Thailand Live Monday 17 Mar 2014

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2nd bomb found, in front of Judicial Training Institute on Ratchadapisek, after EOD defuses explosive device at Attorney Gen. Office /MCOT

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UPDATE:

Bang Saen Beach returns to normal after oil slick removed
By Digital Content



CHON BURI, March 17 -- Thailand's famed Bang Saen in the eastern province of Chon Buri has returned to normal after a new oil slick was removed but only few tourists have turned up.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711287-bang-saen-hit-with-oil-slick/#entry7571442

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Ex-Crime Suppression Division police officer killed, burnt at petrol station in Yala's Yaha district /MCOT

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Hundreds of families evacuated following smog caused by garbage disposal site fire

BANGKOK: -- Hundreds of families in nearby communities were evacuated to escape smog caused by a massive fire at a garbage disposal site in Samut Prakan's Muang district.

Hundreds of families in Saensuk Cooperative community and Thanyaporn Community left their houses after midnight and took a shelter at the Tambon Praeksa Administrative Organisation's building or at their relatives' homes.

About 30 families living near the Praeksa disposal site left their houses at about 1:56 am Monday.

The fire started at about noon on Sunday. More than 20 fire engines tried but failed to stop the fire so far. The massive blaze caused black smoke and smog in the air, affecting people living nearby.


-- The Nation 2014-03-17

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UPDATE:

Malaysia leaves no stone unturned on MH370 probe
By Digital Content

KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian authorities leave no stone unturned in their investigation of the missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) MH370, which now enters its ninth day, since the aircraft disappeared on March 8.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709464-missing-malaysia-airlines-jet-carrying-239-triggers-southeast-asia-search/page-88?p=7571483#entry7571483

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UPDATE:

25 countries now involved in search for MH370



KUALA LUMPUR: -- The search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is now in a deep and remote ocean and the number of countries involved has increased from 14 to 25, said Malaysia's Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein on Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709464-missing-malaysia-airlines-jet-carrying-239-triggers-southeast-asia-search/page-88?p=7571483#entry7571483

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UPDATE:

Australia to lead southern search for MH370: PM

SYDNEY - Australia will take responsibility for the "southern vector" of the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, with 25 countries now involved in a huge operation to locate the plane, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709464-missing-malaysia-airlines-jet-carrying-239-triggers-southeast-asia-search/page-88?p=7571507#entry7571507

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PRAEKSA GARBAGE SITE FIRE
Hundreds of families evacuated following massive smog
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Hundreds of families in nearby communities were evacuated to escape smog caused by a massive fire at a garbage disposal site in Samut Prakan.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711510-samut-prakan-garbage-site-fire-hundreds-of-families-evacuated/

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UPDATE:

Royal Thai Air Force denies detecting MH370 before it went missing



BANGKOK, 17 Mar 2014 -- The Royal Thai Air Force has denied that its radar detected the missing Malaysia Airline Flight MH 370 before it went missing, as claimed by Malaysia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709464-missing-malaysia-airlines-jet-carrying-239-triggers-southeast-asia-search/page-88?p=7571549#entry7571549

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Another gruesome murder in South



BANGKOK: -- A former special branch police officer was shot and burnt alive in Yaha District of Yala Province this morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711513-ex-special-branch-police-officer-shot-burnt-alive-at-petrol-station-in-south/

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Two bombs at Office of the Attorney-General and Court on Ratchadapisek Road



BANGKOK: -- Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) police late Monday morning successfully defused a 15-kilo fertilizer bomb placed at the wall fence of the Office of the Attorney-General on Ratchadapisek Road.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711516-bangkok-two-bombs-at-office-of-the-attorney-general-and-court-on-ratchadapisek/

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Army Chief Denounces New UDD Chairman
By Khaosod English

Mr. Jatupon Prompan (speaking) on UDD rally stage, 15 March 2014

BANGKOK: -- Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army has expressed his contempt toward the appointment of the new Redshirts leader, going as far as branding him a "bandit".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711522-thai-army-chief-denounces-new-udd-chairman-jatuporn/

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Army Chief confirms military’s impartiality



NARATHIWAT, 17 March 2014 (NNT) – Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha has given a firm assurance that the military will always be neutral, as its main responsibility is to protect the nation and the people.

