Thailand Live Monday 22 Sep 2014

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Retailers ready for annual vegetarian festival

BANGKOK, 22 September 2014 (NNT) – Thailand’s retailers are getting ready for the approaching vegetarian festival, which will happen twice in 2014 – the first time in 182 years.

Yuthasak Poomsurakul, Vice President for Marketing at CP All Public Company Limited, which operates 7-Eleven convenience stores in Thailand, said that the vegetarian food business has been growing markedly every year.

Mr. Yuthasak said that the rise has been attributed to the growing number of serious vegetarians and the emerging part-term vegetarians who opt for non-meat foods for health and merit-making purposes.

He said that this year is also special for the vegetarian festival as it will happen twice, during September 24 and October 2 and again during October 24 and November 2, according to the Chinese Lunar calendar.

The Economic and Business Forecasting Center at the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce already forecast that more than 50 billion baht will be spent during this year’s vegetarian festival.

Accordingly, 7-Eleven has prepared nearly 400 vegetarian menus, covering both foods and beverages, to offer to consumers who look for non-meat diets this year.

CP All has projected sales of vegetarian menus to rise 20% on-year, to more than 600 million baht this year.


-- NNT 2014-09-22

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Man Clarifies 'Buy House, Get Free Wife' Promotion
By Khaosod English


Another variation of the advertisement that reads "[buy] House, Free Wife"

NAKHON RATCHASIMA – A business owner in Nakhon Ratchasima province has clarified his company's "Buy House, Get Free Wife" promotion following protests from women's rights groups.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762320-thai-business-man-clarifies-buy-house-get-free-wife-promotion/

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Southern Banners Denounce New 'Redshirt' Governor
By Khaosod English


The text reads: "Citizens of Muang Khon [nickname of Nakhon Si Thammarat province] do not want a Redshirt governor" [Photo:Matichon]

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT—Soldiers have removed mysterious banners hung in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat that accused the newly appointed governor of being allied to the Redshirt movement.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762321-southern-banners-denounce-new-redshirt-governor/

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Democrats Deny Supporting Pre-Coup Protests
By Khaosod English


Democrat Party chairman Abhisit Vejjajiva visits PCAD leader Suthep Thaugsuban at the PCAD rally in Bangkok's Lumpini Park, 22 March 2014. Despite their close coordination, the Democrat Party denies supporting the protest movement.

BANGKOK — Leading members of the Democrat Party have denied the allegation that their party supported the anti-government protest campaign that was launched at the end of last year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762322-thai-democrats-deny-supporting-pre-coup-protests/

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TAT: Thai tourism will quickly rebound following govt's statement on Koh Tao murder



BANGKOK, 22 September 2014 (NNT) - The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has expressed confidence that the Thai tourism situation will improve soon after the government issued an announcement on the murder of two British tourists on Koh Tao island.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762323-tat-thai-tourism-will-quickly-rebound-following-govts-statement-on-koh-tao-murder/

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Transport Minister mulling plans to collect congestion fee

BANGKOK, 22 September 2014 (NNT) – The Transport Minister is considering plans to help ease traffic conditions in Bangkok, including the collection of congestion fee.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762324-thai-transport-minister-mulling-plans-to-collect-congestion-fee/

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Thai police question speedboat driver over British murders

BANGKOK, September 22, 2014 (AFP) - Thai police said they carried out a DNA test late Sunday on a speedboat driver arrested for a drug offence, as they extended their hunt for the killer of two British holidaymakers on a resort island.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762325-thai-police-question-speedboat-driver-over-british-murders-on-koh-tao/

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DAY EIGHT
DNA samples to be sought of all Koh Tao residents
Anapat Deechuay,
Suwannee Bandisak
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police are collecting DNA samples of all people on Koh Tao, an island off Surat Thani province, in a bid to find the murderers of two British tourists.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762326-dna-samples-to-be-sought-of-all-koh-tao-residents/

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LAWS
Compensation for wrong imprisonment
Thanisa Tanticharoen,
Sitthichai Nakhonwilai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Soon individuals who were wrongly imprisoned or victims of serious crimes will be able to lodge a police complaint and simultaneously file for compensation with the Rights and Liberties Protection Department.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762327-thai-law-compensation-for-wrong-imprisonment/

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SUBWAY
MRT fares to be capped
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- TRANSPORT MINISTER Air Chief Marshall Prajin Juntong plans to again ask Bangkok Metro, operator of MRT subway (Blue Line)'s Bang Sue-Hua Lamphong section, to defer an increase in ticket fares by Bt1-2 per section until December.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762328-bangkok-subway-mrt-fares-to-be-capped/

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CAR FREE DAY
Thousands of Thais get on their bikes
Supitcha Rattana,
Prateep Nantaparp,
Prasit Tangprasert
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thais celebrated Car Free Day early this year, with many activities - including bicycle parades - held in Bangkok and elsewhere yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762332-car-free-day-thousands-of-thais-get-on-their-bikes/

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POLITICS
PM to do field inspections
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha will carry out field inspections in the next three months to ensure policies he has given to ministries are carried out properly, deputy government spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday.

He said ministers and inspectors would also conduct field inspections, not only in the provinces but at all ministries given policies by the Cabinet.

