Thailand Live Thursday 16 Jan 2014

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RT @WilwithoneL: Am doing some filming in Lumpini park. More and more tents being put up everyday. http://t.co/MYDiRQRPEe

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Caretaker PM Yingluck dragged into rice subsidy scandal
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 16 – The embattled government is incapable of paying farmers for rice purchase under its highly-criticised subsidy scheme, according to a former Democrat MP.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/697066-caretaker-pm-yingluck-dragged-into-rice-subsidy-scandal/

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,281.26, gains 4.23 points /MCOT

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Assailants in sedan shoot at Nang Lerng protest barrier, no injuries reported; giant firecrackers thrown to threaten protesters at Lat Phrao intersection /MCOT

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RT @vaitor: really quiet morning in Bangkok. Protest sites at Lumpini and Asok are really empty, only a few hundred people maximum

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Southern teachers call for improved safety measures
By Digital Content

YALA, Jan 16 – State authorities have been asked to strengthen security for educators as they have become targets of insurgent attacks in this southernmost province of Thailand.

The fresh call was made after a teacher at Ban Nibong School in Kabang District was shot dead while going home on a motorbike in Saba Yoi District in adjacent Songkhla province. The victim was identified as Suparerk Sae Lung, 38.

Krisda Rojanapapong, director of Lakor School and chairman of the Yaha-Kabang Teachers Club, said the request for intensified security was brought up in the teachers’ meeting yesterday. They said the fatal attack has shaken the teachers’ morale.

The teachers also referred to a recent incident in which two police were killed in a bomb attack on Yaha police station.

He said the authorities must adjust their security measures, especially in areas bordering Yala and Songkhla provinces.

Today marks National Teachers’ Day. Mr Krisda said teachers were not asking for anything special, but wanted safety so they could concentrate on teaching. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-01-16

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Ayutthaya farmers demand rice payment from DIT

AYUTTHAYA, 16 January 2014 (NNT) – Rice farmers in Ayutthaya province have submitted a letter to the government via the Department of Internal Trade (DIT), calling for the disbursement of money owed to them in the rice pledging program.

Led by the vice president of the Ayutthaya Provincial Farmers Council, a number of local rice farmers converged on a building in Bang Sai district which was being used as a temporary office of DIT officials who had relocated from Bangkok to avoid the mass protest. The group demanded prompt payment for over 400 farmers in the area who had pledged their paddy with the government in September 2013 and had yet to receive any money.

In Ayutthaya province alone, the overdue amount for the 2012/2103 crop year is said to be more than 87 million baht. Another 630 million baht is owed to participating farmers in the 2013/2014 crop year out of the pledge value of 1.57 billion baht.

Deputy Director-General of the DIT Nopporn Linthong received the group’s letter on behalf of the government. She informed the farmers to rest assured that they would receive the money despite some delay. She added that the DIT would convene with the National Rice Policy Committee and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives on January 20 to find solutions to the problems at hand.


-- NNT 2014-01-16

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RT @RichardBarrow: [bangkok Post] The protesters will target all revenue offices in #Bangkok and the Public Health Ministry today.

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Bomb attack at house of PDRC activist leader Issara Somchai

BANGKOK: -- A hand grenade was thrown into the house of Issara Somchai, an activist leaders of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) last night but caused no injury.

Issara is a former member of the Democrat party’s executive board and party-list MP.

The bomb attack forced the lawyer and former party-list MP to stop short of staging a protest march to encircle a government office today. He rushed back to his home last night from the protest site after he was alerted of the attack by his family.

He is the core PDRC leader staging anti-government protest at Lard Prao intersection where two bombs were thrown last night but caused no injury.

The growing bomb and gun attacks was revealed last night by PDRT leader Suthep Thaugsuban that it was well organized by senior police officer.

He said the attack was meant to intimidate protesters but vowed that protesters would not fear any such violent threat but would continue to protest peacefully and would not retaliate.

Earlier Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva also said that the grenade ttack at his house was also well-organised by political groups which are armed.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/bomb-attack-house-pdrc-activist-leader-issara-somchai/


-- Thai PBS 2014-01-16

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RT @RichardBarrow: The Skytrain, Subway and boat services on Saen Saeb Canal & Chao Phraya River are all operating as normal today #Bangkok

RT @RichardBarrow: Big malls around Siam Square, Ratchaprasong are open as normal today but they are expected to close early at around 6pm

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RT @ChadapornLin: Red Cross still open as usual and can be accessed via Surawong and Henri Dunant roads, call 1664 for details

RT @RichardBarrow: Don Mueang & Suvaranabhumi airports are operating as normal with very little risk of being shutdown by protesters

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Caretaker PM Yingluck chairs security meeting to assess situation; anti-govt protesters rallying at Revenue Department in Bangrak /MCOT

