Thailand Live Sunday 5 Oct 2014

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Myanmar murder suspects escorted to Samui court for extended detention

KOH TAO: -- Two Myanmar rape murder suspects were this morning escorted by the police from Phangan island to Samui island for permission from the court to detain them 12 more days for further questioning.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....nded-detention/

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Koh Tao Murders: Thai Authorities Deny 'Scapegoat' Allegation

By Khaosod Eng.

BANGKOK — Thai authorities are insisting that they have not pinned the murder of two British backpackers on "scapegoats" in an effort to wrap up the controversial investigation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....oat-allegation/

[Lite Beer]

Rights group arranges lawyers for Myanmar men
Pravit Rojanaphruk,
Suwannee Bunditsak
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- A team of lawyers has been sent to help the two migrant Myanmar workers being charged with murdering two British tourists and raping one of them on Koh Tao, a prominent activist for the rights of migrant workers said yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/765800-rights-group-arranges-lawyers-for-myanmar-men/

[Lite Beer]

HEALTH SCHEME
Free anti-retrovirals for all with HIV
Phumpetch Roumjit
The Sunday Nation

Participants at an event held to promote better understanding of HIV/Aids, who said it is safe to eat food prepared by people living with HIV.

BANGKOK: -- Move aims to limit spread of disease, as only 54percent sufferers were able to get drugs previously, deputy minister says

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/765801-free-anti-retrovirals-for-all-with-hiv/

[Lite Beer]

NLA AUTHORITY
Pheu Thai to seek court ruling on impeachments
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Pheu Thai Party will ask the Constitutional Court to rule on whether the National Legislative Assembly has the authority to impeach politicians.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/765802-pheu-thai-to-seek-court-ruling-on-impeachments/

[Lite Beer]

SINGAPORE'S MRT ACCIDENT
Thai teen seeks PM's help
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- A 17-year-old Thai girl, who lost both her legs after falling in front of an MRT train in Singapore in 2011, wants Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to convince the city-state's government to pay for new prosthetic legs.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/765803-thai-teen-seeks-pms-help/

[Lite Beer]

Films added to national archive
Pakamard Jaichalard
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Blockbusters like Fan Chan (My Girl), Transistor Love Story and Nang Nak have been added to the prestigious list of national films, alongside historical films that feature King Rama V's 1897 trip to Stockholm and King Rama VII's 1930 trip to Indochina.

Culture Minister Vira Rojpojchanarat announced the list at the Film Archive yesterday.

Fifteen films are new to the list, each of them outstanding in their own way. "The film about King Rama V's trip is over 117 years old already," Vira said.

Dome Sukwong, who heads the Film Archive, said Ernest Florman - Sweden's pioneering cinematographer - filmed the trip, which included the moment when King Rama V and the then-Swedish king greeted each other with kisses.

"We discovered this film in 2013. It's one of the two oldest films about Thais," he said.

Vira said several blockbusters were awarded national film status because they reflected Thai society.

"Thais in the younger generations will learn something when they watch these films," he said.

Fan Chan is the newest of the 25 honoured films. Released in cinemas in 2003, it offers a nostalgic look back at the childhood friendship of a boy and a girl as they grow up in a small town in Thailand in the 1980s.

Dome said the organisation had put 100 films in the national archive and they were considered part of the country's national heritage.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Films-added-to-national-archive-30244780.html

-- The Nation 2014-10-05

[Lite Beer]

Human blood found in Kaeng Krachan park car
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- The authorities have found fresh evidence relating to the mysterious disappearance of prominent Karen activist Pholachi "Billy" Rakchongcharoen.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/765804-human-blood-found-in-kaeng-krachan-park-car/

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Chinese men caught with fake credit cards
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police have arrested two Chinese men for using fake credit cards in Thailand.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/765806-chinese-men-caught-with-fake-credit-cards/

[Lite Beer]

Australian found dead in Chiang Mai hotel
The Sunday Nation

CHIANG MAI: -- An Australian man was found dead in a cheap hotel in Chiang Mai yesterday in what appears to be a suicide.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/765808-australian-found-dead-in-chiang-mai-hotel/

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Monk slams Bt40 billion in assistance to rice farmers
The Sunday Nation

Buddha Issara

BANGKOK: -- Phra Buddha Issara yesterday criticised the government's economic stimulus package that will hand out cash to low-income farmers, saying the plan was a populist policy that threatens national reform.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/765809-monk-slams-bt40-billion-in-assistance-to-rice-farmers/

