Thailand Live Sunday 2 Feb 2014

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ELECTION EVE
Rival groups clash at Lak Si
The Sunday Nation:

A group of men supporting today

BANGKOK: -- Many seek shelter in mall after gunshots near district office; soldiers intervene to restore peace

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701357-rival-groups-clash-at-lak-si/

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FEBRUARY 2 ELECTION
Security agencies see limited possibility of violence today
Pakorn Puengnetr
The Sunday Nation:

A police officer, right, attempts unsuccessfully to persuade protesters from the People

BANGKOK: -- Close watch on outskirts of Bangkok, which could be prone to clashes

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701359-security-agencies-see-limited-possibility-of-violence-today/

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ELECTION
Thailand in international headlines
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The clash of anti-government protesters and pro-election people in Bangkok on Saturday became international news headlines.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701360-thailand-in-international-headlines/

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RICE-PLEDGING SCHEME
Farmers network to rally in capital for rice money
The Sunday Nation:

BANGKOK: -- The Northern Farmers Network yesterday mobilised members to rally in Bangkok along with farmers from other regions, to pressure the caretaker government into releasing long-overdue payments for rice sold under the pledging scheme.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701361-farmers-network-to-rally-in-capital-for-rice-money/

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THAI POLITICS
UK and Australia urge citizens to be cautious
The Sunday Nation

An anti-government protester inspects bullet holes in the window of his fellow protester

BANGKOK: -- Britain and Australia have warned their nationals in Bangkok to exercise a high degree of caution due to the possibility of violence, as Thais go to the polls today.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701362-uk-and-australia-urge-citizens-to-be-cautious/

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SPECIAL REPORT
Rescue foundations introspect after mysterious death of woman
Thanapat Kitjakosol
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Ruamkatanyu Foundation has imposed stricter screening of part-time volunteers after the mysterious death of a woman on a medical rescue that it supervised recently.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701363-rescue-foundations-introspect-after-mysterious-death-of-woman/

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Abhisit won't cast his vote in 'unconstitutional election' today
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday declared that he would not cast his vote today.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701364-abhisit-wont-cast-his-vote-in-unconstitutional-election-today/

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Members of international group to observe polling
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- An international election watchdog will deploy some 20 observers for today's snap election, focusing mostly on the issues of people's participation and the right to vote without hindrance.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701365-members-of-international-group-to-observe-polling/

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Red wave set to swamp Bangkok
Lindsay Murdoch

Ready to rise: Members of the red shirts in Bangkok. Photo: AFP

BANGKOK: -- Impoverished northern Thailand will erupt if Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is deposed by the courts or military.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701367-red-wave-set-to-swamp-bangkok/

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RT@Tulip_Oum: 6:53AM Changwattana rd, in front of Govt Complex, is blocked from TOT HQ to Soi 14, both in/outbound.-@fm91trafficpro

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RT@Tulip_Oum: Police keep security at Yingluck's house in Soi Yothin Pattana 3.-“@news1005fm: pic.twitter.com/KLjrzzaEbG”

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Phuket Opinion: Safe Phuket roads still nowhere to be found
Phuket Gazette -

Many careless drivers continue to slip under Phuket law enforcement's radar. Image: Gazette Graphics

PHUKET: It is hard to imagine that only two countries in the world have more deadly roads than Thailand.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701369-phuket-opinion-safe-phuket-roads-still-nowhere-to-be-found/

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RT@Juarawee: 7AM PDRC blocked DinDaung District Office pic.twitter.com/xvfPO8Zx6f

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All members of Lak Si Election Commission resign following clash

BANGKOK: -- The director and all members of the Lak Si Election Commission have resigned following clash between red-shirt people and anti-government protesters near the Lak Si district office Saturday.

Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, a member of the Election Commission, said at 10:30 pm Saturday that the EC officials resigned because they did not want to see more violence happen.

As a result, the EC announced that the elections at all polling stations in the district were suspended.

-- The Nation 2014-02-02

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Erawan centre revives Lak Si clash figure to 8 injuries

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Erawan Emergency Medical Service Centre announced Sunday morning that a total of 8 people were injured in the clash between red-shirt people and anti-government protesters near Lak Si district office Saturday.

The centre said three of injured are women.

Six of them were discharged after receiving treatments and the two others were admitted to the Vibhavadi Rangsit Hospital.

One of the two is a 71-year-old man who was shot at his neck and the other is a 37-year-old woman who was shot at her right chest. The two have received an operation and remained in the intensive care untit.

-- The Nation 2014-02-02

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RT@Tulip_Oum: PDRC Victory Monument moved to block DinDaeng district office since 10PM last night, no ballots able to be transferred out.

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RT@pakhead: @RichardBarrow police being escorted into barricaded Din Daeng polling station by PDRC. Trying to negotiate.

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PDRC protesters besiege Ratchathewi district office

BANGKOK: -- Protesters led by the People's Democratic Reform Committee blocked the gate of the Ratchathewi district office at 2 am Sunday to prevent officials from distributing ballots and ballot boxes to polling stations.

The protesters used a six-wheel truck, a bus and pick-up trucks to block the gate. They also blocked the Mitr Maitree Road.

-- The Nation 2014-02-02

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RT@pakhead: Election officials, soldiers, police and ballot papers barricaded inside Din Daeng district office and polling station by PDRC.

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RT@RichardBarrow: 7:43am Locals wait to welcome PM Yingluck who is expected to vote at Klong Lamjiak School (Pic @jeerapong_nna) pic.twitter.com/DFWBQBi9cf

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RT@Tulip_Oum: DinDaeng dist official said they'll keep trying to get the ballots out to voting booths. Law permit to recruit voting staff at the venue.

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RT@Tulip_Oum: 7:45AM at DinDaeng, protester has set up stage. pic.twitter.com/OFe7z86HLl

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35 polling stations in Bang Kapi fail to turn up to receive ballots, boxes

BANGKOK: -- Officials from 35 polling stations in Bang Kapi district have not turned up to receive ballots and ballot boxes from the district office, Channel 7 reported.

By 7:45 am, the 35 polling stations have not yet ready been ready for the election as officials would not pick up ballots and ballot boxes, the TV station said.

-- The Nation 2014-02-02

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RT@RichardBarrow: 7:55am - RT @osandpo: Some roads outside the city are blocked by farmers too. Rama 2 still shut at Wang Manao

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RT@RichardBarrow: 8am - RT @georgehenton: Protestors inside polling station at Phaya Thai BTS pic.twitter.com/lesRzasxpS

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RT@Tulip_Oum: She said she flew from Japan to cast her vote. They are angry and blame Sutep for not able to vote today. (DinDaeng) pic.twitter.com/5vH7Cbsc0J

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RT@RichardBarrow: 8am Polling stations in #Thailand are now open. These people voting in Bang Phli (Pic @VeerapornW) pic.twitter.com/U9MC8vua2J

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RT@RichardBarrow: 8am Both Thai & foreign media wait for Yingluck to vote near her home (Pic @weeranan) pic.twitter.com/Qa5TdmbANv

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RT@fratticcioli: Anti-election #PDRC mocking voting station. RT @sataporn_tpbs: หน้าคูหาเลือกตั้งจำลอง ของ กปปส...ไม่บรรยาย... #ExitTH pic.twitter.com/KmVZd68HoM

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RT@tulsathit: Good morning, election day (or non-election day or civil disobedience day or respect-my-vote day)