Thailand Live Thursday 30 Jan 2014

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Pheu Thai calls on EC to try its best to hold elections

BANGKOK, 30 January 2014 (NNT) – Pheu Thai Party on Wednesday announced it support for the general election on February 2, and called on the Election Commission to perform its duty to the best of its ability.

The Phuea Thai Party has indicated that in case the number of members of parliament does not reach the required 95% when 180 days have elapsed since the election, the Election Commission would need to carry out polling until the number is reached. However, if the effort fails, the matter will have to be forwarded to the Constitution Court for further interpretation.

Suwat Liptapanlop, chief adviser to the National Development Party, on Wednesday led party candidates in Bangkok to pay homage to revered Buddha statues at Mangkon Kamalawat Temple, to make merit before Sunday's election. He said during the trip that politicians needed to help improve the current situation and to help make the general election a success.


-- NNT 2014-01-30

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Govt persistent on discouraging protesters against disrupting election
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 30 – A senior police officer was assigned to hold talks with protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban to discourage him from instigating protesters to seize polling stations during Sunday’s general election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700552-thai-govt-persistent-on-discouraging-protesters-against-disrupting-election/

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ANTI-GOVERNMENT RALLY
Mass rally on poll day
THE NATION

PDRC vows complete city shutdown; urges boycott of vote; 200,000-plus police to be deployed nationwide

BANGKOK: -- SUTHEP THAUGSUBAN, leader of the ongoing anti-government protest, yesterday threatened to bring Bangkok to a "complete shutdown" on election day, while half of the 400,000-strong national police force is expected to be deployed to maintain law and order on the day.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700554-anti-govt-mass-rally-on-poll-day-pdrc-vows-complete-bangkok-shutdown/

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RICE-PLEDGING SCHEME
Unpaid rice farmers allege intimidation as protest ends
Mongkhonchaowarat Tangmangmee,
Anek Krajaem
The Nation



A protest by farmers that lasted for days at the Indochina intersection in Phitsanulok has ended in tears.

BANGKOK: -- After claiming they had been pressured by intimidation, the farmers dispersed Tuesday evening and had no idea when long-overdue payments from the government's rice-pledging scheme would arrive.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700555-unpaid-thai-rice-farmers-allege-intimidation-as-protest-ends/

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POLITICS
Democrats, PDRC wrestle with election day strategy
HATAIKARN TREESUWAN,
NIPHAWAN KAEWRAKMUK
THE NATION

Some members want ballots marked 'No Vote." Others want boycott of poll

BANGKOK: -- THE DECISION by the caretaker government to go ahead with the election on Sunday poses a dilemma for both the Democrat Party - which boycotted the election - and the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), which seeks reform before the election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700556-thai-democrats-pdrc-wrestle-with-election-day-strategy/

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MASS RALLY
PDRC struggle may take three to six months, predicts key member
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE STRUGGLE between the caretaker administration and the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) will last another three to six months, PDRC key member Anek Nakabut predicted yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700557-pdrc-struggle-may-take-three-to-six-months-predicts-key-member/

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UPDATE:

PROTEST
Top Justice Ministry official to stay at rally site
Piyanut Tumnukasetchai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The government will allow Thawatchai Thaikeaw, Justice Ministry deputy permanent secretary, to stay at the Chaeng Wattana protest site for three days.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700415-deputy-permanent-secretary-for-justice-to-spend-three-nights-with-chaeng-wattana-demonstrators/page-2#entry7366754

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POLITICS

New 'reform' group appeals to 'non-partisan people'
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- A GROUP of intellectuals and public figures will today launch a reform campaign amid the political uncertainty caused by the conflict between the government and street protesters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700559-new-reform-group-appeals-to-non-partisan-people/

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THAI TALK
An idiot's guide to this Sunday's election
Suthichai Yoon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- If you go to the polling booth to cast your ballot this Sunday, you are one of those who believe that the election must proceed as the caretaker government insists. It's part of democracy, and nobody has the right to block you from casting your ballot.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700560-thai-talk-an-idiots-guide-to-this-sundays-election/

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EDITORIAL
The momentum is swinging toward reform
The Nation

From all walks of life, the calls for change are growing louder; we should not let this opportunity go to waste

BANGKOK: -- Amid increased violence in the run-up to Sunday's election, and the prospect of more bloodshed during and after the vote, it's reassuring that a large group of publicly respected figures has come out in support of efforts toward a peaceful transitional period of reform.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700561-the-momentum-is-swinging-toward-reform-thai-editorial/

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Don Battles – Merchant of the Orient: no regrets

Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: “This Thailand, you farang!” Perhaps it’s that simple for many fainthearted foreigners struggling to justify distorting dreams for self-made financial freedom in the “Land of No Surprises”; but for one Phuket expat, entrepreneurial legend, the plot turned out to be a tad thicker.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700562-don-battles-merchant-of-the-orient-no-regrets/

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22 students injured in Pattaya Highway crash



PATTAYA: -- 22 Pattaya Students who were on their way to school on Wednesday Morning in a Minivan were injured in a crash which involved a container truck which was forced to take evasive action to avoid a parked pick-up.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700563-22-students-injured-in-pattaya-highway-crash/

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BURNING ISSUE
Meet halfway before country ends in utter failure
ATTAYUTH BOOTSRIPOOM

BANGKOK: -- THOUGH PEOPLE are hoping there is no bloodshed when voters step out to cast their ballots on Sunday, clashes are bound to erupt judging from the rising tensions and the loss of lives in the run-up to the election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700564-meet-halfway-before-country-ends-in-utter-failure-thai-politics/

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30 injured in Chiang Mai crash
The Nation



CHIANG MAI: -- Thirty people were injured when a tour bus collided with a van yesterday in Chiang Mai's San Sai district.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700565-30-injured-in-chiang-mai-crash/

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Norwegian lawmakers nominate Snowden for Nobel Peace Prize

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700525-norwegian-lawmakers-nominate-snowden-for-nobel-peace-prize/

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Google to sell Motorola to China's Lenovo for $2.9 billion

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700548-urgent-google-to-sell-motorola-to-chinas-lenovo-for-29-billion/

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UPDATE:

City officials deny spying on CMPO
Tanatpong Kongsai
The Nation


Photo by : @ThanawatLive

BANGKOK: -- SECURITY cameras have surprisingly appeared in mobile-toilet trucks parked at the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700474-bkk-governor-defends-spy-camera-on-mobile-toilets/page-2?p=7366888#entry7366888

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Fire rages in commercial building at Prachasongkroh 2, Din Daeng; four dead, four injured /MCOT

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Family of four perish in fire

BANGKOK: -- A couple and their two children were killed in a blaze that raged through their commercial building in Bangkok's Din Daeng district early Thursday.

The blaze also injured four others.

The fire broke out at the building on Soi Prachasongkroh 2 at about 4:30 am.

Fire fighters spent over an hour to control the blaze.

The slain victims were identified as Surasak Chatmongkol, 36, Tiew Chatmongkol, Panida Chatmongkol, 7, and Pongthep Chatmongkol, 3.

-- The Nation 2014-01-30

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Divided Thailand set for chaotic election
by Daniel ROOK

BANGKOK, January 30, 2014 (AFP) - Tens of thousands of police will be deployed across Thailand on Sunday for an election seen as a crucial test of the kingdom's fragile democracy, with opposition protesters threatening to lay siege to polling stations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700581-divided-thailand-set-for-chaotic-election/

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RT @ChadapornLin: Traffic around Chinatown barred from today-Saturday for Chinese New Year celebration

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RT @veen_NT: 9.30pm Protesters are arriving at #OnNut #BTS now for their #rally to #Asoke #Bangkok #bkkshutdown via @haroldrolloos http://t.co/fSVGPSeafy

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Yingluck pleads for Thai public's chances to vote
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 30 - Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has urged all related agencies to cooperate in organising Sunday's general election in an attempt to maintain democracy in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700591-yingluck-pleads-for-thai-publics-chances-to-vote/

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Election Commission sets Feb 23 for new round of advance election
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 30 - The Election Commission (EC) has set Feb 23 for the advance election in constituencies where balloting was disrupted last Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700594-election-commission-sets-feb-23-for-new-round-of-advance-election/

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Four family members die in predawn fire at Din Daeng

BANGKOK: -- Four people of the same family died and 10 others injured when a fire broke out at their two-story row food shop building on Soi Pracha Songkroh 2 in Din Daeng today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700596-four-family-members-die-in-predawn-fire-at-bangkoks-din-daeng-district/

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,264.99, falls 6.93 points /MCOT

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THAI to launch in-flight Wi-Fi service next month



BANGKOK: -- Thai Airways International (THAI) says it will launch in-flight Wi-Fi services on 13 Airbus planes by mid next month.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700597-thai-to-launch-in-flight-wi-fi-service-next-month/

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RT @RichardBarrow: 10:10am Protesters have spotters during the march looking out for snipers in high buildings (Pic @sataporn_tpbs) http://t.co/YJRiLIcIco

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DRC protesters from all stages join Suthep march from On-Nut on Sukhumvit Road; BTS Victory Monument station flooded with protesters /MCOT

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Soldier killed in gun assault on military post in Narathiwat; security stepped up in 7 districts of Songkhla during Chinese New Year celebration /MCOT