Thailand Live Friday 12 Sep 2014

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2nd Development Division monitors the readiness of rescue teams for flood victims

NAKHON RATCHASIMA, 12 September 2014 (NNT) – The Commander General of the 2nd Development Division has inspected the readiness of rescue teams to assist flood victims after the integration of 2nd Development Division, 2nd Military Engineer Regiment, and directorate units.

The rescue teams have prepared forces, vehicles, and equipment for rescue missions in 4 districts in the upper part of Nakhon Ratchasima Province including Phimai, Kaeng Sanam Nang, Khong, and Ban Lueam.

Now fully equipped, the rescue teams can transport and provide treatment for about 1,800 victims per day when necessary, produce enough drinking water for the consumption of about 60,000 liters per day, and pump out flood waters at about 35,000 cubic meters per day.


-- NNT 2014-09-12

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Education Commission Recalls 'Porn Star' Math Textbooks
By Khaosod English


The image of the Japanese porn star used on the cover of a high school text book.

BANGKOK — The Office of Vocational Education Commission (VEC) has ordered a recall of 2,000 high school mathematics textbooks that unwittingly feature a Japanese porn star on the cover.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759713-thai-education-commission-recalls-porn-star-math-textbooks/

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PEA introduces Thailand's first electric passenger bus
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Sept 12 -- Thailand's Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) has introduced the first locally developed electric bus and services will begin next year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759714-pea-introduces-thailands-first-electric-passenger-bus/

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SPECIAL REPORT
Pheu Thai raises its head again
Praphan Jindalertudomdee
The Nation


A screen capture of the animation film

After months of silence, politicians, red-shirt leaders making public appearances after getting Thaksin okay

BANGKOK: -- The Pheu Thai Party chose to go silent after its government was overthrown in the May 22 coup, and its politicians and party leaders began maintaining a low profile where the media was concerned.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759715-pheu-thai-raises-its-head-again/

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EBOLA OUTBREAK
Dutch national quarantined for suspected Ebola
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Ministry has quarantined a 52-year-old Dutch national, who had high fever after returning from a business trip to Ebola-hit Nigeria, said Dr Sophon Mekthon, director general of the Disease Control Department.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759716-dutch-national-quarantined-in-bangkok-for-suspected-ebola/

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AUDIO CONTROVERSY
Abhisit seeks probe into Cabinet audio system controversy
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday urged Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to look into the controversy over the purchase of expensive audio systems, warning that public faith in his government could erode otherwise.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759717-abhisit-seeks-probe-into-cabinet-audio-system-controversy/

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Phuket: Kremlin hits back at out-in visa ban
Alasdair Forbes


The longtail boatmen at Ranong have been finding things rather quiet since multiple out-in visa runs were banned. Photo Krisna

MOSCOW: The Russian government has hit back at the Thai Immigration rules, introduced recently, banning multiple “out-in” visa runs for tourists.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759635-kremlin-hits-back-at-thai-immigrations-out-in-visa-ban/

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UPDATE:

2010 POLITICAL VIOLENCE
'Men in black' arrested
The Nation


Five men suspected of being involved in the 2010 killing of then-Colonel Romklao Thuvatham appear before the press at the Royal Thai Police headquarters yesterday.

Five held over soldiers' deaths during the 2010 political unrest

BANGKOK: -- Police have arrested four men and one woman in connection with the killings of several soldiers in Bangkok, including Colonel Romklao Thuvatham, during the political unrest in 2010, and are hunting for two more two suspects.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759559-five-men-in-black-suspects-are-in-police-custody/page-5?p=8375019#entry8375019

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CHRONOLOGY
Hunt for the 'men in black'
The Nation


Romklao

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759559-five-men-in-black-suspects-are-in-police-custody/page-5?p=8375022#entry8375022

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CH3
BEC to petition NBTC against order to drop Ch 3
Usanee Mongkonporn,
Watchiranont Thongtep
The Nation


Pravit

BANGKOK: -- The boss of Channel 3 will lodge a petition with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunica-tions Commission today opposing the recent decision by the broadcasting committee to order cable and satellite TV operators to remove Channel 3 from their platforms.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759718-bec-to-petition-nbtc-against-order-to-drop-ch-3/

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RATING
Outlook 'stable' for sovereign rating of Thailand, Asia
Erich Parpart
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand and Asia's sovereign rating outlook remains stable over the next one to two years and the region more than ever has become investment-grade, said Standard & Poor's Ratings Services.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759719-outlook-stable-for-sovereign-rating-of-thailand-asia/

