'Tasting Kaeng Song Coffee and Rafting on the Khek River' is back

PHITSANULOK, 2 July 2014 (NNT) - The start of the Tasting Kaeng Song Coffee and Rafting on the Khek River activity is a sign of the rainy season returning to Phitsanulok province.

Representatives from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Phitsanulok Tourism Business Association, and Phitsanulok Provincial Administrative Organization, briefed a press conference by the side of the Khek River today.

Rafting on the Khek River is very convenient as tourists don’t have to walk into a forest. Adventurers can make a selection ranging from the first level, which is in still water, to the fifth level - which is the wildest one.

After the exciting outdoor sports activity, you may feel the need to take a sip of Kaeng Song Coffee. The original local Arabica coffee is widely planted in Kaeng Sopa district. Tourists may taste and enjoy it at one of many coffee stalls at the beautiful Kaeng Song waterfall.


-- NNT 2014-07-02

SPECIAL REPORT
Study examines growing trend of Thai women staying single
Thiranat Sucharikul
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- As more and more women are remaining single - and childless - Mahidol University's Institute for Population and Social Research has decided to look deep into why, as well as into where all the men have gone.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739198-study-examines-growing-trend-of-thai-women-staying-single/

JUNTA
NCPO to decide today on interim charter
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) will today consider giving the nod to the proposed interim charter, which is expected to take effect this month, a source said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739199-ncpo-to-decide-today-on-interim-charter/

UPDATE:

THAI-KHMER RELATIONS
Cambodia frees Veera
Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
Phnom Penh


Veera

Yellow-shirt activist gets royal pardon; will return to Thailand today

BANGKOK: -- Cambodia yesterday released yellow-shirt activist Veera Somkwamkid after he was granted a royal pardon, for the sake of bilateral relations with Thailand and on humanitarian grounds, Thai Foreign Ministry permanent secretary Sihasak Phuangketkoew said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739140-cambodian-king-pardons-jailed-thai-spy/#entry8045860

UPDATE:

COURT
Abused Karen girl awarded Bt4.6m in damages
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- KAMPHAENG PHET Court has awarded more than Bt4.6 million in compensation to an ethnic-Karen girl, identified only as Air, for the torture and cruelty inflicted upon her from the age of seven by her employers, the Human Rights and Development Foundation (HRDF) said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739104-abused-karen-child-maid-awarded-bt46-million-in-damages-kampaeng-phet/#entry8045868

YUAN
BOT stresses growing role of yuan
Erich Parpart
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Chinese yuan is becoming more and more important in world trade, so investors are well advised to use the currency in future trade and investment to lower the risk of fluctuations, the Bank of Thailand said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739200-bot-stresses-growing-role-of-yuan/

REFORM
Reform urged on inheritance, property taxes
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Former finance minister Korn Chatikavanij has recommended that the military government undertake ambitious reform of property and inheritance tax, which had been impossible to do under normal political circumstances.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739201-thai-reform-urged-on-inheritance-property-taxes/

PHUKET NEWS EXCLUSIVE
First load of Phuket mafia taxi cases handed over to prosecutor
Tanyaluk Sakoot


Karon Mayor Thawee Thongcham sits in the paddy wagon this morning.

PHUKET: -- Having today (July 1) handed over more than 5,000 pages of depositions and evidence to the Phuket Provincial Chief Public Prosecutor in the “mafia” taxi investigation, Maj Gen Paween Pongsirin is preparing to move on to the next area of his investigation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739202-first-load-of-phuket-mafia-taxi-cases-handed-over-to-prosecutor/

EDITORIAL
Curing Bangkok's travel sickness
The Nation

The NCPO should attempt to go far beyond the "inconveniences" it hears us complaining about and address safety, economic impact, and even the country's overseas reputation

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739203-curing-bangkoks-travel-sickness/

STOPPAGE TIME
Can Thais be reformed and reconciled all at once?
Tulsathit Taptim

BANGKOK: -- Reform and reconciliation are often mentioned in the same sentence. That's most likely because a lot of people believe, or hope, that the two things can go hand in hand, or at least one can lead to the other.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739206-can-thais-be-reformed-and-reconciled-all-at-once-opinion/

Seven Indian Tourists Hurt as Minivan comes off Highway in East Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- The driver of a Minivan, transporting Indian tourists from Suvanarbumi Airport in Bangkok to Rayong Province, is thought to have fallen asleep at the wheel causing his Minivan to come off the road and flip onto its side, injuring all seven Indian passengers and injuring the driver as well.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739207-seven-indian-tourists-hurt-as-minivan-comes-off-highway-in-east-pattaya/

Foreigner suspected of dealing drugs in Central Pattaya entertainment area



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Wednesday, Pattaya Police arrested a foreign man in Central Pattaya, accused of possessing and selling class 1 and class 2 drugs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739208-foreigner-suspected-of-dealing-drugs-in-central-pattaya-entertainment-area/

Where are the different colours now?

