Thailand Live Monday 2 Dec 2013

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RT @RichardBarrow: 9:42am - RT @georgehenton: More light tear gas as protestors move truck towards barriers. All very restrained for now http://t.co/6rdA78tyCs



RT @RichardBarrow: Clashes with protesters & police near Government House away from tourist areas. Protests last night in Siam were peaceful & they dispersed

RT @RichardBarrow: Only deaths so far were in the Ramkhamhaeng area where not many tourists go. Fighting between Red Shirts & anti protesters. RS now gone home

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RT @RichardBarrow: 9:52am US Ambassador @KristieKenney: Offices are open for business as usual today, December 2, including our services to the public #Bangkok

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Red-shirt bus burnt by angry mobs



BANGKOK: -- A double-decker bus carrying red-shirt supporters of the government was set afire by angry mobs while it was leaving Ramkhamhaeng university.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/685957-red-shirt-bus-burnt-by-angry-bangkok-mobs/

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,358.89, falls 12.24 points /MCOT

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@RichardBarrow: RT @weyjuo: Is there any dress code to avoid if I was visiting #Bangkok? => Just don't go like this & you'll be fine: http://pic.twitter.com/bHSp02eNCG

@gavingough

@RichardBarrow: The pictures of the #Bangkok underwear protester was taken by @gavingoug. More of his great pics here: http://wp.me/p3wUsN-2w0

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US, UK raise rally concerns about rising political tensions

BANGKOK: -- The US and UK embassies in Thailand have expressed concern about rising political tensions and say they are closely following the demonstrations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/685960-us-uk-raise-rally-concerns-about-rising-political-tensions/

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New Year countdown on Khao San Rd could be cancelled if anti-govt protest on Ratchadamnoen Ave continues,Khao San Road Business Association said /The Nation

Baht at Bt32.224,nearly 3-month low,amid ongoing anti-govt protests /The Nation

Anti-government protesters are moving to 3 key government agencies from the Democracy Monument: MPB, Govt House and parliament. /Bangkok Post

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UPDATE:
Media associations condemn freedom threat

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/685903-anti-govt-protests-thai-academics-condemn-demand-to-air-speech/page-2#entry7109869

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Yingluck seen talking to police chief at Royal Thai Police

BANGKOK: -- PrimeMinister Yingluck Shinawatra came to the Royal Thai Police headquarters at 9.50am Monday.

She was seen taking a lift with the national police chief.

She did not give any media interview and her face showed no expression.


-- The Nation 2013-12-02

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RT @RichardBarrow: Photographer @TheLilyfish has some great pics: Anti government protesters attempt to storm Government house #Bangkok http://t.co/7C23iNuaf2

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RT @RichardBarrow: 10:35am RT @NattyB86: Is the Ramkhamhaeng area safe now? => Roads are open & starting to get back to normal. No problem for you #Bangkok

@RichardBarrrow: Some more great pics from the clashes. This time by @photogjack: http://www.jackkurtzphotography.com/#!/index/G0000v6PLrRFiNfA #Bangkok

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Northern rail service reopens today



BANGKOK: -- The northern railway service from Bangkok to Chiang Mai reopens today after more than 75 days of closure for major maintenance.

Chairing the reopening of the rail service on the northern today at Bangkok’s Hua Lampong railway station was the governor of the State Railway of Thailand Mr Parpat Chongsa-nguan.

The northern line was closed for major repair and maintenance on the 263.90 kilometer section from Sila-art railway station to Chiang Mai station.

The SRT spokesperson Nuan-anong Wongchan said the SRT governor would board the train from Hua Lampong to Chiang Mai to test the security of the line before opening to the public late today.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/northern-rail-service-reopens-today/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=northern-rail-service-reopens-today

-- Thai PBS 2013-12-02

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RT @RichardBarrow: RT @madMrFurious: Is it safe to go to Phayathai Hospital today? => All peaceful on the streets of #Bangkok apart from near Government House

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POLITICAL CHAOS
US warns its citizens to avoid rallies

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/685960-us-uk-raise-rally-concerns-about-rising-political-tensions/#entry7110016

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Erawan Center says 55 injured by tear gas

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s emergency medical service unit, the Erawan Center, said today that a total of 55 demonstrartors were injured by tear gas.

It said all the injured were admitted to five hospitals in the capital.

It said the number of demonstrators injured by tear gas was collected from noon yesterday till 11.00 p.m. last night.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/erawan-center-says-55-injured-tear-gas/

-- Thai PBS 2013-12-02

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Senator questions legitimacy of government announcement



BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Senator Rosana Tositrakul today issued an open letter questioning the legitimacy of an announcement last night by the government affirming its legitimacy to rule the country.

Rosana said in her 4th open letter that last night’s announcement by Deputy Prime Minister Pol Gen Pracha Promnok reiterating the legitimacy of the Yingluck government and denying it never issued any statement to reject the ruling of the Constitutional Court regarding the composition of the Senate, was weightless and unacceptable.

Pracha also claimed that the charter amendment bill was not initiated by the government but by the lawmakers themselves. He also claimed that when the bill was rejected by the Senate, and the House of Representatives again did not support it, the bill was then dropped and dead.

The Bangkok Senator discredited Pracha’s claim saying his claim was unacceptable and weightless, reasoning that majority votes in the House of Representatives are all government MPs with the prime minister being the first member of the ruling Pheu Thai party.

Besides, she said, the prime minister herself also voted in favor of the charter amendment bill at the final reading of the House of Representatives.

