Thailand Live Wednesday 3 Jul 2013

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Search for missing Sa Kaeo businessman launched

SA KAEO, 3 July 2013 (NNT) - Sa Kaeo police are now in pursuit of a local businessman who has gone missing with his truck and cash worth over 100,000 baht.

Investigating teams have teamed up to patrol border areas in the northeastern province of Sa Kaeo in the hopes to find Mr Chaichana Mai-ngarn, an influential business tycoon at Rong Kluea Market.

Police said that according to footage from closed-circuit cameras, Mr Chaichana was last seen driving out of Rong Kluea Market during the morning hours. Two vehicles were also spotted following him out of the market. The owners of the two cars are being identified by local police.

The incident came after the alleged kidnapping and murder of former Ponzi scheme operator Akeyuth Anchanbutr.


-- NNT 2013-07-03

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Nattawut Speaks Out On Photo Showing Him In 'Feudal' Manner



BANGKOK: -- Deputy Minister of Commerce and prominent Redshirt leader Nattawut Saikuea hits back at critics who accuse him of treating his subordinates like feudal slaves after a photo of 2 officials kneeling down next to him in a meeting room surfaced in social network.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/650908-nattawut-speaks-out-on-photo-showing-him-in-feudal-manner/

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UPDATE:
Chalerm 'unhappy' as Cabinet jobs allocated
The Nation


File photo : Chalerm

BANGKOK: -- Former foreign minister Surapong Towichakchaikul remains the top deputy premier in the fifth Yingluck Cabinet, while Kittiratt Na-Ranong has been appointed Deputy PM number five.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/650772-disappointed-chalerm-refuses-to-attend-cabinet-meeting-reports/page-2#entry6571332

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Phuket Immigration: British realtor to be deported
Phuket Gazette

Mr Daffund with the immigration team that arrested him for illegally staying in Thailand. Photo: Immigration Police

PHUKET: -- Phuket immigration today arrested for illegal entry a British man who had been working on the island as a realtor, a profession reserved for Thais, since 2011.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/650850-phuket-immigration-british-realtor-to-be-deported/

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Illegal taxi drivers in Patong threaten Phuket governor with mob action
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: Illegal taxi drivers from Patong today threatened Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut with mass protests if the government does not do more to help them become legal.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/650852-illegal-taxi-drivers-in-patong-threaten-phuket-governor-with-mob-action/

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SANGHA
Monk had 10 bank accounts with daily transactions of Bt2m
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has found 10 bank accounts under the name of Luang Pu Nenkham, who calls himself the abbot of Si Sa Ket's "Wat Pa Khanti Dhamma" monastery, as well as records of transactions totalling up to Bt20 million per day.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/650909-thai-monk-had-10-bank-accounts-with-daily-transactions-of-bt2m/

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POLITICS
Yingluck may face charges if govt doesn't follow court order: activists
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Environmental activists and engineers have warned Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra she will face impeachment if her government does not follow the Constitution and conduct public hearings to truly listen to opinions from people who may be affected by its massive water-management scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/650910-yingluck-may-face-charges-if-govt-doesnt-follow-court-order-activists/

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THAI-EGYPTIAN RELATIONS
Egypt-based Thais advised to stay away from violence
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thai nationals living or working in Egypt are advised to stay at home to avoid looming violence stemming from a mass protest and a likely government crackdown.

Deputy Foreign Ministry spokesman Jakkrit Srivali said Tuesday night that violent clashes were sporadic in Egypt and no Thai had been reported wounded, and the country was bracking for a 48-hour time frame when protestors set for the government’s answers to their calls

"Immediate evacuation of Thai nationals is not needed now, and no Thais have filed for request to return to Thailand," he added


-- The Nation 2013-07-03

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EDITORIAL
New line-up does not inspire any more confidence
The Nation

Two years and five Cabinets down the road, the government is battling to maintain a sense of credibility

BANGKOK: -- The public's response was neither negative nor when the new Cabinet line-up was announced. The government certainly doesn't want any fresh controversy - the priority now is to restore credibility in the midst of a decline in popularity.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/650911-new-cabinet-line-up-does-not-inspire-any-more-confidence-thai-editorial/

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STOPPAGE TIME
Changing horses in ferocious midstream
Tulsathit Taptim



BANGKOK: -- When you shake things up too often, people may just wait to see what gets shaken up next and may not do much else in between. "Cabinet reshuffle" is a sword with one edge very sharp and the other absolutely blunt. Which edge will betray you when the enemy looms is a huge gamble.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/650913-changing-horses-in-ferocious-midstream-thai-opinion/

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Sudarat cleared in graft case
The Nation


Sudarat

BANGKOK: -- The anti-graft agency yesterday resolved unanimously to clear former public health minister Sudarat Keyuraphan of malfeasance charges in a case stemming from her decision in 2003 to scrap a Bt911-million project to buy computers for the ministry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/650914-sudarat-cleared-in-graft-case/

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LABOUR
Plan to hire Bangladeshis draws flak
Saowanee Nimpanpayongwong
The Nation

Govt urged to register illegal workers first amid fear trafficking may worsen.

BANGKOK: -- A government plan to hire 50,000 Bangladeshi workers to tackle labour shortages in the fishing industry could worsen human trafficking in Thailand, the Labour Rights Promotion Network (LPN) warned yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/650916-plan-to-hire-bangladeshis-draws-flak-labour-shortage-in-thailand/

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Politician's brother arrested on bookmaking charge
The Nation, Nakhon Ratchasima

NAKHON RATCHASIMA: -- The elder brother of leading Bhum Jai Thai Party member Boonjong Wongtrairat was arrested yesterday for allegedly being an underground-lottery bookie. He was later released on bail.

