Thailand Live Monday 2 Jun 2014

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ANTI-GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGNS

Warrants sought for nine over attacks on PDRC

Khawhatai Malakarn

The Nation

Protesters against military rule gesture by holding up three middle fingers in the air, during a brief demonstration at a shopping mall in Bangkok yesterday. The military government sent thousands of troops and police into central Bangkok to stop any demo

BANGKOK: -- Police will issue arrest warrants for nine people wanted in relation to violent incidents during the anti-government protest, Deputy National Police Chief Pol General Aek Angsananont said yesterday.

The incidents include grenade attacks that killed and injured many people, the shooting of a Ramkhamhaeng University student, clashes at Din Daeng and the brutal attack on a People's Democratic Reform Committee event in Trat.

Aek was speaking after a meeting of top police called by acting National Police Chief Pol General Watcharapong Prasarnrajakit, who wants investigations sped up.

Some 28 people were killed and more than 800 injured over the past six months. The victims were mostly anti-government protesters.

Under the former national police chief Adul Saengsingkaew, the police were not able to capture anyone for these offences. After the declaration of martial law by the National Council for Peace and Order, the military has discovered at least four caches of war weapons that belong to pro-government supporters.

The NCPO transferred Adul and eight key police to inactive posts, They included Department of Special Investigation chief Tarit Pengdith.

Aek said police had issued arrest warrants for suspects wanted for alleged committing lese majeste. They are Ekapop Luara, who is also known as Tang Archiva, and Pathum Thani red hard-liner Wuthipong "Ko Tee" Kotthammakhun.

Aek said he would check to see if it was true that both suspects had fled the country. If they had, he would request their extradition. Police would also speed up investigation into allegations of lese majeste against Chatwadee "Rose"Amornpat.

Watcharapong said police must resolve every case as soon as possible and explain to the public who was behind the violence.

-- The Nation 2014-06-02

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ENVIRONMENT
Villagers near mine hit by health woes
Tanpisit Lerdbamrungchai
The Nation


This sign, in Wang Saphung district in Loei

People in Loei fear a gold mine has contaminated local rivers with cyanide and heavy metals

BANGKOK: -- Eight years after a gold mine opened in Loei's Wang Saphung district, people there continue to have grave concerns about the health and environmental threats posed by its operation. A prominent academic, meanwhile, has said that efforts to address these issues have only been partly successful.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/730953-villagers-near-loei-mine-hit-by-health-woes/

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ROADMAP
NCPO caps diesel, LPG price as part of 30 urgent economic plans
Erich Parpart
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) yesterday agreed on capping the diesel fuel and LPG price in a bid to help relieve people's burdens, until the oil price structure is reformed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/730954-ncpo-caps-diesel-lpg-price-as-part-of-30-urgent-economic-plans/

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FOREIGN MINISTRY
'No retreat from democracy'
The Straits Times
Asia News Network

BANGKOK: -- Thailand is not retreating from democracy and seeks understanding from its economic and strategic partners while the country undergoes political reforms, a top Thai official said yesterday.

Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Thailand's permanent secretary for foreign affairs, was responding to criticism by US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel who noted Thailand's "retreat from democracy" and announced that the Pentagon was suspending military assistance and engagements with Thailand.

"We urge the Royal Thai Armed Forces to release those who have been detained, end restrictions on free expression, and move immediately to restore power to the people of Thailand through free and fair elections," Hagel said on Saturday at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

"Until that happens, as US law requires, the Department of Defence is suspending and reconsidering US military assistance and engagements with Bangkok," Hagel said.

In a press conference in Singapore, Sihasak said he hoped the US would look at the relationship in the long-term.

"Thailand is not going to disappear. It is the second-largest economy in Asean," Sihasak said.

"We are an economic force to reckon with. We will continue our engagement with the international community. We hope our friends will take that fact into consideration.

"We are committed to staying the course of democracy. We want to consolidate. If you look at the events in Thailand, before the actions taken by the National Committee for Peace and Order, we did not have the kind of democracy we should have.

"There was protracted political conflict and violent incidents and our society was headed towards greater divisiveness. The government was not functioning. Had we continued in that direction, that would have been detrimental to Thailand's stability, to the region's stability."

The US, which has close ties with Thailand's armed forces, cancelled a military exercise.

Sihasak said all those detained had been freed and curbs on the freedom of expression were being lifted.


