Thailand Live Sunday 24 Nov 2013

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Police fear violence today
The Sunday Nation

clashes expected as thousands of reds, anti-govt protesters set to join rallies

BANGKOK: -- Clashes are expected today as thousands of government supporters and protesters convene in Bangkok for rival gatherings, as former Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban announced yesterday that different groups were getting together to "root out the Thaksin regime".

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683829-police-fear-violence-today/

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UPDATE:

Ignore 'unconstitutional' ruling, Nitirat lawyers say
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Nitirat Group yesterday warned against anarchy, if some politicians choose to ratify the Constitutional Court's "unconstitutional" ruling on changing the charter.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683791-ruling-paves-way-for-constitutional-state-nitirat-group/

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Floods ravage key towns in the South
The Sunday Nation

Strong waves lash boats anchored near a beach on Phi Phi island in Krabi yesterday. More than 20 boats were sunk.

Songkhla, Chumphon among areas hit; 23 hurt as bus overturns in Surat Thani

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683831-floods-ravage-key-towns-in-the-south/

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Military official crushes rumor of Gen Prem's illnesss

BANGKOK, 23 November 2013 – Pol Lt-Gen Pisnu ends rumors of Gen. Prem’s severe illness saying the general is in perfect health and resting at his Si Sao Tewes residence. He believes these rumors were intended to create commotion and confusion.

A military affairs reporter from the Bangkok Post had posted a story on the newspaper’s facebook page citing an interview with Pol Lt-Gen Pisnu Buddhawongse, who is close to Privy Council president and statesman Prem Tinsulanonda. Pol Lt-Gen Pisnu assures that Gen Prem is in 100% health and not severely ill with lung infections following a surgery three months ago.

Pol Lt-Gen Pisnu said that there have been repeated attempts to spur such rumors in the past and believes these are efforts to create turmoil.

Gen Prem is currently at his Si Sao Tewes residence.

-- NNT 2013-11-23

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Political turmoil will hit the economy badly, business sector warns
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Some businessmen foresee the dissolution of the House of Representatives or a government change. Though this means political vacuum, it should end a prolonged political turmoil that will only hinder Thailand's economic growth and destroy consumer spending.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683834-political-turmoil-will-hit-the-economy-badly-business-sector-warns/

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'Cut in tax rate is not meant to help the rich'
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Finance Ministry anticipates that its plans to restructure the income tax rate will reduce government revenue by Bt27 billion a year. However, the move is also expected to stimulate spending and boost value-added tax by up to Bt10 billion per annum.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683835-cut-in-tax-rate-is-not-meant-to-help-the-rich/

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Four soldiers injured by bomb near mosque
The Sunday Nation

Officials examine the scene of an explosion outside a mosque in Songkhla yesterday, which left four soldiers injured.

Four soldiers were injured, one of them seriously, yesterday when a home-made bomb exploded just outside a mosque in Thepha district in Songkhla.

Private Ratanachok Wattana was seriously wounded by the blast. The other victims were also Army privates.

The four soldiers, who were providing security at a nearby weekly market, were from Songkhla's special forces unit.

They were deployed at the market to provide protection for shoppers and vendors working there. The explosion sent buyers and vendors running for cover.

Two men aged between 18 and 24 were suspected to have planted the improvised bomb against the mosque's perimeter fence. Witnesses said the two arrived at the scene on a motorcycle with no licence plate and were seen leaving a box by the fence.

According to an initial investigation, the five-kilogram bomb built into the plastic box was left next to a garbage bin near the mosque and then triggered via a mobile phone signal. The location of the bomb was in an area where soldiers normally take their breaks.

Another bomb was also planted near a Buddhist temple in the district, but it was defused by a local bomb disposal team.

-- The Nation 2013-11-24

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More info sought on missing Karen
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Surapong Kong-janteuk, chairman of the Lawyers Council of Thailand's human rights subcommittee on ethnic minorities, the stateless, migrant workers and the displaced, led a team to Suan Phung in Ratchaburi yesterday to investigate the disappearance of 55 Karen men taken into custody by Thai officials more than a decade ago.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683836-more-info-sought-on-missing-karen/

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UPDATE:

Tourist's condition 'worrying'
The Nation

A doctor said the condition of an Italian tourist assaulted by two teens in Pranburi in Prachuap Khiri Khan on Thursday, was still a worry, so he would remain in hospital for another two or three days.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683502-italian-tourist-beaten-by-two-thai-teenagers/page-3?p=7073936#entry7073936

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Huge drug hauls in Chiang Mai, Tak
The Nation

CHIANG MAI: -- The police drug suppression team announced yesterday they had seized 480,000 yaba pills and 2 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine or "ice" in two separate cases.

In the first, police arrested five men and a woman with 400,000 yaba pills, three cars and six cellphones at 1am on Friday in Chiang Mai. In the second, a woman and a man in their 20s were arrested with 88,000 yaba pills and 2kg of "ice" in Tak's Muang district on Wednesday

-- The Nation 2013-11-24

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Bid to stop escalation of violence
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Peace advocates and concerned citizens held an emergency meeting at Chulalongkorn University on Thursday in the hope of preventing yet more bloodshed or another military coup, following the escalation of political tension.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683838-bid-to-stop-escalation-of-violence/

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PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
Living up to his convictions
Hataikarn Treesuwan
The Sunday Nation

Members of Suthep

BANGKOK: -- Leader of the anti-government protests Suthep Thaugsuban talks about the need to "reveal the truth"

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683839-living-up-to-his-convictions-suthep-thaugsuban/

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-- The Nation 2013-11-24

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Phuket Opinion: Being connected helps save lives
Phuket Gazette -

The world helped Phuket, now time for Phuket to do its part for the Philippines. Image: Gazette Graphics

