Thailand Live Tuesday 19 Jul 2011

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FM91 reports a gathering is scheduled for 3pm at Ratchaprasong Intersection, most likely by red-shirts commemorating last year's protest

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Court of Arbitration for Sports has issued injunction to allow Thai Boxing Association to send boxers to compete following ban by IBA /

ASTV: Kantaraluck locals oppose removal of soldiers from what they see as Thai territory; call for removal of Cambodian settlement /

Court hands down 10-yr jail term for former director-general of Marine Dept and 5 others for corruption in purchase of drilling boats

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Press release:

Foreign Minister satisfied with the Court’s order concerning the provisional demilitarized zone

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Reports of confrontation between red-shirt and yellow-shirt protesters in front of EC headquarters /via@TAN_Network /via@nnanews

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PM discusses World Court's order with security-related agencies, saying no troop withdrawal,awaiting talks btw Thai-Cambodian foreign ministries /MCOT

Insurgents detonated motorcycle bomb in Bannangsta, Yala, injuring 16 soldiers and students /TAN_Network

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PM: No Immediate Withdrawal of Troops; Talks with Cambodia Must Resume First

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Democrats to Elect New Executive Board on Aug 6

The Democrat Party will hold an annual meeting on August 6 to elect a new executive board, following the resignation of Abhisit Vejjajiva as party leader. Outgoing Secretary General Suthep Thaugsuban revealed that he already has a successor in mind, but refuses to tell the press who that person is. Abhisit is highly expected to return as party leader.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-19

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Mental Health Department Warns against Politics-related Stress

The Mental Health Department is reminding the public not to get stressed out with the pending endorsement of the MPs-elect, and suggest people should find some relaxing activities to do instead.

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Foreign Ministry Denies Community Withdrawal Along Border

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Subscribers of True (satellite) will have 8 more HD channels (11 total) in October. The catch is Bt490 more will b charged. /via@tulsathit

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SET closed up by 10.41 points at midday break at 1,094.35 with value of Bt15.35 bln on buying of bank and energy shares /TAN_Network

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Red-shirt Group Makes Merit for Would-be PM

Red-shirt supporters in Chiang Mai Province hold a ceremony they believe will bring good luck to Pheu Thai prime ministerial candidate, Yingluck Shinawatra.

Several factions of the red-shirt group in Chiang Mai Province gathered to hold a merit-making ceremony that is believed to banish bad luck from prime minister-to-be Yingluck Shinawatra.

The rite was held at Don Chan Temple in Tha Sala Subdistrict in Chiang Mai's Muang District.

The photo of Yingluck with message “Phuying Tonbab” or “Role Model for Women” was brought to the event.

Buddhist monks were invited to pray over a holy book to rid her of bad luck.

The red-shirt supporters said the rite was held to bring good luck to Yingluck.

They hoped that it would help inspire the Election Commission to endorse Yingluck's MP status before the opening of the next House session so that she would be selected by MPs as the first female prime minister of Thailand as was determined by the public.

A similar ceremony was once held for Thaksin on the occasion of his 60th birthday on July 26, 2009 at the same temple.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-19

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INN: Reports of crash of military Blackhawk chopper close to Burmese border while picking up bodies of soldiers from previous chopper crash /TAN_Network

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Defence and Foreign Ministries to set framework on ICJ's order

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Confirmation of Blackhawk chopper crash in Kaengkrachan Natl Park in Petchaburi; 14 onboard, among them media /via@CrimeWatchCh

There were reportedly 9 on board the rescue helicopter that is believed to have exploded & crashed. 8 soldiers/5 TV personnel /via@tulsathit

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Fate of the 9 on board the rescue Blackhawk feared to have crashed remains unknown. /via@@tulsathit

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Confirmation that 9 were onboard the Blackhawk helicopter that went down; media members from Channel 5 /TAN_Network

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Thaksin rules out serving jail term

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Update :

TANN: Reports from INN that Blackhawk chopper had emergency landing in Myanmar and everyone on board safe

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Thai Blackhawk helicopter crashes in Myanmar

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PM Candidate's MP Status Yet to Be Endorsed

Pheu Thai top party-list MP Yingluck Shinawatra says she is hoping that her MP status will be endorsed by the National Election Commission today.

Yingluck Shinawatra, the Pheu Thai Party's Number One party-list MP, says she is not concerned whether her MP status will be endorsed by the Election Commission today.

In any case, She is confident that she will be treated fairly and is not looking to rush the poll panel. She said she has not been summoned to testify with the Election Commission on poll fraud allegations against her.

Yingluck also declined comment on former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's remark during an interview with a Thai television station that he is not vengeful towards any of his political adversaries.

During the interview, Thaksin even extended an invitation to former coup maker General Sonthi Boonyaratglin and yellow-shirt leader Sondhi Limthongkul to have coffee with him in the United Arab Emirates.

Yingluck would not comment on Thaksin's invitation but said she is willing to work with any group in an effort to bring about national reconciliation.

When asked about the incoming government's foreign policy outlook, Yingluck sais she will need to study the details of the International Court of Justice's ruling.

She reiterated that as a member of the government and a Thai citizen, she is responsible for protecting Thailand's sovereignty.

Yingluck added that the ideal candidate for the foreign minister post is an individual who is well accepted by Thailand's neighbors.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-19

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Border Residents Brace for Fresh Tensions

Tensions are rising among locals living along the Thai-Cambodian border after the International Court of Justice ordered both Thailand and Cambodia to withdraw troops from the disputed area around the Preah Vihear Temple.

Life goes on as Bhumi Sarol villagers in Kantharalak District of Si Sa Ket Province tend their farmland.

