Thailand Live Tuesday 4 Feb 2014

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Pregnant giant panda in Thailand miscarries, says zoo

BANGKOK, February 4, 2014 (AFP) - A zoo in northern Thailand said Tuesday a pregnant giant panda in its care had suffered a miscarriage, quashing hopes of the birth of a second cub in the panda-mad country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702003-pregnant-giant-panda-in-thailand-miscarries-says-zoo/

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Suthep: PDRC resolves to reopen Rama 8 Bridge tomorrow, rejects talks with govt, to continue blockade state office buildings /MCOT

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UPDATE:

Protesters' Car Crashes In Hua Hin, Killing 4
By Khaosod English


Rescue workers pose with "Shutdown Bangkok" scarf found inside the wrecked vehicle, 3 February 2014

HUA HIN: -- A pick-up truck carrying almost a dozen anti-government protesters has crashed in Prachuap Kiri Khan province last night, killing 4 people.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701937-four-anti-government-protesters-killed-in-horror-crash-in-hua-hin/#entry7393517

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Malaysia Airlines inaugurates Kuala Lumpur-Krabi flights
Phuket Gazette


TAT Krabi Director Wiyada Srirangkul (center), welcomes the Malaysia Airlines inaugural flight to Krabi yesterday. Photo: PR Dept

PHUKET: -- Malaysia Airlines flight MH770 made its inaugural flight from Kuala Lumpur to Krabi yesterday, initiating a four-times-a-week service between the two destinations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702007-malaysia-airlines-inaugurates-kuala-lumpur-krabi-flights/

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Officials Return To Work At Besieged Govt Complex
By Khaosod Online



BANGKOK: -- Civil servants return to work at the Government Complex for the first time in several weeks, following a deal between the government and anti-government protesters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702011-officials-return-to-work-at-besieged-thai-govt-complex/

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SET index closed 1,276.84, down 15.97; Bt/USD32.65; GBP53.05; AUD28.85; EUR43.95; CAD29.26; HKD4.19; SGD25.60; JPY32.09

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NACC says Yingluck richer, Suthep poorer



BANGKOK: -- The National Anti Corruption Commission (NACC) today revealed the assets of 49 members of parliament (MP) whose terms in office have expired on December 8 and 9 with the caretaker prime minister becoming richer from rising price of her assets.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702032-nacc-says-yingluck-richer-suthep-poorer/

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UPDATE:

PDRC
Thai-Indian senior businessman to be deported for joining rally


File photo

BANGKOK: -- A Thai-Indian business tycoon, Sathit Segal, a core member of the anti-government protests, is to be deported for defying the state of emergency, a spokeswoman for the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) said Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701965-thai-indian-business-tycoon-to-be-deported-for-protesting/page-4#entry7393769

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THAI POLITICS
UN express concern at ongoing conflict; urge for negotiated solution

BANGKOK: -- The UN Human Rights Office for South East Asia (OHCHR) on Tuesday expressed concern about a confrontation between antigovernment and proelection groups on February 1 near the Laksi District Office which involved the use of firearms.

The incident reportedly left eight individuals injured.

Since it started monitoring the situation on January 13, the agency 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, it said.

"OHCHR is highly concerned that this situation could lead to further outbreaks of serious violence and armed confrontations," the UN said in a statement.

OHCHR calls on all sides to refrain from carrying weapons or resorting to violence, it said, and urged the authorities to investigate and hold to account those responsible for the violence.


-- The Nation 2014-02-04

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Buddhist Authority 'Ready' To Defrock PCAD Monk
By Khaosod English



BANGKOK: -- Director of the Office of National Buddhism (ONAB) has vowed to defrock anti-government monk leader as soon as he is found guilty of violating the country's criminal laws.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702045-buddhist-authority-ready-to-defrock-pcad-monk/

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RT @tulsathit: Votes already counted are raising serious Qs about a new election for "advanced" voters who didn't vote on Jan 26. (1) via @kanatpn

RT @tulsathit: In Nakhon Si thammarat, for example, "winner" in some areas leads by just 10 votes. Leaked results may encourage vote buying. via @kanatpn

RT @tulsathit: In fact, with results leaking all over the place, including Chalerm "victory" claims, additional polls face serious Qs. (3/end)

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Suthep vows to push on with occupation of government offices



BANGKOK, 4 February 2014 (NNT) - The People’s Democratic Reform Committee leader Suthep Thaugsuban, has vowed to continue the mass protest against the government following the general election last Sunday.

The PDRC has decided to remove rally stages at the Lad Prao intersection and Victory Monument and to regroup their members at Lumpini Park, citing security reasons.

Mr Suthep also spoke to his supporters about the second phase of his plan to shut down Bangkok, saying the group will go ahead with their occupation of government offices. Scouts will be sent to survey different state agencies, in a bid to clamp down on all of them.

He insisted that the movement will continue until a reform council is formed in order to move the country forward.
Meanwhile, the Director of the Center for Maintaining Peace and Order Chalerm Yubamrung , said the PDRC can protest peacefully at any of their rally sites but is barred from seizing government offices, as that is against the law.

