Thailand Live Friday 23 May 2014

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Honda cuts production in Thailand by 40%

TOKYO, May 23, 2014 (AFP) - Honda Motor said Friday it has cut production in its Thai plant by 40 percent, blaming a drop in demand, the day after the country's army chief seized power in a military coup.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728556-honda-cuts-production-in-thailand-by-40/

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All free TV stations, except TPBS, to resume normal broadcast this evening



BANGKOK: -- The National Peace and Order Maintaining Council (NPOMC) will allow all free TV stations which include Channel 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 to resume broadcasting their normal programmes this evening, secretary general of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) Mr Thakorn Tanthasit said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728560-all-free-tv-stations-except-tpbs-to-resume-normal-broadcast-this-evening/

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NPOMC allows free TV stations, except Thai PBS, to resume broadcasts normally this evening /MCOT

Thai vehicles market expected to remain below 1 mn units this year due to gloomy political and economic outlook /The Nation

Thai business leaders reacted calmly to Thur coup, doubt Thai economy could get worse than already is /The Nation

Curfew (10pm-5am) will be exempted for certain groups of people / occupations,National Peace,Order Maintaining Council said /The Nation

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Facts
Q&A on Thai military coup

BANGKOK, May 23, 2014 (AFP) - Thailand was under junta rule on Friday after the military removed the civilian government in an overthrow it said was aimed at ending deadly political turmoil.

Here are answers to some key questions on the situation:

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728583-facts-q-a-on-thai-military-coup/

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UPDATE:

AFTER THE COUP
Security tightened at border crossings


Saitaku checkpoint

Security at several border checkpoints were strengthened on Friday following the military coup on Thursday.

NONG KHAI: -- Soldiers were assigned to the checkpoint bordering Laos at Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge in Nong Khai’s Muang district. Thai citizens were prohibited from crossing the border to Laos but Laotians were allowed to return home through the checkpoint.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728473-army-occupies-thai-lao-border-to-cut-off-red-escapes/page-4#entry7871736

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SET index closed 1,396.84, down 8.37;Bt/USD32.44; GBP54.62; AUD29.82; EUR44.15; CAD29.64; HKD4.17; SGD25.78; JPY31.78

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Suvarnabhumi Airport opens centre to help tourists in emergencies during curfew; Call 02 1329996–7 for more information /MCOT

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Two army rangers wounded by roadside bomb in Narathiwat

NARATHIWAT, 23 May 2014 (NNT) – Two soldiers have been injured by a bomb explosion in Narathiwat’s Bacho District.

The bomb exploded when a team of 6 paramilitary rangers were on patrol duty along a local road.

The blast wounded Wirat Torasa and Suparat Churat. They were taken to Hat Yai Hospital for treatment.

Police inspected the scene and found fragments of a 20-kilogram homemade bomb placed inside a gas tank hidden behind roadside trees. The bomb was detonated by a mobile phone, causing a three-foot deep and four-foot wide crater on the road. Police have blamed local separatists for the attack.

-- NNT 2014-05-26

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RT@tulsathit: NACC has said the rice scheme probe against ousted Yingluck govt will continue. via @Prasong_lert

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RT@tulsathit: RT @PatricLand: Gen Prayuth to pay rice farmers within 15-30 days then push political reform before holding an election via @WassanaNanuam

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RT@veen_NT: Anti-govt protesters give their food supplies to soldiers as they leave the rally ground. via @RujTH pic.twitter.com/uReBrlgA6H

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RT@veen_NT: Thailand only? Signs of military support (@nationphoto by Thanis Sudto) pic.twitter.com/UgcnUfZHv2

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RT@veen_NT: Near Pitsanuloke train station: by nationphoto #ThailandOnly #ThaiCoup pic.twitter.com/Gui1jmcltC

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ISPs told to block pages, content seen as violating coup orders
Asina Pornwasin
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Internet providers have been told by the National Peace and Order Maintaining Council to block public access to Internet addresses of web pages or content deemed violating the coup orders, an ISP source told The Nation.

Speaking to The Nation after a meeting with NPOMC officials at the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, the source said the ISPs were also told to block access to IPTV or live TV broadcasts relayed via Internet.

