Thailand Live Thursday 12 Dec 2013

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RT@RichardBarrow: Protesters prepare to spray sewage on police at Government House - RT @go6tv: เตรียมนำน้ำขี้ จากรถส้วมฉีดใส่ตำรวจ pic.twitter.com/keLe2mu1wD

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Tension grows at Government House

BANGKOK: -- Tension at Government House was growing this afternoon when hundreds of protesters of the Network for the Students and the People for the Reform of Thailand encircled the compound and prohibited them to leave.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688474-tension-grows-at-government-house/

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RT@W7VOA: UDD leader saying no immediate plan for red shirts rally but there are signs Feb. 2 election faces obstructions.

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PM chairs the meeting to find preventive measures for smog and haze problem

CHIANG MAI, 12 December 2013 (NNT) -- The Prime Minister has chaired a meeting on wild fire and smog prevention on Thursday.

The meeting was held in the northern province of Chiang Mai, which was hit with severe smog from wild fire and slash-and-burn agriculture during last year's dry season.

The PM ordered the Interior ministry to hold a meeting at the beginning of the dry season this year and invited related units, which included the Ministries of Natural Resources and Environment, Public Health, and Agriculture as well as the governors of ten northern provinces affected by the wildfire and smog last year to brainstorm preventive measures.

Between February and April each year, local farmers in Northern Thailand and neighboring countries burn huge amounts of vegetation to clear fields and get rid of agricultural waste. The result is a serious regional smog problem that causes health problems for millions of people and affects the tourism sector, which is the major source of income for those cities.

-- NNT 2013-12-12

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UPDATE:

2010 Political Violence

Former premier charged with murder

BANGKOK: -- Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was charged with murder Thursday in connection with the 2010 deaths of two protesters during a crackdown on anti-government protesters.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688422-ex-thai-pm-abhisit-indicted-for-murder-over-rally-crackdown/page-2?p=7151279#entry7151279

[Lite Beer]

Man gets 6 years, eight months in jail for lese majesty

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court Thursday sentenced a 51-year-old man to six years and eight months in jail after he was convicted in with lese majesty.

The court found Kittithon Yaemsamai guilty of posting insulting message against His Majesty the King on a website and published it on CDs.

Kittithon admitted the wrongdoing during the investigation.

The court sentenced the man to three yeas and four months in jail for attempting to defame the King and gave him five-year jail term for each of two counts of lese majesty. The court commuted the penalty by half on ground that he had confessed.

Kittithon said he would not appeal against the ruling but he would later seek a royal pardon.

-- The Nation 2013-12-12

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Criminal Court allows bail for Abhisit



BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court late this afternoon allowed bail for Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva indicted for his role in the fatal military crackdown of red-shirt protesters in May 2010.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688422-ex-thai-pm-abhisit-indicted-for-murder-over-rally-crackdown/page-2?p=7151345#entry7151345

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Sweden seeks closer defence cooperation with Thailand

BANGKOK: -- State Secretary of Swedish Ministry for Defence State Secretary Carl von der Esch visited Thailand recently to discuss issues of common interest related to the defence cooperation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688477-sweden-seeks-closer-defence-cooperation-with-thailand/

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Abhisit indicted for ordering murder of Red Shirt protesters
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 12 – Two conflicting groups demonstrated at the Criminal Court today as the Attorney General formally indicted the then prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for alledged premeditated murder in the 2010 anti-government protest.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688422-ex-thai-pm-abhisit-indicted-for-murder-over-rally-crackdown/page-2?p=7151413#entry7151413

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PM invites all sectors, political parties to meeting on Sunday
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Thursday invited all political parties and sectors of society to a meeting on Sunday to try to find a solution for the political impasse.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688483-pm-yingluck-invites-all-sectors-political-parties-to-meeting-on-sunday/

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Thai army chief gives no reply on talks with protesters
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 12 – Thai army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said today the armed forces have yet to respond to anti-government protesters’ call for a dialogue, stressing their political neutrality.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688449-thai-army-chief-denies-meeting-protest-leader/#entry7151530

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Agitated German tourist causes panic at Phuket airport
Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- A German tourist who caused a scene at Phuket International Airport this afternoon (December 12) by running around the terminal in an agitated state has been taken to hospital.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688488-agitated-german-tourist-causes-panic-at-phuket-airport/

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Police chief declines to meet w/ anti-govt protest leaders;citing duty to uphold the law;Army chiefs to meet w/ anti-govt (People's Democratic Reform) committee

Anti-govt protesters Thur dismantled barbed-wire barriers in front of Govt House after 3-day deadline for police to dismantle,move out expired

/The Nation

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Anti-govt protesters cut electricity, water supply to Govt House after their one-hour deadline for police to leave compound has not been met /MCOT

