DAAD supporters disperse at Democracy Monument

Demonstrators led by the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship dispersed at 11 pm at the Democracy Monument.

At 10 pm, former PM's Office minister Jakrapob Penkair addressed the crowd and read a poem in praise of taxi driver who e crashed his car into a military tank and later committed suicide to protest the 2006 coup.

About 500 DAAD-led demonstrators left Sanam Luang for the Democracy Monument at 9 pm.

The number of demonstrators appeared to be less than the number of people who came out to celebrate the Halloween night at Khaosan Road.

The Nation

Chaturon attacks 2006 coup makers

Chaturon Chaisang, former leader of the Thai Rak Thai Party, attacked the 2006 coup makers while addressing supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra at the Rajamangala Stadium.

Speaking to the crowd at 7:30 pm, Chaturon said the Council for National Security or the coup makers also had laws enacted to grant amnesty to themselves.

He said Thai people needed to prevent more coups.

He also attacked ASTV of Sondhi Limthongkul, a co-leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, saying it had become a tool to incite Thais to kill each other.

The Nation

Laos urged to release Hmong

New York-based Human Rights Watch urged Lao government Tuesday to release Hmong refugee protest leaders who have been incarcerated after being secretly deported from Thailand.

The Lao government is detaining several Hmong asylum seekers whom Thai authorities deported earlier this year.

"The Lao government is notorious for treating deported Hmong harshly upon their return," said Bill Frelick, refugee policy director at Human Rights Watch.

"By imprisoning these Hmong deportees, Lao authorities confirm the fear many Hmong asylum seekers and refugees have expressed of being persecuted if returned to their native country."

The Nation

Police report on nine PAD leaders reaches prosecutors

The Office of the Attorney General on Wednesday received the police report charging nine leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy for their involvement in besieging Government House and raiding NBT broadcasting station in August.

Police have recommended for prosecution of the nine suspects for violating Articles 116, 215 and 216 of the Criminal Codes.

The nine are accused of instigating insurrection (Article 116), congregating to cause disturbance (Article 215), and refusing to disperse as per the order of law enforcement authorities (Article 216).

The suspects are Sondhi Limthongkul, Chamlong Srimuang, Pipop Thongchai, Somsak Kosaisuk, Somkiart Pongpaiboon, Suriyasai Katasila, Chaiwat Sinsuwong, Amorn Amornratananont....

Thai PBS closes Chiang Mai office

The chief of the Thai PBS Chiang Mai office has ordered evacuation of about 10 staffs and indefinitely closed the office on security concerns.

The office was closed a day after pro-government protesters stormed into the office Monday and remained rallied there until late night.

The protesters demanded the station to issue an apology for its report, which alleged that Chiang Mai people were paid to attend the pro-Thaksin rally in Bangkok on Saturday.

They agreed to leave the station at 11 pm after the station issued an apology in its late news programme.

The Nation

Supreme commander urges all sides not to drag monarchy into fights

The Supreme Commander of the Armed forces Tuesday urged feuding parties to avoid mentioning the monarchy in their political dispute.

General Songkitti Jakkabatr said the monarchy is above politics and should not be dragged into the ongoing conflict.

"We Thais must help protect the monarchy and should not drag the institution into politics. I would like to appeal against any reference to the monarchy for political reasons," Songkitti said.

"The monarchy deserves high reverence from us, our children and our grandchildren. This is the best measure for all the Thai people," said the general.

The Nation

Gothom urges PPP leaders to reprimand Karun

Gothom Araya, chief advisor of the National Economic and Social Development Board, Wednesday urged leading members of the People Power Party to reprimand PPP MP Karun Hosakul for having allegedly threatened to kick Senator Rosan Tositrakul.

Karun allegedly made the threat during a joint sitting of the House and Senate on Tuesday.

Gothom said Karun might not know that such behaviour was not appropriate so the leading members of his party should warn him to behave.

Gothom said ethic committees of the two chambers should investigate the issue because it was clear breach of ethic.

