Thailand Live Friday 6 Dec 2013

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POLITICAL TURMOIL
Campaign to help animals hurt by tear gas launched


Foremost (left) and Dang

BANGKOK: -- A campaign has been launched to survey how many animals were affected by the tear gas fired by police at the antigovernment protesters last week.

KHA_Ti wrote in a twitter message that a survey would be carried out at the Nang Lerng intersection on Saturday to find out how many animals had affected by the tear gas.

"Anyone wanting to join the survey should meet at Nang Lerng intersection at 10am," she wrote.

It is so far known that the eyes of dogs, Foremost and Dang, were damaged by the tear gas. Funds have been raised to help Foremost who, according to vets, could become blind as a result of the gas. Her owner, a vendor, does not have the money for her treatment.

Dang, a dog at Benjamabhopit Temple near the site of attack, is suffering from red and sore eyes as a result of the tear gas.

Nang Lerng was the centre of the confrontation between the protesters and police. During two days of attacks, nearly 100 tear gas canisters were fired at the protesters. Some grabbed the canisters and threw them back at the police.


-- The Nation 2013-12-06

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Democrat Party will not field candidates in Dec 22 by-elections in 8 constituencies vacated by resignations of its 8 MPs to fully take part in protests /MCOT

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RT @RichardBarrow: RT @PBBlomquist: Avoidance of Nana Plaza is for reasons other than protests, surely... => Yes, sorry, I was just having a bit of fun :-)

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Phuket Employment Office re-opens to process work permits
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- The Phuket Provincial Employment Office (PPEO), which processes work permits for foreigners, quietly reopened today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/687086-phuket-employment-office-re-opens-to-process-work-permits/

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Lampang gears up for big temperature drop

LAMPANG, 6 December 2013 (NNT) - Wintry conditions are set to linger in the northern province of Lampang as the average temperature has dropped to as low as 12 degrees Celsius.

The local weather unit said a cold spell has been gripping the province since December 2. The temperature on mountain tops is expected to sink to below 9 degrees Celsius.

Residents in 13 mountainous districts have been warned to prepare for a cold snap as another high-pressure cell from China is slated to cover the upper parts of Thailand during December 6-8.

Commuters driving past the mountainous areas are advised to brace for poor visibility during the morning hours due to thick fog.

The Lampang provincial administration has joined hands with local charities to provide winter gear and other necessities to hundreds of low-income earners and hill tribes villagers in Wang Nuea district, which is situated at high altitude.


-- NNT 2013-12-06

[Lite Beer]

Narathiwat declares flood-hit six districts disaster zones
By English News

NARATHIWAT, Dec 6 - Six districts of this restive southern border province were declared disaster zones today in order to speed up relief operations, while other southern provinces remained flooded as heavy rain continued.

The six Narathiwat districts were Sungai Kolok, Rangae, Chanae, Wang, Ruso and Joh Airong which were flooded as three rivers -- the Saiburi, the Bangnara and the Sungai Kolok -- overfowed their banks due to incessant heavy downpours, combined with forest runoff from Sankalakhiri mountain range.

About 19,000 residents have been affected, while 22 roads and four bridges have been damaged.

Some 240 people of Sungai Kolok district evacuated to temporary shelters in four schools.

In Trang, about 1,000 households in three districts -- the provincial seat, Huai Yot and Kantang -- were flooded. Flood prevention dykes along Trang River collapsed due to the torrential waterflow. The authorities could not yet repair the 100-metres of broken dykes as rain continued.

It is expected to take 2-3 weeks until the flood recedes and repairs could start.

In Phatthalung, ten schools were temporarily closed due to flooding after a 3-day heavy rainfall which now affects 11 districts.

Floodwater in Songkhla Municipality however receded and roads are now accessible for commuters.

The provincial disaster response office installed pumps in 11 locations to drain water into Songkhla Lake.

The authorities placed green flags at main canals in Hat Yai district meaning that they are "safe" but Songkhla governor Krisada Boonrat asked concerned agencies to keep a close watch on the water situation as it is still monsoon season.

The Meteorological Department today reported that the low pressure over the Malacca Straits is moving westward far away from the South of Thailand. Decreasing rainfall is likely in the South.

