Thailand Live Thursday 11 Sep 2014

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,582.21, gain 0.08 points /MCOT

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Prayuth: Incompetent ministers could face dismissal

BANGKOK, 11 September 2014 (NNT) - General Prayuth Chan-ocha has stated that government ministers who were unable to perform well in their duties could be dismissed from their posts.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759504-prayuth-incompetent-ministers-could-face-dismissal/

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Pink Line electric train project ready for Cabinet review

BANGKOK, 11 September 2014 (NNT) – The Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) has revealed that the construction plan for the Pink Line electric train is awaiting proposal to the Cabinet while the bidding process is expected to take place late this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759522-pink-line-electric-train-project-ready-for-thai-cabinet-review/

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320,000 rai of agricultural land damaged by flooding

BANGKOK, 11 September 2014 (NNT) - The Agricultural and Cooperatives Minister is ready to head down to Ayutthaya province on September 13 to inspect the damages from the recent floods.

Permanent-Secretary for Agriculture and Cooperatives Chavalit Chukachorn revealed about 320,000 rai of agricultural land across seven provinces has been severely damaged from flooding.

The ministry has allocated 369 million baht to fund the relief effort. As of now, 2 million baht has already been spent to assist the relief efforts.

About 4,700 farmers across 16 provinces have been affected from the recent floods and over 4,000 rai of aquaculture farms have been damaged.

In Chiang Rai and Tak provinces, however, the situation is returning to normal as the floodwaters have subsided.


-- NNT 2014-09-11

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UPDATE:

Probe begins to find carrier of BB gun on THAI flight



BANGKOK: -- Airports of Thailand (AOT) is now investigating a widespread share of a photograph showing a passenger displaying a BB handgun in his hand on board a flight from Chiang Mai to Bangkok in bid to file charges against him.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759319-passenger-gets-away-with-fake-gun-on-chiang-mai-bangkok-flight/page-4?p=8371598#entry8371598

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UPDATE:

OBAMA
US to expand strikes on Islamic State into Syria


Photo : AFP

Washington - US President Barack Obama signaled that airstrikes are likely into Syria in pursuit of Islamic State, escalating the US involvement in the three-year conflict that he has tried to avoid.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759454-obama-to-lay-out-plan-to-defeat-islamic-state/#entry8371623

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'Unprecedented' number of royal slur cases post Thai coup: Amnesty

BANGKOK, September 11, 2014 (AFP) - An "unprecedented" number of people have been charged with insulting Thailand's monarchy since the coup, Amnesty International said Thursday, with 14 Thais indicted under the controversial lese majeste law in less than four months.

Revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 86, is protected by one of the world's toughest royal defamation laws -- anyone convicted of insulting the king, queen, heir or regent faces up to 15 years in prison on each count.

"An unprecedented number of people have been charged with lese majeste offences... with fourteen charges or prosecutions initiated since the coup," Amnesty said in a report about rights since the military takeover on 22 May.

The rights group said commentators calling for reform of the law or those previously jailed for royal defamation "appear to have been targeted" in the lists of people the junta required to report to them after seizing power.

Last month two activists were charged with breaching the law during a university play, which featured a fictitious monarchy, staged in October 2013 on the anniversary of a student-led uprising.

In another recent case, a 28-year-old musician was sentenced to 15 years in jail for writing insulting Facebook posts about the monarchy between 2010 and 2011.

Junta chief and recently appointed prime minister, Prayut Chan-O-Cha, has said he was forced to take power after months of protests against Yingluck Shinawatra's administration left 28 people dead and hundreds wounded, effectively paralysing her government.

- 'Far-reaching violations' -

In the days following the coup more than 570 people were officially ordered to report to authorities, according to Amnesty, which estimates the number would be higher if informal orders were recorded.

"Three months since the coup, a picture emerges from our investigations of widespread and far-reaching human rights violations perpetrated by the military government that are ongoing," said Richard Bennett, Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific Director.

In his weekly televised speeches, Prayut has reiterated the importance of the royal defamation legislation.

"The laws are aimed at protecting the royal institution. Thailand's strength is based in the monarchy institution and stability," he said last Friday.

Some experts believe that a struggle is unfolding to decide who will run Thailand's government when the more than six-decade reign of the ailing king eventually ends.

The succession is a taboo topic in Thailand and its discussion is restricted under the royal defamation law.

But critics says that law has been politicised, noting that many of those charged in recent years were linked to the "Red Shirts" protest movement, which is broadly supportive of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thaksin clashed with the royalist establishment before his overthrow in a coup in 2006, and shortly before May's army takeover his younger sister Yingluck was ousted as prime minister in a controversial court decision.

Rights activists have also voiced concern over the fate of suspects under martial law, imposed by the army two days before the coup, as this means they could face military courts with no right of appeal.

