Thailand Live Saturday 14 Jun 2014

[Lite Beer]

RS customers to get full refunds
Watchiranont Thongtep
The Nation

An elephant adorned with the Russian flag, centre, kicks a ball during a performance to celebrate the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, on Khao San Road, the well-known tourist street in Bangkok yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- RS customers will receive a full Bt1,590 refund if they want to return the FIFA World Cup set-top box while the Bt299 subscription fee to watch the Brazilian event will also be refunded.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/734296-rs-customers-to-get-full-refunds/

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Interim government by September
Panya Thiosangwan
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prayuth urges all Thais to join in recreating the country through intelligence and sacrifice

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/734299-interim-government-by-september/

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1,800 rice warehouses to be checked
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Team to check on size, quality of stock to allay rumours of 2.9m tonnes missing

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/734300-1800-rice-warehouses-to-be-checked/

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UN experts call on military to ease restrictions, respect rights
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A group of United Nations experts met in Geneva yesterday and issued a statement calling on the military junta to end arbitrary detentions and restrictions on fundamental rights, including the freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

"Public criticism of authorities and the freedom of the Thai media are negatively affected by various measures, including the ban on political gatherings of more than five persons and the reported closure of a vast number of community radio stations," they said.

"Restoring the space for public dialogue is crucial to allow durable solutions to the political impasse affecting Thailand to be forged," the experts concluded.

The experts included the UN special rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression Frank La Rue, UN special rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association Maina Kiai and Juan E Mendez, UN special rapporteur on torture and other inhumane or degrading treatment.

-- The Nation 2014-06-14

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Sihasak explains junta's stance at UN meeting in Geneva
Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation

Geneva: Foreign countries continued voicing serious concern about the detention of politicians and activists, as well as the restriction of human rights under martial law after the coup.

Representatives of European Union, Canada and human rights groups raised these concerns and posed questions to the Foreign Ministry permanent secretary Sihasak Phuangketkeow at a meeting with the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday.

Conducting trials of civilians in the military court also posed a problem for human rights in Thailand, as the defendant was not allowed a chance to appeal, they said. The enforcement of the computer crimes law and the Penal Code's Article 112, which is related to lese majeste, would affect human rights practice in Thailand, an Amnesty International representative said.

Sihasak was at the meeting to brief them about the latest developments in Thailand, saying the general situation had improved greatly. He told the meeting that the implementation of the computer crime and lese majeste laws should not be taken out of the context of Thai politics.

"If we can go ahead with the plan for reconciliation, I believe that such problems would be very much reduced," he told the meeting.

As for martial law, Sihasak said only a few legal provisions had been imposed to maintain order in the country. Though many people had been summoned, most of them have already been released, he pointed out, adding that nobody was held for more than a week and those facing trial in the military court were given the right to appoint a lawyer.

There are two distinctly different perceptions of the takeover overseas. While countries in the West and international human-rights organisations have been strongly criticising the junta and raising many concerns, countries in Asia and members of Asean were voicing understanding of the situation.

Regionally understood

Representatives from Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore and Bangladesh at the meeting said they understood Thailand's political situation and hoped that reform would go smoothly and democracy could be restored as planned.

Sihasak told representatives of the countries voicing concern to visit Thailand so they can see the reality for themselves. He also explained the junta's three-stage roadmap toward reconciliation and democracy, and assured them that Thailand would not retreat from democracy.

He also called on the international community to stand alongside Thailand and provide the cooperation needed to help restore democracy.

"Be with us. Express your concerns when you are concerned. Thailand will not disappear from the [world] map. We are an open society and will remain open," Sihasak told the meeting.

During the meeting, Sihasak also reported on Thailand's implementation of recommendations and voluntary pledges under the first cycle of the Universal Periodic Review 2012-2014 (mid-term update), telling the UN what Thailand was doing to improve human-rights practices.

