Thailand Live Wednesday 21 May 2014

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MARTIAL LAW
Foreign groups hail army move if there is no coup
Petchanet Pratruangkrai,
Erich Parpart
The Nation


Darren Buckley

BANGKOK: -- Foreign chambers and business associations hope that the declaration of martial law will lead to an increase in security and safety, and eventually to a functioning government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/727783-foreign-groups-hail-thai-army-move-if-there-is-no-coup/

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MARTIAL LAW
Prayuth in charge
The Nation



Army chief to bring together warring groups to find a way out of political impasse; insists martial law is not a coup but only aimed at restoring order in the country

BANGKOK: -- With martial law in place, Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha intends to bring together all stakeholders in the political conflict to break the deadlock, as he says the country cannot continue in this crisis any longer.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/727785-martial-law-in-thailand-army-chief-general-prayuth-in-charge/

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ELECTION
Drop poll if too dangerous: Army
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Election Commission (EC) secretary general Puchong Nutrawong said the Army had told him that if the next general election was likely to result in bloodshed, or would be too difficult to arrange, the EC should drop it.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/727786-drop-poll-if-too-dangerous-thai-army/

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POLITICS
All parties offer cautious support
Olan Lertrudtanadum-rongkul,
Prapasri Osathanon,
Piyanut Tumnukasetchai,
The Nation

Pro-govt camp warns army against double standards, charter violations

BANGKOK: -- Key players in Thailand's political scene have apparently decided not to challenge the newly proclaimed martial law - at least for now.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/727787-all-parties-offer-cautious-support-thai-politics/

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MARTIAL LAW
Martial law more bad news for embattled tourism industry
The Nation, Agencies


Tarik Asraoui, a tourist from Morocco, right, adjusts an army helmet as he poses for souvenir photographs with soldiers on a military vehicle at Ratchaprasong Intersection in Bangkok yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- Tourists may start avoiding Thailand in droves now that the military has declared martial law, as many countries have issued advisories warning their citizens about the political crisis here.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/727788-martial-law-in-thailand-more-bad-news-for-embattled-tourism-industry/

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BAHT
No intervention by central bank as baht weakens following military's move
Erich Parpart
Sucheera Pinijparakarn
The Nation

Bangkok: The Bank of Thailand will not intervene in the market despite the baht's fluctuation following the declaration of martial law yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/727789-no-intervention-by-central-bank-as-thai-baht-weakens-following-militarys-move/

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Foreign diplomats told martial law invoked to maintain peace and order

BANGKOK, 21 May 2014 (NNT) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has explained the reasons for the imposition of martial law by the Royal Thai Army to foreign diplomats, stressing that martial law has been invoked to maintain peace and only some sections of the law will be used.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/727790-foreign-diplomats-told-martial-law-invoked-to-maintain-peace-and-order/

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Soldiers on guard around Suvarnabhumi after dismissal of police

BANGKOK, 21 May 2014 (NNT) – Troops have been stationed in the surrounding areas of Suvarnabhumi International Airport, replacing police officers who were dismissed when martial law was enforced.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/727791-soldiers-on-guard-around-suvarnabhumi-after-dismissal-of-police/

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German dive industry figure arrested in Phuket on Austrian warrant
Tanyaluk Sakoot


Detlef

PHUKET: -- German resident and dive industry figure Detlef Gerhard Hewer was arrested this afternoon on a request from the Austrian Embassy in Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/727792-german-dive-industry-figure-arrested-in-phuket-on-austrian-warrant/

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Police vow quick action on stabbing death
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Metropolitan Police vowed yesterday quickly to solve the stabbing to death of a homeless man whose body was found stuffed in a sack near an anti-government rally site earlier this week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/727794-bangkok-police-vow-quick-action-on-stabbing-death/

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US says no coup in Thailand

WASHINGTON, May 21, 2014 (AFP) - The United States said Tuesday that it did not believe ally Thailand's army had staged a coup but urged the military to respect democratic institutions.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/727795-us-says-no-coup-in-thailand/

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EDITORIAL
Referee steps in to halt fight
The Nation

The Army must now disprove the coup rumours by getting the combatants around the table to seek a peaceful way out for the country

BANGKOK: -- After more than six months of political confrontation and tension, the military has finally taken action - abruptly, as it turned out.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/727796-referee-steps-in-to-halt-fight-thai-editorial/

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Pheu Thai mulls next move
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai Party MPs will meet to discuss the party's next move at an undisclosed place following the imposition of martial law, former Ubon Ratchathani Pheu Thai MP Somkid Chuakong said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/727797-pheu-thai-mulls-next-move/

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NBTC shuts down 3,000 radio stations
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has shut down 3,000 unlicensed community radio stations in line with the martial law yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/727799-thailands-nbtc-shuts-down-3000-radio-stations/

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POLITICS
Senators seek ruling on emergency decree
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Some senators will seek a ruling from the Constitutional Court over if the caretaker Cabinet had violated the charter by imposing a state of emergency on Bangkok, which allegedly interfered in the authority of the Election Commission.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/727800-thai-senators-seek-ruling-on-emergency-decree/

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Police relieved peacekeeping role taken over by Army
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Upon hearing of the martial law, crowd-control police in Bangkok were overjoyed that they could finally go home after months of trying to keep peace at protest sites.

After CAPO was disbanded, Pol General Worapong Chewprecha, deputy national police chief, ordered the 55 police companies to return to their original assignments. Many anti-riot police were also in a good mood with the prospect of reuniting with their loved ones.