He has ruled out holding new elections before October 2015, despite international appeals for a return to democracy.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-09-11

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Baby shot dead in arson and gun attack at house



BANGKOK: -- A 3-month-old baby boy was killed and his grandmother seriously injured when gunmen set a car in front of a house afire and shot at occupants coming to see the fire.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759536-3-month-old-baby-shot-dead-in-arson-and-gun-attack-at-house-in-pranburi/

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Gov't to replace one quarter of official vehicles with electric cars
By Digital Content

SEJONG, Sept 11 (Yonhap) -- The government said Wednesday that it will replace up to 25 percent of its official vehicles with electric cars as part of its efforts to promote clean energy vehicles.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759539-s-korea-govt-to-replace-one-quarter-of-official-vehicles-with-electric-cars/

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New money added to emergency response to Ebola outbreak
By Jane Dreaper
Health correspondent, BBC News

(BBC) -- More money has been announced to help the emergency response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759546-gates-foundation-pledges-ebola-cash/

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Oscar Pistorius trial: Verdict in murder trial due

(BBC) -- South African Judge Thokosile Masipa is due to give her verdict at the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759548-verdict-due-for-oscar-pistorius/

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Corruption surfaces in parliament’s clock system project



BANGKOK: -- The Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) has detected corruption involving the 14.9 million baht clock system of the Parliament and has recommended indictment of eleven parliament officials who included the former secretary-general of the Secretariat of the House of Representatives.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759551-corruption-surfaces-in-thai-parliaments-clock-system-project/

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Oxford study predicts 15 more countries are at risk of Ebola exposure
By Abby Phillip

WASHINGTON: -- Until this year's epidemic, Ebola did not exist in West Africa. Now with nearly 2,300 people dead from the virus, mostly in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, scientists still don't fully understand how Ebola arrived from Central Africa, where outbreaks of this strain of the virus had occurred in the past.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759553-oxford-study-predicts-15-more-countries-are-at-risk-of-ebola-exposure/

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Five “Men in Black” suspects are in police custody

BANGKOK: -- Five members of the so-called mysterious “Men in Black” who battled with troops at Kok Wua intersection near the Democracy Monument during the red-shirt protests in April 2010 resulting to the death of Romklao Phuvatham have been arrested by police.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759559-five-men-in-black-suspects-are-in-police-custody/

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UPDATE:

2010 POLITICAL STRIFE
Five arrested, two sought for killing of military officers

BANGKOK: -- Police have arrested five men for their alleged involvement in an attack during the 2010 political violence that resulted in the deaths of five military officers, including Colonel Romklao Thuwatham.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759559-five-men-in-black-suspects-are-in-police-custody/

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NBTC to summon three satellite channels for clarifications

BANGKOK: -- The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is to summon three politically-leaning satellite channels for clarifications today after they were found to breach the military junta's conditions for rebroadcasts.

The three satellites to be called in to clarify are Fa Wan Mai channel (previously Blue Sky), Peace TV channel (or originally Asia Update) and News One channel (or previously ASTV channel).

Acting NBTC deputy secretary-general Sombat Leelapata said the NBTC board reached a resolution Wednesday to summon the three satellite channels for clarification after they were detected to run contests that could cause rifts and disturb peace and order.

This was considered a blatant violation of the order of the National Council for Peace and Order and also breaching conditions laud down by the NBTC before getting permission to resume operations, he said.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/nbtc-summon-three-satellite-channels-clarifications/

-- Thai PBS 2014-09-11

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UPDATE:

007 'Jaws' villain Richard Kiel dies aged 74

LOS ANGELES - Richard Kiel, who played the towering, steel-toothed baddie "Jaws" in two James Bond movies, died Wednesday aged 74, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759501-bond-villain-actor-kiel-dies-aged-74/#entry8372316

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Thailand remains popular among European, African tourists
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Sept 11 -- The number of visitors from Europe grew by 3.7 per cent while African tourists rose even more by 4-5 per cent in the first seven months of this year, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759565-thailand-remains-popular-among-european-african-tourists/

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Anti-Graft Body Not Investigating 140,000-Baht Microphones
By Khaosod English


A 27 million baht sound system was recently installed into the Cabinet room in the Government House.

