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Thailand's referendum endorses army-backed charter
2007-08-20 06:49:00
Thailand's first-ever referendum has endorsed the country's 18th constitution that promises to weaken the political party system and strengthen the hand of the bureaucracy and military, initial results showed Monday. A count of 93 per cent of the ballots cast in Sunday's plebiscite, found that 58.3 per cent voted yes, 41.7 per cent no and the remainder were invalid, said Election Commission secretary general Sittipol Paveechaikorn.About 25 million out of 45.6 million eligible voters, or about 55 per cent, participated in the referendum. Official results will be announced by 4 pm Monday, Sittipol said.But the initial results also show Thailand's north-eastern region, the most populated and poorest, voting 63 per cent against the charter, which many have seen as a popularity contest between the military and the former populist regime of Thaksin Shinawatra who was deposed by a coup September 19."The military is satisfied with the people's acceptance of the constitution," said Army ...
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Greenpeace slams APEC, Bush, Howard
2007-08-18 16:53:00
Sydney - Asia-Pacific leaders meeting in Australia next month are expected to endorse the US mantra that advanced technology is the antidote to climate change rather than setting binding targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to a draft of the 21-member grouping's final communiqué that leaked out Saturday. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC ) draft declaration says energy efficiency and preserving forests as carbon sinks are the way forward on abating climate change - not emissions reductions targets.The draft sets great store on cleaning up coal-fired power stations and the role of nuclear power in reducing carbon emissions.US President George W Bush and Australian Prime Minister John Howard are both fiercely opposed to targets for reducing emissions and are the only two developed world leaders to have refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol that sets country targets for reductions."This is a 'Made in the USA' declaration, covered in Australian coal dust," B...
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Global trend points to 'yes' vote at Sunday's constitutional poll
2007-08-13 07:49:00
Global trend points to 'yes' vote at Sunday's constitutional pollSARITDET MARUKATATSupporters of the draft constitution hope the outcome of next Sunday's referendum will be the same as most of the other referendums held across the globe in the past eight years. Thailand's national referendum will be the 13th in the world since 1999, according to the Election Commission. In nine countries the majority voted ''yes''; only three decided ''no''.This record should come as a huge relief to those wanting to see a vote in favour of the draft constitution, including the Council for National Security and the government.''Holding a referendum is not something new. Other countries have done it,'' said Krit Urwongse, the Election Commission (EC) deputy director responsible for the referendum.However, a referendum is something new for voters in Thailand. This will be the first in the country's history.Although seven Thai constitutions, beginning with the 1949 version and includi...
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Thailand claims 2nd gold through Taekwondo
2007-08-11 10:29:00
Thailand earned its second gold medal at the 24th Universiade Bangkok 2007 with the win of Patiwat Tongsalab in Taekwondo yesterday, the second day of competitions. Patiwat, the defending champion in the lightweight division, beat Iranian Alireza Nassrazadany 5-3 to retain his title for the second consecutive time. He will receive a bonus of 1 million baht from The National Sports Development Funds for winning a gold medal. ?He performed very well but we will still have to wait as to who we will send at the next Olympics, as Thailand have other good Taekwondo players such as Nacha Pantong and Chatchawan Kaola-o,? said the President of Thai Taekwondo Association Pimol Sriwikorn. In the welterweight division, Dam Srichan did his best and reached the last 8 before being defeated 2-3 by South Korea player Daesung Hwang. Piyaporn Dongnoi, another Thai player in the women?s welterweight division, lost 0-3 to Taiwanese Lin An-ni. Today the Thai Taekwondo team will compete in 3 weight divi...
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193 killed, 1,056 wounded in 5 months in troubled South
2007-08-05 14:21:00
A total of 193 persons were killed and 1,056 wounded by militants in five southern provinces between January and May this year, said Public Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkhla today. Dr. Mongkol said the number of casualties was obtained from 47 hospitals under the supervision of the ministry in the five provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, Songkhla and Satun. The number of people killed and wounded in Narathiwat stood at 76 and 393 respectively, and was the most when compared to other provinces, followed by Yala with 46 persons dead and 330 wounded, Dr. Mongkol said. He said information obtained from the hospitals showed that about 80 per cent of the wounded recovered from their wounds, 19 per cent traveled to hospital by themselves, and seven per cent were sent for emergency treatment. The aim of compiling the statistical report on the number of victims in the insurgency-affected region is to improve medical services as well as upgrading the communications system between e...
