Thailand Live Tuesday 25 Feb 2014

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DSI repeals account freeze order against PDRC leaders

BANGKOK, 25 February 2014 (NNT) – The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has overturned its previous order to freeze bank accounts of 38 core leaders of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC).

A letter signed by DSI Director-General Tharit Pengdit has been sent to executives of Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) concerning the cancellation of the department’s request for financial records of 38 PDRC core figures and order to have their accounts frozen. The letter stated that transactions of those accounts would no longer be forbidden.

As explained by Mr Tharit, the Civil Court on February 17 issued a temporary injunction for PDRC core member Dr Seri Wongmontha against the asset freezing order. Therefore, in a bid to fully comply with the court’s ruling, the DSI has resolved not to freeze the accounts of 38 other protest leaders.

Among the 38 individuals is PDRC Secretary-General Suthep Thaugsuban, along with Mr Satit Wongnongtoey, Mr Chumpol Julasai, Mr Puttipong Punnakan, Mr Thaworn Senneam and Mr Ekkanat Prompan.


-- NNT 2014-02-25

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Tourism Council of Thailand projects a decrease in number of tourists due to protests

BANGKOK, 25 February 2014 (NNT) – The Tourism Council of Thailand estimates that if the demonstration continues, there will be a constant decrease in tourists. The council projects a decrease of 1.1 million tourists, resulting in a loss of revenue for of the entire year of more than 90 billion baht.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706779-tourism-council-of-thailand-projects-a-decrease-in-number-of-tourists-due-to-protests/

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POLITICAL VIOLENCE
Father grieving over his children's deaths chooses to forgive
Poungchompoo Prasert,
Kesinee Taengkhiao,
Noppadon Sritaweekart
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THE FATHER who lost his children to Sunday's grenade attack says he is engulfed in pain, but feels no anger against the attackers who were apparently targeting the anti-government rally site.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706780-bangkok-violence-father-grieving-over-his-childrens-deaths-chooses-to-forgive/

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Thai army chief cautions nation may 'collapse' as violence escalates

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706764-thai-army-chief-cautions-nation-may-collapse-as-violence-escalates/

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UPDATE:

POLITICS
Army chief urges talks
Panya Thiosangwan,
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung,
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prayuth says military will be on sidelines, as it fears intervening may worsen crisis; Yingluck said in a trembling voice that she was "staying on to protect democracy"

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706764-thai-army-chief-cautions-nation-may-collapse-as-violence-escalates/page-3#entry7485826

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POLITICS
Yingluck to work outside Bangkok to avoid protesters
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung
The Nation


Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra visits OTOP (One Tambon, One Product) Centre in Saraburi

BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra plans to work from locations in provinces neighbouring Bangkok to avoid being hounded by anti-government protesters, a Government House source said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706782-yingluck-to-work-outside-bangkok-to-avoid-protesters/

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SPECIAL REPORT
Political crisis expected to get grimmer as chance of talks is low
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Security officials and experts believe the political situation in Thailand will become more severe, with threats of violence. And with the prospect of talks not appearing to be promising, agencies were preparing to set up special teams to keep a close watch on individuals seen as "hardcore".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706783-political-crisis-expected-to-get-grimmer-as-chance-of-talks-is-low-thai-report/

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ELECTION
Minister may be forced to attend Songkhla meet: EC
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Election commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn proposed that the commission order caretaker Interior Minister and Pheu Thai Party leader Charupong Ruangsuwan to visit Songkhla after leaders of coalition parties refused an invitation from the agency to discuss election problems in the province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706784-minister-may-be-forced-to-attend-songkhla-meet-ec/

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Urgent funding sought for farmers
PIYANART SRIVALO
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE NATIONAL Rice Policy Committee will today ask the Cabinet to allocate Bt10 billion to Bt20 billion from the central budget as an urgent measure to help farmers owed payments under the rice-pledging programme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706786-rice-pledging-scheme-urgent-funding-sought-for-thai-farmers/

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EDITORIAL
Do we want a country built on the deaths of children?
The Nation

Leaders on both sides must step back from the blame game, begin a process of soul-searching and start talks on finding a solution

