Thailand Live Tuesday 13 Jan 2015

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Rubber growers flock to Buriram market for buffer fund sales

BURIRAM, 13 January 2014 (NNT) -- A large number of rubber growers have flocked to Buriram's central rubber market to sell their product under the provisions of the government's rubber buffer fund which gives them a higher price.

The Thai government recently announced the program to help shore up the price of natural rubber by buying rubber in the market, utilizing a 6 billion baht buffer fund that was assigned to the Rubber Estate Organisation.

On Monday 12th January, small-scale rubber farmers, networks of local rubber growers and cooperative rubber plantations from the north, northeastern, and eastern provinces brought their product to sell at the Buriram market. The amount available for purchase has climbed to between 100 - 300 tons daily since the buffer fund program was instigated.

The central market offers prices that are 5 - 6 baht per kilogram higher than on the regular market. Smoked raw rubber sheet was bought at 61.70 baht a kilogram, while good quality rubber sheet was priced at 57.50 baht in the Buriram central market. The Director Ronnachai Dowduang said after the launch of the buffer fund program in October last year, that farmers had sold 2500 tons of rubber to the market, valued at 140 million baht.


-- NNT 2015-01-13

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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

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Red Shirts Banned From Redshirt Leader's Memorial Service

By Khaosod English

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/

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Deputy Foreign Minister: Thailand makes anti-human trafficking progress
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 13 -- The Thai government has tackled human trafficking well in the past six months and did it better than other countries in the same Tier 3 watch list of the United States, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791398-deputy-foreign-minister-thailand-makes-anti-human-trafficking-progress/

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NMG urges broadcasting watchdog to probe SLC share buy-up
WATCHIRANONT THONGTEP
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- Nation Multimedia Group yesterday issued an open letter appealing to the National Broadcasting and Telecommuni-cations Commission (NBTC) to examine the purchase NMG shares by Solution Corner (SLC) and its affiliates.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791399-nmg-urges-broadcasting-watchdog-to-probe-slc-share-buy-up/

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PM promises a good year for business
Erich Parpart,
Petchanet Pratruangkrai,
Suchat Sritama
The Nation

Meets private sector, which urged govt to lift purchasing power and help small firms

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday vowed that his government would do its best to ensure a strong economic performance this year, and told the business sector not to worry about the political situation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791400-pm-prayut-promises-a-good-year-for-business/

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Charter court to get greater powers
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH
THE NATION

CDC RESOLUTION PART OF MOVE TO PREVENT APPOINTED PREMIERS

BANGKOK: -- AFTER A HOT debate, the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) yesterday resolved to allow the Constitutional Court to scrutinise the intent of law involving certain constitutional clauses in a bid to prevent possible conflicts stemming from requests from appointed premiers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791401-thai-charter-court-to-get-greater-powers/

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WWF launches Thai campaign to save elephants
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Several entertainment and media celebrities have joined the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)'s "Chor Chaang Saving Elephants" campaign against the trade in ivory by removing the Thai letter "chor chaang" from their names.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791402-wwf-launches-thai-campaign-to-save-elephants/

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Military should be involved in elections for two years
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- FOR ELECTORAL reform to be effective change must begin from the ground up, starting with the 'eradication' of village canvassers, and would require military involvement for another two years, National Reform Council member Pairoj Promsan said after an NRC meeting on the topic yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791403-military-should-be-involved-in-thai-elections-for-two-years/

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Tourism council warns operators to be prepared for unpredictable year
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE ECONOMIC slowdown in many countries and tough competition are the key factors expected to continue holding back the tourism industry this year, according to the Tourism Council of Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791404-tourism-council-of-thailand-warns-operators-to-be-prepared-for-unpredictable-year/

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Rice damage charge filed
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION


Commerce Ministry permanent secretary Chutima Bunyaprapha-sara yesterday filed the complaint with the Crime Suppression Division of the Royal Thai Police.

THE RICE POLICY and Management Committee has filed a criminal complaint against those alleged to have damaged rice in government stockpiles.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791405-rice-damage-charge-filed/

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EDITORIAL
Beware of Chinese bearing 'gifts'
The Nation

The China-backed railway project offers many benefits for Thailand, but there are dangers too

BANGKOK: -- Recent incidents in Myanmar and Vietnam offer lessons for the Thai government under Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on how to deal with China over development projects.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791406-thai-editorial-beware-of-chinese-bearing-gifts/

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STREETWISE
The hidden costs of oil benefits
Achara Deboonme

BANGKOK: -- Amid the plunge in crude oil prices, the retail price of gasohol 91 stood at Bt27.18 yesterday - a level unseen since 2009.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791407-thai-opinion-the-hidden-costs-of-oil-benefits/

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Policeman Allegedly Hit, Killed By Teen Motorcyclists
By Khaosod English


The funeral of Police Senior Sergeant Wichai Raksilpa, who was allegedly hit and killed by teen motorcyclists on Suwannasorn Road on 10 January.