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

The de facto office of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship inside the Imperial World Lat Phrao mall looks empty and abandoned.

BANGKOK: -- A month after the military intervened amid a deepening political divide and intensifying "colour-coded" politics, The Nation investigates what has become of the pro-Thaksin Shinawatra United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship and the anti-Thaksin People's Democratic Reform Committee.

One month after the coup, the fifth floor of the Imperial World Lat Phrao department store is eerily quiet. It used to be the de facto headquarters of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) up until May 22 - the day the military took over.

The office now is dark and locked up. However, as soon as I began peering into the darkness, I was approached by a security guard questioning my intentions.

After handing him my business card, I asked what he thought of the junta's plan to end coloured-shirt politics and if he thinks the red shirts still exist.

His response was rather conclusive.

"They are no more," he said looking at me suspiciously.

Soon enough, four military officers in fatigues showed up and began taking photographs. A master sergeant then told me, in a not so pleasant way, that he believed colour-coded politics had gone for good.

"Everything is in order now," insisted the sergeant, who has been guarding the area since the power seizure.

The place, which used to be the buzzing hub of the red shirts, is now all but abandoned.

Later, I called red-shirt leader Weng Tojirakarn, who was arrested right after the coup and has since been released, to ask if he still considered himself a red shirt and a leader of the UDD.

After much pressing, he eventually conceded, saying he was indeed a red shirt and a UDD leader, before adding that the situation was far from normal. "We're under martial law so we can't do anything."

However, he said he was convinced that the plan by the junta - which operates under the name 'National Council for Peace and Order' (NCPO) - to dissolve the red shirts and other political groups would not succeed if all sides are not treated equally.

"In the end, it's the people who will decide [whether to continue being red shirts or not]," he said.

Red-shirt academic Suthachai Yimprasert, one of those summoned by the NCPO, said the seeming absence of the red shirts in post-coup Thailand was artificially induced and wouldn't last for too long.

"I don't think it's going to work. People's beliefs cannot be changed at gunpoint. Forcing people not to think will just not work," he said, adding that everybody in a democratic society should have the freedom to think differently.

Suthachai pointed out that some of the red-shirt leaders who publicly denounced their political identity after being detained by the military were not really telling the truth, because "there is no free will".

"It's like goons pointing a gun at you. You just have to say what they want."

On the other side of the political divide, Tankhun Jitt-itsara, a co-leader of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), also thinks the scheme will not work.

"It is impossible [to dissolve red or PDRC] identities," said Tankhun, who spoke at the PDRC protest stage for most of the six-month-long period.

"This will also ruin the opportunity for people to be politically alert," he said, adding that the real need was not dissolving colour-coded politics, but getting rid of violence and hate speech against those who think differently.

Back at Imperial World, the owner of Post Cafe on the ground floor, insisted that some red were still visiting the mall - though not necessarily going up to the fifth floor or wearing red shirts - and they were still discussing politics.

Despite the People's Democratic Reform Committee no longer being allowed to meet formally, key members of the group have been working behind the scenes on a proposal for national reform, which they hope to hand over to the Reform Council when the time is right, a PDRC source said.

The source, who chose not to be named, said the PDRC's key leaders had last met on June 21 before separately discussing national reform with different groups of people. The source said only smaller meetings were held after that, especially since the PDRC has been told by the junta not to hold any political gatherings or make any explicit comments on politics for now. However, PDRC leaders hope they can hold activities once the Reform Council is created, he said.

"Civil society should take part in the reform," he said.

As to whether the PDRC - set up by former Democrat MPs, social and political activists as well as academics to "eradicate the Thaksin regime" - would regroup for a movement in the future, the source said they would consider the situation regularly.

"First we will see how national reform progresses and how the 'Thaksin regime' is eradicated. It will also depend on the situation," the source said.

Another source, who also asked not to be named, said former MPs who were part of the PDRC were now visiting people in their constituencies to prepare for the next election.

"Also many of them are focusing on their businesses to make up for the time and earnings they lost out on while taking part in the PDRC rallies," he said.

Meanwhile, PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban, who was previously secretary-general of the Democrat Party and has vowed to stay out of politics, has returned to his home town in Surat Thani province. However, the source said he was believed to be advising the party or at least some Democrats.

The plan to set up a foundation to help people hurt during the political protests has been put on hold.

Earlier, the PDRC announced that a second "Dinner with Uncle Kamnan" fund-raiser would be held late last month at the Pacific Club, owned by Suthep's daughter. The first such dinner was held the week before.

However, Suthep ended up having to cancel the second event, after junta chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha announced on television that no politically motivated fund-raisers were allowed.

Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, former rector of the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida), who was one of the PDRC leaders, said: "The PDRC has dispersed. There's no PDRC at the moment."

