Hide and seek for Thailand's Thaksin

atimes.com — BANGKOK - The world is shrinking for Thailand's former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as he seeks a new refuge in exile after recently being effectively banned from entering the United Kingdom. As the former premier's situation becomes more desperate, some fear it could spark new rounds of violence between his massed supporters and detractors in the Thai capital. The British government recently revoked the visa's of Thaksin and his wife Pojaman, preventing them from re-entering the country where they have resided in self-exile since fleeing Thailand in August after a tax evasion ruling carrying a three-year jail term was handed down against Pojaman. Thaksin was last month convicted to two years in prison on conflict of interest charges related to a case dating back to his tenure as premier. read more...

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PAD won't open road for royal cremation

bangkokpost.com — Digging in their heels and refusing to budge, determined anti-government protesters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) said they would not open the Makkhawan Rangsun Bridge on Bangkok's Ratchadamnern Nok Avenue which His Majesty the King and other royal family members would use to attend the royal cremation of the monarch's sister, the late Princess Galyani Vadhana, citing security of the demonstrators. Pol. Maj-Gen. Panu Kerdlarppol, deputy chief of Bangkok's Metropolitan Police responsible for traffic affairs, said he was informed by PAD representative Samdin Lertbutr that the Peoples' Alliance had decided not to open Makkhawan Bridge for the free flow of traffic because the PAD core leaders feared that the PAD members would be at risk of attack. read more...

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Reporters call for the end of violence

bangkokpost.com — Reporters at the Government House wore white shirt on Friday to campaign for the end of violence in the country. They all wear the shirts that bear the words, "End Violence" on the back. The shirts were distributed by the Thai Journalists Association, which requested that reporters wear them Friday to call for peace in the country. Fear of violence occur after ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra said he would phone-in to a political talk show to speak to his supporters on Saturday. Army chief Anupong Paojinda said soldiers are ready to provide assistance to police to prevent clashes between pro-government and anti-government groups. read more...

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Thailand Rejects Cambodian Claims Of Damage To Preah Vihear

mysinchew.com — BANGKOK, THAILAND: Thailand dismissed on Monday (27 Oct) Cambodian claims of damage to the World Heritage site of Preah Vihear Temple during the recent shoot-out, saying it was the other side that had dispatched troops with heavy weaponry at the temple and its vicinity. "We're verifying the presence of Cambodian troops at the temple, because we understand that placing troops at a World Heritage site violates the World Heritage Convention," said Thai foreign ministry permanent secretary Virasakdi Futrakul. A military report indicated Cambodian troops had fired rockets from the temple onto the Thai side, he added. read more...

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Thai PM: ASEM meet to restore Thailand's international prestige

news.xinhuanet.com — BANGKOK, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said Thursday Thailand will use the Asia and Europe Meeting (ASEM) leaders summit that opens in Beijing on Thursday to restore the kingdom's international luster that was diminished due to the past two years of domestic political turmoil, the Thai News Agency reported. Somchai left Thursday for the Seventh Asia-Europe Meeting summit to be held in Beijing on Oct. 24-25. Somchai told reporters before leaving Thailand for Beijing that The Beijing meeting would be a good opportunity to restore confidence after the country was hit by domestic political turmoil. He said he would like to tell the countries that even though Thailand is facing problems, it could move ahead. read more...

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Thai soldier injured in Cambodia border clash dies: doctor

afp.google.com — BANGKOK (AFP) — A Thai soldier who sustained shrapnel wounds to the head during a firefight with Cambodian troops along their disputed border died on Tuesday, the doctor treating him said. Boonyarit Khanti, 40, had been in a coma since October 15, when gunfire erupted on patches of disputed land near Cambodia's ancient Preah Vihear temple, a UN heritage site at the centre of long-standing bilateral tensions. "He died (Tuesday morning) from sudden kidney failure, which was one of the complications," said Monchai Wiwatanasithipong, a doctor at Suppasithiprasong Hospital in northeast Ubon Ratchathani province. read more...

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Thaksin falls foul of Thai courts

atimes.com — BANGKOK - Two years after his military ouster and amid growing political turmoil between his supporters and detractors, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was on Tuesday found guilty on charges of abuse of power. While the decision marked a sort of catharsis in his opponents' ongoing efforts to make legal charges stick against the former premier, the verdict is unlikely to alleviate Thailand's mounting political tensions. In a highly anticipated decision, Thailand's Supreme Court ruled Thaksin had a conflict of interest in the 773 million baht (US$22.7 million) Bangkok land deal conducted in 2003 between a government agency and his wife, Potjaman, who was acquitted of all charges. read more...

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THAILAND: UN joins government in anti-poverty drive

irinnews.org — BANGKOK, 17 October 2008 (IRIN) - The UN and Thai government went walking in support of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on 17 October, with the deputy interior minister, Preecha Rengsomboonsuk, and the representative of the UN Children’s Fund Thailand country office, Tomoo Hozumi, joining more than 2,000 people in Ayutthaya Province to raise poverty awareness. About 10,000 Ayutthaya citizens from every social sector joined the opening ceremony at the city hall after the walk. The two representatives made pledges to fight poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). read more...

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