Thailand Live Wednesday 1 Apr 2015

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EDITORIAL
Aviation ban a blessing in disguise
The Nation

Sanctions on Thai airlines over safety fears should spur efforts to overhaul our chronically inefficient bureaucracy

Turning a blind eye to safety is a disaster in the making. And that disaster need not necessarily mean human casualties.
In the case of Thailand's aviation industry, the sirens are sounding after the decisions by Japan and South Korea to ban new flights by Thai carriers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/813774-thai-editorial-aviation-ban-a-blessing-in-disguise/

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90 day reporting now available at all 7-Eleven outlets in Thailand

BANGKOK:-- A spokesperson for the Immigration Bureau has announced that from today, foreigners will be able to complete their 90 day report at any 7-Eleven outlet in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/813776-90-day-reporting-now-available-at-all-7-eleven-outlets-in-thailand/

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LOS ANGELES (AP) - Police say man found dead at Hollywood Hills home of Andrew Getty, heir to Getty oil fortune.

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Goodbye to Phuket Butterfly Garden

Phuket:- The Phuket Butterfly Garden & Aquarium shut down Tuesday after it has been in operation for 25 years.

The butterfly garden in Tambon Rassada was shut down with a ceremony to release butterflies into the wild at 2:30 pm.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/813777-goodbye-to-phuket-butterfly-garden/

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Man found dead at Hollywood Hills home of Andrew Getty

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Police say a man has been found dead at the Hollywood Hills home of Getty oil fortune heir Andrew Getty, but they haven't confirmed that it's him.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/813798-man-found-dead-at-hollywood-hills-home-of-andrew-getty/

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ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - Electoral commission declares Muhammadu Buhari winner of Nigeria's presidential election.

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Tourism operators remain confident of tourist arrivals despite of the flight ban



BANGKOK: -- Although Thailand could lose some 10,000 tourists from Japan and at least 250 million baht in tourism revenue if the recent charter ban is not resolved, but tourism operators remain confident tourist arrival target of 28 million this year will be achieved.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/813805-thai-tourism-operators-remain-confident-of-tourist-arrivals-despite-of-the-flight-ban/

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NLA whip expects to set date for opening statements in impeachment case against former Commerce Minister by end of April

BANGKOK, 1 April 2015 (NNT) - The National Legislative Assembly whip expects the opening statements to take place by the end of this month, in the impeachment of former ministers and civil servant for their alleged involvement in the controversial rice subsidy program.

NLA whip spokesman Jate Sirathranont said that after discussing the impeachment of former Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom, former Deputy Commerce Minister Poom Sarapol and former Director General of the Foreign Trade Department Manas Sroyploy, the NLA whip is set to meet again on April 2 to decide when the opening statement in the case will take place.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission has found all three men guilty of causing heavy financial losses to the government and abuse of power in relation to the implementation of the rice subsidy program.

At the next meeting, the NLA whip will also consider whether it will approve the requests for additional evidence.

Mr. Jate added that the opening statements by all involved in the case will likely take place around the end of April.


-- NNT 2015-04-01

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Chartered flights to be allowed re-entry only after being inspected by destination countries

BANGKOK, 1 April 2015 (NNT)-The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) has pointed out that the ICAO ban imposed on chartered airplanes from Thailand is due to an unqualified supervising system in the country, not the standard of operation of aircraft.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/813812-chartered-flights-to-be-allowed-re-entry-only-after-being-inspected-by-destination-countries/

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Lampang launches festival to promote its original charms

Lampang: A five-day festival kicks off in the northern province of Lampang today especially to impress tourists.
Lampang promises to be like no others, as it positions itself as the tourist destination that has never changed with time.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/813813-lampang-launches-festival-to-promote-its-original-charms/

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LOS ANGELES (AP) - Getty family says man found dead in Hollywood Hills home is oil fortune heir Andrew Getty.

