Thailand Live Tuesday 27 Aug 2013

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New evidence in American expat death points to natural causes
Phuket Gazette



PHUKET: -- A tombstone unearthed in the tiny village of Bang Phuying last month has led a crack team of local forensic scientists to speculate that the apparent death of one of Phuket's first American expats, Carter J. Wyatt, may have been the result of perfectly natural causes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663776-new-evidence-in-american-expat-death-points-to-natural-causes/

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Thai State Railway suspends 5 south-bound train routes after rubber protesters blocked railway in Nakhon Si Thammarat /The Nation

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VIDEO
Samsung commercial goes viral after being derided for being the worst ever filmed
Leaked advert criticised for using 'world's worst actors'

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663786-samsung-commercial-goes-viral-after-being-derided-for-being-the-worst-ever-filmed/

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SET index closed at 1293.97, down 35.21; Bt/USD32.01; GBP49.73; AUD28.66; EUR42.71; CAD30.31; HKD4.12; SGD24.81; JPY32.4

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PM admits overall export declines for 4 consecutive months; orders Commerce Ministry to seek new markets /MCOT

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No new moves from Thailand’s central bank despite weakened baht
By English News



BANGKOK, Aug 27 – The Bank of Thailand (BoT) today ruled out issuing measures to cope with the sliding baht and foreign capital outflows.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663788-no-new-moves-from-thailands-central-bank-despite-weakened-baht/

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Five more southern train services closed due to rubber protest

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, 27 August 2013 (NNT) - The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has announced the closures of five additional southbound rail services due to blockades put up by protesting rubber farmers.

Rubber farmers have been demonstrating against the flagging rubber price and have blocked the railway at Ban Toon intersection in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, halting rail travel. According to the SRT, the affected rail services so far have included those on the Bangkok-Sungai Kolok, Bangkok-Yala and Bangkok-Butterworth routes.

The SRT had earlier broken news that four trains had to suspend their operations due to the ongoing protest.
The SRT has also encouraged any affected train passengers to claim a full refund for their ticket at the local train station. Police, meanwhile, have warned southern residents to refrain from using train services at this time as the protest could be prolonged.


-- NNT 2013-08-27

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Immigration Bureau Officers Arrest 55 Year-Old Visa And Passport Suspect


The Immigration Bureau were able to arrest a suspect who had illegally faked passports as well as fake visa slips.

BANGKOK – August 26, 2013 [PDN]; At the HQ of the Immigration Bureau various high-profile police officers announced the arrest of 55 year-old Paiboon Sriwatchararot, who was arrested for faking Spanish and French passports as well as Canadian, Indian and Indonesian visa slips. He was arrested at a food stall in Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663790-bangkok-immigration-arrest-55-year-old-suspect-over-visa-and-passport-forgery/

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Bangkok condo prices jump 21 percent
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- Average prices for new condominium projects in Bangkok rose a staggering 21 percent quarter-on-quarter according to the latest research published by Colliers International Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663791-bangkok-condo-prices-jump-21-percent/

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Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem rejects "utterly and completely" that government forces used chemical weapons /BBC

[Lite Beer]

RT@veen_NT: Rubber growers in the NE plans to stage a protest on Sept 3 at Si-kew district, Nakhon Ratchasima. Ab 50,000 farmers expected. #ThaiRath

[Lite Beer]

Manhunt in Krabi: Murderer out on bail slays stepson's wife, toddler
Phuket Gazette -

KRABI: -- A man out on bail for murder is charged with killing again and is being sought by Krabi Police for slaying his stepson’s wife and toddler.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663846-manhunt-in-krabi-murderer-out-on-bail-slays-stepsons-wife-toddler/

[Lite Beer]

PM Yingluck pleads with rubber planters to end protest
By English News

BANGKOK, Aug 27 – Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra warned today that continued protests by southern rubber growers could lead to violence and legal action will be taken against excessive actions during the demonstration.

Rubber planters in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat have protested and blocked highways since Friday, and upgraded their activity to obstruct railway services last night.

Pleading for cooperation, Ms Yingluck said the people’s economic problem should not be blown out of proportion to include other issues which, if done, would make it more difficult for the government to solve.

She said the government would be patient in dealing with the protesters but legal action is inevitable if the demonstration escalates beyond the limits of the law.

The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry earlier agreed to pledge the price of rubber sheets at Bt80/kg but planters wanted Bt120/kg – a price which the prime minister described as too heavy a burden for the government.

“If planters say Bt80/kg is too low, they should give more explanations. We have analysed the production costs and ensure planters’ revenue at an acceptable level, (even though) production costs vary in different regions,” she said.

She urged rubber growers to appoint representatives to talk with the Agriculture Ministry and jointly solve the problem of falling rubber prices, both in the short and long terms.

Ms Yingluck said the state-initiated rice pledging scheme should not be compared to the government’s handling of rubber prices.

The rice subsidy is extended only once a year while the government has already issued several measures to shore up rubber prices and assist rubber planters, she said.

The government has taken equal care of farmers in every sector, she said, adding that rubber prices heavily depend on the world’s market movement.

In the long run, agricultural zoning is necessary to cope with dropping prices of agricultural products, she said.

Deputy Prime Minister/Agriculture Minister Yukol Limlaemthong informed the Cabinet today that Thailand produces 3.6 million tonnes of rubber each year. Only 500,000 tonnes were for local consumption while the rest was exported.

The global economy’s weakness has affected Thailand’s rubber exports -- especially to China – the country’s major market, he reportedly said.

He said the government has offered cash to 790,000 planters who own less than 10 rai of rubber plantations to buy fertilizer and find other alternatives such as cutting down rubber trees older than 25 years and replacing them with palm trees.

There are planters who grow rubber trees in forests without legal ownership or access, but the government’s assistance will cover only planters with legal ownership of their lands, the minister said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-08-27

[Lite Beer]

RT@Aim_NT:Photo hunt: where is PM Yingluck? pic.twitter.com/B4M7cSQQql

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to continue:

Thailand Live Wednesday 28 Aug 2013

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663889-thailand-live-wednesday-28-aug-2013/