Thailand Live Saturday 11 Jan 2014

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DIT to ensure no product shortages, price gouging during mass rally

BANGKOK, 11 January 2014 (NNT) – The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) is confident there will not be shortages of commodities and unfair price hikes during the Bangkok mass protest on January 13 although supplies could run low in some areas.

DIT Director-General Somchart Soithong assured that officials would be monitoring product prices closely amidst the rally situation in an effort to keep them at appropriate levels. He made a promise to the consumers that there would not be problems arising from supply shortage or price gouging by vendors as the demonstration was expected to obstruct transport of goods only in Greater Bangkok. Nonetheless, he conceded that a decrease in supply could be seen in adjacent areas.

Based on a recent survey conducted by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the spending on commodities by people in Bangkok and its vicinities is rising by 39.4% during this period before the mass rally, whereas the spending elsewhere stays unchanged. The finding signifies that the public have begun to hoard goods for fear of supply shortages.


-- NNT 2014-01-11

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UN leader launches Thai mediation effort

UNITED NATIONS, January 11, 2014 (AFP) - UN leader Ban Ki-moon said Friday he had launched a bid to head off a violent showdown next week between followers of Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and the opposition.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/695821-un-leader-ban-ki-moon-launches-thai-mediation-effort/

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Prime Minister assures safety for Bangkokians during protest



BANGKOK, 11 January 2014 (NNT) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has insisted that safety is the government’s top priority during the planned occupation of Bangkok next Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/695822-yingluck-assures-safety-for-bangkokians-during-protest/

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45 countries issue travel warnings
The Nation

Travellers being urged to avoid rally sites, stock up on cash, food and water

BANGKOK: -- Many countries have advised their nationals to stay away from demonstration sites on Monday and ensure that they have enough cash on them, a fully-charged communication device as well as enough food and water to last a while. They have also been advised not to wear red or yellow.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/695823-45-countries-issue-thailand-travel-warnings/

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Network opposes coup, backs election and reform
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation


Key members of the newly formed Network of Two Yes-es and Two Nos, which is against violence or a military coup and backs an election as well as reform, attend a press conference at Thammasat University yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- Sixty prominent academics, intellectuals and activists across the political divide came together for the first time yesterday to create a network against violence or military coup, as well as to support fair elections and reform.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/695825-thai-network-opposes-coup-backs-election-and-reform/

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EC urges restart of poll process
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung,
Pongphon Sarnsamak,
Hataikarn Treesuwan
The Nation

Numerous problems in run-up to Feb 2 election; top bureaucrat faces probe over statement calling on the govt to resign

BANGKOK: -- The Election Commission yesterday suggested that the government start anew the election process because of many problems that have complicated the run-up to the February 2 polls.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/695826-ec-urges-restart-of-poll-process/

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Tourism sector upbeat on Bangkok's prospects despite next week's severe disruption
Bamrung Amnatcharoenrit
The Nation

BANGKOK: --The Tourism and Sports Ministry and tourism-related operators are confident that the industry will survive any hardship caused by the "Bangkok shutdown" on Monday by the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee, and that the capital can be saved as a major tourism destination.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/695827-tourism-sector-upbeat-on-bangkoks-prospects-despite-next-weeks-severe-disruption/

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1 killed, 7 injured in shooting on Ratchadamnoen Avenue near the PDRC rally site at 2.45am, police sources say. /Bangkok Post

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WARNING FROM CIMB THAI
Baht 'could come under severe pressure'
SUCHEERA PINIJPARAKARN
SARUN KIJVASIN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- CONTINUING political unrest set to culminate in next week's "Bangkok shutdown" campaign by opponents of the government is adding to pressure on the baht, which amid other factors could weaken to 34 against the US dollar if there are violent clashes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/695828-warning-from-cimb-thai-baht-could-come-under-severe-pressure/

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VENUS' VISION
Farmers' plight forgotten amid political maelstrom
Veena Thoopkrajae

