Thailand Live Monday 17 Mar 2014

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Revocation of Emergency Decree in BKK on table

BANGKOK, 17 April 2014 (NNT) - Director of the Center for Managing Peace and Order Chalerm Yubamrung has announced that he will ask the Cabinet to lift the Emergency Decree in Bangkok and the vicinity during the Cabinet meeting this Tuesday.

Mr Chalerm, who is also the Minister of Labor, said the Emergency Decree should be revoked due to its effects on the overall investment and tourism atmosphere of the country. The government would replace the law with the Internal Security Act in dealing with political protests, he said.

The minister also expressed his concerns over the political situation in April, saying that he feared it might turn violent. As for independent organizations' suggested road map to reform, Mr Chalerm said they had good intentions but their suggestion would be rejected if it was unconstitutional.


-- NNT 2014-03-17

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New Thai Red Shirts leader warns of battle ahead

BANGKOK, March 17, 2014 (AFP) - A firebrand hardliner who was a core leader of Thailand's Red Shirts in the country's massive 2010 protests has been chosen to head the pro-government movement, saying Sunday that a "big fight" lay ahead.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711443-new-thai-red-shirts-leader-jatuporn-warns-of-battle-ahead/

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UPDATE:

CHON BURI
Oil spill at Bang Saen beach
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- TOURISTS who were affected or soiled by the oil spill on Saturday at Bang Saen beach in Chon Buri, a popular weekend getaway, were given assistance yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711287-bang-saen-hit-with-oil-slick/#entry7570445

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DUSIT POLL
54% want Yingluck to take responsibility for deadlock
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- MOST PEOPLE believe Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra should take responsibility for the raft of problems that have inflicted a heavy toll on the country and her caretaker administration, reported Dusit Poll.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711444-54-want-yingluck-to-take-responsibility-for-deadlock/

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ASIA ALIVE: PHILIPPINE TOP SELFIE CAPITALS
Thais somehow lose selfie race
Raul Dancel
The Straits Times
Asia News Network


Filipino teens grab a selfie against the Makati skyline. The city and neighbouring Pasig are together the world

Incredibly, only one Thai "city" (not Bangkok) made Time's list of the world's top 50 selfie capitals

BANGKOK: -- Time magazine on Tuesday named two neighbouring cities in the Philippines as the "selfie capital of the world", with 258 persons out of every 100,000 taking a selfie on any given day.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711445-thais-somehow-lose-selfie-race/

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EXECLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Stalled FTA talks hurting
Erich Parpart, Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation


Rolf-Dieter Daniel: Thailand is gradually falling behind other countries in this region.

BANGKOK: -- The Kingdom is falling behind its regional competitors as the absence of a permanent government now hampers negotiations on the Thailand-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the president of the European Asean Business Centre (EABC) has warned.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711446-stalled-fta-talks-hurting/

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FACEBOOK
Facebook targets four key segments for growth in Thailand, Asia-Pacific
Asina Pornwasin
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Facebook's goal this year in the Asia-Pacific region is to continue to focus on marketing growth in four key segments: brand, direct response, local businesses, and developers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711447-facebook-targets-four-key-segments-for-growth-in-thailand-asia-pacific/

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WEATHER
Loei hit by hailstorms
The Nation



Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711501-loei-authorities-begin-assessing-hailstorm-damage/

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Protesters may visit Lottery Bureau to determine if prizes were fixed



BANGKOK: -- Anti-government protesters from the Network of Students and People for Thailand’s Reform will visit the Lottery Bureau Monday to find out if the first prize lottery and two-digit prize results for the March 16 draw were pre-fixed or not.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711449-protesters-may-visit-thai-lottery-bureau-to-determine-if-prizes-were-fixed/

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UPDATE:

Iranian uses fake passport to rent cars and allegedly sell them to foreign dealers



PATTAYA: -- Over the weekend Pattaya Police arrested an Iranian National accused of renting a car in Pattaya and then sending the vehicle over the Thai-Laos border and selling the vehicle to a car dealer.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711344-iranian-man-arrested-when-he-used-a-fake-passport-to-rent-a-car/#entry7570486

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French Charity Worker seriously injured in North Pattaya Road Crash



PATTAYA: -- A 23 year old French Volunteer for the Fountain of Life Children’s Center in East Pattaya was seriously injured as she drove to the Charity’s North Pattaya Office on her bicycle and was struck by a drunken motorcyclist.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711450-french-charity-worker-seriously-injured-in-north-pattaya-road-crash/

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“Middle-Eastern” man drowns off Pattaya Beach



PATTAYA: -- The body of a foreign man, thought to be of middle-eastern origin, was recovered off the waters of Pattaya Beach in the early hours of Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711451-middle-eastern-man-drowns-off-pattaya-beach/

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REDS
Army may sue 'red shirt' who called for uprising
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE ARMY is considering taking legal action against a man claiming to be red-shirt Wuthipong "Ko Tee" Kotchatham for calling for an uprising against the military over the radio.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711452-thai-army-may-sue-red-shirt-who-called-for-uprising/

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Grenade fired at house of Suthep's wife
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- ANOTHER M79 grenade was fired on Saturday night at the house of the wife of Suthep Thaugsuban, secretary general of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711453-grenade-fired-at-house-of-sutheps-wife/

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Ruling on poll could ease crisis
Chanikarn Phumhiran,
Somroutai Sapsomboon
The Nation

Judges to hear case on Wednesday whether February 2 election unlawful

BANGKOK: -- A political breakthrough could happen this week with the Constitutional Court may rule on whether the February 2 poll was unlawful, and the possibility of a verdict annulling the election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711454-ruling-on-february-2-poll-could-ease-crisis/

