Thailand Live Tuesday 3 Mar 2015

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Women’s group proposes equal number of men and women in politics

BANGKOK, 3 March 2015 (NNT) – A women’s network has requested the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) to stipulate a fair proportion between female and male politicians in the new charter.

Ms Suteera Vichitranonda, Chief Advisor to the Association for the Protection of the Status of Women under the Royal Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali, has led a group of notable women to submit their proposal to the CDC. The group called for the new constitution to mandate a 50:50 ratio of women to men at all levels of politics, hoping to firmly establish gender equality in the political sector.

It was claimed that women nowadays have equal roles, potential and responsibilities to men and they would like to have an equal opportunity to develop the nation. The proposal was accepted by CDC members Mechai Viravaidya and Thawilwadee Bureekul.

Ms Thawilwadee noted that the suggestion reflects Thai women’s determination to take a more active role in politics. She said the matter will now be left to the CDC as well as the National Reform Council to deliberate.


-- NNT 2015-03-03

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Quebec coroner to release report on deaths of sisters in Thailand

CBC's Fifth Estate concluded exposure to bedbug pesticide may have led to deaths of sisters from Pohénégamook

A Quebec coroner will present her report into the deaths of sisters Audrey Bélanger and Noémi Bélanger of Pohénégamook, Que. who died under mysterious circumstances in Thailand in 2012.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805110-quebec-coroner-to-release-report-on-deaths-of-sisters-in-thailand/

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Nan Buddhists Protest Mosque Construction
By Khaosod English


More than 1,000 Buddhists gathered by Phra That Chae Haeng Temple in Nan province to protest a plan to construct a mosque, 1 March 2015.

NAN — More than 1,000 Buddhists gathered by a temple in northern Thailand yesterday to protest a plan to construct a mosque in Nan province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805028-nan-buddhists-protest-mosque-construction/

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PM expedites High-Speed Rail Project for tourism purpose



BANGKOK, 3 March 2015 (NNT) - Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is pushing forward two high-speed rail projects linking Bangkok with Hua Hin, and Bangkok with Pattaya and Rayong, which are all famous tourism destinations, revealed Transport Minister Prajin Juntong.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805174-pm-prayut-expedites-high-speed-rail-project-for-tourism-purpose/

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Chiang Mai holds urgent meeting to cope with haze issue

CHIANG MAI, 3 March 2015 (NNT) – The Governor of Chiang Mai has called an urgent meeting to mitigate the wildfire and haze disaster, after the province's particulate matter readings were above standard values.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805175-chiang-mai-holds-urgent-meeting-to-cope-with-haze-issue/

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UPDATE:

Buddhists in Nan take a stand against mosque
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- RESIDENTS IN the northern province of Nan yesterday demanded that a public hearing be held in relation to the construction of a mosque in the predominantly Buddhist province because it would put their safety at risk.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805028-nan-buddhists-protest-mosque-construction/page-2#entry9138537

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"Rate Thai taxis" app a big hit among tourists

Bangkok:- Over 1,400 foreign tourists have downloaded an app and registered accounts for using it to report performance of taxi drivers to the Department of Land Transport (DLT), Deputy Transport Minister Akom Termpitayapaisit said Monday.

He said so far 7,066 passengers have downloaded and registered the DLT Check in app and 20 per cent of them are foreign tourists.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805140-rate-thai-taxis-app-a-big-hit-among-tourists/

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Dhammakaya Temple: Monks and Money Concern Thailand Reform Council

Dhammakaya Temple spurs money concerns. The national reform committee, setup by the National Reform Council, is tasked with investigating the temple. Thailand’s wealthiest temple, Dhammakaya will have its finances and budget examined. The committee has stated that they want to protect the religion while determining if monks could collect money and spend it.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805176-dhammakaya-temple-monks-and-money-concern-thailand-reform-council/

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Ethics Assembly backed by NRC
THE NATION

Reform council supports proposal for agency to counter moral issues among people in public office; set for Cabinet, NLA

BANGKOK: -- THE National Reform Council (NRC) voted yesterday to support a draft law establishing an unprecedented National Ethics Assembly, as part of an attempt to combat ethical issues among public office holders.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805179-ethics-assembly-backed-by-nrc/

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Call for NACC to look into nepotism at the NLA
THE NATION

Activist claims hiring relatives to work as assistants violates ethics, graft law

BANGKOK: -- ACTIVIST Srisuwan Janya will today call on the anti-corruption agency to investigate allegations of cronyism among National Legislative Assembly (NLA) members who have hired their relatives to help with their official duties.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805180-call-for-nacc-to-look-into-nepotism-at-the-nla/

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SPECIAL REPORT
Ticha's resignation throws light on drafters' view on women
POLITICAL DESK
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE RESIGNATION of leading female activist-- Ticha Na Nakorn as charter drafter and reformer has sparked heated discussion whether there is gender discrimination within the drafting committee.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805182-tichas-resignation-throws-light-on-thai-drafters-view-on-women/

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UPDATE:

POLLUTION
Health fears in the North as smog spreads
Patinya Srisupamart
The Nation



Annual burnoff causing havoc again

CHIANG MAI: -- POLLUTION LEVEls in the North have reached potentially health-harming levels in some areas due to uncontrolled burns and wild fires, new data has revealed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805175-chiang-mai-holds-urgent-meeting-to-cope-with-haze-issue/#entry9138567

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STREETWISE
Thailand's rice basket shrivels amid drought of long-term policy
Achara Deboonme

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's rice basket shrivels amid drought of long-term policy The tyranny of the hot season has returned, as the temperature climbs towards a sizzling 40 degrees.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805183-thailands-rice-basket-shrivels-amid-drought-of-long-term-policy/

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The emperor has few clothes

The international community remains sceptical of the Thai government's claims of democratic reform

