Thailand Live Friday 16 Dec 2011

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Chinese vice president to visit Thailand on Dec 22-24

BANGKOK, Dec 16 - Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping is scheduled to pay an official visit to Thailand as the guest of the Thai government from Dec 22-24.

He will meet Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to exchange opinions on strengthening ties as well as bilateral and regional cooperation. The Chinese vice president will also meet other prominent figures.

Mr Xi Jinping will also observe Thailand’s post-flood rehabilitation projects and visit the Confucius Institute at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand's oldest university.

The Chinese vice president is the highest-ranking government official ever to officially visit Thailand. His visit is seen here as reflecting China’s confidence in Thailand and is a good opportunity to enhance and continue cooperation in various fields between the two countries, according to a Thai foreign ministry news release.

The landmark visit is vital to the development of the Thai-Chinese strategic partnership and the continuing interaction between leaders of the two countries, it said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-12-16

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Man arrested for allegedly planting six bombs in Bangkok

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Ang Thong Province on Bird Flu Watch

The Livestock Development Department in Ang Thong Province is collecting samples to test for bird flu and sprayed the area after more than ten chickens were dead.

Officials from the Livestock Development Department in Ang Thong Province are collecting samples to test for bird flu.

More than ten chickens of villagers were dead in Jumlong Subdistrict, where Siberian openbill birds migrated to reside at the 100 rais of disused factory.

The sampled results are expected to be drawn next week.

However, officials have sprayed hen-houses to initially prevent bird flu.

Viroj Ankawut from the Livestock Development Department said that the responsibility of controlling migrated Siberian open-billed birds falls under the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, as the birds are reserved animals.

The Livestock Development Department is now coordinating with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation in Saraburi Province to keep those Siberian open-billed birds away from residents, while officials continue to monitor the situation and spray the areas periodically.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-16

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RT @tulsathit: US Embassy statement on relations with Thailand http://1.usa.gov/t6sVBx

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SET index midday up 8.89 pts, 0.85 pct

Thai composite stocks index (SET) at midday Friday stood at 1,032.85, up 8.69 points, or 0.85 per cent in line with regional shares amid light trade of Bt11.90 billion.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 725.44, up 6.38 points, or 0.89 per cent.

Top five active (value) stocks: DTAC, INTUCH, IRPC, PTTGC,PAO.

-- The Nation 2011-12-16

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Bomb suspect denies involvement in attempted attacks

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/519393-3-bomb-scares-around-bangkok/page__view__findpost__p__4916064

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RT@tulsathit: Reports say Surapong giving himself A+ for his 4-month performance, voicing confident he wouldn't be removed from Cabinet.

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Ban on Thakin holding passport repealed

The Foreign Ministry has repealed the passport ban on fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, which was issued by former foreign minister Kasit Piromya, Foreign Minister Surapong Tohvichakchaikul said Friday.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/519297-thai-democrat-spokesman-claims-thaksins-passport-reinstated/page__view__findpost__p__4916123

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BURNING ISSUE

Push for new charter gathers steam

Kanittha Thepphajorn

As Wednesday's reopening of Parliament draws nearer, so too does the amendment of the Constitution.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/519506-push-for-new-charter-gathers-steam/page__view__findpost__p__4916133

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RT @BreakingNews: Tsunami-devastated Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant is stable, has reached 'cold shutdown,' Japan PM says - AP

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Phuket parties as Patong Carnival gets underway

PARTY CENTRAL: Revelers from Central float on by during the parade. Photo: Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai

A man in jellyfish costume, one of the more eye-catching costumes at the parade last night. Photo: Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai

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Police to Conclude Investigation into Red-shirt Crackdown This Week

Police expect to conclude the investigation about the deadly military crackdown on red-shirt protesters by this week.

Deputy Metropolitan Police Bureau commander Police Major General Anuchai Lekbamrung, who spearheaded the team investigating the murders of 16 red-shirt members during last year's political unrest disclosed that the testimony given by former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban was helpful in this case.

Anuchai said that police will consider if it is necessary to invite other people for interrogation.

However, he is confident that the case will not be prolonged and the reinvestigation report will be completed by this week.

Meanwhile, red-shirt lawyer Karom Poltaklang brought 70 M60 bullets, 25 shotgun cartridges, and a box containing chemical powder to investigators at Bangrak police station.

Karom believed that those items were used in the deadly crackdown on red-shirt protesters during April 10 last year.

