Thailand Live Monday 14 Jul 2014

[webfact]

Princess Soamsawali makes merit on her 57th birthday

BANGKOK, 14 July 2014 (NNT) - As Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali turned 57 on July 13, 2014 the Princess made merit on the day by offering food to 13 monks early in the morning at Thewet Palace in Bangkok. HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha, the royal daughter, also accompanied her on t้his occasion.

Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali has carried out many activities to relieve the burdens of Their Majesties the King and Queen and other members of the Royal Families. The Princess particularly works to promote the welfare and health standard of Thai people. She is currently the president of the Ruamchit Normklao Foundation for Young People and honorary chairperson of the Friends in Need (of “Pa”) Volunteers Foundation, Thai Red Cross Society.

Later in the day, Her Royal Highness proceeded to Wasukri Pier, by the Chao Phraya, where she released a pair of oxen bought from a slaughterhouse to be presented to a rural farm owner under the cattle bank project under the royal patronage. Her Royal Highness on this occasion also released 65 birds and fish fry numbering 390,000 into natural waterways. The princess then returned to Thewet Palace to preside over a religious function to mark the royal birthday.

Afterwards, Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali received in audience General Surayud Chulanont, a Privy Councilor, who was designated by Their Majesties the King and Queen to bring a vase of flowers to congratulate Her Royal Highness on this occasion. Her Royal Highness also received on the same day bouquets of flowers from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and other members of the Royal Family.

The Princess also granted an audience on the same day to groups of well wishers including representatives of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, official units and members of the mass media who used to accompany the Princess on royal duties in the country and abroad to cover her visits.

-- NNT 2014-07-14

[webfact]

MILITARY EXERCISE
Junta keeps US waiting over Cobra Gold
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Thai military has not responded to an appeal from the United States asking it to rejoin the annual Cobra Gold military exercises, after Washington earlier threatened to relocate the long-standing joint operation to Australia next year in response to the coup in May.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742553-thai-military-keeps-us-waiting-over-cobra-gold/

[webfact]

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
EC defends its proposals to overhaul political system
Pravit Rojanaphruk,
Chanikarn Phumhiran,
Attayuth Bootsripoom
The Nation


Somchai

Ideas to reform electoral set-up done for 'The best interests of the country'

BANGKOK: -- The Election Commission (EC) yesterday denied that its reform plan put to the National Council for Peace and Order last week came at the expense of politicians, saying its intentions were above-board - to make polls free and fair and allow only good people to serve the public.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742555-thailands-ec-defends-its-proposals-to-overhaul-political-system/

[webfact]

ALLEGATION
Taekwondo star: 'My coach hit me'
The Nation


Chai Young Seok

BANGKOK: -- The taekwondo Association of Thailand will launch an investigation into national coach Chai Young Seok after his charge - Asian Championship bronze medallist Rungrawee Kurasa - alleged he physically assaulted her.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742556-thai-taekwondo-star-my-coach-hit-me/

[webfact]

THAI-CHINESE RELATIONS
China seeks visa-free privilege for its tourists to Thailand
Marisa Chimprabha
The Nation

Chinese officials also expressed interest in dual-track rail lines; requests to be passed to the NCPO: Sihasak

BANGKOK: -- China has reiterated its request for Thailand to allow its nationals to visit without a visa, the same privilege as its diplomats and government officials, Foreign Ministry permanent secretary Sihasak Phuangketkeow said while on an official visit in Beijing.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742558-china-seeks-visa-free-privilege-for-its-tourists-to-thailand/

[webfact]

INNOVATION
New university will add another chip to Thailand's emerging 'Silicon Valley'
Pichaya Changsorn
The Nation


The Rayong Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

BANGKOK: -- PTT is considering to organise a Bt10 billion fund-raising for establishing an endowment fund to support long-term operations of the Rayong Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Thailand's first S&T research-intensive university designed to leapfrog the Kingdom into a new technological frontier.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742559-new-university-will-add-another-chip-to-thailands-emerging-silicon-valley/

[webfact]

FREE TRADE
FTA gets junta backing
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Council for Peace and Order has given the green light to the signing of an agreement to establish the Asean-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement next month.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742561-fta-gets-thai-junta-backing/

[webfact]

TELECOM
TOT expects to earn Bt10 bn a year from 900MHz service
Usanee Mongkolporn
The Nation

Says it will provide 70 per cent of funds to Finance Ministry if it retains spectrum

