Thailand Live Thursday 13 Feb 2014

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Protesters at protest sites not taking precaution against H1N1 virus

BANGKOK, 13 February 2014 (NNT) – Protesters in Bangkok acknowledged the risk of contracting the H1N1 influenza at protest venues, but most failed to take the necessary precaution against the virus.

Doctors at Mahidol University's Ramathibodi Hospital recently has called on those partaking in activities of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) to guard against contracting H1N1 by wearing face masks. Reporters visiting the protest site at the Pathumwan intersection in Bangkok on Wednesday found that the protesters were aware of this warning and were concerned about contracting the virus, but did not take any preventive measure. Some of the rally-goers were spotted carrying face masks, but not wearing them.

One of the demonstrators told reporters a coach carrying rally supporters from Suratthani and bound for Bangkok had to turn around before reaching its intended destination after scores of passengers contracted influenza.

Doctors earlier explained that H1N1 was spreading at the protest camps due to the crowded condition and lack of good hygiene practices. Doctors also suggested that rally supporters who were not of good health should avoid direct participation and watch broadcasts of the protest from home instead.


-- NNT 2014-02-13

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MEDIA
Rumour about Obama-Beyonce relations spread

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704043-rumour-about-obama-beyonce-relations-spread/

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Public holiday marks Makha Bucha Day

Friday 14th February is Valentines Day as you all know, however, it is also Makha Bucha Day in Thailand which is a Thai holiday. Most offices will be closed on Friday & Saturday this week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704092-public-holiday-marks-makha-bucha-day/

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Premature sex linked to porn sites, Line chat
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Easy access to pornography via the Internet and the Line chat application could be drawing impressionable youngsters into premature sex, the Public Health Ministry warned yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704093-thai-public-health-ministry-premature-sex-linked-to-porn-sites-line-chat/

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Be wary of govt tricks, farmers told
The Nation



Independent experts must inspect rice warehouses, says Warong

BANGKOK: -- FORMER DEMOCRAT MP Warong Dechgitvikrom yesterday urged farmers affected by overdue pledged-rice payments not to fall for caretaker Commerce Minister Niwatthumrong Boonsongpai-san's invitation to check on warehouses storing pledged rice.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704094-be-wary-of-govt-tricks-thai-farmers-told/

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Negotiated solution the best way out of debilitating political impasse
Hataikarn Treesuwan,
Pakorn Peungnetr,
Somroutai Sapsomboon
The Nation

Peace will never come before talks. But successful talks need the consent of all parties.

BANGKOK: -- It appears that Thailand has again come to the point of no return. The political stalemate seems to have hit a dead end, as the two sides are showing no signs of stepping back during the almost four months of anti-government rallies. Although there were some meetings between both sides, they failed to reach any agreement.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704095-negotiated-solution-the-best-way-out-of-debilitating-political-impasse/

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Help from rice mills could offer lifeline to govt
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION

NAKHON RATCHASIMA MILLS OFFER PADDY AS SURETY ON LOANS FOR CASH-STRAPPED FARMERS

BANGKOK: -- THE CARETAKER government would appear to have an opportunity for survival if rice mills commit to giving a hand and help suffering farmers awaiting overdue payments under the flagship rice-pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704096-help-from-rice-mills-could-offer-lifeline-to-thai-govt/

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UPDATE:

Petition on poll rejected
The Nation

Constitutional Court does not see merit in Democrat plea against February 2 election

BANGKOK: -- The Constitutional Court yesterday rejected a Democrat Party petition to nullify the February 2 election, saying the court found no merit to hear the case.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/703959-constitutional-court-refuses-to-rule-on-legality-of-february-2-election/page-3#entry7430764

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Bt2-tn loan bill chided in court
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- TESTIFYING on the government-backed Bt2-trillion borrowing bill to the Constitutional Court yesterday, four prominent economists expressed doubts or outright opposition to it, with some alleging that the bill was passed unconstitutionally by Parliament and would be detrimental to the country's budget discipline in the long run if it became law.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704097-bt2-tn-loan-bill-chided-in-court/

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EDITORIAL
For Thai teens, Cupid's arrow can be poison-tipped
The Nation

This Valentine's Day will bring another leap in accidental teenage pregnancies; we need proper sex education to tackle a problem that is ruining too many lives

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704098-for-thai-teens-cupids-arrow-can-be-poison-tipped/

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THAI TALK
Why is govt stuck in the mud over rice-pledging scheme?
Suthichai Yoon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Someone in the newsroom posed a very simple question on a subject undermining the caretaker government to the point of near collapse: Can the Yingluck caretaker government pay farmers under the rice-pledging scheme?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704099-thai-talk-why-is-govt-stuck-in-the-mud-over-rice-pledging-scheme/

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TELL IT AS IT IS
Crime and punishment: they apply to govt as much as to individuals
Pornpimol Kanchanalak
Special to The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Left in its natural state, human life is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short", claimed English political thinker Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679). Philosophers before and after theorised about the social contract to explain how "wild" man surrenders some of his freedoms and submits to the authority of a ruler, or government, in exchange for the protection of rights. Such a social or political contract leads to the notion of legitimacy of government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704100-crime-and-punishment-they-apply-to-thai-govt-as-much-as-to-individuals/

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Pattaya Russian ATM 'Scammers' Busted
By Khaosod English



PATTAYA: -- Police in Pattaya said they have arrested two Russians who used counterfeit cards to steal cash from ATMs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704101-pattaya-police-bust-russian-atm-scammers/

