Thailand Live Friday 24 Jan 2014

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66 bank branches closed today

BANGKOK: -- Commercial banks have closed 66 branches as of 3.30pm Friday, according to Bank of Thailand. Some 34 branches were closed all day.

-- The Nation 2014-01-24

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RT@191Thailand: 7:20pm - RT @bullet350: Fire at Witches Tavern building on Thong Lor pic.twitter.com/MW4rA7z82n

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RT@Aim_NT: Suthep said the PDRC would defy all prohibition issued by the CMPO.

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UPDATE:

Charter court rules election can be postponed

BANGKOK: -- The Election Commission will consult with the government about whether the February 2 election will proceed as scheduled or not now that the Constitution Court has ruled that the election can be postponed.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699136-2-february-election-can-be-postponed-constitutional-court-rules-thailand/page-5?p=7339512#entry7339512

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RT@Aim_NT: Suthep said soldiers came last time (in 2010) because police were idle. Via @yoware

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RT@suthichai: Suthep says he will write to Obama to explain Thailand's protesters' peaceful demonstration.

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Protester who vandalized police’s name plate was found shot dead

BANGKOK: -- A protester who was believed to be involved in vandalizing the name plate of the National Police Office was found shot dead behind the wheel of his car in Ratchaburi province on Friday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699156-protester-who-vandalized-polices-name-plate-was-found-shot-dead/

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Commerce officials warned not to join protests

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Commerce Minister Yanyong Puangrach has sternly warned commerce officials to refrain from joining the anti-government protests or they may face legal consequences.

The deputy minister appeared to be disturbed by a group of retired commerce ministers who grouped together under the name “Commerce Community for the Nation” and has been persuading existing officials to join their ranks.

He accused the group of retirees of having vested interests, having connections with rice exporters and wanting to undermine the government’s rice pledging scheme.

Mr Yanyong has instructed commerce permanent secretary Mrs Srirat Ratthapana to instruct all department chiefs to ensure that their subordinates do not join the protests otherwise they may face legal consequences.

He said that the emergency decree has banned public gathering of five people or more. The officials who join the protest will be held accountable for defying the decree and may face disciplinary action for neglect of duty, he added.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/commerce-officials-warned-join-protests/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=commerce-officials-warned-join-protests

-- Thai PBS 2014-01-24

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RT@Aim_NT: Ctk PMO Mins Varathep Ratanakorn, at Pheu Thai Party, said PM Yingluck agreed to discuss w/ the EC if officially invited. Via @Praphan_nna

RT@Aim_NT: (Cont) Varathep said PT would wait to see official Constitutional Court's ruling before making decision. Via @Praphan_nna (cont)

RT@Aim_NT: (Cont) Varathep said, however, govt would agree to postpone d election only on condition that there must be no boycott/ protest to obstruct.

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RT@Thai_Talk: Relatives of PDRC protester shot dead in Ratchburi today, said he was not in BKK at time of Police HQ signage destruction. via @joe_black317

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RT@ChadapornLin: Suthep to lead protesters on march to Pratunam, Sriayutthaya, Ratchathewi, Chidlom tomorrow

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PROTEST
UNHR urges all to respect the rights of others
The Nation
BANGKOK: -- The United Nations Human Rights Office for South East Asia (OHCHR) called on all parties in Thailand to respect the rights of others and to refrain from any form of violence, in light of protests in Thailand.

"OHCHR also urges the Royal Thai Government to ensure the implementation of the Emergency Decree on the Administration of Emergency Situations issued on January 21 complies with international human rights standards," it said in a statement issued on January 24.

The office has deployed a small team to monitor human rights, including the right to peaceful assembly, in the current situation in Bangkok. The team has been visiting various locations, including demonstration sites and police stations, to discuss violence prevention, solicit views and collect information.

It said that cooperation and support has been extended by all actors met by the team, including people participating in demonstrations and their leaders, guards for demonstration sites, government and police officials, the National Human Rights Commission, ruling and opposition parties, civil society and other concerned groups and individuals. OHCHR notes efforts by the police, other security personnel and demonstrators to ensure security of all people.

"Nevertheless, acts of violence that have occurred in Bangkok over the past few weeks are of serious concern," it said.

Such incidents include the tragic bomb explosions on January 17 and 19, leaving one person dead and injuring many others. Smaller scale violence and intimidation, such as shooting and assaults against demonstrators, police and other individuals at the demonstration sites and attacks on residences of senior opposition politicians, have also occurred.

