Thailand Live Friday 14 Mar 2014

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Princess Maha Chakri presides over the graduation ceremony of the University of Phayao

BANGKOK, 14 March 2014 (NNT) - Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on Thursday (Mar 13) represented His Majesty the King in bestowing degrees on successful students in the 2011-2012 academic years of the University of Phayao at the University’s auditorium in Muang District, Phayao Province.

At the ceremony, the Council of the University of Phayao agreed to confer on His Majesty the King an honorary doctorate in the field of business management, to honor His Majesty's initiative in the management of successful royal development projects which has provided a pattern for other government units and private businesses to follow.

The university’s council also agreed to bestow on Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn an honorary doctoral degree in educational administration in honor of the royal attempt to develop national education and to assist neighboring countries in their educational development. Her Royal Highness has contributed the royal personal fund to the establishment of Kampong Chertial College in Cambodia. The princess also granted a number of scholarships to Cambodian students to further their studies in Thailand.

The University of Phayao is a government educational institution, separating itself from Naresuan University in 2010. A total of 5,273 students received their degrees from the Princess Maha Chakri on the day. After the degree presentation, Her Royal Highness went to lay a foundation stone for the construction of a medical building of the University of Phayao which will be built to facilitate medical studies and training of medical and nurse students.

The new building will also serve as a health center for people living in the upper part of northern Thailand, namely Chiang Rai, Lampang, Phrae, Nan and Phayao. The building will have 200 beds and is expected to be completed in 2016.


-- NNT 2014-03-14

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Inquiry Over PCAD Guards' Alleged Attempted Murder Expanded
By Khaosod English



BANGKOK: -- The police have expanded the investigation over attempted murder of a Redshirt protest after evidences suggested that the case might be related to two other dead bodies found earlier this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710743-inquiry-over-pcad-guards-alleged-attempted-murder-expanded/

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UPDATE:

SONGKHLA
Unidentifiable group of Muslims nabbed
SANTIPARP RAMMASUT,
CHULARAT SAENGPASSA
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- A GROUP of 220 reportedly Muslim immigrants, whose nationality and origin was not known to Thai authorities as of press time yesterday, have been arrested at a rubber plantation in the southern province of Songkhla.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710636-thailand-finds-200-turkish-refugees-at-secret-camp/?p=7559250#entry7559250

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POLITICS
Yingluck urges foes to hold off on legal salvoes
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung
The Nation



Calls on her adversaries to ease off, give her side some 'space to stand'

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, facing an impeachment threat and the court defeat of her Bt2-trillion infrastructure loan bill, yesterday pleaded with her political adversaries to show her mercy and create a space for everyone to live together instead of trying to corner her with legal weapons.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710745-yingluck-urges-foes-to-hold-off-on-legal-salvoes/

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POLITICS
EC to probe Pheu Thai candidates' TV shows
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Election Commission (EC) will decide whether any electoral offences have been committed after Pheu Thai Party parliamentary candidates appeared on television programmes produced by state-run TV channel.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710747-ec-to-probe-pheu-thai-candidates-tv-shows/

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BURNING ISSUE
Thaksin's political predictions from Beijing
Samadcha Hoonsara
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- While in Beijing, ousted and fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra recently made a number of political predictions and comments worth considering.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710748-thaksins-political-predictions-from-beijing/

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2-TRILLION
Foreign groups cool as loan bill derails
Erich Parpart,
Somluck Srimalee
The Nation


Although, the 2-trillion bath has to suspend but foreing business respresentatives believed that the country's infrastructure projects will go on under the normal budget system.

