Thailand Live Tuesday 17 Sep 2013

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Central & northern provinces hit by floods triggered by heavy raining

PHETCHABUN, 17 September 2013 (NNT) – Several provinces in the central and northern regions still encounter continuous raining, which has forced supervisors of Chao Phraya Dam to release water from the reservoir.

3 days of sporadic heavy raining in Phetchabun has caused the Pasak River to overflow its banks, sending floodwater onto communities along the riverbanks, which in turn flooded more than a thousand homes in Lom Kao and Lom Sak districts. In Lomsak municipality, the water level was almost half a meter in height.

In Ang Thong, rapid release of water from Chao Phraya Dam triggered an overflowing of water from the banks of the Chao Phraya river, which then inundated the homes of those living near the river.

In Phichit province, people in Rangnok subdistrict of Sam-ngam district have to switch their mode of transport to boats, as the roads have become flooded.

In Ayutthaya province, farmers in Phakhai, Bangban and Sena districts were expediting harvest of rice and were working into the nights in order to reap as much produce as they can before the rice crop dies from flooding.


-- NNT 2013-09-17

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UPDATE:
Many injured as police crack down
Krissana Tiwatsirikul,
Suphannee Pootpisut
The Nation


Protesting rubber growers clash with police on a road in Nakhon Si Thammarat

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: -- More than 10 vehicles were smashed and set ablaze and people injured when clashes broke out between hundreds of rubber growers and security officials at the Kuan Nong Hong Intersection in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Cha-uat district yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668246-pm-yingluck-pleas-for-public-order-as-rubber-protests-turn-violent/#entry6830912

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UPDATE:

Beijing embassy confirms rice deal
Sawitree Rinwong
The Nation

Thai diplomat says 1.2 million tonnes will be shipped to Harbin in three lots for "good price"

BANGKOK: -- The government yesterday insisted it had secured a rice sale to China, with a Thai official in Beijing confirming the 1.2-million-tonne contract, which is part of Thailand's plan to export 4 million-5 million tonnes of rice to that country this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668245-thai-commerce-minister-affirms-china-will-buy-12-mln-tonnes-of-thai-rice/#entry6830919

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RAILWAYS
Trains empty as travellers cancel bookings
The Nation


Officials near the Sila At train station in Uttaradit inspect the rail line yesterday, following news that the State Railway of Thailand will close the northern line for maintenance until the end of October.

BANGKOK: -- Many train passengers cancelled their reservations yesterday as the State Railway of Thailand announced that it was suspending all North-bound trains until October 31 beyond Sila At train junction in Uttaradit to make way for repairs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668371-thai-trains-empty-as-travellers-cancel-bookings/

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SOUTH
BRN pushes for special administration
Pakorn Peungnetr
The Nation

Wants status listed 'under constitution'

BANGKOK: -- Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), the insurgent group in the far South, has extended its list of key demands on the way it says the deep South should be administered.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668372-thai-south-brn-pushes-for-special-administration/

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Some THAI directors worried Saudi prince's offer for Airbus too low
VIPAPORN JITSOMBOON
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THAI AIRWAYS International's board of directors is split over the sale of an Airbus A340-500 to a Saudi prince, as some have expressed concern that the offer is only about a third of the aircraft's book value.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668373-some-thai-directors-worried-saudi-princes-offer-for-airbus-too-low/

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STREETWISE
Attitudes could affect the benefits of the AEC
Achara Deboonme



BANGKOK: -- Recently, I came across a very interesting short story in which the author confirmed the regional perception that Thailand's awareness of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) is relatively higher than many of the other nine member countries of Asean.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668374-thai-opinion-attitudes-could-affect-the-benefits-of-the-aec/

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Foreign Husband Mysteriously Disappears In Srisaket Province


A woman from Kalasin province whose car was taken by her foreign husband, the car was found soon after in a forest.

SRISAKET – September 17, 2013 [PDN]; Raseesalai Police station revealed that a Ford Fiesta car was found in the middle of a forest. Local people reported to the police as soon as the car was found.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668375-british-man-mysteriously-disappears-in-srisaket-province/

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BMA seeks to 'kill' fire engines deal after ruling
Tanatpong Kongsai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok governor is cranking up efforts to kill a contract signed with an Austrian firm to supply fire vehicles following a landmark corruption ruling last week on the highly controversial deal.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668376-bangkok-administration-seeks-to-kill-fire-engines-deal-after-ruling/

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ANALYSIS
Passage of govt's Bt2-trillion loan bill will not be smooth
PIYANART SRIVALO
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- WITH A massive amount of money involved and strong opposition from the Democrats, passage of the Bt2-trillion loan bill faces two hurdles - the Constitutional Court and the Administrative Court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668377-passage-of-thai-govts-bt2-trillion-loan-bill-will-not-be-smooth/

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BURNING ISSUE
Govt needs to ramp up its agricultural zoning advice
CHULARAT SAENGPASSA
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- RUBBER FARMERS have been staging loud protests over recent weeks to demand the government shore up the price of their produce. They need help from the government but they also have to learn to stand on their own feet, as such assistance cannot stay forever.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668379-thai-govt-needs-to-ramp-up-its-agricultural-zoning-advice/

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POLITICAL REFORM
Reform forum 'must be unbiased'
Prapasri Osathanon
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrug
The Nation


Banharn Silapa-archa, one of the key coordinators of the government's national reform effort, meets Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday. He was at the Democrat Party headquarters to invite the opposition leader to join the reform process

Gothom comes up with a four-level structure, advises all sides to join in

BANGKOK: -- THE POLITICAL reform forum should be free of any political intervention and not biased in any way towards any party, a noted peace campaigner who was invited to join the forum said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668380-reform-forum-must-be-unbiased/

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Positive feedback from the Tourist Court

