Thailand Live Thursday 23 Jan 2014

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RT@sunaibkk: PDRC protesters continue to block training of EC officials in BKK for the upcoming election on 26 Jan & 2 Feb.

RT@sunaibkk: PDRC protesters cut electricity & water at HQ of MRT train, forcing the office to shutdown. Subway service still running.

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BPbreakingnews: PT warns Prayuth against a coup

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RT@RichardBarrow: [bangkok Post] Unusual 3-month cold spell in #Thailand claims 63 lives

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RT@RichardBarrow: 6:45pm - RT @Passport_world: NOW protesters marching on Sukhumvit to Asoke pic.twitter.com/dbiNIK2Fi6

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RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep @ ASoke stage: In today’s city walk, it’s very pleasant to see young people willing to join the rally and fight with us.

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Tourism group urges govt to end state of emergency
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Jan 23 – The Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) today called on the caretaker government to revoke the Emergency Decree which, it said, has negatively impacted domestic tourism and compelled many countries to warn their people against visiting the kingdom.

TCT president Piyamarn Techapaibul said today’s TCT meeting agreed that the government should urgently nullify the decree which has prompted many countries to elevate their warnings from 2-3 to the highest 4-5 level.

The decree, in effect for 60 days starting yesterday, has led foreigners to feel unsafe if they visit Thailand and countries as well as territories like Hong Kong, US, Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Russia and Taiwan have upgraded warnings, she said.

She said revenue loss from tourism is estimated at Bt50 billion in the first quarter when 1.1 million from the total 6.5 million tourists will not arrive, representing a 14 per cent decrease year-on-year.

Tourists started delaying their decisions to visit Thailand for fear of safety and booking for the second quarter has dropped by about 700,000 people, or a revenue loss of Bt32 billion.

Revenue loss in the first two quarters will possibly reach Bt82 billion, she said, adding that the Asian market is the most volatile.

Most affected are Bangkok and neighbouring attractions including Pattaya, Hua Hin, Cha-am and Kanchanaburi while further provinces like Chiang Mai and Phuket enjoyed 15 per cent growth.

The two conflicting factions – the government and the People’s Democratic Reform Committee – should negotiate to end the conflicts as soon as possible, she said.

Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, said travel agencies have tried hard to convince tourists to switch to other destinations within Thailand instead of cancelling their trips to the country but the invocation of the Emergency Decree has shaken tourists’ confidence towards the country’s safety.

A state of emergency is virtually a curfew in the eyes of foreign tourists, he said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2014-01-23

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RT@Juarawee: Chalerm threatens 2 arrest PDRC’s financiers:tells them 2 stop b/c if there’s evidence, those financiers will b caught immediately.

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NSPTR say they have no intention to insult the police

BANGKOK: -- The Network of Students and People for Thailand’s Reform (NSPTR) said Thursday that it had no intention whatsoever to insult the police for their removal of the name plate of the National Police Office a day earlier.

Mr Uthai Yodmanee, coordinator of the NSPTR which is affiliated with the People’s Democratic Reform Committee, explained that the protesters removed the name plate to vent their anger at the national police chief, Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew, for blindly serving the Thaksin regime.

“NSPTR did not intend to insult the police. Nor does it regard police as their enemy but Pol Gen Adul has tarnished the reputation of the police,” said Uthai. He denied that a man who was photographed kicking the name plate was not a member of NSPTR.

He further said that the protesters who were involved in vandalizing the police name plate were ready to face the law. Also, they were willing to find a new name plate for the police.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/nsptr-say-intention-insult-police/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=nsptr-say-intention-insult-police

-- Thai PBS 2014-01-23

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Experts in Phuket discuss ways to tackle Southern road accident toll
Wiparatana Nathalang

Dr Sophon Maekthon, Director-General of the Department of Disease Control, was the main speaker.

PHUKET: Doctors, nurses, police and media from the country’s 14 southern provinces began a two-day meeting today (January 23) to share ideas on how to reduce accidents on the roads and take the ideas back home.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698906-experts-in-phuket-discuss-ways-to-tackle-southern-road-accident-toll/

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Schools In 14 Southern Provinces Closed Down By PCAD

By Khoasod English

BANGKOK: -- Public schools in 14 southern provinces remain closed down due to anti-government campaign, Minister of Education said.

Mr. Chaturon Chaisaeng said hundreds of schools and colleges in these provinces have been forced to cease operations by supporters of People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD).

