Thailand Live Monday 11 Nov 2013

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Princess Ubolratana attends funeral chanting for late Supreme Patriarch

BANGKOK, 11 November 2013 (NNT) - Princess Ubolratana yesterday evening (Nov 10) attended a nightly requiem for the late Supreme Patriarch, Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, whose body has been lying in state at Bovoranives Monastery since his death on October 24, 2013. His Majesty the King has commanded that the funeral rites for the Supreme Patriarch’s remains be held in the ancient court tradition befitting the latter’s honor.

His Majesty has also approved a bigger urn called Phra Koat Kudan Yai (พระโกศกุดั่นใหญ่), replacing the usual Phra Koat Kudan Noi (พระโกศกุดั่นน้อย), to contain the remains of Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, in acknowledgement of His Holiness's contribution to the country. The urn is placed on an elaborately decorated base while a three-tiered white umbrella of state is placed over the urn in accordance with the monk’s precedence.

The setting also consists of three pairs of regalia, monastic rank fans and seal, bowl and other monastic accessories. The picture of His Holiness placed on the altar was taken by His Majesty the King in 1984.

The funeral chanting to mark the 50th day of His Holiness’s passing away has been scheduled for December 11 and 12, 2013. The 100th day merit-making ceremony has been set for January 30 and 31, 2014.


-- NNT 2013-11-11

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POLITICS
Anti-amnesty groups step up rallies in bid to topple PM
POLITICAL DESK
THE NATION



TODAY IS D-Day for Yingluck Shinawatra's government, which is under pressure from all-out resistance to the amnesty bill from various groups. Several anti-amnesty movements will today join forces to hold street marches with the objective not just of killing the amnesty bill, but of over throwing the Yingluck government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680797-anti-amnesty-groups-step-up-rallies-in-bid-to-topple-pm-yingluck/

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PREAH VIHEAR SPAT
Yuthasak confident calm will prevail after temple ruling
SUPALAK GANJANAKHUNDEE
THE NATION
THE HAGUE



BANGKOK: -- DEPUTY DEFENCE MINISTER Yuthasak Sasiprapha yesterday expressed confidence that peace would be maintained following today's announcement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)'s verdict on the Preah Vihear case, saying that whatever the judgement, Thailand and Cambodia would work to solve problems peacefully.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680798-yuthasak-confident-calm-will-prevail-after-preah-vihear-ruling/

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PREAH VIHEAR CONTROVERSY
Classes at over 40 schools in Si Sa Ket called off for ICJ ruling
The Nation



SI SA KET: -- CLASSES AT more than 40 schools on the Si Sa Ket side of the Preah Vihear Temple have been cancelled for two days so that students can stay with their families as the world court delivers its ruling on the territorial dispute with Cambodia today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680798-yuthasak-confident-calm-will-prevail-after-preah-vihear-ruling/#entry7023826

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ANTI-GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGNS
Moves on Monday
The Nation

9am: Protesters of The People's Army Against the Thaksin Regime rallying at Phan Fa Lilat Bridge will march to three undisclosed locations

9am: Four Regions Slum Network will gather at Bang Na intersection to protest against the controversial amnesty bill

10am: The Senate will convene a meeting to vote to reject the amnesty bill

10.30am: The former leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy, Sondhi Limthongkul and Chamlong Srimuang, will hold a press conference at Baan Phra Arthit on the political situation.

Noon: Four groups of newly formed communities, rallying their calls through the social media, will gather at Silom, Asoke, Ratchadaphisek, and Saphan Khwai and Aree areas before marchIng to Rajdamnoen Avenue.

4pm: The International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, will begin reading the verdict on the Preah Vihear dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.

5.30pm: The Businessmen for Democracy Club will call on people nationwide to blow whistles in front of their offices and at major shopping malls

6pm: The Democrat-led rally at the Democracy Monument will announce their next move after the deadline they set for the Pheu Thai-led government to annul the bill expires.

7.30pm: Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will address the nation on the verdict in the Preah Vihear case.