He claimed that the evidence was collected by an anonymous person who refused to reveal his identity due to safety concerns.

The bullets were marked with clear bar codes.

The red-shirt lawyer called on police officers to find out which agency did the ammunition belong to.

He added the evidence will be used in court during the trial over the death of 16 red-shirt protesters.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-16

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Police to Conclude Investigation into Red-shirt Crackdown This Week

Police expect to conclude the investigation about the deadly military crackdown on red-shirt protesters by this week.

Deputy Metropolitan Police Bureau commander Police Major General Anuchai Lekbamrung, who spearheaded the team investigating the murders of 16 red-shirt members during last year's political unrest disclosed that the testimony given by former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban was helpful in this case.

Anuchai said that police will consider if it is necessary to invite other people for interrogation.

However, he is confident that the case will not be prolonged and the reinvestigation report will be completed by this week.

Meanwhile, red-shirt lawyer Karom Poltaklang brought 70 M60 bullets, 25 shotgun cartridges, and a box containing chemical powder to investigators at Bangrak police station.

Karom believed that those items were used in the deadly crackdown on red-shirt protesters during April 10 last year.

He claimed that the evidence was collected by an anonymous person who refused to reveal his identity due to safety concerns.

The bullets were marked with clear bar codes.

The red-shirt lawyer called on police officers to find out which agency did the ammunition belong to.

He added the evidence will be used in court during the trial over the death of 16 red-shirt protesters.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-16

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We have utmost respect for the Thai monarchy

The Nation

The US Embassy in Bangkok on Friday issued a statement, reiterating that it respected Thai laws and did not take sides in Thailand's internal affairs.

Posting on its FB page, the embassy repeated its Ambassador Kristie Kenney's earlier statement that the US government has the utmost respect for the Thai monarchy, the royal family and Thai culture.

"President Obama, Secretary Clinton and the US Embassy in Bangkok all recently offered heartfelt congratulations to His Majesty the King of Thailand on the very special occasion of his 84th birthday."

"Thailand is our oldest friend in Asia and we will continue to stand by the Thai people" the statement said.

The US Embassy in Bangkok was treated to a taste of "freedom of expression" medicine, when Thai political rivals faced off with plenty of obscenities on its Facebook page over the course of a few days.

The heated exchanges followed the ambassador’s "chat" session a week ago with fellow Twitter users, during which "freedom of expression" was a dominant topic. The session came a day after Thai-American Joe Gordon was sentenced to two and a half years in jail for translating parts of the banned book "The King Never Smiles" on a website.

The embassy then issued at statement, saying, "as always, we welcomed your discourse and diverse views on our wall and pages. Please be mindful of our existing terms of service, however, by refraining from using language that is profane or abusive."

A glance at the embassy's FB page last night, revealed that all postings had been deleted.

-- The Nation 2011-12-16

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Human Trafficking Found in Narathiwat

The Narathiwat human security office has revealed that more than 20 female Laotian citizens have been threatened and forced into prostitution, after a raid at a local karaoke bar there.

Yesterday, the Department of Special Investigation, or DSI's anti-human trafficking center joined hands with the Region 4 Internal Security Operations Command, or ISOC, to raid a local karaoke bar in Su-ngai Kolok District of Narathiwat Province.

Forty-one female Laotian nationals have been rescued and brought for further questioning, while bar owner Sathit Salawan has been arrested.

Narathiwat Social Development and Human Security Officer Thaweesak Da-oh revealed that currently the joint force, consisting of police officers, officials from foster homes, the immigration office and the social development and human security office have questioned the female Laotian nationals.

It has been found that they have been coerced and forced into prostitution.

Twenty of them are thought to have been trafficked, while 21 others are pending further interrogation.

Some of them will be charged for voluntary prostitution, while others will face illegal entry charges.

Asked about complaints of underage prostitution in many venues of Narathiwat's districts of Su-ngai Kolok, Takbai and Muang, Thaweesak said locals can offer tip-offs to the relevant agencies and investigations will be carried out immediately.

Moreover, local residents can also file complaints on entertainment venues located near schools, temples, mosques and medical centers as they must be situated in only permitted areas.

Also, yesterday, the Narathiwat provincial police chief signed an order to set up an investigation panel to probe into the matter as it has the reason to believe that commander of Su-ngai Kolok Police Station Police Colonel Chakraporn Tanthong along with other relevant officers were negligent in allowing human trafficking to take place in their area.

