Thailand Live Wednesday 29 Jan 2014

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Suvarnabhumi to see 2 million passengers throughout Chinese New Year holidays



BANGKOK, 29 January 2014 (NNT) - 658 flights will be added at Suvarnabhumi Airport during the Chinese New year this year with more than two million passengers, according to the airport's projection.

Suvarnabhumi Director Raweewan Netrakhawesana said on Tuesday that the airport was expected to accommodate around 2.03 million passengers or 156,336 people a day during the Chinese New Year from 27 January – 8 February 2014. This number of passengers was lower than the same period last year by 0.64%. Among the 658 additional flights, 602 of them were international flights and the rest domestic. Most of the flights were from China.

The airport festively decorated the interior of its passenger terminal buildings and would organize special activities to welcome tourists from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore from 30 – 31 January, said the director.

Due to political rallies in Bangkok and their effects on road traffic, Suvarnabhumi Airport recommends passengers to leave for the airport at least four hours prior to their flights and use electric trains instead of cars.


-- NNT 2014-01-29

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RICE-PLEDGING SCHEME
Farmers driven to despair
Mongkhonchaowarat Tangmangmee
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- INSTEAD OF benefiting farmers, the government's rice-pledging scheme has ironically driven some into hopelessness.

At least one committed suicide on Sunday apparently because the scheme has repeatedly postponed payments for his pledged rice in recent months, leaving him without money to support himself.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700268-rice-pledging-scheme-thai-farmers-driven-to-despair/

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UPDATE:

FEBRUARY 2 ELECTION

Poll set for Sunday amid fears of further violence
Somroutai Sapsomboon
Hataikarn Treesuwan


Protesters swarm over a man they suspect had earlier shot and wounded a fellow protester outside the Army Club yesterday afternoon.

Protest leader predicts prolonged battle if balloting goes ahead.

BANGKOK: -- THE DECISION to go ahead with the February 2 election would only mount pressure on the caretaker government because it would provide "ammunition" to the protesters, a leader of the People's Democratic for Reform Committee (PDRC) said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700144-thai-pm-maintains-february-2-election-date-ruling-party-source/page-5#entry7361595

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UPDATE:

POLITICS
Man shot outside the Army Club; gunman caught
The Nation


A two-way radio the protesters said was taken from the man they claim was the gunman.

BANGKOK: -- AN ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTER was shot and injured outside the Army Club yesterday, where Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Election Commission members were meeting.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700125-a-protester-injured-in-a-shooting-in-front-of-army-club/page-6?p=7361602#entry7361602

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POLITICS
Reds to rally nationwide Friday in support of poll
The Nation


Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana meets with Election Commission chairman Supachai Somcharoen at the Royal Thai Army Club yesterday for discussions on whether to go ahead with the February 2 election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700269-red-shirts-to-rally-nationwide-friday-in-support-of-poll/

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RICE-PLEDGING SCHEME
Govt to seek bank loans to pay out rice farmers
Supunnee Putpisut,
Nakarin Srilert
The Nation



Commercial banks to be tapped after state banks' unions balk at lending

BANGKOK: -- THE Finance Ministry will today invite 32 commercial banks to tender loan conditions so that the government can raise the funds needed to pay out farmers who sold rice to the pledging scheme, a source at the ministry disclosed yesterday. About Bt130 billion is allegedly required but no figure was given for the total amount that will be sought today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700270-govt-to-seek-bank-loans-to-pay-out-rice-farmers/

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REFORM
Social Network targets 'selfless' reform in Thai society
Sasithorn Ongdee
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- With the purpose of "selfless" reform in Thailand, a group of like-minded people from 185 various professions yesterday created "The Social Network for Thailand Reform."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700271-social-network-targets-selfless-reform-in-thai-society/

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JAPAN CONFIDENCE
Chaos spook Japan industry
Erich Parpart
The Nation


Setsuo Iuchi, chairman of JCC

BANGKOK: -- Japan's financial and parts industries are concerned over Thailand's prolonged political protests, which could drag down investment, said Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Jaiyos.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700274-chaos-spook-japan-industry;-thailands-prolonged-political-protests/

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EDITORIAL
Is the 'Somkiat effect' strong enough to reverse the tide?
The Nation

Former senator Somkiat Onwimol draws praise for advocating non-violent protest, but will everyone take his words to heart?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700275-is-the-somkiat-effect-strong-enough-to-reverse-the-tide-thai-editorial/

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STOPPAGE TIME
Corruption: "Vote or tax" is nonsense
Tulsathit Taptim

Dear Thai people, I see that Democracy wrote you a letter last week, so I couldn't help myself. What nonsense he tried to put into your heads! It was self-romanticising and idealising at their best. I could just ask him to come back to the real world, but I guess it will be more fruitful talking to you guys.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700277-corruption-vote-or-tax-is-nonsense/

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Thai Middle Way offers exit
Jeffrey Race
RSIS


Then-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra greets a supporter in 2005.

