Thailand Live Tuesday 1 Jul 2014

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NCPO applies control over projects, transactions of state enterprises

BANGKOK, 1 July 2014 (NNT) – The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has declared that state enterprises will from now need to seek prior approval for any investment projects or financial transactions worth over 100 million baht.

In a bid to make sure that all projects and financial transactions of state enterprises are carried out in a transparent manner during this period, the NCPO has decided to limit the value of each project or transaction at 100 million baht. Should the value exceed the limit, the responsible agency must receive permission from the NCPO beforehand.

Meanwhile, as the chairman position in many state enterprises had become vacant, the NCPO also gave the incumbent vice chairman the authority to immediately assume the duty of acting chairman.

If there is more than one vice chairman, the executive committee would have to select the most appropriate candidate to take up the acting role. If there are no vice chairmen on duty, the committee members would need to choose among themselves.

The prompt appointment of an acting chairman is aimed to maintain continuity in the operation of each state enterprise as part of the NCPO’s policy to drive the country forward.

-- NNT 2014-07-01

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VISA CRACKDOWN

Confirmed: Visa run crackdown effective from August 12, 2014: Thai Foreign Ministry

BANGKOK: -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok has informed the foreign Embassies and Consulates in Thailand and the Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates worldwide about the visa run crackdown, the former in a letter dated June 23, 2014, of which thaivisa.com obtained a copy of today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/738876-confirmed-visa-run-crackdown-effective-from-august-12-2014-thai-foreign-ministry/

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MIGRANT WORKERS
Push to lure foreign workers
Manop Preutiwarodom
Chularat Saengpassa
The Nation

Centres to be set up nationwide to register illegal workers, dependants

BANGKOK: -- THAILAND IS making a serious effort to bring foreign migrants into the legal workforce in a bid to minimise the impact of the recent Cambodian labour exodus and the country's poor human trafficking reputation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/738913-thailand-push-to-lure-foreign-workers/

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MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
No appointed MPs discussed : EC
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Election Commission secretary-general Puchong Nutrawong yesterday denied that the EC had discussed the possibility of having appointed MPs as part of the junta-led political reform plan.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/738915-no-appointed-mps-discussed-thai-ec/

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BOARD OF THAILAND
BOT hopes for better economic news in June figures
Erich Parpart
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Bank of Thailand has high hopes that June's economic indicators will be more positive, as it believes gross domestic product is on an upward trend and recovery will be more apparent in the third quarter.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/738916-bank-of-thailand-hopes-for-better-economic-news-in-june-figures/

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FISHERY
Spotlight on serious woes that plague fishing sector
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- CORRUPTION, high registration fees, exploitative Thai employers and a lack of government support are the key issues behind the violation of human rights and other industry-related problems, a seminar was told yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/738917-spotlight-on-serious-woes-that-plague-thai-fishing-sector/

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UPDATE:

TAT compiling action plan to make 2015 a better year
Suchat Sritama
The Nation
Cha-am, Phetchaburi

BANGKOK: -- The Tourism Authority of Thailand is preparing its 2015 Marketing Action Plan to deal with another challenging year, aiming for 28 million international tourists and 132 million domestic trips generating income of Bt2.2 trillion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/738763-tat-says-it-will-reach-goal-of-22-trillion-baht-via-tourism-next-year/page-2#entry8041473

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New PTT board vows transparency
Watcharapong Thongrung
The Nation


Piyasvasti

Stake sales in two local refineries top four priority tasks

BANGKOK: -- The three new directors on PTT's board insisted yesterday that they would work with transparency and for the good of the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/738918-new-ptt-board-vows-transparency/

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STREETWISE
Climate change will show no mercy to dithering Thailand
Achara Deboonme

BANGKOK: -- Prevention is better than cure. That truth is obvious when it comes to personal health, but it also applies to the health of the environment, on which we all depend.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/738919-climate-change-will-show-no-mercy-to-dithering-thailand/

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Young German drugged and robbed at Central Pattaya Apartment



PATTAYA: -- Police and medics were called to a Central Pattaya apartment complex on Monday afternoon to investigate reports of a 20 year old German tourist who had reportedly been drugged and robbed by two women who were staying in a neighboring room.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/738922-young-german-drugged-and-robbed-at-central-pattaya-apartment/

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Two arrested in South Pattaya Russian Bag Snatch



PATTAYA: -- Two Thai men aged 21 and 27 were arrested in the early hours of Tuesday following a suspected bag snatch involving a 53 year old female Russian tourist.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/738924-two-arrested-in-south-pattaya-russian-bag-snatch/

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Nationwide rice stocks checks to kick off this week



BANGKOK: -- Inspectors-general from all ministries have been mobilized to join army troops in an extensive examination of rice stocks held in more than 1,800 warehouses and 137 silos throughout the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/738927-nationwide-rice-stocks-checks-to-kick-off-this-week/

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Bt10m worth of illicit goods seized
The Nation

HAT YAI: -- The Customs Department and the Army yesterday seized Bt10 million worth of illegal goods in Hat Yai in Songkhla. The goods - pirated items, contraband and some that pose a threat to national security - were presented at a press conference.

