Thailand Live Wednesday 20 May 2015

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International Visakha Bucha ceremony to take place next week

BANGKOK, 20 May 2015 (NNT) – The government will be organizing the International Visakha Bucha ceremony to celebrate the world’s important day and as tribute to HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on the auspicious occasion of her fifth cycle birthday.

The rector of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU) Phra Brahmapundit, along with the Director-General of the Public Relations Department (PRD) Apinan Juntarungsri, held a press conference addressing that the 2015 International Visakha Bucha ceremony will be held during 27-31 May 2015.

The event will take place at the MCU's campus in Ayutthaya, the United Nations building in Bangkok, and at Phutthamonthon in Nakhon Pathom as an offering to the Lord Buddha, and as tribute to HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in the auspicious occasion of her fifth cycle birthday.

Activities in this event will include the international seminar titled ‘Buddhism and the Global Crisis’ on 29 May 2015, a workshop on the international Tripitaka issue, and another seminar on Buddhism and the ASEAN Community. The events will be attended by about 5,000 Buddhist monks, philosophers, and experts on Buddhism from 90 countries around the world.

The PRD Director-General has revealed that NBT channel will provide a televised broadcast for the opening ceremony on 28 May at 2-3pm. Televised coverages also include speeches from important figures on 30 May at 9-10am, and the announcement of the Bangkok Declaration at 2-3pm on the same day.

A number of youths have attended this press conference showing great interest to learn about the religion. These youth have been selected as the Ambassador this year's International Visakha Bucha ceremony.


-- NNT 2015-05-20

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Baby shark chokes and flops for amusement of tourists
By Coconuts Bangkok



PHUKET: -- Photos of super-excited Thai tourists ignorant enough to pet a baby shark pulled from the waters of Koh Phi Phi has enraged the online community this week after a marine activist helped spread the word.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826408-shark-petting-pix-near-phuket-spark-net-outrage/

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Cabinet agrees to use Section 44 to solve aviation problem

BANGKOK, 20 May 2015 (NNT) – The Cabinet has decided to resort to Section 44 of the interim constitution to rectify safety deficiencies in Thai aviation in the wake of concerns expressed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826505-thai-cabinet-agrees-to-use-section-44-to-solve-aviation-problem/

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UNHCR, IOM
UN agencies: Help boat people
THE NATION


A Royal Thai Navy handout photo made available on 19 May 2015 shows some 450 ethnic Rohingya migrants believed to be from Myanmar and Bangladesh on a boat, which was abandoned by it's captain and crew, being inspected by Thai navy officers in the Andaman Sea

UNHCR and IOM call on southeast Asian countries to rescue stranded migrants

BANGKOK: -- UNITED NATIONS' agencies for refugees and human rights - together with the International Organisation for Migration - yesterday urged Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia to save and protect hundreds of boat people from Bangladesh and Myanmar stranded on vessels in the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826506-un-agencies-help-boat-people/

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UPDATE:

CONSTITUTION DRAFTING
Cabinet agrees to charter referendum
KRIS BHROMSUTHI,
WIRAJ SRIPONG
THE NATION



Public could vote on new constitution in January

BANGKOK: -- A NATIONAL referendum on the draft charter could possibly start on January 16, after the Cabinet and National Council for Peace and Order finally gave it their blessing, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-Ngam told reporters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826357-public-referendum-for-thai-charter-draft-to-be-held/#entry9424650

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UPDATE:

RICE-PLEDGING SCHEME
Yingluck pleads not guilty, gets bail for Bt30 million
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- FORMER prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra pleaded not guilty before Supreme Court judges yesterday to charges of negligence in the rice-pledging scheme that allegedly cost the country more than Bt600 billion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826385-yingluck-pledges-30-million-baht-cash-in-savings-account-to-secure-release-on-court-bail/#entry9424654

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GOLD MINE
Contradictory claims over cyanide 'leaks'
PRATCH RUJIVANAROM
THE NATION
PHICHIT

GOLD MINE SAYS TAILINGS DON'T LEAK; BUT LOCALS CLAIM TAILING STORAGE SYSTEM IS NOT FOOLPROOF

PHICHIT: -- OPERATORS of a gold mine said yesterday that its tailing storage facilities did not cause cyanide and other heavy metals to contaminate the local environment, as claimed by residents in Phichit, Phitsanulok and Phetchabun.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826508-phichit-gold-mine-contradictory-claims-over-cyanide-leaks/