-- The Nation 2014-06-14

[Lite Beer]

Rise in power usage may affect South
The Nation

A PTT-run service station announces a reduction in Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) fuel supply due to a shortage resulting from repair work at a Thai-Malaysia gas distribution station. The sign says that NGV supplies will be down to 28 per cent from normal

BANGKOK: -- Egat urges consumers to be sparing over consumption before matches

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/734302-rise-in-power-usage-may-affect-south/

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Red-shirt party adviser Jitra arrested
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Jitra Kotchadej, a former labour leader and adviser to the new red-shirt Palang Prachathipatai Party, was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday for failing to report to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) after a summons was issued.

Jitra, 42, was detained at 7.40am yesterday in the immigration area of the airport after returning from the United States. Upon arrest, she told reporters she did not know what to do and wanted to consult her friends first.

She will be taken to a military court today along with red-shirt actor-singer Thanat Thanawatcharanond, aka Tom Dundee, who was also arrested for refusing to respond to an NCPO summons.

-- The Nation 2014-06-14

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NCPO releases anti-govt leaders
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Key members of the movement against the previous government who reported to the NCPO on Thursday were released yesterday. Meanwhile, officers from the Army's Office of Judge Advocate General are working with the Crime Suppression Division on issuing arrest warrants against 21 people who refused to report to the NCPO.

The 21 include academic Suda Rangkupan, socialite Darunee Kritbunyalai, former interior minister Charupong Ruangsuwan, red-shirt leaders Wuthipong "Ko Tee" Kotthammakhun Ko and Saran Chuichai.

-- The Nation 2014-06-14

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No double standards, police, judiciary told
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The NCPO yesterday released order number 63/2014 on judicial policy to ensure the rule of law.

The order stipulates that the judiciary carry out its duty in a just manner and in a way that can be scrutinised by the public.

The judiciary in Thailand does not just include the courts, but also the police, the Office of the Attorney General, the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Department of Special Investigation.

The NCPO also advised the judicial branch to avoid causing any public misunderstanding that could create divisions in society and ensure there are no double standards in the application of law. The order also says people must be given equal access to justice.

-- The Nation 2014-06-14

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Dissolve Democrats, Ruangkrai urges EC
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai Party member and former senator Ruangkrai Leekitwattana spoke to Election Commission officials yesterday about his petition requesting for the EC to dissolve the Democrat Party.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/734303-dissolve-democrats-ruangkrai-urges-ec/

[Lite Beer]

'Returning roads' campaign has improved traffic: police
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The campaign to "return roads to the people" by towing away or locking the wheels of illegally parked cars, as well as arresting offenders "in a polite manner" has helped improve traffic over the past four days.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/734304-returning-roads-campaign-has-improved-traffic-police/

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58 arrested, 391 betting websites blocked
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police arrested 58 people involved in illegal punting and bookmaking, and closed 391 foreign and local betting websites as the World Cup tournament kicked off early yesterday, a senior police commander said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/734306-58-arrested-391-betting-websites-blocked/

[Lite Beer]

NCPO 'not planning to crack down on illegal migrants'
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Council for Peace and Order will not resort to violence or drastic action to crack down on illegal migrant workers as rumoured on social media, NCPO spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvari said yesterday.

He said the issue had to be dealt with in the long run, but only in a gradual and careful manner, as it was relevant to national security and vital to the shortage of labour.

Rumours of violent crackdowns being planned have allegedly driven many illegal migrants to abandon their work and return home.

Winthai said all illegal migrant workers could register with authorities in several provinces, including Sa Kaew, where military trucks provide free transport to the workers. The deadline for registration and verification was initially set for August 11, but was extended recently to next year, he added.

-- The Nation 2014-06-14

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AMLO seizes Bt27m from illicit rosewood trader
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has seized more than Bt27 million in assets acquired unlawfully by a financier and his accomplices who illegally funded the felling of a large number of rosewood trees and smuggled them out of the country for the past 11 years, secretary-general Seehanart Prayoonrat said yesterday.

Kampanart Chaimart allegedly began his illicit business in 2000 with a number of people, and up to Bt1.18 billion worth of transfers were made between him and his partners from 2011 to this year, he said.

Kampanart, better known as Sia Thang, and his partners allegedly ran the illegal rosewood business mostly in the Northeast. Some of the financial transactions originated in Laos, and involved people in the South, before they ended up in accounts in Malaysia-based banks, Seehanart said.

