Thailand Live Wednesday 16 Oct 2013

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Thaivisa launches new Property Portal –

a great way to find your new home in Thailand

http://property.thaivisa.com

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DEMONSTRATION
Protesters stay put despite plea
TANATPONG KONGSAI,
PHATHINYA IAMTAN
THE NATION


Protesters clean up their site after unidentified assailants threw ma mui- an itchy plant- into their sleeping tents early yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- POLICE YESTERDAY tried in vain to convince protesters who have camped out at the Urupong Intersection for days to move to the National Stadium on Rama I Road.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674868-protesters-at-bangkoks-urupong-intersection-stay-put-despite-plea/

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RICE
Experts urge changes in rice scheme
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation

Billions going to people who aren't farmers, Pridiyathorn tells seminar; says direct payment is the way to go

BANGKOK: -- Three leading rice experts have got together to try to convince the government to scrap the rice-pledging scheme - or replace it with a direct-pay scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674869-experts-urge-changes-in-thai-rice-scheme/

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RICE DEAL
PM vague on details of new farm produce deal with China
Business Desk
The Nation



Orders in addition to rice purchase signed by visiting Chinese premier

BANGKOK: - China is reported to have agreed to buy another large amount of farm produce from Thailand - a million tonnes of rice and 200,000 tonnes of rubber annually for an unspecified period - under a special deal.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674870-pm-yingluck-vague-on-details-of-new-farm-produce-deal-with-china/

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LABOUR
DSI to probe berry-picking fiasco
Kawintra Jaiseu
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will take over a case in which workers from the Northeast were duped by a promise of berry-picking jobs in Sweden and Finland - then left unpaid and unaided abroad.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674872-dsi-to-probe-thai-workers-berry-picking-fiasco-in-sweden-and-finland/

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EDITORIAL
Thai press under threat from itself
The Nation

The traditional enemies of media freedom have been replaced by a fear from within

BANGKOK: -- If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all." So said Noam Chomsky, the American social commentator, and his quote could well reflect the state of press freedom in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674873-thai-press-under-threat-from-itself-editorial/

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Minivan Driver Sought For Sexual Assault Of 15 Year Old Girl

By Khaosod Online

Image source: Khaosod

BANGKOK: -- A minivan driver is being sought by the police on the suspicion that he had sexually assaulted and threatened to murder a 15 year old girl.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674875-minivan-driver-sought-for-sexual-assault-of-15-year-old-thai-girl/

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STOPPAGE TIME
One not-so-fine retirement day
Tulsathit Taptim

BANGKOK: -- The moment Uncle Camry arrived at the parking lot, he knew that whoever received his birthday wish had flushed it down the toilet. They all were there - the Mini Scum, Chevy the Menace, Jazzy and a few others - eager in varying degrees to tear him apart with their cruel jokes. His friends they may have been, but they wouldn't ignore a great opportunity to get payback.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674874-thai-opinion-one-not-so-fine-retirement-day/

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27 year-old American-Thai found dead in Pattaya hotel room

Farang Exits

PATTAYA: -- Police from Pattaya City, Chonburi, were notified of a death in a hotel room. They found the body of Miss Caroline Paige-Srichankij, a 27 year-old American-Thai, Her nose was bleeding but no sign of any injuries.Appeared to have died at least one day before.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674877-27-year-old-american-thai-found-dead-in-pattaya-hotel-room/

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BURNING ISSUE
A new reason to jail Thais for thought crime?
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK

BANGKOK: -- THE AUTOCRATIC and patronising nature of the Yingluck Shinawatra administration surfaced for all to see last Tuesday (October 8) when the Cabinet approved in principle draft-legislation for the protection of so-called "intangible cultural heritage".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674878-a-new-reason-to-jail-thais-for-thought-crime/

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Dems want foreign deals scrutinised by parliament
KHANITTHA THEPPHAJORN,
KORNCHANOK RAKSASERI
THE NATION

SAY PEOPLE WANT A PROPER CHECK ON TALKS, AGREEMENTS ON ENERGY AND |NATURAL RESOURCES

BANGKOK: -- THE DEMOCRATS called yesterday for the modification of a charter amendment to allow the legislature to vet international agreements on natural resources and environment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674879-dems-want-foreign-deals-scrutinised-by-parliament/

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Floods in East 'will last 6 weeks'
The Nation



Flooding in the eastern provinces looks likely to drag on till the end of November.

