Thailand Live Friday 31 Jan 2014

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Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order director Chalerm: Protest leader Suthep to be arrested after Sunday election /MCOT

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Korat bustling with crowds during the Chinese New Year

NAKHON RATCHASIMA 31 January 2014 (NNT) — Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Korat, has reported at least 10,000 visitors to the city each day during the Chinese New Year festival.

Locals and visitors joining in on the celebrations gathered around the Thao Suranari Monument which has been set up as the main venue. Families and excited participants currently roam around the event area enjoying the colorful Chinese decorations and brightly lit lanterns.

Visitors who came to take part in the celebrations have been very impressed with the decadent atmosphere and especially the Chinese lanterns. The event is held from January 30 to February 1, and is expected to receive at least 10,000 visitors each day.


-- NNT 2014-01-31

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RT @terryfrd: A farmer gets her rice pledge money, one of the 70 lucky ones in Kalasin. Post Today photo. http://t.co/yRq3MGn1rh

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Thailand sees 10,000 new HIV cases each year

BANGKOK, 31 January 2014 (NNT) – The Ministry of Public Health has revealed that there are approximately 10,000 new cases of HIV infections each year in Thailand, adding that there are over 1.2 million HIV patients whose symptoms do not show.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700926-thailand-sees-10000-new-hiv-cases-each-year/

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Lopburi farmers lodge complaints of rice fraud to police



BANGKOK: -- Rice farmers in Lopburi province yesterday marched to the police station in the town of Lopburi to file rice fraud cases to the police after they are not paid for over four months.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700927-lopburi-farmers-lodge-complaints-of-rice-fraud-to-police/

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RT @tulsathit: Votes will be counted at polling booths that manage to open and last the distance: EC #pollcountdown

RT @tulsathit: But votes won't be totalled in troubled constituencies. (separate counts will be made but they won't be totalled).

RT @tulsathit: Those not voting can either file report on reason why to preserve right, or vote in upcoming Senate poll to restore right. #pollcountdown

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Army chief orders military to provide security for Sunday election to prevent possible violent clashes; strict security at high rises /MCOT

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Focus
Thai northeast vows poll payback to Shinawatra clan
by Aidan JONES

UDON THANI, January 31, 2014 (AFP) - In Thailand's wealthy capital, embattled Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra rarely ventures out in public because of fears for her safety. But in much of the vast rural northeast, her billionaire family are heroes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700936-thai-northeast-vows-poll-payback-to-shinawatra-clan/

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RT @tulsathit: One potential big trouble: What will happen to election results if court rules against SOE. #pollcountdown

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Udon Thani to organize activities promoting Ban Chiang Archaeological Site

BANGKOK, 31 January 2014 (NNT) – Udon Thani Province will from February 7th to 9th organize activities to promote Ban Chiang which according to UNESCO is the most important prehistoric settlement so far discovered in South-East Asia.

Udon Thani Governor held a press conference to announce that the province will host, for the 22nd time, a grand event to carry on culture and traditions of Ban Chiang, a center of a remarkable phenomenon of human cultural, social, and technological evolution in the 5th millennium BC.

In 1992, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) listed Ban Chiang among other world heritage sites during its meeting in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The event, to be held during Feb 7-9, will feature a number of activities and performances aimed at preserving and passing on the culture of Ban Chiang. Furthermore, there will also be an exhibition of Their Majesties the King and Queen who visited this archaeological site in 1972.

Ban Chiang presents the earliest evidence for true farming in the region and for the manufacture and use of metals: its long cultural sequence has no parallel in any other contemporary site in the region.


-- NNT 2014-01-31

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RT @tulsathit: Something they do at rally, making world record "lengthy" donation. RT @tanatpong_nna #nna http://t.co/YVpM2S6SJ0

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Public Health Society announces boycott of election

The Public Health Society Friday announced a boycott of the Sunday election.

The society is comprised of various clubs and agencies in the Public Health Ministry, four medical schools and seven medical organisations.

A statement from the health society said members of the society would perform a civil disobedience by refusing to exercising voting right.


