Thailand Live Saturday 24 May 2014

[Lite Beer]

Newlyweds sue Thailand hotel after bride falls ill with salmonella on luxury £10,000 honeymoon

A newly married couple are suing a four-star hotel after the bride fell violently ill and was hospitalised after contracting a serious infection while on their dream honeymoon in Asia.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728798-newlyweds-sue-thailand-hotel-after-bride-falls-ill-with-salmonella-on-luxury-l10000-honeymoon/

[Lite Beer]

Governor asks coup leaders for flexibility in Phuket curfew
Phuket Gazette -

The governor said he had asked the NPOMC to consider a flexible curfew for Phuket, in light of the importance of tourism here. Photo: Saran Mitrarat

PHUKET: Governor Maitri Inthusut requested that Phuket be given a flexible curfew as it is a tourist destination, he told a meeting of more than 100 high-ranking government officers today.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728800-governor-asks-coup-leaders-for-flexibility-in-phuket-curfew/

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

The Second Army Region commander Lt Gen Charnchai Phoothong flew to Khon Kaen province after soldiers seized a large cache of arms and ammunition that linked to violences in Bangkok.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728743-21-militant-red-shirts-arrested-in-khon-kaen-allegedly-with-arms/page-3?p=7876438#entry7876438

[Lite Beer]

Farmers welcome junta’s prompt remedial action plan



The Thai Farmers and Agriculture Association welcomed the military junta head ordering the payment of money to farmers who are still not paid after selling rice under the Yingluck government's rice pledging scheme within three weeks.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728802-farmers-welcome-juntas-prompt-remedial-action-plan/

[Lite Beer]

RT@Tulip_Oum: 2:21PM CCP get ready to go to Victory monument.-@ittipat_Rw: pic.twitter.com/cKs6etX4nN

[Lite Beer]

Mother to seek court's help for son detained by junta

BANGKOK: -- Phayao Akkad, a mother of paramedic killed in 2010 red-shirt crackdown, said she will ask the Criminal Court to grant protection to her son taken away and detained by the Army.

Phayao went to the Army Club to ask Army deputy spokesman Col Winthai Suwaree about the whereabouts of her son, Natthapat Akhad. She said she was not given an answer.

She said her son was taken away by troops when the red-shirt rally on Utthayan Road was dispersed by troops and she has not heard about him since then.

She would file a complaint with the Criminal Court to grant protection to normal demonstrators, who are not leaders of the rally.

Phayao and her son have been campaigning to demand justice for the death Phayao's daughter who was killed when troops cracked down on red-shirt protesters in May 2010.

-- The Nation 2014-05-24

[Lite Beer]

Air Force chief to hold meeting of bankers, senior Finance Ministry officials Monday

Air Force chief ACM Prajin Juntong, a military junta member in charge of economic affairs, will hold a meeting of senior Finance Ministry officials and bankers on Monday.

The meeting will be held at 1:30 pm at the Wayuphak Auditorium on the fourth floor of the Finance Ministry building.

-- The Nation 2014-05-24

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: Anti-coup protesters marching to Victory Monument for the gathering at 5pm (Pic @AlexisGalon) pic.twitter.com/ZA0T4YC3D3

[Lite Beer]

RT@W7VOA: Dozens of soldiers now moving on sidewalk but away from Victory Monument, intended end point for anti #ThaiCoup March pic.twitter.com/F6AO5FdrHN

[Lite Beer]

Media organisations urge junta to lift coup orders that restrict press freedom
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The four major media organisations Saturday issued an open letter to the military junta urging it to lift coup orders that restrict the press freedom and to have a new constitution enacted as soon as possible.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728815-media-organisations-urge-junta-to-lift-coup-orders-that-restrict-press-freedom/

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

Militiamen arrested with lethal weapon intended for inciting violence

KHON KAEN: -- Combined force of soldiers and local police raided an apartment room in downtown Khon Kaen province Saturday, arresting 23 militiamen and seizing a cache of arms and ammunition they intended to incite violence against the coup.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728743-21-militant-red-shirts-arrested-in-khon-kaen-allegedly-with-arms/page-4?p=7876855#entry7876855

[Lite Beer]

Police, troops block road to stop procession of anti-coup protesters

BANGKOK: -- A company of police and troops used a police truck to block the inbound Phahoyothin Road Saturday afternoon to stop a procession of anti-coup protesters.

They set up the road block in front of the Bang Sue police station while the protesters were heading to the Victory Monument. The protesters moved from the Major Ratchayothin shopping mall.

