Thailand Live Wednesday 3 Sep 2014

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Chee River overflows to flood Chaiyaphum; flood situation is still critical in Lampang; thousands of paddy fields in Nakhon Sawan flooded /MCOT

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Nearly one million alien workers registered in government system

BANGKOK, 3 September 2014 (NNT) -- Close to one million migrant workers have registered into the government system so far, according the Department of Employment.

According to Director-General Sumeth Mahosoth, 987,000 migrant workers and their family members have been brought by their employers to register at the alien labor registrations opened nationwide.

Most of the workers are from Cambodia, followed by Myanmar and Laos respectively. According to Sumeth, the one-stop service centers will be opened until the end of October. He also urged employers to bring their workers from the three neighboring countries to register as they would be punished if they fail to do so.

The Thai government has hoped that the registration of alien workers would protect them from trafficking and enable them to access the government's services as stated in the Thai laws.


-- NNT 2014-09-03

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NCPO authorizes Commerce Min to ink rice deal with Philippines

BANGKOK, 3 September 2014 (NNT) – The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has approved the signing of a rice trade agreement between Thailand and the Philippines while putting the Commerce Ministry in charge.

A resolution has been made by the NCPO to give full authority to the Ministry of Commerce to strike a government-to-government (G2G) contract with the Philippines on rice sales. An authorization document is to be issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Commerce Minister or his representative to take part in the signing.

The content of the draft agreement is reportedly similar to that of the previous one, except the expiration date which is extended to December 31, 2016. Under the contract, Thai officials will be able to seek direct negotiations with the Philippine government as well as engage in reverse auctions.

Nonetheless, some details of the trade deal will have to depend on the rice market condition and rice yields in both countries at the time of the signing. Prices will also be set based on the rates in the global market.


-- NNT 2014-09-03

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UPDATE:

Guinean woman free of Ebola
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Sept 3 -- Dr Prasert Thongcharoen, advisor to the Department of Disease Control, said that a blood test on the 24-year-old Guinean woman showed a negative result so he believed she had not contracted the Ebola virus disease (EVD). He also said that her high temperature was now lower.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/756891-guinean-woman-undergoing-ebola-testing/page-2?p=8335085#entry8335085

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RT @sunaibkk: Gen Prayuth (junta leader) announced he won't meddle with how Gen Prayuth (PM) runs the government. #Thailand #facepalm

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Thailand poses medium risk to money laundering

BANGKOK: -- Thailand is ranked the world's 49th most at-risk country to money laundering and terrorist financing, according to the latest global index released.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757142-thailand-poses-medium-risk-to-money-laundering/

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Martial Law May Be Repealed In 22 Provinces: Source

By Khaosod English

BANGKOK — Thailand’s military junta is considering repealing martial law in 22 provinces, according to a source close to the junta.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757185-proposal-to-lift-martial-law-in-tourist-destinations/#entry8335638

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BLAZE
Fire in Prawes compound injures four

BANGKOK: -- Fire broke out Tuesday night at a house in Bangkok's Prawes district, injuring four people.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757147-bangkok-fire-in-prawes-compound-injures-four/

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The rain does drain mainly on the train (VIDEO)
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Hopping aboard the BTS didn’t get some commuter’s out of last night’s downpour.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757152-the-rain-does-drain-mainly-on-the-bts-train-video/

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Yingluck's fate on rice scheme to be known tomorrow



BANGKOK: -- The Office of the Attorney-General will decide by tomorrow whether it will prosecute ex-Premier Yingluck Shinawatra in the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders for her role in the controversial rice-pledging scheme which incurred enormous loss to the country from alleged corruption.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757155-yinglucks-fate-on-rice-scheme-to-be-known-tomorrow/

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Taxis threaten higher fares
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- Bangkok’s taxi drivers are threatening to raise fares should access to a fuel subsidy card not be extended to more drivers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757167-bangkok-taxis-threaten-higher-fares/

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RICE
Junta approves rice trade agreement with Philippines

