Thailand Live Thursday 20 Feb 2014

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Protest death toll now stands at 16 deaths and 689 injuries



BANGKOK: -- The Erawan Center reported the latest fatalities in anti-government protests to 16 deaths and 689 injuries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/705740-thai-protest-death-toll-now-stands-at-16-deaths-and-689-injuries/

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Anti-government protesters lay siege to Shinawatra Tower 3



BANGKOK: -- Shinawatra family’s businesses now become the target of anti-government protesters to pressure the caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra with now several thousands of protesters gathering in front of the building, while more are heading to join.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/705741-anti-government-protesters-lay-siege-to-shinawatra-tower-3/

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Malaysia is ready to help revive southern peace talks



Malaysia is ready to help revive the peace talks between the Thai government and southern separatist groups led by the Barisan Nasional Revolusi (BRN), said Ahmad Zamzamin bin Hashim, the facilitator of the peace talks process and former director of Malaysia’s External Intelligence Organisation, according to Isra news agency.

Ahmad Zamzamin’s above statement was made during an interview with reporters from the three southernmost provinces at Habib hotel in Kotabaru, Kelantan state of Malaysia, on February 19.

Three rounds of peace talks have been held in Kuala Lumpur since the signing of an informal agreement last February between the BRN and the Thai government led by the National Security Council. The last round of talks took place on June 13 amidst tense atmosphere with the Thai side demanding the BRN to curb violence in the troubled region whereas the BRN made five counter-demands. Last December, the BRN issued a statement announcing its pullout from the peace process.

Ahmad Zamzamin insisted that Kuala Lumpur was sincere to help resolve the unrest problem as it felt that the southern insurgency was also a Malaysian problem because several Malay Muslims have escaped from the Deep South to seek shelter in Malaysia.

Regarding Hassan Taib, chief negotiator of the BRN, Ahmad Zamzamin said Hassan Taib’s replacement was an internal affairs of the BRN. He added that his recent talk with BRN representatives showed that the separatist organization was still committed to the peace process.

(photo : http://www.isranews.org )

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/malaysia-ready-help-revive-southern-peace-talks/


-- Thai PBS 2014-02-20

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RT @RichardBarrow: 11:30am This is what is heading to #Bangkok; 100’s of farmers & their tractors. Now in Ang Thong (Pic @CrDNnews) http://t.co/gulQbf5Soy

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RT @RichardBarrow: 11:30pm Farmers from Uthai Thani now in Ang Thong - RT @7_preysor: ขบวนชาวนาจากอุทัยธานี เข้าเขตอ่างทองแล้ว http://t.co/6lT8X9shjP #Thailand

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CMPO chief Chalerm ready to accept Court order, to ask Court for clarity on CMPO authority; staff evacuate Shinawatra 3 building /MCOT

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Suthep not at rally at Shinawatra 3 Bulding, discussing next move against caretaker PM /MCOT

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Villager killed, one wounded in Yala gun attack; M79 grenade attack on local official's home in Yala's Bannang Sata /MCOT

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EGAT denies a rumor of funding the rice mortgaging scheme



BANGKOK, 20 Feb 2014 (NNT) - The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has denied a news report that said it was funding the government’s rice pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/705749-egat-denies-a-rumor-of-funding-the-rice-mortgaging-scheme/

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CSD takes down Thai gang blamed for kidnap, robbery, sexual assault spree
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- In a culture where there is something of a preoccupation with violence against women - just watch any lakorn - it was the worst sort of nighmare.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/705751-csd-takes-down-thai-gang-blamed-for-kidnap-robbery-sexual-assault-spree/

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RT @tulsathit: Chalerm is set to "seek knowledge" from court as to what SOE can really do. via @NationChannel24

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RT @tulsathit: With election "still on", was Yingluck use of Govt media to defend/promote rice scheme illegal? via @PostToday

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Unidentified foreign woman killed in Phuket crash
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- An unidentified foreign woman died in a car accident on Thepkrasattri Road early this morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/705753-unidentified-foreign-woman-killed-in-phuket-crash/

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RT @tulsathit: SMEs are reported to have been hit hard by protest, with Jatujak vendors bearing the brunt. - @kttvnews

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UPDATE:

PDRC protesters gather at Shinawatra 3 Building on Vibhavadi Rd.