BANGKOK: -- Reports this week of the death of a 59-year-old farmer from Pichit signal a deepening failure of the government's rice-pledging scheme. His wife said the death was caused by stress due to delayed rice-pledge payment. The tragedy adds a further dimension to the ongoing hardship being suffered by farmers under the policy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/695829-farmers-plight-forgotten-amid-political-maelstrom-thai-opinion/

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EDITORIAL
The best Children's Day gift is "updated" knowledge
The Nation

As the world moves quickly on, Thai education remains a backwater buffeted by constant political upheaval

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/695830-the-best-childrens-day-gift-is-updated-knowledge-thai-editorial/

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'Parking Dispute' Leads To Drive-By Shooting

By Khaosod English



PATTAYA: -- A pair of gunmen have shot into a Norwegian Restaurant in Pattaya, after its owner had allegedly engaged in a parking dispute with several taxi motorcyclists.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/695832-shots-fired-at-norwegian-restaurant-in-pattaya/

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SHUTDOWN
Offices and government agencies to be temporarily closed
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A number of offices, public and private, will be temporarily closed on January 13, to avoid adverse impacts from the "Bangkok shutdown".

Here are some of the offices that will be closed on the day.

Energy Ministry, of which headoffice will remain open on January 13, said all 93 fuel stations and 17 gas stations within the 2-km radius of 7 rally sites would operate as usual

Commerce Ministry will close the headoffice in Nonthaburi on January 13. The situation would be reviewed on a daily basis.

Finance Ministry will close office on Rama VI Road on the day, allowing officers to walk from home.

Government Housing Bank will temporarily close the branch at the Government Centre on Chaeng Wattana Road. Customers are advised to use services at nearby branches like the counters at Big C Chaeng Wattana.

Education Ministry announced that 208 schools will be affected from the shutdown, involving over 200,000 students and teachers.

Thammasat University is cancelling classes at its Tha Prachan Campus during January 13-15, fearing possible dangers from the "Bangkok shutdown" to lecturers, employees and students. At the campus, only those in charge of security and utilities and those with special assignments will work during the period, the university said in an announcement signed by acting rector Somkid Lertpaitoon. Meanwhile, deans of each faculty at the Rangsit Campus will determine if classes should be cancelled.

Chulalongkorn University will also cancel classes during the three-day period. All gates facing Phyathai Road will be closed.

Bangkok Airways will close its head office and ticket office on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road during January 13 - 15 January 2014. In an announcement, it said reservations during the days can be made via Bangkok Airways' 24-hour Call Centre 1771, www.bangkokair.com, or at Bangkok Airways Ticket Office, Suvarnabhumi Airport located on the 6th floor.

-- The Nation 2014-01-11

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New ATM card skimmer found in Chiang Mai
The Nation

CHIANG MAI: -- Chiang Mai Tourist Police yesterday warned the public that a new kind of ATM card skimmer had been installed on an ATM machine in the downtown market area to steal people's information and ultimately their cash.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/695835-new-atm-card-skimmer-found-in-chiang-mai/

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Trains to South resume after derailment
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Train services to the South resumed at noon yesterday after State Railway of Thailand officials successfully retrieved the bogies of an express train that derailed earlier in the day in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Ron Phibun district. The train was heading to Bangkok from Malaysia's Butterworth station in Penang

The 200 passengers onboard sustained no injuries and were moved to the six front bogies to continue their journey to Bangkok, while the seventh bogie - which was the first to derail - and the three behind it, were kept back at Thung Song Train Station for investigation.

Thung Song Station's chief mechanical engineer Nithep Wangwisetkan said officials had also repaired the 400-metre section of the track damaged by the derailment.

