Thailand Live Tuesday 11 Mar 2014

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Apple released update to its iOS7 mobile operating system launched in Sept 2013,offering improved stability,design,upgrade of ID fingerprint sensor /The Nation

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Police Commissioner General implies lifting Emergency Decree before Mar 23rd

BANGKOK, 11 Mar 2014 -- Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, Police General Adul Sangsingkaew has implied that the Emergency Decree may be lifted before its expiry date on March 23rd, and that the police are capable of dealing with the current anti-government protests.

Speaking to newsmen, Police General Adul said a meeting of officials concerned is necessary to assess the situation before the decree is lifted. He indicated that the Internal Security Act is likely to be brought back as a tool for the police to ensure orderliness in the country.

He went on to explain that the imposition of the Emergency Decree is to protect government officials from potential threats when performing their duties. However, the current situation no longer warrant the decree, and a less powerful law like Internal Security Act should be enough to protect police officials in action.

Police General Adul also gave his assessment on the current political gathering in Bangkok, saying the Royal Thai Police has everything under control while reassuring the public that the agency has stringent strategies to deal with various cases of emergency.


-- NNT 2014-03-11

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UPDATE:

Man in intensive care after Lumpini blast
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, March 11 - A man seriously wounded at Lumpini Park early today was being treated in the intensive care unit of Chulalongkorn Hospital.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710037-man-injured-in-explosion-near-lumpini-park/#entry7547599

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Chutinant resigns from THAI board



Chutinant Bhirombhakdi, executive vice president of Singha Corporation, and member of Thai Airways International’s board of directors has resigned from the board since March 7, former THAI board chairman Ampon Kittiampon disclosed yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710068-chutinant-resigns-from-thai-board/

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Expect the worst, says MAS



KUALA LUMPUR: -- Malaysian Airlines (MAS) will fly the first batch of families of passengers on board the missing MAS MH370 from Beijing to Kuala Lumpur starting tomorrow.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709464-missing-malaysia-airlines-jet-carrying-239-triggers-southeast-asia-search/page-43?p=7547706#entry7547706

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Caretaker PM chairs weekly cabinet meeting at Police Academy in Sam Phran; caretaker tourism minister backs revoking emergency decree /MCOT

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Caretaker Tourism Minister supports emergency decree lifting, says number of tourists reduced by 25,000/day during past two years /MCOT

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Former Transport Minister Srisuk Chandrangsu passed away

BANGKOK, 11 Mar 2014 -- Former Transport Minister Srisuk Chandrangsu, a prominent political figure behind the establishment of Suvarnabhumi Airport, has passed away at the age of 70.

Media last night reported the death of Mr. Srisuk who had been battling cancer for a period of time. His family has yet to reveal the details of his funeral.

Mr. Srisuk was born on January 14th, 1944. His notable positions included Transport Minister during the Thaksin Shinawatra administration in 2000 and President of the Airport of Thailand.

Mr. Srisuk had developed great relations with members of the now-defunct Thai-Rak-Thai Party and other high profile politicians, effectively driving his political career to its peak.

After his retirement, Mr. Srisuk still held several key posts in state enterprises. He caught the public's attention widely when he was appointed as the president of the Aviation Developing Committee during which he was under investigation for being involved in the purchase of the CTX Bomb Scanner for Suvarnabhumi Airport.


-- NNT 2014-03-11

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UPDATE:

Elder son of a family in Pathumthani confesses to shooting his parents and younger brother



BANGKOK: -- The elder son of a family in Pathumthani province has confessed to shooting his parents and younger brother to death after his long accumulated stress caused by his mother burst into anger.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710024-teen-survivor-of-murdered-thai-family-to-be-questioned/#entry7547899

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Man Arrested For 'Drugging And Sexually Assaulting' Nurse
By Khaosod English

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710077-man-arrested-for-drugging-and-sexually-assaulting-nurse/

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Farmers rallying into Bangkok on March 12

BANGKOK 11 March 2014 (NNT) — Farmers from the North and Northeast are rallying into Bangkok to prepare for their protests set for March 12. The rally aims to pressure the government into paying money owed them under the rice pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710079-farmers-rallying-into-bangkok-on-march-12/

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Kittiratt: Prolonging political conflicts will affect confidence towards the country

