Thailand Live Monday 29 Dec 2014

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Police have found sums in the 1.6-billion-baht embezzlement scandal at KMITL were channeled to formal and informal lending and housing businesses. /Bangkok Post

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Highways to North, Northeast expected to be jammed December 30

BANGKOK: -- Highway police forecast traffic congestions on two major routes, Phayothin and Mitraparb (Friendship) highways tomorrow when second waves of travellers are expected to leave the capital for homes in the provinces to celebrate New Year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787673-highways-to-north-isaan-expected-to-be-jammed-december-30/

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UPDATE

Objects Spotted In Sea In Missing Plane Search

An Australian plane has spotted objects in the sea during the hunt for the missing AirAsia flight QZ8501, officials have said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787579-search-resumes-for-missing-airasia-passenger-jet/page-4?p=8866867#entry8866867

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Woman killed at railway crossing train crash



UDON THANI: -- A woman was killed and four others were injured when their pickup truck was rammed by a Nong Khai-Bangkok train in Udon Thani province yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787695-woman-killed-at-railway-crossing-train-crash-in-udon-thani-province/

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Unclear whether oil, objects found in sea linked to lost jet
TRISNADI MARJAN, Associated Press
MARGIE MASON, Associated Press

SURABAYA, Indonesia (AP) — An Indonesian helicopter saw two oily spots in the search area for the missing AirAsia jetliner Monday, and an Australian search plane spotted objects hundreds of miles away, but it was too early to know whether either was connected to the aircraft and its 162 passengers and crew.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787579-search-resumes-for-missing-airasia-passenger-jet/page-4?p=8866982#entry8866982

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Assistant police chief appointed acting CIB chief

BANGKOK: -- Police Commissioner General Pol Gen Somyos Pumphanmuang has appointed his assistant, Pol Lt Gen Prawut Thawornsiri, as acting commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau.

The former CIB chief, Pol Gen Pongpat Chayabutr, was removed from his post shortly before he faced corruption investigations in several cases.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Assistant-police-chief-appointed-acting-CIB-chief-30250905.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-29

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Two Thais plead guilty to insulting royals in play
Bangkok, Thailand | AFP |

BANGKOK: -- Two Thais accused of defaming the monarchy in a university play pleaded guilty on Monday amid an intensifying junta crackdown on perceived royal slurs under the kingdom's controversial lese majeste law.

Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 87, is shielded by some of the world's toughest royal defamation rules under which anyone convicted of insulting the king, queen, heir or regent faces up to 15 years in prison on each count.

"Both defendants plead guilty to the charges," said the judge at Ratchada Criminal Court in northeast Bangkok, adding sentence would be passed on February 23.

Student Patiwat Saraiyaem, 23, and activist Porntip Mankong, 25, were arrested in August, nearly a year after the "The Wolf Bride" play was shown at Bangkok's Thammasat University.

They were each charged with one count of lese majeste linked to the performance, which marked the 40th anniversary of a pro-democracy student protest that was brutally crushed by authorities in October 1973.

Both accused were brought into court barefoot -- Patiwat's feet bound with chains -- at a hearing attended by a few dozen people including their relatives, students and an observer from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Patiwat, a final-year student at Khon Kaen University, acted in the piece -- which was about a fictional monarchy -- while Porntip co-ordinated the production as well as also playing a small role.

Rights groups say cases breaching Section 112 of the criminal code have surged since the army seized power in May, as the military burnishes its reputation as the defender of the royal family.

A recent study by the Paris-based International Federation of Human Rights said 18 new arrests have been made since the coup, with outstanding cases fast-tracked through the courts.

The junta says it was forced to seize power after months of anti-government protests. It vows to expunge corruption and protect the monarchy.

On November 18 a radio show host was jailed for five years by a military court for breaching the lese majeste law.

A few days earlier a 24-year-old student was jailed for two-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to defaming the monarchy in a message posted on Facebook under a pseudonym.

Critics say the lese majeste law has been politicised, noting that many of those charged in recent years have been linked to the Red Shirts who support fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thailand's long-running political conflict broadly pits a Bangkok-based middle class and royalist elite, backed by parts of the military and judiciary, against rural and working-class voters loyal to Thaksin.

Thaksin, the older brother of ousted prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, was toppled in a previous coup in 2006 and lives in self-exile to avoid prison for a corruption conviction.

Both local and international media must practise heavy self-censorship when covering the royal family. Even repeating details of charges could break the law.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-12-29

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Tourism active ahead of New Year
By Digital Content



NAN, Dec 29 -- Tourism is booming in Thailand's northern and southern regions alike, just ahead of the approaching New Year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787713-tourism-active-ahead-of-new-year/

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Chart Pattana not against non-MP PM

BANGKOK: -- The Chart Pattana Party is not opposed to the proposal to allow an non-MP to become the prime minister, party spokesman Chalitrat Chantharubeksa said Monday.

