Thailand Live Monday 9 Feb 2015

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Princess Chulabhorn to attend WHO regional conference in India

BANGKOK, 9 February 2015 (NNT) - Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn will visit the Republic of India from 9-14 February 2015 for an annual Southeast Asian conference of the World Health Organization.

The Bureau of the Royal Household said in an announcement that Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn will depart for New Delhi, India, on Monday night, February 9, to attend an annual conference of the WHO Regional Office for Southeast Asia. Besides, the Princess will have consultations with WHO officials on cooperation projects between the Chulabhorn Research Institute (CRI) and WHO’s Southeast Asian Regional Office in the CRI's capacity as a WHO regional cooperation center.

Her Royal Highness will board a Thai Airways International flight to New Delhi on Monday, at 8.00 p.m. at Suvarnabhumi Airport and will return to Thailand, also on a THAI flight, on 14 February, at 4.40 p.m.


-- NNT 2015-02-09

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SURVEY: How Serious Is Crime Against Foreigners?

Vote here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798303-survey-how-serious-is-crime-against-foreigners/

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Farang neighbour almost sets house on fire out of crowing rage

Chiang Mai: - An angry farang man almost set a house of his neighbour on fire Sunday morning out of anger caused by her bantams which crowed early morning day in and day out.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798685-farang-neighbour-almost-sets-house-on-fire-out-of-crowing-rage/

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UPDATE:

Bank HQ shut down by blaze
Sucheera Pinijparakarn,
Kornkamol Aksorndej
The Nation



SCB says big fIre not related to KMITL scandal documents, which were already filed elsewhere

BANGKOK: -- THE WHOLE main building of Siam Commercial Bank headquarters is now closed to the public in the wake of a fire that raged through some of its floors from late Saturday night to early yesterday morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798519-fire-damages-three-stories-of-scb-head-office-fire-fighter-killed/page-3?p=9046730#entry9046730

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ANALYSIS
Dynamics of power are key as Kingdom struggles with the 'great game' of diplomacy
Wiraj Sripong
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A well-balanced foreign policy is needed for Thailand in light of competition between major powers, mainly the United States and China, to increase their influence over Southeast Asia, said prominent scholars in international relations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798737-dynamics-of-power-are-key-as-thailand-struggles-with-the-great-game-of-diplomacy/

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Lawyer says Yingluck has right to travel
The Nation

NCPO to take legal advice; barred her from going to Hong Kong, china and the UK

BANGKOK: -- FORMER Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has full right to travel abroad, as her criminal case over the rice-pledging scheme has not been filed in court yet, her lawyer argued yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798738-lawyer-says-yingluck-has-right-to-travel/

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Chaiyaphum locals brace for evictions
Sumalee Phophayak
The Nation


Photo by Sarayut Rittipin

Thirty-three families to be uprooted to make way for land reform scheme

BANGKOK: -- FOR VILLAGERS in a district of Chaiyaphum province, its deja vu as they are being ordered to leave their land - again. This time, the 33 families are facing eviction from their 830-rai land - some of which was acquired by them as far back as 1953 - as part of a land reform scheme imposed by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798739-chaiyaphum-locals-brace-for-evictions/

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Driven by a passion for teaching
Chularat Saengpassa
The Nation



Prof Vicharn Panich is anxious to help boost Thai teaching standards

BANGKOK: -- THOUGH trained as a doctor, Prof Dr Vicharn Panich has spent his retirement years reading education-related theories, writing commentaries about how to boost educational quality and making real efforts to change Thailand's education for the better.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798741-interview-prof-vicharn-panich-is-anxious-to-help-boost-thai-teaching-standards/

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TAT reviews ways to boost Andaman tourism
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION


The sunset at the Andaman coast.

