Thailand Live Monday 27 Jan 2014

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Tata Motor's Karl Slym

Agence France-Presse

File photo of Karl Slym, chief of Tata Motors' India operations and the markets of South Korea, Thailand, Spain, Indonesia and South Africa (Photo by AFP)

New Delhi: India's Tata Motors managing director Karl Slym died on Sunday after apparently falling at a hotel in Bangkok where he was attending a board meeting, a company spokeswoman and reports said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699635-tata-motors-md-slym-dies-after-fall-from-hotel-in-bangkok/

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Anger and violence rock voting in capital, South
The Nation


Anti-government protesters blocked the entrance to Ban Bang Kapi School in Bangkok, which was a polling station for advance voting yesterday.

Protest leader shot dead in Bang Na ; PDRC claims in blocking early ballots

BANGKOK: -- Advance voting for the national election was disrupted yesterday by violence, with the murder of an anti-government protest leader and a dozen people injured. This includes voters who wanted to cast ballots.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699641-anger-and-violence-rock-voting-in-bangkok-south/

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Protest leader shot dead, 10 hurt in melee with reds outside Bang Na polling station
The Nation




The hat of Suthin Taratin, a leader of the People

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699642-protest-leader-shot-dead-10-hurt-in-melee-with-reds-outside-bang-na-polling-station/

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Frustrated voters say rights violated
Pongphon Sarnsamak,
Kanatis Srihirandet
The Nation


A voter who wants to cast a ballot in advance voting for the February 2 election at St John

After failing to cast advance ballots, many demand polling stations reopen

BANGKOK: -- Thousands of thwarted absentee voters vented their anger yesterday, saying anti-government protesters had denied them their democratic rights.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699643-frustrated-thai-voters-say-rights-violated/

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Advance voting blocked in many areas in South
The Nation


Many female protesters showed up to block advance voting at a polling station in Krabi Yai subdistrict in Krabi

Mainly peaceful protests against poll in Northeast

BANGKOK: -- Advance voting for the February 2 poll in 20 northeastern, 15 northern and 25 central and eastern provinces proceeded uneventfully yesterday but was blocked by protesters in many southern provinces and Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699644-advance-voting-blocked-in-many-areas-in-south/

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Doi Inthanon 'snow' turns out to be frost
The Nation

Chiang Mai's Doi Inthanon National Park yesterday explained that the pictures of something that looked like snow in the park area, which were circulating in the social media, were taken last Wednesday when the temperature was minus 5 degrees Celsius and it was just a large amount of frost - not snow as some had speculated.

The park's assistant chief Wutthipong Wongkhamfoo said the park's temperature now was between 2-3 degrees Celsius, which was warmer than the past few days. However many tourists continued to visit the park to enjoy the chilly weather and beautiful wild Himalayan cherry blossom. There were 4,000 visitors on Saturday alone.


-- The Nation 2014-01-27

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SOOPSIP
Charn Issara chief as protester - and media critic
The Nation


Charn Issara Development Plc chairperson Srivara Issara Nation Photo/Anant Chantarasoot

BANGKOK: -- Charn Issara Development Plc chairperson Srivara Issara turned heads on November 28 when she led her own anti-government march down Petchburi Road, but she's hardly a rookie at revolution, she tells Who? magazine

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699646-charn-issara-chief-as-protester-and-media-critic/

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'Long-term outlook not hurt by crisis'
Pichaya Changsorn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- If you see Karl-Heinz Heckhausen, president of the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce, visiting Suvarnabhumi Airport more often these days, don't be surprised.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699647-german-thai-chamber-of-commerce-long-term-outlook-not-hurt-by-crisis/

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EDITORIAL
At least divided media is better than nothing
The Nation

TV host Sorrayuth is the latest media figure to be accused of bias, but by now all are on one side or the other

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699648-thai-editorial-at-least-divided-media-is-better-than-nothing/

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CHALK TALK
Why drag students into the crisis?
Chularat Saengpassa

BANGKOK: -- Children need education. Going to school is the primary duty of most children. But as the country is plunging deeper into political crisis, politics has apparently made its way into educational compounds.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699649-why-drag-students-into-the-crisis-thai-opinion/

