Thailand Live Friday 14 Feb 2014

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Downtown malls open till 10 pm as usual to welcome Valentine’s

BANGKOK, 14 February 2014 (NNT) – Central World Shopping Complex and other malls located nearby have announced that, from today onwards, they will resume normal services, with the operating hours running until 10 pm, in a bid to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Central Pattana Public Company Limited has issued a statement, saying Central World will open its doors to customers from 10 am through to 10 pm again, starting today. The move is to welcome the day of love, when hordes of customers usually come to shop for presents for their loved ones. This year, the company is cooperating with retailers in launching special promotions and campaigns to attract more people and brighten up the atmosphere.

Last month, Central World declared it would be closing early at 6 pm for safety reasons amid the political turmoil and the ongoing protest in front of its premises.

Likewise, Siam Paragon, Siam Center and Siam Discovery have confirmed that they will be opening until 10 pm daily as well.

Apart from the BTS Skytrain, the public can still access all of these shopping malls by car although the available routes are limited.


-- NNT 2014-02-14

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GOOD DEEDS
Honest cabbie rewarded
The Nation

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704218-honest-thai-taxi-driver-impresses-japanese-tourist/

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VALENTINE'S DAY
Special event rewards marriage registrants
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Couples registering their marriage today will get a chance to win prizes under St Valentine's campaigns. Several authorities, along with their partners, have launched the campaigns.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704318-valentines-day-special-event-rewards-marriage-registrants/

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POPULIST POLICY
Rice farmers to get payments next week, Yingluck assures
The Nation


Sacks of rice are readied for night-time loading onto a long line of waiting trucks at a warehouse in Ang Thong. Local residents expressed suspicion, as the movement of the rice came as farmers were demanding payment for rice sold to the government

BANGKOK: -- Long-overdue government subsidy payments to farmers under the rice-pledging scheme will begin next week, caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704319-rice-farmers-to-get-payments-next-week-yingluck-assures/

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SOUTHERN VIOLENCE
Killing of monk seen as 'revenge for murder of three brothers
PAKORN PUENGNETR
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- THE SLAYING yesterday of a Buddhist monk and three others including a nine-year-old boy in southern Pattani was in retaliation for the murder of three Muslim brothers of the Manan clan in Narathiwat 10 days ago, experts said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704320-killing-of-monk-seen-as-revenge-for-murder-of-three-brothers/

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FEBRUARY 2 ELECTION
Legal fight against poll 'not over'
Anuphan Chantana,
Pimnara Pradubwit
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Democrats will continue pursuing legal action against the government even though the Constitutional Court on Wednesday threw out their petition asking it to void the February 2 election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704322-february-2-election-legal-fight-against-poll-not-over/

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RICE BIDING
Afet bids for govt rice come in low amid high supply
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation


Officials prepare documents for interested parties to submit their bids for 227,000 tonnes of rice through the Agricultural Futures Exchange of Thailand

Impact on market prices seen; ministry plans more auctions via futures market

BANGKOK: -- A total of 17 traders joined the Commerce Ministry's auction yesterday of 227,000 tonnes of rice via the Agricultural Futures Exchange of Thailand, but their low bids are expected to drag down the market price because of supply exceeding demand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704323-afet-bids-for-thai-govt-rice-come-in-low-amid-high-supply/

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OVERDRIVE
Farmers call time on Yingluck's rice farce
Thanong Khanthong

BANGKOK: -- The Yingluck government's rice-pledging scheme is set to go down in history as a complete failure, if not our worst and most corrupt subsidy programme. If justice is served, all of those involved in the scheme will go straight to jail to serve time.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704324-farmers-call-time-on-yinglucks-rice-farce/

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Civil conflict is sliding towards an uncivil war
Walden Bello
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Asia News Network


An anti-government protester listens as protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban speaks from a stage in Bangkok last week.

