Thailand Live Thursday 13 Mar 2014

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20 billion baht to be borrowed from the Min of Finance to pay to farmers

BANGKOK, 13 Mar 2014 (NNT) -- Mr. Surasak Riengkrue, Director General of the Department of Foreign Trade, has revealed that he has signed a request to borrow 20 billion baht from the Ministry of Finance to be paid to farmers who are waiting for the money the government owed them under the rice pledging program.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710583-20-billion-baht-to-be-borrowed-from-the-min-of-finance-to-pay-to-farmers/

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Preah Vihear temple under repair



Phnom Penh: -- Work is finally under way to repair damage to Preah Vihear temple caused during clashes between Cambodia and Thailand more than two years ago, officials said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710587-preah-vihear-temple-under-repair/

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RT @RAGreeneCNN: Malaysia Air will stop using flight code #MH370 after today, as mark of respect, they announce

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Two 16-year-olds shot dead on motorbike in Bangkapi
By Coconuts Bangkok

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710593-two-16-year-olds-shot-dead-on-motorbike-in-bangkapi/

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Electrocuted Monkey Causes Power Cut in Downtown Hua Hin

Hua Hin:-- A large area of downtown Hua Hin suffered a major power outage on Wednesday March 12 when a macaque monkey was electrocuted after climbing onto a live electricity pylon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710594-electrocuted-monkey-causes-power-cut-in-downtown-hua-hin/

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Thai passport has highest safety standards



BANGKOK: -- The Department of Consular Affairs assures today that Thai passport production meets international standards and is highly difficult to forge.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710598-thai-passport-has-highest-safety-standards/

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Thai govt says shut-down will delay new migrant policy



BANGKOK: -- A new policy to enable migrant workers in Thailand to extend work visas will have to wait until the political conflict gripping Bangkok subsides, a Thai government official has confirmed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710599-thai-govt-says-shut-down-will-delay-new-migrant-policy/

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Farmers bring 7 tonnes of rice to protest again at Finance Ministry; ask ministry to use Bt20 billion received from central fund to pay farmers under pledging scheme /MCOT

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Yingluck bursts into tears again in Khon Kaen province

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710601-yingluck-bursts-into-tears-again-in-khon-kaen-province/

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TAT to spend ฿20 million to boost tourism during Songkran Festival



BANGKOK, 13 Mar 2014 (NNT) -- According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the agency will spend 20 million baht on promotional campaigns for the upcoming Songkran Festival.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710607-tat-to-spend-20-million-baht-to-boost-tourism-during-songkran-festival/

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EC endorses military reshuffle list



BANGKOK, 13 March 2014 (NNT) – The Election Commission (EC) has approved the military reshuffle, which sees more than 200 high-ranking military officers transferred.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710608-ec-endorses-thai-military-reshuffle-list/

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UPDATE:

Foreign Ministry gives assurances on fraud proof Thai passport
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, March 13 - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of Consular Affairs has reassured the public of the safety of Thai passport, asserting that Thai passports are forgery proof.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710598-thai-passport-has-highest-safety-standards/#entry7556655

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NACC expects to set the PM’s testimony date within April

BANGKOK, 13 Mar 2014 (NNT) -- Deputy Secretary General of the National Anti Corruption Commission (NACC), Wittaya Acompitak, stated that the agency would today conclude on the date for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to give testimony on the fraud case covering the rice pledging scheme.

Earlier the Premier’s legal representative requested for a 45-day postponement of the date. The NACC stated it would only grant a one-time-15-day delay if Ms. Yingluck could not meet the previous deadline of March 14th. Mr. Wittaya said the meeting could either grant permission or dismiss the Prime Minister’s request by citing the urgency of the matter. However, he said, if postponement is granted, the duration would be 15 days or more, but not 45 days.

He is confident that the testimony would be made within April. Regarding the request to impeach House Speaker Nikom Wairatchpanitch, Mr. Wittaya stated that the NACC might not be able to wrap up the case before the Senatorial election on March 30th.

Mr. Nikom, along with 308 Members of Parliament and Senators, is being scrutinized for being involved in the attempt to amend the senate origin bill last


-- NNT 2014-03-13

[Lite Beer]

BANGKOK: -- Farmers rallying in front of the Finance Ministry have returned to the Commerce Ministry after rocking it with rotten eggs, “Pla Ra” fish sauce, and tons of paddy blocking all its gates.

They vowed to return tomorrow with more paddy to bury the ministry. They returned after no official coming out to negotiate them to buy the paddy they brought with them today. Farmers demanded 12,000 baht/ton for paddy, and also for explanation of the 20 billion baht fund borrowed from the central fund to pay farmers.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/31535/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=31535

-- Thai PBS 2014-03-13

[Lite Beer]

EC to ask Appeals Court to rule on BKK governor case

BANGKOK, 13 March 2014 (NNT)– The Election Commission (EC) will next week submit a petition to the Court of Appeal, asking it to rule on the case of M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra, who has recently been yellow-carded.