BANGKOK: -- TOT has claimed that it will be able to earn net profit of at least Bt10 billion per year on average through the 900MHz cellular service, provided it can retain the spectrum after 2015.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742562-tot-expects-to-earn-bt10-bn-a-year-from-900mhz-service/

[webfact]

REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Thai-French ties: more than meets the eyes
Kavi Chongkittavorn
Paris

BANGKOK: -- Streams of Thai investment in canned sea food, paper and petrochemical in recent years in France have contributed to the well beings of French people and improve their country's stuttering economy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742563-thai-french-ties-more-than-meets-the-eyes-opinion/

[webfact]

Police action questioned after Shooting at Jomtien Tattoo Shop



PATTAYA: -- On Sunday Afternoon the owner of a Tattoo Shop in Jomtien was informed that shots had been fired in the direction of his Tattoo Shop causing damage to the front windows.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742564-police-action-questioned-after-shooting-at-jomtien-tattoo-shop/

[webfact]

Assault prompts investigation into Pattaya Village Chief



PATTAYA: -- The Chief of a Village in the Northern outskirts of Pattaya is currently under investigation following allegations he may have ordered the beating of a man who is alleged to have caused a disturbance close to his house.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742566-assault-prompts-investigation-into-pattaya-village-chief/

[webfact]

Anti-graft agency probing rice deals, links to ministers
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Anti-Corruption Commission sub-panel is deeply probing alleged irregularities in the rice-pledging scheme's financial transactions to identify possible nominees linked to five former ministers under investigation, NACC deputy secretary-general Warawit Sukboon said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742567-anti-graft-agency-probing-rice-deals-links-to-thai-ministers/

[webfact]

Revoking of Pavin passport was legal, Sihasak says
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Foreign Affairs Ministry's revocation of academic Pavin Chachavalponpun's passport was done legally, permanent secretary for foreign affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow said yesterday.

"We did everything in accordance with the regulations," he said.

Pavin has accused Foreign Ministry permanent secretary Sihasak Phuangketkeow of dereliction of duty for failing to inform him about a junta summons and the subsequent cancellation of his passport.n his Facebook page, Pavin, Assoc Prof at the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies at Kyoto University in Japan, said the National Council for Peace and Order issued a summons for him on May 24 to have his attitude adjusted and on July 9 it cancelled his pass?port.Pavin has accused Sihasak of dereliction of duty for failing to inform him about a junta summons and the subsequent cancellation of his passport.

On his Facebook page, Pavin, Assoc Prof at the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies at Kyoto University in Japan, said the National Council for Peace and Order issued a summons for him on May 24 to have his attitude adjusted and on July 9 it cancelled his passport.

He said the NCPO issued the summons twice but he did not report because he objected to what he considered the council's illegitimate seizure of power, although the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Osaka had not officially notified him about summonses. It also failed to inform about an arrest warrant being issued against him and the cancellation of his passport, he said.

Pavin said he wrote to the consulate and was told it had not received an order from the Department of Consular Affairs to issue him with a formal letter. He said he had come to the conclusion that the Foreign Ministry intended to isolate him by not formally contacting him.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Revoking-of-Pavin-passport-was-legal-Sihasak-says-30238418.html


-- The Nation 2014-07-14

[webfact]

AEC
Thais need more work and language skills for AEC, experts say
Thiranat Sucharikul
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The need for Thais to equip themselves with professional and language skills is growing significantly, as Thailand is set to become a part of the Asean Economic Community next year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742568-thais-need-more-work-and-language-skills-for-aec-experts-say/

[webfact]

Thais to march in WW I centenary parade in Paris
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Eight official representatives of Thailand, including military officers and students, will join the Bastille Day parade today in Paris to commemorate the centenary of the beginning of World War I in France.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742569-thais-to-march-in-ww-i-centenary-parade-in-paris/

[webfact]

Concern for children as Cambodian workers begin to flood back
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Cambodian workers are migrating back to Thailand en-masse following a mass exodus last month in the wake of the coup. This movement has sparked safety concerns for young children travelling alongside their parents, says World Vision, one of the world's largest aid agencies.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742570-concern-for-children-as-cambodian-workers-begin-to-flood-back-to-thailand/

[webfact]

Water at Bhumibol dam drops to critical level



BANGKOK: -- Water stored at the Bhumibol dam has dropped to a critical level similar to the situation two years ago as no fresh water has flowed into the dam for a month onward until July 12, said Mr Rakchart Lekboonpetch, an electric engineer at Bhumibol dam in Tak province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742572-water-at-bhumibol-dam-drops-to-critical-level/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

BREAKING

Tourist visa holders denied entry to Thailand and left stranded in Malaysia

SUNGAI KOLOK (Southern Thailand): -- At least 20 foreign nationals were yesterday (Sunday) denied entry into Thailand using their 60-days Tourist visas, after attempting to enter via the Sungai Kolok border checkpoint in Narathiwat province.

