Thailand Live Monday 18 Nov 2013

[webfact]

30,000 red-shirts coming to Bangkok

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682481-30000-red-shirts-coming-to-bangkok/

[webfact]

23,000 signatures to impeach 310 MPs
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The anti-amnesty bill group, led by Somkiat Homla-or, president of the Business Club for Democracy, submitted 23,000 signatures to Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanich as part of their petition to impeach the 310 MPs who voted for the blanket amnesty bill.

Nikom said he would check the accuracy of the signatures before sending them to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

"I probably combine the signatures accumulated by the people’s anti-amnesty bill group witht the signatures gathered at the Democrat-led protest, before sending the list to NACC," Nikom said.

Somkiat said the Business Club for Democracy will not join the Democrat rally, as the club is not on the mission to bring down the government. However, they will keep a close eye on political situation.


-- The Nation 2013-11-18

[webfact]

Thai, Pakistani leaders holding talks on bilateral cooperation
By English News

BANGKOK, Nov 18 – Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is meeting her Pakistan counterpart Muhammad Nawaz Sharif today to discuss bilateral trade and investment cooperation.

Their dialogue is a follow-up of Ms Yingluck’s visit to the Muslim country in August during which the two leaders agreed to double bilateral trade volume in the next five years, exchange anti-terrorism intelligence information and technical cooperation.

Mr Nawaz Sharif arrived Bangkok yesterday for a three-day stay, becoming the first Pakistani premier to officially visit the kingdom in eight years.

He will today attend the Connect Asia-Pacific Summit 2013 in Bangkok, hosted by Thailand and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), to promote cooperation in information and communication technology. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-11-18

[webfact]

Thailand-EU ink MoUs on tourism and SME businesses

BANGKOK, 18 November 2013 (NNT) – Thailand and the European Union (EU) have signed 2 memorandums of understanding on tourism and SME businesses.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682483-thailand-eu-ink-mous-on-tourism-and-sme-businesses/

[webfact]

Train derails again in Maha Chai

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682484-again-a-train-derails-in-thailand/

[webfact]

OTOP industry urges all protesting to stop within the country



Bangkok, 18 November 2013 (NNT) – President of the OTOP networks, Pornpol Akattaporn, has urged all sides to quit protesting, as December and January are the two months during which One Tumbon-One-Product (OTOP) entrepreneurs make their most sales; which account for as much as 60 – 70% of the year's total revenues.

The protracted political protests, said Mr. Pornpol, have begun to take heavy toll on the OTOP industry's annual sales this year. This is due to the fact foreigners are less likely to travel to nations with ongoing protests.

The OTOP industry is currently planning to hold an “OTOP Town” exhibition, the first of its kind in Thailand, at Tanya Shopping Center, on Srinakarin Road; which boasts copious spaces of more than 1,500 sq.m. indoors and 3,000 sq.m. outdoors. The event will play host to OTOP products from more than 100 OTOP entrepreneurs.


-- NNT 2013-11-18

[webfact]

Confirmed: Tony Jaa to star in Hong Kong action flick
By Coconuts Bangkok


A poster for the first 'SPL' Hong Kong action movie.

BANGKOK: -- With Tony Jaa's first Hollywood project Fast & Furious 7 currently in production, the Thai action star is busy making additional career moves.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682508-tony-jaa-to-star-in-hong-kong-action-flick/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

A grim year for Thai economy with only 3% growth

By English News

BANGKOK, Nov 18 – Thailand will encounter a disappointing economic growth of only 3 per cent this year, a drop from an earlier projection at an already-low 3.8-4.3 per cent, the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) announced today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682412-thai-economy-likely-to-take-a-hit-because-of-political-turmoil/#entry7051706

[webfact]

Phuket German Hon Consul Dirk Naumann to retire
Alasdair Forbes


German Honorary Consul Dirk Naumann is to retire from the post next year.

PHUKET: -- German Honorary Consul Dirk Naumann is to retire from the post next year, he told The Phuket News this morning (November 18).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682510-german-hon-consul-dirk-naumann-to-retire-from-his-post-in-phuket/

[Lite Beer]

Public reportedly shows support for high-speed train system

Bangkok, 18 November 2013 (NNT) – The general public has shown support for the the government's high-speed train project.

According to Director-General of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning Chula Sukmanop, the public has shown enormous interest in and support for the government 's 3 main high-speed rail lines, believing they would bring prosperity and more business to the region.

