ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTEST
'People's Army' promises peaceful protest
The Sunday Nation

Captain Songklod Chuenchupol

BANGKOK: -- The People's Army has called for a peaceful demonstration today at Lumpini Park while red-shirt leaders have vowed to mobilise several thousands of government supporters in a show of force against anti-government protesters.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/658318-peoples-army-promises-peaceful-protest/

OIL SPILL
Cleanup on Samet gets poor rating from judge
PONGPHON SARNSAMAK
THE SUNDAY NATION
RAYONG

RAYONG: -- Four days after the PTT Global Chemical oil spill reached Ao Phrao on Koh Samet last week, a 33-year-old judge from Surin suddenly decided to drive his car for seven hours straight overnight to the affected island to voluntarily take part in efforts to clean up the polluted beach and seawater.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/658320-cleanup-on-samet-gets-poor-rating-from-judge/

US' TOP-SECRET PROGRAMME
NSC chief denies Thailand a location for X-Keyscore
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Security Council (NSC) chief yesterday dismissed as groundless reports that Thailand is a location for the United States' X-Keyscore data-spying operation.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/658322-nsc-chief-denies-thailand-a-location-for-x-keyscore/

POLITICS
'Coup rumours baseless'
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) yesterday dismissed rumours of a possible coup in the face of heightened political pressure against the government.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/658323-coup-rumours-baseless/

Ex-monk 'ready to fight allegations in US'
The Sunday Nation August 4, 2013 1:00 am

BANGKOK: -- A monk, who was close to the scandal-hit former-monk Wirapol Sukphol, told Department of Special Investigation (DSI) officers yesterday that Wirapol, formerly known as Luang Pu Nenkham, was in the US still wearing his robes, and ready to fight cases against him in that country.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/658324-ex-monk-ready-to-fight-allegations-in-us/

ACCIDENT
Chiang Mai-bound train derails in tunnel
The Sunday Nation

UTTARADIT : -- Six carriages of a Chiang Mai-bound express train derailed early yesterday in an over-100-year-old tunnel in Uttaradit's Muang district. No injuries were reported.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/658325-chiang-mai-bound-train-derails-in-tunnel/

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
'Thaksin's return home is long overdue'


Somchai

BANGKOK: -- Former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat, who heads the ruling Pheu Thai Party's strategy committee, defends the government, the amnesty bill proposed by party MPs, and his wife, in an interview with Nation News Agency's Chanikarn Phumhiran and Samudcha Hoonsara.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/658326-thaksins-return-home-is-long-overdue/

Banharn ready to join reform council
The Sunday Nation


BANGKOK: -- Former prime minister Banharn Silapa-archa yesterday agreed to become part of a political reform council to be set up by the government as part of an effort to achieve national reconciliation.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/658327-banharn-ready-to-join-reform-council/

-- The Nation 2013-08-04

RT@RichardBarrow: Thai Police issuing arm bands for media covering protests inside ISA zones this weekend buff.ly/1ejKoM3 /via @ThailandWatch

Phuket Opinion: For tourists, due diligence is essential, as is due skepticism for media hype
Phuket Gazette -

Internet buzz focuses on the ‘dark side’ of Phuket. Image: Gazette Graphics

PHUKET: Tourist safety issues have been a hot topic in the news lately as the number of accidents and crimes involving foreign visitors continues to grow with the largely unregulated expansion of the island’s tourism industry.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/658329-phuket-opinion-for-tourists-due-diligence-is-essential-as-is-due-skepticism-for-media-hype/

RT@RichardBarrow: US embassy warns Thai police of possible al-Qaeda attack (Bangkok Post)

RT@RichardBarrow: Anti-government protest expected at Rama VI statue in front of Lumpini Park at 3pm (Pic @noppatjak at 8am) twitpic.com/d6cpyb

RT@RichardBarrow: #Bangkok Map showing protest sites & areas not advisable for tourists to visit this week: maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=2…

RT@RichardBarrow: Foreign Embassies Release Travel Warning for #Bangkok for today: thaitravelblogs.com/2013/08/foreig…

Oil slick cleanup on Ao Phrao beach on Ko Samet island continues on 3rd consecutive day, operation expected to be completed by today /MCOT

RT@BPbreakingnews: Korn Chatikavanij has acute liver failure

RT@RichardBarrow: All roads in #Bangkok are open as normal this morning. However, this afternoon you might want to avoid Rama IV Rd & other roads near Lumpini

Phuket Opinion: Snakes in the house: who you gonna call?
Phuket Gazette -

Watchara Srikacha believes Phuket residents need to find a way to share the island with the local wildlife. Photo: Chutharat Plerin

Watchara Srikacha, 26, has been catching snakes since he was 10 years old. Originally from Sisaket province in Thailand’s Northeast, Watchara has been working with the Kusoldharm Foundation since he came to Phuket almost five years ago. Part of his job is catching snakes. Here, he explains why more and more snakes are appearing in residential areas of Phuket.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/658345-phuket-opinion-snakes-in-the-house-who-you-gonna-call/

Flooding situation in several areas of southern province of Phang-nga starting to return to normal Sunday /MCOT

RT@vaitor: Japan: Strong 6.x quake in north-east Japan, no Tsunami warnings yet.

As dams loom, Mekong fishermen fear for their future - Feature
by Amelie Bottollier-Depois

WIANG KAEN, August 4, 2013 (AFP) - The waters of the mighty Mekong have sustained generations of families but nowadays its fishermen often find their nets empty and fear hydropower mega-dams will destroy their livelihoods.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/658350-as-dams-loom-mekong-fishermen-fear-for-their-future-feature/

RT@CoconutsBangkok: Coconuts photog Zanya is on the scene at Koh Samet, where PTT workers and volunteers are cleaning up the oil spill pic.twitter.com/td5CaNOaQx

RT@CoconutsBangkok: Ao Phrao looks a lot better than it did a few days ago... but what lies beneath the surface?

RT@Tulip_Oum: 11:34AM Drive-by shooting reported in Yala, a man dressed-up as a woman on motorcycle attack official, 1 injured.~ @TNAMCOT #ThaiSouth

RT@KristieKenney: Happy Birthday @BarackObama! August 4 is President Obama's birthday.

RT@RichardBarrow: Suthep: If a civilian is hurt or killed today, I'll fight in the streets to topple the government (Bangkok Post)

Anti-govt protesters gather at Lumpini Park, Dep Interior Minister believes number about 10,000, protest not likely to prolong over 1 week /MCOT

RT@SkyNewsBreak: Breaking: Reuters: Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd calls national election for 7th September - six weeks after ousting Julia Gillard from power

UPDATE

Removal of oil slick stain on Samet Island to be finished Sunday
By Digital Media

RAYONG, Aug 4 - Clean-up crews have been working to clear the crude oil slick staining Phrao Bay on Samet Island for the third consecutive day and that the operation to remove the oil tainted waste is expected to be completed on Sunday after oil leaked from a PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC) offshore transmission pipeline last week.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/658320-cleanup-on-samet-gets-poor-rating-from-judge/#entry6682662