Thailand Live Wednesday 20 Nov 2013

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Cabinet nods to financial aid for more victims of 14 Oct uprising

BANGKOK, 20 November 2013 - The Cabinet has approved a monthly payment for protesters of the 14 October 1973 uprising and 20,000-baht compensation for those who have passed away since 2009.

Deputy Government Spokesperson Lt. Sunisa Lertphakhawat said the 1973 uprising victims who had not been compensated before would receive a monthly payment of 7,000 baht for the rest of their lives, with retroactive effect to 12 March 2012. The victims who have died since 2009 while waiting for the Cabinet resolution on the assistance would receive 20,000 baht each as compensation.

The monthly payment and compensation will cost the government 9.41 million baht in the first year and 5.88 million baht in subsequent years.

The financial assistance for the protesters in the 1973 uprising was included in the Cabinet agenda after they asked for justice from the government. The financial aid for them is similar to that given to victims of the May 1992 protest.


-- NNT 2013-11-20

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Anti-Govt Protesters Apprehend 'Redshirts Spy'
By Khaosod Online



BANGKOK: -- Volunteer guards of the anti-government protests at Ratchadamnoen Avenue have apprehended a man who claimed to be a paid agent of the rival pro-government Redshirts.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682905-anti-govt-protesters-apprehend-redshirts-spy/

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Anti-Govt Protests Will Disperse For Royal Celebration
By Khaosod Online

BANGKOK: -- The anti-government protesters have agreed to disperse ahead of the celebration of His Majesty the King′s 86th birthday, according to an official.

Mr. Manit Techa-apichoke, Deputy Permanent Secretary to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), said the authority has planned series of events to mark the auspicious occasion, such as mass candle-lit rally to express the goodwill toward His Majesty the King and merit making ceremony in honour of His Majesty the King.

The ceremonies are expected to take place on both Sanam Luang and Ratchadamnoen Avenue - where the anti-government protesters have been occupying.

He said he has been informed by by Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban, former Democrat MP who is now leading the protests, that the protesters will disperse after their major rally on 24 November.

BMA officials would then proceed to clean and area and decorate the avenue with lights, portraits of His Majesty the King, and flowers, according to Mr. Manit. He estimated that it would take 5-7 days to prepare the venue for the celebration.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNNE5EZzNNek16TVE9PQ==

-- KHAOSOD English 2013-11-20

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Red Shirt lawyer charges Suthep with spearheading unrest
By English News



BANGKOK, Nov 20 – A pro-government lawyer lodged a complaint with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) today, charging former Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban with instigating work stoppages and a tax boycott.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682906-red-shirt-lawyer-charges-suthep-with-spearheading-unrest/

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Tourist police involved with ATM skimming gang sacked
By English News



BANGKOK, Nov 20 - Thailand's Tourism Police have sacked an officer arrested for involvement in a transnational ATM skimming gang.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682907-thai-tourist-police-involved-with-atm-skimming-gang-sacked/

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CONSTITUTION COURT'S RULING
Security in Bangkok tightened
The Nation

Police put in place crowd-control measures as protesters await constitutional court verdict

BANGKOK: -- SECURITY HAS BEEN beefed up in Bangkok as protesters wait to hear the Constitutional Court's ruling on charter amendment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682908-security-in-bangkok-tightened-constitution-courts-ruling/

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POLITICS
Tensions rise before ruling
POLITICAL DESK
THE NATION

Speaker: Court has no right to block amendment

BANGKOK: -- AN ALL-OUT offensive against the Constitutional Court was launched by its opponents yesterday, ahead of today's scheduled ruling on the charter-amendment bill in regard to the selection of senators.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682909-house-speaker-court-has-no-right-to-block-thai-charter-amendment/

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INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC POLICY STUDIES
PM's lack of leadership blamed for political crisis
Anuphan Chantana
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Institute of Public Policy Studies chairman Chai-anan Samudavanija said he attributed the resumption of political turbulence to a lack of leadership on the part of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682910-yinglucks-lack-of-leadership-blamed-for-political-crisis/

