Thailand Live Thursday 7 Nov 2013

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Drunken French Teenagers Abduct A Circus Llama


The teens were arrested for the escapades but charges were dropped after images of their night out went viral

BORDEAUX: -- A group of five French teenagers have been arrested after drunkenly stealing a circus llama named Serge and taking on him on a tour of Bordeaux via the city’s tram system.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680035-drunken-french-teenagers-abduct-a-circus-llama/

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Thailand's tourism leaders press for new safety and security measures

BANGKOK: -- Tourism industry leaders in Thailand are to press for new, effective measures that improve safety and security for business and leisure travelers throughout the Kingdom.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680038-thailands-tourism-leaders-press-for-new-safety-and-security-measures/

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Pheu Thai seeks dissolution of Democrat Party

BANGKOK, 7 November 2013 (NNT) - The Pheu Thai party submited a petition to the Election Commission calling for the dissolution of the Opposition Democrat party over their involvement in recent protests.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680046-pheu-thai-seeks-dissolution-of-democrat-party/

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Yingluck focused on development of Thailand’s east

BANGKOK, 7 November 2013 (NNT) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been touring the eastern provinces in order to establish new means of developing the region.

Prime minister and defense minister Yingluck Shinawatra has presided over a seminar at Rajabhat Rambhai Bhanni University, held to address the problems facing Chanthaburi province - particularly in the sustainable development of tourism, boarder trading, a special business district, and tackling low prices of fruit.

As Chanthaburi is considered a region with high competitive potentials, the government has deemed it necessary to further develop the province to take advantage of long-term business opportunities.

In regard to the country’s fruit market, the eastern provinces stand as an important revenue generator in that aspect - more so in Chonburi, Chanthabrui, and Trad.

Ms. Yingluck affirmed her full support of the development of the eastern provinces, and believed that the 2.2 trillion baht mega project would play a pivotal role in achieving such goals.


-- NNT 2013-11-07

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Narathiwat village head shot dead
By English News



NARATHIWAT, Nov 7 - A village head in this restive southern province was killed in an apparent insurgent shooting attack today, while tyres were burned and apparent decoy bombs were left on the road in nearby Yala province.

The slain man was identified as Abduloh Da-oh, 48, Kok Samu village head.

As he left a local tea shop on his motorcycle in the Narathiwat provincial seat, assailants on a pickup truck loosed a hail of gunfire at him.

The village head was hit three times and was later pronounced dead.

In nearby Yala, Lammai police commissioner Pol Col Thanasit Mattayat inspected the scene on Petchkasem Road in the provincial seat where suspicious boxes were found. Car tyres were also set on fire in the area.

No explosive devices were found in the boxes. Investigators said that four young men, arrived at the location on two motorcycles, burned the tyres and left the boxes in the road.

Two more suspect boxes were later reported on the same road and were collected for investigation by the provincial Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-11-07

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Asoke becomes another protest site
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A number of anti-bill protesters are seen at Asoke Intersection on Thursday.

Organised by a group of democracy-promoting businessmen, the protest is well backed by office workers in the business area as well as the general public.

It was reported that students from Srinakharinwirot University, located nearby, will soon join the group.


-- The Nation 2013-11-07

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Thai Red Cross holding blood drive until Nov 30

BANGKOK, 7 November 2013 (NNT) – The Thai Red Cross Society is holding a blood drive as a tribute to His Holiness the late Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara. The blood drive will be held until November 30.

As Thailand is hit by a shortage of blood supply, the Thai Red Cross is appealing for the donation of blood. The blood drive is being held at the National Blood Centre on Henri Dunant Road from now until 30th of November.

According to the Red Cross, the amount of blood donated last month was lower than the target set because all schools were closed, as many of the blood donation activities often take place in educational institutions.

To ensure that sufficient blood supply is available for those in need, the Red Cross has urged the public to make an appointment for blood donation whenever they can. Those interested can contact the National Blood Centre at 0-2256-4300 or visit the center seven days a week.


-- NNT 2013-11-07

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Updated road closures to avoid during demonstrations



BANGKOK, 7 November 2013 (NNT) - Traffic police commissioner, Pol.Maj.Gen. Jirasan Kaewsaeng-ake has announced the police have closed three main roads surrounding Government House including Phitsanulok Road, outer Ratchadamnoen Avenue and Sri Ayudhya Road under the implementation of the Internal Security Act (ISA).

