Thailand Live Sunday 29 Sep 2013

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WEATHER
Storm Wutip may bring more misery
The Sunday Nation

In Prachin Buri

BANGKOK: -- Flood-hit areas in the Northeast, and most of Bangkok likely to get more rain

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671086-storm-wutip-may-bring-more-misery/

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POLITICS
Bill on senators faces legal challenge
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Legal opinion sought after joint House session votes 358-2 on qualifications

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671088-bill-on-senators-faces-legal-challenge/

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CENSORSHIP?
Govt denies 'killing' TV interview
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Government Spokesperson Teerat Ratanasevi yesterday denied that the Yingluck Shinawatra administration was responsible for pulling the plug on a television interview with a leader of the anti-Mae Wong Dam movement.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671089-government-denies-killing-tv-interview/

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SOUTH CHINA SEA
Asean must unite on South China Sea: Kerry
Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation

New York: -- The United States has urged Asean leaders to speak in one voice on the conflict with China over South China Sea as well as speed up conclusion of the code of conduct for the troubled sea, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichak-chaikul said on Friday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671090-asean-must-unite-on-south-china-sea-kerry/

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Novelist, songwriter dies
The Sunday Nation

Cha-um

BANGKOK: -- Author and songwriter Cha-um Yaemngam, or Cha-um Panchapan, who wrote the novel "Tat Dao Bussaya" and also the National Children's Day theme song 'Nathee Khong Dek', died yesterday at the age of 92. Her funeral would be held at Wat Makut Kasattriyaram Ratchaworawiharn in Bangkok.

Cha-um was born on December 6, 1921, in Suphan Buri. She was the eldest daughter of Khun Panchapanpibul, the former governor of Prachuap Khiri Khan and Nakhon Pathom, and wife Krasae Panchapan (Komaratat). Her sibling Archin Panchapan was a writer who won the National Artist award in 1991.

Cha-um served as civil servant at the Department of Public Relations, including being an editor of the Khosanasarn periodical. She also authored plays and songs for Suntrapon Band. While working for the Radio Thailand, she wrote short stories in her free time. One of her colleagues and veteran broadcaster, Chamnong Rangsikul, discovered her file of short stories and sent the story titled "Chan Kub Kamathep" (I and Cupid) to Sattrisan Magazine editor Nilawan Pinthong, leading to its first publication, which launched Cha-um's writing career.

Cha-um was honoured by the Writers Association of Thailand with the Narathip Award in 2003. She was married to Chamnote Yaemngam.

-- The Nation 2013-09-29

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Fairer elections, more justice, better media 'all offer hope'
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Neither staging another coup nor granting an amnesty to all could provide Thailand with a solution to its political divide, former President of Parliament Uthai Pimchaichon said yesterday.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671091-fairer-elections-more-justice-better-media-all-offer-hope/

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Carbon Forum Asia, Clean Energy Expo held in Bangkok
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Asia is emerging as a strong leader in carbon markets, climate innovation and green finance, according to the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA).

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671092-carbon-forum-asia-clean-energy-expo-held-in-bangkok/

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-- The Nation 2013-09-29

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Phuket Opinion: ‘Tis the season to crack down
Phuket Gazette -

Have officials' attitudes about foreign labor evolved for the better? Image: Gazette Graphics

PHUKET: A recent crackdown on Westerners working illegally in the marine leisure industry has generated a great deal of comment from readers, yet the debate focused almost solely on Thailand’s notoriously vague definition of what constitutes work, while missing out on some fundamental aspects of the issue.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671096-phuket-opinion-tis-the-season-to-crack-down/

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RT@RichardBarrow: Rate of teens, women drinking worries panel (Bangkok Post)

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RT@RichardBarrow: Map showing projected path of Storm Wutip from Sunday to Tuesday #ThaiFloodEng pic.twitter.com/DSuH00JdTD

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RT‏@RichardBarrow: 8:05am Live picture showing level of the Chao Phraya River in #Bangkok #ThaiFloodEng pic.twitter.com/FqwPY01ioB

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RT@191Thailand: Taxi driver hanged himself yesterday in a cell after being arrested for trying to bribe a cop 100B (Bangkok Post)

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RT@BKK_POST: Thaksin, red-shirts give flood relief supplies

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UPDATE:

PM Yingluck visits Pathum Thani, follows up on flood situation

BANGKOK, 29 September 2013 (NNT) – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has visited Pathum Thani Province to check up on the flood situation.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670983-plodprasop-overall-flooding-situation-is-not-worrisome/page-3?p=6872061#entry6872061

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TAT: Tourism industry yet to be affected by flooding

