Thailand Live Tuesday 28 Jan 2014

[webfact]

Army resists protesters’ call for its involvement



BANGKOK, 28 January 2014 (NNT) - The army confirms all army officers perform their duties according to the laws and calls on the public to understand them. Army spokesman Col. Winthai Suwaree says the army chief and the police commissioner-general have agreed to urgently arrest the culprits of all violent incidents during the anti-government rallies.

Col. Winthai on Monday elaborated that the Emergency Decree obligated the Center for Managing of Peace and Order (CMPO) to be responsible for the deployment of police personnel to maintain peace and order amid the protests in Bangkok. In response to the protesters’ request for the army to step in, the spokesman said army officers must carry out their duties within a legal framework and there must be laws to protect them.

Col. Winthai also called on all groups of protesters to rally in a peaceful manner and not to use to violence which would only make things worse.


-- NNT 2014-01-28

[webfact]

NACC to mull removal of PM over failed rice scheme



BANGKOK, 27 January 2014 (NNT) – The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is preparing to deliberate the case lodged for the Prime Minister’s removal from office for her failed management of the rice pledging scheme. Conclusions are expected in a couple of months.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699968-nacc-to-mull-removal-of-pm-yingluck-over-failed-rice-scheme/

[webfact]

Protester says he clearly saw Suthin's killers
Mongkhon Komprad,
Patcha Suwanlada
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A protester who survived Sunday's bloody incident in Bangkok's Bang Na district said he clearly saw the faces of his attackers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699969-protester-says-he-clearly-saw-suthins-killers/

[webfact]

Govt may let EC decide
The Nation

Agency may be asked to set date, shoulder cost, ensure no action against PM: source

BANGKOK: -- THE CARETAKER government is likely to pass the hot potato of rescheduling the February 2 elections over to the Election Commission (EC) when caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra meets election commissioners today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699970-thai-govt-may-let-ec-decide-february-2-election/

[webfact]

Focus on gay men, drug users: HIV experts
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation



Mahidol Award winners also call for countries to help eliminate AIDS stigma

BANGKOK: -- THAILAND and other countries are being urged to pay more attention to HIV prevention among gay men and drug users as well as work on eliminating the stigma against people living with Aids, the world's top health experts said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699971-focus-on-gay-men-drug-users-hiv-experts/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Firms funding PDRC rallies under scrutiny, DSI chief says
Anapat Deechuay
The Nation

Companies will be warned in writing to stop providing support to protesters

BANGKOK: -- THE CENTRE for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) has blacklisted some 30 large corporations for providing financial support to the anti-government protest led by Suthep Thaugsuban's People's Democratic Reform Committee, Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Tarit Pengdith said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699823-30-private-firms-blacklisted-by-cmpo-for-supporting-protesters/page-4#entry7356024

[webfact]

Letters to my diary
PARINYAPORN PAJEE
THE NATION
CHIANG MAI



The new romantic comedy from GTH looks at communication without the benefits of the social networks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699972-movie-letters-to-my-diary/

[webfact]

Tata Motors shares shed 5% after exec's Bangkok death
Kingsley Wijayasinha,
Yuttapong Pasee
The Nation, agencies

BANGKOK: -- Tata Motors shares plunged by more than 5 per cent yesterday after the head of India's largest automaker fell to his death from a hotel room in Bangkok on Sunday, but police yesterday quelled concerns of foul play.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699973-tata-motors-shares-shed-5-after-execs-bangkok-death/

[webfact]

STREETWISE
Political demon will remain with or without February 2 election
Achara Deboonme

By any measure, the upcoming election is the weirdest in Thai political history.

BANGKOK: -- A month before the planned February 2 polling day, the ruling Pheu Thai Party was the first to alert people, putting up posters and launching its campaign with a rally at Muang Thong Thani. The party had been too busy handling a series of political bombs to begin its marketing earlier.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699975-political-demon-will-remain-with-or-without-february-2-election-thai-opinion/

[webfact]

We want our rice back, plus compensation, angry farmers say
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A GROUP of farmers in Phitsanulok are demanding that the government return paddy submitted to the government's rice pledging scheme, plus financial compensation for delayed payments for rice.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699976-we-want-our-rice-back-plus-compensation-angry-thai-farmers-say/

[webfact]

Girl, 7, among three shot dead in Narathiwat
Narong Nuansakul
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Three people were killed including a seven-year-old girl when suspected insurgents opened fire at a villager's pick-up with an AKA rifle yesterday afternoon in Narathiwat's Ra Ngae district, Ra Ngae police superintendent Pol Colonel Jiradech Phrasawang said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699977-girl-7-among-three-shot-dead-in-narathiwat/

[webfact]

Shift of staffs, hiring freeze as city hotels, restaurants enter survival mode
Bamrung Amnatcharoenrit
The Nation

The political tensions have thrust Bangkok hotels and restaurants into survival mode.

