Thailand Live Monday 10 Mar 2014

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Commerce Min to auction off more rice

BANGKOK, 10 March 2014 (NNT) - The Ministry of Commerce is set to auction over 500,000 tons of pledged rice today in a bid to secure funds to pay back farmers in the rice-pledging scheme.

Interested exporters and businesses are invited to participate in the bidding which will be held between 9AM and 4.30PM today.

The rice stock will include 5 percent white rice and 100 percent jasmine rice.

The ministry earlier said that it plans to auction off more than one million tons of milled rice this month. The one million plus tons target includes over 516,000 tons of rice to be auctioned off through the Agricultural Futures Exchange of Thailand.

Networks of farmers from rice-growing provinces meanwhile continue to stay put at the ministry compound. The number of protesters began to drop recently as many needed to return home for the annual planting season.

Rice growers will re-group again on March 12 and will hold discussions on their next move against the government.


-- NNT 2014-03-10

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HTMS Pattani searching for missing Malaysian Airlines aircraft
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, March 10 - Thailand has sent an offshore patrol vessel, HTMS Pattani, to help in the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines passenger jet in the Andaman Coast.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709464-missing-malaysia-airlines-jet-carrying-239-triggers-southeast-asia-search/page-31?p=7544346#entry7544346

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N. Korean leader enjoys 100% 'poll' win

Seoul (AFP) — North Korea's state media confirmed Monday what was never in doubt -- a 100 percent, no-abstention poll victory for leader Kim Jong-Un in the country's stage-managed parliamentary election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709820-n-korean-leader-kim-jong-un-enjoys-100-poll-win/

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Price of packed rice to be 3-5% lower than in previous year

BANGKOK 10 March 2014 (NNT) — Packed rice will cost consumers between 80-120 baht per a 5-kilogram bag this year, a decrease of at least 3-5 % from last year, given the fact that paddy price has decreased.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709822-price-of-packed-thai-rice-to-be-3-5-lower-than-in-previous-year/

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Two districts in Phitsanulok declared drought afflicted zones

PHISANULOK 10 March 2014 (NNT) —Two districts in Phisanulok province have been declared drought afflicted zones.

The ongoing drought in the country has prompted Phisanulok province to declare two of its districts drought afflicted zones.

Since the beginning of March, Phisanulok province has been affected by the worst drought in years. As the locals in two districts-- Chattrakarn and Prompiram, have been affected the most, the province yesterday announced the two districts drought-hit areas.

So far over 20,000 locals have been affected by the drought . Officials are now working hard to disburse emergency funds to help alleviate the plight of the affected in the province.


-- NNT 2014-03-10

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Suthep sees reform Thailand on 6 key issues,especially income disparity, taking a year and a half; mission to be handed over to elected govt /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

EC believes senatorial elections on 30 March will run smoothly

BANGKOK 10 March 2014 (NNT) — Election Commission (EC) Chief Supachai Somcharoen has said he believes the coming senatorial elections, to be held on March 30, will run smoothly.

According to Mr. Supachai, the senatorial election process is progressing relatively smoothly and no problems were reported during the registration days; from March 4 to 8.

The EC will start examining the qualifications of those who have registered for the race, as it has received complaints that some applicants are reportedly holding local administrative positions, which may violate Section 115 Paragraph 9 of the constitution.

In regard to the new election day for the 14 southern provinces, Mr. Supachai stated that the election could be held on April 5 at the earliest. As for requests for the agency to hold the general election on the same day as the senatorial election, Mr. Supachai said that it would not be possible, as the EC would like to finish the senatorial election first.

-- NNT 2014-03-10

[Lite Beer]

Yingluck holds meeting with economic ministers
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung

The Nation

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Monday morning held a meeting with economic ministers at the Royal Police Cadet Academy in Nakhon Pathom.

The academy is the latest in a long line of venues that the premier has used as her office since the protesters started their rallies near Government House. The others have included the Royal Thai Police headquarters, the Army's Club, the Office of the Permanent Secretary of Defence, the Royal Thai Air Force Command and its auditorium.

The meeting was expected to focus on the problem of declining investors' confidence due to political instability, said a source who asked not to be named said. Many ministers joined the meeting.

-- The Nation 2014-03-10

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

Soldiers Arrested With 2,000 Rifle Rounds Near PCAD Rally

By Khaosod English.

