Thailand Live Friday 3 Jan 2014

[webfact]

Thai stocks, currency slide on political turmoil


file photo

BANGKOK, January 3, 2014 (AFP) - Thai stocks plunged more than five percent Thursday and the baht hit a near four-year low as investors took fright at the kingdom's deepening political crisis.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693738-thai-stocks-currency-slide-on-political-turmoil/

[webfact]

POLITICS
Army against crisis decree
The Nation


A policeman demonstrates for members of the media yesterday how teargas canisters were hurled from the roof of a building in the Labour Ministry compound during a clash between police and protesters on December 26.

Imposing emergency law during 'Bangkok shutdown' may make things worse: Brass; Reds warn of backlash

BANGKOK: -- The top brass disagree with the imposition of an emergency decree despite the People's Democratic Reform Committee's threat to "shut down" the capital on January 13 to force Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down, military sources said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693742-army-against-emergency-decree-during-bangkok-shutdown/

[webfact]

TOURISM
'Seize Bangkok' campaign ends joy over hitting 2013 projection
BAMRUNG AMNATCHAROENRIT
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Over New Year's, tourism operators rejoiced in hitting projections for 2013, but their holiday cheer seemed to evaporate when they found out that protesters have embarked on a "seize the capital" campaign.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693743-seize-bangkok-campaign-ends-joy-over-hitting-2013-tourism-projection/

[webfact]

MEN IN BLACK CONTROVERSY
Police on defensive over Dec 26 conflict
Panya Thiosangwan,
Noppadon Sritaweekart
The Nation



Top officer admits existence of rooftop team at Labour Ministry on the day

BANGKOK: -- National Police chief Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew has become the first senior official to admit that some policemen were indeed on the rooftop of a Labour Ministry building during the confrontation between police and anti-government demonstrators on December 26.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693746-men-in-black-controversy-thai-police-on-defensive-over-dec-26-conflict/

[webfact]

FEBRUARY 2 SNAP ELECTION
EC to try again to sort out candidate registrations
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The Election Commission will try again today to decide what to do about the districts, mainly in the South, where MP constituency candidates were prevented from registering by barricades and other physical measures taken by protesters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693747-thailands-ec-to-try-again-to-sort-out-candidate-registrations/

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE
Those who seek a political vacuum walk a dangerous path
Attayuth Bootsripoom

BANGKOK: -- During the New Year holiday period, many people have tried to forget the political mess and see the period as "a break", in which everyone can enjoy celebrating the season and prepare themselves for a resumption of the political games later.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693748-those-who-seek-a-political-vacuum-walk-a-dangerous-path/

[webfact]

OVERDRIVE
People's uprising about to reach 'critical mass'
Thanong Khanthong

BANGKOK: -- Suthep Thaugsuban, the leader of the people's uprising, has set January 13 as the day for a Bangkok shutdown. The momentum is in his favour.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693749-peoples-uprising-about-to-reach-critical-mass-thai-opinion/

[webfact]

POLITICS
Protest leader Suthep details January 13 strategy
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban on Thursday detailed the plan on January 13 when the anti-government protesters will shut down the capital to put pressure on Yingluck government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693751-bangkok-shutdown-protest-leader-suthep-details-january-13-strategy/

[webfact]

Govt to prepare Bangkok traffic plan ahead of mass rally
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt yesterday mapped out a plan to prepare transport routes for businesses in the event of road blockades during the mega rally threatened by anti-government protesters for January 13.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693752-govt-to-prepare-bangkok-traffic-plan-ahead-of-mass-rally/

[webfact]

Mounting legal challenges threaten national water and flood projects
PONGPHON SARNSAMAK
THE NATION

Environmental activists want the new govt to revise the Bt350-billion mega scheme

BANGKOK: -- The next government - when elected - should revise the Bt350-billion water and flood scheme and restart the public-hearing process before continuing with any activity or construction projects under the programme, environmental activists say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693754-mounting-legal-challenges-threaten-national-water-and-flood-projects/

[webfact]

Jintana's family continues search for justice after execution-style murder
Phuket Gazette


Ms Jintana's family commemorating Christmas and New Year's at her grave site. Photo: Supplied

PHUKET: -- As the one-year anniversary of the execution-style murder of Jintana Mahattanapak approaches, her family seeks to meet with Phuket’s new top cop for help in a case that appears to have gone cold.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693755-jintanas-family-continues-search-for-justice-after-execution-style-murder/

[webfact]

Phuket police declare victory after Patong parking D-day
Phuket Gazette


Patong police proclaim victory in their campaign to reduce the number of taxis and tuk-tuks parked along the beachfront road. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- Patong police have declared success in dislodging taxis and tuk-tuks from parking spots on the Patong beach road.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693765-phuket-police-declare-victory-after-patong-parking-d-day/

[webfact]

NEW YEAR SPECIAL
Telecom operators keen for next spectrum auction, 4G service
Usanee Mongkolporn,
Sirivish Toomgum
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The telecom sector is anticipating the auction of the 1,800-megahertz spectrum some time this year, which if successful will bring a new choice to the mobile data superhighway in addition to the existing third-generation wireless broadband service.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693766-thailands-telecom-operators-keen-for-next-spectrum-auction-4g-service/

[webfact]

Protest leader: Bangkok shutdown not limited to Jan 13
By English News



BANGKOK, Jan 3 – Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has vowed that anti-government protesters will continue paralysing Thailand’s capital, starting from the January 13 city shutdown until the caretaker government resigns.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693751-bangkok-shutdown-protest-leader-suthep-details-january-13-strategy/?p=7239667#entry7239667

[webfact]

Pitbull fails to appeal sentence for Phuket murder
Prapaporn Jitmaneeyaphan


Lee Aldhouse: Now in Nakhon Sri Thammarat Prison.

