Thailand Live Friday 13 Dec 2013

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THE MONARCH
Their Majesties in good health, doctor confirms
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Their Majesties the King and Queen are in good health, Prof Udom Kachintorn, dean of Mahidol University's Faculty of Medicine, said yesterday.

Reiterating that Their Majesties' health had improved to satisfactory levels, Udom explained that when His Majesty paused while granting public audience at the Klai Kangwon Palace on December 5 was nothing out of the ordinary.

He explained that pauses like this are normal among the elderly and that His Majesty was in very good health for an 86 year old.


-- The Nation 2013-12-13

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Thailand ranks the world’s third in highest road fatalities

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688565-thailand-ranks-the-worlds-third-in-highest-road-fatalities/

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Govt public forum on Sunday, protesters say 'No'
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 13 – The caretaker government made an about-turn yesterday by announcing the opening of a public forum to find pathways to resolution of Thailand’s political stalemate.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688641-thai-govt-public-forum-on-sunday-protesters-say-no/

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Suthep announces Saturday meeting with armed forces commanders

BANGKOK, 13 December 2013 (NNT) – People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) leader Suthep Thueksuban announced on Thursday that the heads of the armed forces and the supreme commander have agreed to allow him to meet them to explain the PDRC's push for the setting up of a "people's council"

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688642-suthep-announces-saturday-meeting-with-armed-forces-commanders/

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PM Yingluck readies state agencies to combat annual haze pollution in North

BANGKOK, 13 December 2013 (NNT) – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has called a meeting of state agencies responsible for tackling the haze problem in the North, telling each agency to collaborate with others and to plan the solution ahead of the problem.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688643-pm-yingluck-readies-state-agencies-to-combat-annual-haze-pollution-in-north/

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2010 POLITICAL VIOLENCE
Ex-PM pleads not guilty to murder charge
KESINEE TANGKHIAO
THE NATION



Abhisit posts bail as court sets hearing for March; Suthep's lawyer seeks delay

BANGKOK: -- Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is determined to appear in court to fight accusations that he is responsible for the deaths and injuries of many people during the bloody dispersal of red-shirt demonstrators in 2010.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688644-former-thai-pm-abhisit-pleads-not-guilty-to-murder-charge/

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POLITICS
Police chief 'denies' he agreed to meet Suthep
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- National police chief Pol Gen Adul Sangsingkaew has denied he agreed to meet People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) secretary general Suthep Thaugsban, who is wanted by police on charges of sedition.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688646-thai-police-chief-denies-he-agreed-to-meet-suthep/

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RICE-SCHEME
Bt22 bn rice-scheme payments for Dec face delay
Suphannee Pootpisut
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- About Bt22 billion remains to be paid under the rice-pledging scheme for this month only, but if there is no new money from rice sales or borrowings coming in, payment may be delayed, according to the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688647-bt22-bn-rice-scheme-payments-for-dec-face-delay/

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RICHEST
Hospital, airline tycoon Prasert becomes year's richest stock investor
The Nation


Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth

BANGKOK: -- Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth became the country's wealthiest stock investor this year, with listed securities worth a total of Bt37 billion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688648-hospital-airline-tycoon-prasert-becomes-years-richest-stock-investor/

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OVERDRIVE
Top brass now hold all the cards
Thanong Khanthong

BANGKOK: -- As this column went to press, military top brass had yet to deliver their response to Suthep Thaugsuban's proposal. Suthep announced on Wednesday evening that he would give the military until 8pm yesterday to answer his request that they cross over to support the protesters' campaign for reform. Only then would he make a decision on how to move forward.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688649-top-brass-now-hold-all-the-cards-thai-opinion/

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A red-shirt leader indicted
KESINEE TANGKHIAO
THE NATION



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

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688650-red-shirt-leader-jeng-dokjik-indicted-over-2010-rally/

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Man caught with stolen visa sticker
THE NATION



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

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Handing power to Suthep 'no way to fight corruption'
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand faces the problems of corruption and abuse of power, as well as the so-called "tyranny of the majority", but people who feel frustrated should not try to tackle these problems by dismantling the existing democratic system as it won't solve anything, noted Thammasat University political scientist Kasian Tejapira said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688652-handing-power-to-suthep-no-way-to-fight-corruption/

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BURNING ISSUE
It's time for everyone to just sit down and talk
Samudcha Hunsara
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- On Monday morning, caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra announced the dissolution of the House of Representatives just as thousands of protesters and their supporters were preparing to march to Government House. They were marching to press for the setting up of a "People's Council" that could help reform the country's politics.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688653-its-time-for-everyone-to-just-sit-down-and-talk-thai-politics/

