Thailand Live Tuesday 4 Feb 2014

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Army helicopter crash lands in Nakhon Si Thammarat



BANGKOK: -- A two-seater Army training helicopter crash landed at the Fourth Army Region base in Nakhon Si Thammarat province last night seriously inuring the pilot and co-pilot.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701926-thai-army-helicopter-crash-lands-in-nakhon-si-thammarat/

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Three boys killed in insurgency attack in Yala

YALA: -- Three Muslim boys were killed when they and their parents returned from praying at a mosque in this restive southern border province Monday night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701927-three-boys-killed-in-insurgency-attack-in-yala/

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Krung Thai Bank may help farmers if….

BANGKOK: -- The state-owned Krung Thai Bank may participate in the bridging loan auction if there is no law prohibiting the bank from doing just that, Mr Worapak Tunyawong, managing director of the bank, told the media before the meeting of the board Tuesday morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701928-krung-thai-bank-may-help-farmers-if/

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Auditor-general tells caretaker PM to scrap rice pledging scheme



BANGKOK: -- The Office of the Auditor-General has advised caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to scrap the rice-pledging scheme reasoning the scheme was plagued with irregularities, corruptions at all levels of implementation and significantly does not benefit the majority poor farmers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701931-auditor-general-tells-caretaker-pm-yingluck-to-scrap-rice-pledging-scheme/

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January inflation rate highest in 6 months

BANGKOK, 4 Feb 2014, (NNT) - January's inflation rate is the highest in six months, thanks to consumer spending during the Chinese New Year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701933-thailands-january-inflation-rate-highest-in-6-months/

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Coup watch: Bloody days ahead for Bangkok
Thailand’s dysfunctional politics are setting the stage for more violence in 2014.
Patrick Winn

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701936-coup-watch-bloody-days-ahead-for-bangkok/

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Farmers from 30 provinces to march into Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- Farmers from more than 30 provinces across the country will march to Bangkok to demand payment for their rice from the caretaker prime minister.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701938-farmers-from-30-provinces-to-march-into-bangkok/

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Four anti-government protesters killed in horror crash in Hua Hin

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701937-four-anti-government-protesters-killed-in-horror-crash-in-hua-hin/

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Farmers blocking Rama II road have demanded to talk with a deputy PM or minister with a relevant portfolio, or they will intensify their protest, reports say. /Bangkok Post

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Abhisit claims Section 68 of constitution for not participating in elections

BANGKOK 4 February 2014 (NNT) — Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has quoted section 68 of the constitution as the reason he did not participate in the February 2 general election. The Pheu Thai party, on the other hand, will also be using the same legislation to effect the dissolution of the Democrat party.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701940-abhisit-claims-section-68-of-constitution-for-not-participating-in-elections/

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Bangkok unofficially announces voting results for constituency-based representatives

BANGKOK 4 February 2014 (NNT) — Bangkok City Hall has unofficially announced the constituency-based vote tally from 50 districts of Bangkok. Voting obstructions have precluded more than 320,000 residents from exercising their voting rights.

According to the unofficial report, approximately 4.3 million people registered to vote this time around. On the other hand, 516 polling stations across the capital were either obstructed or closed down - rendering more than 320,000, or around 7.73% of voters, unable to vote.

Those who were unable to exercise their voting rights will have to wait for an official announcement from the Election Commission (EC) regarding a new election date. A total of 1.1 million people cast their votes, accounting for 26.18% of Bangkok’s residents; whereas 3.2 million people, or approximately 73.82%, did not show up at the polling booths.

3 districts, which included Lak Si, Din Daeng, and Ratchathewi, were unable to conduct any voting at all, whereas 12 districts partially closed their polling stations.


