Thailand Live Tuesday 18 Mar 2014

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A thousand sacks of govt rice disappear



BURIRAM, 18 March 2014 (NNT) – One thousand sacks of rice kept in storage in a warehouse in Buriram province are missing. The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) is investigating the case.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711758-state-rice-stocks-strictly-controlled-after-smuggling-reported/#entry7575858

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Special Report:
Human rights organization urges government to abolish death penalty

BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s Union for Civil Liberty is calling for the abolition of capital punishment in the kingdom following a rise in the number of criminals condemned to death in the Deep South.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711795-human-rights-organization-urges-thai-govt-to-abolish-death-penalty/

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China finds no terror link to nationals on Malaysia plane

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711115-disappearance-of-malaysian-jet-appears-deliberate-pm/page-11?p=7576005#entry7576005

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Two police officers wounded in roadside bombing in Pattani's Mayo; Father shot dead, 3 year old son wounded in gun attack at Yaring /MCOT

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Surin Red Cross announces blood donation plans

SURIN 18 March 2014 (NNT) — The Surin Red Cross has announced blood donation plans for March.

The Chairman of the Surin Red Cross Association, Niran Kalyanamit, has announced that the Surin Red Cross Association will be working in cooperation with Surin Red Cross Station 1 and the Surin Hospital Blood Bank, to seek blood donations every three months.

The Surin Red Cross will be roaming the province in search of volunteers who wish to donate blood for a good cause, visiting governmental offices, municipalities, and educational institutions around the province.

Those who are interested in donating blood can do so on March 18 at the Kap Cheung Municipal Auditorium; March 20 at the Sri Narong Municipal Auditorium; March 25 at Panom Dong Rak Municipal Auditorium; and March 27 at Sanom Municipal Auditorium.

The Red Cross will be open for blood donations on the stated dates from 8:30 am onwards.


-- NNT 2014-03-18

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BMA advises residents to avoid trash dump area

BANGKOK 18 March 2014 (NNT) — The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Environmental Department has advised citizens to avoid the smoky areas of the Bang Pu garbage pit — adding that masks should be worn in order not to inhale dangerous fumes.

Mr. Somchai Chatsakulpen, Deputy-Director of the BMA Environmental Department, revealed that many areas of Bangkok have voiced their complaints over the smoke and fume billowing from the burning trash in the Bang Pu garbage pit in Samut Prakan province.

The BMA Environmental Department is carrying out and conducting pollution tests to determine its effects on nearby residents. The department has also announced initial preventive measures that include avoiding the smoky areas and covering one’s noses and mouths to refrain from inhaling the fumes.

Mr. Somchai further stated that the department would be working closely with the Bangkok Health Department to provide immediate assistance to those affected by the smoke.

So far, Bangkok districts that have been affected by the smoke include Bangna, Saphan Sung, Ladkrabang, and Prawet.


-- NNT 2014-03-18

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The cabinet will lift the state of emergency tomorrow; the emergency decree will be replaced by the Internal Security Act /Bangkok Post

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Thai Cabinet lifts state of emergency

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711810-thai-cabinet-lifts-state-of-emergency/

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Caretaker Deputy PM/Finance Minister Kittiratt signs approval letter to use Bt20 billion from central fund to pay farmers under rice pledging scheme /MCOT

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Army chief warns of tough retaliation if force is used



BANGKOK: -- Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha strongly blasted at redshirt hardcore leaders who threatened to use force against anti-government protesters, harass independent organizations, inciting violence, and mobilizing armed fighters to fight the Army.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711812-army-chief-warns-redshirt-hardcore-leaders-of-tough-retaliation-if-force-is-used/

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Phuket:

Clampdown coming on multiple tourist visa runs


Burmese Immigration office at Victoria Point, opposite Ranong, a favourite with visa-hoppers. Photo Silke Baron

PHUKET: -- Immigration is to bring in a new rule soon aimed at discouraging repeat visa runs by visitors to Thailand who get visas on arrival and then extend their stays by doing visa runs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711815-clampdown-coming-on-multiple-tourist-visa-runs/

