Thailand Live Thursday 30 Apr 2015

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NRC members donate 1.5 million baht to relief efforts in Nepal

BANGKOK, 30 April 2015 (NNT) – NRC vice president and national artist Preecha Thaothong has donated one million baht earned from an auction of his painting “The Lights of Suvarnabhumi” to support relief efforts in Nepal.

Mr. Preecha who is currently a vice president of the National Reform Council (NRC) sub-committee in charge of social values, arts, culture, ethics and religion says the money will be added up to the 500,000 baht fund raised from stipends of all NRC members. A total of 1,500,000 baht will go to relief operations in Nepal.

Preecha Thaothong said that “The Lights of Suvarnabhumi” is his most favorite painting as it well displays the root of magnificent and unique Nepalese art. It is one in his collection of the same name painted to reflect his experience of a visit to Wat Xien Thong monastery in Laos.

The Lights of Suvarnabhumi Art Exhibition is now opening for art lovers at the Contemporary Art Centre on Ratchadamnoen Road, in Bangkok until 17 June 2015.


-- NNT 2015-04-30

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Rayong beach littered with garbage

Rayong:- The popular Mae Rampheung Beach has been covered with garbage washed ashore, Naewna reported.

Naewna said its reporter was alerted of the garbage on the beach at 3 pm Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821329-rayong-beach-littered-with-garbage/

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Thai man arrested with 26 migrant workers in his car
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- HIGHWAY Police early yesterday morning rounded up 26 migrant workers packed into an SUV in Kanchanaburi's Phanom Tuan district and arrested the Thai driver.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821375-thai-man-arrested-with-26-migrant-workers-in-his-car/

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UPDATE:

UFUN manhunt begins as police send the details of 6 suspects to authorities globally
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- AUTHORITIES in 180 countries will be sent details of the six UFUN fugitives wanted by Thai police to answer charges for their part in a pyramid scheme that allegedly defrauded investors out of millions of baht, Pol Lt-General Suwira Songmetta, assistant to the police chief said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821309-police-hand-over-ufuns-seized-assets-to-amlo/#entry9355687

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Marine police alert for EU fishing checks
The Nation

Agencies join up to inspect trawlers

BANGKOK: -- IN A BID to improve Thailand's illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing problems ahead of the upcoming inspection by representatives from the European Union (EU), coastal provinces such as Chon Buri and Songkhla yesterday launched checks on migrant workers and fishing vessels.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821377-thai-marine-police-alert-for-eu-fishing-checks/

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Official is a land-grabber: reform chief
Prasit Tangprasert
The Nation
Nakhon Ratchasima

BANGKOK: -- THE chief of the Nakhon Ratchasima Agricultural Land Reform Office has recommended that an investigation be launched against a local official over suspicions that she might have engaged in land encroachment herself.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821378-official-is-a-land-grabber-reform-chief/

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Thailand not prepared for another massive earthquake, experts say
Pratch Rujivanarom
The Nation
Chiang Rai



BANGKOK: -- THAILAND is not prepared for another devastating earthquake, Asia Institute of Technology professor Dr Pennung Warnitchai said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821379-thailand-not-prepared-for-another-massive-earthquake-experts-say/

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Relief for Nepal in full swing with flights, Royal aid and rescue teams
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- A GOVERNMENT operational centre to coordinate Thai-organised relief efforts in quake-hit Nepal has been set up at Government House, while a separate centre dedicated to receiving donations has been opened inside the compound at Naree Samosorn building.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821380-relief-for-nepal-in-full-swing-with-flights-royal-aid-and-rescue-teams/

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Lawyers seek more public role in law reform
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- KANIT Na Nakorn, chairman of the Law Reform Commission of Thailand (LRCT), yesterday called for greater public participation, independence and knowledge in the legal-reform process.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821382-thai-lawyers-seek-more-public-role-in-law-reform/

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BURNING ISSUE
Mounting problems for drafters amid rife discontent
ATTAYUTH BOOTSRIPOOM

BANGKOK: -- THE NATIONAL Reform Council (NRC) has completed its first round of debate on the draft constitution. The debate was rather heated although observers earlier had not expected much of a grilling of the draft by NRC members.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821383-thai-politics-mounting-problems-for-drafters-amid-rife-discontent/

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NACC to probe 2006-10 compensation scheme
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) will soon discuss whether there was any abuse of power by the Yingluck Shinawatra administration in compensating people who were killed, maimed or injured by various political conflicts between 2006 and May 2010.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821384-nacc-to-probe-2006-10-compensation-scheme/

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UPDATE:

Referendum up to NRC and CDC: PM
THE NATION



PRAWIT ASSURES PUBLIC THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME TO MAKE CHANGES TO CHARTER DRAFT

BANGKOK: -- THE DECISION on whether to hold a referendum on the new draft constitution lies with the National Reform Council (NRC) and the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821310-pm-says-he-has-no-power-to-order-a-referendum-to-be-held/#entry9355713

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Licensing Officials continue to check Pattaya Bars and issue Shisha Warning



PATTAYA: -- A warning has been issued by the Banglamung District Licensing Unit that the checks on late-opening Bars around Pattaya City will continue for the foreseeable future and special attention will be placed on searching for venues offering Shisha which can only be sold in bars with the correct license.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821386-licensing-officials-continue-to-check-pattaya-bars-and-issue-shisha-warning/

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Pattaya Police reunite Navy Captain with lost wallet thanks to kind-hearted Iranian



PATTAYA: -- On Wednesday Night and thanks to the honesty and kindness of an Iranian Tourist, a Navy Captain was re-united with his lost wallet at Pattaya Police Station.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821387-pattaya-police-reunite-navy-captain-with-lost-wallet-thanks-to-kind-hearted-iranian/

