Thailand Live Friday 7 Feb 2014

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OTOP City 2013 generates 800 million baht of revenue

BANGKOK, 7 February 2014 (NNT) - The OTOP City 2013, held by the Community Development Department at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, had generated 800 million baht worth of revenue during its 9-day event.

According to the department, the objectives of the fair were to increase market opportunities for OTOP products, promote them to international buyers, raise people’s income and uplift their quality of life, and enhance the national economy.

The fair, which attracted around 30,000 visitors per day, displayed the finest locally made products, which included beverages, clothing and souvenirs. The event, held between January 29 to February 6, saw a total of 2,400 booths offering items from every corner of the country.

Many booths were set up by various ministries, including the Commerce Ministry, which was holding the OTOP Select exhibition and offering visitors business-matching activities.

Unlike other fairs held in February, the OTOP City 2013 has reportedly been unaffected by ongoing political demonstrations. Organizers said that the fair, held during Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day, cashed in on the period when consumers were out and about to buy gifts and mementos for their loved ones.


-- NNT 2014-02-07

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PM: Parliament dissolution obstructs rice pledging scheme



BANGKOK, 7 Feb 2014, (NNT) - Prime Minister and Defense Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has claimed that the dissolution of the parliament has disrupted the government's plan to pay farmers for the rice pledged.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702662-pm-yingluck-parliament-dissolution-obstructs-rice-pledging-scheme/

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FOREIGN MINISTRY
Passport issuance service to resume next week
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE FOREIGN MINISTRY'S passport division will today reboot its computer server for online passport issuance. The server had to be shutdown for security reasons on January 13 after anti-government protesters took over the Government Complex.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702557-thai-foreign-ministry-passports-to-be-issued-in-downtown-bangkok/#entry7404993

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RICE-PLEDGING SCHEME
Farmers raise pressure
Petchanet Pratruangkrai,
Thanatpong Kongsai
The Nation


Angry farmers from seven provinces in the western part of the country have messages for the government while protesting outside the Commerce Ministry yesterday. The government has failed repeatedly to pay for the rice that farmers sold under the price-pledging scheme

Add to govt's woes by urging NACC to probe graft in rice scheme; Pheu Thai says farmers being used to oust govt

BANGKOK: -- Furious rice farmers yesterday piled pressure on the government by taking their protest to the capital, amid claims that they were part of a plot to bring down the government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702665-rice-pledging-scheme-thai-farmers-raise-pressure/

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ELECTION
EC to make a decision on Sunday poll today
The Nation



It will consider taking to court issue of 28 constituencies without candidates

BANGKOK: -- The Election Commission (EC) will meet today to make a decision on what should be done with the many problems involving last Sunday's election, which was marred by protests and disruptions.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702667-thailands-ec-to-make-a-decision-on-sunday-poll-today-feb-7/

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RALLY
CMPO seeks warrants for 39 more protest leaders
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) will seek court approval for warrants to arrest an additional 39 rally leaders for violating the emergency decree, centre chief Chalerm Yoobamrung said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702668-cmpo-seeks-warrants-for-39-more-protest-leaders/

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ANTI-GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGN
Any appeal from Sathit invalid, Tarit says
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Indian Business Forum chairman Sathit Segal must be deported within a day of the order to be signed by Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) director Chalerm Yoobamrung.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702669-deportation-from-thailand-any-appeal-from-sathit-invalid-tarit-says/

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INTERVIEW
'It's time for reform. Why can't the government accept that'


Abhisit

BANGKOK: -- Abhisit Vejjajiva tells Bloomberg's Haslinda Amin that Thailand can only prosper through free and fair elections brought by corruption-beating reforms

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702670-bloomberg-interview-with-abhisit-its-time-for-reform-why-cant-the-govt-accept-that/

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OVERDRIVE
Sound of ticking time bombs is getting louder for Yingluck
Thanong Khanthong

BANGKOK: -- That Thailand will get an interim government is now inevitable. The tenure of Yingluck Shinawatra's caretaker administration will end unceremoniously on April 1.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702671-sound-of-ticking-time-bombs-is-getting-louder-for-yingluck/

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Two grenades fired at Chaeng Wattana protest site

BANGKOK: -- Two grenades thought to be M79 type were fired into the Chaeng Wattana protest site of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee at about 8.30 pm Thursday night. There were no casualties however.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702672-two-grenades-fired-at-chaeng-wattana-protest-site/

