Thailand Live Sunday 26th Jan 2014

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Advance voting to go ahead
The Nation

A soldier scans with his binoculars from a vantage point as protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban leads a march through Pratunam in downtown Bangkok yesterday. Security has been stepped up for the protest leaders following rumours of possible attacks targeting

BANGKOK: -- PM to meet EC on Tuesday to discuss rescheduling the February 2 election

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699467-advance-voting-to-go-ahead/

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Suthep will be arrested soon, should surrender to avoid violence: Chalerm
The Sunday Nation:

BANGKOK: -- The head of the government's Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) yesterday warned the anti-government leader that his arrest was imminent "in the near future" and asked him to surrender.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699470-suthep-will-be-arrested-soon-should-surrender-to-avoid-violence-chalerm/

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Moves to quell anger over Trang incident
The Sunday Nation

TRANG: -- Apology offered after PDRC protesters sought to close school by mosque; drama may have led to attack by insurgents

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699471-moves-to-quell-anger-over-trang-incident/

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Their Majesties extend a helping hand
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Their Majesties the King and Queen have graciously taken into royal patronage the medical and funeral expenses of state officials and people injured or killed in recent incidents related to rallies by the People's Democratic Reform Committee.

A letter, signed on January 13 by His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary Krit Garnjana-Goonchorn and sent to the governor of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), said that Their Majesties would cover the injured people's medical bills at BMA hospitals, plus funeral expenses of the deceased.

-- The Nation 2014-01-26

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Police seize 500,000 'yaba' pills in Chiang Rai
The Sunday Nation:

Police have arrested four men along with 500,000 'yaba' pills, with a street value of Bt150 million, in Chiang Rai's Muang district.

The men were on their way to deliver the illicit drugs to customers in Ayutthaya.

Pol Maj-General Surapol Tuanthong, chief of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, told a press conference yesterday the arrests were the result of previous police investigations, and a crackdown on the illegal drug ring, allegedly led by Myanmar-based druglord Lt-Colonel Yi Sae.

The suspects reportedly confessed to receiving the 'yaba' pills from a supplier in Mae Chan district.

The 500,000 pills were allegedly part of a batch of 6-million produced by the druglord. Police had previously seized 400,000 pills in a separate incident, in Ayutthaya.

-- The Nation 2014-01-26

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Officials told to stop vote if protesters besiege venue
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Officials and volunteers manning polling stations have been advised to stop the voting process and evacuate themselves if protesters besiege the venues during today's advance voting.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699472-officials-told-to-stop-vote-if-protesters-besiege-venue/

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Davis Cup tie may be shifted to Phuket
The Nation:

BANGKOK: -- Thai officials are seeking a new venue for the Davis Cup Zone Asia/Oceania Group II clash against Hong Kong due to the political crisis in Bangkok.

The tie is scheduled to be held at the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand at Muang Thong Thani next weekend, but sources said Hong Kong officials recently sought to cancel the trip due to the state of emergency declared here on Wednesday.

Suwat Liptapanlop, who was yesterday re-elected as the LTAT president for the seventh time running, said the association would submit a letter to the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to propose a date and location.

The Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club in Phuket has been proposed by the Thai side, while the ITF would set a new date.

Apart from the Davis Cup, the Thailand Open golf event has been postponed by organisers due to the political instability.

-- The Nation 2014-01-26

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Medical teams to help victims
The Sunday Nation

Anti-government protesters gather yesterday outside a Border Patrol Police command in Songkhla, which has been designated as a venue for advance voting today.

BANGKOK: -- The Ministry of Public Health has set up medical teams to help possible victims if clashes break out between protesters and security officials during advance voting due to be held today in Bangkok, Department of Medical Services director-general Dr Supan Srithamma said yesterday.

He said Bangkok's 50 district offices would be responsible for providing medical assistance at polling booths located at the district offices while the Department of Medical Services would be in charge of seven polling booths located outside district offices.

Rescue teams from two well-known foundations would assist the department in basic rescue operations at all seven polling booths and four advance rescue teams have been dispatched from Ranong, Rayong, Trat and Chaiyaphum.

Department of Medical Services deputy director-general Dr Narong Apikulwanit said the department is also responsible for providing medical help at the main protest sites.

-- The Nation 2014-01-26

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150 teak trees damaged by illegal loggers
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Forestry Department chief Boonchob Sutthamanaswong will have an urgent meeting with the Mae Hong Son governor to try to counter the problem of illegal logging in the province on Tuesday and Wednesday.

This follows a recent discovery that 150 teak trees in Khun Yuam and Mae La Noi districts have been girdled - had a ring of bark stripped from them - by illegal loggers. Part of the Yuam Forest Reserve, many of the 7 to 20-metre trees are 100 to 200 years old.

The loggers reportedly removed a 110cm-wide girdle around each of the trees - a process which eventually causes the trees to die, said Boonchob. The illegal loggers would then return to cut down the trees at a later date, he explained.

It is believed girdling makes it easier to cut down the trees, while producing drier and lighter logs for transport.

