after receiving excellent feedback from attendees over the past two years.

This year's episode is Suek Miyarap or 'The Battle of Miyarap' which promises to stun spectators with its brilliant sets and talented actors.

It tells the story of Ravana, the demon king, who asks his nephew, Maiyarap, ruler of the underwater city, to subjugate Rama's troops, who are on their way to Langka, to rescue Rama's abducted consort, Sita.

Khon performance was revived at the request of Her Majesty the Queen out of concern that the traditional Thai stage play would become lost with time.

The first episode, 'Prommat' was performed in 2009 and the second show 'Nang Loi' proved to be an utter success last year.

The delicate and flamboyant mask show will give audiences a chance to experience all new lighting and production design, which are intended to help promote traditional Thai arts among the new generation.

The show is currently playing at the Thai Cultural Center until August 7.

Tickets are available at Thai Ticket Major booths or by visiting www.khonperformance.com

-- Tan Network 2011-07-18

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Nan on Alert for Flash Flood

Locals in Nan Province are still keeping an eye on water levels there while the area is reportedly being threatened by the possibility of additional mudslides.

People in Nan Province remain worried about floods in the area after authorities reported that water levels have risen to 6.93 meters, nearly reaching the "critical" level of 7 meters.

Nan municipality's mayor, Surapon Thiensutr said eight water pumps have been installed to drain floodwater from the area.

The rural people in the area said they have experienced flash floods and mudslides twice and are currently facing heavy rain on a daily basis.

The local residents have arranged to have guards keep an eye on the flood situation and to prepare for mudslides as the area does not have a warning system.

The Thai Meteorological Department has warned the people in the Chaing Mai, Chaing Rai, Prae, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Sakon Nakhon, and Nakornpanom provinces to be on high alert for possible flash floods.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-18

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Swedish town celebrates 114th anniversary of Thai king's visit

SWEDEN, July 18 - Ragunda municipality in Jämtland in northern Sweden is celebrating the 114th anniversary Thailand's King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) visiting this Scandanavian kingdom in 1897.

The news appeared on the front page of the local newspaper, giving pride to Thais living there.

The King Chulalongkorn Memorial Building was built to honour the monarch in Ragunda Municipality's Bispgarde, about 500 kilometres from the capital of Stockholm. The celebration takes place annually in July.

As Ragunda municipality and Bangkok are sister cities, a delegation of Bangkok Metropolitan Council (BMC) representatives, led by BMC council chairman Sutthichai Weerakoonsoontorn, were invited by Ragunda's mayor to participate in the celebration to be held Tuesday at the authentically Thai-styled pavilion which attracts visitors from throughout Sweden.

Mr Sutthichai said the Council will take this opportunity to follow up discussion of sending medically-trained Thais to be employed as caregivers for Swedish elderly. Negotiation started a year ago.

Jariya Boonpiem, a 32-year-old Thai living in Sweden, said King Rama V's visit helped promote Thailand to Swedish people and that she was proud to be Thai.

In addition to Ragunda municipality, Bangkok is also a sister city to other 29 cities worldwide. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-07-18

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Pheu Thai: All policies announced realistic

BANGKOK, 18 July 2011 (NNT) – The Pheu Thai Party has confirmed that all policies announced during its election campaigns are realistic and can be implemented, especially the policy to increase the daily minimum wage to 300 baht.

Pheu Thai party-list MP Dr Suchart Thadathamrongvech, one of the Pheu Thai economic team members, has confirmed that all policies can be carried out while incoming Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has also expressed her determination to push all out for all the announced policies.

Dr Suchart noted that the party would invite related sides, including the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) to confer about the daily minimum wage hike policy and to help draft and organize a workshop on the operational directions of this policy.

The newly elected MP, also the former finance minister, elaborated that the government would help reduce corporate income tax rate from 30% to 23% in order to help entrepreneurs upon the implementation of the minimum wage hike policy.

To help entrepreneurs further, Dr Suchart added that the government would help promote investment, reduce interest rate for tools and machineries for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The Pheu Thai economic team member also told the press that his party was working on details of the new government policies before discussing them with coalition partners. He confirmed that his party welcomed all ideas presented by other coalition parties, which would be mulled over again.

-- NNT 2011-07-18

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Yingluck keeps low profile in house for three days

Prime minister-in-waiting Yingluck Shinawatra remained low profile in her house for three consecutive days Monday.

An army of reporters waited outside her house on Soi Yothin Pattana 3 in Ram Indra since the morning but she did not come out to give any interview.

Lard Prao police station deployed policemen to keep order around the house.

-- The Nation 2011-07-18

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Cambodian Army deploys multiple-rocket launchers near border

Cambodian troops have moved five BM-21 multiple rocket launcher vehicles near the Thai border ahead of the International Court of Justice's decision on Cambodia's complaint against Thailand, a Thai military source said.

The source said the rocket launcher vehicles were deployed near Phrea Vihear Temple.

The source said the exact location of the launchers had yet to be detected. He said the artillery unit would be able to detect the launchers if rockets are fired at Thailand.