BANGKOK, 20 Feb 2014 (NNT) - According to traffic police reports, protesters of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) have moved from their rally site in Chaengwattana area in a convoy of about 20 trucks and cars and four buses led by a 6-wheel lorry with amplifiers, to Vibhavadi Rd. where the Shinawatra 3 Building is.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/705741-anti-government-protesters-lay-siege-to-shinawatra-tower-3/#entry7463850

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BMA gears up for Senate polls

BANGKOK, 20 February 2014 (NNT) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is gearing up for the Senate election on March 30, following disruptions during the latest general election in February.

According to BMA permanent secretary Ninnart Chalitanont, the BMA has been holding meetings with the Election Commission (EC) regarding the upcoming election.

She noted that the incident earlier this month had put an immense amount of pressure on district offices and discouraged many district chiefs from taking on the responsibility of organizing the polling in their constituencies.

During the meeting, the BMA suggested that the EC secure more support for the election, set a criteria for an EC president and other personnel in each district, and enlist the help of army and police forces.

On February 2, protests disrupted the general election, halting voting in parts of Bangkok and the South. Many polling stations were forced to shut down or close early. Some six million registered voters were affected by the closures.


-- NNT 2014-02-20

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Caretaker PM, on Facebook, rejects corruption claims in rice pledging scheme, asserts transparency, requests fair treatment /MCOT

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GSB’s labor union demands Board apologise to customers

BANGKOK, 20 Feb 2014, (NNT) - The labor union of the Government Savings Bank (GSB) has demanded that the bank's management apologize to its customers and promise not to get involved with politics ever again.

President of the GSB Labor Union, Likit Klingtanom, has submitted a letter to the Board of Directors demanding that it take responsibility for causing the biggest ruckus since the bank was established a century ago. The bank management should also promise to forever stay away from politics in order to regain confidence from its customers.

Mr. Likit expected the management to meet on the issue today. However, the union did not call for the board members to call it quits, given their roles are vital for the GSB's survival and success.

He added that the labor union would closely monitor the board’s movement, threatening that its members nationwide would call a strike should the board decide to meddle with politics again.


-- NNT 2014-02-20

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Two arrests made for smuggling of protected wood in Bueng Kan

BUENG KAN, 20 February 2014 (NNT) – Two arrests have been made in one day for the smuggling of protected rosewood in Bueng Kan Province, during which over 200 Siamese rosewood timbers were confiscated.

The first apprehension was made while the timber was being delivered at a spot near the Mekong River. When the police flagged down a suspicious-looking truck for a quick inspection, the driver and a passenger right away jumped out of the truck and attempted to escape, but the police managed to nab them before they got away. The truck was reportedly carrying 81 pieces of processed Siamese rosewood, which is protected by the Thai law. The two smugglers confessed that they had been paid 5,000 baht each to deliver the timber.

Another arrest was made near the Mekong River bank where 196 pieces of rosewood lumber were seized before being smuggled out of the country. The wood was in a white van pulled over by Bueng Kan police. The driver, a 30-year-old man, said he would be paid 8,000 baht upon the delivery.

All the three perpetrators are now in custody awaiting trial. Police said the combined 277 pieces of rosewood lumber would have been worth up to 8 million baht in neighboring countries if they had gotten away.


-- NNT 2014-02-20

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UPDATE:

More farmers join Bangkok protests for rice payments
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Feb 20 – The Ministry of Commerce was completely sealed off for the second day today as more farmers poured into the capital from several provinces to demand due payment for their rice under government subsidy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/705735-tens-of-thousands-of-farmers-in-hundreds-of-farm-trucks-heading-to-bangkok/page-3?p=7463929#entry7463929

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Bank union urges its board to apologize to customer



BANGKOK: -- The employee union of the Government Savings Bank today asked its board of directors to apologize to customers for the rice loan extension.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/705759-government-savings-bank-union-urges-its-board-to-apologize-to-customer/

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Two killed and one injured in gun attacks in Yala



YALA: -- Two men were shot dead and a woman injured in two separate incidents in Yala province Wednesday night and today.

In the first incident which took place in Tambon Talingchan, Bannang Sata district, Wednesday night, Sawait Baiwang-are, was shot dead by unknown assailants as he was riding a motorcycle on a road in his village. The motive or motives of the killing are still under investigation by the police.