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Protests scare away almost 2 million tourists



BANGKOK: -- The ongoing protests and state of emergency in Bangkok have scared away two million tourists and inflicted a loss of 82 billion baht to the tourism industry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702674-thai-protests-scare-away-almost-2-million-tourists/

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Traffic police to get tough with truckers after accident kills 1
The Nation

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702677-thai-traffic-police-to-get-tough-with-truckers-after-accident-kills-1/

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Phirada poised to become first Thai to go into outer space
PONGPHON SARNSAMAK
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- SOVIET COSMONAUT Yuri Gagarin was the first man to journey into outer space, and now 30-year-old space engineer Phirada Techavichit has the opportunity to become Thailand's first woman to see the planet from high above.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702679-phirada-poised-to-become-first-thai-to-go-into-outer-space/

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Undergarments being sold with prints of Thai flag and map
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Culture Ministry's hotline 1765 has received complaints that a US-based website is selling undergarments with the print of the Thai national flag, the Garuda symbol and Thailand's map.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702680-culture-ministry-undergarments-being-sold-with-prints-of-thai-flag-and-map/

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Ministry to seek Bt800m in damages
SUPINDA NA MAHACHAI
THE NATION

Committee weighs next move on tablets

BANGKOK: -- AN EDUCATION Ministry committee handling the One Tablet Per Child project will decide today how to deal with the non-delivery of more than 800,000 units by a Chinese supplier, who is facing a daily fine of over Bt2 million plus a risk of Bt800-million damage claims for its failure to comply with purchase contracts.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702681-one-tablet-per-child-ministry-to-seek-bt800m-in-damages/

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BURNING ISSUE
Lak Si violence echoes 2010, points to hypocrisy on both sides
Atthayuth Butrsriphoom

BANGKOK: -- On the morning of April 10, 2010, troops deployed in Bangkok under the state of emergency advanced their positions to tighten security around the rally sites of the red-shirt protesters, who were demonstrating in several spots including the Ratchaprasong and Phan Fah areas.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702682-lak-si-violence-echoes-2010-points-to-hypocrisy-on-both-sides/

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Russian Couple wake-up to burglary of their rented Pattaya Villa



BANGKOK: -- A Russian Couple, who have rented a luxury Villa for 2 months in South Pattaya, woke-up on Thursday to find their villa had been broken into and items of value had been stolen.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702683-russian-couple-wake-up-to-burglary-of-their-rented-pattaya-villa/

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RT @ChadapornLin: Some state offices at Govt Complex on Chaengwattana will be opened for work today

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RT @ChadapornLin: Ever since construction of BTS skytrain extension in Samrong started, traffic in the area has been terrible. Do avoid if you can.

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Rathaprasong entrepreneurs ask protesters to leave

BANGKOK, 7 February 2014 (NNT) - Entrepreneurs in Ratchaprasong have called on anti-government protesters to move to other areas and urged the government to speed up the invocation of the Public Assembly Act.

Chairman of the Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association Chai Sriwokirn said Ratchaprasong entrepreneurs were seriously affected by anti-government protests over the past 2-3 years. The entrepreneurs understood that protests and rallies were among important methods to express opinions of people in a democratic country. However, such political gatherings must not violate the basic rights of other people, he said.

The association therefore asked for three urgent solutions to the problem of protests at Ratchaprasong. Firstly, the protesters should find other areas to gather instead of Ratchaprasong, and secondly, they must not block entrances and exits if they really need to rally there. Lastly, a tripartite committee between the government, the protesters and the affected people should be formed to find solutions.

In the long run, the association wants the government to urgently pass the public assembly legislation and promote public participation in drafting the law.


-- NNT 2014-02-07

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Hotel business remains sound despite political protests
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Feb 7 – Hotel operators in Bangkok denied having laid off employees despite a drop in occupancy rate at outlets in anti-government rally sites to 25-30 per cent.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702704-bangkok-hotel-business-remains-sound-despite-political-protests/?p=7405786

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,301.91, gains 6.67 points /MCOT

Democrat Party HQ and 3 anti-govt protest sites hit by grenade late Thur /The Nation

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Daily Weather Forecast for Thailand Friday 7 February 2014 Time issued 0600 LST

General Situation
The northwesterly wind at high altitude continues bringing cool air from the Himalayas to Northern Thailand. Cool to cold is likely with fog in the morning and thick patches in some areas. All transports should take caution in areas of fog. The easterly wind covers the Central, the lower Northeast, the East and the South with the moisture from the South China Sea and isolated rain.

