Thailand Live Saturday 13 Jul 2013

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Thai PM and Colombian foreign minister agree to boost bilateral trade

BANGKOK, 13 July 2013 (NNT) - Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar on Friday met with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in hopes to promote bilateral trade and investment between the two countries.

On 12 July 2013, the Colombian minister traveled to Government House to meet with Ms Yingluck to discuss the Thai-Colombian economic ties. The Thai PM praised Colombia for having several female politicians and giving women opportunities to lead.

Prime Minister Yingluck informed the Colombian minister of the government’s work to enhance the role of women in Thailand through the Thai Women Empowerment Funds and provide them with assistance through the newly-established One Stop Crisis Center.

Ms Holguin told the Thai PM that Colombia was about to launch projects similar to Thailand’s on the reduction of poverty and the promotion of employment to bridge income gaps. The minister also invited Ms Yingluck to visit Colombia and consider setting up a Thai embassy there.


-- NNT 2013-07-13

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Mo Chit 2 Bus Terminal to be relocated ahead of AEC

BANGKOK, 13 July 2013 (NNT) - The Department of Land Transport is planning to move Mo Chit 2 Bus Terminal to a new location in a bid to accommodate more commuters ahead of the launch of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653268-bangkoks-mo-chit-2-bus-terminal-to-be-relocated-ahead-of-aec/

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Alliance Between 2 Anti-Yingluck Groups Now In Tatters: Activist



BANGKOK: -- The leader of the "Networks of Thai Who Love Their Nation" which rallied against PM and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in front of the Ministry of Defence yesterday (11 July) announced his group would no longer cooperate with another anti-government faction.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653269-alliance-between-2-anti-yingluck-groups-now-in-tatters-activist/

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70 blacklisted rice mills allegedly in rice pledge scheme
By English News



BANGKOK, July 13 - Seventy-seven blacklisted rice mills were permitted to participate in the government's rice pledging scheme, it was disclosed by a House special committee considering the 2014 budget bill.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653270-70-blacklisted-rice-mills-allegedly-in-thai-rice-pledge-scheme/

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Price controls planned
Tinnakorn Chaowachuen
The Nation

Fear of 'stagflation' with consumption and investment slowing here and abroad

BANGKOK: -- Price controls are the focus of new government measures drawn up in light of slowing global growth, which has led to a decline in domestic consumption and investment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653271-thai-govt-plans-price-controls/

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BT350-BN WATER PROJECT
Forums 'will be done in three months'
The Nation

Plodprasop insists scheme must go ahead no matter who is in power

BANGKOK: -- After appointing a 20-strong sub-panel to oversee public forums for the Bt350-billion water-management scheme on Thursday, Deputy PM Plodprasop Suraswadi said yesterday that forums covering the 39 affected provinces should begin by mid-August and take three months to complete.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653272-thai-govts-bt350-bn-water-project-forums-will-be-done-in-three-months/

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Thailand, Muslim rebels aim for Ramadan peace

KUALA LUMPUR, July 13, 2013 (AFP) - The Thai government and Muslim rebels have agreed to try to curb violence during Ramadan, a Malaysian official said Friday, marking a new step towards ending nearly a decade of conflict.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653273-thailand-muslim-rebels-aim-for-ramadan-peace/

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'Everybody can be an activist'
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation


Tul: Hoping for more members

BANGKOK: -- Change.org, a US-based online platform for social activism, is hoping to increase its number of supporters and users in Thailand from the current 500,000 to a million by the end of this year, Tul Pinkaew, campaigns director of the organisation's Thai chapter, said recently.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653274-change-thai-director-everybody-can-be-an-activist/

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Revving up for fame

The Nation

Prapon Techawipak

Magnificent motors owned by royalty, government officials and celebrities go on show at a Bangkok mall

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's Classic Car Club recently joined up with Seacon Bangkae to showcase the kingdom's 50 best motors as part of the "Classic Car Exposition 2013".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653275-bangkok-magnificent-motors-owned-by-royalty-govt-officials-and-celebrities-go-on-show/

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SOLAR PANELS
Energy minister to outline plan for rooftop solar panels
Watcharapong Thongrung
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Energy Minister Pongsak Rattapongpaisal Ruktapongpisal plans to submit to the Energy Policy and Planning Office on Tuesday a proposal to promote electricity generation via solar panels installed on rooftops of houses, buildings, offices and factories.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653276-thai-energy-minister-to-outline-plan-for-rooftop-solar-panels/