Urupong intersection and Ratchadamnoen Avenue still remain closed off by demonstrators.

To maintain peace and order, the ISA will cordon off outer Ratchadamnoen Avenue from Makkhawan Bridge to Suan Mistsakawan intersection; Phitsanulok Road from Panich Phra Nakhon institution to Wang Thong intersection; Sri Ayudhya Road from Wat Benjamabophit intersection to First army division intersection.

Other areas still obstructed by current protesters include Rama 6 road from Urupong intersection to Sri Ayudhya intersection, and Middle Ratchadamnoen from Khok Wua intersection to Phan Fah intersection.


-- NNT 2013-11-07

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Bangkok to construct ASEAN Park to signify launch of ASEAN Community

BANGKOK, 7th November 2013 (NNT) - Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra yesterday inspected the progress of public park construction projects in Bangkok.

He visited a park project on Ladprao soi 71 in Wang Thong Lang area and another park at the Krungthep Kri-tha intersection in Bang Kapi area.

MR Sukhumbhand stated that Bangkok has plans to build more public parks in the 2014 fiscal year. The plans include a large park in Soi 69 on Petchkasem Rd on an area of 78 rai. The park will be named “ASEAN Park” scheduled to be opened in January 2015, to mark the realisation of the ASEAN Community in that year.

The ASEAN Park will be the first park of its kind. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will invite the ambassadors of the 9 fellow ASEAN countries to the opening ceremony. Hopefully they will together plant trees that represent respective neighbors.


-- NNT 2013-11-07

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Asian countries cooperating on water management and flood prevention

BANGKOK, 7 November 2013 (NNT) – Representatives from Asian countries have gathered in Bangkok to discuss water management and flood prevention. as they will be keeping eyes on areas surrounding 4 main rivers.

Thailand has played host to a workshop on water management and prevention in South Asia and South East Asia. Speaking after presiding over the opening ceremony, Minister for Agriculture Yukol Limlamthong urged that all countries need to draw up concrete measures to prevent floods, especially in areas around the 4 main rivers: the Mekong, Chao Phraya, Ayeyarwady, and Kongka. According to him, these areas are the world's important bread baskets, as most of the rice consumed around the world come from these areas. However, most of the countries which the 4 main rivers pass through have lately been affected by natural disasters and climate change, which pose a major threat to the world’s food resources. The minister has, therefore, called for more cooperation from all countries in order to prevent natural disasters and stabilize the future of food industry.

According to him, the Thai government has been placing its emphasis on the matter, citing the agricultural zoning idea as one of the solutions. Agricultural zoning is a specialized form of zoning used by communities that seek to preserve their agricultural bases.


-- NNT 2013-11-07

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Buriram readies officials for new season of rice mortgage scheme

BANGKOK, 7 November 2013 (NNT) – Buriram is pushing its officials to speed up for the 2013/2014 rice pledging program, with an aim to keep corruption at bay.

Buriram Governor Thongchai Lue-adul, who is supervising the province’s rice mortgage scheme, has convened a meeting with farmer representatives and rice pledging program staff stationed at 19 rice mortgage spots across the province. The governor went through rules and procedures with them at the meeting in a bid to prevent all possible frauds by both the farmers and the authorities themselves.

Among the 19 rice mortgage stations, 9 of them have already been opened, while the other 10 stations are still awaiting an approval and a contract. Only 5 farmers have so far registered under the program, pledging a total of 45 tons of rice. The reason why there are only a small number of farmers joining the program is that it is still in the harvest season, added the Internal Trade Office of Buriram Province.


-- NNT 2013-11-07

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Consumer confidence at 19-month low

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's consumer confidence in October extended a decline for seven consecutive months, on fears that political instability would pressure the economic growth.

At 76.6 points, the consumer confidence index is at a 19-month low, since April 2012.

Vachira Koonthaweethep, deputy director of the Thai Chamber of Commerce University’s forecasting centre, attributed the fall to the intensifying political instability as well as the Bank of Thailand’s recent downward revision for the 2013 economic growth forecast

-- The Nation 2013-11-07

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Urupong protesters reach Makkhawan Bridge

Protesters from Urupong Intersection reached the Makkhawan Bridge and confronted with police there.