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Russians caught-up in Pattaya Jet Ski Scam



PATTAYA: -- Despite numerous assurances from the local authorities that Jet Ski Scams were being dealt with, they continue to occur on a regular basis and appear to involve local authority workers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699580-5-russians-fall-victim-to-yet-another-jet-ski-scam/

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Thai-German caught with Marijuana after balcony fall in Central Pattaya

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699550-marijuana-smoking-peeping-tom-falls-from-balcony/

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Suthep's plea for military help to protect protesters



BANGKOK: -- Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban Sunday night pleaded with the military top brass to send troops to provide protection for the protesters against possible attacks from ill-intent elements.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699652-sutheps-plea-for-military-help-to-protect-protesters/

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Chronology: January 26

5.30am: Anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) protesters start blocking polling stations in Bangkok districts and several southern provinces before they open for voting at 8am.

8.20am: Ban Bang Kapi School, the election site catering to the largest number of people registered to cast advance ballots, calls off advance voting after protesters use chains to lock the entrances to the station. Some districts cancel advance voting, including Pathum Wan, Don Muang, Bang Bon and Dusit districts.

9am: Election Commission (EC) secretary-general Puchong Nutrawong reports that the election is progressing properly in the North, the Northeast and the Central region, while voters and election officials in several districts of Bangkok and the South are unable to enter polling stations.

9.30am: Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Clerk Ninnart Chalitanont announces that so far, voting at 16 of 50 polling stations in Bangkok has been cancelled.

9.30am: A Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) meeting chaired by caretaker Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, director of the CMPO, lists the locations where protesters have surrounded polling stations.

Chalerm says the EC must be held responsible for failing to hold advance voting in several provinces.

10.30am: In Nakhon Ratchasima province, around 800 anti-government protesters marching to an advance-polling station in Muang district come close to blows with 200 red-shirt supporters of the government. Police move in to calm the situation.

12pm: The BMA announces that so far, 45 polling stations are blocked. Meanwhile, the EC in 11 southern provinces calls off advance voting. Only four provinces - Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Satun - remain open.

1.40pm: Suthin Tharathin, a core protest leader, is shot dead at a polling station at Wat Sri Iam in Bangkok's Bang Na area, and 10 others are injured in the attack.

2pm: Police spokesman Pol Maj-General Piya Uthayo reports that all Bangkok polling stations for advance and absentee ballots have been closed due to protests.

3.30pm: EC commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn announces that advance voting in 89 of 375 constituencies has been cancelled.

Only about 400,000 of the approximately 2 million people who registered to cast advance ballots were able to do so.


-- The Nation 2014-01-27

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Woman arrested
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Provincial Police Region 5 officers arrested a 21-year-old woman early yesterday morning for procuring eight girls aged 14-18 for prostitution at a downtown Chiang Mai City hotel.

Fanida Kitithana was arrested at 12.30am along with the eight girls. The group reportedly charged customers Bt2,000 for their services, from which Fanida allegedly took Bt500 in commission. The girls had reportedly sold their services several times before and spent the money on shopping and buying cell phones. Their customers reportedly included local politicians, businessmen and officials.

Police charged Fanida with procuring minors for prostitution. The arrests will be used to investigate their customers, who will be charged with seeking sex from minors.


-- The Nation 2014-01-27

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ANALYSIS
Pheu Thai hoping former Democrat may help with peace talks
HATAIKARN TREESUWAN
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Many wars end not because the participants are incapable of further fighting, but because they can see a position from which to negotiate.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699654-pheu-thai-hoping-former-democrat-may-help-with-peace-talks/

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Celebrities face questioning
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) will today summons celebrities for questioning after they reportedly joined the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) rally sites in Bangkok despite the government's announcement of a state of emergency in the capital and surrounding areas.

