Thailand Live Thursday 27 Nov 2014

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PM’s Office to hold activities in celebration of the King’s 87th birthday during 30 Nov - 6 Dec



BANGKOK, 27 November 2014 (NNT) - The Prime Minister's Office will launch a series of activities from 30th November to 6th December 2014, at Sanam Luang, to celebrate the auspicious occasion of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulayadej’s 87th birthday anniversary on 5th December 2014.

M.L. Panadda Diskul, Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister announced the plan at a press conference held at the Government Public Relations Department. The week-long event will be held under the title of “Love Father” with its main objective to allow Thai people to show their loyalty to His Majesty the King. The event is to be co-organized by governmental units, the private sector, local administrative organizations, the Office of the Royal Development Projects Board, Pid Thong Lang Phra Foundation and the Foundation of King Rama the Ninth the Great.

The “Love Father” week includes exhibitions on royal duties, His Majesty’s talents and contributions to national security, people’s quality of life, national resources and environment. The success of numerous royally initiated projects and the philosophy of sufficiency economy will also be highlighted at the exhibition. The event will also be packed with a series of cultural performances while all the 76 provinces will bring their outstanding products for display and for sale.

The opening ceremony of the “Love Father” event is scheduled for 1st December 2014 at 4 p.m., to be presided over by Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha. On 5th December, there will be an alms-giving ceremony to be taken part by 288 monks, a walk in honor of His Majesty the King, and a candle-lit ceremony to wish His Majesty a happy birthday. All of the activities will be held at Sanam Luang.


-- NNT 2014-11-27

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UPDATE:

CORRUPTION SCANDAL
Five more caught in police graft scandal
The Nation



Civilians detained for armed threat, criminal conspiracy, theft, restraint

BANGKOK: -- FIVE civilians accused of involvement in the corruption scheme engulfing crime buster Pol Lt-General Pongpat Chayaphan have been apprehended and are going through the criminal process, National police chief Pol-General Somyot Poompanmoung said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779588-five-more-arrests-in-expanding-thai-police-graft-probe/page-3?p=8726440#entry8726440

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Military units to be opened for sale of cheap goods and 'freebies'
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday he would open all military units in Bangkok and encourage business operators to hand out "freebies" to the public in the New Year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779674-thai-military-units-to-be-opened-for-sale-of-cheap-goods-and-freebies/

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INTERVIEW
'Public participation will justify the charter'
Nitipol Kiravanich
The Nation

CDC subcommittee promises to gather opinions nationwide

BANGKOK: -- All groups of people are welcome to provide input for the new charter draft to ensure it will be acceptable to the public, but they should be aware that none will get everything they want, a key member of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) has said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779675-thai-interview-public-participation-will-justify-the-charter/

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Locals demand foundation for HIV/Aids people relocate
Dethawee Theewarangkool
The Nation
Chon Buri

BANGKOK: -- More than 200 local people yesterday demanded that a foundation move out of their hometown after it began taking in Aids patients.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779676-locals-demand-foundation-for-hivaids-people-relocate/

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British man drugged, robbed and left in Woodland behind Central Pattaya School



PATTAYA: -- On Wednesday Morning Police and medics were called to an area of Woodland behind a School in Central Pattaya after a School cleaner discovered a foreign man who appeared to be in a semi-conscious state.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779677-british-man-drugged-robbed-and-left-in-woodland-behind-central-pattaya-school/

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Russian attempted abduction in East Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- On Wednesday afternoon a 37 year old Russian reported an attempted abduction which took place in front of an East Pattaya Village by a fellow Russian who was a so-called friend of her family.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779679-russian-attempted-abduction-in-east-pattaya/

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Tourist Assistance Foundation assist Destitute Swedish Tourist in Pattaya

PATTAYA: -- A newly formed, Ministry of Interior-approved Foundation, assisted a Swedish Tourist who was left with no money or place to stay due to a reported theft of cash and valuables by a Thai Woman he had taken back to his Central Pattaya hotel room.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779680-tourist-assistance-foundation-assist-destitute-swedish-tourist-in-pattaya/