Speaking during his trip to the southern province of Narathiwat, General Prayuth urged all parties to exercise restraints and refrain from using all forms of violence. According to him, the army will not take sides in the ongoing political rift that has caused heavy damage to the country as a whole. If violence does not stop, there will be more casualties and injuries, he added.

When asked about the possibility of the government switching from emergency law to Internal Security Act (ISA), the army chief said it was up to the government to make the decision, but the military would only act as a backup unit.

Regardless of who wins the political battle, the victory will be a Pyrrhic one, given the country will have suffered a great deal of damage, said the C-in-C.

-- NNT 2014-03-17

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Surapong says bomb at OAG is linked to its withdrawal from mediator’s role



BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said that this morning’s bomb incident at the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) was caused by its withdrawal from the mediator’s role offered earlier by the seven independent agencies to resolve the current political impasse.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711516-bangkok-two-bombs-at-office-of-the-attorney-general-and-court-on-ratchadapisek/#entry7571790

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Adul supports lifting of state of emergency

BANGKOK: -- Police Commissioner General Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew said Monday that he supported the proposal of caretaker Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung for the Cabinet to lift the state of emergency.

Chalerm, chief of the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order, said he would ask the Cabinet to lift the state of emergency.

Adul said the political atmosphere would improve after the state of emergency is lifted. But police would have to monitor against violent attacks by third-party groups, Adul said.


-- The Nation 2014-03-17

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Internal Security Act replacing Emergency Decree: Surapong

BANGKOK, March 17 -- The caretaker cabinet, at its weekly meeting tomorrow will revoke the emergency decree and return to use of the Internal Security Act (ISA) to handle the political situation, according to caretaker Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Affairs Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711526-internal-security-act-replacing-emergency-decree-surapong/

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NSPRT protesters rally at Parliament, ask Senate Speaker, Second Deputy Senate Speaker to end work as their terms have expired /MCOT

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Bombs found, defused at two Bangkok judicial compounds
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Mar 17 - Two homemade bombs were found at separate locations within the compounds of judicial offices in Bangkok this morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711516-bangkok-two-bombs-at-office-of-the-attorney-general-and-court-on-ratchadapisek/?p=7571932#entry7571932

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TAT to run‘Amazing Thailand Roadshow’ to be held in East Asian countries

BANGKOK 17 March 2014 (NNT) — The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is currently planning to hold a roadshows in East Asian countries to revive the nation's tourism market, after the political conflicts in the Kingdom end.

According to Ms. Srisuda Wanapinyosak, TAT’s Director for East Asian Nations, the roadshow is currently in its planning stage. The East Asian countries in which the TAT plans to stage the roadshows after the political crisis in Thailand eases off include Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China.

The TAT also plans to focus on the subject of the emergency decree being lifted, and has devised a plan to update and build more confidence among tourists, under the project “Thailand Today”.

The “Thailand Today” project will be a cooperation between airlines, which will provide attractive promotions, and representatives from each East Asian countries to help update their fellow citizens on the situation in Thailand in order to regain tourist confidence.

Other companies in Thailand expected to participate in promoting tourism include King Power, Oasis Spa, Muay Thai Live Show, and Asiatique, which will be giving out special gift vouchers to tourists who visit Thailand.


-- NNT 2014-03-17

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CMPO’s Chalerm does not fret over the court’s protection of Satish Sehgal

BANGKOK, 17 Mar 2014 (NNT) -- Director of the Center for Maintaining Peace and Order Chalerm Yubumrung does not fret over the Civil Court’s decision to grant a temporary protection for Mr. Satish Sehgal, a supporter of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711570-cmpos-chalerm-does-not-fret-over-the-courts-protection-of-satish-sehgal/

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POLITICS
Senators' petition to go to Constitutional Court

BANGKOK: -- The Senate is expected to pass on the petition questioning the status of the caretaker premier to the Constitutional Court on Monday, Senate secretary general Norarat Pimsen said.

