Thailand Live Friday 22 Nov 2013

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MONARCH
King's health excellent, Her Majesty improving: doctor
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- His Majesty the King is in excellent health and enjoying his stay at Klai Kangwon Palace in Prachuap Khiri Khan, while Her Majesty the Queen's condition is improving, a senior royal physician said yesterday.

His Majesty's general condition is excellent and he enjoys the palace's ocean view and other activities, including feeding the fish and - on the recent Loy Krathong Day - floating a krathong, said Clinical Professor Udom Kachintorn, dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital. The doctor did not provide details about the Queen's health.

The doctor said the conditions at the seaside residence in Hua Hin district had contributed to the improvement in His Majesty's health. Preparations are ongoing for a public audience on the King's birthday at 10.30am on December 5 at the palace's Ratcha Pracha Samakhom Pavilion to accommodate an anticipated large number of visitors.


-- The Nation 2013-11-22

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Pheu Thai issues statement to denounce Constitutional Court's ruling
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Pheu Thai Party Thursday issued a statement to condemn the Constitutional Court's ruling on amendment bill related to senators as a "coup".

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683316-pheu-thai-issues-statement-to-denounce-constitutional-courts-ruling/

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Anti-Govt Actress Files Charges Over Car Acid Attack
By Khaosod Online

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683279-anti-govt-thai-actress-files-charges-over-car-acid-attack/

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World Bank poised to cut Thailand's GDP forecast

BANGKOK, 22 November 2013 (NNT) - The World Bank is set to cut its forecast for Thailand’s economic growth for this year again from 4-4.5 per cent it had projected last month.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683340-world-bank-poised-to-cut-thailands-gdp-forecast/

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UPDATE:
Pheu Thai blasts court
The Nation


Pheu Thai MPs yesterday issue a party statement dismissing the Constitutional Court

BANGKOK: -- Ruling party says verdict blocking charter amendment on senators a virtual coup d'etat; coalition to push for impeachment of five judges who voted bill as unconstitutional.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683316-pheu-thai-issues-statement-to-denounce-constitutional-courts-ruling/?p=7066585

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TOURISM
Scams, accidents scare away tourists
THE NATION


Pattaya city is a key destination for Russian tourists.

Thailand's attractiveness to foreign tourists is under threat from fraud and poor safety standards.

BANGKOK: -- After a recent bus accident in Chon Buri that injured 26 Russian tourists, the Russian Union of Travel Industry (RUTI) recently urged Thai authorities to improve safety standards, or face a possible boycott by its members.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683342-scams-accidents-in-thailand-scare-away-foreign-tourists/

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NATION ANALYSIS
PM has one clear choice: step down
Jintana Panyaarvudh, Somroutai Sapsomboon
The Nation

Charter court verdict has resulted in deadlock; House dissolution best choice November 22, 2013 1:00 am

BANGKOK: -- The Constitutional Court's Wednesday verdict shooting down the charter amendment related to senators' selection and qualifications may not have caused any major changes within the Pheu Thai-led government, but it has created political deadlock.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683344-pm-yingluck-has-one-clear-choice-step-down/

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Foreigner hit by Phuket shuttle bus

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683287-foreigner-hit-by-phuket-shuttle-bus-video/

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POLITICS
House speaker accepts censure motion
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Somsak Kiatsuranont, speaker of the House of Representatives, has agreed to put the opposition's censure motion against the premier and her ministers on the House agenda, though a copy of the impeachment request against the PM is required before the motion can pass. The deadline for this is Monday. He did not say when the censure debate will take place.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683345-house-speaker-somsak-accepts-censure-motion/

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Economists share views on Thailand's biggest problems

Erich Parpart

The Nation

Ekniti Nitithanprapas

Global factors, education, labour woes cited

BANGKOK: -- Three economists gave an overview of what to expect for the future and the problems that Thailand is currently facing at a seminar held yesterday by the Thammasat Economics Association.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683346-economists-share-views-on-thailands-biggest-problems/

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EDITORIAL
Foreign criminals exploiting police links
The Nation

Stronger action against corruption in law enforcement is needed to deal with cops who conspire with crime syndicates

BANGKOK: -- The sacking of Senior Sgt-Major Nonthapan Saengsuk, 37, by the head of the Tourist Police Division for allegedly helping two Russians commit a multimillion-baht scam should be a point of concern.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683347-foreign-criminals-exploiting-police-links-thai-editorial/

