Thailand Live Thursday 25 Aug 2011

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Defence Minister leads top brass to wish happy 91th birthday to Privy Council President Gen Prem Tinsulanonda at Si Sao Thewes residence /MCOT

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Defence volunteer killed in attack on military outpost

SONGKHLA, Aug 25 – Presumed insurgents launched an attack on a military outpost in the southern province of Songkhla's Thepa district on Wednesday night, killing one defence volunteer.

The outpost at Baan Koh Lae Nang is located three kilometres from the main Hat Yai-Pattani road No 43.

At least 15 gunmen arrived at the base on two pick-up trucks and raided Baan Koh Lae Nang School where defence volunteer rangers are stationed, shooting at the post. The volunteers returned fire and called for reinforcements. The attackers retreated to main road number 43.

Defence volunteer Baraherm Chae died at the scene and the other volunteer was injured.

Joint forces are searching for the suspects in a forest area enclosed by a nearby river. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-08-25

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PM orders police chief to crack down on gambling dens in BKK as claimed by Rak Thailand leader Chuvit /TAN_Network

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State Railway Ensures Feasibility of Airport Link Extension to Pattaya

The State Railway of Thailand has indicated that it already has a transport infrastructure upgrade plan in place that coincides with the government's policy.

It has also ensured the feasibility of the Airport Rail Link line extension to Pattaya City.

Governor of the State Railway of Thailand or the SRT, Yutthana Thapcharoen commented on the government's plan to develop the rail system among the major cities.

He said the SRT has been studying the plan to upgrade the rail infrastructure in Thailand, which is expected to cost around 176 billion baht.

Yutthana added that with support of the government, the SRT is prepared to push forward all projects on hand.

The SRT has commissioned the feasibility study on the double rail upgrade for five routes consisting of Lopburi-Nakhon Sawan-Paknampho route, Map Kaboa-Chira Junction route, Chira Junction-Khon Kaen route, Nakhon Pathom-Nong Pla Duk-Hua Hin route and Prachuap Khiri Khan-Chumphon route, which has a total length of 767 kilometers.

Meanwhile, acting President of the SRT Electric Train Pakorn Tangjetsakao has ensured the feasibility of the Airport Rail Link system extension to Chonburi Province and Pattaya City.

Pakorn pointed out that it would be most suitable for the extension to start from Lad Krabang Station, and, once completed, the commute time from Bangkok to Pattaya City will be reduced to only about an hour.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-25

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TAT Increases Annual Budget by 60 Percent

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has increased its 2012 budget by 60 percent to facilitate tourism policies.

The agency believes the number of tourists is expected to rise to 24 to 25 million by 2015.

Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand or TAT Surapong Savetasreni said the TAT has allocated 8.4 billion baht in the 2012 budget, which is an increase of 60 percent compared to last year's budget.

The additional sum is to facilitate the TAT's tourism strategy and marketing plan next year.

Six hundred million baht has been allocated to the Miracle Thailand project.

The TAT and other partners will carry out public relation campaigns to promote the project.

The TAT reported that the number of tourists has grown an average of 12 percent each year.

By the year 2015, the TAT expects that 24 to 25 million tourists will have visit Thailand, generating income of nearly one trillion baht.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-25

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AFP: Thai Red Shirts angry at 34-year jail terms

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SET closes up during midday break on positive cue from foreign bourses at 1,053.92, increase of 7.49 with value of Bt13.27 bln /TAN_Network

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Siriraj Hospital truck transporting 23 bodies to Chon Buri overtured on Burapavithi Expressway; all corpses have been collected /TAN_Network

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PM asks for time to prove her leadership skills and praised the House speaker while saying failed Parliament meeting doesn't affect govt /TAN_Network

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Democrat files impeachment motion against Surapong

The Democrat Party Thursday submitted an impeachment motion against Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul for having helped fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra obtain entry visa to Japan.

Democrat party-list MP Wirat Kalayasiri represented the party to file an impeachment motion with Senate Speaker Thiradej Meepian.

The motion was signed by 130 Democrat MPs.

The motion alleged that Surapong had violated Article 176 of the Constitution by working before the government delivered the policy statement to Parliament.

The motion alleged that Surapong used his authority as the foreign minister to ask Japan to approve entry visa for Thaksin.

-- The Nation 2011-08-25

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4-year-old girl, father killed in Yala attack

Yala - Some 30 gunmen raided the house of a former village headman in this southern border province early Thursday, leading to a gunfight that saw a 4-year-old girl and her father killed, police said.

The attack also caused some 10 others, including village defence volunteers, to be injured.

Police said the attack occurred at 3 am at the house of Doloh Sengmasu, a former village head, in Talohwae village in Tambon Patae in Yaha district.

Police said the attackers, who wore black clothes, and carried war weapons stormed into the house's compound and opened fire at the village defence volunteers in front of the house.

The two sides exchanged gunfire for about two hours before the attackers retreated.

At the end of gunfight, Nisulaiman Sengmasu and his daughter, Rassamee, were found dead.

-- The Nation 2011-08-25

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Thai exports up 38.3 pct in July

By The Nation

Thai exports last month grew at the fastest rate in the past 13 months, surging 38.3 per cent on strong demand for agricultural goods, recovery of vehicles exports after supply disruption from Japan's returns to normal, the Commerce Ministry announced on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Thai imports increased by 13.5 per cent in July from a year ago, resulting in a trade surplus of USD 2.8 billion last month.

