Thailand Live Thursday 12 Dec 2013

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Mass transport ticketing pool underway
By English News



BANGKOK, Dec 12 – Several state-run mass transport agencies will discuss a joint ticketing system to serve at least six million commuters in Bangkok daily, according to the Transport Ministry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688410-bangkok-mass-transport-ticketing-pool-underway/

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Depressed by ill health, Phuket Swede commits suicide
Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- A Swedish man was found dead in bed yesterday afternoon (December 11) with his throat cut. Police have declared the death a suicide.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688411-depressed-by-ill-health-phuket-swede-commits-suicide/

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,363.32, down 6.03 points /MCOT

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Thailand negotiates GSP extension with Canada

BANGKOK, 12 Dec 2013 (NNT) - Thailand is asking Canada for the extension of its Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) privilege.

Acting Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan revealed that he had met with Canada's International Trade Minister Edward Fast, during the World Trade Organization's ministerial meeting in Indonesia at the beginning of this month.

Their discussion was centered on the formation of the Free Trade Agreement between the two nations. Mr. Niwatthamrong stated that at the moment the Thai-Canadian FTA framework was awaiting an approval from the Thai Parliament, and he expected the draft to be put on House agenda at the beginning of next year.

However, as the GSP privileges provided by Canada would expire on January 2015, Mr. Niwatthamrong said Thailand was asking Canada to consider extending the GSP enforcement pending the promulgation of their FTA.

Canada, on this occasion, inquired about Thailand’s ban on its pork earlier found contaminated with Ractopamine. The acting Commerce Minister said he informed the Canadian counterpart that the measure imposed was simply a standard consumer protection protocol against potential deadly substance that may post threats to the well-being of Thai citizens. He nonetheless said that Thailand was looking into the matter and would soon be able to give Canada a definite response.


-- NNT 2013-12-12

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Weather Advisory No. 4 (407/2013) Subject: Westerly Trough

Weather Advisory No. 4 (407/2013) The westerly trough from Myanmar has moved cover the North. Thundershowers with isolated gust are likely in the North at first and then have affect to upper Central and the upper Northeast of Thailand during 12-15 December, 2013. People should beware of thundershower with gust. Cooler weather with 6-8 degree Celsius drops is likely in the areas during 16-18 December, 2013. People should take care healthy of cooler weather.

Weather Forecast for Thailand from 6.00 a.m. Thursday to 6.00 a.m. Friday.

Northern Thailand Cool with fog in the morning and widely scattered thundershowers with isolated gust mostly in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Tak. Minimum temperature 20-22 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 26-31 degree Celsius. Cold to very cold on mountaintops. Minimum temperature 5-10 degree Celsius. Northeasterly winds 10-20 km/hr.

Northeastern Thailand Cool with fog in the morning and thick patches in some areas. Minimum temperature 17-20 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 29-32 degree Celsius. Cold on mountaintops. Minimum temperature 8-13 degree Celsius. Northeasterly winds 10-25 km/hr.

Central Thailand Cool with fog in the morning. Minimum temperature 20-21 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 31-33 degree Celsius. Cool to cold on mountaintops. Minimum temperature 13-18 degree Celsius. Northeasterly winds 10-25 km/hr.

Eastern Thailand Cool with fog in the morning. Minimum temperature 21-23 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 33-34 degree Celsius. Cool to cold on mountaintops. Minimum temperature 13-18 degree Celsius. Northeasterly winds 10-30 km/hr. Wave height below 1 meter.

Southern Thailand East Coast Cloudy and scattered thundershowers mostly in Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung and Songkhla. Minimum temperature 21-25 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 32-33 degree Celsius. Northeasterly winds 15-35 km/hr. Wave height 1-2 meters.

Southern Thailand West Coast Cloudy and scattered thundershowers mostly in Ranong, Phang-nga and Satun. Minimum temperature 24-25 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 31-32 degree Celsius. Northeasterly winds 15-30 km/hr. Wave height about 1 meter.

Bangkok Metropolis and Vicinity Cool with fog in the morning. Minimum temperature 23-24 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 32-34 degree Celsius. Northeasterly winds 10-25 km/hr.