Furthermore, they have also given suggestions on how to improve the services, including charging low fares so that low-income passengers can afford to use the rail system, and development plans that coincide with each region's local policy.

All the 4 lines to be constructed, some of which have been awaiting the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, include Bangkok – Nakhon ratchasima, Bangkok - Phitsanulok, Bangkok - Hua Hin, and Bangkok- Rayong.

-- NNT 2013-11-18

[Lite Beer]

German tourist drowns off Phuket beach
Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: A German tourist, who apparently thought he was stronger than he actually was, drowned off Patong Beach yesterday afternoon (November 17).

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682514-german-tourist-drowns-off-phuket-beach/

[Lite Beer]

Suthep initiates impeachment process against 310 MPs

BANGKOK: -- Former Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban Monday initiated a process to impeach 310 MPs who have passed the second and third readings of the amnesty bill.

Suthep submitted his petition to Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanich, stating his intention to invoke Article 270 of the Constitution to initiate the impeachment process.

Suthep said he would back at least 20,000 signatures of voters to back the impeachment request Wednesday morning

-- The Nation 2013-11-18

[Lite Beer]

Less Krathong floats this year

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administrations says fewer people celebrated the Loy Krathong festival last night than last year with only about 865,000 flower floats being collected from all its public parks.

BMA deputy permanent secretary Banchong Sukdee said that its workers have collected a total of 865,415 floats from 28 public parks where the BMA opened and allowed the people to float their “Krathong” last night.

Collection showed that the number of floats this year was 5.6&% or 50,939 floats lower than the celebration last year.

Of the floats collected, he said, 757,567 floats or 88% were made of perishable natural materials, such as banana leaves, flowers, while the rest were made of foams.

He said the parks where its workers collected the most floats were in Klong Toey, Lat Krabang and Nong Khaem districts.

All the collected floats would be kept at its garbage dump sites in Orn Nuj, Saimai, and Nong Khaem to dispose of by landfill method, he added.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/less-krathong-floats-year/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=less-krathong-floats-year

--Thai PBS 2013-11-18

[Lite Beer]

Pheu Thai says opposition must display evidence to impeach PM

BANGKOK: -- Ruling Pheu Thai party’s legal team said that the opposition Democrat party must showed documental evidence to support their motion to impeach Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682527-pheu-thai-says-opposition-must-display-evidence-to-impeach-pm/

[Lite Beer]

Two groups seek impeachment of 310 MPs
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Democrat Party and another anti-amnesty bill group on Monday filed two separate petitions seeking the impeachment of 310 MPs who passed the final reading of the bill.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682446-suthep-declares-nov-24-demise-of-thaksin-regime/page-3#entry7052043

[Lite Beer]

RT‏@veen_NT: Samsen Nok school students and words describe their feelings towards govt on Rajamnoen Rd. Photo by Prasert Thepsri pic.twitter.com/SrTrF6hRcM

[webfact]

Thailand aims to be AIDS-free by 2033
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- More than 100,000 of the half-million HIV-positive population in Thailand don't receive proper treatment, but that's not discouraging health officials who want to eliminate AIDS from the kingdom.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682530-thailand-aims-to-be-aids-free-by-2033/

[webfact]

TAXI
Bangkok's taxis earn ranking for value though not safety
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Taxi services in Bangkok, Singapore and Bogota are jointly ranked the 8th in Hotels.com's global taxi survey, with 3 per cent votes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682531-bangkoks-taxis-earn-ranking-for-value-though-not-safety/

[webfact]

Police beef up security at Constitutional Court
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police were Monday dispatched to beef up security at the Constitutional Court ahead of a ruling on charter amendments on Wednesday.

The security was stepped up in the morning before a group of red-shirt community radio operators would hold a rally in front of the court at the Government Complex in the evening.

The so-called Democratic Force group was also rallying in front of the court to provide moral support to the constitutional court judges.

Police put up barricades at the stairways of the court and at the front gate. Police also used inmate trucks to block the entrance to the court and prohibited parking in front of the court.


