Thailand Live Monday 17 Feb 2014

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GSB bank chief admits unusual cash withdrawals today



BANGKOK: -- Government Savings Bank (GSB) director Worawit Chailimpamontri admitted of unusual cash withdrawals by customers today after its announcement of interbank loan extension to the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/705041-unusual-money-withdrawal-of-cash-from-gsb/#entry7449785

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BKK-Khonkaen Bus Crashes After Driver 'Dozes Off'
By Khaosod English

BANGKOK: -- A bus has crashed in Nakhon Ratchasima province early this morning after its driver had reportedly dozed off behind the wheel.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/705054-bkk-khonkaen-bus-crashes-after-driver-dozes-off/

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GOVERNMENT SAVINGS BANK
GSB in south packed with nervous customers over rice-pledging scheme

BANGKOK: -- Branches of the Government Saving Bank in two southern provinces were crowded on Monday with people seeking to verify reports that the bank will lend money to the government to repay rice farmers in debt under rice-pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/705041-unusual-money-withdrawal-of-cash-from-gsb/#entry7449850

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Delays in BAAC spending Bt5 bln borrowed from Govt Savings Bank to pay farmers; concern over impact, to discuss solutions with Finance Ministry first /MCOT

Depositors w/drew Bt10mn in 1hr from Govt Saving Bank in Trang; afraid bank will use deposits to pay rice subsidy to farmers /The Nation

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Hotline launched to assist Thais in Japan
By English News



BANGKOK, Feb 17 -- Thai Foreign Ministry deputy spokesperson Sek Wannamethee said today that the Thai government has opened a hotline to assist in a timely manner Thai nationals who are stuck in a major blizzard on Japan's Honshu Island.

Mr Sek told reporters that heavy snow has closed roads and forced airports to cancel flights, while many people were forced to evacuate the snowbound areas.

Thai tourists in Japan have been urged to keep at least three-day supplies of food and drinking water on hand, while avoiding air travel and driving in hazardous weather conditions during this week and that they should prepare for another round of blizzards on Wednesday and Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Thai embassy in Japan has launched a contact centre to assist Thai citizens around the clock. Those needing help are urged to dial ++81 90 4435 7812 and leave their names, addresses in Japan as well as contact numbers. Mr Sek said the callers should leave a message if the line is busy and embassy staff will contact them back.

Mr Sek asks that those with a 15-day valid stay visas to immediately contact the embassy via ++81 3 5789 2439 and leave their names and passport number and later fax passport copies to the embassy.

According to Mr Sek, the number of Thai nationals in Japan cannot be determined as yet since many arrived with tour agents and have been stayed in their hotels during the storms. However, as many as 450,000 Thai people reportedly visited Japan last year following a visa exemption arrangement between the Thai and Japanese governments. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-02-17

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Members from two government agencies allowed to enter Government Complex

BANGKOK, 17 February 2014 (NNT) - Officials from the National Human Rights Council and the Office of the Ombudsman have been allowed to enter the Government Complex currently occupied by anti-government protesters.

Following lengthy negotiations between government representatives and People’s Democratic Reform Committee leader Luang Pu Buddha Issara, staff members were allowed into the buildings.

The National Human Rights Council said that their operations which include overseeing public complaints had been greatly disrupted by the seizure and insisted that the council is an independent organization.

Luang Pu Buddha Issara made known that government officials from both agencies are now permitted to work inside the occupied sites. The agencies are nevertheless obliged to present the group with a full list of all employees in order to obtain entry clearance.

The PDRC is also planning to approach the Office of the Auditor General in a bid to petition against recent arrest warrants issued for PDRC members.


