Thailand Live Thursday 31 Jul 2014

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Myanmar station visits Ranong Radio Thailand to see Thai-Burmese programs production

RANONG, 31 July 2014 (NNT) - Mrs.Jirada Deechaiya, Director of Radio Thailand, Ranong has welcomed a delegation from a Myanmar broadcasting station on the occasion of a visit to Ranong Province to exchange experiences and create connections among mass media authorities of the two countries.

The Burmese delegation observed the production of ‘Mingalaba Ranong’ broadcasting through FM 107.25 MHz covering Ranong Province and Kawthaung Township of Myanmar.

This program has been produced for 2 years, and aims to tighten the relationship between the two countries.

The Chief of the Myanmar broadcasting station has also suggested collecting news from the Myanmar government website www.moi.gov.mm in order to gain accurate information about Myanmar government activities.

Moreover, they have expressed their pleasure over the Thai-Burmese bilingual program since it will strengthen the relationship of the two countries in business, investment, and tourism.

[nnt]2014-07-31[/nnt]

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IMMIGRATION
Heavy new penalties await visa overstays
PANTIPA JITRAWUTTHIPORN
THE NATION 


File Photo

BANGKOK: -- AUTHORITIES will bar visitors who overstay their visas from returning to Thailand for between one year and a whole decade. The longer the overstay period, the longer will be the re-entry ban.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747534-august-29-heavy-new-penalties-await-visa-overstays-thai-immigration/

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THAI bans shark fin cargo



BANGKOK: -- Thai Airways has released a statement on its Facebook Tuesday banning shark fin on its planes.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747426-thai-bans-shark-fin-cargo/

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Thailand not a haven for foreign criminals
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, July 31 -- Thailand will not serve as a save haven for international criminals on the run, according to a top police officer.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747535-thailand-not-a-haven-for-foreign-criminals/

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Police close dog meat shop in Sakon Nakhon
By Digital Content

SAKON NAKHON, July 31 -- Authorities from the International Animals Trafficking Suppression Special Unit under Provincial Police Region 4 raided a dog meat shop in northeastern province of Sakon Nakhon and arrested three suspects.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747536-police-close-dog-meat-shop-in-isaan/

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DISCRIMINATION
Hotel ban on Aids group raises rights debate
CHULARAT SAENGPASSA,
CHANIKAN PHUMHIRAN
THE NATION

Network says move discriminatory and a violation; NHRC to look into complaint

BANGKOK: -- A NETWORK of people living with HIV/Aids and their advocates yesterday asked the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to investigate alleged rights violations and discriminatory practices after a Bangkok-based hotel reportedly denied HIV/Aids NGOs' requests to host events at the hotel.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747537-bangkok-hotel-ban-on-aids-group-raises-rights-debate/

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LIBYA
Libya asked to waive exit visa to facilitate evacuation
THE NATION

THAILAND IS asking Libya to cancel its exit visa regulations in order to facilitate the evacuation of Thais living there, Manopchai Vongphakdi, director-general of the Foreign Ministry's South Asia Department, said yesterday.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747539-libya-asked-to-waive-exit-visa-for-thais-to-facilitate-evacuation/

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UPDATE:

 

EBOLA OUTBREAK
All arrivals from West Africa to be monitored
NANTIDA PUANGTHONG,
TANATPONG KONGSAI
THE NATION, AGENCIES 

 

Thai authorities join the rest of the world in controlling spread of the deadly Ebola virus

BANGKOK: -- THAI AUTHORITIES have joined the rest of the world in monitoring the spread of the Ebola virus and are closely screening all arrivals from West Africa, a source at the Foreign Ministry said yesterday.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747374-ministry-places-thai-health-officials-on-ebola-alert/?p=8175427#entry8175427

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RICE BIDING
Ministry mulls rice sales to China, Malaysia
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation


Demaged rice from the stockpiles that will be the raw material to produce ethanol by PTT, who interests to buy.

