Thailand Live Wednesday 19 Mar 2014

[webfact]

Overturned truck spills 20,000 liters of petrol on Phaholyothin



BANGKOK: -- An oil truck overturned on Phaholyothin road in Klong Luang district of Pathumthani before dawn Wednesday, spilling more than 20,000 liters of benzene and diesel and shutting down traffic for several hours.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712053-bangkok-overturned-truck-spills-20000-liters-of-petrol-on-phaholyothin-road/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

PM, Ministers To Be Probed For 'Secessionist' Campaign
By Khaosod English


Mr. Nattawut Saikua on the Redshirts rally stage in Nakhon Ratchasima province, 23 February 2014

BANGKOK: -- The National Anti-Corruption Commission has launched an investigation into the claims that top governmental officials, including Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, are advocating a secessionist agenda.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712014-pm-yingluck-to-face-probe-for-nakhon-ratchasimas-red-shirt-rally/#entry7580547

[webfact]

Armed PCAD 'Guard' Arrested On Petchaburi Road
By Khaosod English

BANGKOK: -- Police say they have arrested an armed security guard of anti-government protests at a checkpoint in Bangkok last night.

Police at the checkpoint on Petchaburi Road encountered the suspect as he was riding on a taxi, according to police reports. When the officers searched the man, they reportedly found a number of firearms, ammunition, and homemade explosives.

The man, whose name was not released by the police, reportedly said he works as a volunteer guard for the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD).

The suspect also claimed he did not own the weapons, and he was merely delivering them to his friend at the PCAD rally site in Lumpini Park.

Police charged him with unauthorised posession of firearms.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1395202710&section=11&typecate=06


-- Khaosod English 2014-03-19

[webfact]

NACC to decide on cases of ex-House Speaker and Senate President related to Senate bill on Friday

BANGKOK, 19 Mar 2014, (NNT) - The National Anti Corruption Commission (NACC)will on Friday rule on the impeachment cases against former House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont and Senate President Nikom Wairatchapanitch for their involvement in last year’s Senate Origin bill amendment.

According to Sansern Poljiak, the NACC secretary general, officials in charge of the impeachment cases against the two individuals are about to finish processing related evidence testimonies of the 2 defendants and the witnesses, adding that the NACC only needs to wrap up inquiry of additional witnesses as requested by the defendants.

Once the process is completed, the agency should be able to determine on Friday if the two are guilty; however, the cases of the 308 MPs and Senators will have to wait until all of the defendants have testified, said Sansern.


-- NNT 2014-03-19

[webfact]

Phichit helps residents hit by summer thunderstorm

PHICHIT, 19 March 2014 (NNT) -- The province of Phichit has launched a relief measure for villagers whose houses were damaged by a summer thunderstorm.

More than 80 houses, trees and electrical posts in Taphanhin and Bangmoolnak districts were damaged by a severe thundershower and gusts on Sunday. The incident also left villgers without power.

Phichit Governor and his team visited those villagers on Wednesday. Relief packages and construction materials were distributed to residents.

Local officers and residents joined hands moving uprooted trees out of the roads. Power has also been restored.

The Thai Meteorological Department on Sunday issued a warning for summer thunderstorm in the northern and northeastern parts of Thailand. The affected areas included Loei, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phetchabun, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, Uttaradit, Tak, Nakhon Sawan and Lopburi.


-- NNT 2014-03-19

[webfact]

First army division commander says no troop reduction in capital



BANGKOK: -- The commander of the First Army Division of the Royal Guards says there will be no troop reduction in the capital although the state of emergency will be lifted today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712083-first-army-division-commander-says-no-troop-reduction-in-bangkok/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Maldives police probe reports of MH370 sighting

NEW DELHI - Police in the Maldives are probing reports that islanders in the tourism paradise saw a "low-flying jumbo jet" on the day the missing Malaysia Airlines plane vanished.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709464-missing-malaysia-airlines-jet-carrying-239-triggers-southeast-asia-search/page-96?p=7580872#entry7580872

[webfact]

CAPO meets today on operating direction

BANGKOK, 19 Mar 2014 (NNT) - The Center for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) today holds its first meeting to lay down operating direction after the Cabinet yesterday lifted the Emergency Decree and re-imposed the Internal Security Act (ISA). The meeting is scheduled at the Narcotic Suppression Bureau of the Royal Thai Police.

