Thailand Live Sunday 30 Nov 2014

[Lite Beer]

Former CIB chief taken to remand prison
The Sunday Nation

Crime-buster Pol Lt-General Pongpat Chayaphan, visibly pale and weak, is escorted by Corrections Department officials to prison after his bail request was rejected.

BANGKOK: -- Pongpat looked pale and weak at court hearing yesterday; five others in corruption scandal still sought

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/780442-former-cib-chief-taken-to-remand-prison/

[Lite Beer]

SPECIAL REPORT
Stateless children still living in limbo, unsure of future, and in fear of security personnel
Tanpisit Lerdbamrungchai
The Sunday Nation

Students wear Karen and Mon tribal clothes to attend classes at Udom Sitthisuksa School in Kanchanaburi

BANGKOK: -- Some 1,200 students at Udom Sitthisuksa School in Kanchanaburi's Sangkhla Buri district usually wear tribal clothes to school, as the border school next to Myanmar is a melting pot of Karen, Mon, Myanmar and Thai children - about a third of whom are stateless.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/780444-stateless-children-still-living-in-limbo-unsure-of-future-and-in-fear-of-security-personnel/

[Lite Beer]

Don't be scared of change in the reform process, chief of NRC political panel urges
KRIS BHROMSUTHI,
KHANITTHA THEPPHAJORN
THE NATION

Sombat

BANGKOK: -- Chairman of the National Reform Council's political reform subcommittee has stood with his panel's proposal for election of the entire Cabinet despite opposition from his colleagues at the National Reform Council.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/780445-dont-be-scared-of-change-in-the-reform-process-chief-of-nrc-political-panel-urges/

[Lite Beer]

'Earliest date for election in Feb 2016'
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Deputy PM Wissanu does not agree with Sommai it would be delayed until mid-2016

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/780446-earliest-date-for-election-in-feb-2016/

[Lite Beer]

Vietnamese fishing trawlers apprehended in Thai waters
The Sunday Nation

Vietnamese fishermen are lined up following their arrest in Chon Buri yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- A total of 54 crew members on seven Vietnamese fishing trawlers were arrested yesterday after they intruded into Thai waters in a hunt for sea snakes and squid off Koh Juang in Chon Buri's Sattahip district.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/780448-vietnamese-fishing-trawlers-apprehended-in-thai-waters/

[Lite Beer]

PM to visit KL for one day
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Government House website (www.thaigov.go.th) yesterday said Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha's schedule to officially visit Malaysia tomorrow would be a one-day trip.

Among accompanying officials would be General Aksara Kerdphol, chairman of the Army's advisory board, who was named head of the government's team tasked with holding peace talks with separatists. The trip is the premier's fifth to an Asean country following Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

In related news, a villager was killed and another villager wounded after suspected insurgents on a motorcycle opened fire at them in Pattani's Khok Pho district yesterday morning. Theerasak Wiriyabonnyakiat, 51, and Kesaya Meunkota, 29, who were shot in the torso, were rushed to Khok Pho Hospital but Kesaya was pronounced dead later.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/PM-to-visit-KL-for-one-day-30248862.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-30

[Lite Beer]

Space exhibition
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand and the United States will jointly host an exhibition on space tomorrow in Bangkok, in which Apollo 16 astronaut General Charles M Duke, who became the 10th man to walk on the moon, will also exchange ideas and share his experience with Thai scientists.

The "NASA - A Human Adventure The Exhibition" event, to be held at Bangkok Convention Centre (BCC Hall) at Central Plaza Lat Phrao until January 1, 2015, will be launched tomorrow at Centara Grand at Central Plaza Lat Phrao Bangkok.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Space-exhibition-30248863.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-30

[Lite Beer]

Thailand-VN trade boost
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Vietnam and Thailand have agreed to boost bilateral trade to U$15 billion by 2020.

Vietnam is ready to cooperate with Thailand in other areas, such as education, culture, tourism, sports and security.

This agreement was signed on Friday during the two-day official visit to Vietnam by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Thailand-VN-trade-boost-30248864.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-30

[Lite Beer]

BMA inspects area after warehouse fire
The Sunday Nation

An official from the Pollution Control Department measures the air quality in an area close to a plastics factory, on the left, in Bangkok

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's health office yesterday sent a team to check on pollution around a plastic products warehouse on Rama II Road, which caught on fire on Friday.

The air quality has improved, down from an unhealthy 0.8 parts per million (PPM) on Friday to 0.1 PPM yesterday, which was below the safe level of 0.2 PPM, according to the office's head of chemical and hazardous item management division Phaitoon Ngammook. The area affected by pollution had also shrunk from a 10km radius to a 300-metre radius.