This is the second and concluding part of an article examining the cultural and social roots of our current political crisis

BANGKOK: -- Some view Thailand's entrenched conflict as no more than two business coalitions competing to plunder the nation. In fact, they operate by very different rule sets. These differences make the present situation intractable but they are seldom captured in press analysis.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700278-thai-middle-way-offers-exit/

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Authorities investigate luggage fire at Suvarnabhumi
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- AN INVESTIGATION is being conducted to determine how a piece of luggage caught fire on a conveyer belt at Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700279-authorities-investigate-luggage-fire-at-suvarnabhumi/

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PDRC to rally at CMPO office today
The Nation


People

Protesters want centre dissolved; Chalerm scoffs at the demand

BANGKOK: -- The People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) will today rally outside the Police Narcotics Suppression Bureau building, where the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) is based, while the centre's chief Chalerm Yoobamrung said he was ready to handle the crowds, provided they showed up after 10am.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700280-pdrc-to-rally-at-cmpo-office-today/

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RT @BPbreakingnews: 7.12am: An M79 grenade was fired at at the Lat Phrao stage at 3.45am; 1 protester was injured. #bpnews

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RT @Juarawee: RT @SupotNTV: Akanut confirms that PDRC resolves to not march to CMPO at Police Club today due to security concern.

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Used car sales rise despite intense political situation

BANGKOK, 29 Jan 2014, (NNT)-- Pre-owned car sales have been on the rise despite the intense political situation, says Union Auction Public Company Limited (AUCT).

According to AUCT’s Managing Director Buranit Yuktanand, the ongoing political impasse has negatively affected the sales of most commodity products except for second-hand vehicles, especially pickup trucks.

Sales in December are particularly high in the rural markets, where buyers bought used trucks for political purposes such as taking supporters to gathering sites and campaigning for the upcoming February 2nd election, said Buranit.

Another factor contributing to the rise in used car sales is the fact that several financing institutes have been selling impounded cars at much lower prices than their original price tags in order to avoid paying for steep maintenance costs. The move has, in turn, stimulated activities at used car dealers.


-- NNT 2014-01-29

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Princess Maha Chakri presents Prince Mahidol Award to four 2013 laureates

BANGKOK, 29 January 2013 (NNT) - Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on January 28 deputized for His Majesty the King at the presentation of the Prince Mahidol Award to winners for the year 2013, at the Chakri Throne Hall in the Grand Palace.

The Prince Mahidol Award is conferred annually on individuals or institutions, two in the field of medicine and two others in public health, which have demonstrated outstanding and exemplary contributions to the advancement of the world’s medical and public health services. The 2013 winners of the Award were carefully picked from 64 nominations sent in from 28 countries.

In the field of medicine, the Award is conferred to Professor Dr. David D. Ho, scientific director and chief executive officer of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center in New York, United States, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, also in the United States.

Dr. Ho has pioneered the Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) treatment for HIV-infected patients, leading to a new method of applying HAART treatment at an early stage of infection. Dr. Anthony Fauci has also made influential contributions to the understanding of how HIV destroys the body’s defenses. He shows that by using highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) will effectively control HIV replication leading to the deterioration of the immune system. The approach taken by Professor David D. Ho and Dr. Anthony Fauci has been widely embraced and set a new standard for HIV/AIDS patient treatment – changing AIDS from a lethal, untreatable disease to a chronic one, and saving millions of lives throughout the world.

In the field of public health, the Prince Mahidol Award goes to Baron Peter Piot, director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and former Executive Director of UNAIDS for his work in raising public awareness and pushing for HIV/AIDS treatment in low-income countries. Another recipient in the field is Dr. Jim Yong Kim, former director of the World Health Organization (WHO)’s HIV/AIDS department who had promoted universal access to anti-retrovirals during his tenure of office. He coordinated with UNAIDS, governments and agencies concerned to arrange funding, training courses and capacity building programs for the treatment, reducing the cost of HAART therapies, and enhancing treatment, prevention, and care for HIV/AIDS patients.

