Thailand Live Tuesday 7 Jan 2014

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Princess Chulabhorn will observe research work at the University of ฺBritish Columbia, Vancouver

BANGKOK, 7 January 2014 (NNT) - Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn will today leave for Vancouver, Canada, on a 12-day visit to observe research and academic activities at the University of British Columbia.

The Bureau of the Royal Household announced the schedule of the royal visit last night, saying Her Royal Highness will visit Vancouver from January 7 to 19, 2014 at the invitation of the University of British Columbia. At the University, Her Royal Highness will pay interest to the use of natural substances to kill insects and weeds and will visit the wine research center at the Faculty of Land and Food Systems.

The Princess is scheduled to board a Cathay Pacific Airways flight at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Samut Prakan Province, at 7.10 pm today (Tuesday) to fly to Vancouver, Canada and will return to Bangkok on Sunday, January 19, by the same airline, the Bureau of the Royal Household said.


-- NNT 2014-01-07

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RICE SCHEME
Farmers demand action on rice
Wijit Chunhakijkajorn,
Sayan Chucham
The Nation



FARMERS have started to protest in many provinces over the delayed payments of the government's rice-pledging scheme.

BANGKOK: -- Some disgruntled farmers have also threatened to block roads if their plight remains ignored.
In Surin, more than 5,000 farmers yesterday gathered in front of the provincial city hall and complained the problem had dragged on for more than four months.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/694679-thai-farmers-demand-action-on-rice/

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January arrivals to plunge during chaos
BAMRUNG AMNATCHAROENRIT
THE NATION


Number of tourist visited Thailand at Chinese New Year last year, while, Tourism Council of Thailand estimates this year will drop 400,000 compare with last year.

BANGKOK: -- Number of tourist visited Thailand at Chinese New Year last year, while, Tourism Council of Thailand estimates this year will drop 400,000 compare with last year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/694680-thailand-tourism-january-arrivals-to-plunge-during-chaos/

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POLITICS
Emergency decree would be a last resort: Yingluck
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung,
Hataikarn Treesuwan
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday that invoking an emergency decree would be the last option in dealing with the current protests.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/694681-emergency-decree-would-be-a-last-resort-yingluck/

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BURNING ISSUE
In the future, how will our kids explain today's politics?
Chularat Saengpassa
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- EACH YEAR, Thai kids can fully celebrate their childhood on only one day - the second Saturday of the year - which this year falls on January 11.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/694682-in-the-future-how-will-our-kids-explain-todays-politics/

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POLITICS
Groups renew talks offer
Petchanet Pratruangkrai,
Bamrung Amnartcharoenrit
The Nation


Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra gets an enthusiastic welcome from police during her inspection of increased security measures at Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- Business leaders will step up their role as mediators to try to find a solution to the political deadlock by hosting a meeting of all parties from the private and government sectors - in the next two days.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/694683-thai-business-groups-renew-talks-offer-political-deadlock/

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UPDATE:

CHILDREN'S DAY
Tanks are out for kids, not coup: Army
Panya Thiosangwan,
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung
The Nation



Children's day celebrations coincides with preparations for armed forces day

BANGKOK: -- MILITARY tanks and armoured vehicles are hitting Bangkok's roads - but not for a coup. The Army says they're rolling in for a military parade and preparations for the National Children's Day events.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/694543-army-tanks-are-for-childrens-day-not-coup/page-4#entry7256400

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Bourse, some businesses to stay open on Bangkok Shutdown day
BUSINESS REPORTERS
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- SOME businesses and the stock market plan to open during the Bangkok Shutdown in the hope that the demonstrations will not turn violent.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/694684-bourse-some-businesses-to-stay-open-on-bangkok-shutdown-day/

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STREETWISE
Good ends can't justify bad means
Achara Deboonme



The end justifies the means." Italian thinker Niccolo Machiavelli coined the now-famous statement, which sweeps away the need for moral action in achieving an objective. The method used to attain our goal is thus of no consequence.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/694686-good-ends-cant-justify-bad-means-thai-opinion/

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Furious tour guides rally at Phuket cop shop after fight over jobs
Prapaporn Jitmaneeyaphan


Registered guides outside Wichit Police Station this afternoon.