BANGKOK: -- A four-year-old boy and his sister, aged six, in Bangkok's Ratchaprasong; the five-year-old girl in Trat province. They were too young to understand anything about the political war being waged by adults who claim to have so firm a grasp on "right" and "wrong".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706787-do-we-want-a-country-built-on-the-deaths-of-children-thai-editorial/

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TAT Expects 'Fertility Tourism' To Lure Vietnamese Couples
By Khaosod English


Photo by the Tourism Authority of Thailand

BANGKOK: -- The Tourism Authority of Thailand has unveiled a plan to convince Vietnamese couples with fertility issues to seek medical operations in Thailand in 2015.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706788-tat-expects-fertility-tourism-to-lure-vietnamese-couples/

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PDRC rallies at offices tied to Shinawatras
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) protesters yesterday travelled from various rally sites to demonstrate outside government agencies and the offices of businesses associated with the Shinawatra family.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706789-pdrc-rallies-at-offices-tied-to-shinawatras/

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BURNING ISSUE
Rival camps have no choice but to make a deal
Hataikarn Treesuwan

BANGKOK: -- If caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra could have made the decision herself, many people believe she would have stood aside from politics for the rest of her life when the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) stepped up its rallies to oust the government four months ago.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706790-rival-camps-have-no-choice-but-to-make-a-deal-thai-politics/

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Death, injury toll jumps after attacks
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The number of casualties from political violence over the past three months has surged to 21 with 762 people also injured nationwide since November 30.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706791-political-violence-death-injury-toll-jumps-after-attacks/

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Health ministry warns of increasing use of formalin by vendors at fresh markets



BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Ministry has warned consumers to be aware of buying fresh food and vegetable at fresh markets as now use of formalin among vendors is increasing and could be hazardous to their health.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706792-thai-health-ministry-warns-of-increasing-use-of-formalin-by-vendors-at-fresh-markets/

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Pattaya Tourist Police arrest Nigerian drug dealing suspect



PATTAYA: -- On Monday Night the Tourist Police announced the arrest of a 35 year old Nigerian who was found to be concealing class 1 drugs in his backside.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706793-pattaya-tourist-police-arrest-nigerian-drug-dealing-suspect/

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Fake East Pattaya Maid and her Husband arrested in 1 Million Baht Burglary case



PATTAYA: -- Since early February Nongprue Police have been hunting for a Husband and Wife who are thought to have burglarized luxury homes occupied by foreign men and their Thai Wives, with the assumption their homes would contain many items of high value. They were correct but are now in Police Custody and many of the stolen items have been recovered and returned to their rightful owners.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706794-fake-east-pattaya-maid-and-her-husband-arrested-in-1-million-baht-burglary-case/

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Two injured in explosion near Lumpini Park rally site

BANGKOK: -- Two persons were injured when an explosion occurred near the Lumpini Park rally site at 1 am Tuesday, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Erawan Emergency Medical Health Centre reported.

The two were rushed to the Chulalongkorn Hospital for treatment.

-- The Nation 2014-02-25

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M79 'launched from Pratunam'
Phathinya Iamtan
The Nation


People lay funeral flowers yesterday to mourn the two children and a woman who died after a blast in front of a Big C store near a rally site in Ratchaprasong.

Shooter allegedly an expert; attacks used to justify protests, NSC boss says

BANGKOK: -- The M79 grenade that landed near the anti-government rally at Ratchaprasong intersection late on Sunday afternoon, killing three people and injuring several others, was most likely launched from the vicinity of Pratunam intersection, the police ordnance division chief Pol Maj-General Ronnakorn Suphasamut said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706795-bangkok-ratchaprasong-m79-launched-from-pratunam/

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Senators challenge PM, police
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The deputy Senate speaker and 18 senators yesterday issued a statement of concern over the current political violence and called on caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to show leadership in solving the problems.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706796-senators-challenge-pm-yingluck-police/

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Five wounded in late night shooting, bombing near PDRC rally site at Lumpini Park; police inspecting scene this morning /MCOT

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Thai AirAsia stresses it does not have ties with Shinawatra Family

BANGKOK, 25 Feb 2014, (NNT) - Thai AirAsia has announced it has no ties with the Shinawatra family while indicating political unrest had scared off many of its Chinese customers and forced the airline to postpone the debut of its low cost arm Thai AirAsia X.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706819-thai-airasia-stresses-it-does-not-have-ties-with-shinawatra-family/

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Daily Weather Forecast For Thailand 25 February

General Situation
The low pressure area covers upper Thailand. Rises temperature with hot and haze during the daytime are likely in the areas. But remains cool weather in the morning in the North and the Northeast.

