Thailand Live Tuesday 21 Jan 2014

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PM: Govt will compensate victims of political violence during PDRC's protests

BANGKOK, 21 January 2014 (NNT) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has called on the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) to allow authorities to provide security in the rally sites and expressed the government's readiness to compensate victims of violence during the protests.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698137-pm-yingluck-expresses-regret-over-deaths-and-injuries-of-bomb-attacks/#entry7321396

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Immigration Crackdown in North-East Thailand

KHON KAEN: -- Immigration Police in North East Thailand have announced the start of a major crackdown on foreigners entering the country posing as tourists, who it believes are in fact working illegally in the Kingdom, said Pol Major General Chartchai Lamsaeng at a seminar for immigration officers held on Monday in Khon Kaen.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698065-immigration-crackdown-in-north-east-thailand/

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@RichardBarrow: 5:30am Not a quiet night in #Bangkok. Shots fired & sound of explosion at Chaeng Wattana. Two injured in shootout at Ladprao 115.

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POLITICS
Army-police rift widens
The Nation


A public health official jokes with protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban during a march yesterday from Pathumwan to Asoke intersections. Public health personnel from all over the country participated in the protest.

Navy commander threatens to sue over 'mistaken identity'

BANGKOK: -- Rifts between the police and the military appeared to be widening yesterday, as the Army commander in chief asked the national police chief to speed up investigation into recent attacks and a senior naval commander threatened to sue the police over allegations that a naval officer was behind the Sunday grenade attack.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698123-army-police-rift-widens-navy-commander-threatens-to-sue-over-mistaken-identity/

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POLITICS
Students cry foul after 'forced to back Feb 2 poll'
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- More than 300 students from the Ayutthaya Withayalai school in Ayutthaya gathered yesterday to oust the school's director after he allegedly ordered them to stage a street rally in support of the February 2 election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698124-thai-students-cry-foul-after-forced-to-back-feb-2-poll/

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POLITICS
Deans call for a provisional govt to be set up
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Deans from eight medical schools have called for the caretaker government to step down and pave way for the establishment of a "provisional government".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698125-deans-call-for-a-provisional-govt-to-be-set-up/

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RICE SCHEME
Rice farmers join PDRC in Phichit blockade
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- FOR THE FIRST TIME in a week-long rally demanding immediate payment for rice sold under the government pledging scheme, farmers in Phichit yesterday joined supporters of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) to block the provincial city hall and prevent civil servants from performing their duties.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698126-rice-farmers-join-pdrc-in-phichit-blockade/

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UPDATE:

SHUTDOWN
Many state offices shut down by protests in the South
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Protesters continue to lay siege to provincial halls, plus district offices and health offices in provinces throughout the South.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698031-thai-protesters-lay-siege-to-provincial-offices/page-2?p=7321153#entry7321153

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Medical chief warns of more clashes
The Nation



Rescue teams, hospitals told to be ready for increase in emergency cases; PDRC guards urged to create 'safe zones'

BANGKOK: -- Four people have died and 267 injured from politics-related violence in less than a month and the risk of more bloody incidents is getting even higher, the Public Health Ministry said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698127-thai-medical-chief-warns-of-more-clashes/

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US warns American tourists to avoid protest sites
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The US Department of State yesterday warned citizens to avoid protest sites and large gatherings in the capital and other provinces.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698128-us-state-department-warns-american-tourists-to-avoid-thai-protest-sites/

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Recent protest movements
The Nation

Sunday 7pm: Unidentified gunmen on the back of a motorcycle fire at PDRC guards at Chaeng Wattana rally site twice. Nobody was hurt.

10.10pm: An STR (students group) guard at Makkhawan Bridge is shot in the chest, but is saved because the bullet hits his amulet.

Yesterday

6.15am: Explosions heard twice near Hua Chang Bridge, but no damage or injuries reported.

9am: PDRC protesters, led by Buddhipongse Punnakanta, march from Ratchaprasong to rally at the Government Lottery Office

10.30am: Students group marches to Exim Bank, then SME Bank and the National Economic and Social Development Board.

Metropolitan Police Bureau deputy chief Pol Maj-General Adul Narongsak announces that the same group was behind the attacks at Banthad Thong Road on Friday and Victory Monument on Sunday.

11am: Chumphon Junsai leads PDRC protesters to rally at Software Park, where the Department of Special Investigation is temporarily based.

12pm: PDRC core leader Thaworn Senneam leads a march to Government Savings Bank headquarters and speaks to the bank's director general Worawit Chailimpamontri. Thaworn later announces that Worawit had insisted that they would not approve a loan for the government to cover payments under its controversial rice-pledging scheme.