The Nation

Thai shares up more than 6 per cent as investors return to market

Thai shares rose 6.29 per cent Thursday as domestic investors snapped up bargains. 

The Stock Exchange of Thailand closed up 24.16 points at 408.31 after markets across the region rose on renewed investor optimism after the US Federal Reserve's overnight interest rate cut. 

"It is a technical rebound, back to the original Thai market," said Puwado Labudomsuk, analyst at Asia Plus Securities. 

"Share prices on the Thai stock market are attractive to investors now," he said.

But trading volume was low, indicating foreign investors might not yet be confident enough to return to the market, he added. //DPA

Mother sues deputy police spokesman for saying daughter killed by bomb

The mother of Angkhana Radubpanyawoot Tuesday filed a defamation suit against a deputy police spokesman for saying that she carried a bomb that killed her on October 7.

Witchuda Radubpanyawoot had her lawyer file a defamation suit against Pol Maj Gen Surapon Thuanthong at the Criminal Court.

The court will make a decision on December 29 whether to proceed with the case.

The suit argued that an autopsy showed that Angkhana was not carrying a bomb but was killed by a burning object which exploded near her body.

It said Surapon made the defamation statement on October 8.

The Nation

Cabinet approves Bt56 million to compensate violence victims

The Cabinet Tuesday approved Bt56million budget to compensate victims in recent political violence.

Deputy government spokesperson Suparat Nakboonnam said the victims entitled to compensation were those killed or injured in the violent incidents on August 29, September 2 and October 7.

Most casualties took place on October 7, when two people were killed and more than 400 others injured.

According to Suparat, the families of the dead victims will each get Bt400,000 one-off compensation. Children of the dead victims, if any, will also get a monthly subsidy of between Bt1,000 and Bt1,500 for their education until they receive a bachelor's degree.

The Nation

PAD calls on Army to deploy soldiers to protect protesters

The People's Alliance for Democracy Friday called on the Army deploy military police to protect its PAD supporters from attacks by its opponents.

Chamlong Srimuang, a PAD co-leader, said the PAD only wants three or four military police to be deployed at each road checkpoint of the PAD to help keep security for the demonstrators.

He said the PAD was willing to pay for the special allowance of the soldiers and take care of their foods.

"But if the Army does not help us, it'll be fine. We'll be able to take care of ourselves," Chamlong said.

The Nation

CIB to wrap up 32 lese majesty cases

The Central Investigation Bureau is trying to wrap up 32 cases on lese majesty, including the alleged insult involving former PM's Office minister Jakrapob Penkair, CIB commissioner Lt General Worapong Chewpreecha said Wednesday.

Of the 32 cases, four reports have been forwarded for the prosecution review. Some 15 ongoing probes involve offensive messages posted in various Web sites.

"For the Jakrapob case, investigators cut the list of 18 witnesses to 10 in order to speed up the completion of their report," Worapong said.

He said the scaling down of questioning was deemed necessary because the remaining eight witnesses were unavailable to give statements.

The Nation

PAD rallies at British embassy

Protesters rallied outside the British Embassy Thursday morning to demand an extradition of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Hundreds of protesters led by the People's Alliance for Democracy started gathering outside the embassy at 9:30 am.

A company of policemen were deployed to keep security.

The PAD protesters block the traffic on Wireless Road from the Ploenchit Intersection to the Phetchaburi Road.

After the rally at the embassy, the PAD protesters will march to the Emporium shopping mall to distribute VCDs and documents as part of their awareness campaigns on police's bloody crackdowns on protesters on October 7.

The Nation

8 injured in Yala explosion

Yala - Insurgents detonated a bomb at a morning market in this southern border province Wednesday, injuring three soldiers and five civilians.

The explosion occurred at 7:30 am at the entrance to the Yala Highways Office in front of Rot Fai Market in Yala Municipality came while Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Anupong Paochinda was visiting the province's Than To district.

