Thailand Live Tuesday 5 Nov 2013

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Australian nabbed smuggling ketamine
By English News



SA KAEO, Nov 5 - Thai customs officers and police on Monday arrested an Australian man for smuggling nearly a hundred small bottles of liquid ketamine, also known as K, from Cambodia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679425-thai-customs-arrest-australian-man-for-smuggling-ketamine/

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Redshirts Channel Host Rejects 'Censorship' Allegation
By Khaosod Online



BANGKOK: -- Many supporters of the Redshirts have been stunned by the announcement that four core leaders of the movements had been suspended from a cable TV channel long known for its alliance to the Redshirts.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679429-redshirts-channel-host-rejects-censorship-allegation/

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Foreign Minister suggests amnesty bill opponents turn to int’l court

BANGKOK, 5 November 2013 (NNT) - Foreign Minister Surapong Tovijakchaikul has urged people opposing the amnesty bill to petition the international court over the matter while suggesting that corruption cases of ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra be reopened following strong rejection of the amnesty bill.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679430-surapong-suggests-thai-amnesty-bill-opponents-turn-to-intl-court/

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Gold Robbers Mistook Police Patrol As Getaway Car

By Khaosod Online

PHUKET: -- The police pursuit of a pair of suspects accused of robbing a woman of her gold necklace came to an end when the pair attempted to flee on a police vehicle.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679431-gold-robbers-mistook-phuket-police-patrol-as-getaway-car/

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Senate may kill amnesty bill
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Opposition to the controversial amnesty bill spread across the country yesterday, as a diverse group of people and organisations joined a nationwide campaign against a bill that would absolve all law violators involved in political conflicts since 2004. That would include politicians convicted of corruption and serious criminal offences.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679433-senate-may-kill-thai-amnesty-bill/

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People blow whistle on govt
The Nation



Opposition to the amnesty bill has manifested into different displays of protest across the country.

BANGKOK: -- Apart from the big show of opposition on Bangkok's streets, people from all walks of life - from academics and doctors to villagers - have organised a variety of activities to send a message to the Parliament that it should scrap the explosive draft law.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679435-people-blow-whistle-on-thai-govt/

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Thammasat comes out against amnesty bill
Budsarakham Sinlapalavan
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- More than 600 Thammasat lecturers, officials and students have officially declared their opposition to the amnesty bill and called on the Senate to reject it.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679436-thammasat-comes-out-against-thai-amnesty-bill/

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Nationalist group takes stand against ICJ and its ruling on Preah Vihear
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Nationalist groups said yesterday they will take a stand against the International Court of Justice (ICJ) verdict on Preah Vihear Temple, as they do not trust the Pheu Thai government - which they say is ready to cede territory to Cambodia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679437-nationalist-group-takes-stand-against-icj-and-its-ruling-on-preah-vihear/

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Ferry tragedy prompts safety call
Supakorn Akkanan,
Nongnapas Maipanich
The Nation



Captain charged; governor says Pattaya must put measures in place

PATTAYA: -- IN THE WAKE of Sunday's fatal ferry accident, Chon Buri Governor Comson Ekachai has demanded the Marine Department and Pattaya City boost water-transport safety and put security guards on duty on Koh Lan around the clock.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679438-pattaya-ferry-tragedy-prompts-safety-call/

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SET plunges by nearly 3 per cent
Business Reporters
The Nation


Kittiratt

Fears that protests over amnesty could turn violent, deter tourists

BANGKOK: -- Businesses are bracing for fresh political challenges, as the amnesty protests have fanned out across Bangkok and the country, which could deal a blow not only to tourism but the whole economy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679439-set-plunges-by-nearly-3-per-cent/

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EDITORIAL
Preah Vihear ruling: brace for peace
The Nation

Whatever the International Court decides next week, it will be an opportunity to forge closer ties with Cambodia

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679440-preah-vihear-ruling-brace-for-peace/

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Avril Lavigne on Tour: Canadian punk princess to perform in Bangkok
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- It’s confirmed. Pop-punk princess Avril Lavigne will have her first concert in Thailand next year after keeping her Thai fans waiting more than 13 years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679441-avril-lavigne-on-tour-canadian-punk-princess-to-perform-in-bangkok/

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'Three killed' in Norway bus hijack