-- NNT 2014-02-04

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UPDATE:

Four protesters killed in a suspicious car accident in Hua Hin



BANGKOK: -- Four anti-government protesters were killed and four others injured when a pick-up truck in which they were travelling hit a roadside tree after having been squeezed out of a road by a ten-wheel truck in Hua Hin Monday night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701937-four-anti-government-protesters-killed-in-horror-crash-in-hua-hin/#entry7392344

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Caretaker PM working at Defence Permanent Secretary's Office; CMPO chief advisor Surapong to seek arrest warrant for Phra Bhudda Issara /MCOT

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Army assures public of its tight security in keeping armaments safe

BANGKOK, 4 February 2014 (NNT) – The Royal Thai Army has assured that its armaments are being guarded at all times under tight security, while expressing concerns over some weapons that were taken 4 years ago.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701946-thai-army-assures-public-of-its-tight-security-in-keeping-armaments-safe/

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Herbal drink believed to prevent and treat cancer

BANGKOK 4 February 2014 (NNT) — Cancer is the number cause of death around the world. However, recent medical reports from Thai physicians have stated that the “Benja Ammarit” herbal concoction has the ability to prevent and fight cancer.

As February 4 is World Cancer Day, Dr. Tawatchai Kamoltham, Director of the Center for the Development of Traditional Thai Medicine and Pharmacy, unveiled a very interesting traditional Thai herbal medicine called “Benja Ammarit,” which has the ability to treat and prevent cancer in patients.

The concoction contains various herbs such as, asafetida, Gamboge tree mixture, bergamot, dried ginger, long pepper, black pepper, and Epsom salts.

Apart from the herbal treatment, one must also consume sufficient amount of vegetables and herbs, such as Tears of the Black Tiger, Drumstick tree, Pennywort, and Aloe Vera, in order to prevent cancer, added Dr. Tawatchai.


-- NNT 2014-02-04

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Foreign Female Tourist Killed In Hit And Run

A driver of a 6-wheeled water truck crashed into a foreign female tourist who was riding her motorbike. The truck driver cut the corner and collided with her killing her instantly before fleeing the scene at speed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701949-foreign-female-tourist-killed-in-hit-and-run-on-koh-samui/

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NACC reveals politicians' assets: Yingluck has Bt603 million, Abhisit Bt54 million, Suthep Bt113 million in debt /MCOT

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UPDATE:

Army condemns Narathiwat attack killing 3 kids
By Digital Content

NARATHIWAT, Feb 4 - The Thai army today condemned Monday's shooting attack by insurgents which claimed the lives of three children in this restive southern border province and pledged to bring the assailants for prosecution for their "inhuman killing".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701927-three-boys-killed-in-insurgency-attack-in-yala/#entry7392717

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Election Commission prepares plan to resolve election hiccups

BANGKOK 4 February 2014 (NNT) — The Election Commission (EC) is to hold a meeting in order to conclude and resolve the problems that occurred during the recent general election.

According to Election Commission Secretary-General Puchong Nutrawong, a meeting of the EC commissioners from 77 provinces across the country will be held in order to find a solution to the problems that occurred during the election dates, January 26, and February 2.

The meeting will also touch upon the 9 southern provinces where re-elections must be held given the fact that they were unable to conduct any election process, stated Mr. Puchong.

The EC Secretary-General also stated that some election officials had failed to show up for duty. Moreover, any tearing or destroying of the voting ballots is a criminal offense. All election-related issues will be discussed in the upcoming EC meeting.

-- NNT 2014-02-04

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11,041 voters file complaints with police

BANGKOK: -- Pol Maj Gen Piya Uthayo, the spokesman of the Royal Thai Police, said Tuesday that 11,041 voters had filed complaints with police that they were prevented from exercising their voting right.

Piya said Assistant Police Commissioner General Pol Maj Gen Chaiyong Kiratikhachorn has been assigned to take charge of all cases related to the election.

-- The Nation 2014-02-04

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Police have received 57 complaints of election-related cases: spokesman

BANGKOK: -- Police are investigating 55 cases of alleged election law violations and have forwarded two cases to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the Royal Thai Police spokesman said Tuesday.

Pol Maj Gen Piya Uthayo, the police spoksman, said police had received 57 complaints of alleged violations of election laws from January 9 to February 2.

Of the 57 complaints, 22 cases were complaints against the protest leaders for blocking voters from exercising their right and 14 cases were complaints of alleged nonfeasance against election officials, Piya said.

In ten cases, voters were accusing of destroying ballots while three shop owners were accused of violating the ban on alcoholic sale on the election day until 6 pm of the following day.

There were also two physical assault cases, two emergency decree violation cases, and a defamation case as well as three cases in which suspects were accused of destroying campaign signs.

