Thawil says he will not report to PM

BANGKOK: -- National Security Council secretary-general Thawil Pliensri said today that he would not report to caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and would not attend the official handover of job from Lt-Gen Paradorn Patthanathabutr.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722340-thawil-says-he-will-not-report-to-pm-yingluck/

UPDATE:

D-Day to oust government to be announced tomorrow night



BANGKOK: -- The People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) will announce the date for the launch of the final battle to oust the government at the Lumpini park tomorrow at 7 pm.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722287-suthep-says-no-compromise-with-thaksin/page-2#entry7752559

POLITICS
Police to replace military for security duties: CAPO

BANGKOK: -- The Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) will adjust the deployment of troops to provide security in Bangkok by replacing soldiers with police, the caretaker deputy premier said on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722343-police-to-replace-military-for-security-duties-capo/

EC endorses 15 remaining senators-elect
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Election Commission on Tuesday endorsed the 15 remaining senators-elect as required by the 30-day deadline.

One of the 15 newly endorsed senators is Bangkok Senator Jaruwan Mainthaka.

The latest endorsements gives the Senate more than 90 per cent of its members, allowing it to convene meetings.

The endorsement came a day after the Cabinet approved a royal decree to open an extraordinary session of the Senate from Friday to May 10.

The MPs and Senators Electoral Act requires the EC to endorse election winners within 30 days of the election date if the EC does not decide to annul the results or disqualify the winning candidates. The act also allows the EC to further investigate and ask the Supreme Court's Election Division to disqualify the endorsed MPs or senators within a year of the election date.

On Monday, EC secretary general Puchong Nutrawong said there were 74 complaints against the top-vote earners in 15 provinces and the EC could not finish deliberating the complaints in time for the 30-day deadline so it had endorse the 15 senators-elect first.

Apart from Jaruwan, the newly-endorsed senators are Chaiyaphum's winner Banthoon Kiartkongchuchai, Nakhon Nayok's Marut Rojanapiyawong, Phetchabun's Pipatchai Phakratchatanon, Phare's Bulun Ratkhamphan, Mae Hong Son's Surapol Santichotenan, Ranong's Sakda Sriwiriyapaibool, Lopburi's Prathuan Sutthiamnuaydet, Lampang's Warawut Norkhoam, Lamphun's Tri Danpaibul, Si Sa Ket's Wilda Inchat, Surat Thani's Sujin Chaemchoy, Nong Bua Lamphu's Prapas Nuansamlee, Amnat Charoen's Yaninat Khemnak, and Ubon Ratchathani's Somchai Laosai.


-- The Nation 2014-04-29

Prayuth threatens to sue papers for accusing him of taking bribes

BANGKOK: -- Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha Tuesday threatened to sue some newspapers for accusing him of receiving certain interests in exchange for tasking no action in political conflicts.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722347-prayuth-threatens-to-sue-papers-for-accusing-him-of-taking-bribes/

UPDATE:

PDRC apologizes to military officer attacked by guards

BANGKOK, 29 April 2014 (NNT) - The People's Democratic Reform Committee has apologized for the attack carried out on military personnel by their security guards.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722230-assault-phra-buddha-issara-will-have-pdrc-guards-surrender/page-2#entry7752910

NAYPYIDAW SUMMIT
Yingluck to decide whether to attend Asean Summit in Myanmar: Surapong

BANGKOK: -- Preparations are underway for caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's trip to attend the Asean Summit in Myanmar's capital; Naypyidaw next month, said caretaker Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722349-yingluck-to-decide-whether-to-attend-asean-summit-in-myanmar-surapong/

UPDATE:

Russian given 2 months suspended sentence for Phuket assault, fined B10k

Anthika Muangrod

PHUKET: Evgenii Baturin, 27, the Russian expat who punched an Australian tourist last Wednesday (April 23), loosening two of his teeth, has been sentenced to a suspended two-month term in prison for the assault and fined B10,000.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/721588-russian-attacks-tourist-in-bout-of-road-rage/page-6?p=7753004#entry7753004

SET index closed 1,412.33, up 1.10; Bt/USD32.14; GBP54.00; AUD29.55; EUR44.47; CAD29.06; HKD4.13; SGD25.47; JPY31.18

Democrats ready to contest election if initiative accepted: Abhisit
By English News



BANGKOK, April 29 - Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said today that Thailand's opposition party is ready to contest the upcoming election if the proposal compiled from his meetings with several concerned parties is accepted.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722359-democrats-ready-to-contest-election-if-initiative-accepted-abhisit/