Tensions are on the rise after the International Court of Justice declared a "provisional demilitarized zone" around the Preah Vihear Temple.

Parents continue to allow their children to attend classes despite fear of possible re-emergence of clashes along the volatile Thai-Cambodian border.

The court ordered Thailand and Cambodia to withdraw their troops immediately from the Preah Vihear Temple and its disputed vicinity.

It has rejected Thailand's request to remove the case from the general list.

Although no new rounds of border clashes have broken out, precautionary measures have been taken by the locals.

Teachers are coordinating closely with state and military intelligence units.

They will evacuate students to emergency shelters as soon as gunfire is heard.

Bhumi Sarol Village is located in the area closest to the Preah Vihear Temple.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere at the disputed border area remains peaceful.

Both Thailand and Cambodia continue to maintain military presence along the border.

The Second Army Region insists the Thai army is closely monitoring the movement of Cambodian military units.

Troops will remain in the area until both countries decide on their next course of action after the landmark ruling by the International Court of Justice on Monday.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-19

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Sixteen injured in Yala motorbike bomb

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Election Panel Mum on More Yellow Cards

It's day 16th after the July 3 election and the Election Commission says it will finish investigating election fraud allegations within 30-day time frame.

Election Commissioner Sodsri Sattayatham said her agency has 30 days to investigate cases which have been filed against MP-elects. However, Sodsri declined to comment on whether any yellow cards will be issued today.

Sodsri did not give a definite answer when asked if the EC will face legal consequences if it failed to endorse enough MPs for the first House session to convene.

Instead she said regardless of how the endorsement process is carried out, the EC will always face criticisms from the public.

The poll panel attracted a large dose of criticisms when it floated the idea of endorsing enough MPs to allow the first House session to convene.

MPs who've been found guilty of electoral fraud would then be disqualified later.

The Constitution requires the first House meeting to take place within 30 days after the election with at least 95 percent of the total MPs attending.

The EC commissioner reiterated that according to the original time frame, the endorsement must be completed within seven days after the election and the investigation of complaints must be finished within 30 days.

She keeps mum on whether the agency is considering endorsing the MP status of would-be prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra before other MP-elects.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-19

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Yingluck: New govt to improve foreign relations

BANGKOK, 19 July 2011 (NNT) – Incoming Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has indicated that the new government will focus on improving international relations, especially with Cambodia while the new foreign minister should have good relationship with the neighbouring nation.

Asked to comment on the Thai-Cambodian issue, Ms Yingluck stated that she will have to study details of the temporary injunction pronounced by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordering withdrawals of the Thai and Cambodian troops from the disputed Preah Vihear Temple zone.

The incoming prime minister noted that it is important to restore healthy foreign relations. She said the person who will take the helm of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be good in coordination to benefit biliateral relations, but she said the figure is yet to be selected after the new government is formed.

Regarding the consideration of her MP status by the Election Commission (EC) today, Ms Yingluck told the press that the EC so far has not yet summoned her to give additional information, and that she heard the EC already has complete information in hand.

Asked if the EC will endorse her MP status within today or not, the incoming prime minister refused to answer but said that she does not want to pressure the EC and will wait for the result. She expressed her confidence that she has done nothing wrong, and the EC will be fair to her.

-- NNT 2011-07-19

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Surveillance Stepped Up against Labor Smuggling

The security agency has stepped up its surveillance on the smuggling of illegal immigrant workers after the proposed plan to hike the minimum wage has gone public.

Ubon Ratchthani police raided a Bangkok-Ubon Rathcthani train as part of their attempt to prevent the smuggling of illegal drugs and alien workers into the country.

The officers arrested seven illegal Laotian workers who were being smuggled to work in Samut Prakarn's Prapadaeng district.

Ubon Ratchathani police chief Police Major General Wiwat Chaipana said police have received a tip about a large scale smuggling of drugs and alien workers into Thailand as a result of the new government's plan to increase the minimum wage to 300 baht a day.

He said police have now stepped up surveillance efforts to prevent an influx of illegal workers and narcotics into the country.

In Tak's Mae Sot district, police repatriated 500 illegal Burmese workers after they were arrested at a small factory in Tak's downtown area.

Meanwhile, 44 Burmese workers were also arrested while they were trying to enter Thailand from Koh Chang in Muang District of Ranong Province.

The Burmese boat driver said he was paid 5,000 baht to take the Burmese workers to Phuket.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-19

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Bangkok-Surat express train hits truck in Ratchaburi, 42 Thais and foreigners injured /MCOT

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SET index closed at 1096.77, up 12.83; Bt/USD29.79; GBP47.99; AUD31.70; EUR42.18; CAD31.05; HKD3.82; SGD24.36; JPY37.47

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Street sweeper hit by car, dies

A Sripathum University student lost control of the car he was driving while reaching for a cell phone and fatally hit a street sweeper in Bangkok's Don Muang district Tuesday morning, police say.

Arriving at the scene on inbound Vibhavadi-Rangsit road at 6.30am, they found fourth-year student Worakorn Limplew and the dead body of city sweeper Sompong Singhawibul, 56, near Worakorn's Honda Civic car.

Police say Warakorn was driving home after working on a homework assignment at a friend's house when he reached out for his cell phone. The car swerved on to the left-hand footpath and crashed into Sompong who was sweeping the road.

After interrogation, police allowed Worakorm to take the exam in the afternoon on grounds he had not fled the accident scene. Today Worakorn will give more details to police and hear the charges against him, police said.

-- The Nation 2011-07-19

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AFP: Thailand wants Cambodia talks before troop pullout

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