Mr. Tarit Pengdit, Director General of the Department of Special Investigation and CAPO Secretary General, stated that the center would inherit the cases being investigated by the Center for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) during the time the Emergency Decree was in effect.

He stressed the CAPO would continue to push for legal actions against core members of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee and the movement’s many pending cases. The DSI chief also vowed CAPO officials would perform their duties to the best of their ability in order to enforce the law and protect the public and property.


-- NNT 2014-03-19

[webfact]

Chalerm chairs 1st CAPO meeting, orders tight security at checkpoints around Bangkok, denies caretaker PM supports UDD setting up volunteer force /MCOT

[webfact]

The Constitution Court has set to deliver an oral statement and make a ruling whether the Feb 2 election is invalid on Friday, March 21 /Bangkok Post

[webfact]

Tropical storm ravages homes in Chaiyaphum



BANGKOK: -- More than 100 homes in Ban Kwao district of Chaiyaphum province were damaged when a tropical storm struck two villages for half an hour last night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712089-tropical-storm-ravages-homes-in-chaiyaphum/

[webfact]

Bangkok Police Arrest Two Armed PCAD 'Guards'
By Khaosod English


Mr. Panompai Chaengtaeng

BANGKOK: -- Police say they have arrested two armed security guards of anti-government protests at checkpoints in Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712092-bangkok-police-arrest-two-armed-pcad-guards/

[webfact]

Jatuporn's house attacked with assault rifles

BANGKOK: -- An unknown number of attackers attacked a house of United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship chairman Jatuporn Promphan at noon Wednesday, Thai PBS reported.

The house is located in Bangkok's Sai Mai district.

No one was injured.


-- The Nation 2014-03-19

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

Constitutional Court may decide validity of Feb 2 poll today
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Mar 19 – Thailand's Constitutional Court may announce its ruling today on the validity of the Feb 2 general election amid a challenge that it was not authorised to consider the case into consideration.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711920-pheu-thai-vows-to-defy-constitutional-courts-ruling-on-election/page-5?p=7581184#entry7581184

[Lite Beer]

NACC to decide on cases of ex-House Speaker and Senate President related to Senate bill on Friday

BANGKOK, 19 Mar 2014, (NNT) - The National Anti Corruption Commission (NACC)will on Friday rule on the impeachment cases against former House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont and Senate President Nikom Wairatchapanitch for their involvement in last year’s Senate Origin bill amendment.

According to Sansern Poljiak, the NACC secretary general, officials in charge of the impeachment cases against the two individuals are about to finish processing related evidence testimonies of the 2 defendants and the witnesses, adding that the NACC only needs to wrap up inquiry of additional witnesses as requested by the defendants.

Once the process is completed, the agency should be able to determine on Friday if the two are guilty; however, the cases of the 308 MPs and Senators will have to wait until all of the defendants have testified, said Sansern.

-- NNT 2014-03-19

[Lite Beer]

Police catch alien workers being trafficked south.

CHUMPHON, 19 March 2014 (NNT) - Thai police have been able to detain a number of alien workers who were to be trafficked to the south of the country by agents working illegally.

Police General Kittisak Durongkawiboon, the commanding officer of the Anti-Human Trafficking Division, had been notified that there was a large number of alien workers being transported south on the Bangkok-Sungaikolok train that runs through Chumphon Province.

Therefore, he had ordered Lieutenant Colonel Narongkorn Phromprasit from the same department to request assistance from the railway police and the border-patrol police to deploy at least ten officers to intercept the train and take the alien workers into custody.

