Bank Staff Criticised For Rejecting Redshirts Deposits

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24 February 2014, 10:25

(21 February) A Redshirt leader has demanded that the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Co-Operatives clarify its stance regarding an incident in which Redshirts supporters were told off by its bank staff.

The incident took place in Nakhon Ratchasima when 50 Redshirts led by Pheu Thai MP Prasert Chantraruangthong attempted on Thursday to deposit a sum of 30 million baht into their BACC accounts in order to sustain the bank′s liquidity.

The BAAC is currently suffering credit insufficiency after it failed to receive a loan from the Government Savings Bank (GSB). The loans were cancelled following protests organised by the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD).

BAAC will need to have sufficient currents to sustain their liquidity, before it is able to make payments to farmers in the Rice-Pledging Scheme sponsored by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

However, when Mr. Prasert and his group arrived at a local BAAC branch to deposit their money, a female bank official shouted "No! Get out!" at the Redshirts.

Another male bank employee also reportedly shoved at a Redshirt supporter. The two were separated before the fistfight ensued.

Today the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) core leader, Mr. Natthawut Saikua, stated that BAAC needs to declare its stance regarding the issue, in order to assure the Redshirts supporters that they are welcomed for financial service.

Mr. Natthawut also urged the bank managers to punish those involved in the confrontation as a token of their sincerity.

However, if BAAC remains silent about the issue, Mr. Natthawut said he will summon the Redshirts to rally in front of every BAAC branch in the country to demand for the answer.

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Thai Toyota Denies Tax Evasion Allegation

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22 February 2014, 15:24

(21 February) The Toyota Motors Thailand company has released a statement denying tax evasion claims made by custom authorities.

The Thai authorities have previously claimed Toyota Motor Thailand evaded tax for auto parts imported from Japan, accusing the company of failure to submit full payment of their income taxes.

However, Mr. Wutthikorn Suriyachantananon, the Assistant Managing Director of Toyota Motors, said the shipment of imported auto parts were authorised by the Ministry of Industry, and that the company had strictly followed all legal provisions concerning the customs law, excise law, Revenue Code of Conduct and the International Trade Agreements.

The company also conducted its businesses legally under the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA), a free trade agreement between both nations, Mr. Wutthikorn insisted.

Toyota claimed it is currently waiting for the conclusion from the case, after it had submitted the information to the Custom Department since 4 December 2013.

Regarding another allegation, in which Toyota Thailand was accused of evading taxes for imported auto parts from India by trading through a third country account, Mr. Wutthikorn said that the company had already paid extra taxes and fines to relevant authorities.

The Toyota Assistant Managing Director insisted in the statement that Toyota had been operating its businesses "based on transparency and good governance".

The company also offers sincere service for their customers and has been working cooperatively with the government’s policy to promote investments and exports, the statement claims.

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Bank Staff Criticised For Rejecting Redshirts Deposits

By

Khaosod English

-

21 February 2014, 21:40

(21 February) A Redshirt leader has demanded that the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Co-Operatives clarify its stance regarding an incident in which Redshirts supporters were told off by its bank staff.

The incident took place in Nakhon Ratchasima when 50 Redshirts led by Pheu Thai MP Prasert
Chantraruangthong attempted on Thursday to deposit a sum of 30 million baht into their BACC accounts
in order to sustain the bank′s liquidity.

The BAAC is currently suffering credit insufficiency after it failed to receive
a loan from the Government Savings Bank (GSB). The loans were cancelled following protests organised
by the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State
(PCAD).

BAAC
will need to have sufficient currents to sustain their liquidity, before it is able to make payments
to farmers in the Rice-Pledging Scheme sponsored by Prime Minister Yingluck
Shinawatra.

However, when Mr. Prasert and his group arrived at a local BAAC branch to deposit their
money, a female bank official shouted No! Get out! at the Redshirts.

Another male bank employee also reportedly
shoved at a Redshirt supporter. The two were separated before the fistfight
ensued.

