Yingluck shruggs off Thaksin's role in Burma

The Nation

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Wednesday said her government's image had not be tainted by her brother Thaksin Shinawatra's deal making in Burma.

"I don't think the government's reputation was tarnished," she said.

Yingluck was commenting on Thaksin's remarks claiming he had helped the government to broker a deal during his visit which preceded the prime minister's trip to Burma.

Yingluck said there was no linkage between Thaksin and her government.

"Thaksin works on his own (initiative) but power and final decision rest with the government," she said.

She said there was no conflict of interest involving the government, dismissing suspicion about dispensing favour for Thaksin.

-- The Nation 2011-12-21

Govt Urged to Heed Reconciliation Panel's Advice on Red-shirt Detainees

The Opposition leader is calling on the government to follow the Independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission's suggestions on the treatment of red-shirt detainees.

Democrat Party and Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said that the Independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission clearly defined a political crime as a crime involving a violation of the State of Emergency law during a political protest, and that it does not cover criminal cases and other offenses committed before the protest.

Abhisit said the government should respond to the panel's suggestions accordingly.

He added that it would be a double standard and a disregard of the panel if the Corrections Department takes all red-shirt detainees as political prisoners without justifiable reasons.

Regarding the Pheu Thai Party's proposal that the Cabinet resolution No.66 of 1980 be used as a guideline for the reconciliation process, Abhisit said the resolution was intended to persuade the armed communist group in the past to surrender and help promote democracy and develop the nation.

He noted that in this case, the red-shirt group should stop activities and join the effort to develop the nation.

The Opposition leader also agreed with the committee's plan to seek opinions from the Council of State on a reconciliation bill.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-21

AFP: Thai PM backs Suu Kyi in landmark Myanmar talks

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Metropolitan Police Deputy Chief Amnuay says police needed teargas in Tao Poon gambling den, investigators seek to arrest owner /MCOT

Pheu Thai delays charter rewrite

The Nation

Chief coalition whip Udomdej Rattanasatien on Wednesday confirmed that the Pheu Thai Party had resolved to slow down its push for charter amendments.

"The coalition will delay the charter amendments until the time is right," he said.

Earlier the main coalition party planned to sponsor a motion to rewrite the charter at the today's reconvening of the House session following recess.

Udomdej said Pheu Thai MPs might air their individual views on charter rewrite without reflecting on the coalition's stand.

"The charter will be amended because the rewrite is for progress and not regression," he said, insisting the coalition will decide at a later date on the time to activate the rewrite.

He hinted that the coalition will not object should government MPs try make individual efforts to amend the charter. Many see his remarks as a green light for red-leaning MPs to still make a separate push for charter amendments.

-- The Nation 2011-12-21

Floods hit electronic industry hard

Nalin Viboonchart

The Nation

The export value of the electronic industry in 2011 is expected to drop by 3.81 per cent from US$33.046 billion last year to $31.788 billion due to severe flood impacts, according to the Electrical and Electronics Institute.

Somboon Hotrakool, director of the Electrical and Electronics Institute, said that the electronic component production in October this year plunged by 51.25 per cent if compared with the same month of last year.

Output was quite stable early this year and increased in the middle of this year. However, the output dropped drastically in the third quarter of this year and continued in the final quarter.

The industrial estates that were inundated are the main manufactruing sites for hard-disk drive and integrated circuit (IC) production, accounting for 40 per cent of total production output.

-- The Nation 2011-12-21

SET index midday up 13.93 pts, 1.35 pct

Thai composite stock index (SET) at midday Wednesday stood at 1,047.22, up 13.93 points, or 1.35 per cent in line with global shares amid Bt11.37 billion turnover.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 736.70 points, up 11.44 points, or 1.58 per cent.

Top five most active (value) stocks: PTTEP, PTT, TOP, JAS, SCB

-- The Nation 2011-12-21

PM Denies Thaksin's Role in Her Meeting with Suu Kyi

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Hong Kong culls 17,000 chickens, suspends live poultry imports for 21 days after three birds tested positive for deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu virus /MCOT

Chalerm: Govt performance should come before charter rewrite

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Insurgents fire two M79 grenades at police residential flat, home in Narathiwat's Si Sakhon district; no casualties reported /MCOT

UNESCO supports Thai government in recovery of Ayutthaya World Heritage site

Wat Chaiwatthanaram, file photo. Source: wikimedia

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Police Charged 199 Gamblers at Casino in Tao Poon Area

A special unit from the Metropolitan Police Bureau raided a casino in Tao Poon area.

199 gamblers were arrested and a large number of gambling machines and tools have been confiscated.

Yesterday, around 4 AM, Deputy Commander for the Royal Thai Police Police General Panupong Singhara na Ayutthaya and Metropolitan Police Bureau Commander Police Lieutenant General Winai Thongsong brought in about 100 police officers from a special unit at the Metropolitan Police Bureau to raid a casino in Tao Poon area on Techawanich Road in Bangkok's Bang Sue District.

The casino has been illegally opened in a community where locals refused to coordinate with police in apprehending gamblers, causing difficulties for police to enter to area.

