Thailand Live Wednesday 22 Jan 2014

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US urges restraint in Thailand amid mass protests

WASHINGTON, January 22, 2014 (AFP) - The United States on Tuesday urged all sides in Thailand to show restraint and refrain from violence as the US ally imposed emergency rule to tackle mass protests.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698392-us-urges-restraint-in-thailand-amid-mass-protests/

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POLITICS
City put under state of emergency for 60 days
The Nation


The government

BANGKOK: -- THE CARETAKER cabinet yesterday imposed an emergency decree covering the capital and its outskirts for 60 days. This will give officials more power to handle the anti-government protest, which it claims has been a cause of violence, death and injury.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698394-bangkok-put-under-state-of-emergency-for-60-days/

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POLITICS
'War room' advises Yingluck on strategy
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Faced with anti-government protests for more than 80 days now, embattled caretaker PM Yingluck Shinawatra is being supported by top strategists advising her through the political showdown.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698396-war-room-advises-yingluck-on-strategy/

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RICE SCHEME
Rice farmers heading to Bangkok to try and oust govt
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- FARMERS in Phichit plan to head to Bangkok this week with the ultimate goal of ousting the government, which they blame for long delayed payments for their rice in the pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698397-rice-farmers-heading-to-bangkok-to-try-and-oust-govt/

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RICE PLEDGING SCHEME
EC says it has no power to consider rice-scheme funding
Business reporters
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Yingluck Shinawatra-led government has suffered a major setback in its attempt to seek new funds for its rice-pledging scheme, after the Election Commission (EC) yesterday insisted the government must make its own decision on whether to obtain loans for the programme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698398-ec-says-it-has-no-power-to-consider-rice-scheme-funding/

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POLITICS
Public Health officials told to be on alert
Pongphon Sarnsamak,
Suriyan Panyawai
The Nation


File Photo

Agencies ready for emergencies; red cross urges Protesters not to use its emblem

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698283-public-health-officials-told-to-be-on-alert-february-2-election/#entry7326346

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PROPERTY
First dip seen in Greater Bangkok realty since 1997
Somluck Srimalee
The Nation


Pruksa Real Estate Plc's president and CEO Thongma Vijitpongpun

BANGKOK: -- Overall value of the Greater Bangkok property market could see a decline of nearly 2 per cent this year if the political conflict drags on much longer, warns Thongma Vijtipongpun, president and chief executive officer of Pruksa Real Estate.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698400-first-dip-seen-in-greater-bangkok-realty-since-1997/

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EDITORIAL
Rice scheme and the perils of populism
The Nation

The disastrous crop-pledge policy should serve as a warning to our next government

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698401-rice-scheme-and-the-perils-of-populism/

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Cambodians smuggled in for violent attacks: Navy
The Nation

Senior officer claims 'men in black' here too but police can't find them

BANGKOK: -- A senior Navy officer alleged yesterday that Cambodians have been smuggled into Thailand to carry out violent attacks on anti-government protesters - similar, he said, to what happened prior to the red-shirt turmoil in Bangkok mid-2010.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698402-cambodians-smuggled-into-thailand-for-violent-attacks-thai-navy/

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STOPPAGE TIME
Democracy: It's not as simple as "vote or tax"
Tulsathit Taptim

BANGKOK: -- Dear Thai people. It's me, Democracy, again. It's been a long time since I last wrote you but let's cut to the chase. Your demand - for me to either respect your vote or respect your tax - is a bit too much. Can I just stand to the side for a while? I'm not playing hard to get, just being realistic.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698403-democracy-its-not-as-simple-as-vote-or-tax-thai-opinion/

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Democracy centre denies it was behind students' march
The Nation, Ayutthaya

BANGKOK: -- A LEARNING centre under the Election Commission yesterday dismissed a school director's suggestion that it was behind his decision to have students march in support of the February 2 election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698406-democracy-centre-denies-it-was-behind-students-march/

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State of emergency 'would be a breach of people's rights'
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The caretaker Yingluck Shinawatra administration should not declare a state of emergency to deal with protesters as it would enable the government to use arbitrary power that would affect citizen's rights, Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher for Human Rights Watch (HRW), said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698407-state-of-emergency-would-be-a-breach-of-peoples-rights/

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Police 'clueless' about grenade attack, would welcome tips
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Police yesterday welcomed any tips from the public that may help them arrest a suspect who threw grenades at the anti-government rally at Victory Monument on Sunday, as there had been no clues available to investigators so far.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698408-thai-police-clueless-about-grenade-attack-would-welcome-tips/

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Bomb attacks cause activists to revise moves
Budsarakham Sinlapalavan
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Deadly grenade attacks on anti-government protesters last week have forced peace-loving groups to revise how they organise anti-violence activities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698409-bangkok-bomb-attacks-cause-activists-to-revise-moves/

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BURNING ISSUE
For both sides, it's time for a strong reality check
Pravit Rojanaphruk

BANGKOK: -- Since the Bangkok shutdown operation was launched by the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) in a desperate bid to oust the government, many people have taken to assessing the political situation on a daily basis - if not more often - and have kept a close watch on the latest words from PDRC secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban, caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and military top brass. In such a period of crisis, however, we also need to try harder to look at the bigger picture.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698410-for-both-sides-its-time-for-a-strong-reality-check-thai-politics/

