MNRE speeds up wild elephant zoning to avoid CITES ban

BANGKOK, 17 March 2015 (NNT) - Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, General Dapong Rattanasuwan has assigned the Forest Industry Organization (FIO) and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) to speed up a survey of wild elephant population nationwide in order to bring the data for use in the zoning of elephant habitats, said Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Suphot Tovichakchaikul.

“In some areas of the forest, wild elephant population exceeds foods and water supply, especially in the dry season when they need to come out of the forest to forage for more food in community zones,” Mr. Supot revealed, adding that the survey will help authorities evaluate whether each of the existing habitats has enough foods and water for all elephants.

He insisted that a transfer of wild elephants from highly populated areas to new habitats will be the last measure for reducing concentration of elephant population as it is difficult to do and needs information in great detail.

The elephant population zoning is part of the National Master Plan on Solutions to elephant-related problems. It is scheduled to be completed by March before being reported to CITES, hoping to save Thailand from an economic sanction by CITES.

Although the elephant population in Thailand has increased, the mammals are still facing a high risk of extinction due to the continuous forest invasion for foods and lands and elephant hunting for ivories.


-- The Nation 2015-03-17

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Woman Asks to Be Jailed to Escape Drug-Addicted Girlfriend
By Khaosod English

PATHUM THANI — A 40-year-old woman arrived at a police station in Pathum Thani province yesterday with a tablet of amphetamine and asked to be jailed in order to flee her drug-addicted girlfriend, police say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809313-thai-woman-asks-to-be-jailed-to-escape-drug-addicted-girlfriend/

Four Thais charged in military court over anti-coup protest: activists
AFP

BANGKOK: -- Four Thai men were charged over an anti-coup protest in a military court in Bangkok Monday, activists said, as dozens of students rallied outside in defiance of martial law in the junta-ruled nation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809315-four-thais-charged-in-military-court-over-anti-coup-protest-activists/

Flights to Chiang Mai disrupted as smog levels soar in North
The Nation


HAZY DAYS An AirAsia plane parks at Chiang Mai Airport yesterday in poor visibility caused by smog that has blanketed the North in recent weeks. Some flights to Chiang Mai were delayed while others were cancelled or diverted to Chiang Rai.

Mae Hong Son man, 60, arrested for defying burning ban; PM10 readings high

BANGKOK: -- THE AMOUNT of tiny dust particles in the upper North rose beyond the safety level again yesterday and poor visibility reportedly prevented at least four flights from landing at Chiang Mai Airport.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809316-flights-to-chiang-mai-disrupted-as-smog-levels-soar-in-north/

We'll find a solution for SEZs, Prayut says
WIRAJ SRIPONG
THE NATION

PM aware of problems tied to martial law; 5 extra areas in 2nd phase

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-o-cha promised yesterday that the government would seek appropriate solutions in a bid to ease investor concerns and concerns over the enforcement of martial law in special economic zones (SEZs).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809317-well-find-a-solution-for-sezs-prayut-says/

UPDATE:

Temple, abbot agree to return Bt684 million given amid Klongchan scandal
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- DHAMMAKAYA TEMPLE and its abbot yesterday agreed to return donations of Bt684 million to Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative through six instalments in a bid to end legal trouble related to an embezzlement case involving the cooperative.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809191-compromise-agreement-worked-out-between-wat-dhammakaya-and-klongchan-credit-union/page-2?p=9194922#entry9194922

Probe against Narong goes ahead
Poungchompoo Prasert
The Nation

Hospitals fly banners in support of their former boss

BANGKOK: -- MEMBERS of the committee investigating Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Narong Sahametapat's alleged failure to respond to the minister's policy are all from non-healthcare sectors.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809318-probe-against-dr-narong-goes-ahead/

Premier not happy with govt PR teams
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE PRAYUT government is seeking to step up its public relations after the PM's weekly "Return Happiness to the People" and "Thailand Moves Forward" TV programmes lost their magic.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809319-pm-prayut-not-happy-with-govt-pr-teams/

Decision on a charter referendum will be made when time is right, Prayut says
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha reiterated yesterday that he would decide "when it is time" to determine whether a national referendum should be organised on the new constitution.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809321-decision-on-a-charter-referendum-will-be-made-when-time-is-right-prayut-says/

New emissions tax won't hurt car sales much: minister
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- INDUSTRY Minister Chakramon Phasukavanich has said the restructuring of automobile excise tax to include an emissions levy that will become effective from January 1 next year should not have a significant impact on people's decisions to buy a new car.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809322-new-emissions-tax-wont-hurt-car-sales-much-thai-minister/

Baht weaker but stable after rate cut
ERICH PARPART,
SOMLUCK SRIMALEE,
SUCHEERA PINIJPARAKARN
THE NATION


BOT spokesman Chirathep Senivongs Na Ayudhya

BANGKOK: -- THE BANK OF THAILAND's 25-basis-point cut in the policy interest rate last week has depreciated the value of the baht by 0.5 per cent and taken the government bond yield curve to the lowest point in six years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809323-baht-weaker-but-stable-after-rate-cut/

EDITORIAL
Are we being railroaded by China?
The Nation

The govt risks losing out to Beijing over development of a high-speed rail system

BANGKOK: -- In its haste to make a deal with China for development of a high-speed rail system in Thailand, the military-backed government seems to have placed the national interest in jeopardy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809324-thai-editorial-are-we-being-railroaded-by-china/