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Two injured in pick-up versus Coach Collision in East Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- Two Cambodians travelling in a pick-up truck, which was struck, head-on by a Coach were seriously injured on Wednesday afternoon in a crash which occurred on Highway 331.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821390-two-injured-in-pick-up-versus-coach-collision-in-east-pattaya/

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Mango Picker falls to her death in East Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- A woman aged in her mid-thirties died in the early hours of Wednesday after she fell head-first onto the road from a Mango Tree she was in the process of harvesting.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821392-mango-picker-falls-to-her-death-in-east-pattaya/

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EDITORIAL
The wait for a new constitution grows even longer
The Nation

The coup leaders' roadmap back to democracy is yellowing with age as concerns mount over the draft charter

BANGKOK: -- Uncertainties linger and many questions remain unanswered as the drafting of the new constitution enters its final stage and time runs out on this post-coup government's term in power.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821394-thai-editorial-the-wait-for-a-new-constitution-grows-even-longer/

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AOT working group to oversee aviation safety issues
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION

AIRPORTS of Thailand has established a working group tasked with tackling aviation-safety issues.

BANGKOK: -- Board members of AOT, the operator of six international airports in Thailand, yesterday approved formation of the working group.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821396-aot-working-group-to-oversee-aviation-safety-issues/

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Higher costs won't hurt consumers: Egat
PICHAYA CHANGSORN
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- THE ELECTRICITY Generating Authority of Thailand insisted yesterday that the launch of the country's first state enterprise infrastructure fund would not make life difficult for electricity consumers, even though it would raise Egat's cost of funds.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821398-higher-costs-wont-hurt-consumers-egat/

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Hezbollah Terrorists Sanctioned By US after Being Released from Thailand

The State Department announced that three Hezbollah members were added to the US terror watch list on Wednesday. One of the members was convicted and put in prison in Thailand in 2012.

The man, Hussein Atris, remained in custody until September of 2014 before being released. Mr. Hussein was charged with stockpiling explosives. Arrested in Bangkok, Mr. Hussein admitted during interrogation to stockpiling as much as 3,000 kilograms of explosives. He was also suspected in a plot to carry out a bombing within Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821388-hezbollah-terrorists-sanctioned-by-us-after-being-released-from-thailand/

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Phuket Donations for Nepal Victims Continue to Roll In

Donations from Phuket for Nepal earthquake victims continue to roll in. So far, over 1 million baht has been raised through the Phuket Together for Nepal Disaster Victims campaign. Over 5,000 lives have been claimed in the devastating earthquake, and thousands more are injured.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821389-phuket-donations-for-nepal-victims-continue-to-roll-in/

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Two arrested and a third surrender for running a pyramid scheme in Lamphun

BANGKOK: -- Two people were arrested by officials of the Department of Special Investigation and a third turned herself in on charges of public fraud for operating a pyramid scheme worth about 760 million baht.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821402-two-arrested-and-a-third-surrender-for-running-a-pyramid-scheme-in-lamphun/

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Visitors soar 22 per cent in April, more coming
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Two million foreigners visited Thailand during April 1-27, an increase of 22 per cent. The number is expected to soar next week due to the long holiday, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports said Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821403-thai-tourism-foreign-visitors-soar-22-percent-in-april-more-coming/

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Effort to control misbehaving Buddhist monks in Thailand
Washington Post

NAKHON PATHOM, Thailand — Think Buddhist monk, and bodyguards and bomb threats probably don’t spring to mind. But that’s exactly what Phra Buddha Issara is dealing with as he mounts a campaign to overhaul Thailand’s religious institutions.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821404-effort-to-control-misbehaving-buddhist-monks-in-thailand/

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Weight Watchers founder Jean Nidetch dies at age 91
By MATT SEDENSKY

PARKLAND, Fla. (AP) — Jean Nidetch, a New York housewife who tackled her own obesity, then shared her guiding principles with others in meetings that became known as Weight Watchers, the most widely known company of its kind, died Wednesday. She was 91.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821406-weight-watchers-founder-jean-nidetch-dies-at-age-91/

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Supreme Court debates challenge to execution drug
By MARK SHERMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court justices engaged in an impassioned debate Wednesday about capital punishment, trading unusually combative words in a case involving a drug used in several botched executions.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821407-us-supreme-court-debates-challenge-to-execution-drug/

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Judge to decide on taking serial rapist back into custody
By PAUL ELIAS

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A serial rapist testified Wednesday in California that forgetfulness led him to let the power in his ankle monitor run too low twice while he was on supervised release — missteps that prompted prosecutors to seek his return to a mental hospital.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821408-us-judge-to-decide-on-taking-serial-rapist-back-into-custody/

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Iranian opposition leader: Tehran is force behind extremism
DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — A top Iranian opposition leader told a U,S. House subcommittee Wednesday that Iranians have dubbed their government the "godfather" of the Islamic State militant group.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821409-iranian-opposition-leader-tehran-is-force-behind-extremism/

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Writers withdraw from PEN gala, cite honor for Charlie Hebdo
HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Ondaatje, Francine Prose and at least four other writers have withdrawn from next month's PEN American Center gala, citing objections to the literary and human rights organization's honoring the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821410-writers-withdraw-from-pen-gala-cite-honor-for-charlie-hebdo/

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Japan PM offers condolences for WWII dead in historic speech
MATTHEW PENNINGTON, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Prime Minister Shinzo Abe offered condolences Wednesday for Americans killed in World War II in the first address by a Japanese leader to a joint meeting of Congress, but stopped short of apologizing for wartime atrocities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821411-japan-pm-offers-condolences-for-wwii-dead-in-historic-speech/