-- The Nation 2013-11-18

[webfact]

Varathep affirms PM's presence at censure debate



BANGKOK, 18 November 2013 (NNT) – PM's Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn has confirmed that Prime Minister and Defense Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will be present at the censure debate if the no-confidence motion is put on the House agenda.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682545-varathep-affirms-yinglucks-presence-at-censure-debate/

[webfact]

Thai economy grows 2.7% in third quarter

BANGKOK, November 18, 2013 (AFP) - Thailand's economy grew at a lower-than-expected pace in -July September, data showed Monday as the government cut its forecast for the year while analysts warned political turmoil could inflict further damage.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682412-thai-economy-likely-to-take-a-hit-because-of-political-turmoil/?p=7052418

[webfact]

SET index closed at 1,423.96, up 3.30; Bt/USD31.42; GBP50.59; AUD29.40; EUR42.29; CAD29.98; HKD4.04; SGD25.08; JPY31.26

[webfact]

Phuket croc now wanted 'dead or alive'
Jody Houton


Sean Panton and Suchard Raksangob took to the skies to try to 'Spot the Croc'.

PHUKET: -- The strategy for dealing with Phuket’s rogue crocodile, first spotted off Mai Khao beach on November 3, has been changed to ‘Wanted: Dead or Alive.’

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682555-phuket-croc-now-wanted-dead-or-alive/

[webfact]

Cabinet retreat in Songkhla may be cancelled: Charupong
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A Cabinet retreat in Songkhla on November 29 and 30 may be cancelled if the prime minister and Cabinet members are met with whistle-blowing protest, Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan said Monday.

Charupong said the Democrat should give priority to developments of southern people and avoid organising such protest.

The interior minister said the Cabinet retreat would allocate more than Bt500 million of special budget for developments of southern provinces so it would be very unfortunate if the meeting would have to be cancelled.


-- The Nation 2013-11-18

[webfact]

Whistle blowers warned by DSI



BANGKOK: -- Protesters who blow whistles against any officials of the Department of Special Investigation or their chief, Tarit Pengdit, may face legal actions.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682559-whistle-blowers-warned-by-dsi/

[webfact]

Health concerns boil over French passenger at Phuket airport
Phuket Gazette


Frenchman Michel Godfroy was removed from the international departure lounge after passengers noticed yellow pus seeping from the his neck. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

PHUKET: -- A French tourist leaching yellow pus from the back of his neck prompted fears that he might infect other passengers at Phuket International Airport on Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682560-health-concerns-boil-over-french-passenger-at-phuket-airport/

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

Phuket holidaymaker issued American child sex assault warrant
Phuket Gazette -

Forrest Wayne, currently detained at Phuket Immigration, was unaware that a warrant for his arrest had been issued until police arrived.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682463-phuket-police-arrest-american-man-for-sexual-assault-on-a-13-year-old-girl/page-3#entry7053300

[Lite Beer]

Blue Bloods Demand Lese Majeste Crackdown

BANGKOK: -- A representative of the royal bloodline has called for a harsher enforcement of lese majeste laws, which criminalises any criticism of the Thai monarchy.

M.L. Suttichan Worawuth, representing the Rajanikul, a term referring to those related to His Majesty the King by blood, said he has submitted a letter this morning to Mr. Suranand Vejjajiva, Secretary General to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, demanding a "serious" effort to "protect the monarchy".

"There has been many insults of the institution [of monarchy] via many means," said M.L. Suttichan, "But the Government has come up with no measure to protect the monarchy".

Any perceived insults or defamation of His Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Queen, and the Royal Heir are criminalised under Article 112 of the Thai Criminal Code, which can punish offenders with a maximum of 15 years in prison per offence.

The law has been criticised by many civil rights activists as a politicised tool to stiffen any discussion concerning the Thai monarchy.

But M.L. Suttichan believes the application of the law has been too relaxed. In the letter submitted to PM Yingluck, he also urged the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology to shut down any website that contains messages deemed offensive to the monarchy, and prosecute those responsible for the contents.

"The Prime Minister herself has given an oath to protect the monarchy when she took up the position," M.L. Suttichan said, "What we Royal Blood want to see is a clear dedication in dealing with those who insult the monarchy".

He added that the Rajanikul will come up with "further response" if the government does not comply with their suggestion within 3 days.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNNE5EYzJPVGN6TVE9PQ==&sectionid=TURFd01BPT0=

--KHAOSOD English 2013-11-18

[webfact]

to continue:

Thailand Live Tuesday 19 Nov 2013

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/682635-thailand-live-tuesday-19-nov-2013/