Thailand Live Wednesday 18 Sep 2013

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Central farmers blame govt for overlooking their plight
By English News

AYUTTHAYA, Sept 18 – Farmers in the Central region have charged the government with ignoring their problem of deteriorating paddy prices and their request to extend the rice pledging programme.

Vichien Puanglamjiak, president of the Thai Farmers Association, said the government was insincere to farmers after it decided to postpone the mobile Cabinet meeting indefinitely.

The meeting was originally scheduled in the central province of Lopburi on Thursday and Friday.

He said farmers’ request to extend the rice purchasing scheme to the end of this month has fallen onto deaf ears, creating dissatisfaction among farmers who threatened to seal off roads to block traffic – following the way done by rubber growers in southern Thailand.

The government has pledged paddy price at Bt15,000/tonne but rice traders would not buy paddy at higher than Bt7,000/tonne, he said.

In the rice-planting province of Ayutthaya, an official report says 228,883 tonnes of rice in the second crop would be harvested this month but farmers would manage to sell only 145,750 tonnes within the deadline of the rice pledging programme. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-09-18

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UPDATE:
Kittiratt confident of winning House approval
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong is confident that the Bt2 trillion borrowing bill will be passed into law.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668639-pm-yingluck-confident-the-2-trillion-baht-loan-bill-would-pass-2nd-reading/#entry6835706

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Third runway for Suvarnabhumi Airport to take 2 years
By English News

BANGKOK, Sept 18 – Airports of Thailand (AoT) will build a third runway at Suvarnabhumi Airport, to be completed within two years, and will set up a district court on the airport premises to facilitate foreign passengers and tourists, according to chairman Sita Divari.

He said the new 2,900-metre strip, to be built on the Western side of the airport, would serve as an emergency runway.

The AoT Board of Directors approved the new runway after a Thai Airways International flight skidded off one of the two runways last week, blocking air traffic on the strip for a few days.

Mr Sita said the Suvarnabhumi branch of Samut Prakan district court will be launched next Monday to provide convenience access to the judiciary system for foreign tourists, and help solve criminal problems at the airport.

Suvarnabhumi will be the first airport in the world to have a court and the service will be expanded to Don Meuang and Phuket airports, he said.

“Only non-Thai plaintiffs will be taken to the court in the airport. Trial can either be done with a judge on site or via online video system with a judge at Samut Prakarn district court,” he said.

Only petty cases such as theft with the maximum jail term of one month will be on trial at the airport court to facilitate foreign travellers, he said.

Pongsak Semson, AoT acting president, said some foreigners do not have time to attend trial for petty cases, so the airport court would be helpful to them.

From January to August this year, 1,047 suspects were arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport in 1,980 cases. Twelve of the suspects committed petty misdemeanours more than once.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet yesterday acknowledged a report on tourism in the first seven months of the year that 14.96 million tourists visited Thailand – an increase by 2.53 million people or 20.37 per cent year-on-year.

This year’s global tourism growth was projected at only 3-4 per cent.

The highest numbers of tourists were from China, Malaysia, Russia, Japan, Korea, India, United Kingdom, Laos, Australia and Germany.

From January to July this year, 4.7 million Thais travelled abroad, representing an increase by 312,182 people or 7.1 per cent year-on-year. Southeast Asia was the major destination for Thai travellers. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-09-18

related topics:

Thailand tourist arrivals grow unexpectedly January thru July

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

Suvarnabhumi to open special airport court for foreigners on Monday

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

[Lite Beer]

Ayutthaya, Lamphun under floodwater
By English News

LAMPHUN, Sept 18 - Forest runoff triggered by continued heavy rain hit the northern province of Lamphun this morning, while six districts in the central province of Ayutthaya are now under floodwater.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668676-ayutthaya-lamphun-under-floodwater/

[Lite Beer]

Thai industrial confidence lowest in 22 months
By English News

BANGKOK, Sept 18 – Thailand’s industrial confidence index (ICI) plunged to its lowest in 22 months at 91.3, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) announced today.

FTI chairman Payungsak Chartsuthipol said a survey of manufacturers found the ICI had dropped from 91.9 in July to 91.3 in August – running below 100 for the past 14 months.

Concerns over a weakened economy have resulted in a consumption slowdown while the export sector has shrunk continuously despite the depreciating Thai currency, he said.

Manufacturing costs remain high, impeding the growth of most businesses especially small- and medium-sized enterprises, he said, adding that warfare in the Middle East became another major obstacle to global economic revival.

He called on the public sector to ensure that the Thai baht is linked with regional currencies while planned government-initiated mega projects should be urgently launched to stimulate the economy.

Oil prices should be maintained at an appropriate level and the liquidity problems of small- and medium-sized business operators should be addressed, he said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-09-18

[Lite Beer]

Their Majesties 'happy and healthier' in Hua Hin

HUA HIN: -- Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn has said that both Their Majesties the King and the Queen, currently residing at their Hua Hin Palace, are happy and their health is improving.

The princess was speaking during an interview pre-recorded for Channel 5 and which will be aired to mark ’Mahidol Day’ on Saturday.

Clinical Prof Udom Kachintorn, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, meanwhile said he just returned from the Hua Hin Palace and both the King and the Queen looked very happy because of the good environment.

"There, they feel at home. The environment is very good because the palace is close to the sea and has gardens. The Queen spends time at a seaside pavilion every afternoon. I want to tell people who are worried about Her Majesty's health that the Queen can now walk well and does so everyday.

The King occasionally went to the beach, the doctor said, as well as to the lake inside the palace, where he would feed the fish.

-- The Nation 2013-09-18

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PM asked to help detained Veera

BANGKOK, 18 September 2013 (NNT) - Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Yingluck Shinawatra has been asked by the family of Mr. Veera Somkwamkid to help secure his release or a reduced jail term after he has been detained in Cambodia for nearly 3 years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668686-pm-yingluck-asked-to-help-detained-veera/

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Phuket tsunami drill evacuates area in just 15 minutes
Tanyaluk Sakoot


Locals leap into action.

PHUKET: -- Wichit District yesterday afternoon (September 17) organised a tsunami drill at Chalong’s Klong Mudong where the canal goes beneath a bridge.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668687-phuket-tsunami-drill-evacuates-area-in-just-15-minutes/

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Phuket camera grabbers quickly caught
Eakkapop Thongtub


Smile! Rosemary Kaberra gets her stolen camera back.

PHUKET: -- Swift action by Karon police resulted in the arrest of two teenage snatch-and-run artists and the return of the expensive Nikon camera they had grabbed from a Brazilian tourist less than 48 hours earlier.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668690-phuket-camera-grabbers-quickly-caught/

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British Man Rescued From Si Saket Forest
Khaosod Online



BANGKOK: -- A Briton who had been lost in the wilderness for 3 days has been rescued in Si Saket Province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668693-british-man-rescued-from-si-saket-forest/

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SET index closed at 1,439.13, down 4.65; Bt/USD31.54; GBP50.19; AUD29.38; EUR41.97; CAD30.50; HKD4.06; SGD24.93; JPY31.77

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Thai commercial “makes everybody cry”

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668710-thai-commercial-makes-everybody-cry/

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Bangkok set to be hit by massive rainstorms on Sep 19-20

BANGKOK, 18 September 2013 (NNT) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has warned that all districts of the capital will be hit by heavy rainstorms during September 19 and 20 which may cause widespread flooding.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668713-bangkok-set-to-be-hit-by-massive-rainstorms-on-sep-19-20/

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to continue:

Thailand Live Thursday 19 Sep 2013

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668842-thailand-live-thursday-19-sep-2013/