Thailand Live Wednesday 26 Mar 2014

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Cabinet grants additional 889 million baht for holding Senate poll

BANGKOK, 26 March 2014 (NNT) – The Cabinet has endorsed an additional budget of 889 million baht to be used in the upcoming senatorial election, on top of a leftover budget of 551 million baht from the February 2 poll.

Government Spokesperson Lt Sunisa Lertpakawat stated that about 551 million baht was left of the 3.8-billion-baht budget allocated for the February 2 general election. She said the unused portion would now be spent on the March 30 senatorial election instead.

In addition to the leftover, the Cabinet today gave approval to an extra allocation of 889 million baht as requested by the Election Commission, raising the total election budget to 1.4 billion baht, which was the amount agreed upon earlier by the Cabinet.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet was informed by the Bureau of the Budget that about 3.2 billion baht had been used to organize the February 2 poll. The government spokesperson indicated that the figure would be used as reference during the re-election. Since some equipment had already been purchased and could be reused, she said the budget proposed should be lower than 3.2 billion baht.


-- NNT 2014-03-26

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Army Chief scolds red shirts for naming neutral PM candidates



BANGKOK, 26 March 2014 (NNT) – After the red-shirt group unveiled names of individuals who were likely to be appointed as a neutral prime minister, Army Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha has criticized the action, saying the list was based on the group’s own opinion and should be left unheeded.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713835-army-chief-scolds-red-shirts-for-naming-neutral-pm-candidates/

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2010 Unrest: Court Says Military Gunfire Kills Protester

By Khaosod English



BANGKOK: -- Court inquest indicates that yet another Redshirts protester has been killed by gunfire from the military position during the 2010 crackdown in downtown Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713836-2010-unrest-thai-court-says-military-gunfire-kills-protester/

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
US talking to all sides in conflict: Kenney
The Nation


US Ambassador Kristie Kenney takes a selfie with NMG chairman Suthichai Yoon at her residence after an interview yesterday. Photo by Kawinpat Mongkolrunghirun

BANGKOK: -- THE UNITED STATES has talked with all sides in the Thai political conflict and believes that the crisis will be handled by the country and Thais themselves, US Ambassador Kristie Kenney said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713838-us-talking-to-all-sides-in-conflict-kenney/

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POLITICS
Bid to meet Suthep to find way out
The Nation


Supporters of the anti-government People

Coalition to invite Democrats, other parties to talks; warn of Asean suspension

BANGKOK: -- Political parties plan to hold talks and send representatives to People's Democratic Reform Committee chief Suthep Thaugsuban for discussions to resolve the political deadlock, as they fear internal conflict could even lead to the country's suspension from Asean.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713839-bid-to-meet-suthep-to-find-way-out/

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ENVIRONMENT
Garbage-dump fire prompts nationwide check of controls
Janjira Pongrai,
Salinee Prab
The Nation



Local bodies lack capacity to tackle pollution problems

BANGKOK: -- ENVIRONMENTAL experts are testing samples from around the burned-out garbage dump at Samut Prakan's tambon Praksa for toxic substances in the soil, air and underground water, in order to find out where they came from.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713840-samut-prakan-garbage-dump-fire-prompts-nationwide-check-of-controls/

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POLITICS
Violent attacks hit multiple sites in Bangkok
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Two M79 grenades exploded at the National Anti-Corruption Commission compound, and another on the Government Lottery Office next door, late on Monday night. They caused property damage but no casualties.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713841-violent-attacks-hit-multiple-sites-in-bangkok/

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STOPPAGE TIME
Thai politics for dummies
Tulsathit Taptim

Writer's note: Even the most complicated things (like Thai politics) can reach a "saturation" point of complexity, when all about them can be explained in the simplest ways. The following "Thai politics for idiots" has been requested by some foreigners and inspired by a great blog about the upcoming vote for Scottish independence. This is for all the nine-year-olds out there.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713842-thai-politics-for-dummies/

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BURNING ISSUE
Court's ruling pointing to the wrong exit from crisis
Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Constitutional Court's judgement to nullify the February 2 election was extremely counterproductive for legal interpretation, law enforcement and political development in Thailand. The court misinterpreted the Constitution and presented a wrong exit from the political crisis.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713844-thai-courts-ruling-pointing-to-the-wrong-exit-from-crisis/

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Electronic bracelets to keep convicted cabbies, tour guides out of airport
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Samut Prakan District Court is eyeing the possibility of using electronic monitoring (EM) bracelets to keep taxi drivers and tour guides who were previously convicted for deceiving foreigners out of Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713845-electronic-bracelets-to-keep-convicted-cabbies-tour-guides-out-of-suvarnabhumi-airport/

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Chinese tourist nabbed with big stash of 'ice'
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- A Chinese woman was arrested along with 3 kilograms of "ice" worth Bt10 million at Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport yesterday morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713847-chinese-tourist-nabbed-with-big-stash-of-ice-at-don-mueang-airport/

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OBITUARY
Well-known Malta envoy John de Salis dies aged 67
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- WELL-KNOWN former Order of Malta ambassador John de Salis left many Thai friends when he passed away on March 14.

The count was born in 1947 and educated at Downside and Cambridge University.

He served in the British Army in Northern Ireland and Cyprus with the rank of major in the Prince of Wales Royal Lancers.

He joined the International Red Cross in 1978 and served in difficult missions to Africa and Thailand, where he became head of the delegation.

With deep affection for this country, and as a knight of the Order of Malta, he became the order's first ambassador to Thailand from 1986-98, and to Cambodia in 1993.

During his posting to Thailand, he was bestowed the Knight Grand Cross, an honorary rank in the Royal Thai Army, and was made an honorary member of the Thai Red Cross.

