Thailand Live Wednesday 19 Jun 2013

[webfact]

Historical sites being watched against flooding

BANGKOK, 19 June 2013 (NNT) – The Fine Arts Department is keeping a close eye on potential floods around Thailand's historic sites during the rainy season.

Thanawat Charuphongsakun, a disasters expert, has warned against typhoons that will start making appearances in July. Although the risk of typhoons is not too significant this year, caution should still be exercised.

Fine Arts Department Director-Genearl Sahawat Nanna has arranged for water pumps and officials at historical and archaeological sites to tackle flooding of the sites. The public is also encouraged to report flooding of historical sites at hotline 1765.

At Chaiwatthanaram temple in Ayutthaya, the barrier along the nearby river bank has been heightened by 50 centimeters and additional water pumps have been installed.

In Ladphrao district of Bangkok, City Hall officials were removing water hyacinths from waterways and inspecting the installation of water pumps at spots prone to inundation.

In Bang Kapi district, City Hall staff were cleaning the sewers along the road as well as in the various housing estates in the area, especially along the flood-prone Krungthep Kritha road.


-- NNT 2013-06-19

[webfact]

POLITICS

Chaiwat denies demand for new PM

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Anti-government leaders yesterday denied reports that they filed a petition signed by 8 million supporters asking for a new royally endorsed PM.

Chaiwat Sinsuwong and Thongdee Namsaengkot said their group had taken recourse in Article 3 of the Constitution to seek help from His Majesty as they did not see any progress after filing the petition with the Supreme Court and military last Wednesday. Chaiwat refuted criticism that the petition might upset His Majesty, because he said under Article 3 the King is responsible for the country.

The group decided to stage a sit-in at Sanam Luang for as long as problems related to charter amendment are not resolved.

The petition cites problems stemming from the government's parliamentary dictatorship, harassing state officials, allowing large-scale graft, kow-towing to leaders of foreign countries, putting the country's sovereignty at risk by negotiating with separatists and failing to take action against those who debase the royal institution.

-- The Nation 2013-06-19

[webfact]

LUXURIOUS CARS

Papers for 301 cars 'tied to tax scam'

Piyanut Tumnukasetchai

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- More than two-thirds of Mercedes-Benzes and BMWs under investigation for tax evasion have failed to pass document tests.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/647624-luxury-cars-papers-for-301-cars-tied-to-thai-tax-scam/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

ECONOMY
IMF foresees downside risks for Thai economy
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's gross domestic product (GDP) should expand by 4.75 per cent in 2013 and 5.25 per cent in 2014, thanks to strong private demand and an acceleration of public spending, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/647492-imf-warns-of-rising-risks-to-thai-economy/page-2?p=6521135#entry6521135

[webfact]

PM: Rice pledge scheme a boon to economy, farmers
By English News



BANGKOK, June 19 – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra insisted today that the government's rice pledging scheme, though suffering heavy losses, has stimulated Thailand’s gross domestic product and farmers’ cultivation of rice.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/647625-pm-yingluck-rice-pledge-scheme-a-boon-to-economy-farmers/

[webfact]

DEATH OF AKEYUTH
Lawyer and family demand further investigation
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The lawyer representing Akeyuth Anchanbutr called on the police yesterday to clarify several points about the businessman's murder.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/647626-murder-of-akeyuth-lawyer-and-family-demand-further-investigation/

[webfact]

STOPPAGE TIME
Murder, masks and poll defeat daze the government
Tulsathit Taptim
[email protected]



BANGKOK: -- Losing by-elections comes with every government's tenure. Giving an opposition party its first victory in a very long time in a government constituency is also bound to happen sooner or later.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/647627-murder-masks-and-poll-defeat-daze-the-government-thai-opinion/

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
An official version that is just too hard to believe
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Most people are convinced the police and govt are lying about the killing of Akeyuth Anchanbutr; there is no choice now but to ensure that justice is done and seen to be done

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/647628-an-official-version-that-is-just-too-hard-to-believe-thai-editorial/

[webfact]

Chinese tourist drowns during trip off Phuket
Naraporn Tuarob

PHUKET: -- Chinese tourist Li Ran, 30, drowned June 18 while on a trip to Racha Yai island.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/647629-chinese-tourist-drowns-during-trip-off-phuket/