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EDITORIAL
Whistleblowers hunted by those who fear them
The Nation

Governments like to preach democracy and its principles, but only when it suits their needs

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653278-whistleblowers-hunted-by-those-who-fear-them-thai-editorial/

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News Analysis:
Thaksin's plan to return to Thailand suffers setback
English.news.cn
by Surasak Tumcharoen

BANGKOK (Xinhua)-- Chances for former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra to return home after seven years of self-exile overseas have become dimmer in the face of another scandal allegedly involving himself and one of his close associates, who is currently a member of the cabinet headed by his sister, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653279-thaksins-plan-to-return-to-thailand-suffers-setback/

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Monk says temples in Europe will take him: supporter
Pakamas Jaichalard,
Wichit Meesawat
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Luang Pu Nenkham dismissed a threat by Thai monastic authorities to expel him and claimed Buddhist temples in France and Germany were ready to take him in. He said he would return to Thailand on July 31 with "bigger greatness", key follower Sukhum Wongprasit said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653281-monk-says-temples-in-europe-will-take-him-supporter/

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Tests show rice not hazardous
Puangchompu Prasert
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Ministry examined 33 samples of rice from different brands and found no toxins or chemicals, contradicting claims by some opponents of the rice-pledging scheme on social-media websites.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653283-tests-show-thai-rice-not-hazardous/

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Army will have nothing to do with Thaksin return: Thanasak
Panya Thiaosangwan
The Nation


Commanders of the Armed Forces line up during a review of soldiers taking part at a joint military exercise yesterday at an Army firing range in Nakhon Ratchasima. Standing from left in the front row are Air Force commander Air Chief Marshal Prajin Junton

BANGKOK: -- Supreme Commander General Thanasak Pratimapakorn said yesterday that the issue of whether former PM Thaksin Shinawatra will be allowed to return as a free man was not up to the military because it is not the Justice Ministry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653284-army-will-have-nothing-to-do-with-thaksin-return-thanasak/

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Enraged woman throws food at police
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A 40-year-old woman wearing a yellow shirt drove to Metropolitan Police Bureau Headquarters yesterday and threw a pack containing rice and scrambled eggs at the official car of Pol Lt-General Kamronwit Thoopkrachang, commander of Metropolitan police force. She was driving a silver bronze Toyota Altis.

The woman then hurled abuse at police in general and Kamronwit in particular. Ten police officers arrived on the scene and placed a makeshift fence around her car, but after ramming several obstacles blocking her path, she managed to speed away. Police reported that the woman had also turned up on Thursday night to shout abuse and had vowed to return.

Kamronwit said the woman might have been angry that protesters failed on Thursday to stop Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from entering Defence Ministry headquarters.


-- The Nation 2013-07-13

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SANAM LUANG RALLY
Thai Patriotic Front pulls out
Olan Lertrudtanadumrongkul,
Kesinee Taengkhiao
The Nation

Cites differences with other groups; voices needed to evaluate position

BANGKOK: -- The anti-government Thai Patriotic Front has announced that it will end its rally at Sanam Luang after nearly four months, citing conflicts with other anti-government groups also based there.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653285-bangkok-rally-thai-patriotic-front-pulls-out/

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How Thailand's Botched Rice Scheme Blew a Big Hole in its Economy
By Dan Kedmey

BANGKOK: -- The plan was simple: Thailand’s government would buy rice from local farmers at a generous price, some 50 percent above the market rates. It would hold the rice in warehouses, cutting off exports to the rest of the world. The sudden shortage from the world’s heavyweight champion of rice exports would cause a spike in global prices.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653296-how-thailands-botched-rice-scheme-blew-a-big-hole-in-its-economy/

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Governor Greetings for July

PHUKET: -- I wish to see everyone happy who lives on the island. Phuket is an urban society, so it is difficult to design a system to govern the city. It is very different from the rural areas, and problems are different.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653305-phuket-governor-greetings-for-july/

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VIDEO: The Phuket News Review, July 12

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653309-video-the-phuket-news-review-july-12/

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RT @ManUtd The wait is over. New season starts in 12 hours at the Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok. #mutour http://pic.twitter.com/ILMnfDJWVp