In Raman district at about 6 am today, a couple, Arsae Waedoyee and Ms Korseema Waedoyee, were riding on a motorcycle on a road in their village after they had just completed their rubber tapping of the day in their rubber plantation, when a pillion of another motorbike shot them at point-blank.

The gunfires killed Arsae and injured Ms Korseema. Both were later rushed to the provincial hospital.

Meanwhile, Bannang Sata district police station came under grenade attack by suspected insurgents Wednesday night but there were no casualties however.

Two M79 grenades were fired from the other side of the Pattani river targeting the police station. But the grenades missed the target.

The suspected insurgents also fired a hail of gunshots into the market which is next to the police station causing a panic among the residents. There were no casualties.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/two-killed-one-injured-gun-attacks-yala/


-- Thai PBS 2014-02-20

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RT @terryfrd: CH3 reports that farmers' convoy (abt 1 km long) unlikely to reach BKK today. Overnight stay in Ayutthaya probable. Final dest. undecided.

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No Shinawatra involvement in InTouch group, executives insist
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- InTouch group has insisted that it is not involved in politics and that its founders divested themselves of their combined shares in the group several years ago and have nothing to do with the business anymore.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/705767-no-shinawatra-involvement-in-intouch-group-executives-insist/

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Luang Poo Buddha-issara rejected check in at SC Park Hotel



BANGKOK: -- Anti-government protesters rallied at SC Park Hotel, one of the Shinawatra family group’s business, on the Riep Thangduan road to demand the check-in of rooms they have booked but were denied entry by guards.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/705771-luang-poo-buddha-issara-rejected-check-in-at-sc-park-hotel/

[Lite Beer]

Drought spreads across Thailand, affects agricultural zones

BUENG KAN, 20 February 2014 (NNT) – A number of provinces in Thailand have been hit by an early, severe drought, which is causing troubles for several farming areas.

Sukhothai Province, which has been experiencing a decreasing amount of water in the Yom River, has declared 4 of its districts drought-hit zones. The dry season is also affecting off-season cultivation in downstream areas.

In Tak’s Mae Sot District, the water level in the Moei River has been dropping steadily, expoing sandbars at the bottom of the river, making goods delivery between Thailand and Myanmar difficult.

In Ayutthaya Province, authorities are speeding up distributing water for agricultural use, as over 400 rai of rice farms are in desperate need of water.

Meanwhile, Nakhon Ratchasima has ordered its local offices to set up relief centers in areas battered by dry weather condition. Despite the drought, the provincial governor is confident that the province will be able to cope with this year’s drought, thanks to its excellent water management system.

-- NNT 2014-02-20

[Lite Beer]

RT@teamkorn: Exclusive view from the inside of one of the tractors headed to Bangkok
Picture Credit: Kata Mahakayi pic.twitter.com/xOWyZjGUSK

[Lite Beer]

RT@Tulip_Oum: 1:15PM SC Park hotel manager announces the hotel is closed for today.-@ARMdhiravath pic.twitter.com/dtBWpBc3B8

[Lite Beer]

Traffic police concerned over PDRC's march towards Shinawatra Building

BANGKOK 20 February 2014 (NNT) — Traffic police have expressed their concerns over the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) marching toward the Shinawatra 3 building, saying that it will likely cause congestions on Ratchadapisek and Vibhawadee Rangsit Roads.

According to Traffic Police Commander Pol. Maj. Gen. Jerasan Kaewseangake, he has assigned 50 traffic police officers to direct traffic during the time PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban rallies at the Shinawatra 3 building.

He will be working in cooperation with the Phaholyothin, Vbhawadee, and Bangsue police stations to ensure safety for local residents, added the Commander.

Whether or not police will close the roads in the area depends on the situation at hand. Reports have now confirmed that the PDRC will be moving from the Government Complex on Chaengwattana Road and head toward the Shinawatra building.

-- NNT 2014-02-20

[Lite Beer]

Thai PM protests innocence amid impeachment threat

BANGKOK, February 20, 2014 (AFP) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Thursday protested her innocence after an anti-corruption panel filed charges of neglect of duty that could lead to her removal from office.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/705786-thai-pm-protests-innocence-amid-impeachment-threat/