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE
Want a new PM? Then vote for someone else
Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Some Thais appear to have learnt nothing from history - as suggested by a group's calls for the royal appointment of a new premier to replace elected Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/647630-want-a-new-thai-pm-then-vote-for-someone-else/

[webfact]

Songkhla ranked fourth highest in human trafficking
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Royal Thai Police revealed that Songkhla ranked fourth in terms of the number of areas most at risk of human-trafficking crimes at 642, after Bangkok's 1,108, Chumphon's 997 and Prachuap Khiri Khan's 848 locations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/647631-songkhla-ranked-fourth-highest-in-human-trafficking-crimes/

[webfact]

Fast-track trials planned for tourists

The Nation

file photo

BANGKOK: -- A new Tourist Case Division is in the pipeline to oversee trials involving foreign visitors to the country, Tourism and Sport Minister Somsak Pureesrisak said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/647632-fast-track-trials-planned-for-foreign-tourists-to-thailand/

[webfact]

WATER-MANAGEMENT SCHEME
Construction may be 'a waste'
Chularat Saengpassa,
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation



Academic warns work could be useless if modules are not integrated

BANGKOK: -- Constructions under the government's costly water-management and flood-prevention modules could end up being useless structures because of a total lack of integration between key modules, a leading academic at Kasetsart University (KU) has warned.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/647633-thai-water-management-scheme-construction-may-be-a-waste/

[webfact]

UPDATE:
Jet-setting monk 'to return next week'
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Disciples of Luangpu Nen Kham Chattiko - who was identified as one of three monks seen aboard a private jet in a video clip that has drawn widespread criticism - said yesterday he would return next week from his trip abroad to resume his duties as abbot of Wat Pa Khantitham in Si Sa Ket's Kanthararom district.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/647439-thai-monks-rebuked-over-ostentatious-jet-ride/page-8?p=6521221#entry6521221

[webfact]

Family tributes to Liverpool dad-to-be killed in Thailand


Darren Taylor in Thailand. Photo: liverpoolecho.co.uk

BANGKOK: -- Darren Taylor, 34, originally from Walton, died in Bangkok with his family saying he had been pushed from the balcony of the sixth-floor flat where he was living

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/647635-family-tributes-to-liverpool-dad-to-be-killed-in-thailand/

[webfact]

Bomb hits police vehicle in Yala's Krongpinang district; one dead, six wounded; tires burnt at several Yaha district locations /MCOT

[webfact]

Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,447.32, up 19.90 points /MCOT

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Rice pledging price slashed to Bt12,000 per tonne
By English News

BANGKOK, June 19 – Thailand's National Rice Policy Committee (NRPC) has cut the pledging price for paddy from Bt15,000 per tonne to Bt12,000 per tonne, effective June 30, and set the subsidy ceiling at Bt100 billion a year, according to Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/647625-pm-yingluck-rice-pledge-scheme-a-boon-to-economy-farmers/page-2#entry6521841

[webfact]

Aussie envoy thrusts weapons in Phuket into the spotlight
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: The Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Bangkok, Jonathan Kenna, yesterday placed the carrying of weapons on the streets of Phuket into the spotlight at a meeting with the Phuket Governor.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/647686-aussie-envoy-thrusts-weapons-in-phuket-into-the-spotlight/

[webfact]

PM meets and greets NZ cultural exchange students

Bangkok, 19 June 2013, (NNT) -- Thai Ambassador in Wellington Noppadon Theppitak has led a team of exchanged New Zealand students to meet with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the government house, welcoming the foreign guests into the land of smile.

The students are members of the volunteers in the program to promote the use of English among Thais, and students from the Thai - New Zealand cultural exchange program.

The premier expressed her admiration in the students' enthusiasm in learning the Thai language and cultures, while thanking all the Thai foster families for welcoming and taking care of their Caucasian guests.

A representative of the exchange students in turn related his experiences in Thailand in terms of foods, people, and culture.

According to Prime Minister Yingluck, not only have the programs proven to have effectively tightened the bilateral relations between the two nations in education and citizen levels, but have also played important roles in promoting English and foreign cultures among Thai youths.

She added that these programs also served as catalysts for Thailand competitiveness enhancement when the country officially joined ASEAN Economic Community in 2015. She expressed her hopes that such good exchange programs would continue and expand in the future.