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The private sector to offer way out of chaos
Pakorn Peungnetr
The Nation

Group meets Suthep, PDRC members for first time as Yingluck invites all to talk

BANGKOK: -- Seven private-sector organisations will today propose a plan for national reform as part of an effort to seek solutions to ease the current political conflict. These proposals will also be handed over to the different political parties.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688654-thai-private-sector-to-offer-way-out-of-political-chaos/

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Weakening voting rights will only provoke greater division
Titipol Phakdeewanich
Special to The Nation

A society in which we disregard the voice of others when they dare to disagree with us can no longer address social, political and economic challenges

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688655-weakening-voting-rights-will-only-provoke-greater-division-thai-opinion/

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Japan declares Thailand free from bird flu



BANGKOK: -- Frozen Thai chicken will have a good chance of being exported to Japan now that Japan has declared Thailand free from bird flu.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688656-japan-declares-thailand-free-from-bird-flu/

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Prosecutor postpones indicting Suthep



BANGKOK: -- The public prosecution has decided to postpone indicting Suthep Thuagsuban for his role in the military crackdown of red-shirt protesters in May 2010.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688659-prosecutor-postpones-indicting-suthep/

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Establish People's Council, Or No Election: Suthep



BANGKOK: -- Leader of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King as Head of State (PCAD) Suthep Thaugsuban has revealed preliminary details of his proposal for ′People′s Council′.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688660-establish-peoples-council-or-no-election-suthep/

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Indian Necklace Snatch by 2 Ladyboys on Pattaya Beach



PATTAYA: -- A 41 year old Indian Tourist reported the theft of a Gold Necklace in the early hours of Friday on Pattaya Beach.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688661-indian-necklace-snatch-by-2-ladyboys-on-pattaya-beach/

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Pattaya Police search for suspected middle-eastern serial thief



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Friday, Pattaya Police were called to a convenience store in South Pattaya to investigate reports of a middle-eastern man who had reportedly stolen 15,000 Baht in cash from the store owner.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688662-pattaya-police-search-for-suspected-middle-eastern-serial-thief/

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North Korean leader's uncle 'executed over corruption'

The once-powerful uncle of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been executed after being purged for corruption, state news agency KCNA reports.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688678-north-korean-leaders-uncle-executed-over-corruption/

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RT @tulsathit: In his FB, senior Democrat @korbsak has slammed YL govt's hiring of lobbyists to push for US building of military facilities here.

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Govt hires US firm to lobby US govt to set up naval base in Thailand: US Department of Justice
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Yingluck government has paid US$20,000 to a US firm to lobby Washington to build a naval base in Thailand without seeking approval from the Thai parliament first, according to a piece of document from the US Department of Justice.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688694-govt-hires-us-firm-to-lobby-us-govt-to-set-up-naval-base-in-thailand-us-department-of-justice/

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Thailand risk downgrade by int'l credit rating agencies as political deadlock is difficult to resolve,could worsen if there is no govt in place,UBS said

Business leaders concerned that upcoming election unlikely to solve Thai political conflicts;suggested election law be revamped to curb votes-buying

/The Nation

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Anti-govt protest leader,Suthep meets w/ 7 business groups,clarify people's council;set goals for political reform prior to election /The Nation

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UPDATE:

Anti-govt leaders to meet top brass tomorrow, firm on political reform
By English News



BANGKOK, Dec 13 – Thailand’s top brass has agreed to meet with anti-government protest leaders tomorrow to discuss resolutions to the political conflicts.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/688642-suthep-announces-saturday-meeting-with-armed-forces-commanders/#entry7154285

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Darkness reigns at Govt House after power cut-off
By English News



BANGKOK, Dec 13 – Thailand's symbolic seat of political power, Government House, was in darkness last night after a power blackout, triggered by protesters who claimed that police on duty wanted to leave the premises.

Protesters removed barbed wire surrounding Government House and cut electricity and water supplies.

Firefighters inside Government House were escorted by protesters as they left the compound.

Protest leaders said they were informed by the deputy metropolitan police commander that police on duty in the Government House wanted to leave.

Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry has been held by protesters for the last 12 days and civil servants were barred from entering the premises.

Protesters put up a placard which reads “Ministry Serving People” over the original Interior Ministry sign, saying the ministry should look after the people’s well-being. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-12-13

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,354.60, down 1.61 points /MCOT

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PM Office Minister Varathep: Anti-govt PDRC will send representative to join Sunday's govt-proposed political reform forum /MCOT