Police launch center for prevention of road accidents during holiday period

BANGKOK, 26 December 2013 (NNT) – The National Police Office is launching a center for the prevention of road accidents during the New Year's festival period.

On Wednesday, Assistant Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, Pol. Lt. Gen. Ruengsak Charit-ek, presided over the dispatching of policemen tasked with working at the center for road accidents prevention. The center's main objective is to reduce road accidents during December 27 and January 2 - the period dubbed the '7 Dangerous Days' - during which a large number of people will be traveling throughout the country.

Over 80,000 policemen nationwide and a large number of volunteers will man alcohol checkpoints on all main roads and bus terminals. Emphasis will be placed on drunk drivers, those not wearing seat belts or helmets, and traffic law offenders. Rapid response teams equipped with tow trucks will be on standby at every police station to provide service to the public. Rest areas for drivers to park their cars will also be arranged on main roads.


-- NNT 2013-12-26

Suvarnabhumi readies personnel to accommodate year-end peak travel period

BANGKOK, 26 December 2013 (NNT) – Suvarnabhumi Airport and the Immigration Police are readying its officials to accommodate the passenger influx during the year-end travel period, during which 156,000 passengers are expected per day at the country’s main airport.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691873-suvarnabhumi-readies-personnel-to-accommodate-year-end-peak-travel-period/

SOUTH CRISIS
Bombing toll in deep South reaches 320
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- AS MANY AS 320 bomb attacks have hit Thailand's deep South during the past year. As of Sunday, 105 explosions had erupted in Pattani, 69 in Yala, 129 in Narathiwat, and 17 in Songkhla.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691874-bombing-toll-in-thailands-deep-south-reaches-320/

POLITICS
Election numbers to be drawn today
BUDSARAKHAM SINLAPALAVAN
THE NATION



Faction of PDRC vows to return this morning to disrupt election process

BANGKOK: -- THE ELECTION Commission has asked 34 political parties to come this morning for the drawing of election numbers despite some violence and an announcement by protesters to rally at the venue again.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691876-election-numbers-to-be-drawn-today/

BURNING ISSUE
No right to disrupt the electoral process
ATTAYUTH BOOTSRIPOOM

BANGKOK: -- THE DISRUPTION of candidacy registration on Monday by protesters from the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) underlined the need for a solution to the ongoing political confrontation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691878-no-right-to-disrupt-the-electoral-process/

RAJDAMNOEN RALLY
PDRC claims Sunday rally one of the biggest ever
HATAIKARN TREESUWAN
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- THE ANTI-GOVERNMENT People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), led by Suthep Thaugsuban, claimed their Sunday rally in Bangkok was one of the biggest in Thailand's political history as they closed the capital for half a day in their effort to force caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from her post.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691880-pdrc-claims-sunday-rally-one-of-the-biggest-ever-in-thailands-political-history/

UPDATE:
PM unveils reform assembly plan
The Nation


Photo : Pramote Putthaisong

Govt won't be involved in setting up body, election to proceed as planned on February 2

BANGKOK: -- CARETAKER Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday floated the idea of setting up a reform assembly in parallel with preparations for the February 2 election, but analysts said it would not work, and the protest movement immediately rejected it.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691714-caretaker-pm-yingluck-officially-proposes-thailand-reform-council/page-2?p=7206180#entry7206180

Outflows could weaken baht to 34 per greenback next quarter: KBank
SUCHEERA PINIJPARAKARN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE BAHT COULD depreciate to 34 against the US dollar next quarter because funds are moving out of emerging markets to developed economies, according to Kasikornbank.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691881-outflows-could-weaken-baht-to-34-per-greenback-next-quarter-kbank/

Big promotion warded off auto slump
KINGSLEY WIJAYASINHA
THE NATION


The 12-day Thailand International Motor Expo, which ended on December 10, generated about Bt46 billion in sales, which included motorcycles, used cars and accessories besides new automobiles, organisers say. The event was held at Impact Muang Thong Thani.

