Lese majeste complaints top 10,000
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police have dealt with more than 10,000 cases of lese majeste in recent years, but the big figure was not because they had "got serious" with offenders after the coup in May, a senior police officer said yesterday.

Police Colonel Somporn Dangdee, deputy commander of the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD), told an seminar at Chulalongkorn University that legal action had been taken against offenders of Penal Code Article 112 since the tenure of the previous government.

"Police have monitored illegal behaviour continuously. We have not just become serious after the National Council for Peace and Order took over control of the country. We started since the previous government. Until now, we have dealt with more than 10,000 cases," Somporn said. He did not reveal the number of people prosecuted, or what he meant by "dealt with".

But he conceded that more arrests had been made after the coup, particularly in cases where the offence was committed through social media and the Internet. More cases have been brought to court since martial law was imposed.

The police officer was speaking during a discussion on "Law and privacy in the online world", held yesterday at the university's Faculty of Law.

Asst Prof Pirongrong Ramasuta, a lecturer at Chulalongkorn's Faculty of Communication Arts, said at the event yesterday that unlike in developed countries, Thailand has no law to protect people's privacy, particularly involving cyberspace.

"Moreover, Thailand is viewed as a state-controlled country. The government can have easy access to people's personal information. In many countries, this is regarded as violation of personal rights," Pirongrong said.

She pointed out that privacy is an important matter and essential for a democracy. She also called for protection of freedom of expression.

Kanathip Thongrawiwong, dean of St John University's Faculty of Law, said that violation of privacy was rife in the online world, with many people widely spreading personal information about others. He said that many people tend to believe information distributed online without checking its accuracy.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Lese-majeste-complaints-top-10000-30246773.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-02

INSURGENCY
Security tightened in South
The Sunday Nation

Village defence volunteers inspect a mobile-phone antenna post after suspected separatist militants set fire to it in the restive southern province of Narathiwat yesterday. The grinding conflict has claimed more than 5,000 lives in a decade

Move follows 4 bomb attacks in Pattani as violence worsens; 5 telecom towers set on fire in Narathiwat

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/773195-security-tightened-in-south/

MASTER POLL
Prayut must stay on as PM until problems solved: survey
The Sunday Nation

Prayut

Most community leaders want Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to serve as the country's PM for as long as it takes to resolve the country's problems, according to a survey released yesterday by Master Poll.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/773196-prayut-must-stay-on-as-pm-until-problems-solved-survey/

SPECIAL REPORT
Case of Indian fugitive exposes security flaws
The Sunday Nation

Tara

BANGKOK: -- Leak of alert message, contradicting information and overall confusion reveal Thailand's lack of preparedness

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/773197-case-of-indian-fugitive-exposes-security-flaws/

National Reform Council to form panel to gather ideas from public
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Reform Council will establish a committee to gather opinions from the public about how to reform the country, according to NRC vice president Tassana Boontong.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/773199-national-reform-council-to-form-panel-to-gather-ideas-from-public/

Illegal workers afraid of joining Laos' census survey
Vientiane Times
Asia News Network

BANGKOK: -- Lao workers employed illegally in Thailand are scared that the upcoming population census survey may catch them out if the surveyors discover that they are working here without proper documentation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/773201-illegal-workers-afraid-of-joining-laos-census-survey/

Ex-Pheu Thai MP sceptical about charter drafters
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- A former Pheu Thai Party lawmaker yesterday expressed concern that the new charter may not be democratic and fails to bring about reconciliation, judging by the people named on the Constitution Drafting Committee.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/773202-ex-pheu-thai-mp-sceptical-about-charter-drafters/

EDITORIAL
Thais need to stop using and accepting Styrofoam products
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The foam product that many of us get meals and drinks in is a hazardous item that takes years to break down. It should be banned

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/773203-thais-need-to-stop-using-and-accepting-styrofoam-products/

World Puppet Festival kicks off in Bangkok

BANGKOK, 1 November 2014 (NNT) - The 2014 World Puppet Festival has begun with a grand parade of international puppets along Ratchadamnoen road in Bangkok. 115 puppet troupes from 79 countries attend this 10-day event.

Under its official name “Harmony World Puppet Carnival,” the puppet festival officially started on Saturday on Ratchadamnoen road. The Thai Ministry of Culture and the public and private sectors join hands in organizing the event scheduled for 1-10 November 2014. Venues of the puppet shows include the Rattanakosin Island area, the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre and Paragon department store.

The two kilometers long parade of puppets featured puppet troupes from 80 countries, including Thailand, military bands, as well as cultural shows.

Minister of Culture Weera Rotephotchanarat said the 2014 World Puppet Festival was attended by the most puppet troupes from all over the world and 50 puppet troupes from Thailand. The minister invited both Thais and foreigners to visit the festival and enjoy famous puppet shows from Europe, Africa, America, Asia and ASEAN.

There are also puppet exhibitions and street performances throughout the 10-day festival.

The puppet show schedule can be found on www.harmonyworldpuppet.com. Reservations of free tickets can also be made on the website.

-- NNT 2014-11-02

Islamic State: Militants kill 50 from Iraqi Anbar tribe

Militants from Islamic State (IS) have killed at least 50 members of an Iraqi tribe in western Anbar province, officials and tribal leaders say.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/773205-islamic-state-militants-kill-50-from-iraqi-anbar-tribe/

British man held over Hong Kong murders

A 29-year-old British man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the deaths of two women in Hong Kong.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/773207-british-man-held-over-hong-kong-murders/

RT @KristieKenney: Our #EducationUSA BTS train is in Bangkok. Stop by Siam Paragon Education fair today, Nov 2, to see US universities. http://t.co/WRGWuXOn8y

RT @191Thailand: 5,634 deaths & 10,554 injuries in insurgency related incidents in #Thailand’s Deep South since 1 January 2004

Three Buddhists killed, seven others injured in border district of Songkhla

SONGHLA: -- Muslim insurgents on two motorcycles opened fire at houses in a village of Songkhla's Thepha district Saturday night, killing three men and injuring seven other people.

