Thailand Live Thursday 3 Apr 2014

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Economist: AEC will benefit Thai auto sector

BANGKOK, 3 April 2014 (NNT) – A World Bank economist has indicated that the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) will be a driving force for the car industry of Thailand and the competition with other member countries will not be a problem.

Ms Kirida Paopichit, senior economist at the World Bank’s office in Thailand, said during a seminar that the ASEAN regional integration would present short-term as well as medium-term benefits to the Thai auto industry. In the short term, exports of cars and motorcycles to neighboring countries, especially the CLMV group which is made up of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, could see remarkable growth.

As for the medium term, or a period of 3-5 years, there could be a wider range of opportunities while more quality personnel from other ASEAN nations, especially those with knowledge and expertise in the engineering field, might be flowing into Thailand. With more capable workforce, further developments in many aspects could be anticipated in the Thai automobile business.

Ms Kirida reported that no negative effects from the AEC had been foreseen so far since the intense competition was unlikely to cause Thailand to lose its place as the biggest car producer in the region. She cited the political uncertainty in the country as a more worrying factor.


-- NNT 2014-04-03

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Al-Ruwaili Verdict: Removed Judge Insists Innocence
By Khaosod English


Saudi officials and relatives of Mr. Mohammad Al-Ruwaili in the press conference on 31 March 2014

BANGKOK: -- The former judge who had been removed from controversial case of missing Saudi businessman has denounced the court's allegation that he had inappropriately performed his duty.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/716053-al-ruwaili-verdict-removed-thai-judge-insists-innocence/

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UPDATE:

EXPLOSION
WWII bomb kills seven
TANATPONG KONGSAI,
PANYA PANPHUAK
THE NATION


An expert with a picture of an aerial bomb. One similar to this is believed to have caused a deadly explosion at a scrapyard in Bangkok that claimed seven lives.

20 others hurt in scrapyard blast

BANGKOK: -- AN EXPLOSION ripped through a scrapyard in Bangkok's Bang Khen district yesterday, killing seven victims and injuring 20 others, after workers unknowingly cut open an aerial bomb from World War II.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715878-five-killed-six-injured-in-blast-in-bangkoks-bangkhen-district/page-5?p=7643406#entry7643406

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UPDATE:

CONTROVERSIAL TRANSFER OF NSC CHIEF
Court accepts case against Yingluck
PIYANUT TUMNUKASETCHAI
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE CONSTITUTIONAL Court yesterday voted unanimously to proceed with a petition against caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who has been accused of breaching the charter with regard to the transfer of the National Security Council (NSC) chief.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715877-constitutional-court-decides-to-proceed-with-case-against-pm-yingluck-thawils-transfer/page-6?p=7643414#entry7643414

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POLITICS
NACC wants to hear PM's witnesses before Songkran
ANUPHAN CHANTANA
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE NATIONAL Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has asked caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to coordinate the appearance of her three nominated witnesses in the case relating to the rice-pledging scheme so they can give evidence before the Songkran holiday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/716055-nacc-wants-to-hear-pm-yinglucks-witnesses-before-songkran/

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ANALYSIS
Thawil case could force Yingluck's exit
Somruethai Sapsomboon

Political vacuum looms as cabinet faces dismissal if court rules in favour of petition

BANGKOK: -- THE LATEST legal challenge against embattled caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra could lead to her dismissal and the removal of the entire Cabinet from office.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/716056-thawil-case-could-force-yinglucks-exit/

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POLICE-CADET DRILL
Experts to probe parachute tragedy
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police will call on experts to help determine whether the static line used for a cadet parachute drill on Monday was properly installed and of good standard.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/716063-thai-police-cadets-experts-to-probe-parachute-tragedy/

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ANTI-GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGN
Funeral held for slain STR guard

BANGKOK: -- THE RELATIVES of an anti-government campaign guard who was shot dead retrieved his body from a hospital yesterday and escorted it in a small parade to a packed funeral at Wat Sommanas Rajavaravihara.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/716057-funeral-held-for-slain-str-guard/

