Thailand Live Tuesday 4 Mar 2014

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King revisits Chang Hua Man project in Phetchaburi



PHETCHABURI: -- His Majesty the King on Monday revisited the royally initiated Chang Hua Man Project in Tha Yang district of Phetchaburi province to observe the progress of the dairy farm.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708434-king-revisits-chang-hua-man-project-in-phetchaburi/

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UPDATE:

SOUTH CRISIS
2 rangers arrested over murder of 3 boys
The Nation



NARATHIWAT: -- Two paramilitary rangers were arrested for the murders of three young boys in Narathiwat's Bacho district on February 3. A hunt is on for the third suspect.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708282-deep-south-thai-army-rangers-admit-murdering-children/page-2?p=7518218#entry7518218

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POLITICS
Ruling will be sought on legal status of govt
THE NATION

Court to be asked if caretaker government still has power after House failed to meet within 30 days of February 2 election

BANGKOK: -- WITH THE 30-DAY constitutional deadline for a new House of Representatives to convene after a general election today, a legal question has arisen as to whether the caretaker government can still be considered to be legally functioning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708395-ruling-will-be-sought-on-legal-status-of-thai-govt/

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SEDITION CHARGE
Chiang Mai red leader denies supporting a Lanna state
THE NATION

Sedition charge is mistake, he tell police

BANGKOK: -- HAVING SEEN fellow pro-government red-shirts face sedition charges after allegedly calling for the country to be partitioned, the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and ruling Pheu Thai Party MPs denied yesterday there was any serious talk about secession.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708397-chiang-mai-red-leader-denies-supporting-a-lanna-state-sedition-charge/

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POLITICS
Rights agency probes whistle protest that targeted Pojaman
Chanikarn Phumhiran,
Prasit Tangprasert
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is investigating whether the anti-government protesters who blew whistles at ex-wife of fugitive premier Thaksin Shinawatra at a Bangkok shopping centre last week violated her human rights.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708398-rights-agency-probes-whistle-protest-that-targeted-thaksins-ex-wife-pojaman/

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BUSINESS
New govt needed by July: economists
Sucheera Pinijparakarn
The Nation



Warn of bleak outlook if export sector fails to recover

BANGKOK: -- The country's economic outlook remains challenging if a new government cannot be formed by midyear and the export sector does not recover, some economists say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708399-new-govt-needed-by-july-thai-economists/

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ANALYSIS
New senators will have some big decisions to make
ATTAYUTH BOOTSRIPOOM
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE MARCH 30 half-Senate election will be a ballot with huge significance for the Pheu Thai political camp, as the first job for the new senators could be to remove caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from her post in relation to the rice-pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708400-new-thai-senators-will-have-some-big-decisions-to-make/

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Struggle for rice funds continues
Petchanet Pratruangkrai,
Suphannee Pootpisut
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Finance Ministry continues making a strong effort to raise funds to pay farmers in arrears under the rice-pledging programme through the issuance of Bt20 billion worth of saving bonds despite the remaining doubts over their legality.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708401-struggle-for-thai-rice-funds-continues/

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Construction material companies adjust to cope with political chaos
Darin Chosungnoern
The Nation

Foresight saves DCON from severe impact, looks to the provinces

BANGKOK: -- Construction-material companies have adjusted their business strategies to deal with the prolonged political disturbance.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708402-construction-material-companies-adjust-to-cope-with-political-chaos-in-thailand/

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Groups note positive signs talks can end row soon
Erich Parpart
The Nation


Seven private-sector organisations maintain their support for negotiation to find solutions for the political turmoil that is beginning to damage the country

BANGKOK: -- The seven private-sector organisations that have offered a mediating role in the political conflict yesterday continued to press for negotiations to find solutions to the turmoil that is beginning to damage the country's basic economic foundations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708403-groups-note-positive-signs-talks-can-end-row-soon-thai-business/

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Bus overturns, 10 injured
The Nation



BURI RAM: -- A double-decker bus carrying 50 fans of Buri Ram United Football Club overturned in Buri Ram's Satuk district on Sunday night resulting in 10 getting injured - with three in serious condition. At press time, eight people were still in hospital. The football club has said it would cover all the medical bills.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708404-bus-overturns-in-buri-ram-10-injured/

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Krabi villagers build bamboo barriers to protect the coast
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation
Krabi



