Thailand live Saturday 10 May 2014

[Lite Beer]

POLITICS
'Final fight' to bring down govt
The Nation

A protester waves the Thai national flag in front of riot police and soldiers guarding the National Broadcast Services of Thailand (NBT) television station yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- Five TV stations occupied, pressured to air PDRC statements; fears of clashes rise

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/724968-final-fight-to-bring-down-govt/

[Lite Beer]

POLITICS
Another poll unlikely while political tension remains: EC
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung,
Chanikarn Phumhiran
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Another election is unlikely to be staged if the bad political atmosphere remains, Election Commission chairman Supachai Somcharoen said yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/724970-another-poll-unlikely-while-political-tension-remains-ec/

[Lite Beer]

EARTHQUAKE
Warning devices to be installed at key sites
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Devices capable of giving an early warning for earthquakes, fires and floods will be installed at major historic sites across the country within the next two years, Fine Arts Department director general Anek Sihamat said yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/724971-earthquake-warning-devices-to-be-installed-at-key-sites/

[Lite Beer]

VISAKHA BUCHA DAY
Listen to Lord Buddha's words, says top monk
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- For the upcoming Visakha Bucha or Vesak Day, acting Supreme Patriarch Somdet Phra Maharatchamongkha-lachan urged all Buddhists to observe Lord Buddha's teachings and perform their duties with mindfulness and for the benefit of the majority.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/724972-listen-to-lord-buddhas-words-says-top-monk/

[Lite Beer]

POLITICS
Red shirts protest court ruling
The Nation

Red shirts burn a casket to demonstrate their anger at the Constitutional Court after it unanimously ruled to remove Yingluck Shinawatra and nine members of her Cabinet from office after finding them guilty of abusing their power.

BANGKOK: -- Coffins with judges' photos burned; mass gathering today

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/724973-red-shirts-protest-court-ruling/

[Lite Beer]

TREMOR
Earthquake epicentre found to be in Mae Lao
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

CHIANG RAI: -- Investigators find more damage closer to Phayao fault; aftershocks getting weaker

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/724974-earthquake-epicentre-found-to-be-in-mae-lao/

[Lite Beer]

Mugging suspect killed in high-speed Bangkok chase
Panya Phanpheuk
The Nation

A BMW driver crashed into a shophouse in Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Initial investigation into a case in which a Bangkok businessman rammed his BMW into an alleged robber's motorbike, killing him instantly, on Thursday night showed that the deceased suspect had committed similar muggings several times before.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/724975-mugging-suspect-killed-in-high-speed-bangkok-chase/

[Lite Beer]

Sacred oxen 'predict' year of plenty
The Nation


The sacred oxen choose to drink water and eat grass during the Royal Ploughing Ceremony at Sanam Luang yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- The sacred oxen's choice of drinking water and eating grass during the Royal Ploughing Ceremony at Sanam Luang in Bangkok yesterday was interpreted as a forecast that there will be abundant water and food this year.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/724976-sacred-oxen-predict-year-of-plenty/

[Lite Beer]

Vets anaesthetize gaur to test for deadly illness
The Nation

In a bid to investigate many mysterious gaur deaths in Kui Buri National Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan, a team led by Kui Buri district chief Pongpan Wichiensamut shot an injured gaur with an anaesthetic dart yesterday to collect blood for testing.

An informed source reported that the thin male gaur, aged about 10, was reportedly wounded in the right hip by another gaur's horn before the team found it.

The blood test is to determine if the animal has a disease that may be the cause of the 28 gaur deaths in the park over the past six months.

A team of veterinarians has been stationed at the park for three months to investigate the deaths and to conduct health checks on live animals.

-- The Nation 2014-05-10

[Lite Beer]

Security tightened in Hat Yai after bombs
The Nation

HAT YAI: -- Police beefed up security in Songkhla yesterday following blasts in Hat Yai on Monday, by dispatching more officers to join soldiers and administrative officials at checkpoints to intercept illegal items and to screen vehicles going into Hat Yai city.

The chief of Songkhla Police, Major-General Ekkaphob Prasitwattanachai, urged members of the public to cooperate with security officials at Hat Yai because there would be more temporary checkpoints and officials may ask to search them.

He said security would also be boosted in Sadao and Muang districts, which were believed to be insurgent targets.

