Thailand Live Sunday 18 Aug 2013

[Lite Beer]

MEDIA
Gunmen shoot up house of 'Post Today' editor
The Sunday Nation

NONTHABURI: -- Unknown perpetrators opened fire on the house of "Post Today" newspaper executive editor Pattara Khampitak in Nonthaburi's Muang district, early yesterday morning.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/661559-gunmen-shoot-up-house-of-post-today-editor/

[Lite Beer]

BUDGET DEBATE
Budget Bill debate may resume next Friday
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- The House of Representatives yesterday morning halted its marathon reading of the 2014 Budget Bill after 57 hours of debate.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/661561-budget-bill-debate-may-resume-next-friday/

[Lite Beer]

NATIONAL RECONCILIATION
'No payment to Blair'
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Former British prime minister Tony Blair has not been paid to take part in Thailand's political reform forum, according to his spokesman.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/661562-no-payment-to-blair/

[Lite Beer]

EGYPT
500 Thai students to be evacuated from Cairo as crisis worsens
The Sunday Nation

Cairo: -- Thai authorities will bring back 500 students in Egypt who registered for evacuation via a charter flight, as the crisis there had worsened with dozens of more people killed in clashes on Friday and the unrest having reached the highest alert level, Foreign Affairs Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/661563-500-thai-students-to-be-evacuated-from-cairo-as-crisis-worsens/

[Lite Beer]

NIGERIA
Released workers vow to stay in Nigeria
The Sunday Nation

NIGERIA: -- Four Thai workers from Udon Thani who were kidnapped in Nigeria, have been released unharmed and are insisting they will continue to work there, Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/661564-released-workers-vow-to-stay-in-nigeria/

[Lite Beer]

Tests continue to determine contamination in Ao Phrao
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Sunday Nation

Pollution Control Department officials collect samples of sand from Ao Phrao beach on Koh Samet yesterday, as soldiers remove the remaining oil and begin the process of sand rehabilitation.

KOH SAMET: -- Though the affected beach area in Koh Samet's Ao Phrao has recovered to some extent after last month's oil spill, the Pollution Control Department (PCD) is still investigating the possibility of hazardous contamination under the sand in the tainted areas.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/661565-tests-continue-to-determine-contamination-in-ao-phrao/

[Lite Beer]

Uzbek admits role in woman's death
The Sunday Nation

Uzbek national Sobiyon Sobirov, 23, appears at a police press conference yesterday following his arrest in connection with the alleged murder of his girlfriend.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/661566-uzbek-admits-role-in-womans-death/

[Lite Beer]

Thai police delegation visits Australia
The Sunday Nation

The Australian Federal Police's Sydney Office recently hosted a Royal Thai Police (RTP) delegation and discussed policing in Australia and ongoing cooperation. A total of 58 Thai police officers spent one week with the AFP in Sydney.

The group's visit, which formed part of a Senior Command Course, had a particular focus on understanding the history and working relationship between the State, Territory and Federal Police within Australia.

Participants received presentations on the history of policing in Australia, the role of the Sydney Office Major Incident Room and the function of Forensic Services relating to the smuggling of narcotics into Australia.

Xenia Cotter, acting manager of the Sydney Office thanked the Thai delegation for their ongoing cooperation, which she said was exemplified in the success of "Operation Serrata" which saw joint cooperation between Thai police and the AFP result in a significant seizure of narcotics.

-- The Nation 2013-08-18

[Lite Beer]

NSC chief wants BRN to clarify one demand
The Sunday Nation


Paradorn

BANGKOK: -- National Security Council chief Lt-Gen Paradorn Pattanathbutr says he will ask the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) to clarify the fourth of its five-point demand.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/661567-nsc-chief-wants-brn-to-clarify-one-demand/

[Lite Beer]

JOB OPPORTUNITY
Inmates in Pathum Thani get entrepreneurial skills
CHULARAT SAENGPASSA
THE NATION

Initiative in women's jail helps equip prisoners for return to society

BANGKOK: -- A BUSINESS-PLAN contest took place behind bars late last month as part of efforts to equip inmates with entrepreneurial skills.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/661568-inmates-in-pathum-thani-jail-get-entrepreneurial-skills/

