NRC’s Direk: 3 months’ delay of election is acceptable if public referendum is held

BANGKOK, 15 May 2015 (NNT) - A member of the National Reform Council has suggested that it is acceptable if Thailand will have to wait three months for the next election because of a public referendum on the new charter.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....rendum-is-held/

PM axes 45 officials under graft probe with his special powers

BANGKOK: -- Invoking Section 44 of the interim constitution, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha has ordered the removal of the first batch of 45 officials and local administrators under investigation of corruption by the National Anti-Corruption Commission

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....special-powers/

SOUTH CRISIS
Two more injured in further small blasts in Yala town
Anapat Deechuay,
Nakarin Chinworakomon,
Santhiti Khorjitmate
The Nation

YALA: -- Defence minister believes attacks staged to cause confusion, not serious damage

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825582-two-more-injured-in-further-small-blasts-in-yala-town/

TRANSNATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING
PM: Myanmar can't be forced
The Nation, Agencies

BANGKOK: -- Thein Sein aide says country not likely to attend meeting on boat people; Prayu says this is neighbours' right

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825583-pm-myanmar-cant-be-forced/

TRAFFICKED MIGRANTS
Boats with migrants will be guided away: Isoc
The Nation

THAILAND will guide away boats with migrants on board found outside Thai waters or accept migrants after their boats enter Thai waters and repatriate them later, while sick boat people will be treated by medical personnel, the Internal Security Operations Command announced yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825584-boats-with-migrants-will-be-guided-away-isoc/

UPDATE:

RICE-PLEDGING SCHEME
Yingluck ready to defend herself in court
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- FORMER prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday she would attend the first hearing at the Supreme Court's Criminal Division on Holders of Political Positions on Tuesday for a case in which she is accused of negligence in connection with her government's controversial rice-pledging scheme.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825423-yingluck-says-she-will-appear-at-supreme-court-next-week-to-prove-her-innocence/page-5?p=9410338#entry9410338

SPOKESPERSON
Prayut confirms spokesman has quit
THE NATION

Yongyuth Mayalarp

BANGKOK: -- GOVERNMENT spokesman Yongyuth Mayalarp has resigned from his post, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha confirmed yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825585-prayut-confirms-spokesman-has-quit/

UPDATE:

45 govt officials transferred over corruption charges
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Utilising the interim charter's draconian Article 44, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha last night approved the transfer of 45 government officials and civil servants found to be involved in corruption.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825564-pm-axes-45-officials-under-graft-probe-with-his-special-powers/#entry9410363

Jump in crime reports to police
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- There has been a rise in crime in Thailand in recent years and more repeat offenders being caught, a spokesman from the Justice Ministry's Office of Justice Affairs said yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825587-jump-in-crime-reports-to-police/

Lesotho man hacked Pattaya hotel's email to defraud foreigners: police
The Nation

PATTAYA: -- POLICE have arrested a Lesotho man for allegedly hacking the email account of a Pattaya hotel and conning four foreigners into paying large sums for supposed room reservations, the Technology Crime Suppression Division told a press conference yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825589-lesotho-man-hacked-pattaya-hotels-email-to-defraud-foreigners-police/

Luang Por Khoon rushed to ICU
The Nation

KORAT: -- Much-revered Buddhist monk Luang Por Khoon Parisuttho was rushed to Maharaj Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital at 5am yesterday after he stopped breathing.

The medical team was able to revive him with CPR and the monk was put on a respiratory machine before being rushed to the intensive care unit. As of press time, the abbot was still breathing via a respiratory unit and cared for in the ICU.

Followers of the 92-year-old abbot have been flocking to the hospital in Nakhon Ratchasima town hoping to hear some good news.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Luang-Por-Khoon-rushed-to-ICU-30260238.html

-- The Nation 2015-05-16

Legislative assembly accepts the idea of non-MP premier without question
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- NOT a single member of the National Legislative Assembly voiced opposition yesterday to a constitutional clause that would allow a non-MP to become prime minister.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825590-legislative-assembly-accepts-the-idea-of-non-mp-premier-without-question/

NRC holds forum to hear opinions on new constitution
KRIS BHROMSUTHI
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- KEY political parties yesterday criticised several controversial provisions in the draft charter and demanded that they be amended before a referendum is held.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825591-nrc-holds-forum-to-hear-opinions-on-new-constitution/

