Thailand Live Wednesday 25 Dec 2013

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Police ready to ensure order at countdown sites throughout Bangkok

BANGKOK, 25 December 2013 (NNT) – The Metropolitan Police Bureau has affirmed it is ready to ensure order at all 12 major countdown spots in Bangkok, and facilitate traffic at bus terminals and protest venues on New Year's Eve.

Deputy Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Police Major General Adul Narongsak, assured that the police will be conducting aerial monitoring of traffic routes to facilitate traffic flow out of Bangkok. It will also work to mitigate traffic jams at the city's bus terminals.

Regarding the countdown celebrations, Pol. Maj. Gen. Adul indicated the police were prepared to handle all 12 countdown spots, especially the 3 main spots at Central World, Asia Teak and Crystal Design Center.

The deputy commissioner added that Bangkok police were continually following the protest situation in order to mitigate traffic problems by deploying rapid response teams, adjusting traffic signals at intersections, and advising commuters to avoid routes being used by protesters.


-- NNT 2013-12-25

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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/

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POLITICS
Govt may set up its own reform council
The Nation

Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra speaks to a woman in Phetchabun after she blew a whistle at her.

Rejects call for executive decree; Election Commission to draw lots for party election numbers tomorrow

BANGKOK: -- The government yesterday turned down a suggestion by seven private-sector organisations for it to issue an executive decree to allow a political-reform council to be set up - but it looks likely to form such a body itself.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691638-thai-govt-may-set-up-its-own-reform-council/

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New Tax On Tutors, Medical Staff, Vendors Proposed

By Khaosod Online



BANGKOK: -- The Revenue Department is considering a new tax to be imposed on tutors, medical personnel, and flea market traders.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691639-new-tax-on-tutors-medical-staff-vendors-proposed-thailand/

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PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Commuters caught in chaos after Skytrain shuts down in morning
The Nation


HUNDREDS OF thousands of commuters woke up to a nightmare yesterday morning, when Bangkok's entire Skytrain system came to a complete halt during rush hours.

BANGKOK: -- Traffic congestion spread far and wide. And hearts sank among workers who rushed to Skytrain stations only to find that the service was unavailable. Since its inception 14 years ago, never before had the entire BTS system been suspended for hours.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691640-commuters-caught-in-chaos-after-bangkoks-skytrain-shuts-down-in-morning/

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POLITICS
PDRC supporters return to main site
Budsarakham Sinlapalavan,
Hataikarn Treesuwan
The Nation


Anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban leads supporters back to the main rally site at Democracy Monument. Thousands had camped outside the candidate registration venue, the Thai-Japanese Stadium in Din Daeng, since Sunday evening.

Blockade of venue for registration of poll candidates deemed a success

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691641-suthep-leads-protesters-out-of-din-daeng-registration-venue/

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MEDIA VERSUS PROTESTERS
Reporters debate boycott on news at registration venue
Budsarakham Sinlapalavan
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- There were further arguments yesterday between reporters and protesters at the gates of the Thai-Japanese Stadium in Bangkok, but the tension was resolved after talks with protest leaders.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691643-bangkok-reporters-debate-boycott-on-news-at-registration-venue/

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2010 POLITICAL VIOLENCE
Insurer not have to pay compensation for mall burnt: Court
Kesinee Taengkhiao
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The Appeal Court has ruled that AXA Life Insurance does not have to pay compensation for the burning down of Centre One mall in the Victory Monument area in Bangkok during the political riots in May 2010, because the fire stemmed from incited political chaos and terrorism.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691644-insurer-not-have-to-pay-compensation-for-bangkok-mall-burnt-2010-political-violence/

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SECURITY SYSTEM
Integrated security system set up at Ratchaprasong Square
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association and its members have set up an integrated security system, which it says is the country's biggest and most extensive, to ensure the safety and confidence of tourists in the central Bangkok shopping district during the New Year celebrations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691645-integrated-security-system-set-up-at-bangkoks-ratchaprasong-square/