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Supreme Commander not worried about infamous voice clip

BANGKOK, 13 July 2013 (NNT) – Supreme Commander General Tanasak Patimapragorn has expressed no concerns over the audio clip of a conversation between former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Deputy Defense Minister Yutthasak Saksiprapha.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653341-thai-army-supreme-commander-not-worried-about-infamous-voice-clip/

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Government reaps in 1.6 trillion baht from taxes in first 9 months

BANGKOK, 13 July 2013 (NNT) – The government has earned over 1.6 billion baht from taxes in the first 9 months of fiscal 2013, while expressing confidence that taxes collected at the end of fiscal 2013 will be more than its anticipation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653347-thai-govt-reaps-in-16-trillion-baht-from-taxes-in-first-9-months/

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Phuket Airport Express bus ready to roll on July 19
Phuket Gazette

Staff at the Phuket Land Transport Ofifce make sure Phuket's new Airport Express busses are safe to hit the road. Photo: Chutharat Plerin

PHUKET: -- In what seems to be the last shuffle of dates for the launch of the long-awaited Phuket Airport Express bus service, wheels are now to be rolling by July 19, operator Prakob Panyawai confirmed to the Phuket Gazette.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653351-phuket-airport-express-bus-ready-to-roll-on-july-19/

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Narcotics police arrest 3 drug dealers with 3.6 million meth pills, 408 kg cannabis; Uttaradit police seize 270,000 meth pills /MCOT

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Surin worried about Thai education system

BANGKOK, 13 July 2013 (NNT) – Former Secretary-General of ASEAN Surin Pitsuwan has expressed his concerns over the country’s education system, saying it has not been very effective despite a large amount of money the government has put into the country's education.

The former ASEAN secretary said nobody can confirm that Thailand is on the right path to improving its educational system, adding that there has been a large amount of budget put into the country’s education, only behind Germany, but the result is disappointing. He said the investment is only focused on those who already have a strong educational foundation, but those who are less educated have less access to the funds, causing the country to see continuous lack of improvement, communication, and participation by the people.

In addition, Mr. Surin said Thai people do not realize that problem exists in the country’s education and those who do choose to ignore it as they think it is none of their business. According to the former ASEAN secretary, if the problem did not get fixed, it would be terrifying for the country as a whole.

-- NNT 2013-07-13

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Dramatic assassination attempt on Thai official captured on CCTV

BANGKOK: -- A government official in Thailand has survived a murder attempt unscathed thanks to his car's bullet-proof windows.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653360-dramatic-assassination-attempt-on-thai-official-captured-on-cctv/

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DSI denounces con artists' use of department name to squeeze criminals for ‘protection money’
Phuket Gazette -

DSI Regon 8 Director Udom Phetcharakut at a pirated goods bust. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: The Department of Special Investigation denied providing “protection services” for illegal businesses in a notification released yesterday, which claimed that con artists in Phuket were using the department’s name to squeeze people for protection money.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653372-dsi-denounces-con-artists-use-of-department-name-to-squeeze-criminals-for-protection-money/

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FARMER CREDIT-CARD
BAAC credit-card scheme to be expanded to 4m farmers, with extra benefits
Suphannee Pootpitsut
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The government plans to increase the number of credit cards issued to farmers to 4 million by September, broadening the range of farmers who can benefit from the scheme and including additional privileges for card users, such as yearly health check-ups, accident insurance and grocery purchases.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653373-baac-credit-card-scheme-to-be-expanded-to-4m-farmers-with-extra-benefits/

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PEACE
Ex-Asean chief backs BRN's move
The Nation

Surin Pitsuwan

BANGKOK: -- Former Asean Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan supported the violence break during the Ramadan.

Referring to the announcement by Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), which is believed to have authority to command some insurgents in Thailand, to stop violence during the fasting period, he said this shows an effort within ASEAN as the violence is affecting the entire region.

The announcement was read out yesterday in Kuala Lumpur by a senior Malaysian official.

To Surin, this is a good beginning but it will require further effort and patience.

He also urged the authorities to spend the 40-day fasting period reviewing the causes of violence, avoiding causing further conflicts, and showing the unity. The absence of violence during the period would demonstrate all parties’ sincerity and serious intention to achieve peace.


-- The Nation 2013-07-13