Thailand Live Thursday 10 Apr 2014

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Facebook is pushing smartphone chats between friends to a stand-alone Messenger application /The Nation

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PM hopes to call Songkran period "Seven Happy Days"

BANGKOK, 10 April 2014 (NNT) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra stressed that road safety remains a priority this year during the Songkran Festival, adding that she hopes the period will be called “Seven Happy Days” instead of “Seven Dangerous Days”.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/717970-pm-yingluck-hopes-to-call-songkran-period-seven-happy-days/

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Hospitals nationwide on full alert for Songkran
By English News

BANGKOK, Apr 10 - The Public Health Ministry has ordered 885 hospitals nationwide to go on full alert to provide medical services as many people will be travelling to the provinces during the long Songkran holiday.

Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr Narong Sahametapat said Thursday that he has deployed more than 160,000 medical personnel at 855 hospitals under ministry supervision nationwide to handle emergency cases during the Songkran holiday, beginning from tomorrow through next Thursday.

High casualties from road accidents are expected during Songkran, although many agencies concerned have implemented measures to curb the death toll and injuries.

Drunken driving is expected to be the biggest single cause of road accidents.

All hospitals must also ensure that their operating rooms, emergency wards, intensive care units, blood supplies and respirators are ready to handle accidents around the clock.

Nearly 14,000 emergency medical teams, public and private, are ready to be dispatched to accident scenes to provide help to victims throughout the festival.

Medical teams can be contacted via Helpline 1669. Special check points will also be set up to help inspect and control drunk driving. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-04-10

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Bongkot gas platform starts maintenance today
By English



BANGKOK, April 10 – The 18-day maintenance of a natural gas platform in the Gulf of Thailand kicked off today with assurances from the Energy Ministry of sufficient power supply nationwide.

Suthep Liamsiricharoen, permanent secretary for energy, said maintenance of the Bongkot offshore platform will scale down the daily supply of 630 million cubic feet of natural gas during April 10-27 during which time bunker oil and diesel will substitute for the natural gas supply at the Bang Pakong power generating plant with 55 million litres and the Ratchaburi plant with 60 million litres.

Thailand has 4,000 megawatts of power reserves.

Mr Suthep said he was confident that the maintenance of Bongkot platform will not affect power supply but consumers will possibly have to pay more for float time (FT) rate at 1.5 stang higher per unit.

Another gas platform in the Thai-Malaysian Joint Development Area in the Gulf of Thailand will be closed for maintenance from June 13-July 10, impacting the Chana power plant in the southern province of Songkhla.

Power generation at the Chana plant will be completely suspended without the use of substitute fuel, said Mr Suthep, adding that the southern region will be short of 700 megawatts of electricity per day.

Peak consumption in the South during that period will be as high as 2,500 megawatts per day while the regular supply is only 2,300 megawatts.

The Energy Ministry and related government agencies have set up a fuel management committee to prepare for and prevent risk of power blackouts in 14 southern provinces as was done last year, he said.

Mr Suthep said the plan includes a power-saving campaign and a request to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) to supply additional power to the South from 500 megawatts to more than 700 megawatts.

In case of power shortage, EGAT will coordinate with the Provincial Electricity Generating Authority to shut down power supply in certain areas with least impact on the public. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2014-04-10

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UPDATE:

Australian Govt warns Deep South extremists ‘may be targeting westerners’
Phuket Gazette


The upgraded travel advisory from the Australian Government warns that extremists may be planning to target westerners in the southern border provinces. Image: DFAT

PHUKET: -- The Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade has upgraded its travel advisory, warning travellers that extremists in the Deep South provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat may be targeting westerners.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/717927-extremists-may-be-planning-to-target-westerners-in-thailands-southern-border-provinces/page-2?p=7674557#entry7674557

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UDD marks fourth year of 2010 crackdown

The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) held an event Thursday to mark the 4th anniversary of the dispersal of redshirt protesters from Bangkok's Rajprasong intersection in 2010.

The ceremony was held at the Imperial World department store in Lat Phrao.

Activities, including the showing of video clips featuring the past struggles of the red shirts, musical performances and speeches by core UDD members, continued until 6pm.


-- The Nation 2014-04-10

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UPDATE:

Royalists Suspect Thakin's Link To Canadian News Agency

By Khaosod English



BANGKOK: -- A group of royalist activists have urged the police to take legal action against a Redshirts leader for allegedly defaming the monarchy in an interview with Vice News.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/717959-arrest-warrant-sought-for-redshirt-leader-ko-tee/page-2#entry7674601

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UPDATE:

Democrats say a high-ranking police officer is shielding Ko Tee



BANGKOK: -- A police lieutenant general has been shielding Ko Tee from arrest, Democrat party’s chief legal team claimed Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/717959-arrest-warrant-sought-for-redshirt-leader-ko-tee/page-2#entry7674633

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Business Development Department to upgrade condo business standards
By English News



BANGKOK, April 10 - Thailand's Business Development Department is preparing a project to upgrade customer service standards to international level in housing developments, condominiums and apartments.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/717975-thailands-business-development-dept-to-upgrade-condo-business-standards/

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Damages from bombs in downtown Yala on Sun.,Mon.estimated at Bt154mn,50 houses,15 cars,3 motorcycles wrecked, 1 person killed, 38 others injured /The Nation

[Lite Beer]

Subdued Vigil Marks Red Crackdown Anniversary

By Khaosod English.

BANGKOK: -- The Redshirts have marked the anniversary of the military crackdown on their protests 4 years ago, while anti-government protesters also held a separate vigil for the soldiers who died in the operation.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/718026-subdued-vigil-marks-red-crackdown-anniversary/

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to continue:

Thailand Live Friday 11 Apr 2014

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/718076-thailand-live-friday-11-apr-2014/