-- The Nation 2014-05-24

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: Expats & tourists are advised to stay away from Victory Monument where an anti- #ThaiCoup protest is planned for 5pm pic.twitter.com/dc8BAPhIWA

[Lite Beer]

RT@Tulip_Oum: 3:42PM anti-coup protesters throw bottles of water into officials, 3 cars stuck in the middle. “@joize_nna: pic.twitter.com/jvnFXfNma5”

[Lite Beer]

RT@Tulip_Oum: 4:12PM Inbound Paholyothin rd is closed at Sapan Kwai, detour via Kumpangpetch.- “@ittipat_Rw: @js100radio pic.twitter.com/JZ8SWW8Eal”

[Lite Beer]

Junta summons TV operators, TV network operators

BANGKOK: -- The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Saturday issued an order, summoning operators of all types of TVs and networks for TV broadcast to report themselves at the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission.

They were told to attend a meeting at the NBTC head office at 4 pm on Saturday.

-- The Nation 2014-05-24

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: RT @james_clark: Army spokesman says unavailability of CNN & BBC on TrueVisions due to technical problems which are currently being fixed

[Lite Beer]

RT@tukky_nt: [4.20pm] Troops block Phaholyothin rd in front of BangSue pol station to stop anti-coup protesters pic.twitter.com/b1fsTtQOxB "@ittipat_Rw

[Lite Beer]

RT@Juarawee: Soldiers (trucks) and protesters (sky train) are heading to Victory Monument now. Brace yourself ppl over there.

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: 4:30pm Soldiers tried to block protesters reaching Victory Monument so they are going by Skytrain instead. Soldiers going there by trucks.

[Lite Beer]

Sondhi reports to military junta

Sondhi Limthongkul turned himself in to the military junta today after he is among 35 persons summoned to report today.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728828-sondhi-reports-to-military-junta/

[Lite Beer]

150 figures still detained by NCPO
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, May 24 -- Some 150 figures including former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra were still detained by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) while some 30 people summoned who did not report to the NCPO would be prosecuted, according to deputy army spokesman Winthai Suwaree.

Ms Yingluck and others were detained when they reported to the NCPO upon its summoning orders.

Col Winthai told a press conference today that the detention period would vary, as some would be in custody for 2-3 days but they would most likely not detained for more than seven days.

He said the people summoned were divided into three categories - the first group was directly involved into the unrest. The NCPO has provided them with good facilities all the political leaders were being well-treated, he said.

The second group were indirectly involved with the unrest but had linkages. They could be allow to stay at home but must inform the NPOMC where they were or where they planned to go. And the third group were under arrest warrants and would be prosecuted.

Mr Abhisit Vejjajiva, a former prime minister and the Democrat Party leader, was released on the same day after the coup was announced.

Col Winthai said the NCPO has considered to release him for a role in the unrest and it depended on the decision of authorities.

Col Winthai said there were some 30 people who were failed to report themselves and the NCPO has given the deadline for them to meet with the NCPO by 4pm today, otherwise they would be prosecuted and face a two year jail term or Bt40,000 fine.

He said the NCPO has today summoned an additional 35 figures including Sondhi Limthongkul, former leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) or the Yellow Shirt movement. He said the NCPO has summoned all groups that were involved with the unrest over the past nine years.

Mr Sondhi, Mr Suwat Liptapanlop, leading Red Shirt activist Adisorn Piengket and others summoned have reportedly meet the NCPO. Most of them have prepared personal items in case they were not allowed to return home today.

In a related development, Col Winthai said that soldiers and police have conducted a joint raid of a hotel in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen and arrested 21 suspects with many items of explosive devices.

One of them told authorities that they were ordered by the leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) to cause violent attacks in Khon Kaen to set example as a "Khon Kaen Model."

Col Winthai said that authorities would step up its attempt to crack down on illegal war-grade weapons. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2014-05-24

[Lite Beer]

Expat Frenchman arrested for ATM fraud, marijuana
Phuket Gazette -

Police followed Mr Naci and arrested him in a Patong parking lot. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: Acting on a tip from a bank, police yesterday arrested an expat Frenchman with counterfeit ATM cards and a stash of marijuana.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728845-expat-frenchman-arrested-for-atm-fraud-marijuana/

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: #Thailand - RT @Thai_Talk: Troops at Khon Kaen city gate, following intel of anti-coup movement pic.twitter.com/gTsVRY97sn

[Lite Beer]

RT@veen_NT: 5.43pm: Nation reporter said no soldier seen at Victory Monument now - only police mainly traffic police.

[Lite Beer]

RT@Saksith: Witness: ”Police truck drove around Victory Monument, situation remains the same. Lots of protesters!”

[Lite Beer]

RT@veen_NT: Nation TV @noppatjak reported anti-coup protesters at Victory Monument aim to stay until about 6pm but no leader so no specific timeframe.

[Lite Beer]

RT@W7VOA: It's turned into a sit-in on the road and they're vowing to return tomorrow. #ThaiCoup pic.twitter.com/ajbgoWkNAM

[Lite Beer]

RT@veen_NT: Anti-coup protesters will meet again tomorrow at 11am in front of McDonald's Rajprasong. via @Chu_SpringNews

[Lite Beer]

RT@W7VOA: Anti-#ThaiCoup protestors now on march in road around Victory Monument and singing. pic.twitter.com/m55mNgCUXS