Thailand Live Wednesday 25 Mar 2015

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Prayuth Promises Not to Arrest Thaksin at Lee Kuan Yew's Funeral

By Khaosod English

BANGKOK — The leader of Thailand's military junta has vowed not to arrest fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra if he is spotted at the funeral of Singaporean’s founding leader Lee Kuan Yew next week.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811596-prayuth-promises-not-to-arrest-thaksin-at-lee-kuan-yews-funeral/

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Airbus A320 crashes in France - Germanwings flight with 150 onboard

An Airbus A320 airliner has crashed in the French Alps between Barcelonnette and Digne, French aviation officials and police have said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811569-airbus-a320-crashes-in-france-germanwings-flight-with-150-onboard/

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TCT: Annual tourism income could miss 2.2-trillion-baht target

BANGKOK, 25 March 2015 (NNT) – The Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) has indicated that the confidence index of tourism operators is still at a normal level but admitted that this year’s tourism revenue could be lower than targeted due to economic slowdown.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811646-tct-thailands-annual-tourism-income-could-miss-22-trillion-baht-target/

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2015 Earth Hour event to take place in Bangkok

BANGKOK, 25 March 2015 (NNT) – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will be holding the 60 Earth Hour 2015 activity on 28 March 2015, to raise public awareness and participate in solving the climate issue by turning off their unused electrical appliances, said Deputy Governor.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811647-2015-earth-hour-event-to-take-place-in-bangkok/

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Turkey-China wrangle over suspected Uighurs detained in Thailand
AFP

BANGKOK: -- A family of suspected Uighur Muslims, among hundreds detained in Thailand since last year, will Friday learn their fate in a court case that has sparked a diplomatic wrangle between Turkey and China.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811649-turkey-china-wrangle-over-suspected-uighurs-detained-in-thailand/

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British vet rescues cobra on Koh Samui

Koh Samui, Surat Thani:- When you encounter a snake on Koh Samui, who you gonna call?

The answer is Phillip Book, 43, the only British vet who runs the Samui Snake Rescue Center on the tiny tourist-destination island.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811600-british-vet-rescues-cobra-on-koh-samui/

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Dummy police will catch traffic offenders red-handed next month
Kittipong Maneerit
Nawaporn Kinkhajon
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- STARTING from next month, dummy traffic officers on some of Bangkok's roads will officially become "smart", as they will be able to catch violators red-handed via a newly introduced tech system.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811652-dummy-police-will-catch-bangkok-traffic-offenders-red-handed-next-month/

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TO DEFEND MARTIAL LAW USE
Govt rejects Amnesty allegations on torture
THE NATION

Foreign Ministry to defend the continued use of martial law to foreign organisations

BANGKOK: -- THE Foreign Ministry will defend the government against allegations that suspects behind grenade attacks were tortured while in military custody. It will also explain while the country remains under martial law, PM's Office deputy spokesperson Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811653-thai-govt-rejects-amnesty-allegations-on-torture/

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NBTC fear of political control over media
THE NATION

Official makes case for enforcement of rules on limit on shareholdings

BANGKOK: -- A MEMBER of the spectrum licensing body's broadcasting committee is concerned that if there is no enforcement of the rules governing the auction of digital TV licences in terms of a cap on shareholdings, this will pave the way for politically motivated investors to easily take over media channels and use them for their own political interest at public expense.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811655-nbtc-fear-of-political-control-over-media/

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NHSO
NRC urged to reject report on health reform
Prapasri Osathanon
Natthapat Phromkaew
The Nation

Group warns the proposals on fIscal reform wIll centralIse power and make the mInIstry too strong

BANGKOK: -- A CIVIL network is demanding that the National Reform Council (NRC) reject a report on fiscal reform for public health that will be submitted today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811656-nrc-urged-to-reject-report-on-thai-health-reform/

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DIGITAL ECONOMY
Intel gets behind govt's digital economy scheme
Asina Pornwasin
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Intel has announced its support for the government's "digital economy" strategy through its technologies and knowledge.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811658-intel-gets-behind-interl-govts-digital-economy-scheme/

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FOREIGN BUSINESS ACT
Seven firms suspected of using local nominees
Petchanet Pratruangkrai

BANGKOK: -- Seven companies in Pattaya are suspected of breaching the Foreign Business Act (FBA) by having Thai nominees hold majority stakes, the Commerce Ministry's Business Development Department claims.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811659-foreign-business-act-seven-firms-suspected-of-using-local-nominees/

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MOTOR SHOW
Carmakers hope motor show will jump-start torpid sales
Kingsley Wijayasinha
The Nation


The 36th Bangkok International Motor Show kicks off today at Challenger Hall, Muang Thong Thani. The annual event will run until April 5, 2015.

BANGKOK: -- Automobile companies are pinning their hopes on the 36th Bangkok International Motor Show to help stem the slide in sales seen so far this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811660-bangkok-motor-show-carmakers-hope-motor-show-will-jump-start-torpid-sales/

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EDITORIAL
Military precision is just what Thai education needs
The Nation

Successive governments have failed the test of education reform; can the Prayut administration return order?

