Thailand Live Thursday 14 Nov 2013

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,413.16, gains 8.39 points /MCOT

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China to set up consular office in Phuket


Chinese tourists wait at Suvarnabhumi airport for a flight to Phuket. Photo: Kalleboo

PHUKET: -- The Chinese government plans to open a consular office in Phuket to cope with problems encountered among the rising number of Chinese holidaymakers coming to the island.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/681595-china-to-set-up-consular-office-in-phuket/

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Nakhon Si Thammarat parents report 9 schools closed for civil disobedience

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, 14 November 2013 (NNT) – Parents of students in Nakhon Si Thammarat have lodged complaints to the police against municipal executives and school directors who were partaking in the civil disobedience drive, which resulted in the closure of 9 schools in the city area on Wednesday.

The 9 schools under the jurisdiction of Nakhon Si Thammarat City Municipality were the only known entities in Nakhon Si Thammarat to have heeded protesters' call for civil disobedience. According to the parents, the schools cited the reason of teachers having to attend meetings for their decision to close for 3 days. The parents noted that no prior announcements had been made, and the parents were thus lodging complaints of dereliction of duty against school directors.

Police investigators said they were checking whether the accused had violated any other laws, aside from dereliction of duty and abuse of function.


-- NNT 2013-11-14

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Democracy Monument protesters declare strengthened rally Friday
By English News



BANGKOK, Nov 14 – Former Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban announced last night that the anti-government demonstration on Ratchadamnoen Avenue will be elevated to a higher level on Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/681599-bangkok-democracy-monument-protesters-declare-strengthened-rally-friday/

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Red Shirts holding 3-day mass rally next week
By English News



BANGKOK, Nov 14 – Red Shirt activists will hold a three-day rally in suburban Bangkok, starting Monday, in a prelude to the Constitution Court’s judgement on the charter amendment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/681599-bangkok-democracy-monument-protesters-declare-strengthened-rally-friday/#entry7036828

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Abhisit slams UDD

BANGKOK: -- Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva today slammed the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) over its call for pro-government rally of red-shirt people at Muang Thong Thani on during November 18-20, saying it might lead to confrontation of two rival groups.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/681599-bangkok-democracy-monument-protesters-declare-strengthened-rally-friday/#entry7037144

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UPDATE:

Grim outlook for Thai flag carrier’s 2013 profit
By English News

BANGKOK, Nov 14 – Thai Airways International (THAI), Thailand’s national flag carrier, has reduced this year’s revenue projection from Bt6 billion to Bt2 billion, according to THAI President Sorajak Kasemsuvan.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/681558-thai-to-tackle-business-structure-next-year/#entry7037304

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PM Yingluck denies ever accepting the ICJ’s verdict on the Phra Viharn Temple dispute

BANGKOK, 14 November 2013 (NNT) - Prime Minister and Defense Minister Yingluck Shinawatra told the joint sitting of Parliament this morning that she had never officially announced the government’s acceptance of the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) verdict on the Phra Viharn Temple case.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/681568-icj-ruling-pm-yingluck-assures-the-opposition-of-parliamentary-consent/#entry7037388

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Virtues of high-speed rail system to Hua Hin

BANGKOK, 14 November 2013 (NNT) - The Thailand Future 2020 mega project stands to upgrade the quality of life in Thailand within 7 year’s time, and will also pave the way to a change in how Thais travel. One of the gateways to the South is the Bangkok - Hua Hin line that will only take 1 hour.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/681618-virtues-of-high-speed-rail-system-to-hua-hin/

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Suthep plans to escalate protests by November 15



BANGKOK, 14 November 2013 (NNT) - Suthep Thaugsuban thanked demonstrators for participating in the protest against former Prime Minister Thanksin Shinawatra, and current Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra - announcing that he will further escalate the level of protests by November 15.

Former Democrat Party member, Suthep Thaugsuban, stated that the protests were aimed to protect the nation - not to be against a particular political party - and that he intends to achieve victory through peaceful means.

Furthermore, he accused Mr. Thaksin and Ms. Yingluck in doing everything in their power to enrich themselves and their family members - even in attempting to rid themselves of crimes through the amnesty bill.

National Police Chief Adul Saengsingkaew is on standby with 61 police companies, or 9,150 police officers, on guard everyday. He expressed little concern over Mr. Suthep’s announcement to escalate the protest on the 15th, as the current number of protesters is slowly fading out.


-- NNT 2013-11-14

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EU meets Thai Premier, strengthens economic ties with Thailand

BANGKOK, 14 November 2013 (NNT) – Vice-President and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Baroness Catherine Ashton has paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister and Defense Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the Government House.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/681620-eu-meets-pm-yingluck-strengthens-economic-ties-with-thailand/

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Thai medical teams to go to Philippines

BANGKOK: -- Thailand will send its medical teams to Philippines tomorrow to help survivors of Typhoon Haiyan. Three teams would be dispatched to the country's Samar and Leyte areas where at least 2,357 people were confirmed dead.

