Thailand Live Monday 15 Aug 2011

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DDPM: 9 provinces remain inundated

BANGKOK, 15 August 2011 (NNT) – The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has concluded that nine provinces remain inundated following tropical storm Nock Ten while floods in 14 other provinces have already relieved.

According to DDPM Viboon Sanguanpong, there are a total of 23 provinces hit by the tropical storm and declared disaster zones, comprising 12,517 villages in 1,519 sub-districts and 222 districts. The floods that followed have affected 2,630,201 people in 681,810 households.

In addition, 323 houses have been partially damaged. Based on the estimation, 1,826,053 rai of farmland and 4,916 roads are inundated. There were 24 people killed by the disaster and one person was reported missing.

The nine provinces still inundated include Sukhothai, Phrae, Uttaradit, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Mukdahan and Ubon Ratchathani. There are 285,654 people in 82,318 households and 1,921 villages affected by the persisting flood.

Meanwhile, rehabilitations begin 14 provinces, including Nan, Lamphun, Lampang, Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Tak, Phetchabun, Loei, Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom, Udon Thani, Bueng Kan, Sakon Nakhon and Prachuap Khiri Khan.

-- NNT 2011-08-15

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Public Happy with BTS Extension to Bearing

Residents living in the Bangna and Samut Prakarn Provice are happy about the launch of the BTS skytrain extension from Onnuch to Bearing station as it will help shorten their commute and increase convenience.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration launched the Onnuch-Bearing BTS skytrain route extension in eastern Bangkok on August 12, which was Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday.

Since the launch, the extension has seen lots of passengers who all say that the service has increased convenience for them and saved them time in their commute into the city.

There are a total of five stations along the 5.25 kilometer extension of the BTS.

The extended route will be free of charge until January 1 next year and is expected to be popular with more than 500,000 residents living in the area who need to commute into the city for work.

There are future plans to link this extension to the light rail project running from Bangna to Suvarnabhumi Airport at the Bangna Intersection with a skywalk linking the two public transportation lines.

The skywalk will also extend to the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Center or BITEC, which is close by.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-15

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Foreign Minister Surapong Undaunted by Poor Poll Result

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Kittiratt Na Ranong has pledged to fulfill key campaign promises in six months. Asean Business Report True99

Promises range from minimum wage, rice pledging scheme, lower oil prices and corporate income tax cut from 30 to 23%.

/via@ThanongK

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Abhisit Demands Examination of Thaksin's Entry Permit to Japan

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Interpol Has Right to Withdraw Arrest Warrant on Thaksin: Attorney-General

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Surapong admits he asked Japan to consider approving entry visa for Thaksin

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PM: government has no policy to withdraw Thaksin's arrest warrant; affirms no loss of land in planned bilateral talks with Cambodia /MCOT

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Miss Thailand World 2011 Crowned

A Thai-English woman has been crowned the Miss Thailand World 2011 and will go on to represent Thailand at the Miss World 2011 pageant.

The lovely 20-year-old 'Julie' Patcharida Lordkongka,is the Miss Thailand World 2011. Julie took home the grand prize worth 1 million baht.

She said in an interview that she was really determined to win the crown.

Julie said she shed nearly 10 kilograms to look her best in the swimsuit round.

Julie also expressed her dream of becoming an actress in the future.

Julie will now go on to compete in the Miss World 2011 stage in London on November 19 as Thailand's representative.

The first runner-up was 'Koko' Arraya Suparerk, the second runner up, 'Sarah' Kemmanat Sereesaowapak, the third runner up went to 'Pui' Watcharee Yoosoong, and the fourth runner up was 'Som' Peeriya Viriyapan.

The Miss Mass Media Popular went to 'Meya' Nontawan Thongleng.

In addition, the event was held under the slogan 'True Beauty for Thai Education' and 100,000 baht was donated for student loans for the education of needy children who are still suffering from the tsunami in 2004.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-15

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Tea Banh invites Yuthasak for GBC meeting

Defence Minister Gen Yuthasak Sasiprapha said Monday that his Cambodian counterpart Gen Tea Banh has sent an invitation for him to take part in the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee meeting.

