Thailand Live Thursday 6 Mar 2014

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Thai hotels ranked among world's cheapest



BANGKOK, 6 March 2014 (NNT) – The UK-based website Hotels.com has placed three popular destinations in Thailand among the top 10 for the most affordable accommodations in the world.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708873-thai-hotels-ranked-among-worlds-cheapest/

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Traffic Police to reinforce strict rule from March 7

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

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SEPARATION
Call for partition adds fuel to fire
The Nation



Military calls for legal action over sedition; Chalerm insists there's no evidence

BANGKOK: -- THE CALL for secession by pro-government groups and red shirts in the north has become a new subject of a dispute, with legal action being sought for the seditious act by the military and the anti-government movement using it to strengthen its attacks against the caretaker government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708875-military-calls-for-legal-action-over-sedition;-chalerm-insists-theres-no-evidence/

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RICE-PLEDGING SCHEME
Farmers take PM to court

In separate legal challenge, charter court ruling to be sought on legitimacy, term of Cabinet

BANGKOK: -- THE Central Administrative Court yesterday accepted a complaint lodged on behalf of a group of rice farmers by public prosecutors, accusing the caretaker prime minister and six government agencies of failing to pay them under the rice-pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708876-rice-farmers-take-pm-yingluck-to-court/

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POLITICS
CMPO offers new court challenge to protests
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) has asked the Constitutional Court to rule on the legality of anti-government protests led by the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708877-cmpo-offers-new-court-challenge-to-protests/

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ELECTION
If polling nullified, EC should pay for the cost: govt
NANTHIDA PUANGTHONG
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE GOVERNMENT wants the Election Commission (EC) to take responsibility for the funds spent on the February 2 election, if the Constitutional Court rules to nullify the election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708878-if-polling-nullified-ec-should-pay-for-the-cost-thai-govt/

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BOMB ATTACK
Grenade lobbed at Nataphol's home 'meant to intimidate'
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- ASSAILANTS WHO flung a grenade on the fence of rally leader Nataphol Teepsuwan's house yesterday morning intended only to intimidate and not to kill anyone, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) superintendent Pol Colonel Kamthorn Ucharoen said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708879-grenade-lobbed-at-nataphols-bangkok-home-meant-to-intimidate/

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DISEASE
Deaths spark H1N1 flu warning
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- With the seasonal H1N1 flu outbreak having killed six of the 11,513 patients who contracted the disease nationwide from January 1 until March 1, the Disease Control Department has urged special caution for children and the elderly.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708881-deaths-spark-h1n1-flu-warning-thailand/

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BAAC hopes for Bt30 bn by month-end to pay cash-strapped farmers
SUPHANEE POOTPISUT,
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE BANK for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives hopes to receive Bt30 billion by the end of this month to pay farmers who have been waiting for almost five months for money owed to them under the government's rice-pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708882-baac-hopes-for-bt30-bn-by-month-end-to-pay-cash-strapped-rice-farmers/

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EDITORIAL
Yingluck should heed her own calls for fairness
The Nation

The PM has asked the Army not to show bias against the red shirts, but she needs to set an example with her own actions

BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has clearly stated that her government opposes any attempt to split the country in two and she would not allow it. This sentiment is commendable.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708883-yingluck-should-heed-her-own-calls-for-fairness/

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THAI TALK
'Impossible' demands will stall the govt-protester negotiations
Suthichai Yoon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Under the Constitution, the Election Commission (EC) isn't supposed to play the role of "honest broker". Its task is to organise elections and to ensure that they are held in a free and fair manner.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708884-impossible-demands-will-stall-the-govt-protester-negotiations-thai-talk/

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TELL IT AS IT IS
In Thailand, democracy is just a fig leaf for kleptocracy
Pornpimol Kanchanalak
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The root of the term kleptocracy is the Greek word kleptes, meaning thief. Kleptocracy is a form of government in which officials - the ruling class and the real "elites" - use their office to increase their personal wealth and political power by corruption and embezzlement of state funds.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708885-in-thailand-democracy-is-just-a-fig-leaf-for-kleptocracy/

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Satish Sehgal faces deportation now



BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan has signed approval to deport Indian businessman Satish Sehgal as proposed by the Center for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) director Chalerm Yoobamrung.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708886-satish-sehgal-faces-deportation-now/

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UPDATE:

Samet oil-spill situation better, but 'full recovery may take years'
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE CORAL reefs surrounding Koh Samet's Ao Phrao, a bay that was badly affected by an oil spill in July last year, are showing signs of recovery, with levels of coral bleaching declining, according to the results of a study released yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708814-koh-samet-phrao-bay-oil-spill-contamination-decreases;-no-longer-a-danger/#entry7526964

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Heavy dust in North
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The North has been suffering from fine-particle dust above safety standards, though the South remains unaffected by smoke from Indonesian forest fires, at less than 60 micrograms per cubic metre, Pollution Control Department director-general Wichien Jungrungruang said.