Police said insurgents detonated the bomb with a mobile phone apparently to ambush a unit of soldiers from Yala Taskforce 11 who parked their vehicle to buy foods at the market.

The injured were rushed to the Yala Provincial Hospital.

The Nation

Somchai makes first visit as PM to to deep South

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat made his first as the prime minister to the deep South amid allegation of abduction, extra-judicial killing and target killings at the hand of government's death squad.

A number of these incidents, including the death of detained suspects at the hands of military officers, have caught national and international attention over the recent months. Human rights groups often criticised the government and the military of allowing a culture of impunity in the restive region.

Speaking to reporters before his departure from Bangkok, Somchai suggested that any major changes will have to be consulted with other security agencies assigned to the restive region.

The....

Royal funeral rehearsal

The police will close 16 roads in the Rattanakosin Island area on November 2 for a full dress rehearsal of the procession for the royal cremation of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana.

Pol Maj-General Panu Kerdlarppol, deputy city commissioner responsible for traffic, said yesterday that roads including Rajdamnoen Nai Road, Prachan Road, Lak Muang Road and Tai Wang Road would be closed for 24 hours starting at midnight.

The public will be permitted to observe the rehearsal from the pavement.

City police also blocked the route for yesterday's rehearsal by cavalry and cars, which processed from Wiset Chaisri Gate to Na Pralan Road, Mahachai Road and Wat Rajabopit.

The....

The China Post becomes 20th member of ANN

Taipei - The China Post, a Taiwanese-based leading English daily, has joined Asia News Network as its 20th member.

"We welcome The China Post as Asia News Network's newest member. The paper will further strengthen our cover of Northeast Asia," said Pana Janviroj, ANN's executive director, who went to Taipei to sign the agreement with the top executives of China Post.

At the signing were publisher of The China Post, Mr Jack Huang, and deputy director, Mr Daniel Huang; and Mr Werner vom Busch,....

BMA to go ahead with BRT plan despite warnings

Despite warnings from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) of it being a waste of money, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is still going ahead with its Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.

Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said Tuesday that he had not been told about DSI's demand for additional information on the procurement of 45 BRT vehicles worth Bt387 million, and so could not comment yet.

Apirak, who started promoting this project since he first took office, said he had written to the DSI asking if the project could go ahead and if the undertaking were delayed any further, the BMA and the contractor would suffer losses.

The Nation

Laos rejects demands

Laos yesterday rejected a request from an international human-rights group to release Hmong leaders, saying it was not holding any refugees deported from Thailand.

New York-based Human Rights Watch yesterday urged Lao authorities to release the Hmong leaders who had led the raid into Phetchabun's Huay Nam Khao camp in June.

The leaders were deported to Laos and later detained, the rights body said in a statement.

"Of the 1,673 Hmong deported from Thailand since 2005, nobody was arrested, detained or served any kind of punishment....

Killer on the loose

Swimmers are warned after deadly box jellyfish tentacles cause fatalities

Tourists snorkelling off Thailand's southern coasts have been falling victim to swarms of deadly box jellyfish lately.

Victims have arrived at Krabi Provincial Hospital and Phi Phi health station.

Dead in three minutes

"The venom from a box jellyfish can kill a human in less than three minutes," said Phuket Marine Biological Centre director....

Thaksin makes phone-in to address supporters now

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra make a phone call to address his supporters at the Rajamangala Stadium at 8:50 pm.

He greeted the supporters as "the people who love democracy".

He said he would like to come to visit his supporters but he could not because he was under 2-year jail term, which would force him to remain abroad for at least 10 years.

He said his opponents used the judicial system to persecute him although he was the prime minister who had got the highest votes in Thailand's history.

He said the 2006 coup was staged only to take action against him.

The Nation

Thai shares jump 7.84 per cent in tandem with region's bourses

Thai shares jumped 7.84 per cent Monday on good news for banks and energy stocks and the avoidance of political violence in Bangkok over the weekend.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index ended at 449.19, up 32.66 points, on modest trade amounting to 17 billion baht (494 million dollars).

