Thailand Live Sunday 3 Mar 2013

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RT@191Thailand: Traffic jam in the Ratchada area this morning after a pick-up truck flipped over (Pic @IAmSapipe) pic.twitter.com/PmvQu9hTbr

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50-year-old man arrested for tearing ballot in Bangkholaem district; says he didn't know it was illegal /MCOT

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RT@INchannel: Reports of heavy rain in Sukumvit, Klongtan, and Rama 9 areas as we pass half way mark of #BKKElection.

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RT@Biz_TheNation: After #BKk governor election result is known, Yingluck will fly off to Sweden and Belgium on her official visit. Via "@Tik_NT

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RT@INchannel: Minor flooding near Klongtan intersection as downpour continues. pic.twitter.com/OMFge5fJVU

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RT@CoconutsBangkok: So far, the Bangkok Election Commission has found 8 election law breach cases: 7 alcohol sales, one ballot tearing #bkkvote

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RT@BPbreakingnews: Thaksin Shinawatra to visit Indonesia to seek Jakarta's help to solve southern insurgency: Thai Rath.

RT@BPbreakingnews: Thaksin Shinawatra insisted Barisan Revolusi Nasional is the right group on peace talks: Thai Rath newspaper.

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RT@KristieKenney: Red Cross Bazaar at Siam Paragon today in BKK. We're selling USDA beef @USEmbassyBKK booth! pic.twitter.com/ak67TsxeBe

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Meeting seeks trade protection for sharks, polar bears, elephants

BANGKOK: -- The world's main mechanism for restricting trade in wildlife kicked off in Bangkok Sunday with sharks, manta rays, polar bears, elephants and rhinos high on the agenda.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/623129-meeting-seeks-trade-protection-for-sharks-polar-bears-elephants/

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Prayuth believes fighting will continue in deep South despite peace-talk agreement

BANGKOK: -- Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha Sunday expressed confidence that violent attacks by insurgents will continue in the deep South despite a peace talk agreement with an insurgent group.

Prayuth was reacting on a motorcycle bomb attack in Yala that killed two military rangers and wounding many others on Saturday.

Prayuth said the attacks would continue in southern border provinces because many new insurgent groups have been formed and the new groups would not receive command from the group that signed a peace talk deal with Thailand on Saturday.

In a landmark agreement brokered by Malaysia, the Thai government and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) rebel group agreed to start talks aimed at ending a conflict.

But Prayuth said the BRN, which signed the contract, had been abandoned by new insurgent groups and the BRN was apparently seeking a political role. "They have been abandoned for a long time," Prayuth added.

-- The Nation 2013-03-03

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RT@tukky_nt: The voter turnout in first half of the day is just 30 per cent due to rain: EC #Bkkvote #Thairath

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BMA clerk concerned turnout to be affected by rains

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Clerk Ninnart Chalitanon expressed concern that rains in several parts of the capital would discourage many Bangkok residents from coming out to vote.

Ninnart said the BMA initially expected that the turnout would be 70 per cent but the rains would cause many voters to change their mind and stay home.

She urged Bangkok residents to come out despite the rains.

-- The Nation 2013-03-03

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Pojaman casts vote amid heavy rains

Khunying Pojaman Damapong cast her vote in the Bangkok governor election at the Setsathien School at 10:40 am.

She came to the polling station with her three children.

She was smiling and greeting the people at the station amid heavy rains.

-- The Nation 2013-03-03

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RT@CoconutsBangkok: Bansomdej Chaopraya Rajabhat U. EXIT POLL: Pongsapat wins the election, with 40.02% surpassing that of 38.54% of Sukhumbhand #bkkvote

RT@CoconutsBangkok: Bangkok U. Exit Poll: @PongsapatBKK 44.14% vs @Sukhumbhandp 41.07% #bkkvote \ PONGSAPAT PREDICTED TO WIN BKK GOVERNNORSHIP

RT@CoconutsBangkok: Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University poll: Pongsapat 43.88% vs Suk 39.57% \ PONGSAPAT PREDICTED TO WIN BKK GOV ELECTION BY 3 EXIT POLLS

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RT@Saksith: #BKKVote Sukhumband at a presser thanks his supporters, urges to wait for the real results to come in.

