Thailand Live Friday 5 Aug 2011

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Officials Visit Southern Border Provinces

High-ranking officials have visited the insurgency-plagued southernmost border provinces to offer local officials moral support.

Internal Security Operations Command Deputy Director, Major General Akkara Tiproj met representatives of a teachers' association from the three southernmost border provinces to offer them moral support, after a local teacher in Pattani Province, identified as Noppadon Sasimonton, was slain as part of the southern insurgency.

The major general said even though military officers are determined to ensure the safety of educational officers in the strife-torn provinces, there are still flaws in the security, which officials will try harder to tackle.

Meanwhile, National Police Chief, Police General Wichian Pojposri visited Yala Province to offer local police officers moral support, and delivered a policy to cope with the long-running militant activities.

He has asked officers to be extremely careful and to strictly abide by the law.

As for the deaths of local teachers, the chief has vowed to improve the efficiency of police operations.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-05

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Thai stocks midday Fri: 1,088.57, down 35.44pt, 3.15pct; Bt34.84 bn turnover /Nation

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PROFILE

Thailand's first woman PM

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House speaker to be granted an audience with His Majesty

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Ayutthaya Braces for Flood Run-off

The Ayutthaya provincial authority expects more than 4,000 homes will be hit by flooding caused by run-off from the North.

Ayutthaya Provincial Governor Wittaya Phewphong said officials have inspected areas that could be affected by flooding and found that more than 2,800 households are living below the river-bank level, and 1,300 others are at least 50 centimeters below.

The provincial authority has prepared boats, makeshift bridges, sand bags, tents, and relief kits in case of flooding.

Wittaya advised families living on higher grounds to be just as watchful, as it is not yet known how much water will enter the province. He said some 168 villages are at risk.

The provincial governor said his office is studying the feasibility of the construction of a water receptacle in Bang Ban District and the construction of a 91-kilometer barrier along the riverbank, which is estimated to cost 10 billion baht.

He added that, as of now, barriers have been built around major historical sites.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-05

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Retired General Welcomes Defense Portfolio

A Pheu Thai party-list MP, rumored to become the next defense minister, has affirmed he is ready to take the post.

Pheu Thai MP and defense minister candidate General Yutthasak Sasiprapa said that the Class 10 pre-cadet alumni do no oppose him taking the post.

On the contrary, he claimed his classmates strongly back him.

He reiterated that it is the Pheu Thai executive board members who will decide who is the most appropriate for the post.

He added that the relationship between the next government and the army would be smooth.

Besides expressing his readiness to take the defense minister post, he said he will be ready to explain his work strategy to the army by next week.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-05

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More Tourists Visiting Preah Vihear Temple

Many Cambodian and foreign tourists are starting to visit the Preah Vihear Temple after the border tensions have eased.

Meanwhile, on the Thai side of the border, the governor of Si Sa Ket Province said the adjacent Pah Mor E-Dang area has reopened to tourists.

Cambodia is now allowing Cambodian and foreign tourists to visit the Preah Vihear Temple.

Tourists are using the new west entrance which is located behind the Kaew Sikhakhiri Sawara Temple.

Si Sa Ket Governor Somsak Suwannasujarit said the Pah Mor E-Dang area in the Khao Phra Viharn National Park has reopened to tourists, who can travel through the beautiful forest and mountains.

However, there are still some restricted areas.

Visitors are strictly prohibited from those areas and are not allowed to take any photo.

The national park is open daily from 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. There is no entry fee.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-05

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Abhisit Bids Gov't House Staff Farewell

Outgoing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva bid the staff at the Government House farewell on his last day in office. The House of Representatives voted Yingluck Shinawatra prime minister this morning. The House Speaker was reported to have an immediate audience with His Majesty the King for a royal endorsement.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-05

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UN rapporteur on human trafficking to visit Thailand

United Nations Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons Joy Ngozi Ezeilo will visit Thailand from Monday to August 19 to appraise the government's efforts to curb the illicit trade.

"During my mission, I wish to reach out to a wide range of stakeholders and trafficked persons themselves, so that their voices are heard and can be considered in the national laws, policies and measures related to trafficking in persons," Ezeilo said in a statement.

-- The Nation 2011-08-05

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Toll rises to 13 after storm abates

BANGKOK, August 5, 2011 (AFP) - The toll from floods and mudslides in Thailand caused by the tail end of tropical storm Nock-ten has risen to 13, Thai authorities said on Friday.

Sixteen northern provinces were inundated by the storm, which left more than 60 people dead in the Philippines last month but has since subsided, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said.

Of those killed, seven died in a single mudslide in the mountainous province of Mae Hong Son, near the northwestern border with Myanmar, authorities said. One person remains missing.

Rising waters have affected the livelihoods of almost three quarters of a million people in Thailand, and damaged roads, bridges and reservoirs, the department said. Flooding has receded in two provinces.

Most of those killed in the Philippines were said to have drowned or been buried in landslides, while most of the missing were fishermen who vanished at sea when the storm hit.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-08-05

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Poll Shows Lower Post-election Happiness

According to a fresh opinion poll conducted by the Academic Network for Community Happiness Observation and Research, Assumption University, the happiness index for Thais has decreased due to the power struggle in forming the new government, the high cost of living and natural disasters.