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Pheu Thai case against Suthep thrown out
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Constitutional Court yesterday rejected a request by the Pheu Thai Party that Suthep Thaugsuban and 10 other protest leaders be charged with staging their protest with the aim of toppling the democratic system of government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704102-pheu-thai-case-against-suthep-thrown-out/

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PDRC Valentine's event targets Thaksin
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- A SPECIAL celebration called "Love Thailand and Break Up with Thaksin Regime" will be held at main rally bases from tomorrow until Sunday, rally spokesman Akanat Promphan said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704103-pdrc-valentines-event-targets-thaksin/

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'Protest financiers' list brings angry denials, includes deceased executive
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- SAHA PATHANAPIBUL chief executive officer Boonchai Chokwatana denied yesterday that he helped fund the anti-government movement led by the People's Democratic Reform Committee.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704104-protest-financiers-list-brings-angry-denials-includes-deceased-executive/

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Thai press freedom improves in World Press Freedom index

BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s image of press freedom inches five places up to 130th from 135th in 2013 among 180 countries in the 2014 World Press Freedom index released by the France-based Reporters Without Borders(RSF), the global media watchdog.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704106-thai-press-freedom-improves-in-world-press-freedom-index/

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UPDATE:

Phuket visa run firm owner denies driver theft story

Wiparatana Nathalang

PHUKET: -- The owner of KBV Visa Run company has denied a news report that one of its drivers was arrested by Malaysian police after stealing B37,000 from foreigners in his minibus and then leaving them stranded.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/703946-runaway-driver-leaves-visa-runners-stranded-swipes-more-than-b37000/?p=7430865#entry7430865

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Anti-graft agency gets more evidence on rice corruption
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Feb 13 – Farmer leaders have supplied information and evidence to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), charging the government with cheating in the rice pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704125-anti-graft-agency-gets-more-evidence-on-rice-corruption/

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,312.69, falls 1.37 points /MCOT

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Gunshots and firecracker explosion near Pathumwan protest stage

BANGKOK: -- Three gunshots and a loud explosion from what believed to be a giant firecracker were heard at Hua Chang bridge near the Pathumwan protest stage early this morning. There were no injuries however.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704134-gunshots-and-firecracker-explosion-near-pathumwan-protest-stage/

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Militants kill monk and three civilians



PATTANI: -- Four southern militants sprayed bullets from their assault rifles at a group of Buddhists while they were offering alms to monks in Mae Larn district of Pattani province this morning, killing a monk and three locals.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704135-militants-kill-monk-and-three-civilians-in-pattani/

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Southern militants shoot and burn bank employee



PATTANI: -- An female employee of Bangkok Bank’s Nongchik-Pattani branch was shot and then burned alive while she was riding home in a motorcycle on Highway 42 late yesterday evening in Yaring district of Pattani.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704137-southern-militants-shoot-and-burn-bangkok-bank-employee/

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Farmer leaders now vow to overthrow caretaker government

BANGKOK: -- Farmer leaders last night vowed to overthrow the government of caretaker prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra with the mobilization of up to 50,000 troubled farmers to the capital to act.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704140-thai-farmer-leaders-now-vow-to-overthrow-caretaker-government/

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Arrest warrants underway for 7 suspects in Lak Si shoot-out
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Feb 13 – Police will seek court approval to issue arrest warrants for seven men connected with a clash at Lak Si intersection on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704144-arrest-warrants-underway-for-7-suspects-in-lak-si-shoot-out/

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Traders participate fully in rice auction
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Feb 13 – Eighteen rice traders have joined a bidding event to buy nearly 500,000 tonnes of rice under the government’s subsidy scheme, according to a senior Commerce Ministry official.

Surasak Riangkrul, Foreign Trade Department director general, said the newest batch of rice offered for auction, weighing 467,622 tonnes, was from three crops between 2011 and 2014.

He said the private sector was keen on buying rice from the subsidy programme.

Bid winners will be announced today and rice would be delivered to them in a few months.

He said the Commerce Ministry will organise another tender next week for at least 500,000 tonnes of rice to be exported.

Mr Surasak said the Commerce Ministry has so far submitted Bt170-180 billion from rice auctions to the Finance Ministry, adding that at least Bt15 billion was sent to the Finance Ministry in the last two months.

Caretaker Deputy Commerce Minister Yanyong Phuangrach said the government should earn nearly Bt10 billion from the latest auction of 460,000 tonnes of rice.

The Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) will be asked to speed up payments to the financially-stressed farmers, he said. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-02-13

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Police seek 7-day detention for Sonthiyan; prosecutor won't defer indictment against Suthep for role in 2010 crackdown on red shirts /MCOT

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Thailand's Transport Co. and Naluang Co. of Laos to launch new public bus service, Route 14, linking Loei with Luang Prabang. /The Nation

Caretaker PM Yingluck meets military top brass, discusses annual military reshuffle /MCOT

Tourism Authority of Thailand allocated Bt100mn to restore confidence of Asian tourists when Thai political unrest ends /The Nation

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UPDATE:

Boy, monk among five killed in Thai south

BANGKOK, February 13, 2014 (AFP) - Suspected Thai militants shot dead five people, including a nine-year-old boy and a Buddhist monk, in the latest attacks in the kingdom's insurgency-torn deep south, police said Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704135-militants-kill-monk-and-three-civilians-in-pattani/#entry7431853

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Police remind public of alcohol ban during Makha Bucha

BANGKOK, 12 February 2014 (NNT) – The Royal Thai Police has stressed that the nationwide alcohol ban will be imposed on the upcoming Makha Bucha Day while warning vendors and drunk drivers of serious legal penalties.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704152-thai-police-remind-public-of-alcohol-ban-during-makha-bucha/