Thailand Live Thursday 13 Nov 2014

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PM meets UN chief, thanks him for understanding Thai political situation, asserts path to peace restoration, national reform /MCOT

Major Nakhon Si Thammarat drug ringleader arrested; Islamic teacher shot dead in Yala, 7 year old son wounded /MCOT

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Thailand to 'be more careful' after Vanessa Mae ban
By Coconuts Bangkok

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776190-thailand-to-be-more-careful-after-vanessa-mae-ban/

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Cabinet declares 2015 Thai traditional tourism year



BANGKOK: -- The cabinet yesterday marked 2015 as the Thai traditional tourism year in a latest bid to promote cultural tourism to the country and make Thai culture known worldwide.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776194-thai-cabinet-declares-2015-thai-traditional-tourism-year/

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Non-alcoholic beverages to be taxed



BANGKOK: -- The Excise Department will propose the government to levy tax on non-alcoholic beverages in its attempt to generate more revenue to the state after its excise tax collection fell below target.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776196-thailand-non-alcoholic-beverages-to-be-taxed/

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UPDATE:

Energy pricing structure revamped next year



BANGKOK: -- The energy pricing structure will be entirely revamped next year to reflect the true cost beginning next year, according to the Ministry of Energy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776142-thai-energy-ministry-to-overhaul-energy-pricing-structure/#entry8664668

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A Kingdom in Crisis book banned in Thailand

BANGKOK: -- Police Commissioner General Pol Gen Somyos Pumphanmuang Thursday invoked the 2007 Printing Act to ban the import and distribution of 'A Kingdom in Crisis' book in Thailand.

The book written by David Eimer was deemed lese majesty and detrimental to the national security and good morality of the people, the ban order said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/A-Kingdom-in-Crisis-book-banned-in-Thailand-30247663.html


-- The Nation 2014-11-13

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UPDATE:

Thailand and Russia enhance trade and investment cooperation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand and Russia yesterday affirmed their cooperation to boost trade and investment during bilateral talk in Myanmar.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776179-thailand-and-russia-agree-to-boost-trade-and-investment/#entry8664733

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Australian govt to send businessmen to explore Thai market in 2015

BANGKOK, 13 Nov 2014 (NNT) – The Australian government has agreed to forge trade ties with Thailand during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in China.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776200-australian-govt-to-send-businessmen-to-explore-thai-market-in-2015/

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Several political parties accept to participate in the Charter Drafting discussion

BANGKOK, 13 Nov 2014 (NNT) - The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) says it welcomes opinions from all sectors, and various political parties have already accepted its invitation to discuss the charter drafting.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776208-several-political-parties-accept-to-participate-in-the-thai-charter-drafting-discussion/

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A Kingdom in Crisis book banned

BANGKOK: -- The Royal Thai Police has banned the import and distribution of the book " A Kingdom in Crisis" after considering its contents a threat to national security and defaming the monarchy.

The ban was published in the Royal Gazette Wednesday.

Royal Thai Police commissioner Pol Gen Somyot Pumphanmuang invoked the 2007 Printing Act to ban the import and distribution of the book in Thailand.

The book was written by Scottish journalist Andrew MacGregor Marshall.

The ban was based on two articles reviewing the book and were printed in two overseas newspapers.

One review was made by David Eimer and appeared in the online edition of the South China Morning Post on October 4, and the other by Andre Buncombe and appeared in the online edition of UK newspaper ‘The Independent’ on October 8.

Pol Gen Somyot said in the order that the two articles showed that the book insulted and fomented hatred of Their Majesties the King and the Queen, the heir to the throne or a regent, and affected national security, peace and public morality.

Violation of the ban is liable to a prison term of up to three years and/or a fine of up to 60,000 baht.

He also ordered the seizure and destruction of copies of the book in the kingdom.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/kingdom-crisis-book-banned/

-- Thai PBS 2014-11-13

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Monk wants an institute to monitor politicians

BANGKOK: -- A former core leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PRC) has proposed to the National Legislative Assembly an idea that a national institute be established to regulate and monitor the behavior and ethical conduct of politicians.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776221-monk-wants-an-institute-to-monitor-politicians/

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Pridiyathorn denies conflicts among economic ministers

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula, who is in charge of economic affairs, Thursday denied that there were rifts among ministers in charge of key economic ministries.

He said all economic ministers were closely working together without rifts and conflicts. Pridiyathorn was commenting on speculations that the Cabinet would be reshuffled after New Year holidays to end the rifts.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Pridiyathorn-denies-conflicts-among-economic-minis-30247665.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-13

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NAY PI TAW SUMMIT
Third Thai-Vietnam govt retreat to be held in Thailand

BANGKOK: -- Thailand and Vietnam have agreed that the third joint cabinet retreat will be held in Thailand.

The decision was made during a meeting Wednesday between Thai Foreign Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn and his Vietnamese counterpart; Pham Binh Minh, on the sidelines of the Asean Summit in Myanmar. The date of the meeting will be decided later.

