Second fatality, 30 year old man, dies of chest wounds after police-protester clash at Thai-Japanese sports stadium; 38 still in hospital /MCOT

UN urges Thailand to drop charges against website

BANGKOK, December 27, 2013 (AFP) - The United Nations has urged Thailand to drop defamation charges against two Australian and Thai journalists for a report alleging military involvement in people smuggling, warning of a "chilling effect" on press freedom.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692130-un-rights-boss-urges-thailand-to-drop-defamation-charges-against-two-journalists/#entry7212135

Feasibility study,environmental impact assessment for Dawei infrastructure projects totalling Bt50.2bn will continue despite stalled govt's Bt2tn infrastructure plan /The Nation

NBTC begins 2nd day (last day) of digital TV license auction: 7 news channels, 3 children's channels available to bidders /The Nation

Anti-graft agency found ex-parliament pres.Somsak K.,his deputy Nikom W.,abusing authority,misconduct in carrying out duties /The Nation

Thai rice exports this year fell short of target,but rice exports could reach 8-10mn tonnes in 2014,Foreign Trade Dept said /The Nation

1 Brit Dead And 2 Severely Injured In Road Accident

A British man was killed and 2 were severely in a road accident involving a 10 wheeled milk transporter and a 4x4 jeep. The victims were trapped in the 4x4 and it took 30 minutes for rescuers to cut them free.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692212-1-brit-dead-and-2-severely-injured-in-road-accident/

2013 rice exports miss target: Foreign Trade Dept
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 27 - The Thai Ministry of Commerce's Foreign Trade Department conceded Thursday that rice exports this year missed the target but expected the volume of rice exports could reach 8-10 million tonnes next year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692215-2013-thai-rice-exports-miss-target-foreign-trade-dept/

UPDATE:

14 protesters released on bail; death toll rises to two
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 27 - Police on Friday released 14 anti-government protesters arrested during clashes with police at the election registration venue yesterday which left one police officer and one protester dead and more than 150 others injured.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692175-detained-ant-govt-protesters-freed-on-bail/#entry7212315

French family rescued from deep forest in Phuket after losing their way in search for hotel
Eakkapop Thongtub


The French family after their rescue.

PHUKET: -- A French family of four were rescued early this morning (December 27) after spending an epic evening lost in thick forest on Baan Sakoo hill in Thalang.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692216-french-family-rescued-from-deep-forest-in-phuket-after-losing-their-way-in-search-for-hotel/

14 anti-govt protesters arrested by police at Din Daeng election registration site Thur were released on bail;153 injured,3 deaths (2 protesters,1 police officer) /The Nation

Din Daeng clashes leave two dead, 153 injured



BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Ministry said today that two people were killed and 153 people, including protesters and police, were injured in yesterday’s clashes between the anti-riot police and the protesters led by the Network of Students and People for the Reform of Thailand ( NSPRT).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692217-bangkok-din-daeng-clashes-leave-two-dead-153-injured/

NBTC: 7 bidders win digital TV licenses for news channels: Nation at Bt1.338 billion, VoiceTV, TVPool, SpringNews,TNN, Dailynews, 3A /MCOT

Thai government to ask army to secure election

BANGKOK, December 27, 2013 (AFP) - Thailand said Friday that it would ask the army to provide security for February elections after violent clashes between police and opposition protesters left two people dead and more than 150 wounded.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692219-thai-government-to-ask-army-to-secure-election/

RT@RichardBarrow: Protest guard that died finished his education in Australia. Last FB entry was yesterday at 1:43pm (Pic @safe_kub) pic.twitter.com/tagvnrIeq2

RT@RichardBarrow: Things could change of course, but we could presume from Suthep's speech that #Bangkok will be protest free over the long New Year holiday.

News channel auction draws over Bt7bn

BANGKO: -- NBC Next Vision becomes the top bidder in the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC)'s auction of the digital TV in the category of news channel.

The subsidiary of listed National Broadcasting Corp’s bid price is Bt1.338 billion.

From the start price of Bt220 million, the seven bid winners offered over Bt1 billion for each of the licenses.