The figure is expected to rise, perhaps significantly, when information is collected from other areas of the disaster zone.


-- The Nation 2013-11-14

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Lanna Lantern Festival promotes Chiang Rai tourism

BANGKOK, 14 November 2013 (NNT) – Chiang Rai Province is holding the annual “Lanna Lantern--commonly known as “Yi Peng-- festival,” which has been drawing lots of attention from both Thai and foreign tourists.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/681625-lanna-lantern-festival-promotes-chiang-rai-tourism/

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DSI Arrest Illegal Beauty Clinic Owner

A young female who is a university student opened an illegal beauty clinic and claimed to be a specialized doctor in beauty. She used a fake diploma and license to run a professional practice in order to earn money for her studying. She confessed that she had done it 10 times before.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/681630-bangkok-dsi-arrest-illegal-beauty-clinic-owner/

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Opposition set to censure PM Yingluck next week
By English News

BANGKOK, Nov 14 – The opposition Democrat Party will seek a no-confidence debate against the government for its handling of the massive political demonstrations against the blanket amnesty bill, a party executive said today.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/681424-thai-democrat-to-submit-censure-motion-next-week/

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Bhutan and Thai PMs to sign MoU on bilateral trade and investment

BANGKOK, 14 November 2013, (NNT) -- Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has welcomed Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay at the Government House.

Bhutanese Prime Minister’s official visit to the country runs from November 13-16. The official welcome ceremony this morning began with the lining up of honor guards in front of the Government House.

Afterward both parties and entourages moved to the Ivory room to discuss bilateral cooperation on trade, investment, tourism, as well as academic research. There will also be a signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on bilateral trade and economic promotion to further strengthen ties between Thailand and Bhutan.

-- NNT 2013-11-14

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FESTIVITY
Loy Krathong spending to hit Bt11bn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Total spending during this year's Loy Krathong festival will hit Bt11 billion, including Bt7 billion in provinces, which is 5.6 per cent higher than last year, according to a survey by the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).

Bangkok festivities will be less cheerier, though, due to political protests as well as the mourning for the Supreme Patriarch.

The university’s Economic and Business Forecasting Centre said it is estimated that the revellers would spend Bt1,539 per head on average.

Thanavath Phonvichai, the director of the centre, said that consumers are now concerned with good prices.

According to a survey by Bangkok University, over half of residents in Bangkok and peripheral provinces plan to join the annual Loy Krathong festival this year. From 1,354 respondents, the poll said 52.4 per cent plan to join the festival, while 47.6 per cent are undecided.

The event in Bangkok is their first choice, followed by the events in Chiang Mai and Sukhothai.

Notably, 79.5 per cent plan to float Krathong made of natural materials.

Generally, they perceive that the festival on November 17 would not be as big as last year. Asked what they want to float away with the Krathong, 56.4 per cent said politics, 18 per cent said conflicts, and 6 per cent said corrupted politicians

-- The Nation 2013-11-14

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Khao Phraviharn national park to reopen

Khao Phraviharn national park will reopen to visitors on Saturday.

Local district and security authorities considered reopening the park to public after the border situation is improving following the ruling of the International Court of Justice on the temple low between Thailand and Cambodia.

Park officials said the park will reopen on Saturday after it was close since November 4.

However they said only limited areas on the park will be open to the public for safety reasons.

At the same time Ubon Ratchathani governor Wanchai Suthiworachai said that he would have a meeting with Cambodian authorities at Chong Arn-ma pass in Preah Vihear province of Cambodia in an effort to develop the area for tourism.

Meanwhile Thai villagers living along the Thai-Cambodian border inKantharalak district of Si Sa Ket were returning to their farms for cultivation after the situation improved.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/khao-phraviharn-national-park-reopen/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=khao-phraviharn-national-park-reopen

--Thai PBS 2013-11-14

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Pathum Thani residents unhappy with public hearing

Some participants of a public hearing on water management project held in Pathum Thani province on Wednesday were unhappy complaining that the hearing was not the process of expression of opinions that they had expected.

The dissatisfied participants also complained that the venue of the hearing was too small to accommodate the stakeholders. They demanded a bigger venue such as an auditorium instead of a room.

The hearing Wednesday concerned a water contention project and a diversion canal project which are to be built in Pathum Thani province under the 350 billion baht water management mega project.

Associate Professor Apichart Anukul-ampai, chair of the technical subcommittee of the Water and Flood Management Committee, promised the disgruntled participants that he would bring their complaint to the attention of the committee so that the problem could be rectified in the next public hearings.

