Thailand Live Saturday 6 Sep 2014

[Lite Beer]

SECURITY
Martial law won't be lifted yet: PM
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Council for Peace and Order is unlikely to lift martial law in the near future as groups campaigning against the junta have been detected both in Thailand and abroad.

Prime Minister and NCPO chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha assigned NCPO secretary-general and Deputy Defence Minister Gen Udomdej Sitabutr to chair a meeting to review martial law but the junta did not discuss lifting martial law during its meeting yesterday, as had been expected.

Prayuth said he personally wanted to lift martial law but the situation did not allow this.

"I do not want to maintain martial law but restrictions will be eased gradually as the situation improves. I will tell you when. But we need to have measures for maintaining stability. Please wait for our signal," he said on his weekly TV programme yesterday.

A source said regional Army areas were still in the process of evaluating the security situation before considering whether martial law should be lifted.

The source said the Second and Third Army areas, which cover the North and Northeast, have detected underground groups campaigning against the NCPO.

The two regional Army areas found that the groups dared not campaign against the NCPO openly because martial law is still imposed.

The meeting was also informed of campaigns against the NCPO via online media. The meeting was told that a group of opponents also campaigns against the NCPO in Japan and had submitted a letter to the Japanese prime minister, alleging that the junta is torturing opponents.

Intelligence officials also reported to the meeting that opponent groups had revived their campaigns against the junta since the Cabinet was formed. The officials said the groups did not dare to campaign openly because martial law is still imposed so they were demanding that the law be lifted first.

In Tokyo, a group of 26 people gathered in front of Japan's Foreign Ministry where senior officials of Asean and Japan were meeting, to protest against the Thai junta. They want the Thai government to lift martial law. They tried to submit a letter to the Japanese government but nobody took their appeal. Foreign Ministry permanent secretary Sihasak Phuangketkeow was in Tokyo for the Asean-Japan Forum.

In regard to the new Cabinet, Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya said the PM had scheduled for it to meet on Tuesday but it was not clear when he would declare the governments' policies in the National Legislative Assembly.

Ministers have been preparing to enter their offices next week, perhaps on Tuesday when the Cabinet will meet. The PM may not move to work at Government House before he steps down as Army chief, a source said.

Deputy PM Yongyuth Yutthawong said Prayuth suggested that his ministers wear the "Rajapattern" jacket, instead of formal Western suits, when they attend Cabinet meetings.

Prayuth chose to wear business suit when he proposed the 2015 Budget bill to the National Assembly last month. But he wore a military uniform when he stated junta policy to members of the National Reform Council's selection committees on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the National Anti-Corruption Commission said yesterday that members of Prayuth's Cabinet were required to declare their assets within 30 days of their appointment.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Martial-law-wont-be-lifted-yet-PM-30242681.html

-- The Nation 2014-09-06

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UPDATE:

BANGKOK
Governor wins EC poll case
Kesinee Taengkhiew
The Nation

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra holds flowers he received from supporters at the Court of Appeals yesterday. The court rejected an Election Commission case against him.

BANGKOK: -- Sukhumbhand back to work today, after appeals court rejects claim of advantage

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757782-appeals-court-overturns-yellow-card-decision-against-bkk-governor/#entry8348264

[Lite Beer]

RICE-PLEDGING SCANDAL
NACC stands by case against Yingluck, asks if all files read
Natthapat Phromkaew,
Kris Bhromsuthi,
Kesinee Taengkhiao,
Nathaphat Promkaew
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Panthep undeterred by attorney-general's request for more evidence; says law changes match world standards

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757931-nacc-stands-by-case-against-yingluck-asks-if-all-files-read/

[Lite Beer]

THAI-JAPANESE RELATIONS
Thailand and Japan to back each other's bids to join UN rights body
Nantida Puangthong
The Nation

Tokyo: -- Thailand and Japan have agreed to support each other in their respective bids to become members of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Foreign Ministry permanent secretary Sihasak Phuangketkeow said yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757932-thailand-and-japan-to-back-each-others-bids-to-join-un-rights-body/

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POLL
Corruption will drop under PM Prayuth
The Nation

A worker cleans a spirit shrine at Government House yesterday before members of the new government move in. Members of Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha

BANGKOK: -- Some 78 per cent of respondents in a recent poll said they believe corruption will gradually be reduced now that Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha has taken over running the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757933-poll-corruption-will-drop-under-pm-prayuth/

