Thailand Live Thursday 11 Dec 2014

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Princess Maha Chakri opens exhibition of her photographic works

BANGKOK, 11 December 2014 (NNT) - Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on 10th December presided over the opening ceremony of the 2014 photographic exhibition of her work , at the Bangkok Art and Culture Center in Pathumwan district, Bangkok.

The exhibition is being organized by the Royal Photographic Society of Thailand, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Bangkok Art and Culture Center.

It features 158 pictures taken by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn during royal visits to different places both in and out of Thailand from 2013 to 2014. The Princess told participants at the opening ceremony that this year’s exhibition was more interesting than in previous years in that it contains such pictures as the sky and stars taken through a telescope and also images taken through the scanning electron microscope which could magnify a small object by 40,000 times. There are also pictures taken by unmanned aerial vehicles or drones. The Princess remarked that the new equipment could identify targets that otherwise could not be seen by the human eye.

Books containing the exhibited photographs are also available for sale at the exhibition and at major bookstores at the price of 900.- baht a piece. Proceeds from the sale will go towards royal charity projects.

The exhibition will continue until 8th March 2015.


-- NNT 2014-12-11

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Late nurse's kin released without charge
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The mother and brother of the late Kamolked Akhard were released by police without any charges after they rallied at Wat Pathum Wannaram against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who played a role in the 2010 crackdown on red-shirt protesters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783188-2010-crackdown-late-nurses-kin-released-without-charge/

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'GREATER RISK'
US embassy on alert after CIA probe report
The Nation, Agencies

Citizens in Thailand urged to take precaution amid 'some indications' of 'greater risk'

BANGKOK: -- The US embassy in Bangkok and others all over the world stepped up security and issued warnings for US citizens to be aware that the release of a Senate report on the Central Intelligence Agency's harsh interrogation programme against terrorism suspects could prompt anti-American protests and violence.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/782982-americans-in-thailand-warned-after-release-of-cia-report/page-7?p=8786887#entry8786887

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UPDATE:

CHARTER WRITING
Abhisit opposes directly elected PM, cabinet, warns they could be corrupted by power
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday expressed his opposition to the proposal for direct election of the prime minister and cabinet, saying such an administration could easily be corrupted by power.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783019-abhisit-says-no-to-direct-election-for-pm/page-3#entry8786889

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'UNPRECEDENTED THREATS'
Academics push for intellectual freedom
The Nation

Letter to university presidents points to 'unprecedented threats' under junta

BANGKOK: -- A group of 201 academics from universities across the country yesterday called on the Council of University Presidents of Thailand (CUPT) to ensure and protect intellectual freedom that they said was being threatened under the current military administration.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783189-thai-academics-push-for-intellectual-freedom/

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CORRUPTION SCANDAL
Senior police officer's wife arrested for lese majeste
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police yesterday arrested a woman accused of lese majeste for allegedly making profit in her business by claiming links to the monarchy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783190-bangkok-senior-police-officers-wife-arrested-for-lese-majeste/

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UPDATE:

Govt urged to probe killings of activists
Nuntida Puangthong
The Nation

OHCHR queries killings of 30 humanrights defenders, highlights two latest murders

BANGKOK: -- THE UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is calling on Thailand to launch immediate investigations into the disappearance and killings of human-rights defenders on its soil.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783091-thai-govt-urged-to-launch-probe-in-to-activists-killings/#entry8786915

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EDITORIAL
Tougher sentences aren't the answer to corruption
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Unless we intervene to teach children from a young age why bribery and abusing power are unacceptable, the 'Thai disease' will be reproduced in generation after generation

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783192-thai-editorial-tougher-sentences-arent-the-answer-to-corruption/

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THAI TALK
To fight graft, Freedom of Information Act must be overhauled
Suthichai Yoon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- If the government is serious about reducing corruption, one of the most crucial steps to take is to get all political and bureaucratic agencies to disclose all relevant information to the public. Access to official information is vital to deterring and halting corrupt practices.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783193-thai-talk-to-fight-graft-freedom-of-information-act-must-be-overhauled/

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UPDATE:

Another suspect in Pongpat’s gang arrested



BANGKOK: -- Another suspect linked to the gang connected with Pol Lt-Gen PongpatChayapan, former commissioner of Central Investigation Bureau, was arrested on Wednesday in Thonburi area by police.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783190-bangkok-senior-police-officers-wife-arrested-for-lese-majeste/#entry8786936

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Australia’s Channel 9 goes undercover at the Full Moon Party to produce a damning report



KOH SAMUI: -- A damming report by Australia’s Channel 9 news aired this week after a hidden camera man and a news reporter went undercover to Koh Phangans Full Moon Party.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783195-australias-channel-9-goes-undercover-at-the-full-moon-party-to-produce-a-damning-report/

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No progress in deep South unless Thailand drops strongman act
Don Pathan
Special to The Nation


Bomb squad members inspect the site of a roadside bomb attack on a patrol vehicle carrying soldiers in the Rueso district of Narathiwat Wednesday. AFP PHOTO / Madaree TOHLALA

Dictating terms to the insurgents and demanding a 'ceasefire' are not aiding peace efforts

BANGKOK: -- General Aksara Kerdphol, Thailand’s chief negotiator in the deep South peace efforts, is heading to Malaysia to follow up on the recent visit made by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783196-no-progress-in-deep-south-unless-thailand-drops-strongman-act/