STREETWISE
The people's power versus the junta's power
Achara Deboonme

BANGKOK: -- As a homeowner, I was delighted last week when Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha put a brake on plans to make owners of houses worth more than Bt3 million pay full tax.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809325-thai-opinion-the-peoples-power-versus-the-juntas-power/

Thailand clarifies issues on human-trafficking measures
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand submitted an annual report on Trafficking in Persons (TIP) to the United States and other states in late January - but the report had yet to reach the EU due to courier procedure delays, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809326-thailand-clarifies-issues-on-human-trafficking-measures/

Breeding mice to feed snakes may violate Animal Welfare Act
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- LOCAL officials in Uttaradit's Thong Saen Khan district have called on higher authorities to apply the Animal Welfare Act when inspecting and approving a plan for the "world's largest" snake farm in the area.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809327-breeding-mice-to-feed-snakes-may-violate-thailands-animal-welfare-act/

Killer of Udon Thani monk not a career gunman, police say
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- ATTACKERS who shot dead a revered monk in Udon Thani province at the start of the month were probably not career gunmen, as they fled before ensuring the victim was dead, assistant Royal Thai Police commander Lt-General Panya Mamen said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809329-killer-of-udon-thani-monk-not-a-career-gunman-police-say/

Arrests, houses seized in major drug busts
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police yesterday announced the arrest of two suspected drug dealers in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Bang Saphan Noi district along with 200,000 'ya ba' pills worth Bt40 million in street value.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809332-arrests-houses-seized-in-major-drug-busts-in-prachuap-khiri-khan/

Warrants to be issued for 2 over court attack
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- ARREST WARRANTS will be issued soon for two fugitives accused of involvement in the hand grenade attack at the Criminal Court on March 7, a police source said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809333-warrants-to-be-issued-for-2-over-bangkok-court-attack/

NLA to push impeachment against Boonsong, officials
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE NATIONAL Legislative Assembly will start impeachment proceedings against former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom and two senior former public servants on April 2 over alleged corruption, malfeasance and negligence that caused massive damage to the state in connection with the scrapped rice-pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809334-nla-to-push-impeachment-against-boonsong-officials/

BURNING ISSUE
New constitution grants too much power to the Senate
KRIS BHROMSUTHI

BANGKOK: -- A PARTICIPANT at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand's forum on "The Future of Thai Politics" last week raised an important point - that the all-appointed Senate under the new charter will have far too much influence.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809335-new-thai-constitution-grants-too-much-power-to-the-senate/

Man & His Kids Kicked Off Phuket Streets Now Begging In Bangkok
Published by Stickboy BKK



BANGKOK -- The Czech father kicked off the streets of Patong for busking and begging with his young family by Phuket police back in January has reappeared in Bangkok – busking and begging with his kids again.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809338-czech-man-and-his-kids-kicked-off-phuket-streets-now-begging-in-bangkok/

SkillLane Brings eLearning to Thailand

EdTech start-up SkillLane is bringing eLearning to Thailand. The self-paced, online-based company is helping Thais improve their personal and professional skills.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809339-skilllane-brings-elearning-to-thailand/

Somsak appeals against dismissal as Thammasat lecturer



BANGKOK: -- Somsak Jeamteerasakul has filed an appeal with the Higher Education Commission against Thammasat University's order which dismissed him as a lecturer in the university's faculty of liberal arts.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809344-somsak-appeals-against-dismissal-as-thammasat-lecturer/

Netanyahu promises no Palestinian state if he is re-elected
By JOSEF FEDERMAN

JERUSALEM (AP) — In a frenzied last day of campaigning, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday ruled out the establishment of a Palestinian state and vowed to keep building east Jerusalem settlements as he appealed to hard-line voters on the eve of Israel's closely contested general election.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809345-netanyahu-promises-no-palestinian-state-if-he-is-re-elected/

Real estate heir Durst could face death penalty in murder
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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Los Angeles prosecutors have filed a murder charge against real estate heir Robert Durst that could carry the death penalty.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809346-real-estate-heir-durst-could-face-death-penalty-in-murder/

UN: 24 dead in Vanuatu after Cyclone Pam
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WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The United Nations reported Monday that 24 people are confirmed dead and 3,300 have been displaced by Cyclone Pam in the South Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809347-un-24-dead-in-vanuatu-after-cyclone-pam/

UN and Russia worry that Islamic State is in Afghanistan
By EDITH M. LEDERER

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The top U.N. envoy in Afghanistan said Monday that recent reports indicate the Islamic State extremist group has established a foothold in Afghanistan, a view echoed by Russia which urged the Security Council to stop its expansion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809349-un-and-russia-worry-that-islamic-state-is-in-afghanistan/

Four police imposter suspects arrested

Bangkok: – Metropolitan police have arrested and charged four suspects for impersonating police officers to extort money from aliens and migrants workers.

The four involved in 17 extortion and rape cases in five districts of Bangkok, Metropolitan Police commissioner Lt General Sriwara Rangsipramanakul said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809348-four-police-imposter-suspects-arrested/

M-67 grenade defused at On Nut condominium

Bangkok: – The Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians have successfully disabled one hand grenade believed to have been left inside a vacant condominium room on On Nut Road since 1998.

The grenade was discovered by construction workers in charge of renovating the room for a new tenant, Phra Khanong police said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809350-m-67-grenade-defused-at-on-nut-condominium/