-- NNT 2013-12-12

Weather forecasts for all Thai provinces: http://weather.thaivisa.com

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UPDATE:

Protest leader Suthep begs Supreme Commander to meet today

BANGKOK: -- Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban last night begged the Supreme Commander to meet him and military top brass as it is the crucial time to bring an end to the protest peacefully.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688282-suthep-to-meet-military-top-brass-tomorrow-thursday/page-5?p=7150445#entry7150445

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RT @RichardBarrow: 10:35am Protesters use ladders to climb the fence surrounding Government House & cut the razor wire (Pic @pinkkulady) http://t.co/46WKxTNGeq

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UPDATE:

Ex-Thai PM Abhisit indicted for murder over 2010 crackdown: prosecutors

BANGKOK, December 12, 2013 (AFP) - Former Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was indicted for murder Thursday in connection with a deadly military crackdown on mass opposition protests in Bangkok three years ago, prosecutors said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688422-ex-thai-pm-abhisit-indicted-for-murder-over-rally-crackdown/

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8 wounded in bombing targeting Army Rangers, teacher protection unit, near school in Pattani's Saiburi district /MCOT

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Protesters remove barbed wires at Government House

BANGKOK: -- A group of anti-government protesters on Thursday removed barbed wires inside the Government House.

The protesters were seen putting ladders against front gates of the Government House and pulling out the barbed wires set up close to the gates inside the compound.

After finishing the work that met no resistance from officials inside, the protesters retreated.


-- The Nation 2013-12-12

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Army chief denies meeting protest leader

BANGKOK: -- Army commander-in-chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha said he has not yet accepted the invitation of protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban for a meeting today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688449-thai-army-chief-denies-meeting-protest-leader/

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Appeals Court sentences Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong for slandering ex-Constitution Court president Wasan Soipisut for 1 year without suspension /MCOT

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Protesters remove barbed wire inside Government House

BANGKOK: -- A group of protesters climbed over the wall of the Government House and removed barbed wire inside the compound at about 10.30 a.m. this morning.

It took about 15 minutes for some 30 men from the Network of Students and People for the Reform of Thailand, a faction of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee, to remove the barbed wire inside the Government House after they climbed over the wall at Gate Two.

Police guarding the Government House yelled at the group telling them not to trespass on government’s premise but to no avail.

However, there was no clash between the police and the intruders.

The protesters have demanded the police to move out of the Government House because they are angry with the police for accusing the protesters of being rebels.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/protesters-remove-barbed-wire-inside-government-house/


-- Thai PBS 2013-12-12

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Australia high court overturns ACT gay marriage law

Australia's High Court has overturned legislation allowing gay marriage in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688428-australia-court-bans-gay-marriage/

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Phuket man electrocuted while answering call of nature
Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- A Thai man died yesterday evening (December 11) at the back of the Cherng Talay OrBorTor offices when he went to “shoot a rabbit” near a barbed wire fence. It turned out the fence, in addition to the barbs, also had a lethal amount of electricity running through it.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688431-phuket-man-electrocuted-while-answering-call-of-nature/

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Political unrest delays new personal income tax rates



BANGKOK: -- The new personal income tax rates may not take effect for the 2013 tax year because of the current and ongoing political unrest.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688436-political-unrest-in-thailand-delays-new-personal-income-tax-rates/

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Thailand keen on reducing road fatalities

BANGKOK, 12 December 2013 (NNT) – Thailand is determined to cut road fatalities down by 50 percent by the year 2020, making road safety a national agenda.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688444-thailand-keen-on-reducing-road-fatalities/

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'Banhan' confident that General Election will not be postponed

BANGKOK, 12 Dec 2013 (NNT) - Chief adviser of the Chartthaipattana Party Banhan Silpa-acha believes that the general election scheduled for February 2nd, 2014, will not be interrupted.

Mr. Banhan's comment was made after his meeting with the party’s core members to assess the political situation following the parliament dissolution. He is confident that the general election would go on as scheduled by the Election Committee while playing down a possibility of election postponement.

Reports said the atmosphere at the party's meeting was rather serious as core members anticipated that the ongoing political gridlock might prevent the national poll from taking place. Nonetheless, the Chartthaipattana Party is ready to field its candidates in the election.

