Thailand Live Wednesday 18 Sep 2013

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Emergency Decree to remain for 3 more months in far South

BANGKOK, 18 September 2013 (NNT) - The Cabinet has agreed to extend the Emergency Decree in the three southern border provinces for another three months while the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) has suggested that the decree be lifted in Kabang district of Yala province.

Deputy Government Spokesperson Lt. Sunisa Lertphakhawat said all districts in the three provinces, except Maelan in Pattani, would be under the Emergency Decree for another three months from 20 September to 19 December 2013. At the same time, ISOC proposed to the Cabinet that the law should be revoked in five districts, starting with Yala’s Kabang district, without having to wait for the three-month period to end first.

Last week, the government’s center for solutions to the southern border unrest approved a budget of over 450 million baht to develop the restive region.


-- NNT 2013-09-18

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20 Kilometres Of Skytrain Track Wire 'Stolen'

BANGKOK: -- Police have arrested a group of suspects accused of stealing more than 20 kilometres of copper electric wire under Skytrain tracks in Bangkok.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668547-20-kilometres-of-skytrain-track-wire-stolen/

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Thai tourist arrivals grow unexpectedly January thru July
By English News



BANGKOK, Sept 18 - The number of tourist arrivals to Thailand for the first seven months of this year grew unexpectedly at 20 per cent.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668603-thailand-tourist-arrivals-grow-unexpectedly-january-thru-july/

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ASSESSING ASEAN'S READINESS BY COUNTRY
Asean is not yet ready for integration, Mahathir says
Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation


Nation Multimedia Group chairman Suthichai Yoon, centre, chats with former Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan as former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad looks on, prior to the NMG-organised conference on Asean and the Asean Economic Community

M'sian ex-premier says EU's woes show dangers of rushing plan; poor nations protections "should stay in place"

BANGKOK: -- Singapore is the only ASEAN member that will be completely ready for economic integration under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015, and some of the group's poorer members should be allowed to retain their economic protections, former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668604-asean-is-not-yet-ready-for-integration-mahathir-says/

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RUBBER PROTEST
Cha-uat district under special law
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- Nakhon Si Thammarat Governor Viroj Jivarungsan is implementing a special law for another 24 hours so state authorities have time to make a decision on what control measures they will put in place to cope with rubber farmers' protests. Security is also being beefed up at key locations and government buildings.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668605-rubber-protest-thailands-cha-uat-district-under-special-law/

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Phumtham still amazed at changing situation
Hataikarn Treesuwan
The Nation


Phumtham

BANGKOK: -- Phumtham Wechayachai, secretary-general of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, has spent much of his political career attending closed-door meetings with the party's strategic committee, led by former premier Somchai Wongsawat, as well as with the PM's taskforce, among others.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668606-pheu-thai-secretary-general-phumtham-still-amazed-at-changing-situation/

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STOPPAGE TIME
With patience or otherwise, 'peace envoy' Banharn limps on
Tulsathit Taptim



BANGKOK: -- The place is called "The Sun House", but it's debatable whether Banharn Silapa-archa was blinded by its light last week or had already been blinded before the visit. He is an enigma, after all, so whatever convinced him that he could persuade Sondhi Limthongkul and Chamlong Srimuang to join Thaksin Shinawatra's "political reform" initiative will go to the grave with him. But credit to Banharn: he entered the lion's den with a poker face and took everything thrown at him like a man.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668607-thai-opinion-with-patience-or-otherwise-peace-envoy-banharn-limps-on/

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EDITORIAL
Uniforms stand for equality
The Nation

Students are entitled to protest against the mandatory dress code, but the rule serves, among other things, to reduce class differences

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668608-thai-editorial-uniforms-stand-for-equality/

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Malaysian killed and two others in Pattaya Highway 7 crash



PATTAYA: -- A Malaysian car driver was killed and his two Malaysian passengers were seriously injured after they were ejected from the vehicle during a high-impact collision with a stationary truck on Highway 7 in Pattaya on Tuesday morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668609-malaysian-killed-and-two-others-in-pattaya-highway-7-crash/

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German stuck in mud at East Pattaya Reservoir



PATTAYA: -- Pattaya Rescue Workers managed to extract a German biker from mud at the Maprachan Reservoir in East Pattaya on Tuesday afternoon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668611-german-stuck-in-mud-at-east-pattaya-reservoir/

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Woman sexually assaulted by cousins at Family Home in North Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Tuesday two cousins aged 22 and 16 were arrested and accused of sexually assaulting their other cousin aged in her early twenties at their family home in North Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668612-woman-sexually-assaulted-by-cousins-at-family-home-in-north-pattaya/

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Motorcyclist killed in Pattaya road crash



PATTAYA: -- An unidentified Thai man thought to be aged between 45 and 50 was killed in a road crash at a crossroads in the Kaow Mai Geaw area in Banglamung on Tuesday Morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668613-motorcyclist-killed-in-pattaya-road-crash/

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East Pattaya Fish Shop Owner electrocuted



PATTAYA: -- The 42 year old owner of a fish shop in East Pattaya was electrocuted early on Wednesday Morning as he cleaned his shop front after closing time.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668614-east-pattaya-fish-shop-owner-electrocuted/

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BURNING ISSUE
How sex is being used as a tool in Thai politics
Pravit Rojanaphruk

BANGKOK: -- Women seem to have become a casualty of the ongoing political strife that has been plaguing the Kingdom since the 2006 military coup, if not earlier. This became very clear when a number of female Pheu Thai MPs decided to hand sarongs over to opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva in protest against his alleged reference to Thailand's first female prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra as a "stupid bitch".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668615-how-sex-is-being-used-as-a-tool-in-thai-politics/

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BECL
Expressway authority to appeal compensation ruling
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) governor Aiyanat Tinapai vowed to appealed a court ruling that it must pay compensation to Bangkok Expressway (BECL) worth Bt5 billion.

