Thailand Live Tuesday 17 Jan 2012

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King's conditions are generally good though the pain at lower abdomen remains

BANGKOK, 17 January 2011 (NNT) – The Bureau of the Royal Household says His Majesty the King’s conditions are generally good after receiving antibiotics to cure diverticulitis at a small pouch in His Majesty’s large intestine.

In its 49th announcement, the Bureau of the Royal Household said the team of doctors attending to His Majesty the King continued treatment on the inflammation at the pouch of tissue in His Majesty’s large intestine which was found on Saturday. His Majesty still has some pain at the lower left area of the abdomen. However, he felt less tight in the area. His temperature, blood pressure and rhythm of breathing were normal.

His Majesty the King has remained at Siriraj Hospital for physical therapy since September 2009 after he was admitted with symptoms of fever, lung inflammation and fatigue.

-- NNT 2012-01-17

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Deputy chief of the Kaeng Krachan Natl Park has turned himself in on the charge of torching an elephant carcass /TANN

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Close Aide to Prominent Politicians in Ubon Ratchathani Murdered

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Abhisit Urges Thai Govt to Address Terrorism Issue

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Army Commander Visits Three Southernmost Provinces

The army commander leads the internal security operations command spokesperson to visit the three southernmost provinces to follow up on the security progress being made there.

Army Commander General Prayuth Chan-O-Cha, Internal Security Operations Command Spokesperson or ISOC, Major General Dittaporn Sasasamit, and their team visited the three southernmost provinces to monitor the progress being made to handle the southern insurgency, especially the bombing incidents.

The army commander also gave the 814 Military Battle Plan to relevant soldiers.

However, General Prayuth denied to give any interviews to the media before he left the areas.

Meanwhile, the National Intelligence Agency in Yala Province has warned soldiers, police officers, territorial defense volunteers, and the public to be aware of any possible car bomb incidents in Yala municipality during the Chinese New Year starting tomorrow until January 28.

The bombs will be hidden inside pick-up trucks and motorcycles.

The military and the police continue to patrol the risky areas strictly, including government buildings, communities, and markets.

Last two days, the National Intelligence Agency received reports that insurgent leaders held a secret meeting at the Yupoh Subdistrict of Yala Province.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-17

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Lebanese-Swedish terror suspect questioned further by police Tuesday before transfer to Criminal Court for further detention /MCOT

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Tourism Council of Thailand: Terror alert is normal procedure

BANGKOK, 17 January 2012 (NNT) – The Thai tourism industry views the recent terror attack warning issued on Thailand as a normal security procedure and is confident that the government will keep Thailand free of any possible attacks.

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Policeman, son gunned down in Pattani

PATTANI, Jan 17 – A police officer and his 14-year-old son were shot to death in this violence-plagued province Tuesday morning.

Police Senior Sergeant-Major Sathaporn Kongput, 50 was killed along with his 14-year-old son in Saiburi district.

Both were shot in the head and torso. Spent cartridge cases of an M16 assault rifle and a 9mm pistol were found at the scene.

According to the initial investigation, while the policeman and his son waited for a school bus near their home, three gunmen in a pick-up truck shot them and took the officer’s pistol.

Two surveillance cameras are installed at the site, but they were out of order. Local police were on alert following a report that suspected insurgents planned to kill officials. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-01-17

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Tul opposes compensation payments for red shirts

Multicolour-shirt leader Tul Sithisomwong on Tuesday filed a petition calling for the government to delay paying compensation for the red shirts until the completion of judicial review on whether their rallies were legal.

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Lebanese-Swedish terror suspect questioned before more detention

BANGKOK, Jan 17 - Lebanese-Swedish terror suspect Atris Hussein was to be questioned further by police Tuesday before being transferred to Bangkok Criminal Court for further detention.

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Central Bank To Introduce Image-Based Cheque Clearing System On Feb 3

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....ystem-on-feb-3/

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SET index midday up 9.52 pts, 0.92 pct

Thai composite stocks index (SET) at midday Tuesday stood at 1,046.53, up 9.52 points, or 0.92 per cent in line with regional shares amid Bt 8.52 billion turnover.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 731.47, up 7.04 points, or 0.97 per cent.

Top five active (value) stocks: KBANK, PTTEP, BBL, SCB, ADVANC.

-- The Nation 2012-01-17

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Profit speculation of bank and energy shares helped SET closed up by 9.52 points at 1,046.53 during the midday break with value of Bt8.52 bn/TAN_Network

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Corrections Dept transfers 47 political case prisoners to new detention facility in Laksi area; red-shirts show up to support them/TAN_Network

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Policeman, 14-year-old son shot dead in Pattani

Pattani - A police senior sergeant major and his 14-year-old son were killed a drive-by shooting on their way to the son's school Tuesday morning.

Pol Sen Sgt Maj Sathaporn Kongput, 51, and Patcharapol Kongput, 14, were killed on Tha Sadet Road in Tambon Taluban in Saiburi district.

Sathaporn was riding his motorcycle to send his son to the Decha Pattanayanukul School wat 7:30 am when assailants on a pick-up truck caught up with them and opened fire at them.