PHUKET: -- More than 50 legal Chinese-speaking tour guides assembled at Wichit Police Station late this afternoon (January 6) to try to learn the status of a police investigation into fighting between their colleagues and an illegal Chinese guide.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/694687-furious-tour-guides-rally-at-phuket-cop-shop-after-fight-over-jobs/

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German impaled on bike pedal on Jomtien Beach Road

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/694688-german-impaled-on-bike-pedal-on-jomtien-beach-road/

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Air quality bad in many areas, PCD director says
Janjira Pongrai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- AIR QUALITY has dropped to a level where it could affect the health of people living in many parts of Thailand, including Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/694690-air-quality-bad-in-many-areas-thai-pcd-director-says/

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Govt prepares plan on water scheme
Janjira Pongrai,
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

Getting ready to deal with pending verdict as court sets hearing date

BANGKOK: -- THE CARETAKER government will today decide on how it is going to deal with the Supreme Administrative Court's verdict on the controversial Bt350-billion water and flood-management scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/694692-thai-govt-prepares-plan-on-water-scheme/

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Red-shirt co-leaders disqualified from the February 2 election

BANGKOK: -- Red-shirt core members Arisman Pongruangrong and Charun Ditthaapichai are among 87 party-list candidates disqualified by the Election Commission.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/694695-arisman-disqualified-from-february-2-election/

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Drug suspect's long journey from China
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- A Thai woman was arrested along with 1,900 grams of crystal meth worth Bt5 million in street value in the Samae Dam area of Bangkok's Bang Khun Thien district, police said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/694696-drug-suspects-long-journey-from-china/

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Bomb-making techniques getting better in South
Pakorn Puengnetr
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- WITH 2,889 bombing attacks in the deep South over the past decade, the authorities have noticed a change in the bomb-making techniques, which is believed to carried out by less than 40 individuals.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/694705-bomb-making-techniques-getting-better-in-thai-south/

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Students gather to join 'last fight' for reform
ASINA PORNWASIN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- STUDENTS are gathering to join the protest of the People's Democratic Reform Committee at the Lat Phrao Intersection on January 13.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/694706-thai-students-gather-to-join-last-fight-for-reform-january-13/

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Suthep Thaugsuban leads a march of anti-government protesters from Democracy Monument to Thon Buri in a planned 9.5km-route on Tuesday morning. /Bangkok Post

Oil, gas shipments will be shifted to daytime to prevent an energy supply and services disruption during the planned shutdown of Bangkok, says Energy Ministry. /Bangkok Post

Molotov cocktails used in attack on home of pro-Democrat Blue Sky satellite TV host Teemah Kanchanapairin in Rama II area;fires at entrance gate, trash bin /MCOT

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Caretaker PM chairs Cabinet meeting to discuss response plan for BKK shutdown on Monday; Finance Ministry proposes loan plan to pay farmers /MCOT

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'Bangkok shutdown' focuses on 7 significant areas
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 7 – The “Bangkok shutdown” on January 13 will zero in on seven major locations in the capital, according to protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/694736-bangkok-shutdown-focuses-on-7-significant-areas/

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,237.00, gains 6.16 points /MCOT

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Police clarify shootings at Thai-Japanese stadium
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 7 – Thai forensic police have disclosed their latest evidence which confirmed that gunshots aimed at anti-government protesters at Thai-Japanese stadium on December 26 were fired from buildings outside the compound.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/694739-bangkok-police-clarify-shootings-at-thai-japanese-stadium/

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Political TV host's home fire bombed
By Coconuts Bangkok

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/694746-bluesky-channel-hosts-home-fire-bombed/

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Commerce Ministry urges vendors not to raise goods prices while imploring residents not to stockpile commodities

BANGKOK, 7 Jan 2014 (NNT) - The Commerce Ministry has urged vendors not to raise goods’ prices while imploring residents not to stockpile commodities.

Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan stated his ministry has closely monitored the commodity prices as the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC)’s planned shutdown of Bangkok approaches. He said Deputy Commerce Minister Yanyong Phuangrach and Department of Internal Trade (DIT) officials have constantly inspected commodity prices in the market, paying visits to shops in different locations.

Mr. Niwatthamrong said that the ministry will not allow price adjustments for the time being and at the same time advises the public against stockpiling goods ahead of the shutdown on January 13th.

Nonetheless, he expressed his optimism that the protesters would not attempt to disrupt inland logistics, obstructing or delaying deliveries of goods during the shutdown.


-- NNT 2014-01-07

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Rice farmers to blockade Asian Highway today



BANGKOK: -- Rice farmers in five northern and central provinces threatened to block the Asian highway from Phitsanulok to Nakhon Sawan in what they said is to pressure the government to pay for the rice they sold under the rice-pledging scheme. Farmers said they have not been paid for over five months now.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/694679-thai-farmers-demand-action-on-rice/page-3#entry7257405

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NSC: Emergency decree to be invoked if situation worsens



BANGKOK: -- The government is ready to invoke state of emergency in Bangkok should the situation worsen and warrant the enforcement of the law, said National Security Council Secretary-General Paradorn Pattanathabutr on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/694774-nsc-emergency-decree-to-be-invoked-in-bangkok-if-situation-worsens/

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UPDATE:

Fire bombs thrown at anti-government TV channel’s moderator



BANGKOK: -- Three fire bombs were thrown into the house of a television moderator of Blue Sky Channel last night, causing slight damages to his property.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/694746-bluesky-channel-hosts-home-fire-bombed/?p=7257462#entry7257462

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There will be no power blackout, oil or gas shortage on Jan 13, the day of the planned Bangkok shutdown by anti-govt protesters, caretaker Energy Minister says. /Bangkok Post

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PDRC protesters blow whistle at Banharn’s house

BANGKOK: -- Several thousands of protesters led by People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) leader Suthep Thaugsuban blew whistle in front of ex-premier Banharn Silpa-archa’s house on Charun Sanitwong road to protest his party’s registration in the February 2 election.

The protesters kicked off their 9-kilometer loop march from the Democracy Monument at 9.00 a.m. using the Pinklao bridge in the western bank of the Chao Phraya river to persuade residents in Thohburi area to join the Bangkok Shutdown campaign on January 13.

As the protesters passed the residence of Mr Banharn, leader of the Chart Thai Pattana party, they paused and protest leaders launched verbal attacks on his party’s election registration saying it was against the will of the people to see national reform before election.

A protester also hanged a whistle on the front gate as a symbol of protest to this politician.

The demonstration then proceeded along the Charun Sanitwong road in the direction of Krungthon bridge, Sam Sen, Bang Lampoo and back to Democracy Monument covering a total distance of about nine kilometers.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pdrc-protesters-blow-whistle-banharns-house/

-- Thai PBS 2014-01-07

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Banks ready to handle Bangkok shutdown

BANGKOK 7 January 2014 (NNT) — Banks in the capital are ready to handle the People’s Democratic Reform Committee’s (PDRC) shutdown of Bangkok on January 13.

President and Director of Bangkok Bank Chartsiri Sophonpanich said in his capacity as chairman of the Thai Bankers’ Association that each bank already has a contingency plan to handle the shutdown of Bangkok on January 13.

Each branch is equipped with enough ATM machines and cash on hand to appropriately serve the public’s demand.

Furthermore, Mr. Chartsiri stated that if deemed absolutely necessary and after the approval of their main headquarters, Bangkok Bank branches are allowed to close for service to protect the safety of their customers and employees.

Mr. Chartsiri went on to say that commercial banks are ready to handle the shutdown. In the short term there may be some affects on the economy. However, he said in the long run, the country should be able to move forward, adding that the ongoing protests have so far been peaceful.


-- NNT 2014-01-07