Thailand Live Friday 13 Mar 2015

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Defiant Narong vows to fight his abrupt transfer
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- DR NARONG Sahametapat has vowed to put up a fierce fight against what he perceives as intimidation in the wake of an abrupt transfer order to remove him as Public Health Ministry permanent secretary pending a probe.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808234-defiant-narong-vows-to-fight-his-abrupt-transfer/

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Thai former MPs face impeachment as screw tightens on Shinawatras
AFP

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's anti-graft body on Thursday launched impeachment proceedings against 250 ex-lawmakers, the majority from the toppled ruling party of Yingluck Shinawatra, in a move that could be a bodyblow to her family's political network.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808236-thai-former-mps-face-impeachment-as-screw-tightens-on-shinawatras/

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German tourist’s suicide jump at Suvarnabhumi airport

Samut Prakan:- A German tourist was fatally injured after he jumped from the fourth-floor connecting way of the car park building and the outbound passenger terminal of the Suvanarbhumi International Airport Thursday afternoon.

Pol Col Kittipop Chompunut, commander of the Suvarnabhumi police station, said the suicide happened at 4 pm.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808179-german-tourists-suicide-jump-at-suvanarbhumi-airport/

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Facebook decries how Chinese tourists wash their feet

Krabi:- Photos of some Chinese tourists washing their feet and sandals in face wash basins at a toilet room of the of the Hat Noppharat Thara - Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park have gone viral.

Many Thai Facebook users shared the photos and condemned the Chinese tourists for their improper behaviors. The Facebook users also proposed that there should be officials stationed at the toilet facility to clean it and to warn the tourists to behave.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808184-facebook-decries-how-chinese-tourists-wash-their-feet/

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Counterfeit Movies and Music Seized by Police at Border Market

Four Cambodian woman were detained and over 34,000 pirated CDs, VCDs and DVDs of music taken from four vending booths at a border marketplace in Surin province on Thursday, said authorities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808232-counterfeit-movies-and-music-seized-by-police-at-border-market/

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Thai Woman's Deportation Order Lifted

US: -- A Thai woman seemingly headed for deportation after being convicted of larceny from the pizza restaurant where she worked can stay in the US after her immigration case was dismissed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808233-thai-womans-deportation-order-lifted/

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PM shelves land tax
THE NATION

Impact of current economic situation on low-income earners cited as reason; agencies to study long-term effects

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday slammed the brakes on the proposed land and building tax to help prevent an adverse impact on lower-income earners, the government spokesman said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808241-pm-prayut-shelves-land-tax/

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SLC LIBEL CASE
NMG execs report to police, pledge to fight for editorial freedom
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- SENIOR EXECUTIVES of Nation Multimedia Group, led by chairman Suthichai Yoon, yesterday pledged to fight for editorial freedom after reporting to the police in relation to a libel case filed by Solution Corner (1998), or SLC.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808242-nmg-execs-report-to-thai-police-pledge-to-fight-for-editorial-freedom/

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Impeached politicians 'not eligible' for poll
KRIS BHROMSUTHI
THE NATION

NEW CHARTER TO BRING FORMER THAI RAK THAI AND OTHER BANNED MPS BACK IN THE FOLD

BANGKOK: -- IMPEACHED politicians - including former premier Yingluck Shinawatra - will not be able to run in the upcoming election scheduled for early next year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808243-impeached-thai-politicians-not-eligible-for-poll/

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Hospital clarifies on 'abandoned' amputee
Khanathit Srihirundaj
Kampanart La-ong
The Nation

Says man's treatment was as per requirement, but 'aggressiveness' landed him in police station

BANGKOK: -- AFTER NEWS that went viral of an amputee patient being reportedly abandoned at a Bangkok police station on Wednesday, Paolo Memorial Hospital yesterday insisted that it had treated the patient in accordance with professional standards but the man was "aggressive".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808244-thai-hospital-clarifies-on-abandoned-amputee/

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38 senators spared impeachment by NLA
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- THIRTY-EIGHT former senators yesterday escaped being impeached for allegedly abusing their power when they supported the 1997 charter amendment bill on the composition of the Senate.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808246-38-thai-senators-spared-impeachment-by-nla/

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TAT cancels selection process for new governor
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE TOURISM Authority of Thailand yesterday cancelled its recruitment of a new governor, claiming that all five finalists were unfit for the top job during these difficult times for the industry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808248-tat-cancels-selection-process-for-new-governor/

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Delegation to US works to upgrade Thailand's labour status
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THAILAND has high hopes that its efforts to improve labour rights will be reflected in the next revision of the United States' "Trafficking in Persons" (TIP) report, which is due in May.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808249-delegation-to-us-works-to-upgrade-thailands-labour-status/

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OVERDRIVE
Apple Inc's sheen lights the way for Thailand
Thanong Khanthong

BANGKOK: -- The Bank of Thailand on Wednesday sprang a surprise by cutting its rate by 25 basis points to 1.75 per cent. In doing so it joined more than 20 central banks worldwide in recent rate cuts aimed at spurring growth. But a consequence of this monetary easing is a weakening of currencies in order to boost exports. Hence, we are in the middle of a currency war.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808250-apple-incs-sheen-lights-the-way-for-thailand/