Gen Tanasak is accompanying Prime Minister Prayut Chanocha on his first participation in the Asean Summit.

The meeting between the two foreign ministers aimed to strengthen the ThailandVietnam strategic partnership and cooperation.

Thailand, under the government of then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, initiated the first ThailandVietnam joint cabinet retreat in the Vietnamese city of Danang in 2004.

The second retreat was held in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, in 2012, when Thaksin's sister Yingluck was prime minister.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/aec/Third-Thai-Vietnam-govt-retreat-to-be-held-in-Thai-30247670.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-13

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THE STORY OF MAHAJANAKA
'The Story of Mahajanaka' to be screened

BANGKOK: -- Animation "The Story of Mahajanaka" will be screened for free from November 29 to December 6 in honour of His Majesty the Kingdom's birthday at Major Cineplex. There are two show times daily: 10am and 3pm.

The animation is based on the King's literary work of the same name and has taken is four years to complete. The story chronicles the Buddha in his incarnation as King Mahajanaka and his perseverance in the face of everything from sinking ships to bloody succession feuds.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/The-Story-of-Mahajanaka-to-be-screened-30247669.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-13

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SET rose 0.03 to 1,562.06 at noon /Bangkok Post

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RT @RichardBarrow: Looks like the umbrellas & deck chairs are making a come back on Karon Beach in Phuket #Thailand #ttot http://t.co/GFPNnH0ZLy

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World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 2014 to be observed on Nov 16

BANGKOK, 13 November 2014 (NNT) – The Road Safety Directing Center is to hold an event to commemorate the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 2014 on 16 November. The event will be held in memory of those who died or were injured from road crashes and to raise public awareness on road safety.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776231-world-day-of-remembrance-for-road-traffic-victims-2014-to-be-observed-on-nov-16/

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PM Prayut: Thailand in the second phase of roadmap to sustainable democracy

NAY PYI TAW, 13 November 2014 (NNT) – Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha told Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) that Thailand was currently in the second phase of its national roadmap towards sustainable democracy. He also thanked the latter for his understanding towards the situation in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776234-pm-prayut-thailand-in-the-second-phase-of-roadmap-to-sustainable-democracy/

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UPDATE:

BANKING
ATM system change to halt transactions for two hours

BANGKOK: -- The Bank of Thailand announced on Thursday that commercial bank customers would be unable to conduct transactions with a different bank or with overseas banks through ATM machines for a short period on Friday night due to system testing.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776136-all-atms-to-temporarily-close-nov-14-for-testing/#entry8665340

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Mother wants son arrested for sexually assaulting sister
By Coconuts Bangkok


Photo: Morning News

CHONBURI: -- A 65-year-old mother from Chonburi went to the police Wednesday to accuse her adult son of raping her youngest daughter.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776236-chonburi-mother-wants-son-arrested-for-sexually-assaulting-sister/

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Deep South: Muslim Cleric Shot Dead, 7-Year-Old Son Wounded
By Khaosod English


Muslim students in Narathiwat province condemn violence committed against civilians in Thailand's insurgency-plagued south, 11 Nov 2014.

YALA – An unidentified assailant killed a Muslim cleric and seriously wounded his 7-year-old son last night in the insurgency-plagued southern province of Yala.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776238-yala-muslim-cleric-shot-dead-7-year-old-son-wounded/

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Thai police ban British journalist's book for 'defaming' royals
Bangkok, Thaïlande | AFP |

BANGKOK: -- Thai police have banned a British journalist's book about politics in Thailand for "defaming" the monarchy, an official said Thursday, in a country with one of the world's strictest lese majeste laws.

The sale and distribution of "A Kingdom in Crisis" by freelance journalist and author Andrew MacGregor Marshall, formerly based in Bangkok, has been banned in Thailand a month after it was published by London-based Zed Books.

"The content insults, defames and threatens Thailand's monarchy," said national police chief Somyot Poompanmoung in a statement.

"The book is a danger to national security and peaceful and orderly society," he said, adding that anyone found breaching the ban imposed on Tuesday could face up to three years in jail and a fine of 60,000 baht ($1,800).

Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 86, is protected by tough royal defamation rules under which anyone convicted of insulting the king, queen, heir or regent faces up to 15 years in prison on each count.

Marshall's book, which explores Thai politics including the taboo issue of royal succession, has been banned under the printing act rather than lese majeste legislation -- seemingly widening the legal net to prevent debate about the monarchy.

Critics say the royal defamation law, as well as the later Computer Crimes Act, stifle free speech and are used to silence political opponents.

Since grabbing power in May, junta leader and now premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha has repeatedly vowed to crack down on anyone who insults the monarchy, which attracts deep loyalty among the military and royalist Bangkok-based establishment.

Some experts believe that a struggle is unfolding to decide who will run the country when the more than six-decade reign of the revered but ailing king, currently in hospital after a gallbladder operation, eventually ends.

Discussion on succession is restricted in Thailand under the lese majeste law.