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Thai firm scales back Myanmar mega-port role

BANGKOK, November 22, 2013 (AFP) - The Thai industrial giant behind a controversial deep-sea port in Myanmar agreed Thursday to dramatically scale back its role in the project, leaving it short of investors.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683348-thai-firm-scales-back-myanmar-mega-port-role/

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Pattaya Nightclub Security Guard shot after refusing entry to Thai Youths



PATTAYA: -- A 23 year old Security Guard working for a Walking Street Nightclub was shot in the chest and was lucky to escape death, according to medics. He was shot by a man who was part of group that were refused entry after one of them could not present his Thai ID card to confirm his age.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683349-pattaya-nightclub-security-guard-shot-after-refusing-entry-to-thai-youths/

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Two trillion baht bill likely to be killed by charter court



BANGKOK: -- Former energy minister Piyaswasdi Amranand believes the two trillion baht borrowing bill will be shot down by the Constitution Court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683350-two-trillion-baht-bill-likely-to-be-killed-by-charter-court/

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Bank clarifies why it has no money to pay farmers



BANGKOK: -- The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives yesterday clarified farmers of its late payment for their rice that it is lacking enough quiddity but assured that they all will be paid in 45 days.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683351-thai-bank-clarifies-why-it-has-no-money-to-pay-rice-farmers/

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Sunisa defends the prime minister on charter amendment debacle



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was not held accountable for the failed draft constitutional amendment which was ruled unconstitutional by the Constitution Court, said deputy government spokesperson Sunisa Lertpakavat Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683352-thai-govt-spokeswoman-sunisa-defends-pm-yingluck-on-charter-amendment-debacle/

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BURNING ISSUE
Suthep is in danger of overplaying his hand
Supon Thanukid
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- In its two decisions relating to the charter-amendment bill on the election and qualification of senators, the Constitutional Court judges voted 6:3 and 5:4 that the legislation was unconstitutional. The rulings came amid opposition from the pro-government red shirts, who said the court had no power to consider the case in the first place.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683353-suthep-is-in-danger-of-overplaying-his-hand/

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Vocational students quit STR rally
Budsarakham Sinlapalavan
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Dozens of vocational-student frontliners of the Students and People Network for Thailand's Reform (STR) have finally left the group, as their ties with the network's leaders soured.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683354-vocational-students-quit-str-rally-in-bangkok/

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4 win Prince Mahidol Award
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Four physicians - three from the US and one from Belgium - won this year's Prince Mahidol Award for their dedication to HIV/Aids research.

Professor David D Ho and Dr Anthony Fauci, both from the US, will be honoured for their work in the field of medicine related to HIV/Aids, while Prof Peter Piot from Belgium and Dr Jim Yong Kim from the US will be awarded for their work in the fields of HIV/Aids and public health.

HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will present the awards on January 27.

Ho, president of the New York-based Aaron Diamond Aids Research Centre, is the first person to initiate the use of the highly-active anti-retroviral therapy, while Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has been researching HIV infection.

Piot, a former director of UNAIDS, has played a key role in controlling the spread of Aids, while Kim, from WHO's HIV/Aids division, has been providing people living with HIV better access to the life-saving drugs.


-- The Nation 2013-11-22

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Jakkrit's wife to be questioned over bank safe deposit box
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Police plan to summon Dr Nithiwadee Phucharoenyos, the wife of murdered sportsman Jakkrit Panichpatikum, to interrogate her over a complaint her late husband filed before his murder, claiming that she had stolen valuables from his safety deposit at Kasikorn Bank.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683355-murder-case-jakkrits-wife-to-be-questioned-over-bank-safe-deposit-box/

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Seven RKK insurgents arrested in pre-dawn raid
The Nation

NARATHIWAT: -- Seven suspected members of Ronda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) were arrested in a pre-dawn raid yesterday by security forces in Narathiwat's Reu So district. Guns and ammunition were also seized in the raid.

The 2am operation followed a tip-off that armed insurgents were hiding out in a house in Sawor Hele village of Sawor sub-district. The seven men were arrested as they tried to flee into a rubber plantation behind the house.

A subsequent search of the property yielded 100 items, including four pistols and ammunition, six backpacks, four sets of military uniform, and 11 cellphones. The seven men, aged between 22-40, were taken to the special task force's base at Wat Suan Tham for questioning. Their fingerprints and DNA samples were also taken, before they were taken for further questioning to Nakhon Si Thammarat's Wachirawut Camp.


