Thailand Live Wednesday 18 Dec 2013

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Suthep Summoned For Court Appearance By January
By Khaosod Online


Soldiers facing Redshirts protesters on Rama IV Road, 14 May 2010

BANGKOK: -- The court has instructed anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban to appear before the judges for the murder charges he is facing.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/690124-murder-charges-suthep-summoned-for-court-appearance-by-january/

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PM Yingluck visits Buriram, follows up on development projects

BURIRAM, 18 December 2013 (NNT) – Caretaker Prime Minister and Defense Minister Yingluck Shinawatra began her 6-day visit to the northeastern region in Buriram to follow up on the province’s development projects.

Upon her arrival, Miss Yingluck was given an overwhelming welcome by the provincial governor, civil servants, and about 2,000 locals who handed the PM flowers to express their support.

She then traveled to a school located 100 kilometers away by car in Nang Rong District to inspect a One Tambon One Product, or OTOP, project before joining a meeting of provincial officials where she was briefed on road construction projects. The construction is expected to cost around 25 million baht.

Throughout the entire trip, Miss Yingluck was guarded by both plainclothes and uniformed police as around 100 anti-government demonstrators were also amassing in the area.


-- NNT 2013-12-18

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POLITICS
Alongkorn disappointed but vows to go on with party reforms


File photo : Alongkorn

BANGKOK: -- Veteran Democrat MP Alongkorn Ponlaboot on Wednesday insisted he will remain with the party despite losing his bid to be reelected as deputy party leader at the party's general assembly.

I will still be with the Democrat Party even though I do not hold any position on the new executive board. I will continue reforming the party as already endorsed by the general assembly. That job is about halfway complete and I will continue with the task," Alongkorn said.

He lost out in the voting to Satit Pitutacha reportedly because many Democrat members were not happy with his reform plan.

"I hope that the new board will push forward the reform to achieve the goal. I am ready to help and give moral support. Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva also promised to support the reform," he said.

A political party needs to play a leading role in helping reform the country, which is already facing conflict and rampant corruption, Alongkorn said.

He admitted that as a man, he was hurt that he lost in the election. However, he was already prepared for the loss when he initiated the reforms. "When I decided to propose the reforms, which break with party tradition, I assumed responsibility for anything that would happy next. I believe the reform will lead to change in domestic politics and people will have more choice," he said.

While insisting he will remain with the party, Alongkorn said he is making a decision about his future. "I have been with the party for 22 years despite receiving some good offers from other parties," he said, adding that he might not run in the election and instead opt for a teaching job.


-- The Nation 2013-12-18

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Phuket to honor tsunami victims
Phuket Gazette


Creative designs illuminated by candles feature prominently at the annual Light Up Phuket tsunami memorial event at Patong Beach. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- The Phuket community will honor those who died in the devastating tsunami that struck the island nine years ago with a ceremony at the Tsunami Memorial Wall in Mai Khao followed by the traditional “Light Up Phuket” candle-lighting ceremony on Patong Beach.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/690128-phuket-to-honor-tsunami-victims/

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Yingluck calls on protesters not to violate laws when rally at her house Sunday

BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Wednesday called on protesters not to break the laws when they rally outside her house on Sunday.

Yingluck was responding to the threat of People's Democratic Reform Committee secretary general Suthep Thaugsuban to bring female protesters to rally outside her house Sunday to demand her to resign as the caretaker prime minister.

"I hope the protesters will demonstrate under the frame of the laws although they have their rights to make a call," Yingluck said.

She said she was not stubborn but she would like the country to proceed in accordance with the rules.


-- The Nation 2013-12-18

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BAAC says it can pay farmers only till end of this month



BANGKOK: -- The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) today came out for the first time to dismiss deputy commerce minister’s claim that the bank still have enough money to pay farmers selling rice to government under the 2013/2014 crop year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/690131-baac-says-it-can-pay-thai-rice-farmers-only-till-end-of-this-month/

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Government's bonus paying illegal



BANGKOK: -- The Association for the Protection of Thai Constitution and its people’s network today petitioned the Election Commission accusing the cabinet’s approval of 3.75 billion baht bonus payment to government officials this year is breach of the Election Law and the Constitution.

In the petition secretary-general of the association Mr Srisuwan Chanya asked the Election Commission to investigate the prime minister, her cabinet and finance minister after they passed a resolution to allocate 3.75 billion baht from the central budget as bonus to pay government officials.

The same petition was also filed against the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration when it is also considering to approve the payment of 2 billion baht as bonus to pay to BMA officials.

He said that these acts were tantamount to violate the Election Law and the Constitution because they could lead to unfair election.

He asked the Election Commission to order the suspension of bonus payment within seven days.