BANGKOK: -- THE TOURISM Authority of Thailand has drawn up development plans for the Andaman Coast that aim to improve facilities and management practices to attract quality tourists to the area.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798742-tat-reviews-ways-to-boost-andaman-tourism/

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REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Surge in Sino-Thai security cooperation
Kavi Chongkittavorn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Last week China dispatched top two senior security officials to deliver a heart-warming message to Thailand: that China is an all-weather friend. They urged Thai officials at all levels to have more exchanges with them to promote understanding and cooperation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798743-surge-in-sino-thai-security-cooperation/

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Foreigner wanted for armed robbery at Central Pattaya Money Exchange Booth



PATTAYA: -- Pattaya Police are currently searching for a foreign man wanted in connection with the armed robbery of a Central Pattaya Money Exchange Booth which saw the suspect escape with 200,000 Baht.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798744-foreigner-wanted-for-armed-robbery-at-central-pattaya-money-exchange-booth/

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Pattaya Police arrest Iranian suspect in Chinese burglary case



PATTAYA: -- Pattaya Police, in conjunction with the Provincial Transnational Crime Suppression Unit, arrested a 29 year old Iranian on Saturday Afternoon, accused of the theft of an IPhone 5 from a Hotel Room occupied by a Chinese Tourist.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798745-pattaya-police-arrest-iranian-suspect-in-chinese-burglary-case/

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Kuwaiti reports theft of room safe at South Pattaya Apartment



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Saturday a tourist from Kuwait returned to his apartment to find his safe box had been removed which contained over 100,000 Baht’s worth of cash and valuables.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798746-kuwaiti-reports-theft-of-room-safe-at-south-pattaya-apartment/

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5 injured in late night road crash in South Pattaya



PATTAYA: - A collision between two motorbikes in a narrow road in South Pattaya resulted in 5 people sustaining injuries with one of them described as seriously injured and unlikely to pull-through.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798747-5-injured-in-late-night-road-crash-in-south-pattaya/

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Hi-Tech Theft suspect caught at North Pattaya Supermarket car park



PATTAYA: -- A suspected thief, who used a device which blocked car remote locking systems, was arrested in a Supermarket car park on Saturday Night as he removed items from a victim’s car.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798748-hi-tech-theft-suspect-caught-at-north-pattaya-supermarket-car-park/

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US envoy snubs NLA's foreign affairs committee
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- US charge d'affaires in Thailand Patrick Murphy has declined to meet with the National Legislative Assembly's foreign affairs committee on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798749-us-envoy-snubs-nlas-foreign-affairs-committee/

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Forum seeks true reflection of problems
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Over 100 people from 10 provinces took part in a Citizens Forum for Reform in Bangkok at the weekend to discuss the Kingdom's problems - and ways to solve them.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798750-thai-citizens-forum-seeks-true-reflection-of-problems/

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'EC entitled to protest about reforms'
The Nation

BANGKOK: - Agencies facing the prospect of losing power under reforms proposed for the new constitution are entitled to protest against moves that would affect them, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798751-deputy-thai-pm-ec-entitled-to-protest-about-reforms/

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Moves to stop bird flu spreading
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Health officials have stepped up bird flu prevention measures at border areas following reports of H5N1 infection in neighbouring countries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798752-moves-to-stop-bird-flu-spreading-in-thailand/

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Police Offer 100,000 Baht Reward For Clues to BKK Bombers
By Khaosod English


Police officers patrol the skywalk near Siam Paragon shopping mall on 5 February 2015, following the double bombings in the area last week.

BANGKOK — The Bangkok Metropolitan Police force is a offering a 100,000 baht reward to anyone who can provide information that leads to an arrest of suspects behind the twin bombings in central Bangkok last Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798753-thai-police-offer-100000-baht-reward-for-clues-to-siam-paragon-bombers/

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Chiang Mai to build 4 major bike lanes
Ayuthai Nontnithirat
The Nation
Chiang Mai

CHIANG MAI: -- Provincial Authority will spend Bt40 million building four bike lanes across the city to cater for the cycling boom there.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798754-chiang-mai-to-build-4-major-bike-lanes/

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Volunteer dies fighting blaze at SCB head office
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- A CIVIL-DEFENCE volunteer died while fighting a fire that raged through a floor of the Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) headquarters in Bangkok from late Saturday night and early yesterday morning.