Stronger winds, waves cause coastal erosion, destroy mangrove forests

KRABI: -- AFTER ENDURING huge waves and strong winds for the past few years, residents of a seaside village in the southern province of Krabi have adapted to the effects of climate change by using bamboo to build temporary barriers to prevent coastal erosion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708405-krabi-villagers-build-bamboo-barriers-to-protect-the-coast/

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Up to 10,000 smuggled animals seized in past year
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

MORE THAN 10,000 wild animals have been seized from illegal trade during the past year, the national wildlife protection agency said yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- Sunda pangolins, squirrels, elephants, tigers and gibbons became the most frequently seized mammals in Thailand's illegal wildlife trade last year, said Tiradej Palasuwan of the Wildlife Conservation Office.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708406-up-to-10000-smuggled-animals-seized-in-past-year-thailand/

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Security centre tells reds to stay clear of Bangkok
ANUPHAN CHANTANA,
ANAPAT DEECHUAY
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE CENTRE for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) yesterday asked the red shirts not to come to Bangkok and rally, as it could lead to confrontation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708407-cmpo-tells-reds-to-stay-clear-of-bangkok/

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Monk leads farmers to Auditor-General's
PIYANUT TUMNUKASETCHAI
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Phra Buddha Issara led a group of protesters to rally outside the Auditor-General's Office yesterday morning, to urge a follow-up on inquiries into the government's controversial rice-pledging scheme.

Anti-government protesters from Silom also rallied outside the Royal Thai Police Sports Club in the afternoon after learning Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra came to attend a meeting there. However, Yingluck had left the venue to have lunch at the Office of the Permanent Secretariat of Defence by that time.

Yingluck returned from a trip after spending many days in the North last week.

The monk, a core leader of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), has been supervising the rally in front of the Government Complex on Chaeng Wattana Road.

The procession left the rally site at 9am with protesters travelling by car and bus to the agency in the Finance Ministry's compound on Rama VI Road.

The group met with the rice farmers who have been protesting there in recent weeks. However, the farmers' leader said his group of farmers - who hail from the North, Northeast and Central regions - would not join farmers as their protest focuses only on payments for rice under the pledging scheme.

Meanwhile, another group of rice farmers, who had been protesting at the Commerce Ministry in Nonthaburi, later joined the monk's rally.

No government officials came to work at the Finance Ministry yesterday morning. The monk is calling on the Office of the Auditor-General to expedite its investigation into alleged irregularities and failures in the rice-pledging scheme. He intends to return within seven days.


-- The Nation 2014-03-04

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Chalerm says Yingluck still caretaker prime minister



BANGKOK: -- Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) director Chalerm Yubamrung insisted today that Ms Yingluck still remains the caretaker prime minister even if the House cannot convene within 30 days after the February 2 election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708408-chalerm-says-yingluck-still-caretaker-prime-minister/

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Singapore named the world's most expensive city

(BBC) Singapore has topped 131 cities globally to become the world's most expensive city to live in 2014, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708429-singapore-named-the-worlds-most-expensive-city/

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,345.34, gains 6.13 points /MCOT

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Police arrest 'maniac' truck driver caught on video

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708443-thai-police-arrest-maniac-truck-driver-caught-on-video/

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Brand new car gets stuck in sand, then catches fire on Phuket beach
Eakkapop Thongtub


Beach barbecue: Mr Somchai's brand new car caught fire on Nai Yang Beach.

PHUKET: -- Phuket man Somchai discovered yesterday evening (March 3) that trying to drive your 15-days-out-of-the-showroom Toyota Yaris on the beach is not a good idea after his car turned into an inferno at Nai Yang Beach.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708446-brand-new-car-gets-stuck-in-sand-then-catches-fire-on-phuket-beach/

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Daily Weather Forecast For Thailand 4 March 2014

General Situation
The heat low pressure covers upper Thailand with hot and hazes during the day over the areas. Morning cool remains in the upper North.
The southeasterly winds over the Gulf and the South will strengthen by tomorrow. Thundershowers are likely in the East and the South during 5-6 March, 2014. Wind wave in the Gulf will strengthen.

Weather forecast for Thailand from 6.00 a.m. Tuesday to 6.00 a.m. Wednesday.
Northern Thailand -Cool in the upper part with fog in the morning. Hot with haze during the day. Minimum temperature 16-22 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 36-38 degree Celsius. Southerly winds 10-20 km/hr.

Northeastern Thailand -Mostly fair. Hot and haze during the day. Isolated rain mostly in the eastern part. Minimum temperature 22-25 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 37-39 degree Celsius. Easterly winds 15-30 km/hr.