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EDITORIAL
Koh Tao's other little secret: police extortion
The Nation

KOH TAO: -- Crackdown follows news that migrant workers without proper papers pay police Bt500 a month to work on the island

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/765810-koh-taos-other-little-secret-police-extortion/

[Lite Beer]

6 new provincial airports to be built for better air-transport connectivity

BANGKOK, 4 October 2014 (NNT) – The Ministry of Transport is looking into a possibility of building six new provincial airports in order to strengthen transport connectivity between Thailand and its neighbouring countries, promote an exchange of visits and enhance Thailand's economic growth.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/765811-6-new-provincial-airports-to-be-built-for-better-air-transport-connectivity/

[Lite Beer]

Bangkok strives to become metropolis of ASEAN

BANGKOK, 4 October 2014 (NNT) – The Governor of Bangkok, Mom Rajawongse Sukhumbhand Paribatra, chaired a meeting between the Bangkok Metropolitan Council (BMC) and executive members of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/765812-bangkok-strives-to-become-metropolis-of-asean/

[Lite Beer]

Australian Jack Hansen-Bartel a victim of Thailand's brutal underbelly
Lindsay Murdoch
South-East Asia correspondent for Fairfax Media

Bangkok: Australian Jack Hansen-Bartel didn't see the punches coming when he suffered horrific injuries to his face, ending his work as a part-time model and plans to enter a Melbourne university.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/765820-australian-jack-hansen-bartel-a-victim-of-thailands-brutal-underbelly/

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Update

Letter to the editor – a witness account of the Jack Hansen-Bartel attack

KOH SAMUI:-- The following letter has been sent to the editor of the Samui Times, it one mans harrowing account of what she saw on the 10 th of June in the Green Mango Soi, she cannot be named for legal reasons.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/765820-australian-jack-hansen-bartel-a-victim-of-thailands-brutal-underbelly/#entry8485641

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RT @RichardBarrow: #Bangkok - Mobile Expo at QSNCC, Lanna Fair at Seacon Square, Clutter Sale at Four Seasons & Tropical Fish Competition at The Mall Bangkapi

[Lite Beer]

Thailand tipped to retake crown as world's top rice exporter
Bangkok, Thailand | AFP |

BANGKOK: -- Two years after losing its place as the world's biggest rice exporter, Thailand is eyeing a return to the top spot as the impact of a bungled subsidy scheme eases and it sells cheaper grain to a grateful global market.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/765843-thailand-tipped-to-retake-crown-as-worlds-top-rice-exporter/

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Most Thais want PTT Plc to be bought back by state: survey

BANGKOK: -- Up to 77.34 per cent of people think that the PTT plc should be delisted and bought back the Finance Ministry as a fully-owned state firm so that Thais can buy cheaper fuel, an opinion survey by the National Institute of Development Administration found.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/765844-most-thais-want-ptt-plc-to-be-bought-back-by-state-survey/

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Anti-animal cruelty to be deliberated this week

BANGKOK: -- The anti-animal cruelty and animal welfare bill will be deliberated by the National Legislative Assembly this week. NLA President Pornphet Wichitcholchai has called two meetings on Thursday and Friday to deliberate eight bills and the animal protection bill is among them.

The NLA is also scheduled to deliberate the agricultural land reform bill.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Anti-animal-cruelty-to-be-deliberated-this-week-30244788.html

-- The Nation 2014-10-05

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Residents of Chanthaburi, Trat, Ranong, Phuket Krabi warned of heavy rains

BANGKOK: -- The Meteorological Department warned residents of Chanthaburi, Trat, Ranong, Phuket Krabi to brace themselves for heavy downpours from Sunday to Tuesday.

In its daily forecast, the department said the heavy rains would be unleashed by a high pressure ride over China that has extended to Las and Vietnam.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Residents-of-Chanthaburi-Trat-Ranong-Phuket-Krabi--30244789.html

-- The Nation 2014-10-05

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PM Gen Prayut to meet officials on lifting the Martial Law in some areas

BANGKOK, 5 October 2014, (NNT) - Minister of Tourism and Sports Kobkan Wattanawarangkul has indicated that Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha may consider discussing the lifting of Martial Law in some areas this coming week.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/765847-pm-gen-prayut-to-meet-officials-on-lifting-the-martial-law-in-some-areas/

[Lite Beer]

Royal endorsement granted to appoint new House secretary-general

BANGKOK, 5 October 2014 (NNT) - The announcement of the royal endorsement to confirm the appointment a new secretary-general of the House of Representatives has been publicly made on Saturday.

