Thailand Live Wednesday 26 Feb 2014

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Army unloading sandbags for temporary bunkers in Bangkok

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/707131-army-unloading-sandbags-for-temporary-bunkers-in-bangkok/

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PROTEST
TOT labour union presses for more pay hike
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Black-clad TOT employees launched a protest on Wednesday, pressing for a 7.5 per cent pay hike.

The labour union also wanted to oust executives who are responsible for the losses from the agency’s 3G business plan as well as stopped the agency from investing in the pledging-related bonds.

The union said that while TOT’s board axed the pay hike ratio from 7.5 per cent to 4 per cent, the directors and executives had made several overseas trips and loss-making investment decisions. He noted that TOT has no capable executives due to influence by businesses.

TOT Chairman Pol Col Suchart Wonganantchai said that there would be a discussion with the union over the pay hike, expecting to resolve the issue within today.

-- The Nation 2014-02-26

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Political unrest encourages residents to favor long-term savings

BANGKOK, 26 Feb 2014, (NNT) - CIMB Thai Public Company Limited (CIMB Bank) has pointed out that political instability has encouraged its medium and top tier customers to move savings into long term fixed deposit accounts.

Mr. Adisorn Sermchaiyawong, Vice President of the CIMB Bank, revealed that the trend started to develop among the bank’s customers with assets of 1 million baht up to more than 10 million baht, as the level of confidence in the local economy declined. Another factor was the prospect of lowered interest rates.

He was referring to suggestions that the Monetary Policy Office (MPO) would adjust down the interest rate by 0.25% to stand at 2%, at its next meeting on March 12th. Mr. Adisorn claimed that the speculation encouraged customers either to deposit their money in fixed deposit accounts or invest in long term funds, revealing that so far the net savings had reached about 6 billion baht, an increase of 2-3%. He said the bulk of that figure, some 3-4 billion baht is the savings of legal entities while the rest is from personal savings.

Mr. Adisorn said that normally 60-70% of people preferred 3 to 5 month fixed term deposits, however, since the eruption of political unrest, customers favored longer period deposits. He pointed to the CIMB Bank’s successful 8-month fixed term deposit with instant 2.88% interest rate. The offer attracted 2 billion baht in savings during the campaign’s first 2 weeks, and 4 billion baht after only 45 days.


-- NNT 2014-02-26

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BANGKOK'S CONCERT
Clapton cancels Bangkok show
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Due to the political unrest in Bangkok, British guitar hero Eric Clapton has cancelled his March 2 concert in the capital, promoter BEC Tero Entertainment announced today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/707137-eric-clapton-cancels-bangkok-show/

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Redshirts Test Court's Neutrality With A Rally At NACC
By Khaosod English



BANGKOK: -- The Redshirts have organised a symbolic protest at the anti-corruption agency to test the validity of a court ruling which barred the authorities from forcefully dispersing protesters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/707140-redshirts-test-courts-neutrality-with-a-rally-at-nacc/

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Anand Panyarachun named the most suitable neutral prime minister



BANGKOK: -- Former Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun has been named the most suitable person to become the country’s next neutral prime minister.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/707144-anand-panyarachun-named-the-most-suitable-neutral-prime-minister/

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Thai armed forces on defensive in mounting political crisis
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Feb 26 – Thai army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha admitted today that the country's armed forces could only take a defensive position in dealing with the current heightened political conflicts, bearing in mind their duty to protect the country, the people and the monarch.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/707146-thai-armed-forces-on-defensive-in-mounting-political-crisis/

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Army tells all governors to monitor all incitements

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/707146-thai-armed-forces-on-defensive-in-mounting-political-crisis/#entry7493464

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World-renowned Spanish flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia dies aged 66 /BBC

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TTAT’s president says 14th Thai International Travel Fair is a success

BANGKOK, 26 February 2014 (NNT) –The President of the Thai Travel Agents Association says the success of the 14th Thai International Travel Fair shows that Thai people still place importance on tourism.