"Thai stocks were following other markets today," said Phuwadon Larpudomsuk, an analyst at Asia Plus Securities.

Investors snapped up bank shares on growing confidence in the  sector worldwide and energy shares on news that oil prices were up.

"The good news domestically was there was no violence over the weekend," said Phuwadon.

There was a mass pro-government rally staged in....

Worker dies following self-immolation

Ubon Ratchathani - A construction worker from Yasothon immolated himself after he was cheated out of his pay and couldn't give his parents money to hire hands to harvest rice on their farm.

Thawatchai Tothaiya, 30, set himself on fire on Tuesday evening in the middle of a street in Sawad Village of Lerng Noktha district. He succumbed to his burn wounds early Wednesday morning at Ubon Ratchathani's Sappasithprasong Hospital, Major Sukkasem Sahinkong of Muang Ubon Ratchathani Police Station said.

His brother-in-law Srisak Netwong, 42, told police that Thawatchai was a hardworking bachelor who used his free time from growing rice to do construction work in Suphan Buri.

The Nation

Sompong to visit Siem Reap for border talks

Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat will join his Cambodia counterpart Hor Namhong in Siem Reap on November 12 for another round of talks on resolving the Preah Vihear border dispute.

It would be the third such meeting following the two in July and August between former foreign minister Tej Bunnag and Hor Namhong.

Sompong, who succeeded Tej more than a month ago, would discuss the areas with overlapping claims near the Khmer sanctuaries of Ta Muen Thom and Ta Muen Kwai.

The agenda was set at the second ministerial meeting in Thailand's resort beach town of Cha-Am in August, ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat said Monday.

The Nation

Withoon acquitted, two other Democrats get yellow cards

A Democrat Party-list MP was acquitted of electoral fraud and two Democrats from Ubon Ratchathani were yellow carded, vacating their House seats but allowed to run in the by-election, Election Commission secretary general Suthiphon Thaveechaigarn said Tuesday.

The five-member EC decided by the unanimous vote to drop the electoral fruad case against Democrat Withoon Ngambutr who holds party-list seat from the Northeast.

Withoon's favourable ruling was based on the grounds of insufficient evidence, Suthiphon said.

In regard to a combined case involving Supachai Srila and Wuthipong Nambutr, the EC ruled to disqualify the two for campaign violations although it allowed them to seek the by-election bids because they were not....

Bomb explodes outside Government House

A small bomb exploded outside the Government House early Tuesday morning. No one was injured.

Pol Sub-Lt Prapat Klaengkrathok of Nang Loeng police station said the explosion occurred at Orathai Bridge near Thewakam Intersection at 1:50 am.

The explosion caused a one-inch deep and 20-cm-wide hold on the ground.

Bomb disposal officers have yet to identify the type of the bomb.

Guards of the People's Alliance for Democracy told police that they heard something falling on a tree branch before falling to the ground. Then, they saw white smoke before a loud explosion was heard. No one was nearby at the time of the explosion.

The Nation

Over 40,000 infected with malaria this year

Over 40,000 people, including local residents and migrant workers across the country, have sought medical treatment for malaria infection in recent months, health records reveal.

The Department of Disease Control's (DDC) chief, Dr Somchai Chakkrabhand said this year the number of Thai people infected with malaria in the first nine months was 20,506 - while the number of migrant workers was 20,803. Tak province is the most hit area with 4,471 cases; while Yala recorded 3,971; and Narathiwat 1,284 cases.

Somchai said the number of migrant workers with malaria in three provinces is increasing - in Chantaburi, Tak and Kanchanaburi - and he expects the overall number of malaria cases to be even higher next year.

The....

Laos jail Hmong leaders forcibly repatriated by Thailand

New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday called on Laos to free Hmong ethnic minority leaders who had been jailed after being forcibly deported by Thailand earlier this year.

