Thailand Live Thursday 7 May 2015

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Herbal Products Association and allies propose ideas for reform of traditional Thai medicine

BANGKOK, 7 May 2015 (NNT) – Groups of traditional medicine advocates have proposed to the National Reform Council their ideas on the reform of the practice of alternative medicine in Thailand.

Chairman of the NRC’s sub-committee on traditional Thai medicine reform Admiral Chanchai Charoensuwan on Wednesday met with representatives from the Herbal Products Association and the Herbal Industry Club under the Federation of Thai Industries who submitted a proposal on the reform process.

Chairman of the Herbal Products Association Metha Simavara told Admiral Chanchai that the proposal includes calls for the enactment of the Herbal Medicines Act in order to allow for the independence of the traditional medicine practice as well as its development.

He added that the groups would also like the government to consider authorizing the Department for Development of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine to be in charge of the registration of ancient drugs, which is currently the responsibility of the Food and Drug Administration.

In his response, Admiral Chanchai said that he will look at both and other suggestions included in the proposal and consider them when the committee plans the reform process.


-- NNT 2015-05-07

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TAT launches 'The Best of Thailand Awards Voted By Chinese Tourists' Project

BANGKOK, 7 May 2015 (NNT) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand has launched a new project to allow Chinese tourists to vote for their favourite destinations in the Land of Smiles.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823194-tat-launches-the-best-of-thailand-awards-voted-by-chinese-tourists-project/

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Suthep Welcomes Five More Years for PM Prayuth
By Khaosod English


Suthep Thaugsuban speaking on a stage during an anti-government rally in Bangkok on 3 Jan 2014.

SURAT THANI — The leader of the street protests that paved the way for the May 2014 coup has praised Thailand’s military leader and welcomed him to stay in power for up to five more years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823195-suthep-welcomes-five-more-years-for-pm-prayut/

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Motorists Shot Dead, Burned By Suspected Insurgents in Yala
By Khaosod English


Security officers demonstrate counter-terrorism operations for the public at a military base in Narathiwat province, 6 May 2015.

YALA — Suspected separatists shot two motorists dead and burned their bodies in the southern border province of Yala this evening.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823196-motorists-shot-dead-burned-by-suspected-insurgents-in-yala/

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Pattaya UFUN Pyramid Scam Victim reports to Nongprue Police Station



PATTAYA: -- On Wednesday a former soap star, who appeared on a number of shows on Thai National TV Channel 7, reported potential losses incurred by her making an investment into the UFUN e-commerce platform.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823197-pattaya-ufun-pyramid-scam-victim-reports-to-nongprue-police-station/

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Police Officer reprimanded in East Pattaya Family Land Dispute case



PATTAYA: -- Following a report published by us on Monday regarding allegations of Police inaction on a 6 month long family land dispute case which Police have failed to act upon, despite incidents of harassment and assault, the Chief of Nongprue Police Station has now been made aware of the case and has reprimanded a senior Police officer at the Station.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823198-police-officer-reprimanded-in-east-pattaya-family-land-dispute-case/

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Thailand Makes Progress on Illegal Fishing

Thailand has made great progress on illegal fishing, said Deputy Prime Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula on Wednesday. Just last month, the European Union gave Thailand six months to clean up its fishing industry and issued it a yellow card. If the country does not meet the EU’s standards by October, it could face an embargo on fish exports.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823184-thailand-makes-progress-on-illegal-fishing/

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ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Chelsea and Liverpool to land in Thailand
LERPONG AMSA-NGIAM
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THAI SOCCER fans are in for a treat with English Premier League giants Chelsea and Liverpool due to play friendly matches against a Thai team on May 30 and July 14 respectively.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823200-chelsea-and-liverpool-to-land-in-thailand/

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TRAFFICKED MIGRANTS
Ten-day deadline to find migrant camps
The Nation



PM wants complete scrutiny of all areas; may use article 44 power to tackle trafficking issue

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday gave a 10-day deadline for a complete scrutiny of all areas for possible detention camps and graves related to trafficked migrants.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823201-pm-prayut-gives-ten-day-deadline-to-find-migrant-camps/

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IUU
EU's motive behind yellow card queried
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation



Fishery body chief says move may be driven by protectionism

SONGKHLA Fishery Association president Praporn Ekuru said the issuing of a yellow card for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices and the threat to ban Thai fishery exports could have been driven by the European Union's economic protectionism or its desire to see the military regime of General Prayut Chan-o-cha return the country to democracy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823202-thai-fishery-exports-eus-motive-behind-yellow-card-queried/

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JERUSALEM (AP) - Likud official says Israeli premier Netanyahu reaches deal to form new coalition government.

