Kaewsan offers himself as Democrat candidate

nationmultimedia.com — Kaewsan Atibodhi, a former member of the Assets Examination Committee, said Wednesday that he has offered himself as a choice for the Democrat Party to select as its Bangkok governor candidate. Kaewsan said he informed Democrat deputy leader Korn Chatikavanij. Kaewsan said if his offer is turned down, he will consider whether he will run as an independent candidate. read more...

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Pro-Thaksin group protests in front of UK embassy

bangkokpost.com — (BangkokPost.com) - More than 100 members of a pro-Thaksin group gathered in front of the UK embassy in Bangkok on Friday morning to protest the British government's revocation of Thaksin Shinawatra's visa to the country. About 50 police from Lumpini station were deployed there. They placed iron barricades to prevent the protesters from getting near the embassy. The protesters burnt a wreath, where the face of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was placed. They claimed Mr Thaksin was a good man, and that he was unfairly treated. The protest went on for about half an hour. read more...

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Chamlong challenges PM to sue over controversial video clip

nationmultimedia.com — Chamlong Srimuang, a leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, challenged Tuesday Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to file defamation suits against those whom the PM accused of editing a video clip to cause him damage. Somchai on Monday admitted he was the man in the video clip circulating on the Internet and posted on the Manager website, but claimed the video was edited with the intention of defaming him. "This is a serious issue because he is accused of using office time to hook up with a woman. For this type of allegation, leaders of other countries would have resigned, if they had been accused,'' Chamlong said. The video was shot by an unidentified cameraman between March 22 and 27 this year and was viewed more than 261,000 times in less than 24 hours after its posting on the Manager website. The 25minute clip consists of four parts featuring: first, the man who resembles Somchai, in a red Mercedes picking up a woman in her 20s, in front of a convenience store. The couple are shown having dinner at a restaurant serving southernstyle Thai food. read more...

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Thaksin's extradition possible if govt is serious to do so

nationmultimedia.com — Ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra could be brought back to face justice in Thailand if the government is serious about doing so, said legal experts. Sak Kosaengruang, the former spokesman for the Asset Examination Committee, said authorities could ask Thai envoys posted overseas to help find Thaksin or could offer a bounty for the convicted expremier. Over the weekend, it was confirmed that the UK had already revoked visas for Thaksin and his wife Khunying Pojaman to reenter the UK where the couple earlier lived in exile. The whereabouts of Thaksin is not known, but Tej Bunnag, a former foreign minฌister, said yesterday that he believed Thaksin was currently in China. read more...

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Ex-TRT execs want post-coup order revoked

nationmultimedia.com — A group that includes former Thai Rak Thai Party executives is drafting a bill to revoke Announcement 27 from the Council for Democratic Reform (CDR). "We're only trying to call for our rights in politics," former Thai Rak Thai executive Tossaporn Serirak said yesterday. This bill has nothing to do with seeking amnesty for the 111 ex-Thai Rak Thai executives banned from politics, he said. He said about 20 People Power Party (PPP) MPs supported his group, and he was gathering 10,000 signatures to push the bill through. If the bill passes, his group could contest the next election. Tossaporn said the military junta issued the CDR announcement to get rid of Thai Rak Thai, so his group was entitled to seek justice by pushing for this legislation so the members could return to politics. PPP party list MP Sunai Chulapongsathon said he supported Tossaporn, because the 111 ex-Thai Rak Thai executives should be given back their political rights, which are their basic civil rights. read more...

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Judges vow not to be swayed by bombings

bangkokpost.com — Constitution Court called an urgent meeting on Friday to lay down security measures for its judges after a bomb was thrown into the house of Constitution Court judge. Constitution Court chairman Chat Chonlaworn scheduled a meeting with the judges after a bomb exploded at the house of Jarun Pukditanakul early Thursday. Around midnight, the bomb exploded in the garden of the home of judge Jarun, in Khlong Tan area, damaged an air compressor and smashed a glass window and a plate glass door. Nobody was hurt. read more...

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PM wants mega-projects started quickly

bangkokpost.com — Concerns over the global financial crisis which has started affecting the economy have prompted Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to order concerned government agencies on Friday to accelerate long-delayed mega-projects, aimed at easing traffic congestion in the capital and surrounding areas, a deputy government spokeswoman said. Suparat Nakboonnam said Mr Somchai told economic ministers during the meeting that disbursement of government budget and spending on mega-projects is now seen as vital as it could create employment and revenue for related industries such as the construction industry. read more...

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"Don't provoke violence" : peace groups

nationmultimedia.com — Groups urged to avoid situation that could lead to anarchy and a coup Two peace advocacy groups yesterday called on three opposing camps to stop provoking the others in such a way that would endanger society and lead to violence. The two groups - the Students Federation of Thailand and the Santi Prachatham Network - which includes 42 leading academicians, issued the call in a joint statement. "Opposing camps should not sway the crowds to clash because if this happens, the country will plunge into anarchy, a situation ripe for a coup," the statement said. The joint statement outlined three demands: lStop inciting the crowds to clash. The People's Alliance for Democracy, the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship and the group led by former deputy national police chief General Salang Bunnag must cease to incite hatred and refrain from marching the crowds out of their respective rally sites. read more...

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