Thailand Live Sunday 27th Jul 2014

[Lite Beer]

Tackle insurgency, junta urged
The Sunday Nation

Muslim villagers shop for clothes at a market in the southern province of Narathiwat yesterday, ahead of the Eid ul-Fitr festival. The two-day festival, which begins after the sighting of the crescent moon, marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ram

BANGKOK: -- Deep South business leaders want NCPO to come up with immediate new measures to deal with festering problem

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746445-tackle-insurgency-junta-urged/

[Lite Beer]

Hunt for 3 bombing suspects
The Sunday Nation

A bomb expert (the man wearing blue gloves) speaks to the media near the wreck of the vehicle used in Friday

PATTANI: -- Police say pickup used for Betong attack stolen from Pattani; suspects fled in stolen van

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746447-hunt-for-3-bombing-suspects/

[Lite Beer]

At least 100 military in NLA: source
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- At least 100 senior military officers are tipped to be selected as members of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), an NCPO source said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746448-at-least-100-military-in-nla-source/

[Lite Beer]

Backers mark Thaksin's birthday
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A celebration for ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra's 65th birthday by avid supporters and red shirts at the Imperial Department Store in Lat Phrao was cut short yesterday on the order of military officials.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746449-backers-mark-thaksins-birthday/

[Lite Beer]

Chiang Mai keen to run education in the North
Tanpisit Lerdbamrungchai
The Sunday Nation

Watermelon carving is among the vocational skills showcased by school children in Chiang Mai

CHIANG MAI: -- Despite the buzzing tourist vibe at the Mae Taeng Elephant Camp in a scenic valley an hour north of Chiang Mai, 13-year-old Hmong boy Somchai Sirijanurak keeps his cool and his hands steady while carving a watermelon into beautiful patterns.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746450-chiang-mai-keen-to-run-education-in-the-north/

[Lite Beer]

High-society woman shot dead by Swiss husband: police
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- High society figure Kritaya Lamsam, an executive at Muang Thai Insurance, was shot dead by her Swiss husband at their Bangkok home on Friday evening, police said yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746451-high-society-woman-shot-dead-by-swiss-husband-police/

[Lite Beer]

Amlo increases pressure on alleged rosewood loggers
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Anti-Money Laundering Office will this week ask for Electronic Transactions Commission approval to trace the money transactions of seven suspects allegedly linked to illegally logged Siamese rosewood.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746452-amlo-increases-pressure-on-alleged-rosewood-loggers/

[Lite Beer]

Major regional events set to be held in the capital
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- The second Meeting of Governors and Mayors of Asean Capitals will be held in Bangkok from November 4-6.

The third ASEM Meeting for Governors and Mayors, which was supposed to be held in Bangkok in August but was postponed due to political unrest, will be held in March 2015.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Major-regional-events-set-to-be-held-in-the-capita-30239555.html

-- The Nation 2014-07-27

[Lite Beer]

Scores of trawler operators list illegal migrant workers
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- The operators of 3,315 fishing trawlers have submitted lists with the names of 54,789 migrant workers - 44,357 of them undocumented, the Department of Employment revealed yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746453-scores-of-trawler-operators-list-illegal-migrant-workers/

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL
Insurgency in the deep South is not a religious conflict
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thinking in Bangkok must change to find the bold and correct policies that can resolve this crisis

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746454-insurgency-in-the-deep-south-is-not-a-religious-conflict/

[Lite Beer]

Workers continuing to register at One Stop Service in Satun on the 5th day it has opened

SATUN, 26 July 2014 (NNT) - Several migrant workers without legal work permits registered at the One Stop Service Center in Satun on the fifth day it has been made available for them.

Many migrant workers who do not have work permits have continued to register into legal labor system. A total of 1,124 workers who completed their registration during 22 – 25 July. Out of the number, 847 are Burmese workers, 145 are Cambodian and 132 are Lao. There are 173 employers mostly in the fishing industry.

According to Satun's Deputy Governor who is also the Director of the Satun One Stop Service Center, there are 1,659 workers who have not registered. Of that number, 1,659 are migrant workers, 1,454 are followers and 205 are employers. The center is expected to receive up to 300 workers for the registration process. However, the center will only open until August 21, as determined by the National Council for Peace and Order.

