Thailand Live Thursday 30 Jan 2014

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Flat passengers volume at Suvarnabhumi airport this Chinese New Yr ttributed to domestic political unrest; double digit growth projection unlikely this year /The Nation

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RT @RichardBarrow: If you hear sounds like gunfire or explosions in #Bangkok today don’t panic. Today the Thai-Chinese are making offerings to ancestors.

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Staunch protester Suthep throwing anti-election hook Sunday
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 30 - Thailand's anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) is leading a three-day march in the capital, starting today, as a prelude against Sunday's general election, according to protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700554-anti-govt-mass-rally-on-poll-day-pdrc-vows-complete-bangkok-shutdown/page-2#entry7367679

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BoT: Baht still subject to fluctuation

BANGKOK, 30 Jan 2014 (NNT) - The Bank of Thailand (BoT) said that the Thai Baht currency would still fluctuate, citing both U.S. economic movements and local political situation as key driving forces.

Ms. Rung Mallikamas, Spokeswoman of the BoT, said that the baht would react in accordance with the U.S.’s Federal Reserve decision on the Quantitative Easing measure (QE). Speculation has been made recently that FED would reduce its QE from 75 billion dollars/month by 10 billion dollars.

The spokesperson expressed her concerns over the baht saying the currency has sometimes weakened faster than other currencies in the region. She attributed the baht fall to the political impasse, indicating the currency this month moved narrowly as the political situation remained unchanged. The BoT however decided to refrain from intervention, deeming that leaving the baht to the market mechanism would be the best approach to stabilize the currency.


-- NNT 2014-01-30

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DSI chief says five key PDRC leaders are foreigners



BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) says five foreigners are among the leaders of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (DPRC) now protesting the caretaker government and February 2 election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700605-thailands-dsi-chief-says-five-key-pdrc-leaders-are-foreigners/

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German couple rescued after hours in dark Phuket forest
Eakkapop Thongtub


The exhausted couple take a break after making it to safety.

PHUKET: -- Police spent five hours last night (January 29) rescuing a German couple who phoned at about 7 pm to say that they were lost in forest near Tonsai Waterfall in Thalang.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700607-german-couple-rescued-after-hours-in-dark-phuket-forest/

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Lucky Frenchman reunited with belongings left in Phuket taxi
Prapaporn Jitmaneeyaphan


Mr Cellier (2nd from left), shakes hands with taxi driver Chatri Saengnun, watched by tourist police officers and French Honorary Consul Claude de Crissey.

PHUKET: -- A lucky Frenchman, André Gilbert Etienne Cellier got all his valuables back yesterday afternoon (January 29) after leaving them in a taxi a week earlier.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700608-lucky-frenchman-reunited-with-belongings-left-in-phuket-taxi/

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Four dead, four injured in Din Daeng blaze
By Digital Content

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700596-four-family-members-die-in-predawn-fire-at-bangkoks-din-daeng-district/#entry7367931

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Yaowaraj Rd to be closed Jan. 31- Feb.1 noon to midnight for Chinese New Year celebration activities /The Nation

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Q&A on Thai political crisis - Facts

BANGKOK, January 30, 2014 (AFP) - Here are key facts about Thailand's political crisis ahead of elections overshadowed by an opposition boycott and threats by anti-government protesters to besiege polling stations:

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700624-q-a-on-thai-political-crisis-facts/

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Suthep and all PDRC leaders kick off street march to oust Yingluck

BANGKOK: -- Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban and leaders of all eight protest sites of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) kicked off the 3-day mass street march this morning as the 3-day election countdown begins.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700625-suthep-and-all-pdrc-leaders-kick-off-street-march-to-oust-yingluck/

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All safe after dramatic dive boat sinking near Phuket

The Phuket News

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700628-all-safe-after-dramatic-dive-boat-sinking-near-phuket-video/

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PM asks security agencies to help EC carry out election

BANGKOK, 30 January 2014 (NNT) – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has asked all security-related agencies to facilitate the Election Commission (EC)'s duty in carrying out the Feb 2 general election.

The government has decided to push ahead with the general election on February 2 in the face of the People's Democratic Reform Committee’s (PDRC) plan to disrupt the voting.

PM Yingluck has urged all eligible voters to exercise their voting rights, while calling on all security agencies to ensure that the EC can hold the election and people can cast their votes.

Meanwhile, Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who is in charge of the state of emergency decree invoked last week, announced earlier that the government would deploy 10,000 police officers in Bangkok to maintain law and order on the polling day.

Chalerm also warned those thinking about shutting down polling stations to think twice given police would never allow them to do so.


-- NNT 2014-01-30

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Civil Court accepts petition against Emergency Decree



BANGKOK: -- The Civil Court has accepted a petition filed by a protest leader challenging the legitimacy of the Emergency Decree invoked by the government to deal with the protesters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700654-civil-court-accepts-petition-against-emergency-decree/

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RT @veen_NT: PDRC files charge against DSI for freezing leaders' bank accounts. Court schedules hearing on April 21. via @Biz_TheNation

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RT@Biz_TheNation: SET index Thur noon, down 11.02 pts, 0.87% at 1,260.40 amid Bt 9.33 bn turnover

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RT@Juarawee: Tida: The stage rally on Jan31 is canceled at Samutprakan, but gatherings in other provinces will go on as planned.

