Thailand Live Sunday 29 Dec 2013

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ELECTION
Candidacy registrations proceed
The Sunday Nation

Anti-government protesters surround Tinsulanonda Stadium in Songkhla yesterday to pressure provincial election officials to suspend the registration of election candidates until political reforms are enacted. Nobody showed up to run in the poll.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692593-candidacy-registrations-proceed/

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Protest death toll rises to eight
The Sunday Nation

Eight people have been killed and more than 300 injured over the past two months due to the overheating political tension that led to clashes with police on Thursday and a drive-by shooting early yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- An anti-government protester was shot dead and three others seriously injured by unknown gunmen at a demonstration site near Government House early yesterday morning, emergency medical staff said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692595-protest-death-toll-rises-to-eight/

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Registration cancelled in 7 South provinces
The Sunday NationChart Thai Pattana

Chart Thai Pattana

BANGKOK: -- Constituency MPs enlist for polls in Northeast, North and Central provinces

Election officials in seven provinces in the South cancelled the first day of registration for constituency MP candidates yesterday after protesters laid siege to their offices. However, registration in the North, Northeast and Central areas continued without disruption.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692596-registration-cancelled-in-7-south-provinces/

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NATION ANALYSIS
Violence and bloodshed won't solve problems
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- The current political violence is a poignant reminder that Thai culture is not as peaceful and gentle as officials like to claim through government textbooks and tourist brochures. In the last two months, eight people have been killed and over 300 injured.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692597-violence-and-bloodshed-wont-solve-problems/

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UPDATE:

39 die on first of New Year's '7 dangerous days'
The Sunday Nation

Pathum Thani

BANGKOK: -- A total of 39 people were killed and 399 others injured in road accidents yesterday, the first day of the so-called "seven dangerous days" of the New Year holiday period, the Road Safety Centre announced.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692429-first-of-7-dangerous-new-year-holidays-see-39-killed-399-injured-in-road-accidents/page-3?p=7218990#entry7218990

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UNHCR sends aid to refugees left homeless by fire at Mae La
The Sunday Nation

TAK: -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) yesterday dispatched 150 tents and 200 mattresses to help some 1,000 Karen refugees who were left homeless by the fire on Friday that ravaged parts of the Mae La camp in Tha Song Yang district in Tak province.

The blaze, which destroyed about a hundred bamboo homes, left one man injured. As many as 10 fire engines were reportedly called in to put out the blaze, but gusty winds spread the flames through zone C and the northeastern part of the camp.

UNHCR officials called for refugees at all nine camps along the Thai-Myanmar border to be careful when lighting fires to warm themselves when it is windy.

-- The Nation 2013-12-29

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Insurgents gun down volunteer
The Sunday Nation

NARATHIWAT: -- A territorial defence volunteer was gunned down by suspected insurgents in Narathiwat's Sungai Padi district yesterday.

Sungai Padi police went to inspect the scene on Sungai Padi-Sako Road after hearing of an attack. They found the body of Kamani Mama, 56, lying near his motorcycle. He had sustained four gunshots to the head and torso. Police also picked up four spent cartridges and sent Kamani's body to Sungai Padi Hospital for an autopsy.

The victim worked as a defence volunteer for Kawa sub-district.

Initial inquiries showed Kamani was running errands in the Paluru sub-district's municipality when two men on a motorbike followed and opened fire at him with a 9mm pistol, before fleeing the scene.

-- The Nation 2013-12-29

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Mysterious death in Chiang Mai
The Sunday Nation

CHIANG MAI: -- Police found the body of an 84-year-old foreigner, identified later as Paul Lincke, near Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai yesterday. Lying beside the body was a 9mm gun and an ammunition case, Pol Captain Winai Ravidej said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692600-mysterious-death-in-chiang-mai/

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PDRC slams CAPO for 'making false claims'
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Anti-government protesters condemned the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) for making unfair accusations.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692601-pdrc-slams-capo-for-making-false-claims/

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Big New Year event planned at Rajdamnoen
The Sunday Nation

Anti-government protest leader Satit Wongnongtaey announced yesterday that the movement was hosting a New Year party at the Rajdamnoen rally site for two days running, from tomorrow to New Year's Day.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692603-big-new-year-event-planned-at-rajdamnoen/

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'Help being blocked'
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- On television yesterday, caretaker Public Health Minister Pradit Sinthawanarong and Defence Ministry spokesman Surachat Chitchaeng condemned those blocking the transportation of injured people to hospital.

Insisting that it was the Public Health Ministry's duty to take care of all wounded people without discrimination, Pradit condemned people for shooting at and obstructing the helicopter that was sent to move Pol Senior Sgt-Major Narong Pitisit out of the protest site after he was shot on Thursday. "This shouldn't happen in Thailand, there should never be violence against those who try to save the wounded," he said.

-- The Nation 2013-12-29

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Thais decry politics
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Most Thais or 91.66 per cent said the state of politics over the past year was one of the key factors for disuniting society, a survey conducted by Suan Dusit Poll revealed yesterday.

Of the 1,247 respondents interviewed from last Monday to Thursday, 85.16 per cent said politicians had turned against one another so much that they ignored the impact their behaving was having on the country, while 81.07 per cent said several politicians were selfish and immoral.

Meanwhile, some 78.75 per cent said corruption plagued Thailand, while 73.14 per cent said politics in the country was in such a bad shape that it adversely affected the Kingdom's image, economy and stability.

-- The Nation 2013-12-29

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107 vehicles damaged
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- According to the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO), 107 vehicles were damaged during the clash between protesters and police at the Thai-Japanese Stadium on Thursday.