BANGKOK: -- The Commerce Ministry will negotiate with China and Malaysia over the purchase of rice from the upcoming harvest season, and is also seeking additional distribution channels at home - such as military camps, hospitals and prisons - to prevent a domestic oversupply.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747540-thai-commerce-ministry-mulls-rice-sales-to-china-malaysia/

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NLA
Military officials to dominate National Legislative Assembly
THE NATION

Up to 140 of NLA's 220 members to be from armed forces : source

BANGKOK: -- THE NATIONAL Legislative Assembly will be heavily dominated by military officers from all the Armed Forces - between 125 and 140 of the total 220 NLA members - according to a source familiar with the matter.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747541-thai-military-officials-to-dominate-national-legislative-assembly/

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LUXURY TAX
Call for phase-out of import duty on luxury fashion goods
Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn
The Nation


TSCA president Wallaya Chirathivat

BANGKOK: -- The Thai Shopping Centres Association (TSCA) has proposed that the ruling junta gradually cut the import duty charged on luxury fashion brands by 5-10 percentage points annually, with the goal of becoming a duty-free country for such items within five years.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747543-thai-call-for-phase-out-of-import-duty-on-luxury-fashion-goods/

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Reform, the only way out of political conflict for Thailand



BANGKOK: -- In this concluding part of the speech by former deputy prime minister Surakiart Sathirathai at the international conference "Thailand is Back", co-organised by the Federation of Thai Industries and The Nation at Dusit Thani Hotel, Bangkok, on Tuesday, he talks about the way forward for the country through a process of reform:

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747545-reform-the-only-way-out-of-political-conflict-for-thailand/

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EDITORIAL
Violence against civilian targets must be condemned
The Nation

The insurgents in the deep South will get no respect as long as innocent lives are being taken

BANGKOK: -- Violence has continued unabatedly in the southern border region, and one of the disturbing trends is hitting "soft targets".

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747546-thai-editorial-violence-against-civilian-targets-must-be-condemned/

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TELL IT AS IT IS
The existential agony of a Bangkok urbanite
Pornpimol Kanchanalak
Special to The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Exactly at 8 o'clock in the morning, every single day, seven days a week, she wakes up to the insufferably throbbing sound of pile-driving equipment drilling the concrete shafts into the ground. These days, she even considers the daily 8 o'clock commencement of her torment an act of mercy by the construction contractor. Some days they would start the piling earlier.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747547-the-existential-agony-of-a-bangkok-urbanite/

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Smart phones and digital cameras will be used to catch traffic offenders

BANGKOK: -- Traffic policemen have been told to use their smart phones or digital cameras to take pictures of cars or motorcycles which violate traffic laws and then send the pictures and tickets to the violators.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747548-thai-police-smart-phones-and-digital-cameras-will-be-used-to-catch-traffic-offenders/

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Rotten rice should be turned into ethanol



BANGKOK: -- The estimated 100,000 tonnes of rotten rice in storage should be sold to the PTT Plc and then turned into ethanol.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747549-rotten-thai-rice-should-be-turned-into-ethanol/

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Two rice thieves arrested



BANGKOK: -- Police have arrested two warehouse owners after finding them guilty of stealing almost 100,000 sacks of rice, worth 98 million baht, from their own warehouses which they rented to the state to store the rice bought from farmers under the rice-pledging scheme.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747551-two-men-charged-with-stealing-thai-rice-worth-bt98m-from-warehouse/

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Junta makes audacious move in stealth battle with media
ATTAYUTH BOOTSRIPOOM
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE RULING National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) came under heavy criticism when it issued its Announcement No 97 to control the media. However, the junta appeared to make a compromise with Announcement No 103 a few days later, allowing media groups to supervise members of their organisations.

The surprise retreat came in the wake of a meeting between the NCPO and media representatives in which the latter expressed their displeasure at the original order. What was surprising to some observers was that the media groups reacted too slowly to give a collective response to Announcement 97. Indeed, they had not met together to discuss the issue before the meeting with the NCPO.

In the opinion of many, the junta's "U-turn" showed its reluctance to engage in a head-on clash with the news media.

However, the real thinking behind the move became clearer when the NCPO issued another announcement, No 108. This edict instructed media groups to investigate the junta's allegation that the ASTV Manager weekly newsmagazine published untrue information with the goal of damaging the NCPO's credibility.

The order urged media groups to report the findings of their investigations to the NCPO chief, General Prayuth Chan-ocha.

This was an efficient and prudent "battle plan" by military strategists that was poorly matched by the slow-moving media groups.

The question now is whether the media groups will come up with findings that deviate from those of the NCPO. Whatever happens, it seems that the junta backed off from its original order only to go back on the offensive with another higher-priority edict.

ASTV Manager, owned by outspoken media mogul Sondhi Limthongkul, is expected to ignore any finding that goes against its interests. If that is the case, it may convince the public that media groups cannot control their unruly members.