BANGKOK: -- Two soldiers have been arrested as they attempted to smuggle several firearms and nearly 2,000 rounds of ammunition into an anti-government protest rally site, police said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709798-two-special-warfare-soldiers-arrested-by-bangkok-metropolitan-police/page-2?p=7544165#entry7544165

[Lite Beer]

Urgent plea for rare O-negative blood donors

BANGKOK: -- A family has pleaded for urgent donations of rare O-negative blood to save an aged father.

The son of Sawaeng Sukthuen said his father has been admitted to Phichit Hospital for nine days and has so far received one bag of O-negative blood.

The blood is a rare type in Thailand, available in just 1 in 1,000 Thais.

Sawaeng now has only 18 per cent of blood.

Interested donors please contact 0819111705. Donations can be made at Red Cross offices in any province.

-- The Nation 2014-03-10

[Lite Beer]

Dirty old taxi driver arrested for talking nasty to women passengers
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- After a long day, nothing’s better than being sexually harassed and pawed at during the ride home. In fact, police say women were getting just that - and paying for it - from a smutty taxi driver.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709845-dirty-old-taxi-driver-arrested-for-talking-nasty-to-women-passengers/

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Powerful 6.9 quake strikes off California coast

LOS ANGELES - A powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck late Sunday off the coast of northern California, the US Geological Survey said, but there were no immediate reports of damage or a tsunami threat.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709852-powerful-69-quake-strikes-off-california-coast/

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UPDATE:

CMPO Won't Repeal State Of Emergency Soon: Surapong
By Khaosod English

BANGKOK: -- Citing the nightly sporadic violence related to ant-government protests, a top governmental official refused to rescind the State of Emergency any time soon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709815-proposal-to-lift-the-state-of-emergency-within-this-week/#entry7544334

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UPDATE:

MISSING MAS
Search for missing Malaysian jet involves 8 countries

Kuala Lumpur - The search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which went missing on Saturday with 239 people on board, has brought together nearly 100 vessels and aircraft from eight countries in Asia and the Pacific.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709464-missing-malaysia-airlines-jet-carrying-239-triggers-southeast-asia-search/page-31?p=7544344#entry7544344

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UPDATE:

MISSING MAS
KL airport's security meets international standards: Official

Kuala Lumpur International Airport's security meets strict international standards, a Malaysian official said on Monday amid reports of security lapses at the airport.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709756-terror-probe-over-missing-malaysia-airlines-jet/page-4?p=7544383#entry7544383

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Yingluck denies buying time in Thawil's reinstatement

BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Monday denied that she was using delay tactic to further delay the reinstatement of Thawil Pliensri as the secretary general of the Council of State.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709858-yingluck-denies-buying-time-in-thawils-reinstatement/

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Phuket tour boat owners fight illegal boat operators with new club
Phuket Gazette


Krissada Phichetponsanon, Managing Director of the Andavaree company, said forming a club would help local operators shut down illegal foreign operators. Photo: Saran Mitrarat

PHUKET: -- Island tour boat operators met in Phuket on Friday to discuss forming a club to help combat what they say is customer-poaching by illegally operated, foreign-owned companies.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709860-phuket-tour-boat-owners-fight-illegal-boat-operators-with-new-club/

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Two unexploded M79 grenades were found in an open ground near the house of PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban in Thawi Watthana district on Monday. /Bangkok Post

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MISSING MAS
Unheard-of Chinese group claims responsibility - reports

A group that calls itself the Chinese Martyrs' Brigade has claimed responsibility for crashing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which has remained missing after losing contact with ground control at 1:20am on Saturday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709888-chinese-martyrs-brigade-group-claims-responsibility-for-flight-mh370-missing-mas/

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Protest leader expects key reform issues taking a year and a half
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, March 10 - Thailand's anti-government protest leader said Monday that six pressing issues for national reform will take no longer than a year and a half before the mission can be handed over to an elected government, targeting social disparity as the top priority.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709893-protest-leader-suthep-expects-key-reform-issues-taking-a-year-and-a-half/

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Don Mueang Airport considers monorail to facilitate passengers
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, March 10 – Airports of Thailand (AoT) is considering building a monorail to Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok as part of its fourth phrase development plan to cope with its increasing passenger flow.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709895-don-mueang-airport-considers-monorail-to-facilitate-passengers/

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Suthep’s Bangkok home was attacked with M79 grenades