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Hitler ends up on cutting room floor
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A controversial scene in a short film produced by the Prime Minister's Office, featuring an image of Nazi Germany's former dictator Adolf Hitler, has been removed following an uproar.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783197-thai-film-hitler-ends-up-on-cutting-room-floor/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Uber ignores Thailand ban

Confusion reigns as despite being ordered to stop providing taxi services in Thailand, it seems that Uber is blatantly ignoring the ban for the time being.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/uber-ignores-thailand-ban/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

MoneyGuru launches Thailand’s first financial comparison website

MoneyGuru has launched what it is calling Thailand’s first true online comparison website for comparing products and services from the financial sector.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/moneyguru-launches-thailands-first-financial-comparison-website/

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BURNING ISSUE
CDC's dilemma: How powerful should our leader be?
Attayuth Bootsripoom

BANGKOK: -- A reform issue that has been widely debated among the constitution drafters and political observers is how a prime minister should be chosen. Should the government leader be selected by the majority of the House of Representatives or should he or she be directly elected by the voters?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783198-thai-politics-cdcs-dilemma-how-powerful-should-our-leader-be/

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Govt hopeful of upgrade from US Priority Watch
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE government has high expectations that the United States will upgrade its trade status to the Watch List next year after passage of anti-camcording legislation and serious suppression of illegal goods in 13 notorious markets.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783200-thai-govt-hopeful-of-upgrade-from-us-priority-watch/

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Concrete panel falls and kills one in Khon Kaen
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A lightweight concrete panel fell out of its place and hit three customers at CentralPlaza Khon Kaen yesterday, killing one and seriously injuring the other two.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783202-concrete-panel-falls-and-kills-one-in-khon-kaen/

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Teachers urged to return to classroom
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THAI teachers spend 42 per cent or 84 weekdays out of the yearly 200 working days in outside-class activities and tasks such as assessments, academic competitions and training, a recent survey found.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783204-thai-teachers-urged-to-return-to-classroom/

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Probe into murders of Japanese men complete
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police will today submit the results of their investigations into the murders of two Japanese men allegedly by a Thai couple to public prosecutors.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783205-bangkok-probe-into-murders-of-japanese-men-complete/

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Palestinian minister dies at West Bank protest

(BBC) A Palestinian minister has died after a confrontation with Israeli troops at a protest in the West Bank.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783206-palestinian-minister-dies-at-west-bank-protest/

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Airports of Thailand expects rebound in passenger traffic from now to Sept 2015 on improved tourism outlook. /The Nation

Bangkok offers world's 6th most affordable hotel prices; New York is most expensive place to stay, GoEurope's survey shows. /The Nation

TIME magazine selected the medics who treated Ebola patients as "Person of the Year 2014" /The Nation

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Agriculture Minister: raising rubber prices a Herculean task

BANGKOK, 11 Dec 2014, (NNT) - Rubber farmers from Songkla Province have vowed to wait and see whether the Government’s assistance measures would work before deciding on their next move.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783227-thai-agriculture-minister-raising-rubber-prices-a-herculean-task/

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,544.67, falls 14.89 points /MCOT

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North to be cooler this weekend



BANGKOK: -- Thailand's northern region will envisage another cold spell with temperature dropping further this weekend, while the southern region will face increased rainfalls.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783251-typhoon-hagupit-will-not-affect-thailand/#entry8788155

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No conclusion yet on proposed direct election of prime minister and cabinet ministers

BANGKOK, 11 December 2014 (NNT) – The constitution drafting committee has asserted that no conclusion has yet been made concerning the proposed direct election for the prime minister and the cabinet of ministers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783244-no-conclusion-yet-on-proposed-direct-election-of-thai-pm-and-cabinet-ministers/

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Israeli ambassador says he was deeply saddened over a Thai Value short film



BANGKOK: -- The Israeli ambassador to Thailand yesterday issued a statement expressing deep regret over a Thai Value short film showing a smiling Thai youth painting the image of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783247-israeli-ambassador-says-he-was-deeply-saddened-over-a-thai-value-short-film/

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Minimum wage unchanged till the end of 2015

BANGKOK, 11 December 2014 (NNT)-The National Wage Committee has decided not to not raise the minimum wage until late next year as the cost of living remains at a reasonable level.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783249-thai-minimum-wage-unchanged-till-the-end-of-2015/

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Prayut meets South Korean businessmen

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had a working breakfast with executives of South Korean businesses at 7 am South Korea's time Thursday.

He invited the South Korean businesses to invest more in Thailand. Businesses that sent their representatives to meet Prayut included LG Electronics, Samsung, Hyundai Motor, K-water, Hana Tour Service, and POSCO. The Korean Trade and Investment Promotion Agency also sent its representatives to join the working breakfast.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Prayut-meets-South-Korean-businessmen-30249567.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-11

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Commerce Ministry prepares to sell stockpiled rice in Africa and Middle East

BANGKOK, 11 Dec 2014 (NNT) - The Ministry of Commerce is proposing to the Cabinet to sell stockpiled rice to nations in Africa and the Middle East.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783253-thai-commerce-ministry-prepares-to-sell-stockpiled-rice-in-africa-and-middle-east/