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EDITORIAL
Locating the brake for our runaway gravy train
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The courts and other independent agencies of scrutiny are under attack; can reforms bring a halt to rampant corruption and abuse of power in Thailand?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/716058-thai-editorial-locating-the-brake-for-our-runaway-gravy-train/

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THAI TALK
When the Senate undermines checks and balances
Suthichai Yoon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Election Commission (NEC) set the target for voter turnout in last Sunday's Senate election at 70 per cent. The actual turnout was 42.5 per cent. The previous election in 2008 registered a turnout of 55.6 per cent.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/716059-thai-talk-when-the-senate-undermines-checks-and-balances/

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Prices of ready-to-eat Thai menus will be allowed to go up



BANGKOK: -- The Commerce Ministry is reviewing the cost structure of cooked food as it plans to raise the recommended prices of 10 popular menu of Thai dishes by 5-10 baht due to price increase of key ingredients.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/716061-prices-of-ready-to-eat-thai-menus-will-be-allowed-to-go-up/

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Scrap shop owner to face charges



BANGKOK: -- Bang Khen police are prepared to charge the owner of the scrap shop where a World War II bomb exploded while worker tried to cut it with a torch.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/716062-world-war-ii-bomb-explosion-bangkok-scrap-shop-owner-to-face-charges/

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Traffic Police ramp up waiting ban
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Traffic Police are enforcing a strict ban on waiting vehicles at 10 more spots in Bangkok in an effort to ease traffic congestion, bringing the total to 20.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/716064-thai-traffic-police-ramp-up-waiting-ban/

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CAPO to set up war room for rallies
THE NATION



UDD CHIEF JATUPORN WARNS OF BIGGER TURNOUT BY RED SHIRTS LATER

BANGKOK: -- CARETAKER Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, as the adviser to the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO), said the CAPO might set up a war room, especially to keep an eye on the rival political rallies on Saturday. However, the police and military force deployed currently should be enough to handle the situation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/716065-capo-to-set-up-war-room-for-rallies/

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South rocked by 53 incidents in March
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- As many as 53 violent incidents erupted in the deep South last month, killing 33 people and injuring 38 others.

The figures were released by the Forward Command of the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 yesterday.

Pattani saw 23 incidents, Yala 12, Narathiwat 16, and Songkhla two.

Yesterday, an unknown gunman opened fire on a prison security guard who was heading to work in Pattani's Nong Chik district. Fortunately, the bullet hit a bag on his back and he survived unharmed.

Police suspect the shooting was staged to frighten locals in the unrest-plagued province.

Since the wave of violence erupted in the southernmost region in early 2004, the unrest has claimed 5,488 lives and resulted in 10,118 injuries.

-- The Nation 2014-04-03

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Body of Naked Foreign Vagrant found at abandoned construction site in Jomtien

PATTAYA: -- On Wednesday afternoon, Police were called to an abandoned construction site near Soi 11 on Jomtien Beach Road following the discovery of a naked foreign vagrant at the location.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/716067-body-of-naked-foreign-vagrant-found-at-abandoned-construction-site-in-jomtien/

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Three shot dead, one victim beheaded in Thai south

BANGKOK, April 3, 2014 (AFP) - Three government officials were shot dead on Wednesday in Thailand's insurgency-stricken south -- among them a woman who was then beheaded, police told AFP.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/716068-three-shot-dead-one-victim-beheaded-in-thai-south/

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Myanmar Aims to become Regional Aviation Hub

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/716042-myanmar-aims-to-become-regional-aviation-hub/

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Changes to Visa on Arrival System Could Impact Myanmar Tourism

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/716041-changes-to-visa-on-arrival-system-could-impact-myanmar-tourism/

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Myanmar's New Telecoms Provider Goes Live

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/716007-myanmars-new-telecoms-provider-goes-live/

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Shooting at US Army's Fort Hood base in Texas

(BBC) A shooting incident has taken place at the Texas Army base that was the site of a gun rampage in 2009 that left 13 soldiers dead and 32 wounded.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/716071-shooting-at-us-armys-fort-hood-base-in-texas/