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Unlicensed Pharmacy raided by Pattaya Police



PATTAYA: -- On Wednesday Night, a team of undercover Pattaya Police Officers conducted a raid on a Pharmacy in East Pattaya which was suspected of selling controlled drugs without the appropriate licenses.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779681-unlicensed-pharmacy-raided-by-pattaya-police/

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Pattaya Baht Bus Pickpocket Gang Members arrested in Central Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Thursday, the Pattaya Police Chief announced the arrest of 2 members of a Pickpocket Gang who target foreign nationals riding on Baht Buses.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779682-pattaya-baht-bus-pickpocket-gang-members-arrested-in-central-pattaya/

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Lawyer advises PCD to hold off on paying Bt9 bn compensation
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Lawyer Suprawat Jaisamut said yesterday that the Pollution Control Department (PCD) may not have to rush to pay the Bt9.618 billion compensation that a joint-venture firm won in a court battle over the graft-plagued and now-cancelled Klong Dan wastewater-treatment plant.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779683-thai-lawyer-advises-pcd-to-hold-off-on-paying-bt9-bn-compensation/

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Amendment to FBA will not hamper investment: Minister
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- COMMERCE Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya yesterday assured the foreign business community in Thailand that the ministry's ongoing amendment of the Foreign Business Act would not make it more difficult for them to operate here.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779685-amendment-to-foreign-business-act-will-not-hamper-investment-thai-minister/

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Subtle signs of gender inequality
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation

National review to UN admits that Thailand still faces gender inequality issues, which manifest in the form of violence

BANGKOK: - THOUGH women in Thailand enjoy a relatively high degree of freedom, gender inequality still manifests itself in violence, trafficking, stereotypical attitudes to employment and gender-related roles, the latest national review on progress in gender equality submitted by the Thai government to the United Nations showed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779686-national-review-to-un-admits-that-thailand-still-faces-gender-inequality-issues/

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EDITORIAL
Giving the pavement back to pedestrians
The Nation

Bangkok authorities' bid to clear sidewalks of motorbikes, cars and vendors deserves praise, but will it work?

BANGKOK: -- Authorities are taking action in a bid to make Bangkok pavements safe and friendly for pedestrians again. Traffic police have been ordered to get tough with motorcyclists who ride on footpaths, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has banned street vendors from the sidewalks of many roads.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779687-thai-editorial-giving-the-pavement-back-to-pedestrians/

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THAI TALK
Govt must pre-empt looming teacher crisis
Suthichai Yoon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- If the ongoing reform process doesn't list education as one of the top priorities, the whole exercise will end up being a non-starter. All indications at the moment are that this might be the case.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779688-thai-talk-govt-must-pre-empt-looming-teacher-crisis/

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Pavement trading on Sukhumvit road and Klong Thom Saturday night market will be curbed



BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has planned to reorganize the Saturday night market at Klong Thom, Worachak and Central Hospital areas and to curb retail trading on the footpaths of Sukhumvit road.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779690-pavement-trading-on-sukhumvit-road-and-klong-thom-saturday-night-market-will-be-curbed/

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KOH TAO'S MURDERS
Bail request for Koh Tao suspects
Myanmar Eleven

BANGKOK: -- The Upper House speaker Khin Aung Myint called for bail for two Myanmar suspects arrested for the murder in Thailand's resort island of Koh Tao when he met with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on November 24, according to Myanmar Radio and Television.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779691-bail-request-for-koh-tao-suspects/

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BURNING ISSUE
Pheu Thai and UDD working to keep everybody happy
Attayuth Bootsripoom

BANGKOK: -- It came as no surprise when Pheu Thai Party and the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) announced that they were opting out of offering ideas to the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC). After all, they have been indicating this for a while now, though how they came to this decision is interesting.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779692-pheu-thai-and-udd-working-to-keep-everybody-happy/