BANGKOK: -- Falsehoods won't help Thailand salvage an international reputation badly tarnished by undemocratic rule and rights violations. In fact, the propaganda and denials being pumped out by the Foreign Ministry and its envoys abroad are making the Kingdom look worse.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805184-thai-opinion-the-emperor-has-few-clothes/

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4-man gang accused of Sexual Assault in South Pattaya, caught by Police



PATTAYA: -- The Region 2 Police Commissioner announced on Monday the arrest of 4 people wanted in connection with the armed robbery of a man and woman and the sexual assault of the female victim in South Pattaya on 22nd February.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805185-4-man-gang-accused-of-sexual-assault-in-south-pattaya-caught-by-police/

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Pattaya Reporters meet with Pattaya Police and discuss “drug planting” case



PATTAYA: -- On Monday afternoon, almost every reporter that works in Pattaya attended a meeting at Pattaya Police Station to discuss the case of a Traffic Police Volunteer who is suspected of planting drugs on a reporter, who was stopped at a checkpoint on Saturday Night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805186-pattaya-reporters-meet-with-pattaya-police-and-discuss-drug-planting-case/

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6 year old drowns at East Pattaya Sauna & Spa



PATTAYA: -- A 6 year old child was later pronounced dead in Hospital after he was reportedly left unattended in a Children’s Swimming Pool at an East Pattaya Sauna & Spa on Monday Afternoon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805187-6-year-old-drowns-at-east-pattaya-sauna-spa/

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Satellite Flare Over Thailand Ignites Social Media Meltdown
Published by Stickboy BKK



BANGKOK: -- Social media went into meltdown just after 8pm on Monday night when hundreds of users on Facebook, Twitter and several Thai language forums reported seeing a shooting star, fireball, meteor, asteroid, to name just a handful of the explanations suggested of what people believed they had seen in the night sky.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805188-satellite-flare-over-thailand-ignites-social-media-meltdown/

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AMLO displays Pongpat’s assets to the public before auction



BANGKOK: -- The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) today displayed more than 2,000 inventory of assets seized from the syndicate headed by the former commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau to the public ahead of the planned auctioned which is to be held at the end of the week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805189-amlo-displays-pongpats-assets-to-the-public-before-auction/

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UPDATE:

Japan’s top mafia suspect arrested in Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- A top member of Japan’s second largest “Yakuza” crime syndicate, who allegedly deceived more than 22 million baht from Japanese elderly people in Japan, has been arrested in Pattaya after having escaped into Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805046-japanese-yakuza-member-arrested-in-pattaya-for-money-fraud/#entry9138608

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Body washes up on the shores of Samui

KOH SAMUI: -- Body washes up on the shores of SamuiA video has appeared on a social media site from yesterday morning Body washes up in Koh Samui(1//3/2015) of a body that washed up on the shores of Koh Samui.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805190-body-washes-up-on-the-shores-of-samui/

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Valuable Siamese crown stolen from French museum
AGENCIES

PARIS: -- A GOLD replica of Thai King Rama IV's crown - encrusted with more than 2,000 rubies - was among artefacts stolen from the Chateau de Fontainebleau, just south of Paris, early on Sunday, along with a dozen other precious artefacts from eastern Asia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805193-valuable-siamese-crown-stolen-from-french-museum/

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Surrogate mother cries foul after giving away her baby
Prapasri Osathanon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A woman who gave birth to a baby in January and then gave it away under a surrogacy programme has called on the authorities to help her get the infant back.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805195-surrogate-mother-cries-foul-after-giving-away-her-baby/

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Swiss strain of flu virus not so scary, doctors say
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THE PUBLIC Health Ministry said yesterday the Switzerland strain of the H3N2 influenza virus - AH3N2 - was not as scary as the AH1N1 virus or the 2009 flu. They said a new vaccine against three strains including the AH3N2 would be available in late April and 3.5 million doses would be given to four risky groups - the elderly, small children, chronically ill and pregnant women - along with medical personnel.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805197-swiss-strain-of-flu-virus-not-so-scary-thai-doctors-say/

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Phra Bundit murder probe hits problems
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- UDON THANI police were unable to collect spent cartridges and other evidence in relation to the shooting on Sunday of a revered monk at Wat Pa Ban Tor Seesiad because the crime scene was cleared for the victim's funeral.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805198-udon-thani-phra-bundit-murder-probe-hits-problems/

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BURNING ISSUE
Seeking stability, charter drafters could achieve parliamentary dictatorship
KRIS BHROMSUTHI

BANGKOK: -- LAST WEEK, in order to create a stable government, charter drafters inserted a few new provisions that will have the likely result of empowering the prime minister.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805199-seeking-stability-thai-charter-drafters-could-achieve-parliamentary-dictatorship/

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International Buddhist groups slam NRC panel
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Several groups of Buddhists and monks have hit out at the National Reform Council's (NRC) committee on the protection of Buddhism.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805201-international-buddhist-groups-slam-nrc-panel/

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Tourism Thailand's Mini-Film Classified as Creepy by Viewers

The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s latest film has caused a stir amongst stalking awareness groups and has been seen as ‘creepy’ among critics.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805196-tourism-thailands-mini-film-classified-as-creepy-by-viewers/

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Unsanctioned Vendors in the Khlong Thom Market Protest Eviction

Khlong Thom Market evictions began today with vendors refusing to leave and protesting. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is helping vendors relocate.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805200-unsanctioned-vendors-in-the-khlong-thom-market-protest-eviction/

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Bill Gates repeats at top of Forbes' list of billionaires

NEW YORK (AP) — The world's richest person got even richer this year. And a basketball superstar-turned-owner made the list for the first time.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/805202-bill-gates-repeats-at-top-of-forbes-list-of-billionaires/