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SET down 2.30 to 1503.64 points /Bangkok Post

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NRC’s public health committee: Traditional Thai medicine is important for modern medicine and society

BANGKOK, 1 April 2015 (NNT) - The National Reform Council’s committee on public health reform has stated that the traditional Thai medicine has been playing an important role for both the modern medicine and the local society.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/813817-traditional-thai-medicine-is-important-for-modern-medicine-and-society/

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Excitement builds for Songkran in Silom

Bangkok – Are you ready folks? The city administration will host Songkran celebrations that include a concept of a "water tunnel" under the theme “Bangkok Songkran Festival @ Silom 2015 on April 12-14 from 3.00 pm to 9.00 pm.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/813815-excitement-builds-for-songkran-in-silom/

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Huge gold mine planned for Koh Phangan



KOH PHANGAN: -- On Tuesday morning officials announced that a massive gold reserve has been discovered not far from the surface in Koh Phangan.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/813821-huge-gold-mine-planned-for-koh-phangan/

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Four-day shutdown for Thai postal service

Bangkok – If you are planning to mail anything, traditionally, of course, read this. Thailand Post will completely suspend all services from April 12 to April 15 in order to relocate its information technology centre.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/813822-four-day-shutdown-for-thai-postal-service/

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UPDATE:

Oil heir Andrew Getty found dead at Hollywood Hills home

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A man was found dead Tuesday in the Hollywood Hills home of oil fortune heir Andrew Getty, and the Getty family confirmed that it was the 47-year-old grandson of J. Paul Getty.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/813798-man-found-dead-at-hollywood-hills-home-of-andrew-getty/#entry9255728

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State Department found 4 emails about drones sent by Clinton
By JACK GILLUM

WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department says it can find only four emails sent between former Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton and her staff concerning drone strikes and certain U.S. surveillance programs, and those notes have little to do with either subject.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/813826-state-department-found-4-emails-about-drones-sent-by-clinton/

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Japan to revise charter flight ban on Thai airlines

Transport Minister ACM Prajin Juntong revealed late Tuesday that Japan will revise its charter flight ban on Thai airlines.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/813828-japan-to-revise-charter-flight-ban-on-thai-airlines/

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Thai Embassy in Tokyo issues 'good manner' rules for Thai tourists
By Coconuts Bangkok



TOKYO: -- Contrasting Thai complaints about how our Chinese guests need manner training videos, turns out Japan may be feeling the same toward Thais.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/813831-thai-embassy-in-tokyo-issues-good-manner-rules-for-thai-tourists/

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As many as 400,000 Chinese tourists are coming to Thailand this Songkran

BANGKOK, 1 April 2015 (NNT) - According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, as many as 400,000 Chinese tourists are coming to Thailand during the Songkran long holidays from April 11th - 15th.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/813833-as-many-as-400000-chinese-tourists-are-coming-to-thailand-this-songkran/

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Cabinet endorses ratification of Maritime Labour Convention

BANGKOK, 1 April 2015 (NNT) – The Cabinet has endorsed the ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention B.E. 2549, to improve the safety and well-being of workers on board fishing vessels.

According to Major General Sansern Kaewkamnerd, the deputy government spokesperson, the Cabinet on Tuesday acknowledged the assistance being provided to Thai crewmen who were exploited on fishing vessels in Indonesian waters. 167 of the Thai workers have so far returned to Thailand-- 21 of them on March 29-- and six more will be returning today. The aiding of the fishermen is a temporary measure, said Maj. Gen. Sansern, as Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered relevant agencies to quickly come up with methods to tackle the issue.

On Tuesday, the Cabinet also endorsed the ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention B.E. 2549, the contents of which protect people who work on seafaring vessels. The ratification would result in greater efficiency in international navigation, as well as improved safety and well-being of workers on board vessels, according to Maj. Gen. Sansern.