Yuthasak said he heard the invitation letter had been sent and will reach the Defence Ministry later Monday.

-- The Nation 2011-08-15

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Pheu Thai election promises to be honoured: Finance Minister

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AFP: Japan gives visa to ex-Thai PM Thaksin

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SHINAWATRA GOVERNMENT

Any officials helping Thaksin should face probe : Abhisit

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PM Denies Role in Thaksin Case

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Foreign minister vows to help 2 Thais in Prey Sar

BANGKOK, 15 August 2011 (NNT) – Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul has promised to help Thai Patriots Network coordinator Veera Somkwamkid and his secretary Ratree Pipatanapaiboon now detained in Prey Sar prison in Cambodia.

Mr Surapong stated that the new government is intent on helping the two Thai inmates and will do all it can to do so. He added that concrete measures on how to help the two will be discussed in due course to make sure they are in accordance with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ procedures.

Mr Veera and Ms Ratree have been sentenced to eight and six years in prison respectively for illegal entry, trespassing into military zone and espionage. They were arrested at the end of last year and have been detained in Prey Sar prison since then.

The minister also noted that the proposal to return the passport to ex-Prime Minister Police Lieutenant Colonel Thaksin Shinawatra will be considered carefully and will also be made according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' procedures.

In a related report, Information Department Director-General and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Thani Thongphakdi announced that the Japanese government has allowed Pol Lt-Col Thaksin to enter Japan on a special basis, but details when he will travel to Japan or which type of visa he will be given remain unknown.

-- NNT 2011-08-15

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UDD urging Tharit to resign from DSI chief

BANGKOK, 15 August 2011 (NNT) – The United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) has encouraged Department of Special Investigation (DSI) Director-General Tharit Pengdit to resign because he is one of the stakeholders in various court cases against the UDD.

Acting UDD Chairperson Thida Thavornsret stated that the UDD’s demand encouraging the resignation of Mr Tharit from the DSI director-general post is reasonable because he is one of the stakeholders and, therefore, should not handle investigations of any UDD related cases.

Ms Thida added that Mr Tharit was assigned to handle all UDD cases by then Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES), which is the party against the UDD. She said Mr Tharit should consider himself and resign while the new government should step in to take care of this issue.

Asked if the UDD will file a letter about the matter to newly appointed Justice Minister Police General Pracha Promnog or not, the acting chairperson responded that she will discuss this issue among UDD panel members again.

Meanwhile, Democrat MP for Nakhon Si Thammarat Thepthai Senpong stated that Mr Tharit is a civil servant and carried out his duties according to the policy of the then government; therefore, he does not have to take responsibility as demanded by the UDD.

Mr Thepthai said Mr Tharit can be transferred if he is deemed unsuitable for the post of DSI director-general. He however noted that the UDD, which he deems an outlawed group, has no right to pressure for or order removal of any government officials.

-- NNT 2011-08-15

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THAI TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

Thaksin not entitled to be TTR : academic

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Over 700 Smuggled Dogs Die after Rescue

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Italian woman accused of shoplifting at convenience store in Jomtien

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Fire at Foreign-owned house in East Pattaya

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PM's Weekly TV Program to Be Continued

A Prime Minister's Office minister suggests the premier's weekly television program be continued to provide the public with information about the government's work.

Prime Minister's Office Minister Surawit Khonsombun stated he still has no idea about the patterns of the prime minister's weekly television program that will be broadcast on state-run Channel 11, but said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra should resume the program.

Surawit insisted the program will not be exploitation of state media given its content will only explain the government's policies and its work direction.

The minister went on to say the Opposition also has the right to seek airtime to host its own similar program.

He noted the removal of Channel 11's programs that severely criticize the present government has to be carefully considered.

He urged the media to publicize news in a constructive way to help restore national peace and unity.