A man wielding a knife hijacked a bus in western Norway and killed three people on board, police say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679443-three-killed-in-norway-bus-hijack/

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Bill in Senate's hands now: Pheu Thai
The Nation

'Limited' revision of controversial bill planned, MP claims

BANGKOK: -- The Pheu Thai Party has shown no sign of retreating from its push for a blanket amnesty despite big protests in Bangkok and around the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679444-pheu-thai-amnesty-bill-in-senates-hands-now/

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BURNING ISSUE
Red-shirt rift shows it's time to move beyond politics of personality
Pravit Rojanaphruk

BANGKOK: -- The abrupt discontinuation of television programmes on the pro-Thaksin Shinawatra Asia Update television station, by red-shirt co-leaders who publicly oppose the blanket amnesty bill, has exacerbated the rift within the red-shirt movement as never before.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679445-red-shirt-rift-shows-its-time-to-move-beyond-politics-of-personality/

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Silom overflows with whistle blowers
Asina Pornwasin
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Thousands of office workers in tidy dresses and suits joined a large protest in Silom Road at noon yesterday for an event called "Green Silom", which saw an act of symbolic whistle-blowing against the controversial amnesty bill.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679435-people-blow-whistle-on-thai-govt/#entry7001405

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Miracle Eyes home-surveillance project to be launched today
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- A SURVEILLANCE project initiated by the police, which relays images from cameras installed in people's homes directly to police stations throughout Bangkok, will be launched today as a pilot scheme, National Police chief Pol General Adul Saengsingkaew said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679446-bangkoks-miracle-eyes-home-surveillance-project-to-be-launched/

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Mega-project will 'only open the door to corruption'
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation
Nakhon Sawan



BANGKOK: -- THE NAKHON SAWAN Chamber of Commerce warned yesterday that the government's Bt350-billion water and flood-management scheme would only open the door to widespread corruption.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679447-mega-project-will-only-open-the-door-to-corruption/

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Editorial: Put An End To 'Amnesty For All'
By Khaosod Online

BANGKOK: -- Since its departure from its original form, the government-sponsored Amnesty Bill has been attracting much criticism from members of the public of various backgrounds.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679448-thai-editorial-put-an-end-to-amnesty-for-all/

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Thailand's Bubble Economy Is Heading For A 1997-Style Crash
Jesse Colombo, Contributor

Thailand is part of the overall emerging markets bubble that I have been warning about in recent years, along with Indonesia, Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679467-thailands-bubble-economy-is-heading-for-a-1997-style-crash/

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,395.00, gains 6.60 points /MCOT

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In wake of Pattaya ferry disaster, top brass stages safety tour in Phuket
Phuket Gazette


Police Region 8 Commander Panya Mamen (left) speaks with tourists at Phuket's Rassada Pier yesterday morning. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Police Region 8 Commander Panya Mamen yesterday morning led a team of officers on a safety inspection of passenger vessels at Rassada Pier, a major jump-off point for tourists boarding ferries and tour boats to islands in Phang Nga Bay and along the Andaman coast.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679489-in-wake-of-pattaya-ferry-disaster-top-brass-stages-safety-tour-in-phuket/

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Pattaya ferry captain confesses to drug use

PATTAYA: -- The captain of a ferry that capsized about 1,500 metres offshore from Pattaya on Sunday evening has turned himself in, telling police he was high on drugs while on his duty.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679491-pattaya-ferry-captain-confesses-to-drug-use/

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N. Korean leader's aunt defected to US in 1998: report

Seoul (AFP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un's aunt fled to the United States while looking after her nephew during his time at a Swiss boarding school in the 1990s, a report said Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679492-kim-jong-uns-aunt-defected-to-us-in-1998/

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Chalerm set to present 2 other versions of the amnesty bill



BANGKOK, 5 November 2013 (NNT) - Pol. Capt. Chalerm Yubamrung stated his intention to present 2 new versions of the amnesty bill, in which amnesty shall be given only to those affected by the coup, but not those who ordered the killings.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679493-chalerm-set-to-present-2-other-versions-of-the-amnesty-bill/

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New Zealand PM scheduled for Thailand visit on Nov 17-20

BANGKOK, 5 November 2013 (NNT) – New Zealand Prime Minister John Key will pay an official visit to the Kingdom of Thailand on November 17-20, during which he will meet with his Thai counterpart.