BANGKOK, 29 September 2013 (NNT) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) says the flooding situation in Thailand has yet to affect the tourism industry.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671111-tat-tourism-industry-yet-to-be-affected-by-flooding/

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Govt: Thai exported canned fruit not contaminated


BANGKOK, 29 September 2013 (NNT) – The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry has announced that all Thai canned fruit exported to Brunei Darussalam was not contaminated as accused by Brunei.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671112-govt-thai-exported-canned-fruit-not-contaminated/

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Flood embankments along Chi River collapse, causing flooding in Chaiyaphum's economic zone; all of Buri Ram's 12 districts now underwater /MCOT

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Protesters in Cha-uat District lift blockade of Highway 41

BANGKOK, 29 September 2013 (NNT) – Protesters in Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Cha-uat District have agreed to lift the blockade of Highway 41 after the court had approved a release of one of the key leaders arrested during riot.

Rubber farmers in Nakhon Si Thammarat have agreed to open Khuan Nong Hong intersection in Cha-uat district. The move came after the officials had released one of the key leaders, Chayanin Kongsong, who was arrested on September 16th during which the police and protesters clashed in the police’s attempt to break up the rally. The riot left at least 70 people injured.

However, the protesters promised they would come back if the government could not meet their demand which is to guarantee the price of para rubber at 100 baht per kilogram.

The Highway 41 is now passable for motorists. It is the main road that links central region to southern region. The protesters began their rally on September 14th despite the government’s offer to help the farmers with a subsidy of 2,520 baht per rai.

-- NNT 2013-09-29

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Phuket Opinion: The testing paradox
Phuket Gazette -

Getting four on the bike isn’t on the test. Photo: Nick Walker

PHUKET: Obtaining a driver’s license on our island is a paradoxical task.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671121-phuket-opinion-the-testing-paradox/

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PM Yingluck, ex-PM Banharn board GMC army truck to monitor flooding in Prachin Buri's Kabin Buri district /MCOT

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UPDATE:

Phuket's 'Mister Big' update: former military snipers turn to mercenary killing

Photo: Immigration Police

PHUKET: The US 'Mister Big' arrested in Phuket on Thursday and two other ex-soldiers from the US and Germany were charged Saturday (Thailand time) with plotting to kill a US drug enforcement agent and an informant.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670746-arrested-american-part-of-major-trafficking-ring-in-southeast-asia/page-4?p=6872407#entry6872407

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Flood embankments along Chi River collapse
By English News

CHAIYAPHUM, Sept 29 - Heavy rain in Thailand's central and northeastern regions have caused a collapse of flood embankments along the Chi River, resulting in flooding in the economic zone of this northeastern province.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671127-flood-embankments-along-chi-river-collapse/

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Commerce Ministry affirms 2013-14 rice pledging scheme ready on Oct 1; over 800 rice mills to join; money sufficient to be paid to farmers /MCOT

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POLITICS
Donation to Pheu Thai reaches Bt9.1mn in August
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai Party attracted the biggest donation in August, worth Bt9.1 million, followed by Democrat Party, according to the Election Commission of Thailand.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671130-donation-to-pheu-thai-reaches-bt91mn-in-august/

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DAAD distributes Thaksin's donations to flood victims

BANGKOK: -- Some 50 members of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship' (DAAD) were in Prachin Buri today, distributing food supplies from former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to flood victims.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671132-daad-distributes-thaksins-donations-to-flood-victims/

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Phuket: Rihanna loris pics prompt call for tougher tout penalties

PHUKET : Photos posted online of pop star Rihanna posing with an endangered slow loris on Phuket last week show criminal penalties for wildlife traders are too weak, one of the island's top police officers says.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671136-phuket-rihanna-loris-pics-prompt-call-for-tougher-tout-penalties/

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UPDATE:

CENSORSHIP

Censored tape is on YouTube now
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- TV Burapa, the producer of Khon Khon Khon, has posted its censored interview tape on YouTube - .

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671089-government-denies-killing-tv-interview/#entry6872642

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Kabin Buri rail track under water

The State Railway of Thailand has suspended train services from Aranyaprathet, Sa Kaeo province, to Bangkok.

The rail track in Kabin Buri, Prachin Buri, is now under water, making it impossible for the train to go to Bangkok, it said.

-- The Nation 2013-09-29

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Abhisit meets rubber farmers

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva was in Songkhla on Sunday where he met rubber growers.

He said that rubber prices may fall below Bt70 per kg and the government’s subsidies may not be sufficient. He noted that the government’s decision not to intervene the rubber price would send repercussions, as the subsidies alone cannot address the problems of farmers in some areas.

-- The Nation 2013-09-29