-- NNT 2014-07-26

[Lite Beer]

EU ready for free trade negotiation with ASEAN

BANGKOK, 26 July 2014 (NNT) – The European Union has expressed readiness to join a trading negotiation with ASEAN and begin an ASEAN-EU Free Trade Agreement in the future.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746455-eu-ready-for-free-trade-negotiation-with-asean/

[Lite Beer]

Sin taxes to be used for the development of tourism destinations

BANGKOK: -- The National Tourism Policy Committee has decided to set aside two percent of the so-called “sin taxes” to set up a fund for the development of tourism destinations.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746456-sin-taxes-to-be-used-for-the-development-of-tourism-destinations/

[Lite Beer]

Phuket loan shark enforcers arrested

Darawan Naknakhon

Four of the five men wait as police photograph evidence.

PHUKET: Police in Phuket Town this afternoon (July 26) arrested five enforcers for a loan sharking ring, after reports that the ring had been charging interest of 20 per cent a month and intimidating people who did not pay on time.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746457-phuket-loan-shark-enforcers-arrested/

[Lite Beer]

Obama: Migrant youths without claims will be sent home

President Barack Obama has told Central American leaders that migrant children flooding into the US without legitimate legal claims will be sent home.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746461-obama-migrant-youths-without-claims-will-be-sent-home/

[Lite Beer]

World Cup should not be held in Russia, Nick Clegg says

Russia should lose the right to host the 2018 World Cup as part of tougher sanctions following the plane crash in eastern Ukraine, Nick Clegg has said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746466-world-cup-should-not-be-held-in-russia-nick-clegg-says/

[Lite Beer]

RT @RichardBarrow: The kick-off time for the Leicester City FC vs Everton FC friendly match has been changed to 6:49pm. Watch for free on Channel 3 #Thailand

[Lite Beer]

National Press Council vows to Manager Weekender

BANGKOK: -- National Press Council of Thailand President Chakkrit Permpool said the NPCT will investigate an allegation by the junta that Manager Weekender's latest edition has violated the junta's No 97 order.

The National Council for Peace and Order said in its latest announcement that the latest edition of Manager Weekender distorted information to make unfair criticisms of the junta.

But Chakkrit urged the junta to be more specific, saying the allegation was still vague.

He said the NPCT would perform its duty to oversee the press so the junta does not have to use its orders to shut down papers.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/National-Press-Council-vows-to-Manager-Weekender-30239564.html

-- The Nation 2014-07-27

[Lite Beer]

RT @RichardBarrow: Healthy Living in #Bangkok: Spring Epicurean Market on Sukhumwit 49 & Bangkok Farmers’ Market on Sukhumwit 26

[Lite Beer]

NCPO scores 8.87 points after two months in power

BANGKOK: -- The National Council for Peace and Order's approval rating rose to 8.87 out of ten points after it has run the country for two months, compared to 8.82 points at the end of the first month, Suan Dusit Pollster has found.

The survey was carried out among 1,689 people from Tuesday to Saturday.

Up to 91.77 per cent of the respondents said they were happy with the performance of the NCPO while the rest said they were not happy.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/NCPO-scores-8-87-points-after-two-months-in-power-30239565.html

-- The Nation 2014-07-27

[Lite Beer]

DMSC unveils a new bug repelling innovation

BANGKOK: -- BANGKOK, 27 July 2014, (NNT) - The Department of Medical Sciences has unveiled its new pest repelling devices, offering an affordable protection against carriers of contagious diseases.

According to Department’s officials, the new innovation is the result of a joint effort among the Department, Chulalongkorn University, Chiang Mai University, and Mahidol University. The repelling system has also been approved of by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The device may be installed near animal stalls. It will automatically prevent such insects as bees, centipedes, or ants from entering the areas.

The Department plans to mass produce the device, which will be offered to the public as an affordable protection against dengue fever, malaria, and Encephalitis.

-- NNT 2014-07-27

[Lite Beer]

Special Report: Defense Min asks all sides to take part in country reform

BANGKOK: -- Permanent Secretary for Defense General Surasak Kanchanarat has urged all sectors to take part in reforming Thailand, which is an important step for the future of the country.

Speaking at the opening of the seminar “Reforming Thailand and the Rise to Power in Parliament,” General Surasak said he hoped a new facet of Thai politics would be seen in the near future, which would lead to free and fair elections-- without vote buying.