-- The Nation 2014-06-02

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NCPO
Military, protesters in cat-and-mouse game
The Nation


Thai protesters cover their faces during an anti-coup rally at a shopping mall in Bangkok yesterday. At least two protesters were arrested while thousands of soldiers and police were deployed in the capital to thwart sporadic protests against the coup.

Coup opponents rally briefly at seven city sites but mostly avoid arrest

BANGKOK: -- The military and fast-moving anti-coup protesters played a cat and mouse game yesterday as security measures were stepped up at about seven prime locations in Bangkok and major provinces.

Security forces descended on key business centres in the capital and the provinces, including Chiang Mai in the north and Nakhon Ratchasima in the northeast, after receiving intelligence that anti-junta protesters would demonstrate.

In Bangkok, Victory Monument, Ratchaprasong, King Taksin Monument, Democracy Monument and the Central shopping mall in Bang Na were closed shortly before noon in the wake of demonstrations.

Pro-democracy activist Sombat Boongnarmanong, who is wanted by the junta, used Facebook to call for demonstrations in Bangkok.

At around noon, a small number of people appeared at the Ratchaprasong intersection but dispersed inside the Terminal 21 shopping centre at Asok when security forces appeared.

However, security forces arrested a 60-year-old woman at the Ratchapasong intersection who wore a mask to show her disapproval of the coup.

As police arrested her, she shouted "help me" and said she did nothing wrong.

The ruling junta has prohibited groups of more than five people assembling in public for political purposes, but the woman said she had come alone before she was taken to nearby Lumpini Police Station.

Meanwhile, rapid-deployment forces rushed to Asok intersection a few kilometres away to block protesters. Hundreds of people held anti-coup signs and shouted their objection to military seizing power.

Terminal 21 was closed and trains did not stop at Asok BTS station. The BTS announced earlier that trains would not stop at Ploenchit, Chit Lom and Ratchadamri in a bid to stop protests.

Deputy national police chief Lt-General Somyot Pumpanmuang oversaw the operation at Ratchaprasong. Although demonstrators left quickly, plainclothes officers were left at trouble spots in a bid to prevent protesters from returning. Police will check with fast-food giant McDonalds to find out how many branches it has in the capital, with officers dispatched to restaurants. Activist Sombat usually arranges protests from these fast-food outlets.

In Chiang Mai, numerous small protests popped up. They expressed their views, sprayed anti-military graffiti on roads but disappeared before security officials arrived. The graffiti included "No Coup" and "Democracy was seen in Chiang Mai".

In Nakhon Ratchasima, the pro-democracy White Korat group gathered briefly at The Mall shopping centre before running away.

No protesters in Chiang Mai and Nakhon Ratchasima were arrested.

Security officials stepped up measures in many other provinces, including Samut Prakan, Lamphun and Ratchaburi, but there were no protests.

Junta chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha monitored the protests closely and instructed troops to handle them accordingly, the Army's deputy spokesman Veerachon Sukhontapatipak said.

The operation to subdue protests would be conducted leniently, with maximum restraint to avoid violence, he said.


-- The Nation 2014-06-02

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CONTROVERSY
Controversy over tower at Doi Suthep
Patinya Srisupamart
The Nation

CHIANG MAI: Officials at Phra That Doi Suthep Temple, one of landmark in Chiang Mai province, yesterday defended their decision to build a soaring observation tower capped by a golden dome.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/730955-controversy-over-tower-at-doi-suthep-chiang-mai/

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EDITORIAL
Rice scheme probe now more important than ever
The Nation

Investigators must prove how the populist programme is corrupted

BANGKOK: -- The military coup has led to many things, and one of them is the Finance Ministry's "admission" that the rice pledging scheme had inflicted the state with a Bt500 billion loss. Many people have been curious why such a staggering figure had not been officially announced before.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/730957-rice-scheme-probe-now-more-important-than-ever-thai-opinion/

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REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE
NCPO diplomatic priorities during crisis
Kavi Chongkittavorn

BANGKOK: -- The mood was friendly with mutual understanding at the first meeting abroad in Singapore followed the May 22 coup between Foreign Minister Shanmugam and Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, who is serving as acting foreign minister. Shanmugam was in the news for his comments that Singapore and Asean understood the situation in Thailand and has not thought of any sanctions.

Today, senior foreign ministry officials is scheduled to visit Nayphidaw, the Asean chair, to explain the timeframe and measures set by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to bring back normalcy and democracy to Thailand. Myanmar has been quite supportive of its eastern neighbor's recent development.

