Thailand Live Thursday 20 Nov 2014

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NLA yet to consider impeachment of former senators; case file yet to arrive

BANGKOK, 20 November 2014 (NNT) – The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) whip has yet to consider the National Anti-Corruption Commission's impeachment motion on former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra or the 38 former senators.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777905-nla-yet-to-consider-impeachment-of-former-thai-senators;-case-file-yet-to-arrive/

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,578.81, gains 1.26 points /MCOT

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Rising fatal train crashes at cross points prompt study into actual causes

BANGKOK: -- Rising fatal accidents at railway crossings nationwide is a concern for relevant government agencies and educational institutions to find out what is or are the actual causes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777909-rising-fatal-train-crashes-at-rail-crossing-points-in-thailand-prompts-study-into-actual-causes/

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Oil spill ravages Si Chon Beach for the second time this year

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, 20 November 2014 (NNT) - An oil spill has polluted Nakhon Si Thammarat province’s famous Si Chon Beach, raising concerns from the locals that it may destroy marine life living in the area.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777911-nakhon-si-thammarat-oil-spill-ravages-si-chon-beach-for-the-second-time-this-year/

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Hundreds of ancient ‘horse shoes’ found in Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park

PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN, 20 November 2014 (NNT) - Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park officers in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province have discovered more than 300 ancient horse shoes.

Park officials revealed that a total of 334 old horse shoes weighing around 300-400 grams each have been discovered within the area. They were found inside a cave in Koh Rom, which is an island belonging to the national park area.

Authorities have also requested experts from the Fine Arts Department to help shed some light on these objects. Outsiders are not permitted to enter the area before investigations have been complete. As of now, it is still relatively unknown how these old horse shoes came and which era they belong to.


-- NNT 2014-11-20

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Bangkokians can expect a monorail soon

BANGKOK, 20 November 2014 (NNT)-The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is now preparing for the monorail construction after receiving the cabinet’s approval.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777919-bangkokians-can-expect-a-monorail-soon/

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Man Wanted Over Nana Plaza Bar Girl Murder
Published by Stickboy BKK



BANGKOK: -- Police have today released CCTV images of a white male they wish to question in connection with the brutal murder of a 31 year old Thai woman.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777924-man-wanted-over-nana-plaza-bar-girl-murder/

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Fire erupts near the 100 year-old market in Nakhon Ratchasima

NAKHON RATCHASIMA, 20 November 2014 (NNT) - A fire broke out near the 100-year-old market located in the downtown area of Nakhon Ratchasima Province, destroying four houses and causing losses worth millions of baht.

Last night, a fire engulfed an old community area inside Soi Weerawong on Muk Montri Road. The fire took about 30 minutes to extinguish, but the blaze had left four homes totally destroyed.

Authorities are now looking to determine the exact cause of the fire. So far, there have been no casualties reported.


-- NNT 2014-11-20

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Thailand ranked 10th among 162 countries in global terrorism index



BANGKOK: -- The Australia and US-based Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) has ranked Thailand on the 10th out of 162 countries on the Global Terrorism Index (GTI).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777951-thailand-ranked-10th-among-162-countries-in-global-terrorism-index/

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Thailand eyeing tighter restrictions on foreign businesses
By Cod Satrusayang, dpa

Image source: File photo

Bangkok (dpa) - Proposed changes to the Foreign Business Act in Thailand have alarmed foreign investors and chambers of commerce.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777983-thailand-eyeing-tighter-restrictions-on-foreign-businesses/

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Chinese ‘call center’ gang hiding in Chiang Mai busted by the police

CHIANG MAI, 20 November 2014 (NNT) - Police have arrested a gang of 49 Chinese and Taiwanese nationals involved in a call-center scam victimizing their own people in Chiang Mai. The gang was allegedly responsible for causing losses up to 15 million baht or approximately 1 million Yuan.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777985-chinese-call-center-gang-hiding-in-chiang-mai-busted-by-the-police/

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North Korea responds to UN with nuclear test threat

(BBC) North Korea has threatened to conduct a nuclear test in response to a United Nations move towards a probe into the country's human rights violations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777986-north-korea-responds-to-un-with-nuclear-test-threat/

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Security tightened at Scala theatre

BANGKOK: -- Security at the Scala theatre was tightened Thursday with police and security personnel keep patrolling around and standing guard after a group of university students insisting to hold activities and invite the public to the show of the Hollywood action movie, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I.

The activities include raising their hands and three fingers to protest the miltary coup in May 22.

Raising three fingers is the symbol of protest adopted from the popular book and Hollywood movie series The Hunger Games.

But the military junta is taking the issue seriously if they raised three fingers in groups.