[Lite Beer]

PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
The right to speak out
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Arthit Suriyawongkul, frontman of Internet group, the Thai Netizen Network, is a firm believer in freedom of expression

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/661569-the-right-to-speak-out/

[Lite Beer]

Phuket police net 78 illegal fishermen
Phuket Gazette -

Illegal workers being detained in Phuket. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: Police rounded up 84 suspected illegal fishermen from across the island yesterday through raids on the Phuket Fish Marketing Organization, the Patong area and various boats dotted along the Phuket coastline.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....egal-fishermen/

[Lite Beer]

-- The Nation 2013-08-18

[Lite Beer]

Tiger Disco: date set for trial over lethal Phuket fire
Phuket Gazette -

PHUKET: More than than a year after a fatal blaze killed four people at Patong’s famous Tiger Disco nightclub on August 17 last year, the nightclub’s operators will be called to Phuket Court to enter a plea to charges of negligence causing death.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/661570-tiger-disco-date-set-for-trial-over-lethal-phuket-fire/

[Lite Beer]

Mafia rule: Patong Kingpin points finger at officials
Phuket Gazette -

Preechavude 'Prab' Keesin, son of Patong Mayor Pian Keesin, fights back against DSI allegations. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: Preechavude 'Prab' Keesin, son of Patong Mayor Pian Keesin, has lashed out at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), calling on them to tackle corruption among government officers and the ranks of law enforcement officials.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/661571-mafia-rule-patong-kingpin-points-finger-at-officials/

[Lite Beer]

RT@191Thailand: Russian hangs self in Phuket (Bangkok Post)

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: 900 accidents & 297 deaths on #Thailand's rail network in past 6 years, including deaths in vehicles that collided with trains(BKK Post)

[Lite Beer]

Prime Minister to Visit Tajikistan and Pakistan

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is scheduled to pay an official visit to the Republic of Tajikistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan from 19 to 21 August 2013.

She will depart from Suvarnabhumi Airport at 8:00 a.m. on 19 August. Accompanying the Prime Minister during this trip will be members of the private sector engaged in the fields of food and agricultural products, energy and alternative energy, gems and jewelry, tourism, hospital business and medical services, and construction.

On 19 August, Prime Minister Yingluck and President of Tajikistan Emomalii Rahmon will hold bilateral talks on trade and investment, technical cooperation, and other issues of mutual interest, as well as multilateral cooperation, to bring about an enhanced development partnership between the two countries.

On this occasion, the two governments will sign an agreement on Visa Exemption for Holders of Diplomatic and Official/Service Passports.

On 20 August, Prime Minister Yingluck will participate in the High-Level International Conference on Water Cooperation in Dushanbe. At the conference, she will give a keynote address on Thailand’s commitment to promoting cooperation on water security and raising awareness of the importance of water management as an integral part of sustainable development and in the post-2015 development agenda.

The visit of Prime Minister Yingluck to Tajikistan comes after the President of Tajikistan paid an official visit to Thailand as guest of the Thai government on 17-19 May 2013, when he also attended the second Asia-Pacific Water Summit in Chiang Mai. Both Thailand and Tajikistan are aware of the importance of water and water management as a major requisite of sustainable development.

On 20-21 August, the Prime Minister will visit Pakistan, where she will have a meeting with Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to discuss bilateral cooperation to strengthen Thai-Pakistani trade and investment relations, multilateral cooperation, and other issues of mutual interest. This will reinforce amicable relations with Pakistan’s newly elected government and build a strong economic partnership between the two nations.

During the visit, Thailand and Pakistan will sign three documents, namely the Agreement on Mutual Exemption of Visa Requirements for Holders of Diplomatic Passports, the MOU on the Establishment of Joint Trade Committee, and the MOU on the Establishment of the Joint Business Council.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the official visit to Pakistan by the Thai Prime Minister is the first in eleven years. It reaffirms over six decades of close and cordial relations between Thailand and Pakistan.