This scenario would provide the junta with an ideal excuse to control the media through martial law. The latest order states that if ASTV Manager violates the rules again (by allegedly publishing untrue information), the NCPO will enforce martial law and take legal action against the magazine.

If the media groups comply with the NCPO order and their members agree with the junta's accusations, it means the NCPO has control over the media - the goal of its original order.

This is an awkward moment for |the media groups, as it puts them |on the back foot again even as they try to appear defiant. On one side |they make bullish public statements about challenging NCPO orders, but on the other hand they face a huge dilemma.

One strategy they may adopt is to delay establishment of the committee to investigate the NCPO's allegation against ASTV Manager. Whatever the finding will be, it is the NCPO that will gain and the media groups that will lose. And ASTV Manager may not be the last media target of the NCPO.

The junta's moves have been well planned.

An initial gambit was followed by a modicum of sacrifice but the NCPO has now obtained a highly advantageous position in its dealings with the media.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Junta-makes-audacious-move-in-stealth-battle-with--30239890.html

[thenation]2014-07-31[/thenation]

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NCPO slammed for terminating some funds
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- A FORMER Pheu Thai MP yesterday criticised the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) for aborting several funds initiated by the Yingluck Shinawatra government, saying they were useful and even needed in case of emergency.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747556-former-pheu-thai-mp-slams-ncpo-for-terminating-some-funds/

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Ukraine conflict: Russia faces more sanctions, warns G7

(BBC) G7 leaders say Russia will face further economic sanctions if it continues to support rebels in Ukraine.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747565-g7-says-russia-faces-more-sanctions/

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Gaza conflict: US and UN condemn school shelling

WASHINGTON: -- The US and UN have condemned the shelling of a school housing displaced civilians in Gaza.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747567-anger-mounts-as-gaza-toll-rises/

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House Republicans vote to sue President Obama

WASHINGTON: -- The US House of Representatives has passed a resolution to sue President Barack Obama for allegedly exceeding his constitutional powers.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747571-house-republicans-vote-to-sue-president-obama/

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Patong police screen tourists for drugs
Eakkapop Thongtub


Reangchai Nontermbion arrested for possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition. Photo Eakkapop Thongtub.

Phuket: -- Pol. Gen Jirapat Pochanapan, Katu Police department, led a team of armed-forces to clean out all illegal activities in the Patong area at 9pm on Tuesday (July 29).

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747591-patong-police-screen-tourists-for-drugs/

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THAI Smile to move some ops from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Don Muang Airport this month.Flights to/from Phuket,Chiangmai,Khon Kaen will be operated at Don Muang Airport as of Aug.8 /The Nation

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Drug-resistant malaria parasites spreading in Thailand and 3 neighbouring countries, health authorities warned /The Nation

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Tourism Authority of Thailand and 54 local insurance firms to offer online travel insurance to draw foreign tourists,boost tourism /The Nation

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,511.77, falls 7.02 points /MCOT

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UPDATE:

 

Thailand to sell out 18 million tons of rice in three years



BANGKOK: -- Then Ministry of Commerce says the 18 million tons of rice the government has bought from farmers under the corruption-plagued rice pledging scheme would be sold out in three years.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747540-thai-commerce-ministry-mulls-rice-sales-to-china-malaysia/#entry8176468

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Bangkok launches new biking routes on Mother’s Day

BANGKOK, 31 July 2014 (NNT) –The Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA) is set to officially launch its latest 4.5 km biking routes at Makhamtes Lake and Sakaengam Samduen Lake on the occasion of Her Majesty the Queen's Birthday, August 12th, according to the BMA's permanent secretary Ninnart Chalitanon.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747626-bangkok-launches-new-biking-routes-on-mothers-day/

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Ministry of Social Development and Human Security sets up a tracking system to prevent human trafficking

BANGKOK, 30 July 2014 (NNT) – The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security permanent secretary Wichien Chawalit today convened a meeting to grant the Ministry’s policy on a tracking system for prevention and suppression of human trafficking at provincial level.

To update its operation system and protect the well being of victims, each province was directed to convene a monthly meeting of the sub-committee for the Provincial Human Trafficking Prevention and Suppression Operation Center.

 

The sub-committee comprised of the public and private sectors has been urged to report it's performance and progress to the Ministry each month. Those having clues to human trafficking can report instances on [email protected] or 02-281-0153.

 

[nnt]2014-07-31[/nnt]