Thailand's GDP to shrink further to 1.6 percent from 2.4 percent



BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s gross domestic product is expected to decline further to 1.6 percent from 2.4 percent largely due to continuing political instability, according to the Economic and Business Research Centre of the Siam Commercial Bank.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722362-thailands-gdp-to-shrink-further-to-16-percent-from-24-percent/

Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's defence statement has been submitted to the Constitution Court on her behalf by Pichit Chuenban. /Bangkok Post

Barack Obama ended an Asian tour Tuesday with a warning to China against using force in territorial disputes: AFP. /Bangkok Post

BOT reveals that the number of loan defaults increase

BANGKOK, 29 April 2014 (NNT) - According to the Bank of Thailand (BOT), the number of people defaulting on their loans has reached up to 2.4 percent during three months of this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722365-bot-reveals-that-the-number-of-loan-defaults-increase/

Ocean Marina Yacht Club to host 10th anniversary Top of the Gulf Regatta
A near record fleet is expected including top international and Thai sailors


Ocean Marina Yacht Club, home of the Top of the Gulf Regatta, is South East Asia's largest marina.

PATTAYA – Ocean Marina Yacht Club, South East Asia's largest marina, is ready to host the 10th anniversary Top of the Gulf Regatta from 1st to 5th May 2014. Located on Jomtien Beach, Pattaya, in the Gulf of Thailand, Ocean Marina Yacht Club is the hub of sailing in the region and home of the award-winning Top of the Gulf Regatta since its inception in 2005.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722367-ocean-marina-yacht-club-to-host-10th-anniversary-top-of-the-gulf-regatta/

RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep insisted PDRC's final battle must be carried on in a non violence approach and unarmed.

RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep reminded people at home wishing to join the final battle to join PDRC unarmed.

RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep: I'm very strict about this unarmed policy even with the security staff in Lumpini

RT@Lerlaforever : Suthep asked people wishing to join the final rally to bring whistles only. The strategy of the final battle will b revealed tmr @7pm.

CAPO Slams Court Official's 'Favouritism' Letter

By Khaosod Eng.

BANGKOK — The government has harshly criticised a top court official for lobbying the chief of the Royal Thai Police to grant a promotion to a policeman he knows personally.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722388-capo-slams-court-officials-favouritism-letter/

Central bank says more people missing due loan payments

The Bank of Thailand says the number of people defaulting on their loans has risen to 2.4 percent during the first quarter of this year.

The central bank’s assistant governor Salini Wangtan stated that loan borrowers have been falling behind on their debt payments and some have failed to repay their loans due to the economic downturn in the country.

Up until now, at least 2.4 percent of people have missed their due loan payments during the first quarter of this year, which is a 0.1 percent increase from last year.

Despite the fact that people have defaulted on their loans, Ms. Salini stated that she is not too concerned as she believes that the current economic situation makes it difficult for many people to cope with their financial expenses.

However, the problem is far from serious for commercial banks to handle at this point.

Commercial banks also have a policy to take care of their debtors by following up on their financial status and providing assistance measures such as allowing the option to defer debts to be paid at a later time.

She went on saying that banks have also been very careful by increasing their provision for loan losses by up to 157 percent. Therefore, she is not too concerned whether the loan defaults would impair the credibility of the banks.

She added that the number of people borrowing loans this year has decreased to 9.8 percent compared to the fourth quarter of last year, which stood at 11.34 percent.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/topic-3037-1-wpcf_728x413.jpg

-- Thai PBS 2014-04-29

36 senators face impeachment for abuse of authority in charter amendment

BANGKOK: -- The National Anti-Corruption Commission has faulted 36 senators of abuse of authority for endorsing a constitutional amendment which will enable senators whose term has expired to contest senatorial election without having to take a break.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722393-36-senators-face-impeachment-for-abuse-of-authority-in-charter-amendment/

NACC expects to rule on PM’s rice pledging case on May 8 or May 13

BANGKOK: -- The National Anti-Corruption Commission is expected to rule on the rice pledging scheme case against caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on May 8 or May 13, said NACC secretary-general Sansern Poljiak on Tuesday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722397-nacc-expects-to-rule-on-pms-rice-pledging-case-on-may-8-or-may-13/

to continue:

Thailand Live Wednesday 30 Apr 2014

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722464-thailand-live-wednesday-30-apr-2014/