Thailand Live Wednesday 11 Jun 2014

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Royal message of congratulations on the National Day of Portugal

BANGKOK, 11 June 2014 (NNT) - On the occasion of the National Day of the Portuguese Republic on June 10, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej sent a congratulatory message to the Portuguese President in Lisbon.

In the royal message, His Majesty the King conveyed His sincere wishes for the Portuguese President’s happiness, as well as for the well-being of the Portuguese people and the prosperity of Portugal.


-- NNT 2014-06-11

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Fake Bomb Detectors in Attacked Pakistani Airport Used By Thai Army
By Khaosod English


Soldiers in Pathani province display the GT200 in 2010.

BANGKOK – The Royal Thai Army has a history of using the same counterfeit bomb detectors that were reportedly used by security forces at the Pakistani airport attacked by armed militants on Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/733397-fake-bomb-detectors-in-attacked-karachi-airport-used-by-thai-army/

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RS warns it might scrap live telecast if court rules in favour of NBTC
Watchiranont Thongtep
The Nation


Two women take selfies with the World Cup Adidas Brazuca ball at Central Lat Phrao Department Store yesterday, two days before the much-awaited football tournament begins. The World Cup ends on July 13.

BANGKOK: -- All 22 million households in the country might face a blackout of the 64 live matches of the World Cup football tournament if the Supreme Administrative Court today rules in favour of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), RS said during the hearing in the court yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/733399-rs-warns-it-might-scrap-live-telecast-if-court-rules-in-favour-of-nbtc/

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NATIONAL CARRIER
NCPO targets freebies of state enterprises
The Nation

THAI board members to lose free tickets; Other state enterprises also under scrutiny for privilege cuts

BANGKOK: -- The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) yesterday decided to cut the privilege of free flights for board members of national carrier Thai Airways International, as a pilot project aimed at budget savings.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/733400-ncpo-targets-freebies-of-state-enterprises/

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Thailand's seafood industry: a case of state-sanctioned slavery?

Burmese migrant workers leave the port of Mahachai, Thailand, after unloading their catch. Photograph: Chris Kelly

Slavery is illegal, yet it is driving Thailand's growth – so why are retailers, producers and governments alike turning a blind eye?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/733329-thailands-seafood-industry-a-case-of-state-sanctioned-slavery/

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Trafficked into slavery on Thai trawlers to catch food for prawns

Thai 'trash fish' workers unload the catch at Songkhla port. Chris Kelly/Guardian

The Thai fishing industry is built on slavery, with men often beaten, tortured and sometimes killed - all to catch 'trash fish' to feed the cheap farmed prawns sold in the west

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/733327-trafficked-into-slavery-on-thai-trawlers-to-catch-food-for-prawns/

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Revealed: Asian slave labour producing prawns for supermarkets in US, UK

THAILAND:-- Thai "ghost ships" that enslave, brutalise and even kill workers are linked to global shrimp supply chain, Guardian investigation discovers

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/733325-revealed-asian-slave-labour-producing-prawns-for-supermarkets-in-us-uk/

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AFTER COUP
Foreign stake in telecoms under microscope
Usanee Mongkolporn
The Nation

The telecommunications regulator will strictly examine foreign ownership in telecom operators to prevent foreign dominance in the industry and to protect national security.

BANGKOK: -- This follows online reports that a representative of Telenor Group of Norway, the major shareholder of Total Access Communication, disclosed that DTAC was ordered to prevent its customers from accessing Facebook on May 28 by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

Tor Odland, vice president of Telenor Asia, wrote in an e-mail to Aftenposten, a Norwegian newspaper, that the company received a call from the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), which has been under the NCPO since the May 22 coup, asking it temporarily to stop its customers entering Facebook.

The restriction was carried out at 3.35pm, affecting about 10 million DTAC users, Odland said.

Denial over Facebook blockade

Settapong Malisuwan, chairman of the NBTC's telecom committee, denied that the commission ordered DTAC to block its subscribers from accessing Facebook.