The injured included a girl.

The insurgents left leaflet, saying the attack was done in retaliation against the authorities' firing at Muslim villagers in Narathiwat.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Three-Buddhists-killed-seven-others-injured-in-bor-30246778.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-02

7.1-magnitude quake hits off Fiji

HONG KONG (AFP) - A major earthquake was recorded in the south Pacific early Sunday, about 140 kilometres (88 miles) northeast of Fiji's Ndoi Island, the US Geological Survey said.

The 7.1-magnitude quake, which hit at 6:57 am local time (18:57 GMT Saturday), registered at a depth of 434 kilometres (270 miles).

No tsunami warning was issued, according to the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

Fiji is located in the so-called Ring of Fire area of the Pacific Ocean basin, where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.

Last month, a 7.2-magnitude quake struck some 570 kilometres south of Easter Island.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/7-1-magnitude-quake-hits-off-Fiji-30246779.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-02

Most Thais want Prayut govt to tackle economic woes: survey

BANGKOK: -- Most Thais want the interim government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to speed up efforts to tackle economic slowdown with measures to stimulate the economy, a survey by Rajabhat Suan Dusit University found.

The survey was carried out among 1,564 people from Monday to Saturday.

The survey found that 82.42 per cent of the respondents want the government to tackle economic woes and the 63.11 per cent want the government to work to the full efforts and 59.85 per cent want the government to spend the budget with transparency and ensure the budget would be worthwhile.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Most-Thais-want-Prayut-govt-to-tackle-economic-woe-30246780.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-02

Facebook pot dealers nabbed in Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Police have arrested a couple for allegedly selling marijuana on Facebook and seized five kilogrammes of compressed cannabis from their home in Nonthaburi.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/773249-facebook-pot-dealers-nabbed-in-bangkok/

Dog Meat Trade in Thailand Is Under Pressure and May Be Banned
By THOMAS FULLERNOV.

BAAN KLANG, Thailand — The dog-eating community here, a small minority of rice farmers and day laborers, has long understood that its culinary habits do not sit well with people from other parts of Thailand, especially the pet-loving urban middle and upper classes.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/773257-dog-meat-trade-in-thailand-is-under-pressure-and-may-be-banned/

65-year- old freelance workers can join social security now

The Social Security Fund now allows freelance workers, who are at least 65 years old, to join the scheme from now until December 8, said Pranin Muttaharat, secretary general of the Office of the Social Security Fund.

They can join the fund by paying Bt100 a month and the government will contribute another Bt100, allowing them to save Bt200 a month as pension fund.

She said the freelance workers can insure themselves under the provision of Article 40 of the Social Security Act.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/65-year-old-freelance-workers-can-join-social-secu-30246781.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-02

Phuket road rage shooting suspect surrenders
Saran Mitrarat

Gen Patchara with mugshot of Suwat on Friday. File photo

PHUKET: Suwat Saejong, 62, wanted for shooting dead motorbike taxi driver Chaliao Piyapakul on Thursday morning (October 30), has surrendered to police, Phuket Provincial Commander Maj Gen Patchara Boonyasit confirmed this morning (November 2).

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/773270-phuket-road-rage-shooting-suspect-surrenders/

Phuket high season opens with colourful parade

Suthicha Sirirat

Golden opportunity: One of the many queens in the parade.

PHUKET: A colorful street procession yesterday evening (November 1) marked the start of the 29th annual three-day Phuket Carnival, officially ushering in the island’s tourism high season.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/773271-phuket-high-season-opens-with-colourful-parade/

Aussie jogger fights off would-be Phuket rapist

The quiet road where the jogger was attacked.

PHUKET: An Australian teacher this morning heroically fought off a would-be rapist who grabbed her while she was jogging near Bangtao Beach, and injured him in the process.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/773274-aussie-jogger-fights-off-would-be-phuket-rapist/

Unknown trio stab Phuket man on bike
Eakkapop Thongtub

Kittipong receives first aid.

PHUKET: A young man riding his bike north along Thekrassaattree Rd last night at 8pm was stopped by three others and stabbed, though not fatally.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/773297-unknown-trio-stab-phuket-man-on-bike/

Silom Cleared of Vendors

BANGKOK: -- Bang Rak district officials, accompanied by police and military personnel today began clearing footpaths on both sides of Silom road of vendors and street stalls.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/773306-silom-cleared-of-vendors/

UPDATE:

Phuket road rage shooter re-enacts killing

Eakkapop Thongtub

Suwat shows police how he took careful aim at Chaliao Piyapakul.

PHUKET: Suwat Saejong, 62, who has admitted shooting dead motorbike taxi driver Chaliao Piyapakul on Thursday morning (October 30), took part this afternoon (November 2) in a re-enactment of the killing in the place where it happened.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/773270-phuket-road-rage-shooting-suspect-surrenders/#entry8618368

Final rice export expected in mid-November

BANGKOK: -- The cabinet is expected to receive the final report of rice held in the stockpiles in the middle of this month, said finance permanent secretary Rangsan Srivorasart today.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/773309-final-rice-export-expected-in-mid-november/

to continue:

Thailand Live Monday 3 Nov 2014

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/773403-thailand-live-monday-3-nov-2014/