The rather strong northeast monsoon still prevails over the Gulf of Thailand and the country's South causing 2-3 metre high waves in the Gulf. All ships should proceed with caution and small boats in the Gulf of Thailand from Nakhon Si Thammarat downward must stay ashore today and tomorrow. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-12-06

[Lite Beer]

RT@Aim_NT: Suthep thanked people who came to the rally site to well wish HM the King last night.

RT@Aim_NT: More importantly, they have vowed last night to be good and honest citizens who will contribute to the country: Suthep said.

RT@Aim_NT: Many people asked constantly what we are doing and what's next: Suthep.

RT@Aim_NT: Suthep said the protesters are disadvantaged in using the media to clarify, compared with the pro-govt camp.

[Lite Beer]

RT@Aim_NT: If we succeed in what we do, what will we do with Thailand? Govt's been insulting us saying we are getting out of mind: Suthep

RT@Aim_NT: Article 3 of the Constitution says the ruling power belongs to the people of Thailand: Suthep.

RT@Aim_NT: But Thailand has the monarchy. The HM King is revered so the people gave the sovereign power for him to use via 3 institutions: Suthep

[Lite Beer]

RT@Aim_NT: The 3 institutions are the govt, the Parliament and the court: Suthep.

[Lite Beer]

RT@Aim_NT: Good Parliament and govt will use the power that ppl gave to the King honestly under the rule of law: Suthep.

RT@Aim_NT: But Yingluck's govt and Parliament under Somsak did not use the power for the sake of the ppl. They abuse the power: Suthep.

RT@Aim_NT: They claimed the majority to change the Constitution to monopolise the power and help the brother to get absolute power in Thailand: Suthep.

[Lite Beer]

RT@Aim_NT: They did all the wrong things, submit different documents from the original one. When they voted in Parliament, they cheated: Suthep.

RT@Aim_NT: When they change the law, they did it to whitewash the brother who was convicted by court: Suthep. This is clearly against the rule of law.

[Lite Beer]

RT@Aim_NT: We did not say by ourselves that the charter change was unlawful, the Constitutional Court did, saying it was wrong in every step: Suthep.

RT@Aim_NT: They rejected the ruling of the Constitutional Court, although d charter says the cons court's ruling has binding effect on all agencies: ST

RT@Aim_NT: Parliamentarians rejected court power. Therefore, the Parliament became ineligible. We can say there's no Parliament right now: Suthep.

[Lite Beer]

RT@Aim_NT: The govt is the puppet govt. it claimed the people's votes but let an outsider decides on country administration: Suthep.

[Lite Beer]

RT@Aim_NT: Yingluck govt is masterminded by Thaksin Shinawatra, a fugitive living in exile from abroad: Suthep.

[Lite Beer]

RT@Tulip_Oum: Sutep: there's no any constitution that would let exiled convict dictate the government.

RT@Aim_NT: The govt let Thaksin decides, clearly announced party's policies were "Thaksin thinks, Pheu Thai does", Suthep said.

RT@Aim_NT: The metro police chief also said he came this far thanks to the brother (Thaksin): Suthep. The govt then now is invalid.

RT@Aim_NT: the people then now are saying, "Stop using my power. I am taking my power back." That's why they stood up to reclaim the power: Suthep.

[Lite Beer]

RT@Aim_NT: To be straight, Thailand has no government, no Parliament right now: Suthep.

[Lite Beer]

RT@Aim_NT: Yingluck's statement that the protesters' proposal was based on no law was not true, Suthep said and referred to Article 3.

RT@Aim_NT: Then Suthep went on to claiming Article 7 that says that in case there is no provision on an issue, refer to democratic norms.

RT@Aim_NT: Suthep said the people, the owner of the power, then can decide what to do to protect their freedom, rights and for sake of the country

[Lite Beer]

RT@Aim_NT: When the legislative and administrative branches have died from the laws, it is the right of the people to set up new ones: Suthep

RT@Aim_NT: The charter says a PM must be an MP. Now there is no Parliament, no MPs, then a PM can be appointed from an outsider: Suthep.

[Lite Beer]

RT@Aim_NT: This (political fight) is about the people and Thaksin Regime. Nothing to do with the military. It is up to us, not the military: ST.

RT@Aim_NT: It is clear that the military is not against the people: Suthep.

[Lite Beer]

RT@Aim_NT:If the fight were done with weapons, it would have ended and we would have seen the result within 3 days or even 3 hours. That's easy: ST.