An assailant then jumped off the pick-up truck and fired at Sathaporn's head at pointblank.

The assailants fled on the truck with the policeman's pistol, a mobile phone and motorcycle.

-- The Nation 2012-01-17

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Royal command on Cabinet reshuffle

His Majesty the King has approved the royal command on the Cabinet reshffle involving some 16 positions, government spokeswoman Thitima Chaisang said on Tuesday's afternoon.

The Cabinet Secretariat was checking to the details before releasing the new Cabinet line-up, Thitima said, admitting that nine incumbent Cabinet members would lose their job.

Key changes included the concurrent appointment of Kittiratt Na Ranong as deputy prime minister and finance minister.

On Monday, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra submitted the reshuffle list for royal endorsement.

-- The Nation 2012-01-17

related:

Game Of Horse Trading Among Thaksin's Men

http://www.thaivisa....g-thaksins-men/

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RT@RichardBarrow: Terrorists planned to attack Chabad House & places on Khao San visited by Israelis & Americans- http://t.co/TeCfMyl3

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Second Bunch of Puea Thai MPs Given Cabinet Seats

The lawmakers of the ruling party tipped to be given ministerial posts in a fresh cabinet reshuffle include Puea Thai Party secretary general Jarupong Ruangsuwan, former finance minister Suchart Tadatamrongvej, Nivattamrong Boonsongpaisal and ex-Red Shirt leader Nattavudh Saikua.

Former Thai trade representative Nalini Taweesin, ranking at the bottom of the 125-candidates list of the party contesting last July's nationwide polls, is also tipped to be given a cabinet seat.

In the new cabinet lineup, submitted by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to His Majesty the King for approval, Kittirat na Ranong is said to become deputy premier-cum-finance minister, replacing Teerachai Puvanardnaranuban, while ACM Sukampon Suwannatat is tipped to assume the post of defense minister in place of Gen Yuttasak Sasiprapa, said to become deputy premier.

Tipped to be transferred from the post of education minister is Voravat Ua-apinyakul who might be given another ministerial seat in the Yingluck II cabinet while Pichai Nariptapand and Pol Gen Kowit Wattana are said to be dismissed as energy minister and deputy premier respectively.

http://news.voicetv.co.th/in-english/28099.html

Produced by VoiceTV

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Govt spokeswoman confirms her departure

Government spokeswoman Thitima Chaisang on Tuesday confirmed she would be shuffled out of her job along with the upcoming Cabinet line-up.

"I know I haven't been doing my job up to expectations," she said.

Thitima said she was uncertain whether Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra would reassign her to another position.

She said her job was tough, wishing her replacement every success.

-- The Nation 2012-01-17

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Fire contained in densely populated area of Phuket Town

Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation workers rush 51-year-old Sunee Buathong to hospital. She was the only one reported injured in the blaze.

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TERROR

Terror suspect to be further questioned Tuesday

The Nation

Lebanese-Swedish terror suspect Atris Hussein was to be questioned further by police Tuesday before being transferred to Bangkok Criminal Court for further detention.

Hussein entered the Thai capital several times during Jan 10-12 and conversed with several persons, both Thais and foreigners.

Police from the Crime Suppression Division will participate in investigating the suspect, Deputy National Police Chief Pol Gen Pansiri Prapawat said.

Hussein was charged Monday afternoon with possessing agricultural fertilisers, chemicals which were linked to a terror plot after the substances, which can be used to compound explosives, were discovered in a building in suburban Samut Sakhon, adjacent to the capital.

Despite the fact that a large amount of urea fertiliser and ammonium nitrate solution was found, the suspect said the building was used only to store the chemicals, but not to produce explosives.

Pansiri said fingerprints on the seized items will be ready within two days.

Meanwhile, no hidden traces were found after being thoroughly examined at 400 fans, which were among the items seized at the building. Police said there were believed to be more than one suspect involved and who might have planned to ship the fans abroad with the ammonium nitrate solution.

Hussein said there was no terror plot planned for Thailand but the country was being used as a transit site to distribute materials for making bombs overseas.

However, the location was not disclosed by the Thai authorities.

Hussein was detained for questioning Friday at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport under Thai immigration law with suspected links to Hezbollah, a militant political party in Lebanon which holds 11 of 30 cabinet seats in the Lebanese government and which is considered as a terrorist organisation by Israel, the United States, Britain, Canada and several other countries.

He was leaving Thailand the same day as the US embassy in Bangkok issued a terrorist threat warning for the capital.

-- The Nation 2012-01-17

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PHETCHBURI

Alleged elephant killing official surrendered and denied charge

An assistant to the Kaeng Krachan National Park chief allegedly involved in poaching four elephants in the park turned himself in to the police Tuesday.

Suriyon Phothibundit turned himself to the Kaeng Krachan police in Phetchburi province to acknowledge charges related to the killing of four elephants and destroying the evidence in the national park.

His surrender came after the Phetchaburi Provincial Court on Friday issued arrest warrants for him, and other four officials -- Surin Maikaew, Mana Nokkaew, Jinda Phuangmalai and Phol Thomya.