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Thaksin Where are you ?
2007-08-02 16:33:00
Thaksin lives the highlife in book out today WASSANA NANUAM   A female lieutenant will give us a glimpse into the posh, post-coup lifestyle of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in London in her upcoming book, Thaksin, Where Are You? The 200-page book, to hit bookstores today, features the ousted premier's latest 280-million-baht house in London suburb, his three-million-baht-a-month lifestyle and his favourite hangouts. Lt Sunisa Lertpakawat, a military-beat reporter for army-run TV Channel 5, travelled to London twice at her own expense to try her luck tracking down Mr Thaksin. She said she cried and begged the deposed prime minister to give her an interview. She admitted that the book may hurt her career prospects, but said it was the perfect start as the first book of her Unusual Publishing House. Two interviews, altogether seven hours long, were given. One was on May 30 when the Constitution Tribunal ordered the Thai Rak Thai party disbanded and another ...
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5 killed, 12 wounded in southern unrest
2007-08-01 19:10:00
Five people were killed and at least 12 wounded in a spate of gun, arson and bomb attacks in the restive South on Wednesday, police said. Insurgents ambushed a group of army patrol soldiers along a train track at 5.50am in Yala province, killing two of the three soldiers. They took with them two M-16 rifles and a pistol.In Narathiwat, insurgents set off a bomb hidden in a motorcycle parked in a busy market, killing a Buddhist woman and wounding 11 other shoppers.In separate violence, at least three assailants sprayed dozens of bullets into a house in Narathiwat province, killing two men, said police Lt. Vorapong Klomsakun. Other attacks included bombings at a petrol station, outside a local temple and at a hotel. Police also reported an ambush in Pattani province, where a patrol soldier escaped injury.The series of attacks came after 500 security officers raided 17 several locations in Narathiwat and arrested 50 suspected insurgents including an alleged core leader on Sunday.In the...
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Army claims insurgents face dissension
2007-07-31 17:34:00
 More local residents in the southernmost provinces are now cooperating with authorities, and internal conflicts are believed to be growing within the militant ranks, an army spokesman said Monday, claiming that increasing numbers of them now want to desert their groups.  Royal Thai Army Akara Thiprote said during a television broadcast that the improving cooperation being given by villagers in the violence-plagued South to officials is evident by the arrest of 46 suspected insurgents in Yi-ngo district of Narathiwat province on Sunday.Also, several of the suspected militant detainees had offered a good cooperation before they were arrested, showing that there is an internal conflict within the militants, and that many of them do not wish to commit further mistakes against the government, said Col Akara, adding that many insurgents remain with the militants for fear of retribution if they leave the influential militant leaders.Five of the 46 suspected militants detained Su...
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Southern security to get injection of 7,000 men
2007-07-29 17:12:00
Plans are afoot to boost the number of defence volunteers and assistants to village headmen by more than 7,000 over the next three years in the three violence-plagued southern border provinces, Pranai Suwanrath, director of the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC), said yesterday. Mr Pranai said as many as 2,400 assistants to village headmen are to be deployed in 600 of the 1,750 villages in the restive region this year, while 3,600 are to be deployed in 900 villages next year, and the rest in 2009. Moreover, these assistants would be allowed for the first time to carry shotguns due to growing safety concerns. Meanwhile, the security forces would see another 2,016 defence volunteers joining them. The plan is to make 1,800 of the 2,016 volunteers take care of security in 300 villages, with the remaining 216 to be deployed on trains and railway stations, Mr Pranai said. The SBPAC director said an increase in the number of defence volunteers had never occurred for ov...
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Govt readies 'true' website as Thaksin's goes online
2007-07-28 19:03:00
Govt readies 'true' website as Thaksin 's goes onlineThe government is expected to launch a website next month to counter former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's official website that went live yesterday. Published on July 28, 2007The website might be called www.truethailand.com, in response to Thaksin's www.truethaksin.com, according to Aran Wonganan, who works for a government PR committee.He said yesterday that the administration's website would explain its position to counter "false information" from its opponents. "The 'war room' will take responsibility for the website and there will be Thai and English versions," he said, referring to the PR team. The website is expected to be launched on August 15. True thaksin.com, which is in English, went online after 6pm after Noppadon Pattama, Thaksin's legal adviser, held a press conference to launch the site on Thursday. Its displays a large image of Thaksin along with the message: "The truth shall set you free". The site gi...