-- The Nation 2014-05-10

[Lite Beer]

LIKE IT SHARE IT!
Don't be blinded by love or hatred
Kornchanok Raksaseri
@Aim_NT

BANGKOK: -- This week's column would have focused on social media for its role in reporting Monday's 6.3-magnitude earthquake - if the temperature in the political arena had not heated up so quickly.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/724977-dont-be-blinded-by-love-or-hatred/

[Lite Beer]

Group seeks peaceful end to turmoil
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Political hatred and vendettas have become a major problem in Thai society and are preventing a solution being found to the political crisis, a new network formed to prevent political violence has said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/724978-group-seeks-peaceful-end-to-turmoil/

[Lite Beer]

Monk-led rally hit with water cannon, tear gas
Piyanut Tumnukasetchai
The Nation

Police fire water cannons at protesters led by Phra Buddha Issara at Centre for Administration of Peace and Order headquarters.

BANGKOK: -- Police fired tear gas and sprayed a water cannon at monk Phra Buddha Issara, a leader of the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), and his followers yesterday after they tried to trespass into the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO).

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/724979-monk-led-rally-hit-with-water-cannon-tear-gas/

[Lite Beer]

NACC ruling violates charter, Pheu Thai lawyer claims
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai Party lawyer Pichit Chuenban has accused the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) of unfairly indicting former caretaker prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra - in contravention of the Constitution - by combining two petitions to examine alleged mishandling of the rice-pledging scheme into one.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/724980-nacc-ruling-violates-charter-pheu-thai-lawyer-claims/

[Lite Beer]

-- The Nation 2014-05-10

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL
A decade wasted in the deep South
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The trust gap between state agencies and residents means we are no closer to ending the insurgency

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/724981-a-decade-wasted-in-the-deep-south/

[Lite Beer]

Special Report: Soft Loan for Southernmost Entrepreneurs by the Bank of Thailand

Bangkok, 11 May 2014 (NNT) -The government and the Bank of Thailand (BoT) continuously provide financial assistance for entrepreneurs in the southern border provinces with the main objective to spur trade and investment while preventing the locals from immigrating. One of the assistance measures recently extended is a soft loan project which has been continued for almost ten years.

The soft loan project had been managed by the central bank from 2005-2010 and by the Government Savings Bank from 2010-2013. A number of local entrepreneurs have benefited from the project by using the loans to run and develop their businesses. Set to expire in 2013, the soft loan project was extended by the government in December 2013 for one more year, starting from 1 January - 31 December 2014 with a budget of 25 billion baht. The extended project is managed by the Government Savings Bank with the government responsible for interest differential payments.

The project extension had been pushed for by key economic institutions including major commercial banks, the Federation of Thai Industries and Chambers of Commerce of the southern border provinces. It was eventually approved by the government mainly due to its concerns that entrepreneurs in the far South would be short of circulating fund and people would lose confidence in the local economy. Without the soft loan extension, southernmost entrepreneurs are subject to the region’s normal interest rate of 10% or higher.

Apart from the soft loan project, the government, by the Board of Investment (BOI), helps the southern border entrepreneurs by granting incentives to them. The BOI allows them to hire foreign workers, decreases the minimum capital requirement to 500,000 baht and supports investment in cluster industries.

State-run financial institutions are important financial tools of the government in reviving the economy of the southern border provinces and making the locals feel that they are not abandoned amid the ongoing conflict. Financial assistance proves to be crucial to the region’s economic development and can contribute to peace in the long run.

-- NNT 2014-05-10

[Lite Beer]

Special Report: Peaceful Way of Life in Tambon Sai Khao

Bangkok, 8 May 2014 (NNT) -Happiness is everywhere if we take time to look, but for people in the southern border provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, it is hard to find. The unrest situation they have lived in for more than a decade is the main culprit for most of the hardships in their lives. Amid daily violence in at-risk areas one small Tambon emerges as a haven where people of different faiths live together peacefully.

The Tambon is named Sai Khao, meaning white sand in English, in Khok Pho district, Pattani province. Similarly to other areas in the far South, a majority of people of Sai Khao are Muslims but the principle of non-discrimination they practice sets them apart. People of different faiths live together happily and peacefully in Sai Khao, strengthening their relationship to be strong enough to combat unrest.

There are evidence of long-standing peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Buddhists in Tambon Sai Khao. A pact was signed many decades ago by Muslim and Buddhist leaders for them to take turn managing the community. A 300-year-old mosque is well-preserved not only by Muslims but also Buddhists who always regard one another as brothers and sisters.