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CHANNEL 3 CONTROVERSY

Broadcast watchdog told to deal with issues
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday asked the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and other concerned agencies to address quickly issues related to television broadcasting, in the best interests of the public.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757934-broadcast-watchdog-told-to-deal-with-issues/

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Village protection units in far South begin to yield fruit
Thanapat Kitjakosol
The Nation

NARATHIWAT: -- In an attempt to adopt better security measures against the ever-present violence in the far South, the public is taking a greater part in looking out for danger through the Village Protection Unit (VPU) project.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757935-village-protection-units-in-far-south-begin-to-yield-fruit/

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UPDATE:

Doctor in surrogacy case seeks more time
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Lumpini Police Station chief Pol Colonel Decha Promsuwan said yesterday Dr Pisit Tantiwattanakul, director of the All IVF Clinic, reportedly excused himself from a hearing on the surrogacy case, which involves a Japanese man who allegedly fathered over a dozen children.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757766-surrogacy-doctor-does-not-report-to-lardprao-police/#entry8348330

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Thousands of prank calls each day
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Pol Maj-General Chantawit Ramasut, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said that 191 emergency hotline operators receive about 6,000 prank calls a day.

Only about a third of the 10,000 or so calls to 191 every day contained important or useful information. And 10 per cent of callers asked for other services, he said.

Chantawit said Bangkok police used many solutions, such as conducting checkpoints at night and patrolling crime hotspots, to suppress crime such as gun violence and student fights.

He said police had drawn up a database of student gangs and asked mall operators to inform them if student gangs were gathering at shopping centres.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Thousands-of-prank-calls-each-day-30242644.html

-- The Nation 2014-09-06

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Sukhothai fights flood, as barrier on Yom breaks
The Nation


Soldiers and rescue workers evacuate people, and their beloved pets, from homes in Sukhothai

SUKHOTHAI: -- FLOODS have wreaked havoc in 25 provinces and claimed eight lives over the past two weeks.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757936-sukhothai-fights-flood-as-barrier-on-yom-breaks/

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UPDATE:

Customs staff face probe over 500 'missing' cars
Thanapat Kitjakosol,
Preewadee Wichaiprasit
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Some 100 luxury cars retrieved so far; further information to be sought from importers

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757769-hundreds-of-supercars-missing-thai-customs/page-4?p=8348358#entry8348358

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EDITORIAL
Challenges of a military-dominated Cabinet
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The political division has never been so great, the expectations never so high

The "Prayuth One" Cabinet faces the same basic tests that most of its military-installed predecessors flunked.

Yet the challenges are even tougher for the current government because of the circumstances that led to its formation. Never have the Thai people been so divided. And never have expectations been so high in the wake of a military takeover.

The first challenge is the issue of freedom of expression. This one is glaring because matters related to how freely citizens can speak out against their governments often draw international attention. It doesn't mean it's the biggest challenge, though - the survival of a "dictatorial" government depends on many other factors, primarily whether that government is corrupt or not.

Which brings us to one of the two biggest challenges that the Prayuth Cabinet faces. It must overcome the very thing that destroyed the credibility of many previous military-installed governments - the lure of corruption. General Prayuth Chan-ocha, the prime minister and leader of the National Council for Peace and Order, sounds like he understands the importance of transparency and honesty, having repeatedly warned officials that he will not tolerate any graft scandals. But the historical trend is not in his favour.

He needs to guard against personal greed, and not just his own but also that of the many others he has brought into the potentially lucrative political mechanism. There will be close scrutiny, despite the limits on freedom of information and expression.

The other biggest challenge is the economy. Soldiers may be good at "quick fixes" - like snuffing the threat of civil war or getting emergency aid to those in need - but running the economy is an entirely different ballgame. There are a few respectable and reassuringly capable figures in or around the interim government, but if the economy turns sour, the public will be far less forgiving than it would be under a democratic system.

The next challenge is to perform efficiently, and not just on the economic front. There is the narcotics-trade problem, the traffic snarls, the deep South insurgency, the imminent launch of the Asean free market, domestic and immigrant labour issues, the comparatively poor performance of Thai students, and the list goes on. The government's "interim" status can hardly be used as an excuse, because how well or poorly it performs will be closely linked to the credibility of the political reform that Prayuth has pledged to deliver.

