Thailand Live Monday 12 Jan 2015

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Give encroached land to the poor – Phuket vice-governor
Nattapat Tuarob


Forestry officials inspect illegally felled timber in the Bang Kanoon Forest in September 20132. Inset – vice gov Somkiet

PHUKET: -- The island’s senior vice-governor has proposed a radical solution to encroachment on public land by poor people: give it to them.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791217-give-encroached-land-to-the-poor-phuket-vice-governor/

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Fire at APCB factory in Ayutthaya



AYUTTHAYA: -- A huge fire broke out at noon at APCB Electronics (Thailand) Co's factory inside the Bang Pa-in Industrial Estate in Ayutthaya province, forcing hundreds of workers to flee from the factory.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791220-fire-at-apcb-factory-in-ayutthaya/

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Park expert gives advice to avoid wild elephant attack



BANGKOK: -- A wildlife veterinarian has issued advice for motorists driving through Khao Yai national park to follow in case of sudden encounter with wild elephants.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791221-thailand-park-expert-gives-advice-to-avoid-wild-elephant-attack/

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UPDATE:

Rohingya woman suffocates in migrant truck in Thailand

Bangkok, Thailand | AFP |

BANGKOK: -- A Rohingya woman has died after suffocating in a truck packed with migrants from the Myanmar Muslim minority group as they travelled through southern Thailand, police said Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790960-rohingya-woman-killed-while-being-smuggled-across-southern-provinces/page-2#entry8927895

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Prachuap Khiri Khan to upgrade Singkhon border crossing

PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN, 12 January 2015 (NNT) – Prachuap Khiri Khan province aims to upgrade the Singkhon border crossing into a trade and investment center of the ASEAN Community, said the governor.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791222-prachuap-khiri-khan-to-upgrade-singkhon-border-crossing/

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Police hunt for gunman firing shots into the air on New Year’s eve



BANGKOK: -- Metropolitan police are still hunting for the gunman who fired shots into the air and a falling bullet injured a Vietnamese female tourist joining New Year's eve celebration at Central World Plaza.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791224-bangkok-police-hunt-for-gunman-firing-shots-into-the-air-on-new-years-eve/

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Phuket Gov to crack down on work camps, developers' excesses
Nattha Thepbamrung


Most construction worker camps consist of insanitary, unsafe tin shacks. This is the one at the airport.

PHUKET: -- Following the riot between Burmese and Cambodian construction workers in the work camp at Phuket International Airport on New Year’s Day, Governor Nisit Jansomwong is to set up a team to check conditions in all work camps around the island.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791225-phuket-gov-to-crack-down-on-work-camps-developers-excesses/

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Many northern, northeastern provinces declared disaster zones from cold weather
By Digital Content



CHIANG MAI, Jan 12 -- Another high-pressure system has blanketed Thailand, causing a cold spell in many provinces in the North and Northeast, with local residents suffering many respiratory illnesses.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791226-many-northern-northeastern-provinces-declared-disaster-zones-from-cold-weather/

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Thai vehicles production to hit 3.8mn units a year in 2019 from current 2.8mn now on new output of ten 2nd phase eco-car projects, SCB Research said. /The Nation

U.S. to host summit this Feb.18 on tackling potential terrorism risk globally, following recent attack in Paris. /The Nation

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Trat Official Apologizes For Children's Day 'Sexy Dance'
By Khaosod English


Photo of the event in Trat province provided by an audience member.

TRAT — A local official in Trat province has apologized for hiring scantily-clad female dancers to perform at a National Children's Day event on Saturday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791230-trat-official-apologizes-for-childrens-day-sexy-dance/

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Horny elephant defeats Toyota Vios in stomping competition
By Coconuts Bangkok

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791221-thailand-park-expert-gives-advice-to-avoid-wild-elephant-attack/#entry8928064

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Ending illiteracy needs proper innovative approaches, OBEC chief says

BANGKOK, 12 January 2015 (NNT) - The Education Ministry is expediting the eradication of illiteracy among Thai children under Prathom 3 (Grade 3) by using innovative approaches suitable for each student to achieve the country’s goal of making 2015 the illiteracy-free Year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791238-ending-illiteracy-in-thailand-needs-proper-innovative-approaches-obec-chief-says/

[george]

Can the EU contagion be contained in Asia?

The interesting thing about the EU’s recent straining and groaning in the global equities market is that we’ve seen this movie before. People realize how bad the Greek financial situation is, the markets quake, reassuring statements are made by financial managers, the market stabilizes, another round of bad news breaks out, and markets and investors are spooked again. The Spanish have a word for this-zarzuela...

Full story: http://www.streetwisejournal.com/can-eu-contagion-contained-asia/4660/

[george]

Is a soft landing possible for Fed-induced easy liquidity bubbles?

If there is any one phrase market speculators and easy Fed money-fueled equities traders love to repeat it is this: ‘soft landing.’ There’s an almost mystical dimension to this phrase-at least, in how they use it. Imagine a global stock market that fast outgrew any connection to realistic valuations and base line economic performance...