He said he was unhappy about the reports. If Thailand seems to have a lot of trouble, Telenor should go invest somewhere else, he said.

Army deputy spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvari also made a similar denial.

Settapong said foreign ownership in the telecom industry needed to be strictly examined, since communication is key to protecting national security.

The NBTC will set up a committee to probe the direct and indirect shareholdings of foreign entities in telecom operators. This is the commission's duty and complies with regulations, and everyone will be treated on an equal basis, he said.

The NBTC has also reviewed whether it is appropriate to allow foreign ownership in the telecom operators at the present maximum of 49 per cent under the Telecom Business Act and Foreign Business Act.

Telecom operators cannot take part in the licence auctions for segments of the 1,800- and 900-megahertz spectra this year if they are found to breach the foreign-ownership law and NBTC

regulations governing foreign dominance in the telecom business, he said.

An NBTC source said DTAC was the first target of the commission's foreign-ownership probe. Next are Advanced Info Service and True Corp.


-- The Nation 2014-06-11

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GRACE PERIOD
More arms found as junta readies crackdown
The Nation


Police and military officers inspect weapons found discarded alongside a road near a housing complex in Nonthaburi

Senior officer says weapons discovered not always related to political violence

BANGKOK: -- Now that the junta is getting ready to kick off a serious crackdown on war-grade weapons as the grace period it set ended yesterday, several caches of arms have been found abandoned in several locations across the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/733402-more-arms-found-as-junta-readies-crackdown/

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AFTER COUP
'Amarin Newsnight' ends under climate of coup
Pravit Rojanaphuk
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Well-known television host Pinyo Traisuriyathamma clarified yesterday that he had indeed decided to suspend his week-old evening news show due to the climate of pressure following the military coup.

In a post on his Facebook page on Monday, Pinyo said his decision to stop producing "Amarin Newsnight" was due to the climate under military junta.

"The coup has changed internal and external situations," Pinyo's post read. "In order to maintain our standpoint and the principle of our profession I would like to end 'Amarin Newsnight' as of now."

Pinyo, who was a popular TV host at Thai PBS earlier, had spent barely a week hosting "Amarin Newsnight" before deciding to pull the plug.

"We have prepared for months, and though it was on air for just a week, I and my team are proud to introduce a new dimension in evening news programming that could be proudly aired in the climate of a coup d'etat. Although there are clouds in the sky today, I have faith in young men and women to become shining stars when the sky is cleared. Until then."

On the print media front, the editor of the left-wing Fah Diew Kan (Same Sky) magazine issued a statement yesterday, saying the quarterly publication will be postponed due to concerns about pressure on its business partners as a result of the May 22 coup.

"Fah Diew Kan magazine has been closely monitored, creating a climate of fear among all groups involved in the production process," editor Thanapol Eiwsakul wrote in a recent statement.

On Twitter, a rather well-known anti-coup tweeter, operating under the name @JJ_Sathorn or Jaran Ampornklinkaew, was summoned by the National Council for Peace and Order on Monday and has since deleted all the tweets he had made over the years.


-- The Nation 2014-06-11

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BOI
Applications for BOI privileges slump 42% in first five months
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The value of projects seeking privileges from the Board of Investment during the first five months of this year shrank 42 per cent to a total of Bt308.3 billion, according to the BOI.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/733403-applications-for-boi-privileges-slump-42-in-first-five-months/

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INVESTMENT CONFIDENCE
JFCCT stresses need for strengthened hospitality for foreign tourists
Erich Parpart
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Foreign investors still have confidence in Thailand but there is a need to strengthen hospitality in regard to foreign businesses and tourists already here, as the latter in particular would be able to spread the word about the country when they return home, the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand (JFCCT) said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/733405-jfcct-stresses-need-for-strengthened-hospitality-for-foreign-tourists/

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TAX
Duty reduction sought on imports from outside Afta
The Nation