As a campaign to pressure Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra into resigning from her caretaker position, PCAD has previously vowed to close down state agencies and public schools across the southern region - the stronghold of anti-government movements.

According to Mr. Chaturon, some provinces see shutdown of every single public school in the province, such as Chumpon, while other provinces see partial shutdown of public schools.

46 out of 80 registered vocational colleges have also been closed down by the protesters, Mr. Chaturon added.

"I have been informed that these educational establishments have to close down because they have been intimidated by the protesters," Mr. Chaturon said.

He also told our correspondent that although many schools in Bangkok remain open, many students and teachers are absent because they have great difficulty going to schools, due to numerous roadblocks set by PCAD supporters. The absent rate is around 15%, Mr. Chaturon said.

He suggested that parents, students, and teachers of schools closed down by PCAD should directly negotiate with the protesters about the possibility of resuming the teaching session, since the PCAD has refused to negotiate with Ministry of Education.

"They are bent on changing the system, regardless of losses and damages," Mr. Chaturon fumed.

The Minister also asserted that Thailand is facing an educational crisis not experienced since the Second World War, during which many schools are forced to close down by the Japanese Army.

Nevertheless, Mr. Chaturon said, the Ministry has urged public schools across the country to educate their students about the upcoming 2 February general election.

"This would help strengthen the learning of democracy among students," Mr. Chaturon said.

However, students can exercise their rights and opt out of pro-election activities organised by the school, Mr. Chaturon stressed.

His comment came few days after a group of students in Ayutthaya province protested against their school director for allegedly forcing them to participate in a pro-election demonstration.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNNU1EUTNPVGswTUE9PQ==

-- Khaosod English 2014-01-23

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RT@BBCBreaking: Singer Justin Bieber arrested in Miami Beach on suspicion of drag racing and drunk driving, police in Florida say

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RT@RichardBarrow: A sale of alcohol ban is expected in #Bangkok & #Thailand from 6pm Saturday until midnight Sunday due to advance voting. Some hotels exempt.

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49 Killed By Thailand's Rare Winter: Official

By Khaosod English

BANGKOK: -- The unusually cold weather in recent months has killed at least 49 people, an official said.

Many parts of Thailand, including the tropical Bangkok, have experienced a prolonged plunge in temperature, a phenomenon described by officials as the coldest winter in several decades.

Dr. Narong Sahamethapat, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, said three groups of population are particularly at risk in the cold weather: the young, the elderly, and those with chronic diseases such as high-blood pressure, lung disease, and heart conditions.

He also urged the citizens not to drink alcohol in cold weather, and stressed that inhabitants in areas affected by the chilling weather should drink at least 8 glasses of water, keep themselves warm, and exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.

Dr. Sophon Mekthon, Director of the Department of Disease Control (CDC), added that at least 49 lives in 27 provinces have been claimed by the cold weather in the period of 22 October 2013 - 19 January 2014.

The actual death tolls could be much higher, Dr. Sophon warned, as medical staff are investigation an 14 additional deaths suspected of being related to the weather.

The victims are described as 59 Thais, 1 Cambodian, 1 Laotian, and 1 United Kingdom citizen. 90% of the fatalities are male, Dr. Sophon said.

Only 2 of the fatalities are direct results of exposure to cold weather, and other deaths were caused by chronic disease and other underlying medical conditions, which have been escalated by the weather, according to Dr. Sophon.

Chiang Mai province saw the largest number of winter-related deaths: 6, while Sa Kaew and Nakhon Ratchasima each reported 5 deaths.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNNU1EUTRNVEk0TWc9PQ==

-- Khaosod English 2014-01-23

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RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep is playing a clip about the killing of 84 Muslim demonstrators at Tak Bai,2004 , under the Thaksin administration.

RT@Tulip_Oum: 8:10PM PDRC Ladprao watching short-documentary on Takbai incident, clearly many has no idea what happened that day. pic.twitter.com/Gru1rtpdGX

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RT@Lerlaforever: SUthep: Chalerm as head of CMPO, still cannot find the CMPO headquarter.

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RT@RichardBarrow: The protesters have a new recruit guarding their camps - RT @pichai_online: การ์ด กปปส. แม่งโคตรโหด pic.twitter.com/mszzGTZYky

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RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep: If Chalerm is an effective person, he would have caught the guy who killed Sergeant Yim long time ago.

RT@Lerlaforever: EXPLANATION: Sergeant Yim's killing was said to be linked with one of Chalerm's son.