Full story here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742573-tourist-visa-holders-denied-entry-to-thailand-and-left-stranded-in-malaysia/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

World Cup history for Germany as Goetze sinks Argentina

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742574-world-cup-history-for-germany-as-goetze-sinks-argentina/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

World Cup winner 'unbelievable' - Goetze

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742579-world-cup-winner-unbelievable-goetze/

[webfact]

Efforts to reorganize pavement areas in Bangkok continue

BANGKOK, 14 July 2014, (NNT) - Vendors in Klong Lord have complied with the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)’s recent policy to reorganize sidewalks in the capital, by refraining from setting stalls in the prohibited areas. However, the new codes have been ignored by street sellers around the Jatujak weekend market.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742592-efforts-to-reorganize-footpath-areas-in-bangkok-continue/

[webfact]

300,000 meth pills seized in Chiang Mai

CHIANG MAI, 14 July 2014 (NNT) - Chiang Mai provincial military and police officials have jointly thwarted a narcotic ring from smuggling 300,000 ‘4G’ brand meth pills worth about 60 million baht into the Kingdom.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742595-300000-meth-pills-seized-in-chiang-mai/

[webfact]

Woman shot as two rival gangs collide in Jomtien

PATTAYA:--In the early hours of Sunday a 20 year old woman was shot in the hip as she rode as passenger on her boyfriend’s motorbike which was being chased by an 8-man gang, one of which was shooting in the direction of the victim.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742591-woman-shot-as-two-rival-gangs-collide-in-jomtien/

[webfact]

Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,525.44, gains 7.43 points /MCOT

[webfact]

Permanent Secretary Prime Minister's Office:Warehouses and Silos must follow code of conduct

BANGKOK, 14 July 2014(NNT)-The Permanent Secretary of the Prime Minister’s office has ordered all warehouses and silos to follow the defining code of conduct, while the office itself is gearing up to maintain the quality of rice.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742612-thai-warehouses-and-silos-must-follow-code-of-conduct-permanent-secretary-pms-office/

[webfact]

Acclaimed US classical conductor Lorin Maazel dies

(BBC) Lorin Maazel, widely seen as one of the greatest modern conductors of classical music, has died in the US, aged 84.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742616-famed-conductor-lorin-maazel-dies/

[webfact]

BMA to establish alien registration centers tomorrow

BANGKOK, 14 July 2014, (NNT) -The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is setting up 6 new alien registration centers tomorrow (July 15th).

Department of Employment Director-General Sumet Mahosod said the new centers would be set up in Rama-Indra Sports Center in Bangkhen,Bangkok Youth Center (Thai-Japan) in Dindaeng, Minthinthong City Hall in Minburi, Lumpini Youth Center in Pathumwan, Taweewattana’s Youth Center, and Bangbon’s Sports Center.

According to the Director-General, all the 6 centers will open for services from July 15th to August 14th and up to 1,000 foreign workers are expected to register at each center, which will be manned by 10 of the department officials.

Reportedly, nearly 28,000 foreign workers registered with the center in Samutsakhon between June 30th to July 13th.


-- NNT 2014-07-14

[webfact]

Chinese paper calls Julie Bishop a 'complete fool', Australia a country of 'rascals and outlaws'
John Garnaut
ASIA PACIFIC EDITOR FOR FAIRFAX MEDIA

MELBOURNE: -- Australia is an outpost of “rascals and outlaws” that will soon adjust to the shifting realities of power, says a Chinese state-owned newspaper.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742625-chinese-paper-calls-julie-bishop-a-complete-fool-australia-a-country-of-rascals-and-outlaws/

[webfact]

Thailand's dengue fever victims number nearly 12,000
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, July 14 - Public health officials throughout Thailand have been instructed to be on alert for the possible spread of dengue fever, especially during the current rainy season, after 13 persons died since the beginning of the year, according to Dr Narong Sahametapat, permanent secretary for public health.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742633-thailands-dengue-fever-victims-number-nearly-12000/

[webfact]

Italy's Costa Concordia: Cruise ship to be raised

ROME: -- The wrecked Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia is due to be raised and towed away in one of the biggest maritime salvage operations in history.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/742634-italys-costa-concordia-cruise-ship-to-be-raised/