Thailand Live Wednesday 22 Jan 2014

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Central farmers blockade Asian Highway

BANGKOK: -- More than 500 farmers from three central provinces started blockading the Asian Highway in Promburi district of Singburi to demand payment for their rice.

Farmers from Singburi gathered first at the Ang Thong town hall to demand rice payment.

They submitted a letter to the governor Pawin Chamniprasart before leaving to join farmers from Ang Thong and Chai Nat provinces to block the Asian Highway in Promburi district.

Farmer leader Songpol Poolsawat of Ang Thong said they decided to block the highway because they still do not receive money from selling rice to the government.

He said a total of 10,180 farmers in Ang Thong province sold about 10,000 tons of rice amounted to 1.2 billion baht to the government. But he said only half of them were paid with the rest 5507 farmers still are not paid.

The unpaid rice is worth over 600 million baht, he said.

He said farmers wanted to have cash to invest for the next crop, otherwise they might go bankrupt.

The highway blockade caused traffic jams on the Asian Highway. Highway police advised motorists to switch to Pamok-Suphanburi to avoid the blockade instead.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/central-farmers-blockade-asian-highway/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=central-farmers-blockade-asian-highway

-- Thai PBS 2014-01-22

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UPDATE:

CRIME
Core red leader survives gun attack

Gunmen sprayed bullets at a top redshirt hardliner on Thursday in his hometown province of Udon Thani.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698476-red-shirt-core-leader-kwanchai-shot/page-5?p=7328417#entry7328417

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THAI POLITICS
US urges restraint in Thailand amid mass protests

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.

Washington condemned violence and called for an investigation into incidents including grenade attacks that killed one person and injured dozens more.

"We urge all sides to refrain from violence, exercise restraint, and respect the rule of law," State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said in a statement.

"We encourage all involved to commit to sincere dialogue to resolve political differences peacefully and democratically."

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s government declared a 60-day state of emergency, which includes a ban on gatherings of more than five people, but ruled out the use of force or giving the army the leading role.

In 2010, a military-led crackdown on protests -- then led by forces sympathetic to the Shinawatra clan -- led to dozens of deaths.

Thailand is the oldest US ally in Asia, with the kingdom then known as Siam famously offering president Abraham Lincoln elephants to fight the civil war.

-- The Nation 2014-01-22

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RT@waanspeaking: RT @Phop_NTV: Protest leader Satit now on Pathumwan stage 13.45hr #NationTV pic.twitter.com/IotoVetITp

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40 senators to ask Constitutional Court to rule on state of emergency declaration

BANGKOK: -- The group of 40 senators will ask the Constitutional Court to rule whether the government had violated the charter by declaring the state of emergency in Bangkok and nearby provinces, one of them said Wednesday.

Paibul Nititawan, an appointed senator and member of the group, said the declaration of state of emergency definitely violated Article 181 and Article 237.

Paibul said Article 184 prohibited the government from using state personnel to gain advantage in an election and Article 237 prohibited any political party from doing anything that would allow them to have an advantage in the election.

Paibul said he would file a petition with the court on Thursday.

-- The Nation 2014-01-22

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RT@veen_NT: Ambushed by protesters at Office of sec-gen of Defence, CMPO has moved to Labour ministry. via @Tik_NT

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

Die-hard activists declare bolder retaliation against govt
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Jan 22 - A hardcore anti-government group today challenged the caretaker government's use of the Emergency Decree and vowed to take three leading state officials including the caretaker prime minister captive.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698450-nsptr-threatens-to-abduct-yingluck-chalerm-and-adul/page-2#entry7328590

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Emergency Decree Ignored, Police HQ Sign Vandalised

By Khaosod English


PM Yingluck Shinawatra arrives at the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, 22 January 2014

BANGKOK: -- Anti-government protesters are besieging the headquarters of the Royal Thai Police to prevent governmental officials from working there.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698538-emergency-decree-ignored-police-hq-sign-vandalised/

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Thai protesters fight on despite state of emergency
by Daniel ROOK

BANGKOK, January 22, 2014 (AFP) - Defiant Thai opposition protesters vowed to ignore a state of emergency that came into force across the tense capital on Wednesday, refusing to abandon their fight to bring down the government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698539-thai-protesters-fight-on-despite-state-of-emergency/

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Two Young Boys Found Decapitated On A Railway Line



Two young boys have been found decapitated on a railway line in Korat. The mysterious deaths might be to cover up a murder or it was a game that went tragically wrong. The bodies were sent for a post mortem to find the real cause.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698542-two-young-boys-found-decapitated-on-a-railway-track-in-korat/

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POLICY RATE
BOT maintains policy rate at 2.25%
The Nation