Followed the imposition of martial law on 20 May and two day later the Thai military's seizure of power, there was a sense of unease among Asean members. Indonesia, as the grouping's leading democracy, has called for a special urgent foreign ministerial meeting to discuss the situation in Thailand and South China Sea to follow-up on the issues discussed at the recent Asean summit. The suggestion was unprecedented because it would for the first time take on a specific country in Asean.

After some exchanges among the members throughout last week, there was no consensus if there should be such a meeting on Thailand. However, a specific ministerial meeting on the regional situation that includes the South China Sea dispute or even Thailand could be on the offing. The Foreign Ministry has indicated that Thailand would not object to discuss the home condition as part of the broader regional agenda in Asean.

Given the current tense situation between Vietnam and China over an oil-rig dispute in part of South China Sea, Asean is contemplating whether to support Hanoi's call for an urgent meeting to address the crisis, which resulted in two deaths and over one hundred injured at sea. Vietnam has been encouraging Asean to come out with a stronger position on the latest dispute.

Albeit the coup, Thailand's foreign policy continues remain active without any change, especially towards Asean. As the coordinator of Asean-China relations, Bangkok has continued was its role without any disruption. A new round of meeting among the working group to negotiate on the code of conduct in the South China Sea, its eighth over a decade-old series, has been set on 24-25 June in Bali, Indonesia. This upcoming consultation is pivotal as China and Asean will try to put on their common positions together and the possibility of setting up a joint team of eminent and expert group.

After the coup, former deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusriphitak was appointed by NCPO as one of 10-member advisory committee to oversee foreign affairs. To bolster his portfolio, Somkid has also appointed three additional veteran diplomats - ML Saktip Krairisksh, Don Parimad and Virasakdi Futrakul - who were former ambassadors to Washington DC. Their urgent task was to restore the country's faltered image and find ways to strengthen cooperation with Asean and countries which show understanding of Thailand's political reality.

Future relations with major powers - in particular the US and European Community - will be problematic in the near and medium terms. Washington has been quick and harsh in condemning the coup with a series of sanctions including military aid, senior official visits and joint military exercises. Last week's ongoing bilateral naval exercise, Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training, was halted. A plan to commemorate the 100th anniversary of sprawling US mission's residence on the Wireless Road last week was also postponed.

For the forthcoming Traffic In Persons or TIP report, Thailand could be further sanctioned by the US due to its record on human trafficking and gross violation of migrant workers' basic rights. The US currently provides a total of US$10.5 million of assistance to Thailand including US$3.5 military aid and training programs.

Furthermore, US State Secretary John Kerry's comment of "no justification" for the coup drew strong rebuttals from the NCPO which faulted Washington's lack of understanding on the ground situation. Latest comment in Singapore by US Defence Minister Chuck Hagel of democratic retreat did not help either. The Thai-US squabbling could affect the status of Cobra Gold, an annual multinational military exercise hosted by Thailand and the US. The NOPC is confidence the next year's exercise will continue as it is Washington's biggest military platform in the Asia Pacific in expanding strategic interoperability among allies and friends. China is one of the observers.

In respond to a telephone call after the coup from Daniel Russel, Assistant State Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, a senior Thai foreign ministry official repeatedly warned Washington of strong public mood swing against the US condemnation, which could have far-reaching repercussions on Thai-US relations. The US must draw valuable lessons over mishandling of numerous crises in the past three decades related to its oldest ally of 182 years in politics (1992, 2006), financial (1997) and jurisprudence (2010), to name just a few.

Over the next 15-month time-frame pledged by the NCPO for the next election, its foreign policy team will have the unique opportunity to reassess ties with the US, China, Russia, India and EU. The outcome will reflect Thailand's own rebalancing diplomacy based on a new reality toward major powers with the emerging strategic environment.


-- The Nation 2014-06-02

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NBTC takes its cue from NCPO orders
Usanee Mongkolporn
The Nation

New junta measures give the watchdog much-needed bite to achieve its agenda

BANGKOK: -- Measures aimed at TV broadcasting by the National Council for Peace and Order has benefited the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) by helping it put the industry in order.

One measure allows free-to-air satellite TV network providers to air only six analog channels and digital channels (except Voice TV's digital channel, which is still banned by the NCPO).

If they want to air free satellite programmes, they have to apply for pay-TV licences from the NBTC.

Vice versa, if free-to-air satellite channel operators want their programmes aired on satellite networks they are also required to apply for a pay-TV licence.

The measures seem to fit well with the NBTC's intention to have only free digital content and pay-TV content in Thailand as that is easier to control than free-to-air satellite content, which is prone to offering inappropriate and politically provocative programmes.

