Thailand Live Friday 25 May 2012

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Poll: People Want 111 Banned Politicians to Return to Politics

BANGKOK: -- According to the recent opinion poll conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration, most people want former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the 111 banned politicians to return to politics.

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Anti-Smoking Campaign Organized for Thai Women

BANGKOK: -- Two famous Thai actresses Namfon Patcharin and Focus Jeerakul are representing young women in speaking out against smoking. Men are also invited to join the anti-smoking campaign.

Namfon Patcharin and Focus Jeerakul have been selected to represent young Thai women in speaking out against smoking on the occasion of the World No Tabacco Day on May 31.

They also took part in a parade to promote the campaign in Ladprao District of Bangkok.

Both said that the despite the common knowledge that smoking is harmful, the number of female smokers has not significantly decreased.

They would like Thai women to fully realized how dangerous smoking is and also urge their male friends to quit smoking in order to make the Thai society more livable.

According to a study conducted last year, there were about 13 million smokers in Thailand and women made up a significant portion of that figure.

Moreover, the number of women aged between 15 and 24 who just started smoking is increasing at an alarming rate.

Those who want to quit smoking could seek help at the 1600 hotline.

-- Tan Network 2012-05-25

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Lao PM to visit Thailand next week

BANGKOK, May 25 - Lao PDR Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong is scheduled to pay a three-day official visit to Thailand beginning next Thursday, his first visit to the neighbouring country since he took office in Dec 2010.

Prime Minister Thongsing will visit the kingdom between May 31 and June 3 to attend the 21st World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia here. There will be an official bilateral discussion between the two countries' leaders.

His Majesty King Bhumibol will grant an audience to the Lao prime minister on May 31, while Crown Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will host a lunchoen for him at Sra Pathum Palace on June 2.

Mr Thongsing will also visit the royal projects at Chitralada Palace during his stay in the Thai capital.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her Lao counterpart will hold official bilateral talks at Government House on June 2. They will witness the signing of an agreement on loans for infrastructure investment in the Lao PDR, according to the Thai government's official website.

Thailand will host the 2012 WEF on East Asia from May 30 to June 1. More than 450 government leaders, business sector representatives, scholars and media around the world are expected to join the event under the theme “Shaping the Region’s Future through Connectivity.”

The Thai prime minister earlier invited leaders from many countries, including nine other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to attend the three-day forum. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-05-25

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RT@veen_NT: RT @Neaw_NBC: Upcoming Lady Gaga's concert is causing heavy traffic along Ramkamhaeng Rd #The Nation

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Commerce Ministry: Jan-Apr export posted -3.86% growth, import grew 9.79%, trade deficit at $8 bn /TAN_Network

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Tarit explains away his two decisions on royal insult

The Nation

BANGKOK:-- Department of Special Investigation director general Tarit Pengdith on Friday hinted the Democrat-led government had cited the alleged conspiracy to topple the monarchy as a political ploy to counter and end the red-shirt protests in 2010.

Tarit also conceded despite his initial suspicion, he dropped royal insult charges against red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan after he had factored in the opinions of relevant parties.

In his interview aired by Spring News Channel, Tarit said he suspended the DSI investigation into the alleged conspiracy because no security agencies stepped forward to confirm the authencity or their involvement in making up the chart depicting the 39 conspirators.

He said the DSI could and would reopen the case upon the uncovering of fresh evidence.

The alleged conspiracy came to light at the heights of the 2010 political strife. The chart depicting the conspirators was circulated at the Centre of the Resolution of the Emergency Situation.

He said he then served in the CRES and was proud of his role in resolving the political violence.

He said the then CRES director Suthep Thuagsuban might have released the alleged conspiracy with the hopes for forcing an end to the protests.

The security agencies compiled the chart and the law enforcement agencies were obliged to uphold the lese majeste law, he said.

