Thailand Live Tuesday 18 Nov 2014

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Norwegian Ambassador affirms readiness to boost cooperation with Thailand

BANGKOK, 18 November 2014 (NNT) – Thailand and Norway have agreed to step up trade and tourism cooperation as a way to strengthen bilateral relations which will turn 110 years old in 2015.

The cooperation was raised by the newly appointed Norwegian Ambassador to Thailand, Mr. Kjetil Paulsen, during his courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Gen Tanasak Patimapragorn on the occasion of his assumption of the new post.

The ambassador confirmed at the discussion that Norway would boost cooperation with the Thai Government especially in scientific and technological researches. Statistics show about 150,000 Norwegians are traveling to Thailand each year while the number of Norwegian business establishments in the country is also on the rise.

Gen Tanasak took this opportunity to explain to the envoy Thailand’s reform roadmap. The ambassador expressed his understanding towards the Thai political situation, as well as his country’s willingness to provide expertise in any fields that Thailand might need for the reform.


-- NNT 2014-11-18

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Nine army officers killed in helicopter crash in Phayao

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777265-nine-army-officers-killed-in-helicopter-crash-in-phayao/

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Thais Rally Behind Policeman Seen Kicking DUI Suspect
By Khaosod English


Screenshot of a video showing a traffic police officer who was suspended from duty for kicking a drunk driver who crashed into six cars over the weekend.

BANGKOK — Thais on social media are rallying around a traffic police officer who was suspended from duty for kicking a drunk driver who crashed into six cars over the weekend.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777298-thais-rally-behind-police-officer-seen-kicking-drunk-driver/

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Arrest warrant sought for American man over missing body parts
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- AN ARREST warrant will be issued for an American man who allegedly tried to courier human parts to the US. He faces charges of theft, possessing stolen items and falsely declaring the types of items being posted.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777299-arrest-warrant-sought-for-american-man-over-missing-body-parts/

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UPDATE:

Human parts in parcels taken from Siriraj Medical Museum
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Nov 18 -- The dean of the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University confirmed today that human body parts in parcels destined for the United States came from the Siriraj Medical Museum.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777282-discovered-human-parts-in-dhl-parcel-boxes-now-confirmed-stolen-from-siriraj-hospital/#entry8685580

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Honda celebrates 50 millionth motorbike, multi-purpose engine
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Nov 18 -- Japan's Honda celebrates the 50 millionth unit of its motorcycle and multi-purpose engines produced in Thailand and confirms the country will continue to be an important export-oriented production base.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777300-honda-celebrates-50-millionth-motorbike-multi-purpose-engine-produced-in-thailand/

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Restrictions on press freedom to stay: Prawit
The Nation

Call for clauses in previous charters to be included in new constitution

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, who also serves as Defence Minister, yesterday ruled out the annulment of Orders No 97 and 103 that restrict media freedom, reasoning that these regulations will be relaxed when officials see fit.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777301-restrictions-on-press-freedom-to-stay-prawit/

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CDC panel sets up framework for gathering public opinion
The Nation


National Reform Council president Thienchai Kiranan presides over the opening of the NRC

BANGKOK: -- A Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) panel has come up with guidelines on gathering public opinion for drafting the new charter.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777302-cdc-panel-sets-up-framework-for-gathering-public-opinion/

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Ministry promises to mount garbage blitz
The Nation



Aims to eradicate 11 million tonnes of waste in six provinces under project

BANGKOK: -- THE NATURAL RESOURCES and Environment Ministry will eradicate 11 million tonnes of garbage in six provinces under a pilot project that began in August, it has been claimed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777303-thai-ministry-promises-to-mount-garbage-blitz/

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STREETWISE
World's message to Thailand: hot air won't fight climate change
Achara Deboonme

BANGKOK: -- Watching a Discovery documentary last week gave me a chilling insight. A Nepali man whose community had been wiped out by floods from melting Himalayan glaciers was speaking: You in developed countries can continue driving your cars and doing other things you take for granted, he said, but you should know that people in Nepal are suffering from the consequences.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777304-worlds-message-to-thailand-hot-air-wont-fight-climate-change/

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EDITORIAL
Whose reform process is this?
The Nation

There is growing concern that the country's future is in the hands of the few; the government must open participation to ordinary citizens

BANGKOK: -- As long as the people are not allowed to voice their demands, what is the point in this country proceeding with so-called reform for a fairer society?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777305-thai-editorial-whose-reform-process-is-this/

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Police Complaint filed against new owners of Pattaya Golf Course



PATTAYA: -- A group of 32 shareholder members of a Pattaya Golf Course filed a Police Report against its new owners on Monday regarding a dispute over existing memberships which the new owners are alleged to be refusing to honor from the previous owners of the Course.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777307-police-complaint-filed-against-new-owners-of-pattaya-golf-course/

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UPDATE:

Russian Marijuana Case closed by Pattaya Police Chief

PATTAYA: -- The Pattaya Police Chief confirmed on Monday that the two Russian Females who were alleged to have been caught with Marijuana and drug taking paraphernalia on Pattaya Beach in the early hours of Sunday are free to continue their Holiday in Pattaya without fear of further Police action being taken against them.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777208-two-partially-clothed-russians-caught-with-marijuana-on-pattaya-beach/page-2?p=8685653#entry8685653

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Phuket minibus driver saves Russian’s holiday
Tanyaluk Sakoot


A delighted Iakov Yurin (2nd from left) with minibus driver Krisana Bauket (left) and Tourist Police officers.