-- The Nation 2013-12-27

RT@Tulip_Oum: Jarupong, interim Interior minister insist Govt has no authority to postpone the election after announced in royal gazette.-@news1005fm

Nation Group wins digital news channel auction

BANGKOK: -- Nation Group’s NBC Next Vision won the auction of digital new channel license with the highest offer of 1,338 million baht at the morning session of seven news channels for grabs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692253-nation-group-wins-digital-news-channel-auction/

Thai interior minister shuts the door on delaying elections
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Dec 27 - Thailand's caretaker Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan insisted today that the government was not empowered to postpone the February 2 elections as suggested by the Election Commission (EC).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692232-thai-interior-minister-shuts-the-door-on-delaying-elections/

Pheu Thai Launches 'Lights-On' Pro-Election Campaign
By Khaosod Online


An anti-government protester firing slingshot at police near Thai-Japanese Stadium, 26 December 2013

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai Party has invited the Thais to turn on their cars′ front light at daytime to express their support for the upcoming general election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692256-pheu-thai-launches-lights-on-pro-election-campaign/

POLITICS
Court dismisses action brought by Thaksin
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Central Administrative Court on Friday dismissed an action brought by ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra against members of now-defunct National Examination Committee (AEC) for violating AEC regulations and holding a press conference about its freezing of Thaksin's assets.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692257-court-dismisses-action-brought-by-thaksin/

Forty-five political parties register candidates
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A total of 45 political parties submitted their party-list MP candidacy registration documents to the Election Commission during the five-day period set aside for registration.

Friday was the first day on which protesters did not rally at the stadium used by the Election Commission for the registration. By 10.20am Friday, seven parties had submitted their documents, among them Mahachon, Palang Chon, Matubhum and Puea Pandin.

Deputy national police chief Police Gen Worapong Chewpreecha, who inspected at the stadium on Friday, said the EC had not requested police officers to secure the constituency MP candidacy registration that is scheduled to start on Saturday.


-- The Nation 2013-12-27

UPDATE:

CAPO seeks military hand to guard registration stations tomorrow



BANGKOK: -- The Center for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) will seek cooperation from the Armed Forces to deploy troops at all election registration offices nationwide to prevent attempted blockades by protesters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692219-thai-government-to-ask-army-to-secure-election/page-2#entry7212810

EC puts brakes on 350-billion baht water project



BANGKOK: -- The Election Commission (EC) has put brakes on the 350-billion baht water and flood management projects of the caretaker government until the February 2 election is over.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692258-ec-puts-brakes-on-350-billion-baht-water-project/

35 provinces declared cold-spell disaster zones
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thirty five provinces are announced the cold-spell disaster zones, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

The zones cover 6.14 million residents in 416 districts.

Twelve provinces are in the North, 20 in the Northeast, and 3 in the Central region.

The department has distributed 292,415 pieces of blankets and sweaters. The private sector’s donation is welcomed. The department is also planning for more assistance, given the longer-than-expected period of low temperature.


-- The Nation 2013-12-27

Thai police chief: No live bullets fired by police
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 27 – Thailand’s police chief today stood firm that police did not use live ammunition in yesterday’s crackdown on anti-government protesters at the Thai-Japanese stadium.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692271-thai-police-chief-no-live-bullets-fired-by-police/

RT @Rajprasong_News: #Thailand AP: Prayuth on Coup: "That door is neither open nor closed," but he didn't immediately elaborate. http://t.co/o44lNyVznl

Phuket high school student stabbed outside school gates
Phuket Gazette


The youth was stabbed by other teenagers outside his school at 2:30 in the afternoon. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692199-student-stabbed-with-bayonet-in-phuket-gang-attack/#entry7213201

SET index closed 1,298.71, down 9.75; Bt/USD32.67; GBP53.67; AUD28.96; EUR44.84; CAD30.60; HKD4.20; SGD25.67; JPY31.07

Police "booed" senators
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police officers stationed at the Thai-Japanese Stadium booed and hissed at the Group of 40 senators during their inspection at noon.

Led by Senator Paiboon Nititawan, the senators were escorted by Pol Gen Wallop Chamnongarsa to inspect the damage at the stadium. The officers threw objects at the senators and yelled at the senators, holding them responsible for the hatred.

They stopped throwing objects when Wallop threatened disciplinary actions, but the boo continued.

Paiboon said all data would be presented to a Senate Committee, which will convene on January 6. They will investigate on who gave the order. He was upset that the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO)’s policy should not have led the police into this situation. He said that all are under the orders that fuels violence.


-- The Nation 2013-12-27

(AFP) UPDATE: Thai government to ask army to secure election

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692219-thai-government-to-ask-army-to-secure-election/

The venue for the registration of Bangkok constituency MP candidates has been moved to the Government Complex's bus terminal, the Election Commission says. /Bangkok Poat