Thailand Live Thursday 28 Nov 2013

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Police deploy reinforcements after protesters began marching

BANGKOK, 27 November 2013 (NNT) - The police have sent reinforcements to deal with anti-government protests although the number of protesters is estimated to be on the decline.

National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Adul Saengsingkaew voiced belief that the protest situation in Bangkok would improve with less people joining in the rallies. He said the police were trying to prevent clashes between the protesters and other groups of people during the protesters' marches to various government offices.

Reinforcements have been deployed on concerns about ill-intentioned groups that might be looking to cause disturbances. The National Police Chief confirmed that the authorities’ operations would be in compliance with the Internal Security Act, with the use of negotiations upheld as the main approach.


-- NNT 2013-11-28

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4-year-old Thai boy gored by pregnant buffalo

BANGKOK: -- A 4-year-old boy was admitted to hospital in Ayutthaya after he was gored underneath his armpits by a pregnant water buffalo.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/684926-4-year-old-thai-boy-gored-by-pregnant-buffalo/

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CENSURE DEBATE
Democrat attacks PM, govt over rice scheme
Hataikarn Treesuwan
The Nation


Warong

Yingluck insists pledging has done good to farmers as MP points to irregularities

BANGKOK: -- Democrat MP Warong Dechgitvigrom yesterday attacked Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her government over alleged corruption in the rice-pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/684927-democrat-attacks-pm-yingluck-govt-over-rice-scheme/

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BURNING ISSUE
Suthep must rethink his failed-state plans
Attayuth Bootsripoom

BANGKOK: -- Today a no-confidence vote is scheduled in a volatile political climate - one that is potentially inflammable because the anti-government protesters are trying to create a situation that would lead Thailand to a political impasse.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/684928-suthep-must-rethink-his-failed-state-plans/

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WORLD AIDS DAY
Time for Thailand to 'stand on its own two feet' in HIV/Aids fight
Chularat Saengpassa
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- PREVIOUSLY LAUDED as a successful country in combating the Aids epidemic, Thailand's attempt to fight HIV/Aids is facing a big challenge as funding support from international agencies continues to drop.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/684929-time-for-thailand-to-stand-on-its-own-two-feet-in-hivaids-fight/

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ANTI-GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGN
Protesters lay siege to more ministries; some officials express support
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- For a third day yesterday, anti-government protesters continued to lay siege to key government offices in order to challenge Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's government and her brother Thaksin's authority.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/684930-protesters-lay-siege-to-more-thai-ministries;-some-officials-express-support/

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RALLY
Cabinet eyes new venues for meeting
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday instructed government offices to prepare contingency plans and fallback workplaces after anti-government protesters overran several ministries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/684931-thai-cabinet-eyes-new-venues-for-meeting/

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EDITORIAL
Twin evils are battling to bring down Thailand
The Nation

The "tyranny" of a parliamentary majority is being used to defend a culture of corruption and political impunity

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/684933-twin-evils-are-battling-to-bring-down-thailand/

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American tourist found dead in waters off Phuket

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/684935-american-tourist-found-dead-in-waters-off-phuket/

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Pattaya Tourist Police conduct checks on 36 Pattaya Pharmacy’s



PATTAYA: -- In conjunction with the Ministry of Health, Pattaya’s Tourist Police conducted checks on 36 Pharmacy’s in the Pattaya area on Wednesday, in search of those selling controlled drugs without the relevant permits.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/684936-pattaya-tourist-police-conduct-checks-on-36-pattaya-pharmacys/

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Teenage woman reports sexual assault by South Pattaya Karaoke Bar Worker



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Thursday a 19 year old woman reported an alleged sexual assault by a South Pattaya Karaoke Bar Worker.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/684937-teenage-woman-reports-sexual-assault-by-south-pattaya-karaoke-bar-worker/

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Ban concerned by Thailand protests

UNITED NATIONS, November 27, 2013 (AFP) - UN leader Ban Ki-moon raised fears Wednesday over attempts by Thailand's opposition to bring down the government through worsening street protests.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/684938-un-leader-ban-ki-moon-concerned-by-thailand-protests/

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Calls for end to stalemate
THE NATION

House Dissolution, PM's resignation, royal charter among solutions offered by experts

BANGKOK: -- CALLS emerged yesterday for all the parties involved in the current round of political conflict to come together and attempt to find a way out for the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/684940-thailand-calls-for-end-to-stalemate/

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Rallies gain momentum
The Nation

Some civil servants join protesters while many others stay home

BANGKOK: -- Anti-government protesters have surrounded provincial halls in the South since Tuesday, calling on civil servants to stop work.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/684941-anti-government-rallies-in-thailand-gain-momentum/

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Countries issuing Thailand travel warnings now rise to 28



BANGKOK: -- The Tourism Authority of Thailand said that five more countries have issued warning to their citizens on travels to Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/684943-countries-issuing-thailand-travel-warnings-now-rise-to-28/

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UDD to stage mass rally this Saturday

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/684944-red-shirts-to-stage-mass-rally-in-bangkok-this-saturday/

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Over 150 policemen fall sick at protest site

BANGKOK: -- Over 150 policemen deployed at Ratchadamnoen Avenue to deal with the protesters have fallen sick.

