Thailand Live Saturday 8 Feb 2014

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Some Surin farmers getting compensated from rice scheme

SURIN, 8 February 2014 (NNT) – 21 branches of Thailand's Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) located within 17 districts in Surin Province, have now transferred much of the money from the rice pledging scheme implemented during the 2013/2014 harvest season, according to the bank.

Mr. Pairoj Rungpanarat, Assistant Director of the BAAC Surin branch, said the bank has already made 21,000 payments totaling 1.8 billion baht.

Furthermore, the Surin BAAC Office has just received an additional 155 million baht to be transferred to the 21 branches in Surin, and the money will later be transferred to clients involved in the rice pledging scheme.

Presently, there are 94,000 payments that have been made available to clients of the Surin branches of BAAC, but some of the clients have still not contacted their branches, which the Surin Internal Trade Office has confirmed. Meanwhile, other farmers have continuously brought their warehouse receipts to the BAAC to receive their money from the bank, although their turn to get paid has not yet arrived. The Surin branch of BAAC still owes 6.8 billion baht to more than 70,000 farmers that had joined the scheme.


-- NNT 2014-02-08

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Surapong believes deporting Indian businessman won't affect Thai-Indian relations
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Feb 8 - Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said he believed the deportation of Indian businessman Satish Sehgal will not negatively affect Thai-Indian relations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702917-surapong-believes-deporting-indian-businessman-satish-sehgal-wont-affect-thai-indian-relations/

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Caretaker PM Yingluck shuts option for neutral, non-elected premier
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Feb 8 – Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra asserted today that the law did not allow a non-MP to take the helm of the government, saying that the caretaker premier must stay in office after a House dissolution and until a new administration takes over the job.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702919-caretaker-pm-yingluck-shuts-option-for-neutral-non-elected-premier/

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Finance Ministry assures farmers overdue payments will be made
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Feb 8 – The Finance Ministry has prepared a plan to secure loans for Bt130 billion overdue payments to farmers from the rice pledging scheme but it would be kept confidential, a senior ministry official said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702920-thai-finance-ministry-assures-farmers-overdue-payments-will-be-made/

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RICE SCHEME
Suthep keen for alliance with angry farmers
Phanu Suphan
The Nation


Ratri Kesornsuk, a farmer from Ang Thong, weeps while speaking to reporters outside the Commerce Ministry, where farmers had gathered to protest yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- The Suthep Thaugsuban-led anti-government movement appears to be seeking an alliance with rice farmers as the embattled caretaker government struggles to find the money owed to the farmers under the price-pledge scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702922-suthep-keen-for-alliance-with-angry-farmers/

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Rejected bidder re-emerges in tablet scheme
Supinda na Mahachai
The Nation

Company accused of bid rigging chosen as new supplier as Chinese firm pulls out

BANGKOK: -- A new supplier has surprisingly emerged as a "winner" in the government's One Tablet Per Child scheme after its winning offer was initially dismissed on suspicions of bid collusion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702923-rejected-bidder-re-emerges-in-one-tablet-per-child-scheme/

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No second poll decree required, govt says
Chanikarn Phumhiran,
Somroutai Sapsomboon,
Prapasri Osathanon
The Nation

Phongthep says EC request to 'legalise' voting in the South is not necessary

BANGKOK: -- In another sign of discord, the government rejected a proposal by the election agency yesterday to issue a new Royal Decree to set a new date for voting in southern provinces where there were no candidates in the election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702924-no-second-poll-decree-required-thai-govt-says/

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Environmental study of eastern seaboard planned
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Leading Thai environmental groups will conduct a study on ecological issues along coastal areas to help industries control environmental compliance costs and protect marine ecosystems.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702925-environmental-study-of-thailands-eastern-seaboard-planned/

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EDITORIAL
Farmers' plight adds to post-election gloom
The Nation

Politicisation of rice growers' suffering makes it much harder for Pheu Thai to admit its mistakes and makes its opponents more determined to prove the pledge policy wrong

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702926-thai-editorial-farmers-plight-adds-to-post-election-gloom/

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Breakaway red-shirt party 'happy' with poll results
Pravit Rojapahruk
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The new red-shirt party Palang Prachathipatai is satisfied with its result in the district-based parliamentary election - despite not winning a seat.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702927-breakaway-red-shirt-party-happy-with-poll-results/

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Bombs, banners and a murder in the far South
The Nation


A bomb-disposal soldier from the Anothai Task Force inspects a suspicious item placed on a bridge in Muang district in Yala yesterday. The item turned out to just be a powder bottle with electric wires.