RT@Juarawee: Tida: We don’t want to bring redshirts from many provinces to one place, as it risks sth happening. We’ll only light candles at City halls

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Southern post exchange centres still unable to distribute ballots, boxes

The Nation

BANGKOK: --It is looking increasingly unlike that the election in 14 southern provinces will take place on Sunday as three southern post exchange centres in Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Chumphon have announced they are unable to distribute ballot boxes and ballots to polling stations in these areas.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700663-southern-post-exchange-centres-still-unable-to-distribute-ballots-boxes/

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Thai Journalists Association rejects Chalerm's invitation to observe CMPO's operations

BANGKOK: -- The Thai Journalists Association has resolved to reject the invitation of caretaker Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung to observe the operations of the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order.

Chalerm, the director of the CMPO, has sent a letter to the TJA, inviting it to send representatives to observe the operations of the CMPO.

The TJA announced Thursday that its board resolved on Wednesday not to accept the invitation.

The TJA board reasoned that the observation of the CMPO was not a responsibility of the media association.

The TJA board added that reporters are also covering the moves of the CMPO.

-- The Nation 2014-01-30

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RT@Juarawee: Tida: We don’t want to bring redshirts from many provinces to one place, as it risks sth happening. We’ll only light candles at City halls

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RT@RichardBarrow: 2:20pm Protesters passing in front of the Emporium (Pic @Bell_Rakung) pic.twitter.com/9P6yXECLd9

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SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
Red shirts in Chiang Mai in favour of new capital in case of coup

BANGKOK: -- The red shirt movement in Chiang Mai province has prepared a retreat for caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra should the military stage a coup d'etat.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700672-red-shirts-in-chiang-mai-in-favour-of-new-capital-in-case-of-coup/

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Pheu Thai seeks clearer explanation from Army



BANGKOK: -- The Pheu Thai party spokesman today sought clearer explanation from the Army over yesterday’s disclosure by an Army spokesman that more troops would be deployed in wider areas to safeguard the safety of the people.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700684-pheu-thai-seeks-clearer-explanation-from-army/

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Thida calls red shirts to come out to protect polling stations

BANGKOK: -- Thida Thavornseth, chairperson of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), Thursday made her appeal to the red shirts nationwide, calling them to help ensure the voting would not be interrupted.

She made the appeal after the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) threatened to besiege all 50 district offices in Bangkok.


-- The Nation 2014-01-30

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Abhisit allows Democrat members free decision on voting
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Former Democrat MPs can make their own decision about whether to go out to vote or not, Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700707-abhisit-allows-democrat-members-free-decision-on-voting/

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SET index closed 1,264.07, down 7.35; Bt/USD32.85; GBP54.10; AUD28.50; EUR44.70; CAD29.22; HKD4.22; SGD25.62; JPY31.93

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Tourism Council: Thailand to lose THB50 billion in tourism revenue due to rallies

BANGKOK, 30 January 2014 (NNT) - President of the Tourism Council of Thailand Piyamarn Techapaiboon has expressed her confidence that the Thai tourism sector will be able to grow if the 2 February general election is peaceful. The president has also estimated that the country will lose around 50 billion baht with a tourist number decreasing by one million people in the first quarter of this year.

The president on Thursday spoke about the political protests’ effects on the Thai tourism, saying that if the protests were prolonged until the second quarter, Thailand would lose around 80 billion baht in revenue opportunity which might prevent the country from achieving this year’s foreign tourist revenue target of 1.3 trillion baht.

Ms Piyamarn admitted that new foreign tourists had not yet planned to visit Thailand during this period due to safety concerns. The president therefore suggested the private sector urgently stimulate domestic market and encouraged government units to arrange meetings in the country instead of overseas in a bid to help SMEs and spur the tourism sector.


-- NNT 2014-01-30

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No armed foreign forces in Thailand
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 30 - The Thai army today confirmed that no armed foreign troops have been found in the kingdom to instigate violence but conceded that there is a possibility of some gradually sneaking across the border.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700709-no-armed-foreign-forces-in-thailand/

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Phuket's one-stop yacht center to open next week
Phuket Gazette


The one-stop center on Chalong Pier, originally due to open in 2012, will open unofficially next week. Photo: Leslie Porterfield

PHUKET: -- Phuket's one-stop center for arriving yachts is scheduled to open next week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700714-phukets-one-stop-yacht-center-to-open-next-week/

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5,000 police officers tasked with safeguarding polling stations in BKK

BANGKOK, 30 January 2014 (NNT) - The Center for Managing of Peace and Order (CMPO) will deploy 5,000 police officers at all polling stations in the capital and request the army to send officers to provide security in southern border provinces on the election day.

CMPO Director Chalerm Yubamrung said he would talk with national police chief Pol.Gen. Adul Saengsingkaew about sending forces to take ballot papers back after a group of people surrounded the Hat Yai Grand Postal Building to prevent the postal service from distributing ballot papers to southern constituencies. The center would also ask the secretary-general of the National Security Council to help maintaining peace and order in the three southern border provinces during the national election, Mr Chalerm said.

In Bangkok, 5,000 police officers will be deployed to facilitate voters’ journey to a polling station and prevent interceptions of ballot paper shipment.

Regarding the anti-government protesters’s walk to campaign the election on 2 February, Mr Chalerm said the protesters could parade in a peaceful manner and discouraged them from closing down polling stations since they would face legal actions.


-- NNT 2014-01-30