Most of them were being diagnosed of being sick from high blood pressure, cold and sore throats from being over-exposed to rains and sunlight and skin diseases.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, police erected a five-metre high mesh net along the length of the concrete barrier to prevent missiles and bombs from being thrown at the police by troublemakers or protesters.

Two pingpong bombs were thrown at the barrier in the evening and exploded. There were no injuries however, but a few cars were slightly damaged.

The number of protesters at Ratchadamnoen Avenue dropped substantially Wednesday as many of them had scattered to seize hold of several ministries and the government office complex at Chaeng Wattana.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/150-policemen-fall-sick-protest-site/

-- Thai PBS 2013-11-28

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Ambassador: British travelers consider Thailand a year-round tourist destination

BANGKOK, Thailand - Britain’s Ambassador to Thailand Mark Kent has welcomed news that UK tourists now consider Thailand as a year-round holiday destination.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/684947-ambassador-kent-british-travelers-consider-thailand-a-year-round-tourist-destination/

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Police cars blocked as Suthep sounds alarm
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Anti-government protest leaders on Tuesday night mobilised supporters to gather at the Finance Ministry to protect Suthep Thaugsuban - who resigned as an MP to head the rallies - after he announced that he had heard police were on their way there to arrest him.

Protesters temporarily seized 18 police vehicles at a petrol station in Sam Sen, mistakenly believing they comprised a task force that was on its way to arrest Suthep.

Hundreds of protesters surrounded the vehicles after they stopped to refuel on Rama VI Road. They blocked the officers from leaving the station and let the air out of the cars' tyres.

Pol Lt-Colonel Chaipol Pholyiem, a deputy superintendent at Kaset Wisai Police Station in Roi Et province, explained to the protesters that they were off-duty and on their way to the police station at the Dusit Zoo. The protesters agreed to let them leave.

At around 11pm on Tuesday, the protesters used cars to close off the expressway exit on Rama VI for fear that police would move to attack the rally. The exit was cleared by yesterday morning.


-- The Nation 2013-11-28

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RALLY
Court to consider arrest warrants for SRT leaders
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court will hold a hearing on whether to issue arrest warrants for four leaders of the Students and People's Network for Thailand's Reform (SRT) next Monday.

At the hearing, the court will also listen to their lawyer who is seeking to prevent the issuance of the arrest warrants.

Police are seeking arrest warrants for SRT leaders, which include Nitithorn Lamlua and Uthai Yodmanee, over charges of organising an illegal assembly involving more than 10 people and breaking into a government agency at night.

According to police, they raided the Foreign Ministry and damaged four automatic sliding doors.

Meanwhile, the court issued an arrest warrant for key protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban.

Separately, the Civil Court yesterday refused to issue an injunction ordering protesters occupying the Finance Ministry's compound since Monday to leave.

The court reasoned that it did not have to issue an injunction as requested by the Finance Ministry because the government had already invoked the Internal Security Act.


-- The Nation 2013-11-28

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Joint parliamentary meeting cancelled
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A joint meeting of parliament scheduled for today has been cancelled, government chief whip Amnuay Khlangpha said yesterday.

This will appease the opposition's fears that the government could push for a vote for an amendment to Article 291 of the Constitution in the third reading if the joint meeting were convened.

In addition, Norarut Pimsen, the secretary general of the Senate, has ordered the postponement of the examination to select staff to work as parliamentary officers to an as yet undetermined date and time.

The new schedules will be posted on the Senate's website, www.senate.go.th, on December 13, the announcement said.


-- The Nation 2013-11-28

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Huge crowd shuts down water-plan forum
Suttipong Settharangsee,
Kampanart Khantrakool ,Saichon Srinuanchan
Wattanapon Matcha
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- MORE THAN 10,000 PEOPLE showed up at a public forum on the government's Bt350-billion water-management scheme yesterday to express their opposition, bringing the meeting to a quick end.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/684952-ratchaburi-huge-crowd-shuts-down-water-plan-forum/

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Immigration office at Government complex - protesters nearby

RT @RichardBarrow: Protesters camped the night at Building B in the Chaeng Wattana Govt Complex. Immigration is due to open.

More info and updates: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/684758-bangkok-immigration-avoid-area-today-expect-traffic-jams/

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Italy's Senate expels ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi

ROME: -- The Italian Senate has voted to expel ex-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from parliament with immediate effect over his conviction for tax fraud.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/684971-italys-senate-expels-ex-pm-silvio-berlusconi/

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Concerned by rising political tensions in Bangkok, UN chief calls on all sides to refrain from violence, resolve differences through dialogue /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,376.99, gains 3.88 points /MCOT

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Thai PM easily survives no-confidence vote

BANGKOK, November 28, 2013 (AFP) - Thailand's embattled Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Thursday easily survived a parliamentary no-confidence vote against her, the house speaker said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/684998-thai-pm-yingluck-easily-survives-no-confidence-vote/

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Many THAI staffs expected to join anti-govt protests Nov.28-29 after State Enterprises Labour Relations approved 2-work leave days /The Nation

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Police predict fewer protesters at rally sites
By English News



BANGKOK, Nov 28 – Police continued convincing demonstrators to leave the Finance Ministry but anti-government protesters announced that they would seize three more state buildings today, according to the National Police chief.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/685008-thai-police-predict-fewer-protesters-at-rally-sites/

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Tourism Council of Thailand projects ongoing political unrest to push down tourism by 10% this quarter /The Nation