The five officials were charged with destroying and hiding evidence, jointly possessing carcasses of wildlife without permission and jointly hiding wildlife and the carcasses of wildlife for sale.

Suriyon denied the charges, but admitted that he burned the carcasses of the dead elephants in line with the regulations and procedures of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

The park official explained that he found the carcasses which had been shot dead during the New Year holiday Jan 1 and 2. He said that he was advised by Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation veterinarian to burn and destroy the remains of the elephants to avoid their being sources of disease as carcasses near the riverside gradually decay.

Initially, the suspect was detained and bail was not allowed.

The carcasses of four male pachyderms were found only a few days after the New Year in Phetchaburi’s Kaeng Krachan district, where the incident took place close to the road.

Hunters shot the animals in their foreheads with a powerful gun, while destroying evidence by cutting out the front of the skulls, burning bullet holes, and the elephant corpses themselves. Ivory tusks, tails, and sexual organs were taken.

-- The Nation 2012-01-17

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PM: Cabinet reshuffle not for poor performance of some ministers; insists change made for suitability after govt’s six months in office /MCOT

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Death confirmed for cop murders

The Nation

The Court of Appeals Tuesday upheld a death sentence against a former military officer for killing two policemen and injuring another during a 2007 drugbusting operation.

Major Chanon Chinnawong, 46, was convicted of shooting Pol Sen Sgt Major Manoch Srilakorn, Pol Corporal Sawai Arjnongwa, and Pol Lieutenant Sarit Aksorn on April 11, 2007 as he resisted their attempt to arrest him and his drugtrafficking accomplices at an apartment in Bangkok's Din Daeng district. The shooting killed Manoch and Sawai, and also injured Sarit.

The Court of Appeals, however, overruled the guilty verdict against Manoch's accomplices Sukhum Juajamjan and Witoon Niyakij because it was unclear as to whether they too used weapons.

According to the Court of Appeals, Sukhum and Witoon will remain in detention pending review by the Supreme Court.

-- The Nation 2012-01-17

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Radical cleric Abu Qatada wins his appeal against deportation from UK to Jordan at the European Court of Human Rights. /BBC

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SET index closed at 1056.54, up 19.53; Bt/USD31.67; GBP48.58; AUD32.80; EUR40.24; CAD31.03; HKD4.07; SGD24.53; JPY41.13

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Thaivisa Joins With Pattaya 105 Fm For Music, News, Fun And Information

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Pattaya Immigration arrest fugitive Austrian

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Thai PM making official visit to Philippines Thursday

BANGKOK, Jan 17 - Thai Prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra will make a one-day official visit to the Philippines on Thursday, her eighth overseas trip to the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) since she took office last August, Government Spokesperson Thitima Chaisaeng said on Tuesday.

The spokeswoman said the Manila visit is aimed at introducing the Thai premier to the ASEAN country member and boosting bilateral ties between the two countries.

Ms Thitima disclosed the information after Ms Yingluck chaired a preparatory meeting for her upcoming trip to the ASEAN co-founder, in which she expects to notify Philippine President Benigno Aquino III during bilateral talks that the situation in Thailand has now returned to normal after the country’s recent worst flooding in decades.

Ms Yingluck will also discuss and explore further trade opportunities with the Philippine leader. Thailand will also demonstrate its readiness to sell rice to the island nation

Ms Thitima said the premier advised that Thailand should propose to the Philippines to set up Rice Reserve regarding food security so that the country could consider buying more rice from Thailand.

Also on the agenda are the expansion of cooperation in particular education and alternative energy, the government spokesperson said.

The Thai premier is scheduled to leave Suvarnabhumi International Airport Thursday morning and will be officially welcomed at Malacañan Palace by the Philippine president.

The two leaders will hold bilateral talks, both private and with the full delegation, before attending luncheon hosted by the Philippine president.

Ms Yingluck is scheduled to return to the kingdom at 4.45pm Thursday. (MCOT online)

-- TNA 2012-01-17

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Court orders further detention for terror suspect; transferred to prison

BANGKOK, Jan 17 – Thailand’s Criminal Court on Tuesday ordered further detention for a dual-national Lebanese-Swedish terror suspect for 12 days for illegally possessing explosive materials.

Atris Hussein has been further detained for 12 days at Bangkok Remand Prison from Jan 17-28 pending questioning of about 30 witnesses.

Thai police are working with foreign and domestic intelligence to gather more evidence and tracking other suspects.

Police investigators asked the court to reject the suspect’s release for fear of his fleeing to possibly launch an attack, threatening the nation’s security and tampering with evidence.

According to police, the suspect visited Thailand 11 times in two years before being detained at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Jan 13, the same day that terror threat alert issued by the US embassy in Bangkok.

The police on Monday searched two units of a commercial building in Samut Sakhon, west of Bangkok, finding 11 gallons of liquid ammonium nitrate, commonly used to make explosives.

The suspect is believed to be linked with a Hezbollah, a militant group in Lebanon. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-01-17