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Minor tsunami hits Japan after Chile quake

TOKYO - Small tsunami waves hit northern Japan early Thursday following a powerful 8.2-magnitude earthquake thousands of kilometers away across the Pacific Ocean in Chile after officials issued an evacuation advisory for certain areas.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715751-powerful-quake-hits-chile-tsunami-warning-officials/#entry7643999

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CAPO asks all sides to exercise utmost restraint this Saturday

BANGKOK, 3 April 2014 (NNT) – The Center for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) asks all sides to exercise the utmost restraint on April 5th when both pro and anti-government protesters plan to stage mass rallies.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, in his capacity as CAPO chief advisor, ordered all security agencies, the army and the police, to tighten security measures this coming Saturday. He said a “war room” would be set up to keep a watchful eye on the situation, giving an assurance that CAPO would be providing impartial security for both the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) and the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) in a bid to prevent any third party interference.

Mr. Surapong also urged the army not to take sides in the political conflict, while voicing confidence that the military would not impose martial law.

The CAPO chief advisor also called on both the PDRC and the UDD to refrain from resorting to any kind of violence, so as not to inflame the conflict.

Lastly, he urged all citizens, for their own safety, not to join the planned mass rallies and to avoid all demonstration sites if possible.


-- NNT 2014-04-03

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Coach trips between BKK and provinces to be increased to 7,000 per day during Songkran travel periods

BANGKOK, 03 April 2014 (NNT) – The Transport Company Ltd. will increase the number of coach trips to 7,000 per day in the periods before and after the Songkran festival, to accommodate people traveling between Bangkok and other provinces during the holiday.

Wuthichart Kanlayanamit, managing director of Transport Co. Ltd., said coach trips will be increased to 7,000 per day from the usual 5,000 per day, during April 11-13 and April 15-17. The number of trips include those operated by private companies. In all, the coaches will be able to transport 200,000 persons per day, hence the Transport Company is confident that passengers will not be left stranded at the bus terminals due to lack of coach seats.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police will help facilitate traffic at and around the coach terminals in Bangkok. Soldiers will also help the police to ensure safety and orderliness at the terminals.


-- NNT 2014-04-03

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,393.81, falls 2.81 points /MCOT

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UPDATE:

Yala village head, two aides shot dead; one beheaded
By Digital Content



YALA, April 3 -- A village head in Yala's Bannang Sata district and his two female assistants were shot dead yesterday, and one assistant beheaded.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/716068-three-shot-dead-one-victim-beheaded-in-thai-south/#entry7644168

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Caretaker PM visits agricultural zoning project in Suphan Buri; military readies forces for Saturday rallies /MCOT

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UPDATE:

Military top brass meet on current political situation



BANGKOK, 3 April 2014, (NNT) - Supreme Commander General Thanasak Patimaprakorn has urged all sides to refrain from using violence amid the rising political temperature.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715957-special-way-to-end-conflict-possible-thai-army-chief-says/page-3#entry7644238

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Several thousands of anti-government protesters led by several PDRC leaders, including Suthep Thaugsuban, marched out of Lumpini park at 10.00 a.m.in a convoy of several trucks, and buses to the Foreign Ministry to protest, and call for foreign affairs officials to stop working and joining them to oust the caretaker government and the foreign minister.

Three former ambassadors also joined the PDRC protest at the ministry.

They target Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul because PDRC leaders believed he will take over the caretaker prime minister role in case Ms Yingluck Shinawatra is to forced out by the Constitutional Court’s running of power abuse in connection with the illegitimate removal of the former national security chief Thawil Pliensri.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/34854/


-- Thai PBS 2014-04-03

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Environmentalist says Tha Phae water unsafe for playing Songkran



CHIANG MAI: -- The Department of Pollution Control has urged prompt action to improve water quality at four locations in Chiang Mai, including the famous Tha Phae, before the start of the Songkran water splashing festival begins next week, reasoning that water quality in these place is harmful to health.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/716094-environmentalist-says-tha-phae-water-unsafe-for-playing-songkran/