BANGKOK — Thailand’s national anti-corruption agency says it is not investigating the 27 million baht sound system recently installed in the Government House.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759567-anti-graft-body-not-investigating-140000-baht-microphones/

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UPDATE:

Britain's Ambassador meets Bangkok Governor
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Sept 11 -- British ambassador to Thailand Mark Kent called on Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paripatra to congratulate him on his return to the position, while vowing to increase cooperation on tourism but voiced that he is concerned about a possible flood threat to the city.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759308-sukhumband-meets-with-uk-ambassador-mark-kent-over-bma-projects/#entry8372461

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Villagers want NACC to probe industry minister for his gold mining links



BANGKOK: -- A petition was submitted to the National Anti-Corruption Commission today by a group of villagers demanding an investigation into the conduct of Industry Minister Chakkramont Phasukvanich over his previous connection with gold-mining business.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759569-villagers-want-nacc-to-probe-thai-industry-minister-for-his-gold-mining-links/

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AMLO expert offers scary lessons for Phuket property brokers
Tanyaluk Sakoot


Sunpet Sangnetswang: Be suspicious, be careful, tell us everything.

PHUKET: People working in Phuket’s property industry, particularly real estate brokers, were briefed yesterday (September 10) by an expert from the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) on how to avoid falling foul of Thailand’s money-laundering laws.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759572-amlo-expert-offers-scary-lessons-for-phuket-property-brokers/

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Thailand's southern economy takes a nosedive during first half of 2014

BANGKOK, 11 September 2014 (NNT) - The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has reported that the economy in the southern region has contracted repeatedly during the first six months of 2014.

According to the BOT, the southern economy has been deeply affected by the declining prices of agricultural goods and the lower number of tourists as a result of the political unrest early this year.

Regarding the situation in the three southernmost provinces, there were only 430,000 tourists during the first six months of this year, which is 20.6 percent lower than the number in the same period last year. The number of Asian tourists has also dropped by 22.3 percent.

Meanwhile, prices of agricultural products such as para rubber and oil palm have been on a slump as a result of high supply and low demand. Nonetheless, the BOT believes that Thailand’s southern economy is expected to recover during the remainder of this year as a result of the political clarity.


-- NNT 2014-09-11

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Plans to move Board of Investment from Industry Ministry to the PM's Office will be done w/in the next 6 months /The Nation

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TAT organizes Northeastern tourism Road Show

CHONBURI, 11 September 2014 (NNT) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in the Northeastern region has organized the Northeastern tourism Road Show to promote the region's tourism in the East.

With the "Table Top Sale" activity, tourism operators of the Northeast came to offer their services and introduce new tourism spots for operators in the Eastern region.

The Northeastern region's TAT Executive Director Mrs. Somradee Chanchai stated that the "Northeastern tourism Road Show" has been established to present the region's goods and tourism potential to the East while also expanding business opportunities for members of the operators networks through the "Table Top Sale" activity, which serves as a business match-making meeting between operators of the Northeast and East.

The event also gives the opportunity for businesses to study and explore the other tourism products and services in the market to create a new tourism link between the regions and boost the number of tourist arrivals.

This Road Show led a group of over 40 hotel operators and tour guide businesses in the Northeast, with 20 tourism operators joining as sellers, to meet with potential buyers in the Eastern region consisting of the local administration, educational institutes, tourism operators and the general public.

-- NNT 2014-09-11

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15:20 4 dead, 3 wounded in Pattani bomb ambush; M-16 fired in Yaring district, none injured /MCOT

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TRANG
Bad weather sinks two cargo vessels

BANGKOK: -- Strong waves sank two cargo ships loaded with cement off Trang province on Monday as officials warned ships to avoid leaving shore.

Four seamen from both ships survived and were rescued by the partner vessels.

The two were among the four vessels that left Saengthong port in Trang's Kantang district on September 6 for Koh Lanta off Krabi province. They were scheduled to upload the cement to a ship off Koh Lanta for transhipment to Myanmar.

High and strong waves whipped up by galeforce winds near Ban Had Yao off Koh Libong caused the two to sink. Their crew was able to reach other vessels, which also suffered wave damage but were able to pump the water out.

The ships' owners tried to recover the vessels but the equipment was forced back to shore by strong winds and heavy rains.

Damage is estimated at about Bt50 million. Fishermen have been advised to stay in port until September 14.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Bad-weather-sinks-two-cargo-vessels-30243047.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-11

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S AFRICA: Pistorius weeps as judge begins murder trial verdict /AFP

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Four killed, five injured in militant attack in Pattani

PATTANI: -- Three local government officials and a civilian were killed, and five others injured when Muslim militants attacked a local government office in Khok Pho district of Pattani Thursday morning with assault rifles and home made bombs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759597-four-killed-five-injured-in-militant-attack-in-pattani/

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Details of Phuket yacht clampdown clarified
Saran Mitrarat


Cruising around Phang Nga Bay dropping the hook in secluded bays may no longer be as carefree as it once was. Photo Iris

PHUKET: -- The director of the Phuket Marine Office (PMO), Phuripat Theerakulpisut, yesterday (September 10) gave more details of two shock announcements that have reverberated through the marine leisure industry and among yacht owners in the past few days.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759598-details-of-phuket-yacht-clampdown-clarified/