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Thai Leader Is Ordered to Resign - NYTimes.com
Violated Constitution by appearing on COOKING SHOWS
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Thai rioters attack police station
Thai anti-government protesters have attacked the capital's police headquarters as demonstrations against Samak Sundaravej, the prime minister, have continued to spread across the country.
Hundreds of riot police fired teargas at the 2,000-strong crowd in Bangkok on Friday, which eventurally pulled back, as a fourth day of demonstrations forced the closure of airports and rail stations in the south of the country.
Demonstrators led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have been seeking to force the resignation of Samak Sundaravej, the prime minister, and his cabinet, claiming they are corrupt.
The movement accuses Samak of serving as a proxy for Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister, now in exile in London, who was ousted in a 2006 coup and now faces several corruption charges.
Selina Downes, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Bangkok said the prime minister has been holding high-level crisis talks with members of the military and said he hadn't ruled out initiating a state of emergency.
"I will not quit. At this moment, I will not declare emergency rule, I will wait and see tomorrow," Samak said on Friday.
Al Jazeera's Downes said Samak was likely waiting until after Saturday when Thailand's crown prince is due to make a speech.
"The crown prince may call for unity, and the royal family are highly regarded here," which may quell some of the protests, Downes said.
Thailand's ruling six-party coalition agreed on Friday to hold an urgent parliamentary debate on Sunday to discuss the ongoing crisis.
Roads sealed-off
She said protesters had overrun parts of Government House and closed three airports in the southern tourist destinations of Phuket and Krabi.
She added: "People saying about 1,000 protesters sealed-off roads going into and out of the airports.
"Thai airways' labour and electricity unions have also said they will join strikes calling form the prime minister to resign."
State rail workers had begun a strike that had halted 30 per cent of services nationwide, a union spokesman said, and similar action was being considered by unions at other state agencies.
"The prime minister has said to the protesters: 'You are called the People's Alliance for Democracy, so what is it you want? Because the key element of democracy is elections'," Downes reported.*continues* Thai anti-government protesters have attacked the capital's police headquarters as demonstrations against Samak Sundaravej, the p... more -
Arrest warrants for Thai premier, Thaksin want to say in england now onwards
Thailand's Supreme Court issued arrest warrants Monday for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife after they fled to England rather than face court cases in Thailand.The Supreme Court for political office holders ordered the warrants and seized 13 million baht ($389,222) in bail deposited by the billionaire former first couple who missed a scheduled appearance before the court Monday after spending the weekend in Beijing to attend the Olympics.'I have decided to live in England,' Thaksin said in a hand-written statement he sent to Thai television stations to explain his failure to return to Thailand.Thaksin will presumably seek political asylum in England where he owns the Manchester City football club and several properties.In his statement, Thaksin claimed that his court cases were part of a campaign by his political enemies to keep him out of politics.'What has happened to me and my family is the fruit of a poisoned tree,' said Thaksin, who argued that his political enemies had biased the investigations into corruption charges against him in the aftermath of his overthrow by a military coup on Sept 19, 2006.Thaksin and his wife Pojaman flew to London Sunday night from Beijing where they had attended the opening ceremony of the Olympics Friday.The Supreme Court July 29 granted Thaksin and Pojaman permission to travel to Beijing on the stipulation that they returned to Thailand Monday to stand trial later this week in the Ratchadaphist land case, in which the couple stand accused of abusing power in a land purchase deal in 2003 when Thaksin was still prime minister.The couple had booked return tickets on Thai Airways International (THAI) flight 615 Sunday night but never boarded the plane.Thaksin faces at least four corruption and abuse of power cases from his controversial premiership while his wife was sentenced to three years in prison on a tax evasion charge July 31. She had appealed the verdict.Thaksin was prime minister for two terms from 2001 until Sept 19, 2006, when he was toppled by a military coup on charges of corruption, dividing the nation and undermining democracy and the monarchy.The Shinawatra's three children - son Panthongtae and daughters Pinthongta and Paethongtan - departed Bangkok for London Saturday.Political observers viewed Thaksin's decision to seek asylum abroad as the end of his political career.'His political career is effectively finished in the event that he seeks asylum or goes in to exile because if the court cases go against him he will be a fugitive,' said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, director of the Institute of Security and International Studies (ISIS) at Chulalongkorn University.Although he is closely allied to the People Power Party, that leads the current government, Thaksin's political clout has not protected him from the Thai judiciary which is pressing several cases against the former first couple and has already sentenced his wife to jail.Thaksin was in self-exile, mostly in London, for more than a year after the coup and only returned to Thailand in February to face several corruption charges.In 2007 he purchased the Manchester City football club.A former policeman who became a billionaire telecommunications' tycoon, Thaksin came to power on a populist platform in 2001.He remains one of Thailand's most popular, and controversial, political figures. Thailand's Supreme Court issued arrest warrants Monday for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife after they fled ... more
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Thai farmers look to bats as free, flying food
While movie fans the world over rave about the new Batman film, the only stir bats are causing in this poor farming village is in a cooking pot.