The movie earlier scheduled at 12.40 pm was abruptly pulled out of the programme at Scala and Lido theatres in Siam Square today.

The theatre will replace the action movie with “The Magic in the Moonlight” instead.

Earlier, a group of Thammasat University students who called itself (LLTD) posted a message in the social media inviting its fans to join the “three fingers” activities and to draw lots for 160 tickets for the movie show in front of Scala theatre today.

Meanwhile in KhonKaen today, the five KhonKaen University students who were arrested for protesting against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha in front of the provincial hall yesterday were released by the military under a condition that they must bring their parents to hear the charges against them today.

Mr Anon Nampa, a human rights lawyer, said that he would help defend the case for the students who were told by the military to sign a document promising that they would stop protesting against the coup again. However, the students have refused to sign the document and are to face the charges against them tomorrow.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/security-tightened-scala-theatre


-- Thai PBS 2014-11-20

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Animal Epidemics Act to include Ebola to improve disease control
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Nov 20 -- The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives through its Department of Livestock Development plans to include the Ebola virus disease in the Animal Epidemics Ac BE 2499 to improve control on the disease that animals may carry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777990-thailands-animal-epidemics-act-to-include-ebola-to-improve-disease-control/

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Thailand's Rice Department receives international award from nuclear energy agency
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Nov 20 -- The Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP) delivered an award from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to the Rice Department for using nuclear energy to develop important rice varieties of Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777992-thailands-rice-department-receives-international-award-from-nuclear-energy-agency/

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GAS PIPELINE
PTT tackles 'distorted information' on social media
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- PTT Group has filed lawsuits against several individuals including former finance minister Thirachai Phuvanatnaranubala for posting "distorted" information concerning the underwater natural gas pipeline.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777997-gas-pipeline-ptt-tackles-distorted-information-on-social-media/

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Chuwit in parliament with a lamp as a symbol of protest



BANGKOK: -- Rak Prathet Thai party leader Chuwit Kamolvisit went to the parliament this morning carrying a lamp as a symbolic gesture of protest against what he described as “darkness covering the country” which needs a lamp to shed light.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/778001-chuwit-in-parliament-with-a-lamp-as-a-symbol-of-protest/

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PM approves 100 million baht budget for improvement of waterways in Isaan

KHON KAEN, 20 Novemnber 2014 (NNT)-Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has approved a budget of 100 million baht proposed for the improvement of water supply in the northeastern region.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/778007-pm-approves-100-million-baht-budget-for-improvement-of-waterways-in-isaan/

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Prayut admits he is not happy Thailand is still under martial law

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chanocha on Thursday admitted that he is unhappy that Thailand is still under the martial law. The longer it is enforced, the less happy he is, he said, adding that it however remained necessary for the time being.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Prayut-admits-he-is-not-happy-Thailand-is-still-un-30248205.html


-- The Nation 2014-11-20

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PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN
Ancient horse shoes found in national park cave to be examined

PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN: -- Officials have moved more than 300 horse shoes found in a cave in Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan province to the park's headquarters pending an examination by archaeologists to identify their age.

Park officials revealed that a total of 334 old horse shoes weighing between 300 and 400 grams each had been discovered inside a cave on Koh Rom, an island belonging to the national park site.

Authorities have also requested assistance from Fine Arts Department experts to shed some light on these objects. Outsiders will not be permitted to enter the area before investigations are complete.

The horseshoes have been transferred to the park headquarters where they are being kept in a locked room. Only the chief is permitted to enter the room.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Ancient-horse-shoes-found-in-national-park-cave-to-30248201.html


-- The Nation 2014-11-20

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Runoffs due to persistent rains in the past few days start to cause floods in Na Yong and Muang districts of Trang and Sungai Kolok district of Narathiwat. /Bangkok Post

Soldiers have ordered organisers of a forum on land and tax issues with Korn Chatikavanij among speakers to cancel the event set for 6pm today. /Bangkok Post

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5 Khon Kaen University students have bee released from a military camp after showing anti-coup messages to the PM during his visit to Khon Kaen yesterday. /Bangkok Post

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POLITICS
PM not happy with martial law

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chanocha on Thursday admitted that he is unhappy that Thailand is still under the martial law.

Prayut was giving a special lecture at the National Defence College of Thailand.

"The longer it is enforced, the less happy he is, he said, adding that it however remained necessary for the time being," he said.

