Thailand Live Thursday 29 May 2014

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Reassigned high-ranking officials begin new jobs
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, May 29 -- Senior government officials moved to their new offices as ordered by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) including former national police chief Adul Saengsingkaew, ordered to work at the Prime Minister's Office as deputy chief of the NCPO overseeing special affairs.

Pol Gen Adul arrived at Government House this morning. Government House has reopened after being occupied by anti-government protesters during the past six months.

The former police chief said he would proceed with previously stalled work, but declined comment on the rumour that he had submitted his resignation, saying only that he was ready to work as assigned.

Panadda Diskul, deputy permanent secretary for interior, now acting permanent secretary of the Prime Minister's Office as ordered by the NCPO, said he would work with neutrality and try to promote national reconciliation.

He said that government officials should not be viewed as taking sides with any particular party. He also said he would discuss the continuation of work with Tongthong Chandransu who was removed as permanent secretary of the Prime Minister's Office to work in an inactive position at the office.

The cleanup of Government House started today so that it can be fully functional from Monday onwards.

Meanwhile, Adm Narong Pipattanasai, deputy chief of the NCPO overseeing social affairs, had his first meeting with Ministry of Education officials.

He was expected to lay down educational policies especially regarding urgent and expensive projects including the procurement of tablet computers for students, an insufficient student loan fund, educational quality and the administrative structure of the Ministry of Education. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-05-29

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Surin ex-MP faces lese majeste charge



BANGKOK: -- Former Pheu Thai MP for Surin province Prasit Chaisisa was charged of lese majeste at a police station in the capital Thursday.

Escorted by military police from Surin, Prasit was handed over to police officers at Chok Chai police station.

He was then charged with lese majeste under Section 112 for a public statement made on May 7 at Imperial World Department Store on Lat Phrao

The former MP was summoned by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to report to Surin Army Area last Saturday. He was later detained at an army camp in Nakhon Ratchasima for three days.

He denied the charges and vowed to fight the case in the court.

The police later escorted him to seek permission for extended detention from the Criminal Court on Ratchapisek road.

He won’t be tried by Court Martial because the crime was committed before the coup.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/surin-ex-mp-faces-lese-majeste-charge/


-- Thai PBS 2014-05-29

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Fishing ban in Thai Gulf brings rare shrimps back
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- The population of aquatic life in the Gulf of Thailand increased ten times more this year compared to last year after the Ministry of Fisheries closed the gulf off for fishing for three months during the spawning season.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/730038-fishing-ban-in-thai-gulf-brings-rare-shrimps-back/

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Four roads to Victory Monument closed by police to prevent protest

BANGKOK: -- Traffic police Thursday afternoon closed four main roads leading to the Victory Monument to try to prevent people from joining anti-coup protest.

The Traffic Police Division announced that the Din Daeng, Phayathai, Rajvithi and Phaholyothin roads will be closed from 3:30 pm until the rally ends or until officials have finished their operation in dealing with the protest.

The Din Daeng Road is closed from the Din Daeng Intersection until the Victor Monument. The Phayathai Road is closed from the Phayathai Intersection to the Victory Monument. The Rajvithi Road is closed from the Tuek Chai Intersection. The Phaholyothin Road is closed from the Saphan Kwai Intersection to the Victory Monument.


-- The Nation 2014-05-29

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Gen Prayuth reveals three-stage administrative plan, country reform before election, stresses objectives to ease public hardship /MCOT

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Senate inks MOA to develop IT system for ASEAN countries’ law searches

BANGKOK, 29 May 2014 (NNT) – The Senate has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to develop its information technology (IT) system, for the compilation of a law database of ASEAN members.

Former first vice - president of the Senate Surachai Liengboonlertchai presided over the joint MOA signing ceremony, by the Secretariat of the Senate, the Electronic Government Agency (Public Organisation)), and the Thailand National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC).

The law database, including the ASEAN Charter, national Constitutions, MOAs, laws on the different economies, societies and cultures, as well as politics, is created with an aim to allow public access to updated Members’ laws, quickly and efficiently.