The farmers say the meat is delicious, and, with a big smile, they claim it also gives them sexual powers. While movie fans the world over rave about the new Batman film, the only stir bats are causing in this poor farming village is in a co... more -
Thai troops cross into Cambodia
"Hang Soth, the head of the Cambodian agency in charge of the temple site, said the Thai soldiers had positioned themselves at a Buddhist pagoda located on a mountain slope below and were now negotiating with the Cambodian authorities.
"At first about 20 troops entered a pagoda in Cambodian territory," he told the AFP news agency.
"Later they increased their numbers to about 40," he said. "We don't understand yet why they came."
Hang Soth said that Cambodian troops in the area had been placed on alert but ordered not to open fire first, and that there had not been any shooting.
The governor of the neighbouring Thai province of Si Sa Ket, Seni Chittakasem, insisted there had been a misunderstanding.
"There is no trespassing by our soldiers," he said.
The 11th Century Hindu temple and the land around it have been the subject of a border dispute for decades. " "Hang Soth, the head of the Cambodian agency in charge of the temple site, said the Thai soldiers had positioned themselves at a ... more -
IRB Rugby Sevens Twickenham day one
A trip to the IRB sevens at Twickers on the day when the sun was out and the pimms was flowing!
Tags: IRB,international,rugby,union,sevens,twickenham,sun,pimms, A trip to the IRB sevens at Twickers on the day when the sun was out and the pimms was flowing! ... more -
Practising paintshop skills using pretty ladies i have snapped pictures
There is something to be said for the basic paint application and a wav file
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Thai Prime Minister detained as he returns to Thailand
Deposed Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra returned Thursday from 17 months in exile to face corruption charges, saying he hopes to restore his reputation. Police took him into custody but a court quickly granted bail, officials said.
Thousands of supporters — many dancing, beating drums and singing — gathered at Suvarnabhumi International Airport for his arrival aboard a Thai Airways flight from Hong Kong.
Thaksin had tears in his eyes as emerged faced supporters. He knelt and touched the ground with his forehead, hands clapsed together in the Thai greeting. Deposed Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra returned Thursday from 17 months in exile to face corruption charges, saying he hopes t... more -
Thai bank robber, decent sketch artists sought
The Thai Police have released the sketch of a man suspected robbing a bank in Bangkok several weeks ago. Apparently this sketch is based on the recollections of eyewitnesses, who says the suspect wore a motorcycle helmet at the time of the robbery.
Daft Punk are helping police with their enquiries. The Thai Police have released the sketch of a man suspected robbing a bank in Bangkok several weeks ago. Apparently this sketch is bas... more -
Chocolate
With an Oscar-nominated film, an over-advertised mobile phone, and a popular confection already sharing the name (or close enough), Prachya Pinkaew's Chocolate has some pretty big shoes to fill. Surprisingly, even without the star power of Johnny Depp or a pumping Goldfrapp soundtrack, it manages to do quite a good job, with the Ong Bak director delivering another feature full of enough awe-inspiring martial arts for anyone whose standards rely on the total jump kick count.
It's not often a kick can make me mutter a "shit," but it turns out it might if it's done upside down after spinning through a narrow railing. I call it worth watching; if nothing else, you'll learn how you can slide under a table to avoid a projectile pallet--a good skill when you're aggressively confrontational and work on a pier. With an Oscar-nominated film, an over-advertised mobile phone, and a popular confection already sharing the name (or close enough), Pr... more -
Thai police capture pedophile
This guy was being hunted by Interpol, which while it may sound kind of rebel-y and cool, is actually pretty bad as he was being hunted by Interpol for child sexual assault. This guy was being hunted by Interpol, which while it may sound kind of rebel-y and cool, is actually pretty bad as he was being hunte... more
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Nam Prik Pao Chilli Sauce Shuts Down Part Of London
A Thai restaurant's spicy sauce causes a response from the Hazardous Area Response Team, and parts of Soho to be closed off.
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What's For Lunch? Café On The Hill
This is just around the corner from where I live. Looks like a standard greasy spoon caff on the outside, but aside from the usual cooked breakfast they do great Thai food that will make you say 'OMG' and rub your tummy. This is just around the corner from where I live. Looks like a standard greasy spoon caff on the outside, but aside from the usual coo... more
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