Govt to control medicine prices in coming months to rein in healthcare costs
Pratch Rujivanarom
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE GOVERNMENT is looking at reining in skyrocketing healthcare costs incurred by patients at private hospitals by controlling the price of medicines and hospital services.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825592-govt-to-control-medicine-prices-in-coming-months-to-rein-in-healthcare-costs/

EDITORIAL
Referendum debate misses the key point
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Real issue isn't about putting the charter to a vote

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825593-referendum-debate-misses-the-key-point/

US jury orders death for the Boston Marathon bomber
DENISE LAVOIE, AP Legal Affairs Writer

BOSTON (AP) — A jury sentenced Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to death Friday for the Boston Marathon bombing, sweeping aside pleas that he was just a "kid" who fell under the influence of his fanatical older brother.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825594-us-jury-orders-death-for-the-boston-marathon-bomber/

Bin Laden top aide sentenced to life in embassy bombing plot
TOM HAYS, Associated Press
LARRY NEUMEISTER, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — A former top aide to Osama bin Laden was sentenced Friday to life in prison for conspiring in the deadly 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa, with the judge rejecting his claims that he is not a violent man.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825595-bin-laden-top-aide-sentenced-to-life-in-embassy-bombing-plot/

Ex-UK tabloid editor Coulson in perjury trial in Scotland

LONDON (AP) — Former UK tabloid editor Andy Coulson has gone on trial in Scotland accused of perjury.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825596-ex-uk-tabloid-editor-coulson-in-perjury-trial-in-scotland/

Cameron considers more powers for Scotland _ but not fiscal
SYLVIA HUI, Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister David Cameron said Friday he would consider handing over more power to Scotland, but stopped short of agreeing to demands from Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to grant the territory full fiscal autonomy.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825597-cameron-considers-more-powers-for-scotland-but-not-fiscal/

Chiang Mai: – Mae Rim police have imposed a fine of 1,000 baht for Chiang Mai X-Centre under the charge of allowing a nude bungee jumping last week.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825599-chiang-mai-x-centre-fined-for-nude-bungee-jumping/

Bangkok: – The Crime Suppression Division has launched a fact-finding investigation into alleged diamond embezzlement involving a CSD officer.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825598-police-officer-under-investigation-for-diamond-embezzlement/

Police arrest UFUN Pyramid Scam “Member” in Pattaya

PATTAYA: -- As the UFUN Pyramid Scam continues to make headlines in Thailand, Police continue to search for and arrest those who are thought to be involved in attracting investors to the scheme which has reportedly cheated hundreds out of many millions of Baht.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825600-police-arrest-ufun-pyramid-scam-member-in-pattaya/

District Licensing Unit check late night venues in Jomtien

PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Friday, a team of Banglamung District Licensing Officers, led by the Deputy Chief of the District, conducted raids on venues situated at 20 separate locations around Jomtien and encountered problems at 10 venues.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825601-district-licensing-unit-check-late-night-venues-in-jomtien/

Further raids on Pattaya Constructors Campsites in Pattaya

PATTAYA: -- On Friday further raids took place at constructor’s campsites which were suspected of housing illegal foreign workers.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825602-further-raids-on-pattaya-constructors-campsites-in-pattaya/

Pathum Thani:- Four Nigerian men have found that the same old trick of impersonating handsome farang and parcel of gift mailing still worked on certain Thai women.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825608-four-nigerians-arrested-in-online-love-scam/

RT@ChadapornLin: Rain seen in eastern part of Bangkok around Saimai, Romklao areas

RT@191Thailand: Fire at Racha Furniture in Yala this morning - TR @phoom91: http://t.co/zodOMhnjE6 #Thailand

RT@ChadapornLin: Phuket-Su-ngaikolok bus accident kills 1 and injures 28

Chon Buri:- Several Chinese tourists were injured when their chartered bus heading to Pattaya was cut in front by a truck, causing it to fall to the roadside and crash into a road sign Friday afternoon, police said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825616-chinese-tourists-injured-in-bus-crash/

One woman killed when Phuket tour bus flips in Krabi
Eakkapop Thongtub


One woman was found trapped under the wreckage.

KRABI: -- One passenger was killed and 28 injured when the tour bus they were travelling on flipped and fell into a ditch in Ao Luek in Krabi last night.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/825625-one-woman-killed-when-phuket-tour-bus-flips-in-krabi/