Thailand Live Thursday 19 Sep 2013

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Bribespot: Fighting Corruption in Thailand One Click at a Time
Steve Herman

BANGKOK — Reporting corruption, at least unofficially, in Thailand is becoming easier with a new Thai version of an international smartphone application.

As it is in many developing countries, bribery is ubiquitous in Thailand. A Transparency International survey found that one-fourth of those in the country acknowledged making a payoff at least once a year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668841-bribespot-fighting-corruption-in-thailand-one-click-at-a-time/

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WEATHER
Tropical depression a mixed blessing
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Flooding a possibility, but dam levels getting a needed boost, officials say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668843-tropical-depression-is-bringing-heavy-rain-to-thailand/

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GAYS' RIGHTS
Same-sex marriage on the horizon
Piyanut Tumnukasetchai
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The government will soon start making official moves to legalise same-sex marriage in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668844-thailand-same-sex-marriage-on-the-horizon/

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Man Arrested For Kidnapping Bar Waitress
By Khaosod Online



BANGKOK: -- The police have arrested a man who abducted a karaoke bar waitress from her workplace, much to the dismay of the patrons, to rape her at his room.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668845-bangkok-police-arrest-man-for-kidnapping-bar-waitress/

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SPECIAL REPORT
House set for big rows over Bt2-tn bill
Somroutai Sapsomboon
The Nation

All sides rally their forces for debate

BANGKOK: -- THE IMPORTANCE of the House deliberations in the second reading of the Bt2-trillion borrowing bill for development of transport infrastructure is reflected in the postponement of the mobile Cabinet meeting scheduled in Lop Buri.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668846-house-set-for-big-rows-over-bt2-tn-bill/

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PROTEST
Govt issues warning to 'rubber hoarders' believed to be behind rallies
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Aiming at organisers and supporters of rubber farmers' protests in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan yesterday vowed to launch a crackdown on hidden stores of rubber products.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668848-thai-govt-issues-warning-to-rubber-hoarders-believed-to-be-behind-rallies/

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EDUCATION
Chaturon vows to end school errand-for-pass practice
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Education Minister Chaturon Chaisang said he would review the practice of allowing primary pupils who fail exams to earn a pass by helping teachers with their errands.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668849-chaturon-vows-to-end-school-errand-for-pass-practice/

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TELL IT AS IT IS
Thailand's 'SMART LADY' has emerged
Pornpimol Kanchanalak

BANGKOK: -- And her name is Aum Neko. She is an undergraduate at Thammasat University. She once posed in a mini skirt with the statue of Dr Pridi Banomyong, founder of the university, wrapping one hand around the neck of the statue, partly sat on the base with one leg lifted high.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668850-thailands-smart-lady-has-emerged/

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EDITORIAL
PROTECT the goose that lays the golden egg

BANGKOK: -- Millions of people consider Thailand a tourist paradise. The number of foreign tourists coming to Thailand has been on a constant increase --- 19.2 million in 2011, 22.3 million last year and 17.4 million in the first eight months of this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668852-thai-editorial-protect-the-goose-that-lays-the-golden-egg/

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THAI TALK
Banharn's exercise in FUTILITY

BANGKOK: -- Nobody should be disappointed if Banharn Silapa-archa, the official "coordinator" of the government's "reform council", also known as the official reconciliation initiative, fails in his mission to get the "other side" on the bandwagon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668853-thai-talk-banharns-exercise-in-futility/

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Jakarta to Imitate Bangkok to Overcome City Problem

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668854-jakarta-to-imitate-bangkok-to-overcome-city-problem/

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SOCIAL NETWORK
Tarit warns women not to fall prey to Facebook beaus
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Tarit Pengdith, Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief, yesterday warned Thai women to be careful of foreigners wooing them via Facebook and then duping them into wiring money.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668855-dsi-warns-thai-women-not-to-fall-prey-to-facebook-beaus/

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Investment scam hits over 1,000 victims
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Victims of the Standard Morgan (Thailand) investment fund scandal have reached 1,311 with reported losses of Bt454 million.

Lawyer Pramarn Luangwatanapanich said yesterday that he has been approached by 1,311 individuals who invested in the company's fund.

He led over 100 victims to the Department of Special Investigation to demand it to speed up its investigation.

On September 4, the DSI named nine suspects. It found that Standard Morgan (Thailand)'s fund had mobilised about Bt1 billion from July 2012 to last month.


-- The Nation 2013-09-19

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Ex-bank employee held for selling fake money
Piyanut Tumnukasetchai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has arrested a former bank employee for allegedly selling fake banknotes of several foreign currencies, including the US dollar.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668856-bangkok-ex-bank-employee-held-for-selling-fake-money/

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Manhunt launched after Rohingya breakout in Nong Khai
The Nation

NONG KHAI: -- A manhunt was launched yesterday for the 15 Rohingya men who broke out of Sang Khom Police Station in Nong Khai late on Tuesday night.

Col Sombat Nathaemploy, superintendent of the police station, Suchai Tangchupong, chief of Sang Khom district, and Pol Col Piti Nitinonthaset, chief of Nong Khai Immigration Police, inspected the cells in the morning after 15 out of the 19 Royingha men who had been detained there since September 7 escaped.

CCTV footage showed that they tied a blanket to two metal bar panels and pulled them out to make their getaway at midnight during heavy rain.