-- The Nation 2014-02-04

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UPDATE:

KTB president denies loan granted to finance rice-pledging scheme

BANGKOK: -- Krungthai Bank President Vorapak Tanyawong on Tuesday denied the rumour that the bank granted loan to the government's rice pledging scheme.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701928-krung-thai-bank-may-help-farmers-if/page-2#entry7392858

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LAK SI CLASH
OHCHR voices concerns on Bangkok violence
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The United Nations Human Rights Office for South East Asia (OHCHR) on Tuesday expressed concern about a confrontation between anti-government and pro-election groups on February 1 near the Lak Si District Office which involved the use of firearms.

OHCHR calls on all sides to refrain from carrying weapons or resorting to violence, it said in a statement.

"Since beginning monitoring on January 13, 2014, OHCHR has been alarmed to see individuals at protest sites with weapons, including firearms. At the same time, explosives and guns have been used against the protest groups by unknown perpetrators. OHCHR is highly concerned that this situation could lead to further outbreaks of serious violence and armed confrontations," it said.

While welcoming the restraint used by law enforcement officials in relation to crowd control in the past weeks, OHCHR also stresses the government's responsibility to investigate and hold to account those responsible forS aturday's violence.

OHCHR also calls on all sides to fully cooperate with such investigations. While stressing the significance of the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly as essential cornerstones for democracy, OHCHR reminds all parties that an exercise of such rights also carries responsibilities to respect others' human rights. People should be free both to peacefully express their opinions and to exercise their right to vote.

On February 1-2, OHCHR visited Chatuchak, Ding Daeng, Don Muang, Lak Si, Lat Phrao, Phaya Thai, Rajthevi, Sai Mai and other locations in Bangkok Metropolitan region, observing the situation in the run up to and during the elections.

-- The Nation 2014-02-04

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UPDATE:

Krung Thai Bank president: No loans for govt's rice scheme
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Feb 4 – The state-owned Krung Thai Bank reiterated today that it has not extended loans to the government for overdue payments to farmers under the Bt160-billion rice pledging scheme.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701928-krung-thai-bank-may-help-farmers-if/page-2#entry7392934

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Labour Ministry officials return home two hours after returning to work

BANGKOK: -- Labour Ministry official evacuated the ministry compound and returned home again at 11 am Tuesday just two hours after they returned to work for the first time since the People's Democratic Reform Committee blocked the ministry.

The officials were frightened when they saw some 300 policemen arrive at the ministry at 10:30 am. Many of the policemen went upstairs to the fifth floor of the building which is the office of the permanent secretary for Labour Ministry.

There were also some 200 workers of Siam Phochanakarn factory in Samut Prakan rallying in front of the ministry, demanding an intervention from the government in their dispute with their employer.

Jirasak Sugandhajati, the permanent secretary for Labour, said officials misunderstood that the PDRC protesters would besiege the ministry again when they saw a lot of policemen in the compound. So, the officials returned home despite there was announcement on the public addressing system telling them to stay and work.

-- The Nation 2014-02-04

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Thai-Indian business tycoon to be deported for protesting

Thai gov't has ordered that a foreigner, the president of Thai-Indian business association, be deported for his involvement in the protests.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701965-thai-indian-business-tycoon-to-be-deported-for-protesting/

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Three young brothers shot dead in south Thailand

NARATHIWAT, February 4, 2014 (AFP) - Three brothers including a three-year-old have been shot dead in Thailand's violence-plagued deep south and their pregnant mother injured, police said Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701927-three-boys-killed-in-insurgency-attack-in-yala/#entry7393150

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RT @RichardBarrow: RT @qandrew: Serious security at Asoke protest stage today. What’s up? Guards wearing bulletproof vests. More army around too.

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Thai opposition seeks to annul election, disband ruling party

BANGKOK, February 4, 2014 (AFP) - Thailand's opposition is set Tuesday to demand the annulment of last weekend's election and the dissolution of the ruling party, in a legal offensive that threatens to intensify the kingdom's political agony.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701999-thai-opposition-seeks-to-annul-election-disband-ruling-party/

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China cancels Thailand rice deal amid probe

(BBC) Thailand has announced that a contract to sell more than a million tonnes of rice to China has been cancelled.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702002-china-cancels-thailand-rice-deal-amid-probe/