As lingering foul smell may cause small children and the elderly to vomit or have skin and eye irritation, he said. Chom Thong District Office has set up a remedial centre so people can seek help if needed.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/BMA-inspects-area-after-warehouse-fire-30248866.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-30

[Lite Beer]

Police scandal shows dire need for reform, public tells Dusit Poll
Piyanut Tamkasetchai
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Most people surveyed by Dusit Poll believe that the gigantic scale of alleged corruption in the "Pongpat" case showed that the Royal Thai Police was in dire need of reform.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/780449-police-scandal-shows-dire-need-for-reform-public-tells-dusit-poll/

[Lite Beer]

Vocational education deal signed with Germany
THE SUNDAY NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE GERMAN-THAI Chamber of Commerce (GTCC) has signed an agreement with the Office of the Vocational Education Commission (Ovec), the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), Ministry of Industry, Department of Skill Development and Ministry of Labour.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/780450-vocational-education-deal-signed-with-germany/

[Lite Beer]

Cyclists honouring King with long ride
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- A group of 99 bicyclists are riding from Songkhla's Na Thawi district to Bangkok to join HM the King's birthday celebration at the Sanam Luang ceremonial ground on Friday.

The yellow-clad group's 1,076 kilometre journey began yesterday morning.

Chon Kaewmuang, 72, said this was his fifth ride in celebration of the King's and Queen's birthdays but it was the first time he was riding from his hometown to Bangkok.

In related news, a group of bicyclists led by Chayut Worarattanakul, 65 - who rode from Buri Ram to Siriraj Hospital to wish the King a speedy recovery - arrived in Bangkok yesterday ahead of the birthday celebrations.

Charan Modmonthin, president of the Hin Son dairy farmers' co-operative in Saraburi’s Kaeng Khoi district, was expected to arrive in Bangkok last night.

A man walking from Saraburi to wish His Majesty well reached Pathum Thani yesterday morning. He began his journey on November 24.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Cyclists-honouring-King-with-long-ride-30248860.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-30

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL
Violation of humanitarian principles in South conflict must be dealt with
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- NHRC's appeal to end violence against women and children needs to be promptly implemented

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/780451-violation-of-humanitarian-principles-in-south-conflict-must-be-dealt-with/

[Lite Beer]

Fish dying, locals eating poisonous creatures in the face of cold

BANGKOK, 29 November 2014 (NNT) – Chilly weather prevalent over several North and Northeastern provinces is causing the death of farmed fish in Sakon Nakhon. Meanwhile, Burirum authorities have warned locals against consuming poisonous creatures and alcohol in hopes of fending off the cold.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/780452-fish-dying-locals-eating-poisonous-creatures-in-the-face-of-cold/

[Lite Beer]

Prime minister says shut-down of Human Rights Watch site in accord with protocol

BANGKOK, 29 November 2014 (NNT) – Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha asserted on Friday the government is open to input from all groups, and that the shut-down of the Human Rights Watch website was in accordance with the current internal security protocol.

General Prayut explained that the government was not intentionally trying to block the Human Rights Watch Thailand website, but the ICT Ministry's shut-down of the site was made in response to the contents found on the site. He added that some newspaper columns have unfairly lambasted the work of the government.

General Prayut indicated that with just one year left in office, the government was working hard to push for work progress. He added that the government wanted all groups to provide their input through the available channels. He also said that during his visits abroad so far, all countries have expressed support for the work of the government and did not pay attention to false information being spread around.

-- NNT 2014-11-29

[Lite Beer]

Bangkok cleaning day at Canal for the King’s birthday

BANGKOK, 29 November 2014 (NNT) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) held a cleaning day at Somdet Chao Phraya Canal, as a tribute to His Majesty the King, on the auspicious occasion of his 87th birthday anniversary on 5 December 2014.

Mr. Sanya Chenimit, Permanent Secretary for the BMA led executives, civil servants, personnel from the 19th Artillery Battalion, and the Somdet Chao Phraya Metropolitan Police, in cleaning the canal and improving the scenery alongside, stretching from the Khlong San area to Prajadhipok Road, covering a distance of 1,450 metres.

The Somdet Chao Phraya Canal is more than 2,400 metres long and is the main canal used for water drainage, vital in flood management of Khlong San and Thonburi districts. The activity will also help raise public awareness on river conservation and restoring waterways to their natural state.

-- NNT 2014-11-29

[Lite Beer]

Gov't approves 3-phase plan for central rubber market development

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, 29 November 2014 (NNT) –The Thai government is strengthening the structure of the Central Rubber Market system by giving an approval to a three-phase development plan to be implemented during 2015-2017.

According to Athiwee Daengkanit, acting Head of the province’s central rubber market, the plan will be piloted in Nakhon Si Thammarat with a budget of 62.1 million baht to be spent on IT system and rubber silo development. This market will be developed as a rubber center and linked with 11 other markets.

In the second phase, a similar system will be developed in Songkhla and Surat Thani provinces.

The third phase is to renovate trading centers at five provincial offices of the Rubber Replanting Aid Fund in Udon Thani, Chantaburi, Bueng Kan, Trang, Satun as well as the trading office of the Rayong Provincial Administrative Organization.

The plan, once completed, will allow farmers to sell their rubber products at a higher price as they do not have to rely on intermediary agents, or middlemen.

Prices of rubber at Nakhon Si Thammarat's central rubber market is currently set at 2.19-baht/kg. which is higher than that in the general market. At present, the central market in the province buys around 200-400 tons of rubber a day, worth 20-30 million baht.

