Thailand Live Friday 12 Sep 2014

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Rail line bombing disrupts all southern train services

NARATHIWAT: -- Southern rail line linking Narathiwat with other southern provinces was damaged in a bomb sabotage this morning.

The bomb explosion disrupted services of all trains to this southern provinces, said the state Railway of Thailand this morning.

The SRT said the sabotage happened at 6.45 a.m. near a railway bridge in between Tanyongmas and Papai railway stations.

The powerful explosion caused the rail line to bend, making it impassable for train to run.

The SRT said security officials are inspecting the damage and collecting evidence before allowing the railway mechanics to enter the area to repair the bended lines.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/rail-line-bombing-disrupts-southern-train-services/


-- Thai PBS 2014-09-12

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China to fast-track prosecution of terrorists, extremists
By Digital Content

BEIJING, Sept 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese prosecutors, especially those in Xinjiang, are asked to fast-track cases involving terrorists, religious extremists and manufacturers of firearms and explosives, the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) said Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759794-china-to-fast-track-prosecution-of-terrorists-extremists/

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NEW GOVERNMENT
Gen Prayuth announces his policies in NLA Friday



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Friday delivered his government's policies in the National Legislative Assembly.

He represented his cabinet in detailing the 11 aspects of the policies including security, foreign affairs and education. After the session, Prayuth’s government can officially start working.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Gen-Prayuth-announces-his-policies-in-NLA-Friday-30243126.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-12

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PM Gen Prayuth delivers policy statement before NLA

BANGKOK, 12 September 2014 (NNT) - Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha has delivered a policy statement address before the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), following the appointment and the swearing-in ceremony of the new cabinet.

Rendering his speech at the Parliament House before the legislative body, which was hand-picked by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), Gen Prayuth pledged that the newly-appointed government would push for reforms in all areas in hopes of bringing about peace, unity, and sustainable development to the nation. He also touched on the problem of corruption, saying such issue was urgent and that the government would be willing to do whatever it took to prevent and tackle all corruption practices.

He went on to say that the government would adopt His Majesty the King’s approach, working through understanding, accessibility and development as well as His Majesty’s philosophy of sufficiency economy.

He also vowed that the government would bring economic stability and a strong foundation to Thailand in an attempt to allow the country and the people to move forward in a sustainable manner.

Other policies given by the prime minister ranged from the protection of the royal institution to national security, the elimination of social gaps, and the promotion of education, religion and culture, as well as the upgrading of laws and the justice system.

According to him, the government is determined to complete its efforts in the planned areas in a timely manner, so as to achieve concrete and effective results.

He also asked all ministries and state offices to draw up their own execution plans that must be implemented and completed within a year's time.

The policy statement followed the appointment of Gen Prayuth as the 29th Prime Minister of Thailand on August 24th and the royal endorsement of a cabinet on August 31st.


-- NNT 2014-09-12

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Bomb causes southern rail line service disruption

NARATHIWAT, 12 September 2014 (NNT) -- The rail service in the southern province of Narathiwat has been temporarily suspended after bombing in Ra-ngae district last night.

The chief of railway station in Su-ngai Golok, Aravee Omar, said the bomb targeted a group of soldiers patrolling in the area. Fortunately, no one was injured but the explosion damaged part of the rail line.

The bomb squad was sent in to check whether there was another bomb planted before crews were sent in to repair the damaged rails.


-- NNT 2014-09-12

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Thai PM to visit Myanmar on first official trip

BANGKOK, September 12, 2014 (AFP) - Thailand's coup leader and premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha will visit Myanmar on his first official overseas trip, an official said Friday, as the junta seeks to strengthen ties with its former military-ruled neighbour.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759805-thai-pm-to-visit-myanmar-on-first-official-trip/

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Thai student wins £1 million jackpot in UK



BANGKOK: -- A Thai female student at Chester University has became a millionaire after winning one million pound prize from just a two pound stake in her local bookies, the Mirror daily reported yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759808-thai-student-wins-l1-million-jackpot-in-uk/

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Small arms cache found near Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- A small of arms cache was found yesterday at an isolated house in Wang Muang district of Saraburi province on Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759821-small-arms-cache-found-near-bangkok/

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Illegal logging reported in Yala forest reserve

YALA, 12 September 2014 (NNT) - Illegal logging in protected areas in Yala has been reported, prompting police to launch an investigation.

Forest rangers and police officers in the province have been dispatched to the forest reserve believed to be trespassed by groups of loggers. Police earlier received tip-offs that trees in Ramun district have been cut down by unknown people.

In Kaokalor forest reserve, the damage to the area has been estimated at over 21 million baht. In another protected area near the Saiburi river, over 23 rai of land have been destroyed, with the damage estimated at around 3.5 million baht.