He also asked the media not to ask him everyday when this special law will be lifted because he will not answer it.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/PM-not-happy-with-martial-law-30248207.html


-- The Nation 2014-11-20

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Floods cause havoc in many southern provinces

BANGKOK: -- Heavy rains for several consecutive days in southern Thailand have caused floodings in vast areasc of many provinces from Trang in the west coast to Songkhla in the east coast and Narathiwat in the southernmost

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/778030-floods-cause-havoc-in-many-southern-thai-provinces/

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NEW CONSTITUTION
Drafting of new charter to begin in New Year

BANGKOK: -- Drafting of the new charter could start after the New Year holidays, drafting committee chairman Bowornsak Uwanno said on Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/778033-drafting-of-new-thai-charter-to-begin-after-the-new-year-holidays/

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UPDATE:

New Photos & Video Of Murder Suspect

Published by Stickboy BKK

BANGKOK: -- New photos and a video have been released as the hunt for the Nana bargirl murder suspect continues. Police are now offering a 100,000 baht reward for information that leads to the apprehension of the man last seen with the victim Laxami Manochat.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/777924-man-wanted-over-nana-plaza-bar-girl-murder/?p=8695959

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Thai police detain three students as 'Hunger Games' screenings axed
Bangkok, Thailand | AFP |

BANGKOK: -- Thai police detained three university students at Bangkok cinemas on Thursday while at least two theatres in the junta-ruled nation cancelled opening screenings of "The Hunger Games".

A female student was escorted out of a cinema in a high-end mall in the capital after flashing the three-finger salute from the films -- an unofficial symbol of resistance against the army's May coup -- while police detained two other students, who did not appear to be protesting, outside a nearby cinema.

"Two students are under interrogation at the police station," Colonel Kittikorn Boonsom of Bangkok Metropolitan Police told AFP.

"The third detainee is a female student nabbed in front of Siam Paragon's cinema because she flashed an anti-government sign several times," he said.

The army wants to hold "talks" with the female student, said Kittikorn, adding: "She may be taken to the army camp for attitude adjustment."

The detentions come after five other students were briefly held by the military Wednesday for flashing the three-finger sign during a speech by Thai Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen.

Earlier on Thursday around 20 police officers, surrounded by dozens of journalists, gathered outside the Scala cinema in downtown Bangkok where the theatre had cancelled showings of the latest "Hunger Games" film.

There were a few students milling around but no protests, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.

Ratthapol Supasopon, one of the two detained male students who said he was part of a Facebook group giving away free tickets for the film, was taken away by police after speaking to journalists.

"It is just an activity to watch a movie... We will not show the three fingers," said the Thammasat University student.

"Everyone is afraid to do or to say something wrong... Today, in Thailand, we don't have freedom anymore," he said before being driven away.

The other male student detained at the cinema was seen carrying a copy of George Orwell's anti-authoritarian novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four".

Kittikorn confirmed it was the same man who had been arrested five months earlier after reading the novel while eating a sandwich.

Political assemblies of more than five people were banned by the army two days before it ousted the kingdom's government on May 22, with students turning to small but creative methods of protest to show their opposition.

The five students held briefly in the northeast Wednesday were asked to return Thursday with their parents to sign undertakings not to engage in any political activity.

Sasinan Thamnithinan, a human rights lawyer, said only two agreed to sign but all five had been released.

"Two of them have signed to accept army conditions to stop activities after pressure but the other three refused to accept government authority," she said.

Showings of "The Hunger Games" have been cancelled in at least two Bangkok cinemas run by the APEX group.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-11-20

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Transport Ministry will connect Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and U-Tapao airports by extending Airport Rail Link now shuttling between Suvarnabhumi and Bangkok. /Bangkok Post

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SET index closed 1,568.68, down 8.87; Bt/USD32.72; GBP51.09; AUD27.90; EUR40.89; CAD28.67; HKD4.21; SGD24.98; JPY27.48

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PM asserts special law needed to push country forward
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Nov 20 -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, chief of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), said a special law is necessary to ensure national progress and that different opinions were blocking national reform for the time being.

In his lecture to students at the National Defence College this morning, Gen Prayut said "I am not enjoying exercising a great deal of power but a special law is necessary."

He apparently was responding to calls to end the imposition of martial law that the military applied days before the NCPO seized power on May 22.

In the session he was asked if and how much his national reform move will succeed and what obstructs it. Gen Prayut replied that different opinions were the obstacle and that sovereignty was the only solution.

"Six months before the power seizure, budgets could not be spent and everything was stalled. I am a democratic soldier but I cannot tolerate the failure of the country," Gen Prayut said.

He said he understood and tolerated those who had different opinions, and promised that he would not intervene in the drafting of the new constitution and national reform brainstorming.

Reform guidelines will conclude in a year for the next government to implement, but he warned that mistrust posed problems to reform efforts.

Gen Prayut said that conflicts in Thailand resulted from inequality and poverty and the government was solving them to prevent anyone from using people to create disunity. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-11-20