A working committee of the NPOMC will inform the ISPs to block access to certain Internet addresses on case by case basis, the source said.

Morragot Kulatumyotin, INET Managing Director, said the coup maker did not plan to block general online communications but it wanted to block access only to content that violated the coup orders.

She said INET, a major Internet service provider in Thailand, has teams to monitor accesses of its client on around the clock basis and always communicates with its clients.

"INET would like to tell the people to use Internet normally, but they should avoid forwarding messages that they are not sure about their fact," Morragot said.

-- The Nation 2014-05-23

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Protests Against Coup Continue in Bangkok

By Khaosod

BANGKOK – Student activists have defied the military’s ban on political gatherings of more than five people by continuing to protest the military coup in Bangkok today.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728601-protests-against-coup-continue-in-bangkok/

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Patong faces ruin if curfew continues, says entertainment boss
Phuket Gazette -

The streets of Patong were empty last night as the 10pm to 5am curfew shrouded the resort town. The curfew returns tonight. Photo: Patong Police

PHUKET: Patong, known throughout the world for its throbbing nightlife, is looking at its second night under the military curfew imposed by coup leader Army Chief Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728602-patong-faces-ruin-if-curfew-continues-says-entertainment-boss/

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RT@CoconutsBangkok: RT @KlosterBier: Soldiers blocking street #ThaiCoup #BKK #Bangkok #Thailand pic.twitter.com/bEmSgxAWks

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RT@dicklp: Thaksin's lawyer @robertamsterdam just sent me a statement saying that "active consideration's being given to formation of a govt in exile".

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RT@tukky_nt: All free TV channels, including ThaiPBS, resume their broadcast

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Prayuth tells military meeting he sacrificed himself to seize power

BANGKOK: -- Coup leader Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha told a military meeting in the aftermath of the coup that he had to make sacrifice to seize power for the sake of national interests.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728610-prayuth-tells-military-meeting-he-sacrificed-himself-to-seize-power/

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RT@Saksith: There you go, people! RT @bangkokpastor: @Saksith all TrueVisions channels jus came back including news and sports.

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RT@pakhead: Looks like Yingluck and her circle hv now been separated and taken to different military camps around the country.

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RT@BTS_SkyTrain: Until further notice, the BTS SkyTrain will be open for service from 06.00 - 21.00 hrs. daily.

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RT@RichardBarrow: Brave journalist who took a pic with her mouth taped next to soldiers has been fired (Via @joe_black317) twitter.com/RichardBarrow/… #ThaiCoup

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BANGKOK: -- National Peace and Order Maintaining Council director Gen Prayuth chan-ocha instructed the Finance Ministry to hastily allocated money to pay farmers who sold rice to the former government under its rice-pledging scheme but were not yet paid.

He advised that the money of about 80 billion baht should be paid to farmers within 15-20 days without having to resort to money raised from the rice sales.

He also appointed Air Force Commander-in-Chief ACM Prajin Jantong to take care of economic affairs.

-- Thai PBS 2014-05-23

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RT@RichardBarrow: Important information for tourists arriving or leaving #Thailand through #Bangkok's airports. Please RT #ThaiCoup pic.twitter.com/AXIoTuQXyF

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Prayuth divides administration responsibilities

BANGKOK: -- National Peace and Order Maintaining Council (NPOMC) leader Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha has divided responsibilities over the country's administration with his deputies and an assistant Army chief, according to sources.

Prayuth, who is acting prime minister, will supervise the Internal Security Operations Command, Royal Thai Police, the National Security Council, National Intelligence Agency, and the Budget Bureau.

The rest of ministries and key government agencies have been divided to deputy coup leaders and an assitant Army chief.

-- The Nation 2014-05-23

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RT@RichardBarrow: 7:50pm #Bangkok's shopping malls are about to close. Please make your way to the exits. You have one hour before the Skytrain stops running.

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RT@Tulip_Oum: Yingluck and the former cabinet that reported to the military today, all detained and taken to "safe house" (via @WassanaNanuam )

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RT@Tulip_Oum: Yingluck and the former cabinet that reported to the military today, all detained and taken to "safe house" (via @WassanaNanuam )