BANGKOK: -- The grim prediction has arisen even though the East will not face the full wrath of the storm Nari, which is heading to the Northeast. Latest weather forecasts suggest the storm may bring just isolated heavy rain to the region.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674881-plodprasop-floods-in-east-will-last-6-weeks/

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Police doctor Supat, wife get five years jail for stealing pickup
The Nation



PHETCHABURI: -- The Phetchaburi Court yesterday sentenced police doctor Supat Laohawattana to a five-year jail term for stealing the Numjui family's pick-up truck.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674882-thai-police-doctor-supat-wife-get-five-years-jail-for-stealing-pickup/

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Big crowd for initial flood control forum
The Nation



Locals in Lamphun not enthused about Plan for Reservoir in Area

LAMPHUN: -- The first public forum for the government's Bt350-billion water-management scheme took place in Lamphun yesterday, with locals receiving very little information in advance from the authorities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674883-lamphun-big-crowd-for-initial-flood-control-forum/

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Police in Songkhla use Line to build citizens' watch against violence
The Nation

SONGKHLA: -- As the southern border violence occasionally spills into Songkhla's Chana, Thepa, Saba Yoi and Na Thawi districts, police in Hat Yai district have turned to the Line chat application to help beef up security.

The latest incident was the bombing of automated teller machines in Thepa, Saba Yoi and Na Thawi.

Songkhla Police Chief Ekkaphob Prasitwattanachai said yesterday that besides 2,500 radio communication users and other volunteers, a Line account was opened on October 1 to build a citizens' network of watchful eyes for anything suspicious and to explain to the public the facts before they panic.

In Pattani province on Monday night, Ma-Yor, Yaring and Panare districts saw chaos at 17 locations where suspected insurgent sympathisers burned tyres on the road and torched utility poles.


-- The Nation 2013-10-16

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Supreme Patriarch recovers from surgery
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- His Holiness Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, is recovering from surgery he had on Monday night to treat bacterial infection in his intestines at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.

Phra Sakaya Wisutthiwong, his secretary assistant, yesterday said the 100-year-old revered monk's responses were normal and he had no complications. His Holiness would remain in recovery at the hospital under close surveillance to prevent infection to the surgery wound, he added.

Meanwhile, Their Majesties the King and Queen saw to it that a flower basket was delivered by Privy Councillor Ampol Senanarong to wish His Holiness a speedy recovery. The public also signed a get-well book at the hospital.


-- The Nation 2013-10-16

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Phuket corruption scandal taken to PM Yingluck
Phuket Gazette


Adviser to the Thailand Trade Organization Chart Chindapol sets a deadline for police action against government corruption. Photo: Saran Mitrarat

PHUKET: -- Patong business owners – tired of inaction by Phuket authorities in tackling corrupt officials collecting an estimated 50 million baht a month – have filed a complaint directly with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674884-phuket-corruption-scandal-taken-to-pm-yingluck/

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Xylazine enlisted as controlled medicine

BANGKOK, 16 Oct 2013, (NNT) - The Ministry of Public Health has enlisted animal tranquilizer Xylazine as a controlled substance, requiring a prescription from a vet to purchase.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674890-xylazine-enlisted-as-controlled-medicine-in-thailand/

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,471.46, falls 1.44 points /MCOT

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UPDATE:

Thailand to become completely dry by mid-November
By English News



BANGKOK, Oct 16 – Flood waters on Bangkok’s eastern approaches will be completely drained into the Gulf of Thailand and the flooding situation should be back to normal the middle of next month, a senior flood management official said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674881-plodprasop-floods-in-east-will-last-6-weeks/#entry6928879

