Thailand Live Thursday 12 Mar 2015

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Officials consider banning kids from motorbikes
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- To improve road safety officials are considering making it illegal for children under 6 to ride on a motorcycle.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807796-officials-consider-banning-kids-from-motorbikes/

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SURVEY: Will ASEAN be a success?

Poll: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/806687-survey-will-asean-be-a-success/

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CDC's Poll Shows Lack of Support for Unelected PM
By Khaosod English


Thailand's current unelected Prime Minister, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, chairs a government meeting in Bangkok, 11 March 2015

BANGKOK — An opinion poll commissioned by the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) shows that a majority of respondents disagree with the CDC's proposal to allow an unelected Prime Minister in the new charter.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807872-cdcs-poll-shows-lack-of-support-for-unelected-thai-pm/

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Alleged Russian mafia arrested in Pattaya

Pattaya, Chon Buri: An alleged Russian mafia was arrested at the Chon Buri Immigration head office Tuesday when he applied for his student visa’s extension.

The arrest of Sergey Kovalenko was announced at a press conference by Chon Buri Immigration chief Pol Col Praphansak Prasarnsuk at 4 pm Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807837-alleged-russian-mafia-arrested-in-pattaya/

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American woman wanted for manslaughter arrested in Krabi

Phuket:- Phuket tourist police have arrested an American woman who is wanted in the United States on charge of man slaughter.

Deputy Tourist Police Division chief Pol Col Supaset Chokchai told a press conference at the Phuket Tourist Police head office at 5 pm Wednesday that Kelly Lynn Miller, 36, was arrested in Krabi on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807805-american-woman-wanted-for-man-slaughter-arrested-in-krabi/

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Tourism spared impact from Chiang Mai air quality
The Nation


Fire trucks spray water into the air at Chiang Mai yesterday as part of an ongoing mission to reduce the amount of dust particles in the environment. Air pollution is a problem in 10 northern provinces.

CHIANG MAI: -- EVEN as tiny dust particles severely hit air quality in the upper northern region yesterday, affecting the health of many local residents, the Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association (TEATA) affirmed that the smog situation would not impact overall tourism because of region's current "off season".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807875-tourism-spared-impact-from-chiang-mai-air-quality/

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BY 25 BASIS POINTS TO 1.75 PER CENT
Rate cut 'not likely to boost spending'
Erich Parpart,
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation

Exporters welcome central bank move but doubts over impact on economy

BANGKOK: -- Though the market was surprised by the Bank of Thailand's decision yesterday to cut its short-term lending rate by 25 basis points to 1.75 per cent, many experts in the finance industry do not believe the move will spur consumer spending.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807876-rate-cut-not-likely-to-boost-spending/

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Trust the junta not to hog power, says Prayut
THE NATION



Wissanu insists substantial changes can still be made to the new charter

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday asked for public trust in his government and reiterated that members of the junta would not stay in power after the new constitution comes into effect.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807877-trust-the-junta-not-to-hog-power-says-prayut/

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UPDATE:

Public health chief transferred
The Nation


Dr Narong Sahametapat

Permanent secretary removed after row over health scheme

BANGKOK: -- THE INTENSE conflict over the universal healthcare scheme has finally cost Dr Narong Sahametapat his top job at the Public Health Ministry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807710-health-permanent-secretary-dr-narong-temporarily-removed/#entry9175204

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CDC makes a few changes
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE CONSTITUTION Drafting Committee (CDC) yesterday tweaked the new charter to remove elected local administrators and members of local administrative councils from the list of those who can be impeached via citizens' vote.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807878-thai-constitution-cdc-makes-a-few-changes/

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Staff worry about govt silence on next TAT chief
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- STAFF at the Tourism Authority of Thailand have urged the Tourism and Sports Ministry to pick a new TAT governor this month to ensure the authority can continue to strengthen the industry, which is expected to face more competition this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807879-staff-worry-about-govt-silence-on-next-tat-chief/

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NMG, Thaipat Institute jointly launch media transparency initiative
KWANCHAI RUNGFAPAISARN
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- NATION MULTIMEDIA GROUP (NMG) and the Thaipat Institute yesterday announced that they had jointed forces to launch a transparency initiative in the media industry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807881-nmg-thaipat-institute-jointly-launch-media-transparency-initiative/

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EDITORIAL
The PM could do more by talking less
The Nation

Delegating work to his spokesmen would leave Prayut more time for the serious job of formulating policies and reform

BANGKOK: -- The longer he is in power, the more talkative Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha seems to become. And with that talkativeness have come occasional slips of tongue, some of which attracted criticism.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807883-thai-editorial-the-pm-could-do-more-by-talking-less/

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THAI TALK
PM should give reporters the punch-lines, not the punch
Suthichai Yoon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Does it constitute a "threat" if the prime minister says he feels like punching a reporter for repeatedly asking why the government has failed to live up to its pledge to get things done?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807884-thai-talk-pm-should-give-reporters-the-punch-lines-not-the-punch/

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TELL IT AS IT IS
Our prime minister deserves every chance to make it work
Pornpimol Kanchanalak
Special to The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, once said, "Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." Nobody could tell if he was just philosophising, or if he was reminding himself that despite the hardship, heartache and headache his position was giving him, it was all worthwhile.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807885-thai-opinion-our-prime-minister-deserves-every-chance-to-make-it-work/