-- The Nation 2014-05-21

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International community concerned
The Nation

Respect principles of democracy: US

BANGKOK: -- The international community yesterday expressed concerns over the military's imposition of martial law covering the entire country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/727801-international-community-concerned-over-thai-militarys-imposition-of-martial-law/

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BURNING ISSUE
Latest measure won't teach us to solve political conflict
Pravit Rojanaphruk

BANGKOK: -- When you develop acute diarrhoea while travelling, you can resort to taking a pill that will quickly ease the illness - although all the rotten faeces is still in your system and it won't solve your problem in the long run. The medicine simply controls the diarrhoea and stops you from running to the washroom every 10 minutes - but it doesn't heal the infection inside your stomach.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/727803-latest-measure-wont-teach-us-to-solve-political-conflict-thai-politics/

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Schools free to open for new semester, despite martial law
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Despite the martial law, schools under the Office of the Basic Education Commission can reopen for the new semester this week, OBEC deputy secretary-general Kamol Rodkhlai said yesterday.

He said Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha had said that though martial law had been declared, the public should not panic but carry out its daily routine normally. The OBEC does not need to send a memo to the management of schools in regard to their reopening. Some schools, located close to the People's Democratic Reform Committee's (PDRC) rally, have postponed their reopening for the first semester of the 2014 academic year because several nearby roads are closed to traffic and there's concern for students' safety.

He said these schools should follow political developments closely and reassess the situation. If they were confident the atmosphere was not too worrying, they could also reopen for the new semester this week.

Mathayom Wat Makutkasat School, located close to the PDRC site near the United Nations office, has postponed its reopening as protesters are using the school's toilets and resting on its lawns. Wat Makut Kasattiyaram School also faces the same situation. Both are seeking cooperation from the PDRC to leave their school compounds. The Wat Somanas School and Anuban Watparinayok School have postponed their first semester to May 22.


-- The Nation 2014-05-21

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State officials told to work as normal
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha met with state officials yesterday and told them to perform their duties as usual, a source present at the meeting said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/727804-state-officials-told-to-work-as-normal-thailand/

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SOUTH CRISIS
Five male suspects arrested in Narathiwat
The Nation

NARATHIWAT: -- A 100-strong team of paramilitary rangers took five men into custody yesterday during a raid on three villages in Narathiwat's Rangae district. The arrests were made under martial law.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/727805-martial-law-five-male-suspects-arrested-in-narathiwat/

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Nigeria bombings: 'Death toll passes 100'

JOS: -- The bodies of at least 118 people have now been recovered from the sites of twin bombings in the central Nigerian city of Jos, the nation's emergency management agency says.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/727806-nigeria-bombings-toll-passes-100/

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Missing yacht: US Coast Guard resumes search

LONDON: -- The search for four British sailors missing in the Atlantic has resumed after it was called off on Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/727811-search-resumes-for-missing-british-sailors/

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Army chief instructed local media,TV stations to refrain from reporting / airing interviews which could provoke conflict /The Nation

Senators' solutions to Thai political impasse to be disclosed in a few days,Acting Senate Speaker Surachai said /The Nation

UN chief reiterates his call on all parties to exercise utmost restraint, urging constructive dialogue to end prolonged political stalemate in Thailand /MCOT

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Thailand Post started a service offering patients of Siriraj Hospital the option of receiving prescribed medicine through postal service. /Bangkok Post

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US search engine Google Inc has overtaken rival technology giant, Apple Inc as world's top brand in value terms /The Nation

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Army ensures peace and order continues in Chiang Rai

CHIANG RAI 21 May 2014 (NNT) — Army officials continue to maintain responsibility for peace and order in the northern province of Chiang Rai. Cross-border trading in the province remains as busy as usual.

Army officials in Chiang Rai province have continued to ensure stability in the northern province and along its boarders with Myanmar. The recent invocation of martial law has so far had no adverse effects on the business of cross-border trading in the province.

Reports indicate that media operators accept that the country is now under martial law and are cooperating accordingly. Broadcasts by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) have also stopped since the implementation of martial law.

Local radio stations in the Chiang Rai province that had been broadcasting messages to pro-government supporters have also now ceased that function. Stations such as FM 104, FM 107.5 and ASTV that support the protests of the UDD have stopped transmission of any form of pro-government activism.


-- NNT 2014-05-21

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POMC searches Lop Buri home of ex-Army Ranger, finds large quantity of bombs, firearms; seeking links to Bangkok violence /MCOT

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Government to brace for 7.9 billion baht loss in stockpiled rubber sales

BANGKOK, 21 May 2014 (NNT) - Mr. Chanachai Plengthanasiriwat, Director of the Rubber Estate Organization (REO), said that his agency is preparing necessary document to present to the Administrative Court to fight a petition filed by the private sector for the court’s protection against the government’s move to sell 208,000 tons of stockpiled rubber it has bought from planters to stabilize rubber price.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/727848-thai-govt-to-brace-for-79-billion-baht-loss-in-stockpiled-rubber-sales/

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PDMO to quickly find banks willing to give loans to fund rice pledging scheme

BANGKOK, 21 May 2014, (NNT) -The Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) has said it is currently searching for financial institutions willing to give loans to fund the rice pledging program.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/727849-pdmo-to-quickly-find-banks-willing-to-give-loans-to-fund-thai-rice-pledging-scheme/