Thailand Live Monday 16 Dec 2013

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Alcohol sale on train may be banned
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Songkran Pakchokdee, director of the Anti-Alcohol Organisations Network, Monday submitted a petition to the Public Health Ministry, asking for a ban of alcohol sale at train stations and on the train.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689585-alcohol-sale-on-train-may-be-banned-in-thailand/

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UPDATE:
Defence perm sec dismisses call from retired top brass
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The permanent secretary for Defence appreciates the concern of a former Army chief, a former Navy chief and a former Air Force chief on the current situation but says that the military will comply with the charter and support the election, the Defence Ministry spokesman said Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689570-former-top-military-brass-calls-pm-to-resign-back-reform/page-2#entry7167530

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SET index closed 1,328.40, down 12.73; Bt/USD31.89; GBP51.86; AUD28.36; EUR43.74; CAD29.98; HKD4.10; SGD25.29; JPY30.85

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Govt calls for legal action against protesters
By English News

BANGKOK, Dec 16 – Thailand's ruling Pheu Thai Party today lodged a petition with the Constitution Court, seeking to ban the current anti-government demonstrations and dissolve their opponent, the Democrat Party, for supporting the protests.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689591-pheu-thai-lodges-petition-with-court-to-dissolve-democrat-party/

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Abhisit likely to remain Democrat party leader



BANGKOK: -- Abhisit Vejjajiva is likely to retain his post as the Democrat party leader after Surin Pitsuwan, former ASEAN secretary-general, has declined to be nominated to challenge Abiisit’s leadership, according to well-informed party sources.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689592-abhisit-likely-to-remain-democrat-party-leader/

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Abhisit meets protest leaders at Democracy Monument

BANGKOK: -- Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva Monday met leaders of the People's Democratic Reform Committee at the Democracy Monument Monday afternoon.

Abhisit came to the rally site at 2:30 pm and met and discussed with PDRC leaders on an air-conditioned bus for about an hour before he left the scene.


-- The Nation 2013-12-16

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NBTC
Digital TV broadcasting expected in February
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The terrestrial digital TV auction will take place during December 26-27, and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission antipates that the bid winners would start airing digital contents in February.

Natee Sukonrat, chairman of the NBTC broadcasting committee, said that licenses should be distributed in January.

The committee expects to spend 15 days to screen the auction procedure and verify the auction result, he said.

The auction marks the first time in Thailand’s broadcasting industry, as current air waves belong to either the Army and government agencies.

Twenty four licenses will be distributed.


-- The Nation 2013-12-16

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PM Yingluck will go on an inspection trip to northeastern provinces between Dec 17-22 after a cabinet meeting tomorrow, govt spokesman Teerat Rattanasevi said. /Bangkok Post

Pheu Thai Party on Monday filed two petitions seeking the dissolution of Democrat Party in connection with anti-government opposition to the Feb 2 election. /Bangkok Post

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UPDATE:

Jetstar begins direct Phuket-Melbourne flights
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- Jetstar Airways has launched its non-stop service between Phuket and Melbourne, connecting Phuket to one of its most important source markets just in time for the tourism high season to kick off.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689483-jetstar-begins-melbourne-phuket-service/#entry7167700

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South Sudan 'quashes coup attempt'

South Sudan's President Kiir says attempted coup has been quashed, blames disgruntled soldiers /BBC

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RICE
It'll take over 5 years to clear stockpiles: exporter
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Kobsuk Iamsuri, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, lamented Monday that the government would have to spend more than five years to clear the stockpiles accumulated under the rice-pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689616-itll-take-over-5-years-to-clear-stockpiles-thai-rice-exporter/

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Phuket chef found dead from stab wounds
Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- The body of a male Phuket chef was found on the side of the road behind Loch Palm Golf Club around 6.20am this morning (December 16), after he died from stab wounds to the chest.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689620-phuket-chef-found-dead-from-stab-wounds/

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Tesco Lotus opens 'No Bag' store on Phuket's Saiyuan Road



PHUKET: -- Tesco Lotus has opened a “No Bag Store” for the first time on Saiyuan Road in Naiharn – its pilot store along with one recently opened in Koh Samui.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689622-tesco-lotus-opens-no-bag-store-on-phukets-saiyuan-road/

[Lite Beer]

AVIATION
NokScoot to be established as new low-cost airline

Thailand's budget carrier Nok Air and Singapore Airlines' budget carrier Scoot Scoot have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a new low-cost airline.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689650-nokscoot-to-be-established-as-new-low-cost-airline/

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Govt Urged To Prosecute Red Student For Lese Majeste

BANGKOK: -- Coordinator of an anti-government network has urged the government to prosecute a Redshirts student activist for allegedly insulting the monarchy.