Initial investigation indicated that chainsaws, knives and other tools have been used to tear down many valuable trees. Parts of the forests have also been torched.

Local police will continue to deepen the probe to locate the identity and whereabouts of the loggers.


-- NNT 2014-09-12

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Phuket Tourist Police rewarded for arrest of child pornographer
Saran Mitrarat


File photo of Shynkarenko (seated) after his arrest in Phuket. Photo Bangkok Post

PHUKET: -- Tourist Police commander Col Jirapop Phuridet yesterday received a recognition certificate from the USA’s Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for his part in the arrest of a wanted Ukrainian man in Phuket in 2009.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759827-phuket-tourist-police-rewarded-for-arrest-of-child-pornographer/

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Women in Helsinki's Thai-massage parlors get no payment for regular massages


Photo: Aaron Pruzaniec

BANGKOK: -- A new report from the Finnish Ombudsman of Minorities shows that women at some Thai-massage parlors in Helsinki are victims of human trafficking. Even though they work at a massage parlor they will only get paid for performing sexual services.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759830-women-in-helsinkis-thai-massage-parlors-get-no-payment-for-regular-massages/

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American falls from Bangkok hotel's 5th floor to death

BANGKOK: -- A 51-year-old American fled from unknown attacker into the Nana Hotel on Soi Sukhumvit 4 at 5:45 am and fell to his death from the hotel's fifth floor.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759858-american-falls-to-his-death-from-5fl-of-bangkoks-nana-hotel/

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Japanese male porn stars rarer than Bengal Tigers: actor

TOKYO - Japan's vast pornography industry is desperately short of men, one actor claims, insisting even the endangered Bengal Tiger is more numerous.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759859-japanese-male-porn-stars-rarer-than-bengal-tigers-actor/

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Australia raises terror alert level to 'high'

SYDNEY - Australia on Friday raised the terror threat level to "high" from "medium" for the first time in a decade, on concerns about Australians returning from fighting in the Middle East.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759860-australia-raises-terror-alert-level-to-high/

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UPDATE:

Dutch man is free of Ebola virus
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Sept 12 -- Thai physicians said today that a Netherlands national who was under examination to determine whether or not he was infected with the deadly Ebola virus, is now in the clear, as tests showed he only has the flu.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759716-dutch-national-quarantined-in-bangkok-for-suspected-ebola/?p=8376911#entry8376911

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85% of political protest-affected people recover

BANGKOK, 12 September 2014 (NNT) - The Ministry of Public Health has rehabilitated 473 people who were affected by political protests. 85% of them can now live a normal life but 28 other are under surveillance. Public health officers have been sent to continue rehabilitating them.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759862-85-percent-of-political-protest-affected-people-recover-thai-public-health/

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Food poisoning sends hundred hill tribe students to hospital

BANGKOK: -- More than a hundred hill tribe students at a primary school in Tambon Chiang Dao of Chiang Dao district, Chiang Main were admitted to Chiang Rai hospital yesterday after students said they felt dizzy and vomited after taking lunch.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759864-food-poisoning-sends-hundred-hill-tribe-students-to-hospital/

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Thai coup leader warns against insulting the monarchy

BANGKOK, September 12, 2014 (AFP) - Thai junta leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha Friday said his regime would use legal, psychological and technological measures to protect the monarchy against defamation in his first official policy speech as premier.

The warning came as Amnesty International said an "unprecedented" number of people have been charged with insulting the royals since the coup, with 14 Thais indicted under the controversial lese majeste law in less than four months.

Revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 86, is already 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.

"We will use appropriate legal measures, psychological measures and communication technology against ill-intentioned people," Prayut said in a televised speech to members of the National Legislative Assembly, without elaborating on the exact methods of scrutiny.

Since seizing power on May 22, the army and junta chief -- who was also appointed as prime minister last month -- has emphasised his commitment to protecting the monarchy.
"The monarchy is the key pillar of our country... to create national unity," Prayut said Friday.

The king has no official political role but is seen as a unifying figure in a country that has been frequently riven by political violence, particularly since a military coup in 2006.

Last month a 28-year-old musician was sentenced to 15 years in jail for writing insulting Facebook posts about the monarchy between 2010 and 2011.

In another recent case a taxi driver was jailed for two and a half years after his passenger, a university lecturer who recorded their conversation on a mobile phone, accused him of expressing anti-royal views, Amnesty said.

Under the law anyone can make an accusation of insulting the monarchy and the police are duty-bound to investigate.

Critics say the legislation 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.

On Thursday junta spokesman Winthai Suvaree denied there had been an increase in royal defamation charges under military rule.

Prayut has said the army was forced to take control after months of protests against former premier and Thaksin's younger sister Yingluck left 28 people dead and hundreds injured, effectively paralysing her government.

