Thailand Live Saturday 26 Jul 2014

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Fire rages at TC Union Global factory on Rama II road in Samut Sakhon, firefighters rush to control blaze /MCOT

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Evicted Villagers and Park Officials Reach Compromise

BY Khaosod Eng.

BANGKOK — Park officials have agreed to provide housing and land to some of the villagers they recently evicted from a Wildlife Sanctuary in Buriram province.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746252-evicted-villagers-and-park-officials-reach-compromise/

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Regional police HQ to move from Surat to Phuket
Anthika Muangrod

Gen Panya: ‘We are moving here because Phuket plays an important role.’

PHUKET: The Police Region 8 HQ, currently in Surat Thani, will move to Phuket at the end of next year, Regional Commissioner Pol Maj Gen Panya Mamen told The Phuket News yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746253-regional-police-hq-to-move-from-surat-to-phuket/

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UPDATE:

Two killed, 40 injured in Yala car bomb attack

YALA, July 26 -- Two people were killed and at least 40 were injured in a car bomb attack at a hotel in Betong district of the southernmost province of Yala on Friday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746133-bomb-attack-in-yala-kills-at-least-two-and-injures-many-others/?p=8153652#entry8153652

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Special Report: Royally-endorsed interim Constitution to be in effect for one year

BANGKOK: -- The Interim Constitution of Thailand, promulgated on 22 July 2014, is Thailand’s 19th constitution. It is expected to be in effect for one year before the drafting of the next permanent constitution is completed.

According to the Interim Constitution, the King appoints the Prime Minister, upon the resolution of the National Legislative Assembly, and no more than 35 other ministers, upon the advice of the Prime Minister.

The new government is responsible for administering the country, conducting reforms, and promoting national unity and reconciliation. The King has the prerogative to remove the Prime Minister, upon the advice of the President of the National Legislative Assembly, as well as to remove ministers, upon the advice of the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister and ministers have the right to attend and give statements of fact and opinions at sittings of the National Legislative Assembly, or the National Reform Council, but do not have the right to cast votes.

The Interim Constitution states that there will be a National Reform Council to study and offer suggestions for reforms in various areas – politics, national administration, laws and juridical processes, local administration, education, economic affairs, energy, public health and environment, mass media, social affairs, among others.

The National Reform Council consists of no more than 250 members, who will be appointed by His Majesty the King, upon the advice of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). The King appoints one member of the National Reform Council as its President and no more than two as its Vice Presidents, upon the resolution of the National Reform Council.

There will be selection committees responsible for selecting suitable persons in various fields for membership of the National Reform Council. Each province will also have a selection committee to select its representative from various groups.

Apart from giving suggestions for reforms, members of the National Reform Council are also responsible for offering opinions and suggestions to the Constitutional Drafting Commission in relation to the writing of the new charter. It will give approval to the draft charter, as well.

The Interim Constitution also states that there will be a Constitutional Drafting Commission, comprising 36 members, appointed by the President of the National Reform Council. These members will be nominated by the NCPO, the National Reform Council, the National Legislative Assembly, and the Cabinet.

Members of the Constitutional Drafting Commission must not hold political office positions within two years after they are discharged from the membership of the Commission.

The NCPO will remain in power until the promulgation of the new permanent constitution. It is empowered to offer suggestions to the Cabinet; however, it is not authorized to discharge members of the Cabinet.

-- NNT 2014-07-26

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Thai-Cambodian railway soon to be constructed

SA KEO, 26 July 2014 (NNT) -- Thai representatives have joined in a foundation stone laying ceremony held in Cambodia, setting the wheels in motion for the construction of railway linking the two countries together.

The Klong Luek - Poypethe railway, now under construction, will link Cambodia's Bantey Meanchey province to Thailand's Sa Keo, 176 kilometers away. When completed, the new line is expected to boost growth in tourism and trade between the two countries. It is hoped to enable Sakeo and Bantey Mienchey to be logistics hubs when ASEAN Economy Community kicks off next year.