He added that although no force will be used, those participating in state office occupation will still face arrest.


-- NNT 2014-02-04

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UPDATE:

Thai opposition lawyer asks court to annul poll, disband ruling party

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701999-thai-opposition-seeks-to-annul-election-disband-ruling-party/#entry7394106

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Blockade delays shipments to the capital

Goods shipments including seafood are suffering delays after rice farmers started blocking the southern-bound highway to pressure the government to speed up rice payments

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702069-blockade-delays-shipments-to-the-capital/

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UPDATE:

Auditor General issues stern warnings to caretaker PM, finance minister
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Feb 4 – Thailand’s Office of the Auditor General (OAG) is proposing that the government suspend the rice pledging scheme which has been plagued with corruption and plunged the country into heavy financial loss.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701931-auditor-general-tells-caretaker-pm-yingluck-to-scrap-rice-pledging-scheme/page-4?p=7394422#entry7394422

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RT@Saksith: EC may NOT hold by-elections on Feb 23 due to “legal restrictions to be considered” is.gd/qDdumM via @SpringNews_TV / ???

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RELATIONS
At least 30 Cambodians shot dead by Thai soldiers last year: ADHOC

PHNOM PENH - The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) said that at least 30 Cambodian people were shot dead by Thai soldiers last year.

Speaking Tuesday at a news conference, Chuon Chamrong, head of ADHOC's women and children section, said those people were shot dead while they illegally crossed the border to find jobs and cut down trees in Thailand.

ADHOC said that it received complaints involving 200 cases of human rights abuses, and trafficking and abuse of migrant workers in 2013.

Among 560 victims, 200 Cambodian migrant workers were abused in Thailand.

ADHOC cooperated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Ministry of Interior to rescue and repatriated 164 victims.

It also urged the Cambodian government and officials at the Cambodian Embassies in foreign countries to be more aware and pay more attention to the Cambodians who work in Thailand.

-- The Nation 2014-02-04

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New UK Immigration Fees Proposed.

Of those of most interest to members here, a 6 month visit visa will be increased from £80 to £83*, a settlement visa from £851 to £885*, postal FLR from £578 to £601 and postal ILR from £1051 to £1093. Note the massive 38.7% increase in the fee for including a dependent, i.e. child, in an ILR application from £788 to £1093, now the same as the main, adult applicant!

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702079-new-uk-immigration-fees-proposed/

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Pheu Thai Party blasts anti-election movement
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Feb 4 – The ruling Pheu Thai Party today condemned an unconstitutional movement for trying to destroy Thailand’s democratic system and obstruct people from exercising their voting rights.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702098-pheu-thai-party-blasts-anti-election-movement/

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RT@Aim_NT: Suthep said no govt be formed from the Feb 2 election. The House cannot convene w/o 95% of MPs. But this govt can no longer stay in post.

RT@Aim_NT: PDRC strategy from now on will be more prolonged game while put the pressure particularly more on caretaker Cabinet members via @Suriyasai.

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RT@RichardBarrow: Interesting to see that the malls near rally sites such as Central World, Paragon, Siam Center & Siam Discovery all closed at 9pm tonight.

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RT@RichardBarrow: 9pm at the Phathumwan Rally Stage where Suthep is talking - RT @Nalinee_PLE: pic.twitter.com/lYvce8laHE

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RT@RichardBarrow: 9pm Suthep has just called for people around #Thailand to get ready to come back to #Bangkok for a big rally. This isn't over yet.

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EC told to stage fresh election in seven days

BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana today (Tuesday) urged the Election Commission to stage fresh election within seven days in constituencies where candidates could not register their candidacy in accordance with the EC’s regulation number 203 regarding House elections.

He said that the same rule should also be applied to election in constituencies where only one candidate contested the poll and he/she received votes less than 20 percent of eligible voters in the constituencies in question or he/she received less votes than the No Vote ballots.

Pongthep pointed out that in normal practice no Royal decree was to be re-issued for fresh elections except on case in 2006 when a second Royal decree was promulgated for new election after the Constitution Court ruled that an earlier election was null and void.

He explained that the EC must stage elections so the number of MPs in the House should be at least 95 percent or 475 out of a total of 500 MPs within 30 days as of February 2. He claimed that EC in the past had not failed in this task.
But if after 30 days, the number of MPs remains 5 percent short, the EC must stage elections within 180 days as of February so the 500-seat House is fully elected.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/ec-told-stage-fresh-election-seven-days/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ec-told-stage-fresh-election-seven-days

-- Thai PBS 2014-02-04

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UPDATE:

Constitution Court asked to nullify Feb 2 election

BANGKOK: -- The Democrat party has lodged a petition with the Constitution Court this afternoon (Tuesday) asking the court to nullify the February 2 election.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701999-thai-opposition-seeks-to-annul-election-disband-ruling-party/page-2#entry7394930

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to continue:

Thailand Live Wednesday 5 Feb 2014

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702131-thailand-live-wednesday-5-feb-2014/