Weather Forecast for Thailand from 6.00 a.m. Tuesday to 6.00 a.m. Wednesday.
Northern Thailand Cold in the upper part, minimum temperature 15-16 degree Celsius. Cool elsewhere, minimum temperature 17-22 degree Celsius. Fog in the morning and hotter during the daytime. Maximum temperature 35-36 degree Celsius. Southerly winds 10-20 km/hr.

Northeastern Thailand Cool with fog in the morning. Hot and haze during the daytime. Minimum temperature 19-22 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 34-35 degree Celsius. Easterly winds 10-30 km/hr.

Central Thailand Partly cloudy with fog in the morning. Hot and haze during the daytime. Minimum temperature 23-25 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 34-37 degree Celsius. Southerly winds 10-30 km/hr.

Eastern Thailand Partly cloudy with light fog in the morning and hotter during the daytime. Minimum temperature 23-25 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 31-35 degree Celsius. Southeasterly winds 10-30 km/hr. Wave height below 1 meter.

Southern Thailand East Coast Partly cloudy and isolated light rain. Minimum temperature 22-25 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 31-33 degree Celsius. From Chumphon northward: Southeasterly winds 15-30 km/hr. Wave height about 1 meter. From Surat Thani southward: Easterly winds 15-35 km/hr. Wave height 1-2 meters.

Southern Thailand West Coast Partly cloudy and light fog in the morning. Isolated light rain. Minimum temperature 22-25 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 33-36 degree Celsius. Easterly winds winds 10-30 km/hr. Wave height below 1 meter.

Bangkok Metropolis and Vicinity Partly cloudy with light fog in the morning. Hotter during the daytime. Minimum temperature 23-26 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 33-35 degree Celsius. Southerly winds 10-30 km/hr.


-- NNT 2014-02-25

weather forecasts for all Thai provinces: http://weather.thaivisa.com

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,305.15, gains 3.77 points /MCOT

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Tourists shocked as Phuket beach water turns rancid again in Karon, this time black
Phuket Gazette


The beach water suddenly turned from blue to black. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Locals, tourists and officials were shocked yesterday as water at one of Phuket’s most famous beaches turned rancid and black.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706822-tourists-shocked-as-phuket-beach-water-turns-rancid-again-in-karon-this-time-black/

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RT @ianmacdublin: @RichardBarrow Lots of tanks, APCs and troops on the rail sidings beside the expressway on the way in from Cheangwattana this am. Exercises?

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Belgian arrested in Thailand for wife's murder
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Feb 25 – Thai Immigration police arrested a 57-year old Belgian, Tcheo Joel Tcharada, a fugitive with valid arrest warrants issued by the Court of Verviers and Interpol accusing him of homicide.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706824-belgian-arrested-in-thailand-for-wifes-murder/

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Commerce Ministry is confident it would sell 1 million tons of rice monthly

BANGKOK, 25 Feb 2014, According to the Director General of the Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) Surasak Riengkrue, the Commerce Ministry is confident that it will be able to sell a million tons of rice monthly and generate enough revenue to cover the pending rice support program money owed to farmers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706826-thai-commerce-ministry-is-confident-it-would-sell-1-million-tons-of-rice-monthly/

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Bomb explosions and gunfire rock PDRC’s Silom rally site



BANGKOK: -- The rally site of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) at Silom was rocked by bomb and gun attack throughout the night leaving five people slightly injured.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706827-bomb-explosions-and-gunfire-rock-pdrcs-silom-rally-site/

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Democrat party office attacked again by bomb



BANGKOK: -- The office of the opposition Democrat party on Kamphaengpet road was attacked again when a M 79 grenade was fired into the office but missed and hit a neighbor’s townhouse instead.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/706830-thai-democrat-party-office-attacked-again-by-bomb/