He said that the Attorney General’s Office will take care of the appeal.

"This concerns the differing opinion on the opening date of the second-stage expressway," he said.

Exat has a month to appeal the decision.

On September 13, the Central Administrative Court ruled that Exat has to share revenue with BECL for the period from November 13, 1992-September 2, 1993. Plus interest, this amounts to Bt5 billion.

-- The Nation 2013-09-18

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UPDATE:

3 held for stealing BTS wires
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Three men have been arrested for stealing copper worth more than Bt10 million from the Skytrain system's ground lines.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668547-20-kilometres-of-skytrain-track-wire-stolen/?p=6834564#entry6834564

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Kingdom told to prepare for ageing public
PONGPHON SARNSAMAK
THE NATION



UN urges Thailand, Asia-Pacific nations to ensure social security, healthcare

BANGKOK: -- Thailand and Asia-Pacific countries must ensure that elderly people will get access proper social security, healthcare services, pensions and transportation, as these societies are ageing quickly, a UN agency said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668617-un-urges-thailand-to-ensure-social-security-healthcare/

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,443.52, down 0.26 points /MCOT

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Suvarnabhumi to open special airport court for foreigners on Monday
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- In yet another example of how overrun this country is with tourists, Suvarnabhumi airport will open a new court where foreigners can address any legal issues that take place at the airport.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668636-suvarnabhumi-to-open-special-airport-court-for-foreigners-on-monday/

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AIS to invest Bt20bn on 3G 2100-MHz spectrum network expansion to support transfer of all 3G clients from 900-MHz band by this year /The Nation

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UPDATE:

Southern police on alert as protesters vow to continue rally
By English News

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, Sept 18 – Rubber farmers in this southern province have vowed to resume their protest this afternoon with the authorities on full alert and government buildings protected from possible attack.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668605-rubber-protest-thailands-cha-uat-district-under-special-law/#entry6835130

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UPDATE:

Police say there is tendency for Nakhon Si Thammarat protest to escalate

BANGKOK, 18 September 2013 (NNT) – The national police has indicated that there is a tendency for escalation of the rubber farmers’ demonstration in Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668605-rubber-protest-thailands-cha-uat-district-under-special-law/#entry6835170

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PM confident the 2T bt loan bill would pass 2nd reading

BANGKOK, 18 September 2013 (NNT) – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has reaffirmed the Government will maintain financial and fiscal disciplines when dealing with the 2 trillion baht infrastructure overhauling projects.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668639-pm-yingluck-confident-the-2-trillion-baht-loan-bill-would-pass-2nd-reading/

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Navy Chief to retire end of this month

BANGKOK, 18 September 2013 (NNT) – The Royal Thai Navy has held a parade to honor its chief, Admiral Surasak Rounroengrom, who is retiring at the end of this month

The parade, held in Chonburi’s Sattahip District, was to honor Admiral Surasak who will be retiring on September 30th. As the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy, Admiral Surasak has committed his life and soul to serving this nation and the Navy and has done so many good things during his long years of service.

The Navy Chief also observed fireworks show and parachuting performed by the Navy at the Royal Thai Marine Corps.

Admiral Surasak Rounroengrom was appointed in 2011, succeeding Former Royal Thai Navy Chief Admiral Kamthorn Phumhiran, who retired in October of the same year. Born on August 13th, 1953,Admiral Surasak graduated from Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School. Throughout his career, he has held so many positions including Director General of the Naval Intelligence Department, Deputy Navy Chief, and Special Advisor of the Thai Navy, before his latest appointment as the 48th. Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy.


-- NNT 2013-09-18

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46.5 mln Americans poor - census

The number of Americans in poverty rose slightly last year to 46.5 million, according to US Census data, despite a stock market recovery.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668647-465-mln-americans-poor-census/

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B1.4 million raised for Phuket bike crash victim
Claire Connell


Mark with his wife on their wedding day in 2013.

PHUKET: Mark Schofield, the Canadian teacher who was seriously injured in a motorbike smash on September 7, is out of intensive care at Vachira Phuket Hospital and is showing positive signs of recovery, family say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668650-phuket-bt14-million-raised-for-canadian-bike-crash-victim/

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Phuket: Naughty abbot caught on camera in sex romp
Eakkapop Thongtub


Footage from the videotape.

PHUKET: -- Video of a Phang Nga monk – allegedly a well-known abbot with many adherents – apparently having sex with the middle-aged wife of a local businessman has caused a furore in the local online community.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668653-phuket-naughty-abbot-caught-on-camera-in-sex-romp/

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Thailand jails Swedish bomb suspect

BANGKOK, September 18, 2013 (AFP) - Thailand on Wednesday sentenced a Swedish citizen of Lebanese origin to two years and eight months in prison for possession of materials that could be used to make a bomb.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668654-thailand-jails-swedish-bomb-suspect/

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Investigation launched on rotten and burnt rice cases in Phitsanulok

PHITSANULOK, 18 September 2013 (NNT) - The Commerce Ministry has established a committee to investigate the case of rotten and burnt pledged rice being dumped in a warehouse in Phitsanulok Province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668658-investigation-launched-on-rotten-and-burnt-rice-cases-in-phitsanulok/

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UPDATE:

Lebanese jailed for 2 years 8 months for illegal possessing bomb materials
By English News



BANGKOK, Sept 18 - A Lebanese-Swedish man was sentenced to two years and eight months jail by Thailand's Criminal Court today for illegally possessing bomb-making substances found in a warehouse in Bangkok’s suburban province of Samut Sakhon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668654-thailand-jails-swedish-bomb-suspect/#entry6835628