Full story: http://www.streetwisejournal.com/soft-landing-possible-fed-induced-easy-liquidity-bubbles/4666/

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Gold Price Sentiment Index rises 2nd consecutive month in January
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 12 -- The Gold Price Sentiment Index continued to increase for the second consecutive month in January and the domestic gold price is expected to range from Bt16,800 to Bt20,500 per baht weight in the first half of this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791240-gold-price-sentiment-index-rises-2nd-consecutive-month-in-january/

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Close monitoring on Thailand-China trade
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 12 -- Thai authorities are closely monitoring trade between China and Thailand following a sharp fall in global oil prices. China has increased its oil consumption tax to prevent over-supply of certain products, said Nuntawan Sakuntanaga, director-general of the International Trade Promotion Department.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791241-close-monitoring-on-thailand-china-trade/

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Roads to close during evening rush for TAT’s ‘Thainess’ parade
By Coconuts Bangkok


Photo: Tourism Authority of Thailand

BANGKOK: -- More than just an ill-defined bundle of values at the heart of identity politics, “Thainess” is now the centerpiece of tourism officials’ campaign for 2015.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791247-bangkok-roads-to-close-during-evening-rush-for-tats-thainess-parade/

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Worth it: 92 flights at Don Mueang delayed for kids to watch planes fly
By Coconuts Bangkok



Lesson learned: Don’t book a flight on the day a bunch of kids take over the airport.

BANGKOK: -- Ninety-two flights were reportedly delayed between 20 minutes to three hours on Saturday as the sky above the airport was restricted for a military air show on Children’s Day.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791249-worth-it-92-flights-at-don-mueang-delayed-for-kids-to-watch-planes-fly/

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Former Red PM 'Confident' in Junta's New Charter
By Khaosod English


Former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawasdi and his wife Yaowapa Shinawatra receiving gifts at a New Year celebration on 12 Jan 2015.

BANGKOK — Former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawasdi, who is widely supported by Thailand's Redshirt faction, has endorsed the military junta's effort to draft a new constitution.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791251-former-thai-pm-somchai-confident-in-govts-new-charter/

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72-year-old man recognised by Public Health Ministry as herb practitioner

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791252-surin-72-year-old-man-recognised-by-public-health-ministry-as-herb-practitioner/

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Phuket scrambles to dodge EU red card on seafood exports
Nattha Thepbamrung


http://www.thephuketnews.com/photo/listing/2015/1421051175_1-org.jpg

PHUKET: -- The Phuket Fisheries Office is scrambling to fix irregularities in the island’s fishing industry bythe end of this month, following a warning by the European Union (EU) of trade sanctions if illegal fishing is not curbed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791257-phuket-scrambles-to-dodge-eu-red-card-on-seafood-exports/

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Former Pheu Thai MP arrested on fraud charge

BANGKOK: -- Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Ratchaburi province of the Pheu Thai Party, Pol Lt Chawarin Latthasaksiri was arrested at Suvarnbhumi airport before boarding a flight to Japan on a business trip.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791260-former-pheu-thai-mp-arrested-on-fraud-charge/

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SET index closed 1,531.21 up 1.79; Bt/USD32.74; GBP49.52; AUD26.79; EUR38.67; CAD27.51; HKD4.21; SGD24.45; JPY27.57

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France mobilizes 10,000 security forces after attacks
By LORI HINNANT and SUZAN FRASER

PARIS (AP) — French security forces are mobilizing in their search for what the prime minister called a "probably accomplice" to three days of bloodshed and terror around the capital, as well as to try to ensure the safety of the French people.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791262-france-mobilizes-10000-security-forces-after-attacks/

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Commerce Ministry disagrees with VAT hike during this period

BANGKOK, 12 January 2015 (NNT) - The Ministry of Commerce is closely monitoring consumer prices while the private sector is warning that the Thai economy this year is still making improvements. It therefore suggests that the government should not increase value added tax at the moment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791266-thai-commerce-ministry-disagrees-with-vat-hike-during-this-period/

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Police Spokesman: Zigzag markings are common in Europe

BANGKOK, 12 January 2015 (NNT) - Pol Lt Gen Prawut Thawornsiri, spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, has explained that zigzag road markings ahead of pedestrian crossings which have been recently introduced for trial use to roads around Bangkok are one of the traffic signs commonly used in European countries especially around community zones to further road safety.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791267-thai-police-spokesman-zigzag-markings-are-common-in-europe/

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Seven police face probe for allegedly taking bribes from Koreans



BANGKOK: - Seven metropolitan police officers have been placed under investigation for allegedly taking bribes from a group of Koreans operating an online gambling racket in exchange for allowing them to walk free.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791288-seven-thai-police-officers-face-probe-for-allegedly-taking-bribes-from-koreans/

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Phuket gun teens under investigation after Facebook posts
The Phuket News


Three pictures of Phuket teens posing with guns, from their Facebook pages.

PHUKET: -- Police in Phuket are keeping an eye on teenagers who have been posting pictures of themselves on Facebook, describing themselves as gang members and in some cases posing with guns.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791289-phuket-gun-teens-under-investigation-after-facebook-posts/

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Zig-zag lines to confuse drivers into not killing pedestrians
By Coconuts Bangkok


Photos: AkaravutTV9

BANGKOK: -- Next time the roadway seems to go all wavy, it might not be your criminal drunkenness to blame.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791267-thai-police-spokesman-zigzag-markings-are-common-in-europe/#entry8928776

[Lite Beer]

Red Shirts Banned From Redshirt Leader's Memorial Service

By Khaosod Eng

BANGKOK — Mourners wearing red shirts were prohibited by police from attending yesterday’s memorial service for Apiwan Wiriyachai, a popular Redshirt leader who passed away in exile 100 days ago.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791362-red-shirts-banned-from-redshirt-leaders-memorial-service/