Unity and fraternity among people in Tambon Sai Khao immunize them against division which is a tool insurgents use to turn them against one another and incite violence. The relationship between Muslims and Buddhists here is taken to another level with the production of local products from processed fruits such as durian and garcinia as well as fruit orchards whose produce is sold to consumers in the deep South and nearby provinces directly. They are another source of income Sai Khao Muslims and Buddhists create together.

Community development in the southernmost provinces depends on the locals with support from the government and the private sector. Tambon Sai Khao enjoys good development in terms of society and economy because its people do not discriminate against one another and live together without a feeling of suspicion. Its strength of peaceful coexistence between people of different faiths greatly helps move many community development projects forward faster than other areas in the deep South. Today, Sai Khao residents truly live a happy life and they are a proof that peace can be easily achieved with love and unity between people in the same community.

-- NNT 2014-05-10

[Lite Beer]

Senate elects Surachai new Speaker

BANGKOK: -- The Senate on Friday night voted to elect Surachai Liangboonlertchai the new Senate Speaker.
He received 96 votes, while his contender Pol Gen Jongrak Juthanont obtained 51 votes.

Before the voting, both were given five minutes each to speak of their visions on performance and policy.

Afterwards a secret vote was called with senators being given a piece of paper to write down the name of one candidate they chose from two.

Then the acting speaker called their names one by one to drop the piece of paper in the ballot box.

The Senate also elected senator Peerasak Porchit second Senate deputy speaker with 89 votes against 57 given to his contender Jongchai Thiangtham.

The first Senate deputy speaker was not elected because Mr Surachai is still holding first deputy Senate speaker post. Election of first deputy speaker will be held only after Mr Surachai is royally endorsed to become new Senate speaker and his current seat was left vacant.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/senate-elects-surachai-new-speaker/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=senate-elects-surachai-new-speaker

-- Thai PBS 2014-05-10

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: Road to #Bangkok's airport is open now but this was the scene yesterday when a tourist was forced to abandon her taxi pic.twitter.com/8Y8y2WkkY1

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow:7:34am Rama IV Road outbound in front of CH.3 building is closed by protesters. Inbound only has one lane - TR @fm91trafficpro

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: 7:36am Phaholyothin inbound in front of CH.5 building is closed by protesters. Motorists can use outbound side - TR @fm91trafficpro

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: 7:50am Inbound Viphavadi Rd in front of CH.11 building has now been re-opened to traffic - TR @fm91trafficpro #Bangkok

[Lite Beer]

RT@ChadapornLin: Red shirts gather on Aksa Road in Nakhon Pathom; anti-govt protesters stay put at Govt House, free TV stations

[Lite Beer]

RT@suthichai: Surachai, the new Senate President, says he will call special sessions next week to seek a way out of Thaialnd's political gridlock.

[Lite Beer]

Putin takes victory lap to annexed Crimea

SEVASTOPOL: President Vladimir Putin took a victory lap Friday in his first visit to Crimea since its annexation by Russia, as fighting in eastern Ukraine left more than 20 dead just days ahead of a separatist vote.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/724995-putin-takes-victory-lap-to-annexed-crimea/

[Lite Beer]

All eyes on army as crisis peaks

BANGKOK: Suthep Thaugsuban’s move on Friday to mobilise anti-government protesters across the city is aimed at reinforcing his message that the caretaker government is inept and lacks legitimacy following the political blows it received this week.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/724996-all-eyes-on-army-as-crisis-peaks/

[Lite Beer]

Aftershocks still rattling Chiang Rai

CHIANG RAI: Aftershocks from Monday's earthquake continued to rattle Chiang Rai province, with the most powerful measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale striking Mae Suai district early Friday morning.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/724997-aftershocks-still-rattling-chiang-rai/

[Lite Beer]

Pictures appear to show RAF man posing with dead Taliban fighter

Photographs have emerged which appear to show at least one UK serviceman posing with a dead Taliban fighter.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/724998-pictures-appear-to-show-raf-man-posing-with-dead-taliban-fighter/

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

EC uncertain if election can be held on July 20

BANGKOK, 10 April 2014 (NNT) – The Election Commission (EC) is unsure whether the general election will be held on July 20, citing the remaining political tension as the reason.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/724970-another-poll-unlikely-while-political-tension-remains-ec/#entry7800069