Thailand Live Tuesday 22 Apr 2014

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Interior Minister tackles drought in Nong Bua Lamphu

NONG BUA LAMPHU, 22 April 2014 (NNT) – Interior Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan visited Nong Bua Lamphu on Monday to follow up on officials' handling of the drought situation there.

During a meeting with local officials, Mr. Jarupong and his delegation of Interior Ministry officials found that much of Nong Bua Lamphu had no access to a large water source for agriculture, and most of the farmers owned small plots and relied on seasonal water supply. 9 water pumps are being sent out to assist rice farmers in Non Sang and Si Bun Rueng districts, and water trucks are distributing water for consumption to the drought-stricken.

Mr. Jarupong said Nong Bua Lamphu province had the aim of becoming a leader in sticky rice production, but it was situated on high elevation and lacked an irrigation system. Therefore, agricultural zoning is being implemented; sugar canes will be grown instead of water-intensive rice. 67,000 rai of rice paddies are already slated to be replaced by sugar cane plantations.


-- NNT 2014-04-22

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POLITICS
Thaksin 'ready to sacrifice family' but
The Nation

Noppadon says former PM wants his rivals to adhere to law, so country can move forward

BANGKOK: -- Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is ready to "sacrifice his family" by ending its political roles so the country can emerge from the ongoing political impasse and move forward, his close aide said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720487-thaksin-ready-to-sacrifice-family-sets-terms-for-quitting-politics/

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POLITICS
Security boost for Dr Narong's house and health ministry
The Nation



More police patrols sought after top health Ministry official's home attacked

BANGKOK: -- THE PUBLIC HEALTH Ministry will ask police to boost security at the home of its top official after an M-79 grenade attack on Sunday night, Dr Buncha Kakong, director of the ministry's central administration office, said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720488-security-boost-for-dr-narongs-house-and-thai-health-ministry/

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POLITICS
Lese majeste 'monitor' vows to arm his group
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Having been intimidated after announcing an online crusade against people violating the lese majeste law, Mongkutwattana General Hospital director Rienthong Naenna yesterday vowed to arm himself and other members - but only on their premises and in self defence.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720489-thai-politics-lese-majeste-monitor-vows-to-arm-his-group/

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100,000 first-car buyers expected to get late tax refunds

BANGKOK, 21 April 2014 (NNT) – The Excise Department has reported it is running out of funds to reimburse people joining the government’s first-car buyer scheme, admitting that up to 100,000 of the car buyers might not receive their tax rebates within the current fiscal year.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720420-100000-first-car-buyers-expected-to-get-late-tax-refunds/

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Fed Up With Pheu Thai, Activists Form Alternative Party

By Khaosod English.

BANGKOK — A group of activists has founded a new political party to pursue a variety of progressive reforms they say have been neglected by the ruling Pheu Thai Party.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720424-fed-up-with-pheu-thai-activists-form-alternative-party/

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POLITICS
Political parties to discuss election date today
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The country appears a step closer to holding a new election after the Democrats agreed to attend a meeting today hosted by the Election Commission, along with Pheu Thai and other parties, to discuss issues surrounding the staging of the poll.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720490-thailands-political-parties-to-discuss-election-date-today-apr-22/

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STREETWISE
Thai economy, though strong, may soon be lagging behind
Achara Deboonme

BANGKOK: -- At a glance, Thailand's economy remains resilient to political turmoil that has led to five months without permanent government and no sign of an election date to bring an end to the power vacuum.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720492-thai-economy-though-strong-may-soon-be-lagging-behind/

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BEST VIDEOS OF THAILAND
Heartwarming Thai Commercial - Get the tissues ready

Watch here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720491-heartwarming-thai-commercial-get-the-tissues-ready/

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Chinese Tourist drowns off the coast of Pattaya Island

PATTAYA: -- Sea Rescue Units were scrambled to a beach on Larn Island, 4kms off the coast of Pattaya, on Monday Morning to deal with a drowning incident involving a foreign tourist.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720493-chinese-tourist-drowns-off-the-coast-of-pattaya-island/

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Russian suspected of shoplifting White Rum at Big C North Pattaya



BANGKOK: -- On Monday afternoon Police were called to Big C in North Pattaya after Security Guards had detained a 49 year old Russian who was accused of shoplifting 3 bottles of White Rum.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720494-russian-suspected-of-shoplifting-white-rum-at-big-c-north-pattaya/

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Judges to discuss PM's request for more time
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Constitutional Court judges will tomorrow discuss whether to give caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra more time for her defence in the case over the transfer of National Security Council chief Thawil Pliensri, court spokesman Pimol Thampitakpong said yesterday.

Under the court procedure, a defendant can request a 15-day extension of the deadline to submit their defence, but the judges must give their consent.

The court earlier this month agreed to rule on Yingluck's status after the Supreme Administrative Court declared that the transfer of Thawil by Yingluck was unlawful. Before the deadline last week, Yingluck had her lawyer submit a request for a 15-day extension from last Friday.

All nine of the court's judges will attend the meeting, Pimol said.