According to EC commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, the EC will next week forward its findings on the case to the Appeals Court, who will decide whether to have the results of last year's gubernatorial election nullified and call an election re-run. Incumbent Bangkok Governor M.R. Sukhumbhand has been yellow-carded on grounds of slandering during his election campaign last year.

Commissioner Somchai expects the court to hand down its decision in 3 days's time.

If the court decided to accept the case, M.R. Sukhumbhand would have to stop performing his duty. As a result, a deputy governor would temporarily take charge of his job at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) pending the court's decision, said the EC.

-- NNT 2014-03-13

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

US suspects missing plane flew on for hours: WSJ report

WASHINGTON

US investigators suspect a missing Malaysian airliner was in the air for four hours after its last confirmed contact, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, deepening the mystery surrounding the disappearance.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709464-missing-malaysia-airlines-jet-carrying-239-triggers-southeast-asia-search/page-66?p=7556922#entry7556922

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One Killed In 'International Concert' Stage Collapse
By Khaosod English



BANGKOK: -- One person has been killed and at least 10 injured when a concert stage collapsed before its scheduled performance in Udon Thani province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710616-one-killed-10-injured-in-international-concert-stage-collapse-in-thailand/

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Phuket expat dies in motorbike smash
Claire Connell

PHUKET: -- Australian Wayne Stone, 49, died this morning (March 13) around 2.30am when he crashed his motorbike on Kamala’s main street.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710618-phuket-expat-dies-in-motorbike-smash/

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UDD To Launch 'Skin Suthep' Exhibition
By Khaosod English



BANGKOK: -- The Redshirts are set to launch an exhibition to "expose" the alleged corruption and sordid background of anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710621-redshirts-to-launch-skin-suthep-exhibition/

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UPDATE:

Tearful Yingluck seeks sympathy from opponents



BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawtra today asked for sympathy from opponents after the Constitutional Court ruled that her government’s 2-trillion baht loan bill was unconstitutional, and the opposition Democrat party is collecting 20,000 signatures to remove the entire cabinet from power.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710601-yingluck-bursts-into-tears-again-in-khon-kaen-province/page-3#entry7557269

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Government ready to follow Constitution Court ruling on Bt2 trillion loan bill: PM
By Digital Content



KHON KAEN, March 13 - Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on Thursday that she is ready to follow the Constitution Court's ruling on the Bt2 trillion infrastructure development projects, as the anti-government movement demanded that she take personal responsibility for the case.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710624-government-ready-to-follow-constitution-court-ruling-on-bt2-trillion-loan-bill-pm/

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THAI certain to gain profit this year
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, March 13 - Thai Airways International (THAI) is certain the company's business will gain profits and projects revenue growth of 3-4 per cent this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710626-thai-certain-to-gain-profit-this-year/

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Pro-govt group rallies against NACC members with faeces
Anuphan Chantana
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Pro-government faction People's Radio Media Group returned to rally at the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) headquarters Thursday morning, and this time the members came armed with bag of excrement.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710630-pro-govt-group-rallies-against-nacc-members-with-faeces/

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Farmer kills himself over debts
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A farmer in Prachin Buri's Muang district committed suicide Thursday reportedly due to stress over outstanding debts and a mill only offering buy his rice at Bt5,500 per tonne.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710632-rice-farmer-kills-himself-over-debts/

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Thailand finds 200 'Turkish refugees' at secret camp

BANGKOK, March 13, 2014 (AFP) - Thai police have discovered about 200 suspected Turkish refugees at a secret camp in the kingdom's deep south, officials said Thursday, describing the case as "unprecedented".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710636-thailand-finds-200-turkish-refugees-at-secret-camp/

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SET index closed 1,370.50, up 14.08; Bt/USD32.19; GBP53.52; AUD29.03; EUR44.78; CAD28.92; HKD4.13; SGD25.30; JPY31.24

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UPDATE:

Redshirts Curse NACC Chief With Mock Funeral
By Khaosod English



BANGKOK: -- A group of Redshirts protesters has staged a mock funeral service to condemn the director of the National Anti-Corruption Commission in front of his office today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710630-pro-govt-group-rallies-against-nacc-members-with-faeces/#entry7557609

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Police introduce system to reduce passport fraud in Phuket
Anthika Muangrod


Motorbikes are a popular method of transport in Thailand. Photo: Kullez

PHUKET: -- Kathu Police met with more than 30 motorbike rental shop owners yesterday (March 12) to try and work out a solution to tourists using their passports as guarantees for vehicle hire.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710643-police-introduce-system-to-reduce-passport-fraud-in-phuket/

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MISSING MH 370
Malaysia Airlines to retire flight codes; MH370, 371

KUALA LUMPUR: -- As a mark of respect to the passengers and crew of missing MH370, Malaysia Airlines decided to retire the flight code; MH370 and MH370 from Kuala Lumpur- Beijing-Kuala Lumpur route.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710645-malaysia-airlines-to-retire-flight-codes;-mh370-371/

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CMPO yet to make a decision on emergency decree
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) has cancelled all its meetings from Friday to Sunday as a final decision has yet to be made on whether the emergency decree would continue being imposed, CMPO member Tarit Pengdith said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710647-cmpo-yet-to-make-a-decision-on-emergency-decree/