BANGKOK: -- The junta has approved the signing of a rice trade agreement between Thailand and Philippines while putting the Commerce Ministry in charge of the deal.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757163-ncpo-approves-rice-trade-agreement-with-philippines/

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NCPO chief to propose lifting martial law in tourist destinations
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- First Army Area Commander Lt Gen Thirachai Nakwanit said on Wednesday that he would propose that the National Council for Peace and Order chief, Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, consider lifting martial law in provinces considered as prime tourist destinations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757185-proposal-to-lift-martial-law-in-tourist-destinations/

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Ukraine 'agrees truce' with Putin

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757188-ukraine-agrees-truce-with-putin/

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Rights Protests Different Than Political Protests, Police Chief Says
By Khaosod English


Soldiers detain activists from "Energy Reform" group in Songkhla province on 2 Sept 2014.

BANGKOK— In an effort to clarify the state’s stance on public demonstrations, Thailand’s next police chief has drawn a distinction between political protests and protests advocating for greater fairness and rights.

"We have to differentiate between protests that are political and protests that are about people's rights," said Pol.Gen. Somyot Pumpanmuang, who has been selected to take the post as commander of the Royal Thai Police on 1 October.

Demonstrators who demand improvements to their general welfare will not be considered political protesters, Pol.Gen. Somyot said, drawing a distinction that is bound to confound many.

Thailand’s military rulers placed a ban on public demonstrations soon after declaring martial law on 20 May, yet the order has not been applied evenly; while many anti-coup activists have been arrested and sent to face trials in martial court, protesters rallying around other causes have avoided persecution.

"Activists should clearly study the laws, especially students who may have staged protests because they want to have fun or because they were invited by their friends to show off their different ideas," Pol.Gen. Somyot said. "Sometimes, an action may not violate certain law, but it may end violating another law.”

His comment came a day after the military junta's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) forced a group of lawyers and activists to cancel their panel discussion on the status of human rights in post-coup Thailand.

The panel discussion, titled "Access to Justice in Thailand: Currently Unavailable," was scheduled to take place at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand. A group of police officers entered the club, which has long been considered a haven for free speech, and stopped the panelists from speaking to crowds of reporters.

The military has also detained almost 30 activists in the past month for organising marches in support of overhauling Thailand’s energy sector.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1409732100&section=11&typecate=06


-- Khaosod English 2014-09-03

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Panadda says 78% of rice inspected are inferior quality



BANGKOK: -- Permanent secretary to Prime Minister's Office M.L.Panadda Diskul says 78% of rice which were inspected by more than 2,000 inspection groups across the country did not meet specified quality.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757191-panadda-says-78-of-thai-rice-inspected-are-inferior-quality/

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Woman Arrested Over 'WTO Buddha Statue Scam'
By Khaosod English


Wanrat Rattanapol, 66, was arrested for allegedly making millions of baht from donations for a fake project to build a giant Buddhist statue that she said was sponsored by the World Trade Organisation, 2 Sept 2014.

BANGKOK — Police have arrested a woman who allegedly made millions of baht from donations for a fake project to build a giant Buddhist statue that she said was sponsored by the World Trade Organisation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757194-woman-arrested-over-wto-buddha-statue-scam/

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Taxi sign warns passengers to keep it in their pants
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- A snapshot of a warning sign telling riders in the back not to get it on has been spreading online today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757196-taxi-sign-warns-passengers-to-keep-it-in-their-pants/

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NBTC to distribute coupons worth Bt690 to each of 22.9 million households for buying digital TV set-top box or TV set with digital TV tuner /MCOT

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SET index closed 1,583.27, up 14.67; Bt/USD31.91; GBP52.44; AUD29.55; EUR41.80; CAD29.06; HKD4.11; SGD25.32; JPY30.29

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Sexy star goes to police over Internet bully
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- Pitchanart “May” Sakhakorn filed a police report against an Instagram follower who trolled her with unkind comments.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757224-sexy-star-goes-to-thai-police-over-internet-bully/