Surawit remarked Prime Minister Yingluck will present the government's policy statement draft to the Cabinet meeting tomorrow.

He said if no changes are needed, a date for the government's policy statement before Parliament then will be submitted to the House speaker.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-15

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Southern Teacher Association Makes Suggestions to PM

The Association of Teachers in the Southern Border Provinces sends the premier a set of suggested solutions to the unrest in the strife-torn deep South.

Chairman of the Association of Teachers in the Southern Border Provinces, Boonsom Tongsiprai, has forwarded suggestions to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra about how to solve the long-running southern insurgency.

He urged the premier to step up security for local residents, improve the efficiency of policies for the South to prevent a conflict of interest among state officials and heed the opinions of locals on how to solve ongoing unrest.

The chairman added he wished the government will restructure the educational system for southern residents as it is a medium and long-term solution to the unrest.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-15

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Technician dies in unusual circumstances close to Pattaya

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Four teenagers hurt in gang-related shooting in Sriracha District

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PRESS RELEASE: DTAC sets August 16 as 'DTAC 3G' launch date

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SET index closed at 1086.32, up 24.25; Bt/USD29.75; GBP48.37; AUD30.90; EUR42.44; CAD29.97; HKD3.81; SGD24.50; JPY38.44

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SOUTH CRISIS

One bomb, 3 fatal shootings in latest South violence

Suspected insurgents detonated a time bomb near a market in Narathiwat's Jor Irong district today but no injury or death was reported.

Following the explosion at 9.50am, police along with a bomb disposal team rushed to the Ban Yaning Market and found pieces of the homemade bomb, reportedly placed in a one-kilogram plastic engine oil container with a digital wristwatch set to 9.50am.

The bomb went off while a six-strong security team was patrolling the area to guard people visiting the market, but a bridge pillar shielded the destruction radius and no injury or death was reported.

In Pattani's Mai Kaen district, assistant to Ban Khok Nibong village headman, Piramid Doloh, 41, was found dead at 8.30am in a roadside wooded area, after nearby villagers heard gunshots on Sunday night.

Piramid had reportedly attended the Ramadan ceremony in the local mosque before riding his motorcycle home when unknown gunmen ambushed him.

They shot him several times before shooting him in the head. Relatives didn't alert police immediately and rushed his body to a religious ritual, only reporting the crime to police this morning.

In Yala's Mueang district, a former village headman in tambon Sateng Nok, Masuyee Jehloh, 50, and an unidentified woman in her 50s were found dead in a pickup truck at 7.59am today.

As both were shot in the back of the head from behind, police suspect they were killed by a person travelling with them in the vehicle and that the double deaths stemmed from a personal conflict.

-- The Nation 2011-08-15

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Phuket's Swedish murder suspects may not do 'hard' time

Johan Sebastian Ljung confessed to stabbing Maksim Schantz in the neck,

killing him, police said. Photo: Dean Noble

Tommy Viktor Söderlund also confessed to participating in the murder, police said.

Photo: Dean Noble

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Prosecutor Puts Off Indictment against PAD Leader

A state prosecutor has put off announcing the decision whether to indict a core leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy in five cases due to failure to complete consideration of all the investigation reports.

Core leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, or PAD, Sondhi Limthongkul, assigned his lawyer Puangthip Bunsanong to report on his behalf to special prosecutor of the Criminal Litigation Division 10, Pirayuth Praditkul.

The report was in response to five cases against Sondhi, two of which are libel cases filed by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Bhum Jai Thai Party de facto leader Newin Chidchob over his rally speeches at Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi airports in 2008.

The three remaining cases stem from his role in three protests at the two airports, Parliament and Government House in 2008.

The prosecutor decided to postpone the decision whether to indict Sondhi to September 20 as the review of police's investigation reports has not yet completed.

The prosecutor has also rescheduled the announcement of the decision whether to file charges against former foreign minister Kasit Piromya for his participation in the PAD's airport protests.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-15

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to continue:

Thailand Live Tuesday 16 Aug 2011

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