-- The Nation 2013-11-22

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Women 'held as slaves for 30 years'

LONDON: -- Three women have been "rescued" from a south London house as police investigate claims they were held as slaves for about 30 years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683357-women-held-as-slaves-for-30-years-in-london/

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UPDATE:

Pheu Thai Party up in arms against Constitution Court
By English News



BANGKOK, Nov 22 – The ruling Pheu Thai Party has rejected the Constitution Court’s verdict on the charter amendment and plans to remove six of the nine judges who voted for the judgement.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683316-pheu-thai-issues-statement-to-denounce-constitutional-courts-ruling/?p=7067286

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Khon Kaen Happy Family Party to Take Place 25-31 December

KHON KAEN: -- To see off 2013 and countdown to the New Year, the Northeastern Thai city of Khon Kaen is getting ready to welcome one and all to its Happy Family Party end of year festivities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683377-khon-kaen-happy-family-party-to-take-place-25-31-december/

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,372.56, falls 3.30 points /MCOT

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Phumisarol locals visit Phra Viharn legal team showing their gratitude

BANGKOK, 22 Nov 2013, (NNT) - Villagers from Srisaket Province have paid a visit to the Thai-Cambodian Phra Viharn territorial dispute legal defense team to express their gratitude for its service.

Accompanied by Srisaket Governor Prateep Keeratiraeka, more than 100 villagers from Phumisarol and nearby villages in Saothongchai Sub-district, Kantharalak District, met with the legal team leader and Thai ambassador to the Hague, Mr. Weerachai Palasai, and Foreign Ministry's Deputy Permanent Secretary, Nuttawut Potisaro.

Mr. Weerachai said it was a great pleasure and honor to have worked on the case and thanked the villagers for their visit. He also urged the locals to trust information given by the Government, assuring them that Thailand had not lost the 4.6 square kilometer Phumakua (ภูมะเขือ )to Cambodia. As for the Phra Viharn itself, negotiations would soon be underway to thrash out the two neighbours' differences.

The ambassador further revealed that he would leave for Europe on December 1st to join a meeting with his foreign law advisers about the case, adding that the results of the meeting would determine Thailand's stance.


-- NNT 2013-11-22

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UPDATE:

Lawmakers oppose passage of bill for Bt2 trillion loans
By English News



BANGKOK, Nov 22 – A group of senators and MPs have sought the Constitution Court’s ruling on the legality of the parliamentary passage of a bill to borrow Bt2 trillion (about US$62 million) for infrastructure development.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683350-two-trillion-baht-bill-likely-to-be-killed-by-charter-court/#entry7067390

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Flood forces school closures in Nakhon Si Thammarat
By English News

NAKHON SI THAMAMRAT, Nov 22 - Flooding from heavy overnight rain and forest runoff have forced schools to close in Nakhon Si Thammarat municipality.

Heavy rain promptly flooded the provincial seat and runoff from Khao Luang mountain made the flood even deeper.

Five canals dug to drain the flood were inadequate to handle the large amount of water.

Noppitan district was also flooded. Many residents hastily move their belongings to higher ground, while many roads in Lan Saka district was flooded and impassable for small vehicles.

In Phatthalung, rain has continued since Tuesday. Forest runoff flooded six districts -- the provincial seat, Khuan Khanun, Srinagarindra, Kong Ra, Khao Chaison and Bang Kaeo.

Some villages were cut off by the high flood water. Twenty households in Charat subdistrict in Kong Ra district were evacuated. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-11-22

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Thai Airways aircraft NOT for sale to Saudi Prince
BY ANDREW J. WOOD, ETN THAILAND CORRESPONDENT

BANGKOK, Thailand (eTN) – Thai Airways (TG) has resolved not to sell one of their four decommissioned A340-500s to British firm, AvCon Worldwide, despite them having already put down a deposit of US$2.5 million.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683381-thai-airways-aircraft-not-for-sale-to-saudi-prince/

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Longboat racing returns to Pattaya Nov. 23-24

PATTAYA: -- Thailand’s top long-boat racers will compete for cash and prizes at the 13th Pattaya Traditional Long Boat Tournament this weekend at Mabprachan Reservoir.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683375-longboat-racing-returns-to-pattaya-nov-23-24/