Prime Minister John Key will meet with Thailand’s Prime Minister and Defense Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to strengthen bilateral ties, exchange opinions, and discuss a wide range of cooperation regarding trade, investment, tourism, education, innovation, and science and technology.

The two parties will also discuss multilateral cooperation between Thailand, New Zealand, and other Asian countries, as Thailand will soon play host to Connect Asia Pacific Summit 2013.

Thailand first established its relationship with New Zealand 57 year ago. The two-way trade between both nations last year was valued at 1.6 billion US dollars or around 50 billion baht. Thailand, each year, sees more than 100,000 travelers from the Kiwi country, while around 17,000 Thais visit New Zealand every year. At present, there are 3,100 Thais students studying in New Zealand.


-- NNT 2013-11-05

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Deputy Minister of Commerce: protests will remain peaceful

BANGKOK, 5 November 2013 (NNT) - Deputy Minister of Commerce Yanyong Phuangrach has expressed no concerns over the possibility of the current protests turning violent. He believes all sides are rational enough to be able to peacefully express their political viewpoints.

Although concerns have been raised by the International Chamber of Commerce over the current situation, Mr. Yantong explained that Thailand had gone through many such incidents; however, it did not cause foreign investors to become overly concerned.

Nevertheless, the Commerce Ministry has entrusted the director general of the Department of International Trade Promotion to keep foreign investors updated on the situation in order to retain their confidence in the country.

Moreover, deputy prime minister and minister of commerce Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan will make further clarifications with the International Chamber of Commerce on the current political situation should the latter remain concerned with the ongoing rally.

-- NNT 2013-11-05

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China asked to design Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima high-speed train route

BANGKOK, 5 November 2013 (NNT) – Chinese representatives visiting Thailand to further collaborations in high-speed train construction and trade in rice and other agricultural produce have expressed confidence that all agreed collaborations will be realized as planned.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679495-china-asked-to-design-bangkok-nakhon-ratchasima-high-speed-train-route/

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More groups protesting Amnesty Bill
By English



BANGKOK, Nov 5 – Students and faculty of various higher-learning institutions across the country have vowed to protest against the controversial Amnesty Bill.

Uthai Yodmanee and Nitithorn Lamlua, leaders of the Students and People Network for Thailand’s Reform, said they will move from their Urupong intersection rally site to the Sala Daeng Skytrain station on Silom Road tomorrow in a show of force.

Protesters will blow whistles at 12.34 pm – a repeated act conducted at the same location yesterday by white-collar protesters from private offices and commercial banks on Silom Road.

They said they would upgrade their protests in the next few days and would be joined by students from Ubon Ratchathani University.

Students, lecturers, alumnae and administrators from Chulalongkorn University will march from the Phyathai Road campus to the Bangkok Arts Centre across from MBK shopping centre, starting at 4pm today.

Piya Utayo, spokesman of the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO), said about 10,000 people were demonstrating at Samsen railway station but have moved to the Democracy Monument on Rajdamnoen Avenue – their new permanent rally site.

Pol Maj Gen Piya estimated 1,500 white-collar protesters on Silom Road yesterday and only 300 at Urupong intersection.

He said significant state buildings including Government House, Parliament and Chitrlada Palace would be fully protected, while a special alert is required on 14 roads in the three districts under the enforcement of the National Security Act.

He said 44 companies of police and 4,000 traffic police officers from other provinces have been assigned to maintain public order in the capital

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is scheduled to make a three-day visit to the eastern provinces of Chonburi, Rayong and Chantaburi beginning today.

Her first stop will be Pattaya where she will visit injured passengers from Sunday’s boat accident near Koh Lan which killed six people and injured many others.

She will visit Map Ta Phut industrial estate in Rayong tomorrow and later attend a briefing by PTT Global Chemical Co on the July oil spill off Koh Samet in the province.

Ms Yingluck will travel further to Chantaburi on Thursday and pay homage to one of the province’s revered monks before releasing turtles at the Royal Thai Navy’s sea turtle conservation centre, and return to Bangkok later in the day. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-11-05

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UPDATE:

Some Senators voicing opposition to Amnesty Bill
By English News



BANGKOK, Nov 5 – Many senators are openly opposed to the Amnesty Bill which is scheduled for deliberation in their chamber next Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679433-senate-may-kill-thai-amnesty-bill/#entry7002173