-- NNT 2015-04-01

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233 Phuket prisoners to be released under royal pardon
Nattha Thepbamrung

Phuket Prison is preparing to release around 233 prisoners by a royal pardon issued by His Majesty the King to mark Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s 60th birthday tomorrow (April 2).208 of the prisoners are men whilst the remaining 25 are women. They are expected to be released at around 4pm tomorrow (April 2).

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/813840-233-phuket-prisoners-to-be-released-under-royal-pardon/

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Sondhi is free after Thaksin’s lawyer withdraws libel case

BANGKOK: -- Former leader of the yellow-shirt People's Alliance of Democracy (PAD) Sondhi Limthongkul was freed today after he was earlier sentenced to prison with no suspension of jail term by two courts in a libel suit filed against him by the lawyer of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra in 2007.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/813841-sondhi-is-free-after-thaksins-lawyer-withdraws-libel-case/

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Russian Bong Sellers Arrested on Koh Pha Ngan

By Khaosod Eng.

SURAT THANI — Police have arrested two Russians who allegedly sold marijuana bongs via a Facebook page on the southern island of Koh Phan Ngan.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/813843-russian-bong-sellers-arrested-on-koh-pha-ngan/

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Singer Joni Mitchell hospitalized in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Joni Mitchell was hospitalized in Los Angeles on Tuesday, according to the Twitter account and website of the folk singer and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, but details on her condition have not been released.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/813845-singer-joni-mitchell-hospitalized-in-los-angeles/

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SET rises 8.16 to 1,514.10 at noon /Bangkok Post

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UPDATE:

Instructions issued for Thai visitors viewing cherry blossoms in Japan

BANGKOK: -- The Thai embassy has issued instructions for Thai tourists visiting Japan on how to enjoy and view the cherry blossoms or Sakura flowers in a proper way as the blossom season starts.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/813831-thai-embassy-in-tokyo-issues-good-manner-rules-for-thai-tourists/#entry9256790

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Thailand slammed for 25-year lese majeste jail term

Bangkok, Thailand | AFP |

BANGKOK: -- Rights groups Wednesday lambasted a Thai military court for jailing a businessman for 25 years for making allegedly defamatory Facebook posts about the monarchy, one of the toughest known sentences for lese majeste.


The sentencing of 58-year-old Theinsutham Suthijittaseranee comes as concerns mount over a bid by the nation's junta leader to replace martial law that has blanketed the kingdom for months with new security measures retaining sweeping powers for the military.


Theinsutham was sentenced on Tuesday to 10 years for each of five counts of posting messages on the social networking website deemed to be defamatory to the Thai royal family, his lawyer told AFP.


The sentence was halved as the defendant pleaded guilty, but it is still among the toughest sentences yet for insulting the monarchy.


"The 25-year sentence is one of the harshest we are aware of. It is particularly problematic given that it was issued by a military tribunal," Sam Zarifi, regional director for legal rights group the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), told AFP.


"Given the defendant's age, it comes close to being a life sentence."


Amnesty International condemned the conviction as "preposterous" and called for an end to lese majeste prosecutions, which have surged since royalist generals toppled the remnants of the elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra in May last year.


Domestic and international media routinely self-censor reporting of the Thai monarchy, including royal defamation trials, lest they too are hit by the draconian law, which carries up to 15 years in jail for every count of insulting, defaming or threatening the monarchy.


Critics of the law say it is used as a weapon against the political enemies of the royalist elite.


An ICJ tally says at least 49 people have fallen foul of the royal defamation law since the coup, including those investigated, detained, convicted or awaiting verdicts.


Twenty-two of those cases have been tried in military courts whose verdicts can not be appealed.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2015-04-01

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Premier urged civil servants to put national interest first

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha on Wednesday encouraged all civil servants to work in harmony and put the national interest first. Speaking on the Civil Servants’ Day, he urged them to respect the rule of law and adhere to ethical standards.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Premier-urged-civil-servants-to-put-national-inter-30257201.html

-- The Nation 2015-04-01