Thailand Live Friday 24 Jan 2014

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



BANGKOK, Jan 24 – The Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) 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.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698970-tourism-group-urges-thai-govt-to-end-state-of-emergency/

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Public gatherings banned - Curfew not to be imposed
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Curfew not to be imposed; dissemination of news to come under the scanner; Chalerm says authorities will now focus on arresting the protest leaders

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698972-state-of-emergency-in-bangkok-public-gatherings-banned/

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PDRC plans to block advance voting
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The anti-government protesters will try to disrupt advance voting for the February 2 election in Bangkok on Sunday, an informed source said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698974-pdrc-plans-to-block-advance-voting-in-bangkok/

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Govt 'will lose if demands not met'
THE NATION



Pay for pledged rice or parties will lose votes, farmers warn

BANGKOK: -- About 500 farmers yesterday blocked the Indochine intersection in Phitsanulok, a major route linking a number of nations in this region, to demand that the government speed up payment for their rice pledges.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698975-pay-for-pledged-rice-or-parties-will-lose-votes-thai-farmers-warn/

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Emergency's latest casualty: Thailand Open golf tournament
Agencies

BANGKOK: -- Organisers of the Thailand Open have decided to postpone this year's tournament due to the state of emergency declared in Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698976-emergencys-latest-casualty-thailand-open-golf-tournament/

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The Nation wins Amnesty award for HIV/Aids articles
PONGPHON SARNSAMAK
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- The Nation was given a big emotional boost as its series of Aids-related articles won the Amnesty International Thailand committee's complimentary Media Award 2013, in the national newspaper category.

The English daily was bestowed the award at a ceremony yesterday, together with its sister publication, Kom Chad Luek, which also won a complimentary award.

"The award recognises our efforts in raising public awareness on the fatal disease among Thais," said The Nation editor Achara Deboonme. "It encourages us to pursue the commitment towards quality reporting for Thai society."

The Nation's winning series contained five articles describing the latest social conditions of people living with HIV/Aids in recognition of their hardship. The series called for a better understanding by members of the public towards people living with HIV/Aids, who sometimes become unknowingly infected. The articles were published to mark World Aids Day in December 2012.

Chularat Saengpassa, the local news editor who was in charge of the series, said her team decided to address the stigmatisation of people living with HIV because her team had seen how people were prone to shun this group throughout the past several decades.

"Imminent repulsion from families, communities and colleagues has made HIV-positive people reluctant to admit to their infections," she said.

Chularat hoped the series of Aids-related reports published by The Nation would create better public understanding of HIV/Aids and HIV-infected people.

"We hope to give people living with HIV a real place to stand in society," she said.

Punnee Amornviputpanich, who heads Kom Chad Luek's special-reports team, said revelations about waterboarding allegedly used by the CIA had prompted her to look into the torture of suspects in Thailand.

"In three southern border provinces, some suspects have been tortured with techniques that don't leave any mark or evidence. Apart from the physical pain, some victims suffer from the haunting memories for the rest of their lives," Punnee said.

By reporting on this issue, Punnee wished to see relevant authorities step in and stop such abuses.

The series, which was published in Kom Chad Luek newspaper, claims a complimentary award. Former prime minister Anand Panyarachun presented the awards to the winners at a ceremony yesterday.

Amnesty International Thailand organised the Media Awards in a bid to encourage local media to promote human rights protection. This year is the second year that Amnesty has given out the media awards. About 18 media houses entered articles and documentaries to compete in the 2013 awards. "The media plays an important role in promoting and raising awareness among members of the public about human rights protection," said Somchai Hormlaor, president of Amnesty International Thailand.

Somkiat Ornwimon, a former prominent TV reporter, said local media should pay more attention to human rights protection and promotion. Media representatives should also comply more seriously with the media's code of conduct, when producing news reports, he added.


-- The Nation 2014-01-24

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RICE PLEDGING
Rice farmers await Council of State
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- More than 1 million farmers are expecting money owed for their pledged rice in 30 days at the earliest, when the Council of State is expected to advice whether the caretaker government can legally acquire funds for the rice-pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698978-thai-rice-pledging-scheme-farmers-await-council-of-state/

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BANGKOK SHUTDOWN
JFCCT members fret over decree
Erich Parpart
The Nation


Foreigners yesterday walk along Rama I Road near Pathumwan Intersection, which is one of the areas of anti-government demonstrations in Bangkok. The caretaker government announced an emergency decree for the metro area on Wednesday.