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Thailand drenched in heavy rain due to tropical storm Nari
By English News



BANGKOK, Oct 16 - Bangkok was hit by a drenching downpour early this morning with rain averaging 80-90 millimetres, and Min Buri as well as Khlong Sam Wa were also heavily hit with 90 millimetres of rain, all part of the last performance of Typhoon Nari which brought disruption and destruction across east Asia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674914-thailand-drenched-in-heavy-rain-due-to-tropical-storm-nari/

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Thailand still attractive to foreign investors
By English News



BANGKOK, Oct 16 – Foreign investors have applied for promotional privileges in 1,431 projects with a combined investment value of Bt737.8 billion in the first three quarters of the year, according to the Board of Investment (BoI).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674915-thailand-still-attractive-to-foreign-investors/

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Samsung's Galaxy S4 top-selling smart device in August: report
By English News

SEOUL, Oct 16 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co.'s Galaxy S4 was the most sold smartphone in the world in August, data showed on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674917-samsungs-galaxy-s4-top-selling-smart-device-in-the-world-in-august-report/

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Rumour Of Public Schools Ditching Thai Dances 'Unfounded'
By Khaosod Online


Famous actress Davika 'Mai' Horne performing traditional Thai dancing in front of shrine dedicated to the ghost of Mae Nak in Bangkok. Image source: Khaosod

BANGKOK: -- The Minister of Education has insisted that classes on traditional Thai dancing will not be excluded from the reformed curricular for public schools, contrary to the rumour which has been circulating on the social network.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674921-rumour-of-public-schools-ditching-thai-dances-unfounded/

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UPDATE:

Urupong protesters to reinforce demonstration

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674868-protesters-at-bangkoks-urupong-intersection-stay-put-despite-plea/#entry6929039

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Police search drug suspect's home in Chiang Rai, freeze Bt 30 million in assets including house, five new cars /MCOT

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UPDATE:

PM gives out relief packages to flood victims

BANGKOK, 16 October 2013 (NNT) – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has visited 2 provinces severely hit by rain-triggered floods and given out flood relief packages to the residents.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674881-plodprasop-floods-in-east-will-last-6-weeks/page-2#entry6929113

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UPDATE:

Phuket nightlife leaders slam police corruption
Prapaporn Jitmaneeyaphan


Chart Jindapol says a policeman called 'Ja Wit' is the most corrupt.

PHUKET: -- Corrupt police were slammed in a press conference yesterday (October 15) for demanding massively excessive bribes to allow nightlife businesses to stay open past the official hour of 2am.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674884-phuket-corruption-scandal-taken-to-pm-yingluck/#entry6929130

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TCC expects Q4 export growth at 4%

BANGKOK, 16 October 2013 (NNT) – The Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) expects at least a 4 percent growth in the country’s exports in the last quarter of 2013, saying food exports will make the highest jump.

Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce Isara Wongkusolkit has forecast that Thai exports in the fourth quarter will grow around 4 percent, elaborating that food exports will see a significant increase of around 5 percent. He, however, said despite an expected increase in exports in the last quarter, the overall growth in the entire 2013 will be only at 3 percent.

He went on to say that the country’s exports next year will grow beyond 5 percent, while food products will still be the main drive for the export sector as food exports will expand in the range of 5-7 percent.

The chairman also cited some obstacles that could negatively influence the export industry, saying the volatility of the Thai currency and the political uncertainty could wreck the investors’ confidence.


-- NNT 2013-10-16

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Phuket minibus driver blames vehicle for smash
Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- Rescue workers spent an hour just after midnight this morning (October 16) cutting the driver of an Andaman Express Travel minibus out of the vehicle after he crashed into a power pole near the Heroines Monument.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/674926-phuket-minibus-driver-blames-vehicle-for-smash-video/