Thailand Live Tuesday 11 Feb 2014

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DSI denies bail for Sonthiyarn

BANGKOK, 11 February 2014 (NNT) - The Department of Special Investigation made known that protest leader Sonthiyarn Chuenruethainaitham is not allowed to bond himself out of jail following his arrest yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/703655-dsi-denies-bail-for-sonthiyarn/

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Finance Ministry advises caretaker Cabinet to approve Bt712 million from Central Fund to pay farmers; Banks will accept warehouse receipts to grant loans /MCOT

World Bank expects Thai economy to expand 4% this year, export growth 6%, expresses concern over prolonged protests, no govt, budget disbursement delay /MCOT

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TISI: Luxury car sales drop as political turmoil rages on

BANGKOK, 11 Feb 2014 (NNT) - According to the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI), the number of petitions for importing auto parts to assemble luxury cars has declined since the end of last year, indicating the political impasse’s negative effects on the sector.

TISI Secretary General Urit Srinongkod said that at present only an average of 20 luxury cars are being ordered weekly, a deep plunge from the final quarter of last year.

Earlier the TISI had approved 2,700 assembly licenses to 300 manufacturers to produce 6,000 cars; however, out of that figure, there are a number of cars which have not registered and are considered illegal to own. To address the issue, Mr. Urit said that authorities have stepped up their inspection, stressing those owning unregistered luxury cars would be prosecuted.

He also attributed the fall in luxury car sales to the ailing economy and the political instability, which diminished the local demand. The TISI Secretary General expected the trend would continue throughout the year.


-- NNT 2014-02-11

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BoT: Number of new credit cards in the market declines

BANGKOK, 11 Feb 2014 (NNT) - According to the Bank of Thailand (BoT), the number of credit cards being used at the end of December 2013 totalled 18.5 million, an increase of 9.9% compared to the same period of 2012. The number signifies a slower growth of new cards in the market.

The BoT reported that 9.03 million cards were issued by domestic and international commercial banks while 9.5 million others were issued by non-bank financial institutes.

December 2013’s spending through credit cards increased 6.4 billion baht or 4.4% more than that in the same period of 2012. Consumers’ spending through credit cards in the month totalled 151.5 billion baht, 107.4 billion baht of which was made through commercial banks credit system and the rest through non-bank agencies.

Credit-card debts at the end of December 2013 amounted to 290.4 billion baht, an increase of 11.03% year on year. Meanwhile the Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) incurred through credit card lending rose to 6.6 billion baht accounting for 2.3% of the overall credit card debts, an increase of 1.6 billion baht from December 2012.


-- NNT 2014-02-11

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Cabinet approves Bt636 million disbursement from Central Fund to pay farmers under rice pledging scheme /MCOT

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One Phuket student killed, two injured in motorbike accident
Phuket Gazette


The students were en route to pick up gear for a camping trip. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

PHUKET: -- One Phuket teenager died and two were seriously injured after the motorbike they were driving slammed into a pick-up truck early this morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/703663-one-phuket-student-killed-two-injured-in-motorbike-accident/

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Chainat farmers ignore warnings not to grow off-season rice

CHAINAT 11 February 2014 (NNT) — Chainat farmers have ignored the Royal Irrigation Department's warnings against growing off-season rice.

Farmers in Chainat have ignored the warnings from the Royal Irrigation Department regarding water shortages, as they hope to make a tidy sum from the sale of their new batch of rice.

Local rice farmers are reportedly forging ahead with the growing of the off-season rice despite the Royal Irrigation Department’s warning of possible water shortage in the region. Most of them grow rice as it fetches them between 13,000 -14,000 baht per ton.

Although no additional water has been provided via the klongs (canals), local farmers have been getting their water supply from groundwater instead.


-- NNT 2014-02-11

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Cops Detained, Beaten By Buddha Issara's Protesters
By Khaosod English

Buddha Issara interrogating Pol.Lt. Somkid Koeykamol and Pol.Sen.Sgt. Sompong Unnuan, 10 February 2014

BANGKOK: -- A pair of undercover policemen have been hospitalised after they were tortured by anti-government protesters on Chaeng Wattana Road, authorities said.