This seizure was part of security exercises put in place by the Customs Bureau region 4 and the Army. In the June 26-27 raid, authorities found communication radios - said to pose a threat to national security as they can be used to set off bombs - along with other items such as air guns, illicit drugs, torches, garlic, sports jerseys and mobile phone cases.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Bt10m-worth-of-illicit-goods-seized-30237484.html


-- The Nation 2014-07-01

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Rights body backed
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand has backed work by the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) in tackling rights violations, aiding migrant workers and apprehending transnational criminals in the region.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/738931-rights-body-backed-asean-intergovernmental-commission-on-human-rights-aichr/

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NBTC to clarify its auction plans to NCPO
Usanee Mongkolporn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) will submit details explaining the planned auctions of 1800MHz and 900MHz spectrum licences and the Universal Services Obligation (USO) projects to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) tomorrow.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/738933-nbtc-to-clarify-its-auction-plans-to-ncpo/

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EDITORIAL
Cutting up the Mekong
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Laos has relented and agreed to consult its downstream neighbours over a proposed dam project, but it is under no obligation to act on their concerns

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/738934-cutting-up-the-mekong-thai-editorial/

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Employment Department chief removed

BANGKOK: -- The junta late Monday night removed Pravit Khiengpol as director-general of Department of Employment and transferred to be an inspector-general of Labour Ministry.

He was replaced by Deputy Permanent Secretary for Labour Ministry Sumet Mahosot.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Employment-Department-chief-removed-30237488.html


-- The Nation 2014-07-01

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Executive who fled to Thailand to avoid paying child support goes to prison
Edited news release

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A man who lives in Springfield received a federal prison sentence on Monday for fleeing the United States in 2007 to avoid paying child support. Randy Essary, 61, lived in Kansas City before he moved to Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/738938-us-executive-who-fled-to-thailand-to-avoid-paying-child-support-goes-to-prison/

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Bodies of three missing teens found in West Bank - reports

JERUSALEM - Israeli security forces on Monday found the bodies of three teenagers who went missing in the West Bank earlier this month and confirmed them as the Israeli seminary students sought since June 12, Israeli media said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/738939-bodies-of-three-missing-teens-found-in-west-bank-reports/

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Obec obeys junta on four key education policies
Supinda Na Mahachai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE OFFICE of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) is implementing the National Council for Peace and Order's four key policies for education, while a Bt504-billion budget is reportedly planned for the Education Ministry for the 2015 fiscal year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/738941-obec-obeys-junta-on-four-key-education-policies/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Schuerrle, Ozil strike late as Germany sink Algeria

Match report: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/738925-schuerrle-ozil-strike-late-as-germany-sink-algeria/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Pogba inspires France into World Cup last eight

Match report: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/738928-pogba-inspires-france-into-world-cup-last-eight/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Suarez apologises for World Cup bite

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/738926-suarez-apologises-for-world-cup-bite/

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Obama shifts resources to US border

WASHINGTON: -- President Barack Obama has directed immigration resources towards the US border with Mexico.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/738942-obama-shifts-resources-to-us-border/

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Fire hits Bangkok community

BANGKOK: -- A massive fire broke out at a community on Soi Charoen Nakhon 58 Tuesday morning, Jor Sor 100 traffic radio station reported.

Jor Sor 100 reported that the fire broke out at a community near Samreh police station at 7:17 am.

Fight fighters were still trying to control the blaze.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Fire-hits-Bangkok-community-30237490.html


-- The Nation 2014-07-01

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New Water Resources Department chief appointed

BANGKOK: -- The junta late Monday night transferred Jatuporn Buruphat from the post of Environmental Quality Promotion Department's chief, to become the new director-general of the Water Resources Department.

The junta also transferred Phawinee Punnakan, an inspector general of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, to become the new Environmental Quality Promotion chief, replacing Jatuporn.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/New-Water-Resources-Department-chief-appointed-30237489.html


-- The Nation 2014-07-01

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UPDATE:

BMA seals off New World Mall 'fishpond'
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Members of the public are no longer allowed to feed fish at the deserted New World Mall, as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has ordered the area sealed pending an inspection to see if the structure is safe.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/738724-abandoned-bangkok-malls-bizarre-basement-aquarium-to-be-investigated/page-2?p=8042022#entry8042022

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Rolf Harris guilty of indecent assaults

LONDON: -- Veteran entertainer Rolf Harris has been found guilty of 12 counts of indecently assaulting four girls in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/738955-entertainer-rolf-harris-guilty-of-indecent-assaults/

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RT @cnni: How America won the 2014 World Cup: http://cnn.it/1x8d8CG #CNNWorldCup pic.twitter.com/2VNO2DJT1i

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1st day of new regulations for passenger van operators; vans moved from Victory Monument to new hub at Makkasan Airport Rail Link station /The Nation