The royal endorsement to confirm the appointment of Charae Panpruang as the secretary-general of the House of Representatives was posted on the website of the Royal Gazette on Saturday.

The announcement, which was released by the Secretariat of the Cabinet, said that Mr. Charae was officially removed from his post as the deputy secretary-general of the House of the Representatives and officially appointed to the post of the secretary-general.

Mr. Charae has actually been performed the duties of the House secretary-general for months and the royal endorsement has been made with retrospective effect from June 27, 2014.

The royal endorsement was countersigned by Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha.

-- NNT 2014-10-05

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UPDATE:

PM Gen Prayut stresses the Government is ready to help rice farmers

BANGKOK, 5 October 2014 (NNT) - Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has stressed the Government is ready and willing to help rice farmers, while giving his projection that this year the nation would be able to export no less than 11 million tons of rice.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/765809-monk-slams-bt40-billion-in-assistance-to-rice-farmers/page-2?p=8486264#entry8486264

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UPDATE:

Transport Ministry to build six airports in preparation for AEC

BANGKOK: -- The Transport Ministry will conduct a study for the possibility of building six more airports to link up with neighbouring countries in preparation for the Asean Economic Community (AEC), said Deputy Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisit during a seminar on Saturday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/765811-6-new-provincial-airports-to-be-built-for-better-air-transport-connectivity/#entry8486493

[Lite Beer]

Large crowds travel to Siriraj Hospital to wish HM King good health

BANGKOK, 5 October 2014 (NNT) - People from all areas across Thailand are traveling to Siriraj Hospital to wish His Majesty the King a good health. Thais abroad who have learned about HM the King’s hospitalization have gathered to pray for him.

At Siriraj Hospital, the well-wishers, most of them donning yellow, pink and blue shirts, on Sunday were spotted paying homage to the monument of His Royal Highness Prince Mahidol of Songkla, the King’s Father, and the sculpture of Princess Srinagarindra, the Princess Mother. They also chanted Buddhist holy stanzas and meditated, transferring the merits for Their Majesties the King and Queen’s long lives.

The Bureau of the Royal Household has set up a place for people to sign a well-wishing book for Their Majesties the King and Queen at the Sala Siriraj Centenary Building. They are allowed to sign the book from 5 October onwards, from 8 AM – 6 PM.

-- NNT 2014-10-05

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PM: International Community now understands Thailand’s situation better

BANGKOK, 5 October 2014, (NNT) - Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has reaffirmed that the International Community has a better grasp of Thailand’s current situation. Meanwhile, PM’s Office Spokesperson Dr. Yongyuth Mayalarp said General Prayut’s official visit to Myanmar next week would focus on bilateral investments between the two nations.

The Prime Minister said that, during the United Nations General Assembly last month, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister General Thanasak Patimapakorn had told the assembly of Thailand’s past political turmoils, the works accomplished by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), and the tasks ahead for the recently formed Government. The world now understands Thailand better than it did before, the PM said.

After the National Reform Council (NRC) has been formed, the reform process will kick off, with emphasis on addressing political issues, reducing social disparity, and re-installing the democracy, said the General, adding that it is the Government’s duty to lend its full support to the NRC in its endeavors.

Meanwhile, Dr.Yongyuth Mayalarp, the PM’s Office Spokesperson, said the detailed agenda of General Prayut’s official visit to Myanmar, slated for October 9th - 10th, was being drafted, adding that the Premier would discuss with his Myanmar counterpart, focusing on economic cooperation, the Dawei Deep Sea Port Development Project in particular

-- NNT 2014-10-05

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UPDATE:

Most Thais favour PTT’s takeover by the government

BANGKOK: -- More than 75 percent of the people polled by the National Institute Development Administration have wanted the government to take back the control of PTT Public Company because they want to use cheap oil or the prices of oil to be fair.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/765844-most-thais-want-ptt-plc-to-be-bought-back-by-state-survey/#entry8486565

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RT @terryfrd: Police say controversial phone found near suspects' living quarters was David's, not Hannah's which had been given to police earlier/ CH3

[Lite Beer]

Khao Phra Viharn park opens for tourists

Khao Phra Viharn (Preah Vihear) national park officials are bracing for an invasion of tourists to this historical destination In Kanthararak district of Si Sa Ket as the tourism season has started.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/765853-khao-phra-viharn-park-opens-for-tourists/