Exports will continue to drive the Thai economy, but the new government's policies will focus more on boosting domestic demand to gradually lower reliance of exports

-- The Nation 2011-08-25

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MP Chuwit has unveiled a gambling den in Bangkok that offered police a 2-million-baht bribery per day

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Democrats Press for Impeachment of Foreign Minister

A Democrat Party executive files a complaint with the Senate demanding the foreign minister be removed for his role in helping former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra enter Japan.

Democrat party-list MP Wirut Kalayasiri, accompanied by a number of his party's MPs, submitted a petition with 130 MPs' signatures to Senate Speaker General Theeradej Meepien to seek impeachment of Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul.

Wirut also included a transcript of the remark made by a Japanese government official and Surapong's statement over the approval of a special visa for fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to enter Japan.

The Democrat MP said Surapong's move violated the Constitution's Article 176, which prohibits any proceeding of a significant issue before the government's policy statement, and the Criminal Code's Articles 189 and 192 for aiding and abetting a fugitive convict.

Meanwhile, Theeradej said the Upper House will verify the legality of the petition and forward it to the National Anti-Corruption Commission in 30 days for its opinion on the allegation against the minister.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-25

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House Speaker under Fire for Meeting Turmoil

A Democrat MP has lashed out at the House speaker for being biased and lacking maturity to control parliamentary sessions as well as knowledge about House meeting rules.

Democrat MP Chinnaworn Boonyakiat blamed House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont for allowing disorder to take place during last night's parliamentary session to debate the government's policies.

He criticized Somsak as being biased for paying no heed to Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, who raised his hand to offer a way-out to settle the commotion that gained steam as red-shirt MPs Nuttawut Saikuea and Jatuporn Phromphan had their turn speaking.

Chinnaworn added Somsak exercised too much of his authority in controlling the meeting, which upset many parliamentarians.

The Democrat MP said the House speaker had no maturity to listen patiently to the debate and overly protected the government.

He added Somsak did not have a thorough understanding of House meeting rules since he could have decided to end the session last night at his own discretion without having to call a vote, which required a quorum to be met.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-25

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Four dead in attacks in Thai south

YALA, August 25, 2011 (AFP) - Suspected insurgents killed four people in a spate of overnight attacks in Thailand's Muslim-dominated deep south, police said Thursday.

Armed men opened fire on the house of a village chief in Yala province early Thursday, sparking a gunfight with defence volunteers. The headman's son and young granddaughter were killed while 10 others were wounded.

In another incident, more than a dozen armed men in two pick-up trucks opened fire on a military outpost in Songkhla Province late Wednesday, leaving one paramilitary dead and two hurt.

Militant attacks are rare in Songkhla, which is located just north of the three worst affected provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.

In Pattani, a 60-year-old Muslim village chief was shot dead late Wednesday on his way home from a mosque.

More than 4,700 people, both Muslims and Buddhists, have died in almost daily attacks since shadowy insurgents launched an uprising in Thailand's southernmost region in early 2004.

Critics accuse the government of failing to address the grievances of Thailand's Malay Muslims, including alleged abuses by the military and a perceived lack of respect for their ethnic identity, language and religion.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-08-25

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Red shirts attack 2 men in front of Parliament

Red-shirt demonstrators attacked two men in front of Parliament Thursday after the men laid a black wreath to protest against Parliament President Somsak Kiartusranon.

The two men arrived in a taxi at 12:10 pm and they carried with them a black wreath with words of "To Parliament President Somsak Kiartsuranon, who sits in the heart of Thaksin".

When the two men walked to lay the wreath in front of Parliament, red-shirt people, who demonstrated there in support of the government, alerted their guards.

The guards captured the two men and were seen hitting them with a roll of hard paper.

Later on, some red-shirt people led the two men away.

-- The Nation 2011-08-25

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Impeachment motion filed against Thai Foreign MInister Surapong

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SET index closed at 1025, down 21.43; Bt/USD29.87; GBP48.76; AUD31.12; EUR42.97; CAD30.07; HKD3.83; SGD24.56; JPY38.49

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Foreign Man shoots himself in the head at Jomtien Gun Range

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Pattaya Karaoke Singer allegedly abducted by ex-boyfriend

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17.00 Farmers continue to gather outside Agriculture Min on Ratchadamnoen Rd, traffic congested, express lane allows cars to pass /TAN_Network

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BANGKOK

Elephants still roaming streets

By The Nation

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) deputy governor Theerachon Manomaipibul yesterday said that seven street-roaming elephants were impounded in separate cases this month, mostly in the suburbs.

Despite the authorities' attempts to solve the street-roaming elephant issue, elephants were still being brought to beg in the Greater Bangkok area, with their mahouts taking them to rest in Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan and Samut Sakhon. BMA has asked for the cooperation of these provinces and of the Livestock Development Department in arresting the mahouts. So far this month, seven mahouts have been arrested and their elephants impounded. While the mahouts were prosecuted at the police stations, the elephants were kept in quarantine for 30 days then sent to Kanchanaburi's Elephant Conservation Centre. Urging Greater Bangkok residents to alert the BMA hotline 1555 if they spotted street-roaming elephant beggars, Theerachon said upcountry residents could contact the provincial livestock development office.

-- The Nation 2011-08-25

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Parliament Reporters Receiving Threatening Letters from Red Shirt Supporters

Reporters at the Parliament building have filed a complaint with the government, asking for special protection after a Channel 7 reporter received threatening letters from people believed to be red shirt supporters. The letters claimed that the reporter would not be safe if she asked controversial questions or pressured the prime minister.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-25

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to continue:

Thailand Live Friday 26 Aug 2011

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