Thailand Live Thursday 24 Apr 2014

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Pheu Thai thanks EC for discussing holding general election with political parties

BANGKOK, 24 April 2014 (NNT) – The Pheu Thai Party thanked the Election Commission on Wednesday for meeting with political parties to discuss the holding of the upcoming general election.

Pheu Thai spokesman Phromphong Noppharit thanked the EC for the latter's effort, and for suggesting that the general election could be held within 90 days or by July 20. However, he asserted the political parties involved in Wednesday's talk viewed that the poll should take place within 45-60 days, because the only solution to the current situation was an election. He added that the longer the poll was delayed, the more damage the country would suffer.

Election Commissioner Phuchong Nutrawong said after the discussion with delegates from the 58 political parties that those at the talk concluded that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinwatra and related persons would be invited to the EC's head office on April 30 so that the EC could discuss the new election's time frame with the government.


-- NNT 2014-04-24

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Woman drug dealer arrested, Bt100 million in assets frozen
By Digital Content



KANCHANABURI, April 24 - A woman suspected of being involved with a major drug network run by a woman known as “Je Pen” has been arrested in the western province of Kanchanaburi on drug charges with Bt100 billion worth of assets frozen.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720994-woman-drug-dealer-arrested-bt100-million-in-assets-frozen/

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Coupon for digital TV set-top box priced at THB 1,000

BANGKOK, 24 April 2014 (NNT) - The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has agreed to give 1,000-baht coupons for digital TV set-top boxes to 22 million households nationwide.

Chairman of the NBTC board Col.Nathi Sukolrat said the coupons would help prevent TV viewers from spending their own money in order to view the digital TV. The coupons’ value would be reviewed by an NBTC committee and it might be re-calculated based on the commission’s income from the first digital TV auction of 12 billion baht, Col.Nathi said.

The coupons will be handed out to 22 million households around the end of June to July this year for them to buy the boxes with active antenna.

The digital TV signal boxes will have a warranty period of three years with after sales service.


-- NNT 2014-04-24

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POLITICAL IMPASSE
Abhisit offers to help end crisis
The Nation

Democrat leader wants Yingluck to be involved in finding a solution before violence worsens

BANGKOK: -- The leader of the Democrat Party yesterday offered to become involved in the efforts to extricate Thailand from the ongoing political impasse and urged the prime minister to join the efforts for the sake of the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720996-abhisit-offers-to-help-end-crisis/

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POLITICS
Sources confirm Abhisit's life under threat: Democrats
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- DEMOCRAT PARTY leader Abhisit Vejjajiva could not attend the meeting with Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday because three intelligence sources had warned him he might be putting his life in danger.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720997-sources-confirm-abhisits-life-under-threat-democrats/

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UPDATE:

ASEAN GROUPING
Asean to offer advice on ongoing political crisis
THE NATION

Thai FM says regional grouping believes election the only way out

BANGKOK: -- ASEAN COUNTRIES will soon be issuing a statement to express their concern over the ongoing political crisis as well as their wish for Thailand to hold an election, caretaker Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720874-asean-to-issue-on-statement-on-thai-political-crisis/page-2?p=7728534#entry7728534

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Honda bikes, Toyota sedans most stolen in Bangkok
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Each year, Bangkok sees approximately 400 cars and 2,000 motorcycles stolen, with Honda's Wave motorcycles and Toyota's Altis and Vios sedans being the ones most stolen, Metropolitan Police Bureau's Car and Motorcycle Theft Suppression Centre said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720998-honda-bikes-toyota-sedans-most-stolen-in-bangkok/

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SOUTH CRISIS
Security agency denies officials behind killing of suspected insurgent
The Nation
PATTANI

Student group says incident part of decadelong 'war' in region

BANGKOK: -- A THAI security agency yesterday dismissed suspicions raised by the Federation of Patanian Student and Youth (PERMAS) that the April 17 shooting in Yala, in which suspected insurgent Mukta Alimama and his six-year-old son were killed, had been carried out by state officials.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720999-thai-security-agency-denies-officials-behind-killing-of-suspected-insurgent/