The petition was submitted by 27 senators led by Paiboon Nititawan. The request was submitted after the Supreme Administrative Court ruled that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's transfer of National Security Council secretary general Thawil Pliensri was illegal.

-- The Nation 2014-03-17

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UPDATE:

Worst ever hailstorm damages more than 500 homes

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711501-loei-authorities-begin-assessing-hailstorm-damage/#entry7572244

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UPDATE:

Haze in Chiang Mai remains critical

CHIANG MAI: -- The haze that blankets Chiang Mai town remains critical with latest measurement of air quality by officials showing it is well over safety standard.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710922-chiang-mai-covered-in-smoke-for-the-4th-day/page-2#entry7572300

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Bomb found at home of a redshirt activist in South



BANGKOK: -- A M 67 hand grenade was found this morning at the home of a red-shirt activist Mana Karndee in Bang Khan District of Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Mana told Bang Khan police that the grenade was found as a worker was mowing the lawn in front of his house. The safety pin is still attached with the grenade.

He later alerted the police to collect it.

He told the police that he did not know the intention of the people to throw the grenade into his home because he was at home occasionally as he mostly took part in red-shirt rallies in Bangkok.

He admitted to be an aide to a Pheu Thai party’s election candidate, Aree Krainara who was a chief security guard of the redshirts.;

Bang Khan police chief Pol Col Cherdchai Mosika said the grenade was old but still functional. The grenade was later destroyed by Explosive Ordnance Disposal police from the 42nd Border Patrol Police command in Thung Song District.’

He said it was not immediately known the exact cause of the incident but said that Mana has earlier filed complaint last month with the police that his car was hammered and damaged by perpetrator.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/bomb-found-home-redshirt-activist-south/


-- Thai PBS 2014-03-17

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Joint Agencies Efforts To Tackle Extra-Legal Debts
By Khaosod English

BANGKOK: -- Officials from various state agencies have vowed a joint effort to curb the widespread problem of predatory lending and extra-legal debts across the nation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711575-joint-agencies-efforts-to-tackle-extra-legal-debts/

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UPDATE:

Police post bodyguard for Russian 'kidnap' victim
Phuket Gazette


Iana Strizheus was last seen by friends on March 7 and found yesterday evening in a hotel room in Cherng Talay. Photo: Supplied


PHUKET: -- Police have posted an around-the-clock guard outside the hospital room of the Russian woman who was found injured yesterday after having disappeared for nine days.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711473-missing-russian-woman-found-injured-but-alive-in-phuket-hotel-room/#entry7572437

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Traffic police seek to set up traffic court to force traffic violators to pay fine

BANGKOK: -- Traffic police are cooperating with other government agencies concerned to seek to set up a special traffic court in Bangkok to force traffic violators to pay fine, a senior police officer said Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711605-bangkok-traffic-police-seek-to-set-up-courts-to-force-traffic-violators-to-pay-fine/

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Tourism sector welcomes government move to lift emergency decree
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, March 17 - The Tourism Council of Thailand said today the lifting of the two-month state of emergency will reduce the negative affect on the country's tourism industry only partially as the political situation is still unstable.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711607-tourism-sector-welcomes-thai-government-move-to-lift-emergency-decree/

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Crimean parliament votes in favour of region joining Russia, a day after a referendum approves leaving Ukraine /BBC

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Officials Dispute Claims Of Pro-Yingluck Lotto 'Rigging'

By Khaosod English


Vehicle of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at Three Baht Noodle shop in Chiang Mai province, 15 March 2014

BANGKOK: -- Officials have denied claims that the authorities have "rigged" lottery numbers to resemble vehicle license plates of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711608-officials-dispute-claims-of-pro-yingluck-lotto-rigging/