BANGKOK: -- Perpetrators fired two M79 grenades into the home of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) leader Suthep Thaugsuban at Thaweewattana district but missed and did not explode. The first grenade landed 30 meters off the house' s concrete wall and the second 30 metres from the first.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709893-protest-leader-suthep-expects-key-reform-issues-taking-a-year-and-a-half/

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Thailand's Corruption Perception Index (CPI) worsens
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, March 10 - Thailand's leading private companies viewed that the country's corruption problems in the past two years have become more severe, while attempts to reduce the problem has improved, resulting in lower expenses on corruption.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709899-thailands-corruption-perception-index-cpi-worsens/

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SET index closed 1,347.51, down 7.57; Bt/USD32.27; GBP53.88; AUD29.01; EUR44.69; CAD28.93; HKD4.15; SGD25.29; JPY31.18

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Passport theft prompts Thai rethink on new passport database
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, March 10 - Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has called her Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak to express condolences over the missing Malaysian flight.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709904-passport-theft-prompts-thai-rethink-on-new-passport-database/

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DAY 3
Doubts over why 20 Freescale staffs in missing MAS370

AUSTIN: -- It looks like 20 of the passengers travelling on Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 worked for the chipmaker Freescale, Techeye.net reported Monday.

The Austin Texas-based company made a statement confirming that 12 of the employees are from Malaysia and eight are from China.

The question now remains why there were so many Freescale employees on board. According to a former employee who worked for Motorola the company used to have a policy not to allow that many employees on board a plane at once. Motorola spun off its chip making division to form Freescale.

According to the employee who posted on Slashdot, Motorola forbade two executives and six or eight regular employees to board the same plane.

"Situations like this, rare as they are, was the reason. I wonder if Freescale still has those rules and ignored them, or didn’t copy them over," the online quoted him as saying.

It is still not clear why the plane lost radio and radar contact and search for the 777 and its passengers began at first light this morning. It appears that four people with stolen passports were on the passenger lists.

The Boeing 777-200ER departed Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 12:41AM Saturday in good weather, and it was expected to land in Beijing at 6:30AM, a 2,300-mile trip.

Air traffic controllers in Subang, outside Kuala Lumpur, lost contact with the plane about 1:30AM Rahman said. Earlier, the airline said the jetliner lost contact at 2:40AM.


-- The Nation 2014-03-10

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Police investigate Pattaya links with missing Malaysian Flight





PATTAYA: -- Pattaya Police are currently investigating reports that two tickets purchased for the missing Malaysian Airline Flight MH 370 were obtained through a Travel Agency in Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709908-police-investigate-pattaya-links-with-missing-malaysian-flight/

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Northern smog expected to get worse

BANGKOK, 10 March 2014 (NNT) - The Pollution Control Department has warned six northern provinces of continued smog and its tendency to increase after more hot spots occurred.

Director-General of the Pollution Control Department Wichian Chungrungrueng on Monday reported the results of air quality tests in the northern region, saying that an PM10 level in the area was 17-157 micrograms/cubic meter and the overall air quality was in the good to unhealthy for sensitive groups range. The level of particulate matter was not changed much from the previous day especially in Phayao and Nan provinces where a dust level was measured at 157 micrograms/cubic meter. Lampang province had 145 micrograms/cubic meter, followed by Phrae and Mae Sai district in Chiang Rai, said the official.

The department has requested relevant units to urgently implement measures to reduce and control outdoor burning and encouraged the public to avoid burning garbage. Children, the elderly and respiratory disease patients are advised to avoid taking part in activities in smog-covered areas or use a face mask.

As for hotspots in Thailand, there are currently 106 accumulative hotspots, including 38 spots in forest reserves, 20 in conserved forests and 48 in farmland.


-- NNT 2014-03-10

[george]

Thailand grapples with 'massive' fake passport racket
Mon, Mar 10 07:49 AM EDT
By Amy Sawitta Lefevre

BANGKOK (Reuters) - With huge numbers of visitors and patchy law enforcement, Thailand has a booming black market for fake identity documents, and it was here that two passengers on a missing Malaysia Airlines jet were apparently able to get hold of stolen passports.

Thai authorities struggle to track thousands of lost or stolen passports each ....

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709904-passport-theft-prompts-thai-rethink-on-new-passport-database/?p=7545811

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: Army bunkers in #Bangkok now have mini waterfalls - RT @Rattiya_bluesky: บังเกอร์ล่าสุดน้ำตกมาติดตั้งแล้ว pic.twitter.com/cd5gAUWSqi