Rakop Srisupaat

BANGKOK: -- The Customs Department will propose duty reductions on products imported from outside the Asean Free Trade Area (Atfa) to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/733406-duty-reduction-sought-on-imports-from-outside-afta/

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EDITORIAL
Paying the price for the World Cup
The Nation

The cost of a "ticket" is scaring many fans away from the world's most popular sporting event

BANGKOK: -- The world's most popular sport is not necessarily the cheapest to watch. When the World Cup kicks off tomorrow, the action will be out of reach for many fans around the globe. The planet's most spectacular sporting event has been plagued by sponsorship and licensing problems, so much so that uncertainty over how many people will get to see it live lingers in many countries - including Thailand

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/733407-paying-the-price-for-the-world-cup-thai-editorial/

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2,500 cars wheel-clamped in one day on Tuesday



Metropolitan police have set a record of wheel-clamping more than 2,500 cars for illegal parking in a single day on Tuesday.

BANGKOK: -- Pol Gen Wuth Liptapallop, an advisor of the National Police Office, led a team of senior metropolitan police officers to inspect police performance in dealing with illegal parking on Phra Arthit, Lan Luang, Petchaburi, Rajdamri and Silom roads.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/733409-bangkok-2500-cars-wheel-clamped-in-one-day-on-tuesday/

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Ex-PM Thaksin's brother Payap reports to NCPO
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- PAYAP SHINAWATRA, the younger brother of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was among the latest group of people who reported to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) yesterday.

He came after the NCPO issued a second summons for 18 people who had not reported previously, including former interior minister Charupong Ruangsuwan, former Pheu Thai Party MP and former leader Jaran Ditapichai, United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship members such as Darunee Kritboonyalai and former Pheu Thai party-list MP Chinnawat Habunpad. Thammasat University law academic Worachet Pakeerut, who was also re-summoned, sent his wife Patcharin on his behalf saying he had health problems.

The NCPO on Monday also issued Order No 58, summoning 17 people mostly for posting messages on the Net possibly deemed to be in violation of Article 112 of the Criminal Code or lese majeste.

Three people with the same first and last name - Duangjai Puangkaew - reported to the NCPO. A resident of Bangkok's Bang Plad district also reported to the NCPO, but was told to leave because his name was not on the list. The man said he had been told that all Pheu Thai supporters had to report.

Northeast red-shirt leader Yiamyod Srimanta and satellite TV channel Asia Update anchorman Chainarin Kulab-am were taken to military court in Bangkok for a 12-day detention pending investigation after having been detained at the Crime Suppression detention centre for seven days.

Both have been interrogated on suspicion of violating NCPO orders No 14 and 7. Yiamyod failed to report to the NCPO before the deadline, an offence punishable with up to two years in prision and/or Bt40,000 fine.

Chainarin was detained on suspicion of violating the NCPO ban on the political gathering of more than five people, an offence punishable with up to a year in jail and/or Bt20,000 fine.

A total of 31 people are under detention at the Crime Suppression Division and are being interrogated by military officials.

Red-shirt leader Sombat Boonngamanong will reportedly be brought today to the Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok. He was rounded up and detained in Chon Buri after failing to report to the NCPO.


-- The Nation 2014-06-11

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Nepalese man arrested over false promises
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A Nepalese man was arrested for allegedly duping his compatriots into paying him money on the false promise of getting them jobs in a third country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/733412-nepalese-man-arrested-in-bangkok-over-false-promises/

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Army tries to resolve gold-mine conflict
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Army has moved in to solve the conflict between local villagers and gold mine operators in Loei's Wang Saphung district, while the mine personnel removed their belongings to make way for the mine's 90-day temporary closure.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/733413-army-tries-to-resolve-loeis-gold-mine-conflict/

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BMA seeks to manage Chatuchak Market again
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is planning to seek permission to start managing the famous Chatuchak Weekend Market again.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/733414-bma-seeks-to-manage-chatuchak-market-again/

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Health group warns of TPP threat to 'tobacco control'
Poungchompoo Prasert
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE THAILAND Health Promotion Institute has reaffirmed its stance against any move by Thailand to join the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) amid concerns it might create legal snags in the country's anti-smoking efforts.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/733415-thai-health-group-warns-of-tpp-threat-to-tobacco-control/

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Illegal workers nabbed, deported
The Nation




BANGKOK: -- Thai security officers nabbed some 1,500 Cambodians working illegally and sent them back to their home country.

