Thailand Live Friday 26 Dec 2014

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TSUNAMI 2004

10 years on: Thaivisa remembers the Boxing Day tsunami in Thailand

BANGKOK:-- For the ten year anniversary of the Boxing Day tsunami, Thaivisa looks back at the events of that fateful day.

The tsunami that followed the huge earthquake in the Indian Ocean on 26 December 2004 remains one of the worst natural disasters in history.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786884-10-years-on-thaivisa-remembers-the-boxing-day-tsunami-in-thailand/

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CHARTER WRITING
CDC open to outsider PM
Khanittha Thepphajorn
The Nation

If NRC and public don't oppose, new constitution may allow selection of a non-MP as prime minister; Senate to have increased power

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's new charter will not provide for an elected prime minister, as the Constitution Drafting Committee decided yesterday to allow Parliament to select anyone as the head of government, CDC spokesman Kamnoon Sidhisamarn said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786915-thai-charter-writing-cdc-open-to-outsider-pm/

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Prayut gives civil servants three months to show results
The Nation


Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha looks at a football jersey with his name on its back, given to him when the national team players, who recently won the AFF Suzuki Cup, and officials from the Football Association of Thailand called on him at Government House

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said he would give civil servants three months to deliver work results as per government policy and those found to be slacking would be "dealt with".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786916-prayut-gives-civil-servants-three-months-to-show-results/

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YINGLUCK'S CASE
NACC to question two more in rice case
The Nation

Watchdog responds to prosecutors' demand for more proof of govt deals

BANGKOK: - The National Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday agreed to question two more witnesses to shore up its case against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra for dereliction of duty in overseeing the government's rice-pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786917-yinglucks-case-nacc-to-question-two-more-in-rice-case/

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Account holder claims his innocence in KMITL case
MONTHIEN INTHAKET
THE NATION



Graduate student surrenders to police, says he followed a friend's request to wire Bt80 million of embazzled money

BANGKOK: -- THE MAN whose bank account allegedly received Bt80 million embezzled from King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Latkrabang (KMITL) surrendered to police yesterday but claimed innocence, saying he had opened the account in question and wired money to others at a friend's request.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786918-account-holder-claims-his-innocence-in-kmitl-case/

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Paiboon to head government panel on lese majeste issue
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A GOVERNMENTAL committee to handle the lese majeste issue will be set up for the first time, with Justice Minister General Paiboon Khumchaya as chairman.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786919-paiboon-to-head-government-panel-on-lese-majeste-issue/

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BOI-approved projects reach Bt1 trillion in value
Erich Parpart
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE BOARD of Investment yesterday expressed satisfaction that projects seeking its privileges reached Bt1 trillion in value as of December 19, cleanly beating its target of Bt800 billion for the whole year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786920-boi-approved-projects-reach-bt1-trillion-in-value/

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Phuket's star rises globally

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786884-10-years-on-thaivisa-remembers-the-boxing-day-tsunami-in-thailand/page-2?p=8851835#entry8851835

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TEN YEARS AFTER THE TSUNAMI
Walking the last mile together on early warning


Foreign tourists sunbathe on Patong Beach near a tsunami warning tower on the southern resort island of Phuket. Ceremonies across Phuket and Phang Nga are held to mark the 10th anniversary of the tsunami which struck on December 26, 2004.

Region has come a long way during the past decade but a culture of preparedness and cooperation must be a constant to be able to deal with future challenges

BANGKOK: -- On December 26, 2004, the world experienced one of the deadliest natural disasters ever recorded. A 9.1-magnitude earthquake off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, triggered a massive tsunami that directly affected 14 countries in Asia and Africa. The tectonic shifting of plates and the widespread impact of the resulting waves, led to 230,000 deaths and massive human suffering.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786884-10-years-on-thaivisa-remembers-the-boxing-day-tsunami-in-thailand/page-2?p=8851842#entry8851842

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GUEST COLUMN
Memories of a frightening day
Kirill Barsky
Russia's Ambassador to Thailand

BANGKOK: -- December 26 - I remember that day in small detail, as if it was yesterday. It was a Sunday. In Russia we do not celebrate December 26, as according to the Julian calendar observed by the Russian Orthodox Church, Christmas falls on January 6. Therefore, our embassy in Jakarta where I served as deputy head of mission worked as usual. Everyone was busy finishing the annual report, and even on that Sunday most of the embassy staff were in the office.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786884-10-years-on-thaivisa-remembers-the-boxing-day-tsunami-in-thailand/page-2?p=8851849#entry8851849

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TEN YEARS AFTER
Complacency taking over as memories of tsunami fade
Agence France-Presse
PHUKET


Soldiers parade as they practise ahead of the 10th anniversary of the 2004 tsunami memorial in Phang-nga province yesterday.
Ten years after the deadliest tsunami wrought destruction across the Indian Ocean, creeping complacency is undermining a hi-tech warning system designed to prevent another disaster of such shocking magnitude.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786884-10-years-on-thaivisa-remembers-the-boxing-day-tsunami-in-thailand/page-2?p=8851778#entry8851778

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Christmas Eve in Phuket – and the drug busts keep coming
Saran Mitrarat


Kiwi Taylor Grainge with his drugs.