BANGKOK: -- Leading members of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand (JFCCT) have raised serious concerns about this week's emergency decree affecting Bangkok and surrounding provinces, saying it will hurt the tourism sector and lead to a loss of investment opportunities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698979-bangkok-shutdown-joint-foreign-chambers-of-commerce-fret-over-decree/

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OVERDRIVE
Yingluck dithers as emergency decree proves to be a dud
Thanong Khanthong

BANGKOK: -- The state of emergency declared by the caretaker Yingluck government has turned into a farce, adding more confusion and further complicating a political situation already adrift.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698980-yingluck-dithers-as-emergency-decree-proves-to-be-a-dud/

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Temperatures plummet further in North, Northeast
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Ministry is urging people, especially children and the elderly, to keep warm, as temperatures in the North and Northeast dropped by a further 4 to 6 degrees Celsius yesterday. A total of 63 deaths have been reported in 27 provinces over the last three months due to the cold spell.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698981-temperatures-plummet-further-in-thailands-north-isaan/

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77 illegal migrants caught
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Labour Welfare and Protection Department chief Phanich Jitjaeng reported yesterday that a random check on fishing boats operated by 10 establishments in Samut Sakhon had found 77 illegal workers, mostly from Myanmar.

Since fishing-boat operators suffered labour shortage, the authorities have issued warnings and urged businesses to register migrant workers in the Department of Employment registration session in March, or else face legal action.

In a move to curb forced labour and human trafficking, officials this month inspected fishery establishments in Samut Sakhon, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkhla, 348 textile establishments in Bangkok and Tak as well as several sugarcane plantations in Udon Thani and Khon Kaen. The department was making a report on findings to be tabled at the February 11 meeting in Khon Kaen.


-- The Nation 2014-01-24

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Merit for late Patriarch
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Buddhists in Bangkok and upcountry are invited to join an alms-giving ceremony on January 31 to mark 100 days since the passing of late Supreme Patriarch Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara.

Phra Sakayawongwisut, secretary for the funeral organising committee's PR panel, said HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn would preside over the merit-making rites for the late Supreme Patriarch at Wat Bowonniwet Vihara in the evening of January 30 and also on the morning of January 31.

At 7am on January 31, alms-giving rites will be held at Bangkok City Hall's Khon Muang Plaza as well as at many temples upcountry.


-- The Nation 2014-01-24

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Schools in the South badly affected by protest
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Education Minister Chaturon Chaisang yesterday expressed concern over reports that some 400 schools and educational institutes in 14 southern provinces were being forced to close due to the ongoing political protests.

Since hearing that certain schools and colleges in the South faced the threat of forced closure, Chaturon said the community, as well as parents and teachers, should talk to the People's Democratic Reform Committee. He said the ministry could not step in, because the group would not negotiate with anyone.

Of the 80 institutes under the Office of Vocational Education Commission in the South, 46 had been closed, with all vocational schools in Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Krabi and Satun not holding classes anymore, he said. Since the Office of Basic Education Commission has yet to submit a clear report, he said, though he had heard that all schools in Chumphon were closed. However, he added, he had heard that 280 private schools in the three southernmost provinces had reopened.

In Bangkok, all schools have resumed classes, though some students and teachers are still finding it difficult to commute, he said, adding that the rate of absent students was now 15 per cent.


-- The Nation 2014-01-24

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Foreign media voice different opinions
Takayuki Kanaboshi
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Since Bangkok and its outskirts were put under the state of emergency, the foreign media has been covering the issue widely, though their analyses have been quite different.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698984-state-of-emergency-in-bangkok-foreign-media-voice-different-opinions/

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Court to rule today on election date
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Constitutional Court will rule today on whether the election will be held on February 2, and on whether any government agencies or the Election Commission (EC) have the authority to set a new date, amid the caretaker government's continued strong push for the poll to be held as scheduled.

The court decided yesterday to take the EC's petition into its consideration and will make a ruling today. It must act quickly because advance polling is due to take place on Sunday.

The Constitutional Court has jurisdiction to rule on these issues, as two state authorities are in conflict.

The EC has proposed that the election be rescheduled for May, as it cannot make voting go smoothly because of the anti-government protests in Bangkok and some other provinces, especially in the South. The government disagrees and insists the election must be held on the original schedule, saying the Constitution does not allow for a new date or delay.

To push its case, the caretaker government has asked the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) to cooperate with the poll agency to keep order during advance voting on Sunday, PM's secretary-general Suranand Vejjajiva said after a special meeting of the Cabinet yesterday.

A state of emergency was imposed in Bangkok and its outskirts on Wednesday. The government set up the CMPO to take care of the situation.

In a related development, caretaker Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday told the military's top brass at a Defence Council meeting to instruct their subordinates to exercise their voting rights, Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Thanathip Sawangsaeng said.