PHUKET: We offer our sincerest condolences to the families of the many victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan that hit the Philippines last week, and commend the multiple relief efforts still underway here in Phuket to help residents on the islands of Samar and Leyte, the most badly affected areas.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683842-phuket-opinion-being-connected-helps-save-lives/

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RT@AP: BREAKING: French foreign minister: Iran, 6 world powers reach deal on Iranian nuclear program

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Forest run-off drenches Phra Borommathat Chaiya temple in Surat Thani; 21 districts of Nakhon Si Thammarat submerged /MCOT

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RT‏@RichardBarrow: Opening ceremony for the monkey party in Lopburi pic.twitter.com/5PXtiUWIVY

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Protesters from provinces, Bangkok turn up at Ratchadamnoen Sunday morning

BANGKOK: -- The rally site on the Ratchadamnoen Road became bustling when many protesters from provinces and Bangkok reached the Democracy Monument since 6 am.

Protest leader and former Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban has announced he would organise a one-million-protester rally Sunday to "evict" the Thaksin regime.

The demonstrators gave alms to monks at 6:30 am. The alms giving was joined by Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and 8 other Democrat MPs.

-- The Nation 2013-11-24

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Lampang City halts activities at movie set that burned down on Wednesday

LAMPANG, 23 November 2013 (NNT) – Lampang City authorities have ordered a suspension of activities at a 3-storey shop house that was engulfed in flames while being used as a movie set for a Hollywood film, after finding that the structure had been compromised.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683894-lampang-city-halts-activities-at-movie-set-that-burned-down-on-wednesday/

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Lese majeste charges to be pressed against those posting messages defaming monarchy

BANGKOK, 24 Nov 2013 (NNT) – The government has asserted those who post any messages defaming the monarchy will be charged with lese majeste, while urging all sides not to link monarchy with politics.

Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnok, along with Information and Communications Technology Minister Anudith Nakornthap, said those who posted messages or pictures deemed to have insulted the monarchy would be charged with lese majeste.

Mr. Pracha said the current political deadlock should be sorted out by politicians, while calling for all sides not to mention or link monarchy to politics.

As the imposition of the Internal Security Act (ISA) will end on November 30th, the deputy prime minister said he would assess the protest situation carefully and decide whether or not the ISA should be extended.

Meanwhile, Mr. Anudith said the government has been doing its best in cracking down on those insulting the monarchy. He also urged the people who come across any pictures or messages that could violate the lese majeste law to call 1212 twenty-four hours a day.

-- NNT 2013-11-24

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UPDATE:

Scores of race boats, fishing boats and speedboats wrecked by storm in Phuket

PHUKET, 23 November 2013 (NNT) – Strong winds and waves lashed Thailand's west coast damaging scores of sailboats that were to be raced in next week's Phuket King's Cup Regatta and sunk many more fishing boats and speedboats on Saturday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683692-port-closed-yachts-beached-as-storm-lashes-phuket/#entry7074787

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UPDATE:

Deputy Governor reports on flooding in Surat Thani Province

SURAT THANI, 23 November 2013 (NNT) - Surat Thani Deputy Governor Wongsiri Promchana reported that continual heavy rain has caused flooding in low lying areas in 13 districts, 14 sub-districts, and 77 villages, affecting 1,959 households and 8,200 people.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683683-southern-thai-provinces-under-water/#entry7074893

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Nakhon Ratchasima protesters head to BKK

Pro- and anti-government protesters from Nakhon Ratchasima are heading to Bangkok on Sunday.

The anti-government group is boarding 12 buses. Led by Supot Phiriyakiatkul, they are heading to Rajdamneon Avenue.

It was reported that the pro-government group prepares 25 buses and 20 vans for supporters. Led by Sompodh Prasartthai, they are heading to Rajamangala Stadium

-- The Nation 2013-11-24

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Heavy rain causes flood in Prachuab Khiri Khan

Prachuab Khiri Khan's Muang district is flooded Sunday morning as a result of heavy rainfall continuing for a day and a half.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683910-heavy-rain-causes-flood-in-prachuab-khiri-khan/

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10,000 protesters from Chiang Mai expected

A number of 200 buses are ready to take pro-government supporters from Chiang Mai to Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.

Kritsana Prombuengram, the leader of "Lanna Group 51" that represents 8 northern provinces, said 100 buses will leave Sunday and the rest on Monday. He expects at least 10,000 supporters.

"We heard that the anti-government groups would move towards government centres, we have to join the protection forces," he said

-- The Nation 2013-11-24

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2,000 protesters from Chon Buri expected

Anti-government protesters in Chon Buri have filled up 30 vans, heading to Rajdamnoen Avenue.

Kantaphon Sukhumalin, their leader, expected over 2,000 supporters. He said the "Thaksin regime" leads to a higher cost of living

-- The Nation 2013-11-24

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POLITICS
Pheu Thai MPs to convene on Monday
The Nation November 24, 2013 1:21 pm

Prompong Nopparit

BANGKOK: -- As pro- and anti-government protesters are heading to Bangkok, Pheu Thai Party's MPs will convene on Monday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683911-pheu-thai-mps-to-convene-on-monday/

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Suvarnabhumi Airport: Air travellers have been warned to expect heavy road traffic and a lack of taxis resulting from the political protests in Bangkok.

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Thai capital tense as political rivals rally

BANGKOK, November 24, 2013 (AFP) - Tens of thousands of anti-government demonstrators massed in Bangkok on Sunday, with a major rival rally due later as Thailand faces its most significant political street action since bloody protests in 2010.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683829-police-fear-violence-today/page-3?p=7075174#entry7075174

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RT@MimiSawitta: I asked students in the deep south what they thought of Thailand's divisions. Their reply? "That's Bangkok. We have our own problems here."