BANGKOK: -- THE THAI AUTOMOBILE market is expected to finish the year at 1.3 million units sold, slightly down from last year's record 1.4 million.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691882-thailand-international-motor-expo-big-promotion-warded-off-auto-slump/

EDITORIAL
When the Skytrain stopped, so did Bangkok
The Nation

The latest transport breakdown has underlined the need for a network of mass-transit lines covering key locations in the city

BANGKOK: -- Tuesday morning was a nightmare for hundreds of thousands of Bangkok commuters when the entire Skytrain system ground to a halt during rush hour. It was the first system-wide failure in its 14 years of operation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691883-when-the-skytrain-stopped-so-did-bangkok/

THAI TALK
Reform: Separating political rhetoric from substance
Suthichai Yoon
The Nation

Do we know how to go about "reforming" the country?

BANGKOK: -- With all the heated rhetoric among the various parties in the ongoing political conflict, one might be led to assume that we as a nation aren't quite sure what the "reform agenda" is.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691884-thailand-reform-separating-political-rhetoric-from-substance/

Firework factory blast kills 2
The Nation



SUPHAN BURI: -- A Suphan Buri fireworks factory blew up, killing two workers and setting off an inferno that burned the plant down and heavily damaged six buildings.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691885-suphan-buri-fireworks-factory-blast-kills-2/

Police urged to tackle issue of missing persons
Noppadon Sritaweekart,
Waraporn Sangwan,
Ousanee Saensuk
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- ON AVERAGE, three people are reported missing every day in Thailand, and two of them are children. Backed with such statistics, the Mirror Foundation and its supporters yesterday called on police to do more to address the problem.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691887-thai-police-urged-to-tackle-issue-of-missing-persons/

Saltwater intrusion set to worsen, expert says
Jutarat Tipnumpa
The Nation

Saltwater intrusion is threatening to worsen next year, as seawater levels have continued to rise.

BANGKOK: -- If the problem is not stemmed, brackish-water fisheries operators in Samut Songkhram, Samut Prakan, Nakhon Pathom, Chachoengsao and Bangkok would face adverse impacts, Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute (HAII) director Royol Chitradon warned yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691888-saltwater-intrusion-set-to-worsen-thai-expert-says/

DSI to seek arrest warrants if PDRC 9 fail to appear
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) said arrest warrants will be sought after the New Year if the nine leaders of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) do not report to the department today.

The nine, facing sedition and other serious charges, include Anchalee Pairerak, Thavorn Saenniam, Sathit Wongnongtoey and Wittaya Kaewparadai.

Pol Colonel Paisit Wongmuang, chief of the Special Case Operations Centre at the DSI, said he had not been contacted by any of the PDRC leaders as of press time yesterday(Wednesday). No special police taskforce will be deployed at the DSI today, as Paisit believed DSI officers can maintain peace and order if many protesters show up. The only precaution will be a metal fence placed around the DSI headquarters.

The nine face charges under articles 113, 116, 215 and 216 of the criminal code. Besides sedition, the charges include illegal assembly of more than 10 people, using force to harm others, creating a disturbance with weapons and refusing to obey officers' orders to cease their activities.


-- The Nation 2013-12-26

Murder suspect turns self in
The Nation

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: -- A man suspected of committing a murder during a protest by rubber farmers in Nakhon Si Thammarat in September turned himself in to police yesterday, and denied any wrongdoing.

A police spokesman, Pol Maj-General Piya Uthayo, said Kiattisak Jankhong had served as a guard at an anti-government rally site at Democracy Monument. He is said to have met with Cha Uad police in Nakhon Si Thammarat on Monday, and pleaded his innocence of the murder charge.

The suspect has been charged with murder and attempted murder after he allegedly shot and killed one man and wounded another, both of whom served as guards of a group of protesting rubber farmers during a rally in Cha Uad district on September 1. He was the subject of an arrest warrant issued three days later.