SA KAEO — Members of a teenage motorcycle gang in Sa Kaeo province allegedly hit and killed a police officer who tried to intercept them on Saturday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791409-thai-police-officer-allegedly-hit-killed-by-teen-motorcyclists/

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Jet Bridge Collapse At Don Mueang Injures Four
Published by Stickboy BKK



BANGKOK: -- Four maintenance workers were injured when a jet bridge at Don Mueang airport collapsed on Monday afternoon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791411-jet-bridge-collapse-at-don-mueang-injures-four/

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Fake Watcher Seller arrested by Pattaya Police following stabbing of Russian



PATTAYA: -- On Monday Night, the fake watcher seller, wanted in connection with the stabbing of a Russian Man outside of a Starbucks Coffee Shop located next to Pattaya Police Station, gave himself up to Pattaya Police and was arrested.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791412-fake-watcher-seller-arrested-by-pattaya-police-following-stabbing-of-russian/

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No plan to shut Khao Yai park but may impose passing restriction



BANGKOK: -- The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation says it has no plan to shut Khao Yai national park but only has an idea to ban motorists from passing Khao Yai via Prachinburi province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791413-no-plan-to-shut-khao-yai-park-but-may-impose-passing-restriction/

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Ban electoral fraudsters for life call
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- National Reform Council member Sayumporn Limthai has proposed banning people found guilty of electoral fraud for life as an effective way of curbing electoral fraud.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791414-ban-electoral-fraudsters-for-life-call/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

US military Twitter account hacked by Islamic State

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hackers claiming to work on behalf of Islamic State militants seized control of the Twitter and YouTube sites of the military’s U.S. Central Command on Monday. The Pentagon swiftly suspended the sites and said it appears that no classified material was breached.

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/us-military-twitter-account-hacked-islamic-state/2620/

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Investigators eyeing new suspect in KMITL case
Supachai Petchthewee
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- IN THE INVESTIGATION into the embezzlement of Bt1.5 billion from King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), Crime Suppression Division (CSD) officers have now turned their focus on a KMITL lecturer.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791415-investigators-eyeing-new-suspect-in-kmitl-case/

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Suvarnabhumi Airport vows to take theft of disabled parking seriously
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- Suvarnabhumi Airport announced it will take action against misuse of disabled parking spaces after several photos of luxury cars parked in the privileged spots circulated on Facebook.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791416-suvarnabhumi-airport-vows-to-take-theft-of-disabled-parking-seriously/

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US says it should have sent high official to Paris march
By JULIE PACE

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a rare admission of error, the White House said Monday that President Barack Obama or another high-level representative should have joined dozens of world leaders at an anti-terror rally in Paris.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791420-us-says-it-should-have-sent-high-official-to-paris-march/

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Police: As many as 6 Paris terror suspects may be at large
By JAMEY KEATEN

PARIS (AP) — As many as six members of a terrorist cell involved in the Paris attacks may still be at large, including a man who was seen driving a car registered to the widow of one of the gunmen, French police said Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791422-police-as-many-as-6-paris-terror-suspects-may-be-at-large/

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Interpol puts ex-Ukraine president Yanukovych on wanted list

MOSCOW (AP) — The international police agency Interpol has issued a wanted notice for former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on charges of embezzlement.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791423-interpol-puts-ex-ukraine-president-yanukovych-on-wanted-list/

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Egypt acquits 26 men in trial over police raid on gays
By MAGGIE MICHAEL

CAIRO (AP) — An Egyptian court on Monday acquitted 26 men arrested in a televised raid last month by police looking for gays at a Cairo public bathhouse, a ruling that set off deafening cheers and jubilation inside the courtroom as some of the defendants uncovered their faces and wept openly in relief.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791424-egypt-acquits-26-men-in-trial-over-police-raid-on-gays/

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Ukraine meeting in Berlin ends without significant progress
By DAVID RISING

BERLIN (AP) — The foreign ministers of Germany, Russia, Ukraine and France were unable to make enough progress in closed-door meetings Monday on the Ukrainian crisis to move ahead with a higher-level summit.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791425-ukraine-meeting-in-berlin-ends-without-significant-progress/

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Oil fell 5% to below U$50/bbl, lowest in nearly 6 years;Goldman Sachs warned oil prices would fall further; no signs of cutback from Gulf oil producers. /The Nation

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Charlie Hebdo publishing prophet cartoon on new cover

PARIS (AP) — The French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo is publishing a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad on the cover of its first issue since Islamic extremists killed 12 people at its offices.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791440-charlie-hebdo-publishing-prophet-cartoon-on-new-cover/

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Transport Ministry denies imposing lower limit on air fares

BANGKOK, 13 January 2015 (NNT) – Lower limits have not been placed on low-cost airlines' fares even though a capping of the upper limit does exist, according to Transport Minister ACM Prajin Juntong.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791457-thai-transport-ministry-denies-imposing-lower-limit-on-air-fares/

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Transport Min: 90% of residents affected by noise pollution at Suvarnabhumi Airport being helped

BANGKOK, 13 Jan 2015, (NNT) - Minister of Transport Air Chief Marshal Prajin Janthong has said the measures aimed at helping residents affected by the noise pollution caused by planes at Suvarnabhumi International Airport will soon be implemented.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/791458-transport-min-90-pct-of-residents-affected-by-noise-pollution-at-suvarnabhumi-being-helped/