Thailand Live Tuesday 27 Aug 2013

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ILLEGAL VISAS
Surapong suggests 'photo visa' to stop criminals entering country
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Thailand is considering introducing a photo visa to keep criminals out of the country. "I will talk with the director-general of Consular Affairs about a new type of visa sticker to prevent fraud," Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663611-fm-surapong-suggests-photo-visa-to-stop-criminals-entering-thailand/

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Drunken Man Rescued From Unlikely Rain Shelter
By Khaosod Online

Photo: Khaosod

BANGKOK: -- Rescue workers saved a man who had his head stuck inside a telephone booth in Bangkok as he sought to seek shelter from the rain earlier.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663613-bangkok-drunken-man-rescued-from-unlikely-rain-shelter/

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PROTEST
Govt tries to placate rubber farmers
The Nation



Bt25billion sought to help farmers amid fears over blockades on major roads

BANGKOK: -- The government is struggling to prevent simultaneous road closures by rubber farmers across the country, which look set to take place on September 3 if ongoing government efforts and offers fail to please them.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663614-thai-govt-tries-to-placate-rubber-farmers/

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CONSTITUTION REVIEW
Amendment on Senate unconstitutional - Democrats
KHANITTHA THEPPHAJORN,
ANUPHAN CHANTANA
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE OPPOSITION will ask the Parliament again if it should really be debating the controversial change to senate elections, as it could be deemed a violation of the charter, opposition chief whip Jurin Laksanawisit said yesterday. The second reading of the bill is scheduled to continue today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663615-amendment-on-thai-senate-unconstitutional-democrats/

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NATIONAL RECONCILIATION
New council to create reform roadmap
The Nation

Panel to have guide ready in three months, will consider previous proposals

BANGKOK: -- THE GOVERNMENT'S Political Reform Council should be able to come up with a roadmap for political, economic and social reform within three months as evidence of its sincerity, participants in the reform forum said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663616-thai-govts-political-reform-council-to-create-new-roadmap/

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AFTERMATH
Phetchabun protest over drilling for oil
The Nation



PHETCHABUN: -- The oil spill disaster on Koh Samet last month has spurred people in Lomsak in Phetchabun to protest against an oil drilling and exploration project 100 metres from their village.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663617-phetchabun-protest-over-drilling-for-oil/

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Redshirts File Complaint After Attack By Anti-Govt Students
By Khaosod Online

The People’s Radio for Democracy during a press conference.

BANGKOK: -- The People’s Radio for Democracy filed a complaint to the police after some of its members were attacked by a group vocational students, who joined the People’s Army Against Thaksin’s Regime protest at Lumpini park.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663618-red-shirts-in-bangkok-file-complaint-after-attack-by-anti-govt-students/

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UPDATE:
Illegal van crashes into truck, 9 killed
The Nation



Driver lost control of speeding van after truck stopped 'without signal'

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663415-van-crash-kills-nine-in-chachoengsao-thailand/page-3?p=6758377#entry6758377

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Flavoured 'yaba' aimed at kids
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Parents should keep an eye on their children as a new form of flavoured meth-amphetamine pill is being distributed via Facebook, authorities said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663619-flavoured-yaba-aimed-at-kids-being-distributed-via-facebook/

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UPDATE:
Prosecutors defer case against Red Bull heir
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Public prosecutors have postponed announcing their decision in the case against Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya for the fifth time.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663488-bangkok-redbull-heir-indictment-postponed-for-5th-time/page-3?p=6758389#entry6758389

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Telephone booths must comply with laws: BMA
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- There are now as many as 12,324 illegal telephone booths in Bangkok. Many of them are placed too close to bus stops, while some carry advertisements, which is not allowed by law.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663620-telephone-booths-must-comply-with-laws-bangkok-administration/

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POLITICS
EC chief to decide on Bhum Jai Thai dissolution soon: Sodsri
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Election Commission (EC) chairman Apichart Sukhagganond will not take long to decide on whether to propose the dissolution of the Bhum Jai Thai Party once he receives a report on the issue from a subcommittee, commissioner Sodsri Satayathum said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663621-ec-chief-to-decide-on-bhum-jai-thai-dissolution-soon-sodsri/

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UPDATE:
Airport drug-scam allegation puzzles authorities
Phuket Gazette


The Australian couple said they discovered the marijuana in their bags after being collared for their luggage being overweight. Photo: gronico / Wikipedia

PHUKET: -- An Australian couple who told the Australian media that their luggage was tampered with and marijuana planted in it as they were leaving Bangkok may not have been telling the truth, the Phuket Gazette has found.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663417-drugs-planted-on-australian-couple-in-thailand/page-9?p=6758416#entry6758416

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Mystery surrounds fatal stabbing of Englishman’s wife at East Pattaya home



PATTAYA: -- Mystery surrounds the death of a 37 year old Thai Woman who was stabbed a total of 4 times and was discovered by her English Husband in their pick-up which had crashed into the front fence of a nearby house.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663622-mystery-surrounds-fatal-stabbing-of-englishmans-wife-at-east-pattaya-home/

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Bank Teller's 5,000 Baht mistake reported to Pattaya Police



PATTAYA: -- A 26 year old Bank Teller working for the South Pattaya Branch of Kasikornbank reported a 5,000 Baht over-payment to a shop assistant who refused to accept the mistake despite video evidence confirming the error.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663623-bank-tellers-5000-baht-mistake-reported-to-pattaya-police/

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The State Visit of Their Majesties the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia from 2-5 September 2013

BANGKOK, 27 August 2013 (NNT) - At the invitation of Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand, His Majesty Almu’tasimu Billahi Muhibbuddin Tuanku Alhaj Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah ibini Almarhum Sultan Badlishah, the 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, and Her Majesty the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajah Haminah binti Haji Hamidun will pay a State Visit to Thailand from 2 – 5 September 2013, the Bureau of the Royal Household said in an announcement.