They tried to put through police's lines at the bridge but police, assisted by concrete barriers, maintained their ground.

-- The Nation 2013-11-07

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Thammasat demonstrators try to pass police line to Parliament

BANGKOK: -- Thammasat University lecturers, staffs and students were negotiating with police Thursday afternoon, trying to pass the police lines to parliament.

The Thammasat demonstrators were stopped in front the United Nation office on Rajdamnone.

They went there to declare their intention to support democracy and they started to move on to parliament to submit their letter to a deputy Senate speaker, expressing their stand against the amnesty bill.

-- The Nation 2013-11-07

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THAI bans anti-amnesty protest inside its compound



BANGKOK: -- Thai Airways International (THAI) today issued a statement banning the use of its headquarters on Vibhavadi Rangsit to hold any political activities that could jeopardize its businesses.

The statement was issued after THAI employee union announced to join anti-amnesty bill by persuading all employees to wear black and gather at THAI Headquarters at noon tomorrow.

THAI union’s movement came after the meeting of the Federation of State Enterprise Unions of which THAI union is a member reached a resolution to join the amnesty bill protest with reason that they could not see the country’s plunging into disaster by whitewashing those corrupting the wealth of the country.

But in response to the union’s movement, THAI’s Internal Communication and Information Technology Management Department, issued a statement to ban such planned activity on its compound.

The statement said that since THAI is a state enterprise with a main task of generating revenues as a business operator. Therefore any activities that are involving with politics and expressing of thoughts and activities in all forms is not THAI’s policy. It then ban the use of THAI compound or any of its asset for political activities for the sake of peace and order of the state enterprise.

It also sought cooperation from all THAI employees to observe the order strictly.

But THAI president Sorajak Kasemsuvan denied knowing any issuance of the statement to ban anti-amnesty protest in THAI compound, asking for time to investigate.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/thai-bans-anti-amnesty-protest-inside-compound/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=thai-bans-anti-amnesty-protest-inside-compound

--Thai PBS 2013-11-07

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RT@RichardBarrow: Map showing location of whistle blower rally at Ratchaprasong at 5pm today: maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=2…

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Thammasat demonstrators submit letter to deputy Senate speaker

BANGKOK: -- Thammasat University demonstrators submitted a letter to Deputy Senate Speaker Surachai Liangboonlertchai, calling senators to reject the amnesty bill.

Surachai came to receive the letter in front of the United Nations office on Rajdamnone Road.

Surachai promised to inform senators of the call of the Thammasat community and promised would not let them down.

-- The Nation 2013-11-07

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Thai PM on defensive as disgruntled protesters march on
By English News

BANGKOK, Nov 7 – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra called an urgent security meeting today amid continued protests against the amnesty bill which spread from varsity campuses to business centres in the capital and upcountry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680095-thai-pm-on-defensive-as-disgruntled-protesters-march-on/

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Senate could amend blanket amnesty bill, speaker says
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanich has admitted that the Senate is ready to approve the blanket amnesty bill in principle and then amend it to grant an amnesty only to people who participated in rallies without committing serious crimes.

Nikom said the bill would be amended as proposed by Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban, who is leading the protest on Ratchadamnoen Avenue,

Nikom said on radio station 97.0 that if the Senate voted for the bill in its first reading scheduled for Monday, the bill would then be vetted. He added that he would serve as chair of the vetting committee and the senators on the committees would scrutinise the bill section by section.

"I agreed to amend Section three back to the first draft proposed by Pheu Thai MP Worachai Hema. If all senators agree to do that, we can complete the process within a day. The Prime Minister would forward it to His Majesty the King for royal endorsement. If every party is sincere, we should be able to complete all the processes within November, and bring an end to the political conflicts," he said.

Nikom also rejected Suthep's demand that the Senate should consider the bill as a financial bill and return it to the Prime Minister for endorsement. He said the Senate could not do that because the process must be considered in the House, not the Senate.