-- The Nation 2014-01-31

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Protesters of the People's Democratic Reform Committee, led by Luang Pu Buddha Issara, have surrounded Laksi district office building compound, reports say. /Bangkok Post

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Public Health Society announces boycott of election
The Nation

The Public Health Society Friday announced a boycott of the Sunday election.

BANGKOK: -- The society is comprised of various clubs and agencies in the Public Health Ministry, four medical schools and seven medical organisations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700948-public-health-society-announces-boycott-of-election/

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Thai polling stations might have to close if trouble on election day
BY AMY SAWITTA LEFEVRE
BANGKOK

(Reuters) - Thai authorities might close polling booths if violence erupts during Sunday's disputed election which could further undermine the credibility of a vote that is deemed incapable of restoring stability in the polarized country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700951-thai-polling-stations-might-have-to-close-if-trouble-on-election-day/

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Alms giving rites held nationwide to mark 100th day of Supreme Patriarch’s demise

BANGKOK, 31 January 2014 (NNT) - Buddhists nationwide have joined in a merit making ceremony dedicated to the late Supreme Patriarch, His Holiness Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, on the 100th day anniversary of his death.

In Ratchaburi, a large number of Buddhists, led by the provincial governor, participated in an alms giving ceremony for 100 monks early Friday morning.

Phichit, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surin and other provinces also organized a similar ceremony. As today is also the Chinese New Year’s day, some Thai people of Chinese descent also took part in this merit making event.

Buddhists in Bangkok and upcountry have been invited by The committee responsible for the funeral of the late Supreme Patriarch to perform alms-giving or other merit making ceremonies on January 31 to mark the 100th day on the passing of Supreme Patriarch Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara.

-- NNT 2014-01-31

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Thai exports drop 0.3% in 2013 – first contraction in 4 yrs
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Jan 31 – Thailand’s exports last year declined by 0.3 per cent from the preceding year – the country's first such deficit in four years, a senior Commerce Ministry official said today.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700955-thai-exports-drop-03-in-2013-first-contraction-in-4-yrs/

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Thailand launches anti-plastic bag campaign
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Jan 31 – Thailand's Department of Environmental Quality Promotion and CP-All, the world's third- biggest operator of 7-Eleven convenience stores, have launched a campaign aiming to encourage the public, particularly the youth, to cut their use of plastic bags at convenience stores for greater waste reduction in the country.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700956-thailand-launches-anti-plastic-bag-campaign/

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CMPO says Suthep shuns talks; wont give up attempt to talk, state offices gradually reopen Monday /MCOT

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DDPM: 8 provinces already hit by drought

BANGKOK, 31 Jan 2014, (NNT) - The Department of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has said 25 districts in 8 provinces in the northeastern region have already been hit by drought.

According to DDPM's Director general Chatchai Promlert, 1,524 villages in eight provinces of Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Buriram, Mahasarakham, Khon Kaen, Si Sa Ket, Singburi, and Chachierngsao have reportedly been suffering from lack of water for consumption and daily use.

The Department discovered that the water levels in reservoirs in the northeastern, western, and southern regions remained unchanged, at 70-80 % of their capacity; the same of last year's. Dams in the North, however, have lower water levels, at around 50% of capacity; given these dams have to release water for farmlands in nearby zones, which have been doing more off-season farming than the areas' limits.

Meanwhile, the water level at Lamlao Dam in Kalasin Province has dropped to 39% of its capacity, said the Director General, urging locals to use water wisely and sparingly. Farmers should also refrain form growing off-season rice and switch to other short-lived crops that demand less amount of water.

-- NNT 2014-01-31

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Bangkok ranked 3rd in world’s most popular cities

BANGKOK 31 January 2014 (NNT) — Disregarding the ongoing political conflicts, some good news has recently been reported on Thailand’s capital, Bangkok —ranking the City of Angels third among the world’s most popular cities for travelers.

Euro Monitor reported that the most traveled to city in the world in 2012 was Hong Kong — with 24 million visitors in the mentioned year. The second, with 21 million visitors, goes to Singapore; and Thailand came in third with 16 million visitors. London was ranked fourth; Kuala Lumpur fifth; and Paris being placed at tenth.