BANGKOK: -- They are striving to pare operating costs to match their loss of income from plummeting occupancy rates and declining numbers of diners by freezing hiring, especially of part-timers, and moving staff to work in their better performing properties.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699978-shift-of-staffs-hiring-freeze-as-bangkok-hotels-restaurants-enter-survival-mode/

[webfact]

SPECIAL REPORT
Censoring media unconstitutional, counter-productive
OPAS BOONLOM
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- MEDIA SOURCES claim that the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) - headed by Chalerm Yoobamrung - is planning to censor anti-government media outlets, particularly the BlueSky TV station.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699979-censoring-media-unconstitutional-counter-productive-thai-report/

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE
Little chance the govt will put off Sunday's election
Kornchanok Raksaseri

BANGKOK: -- The results of talks between the Election Commission (EC) and caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra today are highly anticipated: Will they agree to postpone the election on Sunday or not?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699980-little-chance-the-thai-govt-will-put-off-sundays-election/

[webfact]

Protesters unfazed by Chalerm's vow to reclaim sites
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE PEOPLE'S Democratic Reform Committee says it has no plans to disperse from any of its protest sites around Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699981-protesters-unfazed-by-chalerms-vow-to-reclaim-sites/

[webfact]

Pattaya Police appeal for help in locating parents of 5 year old child



PATTAYA: -- Pattaya Police were called to Soi Bongkot in Central Pattaya on Monday following reports of a 5 year old boy who was sitting on the side of the pavement and appeared to have become lost or was abandoned.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699982-pattaya-police-appeal-for-help-in-locating-parents-of-5-year-old-child/

[webfact]

North Pattaya Pub Owner in gun incident



PATTAYA: -- A North Pattaya Pub Owner was arrested in the early hours of Monday after he shot twice into the air with his 38 caliber handgun to scare off a group of youths who were reportedly preparing to attack him.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699983-north-pattaya-pub-owner-in-gun-incident/

[webfact]

Homemade grenade hurled at NSPRT protester stage late last night, one wounded; security stepped up /MCOT

[webfact]

Fire rages in furniture factory at Phetkasem 81, Nong Khaem; firefighters rush to control blaze; traffic heavily jammed /MOCT

[webfact]

Army rejected request of anti-govt protest leader Suthep for a special Army unit to protect protesters /

Finance Ministry's Public Debt Management Office to seek bridge financing from local banks to settle rice subsidy payments w/in a month /

70% SME expect their revenue to fall this yr compared to 2013 due to anti-govt political unrest, Federation of Thai Industries said /

Anti-govt protest leaders rejected talks w/ Ctr for Maintaining Peace, Order, refused to withdraw from govt offices compounds /

/The Nation

[webfact]

RT @tulsathit: How Central World was doomed in 2010. This will be one of the most shared clips today. http://t.co/DONVfKTmYr

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Xcte6_2Ih0Y

RT @tulsathit: Democrats are asking Thaksin to pay them Bt10 million for the clip you saw in my earlier tweet.

RT @tulsathit: Background: Thaksin had offered Bt10 million to whoever can provide proof about CTW.

RT @tulsathit: The Democrats say it took them 3 years to get hands on the clip I tweeted earlier.

[webfact]

Grenade attack at another anti-government protest leader

BANGKOK: -- Unknown number of armed men last night hurled a hand grenade at the house of an anti-government protest leader Samran Rodpet causing damages to his and neighbor’s houses.

Samran, a former journalist working at the ASTV Manager and also a leader of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), said the attack was politically-motivated.

He said he was not at home last night. Only his wife and a maid were at home.

However the attack caused no injury, he said.

He said his wife called him at dawn today to inform about the grenade attack.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) police are now inspecting the scene of explosion to find out the type of hand grenade used.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/grenade-attack-another-anti-government-protest-leader/


-- Thai PBS 2014-01-28

[webfact]

Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,286.73, falls 1.86 points /MCOT

[webfact]

Govt, Election Commission possibly rescheduling snap poll today
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 28 – Thailand's caretaker government will discuss with the Election Commission (EC) today to find resolutions to the troubled-plagued general election, scheduled for this Sunday.

Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said in his capacity as chief adviser of the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) that the talks will be in accord with the Constitution Court’s recommendation.

He said caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra met with the government’s legal team and the Council of State yesterday on proposals to resolve the approaching snap poll amid widespread protests.

Several Cabinet members will accompany Ms Yingluck for the talks with the EC, said Mr Surapong, adding that the government has wrapped up guidelines to be raised with the EC today.

Mr Surapong charged anti-government protesters with infringing other people’s rights and failing to abide by the democratic system in their disruptions of the advance election at several polling stations on Sunday.

A US State Department spokesperson expressed grave concerns over the protesters’ disruption and called on related parties to end violence and be patient, he said.

Mr Surapong said advance elections were successful in 66 of 77 provinces countrywide, proving the desire of the majority of Thai people for an election. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2014-01-28

[webfact]

Explosions rock anti-government protest sites



BANGKOK: -- Bomb explosions continued to rock two anti-government protest sites in Bangkok last night, slightly injuring a security guard.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700012-explosions-rock-anti-government-protest-sites-in-bangkok/

[webfact]

US embassy consular outreach clinic in Phuket
Phuket Gazette


The US Embassy in Bangkok will be in Phuket on January 29 to provide consular services. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- The Consular Section of the American Embassy in Bangkok will hold an Outreach Visit at Le Meridien Hotel in Karon on January 29.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700031-us-embassy-consular-outreach-clinic-in-phuket/

[webfact]

Phuket tsunami warning buoy to be replaced
Suthicha Sirirat


The tsunami warning buoy is seen aboard the MV SEAFDEC after it arrived in Phuket yesterday.

PHUKET: -- The National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) has decided to replace an errant tsunami warning buoy in the Indian Ocean after deciding that repairing it would not be worthwhile.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700033-phuket-tsunami-warning-buoy-to-be-replaced/

[webfact]

Pheu Thai chief threatens mass protest if election is postponed



BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai party leader and caretaker Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan has threatened to bring his supporters to demonstrate in Bangkok if the February 2 election is postponed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700036-pheu-thai-chief-threatens-mass-protest-if-election-is-postponed/

[webfact]

Election commissioner suggests poll process to start anew



BANGKOK: -- An election commissioner said he wanted the election process to start all over again from zero in order to resolve all the existing electoral problems.

Mr Somchai Srisutthiyakorn who is in charge of election affairs said Monday night that there are several problems related to the election such as many candidates could not register their candidacy and many voters could not cast the ballots because they were blocked from getting into the polling units.

These problems need to be fixed and the best way to fix them is to start the election process all over again and it has to be approved by all parties and the other stakeholders, said Mr Somchai.

Mr Somchai and the other election commissioners met with representatives of eight parties on Monday to discuss whether the February 2 election should be postponed or not. However, the meeting was inconclusive with split opinions.

The commission is due to meet caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her legal team today to finalise the election issue.

Mr Somchai said that the government could choose to defer the election by 3-4 months or more or to press ahead with this Sunday election but it has to accept the possibility that the parliament will not be able to start functioning.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/election-commissioner-suggests-poll-process-start-anew/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=election-commissioner-suggests-poll-process-start-anew


-- Thai PBS 2014-01-28

[webfact]

BAAC’s branches told to be ready to pay rice farmers

BANGKOK: -- All the branches of Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) have been advised to get ready to start paying the unpaid rice farmers now that the bank will receive a fresh injection of funding from the Finance Ministry.

The advice was contained in a circular letter signed by Mr Somsak Kangthirawat, vice president and spokesman of the bank.

In the letter, Mr Somsak said that the Council of State had ruled that the Finance Ministry could proceed with its plan to secure the 130 billion baht loan through the issuance of bridge bonds to be used to pay the rice farmers.

BAAC will be receiving 20 billion baht a week to the full amount of the loan and the bank is expected to pay all the unpaid farmers within March, according to the content of the letter.

Also, bank employees were told to make the payments in first-come-first-serve order to ensure fairness to all farmers alike and to work on weekends if need to.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/baacs-branches-told-ready-pay-rice-farmers/


-- Thai PBS 2014-01-28