But the party sees that an outsider prime minister should be appointed when the country is in political or economic crisis or in a crisis related to the national security.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Chart-Pattana-not-against-non-MP-PM-30250906.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-29

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Thailand's Narcotics Control Board asks Myanmar to arrest key drug suspects
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 29 -- The Thai government Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) has asked Myanmar to arrest ten prime drug suspects on behalf of Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787723-thailands-narcotics-control-board-asks-myanmar-to-arrest-key-drug-suspects/

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Police to take care of countdown events

BANGKOK, 29 December 2014 (NNT) – Royal Thai Police Commissioner-General has ensured the public that all countdown events will be taken care of by the police, while police intelligence have not detected activities of concern.

The Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police has revealed the security measures for countdown events in many areas are in place. The police have prepared officers, both in uniform and plainclothes, and the fast moving unit to standby at celebration sites to provide protection for the public.

The police have also been closely working with the security agencies, and currently there are no evidence of planned disturbances or activities of concern to public safety. The public can feel safe during the holidays, said the Commissioner-General.

He also mentioned that he, along with the Deputy Commissioner-General and the Assistance Commissioner-General, will monitor the situation on the evening of 31 December 2014 at the Royal Thai Police Operations Center from 21:00 onwards.


-- NNT 2014-12-29

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SET index closed 1,498.22 down 12.19; Bt/USD32.80; GBP50.98; AUD26.52; EUR39.85; CAD28.10; HKD4.22; SGD24.69; JPY27.17

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Finance Ministry plans to raise retirement pensions
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 29 -- Thailand's Ministry of Finance will ask the cabinet to raise pensions for retired civil servants.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787727-finance-ministry-plans-to-raise-retirement-pensions/

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Special stamp launched
The Nation


The first in the 12-stamp series launched in 2015.

BANGKOK: -- Thailand Post is launching the first of the "Goat" stamp series, based on HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn's drawings.

The 12-stamp series, worth Bt3 apiece, will be distributed on every January 1 of 2015-2026. The princess celebrates her 60th birthday in 2015.


-- The Nation 2014-12-29

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Object spotted in sea not from AirAsia plane: Indonesian VP

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787579-search-resumes-for-missing-airasia-passenger-jet/page-5?p=8867445#entry8867445

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Three killed, six injured when van crashes into watering truck

BANGKOK: -- A chartered van transporting Indian tourists to the Suvarnabhumi International Airport crashed into the rear of watering truck on the elevated road leading to the airport at 10:45 am Monday, killing two Indian tourists and injuring six others. The Thai driver of the van was also killed police said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787670-indian-tourists-killed-in-van-crash-on-elevated-road-to-suvarnabhumi-airport/page-2?p=8867516#entry8867516

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'Technical Students' Rob Two Nonthaburi 7-11 Stores
By Khaosod English


CCTV footage of two suspects robbing a 7-11 store in Nonthaburi province, 29 Dec 2014.

NONTHABURI - Two self-described technical students have robbed two convenience stores in Nonthaburi province in the period of 15 minutes early this morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787735-technical-students-rob-two-nonthaburi-7-eleven-stores/

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NRC: police reform to take place in three months

BANGKOK: -- 2015 will be a year of reforms in various aspects for Thailand with police reform expected to take place in three months’ time, said spokesmen of the National Reform Council at a press conference today.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787782-nrc-police-reform-to-take-place-in-three-months/

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HM the King Re-Emerges After Months Of Illness

By Khaosod Eng.

BANGKOK - His Majesty the King has re-emerged in public for the first time today since he was admitted to Sriraj Hospital in Bangkok in October.

King Bhumibol, who turned 87 on 5 December, visited a supermarket on the ground floor of the hospital at around 4.30 pm today. The monarch was on wheelchair and flanked by dozens of officials and medical personnel.

The king bought some milk, ice cream, and fruits from the store, which is operated by the Royal Palace, according to the statement released to the media by the Royal Household Bureau.

His Majesty the King also spent some time looking at the view of Chao Phraya River from the 7th floor of the hospital before retreating to his ward on 16th floor, the statement said.

Crowds of well-wishers lining the corridors at the hospital shouted "Long live the King" as the king passed by on his wheelchair.

Read more: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1419855655

-- Khaosod English 2014-12-29

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Thai Govt Aims To Shut Down Anti-Monarchy Sites 'In 30 Seconds'

By Khaosod Eng.

BANGKOK - The Thai government has authorised internet providers in Thailand to shut down any websites deemed critical of the monarchy "in 30 seconds" without seeking approval from any authority.

Thakorn Tantasith, a member of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC), said today that all Internet Service Providers (ISP) based in the Kingdom have been instructed to monitor the websites under their watch and close down any sites that contain libelous remarks toward the monarchy.

Criticism of the Thai Royal Family is punishable by up to 15 years in prison under Section 112 of Thailand's Criminal Codes, the law that is also known as lese majeste.

"They can shut down any page with content that threatens the national security or violates Section 112 immediately. They don't need to seek any approval from the NBTC or any agency," Thakorn said, "If they have doubt about whether some websites are guilty of the crime, they can contact a five-person special working group of the NBTC."

If the committee deem the website to be in violation of lese majeste laws, it will shut down the site in 30 seconds, Thakorn explained.

Read More: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1419857382

-- Khaosod English 2014-12-29

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to continue:

Thailand Live Tuesday 30 Dec 2014

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/787841-thailand-live-tuesday-30-dec-2014/