Thailand Live Monday 24 Feb 2014

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VIOLENCE
Deadly blast in city
The Nation


A bomb blast hits the People

Ratchaprasong bomb kills two less than a day after Trat attack kills girl

BANGKOK: -- Violence looms increasingly over the capital and other provinces as anti-government protesters apply pressure to the government, including a campaign this week by the People's Democratic Reform Committee to "hunt" for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706495-grenade-kills-two-in-bangkok-as-fears-mount-over-political-violence/

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VIOLENCE
Child's death at rally prompts national alert for rescue teams
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation


The Facebook page of the Royal Thai Police spokesperson has a set of four pictures of violent scenes in Khao Saming in Trat, when assailants attacked an anti-government rally last night, killing a five-year-old girl and injuring 35 other people.

TRAT: -- Saturday night's shooting and bomb attacks on an anti-government rally in Trat's Khao Saming district, which killed a 5-year-old girl, have prompted a call from the Public Health Ministry for medical rescue teams to stand by around the clock and prepare for any unprecedented violence nationwide.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706498-childs-death-at-trat-rally-prompts-national-alert-for-rescue-teams/

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Redshirt threats get political tension boiling
The Nation


Redshirt leader Jatuporn Promphan addresses local redshirt leaders during their meeting in Nakhon Ratchasima yesterday. Other key members of the redshirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) are also on the stage.

Redshirts warn of 'government-in-exile' in the north or Isaan, going into 'combat mode'

BANGKOK: -- Political tension and violence is intensifying as rival camps - the government and protesters - vow to step up their campaigns to bring about a swift victory.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706499-redshirt-threats-get-political-tension-boiling/

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ANTI-SHINAWATRA CAMPAIGN
Number of customers leaving AIS doubled Friday: NBTC
The Nation

Customers ditching AIS for another cellular network doubled on Friday.

BANGKOK: -- The anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee had urged its supporters to boycott products and services from businesses affiliated with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706500-number-of-customers-leaving-ais-doubled-friday-nbtc/

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POLITICS
Human Rights commissioner's private clinic set ablaze
The Nation

UBON RATCHATHANI: -- An unknown group of men set fire to a private medical clinic owned by National Human Rights Commission member Dr Nirand Pitakwatchara.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706501-ubon-ratchathani-human-rights-commissioners-private-clinic-set-ablaze/

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RICE-PLEDGING
Those with 'hidden agendas' warned not to take advantage of suffering farmers
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Farmers, academicians and rice traders have called on all parties, especially politicians, not to play games with farmers, as they have been suffering from delayed payments for rice pledged to the government under the subsidy project.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706502-rice-pledging-those-with-hidden-agendas-warned-not-to-take-advantage-of-suffering-thai-farmers/

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Yingluck condemns violence in Trat, Ratchaprasong
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Sunday condemned the attacks in Trat and near the Ratchaprasong rally site that also saw children killed and injured.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706503-yingluck-condemns-violence-in-trat-ratchaprasong/

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Fumes from grilling pork a health risk for cooks and buyers, PCD says
Janjira Pongrai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Street stalls selling skewered grilled pork are a health risk to people selling the food as well as those buying it, the Pollution Control Department has warned.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706504-fumes-from-grilling-pork-a-health-risk-for-cooks-and-buyers-thai-pcd-says/

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SPECIAL REPORT
Loei villagers face threat of massive compensation
The Nation


The so-called heart walls appear along a road in Loei

Protesters fighting gold mine firm over village walls hit with lawsuit

LOEI: -- The compensation bill from two civil lawsuits against Loei's gold mine protesters could amount to Bt1.83 billion by February 28, with the Loei Provincial Court last week postponing a preliminary hearing for another criminal lawsuit against seven protesters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706505-loei-villagers-face-threat-of-massive-compensation/

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Pheu Thai threatens to sue EC over 'poll failure'
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Pheu Thai Party is threatening to take the Election Commission to court for dereliction of duty if it refuses to hold ballots by March 4 at polling stations disrupted by protests during the election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706506-pheu-thai-threatens-to-sue-ec-over-poll-failure/

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Girl, 5, killed in Trat rally attack
The Nation



