Thailand Live Tuesday 8 Oct 2013

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TRAFFIC
Bangkok police want cars older than 10 years off the streets
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- POLICE will propose that all vehicles older than 10 years be kept off Bangkok streets as part of a plan to improve traffic flow, unless they pay the same tax as new vehicles, a senior Metropolitan Police officer said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/673098-bangkok-police-want-cars-older-than-10-years-off-the-streets/

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BMTA Punishes Bus Staff Who Argue With Passenger



BANGKOK: -- Bangkok public transport authority has ordered the immediate expulsion of a bus driver and a bus conductor who were filmed as they shouted abuse at a passenger.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/673102-bmta-punishes-bangkok-bus-staff-who-argue-with-passenger/

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INUNDATIONS
Lack of water-drainage options blamed for inundation in East
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The Royal Irrigation Department is blaming the raging floods in the East on the lack of water-drainage options.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/673103-thai-flood-lack-of-water-drainage-options-blamed-for-inundation-in-east/

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POLITICS
Democrat reform coming, but leadership still fluid: Alongkorn
Pimnara Pradubwit,
Samudcha Hoonsara
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- REFORM OF the Democrat Party will automatically lead to a revamp of party leadership, Democrat MP Alongkorn Ponlaboot said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/673104-democrat-reform-coming-but-leadership-still-fluid-alongkorn/

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BURNING ISSUE
Is Panthongtae preparing to enter the fray?
Attayuth Bootsripoom
The Nation



REPORTS THAT former premier Thaksin Shinawatra is grooming his son Panthongtae for public office come as no surprise.

BANGKOK: -- They emerged amid claims that Thaksin would ask metropolitan police chief Camronwit Toopgrajank to be a Pheu Thai MP after his retirement next year. Camronwit has already denied this, and deputy government spokesman Sunisa Lertpakawat has said Panthongtae is not interested in being a politician.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/673105-is-panthongtae-shinawatra-preparing-to-enter-the-fray/

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Scores dead in recent SE Asia flooding

PHNOM PENH, October 8, 2013 (AFP) - More than 150 people have died in floods drenching swathes of Southeast Asia in recent weeks, officials said Monday, after a tree smashed into a 12th century temple at Cambodia's Angkor complex.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/673106-scores-dead-in-recent-se-asia-flooding/

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Bangkok's Don Mueang airport readies for floods
Posted by Arno Maierbrugger

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok’s second largest airport Don Mueang, used by a number of low-cost airlines including Airasia, said on October 5 it has finished building flood walls and strengthening its internal water management system equipped with pumps to be prepared for possible flooding in the coming weeks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/673107-bangkoks-don-mueang-airport-readies-for-floods/

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BURNING ISSUE
MPs and the public - the oil and water of Thai politics
Kornchanok Raksaseri

BANGKOK: -- MANY AMERICAN CRITICS have noted that the delay in solving the US government shutdown after the budget bill was not passed in time, with the debt ceiling issue left unresolved, is really "politics" between rival parties, rather than a dispute over the content of the Obamacare programme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/673108-mps-and-the-public-the-oil-and-water-of-thai-politics/

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8 luxury cars seized so far
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Department of Special Investigation (DSI) reported yesterday that only eight vehicles were seized by the authorities over suspicion of faulty claims of car re-assembling in order to avoid tax, while a further 228 cars were still being scrutinised by the Customs Department.

The checks should be completed by next month.

Of the 199 cars called in for checking, only 102 had been submitted and the DSI began checking on them from October 2. Tarit said the authorities hoped to check on another 6,547 cars from January.


-- The Nation 2013-10-08

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Hmong men arrested with Bt344m worth of drugs
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Phayao police have nabbed two Hmong men with 21,800 yaba pills and 58 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, or "ice", with a street value of Bt344 million, Provincial Police Region 5 deputy chief Chamnan Ruadrew said yesterday.

The arrest of Krissada Ranares and Natcha Wongma, both 19, on a bus at Muang district's Mae Tam checkpoint yesterday also led to the arrest of two alleged accomplices, a 17-year-old bus conductor and Chiang Rai resident Nipatpong Sutthiwanusakul, 21.