Since being established two years ago, the watchdog has tried to put free-to-air satellite content in order but hardly made a ripple due to operator protests.

The NBTC broadcasting committee will take this opportunity to award pay-TV licences to operators for offering what is deemed to be appropriate content with no provocative programmes, said committee chairman Natee Sukonrat.

The committee will also take into account the NCPO's opinions when awarding licences, Natee said, adding that it will be difficult to grant licences to operators if their content does not comply with the NCPO standards.

The broadcasting committee granted pay-TV licences to 73 free-to-air satellite operators on Thursday, while another 90 applications will be considered today. There are around 400 free-to-air satellite operators in Thailand.

Three out of the 22 satellite networks have applied for pay-TV licences, including PSI Holdings, the country's largest satellite network.

Nirand Tangpiroontham, managing director of major free-to-air satellite network Infosat, said the company was still considering whether to apply for a pay-TV licence.

Before the May 22 coup, the military invoked the martial law, which resulted in the operations of 14 satellite channels, plus Voice TV's digital channel, being temporarily suspended.

The military cited the need to maintain law and order as the reason, with three channels still suspended.

The NCPO pulled all TV channels off the air shortly after the coup before allowing them to resume operations.

It also allowed 13 foreign news channels to resume airing on TrueVisions network.

However, an NBTC source said that TrueVisions was keeping them off air out of concern the content might violate the NCPO's conditions.


-- The Nation 2014-06-02

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INTERVIEW
SET pressing for capital market tax amendments, new chairman says
Erich Parpart
The Nation


Sathit

BANGKOK: -- The Stock Exchange of Thailand has proposed revisions in the capital market's tax structure and regulations as part of a long-term development plan and preparation for the Asean Economic Community.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/730958-set-pressing-for-capital-market-tax-amendments-new-chairman-says/

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Phuket volunteers help Swedish tourist find his hotel after two days

PHUKET: -- Royal Thai Police Region 8 Volunteers spent two days helping a Swedish tourist find his hotel again after he forgot the name of it.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/730960-phuket-volunteers-help-swedish-tourist-find-his-hotel-after-two-days/

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Teak on ex-MP's land 'cleared'
Patinya Srisupamart
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Officials are preparing to release teak boards and logs found on a former MP's land in Chiang Mai last week back to their owner after they were shown to have been legally acquired.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/730964-teak-on-ex-mps-land-cleared/

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TAT to stay on course with Thailand Travel Mart 2014 Plus
The Nation

The Tourism Authority of Thailand will go ahead with the Thailand Travel Mart 2014 Plus, the country's largest travel industry business-to-business event, from June 4-6 at Impact Muang Thong Thani.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/730970-tat-to-stay-on-course-with-thailand-travel-mart-2014-plus/

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Food Vendor reports suspected sexual assault of 7 year old girl in South Pattaya

PATTAYA: -- On Sunday Night a 43 year old Food Vendor who is currently taking care of a 7 year old girl as her parents are currently in prison, reported a suspected sexual assault of the girl by a Motorbike Rental Shop owner.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/730971-food-vendor-reports-suspected-sexual-assault-of-7-year-old-girl-in-south-pattaya/

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Pirates free Indonesia-bound Thai tanker after cargo theft

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2, 2014 (AFP) - Pirates have released an Indonesian-bound Thai tanker after stealing its oil cargo, in the latest attack in Southeast Asian waters, the International Maritime Bureau said Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/730977-pirates-free-indonesia-bound-thai-tanker-after-cargo-theft/

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Additional 38 persons,including ex-senator Ruangkrai, MCOT board member Chakkrapan, summoned by NCPO to report at Army Club, Thewes, this morning /MCOT

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Bowe Bergdahl release: US parties clash on Afghan deal
Beth McLeod reports on Afghan government anger over the release

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/730988-bowe-bergdahl-release-us-parties-clash-on-afghan-deal/

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New state of Telangana is born in southern India

NEW DELHI: -- India's southern state of Andhra Pradesh has formally split in two, with its northern area carved out to create a new state called Telangana.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/730990-new-state-of-telangana-is-born-in-southern-india/

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Meriam Ibrahim: Husband 'not informed of release'

KHARTOUM: -- The husband of a woman sentenced to death in Sudan for abandoning Islam has told the BBC he has not been informed that his wife will be released.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/730993-meriam-ibrahim-death-sentence-husband-not-informed-of-release/

