Thailand Live Wednesday 28 Aug 2013

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Govt to assist tourism sector with tax measures

BANGKOK, 28 August 2013 (NNT) - The Cabinet has approved in principle two tax measures related to tourism in a bid to help support the country’s economic expansion.

Government Spokesman Theerat Rattanasewi said the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday gave nods to the Finance Ministry’s measures for sustainable economic growth. The measures consist of tax exemption for domestic seminars and tax privileges for the tourism industry.

The two measures are hoped to help increase the income of tour agencies and motivate tourism entrepreneurs to invest in developing their properties. The government’s revenue from corporate income tax, however, is expected to be slightly affected.


-- NNT 2013-08-28

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Govt Spokesman Denies '200,000 Baht Per Day' Food Budget

By Khaosod Online



BANGKOK: -- The spokesman of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has refuted the allegation that Cabinet members are entitled to an excessive "200,000 baht per day" budget on daily food.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663890-thai-govt-spokesman-denies-200000-baht-per-day-food-budget/

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Parents Alarmed By Cheap Pills-And-Soda Narcotics

BANGKOK: -- Ton, a 14-year-old boy in Samut Prakarn Province, was sent to hospital after he passed out in his classroom. Doctors told his parents he took an overdose of painkiller pills.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663901-thai-parents-alarmed-by-cheap-pills-and-soda-narcotics/

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HEALTH
Ministry to appeal ruling on cigarette box images
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation



Court cancels scheme to increase the size of warning graphics on packets.

BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Ministry is planning to file an appeal with the Supreme Administrative Court so it can go ahead with making the warning graphics on cigarette packets larger.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663902-thai-health-ministry-to-appeal-ruling-on-cigarette-box-images/

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UPDATE:
PM declares her assets and liabilities
Anuphan Chantana
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who also holds the Defence portfolio, reported to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) she has Bt628.6 million in assets and Bt27 million in liabilities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663768-assets-of-yingluck-5-administration-revealed;-pm-richest/page-2#entry6761927

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NATIONAL RECONCILIATION
Banharn expects reform plan by Dec
KHANITTHA THEPPHAJORN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE ROADMAP for national reform should be ready by December, former PM Banharn Silpa-archa said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663903-national-reconciliation-banharn-expects-reform-plan-by-dec/

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BURNING ISSUE
High-speed train to Tianjin may inspire Asean leaders
SUPALAK GANJANAKHUNDEE
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- IF THE SCHEDULE remains unchanged, Asean foreign ministers - including Thailand's very own Surapong Tovichakchaikul - will have a chance to take the high-speed train from Beijing to Tianjin and back later this week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663905-high-speed-train-to-tianjin-may-inspire-asean-leaders/

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RALLY
Rubber-price rally leaders face arrest
The Nation



Warrants issued over farmers' protest in south

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: -- The protest by rubber farmers in Nakhon Si Thammarat has reached boiling point, with a court issuing arrest warrants for six protest leaders in the face of road closures and a rail line being blocked off.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663906-arrest-warrants-issued-over-rubber-farmers-protest-in-nakhon-si-thammarat/

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EDITORIAL
Not enough belief in the government's sincerity
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- In the 1990s, during Thailand's last serious political upheaval, the people were united against dictatorship; this time, a deeply divided society will find it almost impossible to compromise on proposed reform and reconciliation

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663907-thai-editorial-not-enough-belief-in-the-governments-sincerity/

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STOPPAGE TIME
The Senate question is not totally ideological
Tulsathit Taptim

BANGKOK: -- People change every five or six years, they say, and that's why close friends drift sometimes apart. Seeing the Democrats led by Abhisit Vejjajiva mounting a staunch defence of the concept of appointing or selecting senators rather than electing them may help reinforce the "change" theory. It's clear, on the record, that a few years ago he didn't like the idea of senatorial appointees.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663908-the-senate-question-is-not-totally-ideological-thai-opinion/

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PCD gets Bt11m to clean up Klity
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet has earmarked Bt11.85 million from the annual budget to help the Pollution Control Department efforts in rehabilitating the lead-contaminated Klity Creek in Kanchanaburi's Thong Pha Phum district, deputy government spokesman Chalitrat Chantharubeksa said yesterday.