The workers, who had no documents, were nabbed while they were on a Bangkok-Aranyaprathet train that arrived in Sa Kaew yesterday afternoon.

They were reportedly trying to flee back home as they had heard about the serious crackdown on illegal workers over the past two or three days.

Meanwhile, Burapha Task Force soldiers rounded up another 500 Cambodian workers at a checkpoint in Watthana Nakhon district. The workers were travelling in buses.

Since the detention cells at Sa Kaew Immigration Office were not large enough to contain 1,500 people, the officials filed the illegal workers' photos and records before deporting them.


-- The Nation 2014-06-11

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Shutdown order costs IRPC 1.3 million liters of production per day

RAYONG, 11 June 2014 (NNT) – The governor of Rayong has ordered a 90-day shutdown of an IRPC Plc.'s plant in the province after Monday's explosion and fire. Meanwhile, a number of students at a school near one of the industrial estates in the province was taken to hospital after inhaling foul-smelling odor.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/733416-rayong-shutdown-order-costs-irpc-13-million-liters-of-production-per-day/

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Thai Consulate-General Sydney claims that Australians are confident to travel in Thailand

BANGKOK, 11 June 2014 (NNT) – The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Sydney claims that Australian tourists are confident to travel to Thailand after the military seized power on May 22, despite the Australian government's criticisms of the coup and the Australian government's ban on military personnel being allowed to travel to Australia since the coup.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/733417-thai-consulate-general-sydney-claims-that-australians-are-confident-to-travel-in-thailand/

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Thai Consul-General in Chicago tries to justify Thai political scenario to local government

BANGKOK, 10 June 2014 (NNT) -- Mr. Songphol Sukchan, the Thai Consulate General in Chicago, made the claim that Chicago’s government and private sectors understand the political situation in Thailand. This comes after the Consulate General attempted to explain the reason why the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) seized power from the elected government.

Mr. Songphol also said that the Consulate General has organized various activities to try to create understanding for all sectors. However, the opinions of Thai people in Chicago vary.

Despite the differing political views, he said that people are ready to cooperate in the activities organized on behalf of the country. On June 18, the Consulate General will organize a Thai festivals when he will further try to justify the changes that occurred in Thailand, and will attempt to promote and restore the image of Thailand. There will also be Thai cultural caravans visiting several cities.


-- NNT 2014-06-11

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ATTA reports tourism revival after partial lifting of curfew

BANGKOK, 11 June 2014 (NNT) – The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) indicates that the Thai tourism sector is bouncing back after the curfew was withdrawn in some major tourist destinations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/733430-thai-atta-reports-tourism-revival-after-partial-lifting-of-curfew/

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Jennifer Lopez to perform at World Cup opening ceremony after all

RIO DE JANEIRO: -- Pop star Jennifer Lopez was back on board for the World Cup opening ceremony in Brazil, football's world governing body FIFA said Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/733431-jennifer-lopez-to-perform-at-world-cup-opening-ceremony-after-all/

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Military Court approves arrest warrant for Sombat Boonngarmanong on 2 charges, taken to Technology Crime Supression Division /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,469.29, gains 0.10 points /MCOT

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DSI holds special course on how to treat human trafficking victims

BANGKOK, 11 June 2014, (NNT) - In a bid to show the international community Thailand's efforts to eradicate the issue of human trafficking, The Department of Special Investigation is holding a class for officials on how to treat victims of the crime.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/733437-dsi-holds-special-course-on-how-to-treat-human-trafficking-victims/

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Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Thai diplomats posted in 17 countries meet Gen Prayuth to gather information, fine tune diplomatic gestures /MCOT