A pair of undercover policemen have been hospitalised after they were tortured by anti-government protesters on Chaeng Wattana Road, authorities said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/703675-cops-detained-beaten-by-buddha-issaras-protesters/

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Cabinet approves draft decree to set senatorial election date on March 30

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet Tuesday approved a draft royal decree to set the senatorial election date on March 30, Deputy Government Spokeswoman Sunisa Lertpakkawat said.

The Cabinet approved the draft as proposed by the Eelction Commission.

The election is to fill the seats of elected senators, whose six-year term will expire on March 31.

-- The Nation 2014-02-11

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Tea Banh assure Yuthasak no Cambodia troops in Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tea Banh assured Thai Deputy Defence Minister Gen Yuthasak Sasiprapha that no Cambodian troops had entered Thailand to create violent situations in Bangkok rallies, the Defence Ministry spokesman said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/703677-tea-banh-assures-yuthasak-no-cambodia-troops-in-bangkok/

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Thailand’s GDP growth this year at 4%

BANGKOK: -- The World Bank has projected Thailand’s gross domestic product growth for 2014 at 4% on the back of export expansion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/703678-thailands-gdp-growth-this-year-at-4/

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Draft decree setting senatorial election date as March 30 approved
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The caretaker Cabinet on Tuesday approved a draft royal decree to set the senatorial election date for March 30, said Sunisa Lertpakkawat, deputy spokeswoman for the caretaker government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/703679-draft-decree-setting-senatorial-election-date-as-march-30-approved/

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Chalerm Scolded For Insulting Chart Pattana Leader
By Khaosod English

Mr. Suwat Liptapanlop, de facto leader of Chart Pattana Party, during a ceremony to celebrate his 59th birthday, 9 February 2014

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai Party boss said he has criticised Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung for his disparaging remarks about a coalition party leader.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/703701-chalerm-scolded-for-insulting-chart-pattana-leader/

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Kittirat says many banks interested in lending to government



BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Finance Minister Kittirat na Ranong said today that many commercial banks have now shown interest to provide rice loans to the caretaker government to pay farmers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/703704-kittirat-says-many-banks-interested-in-lending-to-government/

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Thaivisa Property Launches in Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen and Udon Thani

Full story: http://property.thaivisa.com/thaivisa-property-launches-chiang-rai-khon-kaen-udon-thani/

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REPORTS
Schwarzenegger becomes victim of death hoax

File photo : Schwarzenegger (L) and his partner Heather Milligan arrive at their hotel in Schladming, Austria.//EPA

ZERMATT: -- The rumours that former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is dead from a snowboard accident in Switzerland was a hoax.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/703706-arnold-schwarzenegger-becomes-victim-of-death-hoax/

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Arrest warrants issued against four Commerce officials over anti-govt activity

BANGKOK: -- Four Commerce Ministry officials have been issued arrest warrants by the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order for allegedly defying the emergency decree and joining anti-government protesters on the People's Democratic Reform Committee's stages.

Those four officials will also face a disciplinary investigation for flouting the civil-service code of conduct by mixing up with politics.

Yanyong Phuangrach, caretaker deputy commerce minister, said Tuesday that he had ordered the ministry's permanent secretary to send evidence to the CMPO against the four staff - two from the International Trade Promotion Department and one each from the Business Development and Trade Negotiations departments.

The evidence includes a video showing clearly who was on the PDRC's stage, he said.


-- The Nation 2014-02-11

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UPDATE:

POLITICS
New election should be stopped: Abhisit

BANGKOK: -- Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has called on caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to accept the fact that the February 2 general election was unsuccessful and recognise that new balloting should be called off.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/703587-abhisit-sets-conditions-for-contesting-election/page-6?p=7423844#entry7423844

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ELECTION
EC: new elections required royal decree

BANGKOK: -- New elections will not be held in areas where the situation remains at risk of possible law violations, as such polls would definitely waste both time and money, the Election Commission (EC)'s chairman Supachai Somcharoen said on Tuesday.

He added that the EC would hold new elections if the situation in these areas returns to normal, but any hint of violence in the constituencies would negate the value of any election, especially if the protesters were to again block the polling stations.