The Klongleuk-Poypet line is indicative of a long history of close ties between Thailand and Cambodia. It was first constructed in 1926 to transport goods from Thailand to the neighboring country. It was abandoned forty years ago during the battle between Khmere Rouge and the then Cambodia government.

-- NNT 2014-07-26

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UPDATE:

RAYONG, 26 July 2014 (NNT) – The quality of sea water around Samet Island off the coast of Rayong has been confirmed to be within the acceptable standard, and the beach ecosystem is on course for recovering to normalcy.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746180-fishermen-in-rayong-to-sue-pttgc-for-bt300-million/#entry8153704

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US official visits alien registration center to follow up on anti-human trafficking effort

SAMUT SONGKHRAM, 26 July 2014 (NNT) – United States embassy officials visited the one-stop service center for migrant workers registration in Samut Sakhon on Friday to follow up on Thai authorities' efforts to curb human trafficking and labor rights problems that the US cited as reasons for its downgrade of Thailand in its annual Trafficking in Persons report.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746254-us-official-visits-alien-registration-center-to-follow-up-on-anti-human-trafficking-effort/

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RT @BkkGreg: RIP to a friend I've known since high school. Helped me through many stressful times. Not available in TH anymore. http://t.co/u8rfn8ZJpg

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Karoon Hosakul enters monkhood

BANGKOK: -- Former Pheu Thai party MP for Don Muang Mr Karoon Hosakul was ordained as a Buddhist monk Saturday morning at Wat Don Muang temple.

The ordination ceremony was officiated by Phra Ratchavisuthimongkol, the abbot of Wat Don Muang as his preceptor.

Attending the ceremony this morning included his parents, wife, and former information and communication technology minister Anudit Nakorntab, former MP Surachart Thienthong, local administration politicians, and supporters.

He was given a Buddhist name of Phra Kittitaro which means “the man with fame and honour”.

Phra Kittitaro will perform Buddhism practice’s at the temple for nine days.

Today is also the 65th birthday anniversary of the former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/karoon-hosakul-enters-monkhood/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=karoon-hosakul-enters-monkhood

-- Thai PBS 2014-07-26

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Taxis back at work around Phuket’s Surin Beach legally – sort of

Anthika Muangrod

The original plan called for a taxi call centre in the tourist pavilion at Surin Beach. This now seems unlikely. Image Google Street View

PHUKET: The taxis are back again, working around Surin Beach while waiting for the authorities to decide on how the island’s taxi services should be reorganised.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746275-taxis-back-at-work-around-phukets-surin-beach-legally-sort-of/

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UPDATE:

Over 4,000 Thai workers in Israel to be evacuated to safer areas
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, July 26 -- Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Sihasak Puangketkeow has said his ministry was coordinating with concerned authorities on bringing the body of a deceased Thai worker back to Thailand as soon as possible and was trying to relocate more than 4,000 workers away from dangerous-prone areas near Gaza.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746179-govt-demands-that-thai-workers-be-moved-from-risky-areas-in-israel/#entry8154103

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Grenade ambush injures one local in Yala

YALA: -- Muslim insurgents ambushed a police patrol unit on Highway 4065 in Lammai district of Yala on Friday night with M 79 grenade, sparking a brief gunfight before escaping into roadside bushes.

The ambush happened at about 10 p.m. as the policemen were escorting the owner of a passenger van hijacked by escaping bombers of Betong town to inspect the scene on the highway from Ban Nieng to Yaha.

The bombers were reported to hijack his van to escape after they drove a stolen Mazda pickup truck with 30-kilo homemade bomb to park in front of Holiday Hill hotel in Betong, and remotely detonated it.

The explosion killed two people, and injured about 30, including Malaysian tourists. It also started a fire which gutted several shop houses and a 7-Eleven convenient store.

The insurgents fired a M 79 grenade at the police but missed. But a villager was injured by shrapnel. He was admitted to Yala hospital centre.