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UPDATE:

Putin denies Ukraine ceasfire talk after Poroshenko issues statement on Russia agreement

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin hasn’t agreed to reported ceasefire with Ukraine “because Russia is not party to conflict”, his spokesman says.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757188-ukraine-agrees-truce-with-putin/#entry8336052

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Democracy isn't dead, say Hong Kong's Occupy Central activists
By Wilfred Chan, CNN

Hong Kong (CNN) -- The struggle for democracy is not dead, say Hong Kong's pro-democracy activists, one day after their leader appeared to admit defeat.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757228-democracy-isnt-dead-say-hong-kongs-occupy-central-activists/

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Discount coupons to be mailed to TV audience October 15



BANGKOK: -- The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) says the military junta has endorsed its plan to distribute 23 million coupons to 22.9 million households nationwide, beginning October 15.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757229-discount-coupons-to-be-mailed-to-tv-audience-october-15-nbtc/

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Surrogate dad Shigeta to see police 'soon'

BANGKOK: -- The lawyer of Mitsutoki Shigeta, a 24-year-old Japanese man who reportedly fathered over a dozen children via surrogate mothers in Thailand, has affirmed Shigeta would give information to police in person soon, an assistant to the national police chief said Wednesday.

Pol Lt-General Korkiat Wongworachat also quoted lawyer Kong Suriyamonthon as saying Shigeta didn't come to Thailand earlier because he had to take care of the babies first.

Korkiat said Shigeta also reportedly posted a request to bring 12 nannies to take care of the surrogate babies that were now under the Social Development and Human Security Ministry's care.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Surrogate-dad-Shigeta-to-see-police-soon-30242435.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-03

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NSC chief to hold talks with BRN
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Sept 3 -- Gen Udomdet Sitabutr, deputy defence minister and deputy army chief, said that the secretary-general of the National Security Council (NSC) would seek permission from the chief of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) in a few days to have peace talks with representatives of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) in Malaysia.

According to Gen Udomdet, each side will have five representatives at the negotiating table as earlier set and the Thai side will comprise only concerned and necessary persons.

Gen Udomdet is at the senior facilitation working group and will not join the trip to Malaysia.

Before chairing a meeting of a committee on solutions for the southern border provinces, he told reporters that the group would consider intelligence reports and achievements.

He said that authorities were trying to control the situatios and improve justice in the region.

Asked about the possible replacement of the 4th army region commander, Gen Udomdet said that what was more important than personnel was the working system. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-09-03

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Thailand to offer 5 million baht of rice as aid to West Africa

BANGKOK, 3 September 2014 (NNT) – The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) is offering to ship rice worth 5 million baht to West African countries hit by the Ebola outbreak.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757230-thailand-to-offer-5-million-baht-of-rice-as-aid-to-west-africa/

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DDPM: floods in 17 provinces recede

BANGKOK, 3 September 2014 (NNT) –The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has reported that the inundation of water in 17 provinces has been receding and that things are returning to normal.

However, Thailand has experienced increasing rainfalls since August 26 and flooding is still occuring in 7 provinces, comprising Pijit, Nakhonsawan, Nakhon Ratchasima, Pitsanulok, Payao, Tak and Maha Sarakham. The DDPM is examining for damage in those flooded areas and looking for further assisitance. Flood victims can contact the 1784 hotline round-the-clock.


-- NNT 2014-09-03

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Japanese father of surrogate babies to meet police
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Sept 3 -- Shigeta Mitsutoki, the Japanese biological father of multiple surrogate babies in Thailand, agrees to meeting Thai police for questioning, according to his lawyer.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757232-japanese-father-of-surrogate-babies-to-meet-thai-police/

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PHUKET: Police subdue crazed axeman
Saran Mitrarat


Crazed man armed with an axe was caught today (September 3).

PHUKET: -- Phuket City Police were involved in a three-hour standoff on Wednesday morning (September 3) with a crazed man armed with an axe.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757248-phuket-city-police-subdue-crazed-axeman/