PHUKET: -- A minibus driver made a Russian tourist very happy today when he returned to him a bag he left in the bus.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777309-phuket-minibus-driver-saves-russians-holiday/

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_{Koh Tao investigators have until Nov 24 to explain themselves: NHRC}
Chanikarn Phumhiran
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Niran Phithakwatchara, a member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), said yesterday that police had until November 24 to explain the case of two Myanmar suspects being allegedly assaulted into confessing to the murder of two Britons on Koh Tao.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777310-koh-tao-investigators-have-until-nov-24-to-explain-themselves-nhrc/

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Army private nabbed over huge haul of drugs
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- An Army private, who on Sunday allegedly tried to transport 1.6 million 'yaba' pills and 150 kilograms of crystal meth, was arrested yesterday in Phrae's Wang Chin district, police said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777311-thai-army-private-nabbed-over-huge-haul-of-drugs/

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LPG subsidy cut; price to rise from today
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Energy Policy Administration Committee yesterday resolved to increase the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for both transport and cooking by 50 satang per kilogram.

The increase, made while the global price of LPG is low allowed the government to reduce subsidy for LPG from Bt1.75 to Bt1.3, the panel announced following its meeting, chaired by Energy Minister Narongchai Akrasanee.

The increase, that will take effect today, will see the price of LPG rise from Bt22.63 to Bt23.13 per kg.

Narongchai said the committee made a well-timed move to cut the subsidy and increase the retail gas price while the world market price has dropped from over US$700 per tonne mid-year to about $540 per tonne now.

Earlier, Narongchai said the government would not increase the LPG price again before the New Year.

The committee also resolved to reduce prices of all gasohol petrol, except E85, by 60 satang per litre.

He said the committee also resolved to collect 60 satang from diesel price per litre to contribute to the Old Fund. But the new contribution rate would not affect the retail diesel price at Bt29.39 per litre now, he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/LPG-subsidy-cut;-price-to-rise-from-today-30248010.html


-- The Nation 2014-11-18

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Extradition of ex-monk held up
Piyanut Tumnukasetchai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE DEPARTMENT of Special Investigation (DSI) is waiting for public prosecutors to arraign a notorious former monk known as Nenkham on all five charges before an extradition process can resume.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777312-extradition-of-former-thai-monk-held-up/

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Charles Manson 'marriage': US murderer 'granted licence'

(BBC) American mass murderer Charles Manson, 80, has reportedly been granted a licence to marry a 26-year-old woman who has been visiting him in prison.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777315-charles-manson-allowed-to-marry/

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Michael Brown: Missouri governor activates National Guard

(BBC) The governor of the US state of Missouri has activated the state's National Guard in anticipation of a grand jury decision over the killing of an unarmed black teenager.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777316-us-state-of-emergency-in-missouri/

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Chonburi Court Decides British Children Future
by Staff Reporter


Rob Day , Annie and Aleena together with Mr. day’s current partner, (taken after their abduction in Pattaya)

CHONBURI: -- Chonburi Family Courts on Monday reviewed the custody of two British children, Annie and Aleena Day, in a case going back to earlier this year when their Thai mother abducted them during a parental visit, keeping them hidden for over 2 months

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777324-chonburi-court-decides-british-children-future/

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PM Prepares for tomorrow’s NE Region visit

BANGKOK, 18 Nov 2014, (NNT) -The Interior Minister General Anupong Phaojinda has urged all sides to refrain from staging protests against Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha during his visit to Khon Kaen and Kalasin tomorrow, saying that such moves would affect the nation’s image.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777351-pm-prayut-prepares-isaan-visit/

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Sentences for NBT raiders cut
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Court of Appeals yesterday commuted sentences handed down to 79 men convicted of breaking into state-owned TV station NBT in 2008, with most offenders given shorter terms of six to eight months.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777353-sentences-for-nbt-tv-station-raiders-cut/

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Push to get World Heritage listing for Nan province
Pakamard Jaichalard
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Culture Ministry is trying to build support for its plan to put Nan on the list of World Heritage sites. Nan, in northern Thailand, is rich in history and culture.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777356-push-to-get-world-heritage-listing-for-thailands-nan-province/

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Street vendors will be banned from area in front of Major Ratchayothin shopping arcade at all times, as of this Dec.15, City Hall said. /The Nation

Foreign visitors are not worried about the martial law in Thailand but are concerned about overcharging taxis, an opinion survey by Bangkok University found. /Bangkok Post

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,573.07, gains 4.00 points /MCOT

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Oil prices drop while gas prices rise in Thailand

BANGKOK, 18 November 2014 (NNT) - The Energy Policy Committee has come up with a resolution to lower benzene and gasohol fuel prices down by another 60 satang today after world oil prices have declined continuously.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777361-oil-prices-drop-while-gas-prices-rise-in-thailand/

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Six billion baht rice subsidy paid to half a million farmers now



BANGKOK: -- More than 500,000 rice farmers across the country have received six billion baht subsidy from the government, according to the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777364-six-billion-baht-rice-subsidy-paid-to-half-a-million-farmers-now/

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70.1 per cent of foreign tourists unperturbed by martial law

BANGKOK: -- An opinion survey by Bangkok University found that 70. 1 per cent of foreign tourists said the marital law did not affect their decision to choose to visit Thailand while the remaining 29.9 per cent said it affected.

The survey was carried out among 1,044 foreign tourists.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/70-1-per-cent-of-foreign-tourists-unperturbed-by-m-30248013.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-18

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BoT is optimistic the Thai economy is doing better

BANGKOK, 18 November 2014 (NNT)-The Bank of Thailand (BoT) has insisted that the Thai economy is improving as the government has effective economic stimulus measures in place.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777374-bot-is-optimistic-the-thai-economy-is-doing-better/