However, he assured that residents in Pathum Thani would not be affected by the two projects because the projects do not require land expropriation. As for klong-side residents, he said that they might be affected from the expansion of Klong Raphipat but they would be fairly compensated by the government.

The committee has been holding public hearings in several provinces affected by the water management mega project to gauge their views and to hear their complaints as mandatorily required by the Constitution.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pathum-thani-residents-unhappy-public-hearing/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pathum-thani-residents-unhappy-public-hearing

-- Thai PBS 2013-11-14

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RT@RichardBarrow: Bangkokians were asked what they want to float away with the Krathong, 56.4% said politics, 18% said conflicts & 6% said corrupt politicians

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Provinces celebrate "Father of Royal Rain Making Day"

BANGKOK, 14 November 2013 (NNT) - Provinces across the nation have separately organized their own celebrations to honor His Majesty the King on "the Father of Royal Rainmaking day"

In the central province of Nakhon Sawan, Governor Chairoj Meedaeng on Thursday morning presided over the opening of a special exhibition on the royal rainmaking project, in which planes and equipment used in rainmaking operations are displayed.

Chantaburi's governor Kriangdech Khemthong, meanwhile, led both the public and the private sectors in a ceremony to pay homage to His Majesty the King, who has long been recognized as the “Father of Royal Rainmaking.”

On 14 November 1955, His Majesty donated his private funds to launch the Royal Rainmaking Project, which he had devoted a great deal of time and energy developing its technology. The project has since served as a model for many other Asian countries, which have asked for assistance from Thailand in relation to rainmaking. Therefore, the Cabinet, during its meeting in August 2002, designated November 14 each year as the Father of Royal Rainmaking Day.

For 2013, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives organized a two-day celebration on November 14 and 15, at the Golden Jubilee Museum of Agriculture in Khlong Luang district of Pathum Thani, a neighboring province north of Bangkok.

The event features an exhibition on His Majesty’s initiatives in rainmaking technology. It is divided into several zones, including royally initiated projects, royal rainmaking, international recognition of His Majesty’s Royal Rainmaking Project, and the development of royal rainmaking operations. It is open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Admission is free.

-- NNT 2013-11-14

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Korean boy, 4, rescued from Phuket drain
Phuket Gazette -

PHUKET: A local resident rescued a 4-year-old Korean boy who plunged into a drain two-meters deep along the bypass road yesterday evening.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/681643-korean-boy-4-rescued-from-phuket-drain/

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New Education section added to Thaivisa Forum

BANGKOK: -- Thaivisa.com is pleased to announce a new Education Section to the forum.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/681647-new-education-section-added-to-thaivisa-forum/

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UDD asks DSI to file treason charge against Abhisit, Suthep



BANGKOK: -- A lawyer of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) today asked the Department of Special Investigation to file treason charge against Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and former Surat Thani MP Suthep Thuagsuban for their attempt to overthrow the democratic government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/681667-udd-asks-dsi-to-file-treason-charge-against-abhisit-suthep/

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Immigration arrest Dutch man accused of sexual assault

Thai immigration have arrested a Dutch man who fled from his home country ( Holland) to hide in Thailand because he was accused of sexually assaulting a minor in his home country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/681668-thai-immigration-arrest-dutch-national-accused-of-sexual-assault/

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SET index closed at 1,415.69, up 10.92; Bt/USD31.41; GBP50.22; AUD29.15; EUR42.12; CAD29.85; HKD4.04; SGD25.06; JPY31.36

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Phuket illegal taxis given New Year deadline
Phuket Gazette


Vice Governor Chamroen gave illegal taxi drivers one week to register to become legal, and a New Year's deadline to comply. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- Fed up with the delay in illegal taxi drivers complying with the law, Phuket officials have established a December 31 deadline for taxi drivers to become legal.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/681686-phuket-illegal-taxis-given-new-year-deadline/

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A video has surfaced of a giant unknown monster in Cambodia

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/681684-a-video-has-surfaced-of-a-giant-unknown-monster-in-cambodia/

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Advisory
"Tropical Depression in South China Sea"
No. 7 Time Issued : November 14, 2013

BANGKOK: -- At 05.00 p.m. on 14 November, the tropical depression in the lower South China Sea was centered about 750 kilometers east of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam or at latitude 12.0 degree north and longitude 113.5 degree east with maximum sustained winds about 55 km/hr. The depression was moving west at speed 20 km/hr.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/681723-more-bad-weather-storms-rain-expected-for-thailand-nov-15-16/

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9 provinces told to brace for heavy rains

BANGKOK, 14 November 2013 (NNT) - The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department has warned residents in the South and East to brace for heavy rains and landslides during the next three days.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/681723-more-bad-weather-storms-rain-expected-for-thailand-nov-15-16/#entry7038568