Director of the Academic Network for Community Happiness Observation and Research, Assumption University, Noppadol Kannika, has disclosed the results of an opinion poll conducted on the topic of "Gross Domestic Happiness", or GDH, among Thais.

A total of 3,028 respondents said in July that their happiness level has decreased.

From a full score of 10, the GDH fell from 7.55 in the beginning of July to 6.80 by the end of the month.

The primary factors to the lower index were the political situation in which there has been a power struggle in the formation of the new government, the unstable political situation, the high cost of living, natural disasters including the current flood situation and the overall poor standards of living.

Meanwhile, most of the respondents have pointed to the Thai people's loyalty to the Monarchy as the most important contribution to their happiness at 8.4, followed by their relationship with their families at 8.21 and their health at 8.00.

Other factors include national and local cultures, community bonds, access to medical services, their careers, the national educational system and the country's image to the international community.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-05

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Thais Flock to Pay Last Respects to Late Princess

Thais from across the country continue to pay their last respects to Her Royal Highness Princess Bejraratana at the Grand Palace.

Thais from all walks of life, including students, civil servants, state officials, state enterprise workers, merchants and members of the public continue to pay their last respects to Her Royal Highness Princess Bejraratana at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall in the Grand Palace.

Among the mourners today were outgoing Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, officials from the Corrections Department and the Ombudsman Office, a group of boy scouts from Ubon Ratchathani, students from Rajini School, Sri Ayutthaya School, Petcharat School, Satri Wat Rakhang School, members of the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra Foundation under the Royal Patronage of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and the Old England Students Association under Royal Patronage.

The Royal Household Bureau allows members of the public to pay their last respects to the late princess from noon to 4 P.M. daily and to attend the Buddhist funeral chant from 6 P.M. to 10 P.M. everyday.

Those who attend the funeral rite will receive a postcard of the royal urn as a souvenir.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-05

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New PM's Profile

Pheu Thai's top party-list MP Yingluck Shinawatra has secured her place in Thailand's history as the first female prime minister.

This report will provide you with a brief profile of the country's 28th prime minister.

Yingluck Shinawatra was born on June 21, 1967, to Lerd and Yindee Shinawatra in Chiang Mai Province.

She is the youngest of their nine children.

Yingluck graduated with a bachelor degree in Public Administration from Chiang Mai University and earned a master degree in the same field from Connecticut University.

She is married to a former executive of the CP conglomerate Anusorn Amonrchat, but the couple did not sign a marriage certificate.

They have one child, a nine-year-old son named Supasek.

She started her business career at Shinawatra Directory Limited Company which was owned by her brother Thaksin Shinawatra.

Yingluck was promoted to the post of the managing director at her brother's telecommunications giant, Advanced Info Service, or AIS, in 2002 and resigned from the post when its parent company, Shin Corp, was sold off to Singapore's Temasek Holdings.

Before deciding to contest in the recent election, Yingluck ran property firm, SC Asset, which she took over from the Shinawatra family when Thaksin and his other siblings decided to enter politics.

However, Yingluck still works as an executive and the secretary general of the Thaicom Foundation, also established by Thaksin.

At first, Yingluck rejected Thaksin's request for her to contest in the election, saying she wanted to remain a staunch party supporter, but intended to place her main focus on her business.

However, after some persuasion, she agreed to her brother's request and became Thailand's first female prime minister after just entering politics less than two months ahead of the election.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-05

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SET index closed at 1093.38, down 30.63; Bt/USD29.76; GBP48.30; AUD30.99; EUR41.96; CAD30.24; HKD3.81; SGD24.25; JPY37.7

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BREAKING: Libyan rebel spokesman: Unconfirmed reports say Ghadafi's son has been killed in a NATO airstrike: http://apne.ws/idMWwt -ldh /via@AP

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Top Demcorat Fears for Nation's Uncertain Future

The outgoing Democrat Party secretary general says he will not criticize the formation of the new Cabinet but fears for an uncertain future for the country.

He says he is prepared to work in the opposition bloc.

Democrat Party secretary general Suthep Thaugsuban said he will not voice his opinion on would-be prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra's Cabinet line-up as the public will eventually voice either their displeasure or praises.

As for Pheu Thai's announcement it will hound the outgoing prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and himself on the violent crackdown of the red-shirt protests last year, Suthep said it is perfectly normal when the party is in power and he has already braced himself for such an action since the announcement of the polll results.

Suthep said he is prepared to take up the opposition role.

On the torching of the Central World shopping complex, he believes that Pheu Thai party-list MP and red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan has distorted the facts.

As member of the Opposition, he said he can now fully launch a probe into the issue.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-05

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NASA finds evidence of flowing water on Mars

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Red-shirts gather at Pheu Thai Party headquarters to celebrate Yingluck becoming PM and to wait to see royal appointment /TAN_Network

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Thailand Live Saturday 6 Aug 2011

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