The Cabinet was asked to help with the PCD's creek rehabilitation, which includes testing the environment continuously for at least a year until it reaches acceptable lead levels. Last year, the Supreme Administrative Court ordered PCD to pay Bt177,199.55 in compensation to each of the 22 Karen villagers who were affected by the lead contamination and to urgently clean up the creek. Klity Creek was contaminated by water discharged from a nearby lead factory operated by Lead Concentrate Co, which was closed down by the Department of Mineral Resources' order in 1998. PCD was sued for being too slow to clean up the creek.


-- The Nation 2013-08-28

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Aircraft explodes at military airport at Rayong's airfield
The Nation

RAYONG: -- An aircraft exploded at a the military airport at Rayong's airfield yesterday morning, wounding four artillery officers. One of them was seriously injured with bullet in stomach.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663909-aircraft-explodes-at-military-airport-in-rayong/

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Warning to tourism sector

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation

Unfriendly staff, poor services hit competitiveness: study

BANGKOK: -- Hospitality firms and workers have been urged to develop their service skills and adopt a friendlier attitude to cope with the strong competition in Asean's tourism industry, amid warnings that the country is in danger of losing ground to Malaysia and Singapore.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663910-warning-to-thai-tourism-sector-unfriendly-staff-poor-services-hit-competitiveness/

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Pakistani’s rented car stolen by two Ladyboys from East Pattaya Love Motel



PATTAYA: Two Pakistan tourists were reportedly drugged and robbed of their rented car after taking two Ladyboys to a Love Motel in East Pattaya in the early hours of Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663911-pakistanis-rented-car-stolen-by-two-ladyboys-from-pattaya-love-motel/

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60kgs of Marijuana seized by Pattaya Police



PATTAYA: -- Police Colonel Suwan, the Pattaya Police Chief, held a press conference on Tuesday afternoon to confirm the arrest of a female drug dealing suspect and the seizure of 60kgs of the class 5 drug Marijuana.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663912-60kgs-of-marijuana-seized-by-pattaya-police/

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UPDATE:
Arrest Warrant issued in East Pattaya fatal stabbing case



PATTAYA: -- Nongprue Police confirmed on Tuesday that an arrest warrant has now been issued by the Pattaya Provincial Court for a 34 year old woman who is accused of murdering the 37 year old wife of an English resident.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663622-mystery-surrounds-fatal-stabbing-of-englishmans-wife-at-east-pattaya-home/page-6?p=6762049#entry6762049

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,272.33, down 21.64 points /MCOT

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The picture Putin wants to ban: Police seize painting of Russian president in women's underwear from St Petersburg gallery claiming it is 'illegal'
Painting shows Putin in a tight-fitting slip brushing the hair of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who is wearing knickers and a bra
Russian police confiscated it, along with two other works from the gallery on Monday night after receiving reports they were 'illegal'
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663925-russian-police-seize-painting-of-vladimir-putin-in-womans-underwear-from-gallery/

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'No doubt' Syria used chemical arms, says US Vice-President Joe Biden

WASHINGTON: -- US Vice-President Joe Biden has said there is "no doubt" that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons and that it must be held accountable.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663939-no-doubt-syria-used-chemical-arms-says-us-vice-president-joe-biden/

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RT @tulsathit: RT @nontgor: PM Yingluck has visited 41 countries since taking office. < has she been the Thai parliament 41 times yet?

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MFA to quickly solve the missing visa stamps

BANGKOK, 28 Aug 2013 (NNT) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has discovered that the disappearance of 300 Thai visa stickers from the Thai Embassy in Malaysia was likely an organized crime with possible involvement of Malaysian employees.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663955-mfa-to-quickly-solve-the-missing-visa-stamps/

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RT @tulsathit: PT sources: YL's foreign trips are both political and natl strategies. They were aimed at boosting both her & Thailand images

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UPDATE:

500 visa stickers disappear from Thai consulate in Lao PDR
By English News



BANGKOK, Aug 28 – Five hundred visa stickers have been missing from the Thai consulate in the Lao PDR province of Savannakhet since 2008, according to a senior Foreign Ministry official.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663955-mfa-to-quickly-solve-the-missing-visa-stamps;-500-stickers-disappear-from-thai-consulate-in-lao-pdr/#entry6762939

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DSI digs for bones in Phuket Sea Gypsy village
Naraporn Tuarob


Col Prawuth supervises one of the digs inside a village house. Several fragments of human bone were found.

