Thailand Live Tuesday 17 Dec 2013

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Interior Ministry still functional despite office seizure by protesters

BANGKOK, 17 December 2013 (NNT) - Interior Minister Charupong Ruengsuwan has confirmed that although the ministry’s head office has been taken siege by anti-government protesters, cooperation with provincial governors nationwide can still go on.

After the protesters had occupied the ministry for 16 days, Mr Charupong stated that the ministry’s staff could work from other places and most of its departments had long been moved out of the surrounded premises.

The minister reiterated that the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Interior could still work with its provincial offices without problems and could provide services to the people on a certain level. However, some proceedings would require important documents which were kept inside the occupied headquarters.

According to Mr Charupong, the protesters have been asked to allow the ministry’s staff to enter the premises to get the documents, but the request was rejected.


-- NNT 2013-12-17

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Airports agency accepts political protests impact passengers usage numbers
By English News



BANGKOK, Dec 17 - Airports of Thailand (AoT) president admitted the ongoing protests have affected the number of passengers using Thailand's airports to enter the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689714-airports-of-thailand-aot-admits-political-protests-impact-passengers-usage-numbers/

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Korn to temporarily retire from Democrat executive post

BANGKOK, 17 December 2013 (NNT) - Former Democrat Party leader Korn Chatikavanij has announced that he will be taking a break from his party’s administrative affairs, citing that political reform is yet to be achieved.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689715-korn-to-temporarily-retire-from-thai-democrat-executive-post/

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Nong Cartoon's Murderer 'Has Killed 3 More Victims'

By Khaosod Online

Mr. Nui, the alleged murderer of 6 year old nong Cartoon

BANGKOK: -- The alleged murderer of nong Cartoon, the 6 year old girl who had gone missing, has claimed he had previously raped and murdered three other girls.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689716-murderer-of-6-year-old-thai-girl-has-killed-3-more-victims/

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Suthep Condemned For Threatening Yingluck's Son
By Khaosod Online


Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, with her son Suphasek Amornchat at her side, making merits at a temple in Chiang Mai province, 15 December 2013

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai Party has condemned anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban for threatening Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra′s 10 year old son to leave the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689717-suthep-condemned-for-threatening-yinglucks-son/

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POLITICS
Democrats decide today
Niphawan Kaewrakmuk,
Prapasri Osathanon,
Hataikarn Treesuwan
The Nation


Newly appointed chairman of the Election Commission Supachai Somcharoen, seen lighting a candle, leads a ceremony yesterday to take the oath along with four new EC members.

Party meeting to decide on whether to field candidates or boycott Feb 2 general election

BANGKOK: -- The opposition Democrat Party is facing a dilemma in having to decide today whether to field candidates in the general election scheduled for February 2 amid calls from within the party to boycott the poll.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689718-thai-democrats-to-decide-on-whether-to-field-candidates-or-boycott-feb-2-election/

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POLITICS
Army chief Prayuth reaffirms armed forces' neutrality
The Nation


Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, centre, talks to Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order chief Surapong Tovichakchai-kul, right, at the Royal Thai Police headquarters, where she follows the political situation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689719-thai-army-chief-prayuth-reaffirms-armed-forces-neutrality/

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Phuket murder trial of Swedes enters closing stages
Phuket Gazette


Johan Ljung is to have his verdict handed down in January. Photo: Dean Noble

PHUKET: -- Tommy Viktor Soderlund, one of two Swedish nationals charged for the stabbing murder of Maksim Schantz two years ago, reiterated his plea of not guilty at Phuket Provincial Court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689722-phuket-murder-trial-of-swedes-enters-closing-stages/

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Israeli suspected of shoplifting at Pattaya Shopping Mall



PATTAYA: -- On Monday evening Pattaya Police were called to the second floor of Mike Shopping Mall in South Pattaya after security guards had detained a 56 year old Israeli accused of stealing a woolen hat.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689723-israeli-suspected-of-shoplifting-at-pattaya-shopping-mall/

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Transport to ban liquor drinking on trains and at stations



BANGKOK: -- The Transport Ministry is now considering to draft a legislation banning the drinking of liquor on trains and at train stations.

