Thailand Live Tuesday 24 Dec 2013

[webfact]

Protesters to end blocking Thai-Japanese Stadium at 5pm, saying mission accomplished; assert reform before election /MCOT

[webfact]

Thai Red Cross invites citizens to donate blood during the New Year

BANGKOK, 24 December 2013 (NNT) — The Thai Red Cross Society has invited the general public to donate blood during the New Year holiday.

National Blood Center Director of the Thai Red Cross Society, Dr. Soisaang Pikulsod, has invited all who are interested in donating blood to do so during the Red Cross’ New Year campaign held between December 23 - 30, 2013 and January 2 - 5, 2014.

The Blood Center, located on Henry Dunant Road, will be open from 8 am - 7.30 pm on December 23 - 27, and from 8.30 am - 3.30 pm on December 28 - 30.

Also Participating in the the humanitarian organization's campaign are the Thai Red Cross offices in the provinces of Chonburi, Ratchaburi, Khon Kaen, Ubol Rachathani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nakhon Sawan, Chiang Mai, Songkhla, Hua Hin and Phuket.

For more information please call the Blood Donation Public Relations at 02-256-4300, 02-263-9600-99 ext. 1101.


-- NNT 2013-12-24

[webfact]

The Department of Highways holds road safety campaign



BANGKOK, 24 December 2013 (NNT) — The Department of Highways will be holding a road safety campaign in order to provide safety measures and convenience to travelers during the New Year holiday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691543-thai-highways-department-holds-road-safety-campaign/

[webfact]

Cambodian, Thai troops clash at border



BANGKOK: -- Cambodian and Thai troops engaged in a 20-minute firefight on Saturday, with one Thai soldier sustaining an injury, a military official said on Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691545-cambodian-thai-troops-clash-at-border/

[webfact]

27 provinces declared cold-spell disaster zones

BANGKOK, 24 December 2013 (NNT) – A total of 27 provinces nationwide have been declared cold-spell disaster zones as nearly 4 million families have been affected by the cold weather.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) announced that almost 4 million families in 27 provinces have been heavily affected by the recent cold spell. 12 of those provinces are in the North, 13 in the Northeast, and 2 in the central plain.

In response to the cold weather, the DDPM has asked its branch offices nationwide to step up assistance to locals in their respective areas.

The DDPM is requesting more budgets to purchase winter clothes and blankets to be distributed to people in the affected areas.

Those in need of the assistance have been urged to call Hotline 1784 around the clock.


-- NNT 2013-12-24

[webfact]

University of Thai Chamber of Commerce expects consumers to Bt111.7bn during New Year holidays,up 5.6% from last year /The Nation

[webfact]

Phuket taxi drivers join forces for good, not evil
Phuket Gazette


Niran Thanaphop, general manager at the Katathani Phuket Beach Resort, welcomed the move. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut yesterday officiated the launch of a new consortium of taxi and tuk-tuk drivers at Kata Noi that may herald a new era for taxi services on the island.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691548-phuket-taxi-drivers-join-forces-for-good-not-evil/

[webfact]

PTT and Bangchak Petroleum have raised pump prices by 0.60 baht per litre for petrol and gasohol and 0.40 baht for gasohol E85, effective from 5am tomorrow. /Bangkok Post

[webfact]

POLITICAL STALEMATE
TDRI supports pre-election and inclusive reform
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand Development Research Institute President Somkiat Tangkitvanich unveiled his six-points proposal, calling for the pre-election reform which involves all parties.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691549-tdri-supports-pre-election-and-inclusive-reform-thailand/

[webfact]

SET index closed 1,327.13, up 0.99; Bt/USD32.62; GBP53.18; AUD28.91; EUR44.51; CAD30.55; HKD4.209; SGD25.60; JPY31.13

[webfact]

BTS clarifies 5 hour Skytrain suspended service due to door control computer software problem; cost company Bt5 million in damages /MCOT

[webfact]

PM asserts government ready for reform but needs forum with mediator to gather ideas, people given chance to decide via Feb 2 general election /MCOT

[webfact]

Korat adds 300 bus trips to accommodate passengers during this long holidays



NAKHON RATCHASIMA, 24 Dec 2013 (NNT) - The Transport Company Limited has increased the frequency of buses running between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima by 300 trips per day, in a bid to accommodate the rising number of passengers during the New Year long holidays.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691553-korat-adds-300-bus-trips-to-accommodate-passengers-during-this-long-holidays/

[webfact]

Election Commission insists party list candidacy registration to go ahead; seven replacement venues prepared, evaluation on daily basis /MCOT

[webfact]

PROTEST
Rally security guards given rules for duties
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A rally leader on Tuesday called a meeting of the rally's 200 security guards at the Rajadamnoen rally site to set ground rules for their duties following series of complaints from protesters and the media.

Co-leader Thaworn Senneam told the guards that they must not allow any persons to destroy the peace at the rally site and they should be polite to the protesters and reporters.

He said he would call a meeting with the heads of the guards daily at 5pm to evaluate the situation and plan their work.

Reporters had earlier complained that they had been harassed by protesters who assumed they reported false stories about the rally.


-- The Nation 2013-12-24

[webfact]

UPDATE:
DSI seeks approval to detain Suthep, other leaders
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will seek the Criminal Court's approval to arrest and detain protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban and 37 followers should they fail to report as summoned, a senior official said Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691540-dsi-seeks-court-action-against-suthep-and-37-followers/page-2?p=7201140#entry7201140

[webfact]

POLITICS
Legal difficulties plague setting up of reform council
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- All sides now seem to agree on the setting up of some sort of national reform council but this would be plagued by legal difficulties, caretaker deputy prime minister Phongthep Thepkarnjana said on Tuesday.

The cabinet will take up the matter but as a caretaker government, it faces limitations to what it can do. Issuing an executive decree would be difficult while a royal decree would need legislation to accommodate it, he said, and a Cabinet resolution would require the Election Commission's prior approval.


-- The Nation 2013-12-24

[webfact]

Protesters withdrawing from registration venue
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Dec 24 – Anti-government protesters are set to move out of the Thai-Japanese stadium – the venue of election candidacy registration – today, the group spokesman said.

Akanat Promphan, spokesman of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), said the group has finished its task of displaying its stand against holding a general election before national reform.

He said PDRC protesters merely wanted to express their objection to the election, not to obstruct it.

He said the PDRC will intensify its pressure on caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to resign before moving on with national reform.

Puchong Nutrawong, Election Commission (EC) secretary general, insisted that the venue for the party-list candidacy registration will not be moved from the Thai-Japanese stadium.

He said election officials could not enter the registration building for the second day today and filed a complaint at Din Daeng police station. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-12-24

[webfact]

RT @tulsathit: Thing to watch: Unpaid farmers in rice pledging scheme. This issue can snowball real soon. via @Kom_chad_luek

[webfact]

Foreign Tour Operators Taking Thai Jobs

PATTAYA: -- Deputy directing general of department of special investigation, DSI, opened the office and of illegal influential people and received complaints from Thai tour guides that there are foreign tour operators and guides taking their jobs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691558-foreign-tour-operators-taking-thai-jobs/

[webfact]

to continue:

Thailand Live Wednesday 25 Dec 2013

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691637-thailand-live-wednesday-25-dec-2013/