Thailand Live Monday 9 Dec 2013

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RT @MimiSawitta: Thai election likely to be on Feb 2 - election official via @Reuters

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RT @veen_NT: UDD has cancelled its big rally on Dec 10 in Ayuttaya, citing that after House dissoluation the power has returned to people. via @can-nw

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UPDATE:

Thai PM calls elections as 140,000 join protest
by Anusak KONGLANG

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/687619-thai-pm-calls-elections-as-100000-join-protests/#entry7138098

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Government House now under siege by protesters

BANGKOK: -- Several tens of thousands of anti-Thai demonstrators have laid siege to Government House with all its entrances and exits now sealed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/687699-thai-government-house-now-under-siege-by-protesters/

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Father, son wounded in Narathiwat roadside bombing
By Digital Content

NARATHIWAT, Dec 9 - A father and his son were wounded in roadside bombing in this southern border province while they were riding a motorcycle to school this morning.

Narthiwat police said the incident occurred at 7.20 am on the Narathiwat-Pattani road in Yi-ngo district's Lahan subdistrict.

Police said a 25 kg homemade bomb was built in a fire extinguisher and hidden at a roadside electrical post and detonated by a radio signal.

Masubuding Bindolah, 40, and his six-year-old son Abdulhakeem were going to school when they were wounded by the explosion.

Before the incident, an army teacher protection unit on patrol had just passed by in a pickup truck.

Mr Masubuding, on his motorcycle with his son, accelerated to overtake the military vehicle and was hit by the bomb.

Both were sent for treatment at a local hospital. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-12-09

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Suthep arrives Government House, to address supporters this evening; police withdrawn from Government House, soldiers remain in place /MCOT

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UDD cancels Red Shirt gathering in Ayutthaya tomorrow; Jatuporn urges Red Shirt supporters not to discourage after House dissolution /MCOT

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Pheu Thai Party praises PM Yingluck for taking bold step to dissolve Parliament /MCOT

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Pheu Thai Party lauds PM decision to dissolve House
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 9 - Thailand's ruling Pheu Thai Party on Monday endorsed the decision of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in dissolving the lower house of parliament, urging anti-government protesters to end their demonstration and asked the Democrat Party to field candidates in the next election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/687702-pheu-thai-party-lauds-pm-decision-to-dissolve-house/

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RT @LilMsEditor: Haha. “@RichardBarrow: 4pm BBC World now saying 150,000 on the streets of #Bangkok. Rally stage still saying BBC said 5 million protesters”

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Thai baht firms up after dissolution announcement.

BANGKOK, 9 Dec 2013, (NNT) - The Thai baht has risen against the US Dollar, quoted at the range of 32.0 - 32.25 baht per dollar, following Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's parliament dissolution announcement this morning.

The Thai baht was traded at 32.32 - 32.33 baht against the dollar last Friday; hiwever, it immediately hit 32.10 baht per dollar mark after the dissolution announcement earlier today.

Monetary experts estimated that the trend would continue throughout the day, citing politics as the main deciding factor. They estimated that the currency would remain within the range of 32.00 - 32.25 baht per dollar today.


-- NNT 2013-12-09

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RT @RichardBarrow: Today, over 150,000 peopl marched peacefully on Government House. But they are not going home as they will sleep there tonight #Bangkok

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EC expects general election within February

BANGKOK, 9 December 2013 (NNT) – Following the dissolution of Parliament, the Election Commission (EC) expects the general election to be held within February 2014.

Mr. Prapan Naigowit, Election Commissioner in charge of election management, stated that the EC was waiting for the issuance of a royal decree approving the holding of a new general election before it could set the actual election date. The statement came after Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's announcement this morning that she had decided to dissolve the House of Representatives.

According to Section 108 of the Constitution, a general election has to be organized within 45-60 days after the dissolution of Parliament. Mr. Prapan also pointed out that the earlier scheduled by-elections in eight constituencies would be canceled.

He said however that the cabinet would have to remain operational until the installment of the next administration, adding that the ministers’ jurisdiction will be limited to crucial duties only. As for the senators, Mr. Prapan said they would be able to remain in their posts until their terms end; however there would be no Senate sessions during the period.

Meanwhile, one of the Election Commissioners, Sodsri Sattayatham, expressed her confidence that the general election would be conducted no later than February 2nd, 2014.


-- NNT 2013-12-09

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Pheu Thai party urges all parties to brace for snap elections



BANGKOK: -- The Pheu Thai party claimed Monday that the House dissolution was intended to avoid violence and urged all parties, including the Democrat party, to brace for the forthcoming snap elections.

Phue Thai party leader Charupong Ruangsuwan said that the party praised Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for her courage and responsibility in dissolving the House in order to find a way out for the current political crisis.

Charupong said that the protesters led by former Democrat MP Suthep Thuagsuban was not peaceful as claimed resulting to several deaths and injuries. The prime minister, he added, didn’t want to see a repeat of the violent protest in 2010 and, therefore, decided to dissolve the House.