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POLICE IN SOUTH CAN LEARN FROM WISUT CASE
2007-07-27 18:04:00
Story by ANUCHA CHAROENPOThe outcome of the murder case brought against Wisut Boonkasemsanti, who was found guilty of murdering his wife Dr Phassaporn, should inspire police and forensic officials in the deep South to make more use of forensic and circumstantial evidence. The justice brought to the high-profile case should also give some hope to relatives of people killed in the southern violence which erupted four years ago. So far, only a small handful of suspects have been arrested and prosecuted while many were let off the hook, mainly due to a lack of evidence. Things might turn out differently if police and forensic experts in the far South opt to fully use forensic and circumstantial evidence in the investigation process. It should also work well in the case of the missing Muslim lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit. Dr Wisut was almost able to walk free as his wife's body was never retrieved and there were no witnesses to the murder. It was only when Dr Phassaporn's father, Chote P...
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New Thaksin website
2007-07-27 18:00:00
New Thaksin websitePOLITICS :A new pro-Thaksin Shinawatra website will be officially launched today to allow the ousted prime minister to keep supporters updated on his fight against what he calls the "injustice" against him and his family. The website, at http://www.Truethaksin.com, was online yesterday with the words "The Truth Shall Set You Free" in a rectangular box.But it contained no other details, and the full version is expected to appear in both Thai and English today. Mr Thaksin wants to tell people what happened to him after the military coup in September last year and how he would use laws to recover his dignity, his legal advisor Noppadon Pattama said yesterday. The website will replace http://www.thaksin.net, which has been closed down. Mr Noppadon told the government not to "waste its time" in launching a counter website because it already had other channels of media to communicate with people. Govt in counter-move INTERNET WARS :The government is to go ahead with its...
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Surayud: UDD aims to damage monarchy
2007-07-25 17:46:00
Surayud: UDD aims to damage monarchyCabinet offers moral support to Gen PremPOST REPORTERSThe United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) is carrying out its actions with the obvious intention of damaging the highest institution, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said in a statement released yesterday. The statement was released to the press as Gen Surayud took his cabinet ministers to meet Gen Prem Tinsulanonda to extend moral support to the Privy Council president following Sunday night's riot involving the UDD outside his Si Sao Thewes residence.Gen Surayud said in the statement that a certain element with an ulterior motive who had lost ''political advantages'' continually tried to discredit Gen Prem through mudslinging tactics.The group has set its sights on nothing but its own political ends.''They have demonstrated their intention of undermining the highest institution on which the country and people rely,'' he said. According to the statement, the constituti...
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Police, protesters clash outside Prem's home
2007-07-23 17:30:00
Police, protesters clash outside Prem's homeEight rally leaders will be arrested, police sayPOST REPORTERAnti-government protesters retreated from in front of the residence of Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda late last night after clashing three times with riot police who were ordered to break up the demonstration.Shortly before midnight, the demonstrators began walking back to Sanam Luang. Protest leaders decided to call it a night after riot police made their third push about 11.30pm to clear them from outside Gen Prem's residence.Police tried twice earlier to end the rally and arrest its key leaders after they marched from Sanam Luang through police barricades at Makawan bridge to Gen Prem's Si Sao Thewes residence.The demonstrators, from the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD), called on the former prime minister to resign, accusing him of pulling the strings behind the military coup last September. Protesters try to discourage fellow demonstrators from h...
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Website hackers traced to Europe
2007-07-21 11:19:00
Website hackers traced to Europe KOMSAN TORTERMVASANAPranksters who hacked into the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Ministry website on Thursday, posting a picture of Thaksin Shinawatra along with anti-dictatorship statements on its homepage, may be European-based Thais with sympathies for the ousted government, officials said yesterday. ICT Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom said an investigation into the IP addresses of the hackers showed the web attacks were carried out from Europe. Officials said attacks were launched from three countries, one of them Germany.Mr Sitthichai admitted the website of the ICT ministry had been hacked into on two occasions due to the negligence of ministry staff. He said they had left the remote access terminal switched on at all times, which made it easy for anyone to hack into the website if they could find the pinpoint access code.Thanit Praphatnant, of the ministry's legal division, went to the Thung Song Hong police station yesterda...
