Thailand Live Wednesday 1 Aug 2012

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Red-leaning Pheu Thai MPs kickstart House session

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A group of Pheu Thai MPs, seen as close to the red-shirt movement, on Wednesday held a press conference to unveil their agendas coinciding with the first day of reconvening the House after a month-long recess.

On a key agenda, three MPs, Weng Tojirakarn, Kokaew Pikulthong and Jarupan Kuldiloke, filed a petition on the red shirts' behalf, calling for the government to recognise the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court in a one-off case paving way for the ICC hearing on the 2010 bloodshed.

The petition was addressed to Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul.

In the other agenda, Weng would submit an impeachment motion against seven judges of the Constitution Court, citing abuse of judicial discretion to rule on the charter amendment bill.

He also said the coalition MPs would not abondon the bill though they needed time to study the verdict before calling a vote on the third reading of the bill.

-- The Nation 2012-08-01

[Lite Beer]

Scot accused of running trafficking racket deported from Thailand

John Alty smuggled Sri Lankans and Iranians into Australia and New Zealand.

A SCOT suspected of running an international trafficking racket has been deported from Thailand.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/574071-a-scot-accused-of-running-trafficking-racket-deported-from-thailand/#entry5535899

[Lite Beer]

RT@robertamsterdam: Rumors I no longer work for the Red Shirts are completely false. I remain as committed as ever to making sure my clients receive justice.

RT@robertamsterdam: I should also confirm I remain retained by Dr Thaksin with my main efforts focused on bringing the 2010 Thai regime to account at the ICC.

[Lite Beer]

SOUTH UNDER ATTACK

Songkhla on alert following Pattani attacks

Songkhla tightened security on Wednesday following a bomb car attack in downtown Pattani last night. Songkhla governor Krissada Boonrat said he has alerted authorities that insurgents may step up attacks across the border in neighbouring Songkhla.

From today, he said, agencies are ordered to integrate their work and review their safeguards to tighten any loopholes so as to strengthen security and prevent any insurgency attacks.

High-ranking security officials, police and military will work together, he said and all department stores are being asked to check their safety measures including fire exits, extinguishers and fire alarms to make sure that they are intact and ready to work around the clock.

They were also told to keep an eye on suspicious looking persons and vehicles. Songkhla shares borders with Pattani and Yala, which are usually targets of attacks.

The governor said he did not want the public to panic but they have to be alert to the situation. Songkhla's Hat Yai district was the victim of a car bomb attack late March, which killing Thais and foreigners.

The car bomb attack at CS Pattani Hotel and adjacent electric power transmission station in Pattani's Muang district on Tuesday night caused a blackout in large areas of downtown and a fire at the hotel, but no deaths were reported.

The explosion occurred at about 7pm behind the hotel. Firefighters rushed to stop the blaze and were able to bring the fire under control, although it had reached the hotel's upper floors.

Three people were reported slightly wounded by the car bomb.

Investigators found the remains of a destroyed pickup truck with Bangkok license plates behind the hotel. It was reported stolen in Pattani in June when the driver and two others delivering fresh chicken meat from Songkhla were killed.

The pickup truck was parked on Charoen Pradit Road, Soi 5, behind the hotel. Police found a 50kg gas cylinder used by the bombers as a container for the explosives in the home-made bomb, which was placed in the truck.

Fragments of a communications radio were found at the scene, leading the authorities to believe that the bomb may have been triggered by radio signal.

Surveillance cameras in the area are being checked for images of the bombers.

More than 80 hotel rooms were damaged and the kitchen was also affected by the explosion. Hotel workers have begun to clean up the premises.

-- The Nation 2012-08-01

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Microsoft goes cold on Hotmail

SAN FRANCISCO: -- Microsoft is pulling the plug on Hotmail, one of the early leaders in web-based email, and plans to transition the service's more than 350 million users to a new email service called Outlook.com, the software giant announced Tuesday.

Full story:

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East Runway of Suvarnabhumi reopens for use

BANGKOK, 1 August 2012 (NNT) - The Airports of Thailand (AoT) has revealed that the repair work on the eastern runway of Suvarnabhumi Airport is now completed, which is said to be 10 days earlier than expected.