But both sides' demand for justice and real democracy is the middle ground upon which a debate on the future of Thailand can be built

BANGKOK: -- The current showdown between the Pheu Thai government and the opposition is the latest round in an epic struggle between conservative and populist forces that began when Yingluck's brother Thaksin Shinawatra became prime minister in 2001.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704325-civil-conflict-is-sliding-towards-an-uncivil-war-thailand/

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Masseuses enslaved in South Africa seek DSI action
PONGPHON SARNSAMAK
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- TWO MASSEUSES from Kanchanaburi have filed a complaint to the Department of Special Investigation against a recruitment company that they said enslaved them in South Africa and forced them to work to pay off a debt of about Bt100,000.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704326-thai-masseuses-enslaved-in-south-africa-seek-dsi-action/

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Surapong seeks world backing
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul yesterday urged the world community to condemn the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) for blocking the February 2 election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704327-surapong-seeks-world-backing/

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BURNING ISSUE
While the govt and PDRC squabble, ordinary Thais suffer
Attayuth Bootsripoom
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Although the February 2 election was held without the violence that was initially feared, nobody could call it a true general election, because voting did not take place in several constituencies.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704328-while-the-govt-and-pdrc-squabble-ordinary-thais-suffer/

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Kingdom needs more women in Parliament, UN official says
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand should do more to increase the number of women in the House and Senate - and it may require temporary policy intervention, a senior United Nations figure said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704329-thailand-needs-more-women-in-parliament-un-official-says/

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Kamnans slam PDRC
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- About 1,000 village headmen and kamnans gathered near the Interior Ministry yesterday and announced an ultimatum to the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) to end the blockade of the Interior Ministry within seven days.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704330-kamnans-slam-pdrc/

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New Boss, New Crackdown for Pattaya Bars



PATTAYA: -- With a new Police Chief firmly installed at Pattaya Police Station the job of maintaining law & order has begun with a check of late night entertainment venues around Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704332-new-boss-new-crackdown-for-pattaya-bars/

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RT @Saksith: TR @kowit_js: Royal Plaza area has a lot of police busses and trucks in morning @js100radio http://t.co/w9DZsUKUVU

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RT @WilwithoneL: The calm before the storm? 100s of riot police chilling out near police station. #bangkok http://t.co/7Gp4fRbHZN

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RT @PatricLand: Another the view of the police at Royal Plaza RT @Dr_Prawut: http://t.co/AYfciksDzc

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RT @PatricLand: 7.30AM Police with rubber bullet gun reach Nang Leang Racecourse .. NSPTR Stage RT @MorningNewsTV3 http://t.co/WfTZgGBA5a

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Police are blocking the Nang Leung section and plan to retake a rally site

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704336-thai-police-in-position-to-retake-bangkok-rally-sites/

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RT @RichardBarrow: 9am - RT @WilwithoneL: Armed police cutting down tarpaulin & searching tents. Very few protesters still here http://t.co/vonqbc1DXU

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Police start reclaim areas from Democracy Monument from protesters

BANGKOK: -- Police in full gear on Saturday started reclaiming areas near the Victory Monument through Makawan Rangsan Bridge which is used as rally site of anti-government protesters, Nation Channel reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704336-thai-police-in-position-to-retake-bangkok-rally-sites/page-3#entry7436010

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UPDATE:

Police launch 'Operation Valentine' to clear Rajdamnoen rally site
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Police Friday launched the Operation Valentine to "reclaim public space" from protesters led by the Students and People Network for Thailand's Reform Friday morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704336-thai-police-in-position-to-retake-bangkok-rally-sites/page-3#entry7436038

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Police remove protest site barrier near Government House; no clash as NSPRT protesters have departed site, no destination announced /MCOT

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RT @RichardBarrow: 9:15am RT @Matt_Jasper: Large group of protestors outside central chidlom. Definitely looking more militant. A lot more khaki, faces covered

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RT @RichardBarrow: 9:40am Ploenchit Road closed from Ploenchit intersection to Chidlom. Motorists advised to avoid today #Bangkok

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RT @Saksith: RT @georgehenton Some of the items found apparently by police in protest camp near Gov House http://t.co/rOR1vyfyYw / Incl x-ray flak vests

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RT @waanspeaking: RT @Rajprasong_News: @news1005fm: Metro Police II Commander and its force are on the move at Chang Wattana Soi 5

http://t.co/HsWnTzUquh

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RT @W7VOA: No police activity, sparse crowd at Asok anti-gov't demo site. #Thailand @ BTS อโศก (Asok) E4 http://t.co/Iz89OqsvM6

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King visits dog shelter in Hua Hin



HUA HIN: -- His Majesty the King on Thursday (Feb 13) visited Hua Hin Dog Shelter in Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, to follow up the progress of the center’s work in assisting abandoned dogs and providing a full-cycle management of the stray dog problem in Hua Hin.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/704381-king-visits-dog-shelter-in-hua-hin/