He said inspections in the provinces would not be like a mobile Cabinet and he was not sure which province Prayuth wants to inspect.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/PM-to-do-field-inspections-30243798.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-22

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EDITORIAL
Real action needed in war on corruption
The Nation

A non-nonsense approach addressing the very national psyche required to root out this maladie

BANGKOK: -- A few days ago, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha did what virtually all his predecessors had done, kick-starting an anti-corruption agenda. In his opening address at a government-sponsored forum, he said what virtually all his predecessors had said - about how graft was destroying every facet of society and hence how urgent and serious the problem was.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762333-real-action-needed-in-war-on-corruption-thai-editorial/

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REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE
As the world watches, PM Prayuth goes abroad
Kavi Chongkittavorn

BANGKOK: -- September 22, 2014 1:00 amNow it is time to show the world what kind of person is Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha. The world's microscope will be zero in on him when he visits Milan for the 10th Asia-Europe Summit on 16-17 October in Italy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762334-as-the-world-watches-pm-prayuth-goes-abroad/

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Chinese Tour Coach Crash in Jomtien



PATTAYA: -- Police and medics received an urgent call to attend a coach crash which occurred on Jomtien Second Road just before 6pm on Sunday, which was known to be carrying Chinese Tourists.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762335-chinese-tour-coach-crash-in-jomtien/

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Korean reports theft of Mobile Phone on Walking Street to Pattaya Police



PATTAYA: -- On Sunday Night, a Korean Tourist reported the alleged theft of a mobile phone, which was apparently snatched from his hands in front of a popular Late Night bar on Walking Street.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762336-korean-reports-theft-of-mobile-phone-on-walking-street-to-pattaya-police/

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Road Crash injures driver on Pattaya Beach Road



PATTAYA: -- Police have yet to confirm the cause of a road crash which occurred on Pattaya Beach in the early hours of Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762337-road-crash-injures-driver-on-pattaya-beach-road/

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713,000 baht reward for information leading to arrest of tourists’ murderers



BANGKOK: -- The reward for information which will lead to the arrest of the killer or killers of two British tourists on Koh Tao has been increased to 713,000 baht while police continue with their manhunt for suspects.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762338-713000-baht-reward-for-information-leading-to-arrest-of-british-tourists-murderers/

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BMA sets target to reduce private car use by 30 percent in 15 years



BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has set an ambitious target to reduce the use of private cars in the city by 30 percent in the next 15 years and to encourage more motorists to turn to mass transit as an alternative mode of travelling, announced Bangkok Governor M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra at the Bangkok Car Free Day 14 at Sanam Luang this morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762339-bangkok-sets-target-to-reduce-private-car-use-by-30-percent-in-15-years/

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Foreign chambers urge safety for tourists
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION


Kang

BANGKOK: -- The foreign chambers of commerce in Thailand, in a bid to help revive tourism, have urged the government to ensure tourist safety and crack down on illegal businesses in order to raise the country's competitiveness and sustainable growth.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762340-foreign-chambers-in-thailand-urge-safety-for-tourists/

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SPECIAL REPORT
Farmers plan for severe drought next dry season
Wasu Vipoosanapat
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Residents in downstream Central provinces need not worry about flood threats for the rest of the year, as the country's water specialists predict that a drought is on the way.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762341-thai-farmers-plan-for-severe-drought-next-dry-season/

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Climate change summit: Global rallies demand action

(BBC) Street protests demanding urgent action on climate change have attracted hundreds of thousands of marchers in more than 2,000 locations worldwide.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762345-global-protests-over-climate-change/

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Ukraine crisis: Thousands march in Moscow anti-war rally

(BBC) Tens of thousands of people have marched in Moscow to protest against Russia's involvement in the Ukraine conflict.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762346-moscow-rally-against-ukraine-crisis/

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Mexican cartels reach Australia
AAP

VIOLENT Mexican cartels with links to Australian crime gangs are infiltrating the nation's illicit drug trade.

MELBOURNE: -- AUSTRALIAN Crime Commission (ACC) chief executive Chris Dawson says the cartels can get higher prices for their drugs in Australia than in Mexico or the US.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762354-violent-mexican-cartels-reach-australia/

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'Deadly blasts' in China's Xinjiang

(BBC) Two people have been killed and others hurt in a series of blasts in China's Xinjiang region, Chinese media say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762355-deadly-blasts-in-chinas-xinjiang/

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Mars Maven mission set for arrival

(BBC) The US space agency's (Nasa) latest Mars satellite is set to arrive in orbit above the planet on Monday (GMT).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762357-mars-maven-mission-set-for-arrival/

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Low water reserves of 2 dams in Chao Phraya river basin could lead to worst drought in 50 years, irrigation director warned. /The Nation

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GrabTaxi service available in Pattaya
The Nation



PATTAYA: -- GrabTaxi, a large taxi-booking mobile app in Southeast Asia, has launched its beta trial in Pattaya. Mayor of Pattaya City, Itthiphol Kunplome, chaired the launch, which was held at Ocean Marina Yacht Club.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762361-grabtaxi-service-available-in-pattaya/

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All southern train services to Sungai Kolok are back to normal, the State Railway of Thailand says. /Bangkok Post

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Former Pentgon chief Leon Panetta says Barack Obama should have armed moderate Syrian rebels earlier

WASHINGTON: -- THE rise of the brutal Islamic State group can partly be blamed on President Barack Obama’s failure to arm moderate Syrian rebels far earlier, says former US defence secretary Leon Panetta.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/762365-us-too-late-on-syria-ex-pentagon-chief-panetta/