The last major challenge of the Prayuth One Cabinet is to provide an atmosphere conducive to that reform process.

For the doubt-beset process to be credible and sustained, the Cabinet will have to do all of the above. It must not give in to corruption. It must run the economy well. It must handle other pressing issues efficiently. And it must allow a reasonably free and relaxed political environment.

Critics have mocked the Cabinet's "powers", saying the interim charter gives the NCPO the right to veto government policies. Again, that cannot be used as an excuse for a weak or inefficient administration. On the contrary, the fact that the interim government and the NCPO are closely linked will be used as ammunition to attack them both if things turn bad. If this government fails, it will simply mean the NCPO has failed too.

There is no room for error. Prayuth must have realised this when he decided to stage the coup in May. However, there are more dangers in the minefield of Thai political realities than meet the eye, and if the task looked very daunting then, it must seem a lot more so now.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Challenges-of-a-military-dominated-Cabinet-30242627.html

-- The Nation 2014-09-06

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DDPM: people in 10 provinces warned of flash floods this weekend

BANGKOK, 5 September 2014 (NNT) – The extensive rainfall in the northern part of Thailand have caused higher water levels in several distributaries flowing into the Chao Phraya River. Therefore, the level of water in the Chao Phraya Dam downstream, has risen about one meter.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) director-general Chatchai Promlert said that ten provinces in the lower northern and central regions, including Pijit, Nakhon Sawan, Chai Nat, Supan Buri, Singburi, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, and Samut Prakarn are advised to prepare for flash floods and river bank overflows during the period September 6th to 8th.

-- NNT 2014-09-05

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Ex-commerce minister’s secretary faces charges over fake G-to-G rice deals

BANGKOK: -- The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has decided to lodge malfeasance and other criminal charges against former secretary of ex-commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom for alleged involvement in fake government-to-government rice deals with two Chinese state enterprises.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....o-g-rice-deals/

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Suspected bomb maker arrested in Pattani

A suspected bomb maker who has nine arrest warrants against him was arrested by security force in a raid of a house in Pattani’s Kapor district on Friday.

A combined force of border patrol police, district police and para-military rangers laid siege to a house in Tambon Plong Hoy where a wanted militant was believed to be hiding.

The force raided the house and arrested Yafry Saror-eng, a known bomb maker who has nine arrest warrants against him. One semi-automatic pistol with 35 cartridges were found in his possession.

Police attributed the arrest of Saror-eng to information extracted from three suspected separatists arrested on August 14 in Sai Buri district together with a sizeable of bomb-making materials.

On the same day in Panareh district, a member of Tha Nam Tambon Administration Organisation was shot dead by the pillion rider of a motlorcycle in Ban Surao village, Tambon Tha Nam.

Quoting eyewitnesses, police said that the victim, Mr Bueraheng Hayeesa-ar, was riding a motorcycle for home after leaving a masjid. Two men riding on a motorbike approached the victim and opened fire at him killing him on the spot.

Source: http://englishnews.t...rrested-pattani

-- Thai PBS 2014-09-05

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PHUKET NEWS TV: Russian Comments 'Revolting'

A Phuket News story posted on Facebook about falling Russian tourist numbers unleashed a tirade of nasty comments. Why?

Video: http://www.thaivisa....ents-revolting/

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Patong taxi drivers use place of work to sell drugs
Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: Four members of the black plate taxi group were arrested on Wednesday (September 3) for selling drugs in Patong beach.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757938-patong-taxi-drivers-use-place-of-work-to-sell-drugs/

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Ukraine and pro-Russia rebels sign ceasefire deal

Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels in the east have signed a truce deal to end almost five months of fighting.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757944-ukraine-and-pro-russia-rebels-sign-ceasefire-deal/

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UPDATE:

Nicholas Salvador accused of 'beheading' Palmira Silva

Police do not know whether Palmira Silva knew her attacker

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757632-woman-beheaded-in-london-attack/page-6?p=8348567#entry8348567

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Man jailed for phoning and texting ex-girlfriend 21,807 times

French man who harassed woman demanding compensation for work on apartment admits behaviour was 'stupid'

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757949-man-jailed-for-phoning-and-texting-ex-girlfriend-21807-times/

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BMTA meets to discuss purchase of new NGV buses

BANGKOK, 6 Sep 2014, (NNT) - The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) held a seminar yesterday to discuss the details of the plan to purchase 3,183 new NGV buses; however, no concrete conclusion was made, signaling a possible delay in the purchasing process.