Of the 39 conspirators, some 20 are under various stages of the legal proceedings. The remaining 19 have been grouped together in one single conspiracy, he said. In order to prosecute the 19, the authencity of the conspiracy chart has to be verified but no security agencies step forward, causing the case to stall, he added.

In regard to the Jatuporn case, he said he initially suspected Jatuporn to commit royal insult in connection with the April 10, 2011 speech at the red-shirt rally.

The statements by neutral witnesses, including linguistic experts, convinced him that Jatuporn did not aim his remarks at the monarchy but at the then government leaders, such as Abhisit Vejjajiva and Suthep, he said

-- The Nation 2012-05-25

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Prayuth: What about fallen soldiers?

The Nation

BANGKOK:-- Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha on Friday questioned the justification for a demand for the military to issue an apology for the red shirts killed in the 2010 political strife.

"Will someone step forward to apologise for the soldiers fallen while trying to keep peace?"

Prayuth said he had already apologised and conveyed his condolences to all victims, comprising civilians and security forces, in the bloodshed.

He was reacting to the remarks by a mother of the health worker who was shot dead at Wat Pathum Wanaram in the wake of the crowd dispersal at the Ratchaprasong rally on May 19, 2010.

The Army chief said he wanted all sides to reflect on the bloodshed instead of trying to pass the blame. The political violence should not have happened and all sides must not allow a repeat of such a tragedy, he said.

"In my experience in the military service, I have never received an instruction to kill or suppress the people," he said, rebutting the claim that the military led the crackdown on the red-shirt protests.

He said he would let the legal proceedings to uncover the cause of death in connection with the crowd control operations.

-- The Nation 2012-05-25

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ENVIRONMENT

Government urged to protect Irrawaddy Dolphins in Songkla Lake

Thai News Agency

SONGKHLA:-- A Songkhla-based Irrawaddy Dolphin conservation club and concerned officials have urged government agencies to come up with proper conservation measures for the critically endangered species in the Songkhla Lake, Thai News Agency reported Thursday.

Uthai Yordchan, president of Ban Laem Hat Irrawaddy Dolphin Conservation Club, together with the Songkhla Farmers Council and its members submitted a letter to the agriculture and cooperatives minister and the natural resources and environment minister via Songklha Governor Grisada Boonrach.

The club called on the government agencies to enact measures to resolve problems related to the dying-out of the species in Songkhla Lake and to conserve the dolphins as well as urgently resolve fishing activities related to the netting of Mekong Giant Catfish in the Irrawaddy Dolphin conservation zone in Songkhla Lake.

Irrawaddy dolphins are considered as one of the five most valuable natural resources and are equally valuable to residents of the Songkhla Lake Basin, the group explained.

In April and May this year, about seven Irrawaddy dolphins were found dead. They had been netted together with the Mekong Giant Catfish.

The remaining dolphins inhabiting Songkhla Lake were thus endangered and at high risk of extinction in the near future.

An estimated 30 Irrawaddy dolphins currently inhabit Songkhla Lake, according to Santi Ninwat, professional fisheries biologist at the Songkhla-based Thailand Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre.

-- The Nation 2012-05-25

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Ayutthaya to donate 9,999,999 baht to Rajaprajanugroh Foundation

PHRA NAKHON SI AYUTTHAYA, 25 May 2012 (NNT) – Ayutthaya Province is prepared to present a financial donation of 9,999,999 baht to His Majesty the King during his visit to Thung Makham Yong later this evening.

Ayutthaya governor Withaya Phewpong said the fund will be offered to HM the King as a donation for the Rajaprajanugroh Foundation under the Royal Patronage. The province will also present to His Majesty a book providing a chronicle on the construction of the Monument of Loyalty, built to commemorate the great occasion of HM the King’s 7th cycle or 84th birthday anniversary on December 5th, 2011.

