Thailand Live Thursday 31 Jul 2014

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UPDATE:

 

2 Arrested for rice pledging program fraud

PATUMTHANI, 31 July 2014, (NNT) - Officials have apprehended 2 men for stealing more than 98,000 sacks of pledged rice.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747551-two-men-charged-with-stealing-thai-rice-worth-bt98m-from-warehouse/?p=8176803#entry8176803

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Thailand to host Thailand-Pacific Island Countries Forum
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, July 31 -- Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs' American and South Pacific Department will host the 1st Thailand-Pacific Island Countries Forum (TPIF) on August 9-10 at the Sukosol Hotel in Bangkok.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747643-thailand-to-host-thailand-pacific-island-countries-forum/

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UPDATE:

 

CAMPAIGN
THAI upset over protest plan, says it has banned shipping of shark fin
Suchat Sritama
The Nation

 

BANGKOK: -- The Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS) is preparing to launch a campaign against Thai Airways International (THAI) to protest against the shipping of shark fin.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747426-thai-bans-shark-fin-cargo/#entry8177021

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Amnart Charoen districts flooded, some as much as 70cm deep; Main Ubon Ratchathani roads under water, traffic heavily jammed /MCOT

 

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Labour Min revokes licenses of employment agencies

BANGKOK, 31 July 2014 (NNT) – The Ministry of Labor has revoked the licenses of three employment agencies responsible for sending Thai workers abroad and has ordered one other to terminate its business.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747649-thai-labour-min-revokes-licenses-of-employment-agencies/

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Sweden, Finland recruit fewer Thai berry pickers this year



BANGKOK: -- The quota of almost 6,000 Thai berry pickers employed to work in Sweden and Finland this harvesting season has been filled, according to Thailand’s Ministry of Labour. The Nordic countries issued significantly fewer visas for seasonal workers from Thailand this year. berrypickers

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747651-sweden-finland-recruit-fewer-thai-berry-pickers-this-year/

 

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Two members of necklace snatch gang arrested in South Pattaya

 

PATTAYA:--On Wednesday afternoon Pattaya Police announced the arrest of two men, thought to be part of a 6-man-gang, who regularly target foreigners wearing expensive gold necklaces.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747579-two-members-of-necklace-snatch-gang-arrested-in-south-pattaya/

 

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Pattaya drug dealing suspects arrested by Police and District Officials

 

 

PATTAYA:--On Wednesday morning at Banglamung Police Station a join press conference with the Banglamung District Narcotics Unit took place to confirm the arrest of 3 people who are believed to work for prison inmates as drug dealers.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747580-pattaya-drug-dealing-suspects-arrested-by-police-and-district-officials/

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Suspicious Logs in North Pattaya inspected by officials

 

 

PATTAYA:--Banglamung District officials in conjunction with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), inspected 20 logs of Redwood left in a car park of a North Pattaya Restaurant.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747581-suspicious-logs-in-north-pattaya-inspected-by-officials/

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UPDATE:

 

41 Thai evacuees from Libya return to Thailand tomorrow
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, July 31 -- The first group of 41 Thais to be evacuated from Libya will arrive in Bangkok tomorrow.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747539-libya-asked-to-waive-exit-visa-for-thais-to-facilitate-evacuation/#entry8177204

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Ebola discoverer says would sit next to victim on train
Katherine HADDON
Tom LARKIN
 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747656-ebola-discoverer-says-would-sit-next-to-victim-on-train/

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Immigration says 659 kids in detention
PETER TRUTE AAP

MELBOURNE: -- AUSTRALIA is holding 659 children in immigration detention, the human rights commission has heard.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747658-australia-immigration-says-659-kids-in-detention/

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Four men rob money truck in Chon Buri
 
BANGKOK: -- Four men armed with pistols and shotguns robbed a money truck of Siam Administrative Management while its staff were refilling ATM machines in front of Lotus Express in Chon Buri's Muang district at 9:50 am.
 
They fled off with two bags stuffed with Bt500,000 bank notes.
 
