Thailand Live Monday 3 Feb 2014

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Chalerm vows to reopen all besieged government offices February 6



BANGKOK: -- Head of the Center for the Maintaining of Peace and Order (CMPO) Chalerm Yubamrung vowed to reopen all government offices forced to close by People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) protesters from Thursday February 6.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701726-chalerm-vows-to-reopen-all-besieged-government-offices-february-6/

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Chiang Mai: Bomb Found In Front Of Redshirt Radio
By Khaosod English



BANGKOK: -- A small explosive has been found in front of a Redshirts radio station in Chiang Mai province yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701748-chiang-mai-bomb-found-in-front-of-redshirt-radio/

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RT @191Thailand: A truck container has fallen onto a passenger van near Future Park - @BushidoFire: เป็นรถตู้สาธารณะฟิวเจอร์อยุธยา http://t.co/qCKIaYagh8

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SET index closed 1,292.81, up 18.53; Bt/USD32.79; GBP53.74; AUD28.50; EUR44.12; CAD29.34; HKD4.21; SGD25.55; JPY31.98

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ECT prepares to submit a draft royal decree for senate election

BANGKOK, 3 February 2014, (NNT) -- Mr. Puchong Nutrawong, Secretary-General of the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) disclosed that preparation for an upcoming Upper House election was discussed during the recent ECT Meeting as Senators were due to complete their full term on 1 March. It is expected that application dates could be set between 4-8 March, and voting could be conducted on Sunday 30 March 2014.

This week the ECT will submit a draft Royal Decree to set a date for the senate election in order to plan for preparation work and readiness for the event. It is estimated that this senate election will require a budget over 3,000 million baht.


-- NNT 2014-02-03

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UPDATE:

Rice farmer protest closes Phuket highway to Bangkok
Phuket Gazette


Farmers have closed the highway linking Bangkok with Phuket and the rest of the South to protest the lack of payments made under the rice-pledging scheme. Photo: The Nation

PHUKET: -- The main highway linking Bangkok to Phuket and the rest of Southern Thailand has been closed by rice farmers protesting the government’s failure to pay for rice produced and delivered under the controversial rice-pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701713-farmers-close-bangkok-south-road-to-demand-payment-for-rice/page-2?p=7388879#entry7388879

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FEBRUARY 2 ELECTION
"Don't blame city staff": Bangkok Governor

BANGKOK: -- The government's peacekeeping centre should not pass the blame for the failure to hold the snap poll in some polling stations on city officials who resigned as election staff.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra was responding to reports that the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) will investigate the city officials' resignations.

"Any investigation, if it were to take place, would be the duty of the Election Commission (EC), not the CMPO," he said.

The CMPO announced on Sunday that it had instructed police to probe certain Bangkok election officials who quit abruptly or without reason, making it impossible to find replacements and thus hold voting in some polling venues.

Sukhumbhand said the CMPO should not pass the blame to or link its political failure with city officials nor make them the scapegoat.

He insisted that city officials and volunteers carried out their duties to the best of their abilities and he was proud of them.

He said that the city officials had nothing to do with the fact that many polling stations were cancelled on Sunday. The EC had issued an order that if there was risk of clashes at any polling stations, election officials withdraw or close the polling station.


-- The Nation 2014-02-03

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ACCIDENT
Container crushes minivan, kills driver


Photo : Panor Chompusri

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701760-container-crushes-minivan-kills-driver-in-front-of-future-park-rangsit/

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Pheu Thai Party predicts winning 300 seats in yesterday's polls
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Feb 3 - The ruling Pheu Thai expected to get around 240 seats in yesterday's general elections, a party executive said today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701761-pheu-thai-party-predicts-winning-300-seats-in-yesterdays-polls/

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CMPO chief Chalerm shakes hands with EC commissioner Somchai, vow to work closely; poll rerun cannot be held in 7 days /MCOT

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RT@Aim_NT: PDRC protest sites at Lat Phrao intersection & Victory Monument have been dissolved so the traffic lanes have been returned since 5pm. -NNA

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RT@tulsathit: In one of record number of invalid ballots, someone wrote "Pr***"" across it. In another, "I vote for Manchester United Party".

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RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep: Yingluk must be having a real headache about people criticizing her dropping the ballot in the wrong box.

RT@Lerlaforever: SUthep: But I'm on her side. I blame it on staff at the polling station.

RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep: And the EC for letting her do that. They should be investigated for this


RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep: I personally think they knew it but pretended they didn’t see

RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep: Online people even spread news she draw circles on the ballots instead of marking

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RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep: Never in a Thai history a government is being hated this much.

RT@Lerlaforever: SUthep: If u r tired, take a rest and send ur family members as replacement

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RT@RichardBarrow: RT @wayne_hay: Had meetings with both political parties today. Was left with the impression that there is not much light at end of tunnel

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RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep: There's no way to lose, only victory for us.

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TOURISM
Foreign chambers urge balanced reporting, to minimise damage
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand urged Thai media to balance their reports, in light of severe political impacts on the tourism industry.

In a statement, it said "It is the desire of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand (JFCCT) to see responsible, balanced reporting, and for the underlying issues in the current political situation to be addressed without violence and with a fair and equitable outcome for all parties involved."

JFCCT Tourism Committee noted that the current political situation in Thailand is having a severe negative financial and reputational impact on the tourism industry. The tourism industry has been hit hard due to both international and local perception. Substantial revenue streams such as conferences, hotel and resort accommodations, tours and business travel are affected not only for some months to come, but will also be affected throughout the remainder of 2014.

It also said that some media outlets (e.g. TV news, newspapers, social media) have tended to sensationalise the situation and events as they have taken place.

December and January have been the best-selling months for the tourism industry. Most hotels in Bangkok however operate with low occupancy rate, 30 per cent at some venues.

-- The Nation 2014-02-03

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RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep: Chalerm dear friend, please give comments every day. Every time u speak, it brings more people to join us, I really thank u for this

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Police inspect Saturday’s battle zone to find out mystery surrounding the gun battle

BANGKOK: -- In the wake of the gunfights between anti-government protesters and red-shirt supporters at Lak Si intersection in Bangkok last Saturday, police are in the process of gathering evidence from bullet trajectories to decide who started the shots. But by far they still were unable to determine who did the actual shootings.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701826-police-inspect-saturdays-battle-zone-to-find-out-mystery-surrounding-the-gun-battle/

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to continue:

Thailand Live Tuesday 4 Feb 2014

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701848-thailand-live-tuesday-4-feb-2014/