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668180-positive-feedback-from-the-tourist-court/

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Ceremony planned to thank evil spirits at Suvarnabhumi
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- The managing director of Thai Aiways, Sorajak Kasemsuvan, has said that his company will conduct a major ceremony to appease the malevolent spirits said to be haunting Suvarnabhumi airport.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668391-ceremony-planned-to-thank-evil-spirits-at-suvarnabhumi/

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Train derails just 300 meters from Hua Lamphong main terminal

BANGKOK, 17 September 2013 (NNT) – A train has derailed just 300 meters from the Hua Lamphong main terminal in Bangkok on Monday, only a few days after an earlier derailment in the Bang Sue area of the capital city.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668398-train-derails-just-300-meters-from-bangkoks-hua-lamphong-main-terminal/

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,444.59, down 0.52 points /MCOT

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UPDATE:

Governor pledges no use of force to disperse rubber farmer protesters
By English News



NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, Sept 17 – Rubber planter protesters still occupy Kuan Nong Hong intersection in this southern province today while Nakhon Si Thammarat governor pledged no use of force to disperse them.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668246-pm-yingluck-pleas-for-public-order-as-rubber-protests-turn-violent/#entry6831548

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Govt told to extend rice purchase under pledging scheme
By English News

BANGKOK, Sept 17 – A group of farmers from the Central region has called on the government to extend its rice purchase programme under the pledging scheme to late October.

The farmers, led by Ubolsak Bualuangngam, leader of the Lopburi Farmers Assembly, submitted a letter to the prime minister to seek her assistance in her capacity as chairwoman of the National Rice Policy Committee.

They urged the government to extend the rice purchases for the second crop to end of next month, saying drought has delayed its harvest.

Mr Ubolsak said a large number of farmers would be in trouble if the government fails to extend the rice purchases. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-09-17

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Phuket dengue numbers critical, says public health chief
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- The chief of Phuket’s Public Health Office has admitted that the “333” anti-dengue campaign launched in April (story here) has failed and called for support to re-apply the program with more manpower after dengue cases in Phuket reached their highest number in 26 years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668402-phuket-dengue-numbers-critical-says-public-health-chief/

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French tourist seriously injured in Phuket hotel balcony fall
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- A French tourist was seriously injured when he fell from a fifth-floor balcony at a hotel in Patong early this morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668409-french-tourist-seriously-injured-in-phuket-hotel-balcony-fall/

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Teenage Gang Attacks A Local For Crossing The Road


A 56 year old local became a victim of a teenage gang attack because he was crossing the road too carefully, the CCTV footage are being looked at to find the suspects.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668413-pattaya-teenage-gang-attacks-man-for-crossing-the-road/

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Washington Navy Yard Killer 'Planned Thailand Move'
Suspected shooter Aaron Alexis worked and lived with Thai-Americans and developed interest in Southeast Asian nation

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668415-washington-navy-yard-killer-planned-thailand-move/

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Stricken Costa Concordia ship set upright

GIGLIO: -- Engineers in Italy have succeeded in setting the cruise ship Costa Concordia upright, 20 months after it ran aground off the island of Giglio.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668418-stricken-costa-concordia-ship-set-upright/

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Arrest warrant may be issued for Thammasat anti-uniform ad creator
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- The founder of the TV show “Best of Your Life” has requested that police issue an arrest warrant for Aum Neko, the Thammasat ladyboy student behind the anti-uniform campaign, for insulting the Royal Institute of Thailand during an interview on the TV show and on her Facebook page.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668419-arrest-warrant-issued-for-thammasat-anti-uniform-ad-creator/

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PM promotes "Smart Lady Thailand" project

BANGKOK, 17 September 2013 (NNT) – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has visited the “Smart Lady Thailand” project, which has been organized by the Thai Women Empowerment Funds, at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668421-pm-yingluck-promotes-smart-lady-thailand-project/

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UPDATE:

Democrats turn down invitation to join political reform forum

BANGKOK, 17 September 2013 (NNT) - Democrat Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has firmly declined to join the political reform forum recently initiated by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra while reiterating to the Government that it shows sincerity by withdrawing the amnesty bill and the constitution amendment proposal.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668380-reform-forum-must-be-unbiased/#entry6831964

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UPDATE:

Train derailed near Bangkok's Hua Lamphong Station
By English News



BANGKOK, Sept 17 – A train bound for Bangkok from the South derailed near Hua Lamphong, the capital’s main railway station, yesterday, an accident coinciding with the first day of 45-day track maintenance shut down for the northern line between Uttaradit and Chiang Mai.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668398-train-derails-just-300-meters-from-bangkoks-hua-lamphong-main-terminal/#entry6832005

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Fire causes B1m damage to Phuket shop
Eakkapop Thongtub



PHUKET: -- An electrical short is thought to have caused a fire that wrecked an air conditioner and refrigerator shop just south of the Heroines Monument this morning about 8.30am (September 17).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668429-fire-causes-b1m-damage-to-phuket-shop/

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PM meets with Japanese executives, congratulates Japan on Olympics 2020

BANGKOK, 17 September 2013 (NNT) – Chairman of Fukuoka Association of Corporate Executives and his entourage have paid Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra a visit, during which the Thai Premier thanked them for their cooperation in the government’s infrastructure project. She also congratulated Japan for its success in winning the right to host the Olympics 2020.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668431-yingluck-meets-with-japanese-executives-congratulates-japan-on-olympics-2020/

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Unlicensed clinic owners arrested for putting patient into a coma
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- The Ministry of Public Health and the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) held a press conference yesterday about an unlicensed clinic in Bangkapi that put a patient into a coma.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668432-unlicensed-bangkok-clinic-owners-arrested-for-putting-patient-into-a-coma/