An interesting fact about Bangkok’s empirical statistics was the substantial growth in its visiting tourists — having an increase of 14% from 2011 in comparison with other top world destination cities that reported less than 10% growth in their tourist visits.

Euro Monitor reported that Hong Kong topped the world’s travel list due to its popularity among mainland Chinese travelers. Singapore and Bangkok were also reported to have the most travelers from mainland China.

-- NNT 2014-01-31

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Anti-Election Protesters Intercept Ballots At Laksi

By Kkaosod English.

BANGKOK; -- Anti-election protesters have besieged Laksi Area Office in Bangkok to withhold the distribution of ballot papers and ballot boxes.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700960-anti-election-protesters-intercept-ballots-at-laksi/

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Bridge loan auction for rice scheme met with no-show by banks

BANGKOK, 31 January 2014 (NNT) – No banks were reportedly present at the government’s auction of a bridging loan worth 20 billion baht, which is to be used to pay farmers in the rice pledging scheme, due to fear of risks and lack of clarity.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700962-bridge-loan-auction-for-rice-scheme-met-with-no-show-by-banks/

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POLITICS
Redshirts cancel rally in Samut Prakan

BANGKOK: -- Pro-government red shirt activists have called off a planned major rally in suburban Samut Prakan province today to avoid violence and attacks on demonstrators, red leader Thida Thavornseth said Friday.

Thida said her members will instead organise peaceful activities including candle lighting instead of a rally after receiving a report of possible attacks on demonstrators.

"Red shirt people will be busy engaging in monitoring the polls on Sunday," she said. It would not be easy for antigovernment protests to seal off all polling stations nationwide - the way they did at some constituencies during advance elections last Sunday.

She was referring to a planned threeday march in Bangkok by the antigovernment People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), starting yesterday, to discourage people from going to the polls.

She said the Election Commission should work in full force to organise the snap polls, or it would be sued for breaching the law, reiterating the UDD's stand against any move to disrupt the Sunday's general elections.

Former Pheu Thai MP Vorachai Hema said the UDD must cancel its planned massive rally in Samut Prakan today following reports of infiltration and attacks by armed personnel which could lead to violence and casualties, and eventually manipulate the armed forces to stage a coup.

"The UDD has to step back to avoid violence," he said, calling on Army chief Prayuth Chanocha to protect the people.


-- The Nation 2014-01-31

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Army, police on full alert for Sunday’s election
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 31 – Thailand’s Army will be on full alert countrywide, but particularly in Bangkok, to provide safety and prevent possible clashes among opposing factions when Thai people go to the polls Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700971-army-police-on-full-alert-for-sundays-election/

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PCAD Leader Threatens Viphavadi Tollway Closure
By Khaosod English


An EOD police officer inspecting evidence of suspected M79 grenade attack at anti-government rally in Ladprao Intersection, 29 January 2014

BANGKOK: -- An anti-government protest leader has threatened to shutdown the tollway connecting downtown Bangkok with one of its international airports.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701002-pcad-leader-threatens-viphavadi-tollway-closure/

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SET index closed 1,274.28, up 10.21; Bt/USD32.87; GBP54.06; AUD28.74; EUR44.42; CAD29.30; HKD4.22; SGD25.64; JPY31.89

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Kick Back and Relax at The Lounge Bar Hua Hin - With free Wi-Fi powered by Facebook

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701003-kick-back-and-relax-at-the-lounge-bar-hua-hin-with-free-wi-fi-powered-by-facebook/

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Switch From Analogue to Digital TV Starts This Month

Hua Hin: -- From February this year the broadcasting industry in Thailand will be reshaped after the birth of digital terrestrial TV channels for 22 million households. This will change the way we view content from free TV channels with more choice and better viewing experiences.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700890-switch-from-analogue-to-digital-tv-starts-this-month/

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Big Budget For Hua Hin Development in 2014

Hua Hin: -- Subsequent to the Mayor, Mr. Nopporn Wutthikul, asking for proposals for budget planning with a policy of promoting tourism in Hua Hin for purchasing new materials and urban improvement, he has announced the budget for urban development in Hua Hin in 2014.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700920-big-budget-for-hua-hin-development-in-2014/