Police investigator Pol Captain Bundit Asanok said Rungreung Wongtrairat, 67, was arrested along with nine others at the Chokchai Cable TV CTH shop in Chok Chai district following public complaints that the place took underground lottery bets.

Rungreung reportedly confessed to being an underground-lottery bookie and to hiring the nine people at Bt300 per day per head to sell tickets. Police seized evidence including 62 underground lottery tickets with a value of Bt203,742, as well as Bt48,000 in cash and nine calculators.


-- The Nation 2013-07-03

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BURNING ISSUE
Thailand's role in solving the South China Sea impasse
Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Some members - like the Philippines - might be furious as China and Asean moved to compromise over the controversial South China Sea dispute, but they must play along for the benefit of peace and stability in the region.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/650917-thailands-role-in-solving-the-south-china-sea-impasse/

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Japan's Mitsubishi UFJ in $5.6 bn deal with Thai bank

TOKYO, July 3, 2013 (AFP) - Japan's Mitsubishi UFJ, the country's largest lender, said Tuesday it planned to buy 75 percent of Thailand's Bank of Ayudhya for about $5.6 billion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/650919-japans-mitsubishi-ufj-in-56-bn-deal-with-thai-bank/

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Two bombings at Bannang Sata district in Yala, police officer wounded; authorities defuse explosive device at Krung Thai bank /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,453.83, down 10.15 points /MCOT

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Surat Thani names Ko Pha Ngan as drought disaster zone after 2 months without rain /MCOT

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Gloomy prospect for Thai shrimp exports to EU

By English News

BANGKOK, July 3 – Thai shrimp breeders have called on the European Union to review the cutting of the Generalised System Preferences (GSP) for Thai processed shrimps.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/650935-gloomy-prospect-for-thai-shrimp-exports-to-eu/

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Commerce Ministry lambasted for corruption in rice purchases
By English News



BANGKOK, July 3 Corruption has penetrated every step of the governments rice purchase scheme as the Commerce Ministry has refused to disclose information on rice sales, according to a senior Finance Ministry official.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/650937-commerce-ministry-lambasted-for-corruption-in-rice-purchases/

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Tak officials seize foreign rice destined for pledging under mortgage program

BANGKOK, 3 July 2013 (NNT) – Officials in Mae Sot, Tak have seized 25 tons of rice being smuggled from Myanmar into the province to be pledged under the rice mortgage program.

Customs and police officials discovered the rice on a trailer truck, at a check point on Mae Sot - Tak City Rd. The officials spotted the foreign rice although the cargo was hidden underneath layers of casava.

The truck driver confessed he was bringing in the foreign rice to claim the 15,000 baht per ton of money provided under the rice mortgage program for Thai rice. The cargo was to be delivered to warehouses in Tak and nearby provinces.

Officials in Tak have reportedly had to work harder to intercept foreign rice being brought in to be pledged under the pledging scheme, after the government decided earlier to extend the current 15,000 baht a ton pledging price until September.


-- NNT 2013-07-03

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Less than 10% of test takers passed recent teachers' examination

BANGKOK, 3 July 2013 (NNT) – The Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) has revealed that less than 10 percent of test takers passed the 60% scoring mark required for admission to the post of assistant teachers, at the 1st round of the assistant teachers testing for year 2013.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/650942-less-than-10-of-test-takers-passed-recent-teachers-examination/

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Flying chickens, robot waiters: bizarre dining in Bangkok

BANGKOK, July 3, 2013 (AFP) - From chickens catapulted across tables to meals dished up with a generous portion of sexual health advice, Bangkok is doing a roaring trade in unusual dining experiences.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/650944-flying-chickens-robot-waiters-bizarre-dining-in-bangkok/

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Malaysian court hands down death sentence to 30-year-old Thai woman who smuggled 18kg of canabis into Malaysia in 2011 /MCOT

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Thai woman sentenced to death for trafficking in cannabis
By Adib Povera

ALOR STAR: -- A single mother from Thailand was sentenced to death by the High Court today for trafficking in 18,172gm of cannabis two years ago.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/650949-malaysian-court-hands-down-death-sentence-to-30-year-old-thai-woman/

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Phuket unveils plans for Chalong underpass
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut has unveiled six routes being considered for a new underpass to be built at Chalong Circle, by far the busiest junction in the south of the island.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/650973-phuket-unveils-plans-for-chalong-underpass/

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Facebook scammer lures women into 'sexual meditation' in Bangkapi
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- Yesterday, an “orgasmic meditation cult” Facebook page surfaced online, but was shortly taken down after eliciting condemnation from the online community.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/650980-facebook-scammer-lures-women-into-sexual-meditation-in-bangkok/

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Low Season Bar Crackdown begins in South Pattaya

PATTAYA: -- Banglamung District Officials, led by Khun Pongtasit, the Chief Bailiff, conducted checks on many late night entertainment venues in the South Pattaya area in the early hours of Wednesday in search of bars and clubs which were being operated not in accordance with licensing regulations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/650995-low-season-bar-crackdown-begins-in-south-pattaya/

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DPM asking southern insurgents to reduce violence during Ramadan

BANGKOK, 3 July 2013 (NNT) – Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnok is asking insurgents in the three southernmost provinces to tone down violence during the holy month of Ramadan, while assuring that the government has strict measures in place to protect residents in the Deep South.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/650999-dpm-asking-southern-insurgents-to-reduce-violence-during-ramadan/

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RT@RichardBarrow: Toddler drowns playing with ducks in Prachinburi (Bangkok Post)