Thailand Live Tuesday 25 Nov 2014

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Transport Min bracing for exodus of New Year holidaymakers

BANGKOK, 25 November 2014 (NNT) – The Ministry of Transport is drawing up measures to ensure safe and convenient travels for all vacationers during the upcoming New Year holiday.

Deputy Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith has convened with heads of various agencies under the Transport Ministry’s supervision in a bid to prepare a road safety campaign for people returning to their hometowns and those going on vacation during the New Year holiday. As the holiday period will fall between December 31 and January 4, the campaign will kick off on December 26 and continue until January 5.

As part of the campaign, responsible authorities will impose road safety measures, traffic facilitation plans as well as waivers of expressway fees, all of which will be proposed to the Cabinet for consideration in early December. According to Mr Arkhom, the Transport Ministry is planning to open three additional bus pickup spots so as to reduce the congestion at the Mo Chit Bus Terminal and alleviate traffic jam. The three spots will be located at the Department of Land Transport, the Dhupateme Royal Thai Air Force Sports Stadium and Future Park Rangsit Shopping Mall.

Mr Arkhom projected that holidaymakers will begin to embark on their journey on December 26 and the number of commuters will peak during December 28-29. The Transport Company and the State Railway of Thailand have each confirmed they will be able serve up to 100,000 passengers a day during the festive period, with extra services to be added if necessary.


-- NNT 2014-11-25

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UPDATE:

Police and health officials hunting man from Sierra Leone amid Ebola fears
POUNGCHOMPOO PRASERT,
CHATCHAWAL SOPAPAN,
JESSADA JANTARAK
THE NATION



BANGKOK:-- THE PUBLIC Health Ministry has sought police help to try to locate a Sierra Leone man who failed to report for a mandatory 21-day observation to see if he develops Ebola symptoms.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/778898-possible-ebola-patient-disappears-in-bangkok/page-4?p=8717017#entry8717017

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Top police linked to unrest, oil smuggling
The Nation



DSI and AMLO to investigate former CIB chief and others' alleged involvement in corruption, money ties to far South

BANGKOK: -- TWO CRIME-FIGHTING agencies have been assigned to investigate a series of high-profile arrests - including Central Investigation Bureau Commissioner Lt-General Pongpat Chayaphan - over a longstanding contraband petrol trade that may have been used to back insurgents in the deep South.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779109-top-thai-police-linked-to-unrest-oil-smuggling/

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Anand questions sincerity to fight graft
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Former prime minister Anand Panyarachun yesterday questioned the government's sincerity in tackling corruption following rumours of a deal between the military rulers and the old power clique.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779110-former-thai-pm-anand-questions-sincerity-to-fight-graft/

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CHARTER WRITING
CDC panel mulls idea for 'limited amnesty' bill
Olan Lertrudtanadumrongkul
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- A proposal for an amnesty bill was discussed yesterday by a charter drafters' subcommittee as a way of accomplishing true reconciliation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779111-thai-charter-writing-cdc-panel-mulls-idea-for-limited-amnesty-bill/

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ANTI-COUP PROTESTS
Students to get forums to air views
The Nation

Prayut tells NRC to allow students to offer proposals for national reform

BANGKOK: -- The government will set up forums to allow students to express their views on reform after intelligence units learned that more anti-coup and anti-government protests are being planned, PM's Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779112-prayut-tells-nrc-to-allow-students-to-offer-proposals-for-national-reform/

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Moves to cut Klong Dan payout
WASU VIPOOSANAPAT
THE NATION

Pollution Control Dept pushes to bring down compensation amount, which will rise by bt180m if not paid in 90 days

BANGKOK: -- THE POLLUTION Control Department (PCD) is in negotiations with a joint-venture company that won a court battle for more than Bt9 billion in compensation over the now-cancelled, graft-plagued Klong Dan wastewater-treatment plant.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779113-moves-to-cut-klong-dan-payout/

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Thailand looks to further rise in ICT rankings
Usanee Mongkolporn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The availability of fourth-generation spectrum licences and the country's move to promote a "digital economy" are key factors driving the country's ICT development ranking up further, according to a senior official of the International Telecommunication Union.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779114-thailand-looks-to-further-rise-in-ict-rankings/

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CP's Dhanin keen on stake in Tesco Thai unit
Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn
The Nation


DHANIN

BANGKOK: -- Dhanin Chearavanont, chairman of Charoen Pokphand, yesterday expressed keen interest in taking over Tesco's modern-trade operation in Thailand if such a deal creeps up, but added that up to now he had not been in any contact with executives from the British retail giant.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779115-cps-dhanin-keen-on-stake-in-tesco-thai-unit/

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STREETWISE
So far, political stability has not salvaged the Thai economy
Achara Deboonme

BANGKOK: -- Six months on from the coup, the Thai economy remains in bad shape. And the outlook - at least in the short term - is also bleak, despite optimism among some local economic houses.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779116-so-far-political-stability-has-not-salvaged-the-thai-economy/

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Husband kills wife on Bangkok-Pattaya Highway



PATTAYA: - On Monday afternoon Police announced the arrest of a 66 year old man who is alleged to have stabbed his 42 year old Wife to death on the side of the Bangkok to Pattaya Highway last week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779117-husband-kills-wife-on-bangkok-pattaya-highway/

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Swiss man “commits suicide” at his East Pattaya Home