Election commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said he feared that after the election, lawsuits would be filed seeking its nullification because voting will fail to be held on the same day nationwide, as required by the law.

Currently, there are no candidates registered in 28 constituencies in the South, which means elections for MPs in those constituencies cannot be held on February 2.

Somchai, who made his comments while delivering election policies to Trang's election authorities, also forecast more trouble ahead when advance voting takes place on Sunday. He said that if problems occur on the election day and ballots cannot be counted, the EC would not be able to announce the list of 125 party-list MPs as required by law.

All these difficulties and problems would make staging the election nearly impossible, and would lead to the election result being voided, he said.

A senior election official in Trang said the grenade attacks in Bangkok and the emergency decree had had a big impact on voters in the South, where resistance to the election has intensified.


-- The Nation 2014-01-24

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Growing calls for govt to revoke decree
The Nation

PDRC threatens to sue the authorities, saying reasons for imposing measure unfounded

BANGKOK: -- The government is under rising pressure as calls from the public and human-rights groups grow louder for it to scrap the imposition of the state of emergency.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698986-growing-calls-for-thai-govt-to-revoke-decree/

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BURNING ISSUE
Complex conflict leaves little room for negotiation
Samadcha Hoonsara
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- There's a need for all sides to condemn political violence, and it should be recognised that violence is not the best solution. The best solution would come through negotiations, but we do not know when that might take place, because the two conflicting parties have almost fully shut the door to it.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698987-complex-conflict-leaves-little-room-for-negotiation-thai-politics/

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Elephant trampling suspected in American woman's death in Thailand
By Tracy Connor, Staff Writer, NBC News

BANGKOK: -- The body of an American woman missing in Thailand for five days was found in a nature reserve, where she was apparently trampled to death by elephants, police said Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698988-elephant-trampling-suspected-in-american-womans-death-in-thailand/

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Tourism Council of Thailand urged caretaker govt to lift emergency decree hurts tourism after many countries elevate their warnings from 2-3 to highest 4-5 level /The Nation

Under emergency decree, caretaker govt bans gatherings of 5, or more people /The Nation

Toyota remains top auto maker, selling a record 9.98 mn vehicles in 2013, surpassing General Motors, Volkswagen /The Nation

National Anti-Corruption Commission not expected to conclude whether caretaker PM Yingluck will be charged for graft in rice-pledging scheme before Feb.2 general election /The Nation

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RT @mpoppel: Death toll from Canadian nursing home fire rises to 5, with 28 still missing

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Military told to guard armaments against unauthorized use

BANGKOK, 24 January 2014 (NNT) – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Thursday told the military to exercise caution in guarding its armaments, to prevent the weapons falling into the hands of those seeking to promote turmoil.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699004-yingluck-tells-military-to-guard-armaments-against-unauthorized-use/?utm_source=newsletter-20140124-0931&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news

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Snowden Wants to Return to US, But Only After Reforms

WASHINGTON, January 23 (RIA Novosti) – US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden said Thursday that he would like to return to his native country but that current whistleblower laws there make this option impossible.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699008-snowden-wants-to-return-to-us-but-only-after-reforms/

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One monk, one ranger killed in Pattani gun attack /MCOT

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North Korea in 'reconciliation' call to the South

SEOUL: -- North Korea has sent an open letter to the South calling for reconciliation and an end to "hostile military acts".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699011-north-korea-in-reconciliation-call-to-the-south/

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Anti-govt protest group leader for Lat Phrao rally site to draw supporters from NE provinces to join rallies in Bangkok /The Nation

Suthep vows to block Feb.2 election; Peace, Order Ctr chief Chalerm threathens to arrest protest leaders, legal action against their financial supporters /The Nation

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,313.79, gains 5.45 points /MCOT

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UPDATE:

Yingluck issues tough order to reinforce state of emergency
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 24 – Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has signed a six-point order prohibiting varied public activities during the Emergency Decree in Bangkok and outlying areas.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698972-state-of-emergency-in-bangkok-public-gatherings-banned/page-3?p=7336983#entry7336983

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Police find clues in Bantad Thong, Victory Monument bombings
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 24 – Police believed that assailants who used hand grenades in the incidents at Bantad Thong intersection and the Victory Monument belong to the same group.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699016-thai-police-find-clues-in-bantad-thong-victory-monument-bombings/

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RT @ChadapornLin: Election Commission to meet today to discuss advance voting this Sun. as voting is expected to be disrupted by protesters

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Urgent Request for Blood Donation, type B Negative

Blood donors needed in Bangkok: B- and O- blood donors

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699019-bangkok-urgent-request-for-blood-donation-type-b-negative/