Police said the robbers fled in a pick-up truck, heading to the Ban Bueng-Klaeng road.
 
Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Four-men-rob-money-truck-in-Chon-Buri-30239898.html
 
[thenation]2014-07-31[/thenation]

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Special Report: NCPO says reconciliation efforts successful

BANGKOK: -- The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has claimed that its reconciliation process is a success, as reflected by the significant decrease in conflicts over the past two months.

In its two-month progress report, the Council said it has since 28 May 2014 set up a number of reconciliation centers all over the country to resolve conflicts of people of different political opinions, while creating an environment conducive to reconciliation, such as holding events to return happiness to the people.

With the success of the reconciliation process, the economy has dramatically improved, and family members with different political views have returned to talking with one another again. This has helped solve many problems that have accumulated over the years, said the report.

According to the report, the Working Group on Reform for Returning Happiness to the People established Reconciliation Centers for Reform in all provinces in the first month of the NCPO's takeover. The Council, in the second month, gathered opinions and suggestions from all sectors of society. Relevant information has also been collected from researches, theses, government ministries and departments, and independent organizations, as well as recommendations from people nationwide.

The working group has also conducted 53 interviews with experts and representatives from the public, private, and academic sectors, political parties, independent organizations, stakeholders and conflicting parties as well as the general public. It has used the gathered information to come up with 11 issues that need to be addressed based on priorities and urgency, such as anti-corruption, politics, state administration, justice system, energy, and transport infrastructure.

From the gathered information, the working group has come up with an “Agreed Framework” on issues regarding political reform and suppression of corruption, which have been listed as urgent ones. It may be concluded that there will be political reform on four major issues: political structure, selection of persons for political positions without concern for financial influence, the balance of executive power, and the impeachment of persons holding political positions.

Concerning reform to tackle corruption, emphasis would be placed on four major areas: prevention, suppression, transparency, and fairness.

One of the NCPO’s major achievements is that it has been able to encourage conflicting groups to cooperate in moving the country forward through activities aimed at creating an atmosphere conducive to reconciliation. A total of 117 memorandums of understanding have been signed by 403 leaders in various areas, who hold different views, covering 3,003 districts and sub-districts. 176 public forums have also been organized, covering 30,842 villages.

Considering the present situation, the NCPO stated that various problems have begun to ease, and that its operations and guidelines have received positive feedback from the general public.

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

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Integration of local residents would improve Deep South's security system

PATTANI, 31 July 2014 (NNT) -- Security in Thailand's Deep South will be more effective under the Army's plan to integrate both the authorities and the local residents into its programs, said the Army.

Fourth Region Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Valit Rojanapakdi, has unveiled that the 4th Internal Security Operations Command's Forward Post, which is in charge of security in the Deep South, has followed the Army C-in-C's policy in taking care of locals' lives and property.

Integrating local residents into the Army's security operation is another step that will help in monitoring and preventing their communities from possible attacks, said the General. Besides, the system would help prevent their children from being lured by drug rings into becoming their customers or drug pushers.

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

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Metropolitan police tackle traffic problems at shopping malls



BANGKOK: -- Metropolitan police today invited representatives of major shopping malls in Bangkok to seek their cooperation in helping to ease traffic problems on streets where these malls located.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747662-bangkok-metropolitan-police-tackle-traffic-problems-at-shopping-malls/

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Woman weighing 300 kgs admitted to Chiang Mai hospital
The Nation



CHIANG MAI: -- A 300-kilogram woman who is unable to walk was admitted to the Maharaj Nakhon Chiang Mai Thursday morning. The hospital dispatched an ambulance to transport Nokkaew Saensomparn, 31, from her home in a squatter community in Chiang Mai's Muang district.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747692-woman-weighing-300-kgs-admitted-to-chiang-mai-hospital/

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Westerner caught on camera breaking into home
The Phuket News


Perpetrator caught in the act.