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Pattaya Business & Tourism Association Chairman involved in road crash



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Thursday, the Chairman of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association was involved in a road crash involving his Mercedes Benz and a stationary coach.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759720-pattaya-business-tourism-association-chairman-involved-in-road-crash/

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CCTV captures theft from North Pattaya Hotel by employee



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Thursday, Pattaya Police were called to a Hotel in North Pattaya, to investigate reports of an employee stealing money.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759722-cctv-captures-theft-from-north-pattaya-hotel-by-employee/

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Dr Seri predicts a dry year next year

(Photo : ThaiPBS File)

BANGKOK: -- Thailand is expected to be hard hit by widespread drought next year as a direct result of El Nino which will bring about less rains than the previous years, said Dr Seri Suparathit, director of Climate Changes and Disasters Centre of Rangsit University, on Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759723-dr-seri-predicts-widespread-drought-in-thailand-next-year/

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CSD to be asked to charge abbot with fraud



BANGKOK: -- The Citizen Network against Corruption is to ask the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police to file fraud charge against the abbot of Wat Weruwan temple in Chaiyaphum province after his announcement to end his life in a coffin turned out to be just a trick to solicit donation to the temple.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759724-csd-to-be-asked-to-charge-wat-weruwan-abbot-with-fraud/

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New law expected to improve disposal of electronic waste
WASU VIPOOSANAPAT
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- STATE AGENCIES and business operators were hopeful that the new law to manage electronic waste, which would be implemented early next year, would bring about better disposal of such hazardous waste in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759725-new-law-expected-to-improve-disposal-of-electronic-waste-in-thailand/

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Pay up or face legal action, customs chief says as 400 cars go missing
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Customs Department chief Somchai Sujjapongse yesterday urged the owners of some 400 cars taken from bonded warehouses to pay tax on the vehicles or face legal action.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759727-pay-up-or-face-legal-action-thai-customs-chief-says-as-400-cars-go-missing/

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SURROGACY

Surrogate mother 'not bullied'

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- A SENIOR official at Din Daeng Police Station yesterday denied that three plainclothes detectives under his supervision had intimidated a woman carrying a surrogate child.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759728-thai-surrogate-mother-not-bullied/

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NCPO promises response to Amnesty human rights report
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Amnesty International has released its first human-rights report on Thailand since the coup, accusing the military junta of torturing detainees.

Colonel Winthai Suvari, spokesman of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), denied the accusations, saying the junta would try to respond to each specific allegation.

"The NCPO has undertaken a series of measures that have altered Thailand's institutional and legal framework, removing or weakening human-rights protections," Amnesty International said.

The 68-page report, entitled "Thailand Attitude Adjustment - 100 Days Under Martial Law", was released in London.

"[The] NCPO has arbitrarily detained hundreds of individuals, including journalists, academics, students, politicians, social and political activists. The majority of those are now constrained by arbitrary restrictions on their liberties under threat of prosecution, and scores may now face unfair trials for peacefully exercising their human rights," Amnesty International said.

The organisation cited an unnamed detainee as saying: "I told them that I have the right to talk to lawyers and my family. And they told me to shut up. 'You are a captive and you have no right to speak'."

It added that some detainees were made to wear hoods or had their eyes covered while being taken to unspecified locations, while some were held incommunicado. It also noted the alleged torture of red-shirt supporter Kritsuda Khunasen and others. "I was released, leaving only my physical and mental bruises, which will forever remain in my heart," one unnamed detainee was quoted saying.

"Amnesty International has received credible reports of torture and other ill-treatment during the interrogation of a number of people detained since the military took power on May 22," the body said.

The report also quoted Kritsuda as saying: "And if I was too slow when answering, didn't speak, didn't answer the question directly or said I didn't know, I was beaten with a fist to my face, head, stomach and body. The worst experience was when they placed a plastic bag over my head, tied up the ends and put a cloth bag over my head. This knocked me unconscious and I was brought back when they threw water on me."

Winthai insisted the allegations of torture needed to be specific.