He urged the anti-government protesters to end the protests so that government officials can go back to their offices and the roads seized by the protesters can be opened to normal traffic.

The party, said Charupong, has vowed to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pheu-thai-party-urges-parties-brace-snap-elections/

-- Thai PBS 2013-12-09

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SET index closed at 1,367.42, up 5.85; Bt/USD32.02; GBP52.25; AUD28.94; EUR43.75; CAD29.94; HKD4.12; SGD25.46; JPY30.95

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POLITICS
Private sector vows to mediate conflicts
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Seven business organisations proposed a comprehensive reform before Thailand would host a new election, to prevent another crisis.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/687710-thai-private-sector-vows-to-mediate-conflicts/

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POLITICS
Protesters congratulated for "reclaiming country with bare hands"
The Nation


Photo : Pramote Putthaisong

BANGKOK: -- Rally leader Suthep Thaugsuban spent seven hours on Monday leading a march from the Government Complex on Chaeng Wattana Road to the Government House on Phitsanulok Road.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/687711-thai-protesters-congratulated-for-reclaiming-country-with-bare-hands/

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Pheu Thai Party sets Wednesday meeting, expresses readiness for general election, to propose Yingluck as number 1 party listed MP /MCOT

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Tomorrow's public holiday has been canceled on the account of Thailand not having a constitution. [satire]

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Bhumtham says Yingluck has already made full retreat



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has made a full retreat by dissolving the House to return the powers to the people and by making an apology to the people, said Pheu Thai party secretary-general Bhumtham Vecchayachai on Monday.

However, he insisted the prime minister could not resign as demanded by the People Democratic Reform Committee headed by former Democrat MP Suthep Thuagsuban because she had to serve in the office as the acting prime minister as mandated by the Constitution until snap elections are held.

Bhumtham insisted that House dissolution was the best way out for the current political crisis which could be done constitutionally. “This is not a win or a loss. If it is a loss for us, we can accept it if it will bring peace to the country. We are not afraid to be a loser because win or lose will be determined at the ballot box,” he said.

Asked about the possibility that the Democrat party may boycott the snap elections, he said it would be unreasonable for any party to boycott the elections. He asked what reasons that the Democrats have to justify for the boycott now that the powers have been returned to the people.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/bhumtham-says-yingluck-already-made-full-retreat/

-- Thai PBS 2013-12-09

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Red Shirts urge Yingluck to stay on as caretaker PM
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 9 - The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), Thailand's Red Shirt movement, today asked Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra not to back down as anti-government protesters demand that she step down as caretaker prime minister.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/687715-red-shirts-urge-yingluck-to-stay-on-as-caretaker-pm/

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Some stats: Since 1957, Thai cabinet has resigned 9 times, House dissolved 11 times, failed in censure debate once, Coup 7 times & completed term once.

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Thai Law Council questions the legitimacy of House dissolution



BANGKOK: -- The Thai Law Council has questioned the constitutionality of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s announcement of House dissolution on Monday.

The council pointed out that the prime minister’s announcement of House dissolution through the media was unclear and incomplete.

Citing Article 108 (paragraph one) of the Constitution, the Council said that dissolving the House is the prerogative of His Majesty the King. And according to the same article (paragraph two), it said that House dissolution can be done by means of a Royal decree which must specify the exact date of the general election which must be held within 45-60 days as from the date that the House was dissolved.

The Council said that the prime minister’s announcement might be a deception and it demanded the prime minister to make it right in accordance with the charter.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/thai-law-council-questions-legitimacy-house-dissolution/

-- Thai PBS 2013-12-09

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RT @RichardBarrow: Drone shot looking down on protesters at Govt House -RT @Chu_SpringNews: http://t.co/fVUleZmUKI #Bangkok

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Army urges all to find peaceful solution

BANGKOK, 9 December 2013 (NNT) - Deputy Spokesperson of the Royal Thai Army Colonel Winthai Suwaree has affirmed the Army’s readiness to maintain peace and safety for all Thai citizens, regardless of their political preferences.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/687682-thai-army-sees-easing-of-tensions-following-dissolution/#entry7139773

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RT @qandrew: I believe Suthep has broken world record for protest victory days:

1st 31 Oct

2nd 11 Nov

3rd 24 Nov

4th 1 Dec

5th 10 Dec

Via @Pornchokchai

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RT @Tulip_Oum: Sutep is about to make statement. #BlueSky

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RT @RichardBarrow: 5:45pm Still large number of protesters at Victory Monument (Pic @kowit_js) http://t.co/YTGvc4VjeI #Bangkok

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RT @Saksith: 17.50h: Protest leader Suthep relishing himself in the self-proclaimed winners circle - again! http://t.co/RtrXTJgeXk

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RT @tulsathit: 5.45 pm @ Royal Plaza. They call this a "minor" rally site, probably to intimidate Yingluck. RT @tanatpong_nna: http://t.co/gKmyqpzjeR