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ANNUAL RESHUFFLE
Military reshuffle expected today
PAKORN PUENGNETR
THE NATION

Navy Seals chief tipped for promotion, as well as army commander injured in notorious clash with red shirts

BANGKOK: -- THE OUTSPOKEN Naval Special Warfare Command chief and a |senior Army officer whose promotion was suspended because he was tied to a violent clash with the red-shirts four years ago may be highlights of the mid-year military reshuffle. The reshuffle, which will take effect next month, is expected to be announced today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711455-thai-military-reshuffle-expected-today/

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9 killed in pickup accidents
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- NINE PEOPLE were killed, including three boys, and one was wounded in two separate road accidents over the weekend.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711456-9-killed-in-pickup-accidents-in-thailand/

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FOREIGN ACT
2 firms face action under foreign ownership act
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Business Development Department has discovered that two companies in Chiang Mai may have breached the Foreign Business Act (FBA) by allegedly having Thais act as nominees so foreigners can hold majority control.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711457-2-firms-face-action-under-foreign-ownership-act/

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EDITORIAL
Sluggish start for Thais as regional integration looms
The Nation

The protracted political deadlock is greatly restricting thailand's preparations for an Asean Economic Community

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711458-sluggish-start-for-thais-as-regional-integration-looms/

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REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Surapong sold out Thailand's for myopic interests
Kavi Chongkittavorn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- After a 90-minute session of clarification on the invitation of UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to Thailand on Friday by caretaker foreign minister Surapong Tohvijakchaikul, Ministry for Foreign Affairs' senior officials concluded without any hesitation that he had no clue of potential repercussions from his personal actions.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711459-surapong-sold-out-thailands-for-myopic-interests/

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Crimea referendum: Voters 'back Russia union'

(BBC) Some 95.5% of voters in Crimea have supported joining Russia, officials say, after half the votes have been counted in a disputed referendum.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711460-955-percent-of-crimeans-vote-for-joining-russia/

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Missing Russian woman found injured but alive in Phuket hotel room
Eakkapop Thongtub


Ms Strizheus was taken to Thalang Hospital last night.

PHUKET: -- Missing Russian woman Yana Strizheus, feared kidnapped on Phuket, has been discovered injured but alive at a hotel room yesterday (March 16).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711473-missing-russian-woman-found-injured-but-alive-in-phuket-hotel-room/

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Thailand to join rice auction in the Philippines to compete with Vietnam



BANGKOK: -- The External Trade Department will join rice auction in the Philippines and will try to clinch a rice deal with Qatar in an attempt to offload the huge rice stockpiles at home to earn revenue to pay rice farmers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711492-thailand-to-join-rice-auction-in-the-philippines-to-compete-with-vietnam/

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NSC Sec Gen Paradorn to be appointed as PM’s advisor

BANGKOK, 17 March 2014 (NNT) - Lt Gen Paradorn Pattanathabutr will be appointed as advisor to the Prime Minister after the reinstatement of Mr Thawil Pliensri as Secretary General of the National Security Council (NSC).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711495-nsc-sec-gen-paradorn-to-be-appointed-as-pms-advisor/

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Crown Prince changes Emerald Buddha’s costume to that of summer season

BANGKOK, 17 March 2014 (NNT) - His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn on Sunday (March 16) represented His Majesty the King at the ceremony of changing the costume of the Emerald Buddha image, at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in the Grand Palace.

His Royal Highness, accompanied by the Princess Consort, Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasm, arrived at the Temple at 5.18 p.m. to perform the age-old ritual of changing the costume of the Buddha image from the winter season cloak to the summer season attire made of pure gold. The attire includes a diamond studded headdress.

The ceremony was dated back to King Rama I who then built two seasonal costumes for the Emerald Buddha image – one for the summer season and the other for the rainy season. King Rama III had another costume made for the winter season. The Emerald Buddha image is carved from a block of jade in cross-legged sitting posture, in an attitude of meditation. The statue is 66 centimeters high from base to top and has a width of 48.3 centimeters at the lap.

At the Sunday ceremony, after changing the Buddha image’s costume, His Royal Highness sprinkled lustral water on officials who were attending the ceremony inside the ubosoth and then permitted the Brahmin priests to pass consecrated candles known as Waen Wian Thian to members of the Royal Family and ranking officials, which is, according to ancient traditions, a gesture of blessing. After the Wian Thian ceremony, His Royal Highness sprinkled lustral water on people who were waiting outside.


-- NNT 2014-03-17

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,374.36, gains 2.18 points /MCOT

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Army chief visits Narathiwat, says 4th Army Region commander change in April is fair; supports all means to help country move forward /MCOT

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Chinese slam Malaysia for 'contradictory' jet information

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711115-disappearance-of-malaysian-jet-appears-deliberate-pm/page-10?p=7571225#entry7571225

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UPDATE:

Commerce Ministry reviews strategy on sales of stockpiled rice

BANGKOK, 17 Mar 2014 (NNT) -- Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan is today calling a meeting of related officials to discuss the rice situation and review the Ministry’s strategy to sell the stockpiled rice.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711492-thailand-to-join-rice-auction-in-the-philippines-to-compete-with-vietnam/#entry7571269

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Bad*ss kindergartners sit on crocodile in school’s field trip
By Coconuts Bangkok



CHIANG MAI: -- What do kindergartners do in their school hours? Besides coloring and counting numbers, these 3-year-olds also sat on top of a deadly crocodile while their teachers snapped a photo.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711504-badss-kindergartners-sit-on-crocodile-in-schools-field-trip-chiang-mai/