PHUKET: -- Officers from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), the Central Institute of Forensic Science and the Regional Fine Arts Office 15 spent four days straddling last weekend (August 23-26) at the Sea Gypsy village in Rawai, searching for bones or other evidence that might back the Sea Gypsies’ claim to ownership of the land under their village.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663957-dsi-digs-for-bones-in-phuket-sea-gypsy-village/

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Nattawut urging Democrat to join reform forum

BANGKOK, 28 August 2013 (NNT)-Deputy Commerce Minister Nattawut Saigua is calling on the Opposition Party to participate in the political reform forum, brushing aside Mr. Abhisit’s claim that anyone joining the event will become the government’s tool.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663961-nattawut-urging-democrat-party-to-join-reform-forum/

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Jomtien Beach Frightens Tourists!



Tourists are worried and frightened about swimming at the Jomtein beach which has reportedly turned green and has sent out pungent contaminated smell. Water examples have been taken to investigate whether the water contains any toxic substance or not.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663964-jomtien-beach-frightens-tourists/

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Web-sites of NYT, Twitter and HuffPo targeted by Syrian Electronic Army

NEW YORK: -- Web-sites of several media companies, including the New York Times, Twitter and the Huffington Post, were targeted by a group of hackers supporting the Syrian government. The attacks occurred amid increased discussions between international leaders to take actions against the regime of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663968-web-sites-of-nyt-twitter-and-huffpo-targeted-by-syrian-electronic-army/

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Burglars steal B80,000 worth of booze and cigarettes
Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- Burglars broke into three shops in Baan Lipon, Srisoonthorn, yesterday (August 27), trashing them and stealing cash and a pick-up truck, which they then loaded with B80,000 worth of booze and cigarettes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663970-burglars-steal-b80000-worth-of-booze-and-cigarettes/

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Skill and language trainings held for workers in Thailand before AEC

BANGKOK, 28 August 2013 (NNT)-The Department of Skill Development (DSD) has joined hands with private companies in improving labors’ skills in order to ease labor shortages and improve Thailand’s economy.

The DSD has reportedly sought cooperation from Cera C-Cure Company Limited to provide training for workers, particularly those in the construction industry, given property developing businesses have been mushrooming.

Under the agreement, the company will provide trainings for workers in 12 locations across the country where they will be able to learn more about technology, which will enhance their performances and improve the quality of their work. The first training will be piloted in Samutprakarn province for skills in painting, tile laying, and home repairing.

English and ASEAN language training will also be held, especially for foremen as an influx of foreign labors is expected in Thailand once ASEAN Economic Community takes place in 2015. Interested individuals can participate in the language program by contacting skill development offices in their provinces.

-- NNT 2013-08-28

[Lite Beer]

NSC: Peace dialogue unclear, relationship with army still firm

BANGKOK, 28 August 2013 (NNT) – The National Security Council has said the peace dialogue with the BRN militant group is still unclear, while affirming that the relationship between the army and the government is still firm.

According to NSC Secretary-General Paradorn Pattanatabut, the BRN insurgent group has not responded to the NSC in relation to the next round of talks, and the government is still awaiting clarifications on the militant group’s 5-point demands. However, the secretary general expects the next peace talk to be held in September, while affirming that the Thai side will carefully study the 5 demands before making any decision.

When the peace dialogue is resumed, he will ask the BRN regarding the spate of incidents that took place during the fasting month of Ramadan. Before the beginning of the Ramadan, the BRN and the Thai side had agreed to tone down violence during the holy period, yet there were frequent gun and bomb attacks that led to many deaths and injuries.

Lt Gen Paradorn has also affirmed that the government and the army have been on very good terms, with Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnok acting as a leader in their collaboration.

-- NNT 2013-08-28