-- The Nation 2013-11-11

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UODATE:
Woman 'confesses' to role in murder of Olympic sharpshooter Jakkrit
The Nation

Says she tried to help slain marksman's mother -in-law with ' abusive' son-in-law

BANGKOK: -- A WOMAN office worker was arrested after she was accused of initiating the high-profile murder of Olympics sharpshooter Jakkrit Panitpatikam last month.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680625-suspected-gunman-in-jakkrit-killing-arrested/#entry7023834

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MEDICAL TOURISM

Singapore, Malaysia tough rivals to Thailand's quest to be medical hub
BAMRUNG AMNATCHAROENRIT
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THAILAND SHOULD prove itself more if it wants to become a regional hub for medical tourism in the long term, competing with arch-rivals Singapore and Malaysia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680799-singapore-malaysia-tough-rivals-to-thailands-quest-to-be-medical-hub/

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Thailand top destination
SIRIVISH TOOMGUM
THE NATION


Japan's Hitachi president Hiroaki Nakanishi

BANGKOK: -- THE ASIAN market is growing rapidly and the region is important for Hitachi's operations, its president Hiroaki Nakanishi said recently.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680800-japans-hitachi-president-thailand-top-destination/

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EDITORIAL
Embrace the day of reckoning with wisdom
The Nation

Reason not raw emotion must guide reactions of people today as furore over amnesty bill, Preah Vihear verdict reaches climax

BANGKOK: -- In Thai history, no major event has taken place on November 11. But today, there could be two - if Thais lose their senses and jointly cause disastrous consequences.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680801-thai-editorial-embrace-the-day-of-reckoning-with-wisdom/

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Google: Trying to answer questions you have not asked yet
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- In an interview at Google's Big Tent Thailand 2013 with Nation Multimedia Group chairman Suthichai Yoon, Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt reveals much about the Internet giant's privacy policy

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680802-google-trying-to-answer-questions-you-have-not-asked-yet/

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REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE
ICJ verdict: Prospects for Thai-Cambodian peace
Kavi Chongkittavorn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Today the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will deliver its verdict in the Preah Vihear/Phra Viharn dispute after more than 30 months of deliberation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680803-icj-verdict-prospects-for-thai-cambodian-peace/

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Gang Beat Tourist Unconscious and Rob Him



A foreign tourist was sitting drinking beer and admiring the scenery on Pattaya beach when he was set upon by a gang. They beat him up until he was unconscious stole his property and fled the scene. The police are now urgently seeking the gang to arrest them and bring them to justice to prevent this from happening again.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680805-foreign-tourist-beaten-unconscious-robbed-by-thai-gang-in-pattaya/

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Burundi police find human skulls at home of Italian

BUJUMBURA, November 10, 2013 (AFP) - Police in Burundi have discovered dozens of human skulls during a search of the home of an Italian expatriate, officials said Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680806-burundi-police-find-human-skulls-at-home-of-italian-export-to-thailand/

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Thai 'Red Shirts' rally ahead of key amnesty debate

BANGKOK, November 11, 2013 (AFP) - Tens of thousands of Thai pro-government "Red Shirts" massed in Bangkok on Sunday, police said, in their first show of force since a wave of opposition protests against a controversial political amnesty bill.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680807-thai-red-shirts-rally-ahead-of-key-amnesty-debate/

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2 Russian Tourists Abused by Drunken Thai Teenage Gang



A drunken Thai teenage gang abused 2 Russian tourists on the Pattaya beach but they were immediately arrested by police. The teenagers claimed that they were attacked by the Russians so they followed them and set about them with chairs in revenge.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680809-two-russian-tourists-abused-by-drunken-thai-teenage-gang/

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Thailand must overcome its obsession with Thaksin Shinawatra
A political circus
By William Pesek

Bloomberg

NEW YORK: -- “Welcome to the Republic of Thaksin.” You won’t see these words displayed in the customs hall when arriving in Thailand, but the Land of Smiles has indeed morphed into the land of Thaksin Shinawatra.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680811-thailand-must-overcome-its-obsession-with-thaksin-shinawatra/

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People's Army protesters begin marching
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The People's Army Against the Thaksin Regime led its protesters to march to an undisclosed location Monday morning.

They started the march from their rally site at Phan fa Lilat bridge at 9 am. Some of them were seen packing their tents.


-- The Nation 2013-11-11

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People's Army protesters head to Defense Ministry
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Protesters led by the People's Army Against the Thaksin Regime were heading to the Defence Ministry, their leaders said.

They passed the Democrat rally ground at the Democracy Monument at 9:10 am.


-- The Nation 2013-11-11

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Opposition Democrats to file no-confidence motion in govt before the parliamentary session ends Nov.28 /The Nation

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People's Army-led protesters to rally at Defence Ministry until ICJ issues ruling
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Leaders of the People's Army against the Thaksin Regime said the protesters would rally in front of the Defence Ministry until the International Court of Justice issues a ruling on the Preah Vihear dispute.

The court is scheduled to start reading the verdict at 4 am.

The leaders said they would issue a statement after the court delivers a ruling.