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1 YEAR AFTER THE COUP
People's rights severely curtailed over the past year
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- CITIZENS' civil and political rights have suffered severely over the past 12 months since the May 22 coup, and there are no signs of things improving in the foreseeable future, human-rights experts and activists have said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826509-1-year-after-the-coup-peoples-rights-severely-curtailed-over-the-past-year/

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1 YEAR AFTER THE COUP
Reclamation of forest land 'has had mixed results'
PRATCH RUJIVANAROM
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- WHILE the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has a good policy to reclaim forestland from encroachers, landless and underprivileged people have sadly been the first group to bear the brunt of its implementation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826510-reclamation-of-thai-forest-land-has-had-mixed-results/

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DIGITAL TV
Group presses NBTC over digital TV voucher scheme
Usanee Mongkolporn,
Watchiranont Thongtep
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A LOBBY group is pressing the broadcasting regulator to address problems related to the subsidy programme for digital TV receivers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826511-group-presses-nbtc-over-digital-tv-voucher-scheme/

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PUBLIC DEBT RESTRUCTURE
Move to restructure debts of four state agencies totalling Bt700 billion
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) will soon propose a legal draft for restructuring of the debts of four state agencies, totalling Bt700 billion, through lower borrowing costs and more efficient management.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826512-move-to-restructure-debts-of-four-state-agencies-totalling-bt700-billion/

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Investigations continue into murder of Cambodian Boy by his Mother in East Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- As Police continue to investigate the disturbing case of murder of a 5 year old boy by her 47 year old Cambodian Mother in East Pattaya, little progress has been made so far due to the deteriorating condition of the Mother who has now been transferred out of Pattaya to a Hospital in Chonburi for specialist care.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826513-investigations-continue-into-murder-of-cambodian-boy-by-his-mother-in-east-pattaya/

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Motorbike Taxi Driver killed in Central Pattaya Road Crash



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Tuesday a 50 year old Motorbike Taxi Driver, who also served as a Pattaya Police Volunteer, was killed and his passenger was seriously injured after hgis bike was rear-ended by a pick-up truck.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826514-motorbike-taxi-driver-killed-in-central-pattaya-road-crash/

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Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand to meet on boatpeople crisis
AFP

BANGKOK: -- Malaysia's foreign minister was to host his Indonesian and Thai counterparts on Wednesday for urgent talks on Southeast Asia's boatpeople crisis, with pressure mounting on them to help thousands of starving migrants.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826515-malaysia-indonesia-and-thailand-to-meet-on-boatpeople-crisis/

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STOPPAGE TIME
Politics taking on a LIFE OF ITS OWN

BANGKOK: -- Thai politics watchers were checking three things before they went to bed last night. They wanted updates on what the military junta said about the current charter draft, whether Yingluck Shinawatra showed up at court to hear rice scheme charges, and what her big brother Thaksin Shinawatra had to say at an economic conference in Seoul.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826516-thai-opinion-politics-taking-on-a-life-of-its-own/

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Thailand is the happiest country to be gay in East Asia
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- Thailand is the happiest country to be gay in East Asia and ranked 16th in the world, according to the recent “Gay Happiness Index” from dating service PlanetRomeo.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826518-thailand-is-the-happiest-country-to-be-gay-in-east-asia/

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GLO board decides to scrap jackpot prizes



BANGKOK: -- The board of the Government Lottery Office (GLO) has agreed to scrap the jackpot prizes starting from August 1 draw and will resort to tax, anti-money laundering and anti-corruption laws to deal with major lottery traders who overcharge lottery prices, said Maj-Gen Apirat Kongsompong, chairman of the GLO board.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826519-thai-govt-lottery-office-board-decides-to-scrap-jackpot-prizes/

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DSI to probe ID forgery gang after many Rohinya migrants have Thai ID cards



BANGKOK: -- The Justice Ministry today ordered the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to investigate after the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) sent in reports indicating many Rohinya migrants have Thai identity cards.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826520-dsi-to-probe-id-forgery-gang-after-many-rohinya-migrants-have-thai-id-cards/