The prime minister is both an MP and government head, she said, adding that the claim by Gen Pracha last night that the rejection of the Constitutional Court’s ruling was the affairs of the lawmakers, and not the government, is therefore “unacceptable.”

The Bangkok Senator went on saying that the ruling Pheu Thai party Charupong Ruangsuwan and his executive committee’s press conference to openly declare their rejection of the Constitutional Court’s ruling committed all party members, including the prime minister and Gen Pracha who are senior members of the party.

Although Pol Gen Pracha would excuse that the government did not issue any statement or showing any stance to reject the Constitution Court, but Rosana said that the prime minister also never said officially that she would accept the ruling.

However when reporters asked the prime minister on the ruling, she replied that she was asking the Council of State (the legal adviser of the government) to interpret the Constitutional Court’s ruling, Rosana said.

The Bangkok Senator then questioned that this merely showed that the prime minister thought the interpretation of the legal advisor is above the ruling of the Constitutional Court.

She added that all these behaviors of the Yingluck government was sufficient to say that the government has already lost legitimacy to rule the country, and all its announcements were also considered invalid.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/senator-questions-legitimacy-government-announcement/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=senator-questions-legitimacy-government-announcement

-- KHAOSOD English 2013-12-02

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RT @RichardBarrow: RT @madMrFurious: Is it safe to go to Phayathai Hospital today? => All peaceful on the streets of #Bangkok apart from near Government House

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New protest clashes shake Thai capital
by Apilaporn VECHAKIJ

BANGKOK, December 2, 2013 (AFP) - Fresh skirmishes broke out Monday between Thai security forces and opposition demonstrators who have issued an ultimatum for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to quit, a day after the anti-government campaign erupted into deadly violence.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/685968-new-protest-clashes-shake-thai-capital/

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RT @RichardBarrow: 11:09am RT @steviegell: YWCA event at CentralWorld is back on, today and tomorrow #Bangkok

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11:14 Anti-govt protesters march to Govt House, Metropolitan Police HQ, tear gas fired against protesters at Phol 1 Intersection, Chaimai Maruchet Bridge

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Police fire tear gas at protesters near Metropolitan police bureau

Police fired tear gas at anti-government protesters gathering near Metropolitan police bureau on Si Ayutthaya road on Monday.

The protesters were seen covering their face and pouring water on their face and body to clean the chemical. They were trying to force into cement barricades and columns of police set up to protect the bureau.


-- The Nation 2013-12-02

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RT @tulsathit: RT @veen_NT: 9.50am Calm-looking PM Yingluck at national police HQ via @jeerapong_nna: http://t.co/zUAnzSpUXV



RT @fratticcioli: Photojournalist @georgehenton reports protestor hit in his leg by something near Govt House. Protestors say bullet. Unconfirmed.

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RT @tulsathit: Thai Rath: Army chief Prayuth is closely monitoring situation, having ordered soldiers to give medical service to ppl.

RT @tulsathit: RT @Chris_Thomson: Some great drone footage here http://t.co/YSnwedOxlq

RT @veen_NT: Pracha and Surapong make statement on TV. #nbt http://t.co/V50op2klKz

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RT @tulsathit: Bluesky is warming up to Army "assistance". via @PatricLand

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Yingluck appoints Suraong as new CAPO chief

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has appointed Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul to replace Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnog as the chief of the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order.

Pracha made the announcement that he was replaced by Surapong as CAPO chief at a press conference at 11:36 am.


-- The Nation 2013-12-02

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PM chairs security meet at National Police Office

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra chaired a security meeting at the National Police Office this morning to assess the latest protest situation.

The meeting was held under the protection of almost 2,000 police personnel mobilized to guard the National Police Office against intrusion and attempted seizure by anti-Thaksin demonstrators who surrounded the office yesterday until late in the night. The demonstrators dispersed to join their colleagues at other protest sites late last night but vowed to return with more force.

The police still close traffic on the Sukhumvit road from Yaek Rajaprasong to Yaek Chalermpao but open traffic only on the Central World lane.

Reporting the situation to the prime minister at the meeting at 10 .00 a.m. is National Police Chief Pol Gej Adul Saengsingkaew, head of the Center for the Administration of Peace and Order.

The center is also considering the imposition of the emergency law if the protest situation intensifies to the extent that the police could not control the situation.

But the emergency law was earlier dismissed by the National Security Council chief Lt-Gej Paradorn Patthanatabutr who said the situation now as still under control and there was no need for the enforcement of emergency law.

The law will empower the prime minister to call in the military to assist the police to keep control the situation.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-chairs-security-meet-national-police-office/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pm-chairs-security-meet-national-police-office

-- Thai PBS 2013-12-02

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RT @BangkokDan: How many unsuccessful calls for strike and victory does a man have to make before realizing there might be a fundamental strategy problem?

RT @RichardBarrow: Metropolitan Police Bureau where the clashes are taking place is not far from Government House. This is NOT the Police HQ near Central World

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Tear gas fired at demonstrators again this morning



BANGKOK: -- Anti-riot policemen fired tear gas at anti-Thaksin regime demonstrators again this morning to stop them from trying to lay siege to Government House.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/685968-new-protest-clashes-shake-thai-capital/#entry7110337

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Bangkok Immigration this morning

photo: Thaivisa Sponsor Sunbelt Asia

2013-12-2

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BKK-Chiang Mai train derails at Lamphun; SRT governor on train to inspect completion of northern track improvements; no injuries reported /MCOT