The seminar is part of a series of forums, organized jointly by the Ministry of Defense and King Prajadhipok’s Institute from June to September 2014. The forums aim to provide all sectors of the Thai society opportunities to exchange views on guidelines for reforms and to promote public participation in politics.

Secretary-General of King Prajadhipok’s Institute, Professor Dr. Borwarnsak Uwanno, stated that the 2014 Interim Constitution, which took effect on 22 July 2014, specifies the responsibilities of five major organizations, namely the National Legislative Assembly, the Council of Ministers, the National Reform Council, the Constitutional Drafting Commission, and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

According to him, five points discussed at the seminar would be brought up for political reform, which include the balance of power, which involves parliamentarians, distribution of local administrative power, prevention of corruption, public participation in an appropriate manner, and relationships between political office holders and government officials.

The seminar also discussed the election system, and all suggestions would be brought up at the meeting of the King Prajadhipok’s Institute on 6-8 August, before being submitted to the National Reform Council and the Constitutional Drafting Commission.

The Interim Constitution states that the National Reform Council consists of no more than 250 members selected by the NCPO from the nominations made by the selection committees. Among the members of the National Reform Council, a representative from each of Thailand’s 77 provinces nominated by provincial selection committees will be included.

There will be 11 groups of the selection committees to nominate individuals from among 11 professional groups, and a provincial selection committee in each province to select individuals from respective provinces.

The National Reform Council will submit comments and suggestions to the Constitution Drafting Commission within 60 days after the inaugural meeting of the Council. The Constitution Drafting Commission will have to complete writing the new permanent constitution within 120 days after the date it receives comments and suggestions from the National Reform Council.

The whole Constitution drafting process will take about 10 months after the inaugural meeting of the National Reform Council.

-- NNT 2014-07-27

[Lite Beer]

RT @191Thailand: #Thailand - RT @Railwaytrip: Excursion Train (E&O) Derailed in Kanchanaburi Province Today http://t.co/LscETlxQP0

[Lite Beer]

RT @SteveInCM: Al Jazeera Breaking News: IDF officially announces resumption of air/land/sea action following Hamas' resumed firing of rockets.

[Lite Beer]

RT @RichardBarrow: Eastern & Oriental Express Train Derails in Thailand; Two Japanese tourists injured http://t.co/GFfMVokE7K http://t.co/pJpdjbjx88

[Lite Beer]

SRT board agrees on 700,000 compensation for funeral of rape victim

BANGKOK: -- The State Railway of Thailand board has decided to pay the family of the 13-year old rape and murder victim 700,000 baht in compensation for funeral costs, board chairman Omsin Chivapruek said Sunday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746541-srt-board-agrees-on-700000-compensation-for-funeral-of-murder-victim/

[Lite Beer]

RT @Biz_TheNation: RT @Pen_Passavee: on his birthday, Thaksin stressed his loyalty/care for country and all Thais, urging harmony. http://t.co/79eJgf8P12"

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

Muang Thai exec 'slain by husband'

BANGKOK: The murder of Muang Thai Insurance director Kritaya Lamsam on Friday night (July 25) is being treated by police as a domestic dispute.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746451-high-society-woman-shot-dead-by-swiss-husband-police/page-3?p=8158685#entry8158685

[Lite Beer]

M.L. Panadda inspects southern rice stocks

SONGKLA, 27 July 2014, (NNT) - According to the Permanent Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office, M.L. Panadda Dissakul, 5% of the stockpiled rice in the nation’s warehouses has gone missing, while some of the warehouses have been using below average preservative agents.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/746558-ml-panadda-inspects-southern-rice-stocks/

[Lite Beer]

Economist warns of high household debt

BANGKOK, 27 July 2014 (NNT) – The Economic Intelligence Center (EIC) of the Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) has reported high household debt in Thailand and remarked that the country’s household debt rate increases the fastest compared to other Asian countries.

EIC Chief Economist Sutthapha Amornwiwat said Thailand’s household debt was 82.3% of GDP as of the end of 2013 and most of the debt was found in the group of low income people who earned lower than 10,000 baht/month. The high household debt was a fragile situation for a recovering economy since it put pressure on domestic consumption, Ms Sutthapha said.

The chief economist also expressed concerns over the Thai economic recovery despite 90-billion-baht rice payments to farmers, saying agricultural products still faced the problem of price drop while many companies reduced overtime

-- NNT 2014-07-27