CAPO spokesman Pol Maj-General Piya Uthayo said a large amount of police equipment stored in police vehicles at the scene had also gone missing. He added that a 15-year-old boy had been arrested for possessing a police uniform, bullets, ping-pong bombs and other weapons.

The boy allegedly confessed to police that he had taken some of the items from police cars, and that he was hired for Bt500 to cause a disturbance at the site of the demonstration.

-- The Nation 2013-12-29

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-- The Nation 2013-12-29

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Phuket Opinion: Resolving not to fail
Phuket Gazette -

Even the good guys can get caught up in the antics that Patong has a well-earned reputation for. Image: Gazette Graphics

PHUKET: With the New Year rapidly approaching, we wait to see just how effective efforts mandated by the Phuket Provincial Police will be in ridding the island of illegal actions by numerous, unregistered taxi and tuk-tuk ranks by its specified “D-Day” of January 1.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692611-phuket-opinion-resolving-not-to-fail/

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RT@191Thailand: RT @Ryn_writes: 3 killed and 15 people injured in road accident in Pak Chong district, Nakornratchasrima last night: pic.twitter.com/mFgaSLWPsc

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RT@191Thailand: 5 injured when this passenger van hit a tree in Pakthongchai district of Nakhon Ratchasima - TR @Huk_31_Korat: pic.twitter.com/iZxZ1R9QXY

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RT@RichardBarrow Curator of the Red Shirt’s official English Twitter account @UDD_English tweeted: “To hell with Thaksin and Suthep” pic.twitter.com/0H2XsU041l

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RT@RichardBarrow: Do you agree with this Red Shirt? - RT @UDD_English: To hell with Thaksin and Suthep - they are the same breed that destroy this country

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RT@RichardBarrow: Still a few traffic jams on outskirts of #Bangkok. This is Phahonyothin - RT @Dr_Prawut: พหลโยธินขาออกยังหนาแน่นครับ pic.twitter.com/zgaA6jdG78

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6,000 meth pills and 600 grams of crystal meth seized in B2.7mn Phuket drug haul
Eakkapop Thongtub

The two men and the drugs.

PHUKET: Two men, including a 19-year-old, have been arrested and charged with drug possession with intent to sell after Phuket police caught them with 6,000 meth pills (ya ba) and 600 grams of crystal meth (ya ice)

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692627-6000-meth-pills-and-600-grams-of-crystal-meth-seized-in-b27mn-phuket-drug-haul/

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Urgent: Panda Lin Hui conceives

The Chiang Mai Zoo announced Sunday that its team of veterinarians successfully conducted artificial insemination on Lin Hui, making it conceive.

The zoo announced that Lin Hui is scheduled to deliver next month, Channel 3 reported.

Lin Hui and its mate, Chuang Chuang, are two Giant Pandas from Sichuan, China on loan to Chiang Mai Zoo in Chiang Mai.

Earlier, Lin Hui has given birth to Lin Ping, which is now choosing its mate in China.

-- The Nation 2013-12-29

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RT@RichardBarrow: 7 Dangerous Days on #Thailand’s Roads:
Day 1: 39 deaths (33 in 2012)
Day 2: 47 deaths (38 in 2012)
7วันระวังอันตราย

RT@RichardBarrow: Day 1 would have been 29 deaths higher but the Transport Minister quickly tweeted that the bus accident happened at 11pm on the day before.

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RT@ACSBKK: Due to public holidays, American Citizens Services (ACS) closed 12/30, 12/31, and 1/1; 24/7 Duty Officer available at 02-205-4000 - Be Safe!

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EC member Somchai to discuss with three high-ranking govt representatives

BANGKOK: -- Election commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said Sunday that he will meet three high-ranking representatives of the government today to discuss a possible solution for the on-going political crisis. Somchai declined to name the three.

He said the discussion would focus on whether the election could be deferred. If not, what should be done to prevent violence on the election day, he said.

-- The Nation 2013-12-29

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Phuket Opinion: Teaching that it’s not rude, it’s just culture
Phuket Gazette -

Madunan Chehteek, 47, is a native of Yala who left school at age 15 and came to Phuket to work at age 19. He held various positions at Phuket resorts, working his way up to receptionist, then was a tour guide for five years. He opened his shop, the Madunan shirt and souvenir shop, on the bypass road in 1997.

Here, he explains how understanding customers’ cultural backgrounds is the most important element in providing them with quality service.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692631-phuket-opinion-teaching-that-its-not-rude-its-just-culture/

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RT@191Thailand: 18 injured when a Bangkok-Hat Yai night bus crashed in Chumphon (Via @Huk_31_Korat) pic.twitter.com/yuWQr8Ntio

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RT@191Thailand: 86 dead on the roads in #Thailand in just 2 days. Most dangerous is Ayutthaya with 5 deaths (Pic @ThanawatLive) pic.twitter.com/RBweUY7Quc

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Songkhla suspends constituency-based candidacy registration for Sunday

The Songkhla election committee Sunday announced the suspension of the constituency-based candidacy registration for the day after protesters besieged the registration venue.

Protesters have locked the gate to the registration venue.

It was the second day that the registration could not proceed.

-- The Nation 2013-12-29

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Surat Thani suspends constituency-based candidacy registration for Sunday

The Surat Thani election committee Sunday announced the suspension of the constituency-based candidacy registration for the day after protesters besieged the registration venue.

It was the second day that the registration could not proceed.

-- The Nation 2013-12-29