Boonchob said officials would try to find innovative ways to keep the damaged trees alive.

-- The Nation 2014-01-26

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UPDATE:

Suthep clarifies PDRC's intentions in letter to Obama; Noppadon counters his claims
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- People's Democratic Reform Committee secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban has sent a letter to US President Barack Obama, affirming that the PDRC campaign to fight a "corrupt" and "dictatorial" regime would be non-violent.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699337-suthep-writes-to-obama-affirming-non-violent-campaign/page-6?p=7345596#entry7345596

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PDRC sets up rally stage to stymie advance voting in Surat Thani
The Sunday Nation

SURAT THANI: -- Leaders of People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) in Surat Thani began setting up a rally stage yesterday afternoon, in front of Police Provincial Bureau 8's Police Training Centre in Muang district. The police-training centre will be used as a polling station for advance voting today.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699473-pdrc-sets-up-rally-stage-to-stymie-advance-voting-in-surat-thani/

[Lite Beer]

UDD avoids staging rallies for fear of clashes
The Sunday Nation

KHORAT: -- Dr Supapol Iammethawi, Nakhon Ratchasima's PDRC chief, said he would mobilise more than 1,000 protesters to block advanced voting in the province.

Meanwhile Anuwat Thinnarat, a leader of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, said the UDD would not stage any rallies today, as it did not want to clash with the PDRC. "People who try to block the election will face legal action," he said.

Red shirts in provinces have been instructed by the UDD to stage campaigns to promote the February 2 election, he said.

-- The Nation 2014-01-26

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PDRC puts up signs promoting reform
The Sunday Nation

RANONG: -- Sucheep Patthong, leader of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) in Ranong, said his group had put up signs at polling booths where advanced elections are being held today, to promote political reform.

More than 5,000 PDRC protesters would gather early morning today in Ranong's five districts, in a show of force against the advanced elections, he said.

Meanwhile, Ranong Provincial Police deputy commander Pol Col Wanchai Ekkapornpit led teams of riot-control police to inspect the advanced election polling stations in the province and found that no election officials had turned up to prepare for the voting.

-- The Nation 2014-01-26

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-- The Nation 2014-01-26

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RT@sunaibkk: PDRC protesters, led by Thavorn Senneam, arrived at Bang Kapi polling station. EC officials were barred access (6am).

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RT@sunaibkk: PDRC protesters locked gate of Dusit polling station at Sukhothai School (where Gen Prem will vote) & chased EC officials away

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RT@Juarawee: 7.05AM RT @Phop_NTV: In front of Baan Bangkapi School, an advanced voting venue. Protesters surrounded the place. pic.twitter.com/rRL7ciOtcM

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RT@sunaibkk: PDRC protesters blocking access to Saphan Sung polling station. Voters can't enter.

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RT@pakhead: PDRC now blocking access to most polling stations in Bangkok and in south. So much for Friday's promise not to stop people voting.

RT@sunaibkk: Jatujak polling station at St John College is surrounded by PDRC protesters. Voters can't enter.

RT@sunaibkk: Polling stations for advance voting in BKK's Bang Kapi, Bang Khen, Jatujak & Dusit districts are blocked by PDRC. (7.30am)

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RT@Sunai@sunaibkk: EC officials at Klong Toey polling station announced voting is canceled due to obstruction by PDRC protesters. (7.35am)

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RT@RichardBarrow: Only 20 minutes before polling stations open, Ban Bang Kapi School has no election officials (Pic @pakapong_report) pic.twitter.com/UgZMhXZJvV

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RT@RichardBarrow: 7:45am Protesters prevent election officials to enter polling station at Ban Bang Kapi School (Pic @pakapong_report) pic.twitter.com/1reDzJ3inI

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RT@RichardBarrow: 7:45am These people registered for advance voting but are being blocked by protesters (Pic @pakapong_report) pic.twitter.com/o55MBOSadl #Bangkok

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RT@sunaibkk: Voters arrived at Phayathai polling station but EC officials are still blocked by PDRC protesters at district office pic.twitter.com/M6Mi41MN7o

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RT@georgehenton: Protestors preparing to march from Gov House to as of yet undisclosed location #BangkokShutdown #ElectionTH pic.twitter.com/kI91bJkzlH

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RT@RichardBarrow: 8am This is Thonburi where protesters are blocking election officials from opening polling station (Pic @Bell_Rakung) pic.twitter.com/3Zk4OBg5no

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RT@Juarawee: Actually protesters at Dusit polling station is from protest site near Govt House; they're the NSPRT. pic.twitter.com/qVb2NYA3zs

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RT@photogjack: Bang Kapi polling station is shutdown. Officials just closed it.

RT@Rajprasong_News: #Thailand Where are the police to protect #Bangkok Election Poll?

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RT@georgehenton Group from gov house site leaving now. Still no confirmation on the destination. #BangkokShutdown pic.twitter.com/EJi2PDEDnv

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RT@waanspeaking: RT @pakapong_report: 08.25 Bangkapi polling station at Baan Bangkapi school is now closed #voicelive pic.twitter.com/5jPAKGDyOl