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Alongkorn to quit Democrat party

BANGKOK: -- Former deputy leader of the Democrat Party Alongkorn Polabutr has decided to quit the party claiming that he wants to devote himself for the National Reform Council and wants to preserve the council’s image as being independent, impartial and non-political.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779693-alongkorn-to-quit-democrat-party/

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British man arrested in Udon for sex offences in the UK
The Nation



UDON THANI: -- A British man, wanted for 17 counts of sexual violation and molesting girls under 14 in the United Kingdom, was arrested on Tuesday at a local school in Kumphawapi district in Udon Thani where he worked as a teacher, Immigration Bureau commissioner Pol Lt General Sakda Chuenpakdee said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779694-british-man-arrested-in-udon-thani-for-sex-offences-in-the-uk/

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Bt50m worth of illegal diet pills seized in Phitsanulok
Mongkolchaowarat Thangmangmee

BANGKOK: -- In a raid yesterday, soldiers and related officials seized Sibutramine-laced diet pills worth Bt50 million in Phitsanulok's Muang district. Consumers have also been urged to drop off any of these pills they may have at the Damrongtham Centre.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779695-bt50m-worth-of-illegal-diet-pills-seized-in-phitsanulok/

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36 'illegal' resorts face demolition in Thap Lan National Park
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Thap Lan National Park officials set up signs early yesterday warning that 36 resorts allegedly encroaching on the park will be demolished, despite reports of them being threatened while putting the signs up at some places earlier. The park covers parts of Nakhon Ratchasima and Prachin Buri provinces and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779699-36-illegal-resorts-face-demolition-in-thap-lan-national-park/

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Passengers get out and push frozen Siberian plane (Video)

MOSCOW (AFP) - Siberian air passengers had to get out and push their plane in temperatures of minus 52 degrees Celsius after its chassis froze, Russian prosecutors said Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779702-passengers-get-out-and-push-frozen-siberian-plane-video/

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US squadrons 'may use UK carrier' for operations
By Mark Urban

(BBC) The Royal Navy may ask US squadrons to fly off its new aircraft carrier following delays to its new F35B fighters, BBC Newsnight has learned.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779704-us-squadrons-may-use-uk-carrier-for-operations/

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Spain Health Minister Ana Mato resigns amid Gurtel scandal

(BBC) Spain's Health Minister Ana Mato has resigned after a judge accused her of benefitting from illegal payments.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779706-spain-health-minister-ana-mato-resigns-amid-gurtel-scandal/

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BANGKOK: -- An earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale jolted eastern parts of Indonesia on Wednesday night, but no tsunami warning was issued, Indonesia’s Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said.

The temblor, which struck at 9.33 p.m. , had epicentre some 135 km northwest Halmahera Barat of North Maluku province, an official of the agency saud.

It had a depth of 10 kilometes under sea bed.

The USGS also reported the quake having a similar magnitude with a depth of 41 km under sea bed.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/74491


-- Thai PBS 2014-11-27

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Private sector urged to explore business and investment opportunities in Canada



BANGKOK, 27 Nov 2014, (NNT) - The Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) hopes the international community would understand Thai political situation, while the Director of Department of American Affairs says Thailand should expand its business on the Canadian soil.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779723-thai-private-sector-urged-to-explore-business-and-investment-opportunities-in-canada/

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,593.49, gains 2.49 points /MCOT

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MCOT picks former Nation executive as president



BANGKOK: -- Former chief executive of a publishing company, Nation International Edutainment Plc, Mr Siwaporn Chomsuwan, has been appointed president of MCOT Plc, broadcaster of Modernine TV or Channel 9.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779729-mcot-picks-former-nation-executive-as-president/

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Export growth reaches the highest in 21 months

BANGKOK, 27 November 2014 (NNT) – Thai exports have shown a continuous improvement as their value in October 2014 expanded by nearly 4%, the highest in 21 months.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/779731-thai-export-growth-reaches-the-highest-in-21-months/