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Mary Soames, Winston Churchill's last surviving child, dies aged 91

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/730998-mary-soames-winston-churchills-last-surviving-child-dies-aged-91/

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,424.81, gains 9.08 points /MCOT

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12 die in van, truck crash



BANGKOK: -- Twelve people were killed and four others injured when a van rammed at the rear of a trailer truck in Kaeng Klor district in Chaiyaphum province this morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/731001-12-die-in-van-truck-crash-in-chaiyaphum-province/

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SME export value rises 6.7% in first four months
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, June 2 - The export value generated by Thailand’s small- and medium-sized businesses during the first four months this year increased 6.7 per cent year-on-year, to 25.3 per cent of the country's total export value, according to a report released by the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/731003-sme-export-value-rises-67-in-first-four-months-thailand/

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NCPO activities can help achieve national reconciliation
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, June 2 -- Reconciliation activities organized by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) will help bring about love and unity among people who have differences in political ideologies, according to a spokesman of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC).

Having been assigned by NCPO to help create unity in the country and assist national reform, ISOC began Saturday carrying out activities in areas divided by political ideologies to help restore harmony among the people.

During the activities, people were invited for luncheon meetings for talks and get to understand each other.

ISOC spokesman Col Banpot Poolpian said the reconciliation activities will not deepen divisions among colour-coded political groups, nor will they lead to amnesty to political offenders, as many have thought.

He said those who have committed political offences will still have to face the judicial process.

Col Banpot said the NCPO expects that colour-coded political groups will be stamped out within the next two or three months in a peaceful manner.

The spokesperson said the reconciliation activities should also lead to achieving national reform.

He also urged people to monitor and express their opinions about the operations of the reconciliation centres which are being set up by the NCPO in various regions following the May 22 military coup. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-06-02

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UPDATE:

All Vietnamese killed, injured in Kaeng Klor van crash



BANGKOK: -- One more passenger in the fatal van and truck crash on Highway 201 in Kaeng Klor district of Chaiyaphum province this morning died, raising total deaths to 13.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/731001-12-die-in-van-truck-crash-in-chaiyaphum-province/?p=7917174#entry7917174

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BAAC continues paying farmers under rice-pledging scheme
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, June 2 - Thailand's state-run Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) on Sunday continued paying money to farmers who sold rice to the government under the rice-pledging programme in a bid to settle the debt before mid-July.

Between May 26-31 BAAC paid Bt34.722 billion to 345,647 farmers joining the programme.

Previously, the government owed about Bt90 billion to 830,000 farmers.

BAAC officials are now able to work faster as they can transfer money to farmers’ accounts due to the help given by soldiers dispatched by the National Council for Peace and Order. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-06-02

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Phuket man spends 77 hours in dinghy, breaks record
Claire Connell


Yassine Darkaoui arrived back in Phuket on Saturday.

PHUKET: -- A local expat has completed a gruelling sailing trip alone in a Laser dinghy, spending 77 hours on board the tiny boat and battling storms and severe pain.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/731012-phuket-man-spends-77-hours-in-dinghy-breaks-record/

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Gold rush in Phatthalung Province spurs authorities to take action

PHATTHALUNG, 2 June 2014 (NNT) - Police officers and soldiers in Phatthalung Province have stationed their forces to guard an oil palm plantation after scores of locals continue to invade the area in their search for gold.

The discovery of the ancient gold on May 24th at the site spurred a gold rush that attracted an unrelenting crowd of people. Despite earlier warnings from authorities, the locals still continue to dig up gold around the area.

In order to prevent such practices from continuing, both military and police forces were called in to stand guard for 24 hours and also erect a barbed wire fence around the area. Routes have also been blocked to deter people from hoarding the gold away.

Motorcycle taxis took the opportunity to service passengers into the gold site, whereas some vendors were able to sell more food and drinks. Needless to say, the gold rush provided quite a fortune for some locals.


-- NNT 2014-06-02

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Gen Prayuth chairs NCPO meeting to follow up plan to urgently solve 7 major problems to revive economy /MCOT

NCPO mulls reviving merger plan between 2 state telecom organisations - TOT Plc and CAT Telecom /The Nation

NCPO instructed Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to expedite efforts to provide land for farmers /The Nation

Sarawut Phuthornyothin, manager of a business firm who was summoned to report to NCPO today, shot himself to death in Ubon Ratchathani this morning, police said /Bangkok Post

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60 RPG rockets, five crates of ammunition found in banana orchard at a Chon Buri school; EOD rushes to inspect /MCOT