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Some 2m TrueMove users unlikely to have migrated to other networks by Sept: NBTC
USANEE MONGKOLPORN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE NATIONAL Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission expects that around 2 million inactive subscribers of TrueMove will be affected once the cellular operator switches off its service on September 15, as they are unlikely to have migrated to other networks in time.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721000-some-2m-truemove-users-unlikely-to-have-migrated-to-other-networks-by-sept-nbtc/

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Country needs functioning govt for economy's sake: private sector
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE BOARD OF TRADE of Thailand and the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) hope the country will get a fully functioning government as soon possible in order to drive economic growth, as the current vacuum has left the economy in the doldrums.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721001-thailand-needs-functioning-govt-for-economys-sake-private-sector/

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MPC to further trim growth forecast in June

ERICH PARPART

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE BANK OF THAILAND'S Monetary Policy Committee will lower its forecast for the Kingdom's 2014 economic growth at its next meeting in June.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721002-bank-of-thailands-mpc-to-further-trim-growth-forecast-in-june/

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TELL IT AS IT IS
Madam Prime Minister, please just quit
Pornpimol Kanchanalak
Special to The Nation

BANGKOK: -- You said two days ago that you were prepared to leave office should that be the wish of the "people". We do not know who the "people" you have in mind are, but millions of us who could legitimately be counted as "people" believe it is about time you matched your rhetoric with action.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721003-madam-prime-minister-please-just-quit-thai-opinion/

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EDITORIAL
Time we citizens wielded the knife
The Nation

Our amoral political culture is the breeding ground of the rot afflicting Thai society

BANGKOK: -- In times of political conflict, both sides talk loudly of the need to respect the rules and the law. But politicians often make the demand of their "enemies" while at the same time doing their best to evade the rules.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721005-thai-editorial-time-we-citizens-wielded-the-knife/

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THAI TALK
All sides will lose if chaos of post-Songkran scenarios breaks out
Suthichai Yoon
The Nation

Is the much-predicted "political apocalypse" inevitable?

BANGKOK: -- The popular scenario being bandied about goes something along these lines: The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and Constitutional Court (CC) will hand down verdicts soon and, one way or the other, Premier Yingluck Shinawatra runs the risk of losing her seat. The government won't accept the verdict. Red shirts will launch a large-scale protest. The anti-government protesters will confront them. Clashes will ensue. Civil war will break out.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721006-thai-talk-all-sides-will-lose-if-chaos-of-post-songkran-scenarios-breaks-out/

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Bangkok braces for this year's hottest day on Sunday



BANGKOK: -- People living in Bangkok can experience this year’s hottest day on upcoming Sunday April 27 when the sun will be closest to the capital and directly above it.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721009-bangkok-braces-for-this-years-hottest-day-on-sunday/

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UPDATE:

Redshirt poet gunned down in Lat Phrao



BANGKOK: -- A redshirt activist and poet was shot dead in a broad day light attack on Wednesday at a restaurant in Lat Phrao area.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720888-redshirt-poet-shot-dead-in-bangkok/page-4?p=7728601#entry7728601

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Police dig deeper for info on Chao Phraya drownings
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- As part of investigation into drowning of two youths in Bangkok's Chao Phraya River on Tuesday, the police say they will summon more eyewitnesses, including the person who took the video clip of the event, as well as the drivers of the two ferries that passed by.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721010-police-dig-deeper-for-info-on-chao-phraya-drownings/

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UPDATE:

Officer dies from fall out of a helicopter
Monthien Inthaket
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- A POLICEMAN succumbed to serious injuries sustained from a fall from a helicopter onto inbound Vibhavadi Road in Bangkok's Chatuchak district yesterday during an air-rescue rehearsal. Pol Snr Sgt-Major Monchai Boonpairoj, 52, was pronounced dead at Kasemrad Hospital Prachachuen at 1.30pm.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720883-policeman-falls-to-death-from-helicopter-on-bangkoks-vibhavadi-road/page-2?p=7728625#entry7728625