RT@Aim_NT: But this time the people have no weapons, they need strong mind and patience: Suthep.

[Lite Beer]

RT@Aim_NT: Since we started fighting, we've never used violence. We might have violated the laws, that's only small like traffic laws: Suthep.

RT@Aim_NT: We occupied govt agencies, venues, as it was necessary. Nobody has such a big house to accommodate such many protesters: Suthep.

RT@Tulip_Oum: Sutep said he'll turn himself in once he's done with what he's doing now (the demonstration).

[Lite Beer]

RT@Aim_NT: Yingluck govt's police used tear gas against us and used it up: Suthep.

RT@Aim_NT: Suthep said that when he was a DPM he allowed only hand-thrown tear gas and prohibited use of tear gas fired by firing machine.

[Lite Beer]

RT@Aim_NT: The police fired tear gas from the gun this time: Suthep. He referred to a severe case occurred on Monday (Dec 2)

RT@Aim_NT: Suthep said a new lot of tear gas has been imported. It will be powder type this time. It will cause pain when mixed with water.

[Lite Beer]

Democrats say no to by-elections

BANGKOK: -- The Democrat party has decided not to contest the by-elections to be held in eight constituencies to fill up the seats left vacant by the resignation of its MPs to join the anti-government protests.
Registration of the candidacy ended on Friday.

Election commissioner Praphan Naikowit said he was yet to receive reports from his officials about whether any parties have fielded their candidates for the by-elections or not. If no candidates have show up, the Election Commission may extend the candidacy registration for a couple of days, he added.

In case only one party has fielded candidates to contest the by-elections, the individual candidates must receive at least 20 percent of the number of eligible voters in each respective constituency in order to be qualified as the winners.

If after the extension of the period for candidacy registration, still no candidates show up, then the by-elections will have to be called off, said Mr Praphan, adding that this scenario has never happened before.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/democrats-say-elections/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=democrats-say-elections

--Thai PBS 2013-12-06

[Lite Beer]

RT@Aim_NT: Today the govt has announced calli g for volunteeres to help handle the protesters. It is bringing the red shirts & black shirts in: Suthep


RT@Aim_NT: The PDRC (Suthep's group) has decided it wouldn't let the elderly protesters face tear gas like that: Suthep.

RT@Aim_NT: Only enormous number of protesters can win: Suthep.

[Lite Beer]

Suspected bones in burned out bus now identified by police

Hua Mark police have now identified the suspected bones found inside the burned-out bus on Ramkhamhaeng to belong to a 19-year-old teenager.

Police investigators said DNA test of the bones left in the bus torched during the violent clash between students and red-shirt guards on Ramkhamhaeng road last week have confirmed to be human bones.

They said a woman has come to the police to report the missing of her son on the night of the violence and suspected the bones to belong to her son Suradej Kampaengchan. She also told the police that the iPhone and belt buckle belonged to her son. DNA test on her has matched with that of the bones

Witnesses told the police that Suradej went into the bus with intent to cut its seats and smashed the window. However he could not run out of the bus which was torched because the rear door was locked. His bones were left at the toilet.

Police said Suradej was persuaded to join in the attack on the bus.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/suspected-bones-burned-bus-now-identified-police/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=suspected-bones-burned-bus-now-identified-police

--Thai PBS 2013-12-06

[Lite Beer]

RT@Aim_NT: A million ppl came joining in the protest on November 24. But the govt still stays put claiming 15 million ppl voted for it: Suthep

RT@Aim_NT: We (the PDRC leaders) have announced we would fight like this only once and would not quit: Suthep.

RT@Aim_NT: But with only this number of protesters, some people would get hurt by the govt. I don't fear the danger, I will sacrifice my life: Suthep.

[Lite Beer]

RT@Aim_NT: On Monday 9 December, this must end: Suthep 9.40pm 6 December 2013

[Lite Beer]

RT@Aim_NT: No point 2 prolong d fight until 2014: Suthep. Govt also knows this so it buys time, asked for negotiation,wait for the mob to die down: ST.

RT@Tulip_Oum: Sutep: Dead or alive, win or lose... We'll know this Monday December 9th.

RT@Aim_NT: "Let's make it clear how it's gonna end, on Monday 9 December!," Suthep announced. 9.43pm 6 December 2013.