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Kittirat endorses payment of 20-billion baht to pay farmers



BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittirat na Ranong has signed endorsement for a payment of 20 billion baht from the central fund to pay rice farmers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711818-kittirat-endorses-payment-of-20-billion-baht-to-pay-farmers/

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

PCAD Questions 'Pro-Yingluck' Lotto Result
By Khaosod English

BANGKOK: -- Anti-government protesters have called for inquiry into the latest lotto result which, they said, appears to be rigged in favour of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's supporters.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711608-officials-dispute-claims-of-pro-yingluck-lotto-rigging/page-2#entry7576503

[Lite Beer]

PATTANI: -- A construction worker and his three-year-old son were killed when gunmen fired gunshots at the family of four while returning home from a small party of a neighbor in Yaring District of Pattani province early Tuesday.

Nuradin Maseela, 27, was riding home in a motorcycle holding his sick 3-year-old son on the shoulder, while his wife and 2-year-old daughter riding on the pillion.

As they arrived at home in Tambon Radabanyang and were about to go inside, unknown of gunmen waiting in the dark open fire with guns, hitting him and the boy. The father died at the scene while his sick boy died at hospital. They returned from a party held to welcome a new army recruit at a village.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/32269/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=32269

-- Thai PBS 2014-04-18

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Bushfire quickly put out before spreading

SUKHOTHAI: -- A bushfire happened today at Tambon Klaangdong in Thung Salieng District of Sukhothai province forcing villagers to evacuate from their homes.

The bushfire raged quickly as there are plentiful dried leaves and branches as fuel on the bushes along the road.

Several villagers living near the area were forced to evacuate as the fire was raging near. Fire engines were later called in and help to keep the fire under control an hour later.

During the fire traffic on the road was forced to a halt due to poor visibility and danger to pass into the thick billow of smokes blanketing the area where the road cut through.

A resident said he suspected the bush fire was started by cane farmers and poachers. He said cane farmers burned their cane plantation to prepare for new planting but did not make a fire buffer zone, thus making it to spread to nearby houses of villagers.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/bushfire-quickly-put-spreading/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bushfire-quickly-put-spreading

-- Thai PBS 2014-03-18

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Emergency Decree revoked, replaced by Internal Security Act effective from March 19-April 30 /MCOT

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Chinese MH370 relatives threaten 'hunger strike'

BEIJING - Desperate relatives of Chinese passengers aboard flight MH370 threatened to go on hunger strike Tuesday as they demanded answers about the missing aircraft from Malaysian officials.

"Now we have no news, and everyone is understandably worried. The relatives say they will go to the (Malaysian) embassy to find the ambassador," said Wen Wancheng, whose son was aboard the missing flight.

"The Malaysian ambassador should be presenting himself here. But he’s not," Wen said, updating reporters after a regular meeting between Malaysia Airlines officials and family members at a hotel in Beijing.

"Relatives are very unsatisfied. So you hear them saying ’hunger strike’," added the 63-year-old from the eastern province of Shandong, speaking as the search entered its 11th day.

-- The Nation 2014-03-18

[Lite Beer]

PM attends meeting on wheel chair

BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrived Tuesday morning at the Police Cadet Academy in Sampran on a wheel chair to attend a cabinet meeting.

She tumbled on the ground as she stepped out of a van during a trip to have lunch at a noodle shop in Chiang Mai last Saturday.

Doctor put cast on her left leg to cure the fractured bone.

She was wheeled into the meeting room to chair the meeting.

She told reporters that she still has pain on the left leg and doctor said it will take about a month and a half to recover the injury.

Agendas at the meeting today include the proposed lifting of the state of emergency in Bangkok and adjacent provinces, the restructuring of the Center for Maintaining of Peace and Order, fake passports of two passengers on the missing Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 planes, and abduction of two Malaysian tourists for ransom in Phuket.’