-- The Nation 2013-12-26

Russian Necklace Snatch in South Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- A 25 year old Russian became the victim of a necklace snatch in South Pattaya on Wednesday Night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691891-russian-necklace-snatch-in-south-pattaya/

UPDATE:
Proposed National Reform Assembly
The Nation

(To be established at the order of the PM's Office Ministry)

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691714-caretaker-pm-yingluck-officially-proposes-thailand-reform-council/page-2?p=7206309#entry7206309

EU to ban menthol and flavoured cigarettes
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have agreed to impose a new directive that prohibits the use of artificial flavours and menthol in tobacco products along with electronic cigarettes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691892-eu-to-ban-menthol-and-flavoured-cigarettes-ash-thailand/

Police fire teargases at protesters at Thai-Japanese Stadium
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police fired teargases at protesters to prevent protesters from trying to storm into the compound of the Thai-Japanese Stadium, Channel 3 reported.

The protesters tried to break through Gate 2 of the stadium so police fired teargases at them at 7:22 am.


-- The Nation 2013-12-26

Police battle protesters at Thai-Japanese Stadium
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police used teargases and rubber bullets to fend off protesters from storming into the compound of the Thai-Japanese Stadium Thursday morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691904-police-battle-protesters-at-thai-japanese-stadium/

Cabinet approved waiver of toll fees for Bangna-Chon Buri and Bangna-Suksawad expressways,begins Dec.27 (1 a.m.) to Jan.3 (midnight) /

Bangkok Gov.Sukhumbhand agreed to delay the Bt5bn,9-km.Asok flyover construction project on top Asok Montri Rd,but will not abandon it /

/The Nation

Airport Rail Link to expand its services until 2 am.on Jan.1,2014 to accommodate commuters' New Year celebrations /The Nation

NBTC begins 1st day of 2 day auction for 24 commercial digital terrestrial TV channel licences /The Nation

UPDATE:

Protesters storm into Labour Ministry to battle police
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Protesters stormed inside the compound of the Labour Ministry to battle police in front of a gate linking the ministry to the Thai-Japanese Stadium, Channel 3 reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691904-police-battle-protesters-at-thai-japanese-stadium/#entry7206634

UPDATE:

Thai police use tear gas as protesters storm poll venue

BANGKOK, December 26, 2013 (AFP) - Thai security forces fired tear gas Thursday at anti-government protesters who stormed a stadium in the capital to try to prevent political parties registering for upcoming elections.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691904-police-battle-protesters-at-thai-japanese-stadium/?p=7206677#entry7206677

Pheu Thai gets Number 15 in party-list number draw

The Pheu Thai party got the party-list candidate number 15 in the number draw Thursday morning.


-- The Nation 2013-12-26

A school near clash site between police and protesters suspends all classes Thursday
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A school near a venue where police fired tear gas at anti-government protesters suspended all the classes.

Piboonprachasun School on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road near Thai-Japanese Stadium told parents of students to pick up their children from school.

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the protesters who reportedly tried to force into the stadium that is venue of the candidate registration for the Feb 2 snap election.


-- The Nation 2013-12-26

UPDATE:

Tear gas fired on protesters as lot drawing for party numbers starts



BANGKOK: -- Anti riot police this morning fired tear gas at protesters led by the Network of Students and People for the Reform of Thailand (NSPRT) trying to storm into the election registration venue at the Bangkok Youth Center (Thai-Japan) to obstruct the registration.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691904-police-battle-protesters-at-thai-japanese-stadium/page-2?p=7206787#entry7206787

Bomb experts deal with Phuket shrimp paste threat
Eakkapop Thongtub


Defused: Ordnance experts survey the ‘bomb’.

PHUKET: -- Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) officers were called yesterday afternoon (December 25) to the entrance of Baan Laem Hin, just north of Phuket City.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691931-bomb-experts-deal-with-phuket-shrimp-paste-threat/