Illegal rosewood logging situation is critical in Thailand
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, July 1 -- The demand for illegally-logged rosewood internationally has led to the soaring growth of criminal activity in Thailand with prices as much as Bt1 million per cubic meter.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739092-illegal-rosewood-logging-situation-is-critical-in-thailand/

Mystery over man drowned in Phuket fountain pool
Anthika Muangrod


The dancing fountain was not dancing at the time the man drowned.

PHUKET: -- An unidentified man drowned in the Saphan Hin dancing fountain pool on the edge of Phuket Town early on Saturday morning (June 28).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739093-mystery-over-man-drowned-in-phuket-fountain-pool/

Japan expands scope for military action: PM Abe

TOKYO: -- Japan on Tuesday loosened restrictions on its powerful military, allowing it to go into battle in defence of allies, in a major and highly controversial shift from the nation's pacifist stance.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739096-japan-expands-scope-for-military-action-pm-abe/

Dead Bruda whale washed ashore in Samut Prakarn



BANGKOK: -- A dead Bruda whale weighs about 11 tons was washed ashore in Phra Samut Chedi district of Samut Prakarn province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739099-dead-bruda-whale-washed-ashore-in-samut-prakan/

Activists Stage 'Sandwich Protest' To Test Police's Word
By Khaosod English


Anti-coup activists staged a brief protest in front of the US Embassy in Bangkok today to test the reaction of police who permitted an anti-American demonstration to take place at the same site on Sunday.

BANGKOK — Anti-coup activists staged a brief protest in front of the US Embassy in Bangkok today to test the reaction of police who permitted an anti-American demonstration to take place at the same site on Sunday.

Six members of the student activist group Centre of Students for Democracy of Thailand (CSDT) ate sandwiches and read George Orwell's Nineteen-Eightyfour in front of the embassy's gate this morning.

Over the past month, those two seemingly innocuous acts have become symbols of anti-coup resistance as activists have sought to circumvent the junta’s ban on political demonstrations. Last week, an anti-junta activist was arrested and detained for eating a sandwich and reading Nineteen Eightyfour in front of a major shopping mall in central Bangkok.

The leader of today's demonstration said they were there to enjoy the same privilege enjoyed by the anti-America protester who showed up at the US Embassy over the weekend. Sunday's lone pro-coup demonstrator, Thep Vetchavisit, said he was there to voice his anger towards the US government for downgrading its military relations with Thailand in response to last month's military coup d'etat.

Although the military junta has strictly banned all forms of political protest, a senior police commander said on Sunday that the anti-America protester was exempted from the ban because he was merely voicing his anger with the US government.

"This man's actions do not count as a violation of the legal ban on political protests, because it was merely an expression of anger," Pol.Maj.Gen. Amnuay Nimmano, deputy commander of the Bangkok Metropolitan Police, said on Sunday.

Today’s anti-coup protesters decided to see if they would receive the same treatment.

"We thought, if we stage activities in front of the US Embassy, we won’t be breaking the law,” said the leader of today’s anti-coup demonstration. “We came here to eat sandwiches and read books."

Several police officers observed the anti-coup protest but did not intervene. The student activists peacefully dispersed after spending about 10 minutes talking to reporters in front of the Embassy.

Scores of anti-coup protesters have been arrested over the past month for displaying opposition to the junta's National Council for Peace and Order, which seized power in a coup d'etat on 22 May. Many activists have been detained for merely displaying what have become anti-coup symbols, such as flashing the three-finger salute, eating sandwiches, and reading Nineteen Eightyfour in public.

Pol.Maj.Gen. Amnuay has not publicly responded to the CSDT's rally in front of the US Embassy today.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1404207435&section=11&typecate=06


-- Khaosod English 2014-07-01

UPDATE:

Israel vows Hamas will pay for dead teens
Hazel Ward

JERUSALEM: -- Israel has vowed to hunt down the Hamas militants who kidnapped and killed three teenagers, but was likely to carefully weigh its response to avoid triggering a regional conflagration.

Source: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/738939-bodies-of-three-missing-teens-found-in-west-bank-reports/page-2?p=8044088#entry8044088

KAMPAENG PHET
Abused child maid awarded Bt4.6 million in damages

BANGKOK: -- A Kampaeng Phet Court has awarded more than Bt4.6million in compensation to a Karen housemaid who was tortured and illtreated by Thai employers, the Human Rights and Development Foundation (HRDF) said Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739104-abused-karen-child-maid-awarded-bt46-million-in-damages-kampaeng-phet/

Thai monthly inflation falls first time in 10 months
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, July 1 - Ampawan Pichalai, adviser to the Ministry of Commerce, said inflation in June this year fell by 0.10 per cent compared with that in May and it was the first decline in ten months.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739108-thai-monthly-inflation-falls-first-time-in-10-months/

Police to clampdown on street vendors in congested spots from August onwards

BANGKOK, 1 July 2014 (NNT) – The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) said that measures aimed at reorganizing street vendors will be carried out next month instead of this month due to logistical issues.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739112-thai-police-to-crack-down-on-street-vendors-in-congested-spots-from-august-onwards/

Chinese tourist drowns off Koh Chang coast

TRAT, 1 July 2014 (NNT) - A Chinese tourist reportedly drowned near Koh Chang in Trat after he was swept away by strong waves.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739115-chinese-tourist-drowns-off-koh-chang-coast/

Four resorts located on forest reserve land seized in Chiang Rai

CHIANG RAI, 1 July 2014 (NNT) – The Chiang Rai forest department rangers have taken over four resorts found guilty of encroaching on forest reserve land.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739117-four-resorts-located-on-forest-reserve-land-seized-in-chiang-rai/

Icon Siam: Mother of all malls to sprawl along Chao Phraya River
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- Central Embassy is the fanciest new mall, Siam Paragon remains the biggest, but who ever thought about topping the marketing superlatives as the “biggest community mall” in Thailand?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739118-icon-siam-mother-of-all-malls-to-sprawl-along-chao-phraya-river/

UPDATE:

Cambodians start returning to Thailand after exodus

PHNOM PENH, July 1, 2014 (AFP) - Nearly 10,000 Cambodians have returned to jobs in Thailand after fleeing en masse last month, officials said Tuesday, as the two countries agreed to make it easier for migrants to obtain work permits.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739041-migrant-workers-trickle-back-to-thailand-police-say/#entry8044359

Strict 10,000 Baht duty free limit now being enforced at Thailand airports

BANGKOK:-- Thailand’s Customs Bureau has announced that the 10,000 Baht duty free limit on new personal goods bought overseas will now be more thoroughly enforced.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739023-thai-customs-for-passengers-travelling-in-and-out-of-thailand/page-3#entry8044668

Cambodian king pardons jailed Thai 'spy'

PHNOM PENH, July 1, 2014 (AFP) - Cambodia's king on Tuesday pardoned a prominent Thai nationalist activist jailed for spying in a disputed border area, a government official said, in a case that fuelled bilateral tensions.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739140-cambodian-king-pardons-jailed-thai-spy/

UPDATE:

THAI-KHMER RELATIONS
Yellow-Shirt activist Veera freed from prison

BANGKOK: -- King Norodom Sihamoni has granted a royal pardon to Thai yellow-shirt activist Veera Somkwamkid, who has been imprisoned in Cambodia since 2010, an assistant to Prime Minister Hun Sen said Tuesday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739140-cambodian-king-pardons-jailed-thai-spy/#entry8045217

to continue:

Thailand Live Wednesday 2 Jul 2014

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739197-thailand-live-wednesday-2-jul-2014/