Meanwhile, one of the party's core members, Mr. Somsak Prissananuntakul urges all political parties to field their candidates in order to allow voters to make their choice fairly and legally.

He voiced his opinions that the political reform should come after the election.


-- NNT 2013-12-12

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PM Yingluck gets warm welcome in Chiang Mai

BANGKOK, 12 December 2013 (NNT) – Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra traveled to the northern province of Chiang Mai where she received an overwhelming welcome from her supporters.

Ms Yingluck traveled by plane yesterday from Bangkok to Chiang Mai for official engagements. Upon her arrival, she was welcomed by Chiang Mai Provincial Governor Wichian Puttiwinyu, civil servants, locals, and redshirt supporters.

Locals along the streets were cheering and shouting their support to Miss Yingluck, while some people were giving roses to her and some were holding up signs to show their support.

Miss Yignluck received the flowers and greeted the supporters with tearful eyes before making her way to the hotel.

Miss Yingluck is visiting Chiang Mai to follow up on the province’s preparatory measures to deal with impacts from the cold season. The province has already experienced heavy fog and low temperatures.


-- NNT 2013-12-12

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Academics say current conflicts stem from the nation's constitution

BANGKOK, 12 December 2013 (NNT) — Political Science faculty members have stated that the current conflicts in the country stem from the nation's constitution.

According to Dean of Chulalongkorn's Political Science Department Nunthawath Baromanun, many of the conflicts stem from the state's unclear application of law, particularly the multiple amendments it proposed to make to the nation's constitution - with the amnesty bill causing much discordance.

Mr. Pornsan liangboonlert of Chulalongkorn University expressed his opinion that current conflicts stemmed from a number of reasons such as drafters of the constitution did not properly draft it in line with the actual theory, organizations abusing power under the constituion, and mistakes made during the drafting of the constitution.

Ms. Siripan Noksuan Sawasdee of Chulalongkorn University pointed out economic disparity in the nation as the root cause of the conflcts, where as Mr. Bundit Chanrojanakit of Ramkhamhaeng University blamed it on the unstable political structure of the Thai society and political parties abusing the constitution.


-- NNT 2013-12-12

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Pheu Thai spokesman gets one-year jailterm without suspension



BANGKOK: -- The Appeals Court on Thursday sentenced Pheu Thai party spokesman Prompong Nopparit and another Pheu Thai member to one-year imprisonment without suspension after finding them guilty of defaming the former president of the Constitution Court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688447-pheu-thai-spokesman-prompong-gets-one-year-imprisonment-without-suspension/

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RT @MimiSawitta: Protest leaders extend deadline to 1 pm. Unclear what they plan to do next at government house. Want police out.

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RT @RichardBarrow: 12:40pm Rally site at Nang Lerng - RT @nongyangyang: http://t.co/RSIzCgAJAT

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Criminal Court grants bail to ex-PM Abhisit with Bt600,000 bail bond, bar him leaving Thailand, evidence examination scheduled for March 24 /MCOT

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CAPO spokesman: Police chief declines to meet with anti-govt protest leaders; stands firm police duty-bound to comply with law /MCOT

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Bomb explosion at school wounds eight

PATTANI: -- Six rangers and two school workers were injured when a bomb went off as authorities were clearing a suspected flowerpot inside a school in Saiburi district of Pattani this morning.

Saiburi police chief Pol Col Chiradej Downgerntrakul said the police were alerted at 9.00 a.m. of a suspected flowerpot by a Ban Laharn Mitraparb community school in Tambon Laharn of Saiburi district placed at the school garden.

The janitor suspected there might be a bomb inside the pot.

The garden was later sealed by rangers who are giving protection to teachers at the school. All teachers and students were instructed to go inside the classrooms while the rangers were awaiting the arrival of the explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team to inspect.

But before the arrival of the EOD team, the bomb hidden inside the flowerpot went off, wounding all the six rangers and two janitors surrounding the area. Six cars belonging to the teachers were also damaged.

The officer said he suspected that the culprit might be within the school area as he detonated the bomb immediately after the rangers came close to the pot.

The school was closed and students were allowed to return homes after the explosion.

Meanwhile in Yala town, posters written in Malay language were hanged and suspected objects placed at several roadside pavilions.