According to AoT President Flying Officer Anirut Thanomkulbutra, the East Runway was closed due to sinkholes and scheduled to undergo surface repair from June 11-August 9. However, the layering of the runway has been achieved earlier than expected and, since July 31, the airplanes have been able to use the East Runway again.

Before the runway was reopened, the Department of Civil Aviation had examined the surface and assured its integrity. The AoT is now able to accommodate 76 flights of any types of aircraft within one hour.

Flying Officer Anirut reiterated that the safety of passengers is the AoT’s first priority and the recent runway repair and regular maintenance will assure that Suvarnabhumi Airport will be able to provide a transit point for more planes in the future.

-- NNT 2012-08-01

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Commerce Ministry: July Consumer Price Index up 2.73% year-on-year, 0.35% higher compared to June; inflation in first seven months up 2.92% year-on-year /MCOT

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DDPM issues weather warnings for next few days

BANGKOK, 1 August 2012 (NNT) - The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has warned residents living near shorelines and in flood-prone areas of high waves and heavy rains later this week into the weekend.

DDPM Director-General Wibul Sanguanpong said that according to the Meteorological Department, a monsoon trough covering Myanmar, Laos and the upper part of Vietnam, combined with a strong southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand, is expected to bring widespread thundershowers to the northern part of the country.

Strong winds can generate 2 to 3-meter-high waves in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. All ships should proceed with caution and small boats should be kept ashore until August 3.

The DDPM has instructed local disaster prevention offices to closely monitor the situation over the next 4-5 days and to keep residents living near shorelines and in other risky areas on alert for potential dangers.

In the meantime, Typhoon Saola is now approaching Taiwan and eastern China after it killed eight people in the Philippines. The typhoon, however, is unlikely to cause major impact on Thailand.

-- NNT 2012-08-01

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Last batch, seven Thais - two students, woman & her four famliy members leaving Syria in fear of intensifying fighting in Middle East country, arrive Thailand /MCOT

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Royal Thai Police launch phone book app

BANGKOK, Aug 1 - The Royal Thai Police on Wednesday launched a phone book application indicating all its official numbers as a channel to facilitate Thai public contact.

Full story:

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VIOLENCE IN THE SOUTH

Three killed, four injured in two Pattani shootings

The Nation

PATTANI: -- Violence continues in the deep south provinces of Pattani on Wednesday as gunmen shot dead three people and injured four others in two shooting incidents in Pattani early Wednesday.

Police said two insurgents on a motorcycle shot dead Doloh Yusoh, 44, an assistant village headman in Thapong village in Tambon Talokapo in Pattani's Yaring district at 3.30am.

He was attacked while parking his pickup truck in front of his house. He was shot six times in his face and body.

At nearly the same time, two insurgents drew up on a motorcycle in front of a teashop in Buket Nori village in Tambon Khuannori in Pattani's Khokpho district.

Police said the pillion rider opened fire with his AK47 assault rifle spraying bullets into the shop and causing some 10 customers to flee for their lives.

Police said Saleh Baheng, 60, the shop owner, and Abdulromae Mano, 37, were killed.

The four injured victims were identified as Yuso Yunu, 60, Maya Karisabeng, 56, Yusoh Karisabeng, 51, and Maae Sanidoloh, 42.

Police arrived at the scene in Buket Nori at 9.30am where they found more than 20 spent shells of AK47 ammunition.

-- The Nation 2012-08-01

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SET index closed at 1201.13, up 1.83; Bt/USD31.36; GBP49.05; AUD32.82; EUR38.51; CAD31.13; HKD4.04; SGD25.04; JPY39.90

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Public Health Ministry bans alcohol sale on Asarnha Bucha and Buddhist Lent Days

BANGKOK, 1 August 2012 (NNT) - The Ministry of Public Health is banning the sale of alcohol on the upcoming Asarnha Bucha and Buddhist Lent Days, which fall on August 2 and 3, respectively.

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Thailand Live Thursday 2 Aug 2012