Before the train reached its destination, the police conducted a thorough inspection of the carriages and found at least 20 alien workers hiding within the train bogeys. The police then took them into custody for further interrogation. None of them had legal immigration papers, and they were aged around 18 to 25 years old. Of these workers, there were five men and five women from Cambodia, and nine men and one woman from Myanmar.

After questioning the undocumented workers, police found out that there had been both a Thai and a foreign agent who led them to board the train at Hua Lampong station. The ten Cambodian workers were to be transferred at the Surat Thani train station. Once they had arrived, there would be another agent to transport these laborers to work for a construction contractor.

Meanwhile the Burmese workers, would be transported to the Padang Besa train station in Songkhla Province where another agent would send them across the Malaysian border to work in the neighboring country. Therefore, the police are intensifying their search to arrest these agents and bring them to trial.

-- NNT 2014-03-19

[Lite Beer]

Premier closely following up on agricultural zonings and current drought issue

BANGKOK 19 March 2014 (NNT) — Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been closely following up on the developments of the agricultural zoning and the current drought situation affecting farmers.

The premier is currently on her trip to visit Pathum Thani Rice Research Center. She is accompanied by a team of related personnel to follow up on the developments of the current agricultural zoning and the drought situation.

Accompanying Ms. Yingluck are Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan and Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Yukol Limlamthong.

Although the overall drought situation remains under control, proper agricultural zoning is necessary in areas outside the reach of the Irrigation Department.

Ms. Yingluck will be receiving updated reports of the agricultural produce in the area, where the problems of the oversupply of fruit was properly handled last year. Nonetheless, monitoring is still needed to determine specific problems that may arise this year.

-- NNT 2014-03-19

[Lite Beer]

The Constitutional Court has finished hearing of the government’s defense of the legitimacy of the February 2 general election and also clarification of the Election Commission in holding the election amid troubles ahead after the government insisted.

The court required the government representatives to submit more supportive information tomorrow before making a ruling on Friday.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/32471/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=32471

-- Thai PBS 2014-03-19

[Lite Beer]

Army to retain 176 security checkpoints in Bangkok

The Army announced Wednesday that it will retain all 176 security checkpoints in Bangkok although the state of emergency has been lifted.

The government replaced the state of emergency with the enforcement of the Internal Security Act Wednesday.

First Army Division Commander Maj Gen Wara Boonyasit said the number of security checkpoints in Bangkok would not be reduced but troops might tighten their operations in line with the changed situation.

-- The Nation 2014-03-19

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Thaivisa launches Ask the Lawyer Service

Get free access to one of Thailand’s most experienced lawyers, with offices in Bangkok, Pattaya and Hua Hin.

Ask a question in our new Ask the Lawyer forum where you can briefly post your legal issue or question where a Thai legal expert will then publish a response in our open forum within 48 hours.

Read more here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712107-thaivisa-launches-ask-the-lawyer-service/

-- 2014-03-19

[webfact]

Landfill fire smoke spreads to outlying Bangkok
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, March 19 – Smoke from a burning landfill site in neighbouring Samut Prakarn has spread to seven districts nearby Bangkok, a city administration official said today.

Deputy City Clerk Banchong Sukdee said the acrid odor of the smoke was detected in some districts but was still below the standard safety warning level.

Bang Na, Prawet and Lat Krabang have been the hardest-hit districts in the last few days but the situation has gradually improved, he said.

Residents in four other districts – Phra Khanong, Khlong Samwa, Saphan Sung and Bueng Kum – were also affected by the haze from the landfill in Praeksa subdistrict of Samut Prakarn.

He said city officials were assigned to explain prevention measures to people in smoke-hit areas while health officials will offer health checks to residents until the situation returns to normal.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration this morning dispatched 60 firemen and 19 fire-fighting trucks to help extinguish the fire at the privately-owned landfill site. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-03-19

[webfact]

M16 attack at house of hardcore redshirt leader Jatuporn



BANGKOK: -- Unknown number of gunmen attacked the home of hardcore redshirt leader Jatuporn Promphan in Bangkok outskirt district early Wednesday but caused no injury to life.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712140-m16-attack-at-house-of-hardcore-redshirt-leader-jatuporn/

[webfact]

Pro-Russian activists enter Ukrainian naval base in Crimea - Russian flags seen flying from buildings /BBC

[webfact]

Hong Kong lowers travel alert for Bangkok



BANGKOK, 19 March 2014 (NNT) - Hong Kong has lowered its travel alert for Bangkok after having issued a severe warning for Thailand in January.

