General News - Saturday December 15, 2007
THE WEEK IN REVIEW
Thai activists seek help from UN head
A score of anti-military activists on Monday called on visiting United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to help restore "genuine" democracy to Thailand. About 30 activists from the Democracy Confederation attempted to hand an open letter to Mr Ban as he entered Government House for talks with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, but were blocked by authorities from doing so.
"We would greatly appreciate if Your Excellency would kindly consider asking to bring back genuine democracy, respect for the rule of law and human rights from our military government," said the letter.
The Democracy Coalition, led by well known anti-military activists such as Sant Hatthirat, said Thailand had been under military rule since the September 19, 2006 coup that toppled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
Although the country is scheduled to hold a general election on December 23 to return to civilian rule, the letter raised concerns about the fairness of the polls.
It is widely believed that the military will block the People Power Party (PPP), which is backed by Thaksin, from taking power in the post-election period even if they win the most seats.
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Fund inflow sparks concern
Deputy Prime Minister Sonthi Boonyaratkalin has ordered the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) and Immigration Police to trace a group of HK nationals who carried cash equivalent to 60 million baht into the country.
Gen Sonthi, chairman of the government committee fighting vote buying, said he received a report that nine Hong Kong nationals carried the money into Thailand via Suvarnabhumi airport.
As they had brought the cash into the country during the run-up to the election, he said, Amlo and Immigration police must check on the sources of the money and whether it was unusual for the nine Hong Kong nationals to bring in such large amounts.
The cash report has put authorities on the alert following deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's call in an interview in Hong Kong last week for a national unity government after the Dec 23 election. Prime Minister's Office Minister Thirapat Serirangsan said he could not determine if the cash was linked to Mr Thaksin until there was evidence to implicate him. Mr Thirapat said those Hong Kong nationals declared their large amounts of cash with customs officers. However, before leaving the country, they will have to declare to custom officers again how much cash they have got left and what they have spent their money on.
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Briton with Thai heart refuses to play politics
An Englishman with a Thai heart has turned down one political party's relentless efforts to get him to act as a canvasser in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen. Martin Wheeler, 46, has felt the heat of the electoral race.
One candidate has set his eyes on the Briton, who has for the past 14 years established himself as a key man in promoting rural development in Ubon Ratana district.
"He (the candidate) told me to talk the villagers into voting for this and that person. I refused because I myself am not eligible to vote," Mr Wheeler said in Thai, with an Isan accent.
"I am only a guest, not the owner of the house," he said. "I have no right to meddle in or expect anything from politics." Mr Wheeler currently lives in Ban Kam Pla Lai in tambon Ban Dong with his Thai wife Rojana and their three children Eric, Anne and Derek. The London University graduate with a distinction in Latin has been tending rice and other crops on the 27-rai farm owned by his wife. He has earned the villagers' trust as their mentor and lends a hand to farmers in trouble.
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Activists interrupt NLA session
About 50 activists stormed parliament on Wednesday morning, forcing an abrupt adjournment of a National Legislative Assembly (NLA) session debating human rights legislation.
Five hundred activists from many non-governmental organisations picketed parliament on U-Thong Nai road before surrounding the entrances. Led by prominent activist and former senator Jon Ungpakorn, about 50 p;rotesters forced their way into the parliament building while the NLA was in session.
Another 50 managed to get over the fence but were stopped from going further.
Mr Jon said the NLA was issuing too many laws which threatened to violate human rights and harm democracy. The bills were related to internal security, community forests, water resources management, alcohol advertising controls, broadcasting, privatisation of state enterprises, and autonomy of universities.
The protesters insisted the bills, if passed, would cause irreparable damage to the country.
"We want the NLA to stop doing its job now. Please let the bills be considered by people with the mandate to do it.
"We see no point in your still working, except to speed up bills to serve the military," Mr Jon said.
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PM tightens security over New Year
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has ordered tightened security nationwide into the New Year to ensure stability during the Dec 23 general election and the formation of the new government.
At a meeting with senior security officials at Government House, Gen Surayud requested intelligence reports from the National Intelligence Agency and the National Security Council.
He gave orders for stepped-up security measures and demanded his instructions be followed closely if any serious incidents occur during the period.
Last year a series of New Year's Eve bombs went off in Bangkok and neighbouring Nonthaburi, killing three people and injuring about 40 others.
Places under tight security this year will include Bangkok, major towns and tourist spots.