Meanwhile, at Victory Monument, a group of Metropolitan police and PDRC guards survey the surrounding areas and agree on four locations for the police to set up checkpoints.

1pm: PDRC guards at Victory Monument find a man with a gun.

Sunai Phasuk from Human Rights Watch meets with PDRC leaders at the main Pathumwan intersection rally site.

4pm: PDRC secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban leads a group of supporters, mostly medical personnel, on a march from Pathumwan to Asoke intersection.

5pm: Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, via the media, asks PDRC protesters to cooperate with police and military officers in providing security at rally sites.


-- The Nation 2014-01-21

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Russian RDG-5 grenades in both blasts
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Evidence found at the scene of bomb attacks on the anti-government protests in Banthad Thong Road and the Victory Monument on Friday and Sunday has revealed the type of explosive used.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698129-russian-rdg-5-grenades-used-in-both-bangkok-blasts/

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BURNING ISSUE
Should senior ministry officials stay clear of politics?
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Like all people, officials should have the right to express their political stance on whether they agree or don't agree with anti-government protests. But for top officials of state agencies, who have the responsibility for overseeing tens of thousands of staff, is it proper for them to clearly take sides in a political dispute?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698131-should-senior-thai-ministry-officials-stay-clear-of-politics/

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Bt500,000 rewards for details on grenade attack suspects
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police are offering a Bt500,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a man seen on surveillance-camera footage throwing a grenade at the anti-government rally site at Victory Monument on Sunday afternoon, Bangkok police chief Pol Lt-General Camronwit Toopgrajank said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698133-bt500000-rewards-for-details-on-grenade-attack-suspects-bangkok-police/

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EDITORIAL
Time for timid Asean to show its teeth
The Nation

The bloc must do more over territorial disputes with China, the annual haze and political crises in member countries

BANGKOK: -- Meeting for the first time under the chairmanship of Myanmar last week, Asean ministers voiced concern over hot issues in the region but also ignored several essential topics.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698134-time-for-timid-asean-to-show-its-teeth-thai-editorial/

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Union threatens BAAC executives
Suphannee Pootpisut
The Nation



Demands end to lending to rice-pledging scheme using bank liquidity

BANGKOK: -- The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives' (BAAC) labour union has threatened to seek the ouster of the bank's executives if its board persists in using the bank's liquidity to fund the government's rice-pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698135-union-threatens-baac-executives-rice-pledging-scheme/

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PM expresses regret over deaths and injuries of bomb attacks



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra came out for the first time to express regret over deaths and injuries of bomb attacks and denounced those who were responsible.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698137-pm-yingluck-expresses-regret-over-deaths-and-injuries-of-bomb-attacks/

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Pattaya Police shut-down illegal Hi-Tec Casino in Central Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- A 20-strong team of Pattaya Police Officers shut-down a Hi-Tec computerized Casino at the back of a Jewelry Store in Central Pattaya, in the early hours of Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698144-pattaya-police-shut-down-illegal-hi-tec-casino-in-central-pattaya/

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Customs find bag of rhino horns at Suvarnabhumi
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- CUSTOMS OFFICIALS found nine rhinoceros horns worth about Bt21 million in a bag at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Sunday evening. The bag was allegedly intended for a flight to Hanoi in Vietnam.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698146-customs-find-bag-of-rhino-horns-at-suvarnabhumi/

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Car breaks through PDRC protester check point at Victory Monument; three people abandon vehicle, one woman held, two men flee /MCOT

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EC: issue new election bill for 28 South constituencies after Feb. 2

BANGKOK, 21 January 2014 (NNT) – Election Commission Secretary-General Phuchong Nuttrawong on Monday met with Interior Ministry Permanent-Secretary Wibun Sa-nguanphong, the governors of 15 southern provinces, representatives of the armed forces, the Education Ministry and the Bangkok Metropolitan Education to discuss preparations for the February 2 general election.

One of the main topics at the meeting involved lack of cooperation from many state agencies and personnel in the southern provinces. The agencies in question feared that lending their venues and personnel to the Election Commission for the hosting of the poll would attract the attention of anti-government protesters, and consequently put themselves in danger.

Mr. Phuchong also noted that the EC offices in 12 of 15 southern provinces were currently surrounded by protesters, and only the offices in the 3 Deep South provinces were functioning normally.

According to the provincial governors, several polling stations have no supervising officers, because the appointed officials have resigned due to pressure from the PDRC. The governors of Songkhla and Surat Thani admitted that elections might not be possible in their provinces on February 2, as they believed anti-government protesters would obstruct the polling on election day, similar to their interference during the candidate registration period.