TRAT: -- A FIVE-YEAR-OLD GIRL from Khao Saming in Trat has become the first child killed during the latest wave of political violence, while a another young girl is in a critical conditions in hospital after being wounded at the same anti-government rally.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706508-girl-5-killed-in-trat-rally-attack/

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Russian caught with Marijuana at South Pattaya Police Checkpoint



PATTAYA: -- On Sunday afternoon in South Pattaya, a 41 year old Russian was caught with two bags of the class 5 drug Marijuana.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706509-russian-caught-with-marijuana-at-south-pattaya-police-checkpoint/

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German suffers serious foot injury in Jomtien Road Crash



PATTAYA: -- A 72 year old German suffered a partial traumatic amputation of his right foot as his motorbike was hit by a high powered bike travelling at high speed on Saturday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706510-german-suffers-serious-foot-injury-in-jomtien-road-crash/

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RT @mpoppel: BREAKING -- CNN President Jeff Zucker has decided to end Piers Morgan's primetime show, network sources tell POLITICO

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Gunshots fired at Chaeng Watthana protest site before 2am Monday, one plain-clothes soldier injured. /Bangkok Post

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RT @RichardBarrow: Two speedboats collided in Krabi yesterday injuring 8 foreign tourists. They are said to be safe (Pic Khao Sod) http://t.co/xEzDkKBZHQ

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UPDATE:

Three killed in Ratchaprasong explosion
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Feb 24 -- Three persons were killed in an explosion in front of the Big C Supercenter in Ratchadamri, not far from the Ratchaprasong intersection where the anti-government protesters are rallying.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706495-grenade-kills-two-in-bangkok-as-fears-mount-over-political-violence/page-3?p=7481548#entry7481548

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RATCHDAMRI BLAST
Sunday bomb explosion claims third victim Monday

BANGKOK: -- The Sunday bomb attack in front of Big C Ratchdamri claimed the third casuality, a six-year-old girl, whose brother died yesterday from the blast.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706495-grenade-kills-two-in-bangkok-as-fears-mount-over-political-violence/page-3?p=7481558#entry7481558

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Farmers back govt bonds to raise money for rice payments
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Feb 24 – The Thai Farmers and Growers Association (TFGA) has give its support to the government’s move to issue bonds to raise funds for overdue payments to farmers from the rice pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706533-farmers-back-thai-govt-bonds-to-raise-money-for-rice-payments/

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Buddha Issara leads PDRC protesters to rally at Voice TV, managed by Thaksin's son Panthongtae, to pressure Shinawatra family business /MCOT

Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,297.86, falls 6.35 points /MCOT

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RT @RichardBarrow: 9:50am - RT @ibrahim_jabbari: Too crowded at ladphrao immigration services http://t.co/qileTfD4wh

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Phra Buddha Issara leads rally in front of pro-red Voice TV

BANGKOK: -- A senior monk and anti-government protesters gathered in front of pro-government Voice TV station on Vibhavadi Rangsit road Monday.

Phra Buddha Issara is a leader of the protesters who occupied the Government Complex on Chang Wattana road. The station is near Din Daeng intersection.

The rally is part of the campaign to protest against businesses of Thaksin Shinawatra, fugitive former PM. The channel is founded and owned by Thaksin’s son; Panthongtae.


-- The Nation 2014-02-24

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HRH the Princess Maha Chakri is paying a 5-day visit to the Republic of India

BANGKOK, 24 February 2014 (NNT) - Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn is visiting the Republic of India from February 23-28, 2014.

The Princess was seen off at the airport on Sunday by members of the Cabinet, high ranking officials from both the civil service and armed forces, representatives of the wives’ associations of the three armed forces, Thai Red Cross representatives and village scouts.

While in the Republic of India, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will participate in the international advisory council’s meeting of Nalanda University at the International Conference Center of Rajgir City. Her Royal Highness is also scheduled to visit places of historical, archaeological and religious importance such as the Thai Bodhgaya Monastery, the World War II Museum, the Nagaland State Museum, and the Kohima World War II Cemetery.

Her Royal Highness will also observe the operations of the Nagaland University, Meriema campus, and the Nagaland Bamboo Resource Center. The Princess will also preside over the ceremony to celebrate the golden top knot of the Bodh Gaya Mahabodhi Pagoda at the Mahobodhi Temple in Gaya city.


