Thailand Live Wednesday 2 Oct 2013

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WUTHIP
Threat from typhoon eases
The Nation



Heavy rain expected, cabinet gives green light to establishment of water ministry

BANGKOK: -- WITH TYPHOON Wutip rapidly heading for a downgrade to a low-pressure ridge yesterday, some Thais heaved a sigh of relief but many remained on the lookout for another coming storm.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671811-threat-from-typhoon-wuthip-eases-cabinet-endorses-establishment-of-water-ministry/

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2013 Thailand Flood Updates - Are you affected? Maps, reports, local updates

Info: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671446-2013-thailand-flood-updates-maps-reports-local-updates/

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Insect leg found inside fruit bowl on Phuket flight


Images posted by Magrood Baiwaeng on Pantip.com shows "insect leg" on the fruit bowl.

PHUKET: -- Bangkok Airways has apologised after what is believed to be a large cockroach leg and other insect bits were found wrapped to a fruit bowl served to a passenger on a flight to Phuket.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671713-insect-leg-found-inside-fruit-bowl-on-phuket-flight/

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Phuket ladyboy duo arrested for robbing Swedish tourist
Naraporn Tuarob


Robin Hedberg lost his cash and credit card, but thank to swift police action, he did get his iPhone back.

PHUKET: -- Karon Police September 30 arrested two ladyboys for robbing an 18-year-old Swedish tourist of cash, a credit card and and iPhone 4s.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671813-phuket-ladyboy-duo-arrested-for-robbing-swedish-tourist/

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2010 POLITICAL CRISIS
'Terror charge against Thaksin dropped'
Prapasri Osathanon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Public prosecutors have decided not to file a charge of terrorism against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in connection with the unrest and riots of 2010, Democrat Party deputy leader Thaworn Senneam said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671814-terror-charge-against-thaksin-dropped-2010-political-crisis/

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US SHUTDOWN
Global stock markets 'may face volatility'
Business Desk
The Nation

But US govt shutdown tipped to have limited impact on Thailand

BANGKOK: -- Only short-term volatility in financial markets is expected, after political gridlock in Washington triggered the first US government shutdown in 17 years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671816-us-shutdown-global-stock-markets-may-face-volatility/

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Industrial estates in Prachin Buri 'high and dry'
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- AUTHORITIES HAVE inspected industrial estates in provinces hit by flooding and insist they are not at risk of inundation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671817-industrial-estates-in-prachin-buri-high-and-dry/

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CHARTER AMENDMENT
Bill heads to Palace for approval
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The charter-amendment bill will be sent for royal approval now that the prime minister has activated the endorsement process following vetting by relevant agencies.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671818-thai-charter-amendment-bill-heads-to-palace-for-approval/

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SOUTH CRISIS
Two more groups to join peace talks this month: NSC
JEERAPONG PRASERTPONKRUNG,
SUPITCHA RATTANA,
NAKHARIN CHINNAVORNKOMON
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- TWO MORE GROUPS will join the peace dialogue initiated by Thai authorities to try to end unrest in the deep South.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671819-thai-south-crisis-two-more-groups-to-join-peace-talks-this-month/

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AIS 3G-2.1GHz closes in on subscriber target of 12m
Usanee Mongkolporn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The country's largest cellular operator, Advanced Info Service (AIS), has already achieved around 10.8 million subscribers to its third-generation wireless broadband service on the 2.1-gigahertz spectrum, well on its way to this year's target of 12 million customers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671820-ais-3g-21ghz-closes-in-on-subscriber-target-of-12m/

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STOPPAGE TIME
In defence of pad kaphrao and those who ban it
Tulsathit Taptim



BANGKOK: -- Since I'm all for human rights, there is no choice but to take the Army chief's side on this one. The ban on pad kaphrao (stir-fried basil with meat of your choice) at a canteen at the Army headquarters makes absolute sense.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671821-in-defence-of-pad-kaphrao-and-those-who-ban-it/

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ANTI-SMOKING CAMPAIGN
Groups back moves to block smoking
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- About 450 organisations have combined forces to champion a tobacco-free society and back the Public Health Ministry's move to expand the warning graphic on cigarette packs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671822-thailand-groups-back-moves-to-block-smoking/

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PM'S TRIPS
Democracy: a key theme in PM's speeches
Kornchanok Raksaseri
The Nation

Address in Mongolia on her government's struggle with legacy of the coup stands out

BANGKOK: -- There are certain key words in speeches that PM Yingluck Shinawatra has made on foreign and international stages: women, economy, infrastructure, water management and democracy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671823-democracy-a-key-theme-in-pm-yinglucks-speeches/

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Red-shirt group rallies against charter court judge
Chanikarn Phumhiran
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Sornrak Malaithong, spokesperson for the Radio for Democracy Network (RDN), led a group of red-shirt protesters to rally against Constitutional Court judge Boonsong Kulbupar yesterday.

They accuse Boonsong of abusing his power by granting his son - who worked as his secretary - paid leave to study abroad. Sornrak said the rally would continue until Boonsong stepped down.

Sornrak's rally is the third protest outside the court. A group led by Sa-ngiam Samranrat, a political appointee at the Prime Minister's Secretariat, is rallying at the Chaeng Wattana Road entrance of the court compound, while the Dharma Yatra group led by Samarn Sri-ngam is gathered on the lawn in the complex.

Some 30 police officers have been deployed to ensure security, and they have set up metal barriers between the groups.


-- The Nation 2013-10-02

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Senate votes against impeaching Surapong over satellite concession
KHANITTHA THEPPHAJORN
The Nation

THE SENATE voted yesterday not to impeach former Information and Communications Technology minister Surapong Suebwonglee.