Some villagers living five kilometres from the police station reported seeing a group of men running into the woods behind Sakkali Ville in Tambon Kaeng Kai at about 4am.


-- The Nation 2013-09-19

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A site to fight corruption
Budsarakham Sinlapalavan

photo by Tatchadon Panyaphanitkul

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668841-bribespot-fighting-corruption-in-thailand-one-click-at-a-time/#entry6838274

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Opposition files petition seeking Somsak's impeachment
Prapasri Osathanon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The opposition on Wednesday filed an impeachment motion against House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), via the Senate speaker.

Opposition chief whip Jurin Laksanawisit said 138 Democrat MPs had undersigned the petition asking the NACC to investigate whether Somsak had failed to properly perform his duties as Speaker.

The petition alleges that on September 11 Somsak failed to chair the House-Senate joint meeting in a neutral manner when he adjourned the meeting while many members were still waiting to speak. It alleges that this was in violation of Article 89 of the Constitution.

The meeting was deliberating draft amendments to constitutional provisions relating to the qualifications and selection of senators.


-- The Nation 2013-09-19

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Penis Enlargement Attempt Fails Horrendously

A man whose attempt to enlarge his penis horrendously failed, he couldn’t stop bleeding and fainted before he could reach the hospital.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668859-chonburi-penis-enlargement-attempt-fails-horrendously/

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Australians drugged, sexually assaulted and robbed at Thai beach parties, diplomat warns
Linsday Murdoch

BANGKOK: -- Young Australians partying on beaches in southern Thailand are drinking a potentially deadly drug cocktail made from a local leaf trafficked by criminals who prey on them when they are under its influence, Australia's official representative in the area warns.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668873-australians-drugged-sexually-assaulted-and-robbed-at-thai-beach-parties-diplomat-warns/

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,486.87, gains 47.74 points /MCOT

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'Splash Out' Singer Admits Thaksin Ties
By Khaosod Online



BANGKOK: -- The pop-country singer ′Baitoey R Siam′, best known for her viral hit ′Splash Out′, admitted having performed for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Singapore and Hong Kong.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668881-splash-out-singer-admits-thaksin-ties/

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Rice warehouse inspection to be launched nationwide

BANGKOK, 19 September 2013 (NNT) - The Marketing Organization for Farmers (MOF) will launch an inspection of all the 400 rice warehouses nationwide, following the case of rotten and burnt rice found in Phitsanulok Province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668885-rice-warehouse-inspection-to-be-launched-nationwide/

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Motorbike dumped in pond mystifies park-goers
Phuket Gazette


The apparently fully-functional bike was found half-submerged in the pond. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Police and local residents are scratching their heads over a motorcycle found dumped in a pond at Rama IX Park (King’s Park) in Phuket Town (map here) yesterday morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668887-motorbike-dumped-in-pond-mystifies-park-goers/

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Police arrest drug kingpin, seize assets worth THB120 million
By Coconuts Bangkok



PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN: -- Police seized THB120 million worth of assets belonging to a suspected drug kingpin in Prachuap Khiri Khan yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668889-prachuap-khiri-khan-police-arrest-drug-kingpin-seize-assets-worth-bt120m/

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UPDATE:

Southern rubber protesters surrender to police
By English News

BANGKOK, Sept 19 – Eight protesters in the rubber demonstrations in Thailand’s South turned themselves in to the authorities to contest charges of gathering illegally and creating disturbances for the public, police said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668848-thai-govt-issues-warning-to-rubber-hoarders-believed-to-be-behind-rallies/#entry6838985

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Radio stations warned not to cause interference with air traffic communications

BANGKOK, 19 September 2013 (NNT) – The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) office in Chiang Mai is cautioning radio stations against emitting signals that interfere with air traffic communications.

Naret Phachanaphan, head of the NBTC region 9 office, on Wednesday filed charges against 52-year-old Witthaya Methawo, owner of a radio station broadcasting through the 92.25 MHz frequency. The station owner is being charged with intentionally causing interference to communications frequencies, unauthorized use of radios and unauthorized setting-up of a communications station. His case is being processed by police at Saraphi station in Chiang Mai.

According to the NBTC, the station has continually been causing interference with air traffic communications at Chiang Mai Airport. The station has been warned 3 times in the past, but failed to fix the problem.


-- NNT 2013-09-19

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Phuket motorbike driver with axe to grind arrested
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- A friendly argument took a serious turn yesterday morning when a Patong motorbike taxi driver took out an axe and struck a colleague twice, sending him to the hospital.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668894-phuket-motorbike-driver-with-axe-to-grind-arrested/

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PM orders governors to tackle floods in Phichit, Phitsanulok, Ayutthaya; Deputy PM Plodprasop chairs water management agency to activate response measures /MCOT

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Japan's Defense Minister commends PM Yingluck for her role in ASEAN

BANGKOK, 19 September 2013 (NNT) – The Defense Minister of Japan has praised Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for her significant role in the ASEAN region; the Thai Premier, meanwhile, thanked Japan for its military support.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668897-japans-defense-minister-commends-pm-yingluck-for-her-role-in-asean/

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PM praises NDC students for their ideas on national security

BANGKOK, 19 September 2013 (NNT) – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has praised the students from Thailand National Defense College (ThaiNDC) for their ideas on national security and military strategy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/668902-pm-yingluck-praises-ndc-students-for-their-ideas-on-national-security/