Today
the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) core leader, Mr. Natthawut
Saikua, stated that BAAC
needs to declare its stance regarding the issue, in order to assure the Redshirts supporters that
they are welcomed for financial service.

Mr. Natthawut also urged the bank managers to punish those involved in the
confrontation as a token of their sincerity.

However, if BAAC remains silent about the issue, Mr. Natthawut said he will
summon the Redshirts to rally in front of every BAAC branch in the country to demand for the
answer.

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PT Asks Police To Protect Redshirts From Suthep

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21 February 2014, 19:50

(21 February) Deputy Spokesperson of Pheu Thai Party has urged the police to protect Redshirts supporters following a threat from the anti-government protest leader.

Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban, leader of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), yesterday delivered a speech in which he warned Redshirts that they might encounter "popcorn vendors", a euphemism for armed militants believed to be allied to PCAD movements.

"Go ahead. Come. The popcorn vendors have already prepared the popcorns for you. Don′t blame me if the vendors serve popcorns at you," Mr. Suthep was quoted as saying.

Pheu Thai Deputy Spokesperson, Mr. Anusorn Eiamsa-ad, branded Mr. Suthep′s action as provoking violence, and threatening the supporters of the other party.

He said that the statement could be implied that Mr. Suthep has acknowledged links to the "popcorn gunmen", and that he might have previously appointed the assailants to sow chaos and violence in the past.

Mr. Anusorn also questioned whether the Thaugsuban family is addicted to the use of violent force. He noted that PCAD leader had previously challenged Mr. Chalerm Yoobamrung to a fist fight, while his former party member and biological brother, Mr. Thanee Thaugsuban, had strangled another MP in a parliamentary debate.

Mr. Suthep′s another biological brother, Mr. Chane Thaugsuban, had also earned nickname from the public as ‘Chane, the chair thrower’ (เชนปาแชร์) after he propelled a chair during the meeting in the House of Representatives, Mr. Anusorn said.

The Pheu Thai deputy spokesperson then urged the peacekeeping authorities such as the police to closely observe the march of the The United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) on 23 February to prevent any harmful incident arising from Mr. Suthep’s threat.

In the same press conference, Mr. Anusorn also commented that Monk Buddha Issara, one of the PCAD core leaders, is acting inappropriately in his monkhood.

Monk Buddha Issara had led a group of people to SC Park hotel before demanding for compensation worth of 120,000 baht, since the hotel refused to allow PCAD protesters to check in.

“He is becoming more and more independent (Issara) [of religious authorities], and has gone beyond his status as a monk, or at least as a Buddhist”, asserted Pheu Thai Deputy Spokesperson, adding that the monk is known to have hatched violent acts with his team.

Mr. Anusorn also expressed his firm believes that Monk Buddha Issara will soon be charged with extortion for his action at SC Park Hotel.

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Kwanchai Assures His Supporters He Is Not Paralysed

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21 February 2014, 16:41

Resident of Mr. Kwanchai Praipana shortly after the shooting, 22 January 2014

(21 February) The Redshirts core leader who survived a drive-by shooting at his residence refuted the rumour that he was paralysed by the incident.

Mr. Kwanchai Praipana was severely wounded when gunmen on a pick-up truck opened fire at him while he was standing in his house in Udon Thani province last month. His close aides have repeatedly told reporters that the Redshirts activist is making good recovery, yet many Redshirts believe he had been paralysed or subject to other critical injuries.

Today, Mr. Kwanchai settled the matter by talking on a radio interview with DJ Chakkrapong ‘Kong’ Saenkham to confirm that he is alive and well.

The Redshirts leader stated in the show that he can now move his hand and raise his arms. He had also started learning to walk again recently and will need to go through another operation on 11 March to fix his blood vessel. He added that he is staying at an undisclosed hospital in Bangkok.

Mr. Kwanchai then advised Redshirt supporters to be more relaxed and consider Thai politics as a "comedy". "Don′t be too stressful," Mr. Kwanchai said.

Nevertheless, he offered his political opinion to the listeners, stating that the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) is still fighting to overthrow this government, because they are backed by "someone powerful".