RT@CoconutsBangkok: Sukhumbhand: I don't believe exit polls because in 2008 Apirak lost in exit polls but he turned out to be the winner

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PM reasserts wildlife protection while opening CITES meeting in BKK, saying Thailand implements strict measures against illegal ivory trade /MCOT

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RT@CoconutsBangkok #bkkvote PHOTO: @PongsapatBKK supporters at Pheu Thai party HQ on Petchaburi Road pic.twitter.com/TUiW42vp0h

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RT@tulsathit: Real time count is tight with Sukhumbhand having slight edge. Most exit polls have Pongsapat win narrowly. Nida poll "too close to call"

RT@tulsathit: Real count is really tight so far. #Bkkvote

RT@tulsathit: RT @Ryn_writes: Total real count in 50 districts as of now : Sukhumbhad 105,004, Pongsapat 88,321 and Seripisut 12,769. via @ittipat_Rw

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RT@tulsathit: Edge of your seat vote count. RT @KobkarnL: Sukhumbhant 143,000 Pongsapat 121,000

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Thai PM to visit Sweden, Belgium

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, March 3 - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is scheduled to visit Sweden, Belgium from Monday through Thursday March 4-7.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/623162-thai-pm-to-visit-sweden-belgium/

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RT@CoconutsBangkok: RT @Rajprasong_News Out of 50 districts, Sukumpand leads in 39 districts, Pongsapat 11 districts @Ch 3 #BkkElection #Thailand

RT@Saksith: So, it looks like the exit polls are crap again…! #bkkvote

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Sukhumbhand leads in early ballot count

A report from Komchadluek TV showed that after the ballot count in some districts has been completed by 54 per cent, Democrat Candidate Sukhumbhand was still leading.

He got 198,558 votes while his Pheu Thai rival, Pongsapat Pongcharoen, got 165,922 votes. - See more at:

-- The Nation 2013-03-03

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RT@tulsathit: RT @natty_tang: 3.45 pm : Unofficial result from all BKK districts : Sukhumbhand 47% VS Pongsapat 40% #bkkvote TR @NationChannel24

RT@tulsathit: Latest count: Sukhumbhand 170,598 against Pongsapat 144,672: MCOT #Bkkvote

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Thai prime minister announces end to ivory trade

Bangkok, Thailand – Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra today pledged to end ivory trade in Thailand, seizing a key opportunity to stem global wildlife trafficking. Her statement came after the call of nearly 1.5 million WWF and Avaaz supporters.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/623165-thai-prime-minister-announces-end-to-ivory-trade/

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RT@CoconutsBangkok: According to @js100radio: With 71% counted, Sukhumbhand has 304,038 votes, Pongsapat has 256,846. 16:00hrs

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Suspected insurgent killed in Narathiwat
By Digital Media

NARATHIWAT, March 3 - A presumed insurgent was killed in a house during an army ranger operation searching this southern border province.

Authorities had surrounded the house while searching for leads on a Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) group leader and three other group members, who had been reported to have hidden in the area.

After the 10-minute exchange of gunfire, authorities called for reinforcements and tried to convince the suspects to turn themselves in. But the negotiation failed, and the gunfire continued.

Masae Yayidiyorliya, 32, was killed by the incident. His body was found at the back door of the house. An 11mm handgun and 15 bullets, 50 AK-47 cartridges, and a mobile phone were found there and collected as evidence. Four motorcycles were also seized after authorities had searched the house.

The deceased man was charged in six security-related cases in Rangae district from 2007-2009.

Authorities said two persons had managed to escape the incident. An identification card for Hasman Samamang, 36 was found at the scene. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-03-03

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RT@tulsathit: According to a reporter, Suthep is smiling like a devil at Dem headquartes. #Bkkvote

RT@tulsathit: Suthep is staunch backer of Sukhumbhand, while another faction wanted to nominate Korn Chatikavanij. #Bkkvote

RT@tulsathit: Sukhumbhand 361,915 Pongsapat 314,929 Seripisut 44,582 ++ #Bkkvote

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At 4:22 pm, Sukhumbhand still leads with over 388,000 votes

As the ballot counting was going on at 4:22 pm, Democrat candidate Sukhumbhand Paribatra got 388,416 votes.

Pheu Thai candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen got 327,584 votes. -

-- The Nation 2013-03-03

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RT@Aim_NT 4.29pm Sukhumbhand's votes have reached 402,400, Pongsapat 339,698. #BkkVote (sorry didn't say how many left to be counted.)

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RT@veen_NT: BMA expects the vote counting to be done by 8pm today. #Bkkvote