He was a frequent visitor to the Cambodian border where the Order of Malta had established field hospitals for displaced persons.

He was also active with programmes for slum communities in Bangkok through the Duang Prateep Foundation.

An aristocrat with a rare sense of humour and a kind heart for the disadvantaged, he is greatly missed by his friends here.

The count is survived by his wife, Countess Marie-Claude, his son Count John-Maximillian and two young daughters.

A mass will be held for him at the Catholic church in his hometown of Grandson, Switzerland, on Saturday.


-- The Nation 2014-03-26

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Dog carcasses found in Sakhon Nakhon

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police discovered some 1,000 dog carcasses in a wooded area in Sakhon Nakhon's Muang district yesterday afternoon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713849-some-1000-dog-carcasses-found-in-sakhon-nakhon/

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Political turmoil scares away Thai investors



BANGKOK: -- Ongoing political turmoil will cause Thailand to lose private investments worth billions of baht and lose around 30 billion baht of markets in ASEAN.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713854-political-turmoil-scares-away-thai-investors/

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Double-decker bus may be banned from hilly roads



BANGKOK: -- The Land Transport Department is now contemplating of implementing stricter controls for double-deck passenger buses running on unsafe routes in wake of numerous incidents involving such vehicles.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713855-double-decker-bus-may-be-banned-from-hilly-roads-in-thailand/

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Chatchart: Driver negligence caused tragic coach accident in Tak

TAK, 26 March 2014 (NNT) – Minister of Transport Chatchart Sitthiphan indicated on Tuesday that preliminary findings suggested the driver of the coach that plunged down a cliff in Tak had been speeding and trying to overtake the car in front, before the coach slipped out of the curve.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713855-double-decker-bus-may-be-banned-from-hilly-roads-in-thailand/page-2#entry7609396

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A M 79 grenade was fired into the house of People’s Democratic Reform Committee leader Suthep Thaugsuban on Buddhamonthon Sai 2 road last night and landed at the lawn behind the house and exploded.

Nobody was injured. It was the third time the house was attacked with M 79 grenade and the fourth to be landed at and near the house. Ekanat Phrompan, a PDRC leader said his mother alerted him of the attack at about 7.00 p.m.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/33468/


-- Thai PBS 2014-03-26

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Third grenade attack at Suthep's house



BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok’s residence of People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuwan on Buddhamonthon Sai 2 came under M 79 grenade attack again for the third time in less than two months last night but nobody was injured.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713882-third-grenade-attack-at-sutheps-house/

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PDRC starts 3rd day of warm up march from Lumpini to Sam Yan, Phetchburi, Chidlom, Lang Suan and back to Lumpini /MCOT

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Facebook takes $2 billion dive into virtual reality

SAN FRANCISCO - Facebook on Tuesday announced a $2-billion deal to buy a startup behind virtual reality headgear that promises to let people truly dive into their friends' lives.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713887-facebook-takes-us2-billion-dive-into-virtual-reality/

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,359.85, gains 5.84 points /MCOT

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Thailand becomes 'Sick Man of Southeast Asia'
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, March 26 – Thailand is now being branded as 'the sick man of Southeast Asia' given its low economic growth, unstable politics and lack of investors’ confidence, according to the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713890-thailand-becomes-sick-man-of-southeast-asia/

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Govt extends stay for labour migrants
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, March 26 – Over 200,000 labour migrants from neighbouring countries whose working visas have expired will be permitted to stay for another 180 days, according to the caretaker Cabinet’s decision.

The Cabinet extended their stay for 180 days, or until the new government reconsiders the issue in order to prevent a labour shortage in the manufacturing sector.

The workers are from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia who have worked in Thailand for four years. They have yet to go through the legal employment process.

About 80 per cent of migrant workers in Thailand are from Myanmar. They work in factories, construction and the seafood industry.

Thailand established a nationality verification program, in cooperation with its neighbors, to legalize foreign workers and reduce labor abuses. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-03-26

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NESDB urges public spending to stimulate economy
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, March 26 – Thailand's economic growth in the first quarter could be lower than last year’s final quarter due to limited domestic consumption and export risks, according to the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713892-nesdb-urges-public-spending-to-stimulate-thai-economy/

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Suthep insists no election until reform starts



BANGKOK: -- People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban declared last night that no new election is to be called again unless the caretaker prime minister steps down to allow the national reform to start.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713893-suthep-insists-no-election-until-reform-starts/

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Petition of Alaska joining Russia polls over 25,000 votes

The petition of Alaska joining Russia posted on the White House’s website on 21 March has polled over 25,000 votes in its support. For the US authorities to formally respond to the petition this appeal should win at least 100,000 supporters by 20 April.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713897-petition-of-alaska-joining-russia-polls-over-25000-votes/

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Anti drug agency ONCB seizes 150 kg of heroin worth Bt117 million at Ranong; investigation continues to seek more smugglers /MCOT

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Govt. to look into the Court's interpretation of last week ruling



BANGKOK, 26 March 2014 (NNT) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has assigned the Council of State, Deputy Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanjana and Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office Worathep Rattanakorn to meet on the interpretation of the constitutional courts ruling to strike down the February 2nd general election, in order to respond to the court’s instruction properly.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713925-govt-to-look-into-the-courts-interpretation-of-last-week-ruling-february-2-election/

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Pantip Plaza to undergo major facelift to draw customers



BANGKOK: -- Pantip Plaza, Bangkok’s largest indoor IT product market, is planning a 500-million-baht facelift to meet changing consumer behavior.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713926-bangkoks-pantip-plaza-to-undergo-major-facelift-to-draw-customers/

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RT @RichardBarrow: 11:23am - RT @DrJMSRobertson: Petchaburi now open, but Soi Chidlom standstill as protesters move down the block http://t.co/2HpU25v4kC