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Alcohol ban in force for advance voting
No alcohol will be on sale or served at any event across the country from 6pm last night until midnight tomorrow as voters cast advance ballots for the general election.
Bar owners have been warned it will be enforced.
The same strict regulation will be applied next week, from 6pm on Dec 22 to midnight the next day - polling day.
The ban is to prevent canvassers from entertaining voters at drinking sprees before they go off to cast their votes.
Violators risk a fine of up to 10,000 baht or a maximum of six years in jail, under the election law.
Pol Gen Vichien Potphosri said full security will be in place.
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INTERNATIONAL
Putin endorsed as next Russian PM
Dmitry Medvedev, whose candidacy for Russian leader has the endorsement of President Vladimir Putin, called on Tuesday for Mr Putin to become prime minister after the March 2 election.
Mr Putin is prohibited by law for running for a third consecutive term, but clearly wants to retain a powerful role once he steps down.
Mr Medvedev's proposal would provide such a role, especially if the constitution were amended to increase the prime minister's powers - which could be done readily with the new parliament dominated by pro-Putin politicians.
Mr Medvedev has spent most of his career as a loyal comrade of Mr Putin.
Mr Medvedev also said that after the election the country must continue to pursue the policies driven by Mr Putin over the past eight years. Mr Putin's support for Mr Medvedev virtually ensures his victory.
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Court decrees death for Kuwaiti royal
An appeals court has upheld a landmark death sentence of a member of Kuwait's ruling family convicted of drug trafficking, his lawyer said on Tuesday. The court did not issue an immediate explanation of its Monday decision in the case against Sheik Talal Nasser Al Sabah, attorney Fahed al-Sayyar said.
Al-Sayyar declined to comment on the ruling saying only there is still one more court of appeals to hear the case.
The January verdict was believed to be the first time that a member of a ruling family in one of the Gulf Arab states received the death sentence for a drug offence.
The criminal court said Talal "threatened society ... especially young people who bought hashish and cocaine from him," and "deserved no mercy." It also convicted him of laundering money made from trafficking in drugs.
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Vietnam releases democracy activist
Vietnam has released a detained US pro-democracy activist and sent him back to the United States, state television reported.z
Truong Van Ba, whose Americanised name is Leon Truong, was released from jail Tuesday afternoon and later departed from Ho Chi Minh City's airport to the United States. Vietnam state television showed Ba leaving jail and checking in at the airport.
Ba is a member of a US-based pro-democracy group called Viet Tan, which Vietnam regards as a terrorist organization. Viet Tan says it supports nonviolent political change in Vietnam, and the US government said it has seen no evidence that the group has terrorist aims.
"Truong is one of four US citizens who were detained in Vietnam last month on unspecified charges.
Arrested with Truong on Nov. 17 was US resident Nguyen Quoc Quan and a French citizen, a Thai national and two Vietnamese.
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UN: Gazans need hospital access
The UN has called for Israel to allow more Gaza patients to leave the territory for emergency healthcare.
Dr Ambrogio Manenti, head of the World Health Organization office for the West Bank and Gaza, said medical treatment and politics must be kept separate.
A number of Palestinians have died in Gaza after not receiving the proper treatment, according to the World Health Organization. Gaza has effectively been sealed off since the Hamas takeover in June.
Many Gazans seek hospital treatment in Israel, Jordan and Egypt for specialised health care not available in the occupied territories. But since the Hamas takeover of Gaza in June, Israel has imposed severe travel restrictions on Palestinians from the territory.
The UN also appealed to Israel to resume full energy supplies to Gaza saying shortages are directly affecting the territory's health system.
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UK army 'losing battalion' to drugs
The Army is dismissing the equivalent of almost a battalion of soldiers every year for taking drugs, a report says.
The Royal United Services Institute said the number of positive tests for illegal drugs like cocaine and heroin rose from 517 in 2003 to 769 last year.
Positive tests for cocaine use rose four-fold during the same period. A dishonourable discharge is likely after a positive test for illegal drug use. The Ministry of Defence said drug abuse was loweramong forces personnel than civilians.
In the Army, which tests 85% of its personnel yearly, positive tests rose from 1.4 per 1,000 in 2003 to 4.0 in the first half of 2006 and 5.7 per 1,000 from January to June 2007.
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Democrats battle in Iowa
Democratic candidates for the US presidency have held their last debate before the nominating elections begin with the Iowa caucuses on January 3.
Iowa polls show Barack Obama edging ahead of Hillary Clinton.
Bangkok Post
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