Thailand Live Tuesday 11 Nov 2014

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Interior minister worried about heavy rains in south

BANGKOK, 11 November 2014 (NNT) - Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda has instructed the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation to work closely with provincial administrations in assisting those affected by heavy rains in the lower southern provinces.

The minister said he had been informed of a low pressure system in the lower part of the southern region. So far, the provinces of Krabi, Chumphon, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phatthalung and Pattani had been affected by heavy rains caused by the low pressure area, said Gen. Anupong. The minister stressed that there should be fast and sufficient assistance for the affected people.

Gen. Anupong also asked the department and the affected provinces to urgently survey the damages and pump water out of the submerged areas. The water’s paths should be cleared so that it reached the sea as fast as possible, said the minister.


-- NNT 2014-11-11

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Thailand expects 5.5 million Chinese visitors next year
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Nov 10 -- The Ministry of Tourism & Sports is promoting Thainess to woo foreign tourists and this is part of its campaigns to raise the number of Chinese visitors to 5-5.5 million next year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775454-thailand-expects-55-million-chinese-tourists-in-2015/

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UPDATE:

Controversial memo on birth control 'not hospital policy'
Poungchompoo Prasert
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- RAJAVITHI HOSPITAL director Udom Chaovarindr admitted yesterday that a memo prohibiting employees from getting pregnant until the end of next year did exist, but explained that it was a mutual agreement within its pharmaceutical division, and not hospital policy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775452-hospital-in-bangkok-clarifies-ban-on-pregnant-employees/page-2?p=8654391#entry8654391

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CHARTER DRAFTING
NRC agrees on 'goals for the next 20 years'
THE NATION


National Reform Council chairman Thienchay Kiranandana, third from left, gestures with NRC members after a high-profile press conference on national reform yesterday.

'Council will only do initial work on six national goals'

BANGKOK: -- The National Reform Council will spend a year mapping out a 20-year plan to shape Thailand's future - emphasising political, economic and education reform to bring about equality in those areas, its chairman Thienchay Kiranandana said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775527-thai-charter-drafting-nrc-agrees-on-goals-for-the-next-20-years/

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TURN BACK CRIME
AirAsia joins Interpol's I-Checkit campaign against using stolen passports
Marisa Chimprabha
Nice, France

BANGKOK: -- Interpol has agreed to expand its I-Checkit initiative under the Turn Back Crime campaign to other businesses after its cooperation with AirAsia, Asia's largest budget airline, proved successful.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775528-airasia-joins-interpols-i-checkit-campaign-against-using-stolen-passports/

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Apec agrees on new trade area, but not US deal
The Nation, Agencies
Beijing

BANGKOK: -- CHINA HAS gained support for its version of a regional free-trade arrangement as leaders to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) agreed to create a new free-trade area "as early as possible." The US-sponsored Trans Pacific Partnership, however, failed to set a timeframe.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775529-apec-agrees-on-new-trade-area-but-not-us-deal/

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Overhaul in the works for social security fund
The Nation

Labour Ministry to set up committee to revamp fund so its management meets international standards

BANGKOK: -- The Labour Ministry plans to set up a committee to overhaul Bt1.2 trillion in social security and compensation funds, while at the same time encouraging people to save more money.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775530-overhaul-in-the-works-for-thai-social-security-fund/

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NATION ANALYSIS
Junta faces new challenge over charter
Nitipol Kiravanich
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand is heading toward its 20th constitution after the latest charter drafters were fully recruited last week - but without any doubt this new constitution will be perceived as the junta's charter.

Although the 36 members of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) were carefully selected by involved agencies, it could not be denied they were a product of the coup makers.

To begin with, agencies which were eligible to nominate the CDC members, such as the National Reform Council (NRC), National Legislative Assembly (NLA), and the Cabinet, were all appointed by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

The NLA and NRC were given 25 of the seats in the CDC, or more than 50 per cent of its membership. The NCPO added five more positions plus one for the committee's chairman, while the other five members were nominated by the Cabinet.

Obviously, drafters of the 2014 provisional charter considered the CDC members' qualifications and shut the door on those against the coup.

Therefore, it appeared the NCPO had appointed every member, leading the public to voice concern that the new charter will be a tangible product of the military government.

CDC chairman Borwornsak Uwanno added more doubt to public suspicion about the new constitution when he outlined the drafting of the charter to other members in the committee's first official meeting last week.

Furthermore, many drafters backed the idea proposed by the chairman that the new charter would be drafted from scratch.