BANGKOK, 11 March 2014 (NNT) — Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na Ranong posted on his Facebook page warning that Thailand’s confidence ratings might start to suffer due to the prolonged political conflicts.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710080-kittiratt-prolonging-political-conflicts-will-affect-confidence-towards-the-country/

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Thai stocks expected to rally in anticipation of emergency decree withdrawal

BANGKOK, 11 March 2014 (NNT) — Thai stocks are expected to rebound again this morning following an anticipation that the emergency decree would be lifted, sending the SET Composite Index to fluctuate around 1,340 - 1,355 points.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710081-thai-stocks-expected-to-rally-in-anticipation-of-emergency-decree-withdrawal/

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MISSING MH FLIGHT
Balotelli reference draws scorn


File photo : Balotelli//AFP

BANGKOK: -- A Malaysian aviation official came under fire on social media Tuesday for evoking black Italian footballer Mario Balotelli when discussing two passengers who boarded a missing jet with stolen European passports.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710082-missing-mh-flight-370-balotelli-reference-draws-scorn/

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Phuket Police hunt for suspects involved in decapitation
Phuket Gazette


Police investigate the jungle area where the body and severed head of Mr Kyaw were found. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Police are hunting for five men who allegedly beheaded their co-worker and dropped the severed head and body in the jungle near the San Chao Phor Suea Shrine on Patong Hill on Sunday night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710083-phuket-police-hunt-for-suspects-involved-in-decapitation/

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Tourism Min backs revocation of emergency law

BANGKOK, 11 March 2014 (NNT) – The Tourism and Sports Minister has voiced his support for the withdrawal of the Emergency Decree, saying it would be good for the country’s tourism industry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710086-thai-tourism-minister-backs-revocation-of-emergency-law/

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Jarupong urges that PRDC’s reform be legal and reasonable

BANGKOK 11 March 2014 (NNT) — Leader of the Pheu Thai party, Jarupong Ruangsuwan, has urged that the reform proposed by the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) be legal and reasonable-- at least.

According to Mr. Jarupong, if the Pheu Thai party is reelected, he, as leader of the Pheu Thai party, will see to it that the reform take place and completed within 1 year's time.

As for the PDRC’s demand for the nation's reform, Mr. Jarupong pointed out that the demand had to be legal, reasonable, as well as having substance , adding that his party was also looking for ways for a positive reform.

In regard to the emergency decree being lifted, Mr. Jarupong refused to comment, saying it would be up to the Center for Maintaining Peace and Order to decide on the matter.

When asked about the reinstatement of Mr. Tawin Pleansri as National Security Council Secretary General, Mr. Jarupong brushed aside the question, saying the issue was not under the jurisdiction of his Ministry.

-- NNT 2014-03-11

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UPDATE:

N. Korea 'election' records 99.97% turnout

SEOUL - North Korea confirmed Tuesday a near-perfect turnout for its parliamentary "election" in which single candidates -- approved by the political elite -- stood uncontested in 687 constituencies across the country.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709820-n-korean-leader-kim-jong-un-enjoys-100-poll-win/page-2?p=7548222#entry7548222

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Thai Red Cross urgently pleads for Rh-negative blood donations

BANGKOK: -- The Thai Red Cross Tuesday pleaded for urgent donations of Rh-negative blood, which are in urgent need for helping children and several operation cases.

The Red Cross announced that up to 168 units of Rh-negative blood are in need - 70 units of A Rh-negative blood, 32 units of B Rh-negative, 57 units of O Rh-negative, and 9 units of AB Rh-negative.

The Red Cross called on the people with Rh-negative blood to urgent contact its office on Henri Dunant Road or mobile blood donation units or call 02-263-9600-99 ext 1101, 1760, 1761 or 02-256-4300.