In September, rights group Amnesty International said there had been an "unprecedented" number of people charged with insulting the monarchy since the coup, echoing concerns raised by the United Nations.

Last week a 24-year-old student was jailed for two-and-a-half years for defaming Thailand's monarchy, after pleading guilty to posting an insulting Facebook message under a pseudonym.

In another recent case, a 67-year-old man was charged with insulting the monarchy by scribbling anti-royal comments on the wall of a public toilet.

Marshall was not immediately available for comment. But in an earlier post on Twitter he said: "Many thanks to the Royal Thai Police for banning my new @ZedBooks publication 'A Kingdom in Crisis'. Great for publicity!"


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-11-13

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10-year of rice-pledging scheme nets total loss of bt680 billion

BANGKOK: -- A total of Bt1.1 trillion from the government budget has been spent for 15 rounds o rice pledging that continued for 10 years

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/775996-massive-damages-reported-from-the-thai-rice-pledging-scheme/page-3#entry8665534

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Damrongtham Center handles a debt dispute case in Sisaket province

SISAKET, 13 November 2014 (NNT) - The Damrongtham Center in Sisaket province has held talks with local residents who have filed complaints to the center against a businessman.

Colonel Narong Klanwari, the Commander of the Peacekeeping Task Force in Sisaket province, has designated Sub-Lieutenant Paijit Nonsank to mediate a dispute between 25 locals and a businessman.

In 2012, the locals have sold sweet corn to a businessman worth a total of 219,148 baht. However, they never received their payment and are now facing great financial difficulties as a result.

For this reason, the Damrongtham Center called on both sides to settle the conflict. The businessman has agreed to give an initial payment of 30,000 baht and would give the remainder as a monthly deposit of 40,000 baht on the 15th day of every month until the principle amount is due.

The Damrongtham center has made three reports for the case, two of them given to each side as copies, and one would be kept at the center as evidence.


-- NNT 2014-11-13

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Thai PM calls for ASEAN-UN post-2015 action plan
By Digital Content



NAY PYI TAW, Nov 13 - The United Nations (UN) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should formulate a joint post 2015 action plan to genuinely benefit the people of the 10-member bloc, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said during an ASEAN-UN meeting in Myanmar.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776247-thai-pm-calls-for-asean-un-post-2015-action-plan/

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Government advises SME businesses to use technology to reduce costs

BANGKOK, 13 November 2014 (NNT) – Deputy Prime Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula has encouraged SME owners to use technology effectively in doing their businesses.

MR Pridiyathorn said SME businesses in Thailand are strong and financially stable due to the SME Bank’s monetary policy to help provide financial assistance to their businesses. Therefore, there is no need to boost the SME’s financial liquidity.

He said that business operators should adopt technology to help improve their businesses, which is in line with government’s “Digital Economy” policy that promotes Thailand to effectively use technology in order minimize labor and production costs.

As for government’s economic stimulus, the Deputy Prime Minister said the money spent on bolstering the economy would be allocated in December. The minister assured that there will be foreseeable results by the first quarter of next year.

MR Pridiyathorn said it would not be necessary to execute another economic stimulus measure. Meanwhile, he said the export sector would have little impact on the economy as there are external factors involved such as the world economy that continues to struggle at present.


-- NNT 2014-11-13

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Rice-pledging schemes cause 682 billion baht loss



BANGKOK: -- The Finance Ministry has finished closing entries of accountings for 15 rice-pledging schemes implemented since 2004 to 2014 with loss amounted to 682 billion baht.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776250-thai-rice-pledging-schemes-cause-682-billion-baht-loss/

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Homeless man found dead in Prapa Canal in Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- An unidentified homeless man was found dead in the Prapa canal Thursday morning. He was found laying in the shallow part of the canal at 8:30 am.

No identification documents were found on him. Local people told police that the man liked to dip himself in the water to cool off everyday. Police believe the man suffered a heart failure because his frail body could not withstand the cold water.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Homeless-man-found-dead-in-Prapa-Canal-in-Bangkok-30247675.html


-- The Nation 2014-11-13

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Forensic scientists to investigate cause of fire at Bangkadi Industrial Estate

PATHUM THANI, 13 November 2014 (NNT) – A team of forensic scientists have visited the SVI electronic component plant in Bangkadi Industrial Estate in Pathum Thani province to determine the actual cause of the fire.

Pathum Thani police officers and forensic scientists traveled to the industrial estate where the fire broke off. SVI employees and their managers have been questioned under the investigation.

Police and forensic staff have inspected all 3 sections of the plant. These areas have been cordoned off as roofs began to collapse.

Employees have collected their belongings from their lockers and contacted their managers for their compensation. They would be paid 75% of their wages until they are able to return to work. Some of the employees will be temporarily relocated to another plant in Chaeng Wattana.


-- The Nation 2014-11-13

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The Transport Ministry will develop standard and safe bicycle lanes nationwide. The project will begin with a route along Nan River in Phitsanulok /Bangkok Post