-- NNT 2014-11-29

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UPDATE:

Forbidden wood planks belonging to former CIB chief discovered inside private property compound

Provincial and crime suppression police impounded 400 planks of teak and maka mong wood (scientifically known as Afzelia xylocarpa Craib) after a search of a house in Bangyai district of Nonthaburi on Saturday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/780442-former-cib-chief-taken-to-remand-prison/?p=8739839#entry8739839

[Lite Beer]

Tropical storm brings in heavy rains in next few days

BANGKOK: -- The Meteorological Department today forecast heavy rainfalls in the country's northeastern, eastern, central and southern parts today until Monday due to the coming of the tropical storm Sinlaku.

It said as of Saturday morning, the storm Sinlaku, now 500 kilometres east of Ho Chi Minh City, is packing winds of about 80 kilometres per hour, and is moving northwesterly at the speed of 25 kilometres an hour.

The storm is expected to make landfall in Vietnamese coast from November 30 to December 1.

As the storm lands, Thailand will likely experience increased showers in the lower Northeast, East, lower Central Plains and Upper South during the period.

Meanwhile, the weak high pressure is lingering in the North, contributing to thick fog in the morning.

Motorists are urged to be cautious on the road due to poor visibility.

However it said that during December 1-4, another high-pressure trough from China will blanket that North, causing the temperature to drop 4-6 degrees Celsius and bringing gusty winds.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/tropical-storm-brings-heavy-rains-next-days

-- Thai PBS 2014-11-29

[Lite Beer]

Phuket prepares to honour ‘Thai Father’ who turns 87 on December 5
Suthicha Sirirat

PHUKET: Tens of thousands of special yellow T-shirts have entered into Phuket circulation today, and millions more elsewhere in the kingdom, as the Thai people prepare to honour their beloved Monarch, who turns 87 on Friday (December 5).

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/780455-phuket-prepares-to-honour-thai-father-who-turns-87-on-december-5/

[Lite Beer]

Ferguson shooting: Darren Wilson quits police force

US police officer Darren Wilson - who fatally shot unarmed black teenager Michael Brown, triggering nationwide riots - has resigned, his lawyer says.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/780462-ferguson-shooting-darren-wilson-quits-police-force/

[Lite Beer]

RT @RichardBarrow: ภาพมุมสูง สวนหลวง ร.9 - Aerial view of Rama IX Park in #Bangkok #Thailand #ttot http://t.co/vflyqtiKiN

[Lite Beer]

RT @RichardBarrow: ภาพมุมสูง สวนหลวง ร.9 - The flower festival at Rama IX Park continues until 10 December #Bangkok #Thailand #ttot http://t.co/PlKc1m0pb9

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RT @RichardBarrow: The Monkey Party is today in Lopburi. It takes place every year on the last Sunday in November. @photogjack is there: http://t.co/JFxL3ewyCC

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RT @RichardBarrow: Today in Bangkok: Farmers' Market at K Village on Suk 26 & Spring Epicurean Market on Suk 49

[Lite Beer]

Making a big splash
Kitchana Lersakvanitchakul
THE NATION

HUA HIN: -- A new water park, the Vana Nava Hua Hin, gets flowing in time for tourism season

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/780522-hua-hin-water-park-gets-flowing-in-time-for-tourism-season/

[Lite Beer]

RT @ChadapornLin: Phitsanuloke's 52 year local bus service operates for the last day today; replaced by 2 new concessionaires

[Lite Beer]

Poll: Peace, lower cost of living, higher agro-product prices top Thais’ wish list

BANGKOK, 30 Nov 2014 (NNT) – A recent opinion survey by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University has found that peace and order, as well as a lower cost of living were the most-wanted New Year gifts they expected from the government.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/780534-poll-peace-lower-cost-of-living-higher-agro-product-prices-top-thais-wish-list/

[Lite Beer]

31st Thailand Motor Expo 2014 kicked off

NONTHABURI, 30 Nov 2014, (NNT) - A huge crowd yesterday (Nov 29) attended the first day of ' Thailand Motor Expo 2014' in Muang Thong Thani, Nontaburi Province,

The event, the 31st of its kind, is held under the theme ‘Moving Forward Together, ASEAN Auto’ this year. Like in previous years, the fair is held at the Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani, drawing crowds from all over the nation.

This year various manufacturers are showcasing their latest models and prototypes as well as offering attractive promotions, such as 0% interest loans or extremely low down payments for the new cars The organizers expect the 12-day event to attract at least 1.5 Million visitors, with no less than 50,000 vehicles reserved, generating 54 billion baht in sales.

The fair is open at noon till 10 pm during weekday, and 11 am. to 10 pm. on weekends.

-- NNT 2014-11-30

[Lite Beer]

Suriyasai calls on NCPO, govt to express clear-cut stand on amnesty

BANGKOK: -- Suriyasai Katasila, a lecturer of Rangsit University and former leading member of the People's Alliance for Democracy, Sunday called on the National Council for Peace and Order and the government to express their clear-cut stand on amnesty for political offenders.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/780536-suriyasai-calls-on-ncpo-govt-to-express-clear-cut-stand-on-amnesty/