The seminar was attended by related agencies such as Thailand Association of Disabled, and various private organizations.

Chairman of the BMTA Managing Board, Pol Gen Ake Angsananont, revealed that setting the medium price for the purchase was the main focus of the meeting, saying the BMTA’s previous Term Of Reference Committee settled the prices of regular NGV buses at 3.8 million baht, and 4.5 million baht for air-conditioned ones.

The attendees, however, said that the prices were still too high, pointing out that these prices had been set without a thorough survey of local and international bus manufacturers.

The BMTA acknowledged the suggestion and promised to conduct another price survey.

Meanwhile, Thailand Association of the Disabled advised that all buses should have a low platform to make them accessible to those using wheelchairs; however, the BMTA said floods and uneven surface of Bangkok roads and bridges would make it difficult to drive buses with a low platform, but said it would bring the matter to the board meeting on Monday for further discussion.

-- NNT 2014-09-06

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Raining in upper Thailand not going away just yet

BANGKOK, 6 September 2014 (NNT) - The flood-stricken areas in northern provinces are unlikely to see an improvement over the weekend, as the strong monsoon trough covering the upper part of Thailand is expected to contribute to continued raining.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757966-raining-in-upper-thailand-not-going-away-just-yet/

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Flooding widens in Sukhothai's Si Samrong district; Yom River level reaches 11.54 metres, 2 metres above critical level /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

Husband prime suspect in murder of Wife in North Pattaya

PATTAYA:--On Friday afternoon the body of a 28 year old woman was found in the apartment of her Husband in North Pattaya. He is now on the run and wanted by Police for murder.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757968-husband-prime-suspect-in-murder-of-wife-in-north-pattaya/

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Fugitive Fruit Vendor caught by Police in South Pattaya

PATTAYA:--Police and Army personnel arrested a 25 year old Fruit Vendor on Friday who was wanted on 3 arrest warrants, two relating to drugs and the other for assault on a Pattaya City Security Officer.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757969-fugitive-fruit-vendor-caught-by-police-in-south-pattaya/

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PM urges speedy payout of budgets from get-go

BANGKOK, 6 September 2014 (NNT) – Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has instructed all government units to disburse their budgets quickly from the beginning in order to accelerate economic growth and ensure transparency.

Speaking on his weekly television program, Gen Prayuth stated that the 2015 budget bill had already passed the consideration of the appropriation committee and was scheduled to be put before the National Legislative Assembly for the second and third readings on September 17. So far, the budgets proposed by the 19 ministries have been reduced by over 4.7 billion baht combined.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister insisted that all ministries would need to kick start their budget disbursement process from the first quarter of fiscal 2015 in compliance with the 11th National Economic and Social Development Plan. The prompt payout would help the country achieve its economic expansion target and effectively revive confidence among foreign investors if conducted in a fair and transparent manner.

After careful deliberation, Gen Prayuth affirmed that all planned investments would be pushed forward without delay in hopes of creating jobs and raising income for the Thai people, adding value to Thai products and bringing in more investors.

-- NNT 2014-09-06

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Phuket gang members arrested for shooting
Darawan Naknakhon

wanwai gang member, 18-year-old Broonphrom Chopeng.

PHUKET : Two local teens of the Wanwai gang were arrested Friday (September 5) for shooting at local rental shop and resident last Tuesday (September 2) over a girlfriend.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/758012-phuket-gang-members-arrested-for-shooting/

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RT @RichardBarrow: Heavy rain in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai is causing widespread flooding (Pic @ittipatNOW26) #ThaiFloodEng #Thailand http://t.co/TirOA1k1Jt

[Lite Beer]

Red shirts in Japan ‘plot’ against coup

BANGKOK: -- The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) is monitoring a group of Thai anti-coup activists in Japan amid allegations they are planning a campaign against the junta.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/758017-red-shirts-in-japan-plot-against-coup/

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PM confirms Cabinet meeting on Sep 9 before giving policy statement

BANGKOK, 6 September 2014 (NNT) – Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha is adamant the first Cabinet meeting will take place on September 9 as preparations are being made for the government policy declaration.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/758019-pm-confirms-cabinet-meeting-on-sep-9-before-giving-policy-statement/