Thailand Live Monday 17 Nov 2014

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Solutions to southern violence to show clearer results in a year

PATTANI, 17 November 2014 (NNT) - Fourth Army Area Commander Lt Gen Prakan Cholayuth said he believed the chronic violence in the South of Thailand would be addressed to a certain extent in one year’s time. He cited the government’s policy of placing greater emphasis on political strategy over the military approach as yielding a good result.

He indicated that the policy had led to a decrease in local people’s support to perpetrators but better cooperation with the military, leading to the government’s successful control in some areas.

The Thung Yang Daeng model initiated recently in the Deep South has also contributed to peace restoration and will be expanded to 36 other districts, said Lt Gen Prakan.

According to him, the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Region 4 is also having a talk with families of persons with different political stance so that they can reflect their demands. ISOC is also facilitating persons with arrest warrants in their petitions for justice in a hope to rebuild trust in government officials.


-- NNT 2014-11-17

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Nen Kham emerges in LA

BANGKOK: -- Fugitive monk Nen Kham Chattigo who once owned over a dozen luxurious cars and big bikes has recently emerged in Los Angeles after having taken refuge in France following his escape from Thailand a couple of years ago.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/776971-fugitive-monk-nen-kham-emerges-in-la/

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HOLCIM AWARDS
Thais win Gold Award for green bird sanctuary and another prize for saving canals
Itthi C Tan
THE NATION
JAKARTA


Thai winners Singh Intrachooto, third from left, looks on as Jariyawadee Lekawatana holds up the first prize while Chak Cherdsatirkul, sixth from left, joins the celebration hosted by Swiss cement giant Holcim in Jakarta.

BANGKOK: -- Shock and delight were the words that best described a Thai team's emotions when it was announced they had won first prize at the prestigious Holcim Awards for Green Architecture.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777026-thais-win-gold-award-for-green-bird-sanctuary-and-another-prize-for-saving-canals/

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RESTRICTION OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Land reform group forced to cancel press conference
The Nation


An event is held yesterday at the October 14, 1973 Memorial off Rajdamnoen Avenue to symbolically protest against the junta

BANGKOK: -- The authorities made another move yesterday to prohibit freedom of expression, forcing a group of social activists to cancel a press conference. The move came while a controversy over media intervention at Thai PBS has yet to be settled.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777027-land-reform-group-forced-to-cancel-press-conference/

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MEDIA INTIMIDATION
Journalists campaign to stop military intimidation of media
Asina Pornwasin
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A group of journalists has launched a campaign on social media urging the military government to stop intimidating the media after the removal of a Thai PBS host whose questioning style upset military officers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777028-journalists-campaign-to-stop-thai-military-intimidation-of-media/

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ANALYSIS
Reds should not let opportunity pass them by
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- As forum opens today, the greatest challenge for charter drafters will trying to write a new constitution that is acceptable to all sections of the community

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777029-thai-analysis-reds-should-not-let-opportunity-pass-them-by/

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Japanese entertainment firms flock to Thailand
WATCHIRANONT THONGTEP
THE NATION


Shigemura

BANGKOK: -- WITH THE strong support of the Japanese government under the Cool Japan initiative, Tokyo-based music and entertainment companies are aggressively seeking Thai partners in a bid to cash in on the emerging digital TV sector in the Kingdom ahead of full Asean economic integration next year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777030-japanese-entertainment-firms-flock-to-thailand/

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EDITORIAL
Time to rein in producers of dodgy commercials
The Nation

Consumers being treated like mugs by radio industry infested with misleading ads

BANGKOK: -- The figures are alarming. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission has revealed that a great number of rural radio programmes have been flooded with health- and beauty-related commercials that escape official scrutiny.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777031-thai-editorial-time-to-rein-in-producers-of-dodgy-commercials/

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"SPOOK FOR FUN"
US man probed over parcels containing human parts
The Nation


Ryan Edward McPherson

Leaves for Cambodia, vows to return; says he found the parts in Bangkok and was sending them to "spook for fun"

BANGKOK: -- A heavily-tattooed California man has been questioned and temporarily released after the grisly discovery of a part of a baby's head, a baby's foot, a heart and other human body parts in express shipments bound for Nevada in the US.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777032-spook-for-fun-us-man-probed-in-bangkok-over-parcels-containing-human-parts/

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Suspects in the murder of a 46 year old German man in Samui could walk free on Tuesday



KOH SAMUI: -- Today Monday 17.11.2014 sees the deadline for charges to be brought against the killers of Volker Schwartges, the 46 year old German man from Duesseldorf who was stabled to death in Chaweng.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777033-suspects-in-the-murder-of-a-46-year-old-german-man-in-samui-could-walk-free-on-tuesday/

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Army spokesman urges media to be understanding of its endeavours
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Army spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvari yesterday urged the media to have sympathy for the job the National Council for Peace and Order was doing and refrain from peppering it with negativity.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777034-thai-army-spokesman-urges-media-to-be-understanding-of-its-endeavours/

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Board game still being used to teach Thais about democracy
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation
Strasbourg, France


Students learn how to run an imagined democratic country by playing Sim Democracy game.