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EC approves borrowing to maintain rice pledging
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Public Debt Management Office will soon borrow Bt38 billion to keep the rice-pledging scheme afloat after the Election Commission approved the additional funding as for an ongoing project.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691647-ec-approves-borrowing-to-maintain-thai-rice-pledging/

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YEAR-END SPECIAL
Political unknowns cast shadow over tourism prospects for 2014
BAMRUNG AMNATCHAROENRIT
THE NATION


Tourist Police Division Commander Pol Maj Gen Apichai Thi-amart, teads a teams of polic officers dressed as santa Claus, to give away Chrismas gifts to tourist at Ratchaprasong. This is apart to promote the country's tourist security.

BANGKOK: -- The year 2014 will be a challenging period for the tourism industry. Government officials and private-sector executives agree that the top concern is political instability.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691648-political-unknowns-cast-shadow-over-tourism-prospects-for-2014-thailand/

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COST OF LIVING
Political situation, concern over living costs
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation


Shoppers head for Siam Center, while the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce says its surveys project that spending during the New Year festival will grow by only 5.6 per cent from the same period last year to Bt111.75 billion, held down by concern

BANGKOK: -- Spending by Thai consumers over the New Year holiday is projected to grow by just 5.6 per cent compared to the same period last year, due to weak sentiment arising from concern over the political conflict and the higher cost of living.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691649-thailands-political-situation-concern-over-living-costs/

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Thailand deserves better democracy
Termsak Chalermpalanupap
Special to The Nation

BANGKOK: --The anti-government protesters want better democracy, not less democracy. Hence they are calling for an overhaul of the political system that will put an end to widespread corruption. Failure to force reforms will leave the country in the grip of its vicious cycle of money politics, abuse of power by elected representatives, and corruption in high government. Meanwhile, the next election will only see a bigger flood of money used to retain political control.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691651-thailand-deserves-better-democracy/

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STOPPAGE TIME
My person of the year: the stranger in the mirror
Tulsathit Taptim

BANGKOK: -- People say Suthep Thaugsuban is crazy, but didn't Thaksin Shinawatra himself state that if Thailand was to be reset to zero, the resetter would have to go "all the way"? Well, that's happening, though not in a way Thaksin will like.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691652-thai-opinion-my-person-of-the-year-the-stranger-in-the-mirror/

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Home Invasion and Robbery of Brit-owned Apartment in Central Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- On Tuesday Afternoon a robbery occurred at a 7th floor apartment in Central Pattaya, owned by a British Man and his Thai Wife who live and work in UK and had just arrived for a short holiday in Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691653-home-invasion-and-robbery-of-brit-owned-apartment-in-central-pattaya/

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BURNING ISSUE
Anti-govt forces have a new 'bogeyman' - the Western media
Pravit Rojanaphruk

BANGKOK: -- Earlier this month, a well-educated Thai by the name of Pathonpong Charoenwut wrote this widely spread message in English on his Facebook page.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691655-anti-govt-forces-have-a-new-bogeyman-the-western-media/

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Less repeat offences by drunk drivers
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Repeated convictions of drunk drivers have been decreasing in frequency in recent years, thanks to a campaign to arrest and rehabilitate them.

Ruenvadee Suwanmongkol, director-general of the Probation Department, said yesterday that repeat offenders have dropped to 2.5 per cent or 1,040 of 42,113 drunk drivers in 2010 to 2.1 per cent in 2011 and 1.2 per cent last year.

In the first 11 months of this year, 50,027 drunk drivers were sentenced to perform community service.

The department will join hands with various organisations to discourage driving under the influence over the long New Year holiday.