-- NNT 2014-02-24

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Husband, wife killed in shootings, arson in Bannang Sata
By English News

YALA, Feb 23 - A husband and wife were killed in Bannang Sata district, as local authorities investigated the crime scene this morning.

Gunmen commenced shootings and burnt down two houses of villagers in the district causing the death of the couple, ages 66 and 60 years old, and three other cars were torched.

The deceased were shot in their heads and bodies. Over 50 ammo casings from an M16 were found at the scene and collected as evidence.

One of the targeted homes belonged to the victim's cousin where the gunmen also continued firing over 20 rounds and committed arson. No one was injured. ‎

The ill-intentioned culprits fled and scattered nails along their escape route.

Authorities are investigating whether the acts were due to personal conflicts or related to the Southern insurgency. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-02-24

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Political unrest bears no effects on retail shops

BANGKOK, 24 Feb 2014 (NNT) - According to the Development of Thai Capital Retailers Association, the ongoing political unrest has no bearings on the local retailer sector.

President of the Association Suwit Kingkaew made the comment, explaining that most of the retailers are located outside the capital, the main rally site, while the items they offer are everyday essentials; thus, their revenues remain steady.

Mr. Suwit said that the sector is more susceptible to consumer’s behaviors, and global economic performance.

He said that the number of retail shop operators is growing every year. At present the nation has a total of 600,000 shops, a jump of 3% year-on-year. Mr. Suwit said a retail shop’s strong point is its close proximity to communities, and has been eyed by producers of consumer goods as an attractive outlet with thorough access to local people.


-- NNT 2014-02-24

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RT @RichardBarrow: 10:15am Factory fire on Rama 6 Kamphaeng Phet Road (Via @SpringNews_TV) http://t.co/aAZbvIyPcW

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Ukrainian expat dies after fight with girlfriend in Phuket
Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- A Ukrainian expat, named as Oler Volkov, 27, was found dead after falling from the fourth floor of Phanason Green Place condo around 1am yesterday (February 23) after having a fight with his girlfriend.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706538-ukrainian-expat-dies-after-fight-with-girlfriend-in-phuket/

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UPDATE:

Third child dies from weekend of Thai protest violence

by Apilaporn VECHAKIJ

BANGKOK, February 24, 2014 (AFP) - A six-year-old girl died early Monday from wounds sustained during a grenade attack on a busy Bangkok shopping area, hospital officials said, taking the number of children killed in Thai political violence over the weekend to three.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706495-grenade-kills-two-in-bangkok-as-fears-mount-over-political-violence/page-3?p=7481842#entry7481842

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NSC says Armed Forces may cite Rajaprasong bomb attack to impose martial law



BANGKOK: -- The secretary-general of the National Security Council (NDC) Lt-Gen Paradorn Patthanathabutr said today that the lethal grenade attack at Rajaprasong might be used as an excuse by the military to impose martial law in the capital.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706542-nsc-says-armed-forces-may-cite-rajaprasong-bomb-attack-to-impose-martial-law/

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Army chief calls off chairing Special Warfare Center establishment ceremony



BANGKOK: -- Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha has called off his plan to chair the establishment of the Lopburi-based Special Warfare Center today.

He assigned the deputy commander-in-chief Gen Udomdech SItabutr to preside over the establishment ceremony in Lopburi province this morning.

Reason to call off the chairing ceremony was the escalation of the situation after the bomb attacks in Trat and Bangkok on Saturday and Sunday which killed and injured a large number of people.

He was expected to remain in the capital to monitor the development of the situation closely.

The ferocious bomb attack in Trat on Saturday has been suspected to be the work of foreign force as the area has no record of political-related violence as it is the area under the responsibility of the Navy.

The Navy SEAL commander Rear Admiral Winai Klom-in said it was the work of foreign force citing the nature of the attack which assailants used hand grenades, and various types of weapon.

He described the attack as ferocious which Thais would never did to Thai people in this way.

Local people also believed it was not the work of locals but from outside the province.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/army-chief-calls-chairing-special-warfare-center-establishment-ceremony/


-- Thai PBS 2014-02-24