He also said and if such violation of the law and the Constitution was supported by their parties or with their knowledge, he then asked the EC to dissolve the guilty parties and indicted all the persons involved.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/governments-bonus-paying-illegal/


-- Thai PBS 2013-12-18

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Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs dies aged 84

LONDON: -- British criminal Ronnie Biggs, who took part in the 1963 Great Train Robbery, has died aged 84, his spokeswoman has confirmed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/690133-great-train-robber-ronnie-biggs-dies-aged-84/

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Caretaker PM hopes to meet Suthep to seek way out of political turmoil,despite only 1% chance of encounter;leaves poll delay proposal to reform forum /MCOT

Bank for Agriculture,Agricultural Cooperatives labour union said the bank has only Bt12bn cash to fund rice-pledging scheme until end of this month /The Nation

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Democrat leader predicts rocky election on Feb 2
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 18 - Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva warned today that an insistence for a general election on February 2 may lead to violence and that the government should resign before it is too late.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/690139-democrat-leader-abhisit-predicts-rocky-election-on-feb-2/

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SET index closed 1,349.86, up 12.68; Bt/USD32.17; GBP52.26; AUD28.51; EUR44.15; CAD30.19; HKD4.14; SGD25.430; JPY31.12

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Bones found in Loei linked to confessed serial child-killer

LOEI: -- Police have found several bones at an uninhabited spot in Loei where a confessed serial rapist and murderer allegedly attacked and strangled a girl earlier this year.

DNA tests will be conducted to determine if the bones belonged to a 4-year-old girl who went missing on February 5.

The search for the bones in Loei started earlier this week after a man, known only as Nui, was arrested for allegedly raping and killing a 6-year-old girl in Bangkok on December 6.


-- The Nation 2013-12-18

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Pheu Thai to Suthep: 'Stop harassing PM, family'

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Government Spokeswoman Sunisa Lertpakawat Wednesday asked protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban to stop harassing caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her family.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/690143-pheu-thai-to-suthep-stop-harassing-pm-yingluck-family/

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Mingkwan leaves Pheu Thai

Former Pheu Thai party-list MP Mingkwan Saengsuwan has resigned from the party and will not contest the February 2 election, he said Wednesday.

Mingkwan said he had no conflict with the party but he would like to take a break from politics to teach and do other things.

He said he quit the Pheu Thai on Monday.


-- The Nation 2013-12-18

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DSI summons 17 PDRC anti-govt protest leaders to acknowledge insurrection charges; freezes bank accounts of 18 persons incl Suthep /MCOT

Correction: DSI to summons 17 PDRC anti-govt protest leaders to acknowledge insurrection charges; to freeze bank accounts of 18 persons including Suthep /MCOT

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DSI to freeze bank accounts of 18 protest leaders

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) Wednesday said it would freeze bank accounts of 18 anti-government leaders running the People's Democratic Reform Committee, while summoning all of them to acknowledge sedition charge indicted by a court approval.

Summons will be issued Thursday for the 17 leaders and an arrest warrant for PDRC leader Suthep Thuagsuban, to report to the DSI on December 26 and 27.

Two bank accounts opened by the PDRC to receive donation will also be frozen.

"All the accounts will be frozen indifinitely until the cases against the core leaders are complete," DSI directorgeneral Tarit Pengdit said at a press conference.


-- The Nation 2013-12-18

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POLITICS
Snap poll should be delayed : Democrat leader


File photo : Abhisit//photo by Watcharachai Klaipong)

BANGKOK: -- The election should be delayed as the current atmosphere is not conducive and people have doubts about the government's use of power, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/690139-democrat-leader-abhisit-predicts-rocky-election-on-feb-2/#entry7176147

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DSI orders bank accounts of 17 protest leaders frozen



BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation has ordered the freezing of bank accounts of protest leader Suthep Thuagsuban and 16 other key members of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee charged with insurrection.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/690156-dsi-to-freeze-bank-accounts-of-suthep-and-16-other-protest-leaders/

[Lite Beer]

Yingluck hopes to meet Suthep to end political turmoil
By Digital Content

SI SA KET, Dec 18 - Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said she is willing to meet with anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban to seek a way out of the political crisis although the chances of success are very slim.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/690159-yingluck-hopes-to-meet-suthep-to-end-political-turmoil/

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: According to @Pacharapapon there are 7 embassy reps talking with Suthep. Not sure yet which embassies - pic.twitter.com/y88waNU0Hs

[Lite Beer]

Danish tourist mugged for kiteboard on Phuket beach
Phuket Gazette -

PHUKET: Police are searching for three foreign men who allegedly threatened a Danish tourist in to handing over his entire kiteboard kit at a Phuket beach.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/690176-danish-tourist-mugged-for-kiteboard-on-phuket-beach/

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: 7:15pm Six embassy reps & NGO staff listened to Suthep for two hours. Nationality not known yet - TR @Pacharapapon: pic.twitter.com/0Cc2XYWG02

[Lite Beer]

SIMULTANEOUS RALLIES PLANNED
Suthep vows to paralyse Bangkok Sunday
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- People's Democratic Reform Committee secretary general Suthep Thaugsuban declared that protesters would paralyse Bangkok traffics at least half a day on Sunday with simultaneous demonstrations around the capital.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/690202-suthep-vows-to-paralyse-bangkok-sunday/

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to continue:

Thailand Live Thursday 19 Dec 2013

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/690263-thailand-live-thursday-19-dec-2013/