Prasarn Trairatvorakul

BANGKOK: -- Four members of the Bank of Thailand's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided on Wednesday to maintain the policy rate at 2.25 per cent, though three members voted for a cut in light of political impasse.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698544-bot-maintains-policy-rate-at-225/

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PRDC at Lumpini Park to shutdown Civil Aviation Dept; another group removes National Police Bureau sign at HQ /MCOT

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POLITICS
Senators to ask Constitutional Court to rule on state of emergency declaration
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A group of 40 senators will ask the Constitutional Court to rule whether the government has violated the charter by declaring a state of emergency in Bangkok and nearby provinces, one of them said Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698556-senators-to-ask-constitutional-court-to-rule-on-state-of-emergency-declaration/

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Invocation of emergency decree in Bangkok, nearby provinces could damage Thailand's image,chase foreign tourists away, Thai Chamber of Commerce chairman warned /The Nationn

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RT @tonygjordan: Thai Airways scrapping 25 flights from HK to BKK this month; and SQ cutting 24. Might be a quiet peak season for the city.

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RT @Lerlaforever: Center of Maintaining Peace and Order was on TV, having no measures to disperse the protesters yet and requested people to live normally.

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First Army Division to deploy 100 officers on motorcycles to keep order around rally sites

BANGKOK: -- First Army Division Commander Pol Maj Gen Wara Boonyasit said he would deploy 100 troops from his division to patrol rally sites of the People's Democratic Reform Committee on motorcycles.

Wara unveiled the plan after he made an inspection rally sites of the PDRC.


-- The Nation 2014-01-22

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STATE OF EMERGENCY
CMPO tells media not to provoke unrest
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) is to invite editors of selected media to discuss and make clear that their reports should not provoke unrest, the CMPO's secretary Paradorn Pattanatabut said Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698560-cmpo-tells-media-not-to-provoke-unrest-state-of-emergency/

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Thai pro-government leader shot as protesters fight on

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698476-red-shirt-core-leader-kwanchai-shot/page-8?p=7329193#entry7329193

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SET index closed 1,290.49, down 2.61; Bt/USD32.73; GBP53.83; AUD28.85; EUR44.30; CAD29.71; HKD4.21; SGD25.50; JPY31.27

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RT @CoconutsBangkok: RT @AirAsia [Notification] All #AirAsia flights to/from Bangkok are operating as per scheduled. More info @ http://t.co/2VOL3F0fg5

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MFA: Emergency decree enforcement not aimed at dispersing protests

BANGKOK: -- The Foreign Affairs Ministry has assured foreign dignitaries in Thailand that the invocation of the emergency decree is not aimed at cracking down on protesters and will not inflame violence.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698584-mfa-emergency-decree-enforcement-not-aimed-at-dispersing-protests/

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Only NBTC can suspend TV channels, regulator says
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The power to suspend television channels belongs to the broadcasting regulators, a commissioner said Wednesday.

If the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) wants to suspend any media operation, especially authorised television channels, the decision must be taken and the order given by the National Broadcast and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC).

NBTC Commissioner Supinya Klangnarong wrote on her Facebook page that the Democrat-affiliated BlueSky channel, which broadcasts the anti-government protest activities, has just renewed its license for two years.

The Emergency Decree invoked today will not overrule NBTC’s authorities to regulate licensed broadcasters, she said.


-- The Nation 2014-01-22

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UPDATE:

Govt To Invite Press Editors For 'Discussion'
By Khaosod English

BANGKOK: -- The Director of National Security Council has asserted that government's enactment of emergency decree will not lead to the crackdown on anti-government protests.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698560-cmpo-tells-media-not-to-provoke-unrest-state-of-emergency/#entry7329340

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STATE OF EMERGENCY
Only NBTC can suspend TV channels, regulator says
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The power to suspend television channels belongs to the broadcasting regulators, a commissioner said Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698588-only-nbtc-can-suspend-tv-channels-regulator-says-state-of-emergency/

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RT @tulsathit: Hitting the ground running, Chalerm has vowed to work under a slogan "Peace for Bangkok".

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RT @tulsathit: National police HQ. Some itchy hands have been at work. RT @fm91trafficpro http://t.co/Yd0zTYTJPp

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RT @tulsathit: Mobile phone charging service is part of protest-generated economy. Bt20 per charge. RT @tanatpong_nna: #nna http://t.co/B6dkguZ8e4

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UPDATE:

Die-hard activists declare bolder retaliation against govt
By Digital Content

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698538-emergency-decree-ignored-police-hq-sign-vandalised/page-2?p=7329460#entry7329460

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RT @tulsathit: In the middle of Bangkok. RT @tanatpong_nna http://t.co/vv5pkPuuCR