The upcoming visit to Thailand will be His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s second which was earlier scheduled for 18 -21 February 2013 but was later postponed to the current date on the advice of His Majesty’s personal physician. His Majesty the 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia paid his first State Visit to Thailand from 1-8 February 1973 during His Accession to the Throne as the 5th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia.

The State Visit of Their Majesties the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia to Thailand reflects the close bond of friendly relations between the two countries and peoples.


-- NNT 2013-08-27

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,320.77, down 8.41 points /MCOT

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Edible algae -- coming to a rooftop near you?
Feature by William Davies

BANGKOK, August 27, 2013 (AFP) - On a hotel rooftop in Bangkok, dozens of barrels of green liquid bubble under the sun -- the latest innovation in urban farming.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663639-edible-algae-coming-to-a-rooftop-near-you/

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UPDATE:

Brutal Death

A girl found dead in her car after being stabbed four times, three on her chest and one on her back, the police are investigating the case.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663622-mystery-surrounds-fatal-stabbing-of-englishmans-wife-at-east-pattaya-home/page-2?p=6759133#entry6759133

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Phuket black taxi driver returns forgotten purse
Eakkapop Thongtub


Taxi driver Somkriet Wonakonoi (white shirt) hands the purse back to Kim Hye Rin.

PHUKET: -- A black taxi driver operating from the Suriyadet Circle area in Phuket Town yesterday (August 26) went some way towards redressing the reputation of his calling, when he returned a purse and contents to a customer who had left it in his cab.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663669-phuket-black-taxi-driver-returns-forgotten-purse/

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Italian expat arrested for stealing from Phuket temple
Phuket Gazette


Mr Minichelli re-enacts stealing the money from the Phuket temple donation box. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- An Italian expat down on his luck was arrested yesterday after he stole 100 baht from a donation box at a Phuket temple.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663709-italian-expat-arrested-for-stealing-from-phuket-temple/

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Transport Ministry to consider taxi demand

BANGKOK, 27 August 2013 (NNT) - Transport minister Chadchart Sitthiphant has responded to protesting taxi drivers’ demand by saying that the starting fare may be raised if enough strong evidence of necessity is presented.

Following yesterday’s demonstration by over 500 taxi drivers near Parliament, Mr Chadchart said that the ministry is ready to approve an adjustment in taxi fare rates to reflect the actual costs if solid information is submitted.

The minister noted that other demands submitted by the protesters can not be met at present time.

The rally was set off by the announcement that the government will allow the price of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) to float next month.

He also revealed that the ministry is not planning to cap the number of taxis in Bangkok, which now stands at over 100,000, as the limit is feared to result in a shortage of taxis for passengers citywide.

The ministry is said to be focused on improving taxi services, which include toughening penalty for drivers who refuse to pick up passengers.

-- NNT 2013-08-27

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NSC chief fears intensified rubber protest, expects demonstration to end before Sept 3 through talks, no plan to implement security act /MCOT

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Foreign Minister chairs Asia-Pacific Ministerial Dialogue meeting

BANGKOK, 27th August 2013 (NNT) – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, Surapong Tovijakchaikul has chaired the meeting for the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Dialogue "From the Millennium Development Goals to the UN Development Agenda beyond 2015".

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663727-foreign-minister-chairs-asia-pacific-ministerial-dialogue-meeting/

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Toot toot! Elephant Polo in Hua Hin begins tomorrow
By Andrew Scott

HUA HIN : -- Giant pachyderms will show off their sporting skills later this week when the 12th King’s Cup Elephant Polo tournament kicks off in Hua Hin.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663728-toot-toot-elephant-polo-in-hua-hin-begins-tomorrow/

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RT@veen_NT: NACC: Deputy PM Pongthep Thepkanjana posted assets of Bt3 billion while PM Yingluck has Bt60 mn in asset.

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UPDATE:

Italian caught robbing Phuket temple donation box
Naraporn Tuarob

PHUKET: -- Italian Franco Menichelli, 54, was arrested yesterday afternoon (August 26) at Wat Karon on a charge of stealing money from the place of worship.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663709-italian-expat-arrested-for-stealing-from-phuket-temple/#entry6759873

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Assets of Yingluck 5 administration revealed; PM richest
By English News



BANGKOK, Aug 27 – Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) today revealed the assets of the new cabinet, with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra being the richest with a net worth of Bt627.4 million baht.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663768-assets-of-yingluck-5-administration-revealed;-pm-richest/

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Tourism revenues could offset declining export revenues
By English News



BANGKOK, Aug 27 - Tourist destinations in Thailand, if developed before the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) takes place in 2015, will help the Thai economy to survive when the country's exports decline.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663774-tourism-revenues-could-offset-declining-export-revenues/

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PM Yingluck Ranked As Wealthiest Cabinet Member

BANGKOK: -- National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has released a list of personal properties and wealth of the Cabinet members under Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra′s government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663768-assets-of-yingluck-5-administration-revealed;-pm-richest/#entry6760343