PHUKET: -- A busy burglar operating in the Bang Jo area of Cherng Talay was caught on CCTV breaking into yet another house at 7.30pm on July 24. From the footage it appears he is a Westerner – the first known case of a non-Thai burgling homes in Phuket.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747693-phuket-westerner-caught-on-camera-breaking-into-home/

 

[b]Full story: [/b]

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Northeastern Thai provinces face flash flood
By Digital Content 
 

 
AMNAT CHAROEN, July 31 --  Many provinces in Thailand's northeast are having continuous downpours, prompting flash floods in many areas.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747706-northeastern-thai-provinces-face-flash-flood/

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Former Thai Comedian gets 22 months in prison for dealing with crystal meth

 

BANGKOK, 31 July 2014 (NNT) - The Criminal Court has sentenced a former Thai comedian to 1 year and 10 months in jail on drug-related charges. He was also fined 150,000 baht as part of the punishment. 

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747707-former-thai-comedian-gets-22-months-in-prison-for-dealing-with-crystal-meth/

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UPDATE:

 

New adventurous mountain bike lanes for Bangkok at monkey-cheek project park to open August 12

 

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has finished construction of the new 4.2 kilometre long bike lane, with adventurous mountain bike areas, circling around two monkey cheek project swamps in eastern outskirt of Bangkok.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747626-bangkok-launches-new-biking-routes-on-mothers-day/#entry8177859

[b]Full story: [/b]

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Thai military arrest army general for extortion

 

BANGKOK, July 31, 2014 (AFP) - A Thai army general has been arrested on suspicion of extortion in a notorious Bangkok red light district, officials said Thursday, in a rare case of authorities prosecuting a member of the military.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747715-thai-military-arrest-army-general-for-extortion/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Teachers told not to panic about visa and work permit crackdown

 

PHUKET:-- Immigration officials have urged teachers not to worry about the visa and work permit crackdown on the island.

 

Full story here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747718-teachers-told-not-to-panic-about-visa-and-work-permit-crackdown/

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Thai-American pays off parents’ mortgage by telling jokes on YouTube (VIDEO)
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- The feel-good story which has captured the hearts of digital media is a grateful Thai-American who used his YouTube stardom to free his family from debt.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747729-thai-american-pays-off-parents-mortgage-by-telling-jokes-on-youtube-video/

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Thais urged not to panic over Ebola outbreak in Africa
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, July 31 -- The Ministry of Public Health urged Thais not to panic over reports of the Ebola virus disease as its risk was low in Thailand.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747730-thais-urged-not-to-panic-over-ebola-outbreak-in-africa/

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Armed robbers escape with 5 million baht in cash



BANGKOK: -- Five armed men robbed a cash delivery van while it was about to deliver cash to a automatic teller machine (ATM) of Siam Commercial bank at Lotus Express outlet in Chonburi province today.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747733-armed-robbers-escape-with-5-million-baht-in-cash/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Good news: No need to worry says Bangkok Immigration Commander

 

 

BANGKOK:-- [thaivisa.com] After the confusion surrounding the news that all foreigners in Thailand are required to carry their passport with them at all times, Thaivisa.com has today obtained official clarification on this matter.

 

Full story here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747736-no-need-to-worry-says-bangkok-immigration-commander/

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SET index closed 1,502.39, down 16.40; Bt/USD31.85; GBP53.77; AUD29.54; EUR42.55; CAD29.08; HKD4.10; SGD25.45; JPY30.87

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Public Health Ministry to cope with possible spread of MERS ahead of Hajj

BANGKOK, 31 July 2014 (NNT) – The Public Health Ministry is preparing measures to cope with possible outbreaks of deadly MERS coronavirus ahead of the annual pilgrimage to the Hajj in Saudi Arabia later this year.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747747-thai-health-ministry-to-cope-with-possible-spread-of-mers-ahead-of-hajj/

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Thailand's anti-human trafficking efforts to benefit Myanmar workers
The Nation

WASHINGTON: -- Thailand is on the process to heighten flexibility for workers from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia to obtain legal identification paperwork and land needed work in the country, said the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington.

 

[b]Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747750-thailands-anti-human-trafficking-efforts-to-benefit-myanmar-workers/