The gang reportedly got the drugs from alleged druglord and Lahu militia leader Yishay, and transported them to Central Thailand twice before, police said.


-- The Nation 2013-10-08

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Floods raise questions on huge outlays
PONGPHON SARNSAMAK
THE NATION



EFFECTIVENESS OF BT120 BILLION SPENT ON PREVENTION MEASURES IN SPOTLIGHT

BANGKOK: -- THE GOVERNMENT budgeted Bt120 billion to repair the vast damage from the Great Flood of 2011 and protect the country from repeat rainy-season disasters, but the recent swamping of at least 35 provinces shows the scheme has failed to do the job very well.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/673109-thai-floods-raise-questions-on-huge-outlays/

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Agency 'swindled' workers
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Some 200 workers from the Northeast yesterday urged Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Tarit Pengdith to investigate a Chaiyaphum-based employment agency.

They alleged the agency collected "commission" from each of about 500 workers employed to pick berries in Sweden from July 24-September 27.

About 200 of the workers did not make as much money as promised, group representative Somsak Sameursap said.

Worker Nitipon Jaikhong said he paid Bt20,000 in visa fees and another Bt75,000 for the "commission", but there too many workers at the site and too few berries to pick. He also had to pay a lot for accommodation, transport and meals in Sweden, he said, and eventually returned to his home with more debts.


-- The Nation 2013-10-08

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Banharn vows to keep pushing all sides
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung
The Nation



Insists participation of leading political figures necessary for national reforms

BANGKOK: -- CHART THAI Pattana chief adviser Banharn Silapa-Archa has pledged to continue trying to encourage the Democrats to join the government-initiated reform process.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/673111-banharn-vows-to-keep-pushing-all-sides/

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Bt2-trillion projects 'open', Yingluck tells US investors
The Nation


Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is greeted by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as she arrives for a business dialogue with leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Bali, Indonesia, yesterday.

Kingdom ready to join free-trade pacts, assessing TPP, Premier says at Apec meet

BALI: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra told the US business community yesterday that her government was preparing to negotiate entry into numerous free-trade arrangements - possibly including the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) - and to open up the Kingdom's planned Bt2 trillion worth of infrastructure projects to foreign investors.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/673112-bt2-trillion-projects-open-yingluck-tells-us-investors/

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Rice subsidy for newest harvest less than Bt270 billion
By English News



BANGKOK, Oct 8 – The new round of rice pledging for the 2013/2014 harvest season, starting October 1, will cost the Commerce Ministry around Bt150 billion, according to the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/673128-rice-subsidy-for-newest-harvest-less-than-bt270-billion/

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PM Yingluck focuses on people in Asia-Pacific development
By English News



BALI, Oct 8 – Thailand has proposed the application of people-oriented principles in developing the Asia-Pacific community and adopting duty-free, quota-free incentives for least developed countries in the region.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/673130-pm-yingluck-focuses-on-people-in-asia-pacific-development/

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Lawyer and his family seriously injured as car falls off Highway 7 bridge in East Pattaya

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/673132-lawyer-and-his-family-seriously-injured-as-car-falls-off-highway-7-bridge-in-east-pattaya/#entry6901033

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Barbeque Buffet Delivery Driver killed in Jomtien road crash

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/673134-barbeque-buffet-delivery-driver-killed-in-jomtien-road-crash/

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10,000 visit infrastructure roadshow in Nong Khai each day

NONGKHAI, 8 October 2013 (NNT) – Around 10,000 members of the public in Nong Khai visited the government's roadshow on the 2 trillion baht infrastructure investment daily over the 3 days period it was held.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/673137-10000-visit-infrastructure-roadshow-in-nong-khai-each-day/

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Phuket businesses ‘asked’ to knock down Surin Beach structures
The Phuket News



PHUKET: -- D-Day for businesses operating along Surin Beach was supposed to be on August 9. That was meant to be the deadline for any structure on land to the west of the path along the beach to be knocked down.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/673149-phuket-businesses-asked-to-knock-down-surin-beach-structures/