BANGKOK: -- Surapong was targeted for impeachment after he had pushed for a satellite concession change seen as favourable to a conglomerate under the control of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's family.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671824-senate-votes-against-impeaching-surapong-over-satellite-concession/

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Coupons won't replace free tablets: Chaturon
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Education Minister Chaturon Chaisang has downplayed reports that the government will offer a cash coupon worth Bt3,000 in place of a tablet computer for each student.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671825-thai-education-min-chaturon-coupons-wont-replace-free-tablets/

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Gold still missing after raids linked to tax fraud
PIYANUT TUMNUKASETCHAI
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE HEAD of the Anti-Money Laundering Office was forced to defend his agency after officials returned empty-handed yesterday from raids on four sites linked to suspects in the Bt4.3-billion value-added tax refunds affair.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671826-gold-still-missing-after-raids-linked-to-thai-tax-fraud/

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BURNING ISSUE
Criminalising anti-Buddhist acts is not very Buddhist
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK

BANGKOK: -- IS "KNOWING BUDDHA" - a group of Thai Buddhists who are relentlessly tackling what they see as a disrespectful act against the image of Buddha - the new face of Thai Buddhism?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671827-criminalising-anti-buddhist-acts-is-not-very-buddhist/

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Pattaya Beach "disappears" in places after heavy rainfall!



PATTAYA: -- Sections of Pattaya Beach have disappeared following the heavy rainfall on Monday Night.
After 2 hours of sustained and heavy rainfall, much of Pattaya experienced flash floods with water depths of up-to 1 meter in places.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671828-pattaya-beach-disappears-in-places-after-heavy-rainfall/

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Foreign National injured in motorbike accident involving Truck in Jomtien



PATTAYA: -- On Tuesday afternoon Police and rescue workers were called to the scene of a serious road accident involving two motorbikes and a stationary truck.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671829-foreign-national-injured-in-motorbike-accident-involving-truck-in-jomtien/

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Floodwater at lower Rama VI Dam in Ayutthaya increases by 10-20 cm; Phitsanulok still flooded, but Ubon Ratchathani flood easing /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,413.18, gains 4.99 points /MCOT

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Seat belt saves Phuket chief judge in auto wreck
Phuket Gazette


Chief Judge Parinya walked away from his overturned car, which landed in a ditch near Krabi Airport. Photo: Parinya Chaowalittawin

KRABI: -- Phuket Court Chief Judge Parinya Chaowalittawin became a traffic-accident statistic over the weekend when he survived an accident en route to Krabi.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671843-seat-belt-saves-phuket-chief-judge-in-auto-wreck/

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Bangla daylight raid nets Phuket slow loris
Phuket Gazette


Kathu District Chief Veera Kerdsirimongkol (right) questions Mr Warawuth, who reportedly started working Soi Bangla during the day in order to avoid arrest. Photo: Kathu District Office


PHUKET: -- Kathu District Chief Veera Kerdsirimongkol yesterday led a team of officers along Patong’s Soi Bangla in a daylight raid that netted one slow loris tout.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671844-bangla-daylight-raid-nets-phuket-slow-loris/

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Australian 'black taxi' driver arrested in Phuket
Naraporn Tuarob


Polting sits handcuffed in the road after his arrest yesterday

PHUKET: -- Patong Police arrested an armed Australian man yesterday afternoon (October 1) after he got into an argument with the taxi group who operate from the Phuket Graceland Resort and Spa.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671846-armed-australian-black-taxi-driver-arrested-in-phuket/

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One-year-old Phuket boy beaten to death
Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- A one-year-old boy died on Saturday morning (September 28) in Thalang Hospital after a severe beating the previous evening, probably by a relative.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671851-one-year-old-phuket-boy-beaten-to-death/

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Bail denied to woman who tricked professor out of millions with past life scheme
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a bail request from Pemmika Veerachatraksit, who has been sentenced to four years and six months in prison for deceiving Applied Physics tutor Prakitpao Tomtitchong into giving her and her friends gifts and cash worth more than THB9 million .

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671872-bail-denied-to-thai-woman-who-tricked-professor-out-of-millions-with-past-life-scheme/

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Phuket's new top cop makes a stand for human dignity
Phuket Gazette


Maj Gen Ong-art Phiwruangnont plans to minimize the number of crime re-enactments conducted by suspects in custody. Photo: Saran Mitrarat

PHUKET: -- The incoming commander of the Phuket Provincial Police, Maj Gen Ong-art Phiwruangnont, has vowed to better protect the privacy and human dignity of suspects by calling for careful consideration before staging public “re-enactments” of crimes and criminal press conferences.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671874-phukets-new-top-cop-makes-a-stand-for-human-dignity/

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Russian expat likely killed in shallow-water blackout, says expert
Phuket Gazette


Denis Lipatov, PADI instructor and freediving enthusiast, will be remembered by family and friends for his passion for the ocean. Photo: Supplied

PHUKET: -- A freediving expert believes that long-term Phuket expat and Russian freediver Denis Lipatov, 39, drowned off Koh Racha Noi on Saturday afternoon after diving alone and suffering a shallow-water blackout.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671877-phuket-russian-expat-likely-killed-in-shallow-water-blackout-says-expert/

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Chinese tourist drowns at island near Phuket
Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- A Chinese tourist drowned in the waters around Racha Yai Island yesterday afternoon (October 1), the second person in four days to die at the island.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671879-chinese-tourist-drowns-at-island-near-phuket/