Caretaker Deputy Premier Surapong Tovichakchaikul said yesterday the CMPO would consider summonsing more protest leaders as well. Local celebrities who got on rally stages reportedly included Sorawit Suboon, Worawit Feungarom, Kitmanoch "Khru Lily" Rojanasupya, Daraneenuch Photipiti, Chatchai and wife Sinjai Plengpanich, and Pongpat and wife Thanya Wachirabunjong.


-- The Nation 2014-01-27

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LETTER FROM A POLLING BOOTH
Trying to vote: an aggravating denial of my basic right
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Frustration was the only word that explained what echoed in my head and my mind, as I was unable to enter a polling booth for the advance voting yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699656-trying-to-vote-an-aggravating-denial-of-my-basic-right/

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CMPO seeks end to siege of govt offices
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) will today ask the anti-government protesters to end their seizure of state agencies to alleviate the public's plight.

National Security Council chief Lt-General Paradorn Pattanatabut, who also acts as CMPO secretary, said yesterday that the protest by the People's Democratic Reform Committee has disrupted government work, thereby affecting their services for the public. He said government representatives, police and military officials would hold talks with PDRC leaders at the government complex on Chaeng Wattana Road to end their seizure. The government would also issue a 24-hour ultimatum after the talks.

Justice Ministry deputy permanent secretary Thawatchai Thaikeaw said that although the PDRC had not closed the courts, they had shut down other agencies linked to the courts, such as the Legal Execution Department, the Department of Rights and Liberties Protection and the Central Institute of Forensic Science. The government would later ask the protesters to end their seizure of other government agencies.


-- The Nation 2014-01-27

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Kim Jong-un executes uncle's relatives: report

SEOUL: -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reportedly put to death a number of surviving relatives of his executed uncle Jang Song-thaek, including children.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699679-kim-jong-un-executes-uncles-relatives-report/

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RT @tulsathit: Army chief Prayuth: Tension is rising after Suthin's death. Police must be careful not to have situation inflamed. via @nnanews

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,295.00, falls 19.63 points /MCOT

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RT @tulsathit: Govt's stepping up efforts to "negotiate" for retake of Chaengwattana Govt Complex.

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US State Department says US is "deeply troubled" by efforts in Thailand to disrupt early voting, calling on all sides to refrain from violence /MCOT

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BMA emergency medical centre updates clash figures: 1 killed, 13 injured in Sunday protests

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Erawan Emergency Medical Service Center said Monday that one person was killed and 13 others were injured in clashed ensued in the protesters' blockades of advance polling stations on Sunday.

The Erawan centre said the figures included 12 injuries and one death at Wat Sri-iam where red-shirt people clashed with the protesters led by the People's Army to Overthrow the Thaksin Regime.

The centre said so far 571 people were injured and ten others were killed in political violence since the clash between red-shirt people and Ramkhamhaeng students on November 30.


-- The Nation 2014-01-27

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CMPO To 'Reclaim' Chaeng Wattana Road
By Khaosod English



BANGKOK: -- Governmental officials have announced that they will persuade anti-government protesters to leave their rally site on Chaeng Wattana Road.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699700-cmpo-to-reclaim-chaeng-wattana-road/

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Northeast farmers threaten to blockade Friendship Highway today



BANGKOK: -- Rice farmers from 20 northeastern provinces are gathering at Lamtakong dam in Si Kiew district of Nakhon Ratchasima today in their threat to blockade the Friendship Highway today if the caretaker government could not pay them today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699704-isaan-farmers-threaten-to-blockade-friendship-highway-today-jan-27/

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RT @tulsathit: Power consumption to go down about 6% in Jan, but no snow yet: electricity officials & weathermen

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Cambodian citizens implicated in murder of protester
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 27 – Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban said Cambodian gunmen might be involved in the murder of the fourth anti-government protester in Bang-na area yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699705-cambodian-citizens-implicated-in-murder-of-thai-protester-in-bang-na/

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Caretaker PM, Election Commission to discuss rescheduling snap poll
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 27 – Thailand's caretaker prime minister and the country's Election Commission (EC) chairman are scheduled to meet tomorrow to discuss the possibility of postponing the Feb 2 general election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699707-caretaker-pm-yingluck-election-commission-to-discuss-rescheduling-snap-poll/