Mr. Suthipong Pheunpipop, President of the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) said that 250,000 people attended the event. There was a cash flow of more than 300 million baht which exceeded the target. Mr. Sutthipong added that the Thailand Travel Market is unlikely to be of concern. Tourists will travel as usual but some practices will change. They are likely to turn from travel agents to travelling on their own since there are various factors that facilitate travel such as more low-cost flights and more private cars as a result of the first-car policy.

Meanwhile in the outbound market, the number of reservations has now declined. The number of mid range customers purchasing package tours over 30,000 baht dropped by approximately 15-20 percent due to the political situation. Meanwhile, customers who purchase package tours ranging from 10,000 - 20,000 baht, as well as high-end customers buying package tours ranging from 70,000-90,000 baht still choose to travel.

The President of the Thai Travel Agents Association added that the country with the highest number of tourists purchasing package tours is still Japan, followed by Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and ASEAN countries.


-- NNT 2014-02-26

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SET index closed 1,304.62, up 0.74; Bt/USD32.41; GBP53.94; AUD29.07; EUR44.40; CAD29.12; HKD4.17; SGD25.52; JPY31.54

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US ambassador to Thailand denies being reassigned as ambassador to South Korea /MCOT

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Parking garage opposite Big C thought to be spot from where grenade fired

BANGKOK: -- The M79 grenade that hit an area in front of Big C Ratchdamri and killed three people on Sunday is believed to have been fired from the multi-storey car park of a department store across the street, a leading forensic expert said on Wednesday.

Dr Khunying Pornthip Rojanasunan said a spot on the ninth floor of the parking building of the Palladium Department Store was the most suspicious spot as the shooter could clearly see the area below. The department store is opposite and slightly to the right of the supermarket.

"The spot in question is in the open air and about 400 metres from the spot where the grenade landed. Moreover fresh cigarette butts were found there," she said.


-- The Nation 2014-02-26

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PCAD Guard Arrested, Identified As Navy Officer
By Khaosod English

BANGKOK: -- The police said they have arrested a Royal Thai Navy serviceman who served as a security guard for anti-government protests.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/707154-pcad-guard-arrested-identified-as-thai-navy-officer/

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UPDATE:

Pro-govt protesters seize anti-graft office over rice probe
By Digital Content



NONTHABURI, Feb 26 – Pro-government activists sealed off the office of National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) today and charged the independent agency with prejudice in its investigation on negligence of duty charges against the prime minister in relation to the rice pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/707140-redshirts-test-courts-neutrality-with-a-rally-at-nacc/page-2?p=7493724#entry7493724

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An extra 117 military checkpoints will be set up to cover risk spots around protest sites and other key areas in Bangkok in the wake of escalating violence. /Bangkok Post

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Siriraj hospital joins nationwide protest against corrupt government



BANGKOK: -- Siriraj hospital has joined hundreds of hospitals and public health stations throughout the country in a nationwide protest against corrupt government and political violence.

Doctors, nurses and other medical personnel gathered at about noon today in front of the statue of Prince Mahidol at Siriraj hospital in a symbolic protest as the hospital’s director, Dr Visit Wamwanich, read out a statement condemning political violence and opposing corrupt government.

In the joint statement, the medical practioners of Siriraj hospital voiced their support for political expressions in a peaceful manner and called on the government to respect the rights of the protesters and to refrain from the use of violence against the protesters.

They also called on the government to speed up investigation into the violent incidents and to bring the culprits to justice. They urged the government, independent organizations, the People’s Democratic Reform Committee and the public in general to try find a solution to the political crisis as quick as possible.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/siriraj-hospital-joins-nationwide-protest-corrupt-government/


-- Thai PBS 2014-02-26

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RT@Tulip_Oum: 7PM a body of unknown male found under Krung Thonburi bridge. Body in a sack bag, wearing whistle with thai flag symbol.-@politics_mcot

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RT@veen_NT: Just in: M79 grenade fired at CMPO and ThaiPBS, the one at the TV station exploded. No report of damage or injury yet. via @Dr_Prawut

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RT@Ryn_writes: EOD squad & army investigating at ThaiPBS HQ's parking lot near CMPO HQ after two loud explosions heard “@joey_kanis: pic.twitter.com/seO9OKpvgp

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to continue:

Thailand Live Thursday 27 Feb 2014

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/707270-thailand-live-thursday-27-feb-2014/