Hong Kong's Security Bureau has lowered the alert from black to amber. The agency elaborated that it will continue to monitor the situation in Thailand and issue updates through the media and its webpage.

The bureau warned that visitors from Hong Kong should continue to mind their personal safety and avoid protests or large gatherings.

The Hong Kong government raised the outbound travel alert for Bangkok to black on January 21 in view of the political turmoil in the capital.

The new development followed the Thai cabinet’s decision on Tuesday to revoke the state of emergency in the capital and surrounding provinces.


-- NNT 2014-03-19

[webfact]

Thailand weighs suit against Singaporean organizers of ‘SONGKRAN’
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- Tourism officials are consulting with the government’s copyright office to determine whether to take legal action against the Singaporean organizers of next month’s “Celebrate Songkran” party.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712161-thailand-weighs-suit-against-singaporean-organizers-of-songkran/

[webfact]

Abhisit concerned red shirts to descend on Bangkok following lifting of emergency

BANGKOK: -- Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva Wednesday voiced concern that red-shirt people may descend on Bangkok and confront anti-government protesters now that the state of emergency has been lifted.

Abhisit said although the lifting of state of emergency would benefit tourism, the confrontation between the two sides would make lifting of the emergency useless.

Anyway, it is fortunate that the Army would continue keeping security in Bangkok, Abhisit said.


-- The Nation 2014-03-19

[webfact]

Constitutional Court to rule Friday on validity of Feb 2 election
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, March 19 – The Constitutional Court announced it will give its verdict Friday on whether the Feb 2 general election will be annulled.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712170-constitutional-court-to-rule-friday-on-validity-of-feb-2-election/

[webfact]

SET index closed 1,364.27, down 8.81; Bt/USD31.98; GBP52.97; AUD29.00; EUR44.42; CAD28.61; HKD4.11; SGD25.17; JPY31.42

[webfact]

Thailand's upper parts to be hit by thunderstorm during next 3 days

BANGKOK, 19 March 2014 (NNT) - A tropical storm is set to hit Thailand’s upper parts during March 20-23 after a long period of drought.

The Meteorological Department reported that during the next three days, a high pressure cell from China, coupled with westerly winds, will prevail over the northern region and create a tropical storm. Thunderstorms and possibly hailstorms can be expected in the Northeast as well.

On Wednesday, the temperature is set to soar in most parts of the country due to a low pressure cell covering the upper region.

In the Northeast, many provinces including Chaiyaphum and Nakhon Ratchasima will be lashed with isolated showers. The temperature could rise to as high as 38 degrees Celsius.

Bangkok and its vicinity will experience cloudy conditions and will see average temperature hover between 34-37 degrees.


-- NNT 2014-03-19

[webfact]

Army continues support for police after Emergency Decree withdrawn

BANGKOK, 19 March 2014 (NNT) - Army Commander-in-Chief Gen.Prayuth Chan-ocha has ordered close monitoring of the political situation after the Cabinet revoked the Emergency Decree. The army has expressed readiness to follow the directions set by the Center for Managing Peace and Order and decrease its security check points if requested.

Army official Maj.Gen.Wara Boonyasit said on Tuesday that the army neither increased nor reduced its 176 security check points although the Emergency Decree was lifted. However, it would adjust the check points to be more suitable for the changing situation

Meanwhile, Spokesman of the Internal Security Operation Command Col.Banphot Phunpien said the army would continue deploying personnel to ensure security and giving support to the police during the political protests. They had been instructed by the army chief to keep a close watch on the situation Col.Banphot said.


-- NNT 2014-03-19