Mr. Uthai Yordmanee, leader of Student and People Network For Political Reform of Thailand, said in a press conference that Mr. Ekkaphob Lueangra, a self-described vocational student who supports the Redshirt movements, has gravely defamed the monarchy in his speech at Rajamangala Stadium, where the Redshirts were holding mass rallies, on 28 November 2013.

Although Mr. Uthai did not specifically identify the parts of Mr. Ekkaphob′s speech which he considered as a lese majeste offence, he nevertheless called on Mr. Jarupong Ruangsuwan, chairman of Pheu Thai Party, and Mr. Chaturon Chaisang, Minister of Education, to take legal responsibility for Mr. Ekkaphob′s remarks.

The two politicians must be held accountable since they allowed Mr. Ekkaphob to deliver his speech on the rally stage in the stadium, Mr. Uthai said.

"Pheu Thai Party has always claimed to be loyal to the institution [of the monarchy]" Mr. Uthai said, "Therefore, to allow the individual with such behaviour to give speech that greatly insults the monarchy ... is something the two cannot deny responsibility".

The Student and People Network will give the government 7 days to locate Mr. Ekkaphob and have the police arrest the man, Mr. Uthai said. If Mr. Jarupong and Mr. Chaturon failed to do so, he warned, they must resign from their caretaker positions.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra would also have to show her responsibility for the incident, Mr. Uthai added.

Lese majeste, or insults of monarchy, is punishable up to 15 years in prison per offence according to Article 112 of Thai Criminal Codes.

Anti-government and Yellowshirts factions routinely accuse the government of insulting the monarchy, or discreetly encouraging republican activists to disrespect the monarchy.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNNE56RTVPVGs0TXc9PQ==&sectionid=TURFd01BPT0=

-- Khaosod English 2013-12-16

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PM to visit nine Issan provinces this week

BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinnawatra will visit nine northeastern provinces this week, a Government House source said Monday.

The weeklong trip will start on Tuesday after she chairs a cabinet meeting at the Thai Army Club.

She will go to Surin, Buri Ram, Sisaket, Roi Et, Maha Sarakham, Kalasin, Udon Thani, Nong Khai, and Bueng Kan.

-- The Nation 2012-13-16

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Dems adopting new strategy to win votes

BANGKOK: -- The Democrats have decided to increase the number of their executives to 35 as part of their strategy to win the hearts of grassroots voters.

Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut denied the party had copied the structure of the now defunct Thai Rak Thai Party.

He said the Democrats increased the number of executives so that the party could have a network enabling it to work closely with the people.

He said former Democrat Party leader Korn Chatikavanij had refused to accept any post on the new board. But that did not mean others who had left the party to join the People's Democratic Reform Committee could not return as members of the new board.

-- The Nation 2012-12-16

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Big response for PDRC Facebook campaign

BANGKOK: -- Only three hours after People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban posted pictures urging protesters to post, share and print "Reform Before Election" signs, they had been shared about one hundred thousand times, and almost 40,000 people had "liked" the post.

Suthep posted pictures featuring the Thai flag in the background and have handfuls on the flagand featuring the words "Reform Before Election" on his Facebook page. He wrote: "You can show your intention to reform Thailand by posting, sharing and printing these pictures for making a sign in your front yard."

The PDRC's Facebook page has changed its profile picture to the "Reform Before Election" logo.

-- The Nation 2013-12-16

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to continue:

Thailand Live Tuesday 17 Dec 2013

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689713-thailand-live-tuesday-17-dec-2013/