-- The Nation 2014-03-11

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UPDATE:

Frequent attacks prompt tightened security at protest site
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, March 11 - An anti-government protest leader on Tuesday ordered a security beef up following a string of violent attacks near protest sites in the capital, with the latest explosion at Lumpini Park wounding three volunteer guards, one seriously.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710037-man-injured-in-explosion-near-lumpini-park/page-2#entry7548484

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MISSING MH 370

Help from Shaman must be in line with Islam


Ibrahim Mat Zin (centre) a well known local bomoh, who came to the KL International Airport on Monday.//the Star

The Malaysian government welcomes any help to trace missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 including from "bomohs" (shamans) so long as their methods do not contravene Islam, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710102-missing-mh-370-help-from-shaman-must-be-in-line-with-islam/

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Red-shirts protest Dr Narong in Sisaket

A group of about 100 red-shirt people gathered in front of the Sisaket provincial hospital this morning to protest the permanent secretary of the Public Health Dr Narang Sahamethapat.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710097-red-shirts-protest-dr-narong-in-sisaket/

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Pongthep assures Thawil be reinstated

Deputy Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana said today that the former secretary-general of the National Security Council (NSC) would be reinstated within the 45-day period set by the Supreme Administrative Court.

Mr Pongthep said he would consult the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to find a suitable position for the present NSC chief Lt-Gen Paradorn Phattanathabutr before putting the former NSC chief Thawil Pliensri back to the job.

He said that the Election Commission will be informed of the two cases by the caretaker cabinet for approval.

Thawil has earlier made clear of his stance against the Yingluck government and sided with the People’s Democratic Reform Committee.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pongthep-assures-thawil-reinstated/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pongthep-assures-thawil-reinstated

-- Thai PBS 2014-03-11

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RT@Juarawee: RT @Tui_ThaiPBS: Chalerm said PM is making a decision whether to lift emergency decree.

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BMTA to step up its anti accident measures

BANGKOK, 11 Mar 2014 -- The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) plans to step up measures to ensure the good performance of employees, citing the suspension of anyone receiving too many complaints.

The announcement was made by the Acting Director General of the BMTA, Naret Boonpiem, during a meeting with the agency's alliance of 32 private bus operators, called to focus on reducing the number of road accidents. Several incidents have occurred during the past few weeks including one where a bus driver was forced to plough the vehicle into a police stall as the bus's breaks malfunctioned on Rama 9 road.

Mr. Naret said the BMTA has set up various precautionary measures which include establishing a team of inspectors to monitor ticket vendors on buses and enforcing a stricter maintenance schedule on the fleet's vehicles. He said passenger satisfaction surveys would be conducted periodically, adding that staff members receiving complaints in more than 10% of the polls will be subjected to closer monitoring and eventually suspension and dismissal if they fail to make an improvement.

The Acting BMTA Director General said the agency would mandate a regulation that dictates service operators perform check ups before each trip, along with a twice-yearly thorough maintenance examination of the passenger buses.

-- NNT 2014-03-11

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UPDATE:

Tourism hails plan to lift state of emergency



BANGKOK: -- Plan to lift the state of emergency raises hope of tourism recovery with the caretaker tourism minister voicing full support and the return of tourists to the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710086-thai-tourism-minister-backs-revocation-of-emergency-law/#entry7548476

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CMPO believes the government will dismiss all the charges concerning rice pledging scheme corruption

BANGKOK, 11 March 2014 (NNT) - Labour Minister and Director of the Center for Administration for the Peace and Order (CMPO) Police Captain Dr. Chalerm Yubumrung, responded to the proposal suggested by 27 senators that Constitutional Court demote Thawil Pliansri from his position as Secretary-General of National Security Council. However, the Supreme Administrative Court has ordered to reinstate Thawil Pliansri.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710101-chalerm-believes-govt-will-dismiss-all-charges-concerning-rice-pledging-scheme-corruption/

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MISSING MH 370
Stolen Austrian passport used by Iranian teenage migrant

Kuala Lumpur - One of the two passengers who boarded the missing Malaysia Airlines plane on stolen passports was an Iranian man seeking to relocate to Germany, Malaysian police said Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709464-missing-malaysia-airlines-jet-carrying-239-triggers-southeast-asia-search/page-47?p=7548549#entry7548549

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Emergency decree extended in far South for 3 more months; Pongthep says govt can reinstate Thawil as NSC sec-gen within 45 days /MCOT

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NBTC says there are now 93.7 million cellphone users



BANGKOK: -- The number of mobile phone users this year has climbed up to 93.7 million for all frequencies, according to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710126-nbtc-says-there-are-now-937-million-cellphone-users/