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The red-shirts would take to the streets if there were signs that the planned general election would be obstructed, UDD co-leader Nattawut Saikua says. /Bangkok Post

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Pheu Thai Derides Democrats' Polls Hesitation
By Khaosod Online


Mr. Chavanond Intarakomalyasut

BANGKOK: -- The Democrat Party is still hesitant on whether to run for the next election, believed to take place on 2 February 2014.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688493-pheu-thai-derides-democrats-polls-hesitation/

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UPDATE:

Thailand ranks the world’s third in highest road fatalities



BANGKOK: -- Thailand now ranks third in the list of countries having highest road traffic deaths worldwide with 38.1 road fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants per year in 2010.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688444-thailand-keen-on-reducing-road-fatalities/page-2#entry7151761

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RT @tulsathit: Pheu Thai believes Suthep is looking for a graceful exit. via @kttvnews

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Terrorism to insurrection: criminal cases in Thai politics

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688515-terrorism-to-insurrection-criminal-cases-in-thai-politics/

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SET index closed at 1,356.21, down 13.14; Bt/USD31.96; GBP52.18; AUD28.69; EUR43.95; CAD30.04; HKD4.11; SGD25.39; JPY31.02

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POLITICS
Suthep-led PDRC meet business organisations



BANGKOK: -- People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) led by rally leader Suthep Thaugsuban on Thursday held a meeting with representatives of seven private organisations at the Sukosol Hotel.

It was the first group of people that PDRC, which has launched series of protests against Yingluck government, has met in order to explain its anti-government activities and to ask for their supports.

The seven private organisations include the Tourism Council of Thailand, the Thai Bankers’ Association, the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Thai Industries, the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organisations, the Stock Exchange of Thailand and the Thai Listed Companies Association.


-- The Nation 2013-12-12

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UDD Coordinator Detained At Airport For 2010 Unrest
By Khaosod Online



BANGKOK: -- Miscommunication between police forces is said to be behind the brief detention of a leader of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) at Suvarnabhumi Airport today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688516-udd-coordinator-detained-at-suvarnabhumi-airport-for-2010-unrest/

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Number of passengers using Suvarnabhumi Airport does not reach growth target
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 12 - The number of passengers using Suvarnabhumi Airport during this high season period did not reach its 6 per cent growth target.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688520-number-of-passengers-using-suvarnabhumi-airport-does-not-reach-growth-target/

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UPDATE:

I'm not empowered to decide on meeting with PDRC : Army chief

BANGKOK: -- Army Commander in Chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said Thursday the military have yet to respond to anti-government protesters' call for a talk, stressing their political neutrality.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688449-thai-army-chief-denies-meeting-protest-leader/#entry7151916

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Drug suspect's passport contains stolen visa sticker
THe Nation

BANGKOK: -- A Nigerian man has been arrested for using one of the Thai visa stickers that went missing from the Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and for narcotics possession, Tourist Police deputy commander Pol Colonel Archayon Kraithong told a press conference Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688523-nigerian-drug-suspects-passport-contains-stolen-thai-visa-sticker/

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Agencies crack down on abortion-pill websites
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Thursday announced a crackdown on nine websites found to be selling abortion-inducing drugs including Cytolog, Misoprostol, MTPill and Mifepristone.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688524-thai-agencies-crack-down-on-abortion-pill-websites/

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Red-shirt leader indicted over 2010 rally
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A red-shirt leader has been indicted for robbery and causing damages during the 2010 red-shirt rally.

Yossawaris Chuklom, widely known as Jeng Dokjik, Thursday acknowledged his charge but denied any wrongdoing at the Criminal Court. The first hearing for this case has been scheduled for March 17.

Public prosecutors said Yossawaris led some 500 red shirts into surrounding and damaging 21 military vehicles in Bangkok on April 10, 2010. Related properties were also vandalised. The damages have been estimated at Bt5.55 million.


-- The Nation 2013-12-12

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POLITICS
Political strife badly affects Thai chance in UNSC: FM
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Foreign Minister Surapong Tohvichakchaikul said Thursday he briefed the nine Asean envoys about the current political situations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688532-political-strife-badly-affects-thai-chance-in-unsc-fm-surapong/

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UPDATE:

Thai protesters cut power to government HQ: police

BANGKOK, December 12, 2013 (AFP) - Thai opposition protesters have cut the electricity and water supplies to the government headquarters in Bangkok to try to force security officials to abandon the besieged premises, police said Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688474-tension-grows-at-government-house/page-2?p=7152103#entry7152103

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RT @DrTimHuxley: Suthep-led protest may be losing momentum at least for now. Military leaders won't meet him. Many protesters have gone home