UPDATE:

Vietnam suspends air search for missing Malaysian jet

PHU QUOC, March 12, 2014 (AFP) - Vietnam said Wednesday it had suspended its air search for missing flight MH370 and scaled back a sea search as it waited for Malaysia to clarify the potential new direction of the multi-national hunt.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709464-missing-malaysia-airlines-jet-carrying-239-triggers-southeast-asia-search/page-55#entry7551556

Suthep to call largest rally ever in Bangkok next few days



BANGKOK: -- People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuwan last night announced to call the largest rally ever in Bangkok over the next few days in what he called will be the final push to overthrow the caretaker government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710331-suthep-to-call-largest-rally-ever-in-bangkok-next-few-days/

PDRC to expose shocking corruption conspiracy



BANGKOK: -- A People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) co-leader Sathit Wongnongtoei said the PDRC has obtained a very import information that related to what he called “shocking” corruption conspiracy in the country’s energy sector that has exploited the country’s wealth for over a decade.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710332-pdrc-to-expose-shocking-corruption-conspiracy/

Farmers dump paddy at farmers’ bank, burn effigy at Yingluck's home



BANGKOK: -- Angry farmers yesterday burned the effigy of caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in front of her home to pressure speedy payment for their pledged paddy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710333-farmers-dump-paddy-at-farmers-bank-burn-effigy-at-yinglucks-home/

Rice Mills underprice the Govt's stockpiled rice

BANGKOK, 12 Mar 2014 -- Rice mills have questioned the valuation of the government’s stockpiled rice, putting the price tag of 2013/2014 season 5% moisture rice at 11.10 baht/KG, down from 11.30 baht/KG in the previous auction deal.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710335-rice-mills-underprice-thai-govts-stockpiled-rice/

Red Line electric train system construction in Pathum Thani is affecting traffic at parts of Kamphaeng Phet 2,6 Rds in Bkk /The Nation

CMPO seeks arrest warrants for 9 activists caught in video clip on PDRC detention of deputy government spokeswoman Sunisa at Pathum Wan rally site Feb 25 /MCOT

UPDATE:

India joins search for MH370



KUALA LUMPUR: -- Ships of the Indian Navy that are on patrol in the Straits of Malacca are participating in the search and rescue (SAR) operations for the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) MH370 which went missing last Saturday, according to New Straits Times.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709464-missing-malaysia-airlines-jet-carrying-239-triggers-southeast-asia-search/page-55?p=7551942#entry7551942

Temple Asks Parishioners To Leave Politics At Its Gate
By Khaosod English



BANGKOK: -- Located just opposite the Giant Swing and Bangkok City Hall, Wat Suthat Devawararam has been a popular attraction for tourists, and, recently, for political protesters, too.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710345-bangkok-temple-asks-parishioners-to-leave-politics-at-its-gate/

MISSING MAS FLIGHT: Foreign media anchor on aviation chief's 'unprecedented mystery' comment
News Desk
The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: -- The annals of aviation history will likely record the disappearance of MH370 as an incident unlike any other. No large aircraft has ever totally flown off the radar without a single trace for so long.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710348-missing-mas-flight-foreign-media-anchor-on-aviation-chiefs-unprecedented-mystery-comment/

Bueng Kan's monkeys hit with food shortage from severe drought

BUENG KAN, 12 March 2014 (NNT) -- The severe drought this year has affected not just human beings but also wild animals.

More than 300 monkeys in the northern province of Beung Kan have been facing the problems of food shortage brought on by severe drought.

Given trees in the community forest are bearing no fruit in the arid heat of summer, monkeys living in the area have to survive on food given by tourists visiting the ancestor shrine in Seka district. However, the amount of food handed out is insufficient, forcing them to steal it from villages nearby.

With the belief that these monkeys belong to the holy spirit looking after everyone in the area, villagers have been trying to feed them as much as possible.

As this troop of monkeys has been part of Seka's community forest, residents have been trying to promote it as a tourist attraction in Bueng Kan province.


-- NNT 2014-03-12

Security beefed up in Yala on BRN's founding day

YALA, 12 March 2014 (NNT) -- Security has been tightened in Yala since Wednesday, one day before the founding anniversary of one of the most active insurgent groups in Thailand's deep south, the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN).

Authorities have been on alert for possible bomb attacks, after two men were killed and their motorcycle taken by unknown assailants.

Yala police have alerted local authorities and residents to look for the stolen motorcycle or one similar to that for fear of insurgents planting a bomb on it.

All suspicious-looking motorcycles and cars are subjected to a thorough search. Residents have also been told to be on a lookout for suspicious objects or people and to immediately notify officials should they run into one.