AMLO has seized an unknown amount of cash as well as 98 items owned by Kampanart, while another 97 items are being verified to see if they were bought with Kampanart's ill-gotten gains. Seehanart said he had approved the seizure Bt27 million worth of assets in total.

-- The Nation 2014-06-14

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World Cup all the rage on social media
Kornchanok Raksaseri @Aim_NT

The World Cup in Brazil, which kicked off early yesterday morning (Thailand time) and will run for a month, grabbed the attention of social media users both here and around the world.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/734310-world-cup-all-the-rage-on-social-media/

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EDITORIAL
The irony of Prayuth's mission
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Success would mean a coup will never be needed ever again

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/734311-the-irony-of-prayuths-mission/

[Lite Beer]

NCPO Chief denies using populist policies to promote happiness

BANGKOK, 13 June 2014 (NNT) – Chief of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha has emphasized that the budget planning for fiscal year 2015 must be transparent while affirming that the mission to create happiness does not rely on populist policies.

At a meeting to present the 2015 budget policy guideline, Gen Prayuth instructed officials involved in the budget planning process to uphold transparency and ensure that expenditure complied with the fiscal discipline. He insisted that public debt must be contained within the limit while the people should be kept informed of the debt figure so as to maintain economic confidence.

Gen Prayuth also rejected the reports that the NCPO was preparing to push forward the infrastructure development projects, saying any information which had not been officially announced or given his signature could be considered false.

In regard to criticisms that the NCPO was resorting to the use of populist policies, he said it was a misunderstanding and confirmed that the assistance measures adopted so far were crucial to the alleviation of Thai citizens’ financial hardship. He assured that the NCPO staff realized the people’s needs and had a clear picture of how to solve their problems.

After the military takeover, Gen Prayuth said the NCPO had encountered many issues in the nation that needed to be tackled urgently. He thus asked people who disagreed with the coup for their restraint and understanding.

-- NNT 2014-06-14

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RT@RichardBarrow: Now that curfew has ended in #Bangkok, @BTS_SkyTrain has announced that service hours will return to normal 6am-midnight.

[Lite Beer]

Bomb explosion rocks capital hours before curfew lifted

BANGKOK: -- A Russian made hand grenade was thrown at a police booth near Rama 9 intersection Friday night, damaging four vehicles but no injuries.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/734315-bomb-explosion-rocks-capital-hours-before-curfew-lifted/

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UPDATE:

General Prayuth unveils government’s timeline

BANGKOK: -- An interim government is expected to be in place in September with a functional cabinet after which there will be a National Legislative Assembly and a provisional constitution, announced General Prayuth Chan-ocha in his weekly televised address Friday night.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/734299-interim-government-by-september/#entry7970155

[Lite Beer]

BTS resumes normal service time

BANGKOK: -- BTS sky train Saturday resumed its normal service hours from 6 am until midnight.

The normal service time was resumed following the lifting of curfew in Bangkok and the rest of the country.

-- The Nation 2014-06-14

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Junta threatens to re-impose curfew in trouble areas

BANGKOK: -- The junta may re-impose curfew in areas where disturbances are made to threaten the national security, a spokesman said.

Pathamakorn Ratanadilok Na-Phuket said the curfew contributed to the reduction of crime rates. The rates of traffic violations, gambling and violent crimes went down, he said.

-- The Nation 2014-06-14

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Red shirt activist Sombat seeks to post bail again
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, June 13 -- The lawyer for red shirt activist Sombat Boonngamanong, locally known as "Bor Kor Lai Jud" (Polka Dot Editor), is due to post bail for the political activist once again, during his first phase in prison, voicing assurances that the activist would stop all movement that would provoke protests if his freedom is returned.

Attorney Anon Nampha, along with supporters of the detained activist visited Mr Sombat, the leader of a faction of the red shirt movement, earlier today at the Bangkok Remand Prison to give him moral support, amid tight security by the army and police forces.