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RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep: The emergency decree is the government's last dice. As they want to use extreme measures to tackle us/

RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep: The state of emergency is announced to deal with farmers rising up to call for their money which have been delayed for 6 months

RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep: I know fellow farmers are in big trouble.If u help me overthrow this government, I promise will pay you back every satang they own u

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RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep: OUr country needs to be reformed to make sure no corruption, no cheating in election to prevent bad guys from being the government

RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep: Keep that in mind, no more Yingluck and her crooked team,

RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep: We will block all roads. THere will be no election. We will overthrow this Thaksin's regime.

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RT@KristieKenney: Officially open: Thai-US 180 photo exhibit at Central Plaza Ladprao. Thru Sat, Jan 25. pic.twitter.com/end3ZNmaZ2

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BMA worries over disturbances during advance voting

BANGKOK, 23 January 2014 (NNT) – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has expressed full readiness for the advance voting scheduled for January 26 but admitted concerns over possible disruptions in some areas of the capital.

As the January 26 absentee balloting is only a week away, Permanent Secretary for the BMA Ninnart Chalitanon said BMA officials are fully prepared to assist the Election Commission in organizing the event across Bangkok. However, she voiced concerns over possible disorder in some areas amidst the currently tense political atmosphere.

Ms Ninnart explained that, with the presence of protesters seeking to have the polls rescheduled, there could be attempts to interrupt the voting process. She disclosed that there was a high possibility that obstructions would be seen in Bang Kapi and Bang Khun Thian districts.

Under such circumstance, the Permanent Secretary encouraged district chiefs or supervisors of the polling booths to use their discretion to take appropriate action to solve the problem at hand. She insisted that the safety of citizens and electoral staff must be prioritized.

-- NNT 2014-01-23

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RT@SkyNewsBreak: Miami Police chief says Justin #Bieber was on prescription medication, had smoked marijuana and drunk beer before driving and being arrested

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Air Force disallows government to locate peace center in its compound

BANGKOK: -- The Air Force has rejected a request by the caretaker prime minister to use its compound at Don Muang as the office of the peace keeping center.

Air Force commander-in-chief Air Chief Marshal Prachin Chantong said the Air Force was willing to allow the caretaker prime minister to use its facilities in the Air Force compound for meeting on occasion basis.

However it would be inconvenient if it was to be used as the office of the Center for the Maintaining of Peace and Order, ACM Prachin said.

He reasoned that the Air Force has so many red-tape regulations that would be inconvenience for the center to be located inside its compound.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/air-force-disallows-government-locate-peace-center-compound/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=air-force-disallows-government-locate-peace-center-compound

-- Thai PBS 2014-01-23

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More farmer protests in the provinces

BANGKOK: -- Protests by rice farmers demanding payment for their rice continued in many provinces with some of them threatened to join anti-government protest in Bangkok to oust the caretaker government.

Several hundreds of farmers from Singburi, Lopburi, Suphanburi, Ang Thong and Chai Nat today blockaded the Asian Highway in Inburi district of Singburi province with their E-tan farm trucks.

They had earlier blockaded the road in Promburi district and moved to Inburi today.

They showed their rice vouchers to local government authorities to confirm that they sold rice to the government under the rice pledging scheme since October last year but until today still are not paid.

They said their debt rose daily because of the interest which they have to shoulder from loans they sought from unorganized loan sources.

They also apologized to motorists for causing inconvenience to them but said it was necessary to make their voice heard.

Meanwhile in Phitsanulok, several hundreds of farmers from nine districts also blockaded Indochin intersection in Muang district.

They gave one week for the government to pay them or else they would return to blockade the highway and join anti-government protest in Bangkok. They dispersed late in the afternoon.

However farmers from Promburi district said they will gather again to blockade the highway on January 27.

In Ratchaburi, hundreds of farmers from 10 districts rallied in front of the agriculture office. They negotiated with anti-government protesters for permission to enter the office to submit their demand to the governor.

They asked the governor for help to speed up their rice payment.

The government offices in Ratchaburi are now encircled by anti-government protesters under order of the People Democratic Reform Committee as part of the Bangkok Shutdown campaign.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/farmer-protests-provinces/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=farmer-protests-provinces

-- Thai PBS 2014-01-23

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to continue:

Thailand Live Friday 24 Jan 2014

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698971-thailand-live-friday-24-jan-2014/