-- NNT 2014-05-29

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Farmers at risk from being robbed as they receive rice payments

BURI RAM, 29 May 2014 (NNT) - Buri Ram Provincial Police have dispatched some officers to patrol arou

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/730050-thai-farmers-at-risk-from-being-robbed-as-they-receive-rice-payments/

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ICT meets with ISPs regarding Facebook crash

BANGKOK, 29 May 2014 (NNT) – The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) held a meeting with Internet service providers (ISPs) in a bid to prevent another repeat of Wednesday’s Facebook crash.

The meeting is aimed at outlining new security measures to ensure smooth running of internet services across the country.

Police Maj. Gen. Pisit Pao-in, the commander of the Technology Crime Suppression Division, confirmed that Facebook became unavailable on Wednesday afternoon due a technical glitch. He also denied reports that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) had blocked the site.

The ICT ministry, however, insisted that social media accounts of those who seek to incite violence and discord will be deactivated, as it is a direct violation of the NCPO’s orders. A number of Line accounts have reportedly been closed and 219 websites have been taken down.

The ministry added that those found to be violating the orders will be jailed up to 2 years or fined up to 40,000 baht.


-- NNT 2014-05-29

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Adul to use Government House as office for Special Affairs Committee

BANGKOK: -- National Council for Peace and Order deputy chief Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew said Thursday that he will use the Government House as the office for his Special Affairs Committee.

Adul said since he is in charge of the PM's Office, he needs to work at the Government House.

He said the Government House will be ready for officials to return to work soon.

He said it will be up to the NCPO chief's decision as to whether he will move to work at the Government House or not.


-- The Nation 2014-05-29

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Government House reopens with a new permanent secretary for the Prime Minister's Office after being closed for almost 6 months /Bangkok Post

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Coup Was To Avoid Failed State Scenario, Thai Army Says
By Khaosod English

Bangkok (DPA) — Thailand's military staged last week's coup to prevent the nation becoming a failed state, the army said Thursday.

The army was forced to step in because of the worsening political situation, deputy chief of staff, Lieutenant General Chatchalerm Chalermsukh, told reporters.

"No side could see eye to eye. We found weapons caches belonging to political groups. The army is not willing to let this nation become a failed state like Syria or Libya," Chatchalerm said.

The general said Thailand was not in a state to survive more political turmoil.

Thailand's economy contracted in the first quarter of 2014, something that had not happened in years.

Exports had fallen to a two-year low and industrial output had slowed, according to reports in the Bangkok Post.

Chatchalerm said the army was only willing to return to civilian rule when the political climate allowed such a transition.

"We have nothing to gain from this coup. We are sacrificing ourselves for the nation. If we don't succeed, we will go to jail. Treason is punishable by death," he said.

The army seized power last week after seven months of anti-government protests that led to violence and a political stalemate.

Rights groups have been quick to protest the junta's detention of key dissidents and its censorship of the media, something the army says is needed to calm political tensions.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1401351824&section=11&typecate=06


-- Khaosod English 2014-05-29

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RT @RichardBarrow: 3:30pm BTS Skytrain say services are running as normal at the moment but it is possible that BTS Victory Monument station will close soon

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NCPO holds talks with foreign press to affirm their stance on news reporting

BANGKOK, 29 May 2014 (NNT) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned members of foreign media for a meeting to reaffirm the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)’s stance on news reporting under the martial law.

Ministry Spokesman Sek Wannamethee said Army representatives will lead the meeting aimed at clarifying the NCPO’s mission. The NCPO insisted that the coup has been declared to restore peace and order and to ensure a democratic future for Thailand.

Mr. Sek said the NCPO has no policy to suspend social media services and the agency expects foreign press members to report the story as accurately as possible.

The spokesperson also commented on the United States Department of State’s upcoming Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report on Thailand, saying that it is unlikely that the US will link the current political situation to the issue of human trafficking. The TIP report will be released on June 1st and it had been expected that Thailand will receive a ranking downgrade to tier 3 due to political instability.

The US has so far cancelled ongoing military exercises with Thailand and an upcoming visit by a top Navy official as a result of the coup.