The attorney said apart from visiting the Polka Dot Editor, the group visited the six suspects who were earlier charged with violating Article 112 of the Thai criminal code -- the so-called "lese majeste law."

Mr Anon said he would post bail for Mr Sombat one more time, during his first phase in prison between June 12-23, after the Military Court rejected his request on Thursday.

Mr Sombat's lawyer also affirmed that his client would stop all political activity that advocate protests via social media Facebook and Twitter, as he would like to see peace returned to the country.

As for the showing of the pigeon symbol, which represents peace, by the detainee during his court hearing on Thursday, Mr Anon said it is an act within the human rights' principle, which any one of any country could also do, even if that country is not a democratised country. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2014-06-14

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UPDATE:

EGAT says there's sufficient electricity in Thai South
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, June 13 -- The state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has geared up to supply electricity to meet the power demand in the South during the 28-day gas suspension period at the JDA-A18 source.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/734302-rise-in-power-usage-may-affect-south/#entry7970772

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Rumours force many Cambodian workers leave for home
By Digital Content

SA KAEO, June 13 -- Many Cambodian workers in Thailand have already left for home while more than 10,000 others are preparing to return for fear of being arrested by the Thai authorities following persisting rumours that the Thai military is preparing to launch a massive crackdown on illegal migrants.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/734365-rumours-force-many-cambodian-workers-leave-for-home/

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NCPO says curfew may be reinstated if signs of violence re-emerged; no order to crack down on migrant workers / MCOT

[Lite Beer]

BOT asserts to foreign investors Thai economy will be reinvigorated in 2nd half

BANGKOK, 14 June 2014 (NNT) – The Bank of Thailand asserted on Friday that state sector spending is beginning to return to normal, leading it to believe that the economy will improve in the latter half of the year.

BOT spokesperson Rung Mallikamat said, referring to the road shows in Singapore and Hong Kong, which were jointly held by the BOT and the Stock Exchange of Thailand, that most investors who came to the road shows were confident in the Thai economy, although they inquired about the rate of the economy's re-invigoration. Ms. Rung explained that BOT officials told the investors that economic indicators began to stabilize in March and did not decline in April. The BOT expected that revival would be seen in the 2nd half of 2014, in major part because of state spending, private sector spending, exports and consumption.

However, the spokesperson admitted that consumption might not fully recover this year due to the current high level of household debt, adding that the quality of loans also dropped, especially with loans to SMEs, which were afflicted by the economic slowdown due to their limited funds reserves.

-- NNT 2014-06-14

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UPDATE:

Explosion at Rama IX Intersection probably not related to politics: deputy police chief

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Police Commissioner General Pol Gen Somyos Pumphanmuang said Saturday that the explosion at the Rama IX Intersection Friday night might not be related to politics.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/734315-bomb-explosion-rocks-capital-hours-before-curfew-lifted/page-2#entry7970977

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Military junta says curfew may be reinstated in areas where troubles surface

BANGKOK: -- The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) says curfew could be reinstated in areas where troubles surface.

Spokesperson of the military junta Ms Patamaporn Rattanadilok na Phuket said Saturday that the nationwide curfew imposed since May 22 was lifted Friday night after the security and the administration have jointly assessed the situation and came up with the common understanding that the situation has returned to normal and there was no indication of any resistance movements.

The assessment prompted the NCPO to build up atmosphere that will contribute to tourism, and therefore lifted the curfew nationwide, she said.

However she cautioned that curfew could be reinstated if resistance movement surfaces in any area and pose threat to national security.

She said although curfew was lifted but martial law is still in force nationwide.

But she made clear that the NCPO will enforce only normal laws with violators.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/military-junta-says-curfew-may-reinstated-areas-troubles-surface/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=military-junta-says-curfew-may-reinstated-areas-troubles-surface

-- Thai PBS 2014-06-14

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UPDATE:

World Cup kicks off amid concern of rising bet among Thai youths

BANGKOK: -- The 2014 World Cup officially kicked off Friday but what worries authorities however, is the increase in betting on matches during the season among youths. More than 60 arrests have been made on charge of illegal gambling.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/734306-58-arrested-391-betting-websites-blocked/#entry7971132