PHUKET: Police arrested 12 men, including one foreigner, last night (December 24) in Kathu for possession of drugs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786924-new-zealand-man-charged-for-drug-dealing-in-phuket/

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Minister Amnuay shocked by rubber planter's suicide



BANGKOK: -- Deputy Agriculture Minister Amnuay Patise said today that he was shocked after he learned that a rubber planter in Nakhon Si Thammarat had committed suicide because of the falling rubber prices.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786925-minister-amnuay-shocked-by-rubber-planters-suicide/

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Fatal car accident at shopping mall ruled an accident
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police investigation into the case of a woman being killed when her car hit a barrier on the third floor of a shopping mall's parking lot and plunging to the street below has been ruled as an accident. Apparently, a drinking water bottle was stuck under the brake pad and its head was on the accelerator.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786926-fatal-car-accident-at-the-mall-bang-kapi-ruled-an-accident/

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Floods sweep away toddler
The Nation



PATTANI: -- The South's raging floodwaters killed a one-year-old boy yesterday, sweeping him away from a flooded road near his home in Pattani province. The victim was identified as Isma-ae Kaelae.

Many parts of Pattani are now deluged. At the worst-hit spots, floodwater was about three metres deep.

More than 1,000 families in Muang Pattani Municipality are also struggling with floods of between 50 and centimetres deep. Nine out of 11 districts in Phatthalung province have been declared disaster-hit zones.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Floods-sweep-away-toddler-30250698.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-26

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Waste-centre plan meets ire
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Residents of Tambon Chiang Rak Yai, Sam Khok district, yesterday staged a rally to protest plans to build an integrated waste-management centre in their hometown.

"The chosen site is just 200 metres from the community zone. It's very close to at least two villages where more than 500 families live," Dr Suntaree Rattapas-sakorn said.

She said Tambon Chiang Rak Yai Administrative Organisation had failed to provide adequate information on the project.

The rally took place at a hotel where a memorandum of understanding on the project was signed. The organisation's chairman Sawek Prasertsuk insisted the project would not cause an adverse impact on local communities."We will build it in line with Japanese standards," he said.
Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Waste-centre-plan-meets-ire-30250697.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-26

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Thailand approves $643 mln in investment for 13 projects

BANGKOK: -- Dec 26 (Reuters) - Thailand's investment agency said on Thursday it has approved applications for 13 projects worth 21.15 billion baht ($643 million), many involving renewable energy and power plants, as the pace of investment recovers after political turmoil early in the year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786928-thailand-approves-us643-mln-in-investment-for-13-projects/

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EDITORIAL
Pakistan faces its Frankenstein's monster
The Nation

Islamabad appears to be tackling the Taleban in earnest - but it will be a long struggle

BANGKOK: -- A week after the gruesome killings of 152 people in Pakistan - 133 of them schoolchildren - the government has decided to take the fight to the murderers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786929-pakistan-faces-its-frankensteins-monster/

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Pope wishes Christmas hope and peace for Mideast
FRANCES D'EMILIO, Associated Press

VATICAN CITY (AP) — A somber Pope Francis steeped his Christmas message to the world Thursday in sadness for those with little cause for joy — abused children, refugees, hostages and others suffering from violence in the Middle East, Africa, Ukraine and elsewhere.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786930-pope-wishes-christmas-hope-and-peace-for-mideast/

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Man shot with stun gun dies at US border crossing

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A 40-year-old U.S. citizen died after a border inspector shot him with a stun gun at the nation's busiest crossing, authorities said Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786931-man-shot-with-stun-gun-dies-at-us-border-crossing/

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Detente spawns Cuban worry on US migration rights
BEN FOX, Associated Press
ANNE-MARIE GARCIA, Associated Press

HAVANA (AP) — Like tens of thousands of Cubans, Gerardo Luis wants to get to the United States and he's suddenly worried that time may be running out.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786932-detente-spawns-cuban-worry-on-us-migration-rights/

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Father of pilot captured by IS pleads for release
OMAR AKOUR, Associated Press
DIAA HADID, Associated Press

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — The father of a Jordanian pilot captured by the Islamic State group in Syria pleaded for his son's release on Thursday, asking him to treat him well in captivity as a fellow Muslim.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786934-father-of-pilot-captured-by-is-pleads-for-release/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Free Wi-Fi in Thailand from next April

From April 2015, you will be able to use free Wi-Fi in Thailand as part of a new government initiative.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/free-wi-fi-thailand-next-april/

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Committee for National Alcohol Beverage Policy proposing 6 regulations to govt to curb alcohol sales during New Year holidays /The Nation

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Ten Years On: Remembering the Indian Ocean Tsunami Ceremony

BANGKOK: -- The Ten Years On: Remembering the Indian Ocean Tsunami Ceremony is being held at the Police Boat T813 Tsunami Memorial Park, Khao Lak, in Takua Pa district, Phang-nga province, on Friday, 26 December 2014 at 17.30-18.45 hr.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786884-10-years-on-thaivisa-remembers-the-boxing-day-tsunami-in-thailand/page-2?p=8852324#entry8852324

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UPDATE:

Learning lessons from the Tsunami a decade on
The Phuket News


Caskets piled up at Yan Yao temple during the 2005 New Year period.

The world commemorates the victims of the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami in 10-year memorial services today, but will remembering be enough?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786884-10-years-on-thaivisa-remembers-the-boxing-day-tsunami-in-thailand/page-2?p=8852347#entry8852347

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Chiang Rai launches a plan to attract more Chinese tourists next year

CHIANG RAI, 26 December 2014 (NNT) -- The association of travel agents focusing on Chinese tourists in the northern province of Chiang Rai announced the plan to attract more Chinese tourists next year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786957-chiang-rai-launches-a-plan-to-attract-more-chinese-tourists-next-year/

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Highway Police sets up Line ID to provide information to highway users

BANGKOK, 26 December 2014 (NNT) – The Highway Police has set up the "Highway 1193" Line ID to make it easier for the public to receive traffic information while traveling during the New Year's period.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/786962-thai-highway-police-sets-up-line-id-to-provide-information-to-highway-users/

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,503.23, falls 1.66 points /MCOT

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PM visits southern provinces to inspect flood situation; will attend 10th anniversary of tsunami /MCOT