TAT officially announces 2014 New Year's celebration

BANGKOK, 26 December 2013 (NNT) — The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has officially announced this New Year’s celebration as “Amazing Thailand Countdown 2014”.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691987-tat-officially-announces-new-years-amazing-thailand-countdown-2014/

VIDEO: Tomboy blows whistle at Yingluck, awarded a golden whistle from Suthep

By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Last night at the Democracy Monument, anti-government protest leaders invited Pattanan Leeluan, a whistle-blowing tomboy from a recent viral video, on stage to award her with a brand-new golden whistle for her loud, shrieking statement.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691990-video-tomboy-awarded-golden-whistle-by-suthep/

Health Ministry: 32 hurt, protester guard seriously wounded, shot in head; 3 police officers wounded by large fireworks, bullets /MCOT

RT@fratticcioli: (pic @SiniZeR) 13:10 Protestor throwing a bottle of beer against police defending Ministry of Labour in #Bangkok pic.twitter.com/CnTGN1vmjX

RT‏@SiniZeR: #Thailand Police fire tear gas after protesters throw rocks. @RichardBarrow pic.twitter.com/HOJ7WP8xBb

RT@RichardBarrow: Looks like police are throwing rocks back at protesters - RT @tanatpong_nna: อะไรอยู่ในมือตำรวจ ก่อนขว้าง pic.twitter.com/a1VTHUr8h3 #Bangkok

RT@sunaibkk: BKK EmergencyMedicalService said 48 protesters injured (1 with gunshot wound). Police reported 5 officer wounded by gunshot & pingpong bomb

Army chief pleas for calm

The commander-in-chief of Army Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha has pleaded for calm after clashes broke out today between anti-Thaksin regime protesters and anti-riot police at the Bangkok Youth Center (Thai-Japan) stadium used as the venue of election registration.

The Army deputy spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvaree said the army chief has expressed concern about the violence this morning at the stadium and pleaded for all sides to exercise extreme caution and to refrain from using violent means.

The spokesperson said the army chief also urged protesters not to storm into the stadium so that authorities would not resort to violent measures.

He also wanted all sides to abide by the laws to ease pressure on authorities.

The spokesman said that the army chief would like all sides to resolve the conflicts with peace.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/army-chief-pleas-calm/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=army-chief-pleas-calm

-- Thai PBS 2013-12-26

RT@RichardBarrow: 2pm Police stand down while negotiations are on-going (Pic @news1005fm) pic.twitter.com/U5fPFUqeyx

Protest leaders seek postponement to acknowledge charges
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Dec 26 - The anti-government protest leaders today asked to postpone acknowledgement of charges at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) saying they are still in political demonstrations.

The DSI earlier summoned 37 protest leaders to acknowledge charges related to their political movement today. Suthep Thaugsuban, leader of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), who has an outstanding arrest warrant, is scheduled to appear at DSI headquarters together with other leaders.

Viroj Phumsirisawas, a lawyer representing the PDRI leaders, said he has been asked by 13 protest leaders to petition the DSI investigators seeking a delay in acknowledging charges. He referred to the ruling of the Constitution Court which refused to approve arrest warrants sought by the DSI for the protest leaders.

The lawyer reasoned that the protest leaders did nothing wrong as the ongoing political demonstration is peaceful and unarmed.

The 13 protest leaders seeking delayed charge acknowledgement include Satit Wongnongtoey, Chumphon Chunsai, Puttipong Punnakanta, Issara Somchai, Witthaya Kaewparadai, Thavorn Senneam, Natthapon Theepsuwan, Akanat Promphan, Anchalee Paireerak, Somboon Thongburan, Preecha Eiamsuphan, Samdin Lertbutr and Yossak Kosaikanont.

DSI chief Tarit Pengdith earlier announced that the DSI would seek a court order to detain the protest leaders once they appear to acknowledge charges, Mr Viroj said the move can be considered as a ploy to lure the protest leaders to surrender.

He said that the summoned protest leaders are considered as innocent and what investigators can do is to ask them whether they will acknowledge the charges or not.

Mr Tarit said he will consider this afternoon whether the request has sufficient grounds or not; if not, he will ask the court to issue warrants for them.

He said that some state-owned banks, such as Krung Thai Bank and the Government Savings Bank, have already frozen 20 bank accounts of protest leaders as asked by the department.

Some commercial banks such as the Bangkok Bank and the Siam Commercial Bank, however, have asked the department to reconfirm the asset freeze order before they proceed with the requests. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-12-26

Police chief insists global anti-clash standards applied
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Dec 26 – Thailand's national police chief Adul Saengsingkaew stood firm today that the country's police had followed international standards in dealing with anti-government protesters, including the use of tear gas, at the election registration venue.

The registration was eventually carried out with political parties applying for the February 2 general election being given their candidacy numbers.

Pol Gen Adul said three policemen were injured -- one by a gunshot and the others by large fireworks hurled into the Thai-Japanese sports stadium in Din Daeng – the venue of the election registration – and insisted that police were legally authorised to stop the protesters’ intrusion into the premises.

He said police were instructed to take photos of protesters and their leaders for legal action in the future.

Pol Gen Adul ordered police reinforcement at the Bangkok residence of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra following a demonstration by anti-government protesters since this morning.