PATTAYA: -- A 69 year old Swiss resident of Pattaya appears to have committed suicide at his East Pattaya home on Monday afternoon, after he discharged himself from Hospital against the advice of medical staff.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779118-swiss-man-commits-suicide-at-his-east-pattaya-home/

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1 Injured as car crashes into Noodle Restaurant in South Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Monday, the owner of a Noodle Restaurant in South Pattaya was slightly injured as a car crashed into the eatery after the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle as she turned into a side-road.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779119-1-injured-as-car-crashes-into-noodle-restaurant-in-south-pattaya/

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Tougher anti-graft laws set to go to NLA
Opas Boonlom
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The National Anti-Corruption Commission's proposed bill that is currently before the National Legislative Assembly contains many interesting proposals.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779120-tougher-anti-graft-laws-set-to-go-to-nla/

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Diet pills 'may have killed teen'
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- A 19-year-old 'freshman' girl who died of shock on Sunday may not have died from taking female hormone pills, used to enhance the size of breasts or glutathione pills whiten the skin.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779121-diet-pills-may-have-killed-thai-teen/

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BURNING ISSUE
Time to limit working hours for our stressed out doctors?

BANGKOK: -- Over the past 16 months, patients have filed 200 civil complaints and 35 criminal complaints against doctors in public hospitals in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779122-thailand-time-to-limit-working-hours-for-our-stressed-out-doctors/

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Worachet to challenge NCPO orders
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thammasat University law lecturer Worachet Pakeerut appeared before the Bangkok Military Court yesterday to examine his list of witnesses and evidence against a charge of defying an order of the National Council for Peace and Order to report himself to the junta.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779123-worachet-to-challenge-ncpo-orders/

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Unimaginable, new reality: clean, vendor-free Phuket beaches

PHUKET: -- A reliable “witness” the Danish Hotel Manager, Michael Gaarde-Nielsen at Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket on Karon beach, had already informed ScandAsia earlier in the year that all of the tourist island’s beaches, including Karon, were completely cleared from sunbeds, umbrellas and vendors.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779124-unimaginable-new-reality-clean-vendor-free-phuket-beaches/

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UPDATE:

EX-CIB chief and three officers granted bail



BANGKOK: -- Former Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) commissioner Pol Lt-Gen Pongpat Chayaphan, his former deputy, Pol Maj-Gen Kowit Muangnuan and two other police officers charged with malfeasance in office, bribery, money laundering among other charges were released on bail Monday afternoon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779109-top-thai-police-linked-to-unrest-oil-smuggling/#entry8717151

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US defence secretary Chuck Hagel resigns

WASHINGTON: -- Chuck Hagel has resigned as US defence secretary after less than two years in the top post.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779127-us-defence-secretary-chuck-hagel-resigns/

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Michael Brown shooting: Ferguson jury reaches verdict

(BBC) A grand jury has made a decision on whether to charge a Missouri police officer over the death of an unarmed black teenager.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779128-michael-brown-shooting-ferguson-jury-reaches-verdict/

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Tamir Rice shooting: Call for US replica gun law change

(BBC) The fatal shooting by US police of a 12-year-old boy brandishing a replica gun in a playground has prompted calls for the guns to be more clearly marked.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779129-tamir-rice-shooting-call-for-us-replica-gun-law-change/

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Authorities in Sa Kaeo are searching for Sesay Samuel, a 31 yr old Sierra Leonean who escaped from health authorities in Bangkok as he is suspected of suffering from Ebola. /The Nation

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The Finance Ministry has agreed to extend tax incentives for investment in LTFs but for a longer investment period and potentially cutting the tax privileges. /Bangkok Post

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NESDB: Thailand's household debt on the decline

BANGKOK, 25 Nov 2014, (NNT) -The National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has said the country's household debt rate has shown signs of decline; however, it urged the officials to be careful not to encourage more loans.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779145-nesdb-thailands-household-debt-on-the-decline/

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US: No indictment over Ferguson killing

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779128-michael-brown-shooting-ferguson-jury-reaches-verdict/#entry8717748

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Korat extends deadline for paying assistance fund to farmers till end of December

BANGKOK, 25 Nov 2014 (NNT) – The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) in Nakhon Ratchasima is confident that it will be able to pay the assistance fund to all of the 190,000 rice farmers in the province by December 20th.

So far, the provincial BAAC office has handed out the money to 43,000 farmers, involving more than 514 million baht under the Government’s assistance program that gives each farmer 1,000 baht per rai and no more than 15,000 baht per household.

The BAAC has expressed its confidence that it would be able to complete all the payment well within December 20th. Previously the bank had set the deadline on November 30th but quickly realized that the goal was not realistic due to the sheer number of farmers registered for the scheme and the time it took to verify their credentials.

Meanwhile in Udon Thani, the first batch of 200 rice farmers in Kumphawapi District has received their compensation. There are 12,036 rice farmers eligible for the fund in the district.


-- NNT 2014-11-25

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115 terrorist cells eliminated in Xinjiang in past six months
Cui Jia and Gao Bo
China Daily

XINJIANG: -- One-hundred fifteen terrorist cells were eliminated in the past six months in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, stopping most terrorist attacks before they could be undertaken, local media reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779174-115-terrorist-cells-eliminated-in-xinjiang-in-past-six-months/

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Thai Army chief in Vietnam for ASEAN Chiefs of Army multilateral meeting, to strengthen army relations, seek measures to respond to IS /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,591.23, gainss 1.09 points /MCOT