BMA deputy permanent-secretary Banchong Sukdi reported that thousands of officials were still needed to man the polling stations in Bangkok. He attributed the shortage to the inability to appoint people who were not residents of the constituency where the polling station was located. The EC secretary-general promised he would seek a solution to this problem when he met with the EC commissioners. Mr. Phuchong told those at the meeting that after February 2, a separate election bill would have to be issued for the 28 districts in 8 southern provinces that did not have any running candidates. The election process for those constituencies would then be carried out similar to a by-election.


-- NNT 2014-01-21

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Suthep says govt fails to secure loans for rice subsidy
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 21 – The government was unsuccessful in getting loans from the Government Savings Bank (GSB) to subsidise the financially-ailing rice pledging scheme, protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban announced.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698156-suthep-says-govt-fails-to-secure-loans-for-rice-subsidy/

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PM to chair Capo meet to ponder state of emergency

BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will chair a security meeting of the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (Capo) today to discuss whether it is necessary now for the declaration of a state of emergency in Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698158-pm-yingluck-to-chair-capo-meeting-to-ponder-state-of-emergency/

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Suthep leads protesters marching from Lumpini Park to Silom, Chan Road; invite public to join anti-government demonstrations /MCOT

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The Election Commission is not very hopeful the Feb 2 election will proceed smoothly and is seeking a way out via the charter court. /Bangkok Post

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,294.68, gains 4.69 points /MCOT

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Special Report: Activities to be held to mark Chinese New Year despite ongoing shutdown

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) continues to host activities to mark the Chinese New Year celebrations in Thailand, despite a significant drop in Chinese tourist arrivals, triggered by prolonged protests.

Celebrations will be organized from January 24 to February 4 in provinces across the country, including Bangkok’s famous Yaowarat Road, one of the world’s largest Chinatowns.

The festival is seen as the most important event for the Thai-Chinese communities in Thailand. Each year, the event draws millions of domestic and foreign visitors to many popular destinations in the kingdom.

Thailand’s Chinese New Year events this year will be held in various major cities with spectacular highlights. In Bangkok, cultural performances from China, dragon parades and lion dances, street stalls selling Chinese cuisine, lantern decorations, and an exhibition of Yaowarat’s Thai-Chinese community will be held in Yaowarat from January 31 to February 1.

Songkhla’s Hat Yai, which is the top destination for Chinese travelers, will play host to cultural performances and concerts by big name Thai and Malaysian artists, Miss Chinese 2014 beauty contest, and a bazaar selling Chinese New Year goods from January 30 to February 1.

According to the latest figures, the number of Chinese tourists coming to Bangkok is expected to drop by 70 percent this month as the current political turmoil poses risks to the tourism market.

Chinese New Year traditionally brings a boost in Chinese tourism to Thailand. However this year, fewer tourists from China, including Hong Kong and Taiwan, are expected to celebrate the holiday in Thailand. The country welcomed about 100,000 Chinese tourists during the Chinese New Year last year.

Hotel operators noted a surge in hotel bookings in provinces other than Bangkok, particularly Chiang Mai. Hotels in the northern province are nearly 100 percent booked, up from 85 percent last year. The Association of Thai Travel Agents made known that due to the ongoing shutdown and an upsurge in violence at Bangkok rally sites, Chinese tourists and international visitors in general are making plans to visit other provinces, including Phuket and Krabi.

Nonetheless, during the first quarter, numbers are expected to drop 60 per cent from the first quarter in 2013. Bangkok would be hit the hardest with a 70-per-cent drop, while Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Phuket would fall about 40 per cent.


-- NNT 2014-01-21

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Human Rights Watch urges govt protection for protesters
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Jan 21 – The Thai government and police cannot stay put and deny responsibility in light of escalating violence at anti-government rallies, according to Human Rights Watch.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698162-human-rights-watch-urges-thai-govt-protection-for-protesters/

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More shootings at anti-government protest sites



BANGKOK: -- Two shootings were reported last night at the protest sites of the People Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) and the Network for Students and People for the Reform of Thailand (NSPRT) but caused no injury.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698168-bangkok-more-shootings-at-anti-government-protest-sites/

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Phuket Court denies bail for Garry Halpin, former Tourist Police Volunteer
Phuket Gazette


Drug suspect Garry Halpin has been denied bail by the Phuket Provincial Court. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- The Phuket Provincial Court denied bail for long-term expat and former Tourist Police Volunteer Garry Halpin, who is being held at Phuket Provincial Prison.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698170-phuket-court-denies-bail-for-garry-halpin-former-tourist-police-volunteer/