Sombat, who now leads Nida's Asean and Asia Studies Centre, said his last interaction with the PDRC was when it discussed national reform. This meeting took place shortly after the military coup on May 22.

He said the key mission for PDRC members now was defending their legal cases, including those on insurrection and trespassing on government premises that were filed by the Department of Special Investigation.

Meanwhile, the reform proposal has been handed over to Suthep, who will hand it over to the National Council for Peace and Order when the time is right, he added.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Where-are-the-different-colours-now-30237554.html

-- The Nation 2014-07-02

CU applicant scores highest across nation
Chuleeporn Aramnet
The Nation

Nearly 81,000 secure places through the centralised scheme

BANGKOK: -- A TOTAL OF 80,880 students have secured seats at higher-education institutes this year, through the country's central university admission system (CUAS).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739214-chulalongkorn-university-applicant-scores-highest-across-thailand/

French ex-President Sarkozy held over influence claims

PARIS: -- French ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy remains in custody for questioning over alleged influence peddling.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739215-french-ex-president-sarkozy-held-over-influence-claims/

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.

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

NY policeman Gilberto Valle acquitted in cannibal plot

NEW YORK: -- A federal judge in New York has overturned the conviction of a former police officer found guilty of plotting to murder his wife and cook and eat other women.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739219-ny-policeman-gilberto-valle-acquitted-in-cannibal-plot/

Belgium overcome American resistance to reach quarters

Match report: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739204-belgium-overcome-american-resistance-to-reach-quarters/

Singapore gambler denies World Cup fixing link

Notorious Singapore match-fixer Wilson Perumal on Tuesday denied he had predicted the result of the Cameroon v Croatia World Cup game which is now under investigation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739210-singapore-gambler-denies-world-cup-fixing-link/

Di Maria's last-gasp winner breaks Swiss hearts

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739209-di-marias-last-gasp-winner-breaks-swiss-hearts/

More than 8 million meth pills seized in the North

CHIANG MAI, 2 July 2014, (NNT) - Soldiers in Chiang Mai have seized more than 8 million meth pills and several military- grade weapons during its campaign to eliminate criminal activities in the area.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739305-thai-military-campaign-nets-millions-of-madness-pills/#entry8046923

Si Sa Ket gears up to develop jasmine rice
By Digital Content



SI SA KET, July 2 -- Thailand’s northeastern province of Si Sa Ket has sped up its jasmine rice development strategies, aiming to become one of the top provinces where high-quality jasmine rice is produced.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739259-si-sa-ket-gears-up-to-develop-jasmine-rice/

Burirum residents oppose oil exploration

BURIRUM, 2 July 2014, (NNT) - Burirum locals have expressed their opposition to the oil exploration and excavation in their province, fearing the move would negatively affect the area’s environment and agricultural sector.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739268-buriram-residents-oppose-oil-exploration/

Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,492.05, gains 6.30 points /MCOT

Student loan takers cite low income and misunderstanding in failure to repay loan

BANGKOK, 2 July 2014 (NNT) – The Education Council has discovered from research that students who failed to pay back the Education Loan Fund either claimed they did not earn enough income or they were of the understanding that the loan did not have to be repaid.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739279-thai-student-loan-takers-cite-low-income-and-misunderstanding-in-failure-to-repay-loan/

First Army says public transport reorganisation to bear fruit end of July



BANGKOK: -- First Army Region commander insisted that the National Council for Peace and Order’s (NCPO) efforts to regulate public transport and wipe out mafias extorting money from drivers will bear fruit by the end of the month.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739285-bangkoks-public-transport-reorganisation-to-bear-fruit-end-of-july-first-army/

UPDATE:

Veera thanks all who helped and secured freedom for him

BANGKOK: -- Veera Somkwamkid, a yellow-shirt activist, who was just freed from Cambodian prison said Wednesday he will continue his anti-corruption campaign.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739140-cambodian-king-pardons-jailed-thai-spy/?p=8046687#entry8046687

D-Day for 80-baht lottery price today



BANGKOK: -- For the first time in many years, the public will be able to purchase lottery tickets at a price of 80 baht per pair following the National council for Peace and Order (NCPO) efforts to reform the Government Lottery Office (GLO).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739288-d-day-for-80-baht-thai-lottery-price-today/

Provincial authorities start regulating van and motorbike taxi services

UTHAI THANI, 2 June 2014 (NNT) - Several provinces have started regulating passenger vans and motorcycle taxi services, in line with the policy of the National Council for Peace and Order, amid support from local people.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739291-thai-provincial-authorities-start-regulating-van-and-motorbike-taxi-services/

French burqa ban upheld by European courts
Rory Mulholland

PARIS: -- The European Court of Human Rights has upheld France's controversial ban on wearing a burqa or a niqab that covers the face in public, ruling that a 2010 law on religious headgear does not breach Muslim women's human rights.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/739292-french-burqa-ban-upheld-by-european-courts/