The Narathiwat provincial police chief also signed an order to transfer Chakraporn to an inactive post in the Narathiwat Provincial Office, effective from today.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-16

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SET index closed at 1034.06, up 9.90; Bt/USD31.21; GBP48.39; AUD31.10; EUR40.59; CAD30.11; HKD4.00; SGD23.82; JPY39.86

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AFP: Thailand gives ex-PM Thaksin passport back: govt

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Krabi massacre mastermind caught in Phang Nga

Confessed murder mastermind Abedin 'Dean' Singto with Region 8 Police in Surat Thani.

Phuket Police will now be on the lookout for accomplice Noppakhun Yongbud, one of the two accomplices in the high-profile murder.

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Driver charged over death of pregnant Phuket resort worker

Phuket resort worker Arayada Budsayakul, 27, died instantly in the accident. She was four months pregnant at the time.

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US Urged to Stop Interfering with Thai Judicial System

A group called Siam Samakkee has protested at the United Nations and the US Embassy to demand the international community to stop interfering in Thailand's domestic affairs concerning the lese majeste law.

Around 200 members of a group calling itself Siam Samakkee handed a letter to the United Nations to protest what it claimed is the United States' action to interfere in the Thai judicial process on the issue concerning Article 112 covering lese majeste.

The group said since the government and Parliament did not come out to protest the action, they are taking the matter into their own hand to prevent interference with the Thai judicial system and the call for an amendment to Article 112, which the group claimed is what they cannot condone since it is related to the Monarchy.

One of the protesters said, as a Thai national who loves the Monarchy, he cannot stand to see interference with the institution or demand for an amendment to Article 112 as Thai tradition upholds reverence and respect for the Monarchy.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-16

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Court dismisses Red Shirt leader’s libel case involving Abhisit audio clip

UDON THANI, Dec 16 – The provincial court here on Friday dismissed the case of Kwanchai Praipana, a key Red Shirt leader, on libel charges over the broadcast of audio clips of then prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on a provincial radio station.

As a disk jockey for a local radio station of the “Khon Rak Udon” club, Mr Kwanchai broadcast an audio clip of Mr Abhisit speaking during his weekly radio and television address to the nation on June 14 and 16, 2009.

The Aug 26-27, 2009, broadcast, Mr Abhisit charged, was inappropriately edited, and he filed a libel charge against Mr Kwanchai.

The court delivered its verdict on Friday, reasoning that Mr Kwanchai did his duty as part of the media to criticise the government with fairness, therefore the court acquitted him.

More than 30 Red Shirts who gathered at the court to show their support for the Red Shirt commentator welcomed the court’s verdict.

Mr Kwanchai said that he slandered no one by broadcasting the audio clip about the government operation to disperse Red Shirt protesters but that he simply revealed the truth.

The court’s verdict showed that people could rely on the justice process, he said.

“It is a Red Shirt victory now after we have fought together under the democratic system with constitutional monarchy”, Mr Kwanchai said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-12-16

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Security Beefed Up at Oil Depots after Bomb Threats

The Energy Ministry has instructed relevant agencies to step up securtiy measures at oil depots and other energy facilities to prevent a possible bomb attack.

The ministry is also seeking to secure loans in the amount of 600 million baht to help flood-hit gas stations recover from damage sustained from the floods.

Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan admitted that he is concerned about the bomb threats, which have been occurring more frequently over the past few weeks.

The energy minister said he has ordered relevant agencies under the ministry to beef up security at energy depots and facilities such as oil refineries, gas stations as well as other energy resources.

Pichai confirmed that the ministry has tight security at all of its energy facilities, but instructed all relevant units to step up security as a precautionary measure to prevent any untoward incidents, particularly at major oil depots.

Moreover, the Energy Ministry is also working quickly in helping energy companies that were hit by the flood crisis by cooperating with the Small and Medium Enterprise Development, or SME Bank, to issue flood recovery loans totaling 600 million baht.

Those eligible for the loans are operators of LPG, petrol stations, cooking gas filling centers, petrol and gas transportation companies.

They are all eligible to apply for loans, which can not exceed one million baht, with an installment period of no more than six years and a three-percent fixed interest rate.

Loan applications can be submitted at all SME Bank branches nationwide until March 31 next year.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-16

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Swiss national arrested for embezzlement in Udon Thani

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Thailand Live Saturday 17 Dec 2011

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