-- NNT 2014-03-12

Man shot dead on Ratchada road this morning
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- A man was shot dead on Ratchada Road between soi 14 and 16 this morning, Sutthisan police said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710350-man-shot-dead-on-bangkoks-ratchada-road/

Killer of wild cattle still eludes experts
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Reasons for the mystery deaths of 24 gaurs last December in Kui Buri National Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan remain inconclusive, as authorities yesterday explained their findings on carcass testing.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710352-kui-buri-national-park-killer-of-wild-cattle-still-eludes-experts/

Five killed in two-car crash with elephant



BANGKOK: -- Five persons were killed and four others injured in a car and truck crash with a female elephant and two calves on the road from Ban Bung to Klaeng district of Rayong this morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710354-five-killed-in-two-car-crash-with-elephant-in-thailand/

Political conflict delays government’s payment to first car buyers

BANGKOK, 12 Mar 2014 -- The Excise Department has said that those who have yet to receive rebates under the government’s first car buyer policy will have to wait a bit longer, as the political conflict has adversely affected the administration’s ability to make the payment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710357-political-conflict-delays-governments-payment-to-first-car-buyers/

Ubon Ratchathani Airport warns locals not to set off Bang Fai rockets without permission

UBON RATCHATHANI 12 March 2014 (NNT) -- Ubon Ratchathani Airport has warned locals not to launch Bang Fai rockets without permission, as doing so may have dire consequences on aircraft flying in the area.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710360-ubon-ratchathani-airport-warns-locals-not-to-set-off-bang-fai-rockets-without-permission/

Bt2tn bill ruled unconstitutional

BANGKOK: -- The Constitutional Court ruled Wednesday that the Bt2-billion borrowing bill was unconstitutional.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710361-bt2tn-bill-ruled-unconstitutional/

Farmers cut power supply at Commerce Ministry, disrupting 240,000 tonnes rice auction via AFET, bidding reset for March 26 /MCOT

CMPO proposes lifting emergency decree
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, March 12 - The Center for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) has proposed lifting the two-month state of emergency and replace it with another security law.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710362-cmpo-director-chalerm-proposes-lifting-emergency-decree/

RT@veen_NT: Urgent: Constitution Court rules Bt2 trillion bill unconstitutional and the Bill must be dropped. via @jin_nation pic.twitter.com/pAh28Mflq6

RT@tulsathit: On crucial Constitution Court ruling on the Bt2trillion borrowing plan, here are key points according to @jin_nation

RT@tulsathit: 1 Govt is "caretaker govt', which raises question of whether it "can" take responsibility for court's veto of the bill.

RT@tulsathit: 2. It's "government bill", which makes it harder for Yingluck to "blame it all on Parliament".

RT@tulsathit: 3. Senior govt figures told @jin_nation that govt "would accept" court ruling but "would not take responsibility".

RT@tulsathit: 4. Bt2 trillion plan was THE MOST IMPORTANT piece of legislation of PT govt. Court veto is a big blow.

RT@tulsathit: 5. Political pressure will pile up on YL again after a govt-sponsored financial bill has been rejected by Constitution Court.

RT@tulsathit: 6. No rules require govt's subsequent resignation after court veto. It's about "show of responsibility" only.

RT@tulsathit: 7. While political repercussions will be unpredictable, albeit massive, what's certain is Bt2 trillion bill is dead in the water.

RT@tulsathit: RT @Aim_NT: On the bill's content, judges unanimously deem it unconstitutional. On procedures, majority said unlawful. Via @Chanikarn_nna

Durian growers in Bannangstar hit by drought

YALA, 12 March 2014 (NNT) -- Fruit growers in the deep south province of Yala have been hit hard by severe drought.

Yala has been known for its quality fruit such as durian, mangosteen and longong; however, fruit orchards in Bannangstar district have lately been hit by severe drought given it has not rained at all in the past two months.

Sin Inthong, a durian farmer, has to invest in his own pipe system to bring water from a nearby mountain to feed the dying durian trees.

-- NNT 2014-03-12

UPDATE:

The 9-member Constitution Court today reached a majority vote to rule that the controversial 2-trillion baht loan bill is unconstitutional.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710361-bt2tn-bill-ruled-unconstitutional/#entry7552588

NIDA: Smog in the North has little chance of inducing cancer

BANGKOK 12 March 2014 (NNT) —The National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) has reported that smoke from forest fires has less chance of inducing cancer than automobile exhaust fume.

According to a NIDA study concerning the debris found before and after forest fires in the North, generally known as Smog 9 Crisis, cancer-causing dust particles of under 2.5 Microns are not as carcinogenic as one may think — saying that exhaust fume from automobiles is more likely to cause cancer.

NIDA stated that, based on their data of collecting small particles of under 2.5 Microns, small dust particles that cause cancer are related to PAH, within which there is another substance called B(a)P, is the main cause of cancer.

However, after collecting data of air quality from the northern regions, NIDA reported that people in the 9 provinces of the North were more prone to cancer than their counterparts in Singapore, Belgium and the United States; but have lesser chances of having cancer than Hong Kong, Sua Tao, and Guangzhou in China.

NIDA also reported that, despite the profuse smoke from the burning of forest fires, people are more likely to get cancer from automobile exhaust fume than smoke from forest fires.

-- NNT 2014-03-12

UPDATE:

Farmers burn effigies of Kittirat, Niwatthamlong

Upset by the caretaker government’s delayed payment and ignorance of their troubles, angry farmers today burned the effigies of two cabinet ministers and then dumped them into the Chao Phraya river in an ancient Cambodian superstitious rite to curse them.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710333-farmers-dump-paddy-at-farmers-bank-burn-effigy-at-yinglucks-home/#entry7552707

UPDATE:

POLITICS
Chalerm tells Paradorn to revoke state of emergency

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710362-cmpo-director-chalerm-proposes-lifting-emergency-decree/#entry7552900

Pheu Thai asks Constitutional Court to drop petitions on election, govt status
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, March 12 -- Pheu Thai Party on Wednesday petitioned the Constitutional Court on Wednesday, asking the court to consider dropping three petitions related to the general election and the status of the caretaker government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710373-pheu-thai-asks-constitutional-court-to-drop-petitions-on-election-govt-status/