-- NNT 2014-02-17

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Policeman Shot By 'Teen Motorbike Gangster'
By Khaosod English



BANGKOK: -- A police officer had been reportedly shot by a motorcycle gang member during a crackdown on nighttime street racing in Samut Prakarn province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/705081-samut-prakarn-police-officer-shot-by-teen-motorbike-gangster/

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SET index closed 1,332.37, up 20.50; Bt/USD32.14; GBP53.85; AUD28.84; EUR43.96; CAD29.17; HKD4.13; SGD25.41; JPY31.50

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BAAC halts paying farmers with its 5 billion baht inter bank loan



BANGKOK: -- President of the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) Luck Wajananawat said late today that the bank would cease paying farmers with the inter bank loan and to return it to the Government Savings Bank (GSB).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/705087-baac-halts-paying-farmers-with-its-5-billion-baht-inter-bank-loan/

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Two die in bank robbery shoot-out in Sadao

SADAO: -- One police officer and one robber were killed in a car pursuit shootout after a daring robbery at a Krung Thai bank branch in Tambon Klong Ngae of Hat Yai district of Songkhla province late this afternoon.

The robbery happened at 2 p.m. today at the state-owned Krung Thai bank branch on Vanich road in Klong Ngae, about 30 kilometers from Hat Yai.

The dead officer was identified as Sub Lt Wanchat Chaipan.

Witnesses said two robbers entered the bank and held a bank employee at gunpoint to hand over cash to them.

They then escaped in a waiting pickup truck.

Police were alerted and hot pursuit of the robbers was ordered.

They managed to catch up with the running robbers at Ban Wangpling in Sadao district. Gunfight broke out with the police officer and one robber killed.

Another robber was also injured in the shooting but they managed to escape into rubber plantation along the fleeing route.

The police team is still on hot-pursuit of the fleeing robbers.

The bank was earlier in May last year robbed by a lone gunman with unknown amount of cash taken away.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/two-die-bank-robbery-shoot-sadao/


-- Thai PBS 2014-02-17

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A group of anti-govt protesters entered Education Ministry, urged officials there to stop work and join their protest /The Nation

An Ethiopian Airlines flight en route to Rome was hijacked Mon., forced to land in Geneva,where hijacker was arrested /The Nation

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CMPO set to retake sites by Feb 19



BANGKOK, 17 February 2014 (NNT) - The Center for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) is set to reclaim all targeted government offices by February 19.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/705096-cmpo-set-to-retake-sites-by-feb-19/

[Lite Beer]

RT@sunaibkk: Chalerm: CMPO to retake Government House, Government Complex, Interior Ministry, Energy Ministry & Phan Fah Bridge starting 18 Feb.

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RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep: I challenge Thaksin to come and confront me

SUthep: If u want to rule this country, THaksin u must b here on ur own and take charge

SUthep: If u turn down this challenge, don't even try to fight us

SUthep: Relying on ur lousy sidekicks like CHalerm won't do any good. B here on ur own.

Suthep: Don't have ur son's facebook posted with criticism on others as we know he didnt write it.

Suthep: Everyone knows he's a drug addict and cannot do anything

Suthep: I've got news from my sources Chalerm was pissed off as I called him a puppy

Suthep: U must have been drinking too much wine Chalerm.

SUthep: U lie to all people over the country. If ur son shot a police officer, y didn't confess and put the blame on Sergeant Pued

Suthep: That's y people hate u, for telling big lies

Suthep: Chalerm is getting mad now. He will try to reclaim the Govt House. But we will use praying books only, don't bring weapons

Suthep: Bring ur hats as it's hot. Use sunscreen, bring towels. We don;t know what the mad dog will do to us

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RT@Lerlaforever: SUthep: Yingluk nor any of the Shinawatras will take the PM seat again, this or next life.


RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep: 19 Feb is do or die

[Lite Beer]

Politics
Medical teams to help farmers, protesters

The Public Health Ministry has assigned advanced medical rescue teams to take care of antigovernment protesters and farmers , a senior ministry said Monday.

Dr Narong Sahamethapat, permanent secretary to the ministry, said the teams comprise medical personnel from Rajavithi, Lertsin, Nopparat Rajathanee and Ramadhibodi hospitals. Makarak Hospital of Kanchanaburi, Krathumband of Samut Sakhon and Phra Nangklao of Nonthaburi also sent their personnel to join the teams.

They will work with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the military and the Red Cross Society. They will look after the protesters at the Government House as well as rice farmers who are protesting inside the compound of the office of permanent secretary for defence on Chaeng Wattana Road.

-- The Nation 2014-02-17

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to continue:

Thailand Live Tuesday 18 Feb 2014

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/705158-thailand-live-tuesday-18-feb-2014/