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-attends-meeting-wheel-chair/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pm-attends-meeting-wheel-chair

-- Thai PBS 2014-03-18

[Lite Beer]

Arrest Warrant On 'Popcorn Gunman' Approved

BY Khaosod English

BANGKOK: -- The court has approved arrest warrant on one of armed militants allied to anti-government protesters who have engaged in pre-election gunbattle against pro-government protesters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711836-arrest-warrant-on-popcorn-gunman-approved/

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Still no clues to whereabouts of missing Phuket Russian
Anthika Muangrod


Alexei Slabinskiy is still missing.

PHUKET: -- Police investigating the case of missing Russian expat Alexei Slabinskiy – initially feared kidnapped on Phuket – believe there are no Thais involved in the incident. But they still don’t know where he is.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711839-still-no-clues-to-whereabouts-of-missing-phuket-russian/

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UPDATE:

Malaysia requests Thailand's help over missing airliner's satellite signal

BANGKOK, 18 March 2014 (NNT) - The Foreign Affairs Ministry has made known that Malaysia is requesting Thailand’s assistance in providing vital information on the missing airliner’s whereabouts.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709464-missing-malaysia-airlines-jet-carrying-239-triggers-southeast-asia-search/page-92?p=7576967#entry7576967

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Somchai to end attempt to solve country's crisis if proposal rejected
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, March 18 - Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn said he will end his attempt to mediate political conflicts if the proposal of six independent agencies to solve the crisis is rejected by the caretaker government and anti-government movement.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711845-somchai-to-end-attempt-to-solve-countrys-crisis-if-proposal-rejected/

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NSC Secretary General confident ISA will be able to control protesters

BANGKOK 18 March 2014 (NNT) — NSC Secretary General Lieutenant General Paradon Patanatabutr is confident that the Internal Security Act (ISA) will be able to control the ongoing protesters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711810-thai-cabinet-lifts-state-of-emergency/#entry7577140

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Caretaker PM: government coordinating with UN on 200 Muslim asylum seekers in Songkhla, says Thailand will provide humanitarian help /MCOT

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SET index closed 1,373.08, down 4.02; Bt/USD32.02; GBP53.06; AUD28.89; EUR44.43; CAD28.83; HKD4.11; SGD25.19; JPY31.38

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Ko Tee Admits Organising 'Red Riot' Forces
By Khaosod English


Police officers move in to defuse a homemade explosive device in front of Ratchapisek Criminal Court in Bangkok yesterday. A Redshirts activist has promised yet more round of violence if the military launches a coup against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

BANGKOK: -- A prominent Redshirts activist has admitted that he has been preparing an armed "underground" force in the event of a military coup.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711882-ko-tee-admits-organising-red-riot-forces/

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Google launches Voice Search in Thai language

Google Tuesday launched a Thai-language version of its Voice Search product. For now it is available only on Android smartphones, but is scheduled to be available on iOS phones and on the Google Chrome browser later.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711885-google-launches-voice-search-in-thai-language/

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UPDATE:

MISSING MH 370
Thai Air Force radar may have picked up MH 370: ACM Prachin
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A Thai Air Force radar station in Surat Thani detected a passenger aircraft that departed from Malaysia but diverted and passed the port city of Butterworth, Malaysia, Thai Air Force's chief ACM Prajin Juntong said Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709464-missing-malaysia-airlines-jet-carrying-239-triggers-southeast-asia-search/page-92#entry7577568

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Phuket police connect two local expats to Russian missing persons case
Phuket Gazette


Phuket’s top cop Ong-art Phiwruangnont said he believed that the case will be solved quickly. Photo: Woranut Pechdee

PHUKET: -- Police have identified the two Caucasian men who were seen with “missing” Russian woman Iana Strizheus, found injured and in shock in a hotel room on Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711839-still-no-clues-to-whereabouts-of-missing-phuket-russian/#entry7577596

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ISOC approves structure of CAPO under Internal Security Act, Chalerm to direct agency, Tarit as secretary general /MCOT