"The Lao government is notorious for treating deported Hmong harshly upon their return," said Bill Frelick, the group's refugee policy director.

"By imprisoning these Hmong deportees, Lao authorities confirm the fear many Hmong asylum seekers and refugees have expressed of being persecuted if returned to their native country."

HRW said more than....

Constitution Court judge's house attacked with bomb

A bomb was lobbed into the compound of the house of Constitution Court judge Jaral Phakdeethanakul, causing some damages.

No one was injured in the attack happened at about midnight at Jaral's house on Soi Pridi Phanomyong in Bangkok's Klong Tan district.

Bomb disposal officers have yet to determined the type of the bomb.

Police Sub-Lt Somchai Saraket of Klong Tan police station quoted Jaral as saying he heard something falling on the roof and heard an explosion two minutes later.

The explosion caused a 50-cm-wide and 25-cm-deep hole in the lawn and shattered some window glasses as well as damaging an air-condition compressor.

The Nation

Democrat MP puts Thaksin prosecutor on scrutiny

Democrat MP Korn Chatikavanij Tuesday petitioned that an investigation be started to see if the chief prosecutor had abused his power by deciding to not prosecute former PM Thaksin Shinawatra on the SC Asset case.

Korn asked the National Counter Corruption Commission to investigate Seksan Bangsomboon and find out if he had made a prejudiced decision in favour of Thaksin.

He claimed that Seksan had failed to justify why he had overruled the report prepared by the Department of Special Investigation, which recommended that Thaksin be tried for violating the disclosure rules prescribed by the 1992 Securities and Stock Market Act.

He said Seksan's arguments were unclear and might go against the securities....

Health Ministry plans megaproject for elderly care

Wouldn't it be great if senior citizens in health emergencies could reach a medical excellence centre to receive treatment as soon as possible?

Thanks to a mega project related to the development of healthcare services for the elderly, in the future, they will get access to healthcare services near their homes.

Deputy Health Minister Vichan Meenchaiyanant said yesterday the ministry is planning to ask for Bt9 billion from the government to support the mega project, as the greying of the population has gained momentum during....

PAD rejects call for peace

The People's Alliance for Democracy has rejected a call for peace talks on the grounds that the current approach to forge reconciliation is inappropriate, its co-leader Pipop Thongchai said Tuesday.

"Negotiations are not a way of the turmoil because righteousness is irreconcilable to political evils," Pipop said.

He said the PAD will not participate in the academic conference organised by King Prajadhipok's Institute to jump start the talks on reconciliation.

If the PAD sees that negotiations can overcome the turmoil, then it would have been talking to rogue politicians a long time ago, he said.

The PAD remains firm on its dual objectives - opposing the rewrite of the 2007 Constitution and....

Detective rapists jailed

Two police detectives each got 20year jail sentences yesterday for raping a suspect in a cell at Bangkok's Phet Kasem police station.The Criminal Court also fined Pol Sr SgtMajors Nulome Addma and Mongkhol Thothong Bt40,000 each for twice raping the unnamed 16yearold after arresting her on January 14, 2006 for failing a drugs test.

The court acquitted Pol Sr SgtMajor Phajon Takonewon after the girl testified she was not positive whether he was one of the two other men involved in the assault. Working undercover as....

Malaysian court acquits political analyst over Mongolian murder

Kuala Lumpur -- A Malaysian court on Friday acquitted a prominent political analyst of involvement in the gruesome killing of a Mongolian woman two years ago.

Abdul Razak Baginda, who was the political adviser of Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, had been put on trial for charges of abetting the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu, a Mongolian interpreter, in October 2006.

Two police officers were also charged with carrying out the killing.

High Court Judge Mohamad Zaki Yasin ruled Friday that the prosecution had failed to establish a case....

Car bomb hits officials in deep South:

Suspected insurgents, blending in with some 300 village headmen and officials, set off a car bomb near the venue of a monthly meeting in Sukhirin district yesterday.