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Second blast kills bomb expert, injures 18
2007-07-18 16:56:00
Second blast kills bomb expert, injures 18MUHAMMAD AYUB PATHAN & WICHAYANT BOONCHOTEYala _ Insurgents lured a bomb disposal squad and a crowd to a blast site then exploded another, bigger device in downtown Yala yesterday, killing a bomb expert and injuring 18 other people including Bangkok Post stringer Maluding Deeto. Pol Snr Sgt-Maj Subin Paritmongkol, who lost both his arms and legs and suffered 80% burns, died in hospital three hours later.The officer was part of a four-man bomb disposal team called to check on a minor bomb attack at 7.15am. The front basket of a motorcycle exploded outside the Yala Boonsri shop on Rod Fai road, near the railway station.During an inspection of the motorbike, a powerful bomb hidden inside went off, injuring police officers, news reporters and bystanders.Police confirmed that the officers had followed standard procedures _ sealing off the area and cutting off mobile phone signals _ to prevent a second strike. But the second blast was detonated by...
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Insurgency in deep South 'could evolve into civil war'
2007-07-15 16:32:00
Security expert: Need information strategyBy Post reportersA security expert warned yesterday insurgent violence in the deep South could degenerate into civil war. Political scientist Panithan Watanayakorn said the strife-torn region could be beset by guerrilla warfare, like Aceh in Indonesia.Mr Panithan, also security adviser to the prime minister, said it could then plunge into a catastrophic civil war.''It is important the government learns about this insurgent organisation to undermine its structure,'' he said.Mr Panithan said the insurgents had been successful in convincing the public they were capable of realising their goals.''And this reflects the futility of government efforts over the past 20 years [to tackle the unrest],'' he said.He said the state needed to develop a strategy of information management to counter the insurgency.He was speaking to a forum on violence in the deep South at a seminar on southern development organised by the Democrat party in Songkhla....
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Court agrees to hear case against Thaksin
2007-07-11 16:00:00
Court agrees to hear case against Thaksin BHANRAVEE TANSUBHAPOLThe Supreme Court's Political Crime Section yesterday agreed to hear a corruption case against ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife in a multimillion-baht land deal. Mr Thaksin and his wife, Khunying Potjaman, have been accused of corruption in connection with the 772-million-baht Ratchadaphisek land purchase. The decision came after the prosecutors on Monday presented the actual physical addresses of the couple to the court.Thonglor Chom-ngarm, the chief prosecutor, said the nine judges agreed to accept the case as it was in compliance with the court's regulations.''The first hearing has been set for Aug 14 and the couple must appear in person,'' said Mr Thonglor.The couple are accused of committing offences under Articles 152 and 157 of the 1999 National Counter Corruption Commission Act. Mr Thaksin was accued of using his position as prime minister to help his wife purchase the 33-rai plot from t...
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Asian challengers set for Bangkok showdown
2007-07-04 17:47:00
AUSTRALIAN RULES / ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPAsian challengers set for Bangkok showdownALAN PARKHOUSEThe Asian Australian Rules Football Championship in Bangkok in less than two weeks time will be arguably the biggest international Australian football tournament ever held anywhere in the world. The game that is followed by millions at home in Australia has now spread its wings to Asia and on July 14 a record 10 teams from various parts of the world will be contesting the Asian Australian Rules Football Championship in Bangkok.The 10 teams are coming from China, Dubai, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and two from Indonesia, Bali and Jakarta, to play at Bangkok Patana school on Sukhumvit Soi 105.Main sponsor of the tournament is residential condominium developer Raimon Land.''We are saying this will be Asia's largest Australian football tournament ever because we know it is, but a lot of the teams involved think this might be the biggest international carnival outs...
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Bonded cargo storage area to be expanded
2007-07-02 17:14:00
Amornrat Mahitthirook www.bangkokpost.netThe bonded warehouse area at Suvarnabhumi airport will be expanded and separated from the under-utilised customs-free cargo zone, Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongcha-um said yesterday.Existing bonded warehouses managed by Thai Airways (THAI) and Bangkok Flight Services would be enlarged to satisfy growing cargo demand.The expanded areas would be located north and south of the customs-free zone.Some shippers complain of problems with the duty-free zone because the electronic Air Cargo Community System, which is supposed to track cargo in the air and on the ground, was unable to link properly with the Customs Department's software systems.The zone is intended to facilitate imports of raw materials and intermediate products for processing locally before being re-exported as finished goods.Products entering the free zone are exempt from normal import duties.Most operators, however, choose to go through normal customs clearance and then see...