A brief gunfight ensued and lasted 10 minutes later with no police being injured.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/grenade-ambush-injures-one-local-yala/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=grenade-ambush-injures-one-local-yala

-- Thai PBS 2014-07-26

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UPDATE:

ISOC denounces Betong bombing extreme and inhumane act



YALA: -- The fourth region Internal Security Operation Command (ISOC) today denounced Muslim insurgents for committing extreme and inhumane acts against innocent people in the Betong bombing which killed two persons, and injured 42 others.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746133-bomb-attack-in-yala-kills-at-least-two-and-injures-many-others/?p=8154212#entry8154212

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Interim Constitution balances power: Prayuth
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, July 26 -- In an effort to calm worries among the public, National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) leader and army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha has said that the royally approved Provisional Constitution would balance powers of NCPO and an interim government, to be formed later.

Speaking during his television address late on Friday, Gen Prayuth said the interim Constitution, endorsed by His Majesty the King earlier this week and now in effect after it was published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday, would also pave the way for the NCPO to proceed to the second phase of its roadmap.

Over the past two months after the NCPO took power of the country, it has tried to solve problems confronting the country speedily without any intention to harm anybody, said Gen Prayuth, adding that everybody should cooperate now to enable the country to move forward, which would be the responsible of the interim government.

Urging the public to trust the NCPO, Gen Prayuth said the public should feel assured when there is a balance of power which would “oversee both the (interim) government and the NCPO, which was empowered to maintain peace, and to also screen transparency in every sector.”

Admitting that there were still people opposing the NCPO within and outside the country, he said those people should stop attacking, as both the judicial system and independent organisations were still performing and wrongdoers would have to be punished.

“The existence of laws is for restoring peace in society and not meant for keeping conflicts at bay eternally. Proven wrongdoers will have to be punished and if they don’t agree, they should flee the country, as they are not welcome in Thailand,” said Gen Prayuth. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2014-07-26

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RT @RichardBarrow: 7 year old girl injured in yesterday's car bomb in Betong #Thailand has improved but still in ICU (Pic @idongphoto) http://t.co/kY1cpRgahL

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Human remains still at MH17 crash site: Australia PM

SYDNEY - More that a week after Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 came down in rebel-held eastern Ukraine human remains are still at the crash site, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Saturday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746319-human-remains-still-at-mh17-crash-site-australia-pm/

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RT @RichardBarrow: M2F Bangkok Music Festival 2014 starts at 3pm in front of CentralWorld in #Bangkok http://t.co/3RiYliet3T

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National Human Rights Commission issues statement condemning Yala's Betong car bomb attack which left 3 persons dead, more than 40 wounded /MCOT

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RT @RichardBarrow: No excuses, no exceptions, cop fined 500 Baht for dangerous driving (Via @TNEWSTV) #Bangkok #Thailand http://t.co/u0sDbEWCDh

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Trang Hit By Counterfeit 1,000 Baht Notes

By Khaosod Eng.

TRANG — Police are warning citizens and tourists in Trang to beware of counterfeit 1,000 baht banknotes circulating around the province.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746362-trang-hit-by-counterfeit-1000-baht-notes/

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Junta chief sends flowers to wish Chuan happy birthday

BANGKOK: -- National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha sent flowers to ex-Premier Chuan Leekphai to wish him happy birthday at the Democrat party' s office on Saturday.

The sending of flowers by Gen Prayuth to wish Chuan was made three days in advance of his 76th anniversary as his birthday falls on Monday July 28.

The birthday flowers was delivered to Chuan at the party’s office by Gen Prayuth’s representative Col Siroj Tasanont.

It was the second time after the May 22 military take-over that Gen Prayuth sent representatives to see Mr Chuan, the chairman of the Democrat party’s advisory board.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/junta-chief-sends-birthday-flowers-wish-chuan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=junta-chief-sends-birthday-flowers-wish-chuan

-- Thai PBS 2014-07-26

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RT @SkyNewsBreak: AFP: the number of Palestinians killed in #Gaza since the recent conflict began has risen to over 1,000

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to continue:

Thailand Live Sunday 27 Jul 2014

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746446-thailand-live-sunday-27th-jul-2014/