Seventy people were hurt in an attack police said was meant to inflict maximum damage.

At least 12 of the victims were in critical condition. A woman had been reported as dying from the explosion, but authorities said she was still fighting for her life at Sukhirin Hospital.

The homemade explosive was packed inside a fire extinguisher weighing about 50 kilograms and placed inside a....

Health ministry to speed up new family care

A drastic decline in physical and intellectual development among children over the past few years has prompted the Public Health Ministry to speed up new family care centres across the country, according to Public Health Department directorgeneral Dr Narongsak Angkasuwapala.

Citing a national study of the intelligence quotient among Thai children, he said the overall figure had decreased from 91 points in 1997 to 88 in 2002. The standard is between 91 and 110 points.

Moreover, the rate of physical development in children has decreased from 72 per cent in 2004 to 67.5 per cent in 2007.

Breastfeeding exclusively during the first six months of life has....

Bt35 million donated to help injured, slain PAD protesters

The People's Alliance for Democracy has raised over Bt35 million of donations for those injured and killed in the police's crackdown on protesters on October 7.

Pipop Thongchai and Chamlong Srimuang, co-leaders of the PAD, told a press conference Wednesday that the public had so far donated Bt35.144 million to help the injured protesters and families of two slain persons.

Pipop said Bt29.616 million was donated to help the injured protesters. About Bt5.528 million poured in to support the two persons killed in the bloody crackdown.

A PAD supporter, Angkhana Radubpanyawut, was killed when police fired a teargas canister at her. Pol Lt Col Methee Chartmontree, a PAD guard, was killed in an explosion inside his....

Chamlong blames Govt over bomb, gun attacks

Chamlong Srimuang, a co-leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, Thursday alleged that the government was behind the attacks against the PAD early morning.

He alleged that the government sent attackers to lob a grenade against the PAD guards at the Makkhawan Bridge at 3 am.

He said the government then deployed four specially-trained attackers to fire at the PAD guards at the Misakawan Intersection at 4 am.

"These four were fully armed and appeared to have been trained," Chamlogn said.

After the attack, two could not escape from the scene and hid behind trees near the Education Ministry, Chamlong alleged. He said 10 more men later came out from the ministry to rescue the two....

Vatana's son gets suspended jail term for assaulting traffic police

Chonsawat Asavahame, a son of Puea Pandin Party chief advisor Vatana Asavahame, was Tuesday convicted of assaulting a traffic policeman and got a suspended jail term.

The Criminal Court found Chonsawat, his two aides - Sakul Pramoolchai and Pratya Chaiyakul - guilty of assaulting a traffic policeman of Makkasan police station at 2 am on May 21 last year. Chonsawat is not assistatnt secretary to the Information and Communications Technology minister.

They were also found guilty of preventing the policeman from carrying out his duty to test alcohol blood level of them.

The court initially sentenced Chonsawat and Sakul to 12-month imprisonment and a fine of Bt9,000 each and Pratya to 10 months in jail and a fine of....

Bangkok's healthier future

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has promised to bring its publichealth system up to international standards and establish a medical centre for elderly residents.

Deputy BMA Governor Malinee Sukvejvorakij announced the plans Tuesday.

The centre will bring together BMA hospital doctors, nurses and publichealth officials to give advice on things like healthy eating and safe mobility to people entering retirement age. This would help them lead betterquality lives and ease the burden on society, said Malinee. The BMA will also set up a hospice to care for seriously ill seniors at the end of their lives, she said.

Malinee added that funds would be used to set up centres of excellence at various BMA hospitals,....

Retired Brazilian footballers raise money for Burma cyclone victims

Rangoon - A team of retired Brazilian football players headed for Burma's Irrawaddy Delta Monday to visit victims of Cyclone Nargis after holding a charity match to raise money for ongoing relief operations, officials at the Myanmar Football Federation said.

The 23-member Brazilian team was scheduled to visit Kyugyangon and Prapon, two districts that were hard-hit by Nargis, which swept over Burma's southern delta region on May 2-3, leaving about 140,000 people dead or missing.