PHUKET: -- The deadline for Lee “Pitbull” Aldhouse to file an appeal against his 25-year sentence for the murder of American Marine Dashawn Longfellow passed at 4:30 pm yesterday without him doing so.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693784-lee-pitbull-aldhouse-fails-to-appeal-sentence-for-phuket-murder/

[webfact]

Pheu Thai Party launching election campaigns tomorrow
By English News



BANGKOK, Jan 3 – Pheu Thai Party will kick off its campaigns for the February 2 general election at five different spots in Bangkok and four other provinces tomorrow.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693786-pheu-thai-party-launching-election-campaigns-jan-4/

[webfact]

Explosion near Yala's Kabang Hospital, no injuries reported /MCOT

Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,216.41, down -14.36 points /MCOT

[webfact]

Tourism ministry expects 10-12% drop in foreign tourists this year

BANGKOK, 3 January 2014 (NNT) – The Ministry of Tourism and Sports expects the number of foreign tourists to drop between 10-12 percent in 2014 due to the prolonged political demonstrations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693790-thai-tourism-ministry-expects-10-12-drop-in-foreign-tourists-in-2014/

[webfact]

Thai protests push rebel peace talks down agenda
by Aidan JONES

BANGKOK, January 3, 2014 (AFP) - Stuttering peace talks to end Thailand's bloody southern rebellion are under threat from political turmoil in Bangkok, observers say, as the conflict enters its second decade with no end in sight.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693801-thai-protests-push-rebel-peace-talks-down-agenda/

[webfact]

Thai Baht touches 33.02-33.04 per dollar this morning; weakest in almost 4 years due to mounting concerns over political conflict, strengthened US dollar /MCOT

[webfact]

Caretaker PM to meet with security agencies at Government Complex; National Security Council rules out enforcing Emergency Decree to handle protesters /MCOT

[webfact]

PM heads ISOC meet to discuss measures to cope with Jan 13 protests



BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will chair a meeting of the Internal Security Operations Command Friday afternoon to discuss contingency plans to cope with two mass protests by the People’s Democratic Reform Committee and the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship on January 13.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693815-yingluck-heads-isoc-meeting-to-discuss-measures-to-cope-with-jan-13-protests/

[webfact]

Chiang Mai eyes opening new tourism routes linking 4 countries

CHIANG MAI, 3 January 2014 (NNT) – The Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association has unveiled a plan to map out new tourism routes which will connect Northern Thailand with Laos, China and Myanmar and help boost the local trade and tourism.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693817-chiang-mai-eyes-opening-new-tourism-routes-linking-4-countries/

[webfact]

B240m budget for Phuket airport pier approved
Wiparatana Nathalang


The pier will be able to take a variety of boats, from ferries to private motor yachts and hydrofoils.

PHUKET: -- The central government has given approval for a budget of B240 million for building a passenger jetty at the Phuket International Airport, allowing people to arrive on Phuket by air and then travel on by boat to where they are staying.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693822-b240m-budget-for-phuket-airport-pier-approved/

[webfact]

Provincial police rally in Korat to protect dignity of police



BANGKOK: -- More than 1,000 police from eight northeastern provinces rallied in front of the Thao Suranaree monument in Nakhon Ratchasima province yesterday in what they described as to protect the police dignity and image.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693825-provincial-police-rally-in-korat-to-protect-dignity-of-police/

[webfact]

Singapore court rejects Thai girl's train injury lawsuit
The Straits Times
Asia News Network

SINGAPORE: -- Singapore's High Court has ruled against Thai teenager Nitcharee Peneakchanasak, who fell on to the tracks of Ang Mo Kio Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station in 2011 and lost her legs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693826-singapore-court-rejects-thai-girls-train-injury-lawsuit/

[webfact]

Road accidents for 7 Dangerous Days of New Year holiday claim 366 lives, 3,345 injuries with drunk driving as main cause /MCOT

[webfact]

Thai PM resumes duty in Bangkok; no emergency decree needed
By English News



BANGKOK, Jan 3 – The seizure of Bangkok on January 13 will not escalate to the point of having to impose an emergency decree to deal with massive demonstrations, a senior security officer said today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693815-yingluck-heads-isoc-meeting-to-discuss-measures-to-cope-with-jan-13-protests/#entry7240405

[webfact]

366 killed, 3,345 injured in road accidents during seven-day New Year holidays
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A total of 3,174 road accidents happened during December 27 to January 2, killing 366 persons and injuring 3,345 others, the Road Safety Directing Centre announced Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693837-366-killed-3345-injured-in-road-accidents-during-seven-day-new-year-holidays/

[webfact]

Power, water services will not be disrupted by mass protest: interior minister

BANGKOK: -- Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan insisted Friday that the caretaker government would not allow disruptions of power and water services to be disrupted by the protesters on January 13.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693872-power-water-services-will-not-be-disrupted-by-jan-13-mass-protest-interior-minister/

-- The Nation 2014-01-03