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UPDATE:

Russian Gangster caught by Pattaya Immigration as he extends visa



PATTAYA: -- At a press conference at the Chonburi Immigration Office in Jomtien on Wednesday, the Superintendent announced the arrest of a 25 year old Russian who is thought to have fled to Thailand to avoid arrest in Russia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807837-alleged-russian-mafia-arrested-in-pattaya/#entry9175251

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North Pattaya Russian Herbal Medicine Shop raided by Crime Suppression Police



PATTAYA: -- Crime Suppression Police Officers from Bangkok conducted a raid on a Russian-owned Herbal Medicine Shop in North Pattaya on Tuesday Night, which was thought to be unlicensed and employing foreign nationals without work permits.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807887-north-pattaya-russian-herbal-medicine-shop-raided-by-crime-suppression-police/

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East Pattaya Fatal Hit-and-Run Road Crash



PATTAYA: -- Nongprue Police are currently searching for a driver who is responsible for striking a pedestrian on Highway 36 and failing to stop at the scene of the accident which caused the unidentified man to lose his life.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807888-east-pattaya-fatal-hit-and-run-road-crash/

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Man drowns in East Pattaya Lake



PATTAYA: -- The body of a 52 year old man was pulled out from a small lake in East Pattaya on Wednesday afternoon as his distraught Wife looked-on in horror.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807889-man-drowns-in-east-pattaya-lake/

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Video: Aussie stabs Thai @ Tai Pan Night Club

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807890-video-aussie-stabs-thai-tai-pan-night-club/

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Secret NLA vote today on ex-senators' impeachment
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE NATIONAL Anti-Corruption Commission and 38 former senators yesterday gave closing statements to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) during impeachment proceedings over the senators' alleged abuse of power.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807891-secret-nla-vote-today-on-ex-senators-impeachment/

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UPDATE:

Somchai's wife wants investigators changed
THE NATION


Somchai Neelapaijit

BANGKOK: -- ANGKHANA NEELAPAIJIT, the wife of missing lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit, yesterday called on the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to change the team of investigators charged with looking into her husband's disappearance as there has been no progress in 11 years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807726-replacement-of-somchai-nilapaichits-probe-team-demanded/#entry9175296

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BURNING ISSUE
CDC appear to have left door open for post-coup officials
ATTAYUTH BOOTSRIPOOM

BANGKOK: -- THE NEW constitution's "first draft" is ready, though there are certain clauses that will satisfy some and upset others.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807892-cdc-appear-to-have-left-door-open-for-post-coup-officials/

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Police hunt Sakhon Nakhon Gang
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE AUTHORITIES are hunting for an investor they believe is behind a loan-shark gang, whose 26 debt collectors were rounded up in Sakhon Nakhon's Muang district on Tuesday night, provincial Army commander Maj Kanok Phumoung said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807893-thai-police-hunt-sakhon-nakhon-gang/

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Funding to dry up for students with low GPA
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Student Loan Fund (SLF) board has said that existing debtors with a grade point average (GPA) of 1.75 will be eligible for loans for only one more year, permanent secretary for Education Suthasri Wongsamarn revealed yesterday.

At a meeting last month, the board suggested that only students with at least GPA 2.0 be eligible for the loan, she said, adding that this will give students an incentive to keep their grades up so they can continue getting loans.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Funding-to-dry-up-for-students-with-low-GPA-30255846.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-12

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Temple's finance team aims to explain donations to DSI
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THE DHAMMAKAYA Temple's finance team will speak to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) about how the temple and its abbot, Phra Dhammachayo, received huge donations from an embezzlement-hit cooperative.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807894-dhammakaya-temples-finance-team-aims-to-explain-donations-to-dsi/

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Canadian on the lam in Wisconsin fraud case captured in Thailand


Source: Internet

MILWAUKEE: -- A Canadian man on the run for the past decade after being charged with defrauding investors out of $800,000 was arrested in Bangkok, Thailand over the weekend.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807895-canadian-on-the-lam-in-wisconsin-fraud-case-captured-in-thailand/

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Ferguson chief resigns in wake of scathing federal report
JIM SALTER, Associated Press
ALAN SCHER ZAGIER, Associated Press

FERGUSON, Missouri (AP) — The police chief in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson resigned Wednesday in the wake of a scathing U.S. Justice Department report prompted by the fatal shooting of an unarmed black 18-year-old by a white police officer.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807896-ferguson-police-chief-tom-jackson-quits/

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Dempsey: US worries about Iran-backed militias in Iraq
By DEB RIECHMANN

WASHINGTON (AP) — Iran is playing a helpful role against Islamic State militants in Iraq now, but once the extremists are vanquished, Tehran-backed militias could undermine efforts to unify the country, the top U.S. military officer said Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807897-dempsey-us-worries-about-iran-backed-militias-in-iraq/

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France identifies man, boy in IS killing video as citizens
By LORI HINNANT and ALON BERNSTEIN

PARIS (AP) — A man and a boy featured in an Islamic State group propaganda video that threatens Jews and shows the killing of a Palestinian have been identified as French citizens, and investigators are looking into whether the man is related to an extremist who attacked a Jewish school in southern France in 2012, an official told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807900-france-identifies-man-boy-in-is-killing-video-as-citizens/