 The Brazilians, including several well-known retired players such as 1994 World Cup star Paulo Sergio, staged a charity match against Burma's football team....

PAD round up 5 old DAAD supporters

Pro and anti-government protesters clashed near Nang Lern intersection in Bangkok, causing injuries of both groups.

People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) announced Tuesday they arrested five supporters of Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) from a pickup and took them to a stage inside their rally site at the Government House. The five received boo and physical assaults during their presence.

According to PAD, some young passengers in the pickup of trying to harm security guards by firing from their catapults, leaving one guard with minor injuries. The security guard later captured the pickup truck and seized the car key as the vehicle got struck at the traffic light at the Nang Lerng Intersection. The PAD claimed there were some....

PAD guards allegedly assault two men

Two men have filed complaints against People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) guards for beating them up.

The first complaint was lodged at the Metropolitan Police Bureau.

Khao Jaengsuk, 39, showed up there on Wednesday's night with bruises all over his left arm and his right arm in soft plaster cast.

The second complaint was filed by a taxi-motorcyclist, Am Daosing.

Am, 39, Thursday told police that some PAD guards physically assaulted him on Wednesday after seeing his vehicle sported a sticker emblazoning "Fed up with PAD".

"I took a passenger from Siam Square to the Government House that day. After she got off, I ran into a group of PAD guards at the Chamai Maruchet....

Last Buddhist family in Narathiwat village attacked

Narathiwat - The last Buddhist family in a village of this southern border province was attacked by Muslim insurgents Sunday, killing the mother and severely injuring the daughter.

The attack against the family in Moo 7 village of Tambon Laloh of Ruesoh district happened at 1:20 pm.

Police said the mother Ladda Sutthani, 72, owner of a clothes shop, was fatally shot and her daughter, Darunee Duangkaew, 39, was severely injured and sent to the provincial hospital.

Ladda, who was shot at her head and neck, died before she was sent to the hospital.

Police said the two were sitting inside the shop with two other relatives and the insurgents arrived on two motorcycles. They initially pretended to buy clothes but opened....

Supreme Court to monitor Thaksin's speech

The Supreme Court is going to monitor former premier Thaksin Shinawatra's address to his supporters at a gathering today in order to determine whether there is an act in contempt of court, a source said Friday.

The president of the Supreme Court called a meeting of senior executives and judges from the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders on Monday to discuss about the matter, according to the source.

If Thaksin comments in contempt of court or any judge, legal action will be taken against him, said the judge, who added that such offence carries the penalty of 1-7 years' imprisonment and a fine of between Bt2,000 and Bt14,000.

The court president also warned the media against publishing possible....

School director urges PAD to open road during school rush hours

The director of the Wat Benjamobophit Secondary School Wednesday urged the People's Alliance for Democracy to stop blocking the Phitsanulok Road during school rush hours in the morning and afternoon.

Nawee Yungyuen, the director of the school, said many students and teachers had to walk for about 1 kilometre to school in the morning and from school after classes because the Phitsanulok Road was blocked by the PAD.

He said many teachers and students also arrived late for classes. Teachers and students are now allowed to reach the school no later  than the end of the first class of the day.

If the road is not blocked in the morning and after classes, it will be much more convenient for teachers and students to travel to and....

Man injured in shooting with PAD guards

A man was shot and injured early Sunday after he and his friends drove to the Makkhawan Bridge and shouted abusive words at guards of the People's Alliance for Democracy.

The guards claimed that the group started firing at them first but the five men told police that one of them simply raised their middle finger and shouted abusive words against the PAD guards and they chased after them and fired at them.

Police have yet to investigate the shooting incident which happed at 2:30 am.

The injured man was identified as Jaroon Deetour, 22. He was shot once on his right shoulder and rushed to the Vajira Hospital.

Jaroon's car, which was fleeing the PAD guards, was stopped by the military police in front of the....