Supachai said the EC has tried to find appropriate lawful approaches and felt a royal decree should be issued for new elections in constituencies where not even one candidate has registered to run,

If the caretaker government disagrees with the EC's proposal to issue a royal decree, the poll agency will forward the case to the Constitutional Court to determine which options could be applied to this case.

Supachai said he expected the EC’s letter on the issuing of a royal decree would be sent to the caretaker government today. The agency would wait for an official reply on whether the caretaker government agreed with the proposal.

Asked whether the February 2 election could later be nullified, Supachai noted that EC was not the Constitutional Court and was therefore unable to give an opinion. He however noted that were the EC to organise new elections in the 28 named constituencies, this could be considered unlawful, as the law states that the MP candidacy registrations must be done within 20 days after the House of Representatives is dissolved.

In this case, the deadline has already passed as the royal decree on House dissolution was endorsed on Dec 9 last year.

The EC proposal for the issuing of a royal decree earlier sparked criticism from some individuals, who noted that the government had already issued a royal decree for the February 2 general election and could not thus issue another one for new elections.

Supachai said a new royal decree is required for the 28 constituencies where there were no registered MP candidates, so a new election date must be set. He urged that the law be interpreted in such a way to allow the country to move forward.

He added that the five election commissioners, their legal team and advisers had done their best to find way out of the crisis but there were many legal restrictions. The EC would tackle this problem as soon as possible as the Senate election is approaching.


-- The Nation 2014-02-11

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Mystery fire at Lopburi rice warehouse



BANGKOK: -- A fire broke out at a rice warehouse in Chai Badan district of Lop Buri province Tuesday morning causing damages to some of the thousands of rice sacks stored inside.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/703714-mystery-fire-at-lopburi-rice-warehouse/

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The caretaker government is not broke and will certainly pay the farmers for their pledged rice, caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra says. /Bangkok Post

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Yingluck says government can pay farmers, not broke



BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra reassured farmers that they would be paid as her government’s financial status is sound enough to seek loans from financial institutions to pay farmers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/703716-yingluck-says-government-can-pay-farmers-not-broke/

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Thai girls ranked Asia's top for unplanned pregnancies
By English News



BANGKOK, Feb 11 - Thailand's Ministry of Social Development and Human Security disclosed that Thai girls are ranked as Asia's top for unready pregnancies, with 9-year-old girls found as the youngest child-bearers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/703718-thai-girls-ranked-asias-top-for-unplanned-pregnancies/

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SET index closed 1,296.25, up 5.59; Bt/USD32.64; GBP53.42; AUD29.29; EUR44.50; CAD29.32; HKD4.20; SGD25.61; JPY31.78

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Phuket Marine Office offers B10,000 reward for pictures of oil-dumpers
Phuket Gazette


Mr Phuriphat announced a 10,000 baht reward for photos of oil being dumped into the sea. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- The Phuket Marine Office is offering a 10,000 baht reward for photographs of people dumping oil into the sea.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/703723-phuket-marine-office-offers-b10000-reward-for-pictures-of-oil-dumpers/

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Cambodian Military 'Disturbed' By Mercenary Rumour
By Khaosod English


Gunmen allied to anti-government protesters during a gunbattle on 1 February 2014. Protest leaders claim they acted in self-defence against Cambodian mercenaries.

BANGKOK: -- Cambodian minister of defence has voiced his concern over rumours that Cambodian mercenaries are behind political violence in Thailand, an official said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/703677-tea-banh-assures-yuthasak-no-cambodia-troops-in-bangkok/#entry7424158

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Hollywood child star Shirley Temple dies aged 85 /BBC

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Pheu Thai Party rejects Thaksin overture for talks with protesters
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Feb 11 - Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit today rejected a report that ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has urged the government to hold talks with protesters to find a political resolution for Thailand

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/703772-pheu-thai-party-rejects-thaksin-overture-for-talks-with-protesters/

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RT@tukky_nt: EC resolved to hold new advance voting on April 20 for polling stations there were blocked on Jan 26 (1)

RT@tukky_nt: EC will hold new elections on April 27 for the polling stations that were blocked on February 2 (END)

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to continue:

Thailand Live Wednesday 12 Feb 2014

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/703837-thailand-live-wednesday-12-feb-2014/