-- NNT 2013-06-19

[webfact]

Livestock raisers urged to pay greater attention to animals during rainy season

UTHAI THANI, 19 June 2013 (NNT) – Inspector General of the Livestock Development Department Pornchai Chamnanpood has urged livestock farmers to pay extra attention to their animals during the rainy season.

The comment was given to agriculturists in Uthai Thani during his visit to the province.

He explained that the rain brought dampness which could affect the overall health of animals. He recommended extra sanitation for poultry, as chicken and ducks are easy to contract diseases, especially those related with the respiratory system.

Mr. Pornchai said one easy thing to do to maintain high sanitation is to make sure the farm is dry at all times, by making a raised chicken coop or putting livestock on higher grounds. Another suggestion is to deploy mosquito nets as the insect can prevent poultry from receiving sufficient rest which will affect their health.

Mr. Pornchai said that the same principal can also be applied to cattle. He finally encouraged farmers to urgently report any irregularity to the department to prevent a possible outbreak of rainy season-related diseases.


-- NNT 2013-06-19

[webfact]

Rough surf serves up bluebottles at Phuket beach
Phuket Gazette


Small bluebottles, also known as Portuguese man o’ war, have been found along Phuket’s west coast. Photo: Daren Jenner

PHUKET: The Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) has confirmed that the stingers found washed ashore at Surin Beach this week are bluebottles, also known as Portuguese man o’ war.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/647700-rough-surf-serves-up-bluebottles-at-phuket-beach/

[webfact]

Bangkok expressway tolls to rise

By Coconuts Bangkok

Tolls on Bangkok expressways will soon rise by five to ten baht.

BANGKOK: -- Expressway and Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (Exat) governor Aiyanat Tinapai announced recently in a written statement that a toll hike for the urban expressway network will be implemented on Sep. 1, while the suburban toll hike will happen Nov. 1.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/647702-bangkok-expressway-tolls-to-rise/

[webfact]

Why Taliban would talk as U.S. withdrawal looms
By Nic Robertson, CNN

(CNN) -- The United States will have its first formal meeting with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar, on Thursday, a source close to the talks who did not want to be named told CNN.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/647703-why-taliban-would-talk-as-us-withdrawal-looms/

[webfact]

Thai man points pistol at Russian visitor in Phuket

PHUKET: -- Vasiliy Tubaev, a visitor from Russia, had a gun pointed at his head by a Thai man, in what appeared to be a misunderstanding over a Thai woman in Phuket.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/647705-thai-man-points-pistol-at-russian-visitor-in-phuket/

[Lite Beer]

Red shirts demand 'fair reporting'

BANGKOK: -- A group of red shirts gathered in front of the Nation newspaper headquarters in Bang Na on Wednesday, demanding that the paper do its duty and be neutral when reporting news.

The group of about 20 people said they were members of Samut Prakarn Loving People Group and represented 50 districts of Bangkok.

They also demanded that the Nation send out a representative to receive a letter of protest. Sadet Bunnak, a front page editor of the Thailanguage newspaper Kom Chad Luek received the letter.

-- The Nation 2013-06-19

[Lite Beer]

Traders keep watchful eye on state rice subsidy
By English News

BANGKOK, June 19 – The Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) today set up a special body to closely monitor the government’s controversial rice pledging scheme.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/647625-pm-yingluck-rice-pledge-scheme-a-boon-to-economy-farmers/#entry6522567

[Lite Beer]

THAI revitalises holiday trips to Japan after visa waiver
By Digital Media

BANGKOK, June 19 – Thai Airways International (THAI) is revising its travel packages to Japan following the island country's waiving of visa requirements for Thai visitors, a senior executive said today.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/647721-thai-revitalises-holiday-trips-to-japan-after-visa-waiver/

[Lite Beer]

Democrat disagrees with rice-pledging price cut

BANGKOK: -- The Democrat Party Wednesday expressed opposition to the government's plan to slash rice pledging price from Bt15,000 to Bt12,000.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/647625-pm-yingluck-rice-pledge-scheme-a-boon-to-economy-farmers/#entry6522653

[webfact]

Thailand ranked 27th among most competitive countries

BANGKOK, 19 June 2013 (NNT) – Thailand has just been ranked 27th among countries with the most competitiveness, moving up 3 notches from last year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/647729-thailand-ranked-27th-among-most-competitive-countries/