-- The Nation 2013-12-25

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PM seeks to recruit tech students to repair tablets, teach kids
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrang
The Nation
Phetchabun



BANGKOK: -- CARETAKER Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra wants technology colleges to send students to schools to repair PC tablets and teach children how to use the devices and their applications, and has also urged the Higher Education and Basic Education commissions to integrate their education-reform works.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691657-yingluck-seeks-to-recruit-tech-students-to-repair-tablets-teach-kids/

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Thai polls will not resolve deep divisions
Nirmal Ghosh
The Straits Times

Thailand's February 2 election will be more fraught than previous ones, analysts say, and will do little if anything to resolve deep and increasingly bitter political divisions in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691658-thai-polls-will-not-resolve-deep-divisions/

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STR-led protesters wrap Gymnasium 2 building with national flag

BANGKOK: -- Protesters led by the Students and People Network for Thailand's Reform wrapped the Gymnasium 2 building inside the Thai-Japanese Stadium with a giant national flag at 8:38 am Wednesday.

They tried to prevent officials of political parties and the Election Commission from entering the building to proceed with the party-list candidate registration.


-- The Nation 2013-12-25

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Protesters use truck to break through police's barrier, gate into Thai-Japanese Stadium

BANGKOK: -- Protesters led by the Students and People's Network for Thailand's Reform used a truck to break through police's line and the front gate into the compound of the Thai-Japanese Stadium at 8:30 am.

They marched from Nang Leung and reached the stadium at 7am.

The STR led protesters to besiege the stadium a day after the People's Democratic Reform Committee led its protesters to return to the Democracy Monument.

The protesters entered the compound but they did not enter the building where the Election Commission is organising party-list candidate registration.


-- The Nation 2013-12-25

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Abhisit says foreign diplomats concerned about Surapong's claims



BANGKOK: -- Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva today said that foreign diplomats have expressed their concern over the repeated claims by the Center for the Administration for Peace and Order (CAPO) about increasing number of foreign communities throwing support to the government’s February 2 general election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691683-abhisit-says-foreign-diplomats-concerned-about-surapongs-claims/

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EC staff leave Thai-Japanese sports stadium, candidacy registration for Feb 2 election suspended as protesters cordon off, block building access /MCOT

Party list candidacy registration to proceed despite blockade by anti-govt protesters,Election Commission has 7 alternative sites /The Nation

Election Commission set Dec 26 for drawing candidates ballots numbers at Thai-Japanese sports complex at Din Daeng /The Nation

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Army opens military camps,set up 277 rest areas for travellers along travel routes at major tourist sites Dec.27-Jan.2 /The Nation

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,329.25, up 2.12 points /MCOT

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Drunk Ukrainian in Phuket urinates off bridge, falls asleep, then tumbles down ditch
Eakkapop Thongtub


Ukrainian tourist Victor Zkmieziv after his fall.

PHUKET: -- A drunk Ukrainian man who urinated off a Patong bridge, fell asleep, then tumbled three metres down a ditch was taken to hospital with head injuries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691688-drunk-ukrainian-in-phuket-urinates-off-bridge-falls-asleep-then-tumbles-down-ditch/

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RT @RichardBarrow: 10:19am Situation tense at the stadium. Some protesters try to push past police to enter the building (Pic @kowit_js) http://t.co/sK1I95mKRj

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RT @RichardBarrow: 10:20am Glass doors break as some protesters force their way inside the building (Pic @AMatichon) http://t.co/XpKMjYlU1h

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Protesters storm Thai-Japanese sports stadium, force election staff evacuation
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 25 - Anti-government protesters intruded into the Thai-Japanese sports stadium in Din Daeng this morning, cordoning off the gymnasium, the venue for election candidacy registration forcing election staff to vacate the venue and suspend the registration process.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691694-protesters-storm-thai-japanese-sports-stadium-force-election-staff-evacuation/

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NSC proposes 60-day extension of security law in capital




BANGKOK: -- The National Security Council (NSC) has proposed the meeting of the caretaker cabinet to extend the enforcement of security law in Bangkok and three other adjacent provinces by 60 days, citing security reason.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691696-nsc-proposes-60-day-extension-of-security-law-in-bangkok/