Ms Yingluck is currently in her native province of Chiang Mai where she will stay until the New Year.

Permanent Secretary for Public Health Narong Sahametapat said 32 persons injured in clashes at the stadium were rushed to nearby hospitals.

One of them--the protester guard--was seriously injured with wound from a shot in the head. Others were injured by large fireworks exploding, by tear gas and rubber bullets.

Several medical units were dispatched to the Din Daeng clash site while many others scattered in other parts of the capital. (MCOT online news)

[tna][/tna]

RT@Aim_NT: 2.18pm Election Commission in press conference asked the govt to postpone the election. Via @jin_nation

RT@sunaibkk: Election Commission announced that the election (schedule for 2 Feb) is now postponed indefinitely. #Thailand

RT @sunaibkk: Election Commission: Free & fair election not possible/Fearing more violence/Asking government to postpone 2 Feb election

RT @Thai_Talk: Election Commissioner Somchai threatens to resign if Govt does not postpone election. No mention of anti-election protest. via @joe_black317

Police vow to return peace after clashes this morning
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 26 – The Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) today promised to return the situation to normal as soon as possible after clashes this morning between police and anti-government protesters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692002-bangkok-thai-police-vow-to-return-peace-after-clashes-this-morning/

5-member Election Commission unanimously asks govt to postpone Feb 2 election, citing deepening political conflict /MCOT

Army chief pleas for calm



BANGKOK: -- The commander-in-chief of Army Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha has pleaded for calm after clashes broke out today between anti-Thaksin regime protesters and anti-riot police at the Bangkok Youth Center (Thai-Japan) stadium used as the venue of election registration.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692004-thai-army-chief-pleas-for-calm/

Northern rice farmers threaten to block Asian Highway



BANGKOK: -- Northern rice farmers threatened to blockade Asian Highway early next year if the government fails to pay for the rice they have pledged with the government under the rice-pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692008-northern-rice-farmers-threaten-to-block-asian-highway/

Tearful Yingluck vows to fight on



CHIANG MAI: -- Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra told reporters in Chiang Mai today in tearful eyes that she will go ahead although so many obstacles are lying ahead of her.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692009-tearful-yingluck-vows-to-fight-on/

DIN DAENG CRASH
Din Daeng residents slam use of tear gas
Budsarakham Sinlapalavan
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Residents including children who live near the site where police fired teargas at the anti-government demonstrators trying to interrupt candidacy registration this morning have been seriously affected by the gas.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692011-bangkok-din-daeng-residents-slam-use-of-tear-gas/

RT @tulsathit: At least 32 reportedly injured, including police officers, in election registration day clash. EC proposes postponement of Feb 2 poll .

Police officer shot dead during Thai protests: hospital

BANGKOK, December 26, 2013 (AFP) - A police officer was shot dead in Bangkok Thursday during clashes between security forces and anti-government protesters, according to the hospital where he was taken for treatment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692018-police-officer-shot-dead-during-bangkok-protests-hospital/

SET index closed 1,308.46, down 23.99; Bt/USD32.70; GBP53.42; AUD28.90; EUR44.59; CAD30.59; HKD4.21; SGD25.65; JPY31.61

Three Phuket men and a two-headed gecko
Prapaporn Jitmaneeyaphan


The two-headed gecko.

PHUKET: -- Three men – two brothers and a friend – who share a house on Hasip Phi Rd in Patong are feeling extra lucky these days after one was woken at around 1 am a couple of days ago by a baby house gecko.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692022-three-phuket-men-and-a-two-headed-gecko/

RT @fratticcioli: #Bangkok anti-election protesters are blocking #Vibhavadi Road.

RT @veen_NT: 4.35pm Tear gas spread onto Vibhavadi arangsit Rd via @Pacharapapon: แก๊สน้ำตายิงออกมาถึงถ.วิภาวดี #NationTV http://t.co/UbpqDkzY2p ”

RT @Biz_TheNation: Thai Journalists Association urged media companies to pull out all reporters stationed around Thai-Japanese Stadium.

PM greets nation for the New Year, asks Thais to forgive; refuses comment on EC proposal to delay general election /MCOT

MRT, BTS extend hours until 2am on New Year's Eve
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Dec 26 - Bangkok's elevated Skytrain and underground train services will open for commuters until 2am on New Year's Eve.

Chaiwat Uthaiwan, managing director of Bangkok Metro Plc (BMCL), the MRT metro operator, said train services will remain open until 2am on New Year's Day, extended from the normal midnight closing time, in order to provide convenience and encourage the public to travel and celebrate New Year's Eve by public transport. More information, call 0-2624-5200.

Meanwhile, Surapong Laoha-Unya, director and chief operating officer of Bangkok Transit System Plc (BTSC), said BTS Skytrain services will also extend its hours on New Year's Eve from midnight to 2am in order
that the public can celebrate the festive season with convenience to commute in the areas where BTS trains operate.

For more information, contact BTS hotline number at 02-617-6000. (MCOT online news)


-- The Nation 2013-12-26

RT @veen_NT: A Thairath journalist is reportedly being shot. He's been sent to a hospital. via @phattanantv9

RT @veen_NT: ThaiRath journalist has been sent to Phaya Thai hospital and his condition is now stable. via @phattanantv9