However, after raiding the casino, 199 gamblers were arrested.

Of that number, 85 gamblers were male and 114 were female.

Police confiscated money and gambling tools as evidence for the case, such as cards, bakara tables, score sheets, price lists, bill counters, and many slot machines.

Winai disclosed that before raiding the casino, 40 police officers posed as gamblers, and later revealed themselves.

They opened the metal gate to allow another team of police officers to enter and raid the casino.

As the officers were apprehending the culprits, some gamblers tried to escape with the assistance of local residents outside the casino.

Police officers tried to block them from escaping, causing Deputy Director of the Suppression Unit Police Lieutenant Colonel Satit Sungprapai to be injured with a cut on his right eyelid.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-21

Police Arrest Drug Dealers, Panderers

The Woman and Child Welfare Division arrested suspected drug dealers in Bangkok Noi District and later arrested panderers believed to have been seeking teenagers between the age of 15-18 for human trafficking and prostitution.

Patchara Sangthongprow, age 32, Matima Prangthawon, age 33, and Vichuda Laokam, age 28, were arrested by officers from the Woman and Child Welfare Division from the Metropolitan Police Bureau.

Police also confiscated 92 methamphetamine pills in the sweep.

In arresting the female suspects, police officers went undercover as drug dealers on Charansanitwong Soi 25, in Bangkok Noi District.

Police officers later identified themselves and made the arrests.

Subsequently, the officers discovered leads linking the women to a panderer, Wanna Thongtha, age 20.

Police managed to get the panderer to deliver the prostitutes, then made an arrest of Wanna and the prostitutes on charges of seeking teens between the age of 15 and 18 for human trafficking and prostitution.

Then, a relative of one of the suspects, Suratchada Kaweesuth, age 45, visited the police station to negotiate for the release of her family member, Patchara, offering the police 20,000 baht in an exchange for letting her go.

Police officers thus charged her with bribing before sending her to Nang Loeng police station for further legal proceeding.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-21

REDS MOVEMENT

Red shirts to demand Arisman's release

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SHINAWATRA GOVERNMENT

Yingluck denies Thaksin smoothed the way in Burma

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POLITICS

Charter amendments to come 'when time is right': Udomdej

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Thai Poll Favors Removal of Justice Minister

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Thai Airways conducts biofuel test flight

The Nation

Thai Airways International's Asia's first passenger biofuels flight confirms the airline's commitment toward green travelling and the Thai authorities' effort to reduce greenhouse gas emission.

THAI President Piyasvasti Amranand said that the experimental flight echoes the airline’s CSR policy. Under "travel green" concept, this flight is aimed at creating awareness among all parties on biofuels, particularly regional airlines which needs to reduce fossil fuel consumption.

"THAI wants to push forward jet biofuels development to ensure sustainable use in Thailand and the region. This needs cooperation from all parties, like oil companies, research institutes, educational institutes, and related public and private organisations," he said.

Today, the airline launched Flight TG 8421, the first biofuels flight that welcomed the media, representatives from related organisations including Rolls Royce and Boeing. The first passenger biofuels flight, TG 104, will follow tomorrow. All proceeds will go to alternative energy promotion organisations.To promote awareness in greenhouse gases and climate change, 98 students will also join the flight.

PTT executive Saran Rangkasiri said the company was in charge of supplying 8 tonnes of biofuels for the flights, worth about US$2.5 million. It was imported from Sky NRG in the Netherlands which supplied the fuel to KLM and Finnair.

To Airports of Thailand, the flights are in line with the Green Airport policy. Aside from the green flight, AOT is turning it’s buildings into Green Building and using clean and renewable energy for all vehicles operating in the airport.

-- The Nation 2011-12-21

Thailand Tops World's Most Generous

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SET index closed at 1043.75, up 10.46; Bt/USD31.10; GBP48.62; AUD31.50; EUR40.71; CAD30.15; HKD3.99; SGD23.92; JPY39.73

BKK city clerk transfers Bangkhen district chief to inactive post for negligence in handling flood situation /TANN

His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch wishes Thais happiness and peace for the New Year and encourages following the Buddha's teachings /TANN

Election commissioner Sodsri points out charter amendment must be approved via public hearing first /TANN

Thailand, Cambodia agree to implement World Court border order

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Second Phuket incinerator 'onstream by March'

Phuket Gazette

BURN, BABY, BURN: The extra burn capacity created by Phuket's new incinerator coming online will be used to burn off the rising landfills at the site.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/520640-second-phuket-incinerator-onstream-by-march/page__view__findpost__p__4927285

dtac apologies to customers for the network problems

Dr. Darmp Sukontasap, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Total Access Communication PLC (dtac), said "Recently, we have been in the process of upgrading our system.

Earlier this morning, we were migrating our technical database from the old system to a new one. Unfortunately, there was a technical problem which affected a large portion of our customers. By 3 pm, the situation has returned to normal and the problem is resolved. We apologize our customers for the inconvenience caused and will do our utmost to prevent a recurrence of the problem."

-- The Nation 2011-12-21

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Thailand Live Thursday 22 Dec 2011

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