BANGKOK: -- Foreign business representatives in Thailand are largely unconcerned by this week's ruling by the charter court that the government's Bt2-trillion borrowing bill for planned infrastructure projects is unconstitutional.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710749-foreign-groups-cool-as-loan-bill-derails/

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From a Bangkok schoolroom to the democratic farce of North Korea
Martin Vengadesan
The Star
Asia News Network


This undated photo released by North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on March 12, 2014 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un ® visiting the 1st contest of the Korean Peoples Army art squads./AFP PHOTO/KCNA via KNS

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710750-from-a-bangkok-schoolroom-to-the-democratic-farce-of-north-korea/

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EDITORIAL
Target the breeding ground of corruption
The Nation

Reforms offer hope of a cure for our chronic disease - but only if they block self-serving politicians from high office

BANGKOK: -- Thailand suffered another blow when it slipped in the latest World Corruption Index (2013), scoring just 35 points out of 100 to rank 102 of 177 nations. Corruption is old news here, of course, but the plunge is worrying given that it indicates a steady increase in the number of graft cases.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710751-target-the-breeding-ground-of-corruption-thai-editorial/

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GUEST COLUMN
MH370: Six theories in search of a plane
Ravi Madavaram

BANGKOK: -- Malaysian Airlines MH370 took off from Kuala Lumpur in the early hours of Saturday, bound for Beijing. Less than two hours later, the aircraft lost contact with air-traffic control. No distress call was made by the pilots. The aircraft was flying at 35,000 feet and the weather was clear. As of press time yesterday, no trace of MH370 or the 239 people on board had been found.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710752-mh370-six-theories-in-search-of-a-plane/

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British victim of burglary at North Pattaya apartment



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Thursday, Police were called to an apartment complex in North Pattaya to assist a British National who had returned to his apartment to find that items of value contained in a room safe, had been stolen.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710753-british-victim-of-burglary-at-north-pattaya-apartment/

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Suthep tells supporters to be on standby



BANGKOK: -- Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban told supporters of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee to be on the standby for a mass gathering in Bangkok to protect the independent organizations against possible escalated harassment by red-shirt followers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710754-suthep-tells-supporters-to-be-on-standby-for-mass-gathering/

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Transport minister tipped as a favourite candidate for city governor's election



BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Transport Minister Chatchart Sitthipan has been tipped as Pheu Thai party’s most favoured candidate to contest Bangkok gubernatorial election, according to an informed party source.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710755-transport-minister-tipped-as-a-favourite-candidate-for-bangkok-governors-election/

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Army warns all sides to respect court's rulings



BANGKOK: -- The army has pleaded with all political groups to refrain from making use of the Constitution Court’s ruling to further worsen political conflict and to respect the judicial process.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710756-thai-army-warns-all-sides-to-respect-courts-rulings/

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Minister Surapong to meet foreign officials to clear up misunderstanding



BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul is to meet with senior foreign affairs officials tomorrow (Friday) to clear up any misunderstanding after a group of officials issued a statement opposing the minister’s invitation for UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon to help mediate the political conflict in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710757-minister-surapong-to-meet-foreign-officials-to-clear-up-misunderstanding/

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NATION ANALYSIS
Mega-project bill may have bigger consequences
Jintana Panyaarvudh
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The caretaker Yingluck Shinawatra government may feel relieved after a challenge to its legal status, brought by anti-government protesters, was dismissed by the Constitutional Court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710758-mega-project-bill-may-have-bigger-consequences-thai-analysis/

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WATER
Water levels in country's largest dams hit 10-year low
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Water retained in Bhumibol and Sirikit dams, the nation's biggest reservoirs, is well below the 10-year average, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710759-water-levels-in-thailands-largest-dams-hit-10-year-low/

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Court rejects Hopewell's Bt12 bn claim against govt
KESINEE TAENGKHIAO
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- The Central Administrative Court has overturned an arbitrator's order that the government pay a private firm about Bt11.88 billion over the now-abandoned Hopewell Project.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710761-court-rejects-hopewells-bt12-bn-claim-against-thai-govt/

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Chonburi hardcore redshirt leader's home bombed



BANGKOK: -- The home of a redshirt hardcore leader in Chonburi province was attacked with bomb early Thursday, causing damage to three vehicles parking inside.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710762-chonburi-hardcore-redshirt-leaders-home-bombed/

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Deaths of Quebec women in Thailand may have been caused by pesticide
Audrey and Noémi Bélanger died mysteriously while on holiday in 2012
By Julia Sisler, CBC News