BANGKOK: -- A series of insurgency-related incidents took place yesterday in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, including a murder, a roadside bomb, the erection of banners with messages attacking authorities, fake bombs and the burning of tyres.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702928-bombs-banners-and-a-murder-in-thailands-far-south/

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Oil hits Rayong beaches
The Nation

RAYONG: -- Some oil has been detected on Rayong beaches, prompting officials to file complaints with police.

Masses of oil were found at PMY Beach in Muang district yesterday.

"They cause nausea," said beach-watch volunteer Lamon Boonyong, 62.

Another volunteer, Rangsak Dokjan, said similar oil masses were found on Laem Charoen Beach a few days ago.

Bumrungsak Chatananwet, who heads the Marine and Coastal Resources Research and Development Centre for the eastern Gulf of Thailand, said it remained unclear where the oil came from. Last year, oil from a pipeline leak in the gulf hit some beaches in Rayong province.

-- The Nation 2014-02-08

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Rabies ruled out in cat deaths
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The suspicious death of 30 cats in Kamphaeng Phet province was probably caused by feline panleukopenia, which is not transmissible to humans, according to the Public Health Ministry.

The ministry ordered a surveillance and rapid-response team to investigate the deaths in tambon Wang Kham, Khlong Khlung district. The investigation ruled out rabies as the cause.

A veterinarian said the deaths were likely to have been caused by the feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), which is a leading cause of cat deaths.

The affected cats were reported to be listless, unable to eat, and prone to vomiting before they died over the past two weeks.


-- The Nation 2014-02-08

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UPDATE:

PDRC behind latest blasts: Chalerm
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said yesterday he expected bomb explosions to become a nightly occurrence at People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) rally sites.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702776-chalerm-expects-explosions-to-happen-every-night-at-pdrc-rally-sites/page-4#entry7409781

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Police raid unlicensed Health and Beauty Clinic in East Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- Nongprue Police conducted a raid on an East Pattaya Health and Beauty Clinic on Friday evening suspected of operating illegally.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702929-police-raid-unlicensed-health-and-beauty-clinic-in-east-patta

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"2 Million Baht" Burglary at Popular Hardware Store in South Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- A reported 2 Million Baht’s worth of cash and valuables were stolen from a 3rd floor bedroom above a Popular hardware store in South Pattaya on Friday afternoon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702930-2-million-baht-burglary-at-popular-hardware-store-in-south-pattaya/

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Two injured in explosion at PDRC's Chaeng Wattana rally site

BANGKOK: -- A giant firecracker was hurled at the Chaeng Wattan rally site of the People's Democratic Reform Committee, injuring two security guards.

One of them was injured at his right hand and the other at his arm and back.

The explosion occurred at the entrance to the Government Complex.


-- The Nation 2014-02-08

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RUSSIA
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach (L) chats with former musician Vanessa-Mae, who will compete for Thailand

-- TNA 2014-02-08

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In Pattani, two border patrol police killed in gun attack by assailants on pick-up truck while buying food, three wounded /MCOT

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'Niwatthamrong' affirms 60 billion paid to farmers



BANGKOK 8 February 2014 (NNT) —The Commerce Minister has brushed aside claims that the Ministry has been six months late in its payments to farmers participating in the rice pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702979-thai-commerce-minister-affirms-60-billion-paid-to-farmers/

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"Changing of the Guard" at Pattaya and Banglamung Police Stations



PATTAYA: -- Pattaya and Banglamung Police Stations now have new Superintendents and in a ceremony held at both stations on Friday, the new Police Chiefs were welcomed and the old ones were sent on their way by work colleagues and others.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702957-changing-of-the-guard-at-pattaya-and-banglamung-police-stations/