-- The Nation 2011-07-18

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Shoot-out in Thai temple kills local official, 5-year-old girl

Unidentified gunmen attacked Thai officials attending a Buddhist temple festival early Monday, sparking a shoot-out that left two dead.

Six men armed with pistols entered the Suwanpadit temple in Surat Thani province, 520 kilometres south of Bangkok, shortly after midnight and opened fire on local administrator Songwut Noppakhun, killing him, Thai television reported.

Songwut was handing out awards to a children's talent show at the temple, which was celebrating the beginning of Buddhist lent.

His assistants returned fire, sparking a shoot-out that left 11 wounded, including 5-year-old Pornicha Thammasangwan, who died on her way to hospital.

"These were obviously hired gunmen because they had no qualms about shooting into a crowd of people," Surat Thani Police Colonel Jamnote Keowkhau said.

-- The Nation 2011-07-18

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Six Senses Phuket Raceweek off to record start, before the first gun

BEST IN ASIA: Phuket boats Nina and Da Vinci in preparation for Raceweek.

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Gambian man arrested with 3.1 kgs of 'ice' at Suvarnabhumi

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09.49 น. Kasit entering the ICJ courtroom minutes ago http://yfrog.com/kepa9cdj /via@tulsathit: /via@suthichai: /via@PrajKPS:

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Intl Court of Justice has started reading its verdict on the Preah Vihear injunction in The Hague; verdict is read in French /TAN_Network

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ICJ has already started reading the verdict, expecting to finish within 45 mins, according to Nation Channel reporter @PrajKPS from Hague /via@ASEAN_NEWSROOM

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Public sitting of ICJ on request for indication of provisional measures has commenced with Judge Owada,President,reading order now #MFATHAI /via@/ASEAN_NEWSROOM

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The court indicates provisional measures to both parties!!!!!! /via@PrajKPS:

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Public Health Ministry issues dengue fever warning for Thailand

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Preah Vihear Verdict Seen Hurting Thai Sovereignty

The People's Alliance for Democracy asserts that Thailand's sovereignty over its territory is at risk from the International Court of Justice's decision on Cambodia's injunction request due out today.

The group also says that the outgoing government must be held responsible no matter what the court's decision is.

Spokesperson for the People's Alliance for Democracy, Panthep Puapongpan, pointed out that his group has never accepted the International Court of Justice's jurisdiction over the Preah Vihear Temple.

He added no matter what the court decides on Cambodia's injunction request, the outgoing government must be held responsible as its policy and military action failed to protect the country's sovereignty.

Panthep said that the issue is in the government's hand now as the people can no longer do anything about it.

The PAD spokesperson added that the government has failed to bring up many points with the court, such as Thailand's reservation on the 1962 verdict and its rejection of the 1:200,000-ratio map cited by Cambodia.

Panthep said that as a result, Thailand's sovereignty over its territory is at risk from the court's decision.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-18

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The court unanimously rejected Thailand's request for the case introduced by Cambodia to be removed from the General List! /via@RT @PrajKPS:

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Intl Court decides 9:5 for both Thailand and Cambodia to remove soldiers from 4.6sq km area around Preah Vihear /TAN_Network

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Initial Reports from ICJ: 9:5 Verdict for Both Countries to Withdraw Troops

Initial reports from Thai PBS are indicating that the International Court of Justice has decided with a vote of 9 to 5 for both Cambodia and Thailand to withdraw from the disputed area. Initial reports also indicate that military zones will be set up for the presence of both military forces.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-18

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AFP: UN court orders Thai and Cambodian troop withdrawal

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SET index closed at 1083.94, up 4.03; Bt/USD29.95; GBP48.11; AUD31.62; EUR41.92; CAD31.08; HKD3.84; SGD24.41; JPY37.70

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Poll Panel Pushed to Clarify Vote Discrepancy

A poll watchdog has urged the election panel to clarify the number of votes from the constituency and party-list systems as they do not match its figures and also called for speedier MP endorsement.

Member of the People's Network for Election in Thailand, or P-Net, Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, commented that the Election Commission, or EC's, hosting of the July 3 poll has been riddled with problems, reflecting the panel's poor performance and affecting the credibility of the poll.

His comment came after complaints about the unclear advance voting procedure which critics alleged has caused over two million people to lose their voting rights.

He also stated that the EC's figures for the number of votes in the constituency and party-list systems do not match P-Net's, with a difference of more than 83,000 ballots.

Somchai urged the election panel to clarify the matter to the public and to rush to solve the problems related to the election.

The poll watchdog also called on the EC to make a speedy decision whether to issue red or yellow cards for candidates suspected of electoral fraud or to endorse MP-elects whose complaints against them have been cleared so that by-elections can be held and the Lower House can be convened.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-18

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AFP: Party of Thai PM-elect fears political 'vacuum'

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Pattaya to Become 'Beachside Suburb' of 'World's Best City'

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Thailand Live Tuesday 19 Jul 2011

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