Some of the latest news

[Gaybutton]

The Bangkok Immigration office has reopened.

 

The US Embassy will reopen Tuesday, May 25. I have not checked about other embassies.

 

Other than Pattaya, the curfew is still on for tonight, 11:00pm-4:00am. CRES will announce later whether there will be more curfew extensions.

 

Over 500 curfew violators have been arrested. So far the penalty has been suspended jail sentences and 2000 baht fines.

 

In my opinion, the most important news item to watch is tomorrow, May 25, at 1:30pm the Thai Criminal Court will announce its decision as to whether an arrest warrant will be issued against Thaksin on terrorism charges. If the court decides to issue the warrant, I hope that will not incite new incidents. We'll know soon enough.

 

If I had my way, I'd have Abhisit and Thaksin put on gloves and get into a Muay Thai ring. Whoever is left standing, that's Thailand's Prime Minister.

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Decision on Thaksin Terrorism Warrant Tuesday

 

Published: 24/05/2010

 

The Criminal Court will on Tuesday announce whether it approves an arrest warrant for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on terrorism charges, Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Tharit Pengdit said on Monday.

 

The court is scheduled to read its decision at 1.30pm tomorrow.

 

On Monday morning the court re-examined a request by the DSI for it to approve an arrest warrant for Thaksin.

 

DSI deputy chief Pol Col Narat Savetnant testified as the first witness. He presented the court with documents and video clips to substantiate the charges.

 

Decision on Thaksin terrorism warrant Tuesday

[Guest painai]

Actually, the curfew has been extended for 7 more nights for Bangkok and 23 provinces (except Pattaya) from 11pm to 4am.

[Gaybutton]

Actually, the curfew has been extended for 7 more nights for Bangkok and 23 provinces (except Pattaya) from 11pm to 4am.

I can't find anything to confirm that. What is your source of information?

[Guest painai]

Sorry, I just read the bulletin too quickly. Cres will recommend the proposal for 7 day extension tomorrow, but the cabinet will have to approve it.

[Gaybutton]

Sorry, I just read the bulletin too quickly.

If they're proposing it, then it's probably a done deal. When we get confirmation, we'll post it on a separate thread to make sure everyone knows.

 

Here's what has so far been published about it:

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CRES Asking Cabinet Tuesday for 7 More Nights of Curfew

 

BANGKOK, May 24 (TNA) - Thailand's Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) on Monday said it will propose to Tuesday's Cabinet meeting to extend the curfew for seven more nights in the capital and 23 other provinces saying that intelligence reports confirm there's still an attempt to cause chaos in the banned areas.

 

Spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the agency meeting which was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban in his capacity as CRES director, Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, three armed forces chiefs, the acting national police chief and the director-general of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), agreed to maintain curfew in Bangkok and 23 provinces in North and Northeast until May 31.

 

Col Sansern said intelligence reports and evidence showed there are still attempts to cause chaos, adding that the curfew timeline however will be reduced to allow the public complete their daily life more normally.

 

The curfew to be imposed from Tuesday night through next Monday night if approved by the Tuesday Cabinet meeting will ban people in the given areas from leaving their homes between midnight and 4am.

 

"Although it's just four hours, but concerned officials say it will be useful for them to carry out their work and control the situation," said the CRES spokesman. "At the same time we don't want the curfew to affect people too much and hope that with the new timeline the public will complete their daily routines."

 

Col Sansern reiterated that the aim of imposing a curfew is to separate the agitators from the general public and that the CRES will propose the curfew extension to the Cabinet on Tuesday.

 

CRES earlier imposed curfew in Bangkok and 23 provinces May 19 between 8pm and 6 am after key places in the areas were set afire, combined with grenade attacks by disgruntled Red Shirt protesters following the surrender of their leaders and the end of their six weeks protest at Ratchaprasong.

 

Curfew was extended through Monday night with a more relaxed timeline as situation is under control. Most schools and businesses in Bangkok also reopened Monday, except those located in and near the protest-hit areas. (TNA)

 

http://www.mcot.net/cfcustom/cache_page/59518.cfm?CFID=472725&CFTOKEN=81972817&jsessionid=cc30ecd2e181739dfc167c4066767d527f72