-- The Nation 2013-11-11

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,383.42, falls 21.61 points /MCOT

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Yingluck losing popularity to Abhisit



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingkuck Shinawatra is now losing her popularity to opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva over her government’s proposing of the much-criticized amnesty bill to the Parliament, according to the latest poll revealed by Bangkok University’s Bangkok Poll.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680824-yingluck-losing-popularity-to-abhisit/

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Senate Speaker reiterates senators will vote to reject Amnesty Bill at 1st reading today, confident House will let bill drop after 180 days as promised /MCOT

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Gen. Sonthi doubts pulling out the amnesty bill would resolve current conflicts



BANGKOK, 11 November 2013 (NNT) - Former coup d’etat leader which ousted the government of Thaksin Shinawatra, and Matubhum Party leader, Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratglin, stated his doubts about current conflicts being resolved merely by the Senate refusing to pass the amnesty bill.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680828-gen-sonthi-doubts-pulling-out-the-amnesty-bill-would-resolve-current-conflicts/

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Inner Bangkok schools closed as rallies spread across capital
By English News

BANGKOK, Nov 11 – Many schools in Bangkok are closed today as protests against the amnesty bill spread across the capital.

The Basic Education Office announced that schools in and adjacent to rally sites, including Satriwithaya, Rajavinit and Benjamabopit, will remain close for students’ safety.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has suspended classes at 11 schools under its supervision while eight schools in Dusit district have been closed since Friday.

The administration of Wat Makut Kasattriyaram School adjacent to the rally site announced that classes will end at 2.30 pm today and all after-class activities will be cancelled.

Rector Chalermchai Bunyaleepan of Srinakharinwirot University said rectors from 27 universities will meet at Chulalongkorn University this morning to find political resolutions given the widespread and escalating protests against the amnesty bill.

He said university rectors would be willing to act as mediators in ending the political dispute to avoid violence in the country.

Metropolitan police estimated that protesters at Democracy Monument on Rajdamnoen Avenue were as many as 17,500 on the weekend while two other rally sites at Pan Fah Bridge and Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge drew 1,400 and 1,300 protesters respectively.

Metropolitan Police spokesman Adul Narongsak called on protesters at Makkawan Rangsan Bridge to refrain from provoking police on duty behind the concrete barriers.

Bangkok protesters planned four rallies in the capital today, one each at Ratchaprasong, Asoke, Rama IX Road and Phahonyothin Road, and march together to Rajdamnoen Avenue to join the demonstration at the Democracy Monument. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-11-11

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Traffic at Cambodian Embassy Closed

BANGKOK: -- The National Police Office today announced the closure to traffic in front of the Embassy of Cambodia on Pracha Uthit road today for fear of protest as the International Court of Justice is to hand down the verdict on the temple road late this afternoon.

Traffic police said the Pracha Uthit road in front of the embassy will be closed for one lane beside the embassy, leaving the other lanes for inbound and outbound traffic. They also advised motorists to avoid using Pracha Uthit road and its vicinities today as traffic is expected to be jammed.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/traffic-cambodian-embassy-closed/

-- Thai PBS 2013-11-11

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UPDATE:

Thida assembles Red-shirts to protect the government



BANGKOK, 11 November 2013 (NNT) - Speaking at the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) rally, core leader Thida Thavornseth accused the anti-amnesty bill protesters, led by the Democrat Party, of attempting to topple the Yingluck Shinawatra administration.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680797-anti-amnesty-groups-step-up-rallies-in-bid-to-topple-pm-yingluck/page-2#entry7024759

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3 adjacent public parks in Chatuchak district will be merged as part of Bangkok governor's policy to expand green areas in Bangkok /The Nation

Current political tension,continuing instability is hurting confidence of foreign tourists,consumers,business sector,Bank of Thailand Gov.Prasarn warned /The Nation

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Three Chatuchak parks to be combined into one
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- In an effort to make Bangkok greener three adjacent public parks in Chatuchak district will be combined to form the largest park in central Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680834-three-chatuchak-parks-to-be-combined-into-one/

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Senate to debate amnesty bill until early Tuesday: Nikom
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Senate will debate on the blanket amnesty bill until 1 or 2 am Tuesday because of the 91 Senators, who had reserved their right to debate their proposed on the bill, want to speak in its first reading, Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanij said Monday.

He said he earlier wanted to end the deliberation within 4 pm Monday but he later reached an agreement with the so-called Group of 40 dissident senators that he would allow senators to debate the bill by spending 10 minutes per person.

"After all, all senators have the same ultimate goal that would kill the bill. So I wish everything is going to be fine," Nikom said.


-- The Nation 2013-11-11