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

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Police station turned into PDRC’s branch office



BANGKOK: -- Anti-government protesters have turned an abandoned police station in Bang Saphan district of Prachuab Khiri Khan into a branch office of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689724-thai-police-station-turned-into-pdrcs-branch-office/

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UPDATE:

Fed-up commuters want booze ban on trains, stations
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- ANTI-ALCOHOL advocates yesterday called on the Transport Ministry to ask the Public Health Ministry to ban the sale of alcohol at train stations and on trains.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689585-alcohol-sale-on-train-may-be-banned-in-thailand/page-2#entry7169626

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Marine Dept to improve Bangkok boat services
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The Marine Department plans to improve the Chao Phraya Express boat service and the Khlong Saen Saeb boat service by upgrading the 89 piers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689725-marine-dept-to-improve-bangkok-boat-services/

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974 victims, kin paid damages; 1 killed in Pattani
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Provincial authorities in Narathiwat handed out some Bt97.4 million in compensation to 974 victims of the deep South unrest. The event at city hall, presided over by Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre secretary-general Pol Colonel Tawee Sodsong, saw Bt100,000 being handed to each of the victim's families.

Of the 974 victims, 855 had been killed and 119 badly injured in violent attacks in 13 districts of the province from January 2004 to September 2012. Rangae district had the highest number of casualties at 226 cases.

Separately, a bread deliveryman was shot dead in Pattani's Yarang district yesterday morning, police said. Thinakorn Boon-iad, a 47-year-old Yala native, had parked his pickup truck outside a grocery store on Highway 410 at 10.30am to deliver bread, when two men on a motorcycle opened fire at him, killing him instantly. Police believe this is part of the ongoing violence in the region.


-- The Nation 2013-12-17

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No response to proposal on saving temple cemetery
The Nation

AYUTTHAYA: -- As of yesterday, Ayutthaya's Wat Phananchoeng had still not responded to a proposal to stop the temple from relocating an old cemetery, an informed source said yesterday.

On Sunday, some 500 of the people whose ancestors are buried in the 20-rai cemetery gathered and discussed the temple's plan to disinter their kin and build new structures to house sick monks, hold religious ceremonies as well as a parking space on the land.

The descendants' proposals included an offer to pay rent to the temple and manage the cemetery themselves.

The temple had earlier asked all descendants to remove the remains of their ancestors from the cemetery by August 2014.


-- The Nation 2013-12-17

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EC chief says EC has no choice but to hold Feb 2 election
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Election Commission Chairman Supachai Somcharoen said Monday that the EC has no choice but to hold the February 2 election as required by the law and the House dissolution royal decree.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689726-ec-chief-says-ec-has-no-choice-but-to-hold-feb-2-election/

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Retired military chiefs call on top brass to back public
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Three retired military chiefs on Friday issued a joint statement calling on the Royal Thai Armed Forces to show their stance by siding with the people and calling on the caretaker prime minister and her Cabinet to step down in order to make way for much-needed reform.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689727-retired-thai-military-chiefs-call-on-top-brass-to-back-public/

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Phuket mother denies rumor that 7-year-old daughter's body was found
Phuket Gazette


The mother of 'Nong Dear' holds out hope that she will find her missing 7-year-old daughter alive. Photo: Supplied

PHUKET: -- The mother of 7-year-old Natthapa “Nong Dear” Papkaew today dismissed the rumor circulating across Phuket that the body of her missing daughter had been found.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689728-phuket-mother-denies-rumor-that-7-year-old-daughters-body-was-found/

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PDRC invites foreign ambassadors to observe demonstrations



BANGKOK: -- The secretary-general of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) is inviting all foreign ambassadors in Bangkok to observe its anti-Thaksin regime demonstrations at the Democracy Monument on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689754-suthep-invites-foreign-ambassadors-to-observe-demonstrations/

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CAPO: People who try to block application for national polls will be punished

BANGKOK, 17 December 2013 (NNT) - The Center for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) has warned that people who disrupt next week’s application for the February 2014 general elections will face legal charges.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689755-capo-people-who-try-to-block-application-for-national-polls-will-be-punished/

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PM chairs weekly cabinet meeting at Army Club before leaving for northeast visit today thru Sunday; Democrats meet today to select new executive board /MCOT

Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,337.08, up 8.68 points /MCOT