The posters incite disturbance among the locals and attack the government. Suspected objects inside paper boxes were later found to be rocks.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/bomb-explosion-school-wounds-eight/


-- Thai PBS 2013-12-12

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Weather Advisory No. 5 (408/2013) Subject: Westerly Trough

Weather Advisory No. 5 (408/2013)

The westerly trough from Myanmar has moved cover the North. Thundershowers with isolated gust are likely in the North at first and then have affect to upper Central and the upper Northeast of Thailand during 12-15 December, 2013. People should beware of thundershower with gust. Cooler weather with 6-8 degree Celsius drops is likely in the areas during 16-18 December, 2013. People should take care healthy of cooler weather.

Weather Forecast for Thailand from Thursday Noon to Friday Noon.

Northern Thailand Cool with fog in the morning and widely scattered showers with isolated gust mostly in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Tak. Minimum temperature 20-21 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 25-31 degree Celsius. Cold to very cold on mountaintops. Minimum temperature 5-10 degree Celsius. Northeasterly winds 10-20 km/hr.

Northeastern Thailand Cool with fog in the morning and thick patches in some areas. Minimum temperature 17-18 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 29-31 degree Celsius. Cold on mountaintops. Minimum temperature 8-13 degree Celsius. Northeasterly winds 10-25 km/hr.

Central Thailand Cool with fog in the morning. Minimum temperature 20-21 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 31-32 degree Celsius. Cool to cold on mountaintops. Minimum temperature 13-18 degree Celsius. Northeasterly winds 10-25 km/hr.

Eastern Thailand Cool with fog in the morning. Minimum temperature 20-23 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 32-33 degree Celsius. Cool to cold on mountaintops. Minimum temperature 13-18 degree Celsius. Northeasterly winds 10-30 km/hr. Wave height below 1 meter.

Southern Thailand East Coast Cloudy and scattered thundershowers mostly in Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung and Songkhla. Minimum temperature 20-24 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 30-31 degree Celsius.

Northeasterly winds 15-35 km/hr. Wave height 1-2 meters.

Southern Thailand West Coast Cloudy and scattered thundershowers mostly in Ranong, Phang-nga and Satun. Minimum temperature 23-24 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 30-32 degree Celsius. Northeasterly winds 15-30 km/hr. Wave height about 1 meter.

Bangkok Metropolis and Vicinity Cool with fog in the morning. Minimum temperature 22-23 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 31-33 degree Celsius. Northeasterly winds 10-25 km/hr.

-- NNT 2013-12-12

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Gen Boonlert declares support for PDRC

BANGKOK: -- Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit, leader of the Pitak Siam group, Thursday announced support for the People's Democratic Reform Committee.

Boonlert himself has earlier attempted but failed to stage a mass rally against the government.

-- The Nation 2013-12-12

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Siriraj Hospital Explains HM King's Speech Difficulty

ภาพ : Crowd celebrating His Majesty the King's Birthday, 5 December 2013

BANGKOK: -- The dean of Siriraj Hospital′s Faculty of Medicine has assured the Thais that the health of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen are improving.

Dr. Udom Kachinthorn said his medical team is exceedingly happy with the recovery of Their Majesties from their illness.

The monarchs are currently residing at a seaside palace at Hua Hin, south of Bangkok, having left Siriraj Hospital earlier this year.

His Majesty the King recently appeared on a live television broadcast on 5 December - HM′s Birthday - in which he briefly gave a scripted speech. However, the 86-year old monarch stumbled on certain parts of the speech, while the camera fixed on the audience of top officials and military commanders, who visibly looked anxious.

But Dr. Udom said His Majesty′s difficulty in reading the speech is not a worrying condition.

"It′s a normal condition of elderly persons. They often pause as they are doing something," Dr. Udom told reporters.
Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNNE5qZ3pNREEzTXc9PQ==&sectionid=TURFd01BPT0=

-- Khaosod English 2013-12-12

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Protesters cut power to Government House

BANGKOK: -- Protesters led by the Students and People Network for Thailand's Reform cut power supply to the Government House buildings at 12:15 pm Thursday.

The STR leaders gave police one hour to leave the Government House compound. After police refused to leave, protesters removed power cables that linked to the power meter of the Government House.

-- The Nation 2013-12-12