But critics say the protests provided a pretext for a power grab in the latest chapter of Thailand's deep political divide.

The long-running political conflict broadly pits a Bangkok-based middle class and royalist elite, backed by parts of the military and judiciary, against rural and working-class voters loyal to Thaksin.

Thaksin was toppled in a coup in 2006 and lives in self-exile to avoid prison for a corruption conviction.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-09-12

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Thailand resuming peace talks with insurgents
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Sept 12 -- Thailand and Malaysia have agreed on resuming peace talks between the Thai authorities and insurgent groups operating in deep southern Thailand where violence has renewed slightly more than a decade ago, said Thawil Pliensri, secretary-general of National Security Council (NSC).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759866-thailand-resuming-peace-talks-with-insurgents/

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South African athlete Oscar Pistorius is found guilty of culpable homicide /BBC

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Missing Redshirt Ends Up As Militant Suspect
By Khaosod English


The "Blackshirt" militant suspects reenacted their alleged crimes for police in downtown Bangkok, 12 Sept 2014.

BANGKOK — The Redshirt activist who went missing after he was arrested by soldiers last week has reappeared as a suspect accused of murdering soldiers and demonstrators during the mass Redshirt protests in 2010.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759887-missing-redshirt-ends-up-as-militant-suspect/

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“Men in Black” suspects reenact shooting at Democracy Monument



BANGKOK: -- Four "Men in Black" suspects were Friday morning escorted under heavy security guards to reenact their battling with soldiers during the bloody riot in April 2010.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759887-missing-redshirt-ends-up-as-militant-suspect/#entry8377447

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PM visits flood-hit districts in Sukhothai

SUKHOTHAI, 12 September 2014 (NNT) – Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha visited flood-hit areas in Sukhothai and promised to speed up assistance for flood victims nationwide.

The premier led cabinet members including Deputy Defense Minister General Udomdej Sitabutr to Kongkrailat District in Sukhothai to monitor the flood situation. The visit came after he delivered his speech on government policies before members of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).

The general said flooding has eased in most parts of the province, except for 8 districts. General Prayuth along with flood experts and related officials will be studying water management issues in the Yom River basin that resulted in severe floods and drought each year.

Though the flood water in Sukhothai is receding, the runoff from the North, which triggered powerful overflow from sections of the Yom River in the province, is heading southward, prompting provinces downstream of the Chao Phraya River to go on alert.

The premier noted that currently 32 provinces across Thailand are experiencing floods and the government is prepared to tackle the problem as quickly as they can.

During his visit, he also met up with farmers in the area hit by the deluge and vowed to expedite the flood prevention efforts.


-- NNT 2014-09-12

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Oscar Pistorius found guilty of culpable homicide

(BBC) -- South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has been found guilty of culpable homicide after the judge found he killed his girlfriend by mistake.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759892-oscar-pistorius-found-guilty-of-culpable-homicide/

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Feng Shui Fails To Stop Gov’t House ‘Ghosts’
By Khaosod English


Nari Samosorn Building, where a state employee reported encountering a ghost on 10 Sept 2014.

BANGKOK — A state employee has reported encountering a ghost inside the Government House, just days after officials completed a series of rituals aimed at appeasing the spirits believed to reside inside the building.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759893-feng-shui-fails-to-stop-thai-govt-house-ghosts/

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SET index closed 1,581.36, up 0.49; Bt/USD32.09; GBP51.99; AUD28.94; EUR41.34; CAD28.92; HKD4.13; SGD25.25; JPY29.77

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Soi by soi, German father searches on foot for sons in Chiang Mai
By Coconuts Bangkok


Photo: ASTV

CHIANG MAI: -- A German father walked from soi to soi in Saraphi district, Chiang Mai province, to search for his two sons who were taken by his Thai wife three weeks ago.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759900-soi-by-soi-german-father-searches-on-foot-for-sons-in-chiang-mai/

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New natural gas field found in Udon Thani
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Sept 12 -- A new natural gas field which could be used for the production of electricity and natural gas for vehicles (NGVs) has been found in the northeastern province of Udon Thani, said Kurujit Nakornthap, director-general of the Mineral Fuels Department.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759902-new-natural-gas-field-found-in-udon-thani/

[Lite Beer]

PHUKET: Man dies after climbing coconut tree
Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: A man was killed after falling off a coconut tree today (September 12) in Baan Leang coconut grove on Thepkasattri Rd.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759932-the-phuket-news-phuket-news/

[Lite Beer]

Channel 3 submits new demand

BANGKOK: -- Channel 3 TV this afternoon submitted a three-point demand to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission in a renewed attempt to resolve the conflict with the broadcasting committee.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759934-channel-3-submits-new-demand/