-- The Nation 2014-01-11

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Suthep: We Won't Shut Down Airports
By Khaosod English



BANGKOK: -- PCAD leader Suthep Thaugsuban has insisted that he will not order the seizure of Bangkok's two airports and other main public transport hubs during the "shutdown" of Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/695838-suthep-we-wont-shut-down-airports/

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Thailand's Crisis Is About to Get Even Uglier
By Bruce Einhorn

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/695839-thailands-crisis-is-about-to-get-even-uglier/

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Thailand plays down coup talk ahead of city 'shutdown' by protesters
BY AMY SAWITTA LEFEVRE
BANGKOK

(Reuters) - Thailand's government on Friday played down talk of a military coup ahead of a planned "shutdown" of the capital next week by protesters trying to overthrow Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and said life would go on much as normal.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/695840-thailand-plays-down-coup-talk-ahead-of-city-shutdown-by-protesters/

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At least two injured in two shooting incidents near Democracy Monument rally site
The Nation

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/695843-at-least-two-injured-in-two-shooting-incidents-near-bangkok-rally-site/

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UPDATE:

Seven PDRC guards injured in attacks near Democracy Monument
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- At least seven men serving as security guards for the People's Democratic Reform Committee were injured in sporadic attacks near the Democracy Monument rally site early Saturday, police and protesters said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/695843-at-least-two-injured-in-two-shooting-incidents-near-bangkok-rally-site/#entry7274438

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Moody's downgrades Qantas to 'junk'

Australian carrier Qantas said it was facing some of its toughest-ever challenges as Moody's downgraded its credit rating to junk, with the airline battling intense competition and spiralling costs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/695851-moodys-downgrades-qantas-to-junk/

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Thai capital braces for 'shutdown' by protesters
by Daniel ROOK

BANGKOK, January 11, 2014 (AFP) - Thailand's political crisis is set to enter a tumultuous new phase on Monday with the planned "shutdown" of Bangkok by opposition protesters seeking to prevent upcoming elections.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/695862-thai-capital-braces-for-shutdown-by-protesters/

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Army chief expresses worries over Bangkok Shutdown on Monday, urges all parties to avoid violence /MCOT

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7 wounded from gunfire by unknown assailants into protest site on Rajdamnoen Ave; Suthep asserts Monday rallies will be peaceful /MCOT

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Thai Election Commission renews call to delay snap poll
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 11 – Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) has urged the government to postpone the February 2 general election amid concerns over escalating political unrest and possible disruption.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/695826-ec-urges-restart-of-poll-process/?p=7274919

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Thai Army strongly slams Thaksin’s lawyer




BANGKOK: -- The Royal Thai Army yesterday strongly slammed Robert Amsterdam, a lawyer of fugitive premier Thaksin Shinawatra, over his scathing article criticizing the Army of acting as a force that is hindering Thailand’s struggling for democracy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/695867-thai-army-strongly-slams-thaksins-lawyer-robert-amsterdam/

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Transport Ministry prepared for chaotic Bangkok Monday
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 11 – Bangkok people have been instructed to commute on public transport into the heart of the capital on Monday when anti-government protesters will seize the city to pressure the caretaker administration to step down.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/695868-transport-ministry-prepared-for-chaotic-bangkok-monday/

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Gunfire and explosions at Democracy Monument leave five wounded



BANGKOK: -- Five anti-government protesters were injured by gunshots and explosions which happened before dawn near the site where several thousands of protesters were gathering to hear their leaders giving speeches demanding the ouster of the caretaker prime minister.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/695843-at-least-two-injured-in-two-shooting-incidents-near-bangkok-rally-site/page-3#entry7275018

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BTS offers free rides for children on Children’s Day

BANGKOK, 10 January 2014, (NNT) -- As January 11 marks the National Children’s Day, Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC), the operator of BTS skytrain, is offering free rides to children under 140 centimeters tall who are accompanied by adults. Coupons for free rides can be obtained at ticket booths at every station.

According to Mr. Surapong Laoha-Unya, Chief Operating Officer of BTSC, to accommodate parents and children who are joining various activities around town to celebrate Children’s Day, free rides will be offered to children under 140 centimeters tall in a form of coupon. Normally, only children under 90 centimeters tall will be exempted from paying fares.

Several venues organizing Children’s Day activities are located near the BTS stations, including National Planetarium next to Ekkamai station, Siam Ocean World inside Siam Paragon Shopping Mall next to Siam station, and TK Amazing Zoo exhibition at TK Park at Central World Shopping Mall next to Chidlom station.


-- NNT 2014-01-11

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Reporters should not raise a question on another coup possibility any further as it is certain that no one would stage it, army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha says. /Bangkok Post