-- NNT 2014-05-29

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RT @RichardBarrow: 3:42pm Army & police have sealed off Victory Monument (Pic @Anuphan_nna) http://t.co/E7Bo9v94Sg #ThaiCoup #Bangkok

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RT @RichardBarrow: 3:45pm Skywalk at Victory Monument is closed. Media told to film only from skywalk (Pic @sorathan_dnn) http://t.co/Tk9GUL1rcN #ThaiCoup

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Amnat Charoen announces its OTOP training project

AMNAT CHAROEN, 29 May 2014 (NNT) – Amnat Charoen province is holding its latest program to train local OTOP business owners to be able to compete and increase their product outputs across the country.

Amant Charoen province development officer Supakorn Munsuwan announced that the province will be supporting and training various local OTOP producers in an aim to reach the 2015 sales goal for their products.

The training project will be called Training on [email protected]. The sales goal for the OTOP products has been set at 924 million baht for year 2014 and at 1 billion baht for year 2015.


-- NNT 2014-05-29

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Bangkok: Four main roads leading to Victory Monument closed, sealed off by authorities, to block anti-coup protest /MCOT

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RT @BTS_SkyTrain: Now 16.15 hrs. Victory Monument Station open for service as normal.

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RT @tulsathit: 4.20 pm. Victory Monument blocked RT @MrNaling: #nationtv http://t.co/4hzJqyUcus

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RT @tulsathit: Troops at Victory Monument. BTS service is normal, at least for now. RT @js100radio: http://t.co/Q2lpUYjgt8 http://t.co/iZCnvnT6wx

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Anti coup protesters warned of drastic action



BANGKOK: -- The Royal Thai Police Thursday warned anti coup protesters to halt their protest immediately or else they will face drastic action.
Troops and police are now standing by to begin enforcing laws against violators of martial law at 5 p.m. today.

Warning by the police was made at a press conference called by the deputy commissioner of the Royal Thai Police Pol Gen Somyos Phumpanmuang today.

He said the police was designated by the National Council for Peace and Order to maintain peace and order at the Victory Monument.

From the information received by the military intelligence, the protest was not natural but well organised and incited by leaders.

They have no good intention but assembled at the place with hidden agenda, he said.

With the information received, he said these protesters would be dealt drastically with tough measures.

He did not reveal what measures would be taken but said they would be dealt with step by step and in line with international standards.

He also warned outsiders or those gather at the place as onlookers to keep off the place as the police would enforce the law toughly to return peace and order to the country.

He also said the NCPO head had good intention to bring good things back to the country, citing the cash payment to farmers as an example.

By 4.00 p.m hundreds of troops and police are blocking traffic to the Monument ahead of the 5 p.m. deadline for protesters to move out.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/anti-coup-protesters-warned-drastic-action/


-- Thai PBS 2014-05-29

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RT @W7VOA: This appears to be the largest anti-#ThaiCoup rally today (NOT at Victory Monument) Photo: @tanatpong_nna http://t.co/21sMkDhPbj

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Ex-foreign minister Surapong, Suranand, media mogul Sondhi, Democrat Party member Tankhun freed by NCPO /MCOT

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RT @RichardBarrow: 5pm - RT @BPbreakingnews: Cameramen at the Victory Monument http://t.co/RGiznbhFqR #ThaiCoup #Bangkok #Thailand

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Coup needed to prevent Thailand from becoming Syria, foreign media told

BANGKOK: -- The junta Thursday told foreign media that it needed to step into politic to prevent Thailand from being like Syria, Libya and Iraq citing the military has no political ambition to take over the country.

Army deputy chief of staff, Lieutenant General Chatchalerm Chalermsukh explained that a decade long conflict was intensified six months ago and tended to develop into more violence and the civilian government could not run the country due to lacking of full mandate.

The military has found a number of war weapons in Lop Buri and Khon Khaen, which warring groups prepared for their wars, he said.

"The security agencies could not allow them to clash. There might be some winner but the country would be under war like Syria, Libya and Iraq. We believe Thai people does not want it," Chatchalerm told foreign media representatives at the Foreign Ministry Thursday.


-- The Nation 2014-05-29

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PROTEST
Stop using our logo in anti-coup protests : McDonald's

BANGKOK: -- McDonald's, the multinational fast food chain, has asked protesters in Thailand to halt using its logo, symbol and trademark in political protests in Thailand.