Many also insisted that Article 35 in the Provisional Constitution, which stipulates that the CDC must draft the charter to include 10 framework issues, must be inserted in the new charter.

Up until this point, political observers still believed that many CDC members were seen as anti-Thaksin and they would draft the constitution to prevent his regime from rising again.

For these reasons, it would seem to confirm that the junta chief and Prime Minister, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, together with the junta, already had ideas on the content to be included in the charter.

The question is, to what extent will this constitution be projecting the ideas of the people.

The essential contents of a charter in democratic countries include "popular sovereignty", "limitation of government power", and "institutional and procedural limitations on powers".

Yet, sadly, this country is still failing to elevate its ideas of democracy to project the rights of the people.

In his TV address last Friday, "Return Happiness to the People", Prime Minister Prayut provided guidelines to the charter drafters, saying the new constitution should be people-centred, fair, thorough, transparent, and most importantly, effective.

Following the PM's order, the CDC has been setting up subcommittees and panels to listen to people's opinions and suggestions.

However, that does not mean the charter will be a people's charter. Just listening to the public does not ensure people will actually have a say, or take part in its composition.

Keeping the people safe, maintaining social stability and promoting reconciliation among conflicting sides are the junta's work and it appears they have done it very well. Yet dictating a charter which projects people's wishes is clearly not their job.

The military seized power this year, set up the government and appointed a PM, claiming they needed to curb the political chaos and unusual circumstances. However, their coup was opposed by some Thais and international communities as undemocratic.

The junta should turn the crisis into opportunity by opening its minds to accept all opinions from the public. If the junta cannot make people accept them by giving people rights as part of the constitution, certainly this will lead to further problems.

Therefore, this new charter will be a real test and challenge for the military junta to prove itself, whether it has the qualifications to be in charge and to govern this country or not.

Most importantly, the highest national law would prove the junta's sincerity in staging the coup to solve the problems of the country.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Junta-faces-new-challenge-over-charter-30247466.html


-- The Nation 2014-11-11

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EDITORIAL
The risks of getting too close to China
The Nation

Thailand is dependent on Beijing for infrastructure development, but too much reliance threatens our relations elsewhere

BANGKOK: -- Dealing with China might be a comforting prospect for Thailand's military-dominated government, but Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha must watch his step amid the international gathering of leaders in Beijing.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775531-thai-editorial-the-risks-of-getting-too-close-to-china/

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STREETWISE
In economic policy, transparency rules
Achara Deboonme

BANGKOK: -- When it comes to economic policies, what I like the most about this junta is its plan to cut fuel subsidies.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775532-thai-opinion-in-economic-policy-transparency-rules/

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Controversial Beach Booms claim life of Russian on Pattaya Beach



PATTAYA: -- The Beach Booms situated along Pattaya and Jomtien Beaches which are used to define swimming and boating zones to ensure the safety of beachgoers, have claimed another life on Pattaya Beach in the early hours of Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775533-controversial-beach-booms-claim-life-of-russian-on-pattaya-beach/

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German’s Wallet Snatched by Thai Man in Pattaya Beer Bar



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Monday a 52 year old German had his wallet snatched by a Thai Man he had arranged to spend the rest of the night with.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775534-germans-wallet-snatched-by-thai-man-in-pattaya-beer-bar/

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Australian re-united with lost wallet thanks to honest Pattaya residents



PATTAYA: -- A 43 year old Australian Fitness Instructor, breathed a sigh of relief on Monday after his lost wallet was found by two honest Thai Residents who, with the help of Pattaya Police, were able to present the wallet and its contents back to its rightful owner.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775535-australian-re-united-with-lost-wallet-thanks-to-honest-pattaya-residents/

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1 Million Baht Fire at Water Purification Store in South Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- Pattaya Fire Rescue Units were called to the Sukhumvit Road in South Pattaya on Monday afternoon to deal with a fire at a Water Purification Store which caused an estimated 1 Million Baht in damage to the building and to stock.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775536-1-million-baht-fire-at-water-purification-store-in-south-pattaya/

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Police superintendents warned to look after their men‏



BANGKOK: -- Police comemanders have been warned that they will face tough actions if they fail to properly look after their subordinates to the point that they decide to commit suicide.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775537-thai-police-superintendents-warned-to-look-after-their-men/

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Government to help farmers store rice in barns instead of selling



BANGKOK: -- The Internal Trade Department will help rice farmers store their crops in barns so they will not have to rush to dump them on sale which will send rice prices to plunge, said Mr Bunyarith Kalayanamit, director-general of the department, on Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775538-government-to-help-thai-farmers-store-rice-in-barns-instead-of-selling/