-- The Nation 2014-01-24

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A suspect caught after a bomb explosion at Lat Phrao

BANGKOK: -- A man was caught by protest guards after he allegedly tossed a pingpong bomb into the protest site at Lat Phrao Friday evening.

No protester was injured after an explosion at the protest site from an explosive device, thought to be pingppong bomb, tossed from the Lat Phra flyover at about 5.15 p.m.

However, protest guards gave chase and captured the suspect, riding on a motorcycle.

The suspect was identified as Pongsawat Rattanasri, a resident of Pathum Thani province. He was taken to a guards’ shelter in Chatuchak park for questioning before he is to be handed over to the police.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/suspect-caught-bomb-explosion-lat-phrao/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=suspect-caught-bomb-explosion-lat-phrao

-- Thai PBS 2014-01-24

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Central bank’s head office to stay closed until January 31

BANGKOK: -- The Bank of Thailand’s head office will remain closed until January 31 instead of January 24 as earlier announced due to the protests.

The bank’s head office was closed since January 13 until January 24 by protesters from the People’s Democratic Reform Committee. However, the bank decided to extend the closure until the end of this month as the protests still continue.

During the closure, officials have been working at home or at temporary offices with their laptops.

Mrs Rung Malikamat, spokeswoman of the central bank, said Friday that all financial transactions and financial system are functioning as normal despite the protests.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/central-banks-head-office-stay-closed-january-31/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=central-banks-head-office-stay-closed-january-31

-- Thai PBS 2014-01-24

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CMPO to use Narcotics Suppression Bureau as base

BANGKOK, 24 January 2014 (NNT) – Director of the Center for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) Pol Capt Chalerm Yubamrung has revealed that the center will be based at the office of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.

Following the government’s establishment of the CMPO to oversee the enforcement of the emergency decree in Bangkok and nearby provinces, Pol Capt Chalerm stated that authorities had come to a conclusion to utilize the compound of the Police Narcotics Suppression Bureau, which is located inside the Royal Thai Police Sports Club, as the CMPO base.

He said meetings would be convened at least once a day, starting from today onwards, with officials responsible of reporting on developments over the past 24 hours and assessing the overall protest situation. Only police will be in charge of peacekeeping operations for now, whereas military reinforcements will be deployed if necessary.

Pol Capt Chalerm confirmed that the setting up of the CMPO and the declaration of the state of emergency were not against the law. The Director reiterated that the center would adhere to international standard practices and negotiations in handling the protesters and no force would be applied. He added that peaceful, unarmed gatherings would still be allowed; however, the protesters must respect the rights of others in return.

On this occasion, the CMPO Chief also pleaded with the rally-goers to stop their besiegement of government offices as well as road closures.

-- NNT 2014-01-24

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RT@Aim_NT: Suthep again calls on Yingluck to resign to pave ways for the reform process.

RT@Aim_NT: Suthep said the PDRC would not give up or go home unless Yingluck quits and Thaksin regime is eradicated from Thailand.

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RT@Aim_NT: Suthep asked voters who planned to vote on Sunday to change their minds saying it would be difficult to wade through protester mass 2do so.

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Final court’s ruling on water management project expected next Tuesday

BANGKOK: -- The Supreme Administrative Court is to deliver a ruling next Tuesday on the petition challenging the constitutionality of the government’s 350 billion baht water management project.

The Central Administrative Court earlier declined to accept the petition on the ground that the petitioner, Mr Uthen Chartpinyo, was not a person to be affected by the mega project.

In his petition to the Central Administrative Court, Mr Uthen claimed that the project was unconscituttional because the concessionaire which won the contract to implement the project had not conducted a public hearing to gauge the opinions of the people who are to be affected by the project as required by the charter.

Mr Uthen appealed the court’s ruling to the Supreme Administrative Court for consideration.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/final-courts-ruling-water-management-project-expected-next-tuesday/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=final-courts-ruling-water-management-project-expected-next-tuesday

-- Thai PBS 2014-01-24

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Northeast farmers now threaten to blockade Friendship Highway



BANGKOK: -- Northeast farmers today threatened to the country’s major Friendship Highway to pressure for the payment of their rice by the caretaker government.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699175-northeast-farmers-now-threaten-to-blockade-friendship-highway/

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to continue:

Thailand Live Saturday 25 Jan 2014

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699205-thailand-live-saturday-25-jan-2014/