People from all walks of life have packed the area in Thung Makham Yong since last night in anticipation to welcome the King and other members of the royal family who are scheduled to inspect a royally-initiated flood prevention project in the area. The Police have tightened up security and set up four checkpoints.

HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej, HM Queen Sirikit and HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn are scheduled to visit Thung Makham Yong, where HM the King harvested paddy for the first time and pioneered the Kam-Ling (monkey’s cheek) water retention project 16 years ago.

His Majesty and the Royal Party will depart from Siriraj Hospital at 4.30 p.m. and will arrive at Thung Makham Yong at approximately 7.30 p.m.

-- NNT 2012-05-25

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Army Chief Defends 2010 Protest Crackdown

BANGKOK: -- The army chief insists that he has no need to admit any fault in allowing military forces to use firearms during the 2010 dispersal of the red-shirt protests.

Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha said he has already delivered his apology over the deaths of people during the crackdown on the red-shirt protests in 2010.

Prayuth argued that the call for him to admit his fault over the protest crackdown is irrelevant, saying no party has claimed responsibility for the deaths of soldiers during the unrest.

The general added that he has never ordered any military unit under his command to kill the red-shirt protesters and insisted he performed his duty impartially.

Prayuth said he cannot intervene in the Department of Special Investigation's probe into the assassination of General Romklao Thuwatham during the dispersal of a red-shirt rally.

-- Tan Network 2012-05-25

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Economic crisis in Europe drags down Thai exports in April to drop 3.6%

BANGKOK, May 25 -- Thai exports in April fell 3.67 per cent year-on-year thanks to Europe’s economic crisis, said the Deputy Commerce Minister Poom Sarapol.

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Burmese maid cleans house, gets nabbed by Phuket police

Phuket Gazette

Theft victim Yupa Waiyasit points to Burmese maid-turned-burglar Ms Wan Dee at a press conference at Phuket Provincial Police Station. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- A Burmese maid in Phuket who stole about two million baht in cash, diamonds and jewelry from an ex-employer’s house on Monday was captured by the Phuket Provincial Police early this week.

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Man critical after Thalang car crash

Phuket Gazette

Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation volunteers work frantically to free the unconscious driver from the vehicle. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

There were no eyewitnesses to the accident, which left the Bangkok-registered vehicle wrapped around the broken power pole in Phuket. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

PHUKET: -- A Phuket Town man died after his pickup slammed into a power pole in Thalang district last night.

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Thai, Malaysian navies stage exercises off Phuket

Phuket Gazette

Vice Admiral Taratorn Kajitsuwan (front, left), Commander of the Third Naval Area Base in Phuket, and Rear Admiral Pahlawan Mior Rosdi of the Royal Malaysian Navy review troops at the base on Cape Panwa. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

WELCOME TO PHUKET: Rear Admiral Pahlawan Mior Rosdi of the Royal Malaysian Navy base at Langkawi. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

PHUKET: -- Two Royal Thai Navy warships and one Marine Police patrol boat are taking part in counter-piracy exercises with their Malaysian counterparts off the coast of Phuket.

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SET index closed at 1132.83, up 7.05; Bt/USD31.56; GBP49.36; AUD30.76; EUR39.56; CAD30.61; HKD4.06; SGD24.54; JPY39.40

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Acting THAI president: Piyasvasti's sacking due to conflict over procurement of 38 new aircraft between ex-president and board /MCOT

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Lady Gaga kicks off ‘Born This Way Ball Tour’ in Bangkok

BANGKOK, May 25 - Lady Gaga kicked off her 'Born This Way Ball Tour' in the Thai capital with 50,000 of her so called 'little monsters' expected to view her performance at Rajamangala National Stadium Friday evening.

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AFP: Pop diva goes Gaga for Thai 'ladies'

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RT @RichardBarrow: 5:30pm All Thai TV channels, for the next hours, are now showing the same pictures of HM The King's visit to Ayutthaya.

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Thailand Live Saturday 26 May 2012