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Anti-government protesters rally at Government House
By English News

BANGKOK, Oct 8 -- Anti-government protesters at Lumpini Park have moved to protest at Government House as traffic were closed around the areas.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/673152-anti-government-protesters-rally-at-government-house/

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Lone Buddhist widow holds out in war-torn Thai village
by Aidan JONES

BAAN GA DOH, October 8, 2013 (AFP) - Guarded by Thai soldiers from rebel attacks, an 81-year-old grandmother -- the last Buddhist in a Muslim village -- refuses to abandon her home, defying a wider split between insurgency-plagued communities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/673161-lone-buddhist-widow-holds-out-in-war-torn-thai-village/

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Authorities Target Dangerous Foreign Drivers in Chiang Mai

CHIANG MAI: -- The chief of the Chiang Mai transport office, Chanchai Kilapaeng, has announced the opening of a special service centre that will help to ensure foreign drivers and those visiting the city abide by the local traffic laws.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/673174-authorities-target-dangerous-foreign-drivers-in-chiang-mai/

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Exploited lizard puts rainy-day tout in hot water
Phuket Gazette


Mr Ruonkimlhee holding the exploited iguana. Photo: Kathu District Office

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/673170-exploited-lizard-puts-rainy-day-tout-in-hot-water/

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Phuket tour operators targeted for damaging reefs
Phuket Gazette


One of the anchors caught on camera digging into live corals on Koh Racha Yai. Image: YouTube

PHUKET: -- Officials have sworn to take action against boat operators dropping anchor on live corals in popular Phuket day-trip destinations such as Koh Racha Yai, after a video showing an anchor destroying the fragile marine environment surfaced online earlier this week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/673177-phuket-tour-operators-targeted-for-damaging-reefs/

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Metropolitan Police chief gives earnest warning to traffic police

BANGKOK, 8th October 2013 (NNT) – The Metropolitan Police Commissioner has instructed traffic police to concentrate on solving road congestions and double-row parking of passenger vans.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/673186-bangkok-metro-police-commissioner-instructs-traffic-police-to-solve-road-congestion/

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UPDATE:

Employees of the notorious Bus Number 8 receive their comeuppance

BANGKOK, 8 Oct 2013 (NNT) - After going viral, the clip named “Bus Number 8” resulted in the punishment of 2 of its employees. The video taken from a hand-held device depicted the conductor and the bus driver maliciously scorning and cursing at one of its own passengers.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/673102-bmta-punishes-bangkok-bus-staff-who-argue-with-passenger/

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Dept of Corrections to teach inmates about sufficiency economy policy

BANGKOK, 8th October 2013 (NNT) – The Director General of the Department of Corrections will apply the sufficiency economy policy idea from Princess Bajrakitiyabha in its campaign urging about-to-be-released inmates to adopt the philosophy.

This is the fourth year the project has been implemented. Inmates participating in the project will be taught the principles of the new sufficiency economy farming method, how to manage family accounting to help lower expenses, and increase income through learning.

Experts will be brought in to give lectures to inmates before the latter complete their terms. According to the Director General, the prison will also become a learning center for inmates to learn skills needed to prepare for life outside of prison.

-- NNT 2013-10-08

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Russian woman hurt in Phuket souvenir shop crash
Eakkapop Thongtub


The Toyota Vios after the smash.

PHUKET: -- A Russian woman was badly hurt when she lost control of the car she was driving and smashed into a shop in Patong at 4am today (October 8).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/673205-russian-woman-hurt-in-phuket-souvenir-shop-crash/

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Charoon elected to lead Constitutional Court
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The eight justices of the Constitution Court on Tuesday cast a peer vote to elect Charoon Intachan as president.

Charoon will succeed Wasan Soypisudh, who stepped down in July.

Following the vote, the newly-elected president said he would conduct his constitutional and legal duties to serve the public as well as the highest interest of the nation.

-- The Nation 2013-10-08