BANGKOK: -- Just as the public was beginning to question the government's will to reform education, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha announced a task force to spearhead an overhaul of the system. Taking the helm as chairman of the so-called education superboard, the prime minister says major change is needed to address years of under-performance despite huge budgets.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811661-military-precision-is-just-what-thai-education-needs/

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STOPPAGE TIME
Welcome to the reform merry-go-round
Tulsathit Taptim

BANGKOK: -- Prayut Chan-o-cha is frustrated. Abhisit Vejjajiva is full of doubts. Thaksin Shinawatra must be smiling. But what do the trio - or, in fact, everyone in badly divided Thailand - have in common?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811663-thai-opinion-welcome-to-the-reform-merry-go-round/

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Thai fighters to enter the MMA fray this May
By James Goyder



BANGKOK: -- Mixed Martial Arts will return to Bangkok in May with “Full Metal Dojo 5: ‘Made in Thailand’” at Live House in JJ Green.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811665-thai-fighters-to-enter-the-mma-fray-this-may/

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Russian ATM Fraudsters caught by Pattaya Police



PATTAYA: -- On Tuesday afternoon, Pattaya Police announced the arrest of two Russians accused of possessing bank cards containing stolen bank account information to purchase items in Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811666-russian-atm-fraudsters-caught-by-pattaya-police/

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Russian fugitive arrested by Pattaya Immigration Police



PATTAYA: -- Immigration Police arrested a 34 year old Russian wanted on an International Arrest Warrant concerning a case of Welfare Fraud worth an estimated 100 Million Baht from 2014.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811667-russian-fugitive-arrested-by-pattaya-immigration-police/

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Flash Floods cause chaos around Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- It’s a regular occurrence in Pattaya and causes major disruption to the city and on Tuesday afternoon flash floods returned to Pattaya as persistent and heavy rains caused chaos.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811669-flash-floods-cause-chaos-around-pattaya/

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Ms Yingluck cleared of wrongdoings by the EC for her Feb 2 pre-election inspection trips



BANGKOK: -- The Election Commission has cleared former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra of any wrongdoing for making inspection trips to northern and northeastern provinces during the pre-election period before the February 2 election in 2014.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811671-yingluck-cleared-of-wrongdoings-by-the-ec-for-her-feb-2-pre-election-inspection-trips/

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City governor assures city officials have been hard working to ease flooding

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra asked for public understanding that the city administration had not sit idly and did nothing to ease flooding in Bangkok following a heavy downpour Tuesday afternoon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811672-bangkok-governor-assures-city-officials-have-been-hard-working-to-ease-flooding/

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Force-fed education hampers pre-schoolers: teachers
Kawin Praneetlekha,
Chuleeporn Armanet
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- PRE-SCHOOLERS in Thailand have been force-fed academic content, which in turn affected their creativity and development and caused them to miss a chance to learn during the "window of opportunity", academics warned yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811673-force-fed-education-hampers-pre-schoolers-teachers/

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BURNING ISSUE
In praising the Lee model, PM could be endorsing Thaksin model
SUPALAK GANJANAKHUNDEE
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- AMONG leaders of countries around the world, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha made possibly the worst tribute on the passing away of Singapore's founder Lee Kuan Yew.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811674-in-praising-the-lee-model-pm-could-be-endorsing-thaksin-model/

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May 1992 group opposes plan for an 'outsider PM'
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- DEFENCE Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan accepted yesterday that there are supporters and backers of the new charter currently being drafted but he said amendments could still be made and people who oppose the draft have ways to communicate their views to the drafters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811677-may-1992-group-opposes-plan-for-an-outsider-pm/

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Abhisit wants Anupong, Thawil to testify
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- DEMOCRAT PARTY leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday petitioned the NACC (National Anti-Corruption Commission) to question two more witnesses with key roles in the deadly 2010 crackdown on protesters when he was prime minister.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811678-abhisit-wants-anupong-thawil-to-testify/

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UPDATE:

Plane crash kills 150 people in French Alps; Europe in shock
By GREG KELLER and ANGELA CHARLTON

SEYNE-LES-ALPES, France (AP) — A black box recovered from the scene and pulverized pieces of debris strewn across Alpine mountainsides held clues to what caused a German jetliner to take an unexplained eight-minute dive Tuesday midway through a flight from Spain to Germany, apparently killing all 150 people on board.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811569-airbus-a320-crashes-in-france-germanwings-flight-with-150-onboard/page-5#entry9226846

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UPDATE:

16 German high school students among plane crash victims
By KIRSTEN GRIESHABER

Two girls hug in front of the Joseph-Koenig-Gymnasium in Haltern, western Germany Tuesday, March... Read more

HALTERN, Germany (AP) — A stunned German town mourned 16 students who went down aboard Germanwings Flight 9525 on their way home Tuesday from a Spanish exchange, while the opera world grieved for two singers who were returning from performing in Barcelona — one of them with her baby.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811569-airbus-a320-crashes-in-france-germanwings-flight-with-150-onboard/page-5#entry9226857

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Obama: Dim hope for end to Israeli-Palestinian conflict
By DEB RIECHMANN

President Barack Obama rubs his eye during a joint news conference with Afghanistan\'s President... Read more

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama said Tuesday that the U.S. is weighing whether to back Palestinian efforts to seek U.N. recognition for an independent state and that recent remarks by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dim hope for a negotiated two-state solution.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811682-obama-dim-hope-for-end-to-israeli-palestinian-conflict/

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US removes dozens of Cuban companies from blacklist
BRADLEY KLAPPER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration has removed dozens of Cuban companies from a U.S. blacklist of terror supporters and narcotics traffickers, another step in the two countries' process to improve relations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811684-us-removes-dozens-of-cuban-companies-from-blacklist/

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Suspect's father begs forgiveness for son's brutality

Samut Sakhon: – The father of a 19-year-old suspect has begged for forgiveness from the family of 18-year-old man who was beaten and set on fire due to a lover’s quarrel.

The victim, Kachorn Kitruekchai, was in coma for 84 days before he died of serious burn injuries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811679-suspects-father-begs-forgiveness-for-sons-brutality/