The strong high pressure area from China will extended to Thailand 10 Feb, 2014. During 10-13 Feb, 2014 rain and decrease temperature expected in Thailand.

Weather Forecast for Thailand from 6.00 a.m. Friday to 6.00 a.m. Saturday.
Northern Thailand Fog in the morning and thick patches in some areas. Upper part: Cold, minimum temperature 12-14 degree Celsius. Lower part: Cool, minimum temperature 17-20 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 31-35 degree Celsius. Cold to very cold on mountaintops. Minimum temperature 4-12 degree Celsius. Westerly winds 10-20 km/hr.

Northeastern Thailand Cool with fog in the morning. Isolated rain mostly in the lower part. Minimum temperature 16-23 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 33-35 degree Celsius. Cold on mountaintops. Minimum temperature 12-15 degree Celsius. Easterly winds 10-25 km/hr.

Central Thailand Cool with fog in the morning. Isolated rain mostly in the lower part. Minimum temperature 22-23 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 34-37 degree Celsius. Cool to cold on mountainous areas. Minimum temperature 14-18 degree Celsius. Southeasterly winds 10-25 km/hr.

Eastern Thailand Partly cloudy with fog in the morning. Isolated rain. Minimum temperature 23-24 degree Celsius Maximum temperature 31-34 degree Celsius. Cool to cold on mountainous areas. Minimum temperature 14-18 degree Celsius. Easterly winds 10-30 km/hr. Wave height below 1 meter.

Southern Thailand East Coast Partly cloudy and isolated rain mostly in the upper part. Minimum temperature 21-24 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 30-32 degree Celsius. Easterly winds 15-30 km/hr. Wave height about 1 meter.

Southern Thailand West Coast Partly cloudy. Minimum temperature 20-23 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 32-35 degree Celsius. Easterly winds 10-30 km/hr. Wave height below 1 meter.

Bangkok Metropolis and Vicinity Partly cloudy and isolated rain. Minimum temperature 23-25 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 31-34 degree Celsius. Southeasterly winds 10-25 km/hr.


-- NNT 2014-02-07

weather forecasts for all Thai provinces: http://weather.thaivisa.com

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UPDATE:

Yingluck says ulterior power obstructs govt, rice subsidies
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Feb 7 – Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has blamed an “ulterior power” for attempting to topple the government and disrupting the rice pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702662-pm-yingluck-parliament-dissolution-obstructs-rice-pledging-scheme/page-2#entry7405867

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Suthep leads protesters to march along Charoen Krung, Silom for donations to help farmers,target at Bt10 million;Farmers still protest at Commerce Ministry /MCOT

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UPDATE:

As tourist arrivals plummet, Govt told to revoke emergency decree
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Feb 7 – The number of foreign visitors to Thailand has dropped 8 per cent below the target with the government’s application of the emergency decree partly to blame, according to the Thai tourism industry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702674-thai-protests-scare-away-almost-2-million-tourists/#entry7405895

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Thai consumer confidence index worst in 26 months
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Feb 7 – The Thai consumer confidence index (CCI) has plummeted for the last 10 consecutive months to its lowest in 26 months at 61.4, according to the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702712-thai-consumer-confidence-index-worst-in-26-months/

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Tourist Police face harsh words in Phuket
Phuket Gazette


Gen Wuthi Liptapallop demanded that Tourist Police increase the frequency of patrols in tourist areas. Photo:Saran Mitrarat

PHUKET: -- Tourist Police in Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi and Surat Thani have received a public tongue-lashing over a lack of patrols in tourist areas.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702713-tourist-police-face-harsh-words-in-phuket/

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UPDATE:

PDRC leaders and Democrats remain targets of violent attacks



BANGKOK: -- Two M 79 deadly grenades were fired into the protest site of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) in Bangkok and a hand grenade was thrown at the house of a Democrat and activist in Ratchaburi last night but caused no injury in both attacks. Small bombs were also thrown at another protest site at Makkawan bridge but caused no injury.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702672-two-grenades-fired-at-chaeng-wattana-protest-site/#entry7405983

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Doctor diagnoses man with help from House
Maria Cheng

FRANKFURT: -- If you're unlucky enough to be stricken with a rare medical condition, you'd better hope your doctor watches the right television show.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702716-german-doctor-diagnoses-man-with-help-from-house/