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NEW CHARTER
CDC split over referendum on parts of charter

BANGKOK: -- MEMBERS of the Constitutional Drafting Committee (CDC) have differing opinions on whether a referendum should be held on some parts of the new charter - or whether a poll would need to approve or reject the entire draft charter.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823203-cdc-split-over-referendum-on-parts-of-new-thai-charter/

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ROAD ACCIDENT
Arrest sought over cyclists' death
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- POLICE will seek an arrest warrant for the 23-year-old female student, who faces criminal charges for crashing into a convoy of cyclists in Chiang Mai's Doi Saket district on Sunday morning killing three, to prevent a flight risk, a senior police officer said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823204-arrest-sought-over-cyclists-death/

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EDITORIAL
How to make our roads safe for cyclists

BANGKOK: -- Three road accidents in less than a week have claimed the lives of five cyclists and left four others seriously injured.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823205-thai-editorial-how-to-make-our-roads-safe-for-cyclists/

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Issuance of driving licenses will be tougher under revised rule



BANGKOK: -- The Land Transport Department will tighten up the issuance of driving licenses by requiring applicants for the licenses to undergo tougher written tests and to spend longer time on training course.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823206-issuance-of-thai-driving-licenses-will-be-tougher-under-revised-rule/

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Earthquake 'was good practice' ‒ Gov
Suthicha Sirirat


Gov Nisit: 'Within 15 minutes, everyone had checked for damage.'

PHUKET: -- This morning’s earthquake and the aftershock in the early afternoon caused no damage on the island, Governor Nisit Jansomwong told media today (May 6).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823207-phuket-earthquake-was-good-practice-gov/

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Third quake in 20-hour period rattles Phuket
The Phuket News


Third quake in 20-hour period rattles Phuket

PHUKET: -- A 4.5 magnitude tremor shook the island at the 30 minute mark of midnight, with residents all across the island and Phang Nga Bay hearing and feeling its rumble.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823208-third-quake-in-20-hour-period-rattles-phuket/

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Crackdown on prison drug trade
The Nation



Anti-narcotics agents, police team targeting three gangs run by highprofile inmates

BANGKOK: -- AS PART of a new campaign to tackle drug trade by inmates, several teams of anti-narcotics agents and police raided several locations in Bangkok and other parts of the country, arresting suspects and seizing assets worth Bt61 million in total.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823210-crackdown-on-thai-prison-drug-trade/

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For some Rohingya, greasing palms keeps away troubles in Thailand
Boonluen Promprathankul
The Nation
Ranong

RANONG: -- AS GRUESOME tales from migrant camps in Thailand's deep-South jungles are unfolding, many Rohingya in these southern provinces claim they are quietly paying bribes to avoid legal trouble.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823211-for-some-rohingya-greasing-palms-keeps-away-troubles-in-thailand/

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Nepal quake gives Thai engineers lessons on protecting heritage
Pratch Rujivanarom
The Nation


One of the engineer team Amrit Charitha shows the clay brick which used to be a part of the collapsed house on the press conference yesterday at Engineering Institute of Thailand.

BANGKOK: -- A STUDY to strengthen Thailand's historic treasures was suggested by an engineering team after experience in Nepal showed what a quake could do to a site's old brick structures.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823212-nepal-quake-gives-thai-engineers-lessons-on-protecting-heritage/

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BURNING ISSUE
Article 44 cannot be a shortcut to solve urgent problems
Attayuth Bootsripoom

BANGKOK: -- During a period of a little over a month, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, as leader of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), has issued 10 orders under the power given to him by the post-coup provisional charter.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823213-thai-politics-article-44-cannot-be-a-shortcut-to-solve-urgent-problems/

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Govt urged to stop using 'national security' as an excuse to crackdown on media
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Thai government should stop using "national security" to justify media censorship, London-based Amnesty International (AI) said in a statement to mark World Press Freedom Day earlier this week.