-- The Nation 2014-04-22

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BURNING ISSUE
A spotlight on cosy ties between doctors, drugmakers
PONGPHON SARNSAMAK

BANGKOK: -- Over the past few months, the Public Health Ministry, led by its permanent secretary Dr Narong Sahametapat, has been at the forefront of the country's reform movement, demanding improvement in the public health system.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720496-a-spotlight-on-cosy-ties-between-thai-doctors-drugmakers/

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NACC official denies bias in conduct of probes
The Nation




BANGKOK: -- Witthaya Arkompitak, deputy secretary-general of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), yesterday defended the NACC against complaints that it conducts its affairs with a political bias.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720498-nacc-official-denies-bias-in-conduct-of-probes/

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Dept bids to avoid UN 'danger' listing for forests
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- TO PREVENT the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex receiving a World Heritage Sites in Danger listing, Thailand needs to get more than 10 votes of support from the World Heritage Committee when it meets in Doha, Qatar, in June.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720499-thai-dept-bids-to-avoid-un-danger-listing-for-forests/

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Probe into school director who sat exam for assistant teachers
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Education officials have begun a disciplinary probe into the school director who sat an assistant-teacher recruitment exam on Saturday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720500-probe-into-thai-school-director-who-sat-exam-for-assistant-teachers/

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Nakhon Phanom dump fire will take days to put out: mayor
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- It will take another three to five days to extinguish a fire at the Tambon Ban Phaeng Municipal dump in Nakhon Phanom, mayor Danai Sitthiwatcharachai has said.

As of press time, local authorities and fire-fighters were trying to control flames in the area.

Villagers living near the 14-rai dump in Ban Tha Lat Thung said the fire, which started late last week, was sending out black foul-smelling smoke that was affecting them. Ladda Kamsert, 76, said they were also disturbed by flies escaping the heat.

Local residents want the dump moved further from their homes.


-- The Nation 2014-04-22

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US teenager survives five-hour flight in wheel well

SAN JOSE: -- A 16-year-old boy has survived an extraordinary journey hidden in the wheel well of a five-hour flight from California to Hawaii.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720503-us-teenager-survives-five-hour-flight-in-aircraft-wheel-well/

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Police in Bangkok will impose harsher penalties on entertainment venues that stay open beyond 1am under a proposed law change. /Bangkok Post

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Obama to shun Anwar Ibrahim on Malaysia visit
Lindsay Murdoch
SOUTH-EAST ASIA CORRESPONDENT FOR FAIRFAX MEDIA

WASHINGTON: -- Making the first visit by a US president to Malaysia in almost half a century, Barack Obama plans to shun Anwar Ibrahim, the country’s popular opposition leader who faces jail on a sodomy charge that is widely seen as politically motivated.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720509-obama-to-shun-anwar-ibrahim-on-malaysia-visit/

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Cops to crackdown on illegal Bangkok nightlife

file photo

BANGKOK:-- Police in Bangkok are to get tough on nightclubs, bars and other entertainment venues that stay open later than 1am.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720511-cops-to-crackdown-on-illegal-bangkok-nightlife/

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Oklahoma executions delayed amid lethal drugs 'secrecy' row

Oklahoma Supreme Court has delayed the execution of two convicted murderers who challenged a state law preventing death row inmates learning the source of the drugs used to kill them.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720514-us-executions-delayed-in-secrecy-row/

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Finance Ministry seeking to fill vacant bank executive positions

BANGKOK, 22 April 2014, (NNT) -The Finance Ministry is to seek the Election Commission's (EC) approval on the appointment of Managing Directors to various vacant positions in state banks, in order to ensure smooth operations.

The Permanent Secretary of the Finance Ministry, Rangsan Sriworasart has instructed state banks via the State Enterprise Policy Office (SEPO) to make appointments to their vacant executive positions, especially those of Managing Director, in the ministry’s attempt to avoid operational hiccups. He said he would propose the idea to the EC for its approval.

Mr. Rangsan disclosed that the banks in question are the Government Housing Bank (GHB), the SME Bank, the Islamic Bank of Thailand (iBank), and the Government Saving Bank (GSB). He elaborated that the GHB currently doesn't have a President, and thus, does not have the ability to adjust pay rises, to pay bonuses, or to approve the bank’s new policies.

The SME Bank is also looking for a new Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Rangsan said, adding however that this bank can conduct the selection and appointment processes without the approval of the government.

Meanwhile, both the GSB and the iBank are urged to appoint acting presidents, the Permanent Secretary said. The banks can then forward a list of candidates for the EC’s consideration for endorsement.


-- NNT 2014-04-22

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US to consider clemency requests from thousands of prisoners
Sari Horwitz

Washington: The Obama administration is beginning an aggressive new effort to foster equity in criminal sentencing by considering clemency requests from as many as thousands of federal inmates serving time for drug offences, officials said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720545-us-to-consider-clemency-requests-from-thousands-of-prisoners/

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Nakhon Si Thammarat to hold ‘International Sea Rally’

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, 21 April 2014 (NNT) – Nakhon Si Thammarat Province is holding an international sea rally aimed at encouraging every sector to participate in the development of tourist attractions in the Thai Gulf coastal areas.

The event, the first of its kind that has ever been organized in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, will be held on May 10, 2014. For more information, please contact Nakhon Si Thammarat Tourism and Sport Office at (075) 343-421 during office hours.


-- NNT 2014-04-22

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,417.00, gains 3.93 points /MCOT

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Minister Kittiratt to discuss ways to boost tax revenues with related units tomorrow

BANGKOK, 22 April 2014 (NNT) - Finance Minister Kittiratt Na Ranong will chair a meeting of tax collection officials from the Departments of Revenue, Excise, and Customs tomorrow to discuss ways to boost tax income after the 2013 tax collection has fallen behind target.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720559-kittiratt-to-discuss-ways-to-boost-tax-revenues-with-related-units-tomorrow/

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Caretaker PM chairs Caretaker Cabinet meeting at National Science Museum, Pathum Thani; Pro-govt group rallies at Constitutional Court /MCOT

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Caretaker PM voices concern over economy, tourism sector
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, April 22 -- Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Monday posted a message on her Facebook page, expressing worry about the impact of political crisis on the economy, particularly the tourism sector.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720567-caretaker-pm-voices-concern-over-economy-tourism-sector/

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Suthep leads PDRC protesters to EGAT in Nonthaburi; NSC boosts security to prevent confrontation of PDRC, UDD /MCOT