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Bt187m earmarked for Ebola cases
Puangchumpoo Prasert,
Wasu Wipoosanapat
The Nation


File Photo

BANGKOK: -- AN URGENT budget of Bt187 million has been arranged to tackle potential Ebola cases in Thailand, Deputy PM Yongyuth Yuthavong said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775539-bt187m-earmarked-for-ebola-cases/

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BURNING ISSUE
Good deal for the landless, but will it harm our forests?
Chularat Saengpassa
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The government's plan was a piece of rare good news for the landless: some one million degraded forest plots will be rented cheaply to those without land.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775540-thai-politics-good-deal-for-the-landless-but-will-it-harm-our-forests/

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Warrant issued for Rohingya 'insurgency operative'
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- AN ARREST WARRANT has been taken out for a Rohingya man on the strength of an intelligence report from the new Security Problems Integral Centre claiming that he was an operative for the insurgency in the deep South and was preparing terror attacks in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775541-thailand-warrant-issued-for-rohingya-insurgency-operative/

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Phuket talks move towards beach business compromises
Nattha Thepbamrung


Mayor Arun Soros (right): 'Normally, we don’t allow vendors to work on the beach.'

PHUKET: -- Officials have attended a chain of meetings over the past week to discuss the businesses affected by the beach clean-up and ways they can help out-of-work people.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775542-phuket-talks-move-towards-beach-business-compromises/

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Phuket tour boat operators vote for major changes
Saran Mitrarat


Krissada Pichetpongsanon: Setting up a new tour boat association to end dangerous price competition.

PHUKET: -- Boat operators today (November 10) voted in favour of the new bad weather red-flag system but were also unanimous in wanting advance warning so that they can turn down customers before they arrive at the quay.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775543-phuket-tour-boat-operators-vote-for-major-changes/

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Longer training for Phuket L-drivers coming next year
Tanyaluk Sakoot


With the roads of Phuket becoming more crowded every day, better driver training is long overdue.

PHUKET: -- With the number of new cars and bikes on Phuket’s roads increasing by 500 to 700 a month, the Phuket Provincial Land Transport Office (PLTO) is to introduce a new, more comprehensive training course for learner drivers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775544-longer-training-for-phuket-l-drivers-coming-next-year/

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Can Thailand Tourism Rebound After Political Unrest?
JAMES RUGGIA

THAILAND: -- With the demonstrations over in Thailand and the news cycle focused elsewhere, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is priming the tourism pump on several fronts. The Thai tourism juggernaut had surpassed 24 million arrivals in 2013 making it one of the UNWTO’s top 10 destinations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775545-can-thailand-tourism-rebound-after-political-unrest/

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Virus that 'makes humans more stupid' discovered
BEN TUFFT

LONDON: -- A virus that infects human brains and makes us more stupid has been discovered, according to scientists in the US.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775546-virus-that-makes-humans-more-stupid-discovered/

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Nigeria school blast in Potiskum kills dozens

(BBC) At least 46 students have been killed by a suicide bomber at a school assembly in the north-eastern Nigerian town of Potiskum, police have said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775547-dozens-killed-in-nigeria-school-attack/

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Israeli woman and soldier killed in two knife attacks

(BBC) Two Israelis have been killed in separate knife attacks in Tel Aviv and the occupied West Bank.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775548-israeli-woman-and-soldier-killed-in-two-knife-attacks/

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Reagan's apology to Thatcher over Grenada revealed

(BBC) A recorded conversation between an apologetic Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher over the invasion of Grenada has been published for the first time.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775550-reagans-apology-to-thatcher-over-grenada-revealed/

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UK police examining murder probe to return from Thailand

LONDON: -- British police who travelled to Thailand to review the investigation into the murders of backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller are due to return to the UK, having completed their work "as far as possible".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775562-british-police-examining-koh-tao-murder-probe-to-return-to-uk/

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Survey finds SMEs with bleak outlook for Q4 economy

BANGKOK, 11 November 2014 (NNT) – Most small- and medium-sized businesses are still worried about the condition of the economy during the final months of 2014, according to a survey by Dhurakij Pundit University.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775570-survey-finds-smes-with-bleak-outlook-for-q4-thai-economy/

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UPDATE:

Thailand murders: UK police to compile investigation report

(BBC) UK police are to return from Thailand after reviewing an investigation into the murders of two British tourists, Scotland Yard has said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775562-british-police-examining-koh-tao-murder-probe-to-return-to-uk/#entry8655150