He told The Nation that it was up to the NCPO to decide whether an independent committee would be set up to investigate the allegations.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/NCPO-promises-response-to-Amnesty-human-rights-rep-30243119.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-12

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BURNING ISSUES
Prayuth must walk the talk to vindicate public faith
Samudcha Hoonsara
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister General Prayuth Cha-ocha has ushered a new phenomenon in Thai politics, with his work motto - "Do it before anyone else, put your heart into it, do it promptly with swift but sustainable results."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759729-prayuth-must-walk-the-talk-to-vindicate-public-faith/

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Islamic State crisis: Arab states join US fight

(BBC) -- Ten Arab countries have agreed to help the US in its fight against the jihadist group, Islamic State (IS).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759730-arab-states-back-us-push-against-is/

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Ukraine crisis: New EU sanctions hit Russia on Friday

(BBC) -- New EU sanctions against Russia will take effect on Friday, blocking loans for five big state banks and curbing EU business with oil and defence firms.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759731-new-eu-sanctions-on-russia-imminent/

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Utah teacher accidentally shoots self in school toilet

(BBC) -- A teacher in the US state of Utah who was legally carrying a gun in her primary school accidentally shot herself in the leg, police have said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759745-us-teacher-accidentally-shoots-self/

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HIV-positive man ordered to stop virus by Seattle court

SEATTLE:-- A Seattle judge has ordered an HIV-positive man to stop spreading the disease and to seek treatment after he infected eight people in four years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759760-us-man-ordered-to-stop-spreading-hiv/

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Princess Srirasm finishes Army General Staff College course

BANGKOK, 12 September 2014 (NNT) - Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasm, the Princess Consort to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, yesterday (Sep 11) attended the closing ceremony of a permanent course of the Army Command and General Staff College at the Army War College in Dusit District, Bangkok.

Her Royal Highness is one of the 243 officers participating in the 92nd batch of the course which began on October 1, 2013. Other members of the course include officers from the three armed forces, the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence, the Bureau of the Royal Household, the Royal Thai Police, and a number of military officers from nine countries.

During the 48 weeks of training, Her Royal Highness learned necessary strategies, both military-based and non-military based. The Princess also joined other students in study trips to Australia, the Republic of Korea, the People’s Republic of China and Japan.

At the end of the closing ceremony, Her Royal Highness received bunches of flowers from colleagues and subordinates who came to congratulate the Princess on her success.


-- NNT 2014-09-12

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B10m Phuket dive boat catches fire, sinks
Saran Mitrarat


The Choksomboon 15 burned to the waterline before sinking.

PHUKET: -- A dive boat burned and sank early this morning in Chalong Bay.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759772-b10m-phuket-dive-boat-catches-fire-sinks/

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,583.78, gain 2.91 points /MCOT

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Lawmakers meet FTA Watch over concern of new Customs Act being exploited

BANGKOK, 12 September 2014 (NNT) – The extraordinary committee for evaluation of the Customs Act have met with representatives from free trade monitoring group FTA Watch to address the latter's concern on Section 58 of the draft of the bill, involving potential exploitation of drug patents that are against humanitarian principles.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759785-lawmakers-meet-fta-watch-over-concern-of-new-customs-act-being-exploited/

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3rd National Rice Research Conference being held in Bangkok

BANGKOK, 12 September 2014 (NNT) – The National Research Council is holding the 3rd National Rice Research Conference to apply research findings in agriculture production, as well as to increase the value of rice via processing.

Dr. Sutthiphon Chitmittraphap, secretary-general to the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), said the main topic of this conference – held at the Miracle Grand Convention Hotel in Bangkok – was 'Rice for the World'.

The academic presentations were divided into six groups that included improvement of rice varieties, technological development of rice production, development of logistics and post-harvest technologies, development concerning value-adding and processing, development of economic, social and marketing aspects of rice, and systematic promotion and transfer of technology.

The conference began on Thursday, and will be wrapped up today.


-- NNT 2014-09-12

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Security beefed up in Yala after armed attacks in Pattani

YALA, 12 September 2014 (NNT) – Police have stepped up security measures in Yala province following deadly attacks by insurgents in nearby Pattani on Thursday, with all movements of separatist groups being closely monitored.

In the wake of the latest shootings and explosions in Pattani, more police forces have been deployed to help ensure safety of residents in the municipal area of Yala. Vehicle searches are being stringently conducted by officers stationed at the Khun Wai checkpoint on the Yala-Pattani border in an attempt to keep ill-intended individuals at bay.

The commissioner-general of the Southern Border Provinces Police Operation Center has instructed all security units to adopt an offensive strategy and keep track of insurgent groups in order to be prepared to intercept any planned attacks and prevent losses. Forces are also encouraged to be cautious and alert while on duty and provide protection for all civilians to their best ability.

Thursday’s gun and bomb attacks were mainly targeted on state offices within Pattani province and left four people dead and six others wounded. The incidents were in accord with previous intelligence suggesting that insurgent attacks could break out in the Deep South during September 10-20.


-- NNT 2014-09-12