The Prime Minister will arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 7:55 p.m. on 21 August.

Foreign Office, The Government Public Relations Department, Office of the Prime Minister

[Lite Beer]

980,000 Yaba pills worth over Bt200 mln seized in Chiang Rai on the way to Bangkok; suspects confess drugs belong to drug lord Lt Col Yi Se /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: Notification of scheduled power outages in Greater Bangkok today & tomorrow pic.twitter.com/JABC0eKFBz

[Lite Beer]

Foreign Minister Surapong says world leaders invited to join forum on democracy for reconciliation; denies Bt20 mln payment to intl figures /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

RT@2Bangkok: Thai MP confused by his new iPad, "clicked the wrong link" & was forced to watch sexy photos during the budget debate

[Lite Beer]

Govt to organize special seminar on September 2

BANGKOK, 18 August 2013 (NNT) – The government is set to organize a special seminar to find unity and peace among Thais. 11 guest speakers from foreign countries will be sharing their experiences in the seminar.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/661562-no-payment-to-blair/#entry6728677

[Lite Beer]

Dusit poll: 72% of Thais surveyed say time for political reform due to political divisiveness (named #1 issue), corruption, misuse of power /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

Patong crackdown on foreign workers to continue till August
Ramon Bencharitiwong

PHUKET: The Phuket Immigration Office will continue its ‘crackdown’ on illegal workers, according to Phuket Immigration Superintendent Colonel Sanchai Chokhayaikij.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/661622-patong-crackdown-on-foreign-workers-to-continue-till-august/

[Lite Beer]

BoT to keep close eye on US’s quantitative easing until year end

BANGKOK, 18 August 2013 (NNT) – Bank of Thailand (BoT) is advising all sides to keep an eye on the US’s quantitative easing which could have an impact on the Thai economy.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/661623-bot-to-keep-close-eye-on-uss-quantitative-easing-until-year-end/

[Lite Beer]

Wadah urges govt to carefully deliberate BRN’s proposals

BANGKOK, 18 August 2013 (NNT) – Wadah group leader Wan Muhammad Noor Matha has warned the Thai government to carefully deliberate the 5 proposals of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional.

During the meeting to solve the southern unrest, Wadah group leader Wan Muhammad Noor Matha has urged the Thai officials led by Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnok about the 5 proposals of the BRN insurgent group, saying the proposals will have to be carefully thought through, especially the fourth one, which is still unclear.

Meanwhile, National Security Council Secretary General Lt Gen Paradorn Pattanathabutr has affirmed that the peace dialogue between Thailand and the BRN will have to be carried on, while adding that BRN leader Hassan Taib also wants to continue the dialogue.

The meeting took about 3 hours and a half at the Government House.

The content of the proposals includes the Thai government should recognize the identity, race and language of the Melayu people, Thailand should withdraw its troops from the restive region, Thailand should let local security forces take over peacekeeping duties, and the government should offer amnesty to insurgents.

-- NNT 2013-08-18

[Lite Beer]

Special Report: Sudden Death comes knocking at Phuket's door
Phuket Gazette -

Special Report

Hans Lehner and his Thai partner Pranee Srijaem went out for somtam last Saturday night (story here). The next day Pranee was dead. Stumped for any explanation as to why Pranee, 39, had died, doctors were forced to list the cause of death as ‘acute heart failure’ as a form of Sudden Unexplained Death Syndrome. The Phuket Gazette’s Saran Mitrarat investigates.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/661627-special-report-sudden-death-comes-knocking-at-phukets-door/

[Lite Beer]

Thai police seize nearly one million methamphetamine pills

BANGKOK, August 18, 2013 (AFP) - Thai authorities Sunday seized some 980,000 illegal methamphetamine pills worth almost six million dollars stashed in a truck thought to be heading to the capital Bangkok from northern Thailand, police said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/661630-thai-police-seize-nearly-one-million-methamphetamine-pills/

[george]

REPORT CORRUPTION IN THAILAND ON YOUR SMARTPHONE

Bribespot - will it work?

Video, full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/661541-bribespot-will-it-work/