The unbearable burden of Bangkok bus fare collectors
By English News



BANGKOK: -- During rush hours, and not only rush hours, there are many times that bus fare collectors can be seen frustrated, brooding or bad-tempered to passengers who wonder what causes them to have such facial expressions and unhappy behaviours.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708790-the-unbearable-burden-of-bangkok-bus-fare-collectors/

Constitutional Court sets March 12 for ruling of 2-trillion baht loan bill



BANGKOK: -- The Constitutional Court today announced to make a verbal ruling of the constitutionality of the 2-trillion baht loan bill on March 12.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708795-constitutional-court-sets-march-12-for-ruling-of-2-trillion-baht-loan-bill/

Criminal Court schedules April 18 hearing for red shirt leaders Jatuporn, Nattawut for alleged failure to comply with bail conditions on terrorism charge /MCOT

Former finance minister urges speedy ruling of caretaker cabinet status



BANGKOK: -- The former finance minister today urged speedy action to seek interpretation from the Constitutional Court over the status of the caretaker cabinet if it has expired after the 30-day mandatory period to open Parliament after the February 2 election could not be achieved.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708797-former-thai-finance-minister-urges-speedy-ruling-of-caretaker-cabinet-status/

NACC allows Yingluck's lawyer to review evidences in rice-pledging case

BANGKOK: -- The National Anti-Corruption Commission Wednesday allowed the lawyer of caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to review evidences against her in the rice-pledging case.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708808-nacc-allows-yinglucks-lawyer-to-review-evidences-in-rice-pledging-case/

DLPW to file complaint against Ital-Thai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Labour Protection and Welfare (DLPW) is considering filing a complaint against Italian-Thai Development for failing to submit a construction site safety plan to the Samut Prakan DLPW Office, DLPW chief Panich Chitchang said on Wednesday.

Italian-Thai Development was in charge of the construction of a building that partially collapsed in Samut Prakan’s Bang Phli district last month, killing 10 labourers and injuring 16 others. The building was part of Mahidol University's Ramathibodi Hospital’s Bt10-billion mega-project.

The Labour Ministry requires all construction projects with a cost of more than Bt300 million to submit such a plan along with employment contracts to the provincial office so that an occupational safety officer is able to oversee the construction and ensure it is safe. Panich said the occupational safety officer would also be questioned as to why he didn't inform the employer to formulate and submit this plan. This case has also prompted DLPW to improve the occupational safety officers' standard nation-wide.

The authority will use the Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Act 2011's ministerial regulation to set punishments and quality criteria for occupational safety officers, as well as changing the officers' licence term from lifelong to up to five years.


-- The Nation 2014-03-05

Surat Thani EC invites people to vote in Senate polls

SURAT THANI, 5 March 2014 (NNT) – The registration of senatorial candidates has been scheduled for March 4-8, 2014, with the advance election on Sunday, March 23, and the election re-runs on Sunday, March 30, 2014, Wirat Sommaluan, the president of Surat Thani Election Commission (EC) has advised.

Any voters, who are not available to cast their ballots on the scheduled date, may register for advance voting from March 10-14, at a district office or local registration office.

The EC would like to invite all voters to exercise their right to vote, and contribute to Thailand's democratic form of government with the King as Head of State.

Meanwhile, for more information, please contact the Surat Thani Election Commission, Tel: 077-405254.


-- NNT 2014-03-05

Caretaker PM status remains intact
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, March 5 - Caretaker Justice Minister Chaikasem Nitisiri on Wednesday denied a claim by the anti-government protest leaders that the caretaker status of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will cease to exist, arguing that Ms Yingluck will run the country in her caretaker capacity until the new government is formed or the Constitution Court rules otherwise.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708804-caretaker-pm-status-remains-intact/

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Hospitals told to draw up contingency plans

BANGKOK, 5 March 2014 (NNT) – The Public Health Ministry has told hospitals nationwide to draw up back-up plans in times of crisis, while reminding all sides that hospitals must be violence-free areas.

The Ministry of Public Health has ordered all hospitals under its supervision to be fully prepared for any and unexpected incidents, including electricity blackout, water outage, and evacuation.

According to the ministry’s guideline, if a power outage lasts longer than 24 hours, the hospital should seek assistance from a hospital nearby and if an evacuation is needed, emergency patients should be the first ones on the list.

Lastly, the ministry has warned that all parties should refrain from using all sorts of violence in hospital compounds.

The BMA's Erawan Emergency Medical Service Center has disclosed that since violence broke out at Ramkhamhaeng University on 30 November, 726 injuries and 20 fatalities arising from violence at political rally sites have been reported so far.


-- NNT 2014-03-05

China's COFCO to buy 1 mln tonnes of rice from Thailand
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, March 5 - China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO) today agreed to buy one million tonnes of rice from Thailand, according to Thailand's Foreign Trade Department.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708806-chinas-cofco-to-buy-1-mln-tonnes-of-rice-from-thailand/

Traffic Police to reinforce strict rule from March 7

BANGKOK, 5 March 2014 (NNT) - The Traffic Police Division is set to reinforce road rules on March 7 after their previous clampdown on traffic violators was disrupted by a series of anti-government protests.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708809-bangkok-traffic-police-to-reinforce-strict-rule-from-march-7/

NIDA poll: Separatist movement unlikely to succeed

BANGKOK, 5 March 2014 (NNT) - Recent poll results have indicated that the majority of Thais believe the establishment of a separate state is hardly likely.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708810-nida-poll-separatist-movement-unlikely-to-succeed/

Phrao Bay oil spill contamination decreases; no longer a danger
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, March 5 - Contamination caused by the oil spill at Samet Island's Phrao Bay last year has declined to a level that poses no danger to swimming and consumption of seafood, according to an environmental study conducted by Kasetsart University.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708814-koh-samet-phrao-bay-oil-spill-contamination-decreases;-no-longer-a-danger/

Criminal Court approves arrest warrant for protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban on murder charges in his role in 2010 red shirt crackdown /MCOT

Criminal Court to decide on Jatuporn, Nuttawut's bail on April 18

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708817-criminal-court-to-decide-on-jatuporn-nuttawuts-bail-on-april-18/

Criminal Court approves third arrest warrant against Suthep

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court Wednesday approved another arrest warrant against Suthpe Thaugsuban, chief of the People's Democratic Reform Committee.

The court approved the warrant because Suthep failed to report himself to public prosecutors to be arraigned in the case that he and former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva ordered the crackdowns on red-shirt protesters in 2010.

Earlier, the court approved two arrest warrants against Suthep on sedition charges and charges that he had violated the emergency decree.


-- The Nation 2014-03-05

PDRC thanks Army
Pakdee Sukperm
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The People's Democratic Reform Committee protesters gather outside the Royal Thai Army Headquarters on Rajdamnoen Road Wednesday to express their appreciation.


-- The Nation 2014-03-05

to continue:

Thailand Live Thursday 6 Mar 2014

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708874-thailand-live-thursday-6-mar-2014/