“Universally accepted democracy is how the voice of the majority is heard”, the Redshirt core leader insisted, “I will definitely going for the Senator election on 30 March, as I am now feeling well enough". Mr. Kwanchai previously participated in 2 February election by showing up at the polling station on a hospital bed.

He also encourages his fellows to go for the election of MPs and the Senators in order to raise their voices after they have been fighting for almost 8 years to restore democracy ever since former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted by 2006 military coup.

Police said they have arrested one civilian and four military officers who were reportedly engaged in the shooting of Mr. Kwanchai. Mr. Kwanchai said in the interview that the police have informed him they are investigating the suspects and finding out about the person who plotted the assassination.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kwanchai’s aides have also released an image of Mr. Kwanchai surrounded by his wife, Ms. Ar-phon Sarakham, and close relatives during his stay at the hospital in Bangkok as another means to quell the rumour about his death or paralysis.

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Buriram Villagers Use Red Shirts To Ward Off Ghost

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21 February 2014, 15:57

(21 February) The Thai northeastern region is closely associated with the Redshirts movement, but three villages in the region adopt red shirts for a supernatural reason, rather than a political one.

Many residents in the three villages of Buriram province – Ban Khok Sa-ad, Ban Khok Yai, and Ban Tago – have taken to hanging red shirts in front of their houses with cardboard or text imprinted on the shirts which read "Nobody′s Home". Another variation says "Only Angels Live Here. No Humans".

They said the gesture is meant to fool bad spirit of a headless evil who has haunted the villages for weeks. Rumours in the communities claim that the headless ghost, said to be a dark tall man, will possess individuals and take away their lives.

Villagers told our correspondent that the haunting started when three people have already died from unknown causes – which they attributed to the ghost. However, the villagers said, there were also survivors who were woken up in time by their relatives as they were possessed by the ghost in their sleep.

A psychic has been brought to the villages to act as the medium to the alleged spirit, and informed the villagers that the spirit belonged to a headless ghost. The diagnosis greatly frightened the villagers, but the psychic advised the residents to hang red shirts in front of their house as a precaution.

Many residents in the three villages said they are now living in fears, they told our correspondent. Many would not venture out of their homes after early evenings to avoid the encounter with the said ghost.

Mr. Sompong Prom-Ngam, Deputy Headsman of the Khok Sa-ad Village, stated that most villagers are scared and have been restless after the occurrence of an incident. He claimed that one of the ghosts′ victims was a man in his 40s who died without pre-existing medical condition.

"Many people couldn′t sleep at night, even though they already hang the red shirts in front of their houses," Mr. Sompong said.

According to Mr. Sompong, there are also residents refuse to believe in the story about the ghosts, but they did not openly lob-loo (ridicule) the belief either, since death still stalks the communities.

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Woman Nearly Shot By Stray Fallen Bullet

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21 February 2014, 14:11

(21 February) A student in Srisaket province said she was almost hurt by a stray bullet which penetrated her dorm room's ceiling last night.

Ms. Suranee Sriphoduan, 22, the student from Srisaket Rajabhat, told the police who investigated the scene at her dormitory in Mueang district that she was typing an essay on her bed when she heard the sound of an object fallen through the ceiling.

Ms. Suranee quickly realised it was a bullet bouncing off onto her bed, landing only a metre away from her, she said. The bullet type was identified by the police as a 9 mm.

Mueang Srisaket police determined that Ms. Suranee did not have any personal grudge with anyone, so they assumed that the stray bullet was a result of an unidentified individual who fired the weapon into the sky. The investigation of the incident is ongoing.

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Army Chief Unaware Of Protest Armed Militants

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21 February 2014, 13:21

An injured anti-government protester is carried away from the clashes on Ratchadamnoen Avenue, 18 February 2014

(21 February) The Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army is not aware of any details concerning the shadowy armed militants allied to anti-government protesters, his close aide said.