Decha Duangchana was found dead at about 4.50am.

A preliminary examination suggests that he might have died of environmental suffocation. His body was sent to the Police General Hospital.

Another civil-defence volunteer, Tanawat Padungcharoen, told police that his team heard a cry for help while working on the 10th floor of the building.

"But the place was full of thick smoke. It was impossible to find out where the voice exactly came from," he said.

"We tried to walk around in search of the person who called for help. But after 10 minutes, we couldn't locate him and had to go down because the oxygen in our tanks was running out."

Tanawat said he heard someone saying: "Please bring me out of here. I am succumbing"

He said fire-fighters took turns trying to extinguish the fire and Decha was in another team.

Ekachai Chaphumuang, another volunteer, described Decha as a good man who was always willing to help people in emergencies.

"His mother once told me that it's like she had already given her son to society because he was very public-minded," Ekachai said.

Decha's funeral will be held at the Lak Si Temple in Bangkok's Don Muang district.

Chatuchak District Office acting director Yodkwan Junnapiya said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the SCB would provide help to Decha's family.

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra extended his condolences to the family.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Volunteer-dies-fighting-blaze-at-SCB-head-office-30253658.html


-- The Nation 2015-02-09

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Bomb investigators urged to gather more evidence
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court has told police to get more evidence before again seeking an arrest warrant for another suspect believed to be involved in the Siam Paragon bombing on February 1, a source said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798753-thai-police-offer-100000-baht-reward-for-clues-to-siam-paragon-bombers/#entry9046921

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STILL STIGMATIZED
Thailand's Transgender People Aren’t Just 'Ladyboys' Anymore
Jay Michaelson

Thailand’s new constitution may protect transgender people from discrimination—but not in the way that you think.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798755-thailands-transgender-people-arent-just-ladyboys-anymore/

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Officials: 25 people killed in Egyptian soccer match riot
By MERRIT KENNEDY

CAIRO (AP) — A riot broke out Sunday night outside of a major soccer game in Egypt, with a stampede and fighting between police and fans killing at least 25 people, authorities said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798757-25-people-killed-in-egyptian-soccer-match-riot-officials/

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Israeli leader faces pressure to cancel US Congress speech
By JOSEF FEDERMAN

JERUSALEM (AP) — A national leader's appearance before the U.S. Congress is usually a source of pride and unity. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's planned trip to Washington — opposed by the White House and many Democrats — has Israel in uproar.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798758-israeli-leader-faces-pressure-to-cancel-us-congress-speech/

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Peace in Ukraine is goal of four-nation talks in Minsk
By FRANK JORDANS and MATTHEW LEE

BERLIN (AP) — As Russian-backed separatists gain ground in eastern Ukraine, efforts to broker peace appeared to gain momentum Sunday, with leaders of Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine announcing plans for four-way talks this week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798761-peace-in-ukraine-is-goal-of-four-nation-talks-in-minsk/

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Australian prime minister survives leadership challenge
ROD McGUIRK, Associated Press

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia's beleaguered Prime Minister Tony Abbott survived an internal government challenge to his leadership on Monday, despite a revolt by dozens of colleagues that leaves him politically damaged.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798763-australian-pm-abbott-survives-leadership-test/

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Greek premier proclaims end to austerity in policy statement
DEMETRIS NELLAS, Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece's new Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras set his leftist government on a collision course with Greece's creditors Sunday, proclaiming an end to the era of austerity and "five years of bailout barbarity."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798764-greek-premier-proclaims-end-to-austerity-in-policy-statement/

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FACT CHECK: What happens if Homeland Security shuts down?
By ERICA WERNER and ALICIA A. CALDWELL

WASHINGTON (AP) — Spending for the Department of Homeland Security hangs in the balance as Congress fights over immigration matters in the agency's annual funding bill. Without action by Feb. 27, the department's budget will shut off.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/798765-us-what-happens-if-homeland-security-shuts-down/