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TEMPLE TOURS DRAW FIRE
2007-07-01 09:32:00
TEMPLE TOURS DRAW FIREPrivate operators say BMTA budget tours undercut them and steal their customersStory by SARITDET MARUKATAT and AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOKThe Bangkok Mass Transit Authority's popular "low-cost tours" have hit a bump in the road. Private operators are complaining the bus agency is stealing their business.The BMTA's tours began in January last year under the Thaksin Shinawatra government to reduce the financial burden of the debt-plagued agency and promote activities for people in low-income families.The BMTA has about 1,000 buses. One-fifth of its fleet does not run on weekends because of reduced ridership. But each vehicle costs 1,000 baht to maintain on weekends whether its wheels are turning or not."The weekend trips utilise resources we have," BMTA managing director Pinetr Puapatanakul said.The BMTA's Zone 1 office in Bang Khen district opened its arms to the tour idea, designing 12 one-day trips, covering 108 temples in Bangkok and neighbouring provinces. The ...
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Pin case 'won't help Thaksin avoid extradition'
2007-06-29 18:01:00
AMPA SANTIMATANEDOLFormer prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra could not use the case of former financier Pin Chakkaphak as a precedent to avoid extradition from the United Kingdom, a senior officer of the Bank of Thailand said yesterday. Charnchai Boonritchaisri, senior director of the bank's Legal and Litigation Department, was commenting on reports Mr Thaksin's legal team plans to use Mr Pin's case as a guideline when opposing efforts to have him return to Thailand to face charges. Mr Pin's case was different from Mr Thaksin's alleged offences, said Mr Charnchai.Mr Pin was charged with embezzling money from a finance company, while Mr Thaksin has been accused of corruption while in office.Mr Pin and other executives of Finance One were charged with misappropriating 2.1 billion baht from the company, leading to its collapse during the 1997 financial crisis.Mr Pin fled to the United Kingdom. He was apprehended by British authorities in December 1999 after Thailand sought his extr...
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Airport tout war going badly
2007-06-25 17:19:00
Airport tout war going badlyBy Wassayos NgarmkhamPolice who promised to end the operations of the operations of cheating unlicensed black-plate taxis and illegal tour guides at Suvarnabhumi airport by mid-June have admitted a first-round defeat - but will try again.Last month, Pol Maj-Gen Wut Liptapanlop, deputy chief of Police Region 1, vowed a major crackdown that would take the touts and illegal guides out of the airport within 15 days.On Sunday, Pol Maj-Gen Wut urged Airports of Thailand (AoT) to apply tax laws to curb the illegal operators, and vowed it would take just 15 days.But police have essentially given up. The new plan to halt the activities of illegal guides-cum-taxi drivers who prey on visitors requires action by the Airports of Thailand.AoT chairman Saprang Kalayanamitr gave the request to use tax laws to attack the so-called black-taxi rogues weak support, agreeing to discuss the matter with the Revenue Department this week. Pol Maj-Gen Wut said 36 gangs of illegal ...
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Repeat: Thaksin could be arrested
2007-06-24 16:12:00
Thailand's deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Potjaman must return by late next week or face arrest warrants, a senior police official reiterated on Sunday.The state-run Thai News Agency (TNA) quoted Department of Special Investigations director-general Sunai Manomai-udom as saying police would issue arrest warrants for the couple if they fail to return before Friday (June 29).Mr Thaksin, who was ousted from his premiership by a military coup staged last Sept 19 on corruption charges, is currently in London, finalising a multi-million dollar deal to purchase the Manchester City Football Club.In Thailand, legal cases meanwhile are piling up against the billionaire politician.Last week the DSI announced that Thaksin and his wife had to return to the country between June 26 to 29 to hear charges brought against them of concealing their shareholding while Thaksin was premier of SC Assets, a real estate company listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand.Thaksin, throug...
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Thaksin not taking baht to buy Man City
2007-06-23 17:31:00
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) has not yet received any request from ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra or his family members to transfer money abroad to acquire the English Premiership football club Manchester City , a senior central bank official said yesterday. Suchart Sakkankosone, the director of the central bank's exchange control and credits department, said Mr Thaksin and his family would have to seek approval from the BoT if they wanted to transfer money out of the country.So far, the central bank has not yet received any written request seeking the transfer of money abroad from Mr Thaksin or any member of his family, Mr Suchart said.The ousted prime minister made headlines in the UK on Thursday when he won acceptance for a 81.6 million pound (5.3 billion baht) bid for Manchester City.Existing regulations state that an individual can send up to $500,000 out of the country per year while a juristic person can transfer up to $50 million out of the country per year for inves...