The US company reiterated in its Facebook to maintain neutrality in the face of the political crisis in the country.

The statement came after some anti-coup activists used its logo and symbol in their social network sites.

"We believe that such acts can be carried out with the intention of pursuing certain political interests", the chain said.

"We emphasise that we have no connection with such actions and we wish to clarify that McThai maintains and will continue maintaining a neutral position in the current political situation in Thailand," it added.

The global food service retailer asked demonstrators to stop using its logo, symbols or trademark and threatened to take "appropriate measures" to protect its rights.

"We wish to request any person who has, in the past, or intends, in the future to use the McDonald’s logo, symbol or trademark, to cease and refrain from doing so with immediate effect," read the statement.

On Sunday, several anti-junta demonstrators hid in a McDonald’s restaurant in Bangkok after which at least two of them were arrested by the soldiers.


-- The Nation 2014-05-29

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Military Tries to Control Coup Narrative
By Khaosod Neglish

BANGKOK — The Thai military is stepping up efforts to control the narrative behind the coup it staged last week by releasing propagandist videos and continuing to silence those that try to tell alternative histories.

In a press conference this morning, deputy chief of staff Lt. Gen. Chatchalerm Chalermsukh told reporters that the military coup was an effort to prevent Thailand from becoming “a failed state like Syria or Libya.”

He stressed that the military takeover was not driven by self-interest.

"We have nothing to gain from this coup," Lt. Gen. Chatchalerm said. "We are sacrificing ourselves for the nation. If we don't succeed, we will go to jail. Treason is punishable by death."

The military also interrupted all state-owned television broadcasts this morning to air a self-promoting video about how the military has already begun solving Thailand’s “deep-rooted problems.”

The video opened with a female narrator explaining that while Thais are free to choose their own political views, deepening ideological differences in recent years have polarized Thai society and caused violence.

“Democracy has failed to solve this problem” and it is clear that “elections will lead to losses,” the narrator said over footage of the rival protest groups that were camping out in Bangkok prior to the coup. An attempt to hold a snap poll on 2 February was nullified after anti-government protesters interfered with voting and registration.

The military tried to step in to resolve the dispute, but the two sides “failed to reach any agreement, forcing the military take control of power," the narrator continued over clips of army chief and coup-leader Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha declaring the military takeover on national television.

Gen. Prayuth announced the coup d’état after talks with rival political factions failed to solve the country’s decade-long political crisis in two days.

The twenty minute video went on to praise Gen. Prayuth for his efforts to "swiftly solve” the country’s problems while refraining from invoking martial law’s harshest powers.

Under martial law, the military is authorized to censor the media, search and detain people at will, and violate a number of other internationally-recognized human rights.

“We try our best to avoid violating human rights,” the video showed Gen. Prayuth saying in a press conference with foreign media.

The short film ended with shots of rice farmers receiving overdue payments for the paddies they sold to the government last year under its controversial rice-subsidy program.

The military announced earlier this week that it would distribute billions of baht to the more than 800,000 rice farmers that are still owed money from the rice scheme. The former government failed to pay farmers on time because of internal mismanagement and crippling anti-government protests that led to the dissolution of Parliament in December.

Thailand’s rice farmers are among the former the Pheu Thai government’s strongest supporters.

The military is actively broadcasting its version of the 2014 coup and simultaneously clamping down on media outlets and individuals that offer different narratives. Over 200 websites have been banned since the military seized power last week, and plans for a national internet gateway are currently underway.

Hundreds of political dissidents have been summoned to report to the army, and many have them have been detained.

Yesterday, Facebook was made inaccessible for millions of Thais for about an hour; the army initially took responsibility for the shutdown, but later insisted it was an innocent “technical glitch.”

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1401359015&section=11&typecate=06


-- Khaosod English 2014-05-29

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RT @tulsathit: RT @BTS_SkyTrain: Now 17.25 hrs. All Stations open for service as normal.

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Fourteen people killed as Ukraine army helicopter is shot down by pro-Russia rebels near Sloviansk, Kiev says /BBC