The organisation also called for an end to crackdowns on the press in the name of national security, noting that since the coup last year, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and the military government have been maintaining a tight control over the media.

The group cited the shutting down of red-shirt leaning Peace TV as an example, saying that under NCPO's orders No 97/2014 and 103/2014, every media outlet is prohibited from criticising the coup-makers and presenting information that contravenes the military junta's measures to maintain national security.

It also noted that order No 103/2014 was issued to amend certain clauses of order No 97/2014 and allow for "honest" and "constructive" criticism of the NCPO. However, any information discrediting the military junta is prohibited and those violating the order face investigation.

Amnesty also cited the continued imprisonment of Voice of Thaksin magazine editor Somyos Prueksakasemsuk under lese majeste charges and the case against Alan Morrison and Chutima Sidasathian, an editor and journalist at Phuketwan News, who are being sued by the Navy for publishing articles in relation to human trafficking.

The organisation said Somyos was a prisoner of conscience, while the case of Morrison and Chutima was clear evidence of repression against journalists.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Govt-urged-to-stop-using-national-security-as-an-e-30259447.html


-- The Nation 2015-05-07

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UFUN to also face tax-evasion charge
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Police yesterday spoke to Revenue Department chief Prasong Pulthanes about UFUN's alleged pyramid scheme in a bid to add tax evasion to the list of charges.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823214-ufun-to-also-face-tax-evasion-charge/

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Israel's Netanyahu completes formation of government
JOSEF FEDERMAN, Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu completed the formation of a new coalition late Wednesday, putting him at the helm of a hard-line government that appears to be set on a collision course with the U.S. and other key allies.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823215-israels-benjamin-netanyahu-agrees-coalition-deal/

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Germanwings co-pilot practiced descents hours before crash
By JAMEY KEATEN and JOAN LOWY

PARIS (AP) — The co-pilot of Germanwings Flight 9525 appears to have practiced sending the jetliner into a deadly descent on another flight, just two hours before he intentionally crashed it into the French Alps, investigators said Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823216-germanwings-co-pilot-practiced-descents-hours-before-crash/

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Who is David Cameron? Elusive leader at heart of UK election
JILL LAWLESS, Associated Press

COLESHILL, England (AP) — David Cameron is fighting for his political life in Britain's election. But it sure doesn't look like it.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823217-who-is-david-cameron-elusive-leader-at-heart-of-uk-election/

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British markets bracing for post-election uncertainty
PAN PYLAS, Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — British financial markets could be headed for choppy waters after Thursday's general election, as investors face the prospect of it taking days — even weeks — to form a new government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823218-british-markets-bracing-for-post-election-uncertainty/

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Britain's UKIP drops candidate for saying he'd shoot rival
JILL LAWLESS, Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — Britain's political leaders visited factories, farms, supermarkets and schools Wednesday on the final day of campaigning before an election predicted to be excruciatingly close and frustratingly indecisive.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823220-britains-ukip-drops-candidate-for-saying-hed-shoot-rival/

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Unarmed thieves rob bank and hail taxi to flee with Bt420, 000 cash

Bangkok: – Bang Mod police are investigating a bank robbery which two thieves, unarmed and not wearing facial masks, fled with Bt420,000 cash after hailing a taxi as getaway vehicle.

The incident happened yesterday around 1.30 pm at Thanachart Bank’s Rama 2 (Soi 3) branch office.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823219-unarmed-thieves-rob-bank-and-hail-taxi-to-flee-with-bt420-000-cash/

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Light-rail system planned for Phuket

Phuket:- Phuket is going to have the light-rail system, which will materialize under the budget of about Bt23billion.

In the first phase, the light-rail route in this tourist town will run for a stretch of 60 kilometers from the Phuket International Airport to the Chalong Intersection.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823222-light-rail-system-planned-for-phuket/