In an analysis of the North's ambient air quality for 24-hour average of PM-10 dust, Phrae recorded the highest amount at 164 micrograms per cubic metre, way beyond the safety limit of 120mcg, he said. Lampang's Muang district reported 154mcg per cubic metre and Mae Mo district 142, while Nan province reported 137mcg and Phayao province 139, he added.


-- The Nation 2014-03-06

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Drug abuse gets tougher to eradicate
SAMUDCHA HOONSARA
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE OFFICE of the Narcotics Control Board, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) recently held a joint press conference to report on the progress made in the fight against drugs last year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708888-drug-abuse-in-se-asia-gets-tougher-to-eradicate/

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Yingluck, Prayuth discuss Army reshuffle

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Wednesday held a meeting with Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha and the permanent secretary for Defence to discuss the Army's reshuffle list.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708889-yingluck-prayuth-discuss-army-reshuffle/

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Arrest made by Pattaya Police, in South African Burglary case



PATTAYA: -- On Wednesday afternoon and following a Police report of a burglary at a house in Jomtien occupied by a South African, Police arrested a 23 year old suspect.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708890-arrest-made-by-pattaya-police-in-south-african-burglary-case/

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Phuket's tuk-tuk siege now officially over
Wiparatana Nathalang


Patong's police chief, Pol Col Jirapat Phochanapan, tries to persuade tuk-tuk drivers on Monday night to raise the siege. He has now been transferred out.

PHUKET: -- The siege of Patong by hundreds of tuk-tuks has now officially ended – provided no more drivers are arrested by police, one of the mob’s leaders told The Phuket News today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708891-phukets-tuk-tuk-siege-now-officially-over/

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Developer may face police complaint over accident
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Labour Protection and Welfare (DLPW) is planning to file a police complaint against Italian-Thai Development (ITD) for failing to submit a construction-site safety plan to the Samut Prakan DLPW Office, Panich Chitchang, head of the department, said yesterday.

ITD was in charge of the construction of a building that partially collapsed in Samut Prakan's Bang Phli district last month, killing 10 workers and injuring 16 others. The building was part of a Bt10-billion project to construct Ramathibodi Hospital's new medical institute.

The Labour Ministry requires that a construction project worth more than Bt300 million submit a safety plan along with employment contracts to the provincial office so an occupational-safety officer can be assigned to the project. Panich said the safety officer in this case would also be asked if he advised the employer to submit such a plan and if not, why not.

After the tragedy, the DLPW says it will improve standards for occupational safety officers nationwide. Ministerial regulation under the Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Act 2011 will establish quality criteria and punishments for officers, including reducing the term of their licences to five years from life-long at present.


-- The Nation 2014-03-06

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'Chalerm' urges EC to do its duty

BANGKOK, 6 Mar 2014, (NNT) - Chalerm Yuubamrung, Director of the Center for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO), has urged the Election Commission to quickly hold the election, claiming that it is the best solution to the ongoing political conflict.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708928-chalerm-urges-ec-to-do-its-duty/

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RT @191Thailand: Driver died, 20 passengers injured in a bus accident in Ban Bueng district, Chon Buri [bangkok Post]

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Caretaker PM visits Sakhon Nakhon province to inspect drought, agricultural zones; staying overnight in Mukdaharn /MCOT

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'Surapong': 'Neutral PM' not acceptable to international community

BANGKOK, 6 Mar 2014, (NNT) According to the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, the international community does not accept the idea of having a ‘Neutral Prime Minister’ administering the nation, adding that the Election Commission (EC) will have to be responsible for the 3.8 billion baht it spent on the February 2nd poll if it is voided by the court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708932-surapong-neutral-pm-not-acceptable-to-international-community/

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PM: Political uncertainty holding Thailand back

BANGKOK, 6 March 2014 (NNT) - Prime Minister and Defense Minister Yingluck Shinawatra says the current political deadlock is hurting the country, putting Free Trade Area (FTA) talks between Thailand and European Union on hold.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708934-pm-yingluck-political-uncertainty-holding-thailand-back/

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RT @tulsathit: For a bigger poll, 96% of foreign tourists visiting Thailand knew about the political trouble but nothing stopped them. via @ktnews

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Russian threathens to seize US, EU assets in Russia if the West impose sanctions following Russia's invasion of Crimea /The Nation

Facebook targets people who are using social network, or Instagram photo-sharing platform to sell guns /The Nation

Criminal Court approved arrest warrant for anti-govt protest leader Suthep on murder charges related to 2010 military crackdown on Red-shirts which killed over 90 people /The Nation

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Two Thai universities almost crack global ranking
The Nation

ALTHOUGH no Thai universities appear in the Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings top 100 this year, at least two are ranked just outside the top 200.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708942-two-thai-universities-almost-crack-global-ranking/

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Defiant Kotee challenges Army chief's separation movement ban



BANGKOK: -- Red-shirt hardliner Kotee yesterday defied the Army chief’s curb on separation movement by placing a huge banner at the pedestrian overpass on Vibhavada Rangsit road in Don Muang.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/708944-defiant-red-shirt-hardliner-kotee-challenges-army-chiefs-separation-movement-ban/

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RT @tulsathit: Army chief on military bunkers in unusual places possibly affecting Thai image: Should we decorate them?