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Brass visit war zone
2007-06-23 04:01:00
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont yesterday announced plans to head to the deep South again, as bomb attacks left five soldiers and six civilians wounded while Council for National Security chairman Sonthi Boonyaratkalin was touring the restive region.Gen Surayud said he would make a fresh visit to the troubled region after Gen Sonthi returns to Bangkok. According to the prime minister, Gen Sonthi, who is also the army chief and director of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), was visiting the deep South to find out first-hand problems faced by security authorities, especially delays in equipment supplies. Asked by reporters about how many schoolchildren would have to be relocated from schools in high-risk areas in the deep South, Gen Surayud said he did not have the details. But he had already discussed the matter with Education Minister Wijit Srisa-arn and Basic Education Commission secretary-general Kasama Voravan na Ayudhya. In Yala province, Gen Sonthi yesterday visi...
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Vang Pao link detained in Thailand
2007-06-20 15:55:00
Police have arrested a Hmong-American man in Nan province, and say they believe he may be linked to the US-based plot to overthow the government of Laos.Pol Capt Sitthinan Sithkamjorn told the Associated Press news agency they were taking the man to the US Embassy to verify his identity and determine if the Americans would like to have him deported in connection with the California arrests of other alleged plotters of Hmong descent.Police identified the man as Sha Wang Lee, 53. He is believed to be an associate of Vang Pao, the 77-year-old ex-general who has been charged in California along with nine others in the alleged plot.Pol Capt Sitthinan said he could not confirm the exact spelling of the man's name but said he carried a US passport that expired on May 27, 2003, and showed his hometown as Fresno, California. He also carried a certificate signed by Vang Pao stating he had undergone military training.Police arrested Sha Wang Lee on Monday in Nan, a province bordering Laos and...
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Thaksin ordered to return
2007-06-19 16:27:00
Thaksin ordered to returnBangkokPost.comThe Department of Special Investigation on Tuesday charged ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Potjaman with concealing assets and ordered them to return to Thailand within 10 days to hear the charges in person.His lawyer Noppadol Pattama told reporters he wasn't sure what would happen."Thaksin's return depends on the timing," said Mr Noppadol. Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said he would guaranteee the safety of the ousted premier."The government ensures his safety," Gen Surayud told reporters Tuesday. "There is no need to consult the Council for National Security," as the ruling military junta is called.But the CNS chairman, Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin has said several times that he would be concerned for Mr Thaksin's safety if he returned to Thailand now. Gen Surayud cautioned reporters that "It doesn't mean that the CNS would do anything harmful to Thaksin."The DSI ordered the pair to appear before the police between June 26...
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PTV leaders confront generals
2007-06-17 17:43:00
PTV leaders confront generalsCompiled by BangkokPost.com from new reportsProtesters linked to ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra on Sunday delivered a letter to the Council for National Security, demanding that the CNS leaders resign and immediately hold elections.Members of the so-called Democracy Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) submitted the letter to Maj Gen Veeran Chantasatkosol, secretary general of the Thai army, amid tight security in front of Army headquarters on Sunday morning."We come here today to ask for the junta to resign, bring back the 1997 constitution and hold elections as soon as possible," said Veera Musikapong, one of the leaders of the nightly PTV rallies against coup leaders. The group, set up by former senior members of Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party, have vowed to hold demonstrations every day until next Sunday - the anniversary of the end of absolute monarchy and the transition to a constitutional monarchy in 1932.The demands came a day after several th...
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Thaksin slams junta over 'victimisation'
2007-06-16 04:49:00
Recorded speech by former PM broadcast to 10,000-strong rally last nightIn an "electronic war" against the junta, former premier Thaksin Shinawa-tra told a large crowd of his supporters last night that he had become a victim of political persecution aimed at destroying his power base.Thaksin, in an apparently pre-recorded speech, said he had not received fair treatment in the investigation of the corruption charges against him that led to the freeze on his family's bank accounts.The ex-PM said he would return to Thailand to fight the charges and "protect his dignity" but not to re-enter politics."I wouldn't mind if it was just me they were persecuting, but my wife and children have also become victims, which I didn't expect to happen," Thaksin said.He urged all sides to reconcile in respect for His Majesty the King's 80th birthday this December, but he fell short of calling for an end to the frequent protests by his supporters. Thaksin said he would like to see the next general ...
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