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Gamblers, Ladyboys, Drug Users & Former Police Volunteer arrested in Jomtien



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Wednesday, Pattaya Police Officers were on routine patrol around the Jomtien Area and made multiple arrests, including a former Pattaya Police Volunteer who was caught with a fake Police ID Badge, handcuffs and a BB Gun.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698414-gamblers-ladyboys-drug-users-former-police-volunteer-arrested-in-jomtien/

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EC takes poll row to court

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698411-ec-takes-poll-row-to-court/

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PDRC protesters to shut down Civil Aviation Dept; Army clarifies some military hardware remaining in Bangkok for training, not related to politics /MCOT

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RT @tulsathit: Army chief Prayuth: We know who are causing violence. Stop now. via @WassanaNanuam

RT @tulsathit: Army chief Prayuth on emergency decree (publicly):

via @Neaw_NBC

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The number sequence "123456" has overtaken "password" as the most common worst password among Internet users, an online security firm says. /Bangkok Post

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RT @Lerlaforever: Update, parade cancelled. Suthep needs a rest.

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MOT: Bangkok traffic not yet critically afflicted by PDRC rallies

BANGKOK, 22 January 2014 (NNT) – The People's Democratic Reform Committee rallies' effect on transportation in Bangkok has not yet reached a severe or crippling point, says Transport Minister Chatchart Sitthiphan.

According to Mr. Chatchart, commuting has declined to around 70-80% from the normal 100% level. He attributed the low degree of severity to adjustments made in public transportation systems and people's adjustment of their commuting behaviors to avoid entering into routes occupied or used by the PDRC.

The number of bus commuters has fallen to 2 million per day, from 3 million. Expressway usage has also dropped. However, the number of users of MRT subway has risen from 2.6 million people to 3 million per day.

As for the news that private operators of the buses servicing Bangkok have planned to raise their fares, the Minister said that the private operators have already been using buses that run on natural gas, which allows them to save significantly on fuel when compared with the state-operated Bangkok Mass Transit Authority buses.


-- NNT 2014-01-22

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Human Rights Watch slams government on emergency decree



BANGKOK: -- Human Rights Watch yesterday blasted the caretaker prime minister for the declaration of the state of emergency saying the current political unrest does not warrant such decree to keep peace and order.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698443-human-rights-watch-slams-thai-government-on-emergency-decree/

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UPDATE:

Protesters undeterred by Emergency Decree, vow harsher disobedience
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 22 – Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, exasperated by the government-invoked Emergency Decree, declared that the anti-government movement will launch civil disobedience against every state order aimed at deterring rallies.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698339-suthep-vows-to-carry-on-protests-peacefully-in-defiance-of-emergency-decree/page-5?p=7327144#entry7327144

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,282.30, falls 10.80 points /MCOT

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Kittirat says government will seek loan if there is no objection from the EC



BANGKOK: -- The government will go ahead with raising fund from the financial market to help pay the rice farmers if this does not go against the ruling of the Election Commission, said Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittirat Na-Ranong on Tuesday.

He said that, first of all, he had to study the EC’s ruling very carefully to find out if there is any prohibition against the loan plan. If there isn’t any prohibition, he added that the government would mobilize fund in the market in the forms of debt instruments and bonds without bothering with any banks.

Mr Kittirat disclosed that he explained to the EC about the government’s need to raise fund for the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives to pay the rice farmers and found the election commissioners sympathetic and did not raise any objection against the government’s plan.

He further said he was confident that the government’s loan plan would not breach Article 181 (3) of the Constitution because it will not be binding to the new government as the plan is related with the caretaker government’s old project.

The EC ruled that it had no authority to decide on the government’s loan plan and if the government wants to go ahead with the plan it can do so at its own risk.

The government wants to raise 130 billion baht for BAAC to pay farmers who have pledged their harvests since last October.

Farmers have been protesting in several provinces across the country by blocking roads to demand the delayed payments.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/kittirat-says-government-will-seek-loan-objection-ec/


-- Thai PBS 2014-01-22

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RT @tulsathit: RT @Tulip_Oum: "Big Cleaning Day" at PDRC Ladprao stage.-@kesinee_t_NNA http://t.co/RsErIAjJpM

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NSPTR threatens to abduct Yingluck, Chalerm and Adul



BANGKOK: -- Hard-core protesters have vowed to defy the Emergency Decree and to abduct caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Labour Minister Chalerm Yubamrung and the national police chief, Adul Saengsingkaew.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698450-nsptr-threatens-to-abduct-yingluck-chalerm-and-adul/

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Phuket:
Singapore Airlines cuts more flights to Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Singapore Airlines has made further cut on its Bangkok-Singapore flights to match lower travel demand depressed by political and social unrest in the Thai capital.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698453-singapore-airlines-cuts-more-flights-to-bangkok/

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PM assigns responsibilities, give authority to enforcers of emergency decree
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has invoked Article 13 of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situation, B.E. 2548 (2005) to make the following announcement to increase authority and set responsibilities of officials enforcing the decree.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698455-pm-yingluck-assigns-responsibilities-give-authority-to-enforcers-of-emergency-decree/