"He doesn′t know any details about it," Col. Kullachart Ditsakul said of his boss, Gen. Prayuth Chan-Ocha, adding that it is up to related authorities to investigate the matter.

Col. Kullachart was speaking at 2nd Cavalry Division headquarters in Bangkok.

Four civilians and one policeman were killed in the deadly clashes on Ratchadamnoen Avenue on 18 February. The violence erupted after the police attempted to disperse anti-government protesters from the avenue, and saw police officers exchanging gunfire with armed militants who were apparently allied to the protesters.

Some pro-government critics have alleged that the military might somehow be involved in their presence. But Col. Kullachart bridled at such rumour when a reporter mentioned the speculation.

"You need to have clear evidence when you talk about something," Col. Kullachart complained, "You shouldn′t say baseless things, because the country and the people might be confused".

He added that Gen. Prayuth is nevertheless alarmed by "use of military-grade weapons in the operation" and feels that the actions of all sides should be conducted according to the laws. Col. Kullachart did not elaborate.

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Rice Protesters Drop Plan To Besiege Airport – For Now

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21 February 2014, 12:38

(21 February) Farmers who have marched to Bangkok to demand payment from the government for their mortgaged rice have dropped their threats to seize the city's main airport.

The rice protesters arrived in the northern suburb of Rangsit district last night after a motorised march on their farming tractors from Ayutthaya. They claimed they had not received the payment they were promised under the government′s rice-pledging scheme for month, and they had no choice but to express their demands via the protests.

Although the scale of the farmers′ demonstration pales in comparison to anti-government campaign led by the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), the farmers have drawn much attention after their leader threatened to occupy Suvarnabhumi Airport by today′s afternoon.

The announcement strokes fears that Thailand could see a repeat of the protest in 2008, in which anti-government protesters seized both Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang Airport, causing massive disruption to the country′s air transportation.

Responding to the threat, administrators of the Suvarnabhumi Airport and the Airports of Thailand Company (AOT) assigned a large stretch of road near the airport as a protest ground for the farmers; officials hoped they would successfully convince the demonstrators to rally close to the airport rather than directly besieging the building itself.

Nevertheless, a number of riot police and soldiers were stationed at the airport in case of emergency.

But the tension was defused today when leader of the farmer protesters, Mr. Chada Thaiseth, a former MP of Chart Thai Pattana Party, said he has personally consulted with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday about the farmers′ distress, and he has been assured by Ms. Yingluck that the rice payment would arrive by next week.

Explaining that he is satisfied by the Prime Minister′s response, Mr. Chada urged the farmers to call off the protests and return to their home districts.

However, Mr. Chada also threatened to come back to Bangkok and besiege Suvarnabhumi Airport if the government breaks it promise.

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Suthep Threatens Redshirts With Armed Militants

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20 February 2014, 19:07

(20 February) Anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has delivered a thinly-veiled threat that Redshirts supporters might face armed militants allied to his movements.

Mr. Suthep, leader of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), said at a rally stage in Bangkok′s Silom district that he has been informed about the Redshirts′ upcoming rally to intimidate the PCAD supporters on this Saturday.

"Go ahead. Come. The popcorn vendors have already prepared the popcorns for you," Mr. Suthep said, "Don′t blame me if the vendors serve popcorns at you".

The popcorn was a reference to unidentified militants who appeared among PCAD protesters with military-grade weaponry which they hid in a popcorn bag during a standoff with pro-government protesters in Laksi district on 1 February – a day before the snap election was held.

Several people have been injured by the gunfight, in which the PCAD militants apparently outgunned the pro-government protesters. "Popcorns vendors" has since become a euphemism among the protesters to describe the mysterious gunmen.

"In the past, they have retreated as soon as they encounter 4-5 popcorns vendors," Mr. Suthep continued, adding that the Redshirts leaders should summon their supporters out to contest the PCAD protesters "so that it will be over quickly".

He stressed that the PCAD is not affiliated with the gunmen in any way, however.

"We don′t [personally] know these popcorn vendors," Mr. Suthep told the crowd, "But let me say I love them so much".

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