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There's logic behind a July 20 election date
ATTAYUTH BOOTSRIPOOM

BANGKOK: -- MANY STILL speculate as to when a new election will take place, because since the Constitutional Court nullified the February 2 election, there has been no clarity on the matter and no one has been able to make the poll date certain.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721012-theres-logic-behind-a-july-20-election-date-thai-politics/

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Hamas and Fatah unveil Palestinian reconciliation deal
BBC News, Gaza City

GAZA: -- Rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas have announced a reconciliation deal, saying they will try to form a unity government in the coming weeks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721013-hamas-and-fatah-unveil-palestinian-reconciliation-deal/

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Ukraine crisis: US troops land in Poland for exercises

(BBC) The first contingent of US troops has landed in Poland for military exercises amid tensions with Russia over Ukraine.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721015-us-troops-land-in-poland-for-exercises-ukraine-crisis/

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Bernie Ecclestone bribery trial begins in Germany

MUNICH: -- Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone is set to appear at the start of a trial on bribery charges in Munich.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721020-bernie-ecclestone-bribery-trial-begins-in-germany/

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Erawan Center: Four wounded in latest shooting

BANGKOK, 24 April 2014 (NNT) – According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)'s Erawan Emergency Medical Service Center, four people were injured in the latest shooting at the Chaeng Wattana protest site.

The Erawan Center has revealed that four people were shot near the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) stage on Chaeng Wattana road on Wednesday. Two of the victims were right away sent to Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital while the other two were sent to Central General Hospital.

Since violence related to the political conflict broke out in front of Ramkhamhaeng University on November 30 last year, a total of 746 people have been injured and 22 others killed. As of now, seven people are still being hospitalized.


-- NNT 2014-04-24

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PM's lawyer insists NACC hear more witnesses on rice case

BANGKOK, 24 April 2014 (NNT) – A lawyer defending Prime Minister Yingluck in the charge related to the rice pledging scheme has asked the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to allow more witnesses to testify for the Prime Minister.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721037-pm-yinglucks-lawyer-insists-nacc-hear-more-witnesses-on-rice-case/

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PM urges NACC to inspect rice stock to determine whether rice was really missing

BANGKOK, 24 April 2014 (NNT) – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has asserted that rice in the government's stockpile has not gone missing as suspected by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), urging the latter to conduct an inspection of the government's rice stock to determine whether rice was really missing.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721043-pm-yingluck-urges-nacc-to-inspect-rice-stock-to-determine-whether-rice-was-really-missing/

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,424.80, up 1.41 points /MCOT

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People miss their flights following protest near Phuket airport

Phuket: -- A mob of angry residents this afternoon blockaded Phuket's critical main artery, Thepkrasattri Road, amid outrage over the twin teenagers who raped a pregnant woman in the area on Sunday night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721050-people-miss-their-flights-following-protest-near-phuket-airport/

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One million tons of rice to be sold out by June



BANGKOK: -- The Commerce Ministry targets to have sold up to one million tons of rice via the Agricultural Futures Exchange of Thailand (AFET) by June this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721051-one-million-tons-of-thai-rice-to-be-sold-out-by-june/

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BMA to increase more bike lanes and parking spaces



BANGKOK: -- More bike lanes and public parking spaces for bicycles will be increased in an effort of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to safeguard biking in all areas of the capital.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721053-bangkok-administration-to-increase-more-bike-lanes-and-parking-spaces/

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Death toll reaches 159 in South Korean ferry disaster

Seoul - The death toll in the South Korean ferry sinking reached 159 early Thursday, the Yonhap News Agency reported.

Another 143 people were still unaccounted for, the report said.

One hundred and seventy-four people of the 476 on board when the ferry sank on April 16 survived.

Most of the crew survived the capsize and sinking of the Sewol, which went down near Jindo Island on its way from Incheon to the resort island of Jeju.

Twenty of the 29 crew including the ship’s captain have been detained on suspicion of various offences.


-- The Nation 2014-04-24