RT @RichardBarrow: 10:30am - RT @SheenaThailand: Obligatory morning shot of Asoke rally site http://t.co/U294Yr8FF7

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PTT, Bangchak cut gasoline prices by Bt0.40 per litre, E85 by Bt0.20, effective tomorrow; diesel prices unchanged /MCOT

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CAPO issues tough warning to Suthep



BANGKOK: -- Head of the Center for the Administration of Peace and Order CAPO) Surapong Tovichakchaikul this morning issued the toughest warning to the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) Suthep Thsugsuban over his threat to hold the caretaker prime minister and cabinet ministers captive.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/697068-capo-issues-tough-warning-to-suthep/

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RT @RichardBarrow: 10:40am - RT @WilwithoneL: Protesters have surrounded Revenue Department http://t.co/InABODbtPT

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RT @tulsathit: Confidence index lowest in December. - @kttvnews

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Protest Sites during Bangkok Shutdown in January 2014

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=210550963008557722983.0004ea041241da07d86cb&msa=0

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RT @zenjournalist: Chuwit's daughters say: #RespectMyVote http://t.co/vgObyMoTYh

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RT @RichardBarrow: 11:15am - RT @ietjer: I am at Platinum Mall now. Shops are open and the mall is quite empty #Bangkok

RT @RichardBarrow: 11:17am - RT @SteFerraresi: Hundreds of Protesters riding motorbikes around ChitLom BTS now, this is Day4 http://t.co/aJvfUhkJNE

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Caretaker FM Surapong urges protesters to rethink joining "Bangkok Shutdown", end Consular Dept blockade, saying many people affected by protest /MCOT

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CAPO reveals court order to arrest ‘Suthep’

BANGKOK, 16 January 2014 (NNT) — The Center for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) has revealed an arrest warrant for the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) leader Suthep Thaugsuban under the charge of treason.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/697068-capo-issues-tough-warning-to-suthep/#entry7298625

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Farmers to march into Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- Farmers from five lower northern and central provinces will march into the capital over the next few days if their demand for the rice payment is still not met by the government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/697076-rice-farmers-to-march-into-bangkok/

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Protesters block Health Ministry's Nonthaburi headquarters

BANGKOK: -- Hundreds protesters on Thursday blocked the Public Health Ministry in Nonthaburi to put pressure on caretaker Yingluck government.

Rachen Trakulviang, a leader of protesters, said his group will not cut power and water supplies of the ministry as there was no order from protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban to do so.

He said the cutting power and water supplies would affect the pharmaceutical and medical equipment which is being kept at the ministry.


-- The Nation 2014-01-16

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PDRC activist urges police to safeguard protesters



BANGKOK: -- A core leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) Issara Somchai this morning called on the police to step up patrol security to safeguard anti-government protesters following last night’s bomb and gun attacks at protest sites and his home in Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/697080-pdrc-activist-urges-police-to-safeguard-protesters/

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Tourists adjust their travel plans to Thailand

BANGKOK, 16 January 2014 (NNT) — Tourists have reportedly made adjustments to their travel plans to Thailand to cope with the ongoing protests in Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/697082-tourists-adjust-their-travel-plans-to-thailand/

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Kittiratt to chair economic ministers meeting to evaluate protest impact, seeking loan sources to pay farmers, releases rice under G2G deal /MCOT

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New rules on Phuket yacht stay to be reversed?
The Phuket News


The Royal Phuket Marina - there are fears the new regulations could see a flight of boats to countries with more pro-yacht regulations. Photo Gerry Cummings

PHUKET: -- Following strenuous representations by yacht owners and marine businesses, Nunthita Sirikup, Director of the Phuket Customs Office has said that she will write “as soon as possible” to Customs HQ in Bangkok to recommend that regulations on keeping foreign-flagged yachts in Phuket be rolled back.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/697084-new-rules-on-phuket-yacht-stay-to-be-reversed/

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UPDATE:

Protesters Camps Attacked By Gunfire, Bombs

By Khaosod English



BANGKOK: -- Unidentified assailants have attacked two rally sites of anti-government protesters in Bangkok last night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/697080-pdrc-activist-urges-police-to-safeguard-protesters/#entry7298894

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Ongoing anti-govt protests is affecting western, northern provinces vegetables farmers who trying to deliver their produce to BKK /The Nation

Thai industry confidence at 25-mth low, index fell from 90.3 (Nov.) to 88.3 (Dec.), weaker sales,outputs, business performance, political unrest, outlook /The Nation

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RT @veen_NT: Interior Minister's house: RT @Rattiya_bluesky: สภาพบ้านรัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงมหาดไทย http://t.co/uLt7oP5IBq