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Election Commission proposes royal decree to declare new polls in 8 provinces
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Feb 8 – The Election Commission (EC) has unanimously decided to propose the government to issue a royal decree for new elections in 28 constituencies in eight southern provinces.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702924-no-second-poll-decree-required-thai-govt-says/#entry7410639

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Chiang Mai Soldier Dies of Swine Flu

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702968-chiang-mai-soldier-dies-of-swine-flu/

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Govt told to urgently sell stockpiled rice
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Feb 8 – The caretaker government was recommended to urgently release 18 million tonnes of rice from the state stockpiles to secure money to pay farmers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702984-thai-govt-told-to-urgently-sell-stockpiled-rice/

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UPDATE:

Education Ministry cancels tablet acquisition from China
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Feb 8 – The Education Ministry has decided to suspend procurement of over 900,000 tablet PCs from China and hold a new tender soon, according to caretaker minister Chaturon Chaisaeng.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702923-rejected-bidder-re-emerges-in-one-tablet-per-child-scheme/page-2#entry7410709

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Two border patrol police killed in Pattani
By Digital Content

PATTANI, Feb 8 -- Two border patrol police were killed in Pattani by gun wielding assailants on a pick-up truck as they bought food, while another three were wounded in the attack.

Pol Maj Jeeraseth Daongerntrakul, Superintendent at Sai Buri district police station, said he was reported of the incident at 6.50am this morning.

He said a group of five border patol police was on a pick-up truck traveling to the market in Sai Buri district to buy some food when another pickup truck followed and attacked them.

Two of the police officers died at the scene, which was only 200 metre from their station, while the remaining three were wounded and sent to hospital for treatment. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-02-08

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THAI assures no shutdown Monday



BANGKOK: -- Thai Airways International assured no shutdown of its headquarters Monday and business will run as usual.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702987-thai-assures-no-shutdown-monday/

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Protest takes toll on housing construction industry



BANGKOK: -- The long and ongoing anti-government protests has taken toll on the housing construction industry with clients holding off house repairs, extensions and building new homes to keep themselves liquid in these unstable times.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702990-anti-govt-protests-takes-toll-on-housing-construction-industry/

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DDPM urges northern provinces to prepare for wildfires during dry season

BANGKOK, 8 February 2014 (NNT) - The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has warned 9 northern provinces to take precautions against smog and wildfires ahead of the drought season.

DDPM chief Chatchai Promlert said that during January to April of every year, the region is usually hit by wildfires. Provinces most affected by the fires include Chiang Mai, Phayao, Nan and Phrae.

The department is collaborating with relevant agencies to tackle the problem in provinces across the country. Measures have been taken to campaign against starting fires in risky spots and to raise awareness among locals during the drought season.

An action plan has also been drawn up to rehabilitate areas previously affected by forest fires. In the event that the situation cannot be contained, provinces are urged to declare ‘areas for emergency assistance’ to speed up relief operations for victims of wildfires.

The regional smog and fires in Southeast Asia bring health problems to millions of people. The number of patients with respiratory problems has increased dramatically in recent years.

-- NNT 2014-02-08

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Chiang Rai residents ask for more passport issuing venues

CHIANG RAI, 8 February 2014 (NNT) -- Large numbers of Chiang Rai residents have complained about inadequacy of passport issuing venue given the temporary office in the city has been closed without prior notice.

People who came to the temporary issuing office on Friday were disappointed because it was closed without any prior notice. They were told to go to the adjacent province of Chiang Mai instead.

However, those residents said the Chiang Mai office could only issue 200 passports a day. They have to go and wait in a long queue for days to apply for passports.The government should therefore open more temporary offices nationwide in order to serve Thais' growing need of passports.

A temporary or mobile passport issuing office has become necessary as the main venue at the Consular Department on Chaeng Wattana Road in Bangkok has been forced to shut down its computer servers due to the seizure of the Government complex by anti-government protesters.


-- NNT 2014-02-08