BANGKOK: -- Though Thailand has been run by a military regime since the May 22 takeover, the Sim Democracy board game is still being used in Thai high schools to teach students the basics of democracy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777035-board-game-still-being-used-to-teach-thais-about-democracy/

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Plastic surgery safe in Thailand but authorities advise caution
Wasu Vipoosanapat
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- In the wake of two recent deaths during plastic surgery operations, serious questions have emerged over whether such procedures are still safe in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777037-plastic-surgery-safe-in-thailand-but-authorities-advise-caution/

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Myanmar suspects tortured, rights panel says
Chularat Saengpassa
The Nation

Two men accused of murders on Koh Tao say bags were put over their heads and threats made

BANGKOK: -- Two Myanmar men facing charges of murdering British tourists on Koh Tao were tortured, according to the ongoing probe by a subcommittee of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777038-two-myanmar-men-accused-of-murders-on-koh-tao-tortured-rights-panel-says/

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'Internet has become indispensable for many Thais'
Thanadkij Jankisen
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- INFORMATION consumption by Thais has been changing in the digital age with millions of people now spending many hours a day on the Internet and trying to stay updated about all the hot issues there, a media and marketing guru told an academic seminar yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777039-internet-has-become-indispensable-for-many-thais/

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Chula relaxes English proficiency score for engineering programme
Chuleeporn Aramnet
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Engineering has lowered the required English proficiency score from 550 to 500 in an attempt to attract more students to its International School of Engineering programme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777040-chula-relaxes-english-proficiency-score-for-engineering-programme/

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Tiger Economy Loses Its Roar as Thailand's Exports Slump
By Suttinee Yuvejwattana

BANGKOK: -- Thailand is heading for a second straight year of slumping exports, something the onetime tiger economy hasn’t experienced in at least two decades and a loss that magnifies challenges for the military-run government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777041-tiger-economy-loses-its-roar-as-thailands-exports-slump/

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Obama confirms death of Abdul-Rahman Kassig

WASHINGTON: -- President Barack Obama has confirmed the death of US aid worker Abdul-Rahman Kassig, whose beheading was shown in a video posted by Islamic State (IS).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777042-obama-confirms-death-of-kassig/

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MH17 flight investigators remove crucial debris

(BBC) Local workers have removed crucial debris and human remains from the crash site of the MH17 jet in rebel-held eastern Ukraine after months of delays.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777043-mh17-flight-investigators-remove-crucial-debris/

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Muslims found Americas before Columbus says Turkey's Erdogan

(BBC) Muslims discovered the Americas more than three centuries before Christopher Columbus, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777044-muslims-found-americas-before-columbus-says-turkeys-erdogan/

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Gen Prayut calls on all sides to eliminate conflicts and create unity

BANGKOK, 17 Nov 2014, (NNT) - Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has called on all sides to eliminate conflicts and create unity. Meanwhile Deputy Defense Minister General Udomdej Sitabutr brushed aside concerns over political movements in the Northeastern Region.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777081-pm-prayut-calls-on-all-sides-to-eliminate-conflicts-and-create-unity/

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Proposal made to reform security measure in the transportation sector

BANGKOK, 17 Nov 2014, (NNT) - The Engineering Institute of Thailand under HM the King’s Patronage (EIT) has urged the Government to reform the security in the transportation sector, proposing 6 policies for its consideration.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777082-proposal-made-to-reform-security-measure-in-the-transportation-sector/

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Tourists flock to shivering North, Northeast
By Digital Content



CHIANG RAI, Nov 17 -- As temperatures atop Phu Chi Fah in the northernmost province of Chiang Rai dropped to 14 degree Celsius before dawn Sunday, about 1,000 Thai and foreign tourists braved the chilly weather to see the sun rise and the sea of fog.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777126-tourists-flock-to-shivering-north-isaan/

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NCPO inviting editors for second meeting
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Nov 17 -- Col Winthai Suvaree, spokesman of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), said Sunday that the Council is prepared to clear doubts with media associations while asserting that it is not threatening media.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777083-ncpo-inviting-editors-for-second-meeting/

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UPDATE:

American questioned in human baby body parts seizure
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Nov 17 -- Police yesterday questioned an American suspected of sending three boxes of infant body parts to the United States, police said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777032-spook-for-fun-us-man-probed-in-bangkok-over-parcels-containing-human-parts/page-2#entry8681527

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Interior Minister to inspect Northeast drought
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Nov 27 -- Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paochinda will inspect a possible drought in the Northeast and will give his policy for dealing with the problem to senior officials during his visit to Khon Kaen province on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777086-interior-minister-to-inspect-drought-in-isaan/

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Southbound rail service reopens after track repairs at Chumphon; monk arrested with 120,000 meth pills in Lamphun /MCOT

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Help put a brake on climate change, Angela Merkel tells Australia
Peter Hannam

SYDNEY: -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel has added to international calls on Australia to reveal its plans for cutting emissions.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777092-help-put-a-brake-on-climate-change-angela-merkel-tells-australia/

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Two Myanmar workers arrested for allegedly killing, robbing employer

TAK: -- Two Myanmar workers were arrested Monday morning for having allegedly robbed and killed their employer in Tak.

Police said Arso, 20, and his girlfriend, Bo, were arrested in Muang district at 5 am.

They allegedly killed Amphan Saekuay, 50 and fled with her cash of Bt60,000 and some gold ornaments. They allegedly collaborated with another female Myanmar worker who has earlier been arrested.

The killing was caught on a security camera of their employer’s shop.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Two-Myanmar-workers-arrested-for-allegedly-killing-30247915.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-17

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'Indonesia will not join US-led coalition against IS'



BANGKOK: -- Indonesia will not be sending troops to join the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (IS) militant group, said the chief of Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777093-indonesia-will-not-join-us-led-coalition-against-is/