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CENSURE DEBATE
Speaker wants more documents for censure motion push
Khanittha Thepphajorn,
Anapat Deechuay
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- HOUSE SPEAKER Somsak Kiatsuranont yesterday demanded more documents from the opposition Democrat Party relating to its impeachment move and graft allegations. He said if he did not receive them by tomorrow afternoon, he would review the situation again before putting it on House agenda.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682909-house-speaker-court-has-no-right-to-block-thai-charter-amendment/

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AFTERMATH
Thais keep up help for Typhoon Haiyan victims
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The Philippines has asked Thailand to suspend for the time being the sending of more medical teams to areas hit by Typhoon Haiyan as the response in workers from many countries is sufficient for now.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682913-thais-keep-up-help-for-typhoon-haiyan-victims/

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STOPPAGE TIME
A nation skating on super-thin ice
Tulsathit Taptim



BANGKOK: -- If finding balance were easy, more tightrope walkers would roam the earth. This truth is so simple it's quickly forgotten. Balance is even trickier in politics, and yet more so in Thailand. Now, do you want to hear the good news? Such uneasy equilibrium might already be here.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682914-a-nation-skating-on-super-thin-ice-thai-opinion/

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EDITORIAL
Don't let the game blur the reality
The Nation

Political charades must not overshadow the significance of "people power"

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682915-dont-let-the-game-blur-the-reality-thai-editorial/

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UPDATE:

Police officer sacked for helping Russian duo
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Tourist Police Division chief Maj-General Apichai Theamart said yesterday that Senior Sgt-Major Nonthapan Saengsuk, 37, had been sacked for allegedly helping two Russian criminals, who are believed to have used fake debit and credit cards to withdraw money. He said a disciplinary probe has also been launched to investigate the officer's superiors.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682907-thai-tourist-police-involved-with-atm-skimming-gang-sacked/#entry7058298

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Thailand ranked 55th in English proficiency
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- In a 60-nation ranking released last week, the Education First Institute put Thailand 55th on the English Proficiency Index.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682916-thailand-ranked-55th-in-english-proficiency-60-nation-ranking/

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Hat Yai braces for floods as heavy rains forecast
Jutarat Tipnumpa
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THE ECONOMIC centre of Thailand's South, Hat Yai, has been warned to prepare for floods this week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682917-hat-yai-braces-for-floods-as-heavy-rains-forecast/

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Constitutional Court's schedule
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Constitutional Court will convene at 9.30am today and each judge will read out their personal verdict on whether amending the charter on senators' election and qualifications violates the charter or not.

Once each judge's verdict is read, they will vote and a final ruling will be read out at 11am.


-- The Nation 2013-11-20

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BURNING ISSUE
ICJ consistent on Cambodian sovereignty over promontory
SUPALAK GANJANAKHUNDEE
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- IT IS ABSOLUTELY wrong to say that the International Court of Justice (ICJ)'s judgement caused Thai territory to be lost to Cambodia, since the court said nothing new last week when it confirmed that Phnom Penh has sovereignty over the whole promontory of Preah Vihear.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682919-icj-consistent-on-cambodian-sovereignty-over-promontory/

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Court lacks authority to rule on Senate amendment, professor warns
Pravit Rojanaphruk,
Anuphan Chantana
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Constitutional Court has no authority to decide on the charter-amendment bill calling for a fully elected Senate, as the matter is now under royal consideration, warned Prof Ukrit Mongkolnavin, former president of Parliament and chairman of the government-appointed independent National Rule of Law Commission (NRLC).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682920-court-lacks-authority-to-rule-on-senate-amendment-professor-warns/

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Bars and Restaurants raided by Banglamung District Chief



PATTAYA: -- On Tuesday Morning a press conference was held at Banglamung City Hall by the District Chief, Khun Sakchai who announced the arrest of 8 people after licensing irregularities were found at four venues situated on Pattaya Third Road in South Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682922-bars-and-restaurants-raided-by-banglamung-district-chief/

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2 dead, 2 injured in multi-vehicle road crash on outskirts of Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- Four vehicles including a coach travelling from Rayong to Chaing Mai were involved in a serious road crash just after daybreak on Tuesday which killed 2 and injured 3 people.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682924-2-dead-2-injured-in-multi-vehicle-road-crash-on-outskirts-of-pattaya/

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London issue travel alert for Thailand

BANGKOK: -- The British government has warned its nationals of the security risks of traveling to Thailand because of the possibility of large protests this week.