QUEBEC: -- A highly toxic pesticide used to control bedbugs in some holiday hotels in Asia may have caused the mysterious deaths of two Quebec sisters travelling in Thailand as well as several other tourists, according to new evidence from a joint investigation by CBC’s the fifth estate and Radio-Canada’s Enquete.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710763-deaths-of-quebec-women-in-thailand-may-have-been-caused-by-pesticide/

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Strong 6.3-magnitude quake hits off Japan, injures 17

TOKYO - A strong 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck offsouthern Japan early Friday injuring 17 people, reports said as officials warned residents to be alert to the danger of landslides following the tremor.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710773-strong-63-magnitude-quake-hits-off-japan-injures-17/

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UPDATE:

Search for Malaysian jet may stretch into Indian Ocean

Kuala Lumpur - The six-day search for a Malaysian airliner with 239 people aboard might be widened into the Indian Ocean after investigators found that the latest leads were inaccurate.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709464-missing-malaysia-airlines-jet-carrying-239-triggers-southeast-asia-search/page-71?p=7559688#entry7559688

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Suthep calls for protection of court, graft buster



BANGKOK: -- People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban called on the people to help protect all the state independent agencies as there is growing threat from the redshirts to step up harassments of them in their bid to help caretaker prime minister out of the hands of laws.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710789-suthep-calls-for-protection-of-court-graft-buster/

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McDonalds is being accused by its American staffs of forcing them to work off-the-clock and failing to pay overtime /The Nation

Caretaker PM Yingluck in Chiang Mai Fri. to inspect Northern Petroleum Development Ctr after her inspection of drought relieve measures in NE /The Nation

Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,364.17, falls 6.33 points /MCOT

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Phuket Police go for the balls to unite Patong
Phuket Gazette


Col Chiraphat has reclaimed his position as Patong Superintendent. Photo: Saran Mitrarat

PHUKET: -- Patong Police Superintendent Chiraphat Pochanaphan, ousted by the tuk-tuk blockade of Patong last week, is back and considering using ball sports, namely a football match, to unite competing factions in the busy resort town.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710798-phuket-police-go-for-the-balls-to-unite-patong/

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CMPO to let Emergency Executive Decree expire and reinstate Internal Security Act



BANGKOK, 14 March 2014 (NNT) – The Center for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) resolved on Thursday to let the Emergency Executive Decree in use over Greater Bangkok expire, and to revert to using the Internal Security Act to facilitate peace and order instead.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710801-cmpo-to-let-emergency-executive-decree-expire-and-reinstate-internal-security-act/

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Court of Justice seeks police action



BANGKOK: -- The Court of Justice yesterday asked the police to bring a person who posted on the Internet personal information of the Civil Court’s panel of judges and their photos to justice for it is tantamount to encourage harassment of the judges.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710802-harassment-of-thai-judges-court-of-justice-seeks-police-action/

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Anti-government protest group NSPRT rallies at Navy HQ, petitions Navy chief to review reshuffle of SEAL commander Winai Klom-in /MCOT

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Election Commission prepares to summon Chalerm to explain CMPO’s 2 billion baht budget request

BANGKOK, 14 March 2014 (NNT) — The Election Commission (EC) has approved a withdrawal of 1.25 billion baht from the central budget at the Cabinet’s request to finance necessary spending at the now-defunct Center for Administration for the Peace and Order (CAPO) while requesting Pol. Capt. Chalerm Yubamrung to explain the necessity to withdraw another 2.3 billion baht for the Center for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710811-ec-to-summon-chalerm-to-explain-cmpos-2-billion-baht-budget-request/

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UPDATE:

PDRC leader signals move to protect key independent public agencies

BANGKOK, 14 March 2014 (NNT) — PDRC core leader Suthep Thaugsuban has urged all PDRC supporters to be ready if Prime Minister Yingluck is ruled guilty in her case with the NACC, as he believes the UDD would try to besiege the independent public agency.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710789-suthep-calls-for-protection-of-court-graft-buster/#entry7560271