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Fake Police Officer and suspected drug dealer caught in East Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- A 37 year old man, who posed as a Police Captain, was caught with 1,800 Yabba Tablets, a Police Uniform and hundreds of fake Police ID cards in East Pattaya on Thursday afternoon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808251-fake-police-officer-and-suspected-drug-dealer-caught-in-east-pattaya/

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UPDATE:

Pick-up flies through 2 checkpoints and injures 2 Russians in South Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- Two Russian Tourists were injured as a pick-up truck containing 3 men failed to stop at 2 checkpoints in South Pattaya on Wednesday Night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/807926-two-russian-tourists-injured-by-fleeing-pickup/?p=9179461#entry9179461

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Another drowning at East Pattaya Lake

PATTAYA: -- Within the space of 24 hours 2 people have drowned at a lake in East Pattaya after a Furniture-maker, who was reportedly drunk, drowned at the location on Thursday Morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808252-another-drowning-at-east-pattaya-lake/

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Burmese man shot as he breaks up fight at Pattaya construction site



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Friday, a 21 year old Burmese construction worker was shot in his arm as he attempted to break-up a fight between two of his Thai colleagues at a construction site in Jomtien.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808253-burmese-man-shot-as-he-breaks-up-fight-at-pattaya-construction-site/

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Illegal Chinese photographer arrested at Phuket beach
Eakkapop Thongtub


Ma Chuwan, 26, was caught taking photos of a newly-wed couple at Bang Tao Beach.

PHUKET: -- A Chinese wedding photographer was arrested on Bangtao Beach yesterday (March 11) while taking pre-wedding photos of a Chinese couple.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808254-illegal-chinese-photographer-arrested-at-phuket-beach/

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Man nabbed for running intimidation racket
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police have arrested a man for allegedly intimidating seven Songkhla-based businessmen into giving him Bt30 million in exchange for keeping quiet about them evading tax. He also allegedly had the businessmen give him a shop house worth around Bt16 million.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808255-thai-man-nabbed-for-running-intimidation-racket/

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Thai universities not recognised in worldwide ranking of institutes
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- NO THAI university made it to the Times Higher Education's (THE) World Reputation Rankings 2015, reflecting the fact that the Kingdom's tertiary education institutes do not yet enjoy solid recognition in the international academic community.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808256-thai-universities-not-recognised-in-worldwide-ranking-of-institutes/

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Woman arrested for coordinating court attack
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A WOMAN was arrested yesterday for allegedly organising last week's hand-grenade attack on Criminal Court via the phone application LINE, a police source said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808257-woman-arrested-for-coordinating-bangkok-court-attack/

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Narong's transfer not really a solution
CHULARAT SAENGPASSA
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- DR NARONG Sahametapat, the permanent secretary of the Public Health Ministry, has finally had to step down as the conflict over the universal healthcare scheme hit higher levels of intensity.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808258-narongs-transfer-not-really-a-solution/

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Police probing monk's murder eye former local politician
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Udon Thani police have arrested a former local politician for his alleged involvement in the murder of a revered monk.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808260-thai-police-probing-monks-murder-eye-former-local-politician/

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Monk postpones meeting with DSI over dubious donation
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Phra Montree Sudapaso has sought to reschedule his meeting with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to March 20, the case investigation team chief Pol Lt-Colonel Pakorn said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808262-monk-postpones-meeting-with-dsi-over-dubious-donation/

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BURNING ISSUE
A sigh for relief as property tax is put on hold
SASITHORN ONGDEE

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday "returned happiness" to the people in a surprise move by putting on hold a draft bill on land and building tax indefinitely due to the sluggish economy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808263-a-sigh-for-relief-as-property-tax-is-put-on-hold/

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Top commerce officials fired for fake G2G rice deal with China



BANGKOK: -- The subcommittee of the Civil Service Commission has resolved to dismiss two senior commerce officials involved with the fake G2G rice sale with China with reason it caused severest damages to the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808264-top-commerce-officials-fired-for-fake-g2g-thai-rice-deal-with-china/

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On two fronts, Iraqi forces battle Islamic State for Tikrit
By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA

TIKRIT, Iraq (AP) — Iraqi troops clashed along two fronts with Islamic State militants in Tikrit on Thursday as rockets and mortars echoed across Saddam Hussein's hometown a day after soldiers and allied Shiite militiamen swept into this Sunni city north of Baghdad.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808266-on-two-fronts-iraqi-forces-battle-islamic-state-for-tikrit/

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Fantasy author Terry Pratchett dies at 66
By GREGORY KATZ

LONDON (AP) — Fantasy writer Terry Pratchett, creator of the exuberant, satirical "Discworld" series and author of more than 70 books, has died. He was 66.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808265-fantasy-author-terry-pratchett-dies-at-66/

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Police, other groups try to tamp down tensions in Ferguson
By JIM SALTER and JIM SUHR

FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) — With measured remarks and a conciliatory tone, police, political leaders and civil-rights activists on Thursday sought to tamp down tensions after two police officers were shot in front of the Ferguson Police Department during a protest.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/808267-police-other-groups-try-to-tamp-down-tensions-in-ferguson/