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office said there have been a number of political protests in Bangkok and elsewhere in Thailand since the beginning of November. "Further protests could take place with little warning," it advised.


-- The Nation 2013-11-20

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Senate passes loan bill in hush-hush manner

BANGKOK: -- The Senate passed the controversial 2 trillion baht loan bill at 02.30 a.m. today in a hush-hush manner with a vote of 63 to 13, and three abstentions.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682942-thai-senate-passes-loan-bill-in-hush-hush-manner/

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Suthep points his finger to police if he gets killed



BANGKOK: -- Anti-government protest leader Suthep Thuagsuban last night told several thousands of his supporters that if he was assassinated, then it was the work of the police.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682943-suthep-points-his-finger-to-police-if-he-gets-killed/

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'Jatuporn' reaffirms charter rewrite does not aim at abolishing democracy

BANGKOK, 20 Nov 2013, (NNT) - Mr. Jatuporn Prompan, a core member of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), has reaffirmed that the Senate Origin Bill does not aim at abolishing the democratic regime.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682946-jatuporn-reaffirms-charter-rewrite-does-not-aim-at-abolishing-democracy/

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UPDATE:

Cabinet approves new income tax ladder; 30k/month earners see tax halved

BANGKOK, 20 November 2013 (NNT) – The Cabinet has approved a bill that will result in the income tax rate on those earning between 150,000 and 360,000 baht per annum falling to 5%.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682769-individual-income-tax-structure-changed-thailand/#entry7058897

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NSC still worried over attempts to incite violence at rally sites

BANGKOK, 20 November 2013 (NNT) – Interior Minister Charuphong Rueangsuwan has expressed concerns that ongoing protests may interfere with the upcoming December 5 celebrations. Meanwhile the National Security Council, worried over attempts by 3rd parties to incite violence, is monitoring all political rallies.

National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Pharadon Phatthanathabut indicated on Tuesday that officials were closely monitoring and evaluating the rally situations at Ratchadamnoen Avenue, Makkhawan Bridge and Ratchamangkhala Stadium.

Interior Minister Charuphong said he was worried the ongoing rallies by all parties would affect the tourism scene during high season, contributing to losses for the country. He was also concerned the rallies could interfere with the Father’s Day celebrations in early December.

On Tuesday, protesters at Ratchadamnoen Rd. were collecting signatures from those in support of removing the 310 Members of Parliament who earlier passed the amnesty bill to the Senate. On the same day, thousands of United Front for Democracy demonstrators arrived at Ratchamangkhala Stadium in Bangkok to express their support for charter amendment and the Senate’s authority to amend the Constitution.


-- NNT 2013-11-20

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,414.55, gains 2.11 points /MCOT

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Bangkok bus authority makes buses safe to travel for women and girls
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) joins the global effort 'Orange your Journey' to combat sexual harassment against women and girls on its 3,509 public buses, the UN Women announced Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682951-bangkok-bus-authority-makes-buses-safe-to-travel-for-women-and-girls/

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Red Shirts ready to mobilise supporters into city streets
By English News



BANGKOK, Nov 20 – Red Shirt supporters will expand their rally in Bangkok, originally scheduled to end tonight, if the Constitution Court’s ruling today fails to appease them.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682956-red-shirts-ready-to-mobilise-supporters-into-city-streets/

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Thailand to reclaim world's leading rice exporter role next year
By English News



BANGKOK, Nov 20 – Thailand is maintaining its original projection to export seven million tonnes of rice this year and is set to reclaim its previous role as world’s top rice exporter next year, according to the Commerce Ministry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682959-thailand-to-reclaim-worlds-leading-rice-exporter-role-next-year/