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Panel to check Luang Phor Khoon and temple's assets
PRASIT TANGPRASERT,
JITIMA JANPHROM
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE CHIEF monk for Nakhon Ratchasima province has set up a 31-member committee to inspect the assets of Wat Ban Rai and its recently deceased abbot Luang Phor Khoon Parisuttho.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826521-panel-to-check-luang-phor-khoon-and-temples-assets/

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Doctor insists controversial monk is unwell, DSI says
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A DOCTOR who claimed that Phra Dhammachayo, abbot of the high-profile Wat Dhammakaya, is unwell in an excuse submitted to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has insisted his medical opinion is valid, a senior DSI official said yesterday. DSI had summoned the monk for questioning over his ties to the Klongchan Credit Union cooperative.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826522-doctor-insists-controversial-thai-monk-is-unwell-dsi-says/

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Abhisit denies plan to quit politics if Democrats lose
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday denied that he was planning to give up politics should his party lose the next general election.

Full story: [/b]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826523-abhisit-denies-plan-to-quit-politics-if-democrats-lose/

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No plan to mobilise red shirts: Thaksin
REUTERS
SEOUL


This handout photo released by The Chosunilbo shows Thailand's former premier Thaksin Shinawatra speaking at the Asian Leadership Conference in Seoul on May 19, 2015.

SEOUL: -- FUGITIVE former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday that he had no plans to mobilise red-shirt supporters, but called the first year of the military government "not so impressive".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826525-no-plan-to-mobilise-red-shirts-thaksin/

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BURNING ISSUE
Bloody May memories and lessons still not learned
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK

BANGKOK: -- THE month of May is a politically loaded month for modern Thai political history. Our society as a whole, however, seems to have failed to learn and consolidate crucial lessons from its past.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826526-thai-politics-bloody-may-memories-and-lessons-still-not-learned/

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Some families lose hope that justice will be served
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- FIVE YEARS after the end of the bloody crackdown on red shirts which led to the combined death of 99 people, some of the protesters interviewed have given up hope of getting justice.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826527-2010-crackdown-some-families-lose-hope-that-justice-will-be-served/

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Police seek to indict 20 court bomb suspects
THE NATION

File Photo

BANGKOK: -- POLICE yesterday sought to indict 20 suspects in relation to the bomb attack at the Criminal Court on March7.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826528-thai-police-seek-to-indict-20-court-bomb-suspects/

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Thailand death: Rachel Turner 'seen arguing with her boyfriend hours before body found in hotel pool'
BY MIRROR.CO.UK
Thai police claim hotel staff witnessed the couple quarrelling on their balcony.

LONDON: -- A British woman who was found dead in a swimming pool in Thailand was seen arguing with her partner hours earlier, Thai police claim.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826529-koh-chang-british-woman-seen-arguing-with-her-boyfriend-hours-before-body-found-in-hotel-pool/

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Prostitute pleads guilty in overdose death of Google exec
By MARTHA MENDOZA

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — A California prostitute charged with killing a Google executive with an overdose of heroin aboard his yacht pleaded guilty Tuesday to involuntary manslaughter and administering drugs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826530-woman-pleads-guilty-in-overdose-death-of-google-exec/

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UN says will engage Israel on 'realistic options' for talks
CARA ANNA, Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations' new Middle East envoy said Tuesday that he and the U.N. secretary-general will engage Israel's new government to explore "realistic options" for a return to talks with the Palestinians aimed at a two-state solution within a reasonable time frame.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826531-un-says-will-engage-israel-on-realistic-options-for-talks/

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Clinton urges State Department to speed release of emails
By JULIE PACE and LISA LERER

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton urged the State Department on Tuesday to speed the release of 55,000 pages of emails from her time as secretary of state, as her decision to spurn administration rules and use a private email address continued to dog her presidential campaign.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826532-clinton-urges-state-department-to-speed-release-of-emails/

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Takata air bag recall doubles to nearly 34 million
By MARCY GORDON and TOM KRISHER

WASHINGTON (AP) — Under pressure from U.S. safety regulators, Takata Corp. has agreed to declare 33.8 million air bags defective, a move that will double the number of cars and trucks included in what is now the largest auto recall in U.S. history.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826533-record-us-car-recall-over-airbags/