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NSA mass phone surveillance programme 'unconstitutional'

WASHINGTON: -- A US judge has ruled the National Security Agency's mass collection of telephone data unconstitutional.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689762-us-judge-rules-nsa-mass-phone-surveillance-programme-to-be-unconstitutional/

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Anti-govt group,PDRC does not oppose general election;would like to see it delayed to allow for political reform which could be take 18 months/

No. of passengers using Thai airports has fallen by less than 10%;hotel rooms bookings at 60% vs 100% in normal times,AOT said/

Democrat Party rejected Pheu Thai proposal to wait until after Feb 2 elections before pushing for national reform/

/The Nation

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Premier holds Cabinet meeting before heading to Northeast

BANGKOK, 17 December 2013 (NNT) — Caretaker Prime Minister and Defense Minister Yingluck Shinawatra this morning chaired the Cabinet meeting at the Thai Army Club before heading to the northeastern region.

Due to the current political situation and the Government House being closed off by protesters, the Prime Minister has held the Cabinet meeting at the Thai Army Club instead.

After the meeting, Ms. Yingluck has plans to visit the northeastern region between December 17 and 22. Her trip will cover 10 provinces such as Yasothon, Si Sa Ket, Buriram and Roi Et.

The visit will concentrate on inspections of government projects, and will be in no way related to a campaign for the February 2 election. Officials say the Prime Minister is neither fleeing the current demonstrations taking place in Bangkok.


-- NNT 2013-12-17

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Divisions run deep in politically fractured Thailand
by Kelly MACNAMARA

BANGKOK, December 17, 2013 (AFP) - The last time Thai activist Kanthoop saw her father he brushed past her like she was "invisible", a microcosm of bitter political divisions that have wracked Thailand and repeatedly spilled into unrest.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689767-divisions-run-deep-in-politically-fractured-thailand/

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Government holds closed-door reform forum today

BANGKOK: -- The government is hosting a second forum on national reform today, but this time is not open to the public.

Prime Minister’s Office permanent secretary Thongthong Chandrangsu who organized the forum on behalf of the government said the second forum was in response to call by participants that they needed to follow up the result of Sunday’s reform forum in another meeting.

Participants to the forum will include representatives from government and private sectors such as the Sheikhul Islam Office, United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship UDD), foreign organizations, and representative of the adviser to the Senate speaker.

But a source said the forum will be a closed-door meeting and not open to the public. It will be held at Siam City Hotel.

Journalists will be briefed after the forum.

Meanwhile UDD leader Mrs Thida Thavornbutr said that the UDD will meet representatives of the private sector tomorrow. The seven business organizations representing the private sector will include Thai Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Thai Industries, and Thai Bankers Association to exchange views on finding a peaceful solution to the country.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/government-holds-closed-door-reform-forum-today/


-- Thai PBS 2013-12-17

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Effects of political unrest to drag on for 4 months

BANGKOK, 17 December 2013 (NNT) — CIMB Thai Bank President Supak Sivalak revealed that the current political conflicts are likely to cause the economy to slow down during the next four months, as the current government has changed to an interim government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689771-effects-of-political-unrest-to-drag-on-for-4-months-cimb-thai-bank-president/

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Army asserts tolerance of political criticism
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Dec 17 – The Thai army will be patient with criticism of its role on the political crisis, according to an army spokesman.

Col Winthai Suvari said it is impossible to claim that the military will not be involved in politics for it is in charge of national security.

The army is determined to minimise the disputes to avoid a civil war as in the case of many countries, he said.

He called on conflicting parties to peacefully find acceptable solutions by adopting the principles of law and political science.

“Though Army Chief Prayuth Chan-ocha and the army are heavily criticised, the army will be tolerant under the legal framework, otherwise it will dissatisfy either of the conflicting parties,” said Col Winthai. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-12-17

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Russian man found dead in Pattaya condominium room

Pattaya, Chon Buri - A Russian man was found dead in a Condominium room in this seaside town early Tuesday, police said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689772-russian-man-found-dead-in-pattaya-condominium-room/

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The cabinet on Tuesday approved a budget of 3.8 billion baht for the Feb 2, 2014 election, deputy government spokesman Chalitrat Chandarubeksa said. /Bangkok Post