-- The Nation 2013-11-07

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Will Thailand Change its Visa Policies for Long Stay Expats?
Posted By Editor In Asia

WILL THAILAND CHANGE ITS VISA POLICIES FOR LONG STAY EXPATS? – At meebal.com we hear a lot of foreign expats berating the Thai Visa system and yet despite the clearly erroneous system of obtaining a visa and maintaining a visa expats continue to choose to live in Thailand.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680089-will-thailand-change-its-visa-policies-for-long-stay-expats/

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UPDATE
Petition to dissolve Democrat Party submitted to EC
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit submitted Thursday a petition to dissolve the Democrat Party, for breaking the laws and using the anti-bill protesters to topple the government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680046-pheu-thai-seeks-dissolution-of-democrat-party/page-2#entry7010954

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Ministry focuses on its goal to turn Thailand into an ICT hub
Jirapan Boonnoon
The Nation

It has drawn up blueprints to give each citizen their own IP address and meet global standards

BANGKOK: -- The Information and Communications Ministry has formulated plans aimed at developing Thailand into a regional ICT hub and providing all Thais with their own personal Internet Protocol (IP) address.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680093-ministry-focuses-on-its-goal-to-turn-thailand-into-an-ict-hub/

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Businessmen to rally at Ratchaprasong
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The anti-corruption network of businessmen will this afternoon hold a rally at Ratchaprasong to blow whistle against the blanket amnesty bill.

The rally, scheduled from 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm, is a gesture of distrust that the government would really back down from the bill, organiser Danai Chanchaochai said on Thursday.

The Ratchaprasong protests are expected to be similar to two previous rallies held on Silom Road.

The network is under the umbrella of the Anti Corruption Organisation of Thailand.


-- The Nation 2013-11-07

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Phuket ATM thieves get away with B1m
Prapaporn Jitmaneeyaphan

PHUKET: -- About one million baht was stolen last night (November 6) by thieves who cut open an ATM at the Siam Commercial Bank branch in Boat Lagoon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680096-phuket-atm-thieves-get-away-with-b1m/

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False alarm over bomb at Phuket school
Phuket Gazette


Police cautiously used a long bamboo stick, complete with a fishing net fixed to the end, to prod the suspect package. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- A cardboard box found at the entrance to Satree Phuket School yesterday morning raised fears among security guards that the package might contain explosives.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680101-false-alarm-over-bomb-at-phuket-school/

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Hundreds of tortoises found in luggage at Thai airport

BANGKOK, November 7, 2013 (AFP) - Thai customs on Thursday said they had discovered over 420 protected tortoises stashed in unclaimed suitcases on a luggage belt in Bangkok's main international airport.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680102-hundreds-of-tortoises-found-in-luggage-at-suvarnabhumi-airport/

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All major protest groups now on Rajdamnoen
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The protesters from the Urupong intersection on Thursday moved their rally to the Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge on Rajdamneon Avenue where they confronted police.

The group of protesters led by the Student and People Network for Thailand Reform moved from the Urupong Intersection at 10.06 am.

They reached the Jor Por Ror Intersection at 11am and moved to the Makkhawan Bridge and confronted the police there.

Nititorn Lamlua, a leader of the group, asked police to move the barriers to the other side of the bridge. After consulting with superiors, the police at the scene agreed to move the barriers at 12.25pm.

The group of the protesters then set up their rally ground in front the bridge.

The Democrat Party moved its rally site from the Samsen railway station to the Democracy Monument on Monday.

Another group of protesters led by the Dharma Army is demonstrating at the Pan Fah Bridge.

Also on Thursday, Thammasat University lecturers, staffs, and students marched to the UN office on the Rajdamnoen Avenue and demonstrated briefly before dispersing.


-- The Nation 2013-11-07

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Govt drops Amnesty bills


Thaksin Shinawatra - no amnesty right now.

BANGKOK: -- The House of Representatives -- the Thai lower house -- this afternoon (November 7) agreed by a vote of 310-1 to withdraw the government's highly controversial amnesty bills.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680106-thai-govt-drops-amnesty-bills/

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Thai PM pleads for end to anti-amnesty protests

BANGKOK, November 7, 2013 (AFP) - Thailand's embattled prime minister appealed Thursday for an end to escalating street protests against a contentious political amnesty, warning that the unrest would scare off foreign investors and tourists.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680095-thai-pm-on-defensive-as-disgruntled-protesters-march-on/?p=7011323

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