Central Thailand -Mostly fair. Hot and haze during the day. Minimum temperature 24-26 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 36-39 degree Celsius. Southerly winds 10-25 km/hr.

Eastern Thailand -Hot and haze during the day in the upper part. Isolated thundershowers mostly along the coastal areas. Minimum temperature 24-25 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 33-38 degree Celsius. Easterly winds 15-30 km/hr. Wave height about 1 meter.

Southern Thailand East Coast -Partly cloudy and haze during the day. Minimum temperature 21-24 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 32-33 degree Celsius. Southeasterly winds 15-35 km/hr. Wave height 1-2 meters.

Southern Thailand West Coast -Partly cloudy. Hotter and haze during the day. Minimum temperature 22-23 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 33-37 degree Celsius. Easterly winds 10-30 km/hr. Wave height below 1 meter.

Bangkok Metropolis and Vicinity -Partly cloudy. Hotter and haze during the day. Minimum temperature 24-25 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 32-35 degree Celsius. Southerly winds 15-30 km/hr.


-- NNT 2014-03-04

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

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Phuket driver 'caused death crash while using phone'
Eakkapop Thongtub


Locals at the scene of last night's crash.

PHUKET: -- A young woman accused of using her phone while driving smashed into a motorbike yesterday evening (March 3), driving the bike and her own car into a deep roadside ditch, and killing the motorbike rider.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708460-phuket-driver-caused-death-crash-while-using-phone/

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UPDATE:

Government’s caretaker role in question



BANGKOK: -- The role of the caretaker government role is now in question after the 30-day deadline to reopen Parliament after the February 2 general election could not be made due to lack of enough elected Members of Parliament to convene the first meeting.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708395-ruling-will-be-sought-on-legal-status-of-thai-govt/page-2#entry7519124

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Police: Political motive behind grenades thrown at Criminal Court

BANGKOK, 4 March 2014 (NNT) – Police indicated political motive was behind another grenade attack at the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Rd., which is linked to the earlier M79 grenade attacks at the Civil Court and the Criminal Court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708462-bangkok-police-political-motive-behind-grenades-thrown-at-criminal-court/

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'Open Thailand' campaign to begin next week following 'Shutdown Bangkok' campaigns by anti-govt (PDRC) in the past few months /The Nation

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Speeding truck slams into post, falls into pieces
By Coconuts Bangkok

Photo: MThai

BANGKOK: -- A Toyota truck appeared to almost completely disintegrate after ramming a utility post in Pathum Thani province, killing the driver.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708464-pathum-thani-speeding-truck-slams-into-post-falls-into-pieces/

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Court accepts murder trial of Yingluck and five top officials



BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court has accepted for hearings two murder cases filed against caretaker prime minister and five top government officials in connection with the suppression of anti-government protesters on February 18 that left many deaths and injuries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708465-thai-court-accepts-murder-trial-of-yingluck-and-five-top-officials/

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UPDATE:

Outcry Over Women's Rights Award For A Shinawatra
By Khaosod English

BANGKOK: -- Sister of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra says she's willing to give up her women's rights award following an outcry over her eligibility.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708216-women-network-calls-for-revision-of-rights-award-to-yaowares-shinawatra/page-2?p=7519228#entry7519228

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Another 134 mil baht given to BAAC in Phichit

PHICHIT, 4 March 2014 (NNT) – Phichit rice growers participating in the rice mortgage program have just received another 134 million baht from the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC).

Rice farmers in Phichit Province lined up at branches of the BAAC yesterday to get the checks for their 2013/2014 pledged rice after the government had allocated 134 million baht to 14 BAAC branches in the province's 12 districts.

According to the bank, it has already paid out a total of 3 billion baht to 16,000 rice growers, with roughly 40,000 more farmers waiting for their payments worth around 7 billion baht altogether.

The government’s rice pledging scheme was initiated by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra-led government. Its aim is to uplift the quality of life of Thai farmers as well as to help them generate income and create stability.


-- NNT 2014-03-04

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BMA to ensure Lumphini Park ecosystem unharmed by PDRC rally

BANGKOK, 4 March 2014 (NNT) – Bangkok City Hall is dispatching officials to watch over the ecosystem within Lumphini Park to prevent adverse effects that may result from protest activities inside the park.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708467-bangkok-city-hall-to-ensure-lumphini-park-ecosystem-unharmed-by-pdrc-rally/