The Prince Mahidol Award Foundation under the Royal Patronage was established in commemoration of the centenary of the birth of His Royal Highness Prince Mahidol of Songkla, on January 1, 1992. The Foundation has Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn as president. Each Prince Mahidol Award consists of a medal, a certificate and a sum of US $100,000.


-- NNT 2014-01-29

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MOPH concerned about skin, gastrointestinal diseases at rally sites

BANGKOK, 29 January 2014 (NNT) – The Ministry of Public Health on Tuesday expressed concern over the possibility of protesters contracting skin and gastrointestinal diseases, and made suggestions on personal hygiene at rally sites.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700294-thai-health-ministry-concerned-about-skin-gastrointestinal-diseases-at-rally-sites/

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PDRC cancels plan to lead protesters to seize CMPO office, worries about safety of protesters /MCOT

2 soldiers wounded in bomb ambush of Yala teacher protection unit; 2 villagers killed, 1 wounded in Narathiwat gun attack /MCOT

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Public Debt Management Office will begin bridge loan auction today to mobilising funds to settle farmers' rice subsidy payments /The Nation

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UPDATE:

Anti-graft body to probe Yingluck on rice charges
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 29 – The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has vowed to speed up its investigation of the caretaker prime minister on charges of negligence in connection with the controversial rice pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700205-pm-to-be-investigated-on-rice-deal-and-impeachment-bid/page-3?p=7362299#entry7362299

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Red Shirt activists plan pro-election rally Friday
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 29 – Red Shirt activists from the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) will hold a major rally in outlying Samut Prakan province on Friday to support the general election on Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700269-red-shirts-to-rally-nationwide-friday-in-support-of-poll/#entry7362343

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,275.51, gains 3.72 points /MCOT

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Lard Phrao protest site comes under M-79 grenade attack



BANGKOK: -- The protest site of the Network of Students and People for the Reform of Thailand (NSPRT) was attacked by M-79 grenade launcher again before dawn today, causing injury to a protester.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700310-bangkok-lard-phrao-protest-site-comes-under-m-79-grenade-attack/

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Suthep announces election must be blocked



BANGKOK: -- Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban announced Tuesday night at Pathumwan protest stage that anti-government protesters would try all possible means to prevent the February 2 election from taking place.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700314-suthep-announces-election-must-be-blocked/

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TAT adjusts tourism promotion budget distribution plan

BANGKOK, 29 Jan 2014 (NNT) - Mr. Tawatchai Aranyik, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, revealed that the TAT has suspended its budget distribution to this year's tourism promotion campaign in foreign markets due to uncertainties in the political situation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700315-tat-adjusts-tourism-promotion-budget-distribution-plan/

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Bangkok protests leave many Myanmar migrant workers without visas



BANGKOK: -- Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand are struggling to extend expired working visas as continuous anti-government protests in Bangkok and elsewhere affect the country’s administration, leaving thousands at risk of arrest, according to sources.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700316-bangkok-protests-leave-many-myanmar-migrant-workers-without-visas/

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M-79 grenade shot into protesters at Lat Phrao; one wounded
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Jan 29 -- An M-79 grenade was fired into the rally site of the anti-government protesters at the Lat Phrao five-way intersection, wounding one protester and damaging two cars.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700310-bangkok-lard-phrao-protest-site-comes-under-m-79-grenade-attack/#entry7362687

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Two villagers shot dead, two rangers wounded in southern violence
By Digital Content

NARATHIWAT, Jan 29 - Two villagers were killed and one seriously wounded in a shooting attack early this morning at a rubber plantation in Rueso district of this southern border province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700318-two-villagers-shot-dead-two-rangers-wounded-in-southern-violence/

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Focus
Tourist snubs and investor jitters as Thai rallies bite
by Apilaporn VECHAKIJ

BANGKOK, January 29, 2014 (AFP) - As protests grip Bangkok and bitter controversy hangs over upcoming elections, Thailand is facing battered investor confidence, lower growth and millions of dollars of lost tourist revenues, experts say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700320-tourist-snubs-and-investor-jitters-as-thai-rallies-bite/