Thailand Live Thursday 21 May 2015

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Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn opens medicinal plants garden in Bangkok

BANGKOK, 21 May 2015 (NNT) - Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on Wednesday (May 20) proceeded to Suanluang Rama IX Park in Prawet District, to open a Medicinal Plants Garden built in honor of the Princess on the occasion of her fifth cycle birthday, April 2, 2015.

The garden covers an area of six rai and contains more than 400 medicinal plants for the interested public and students to learn and apply the knowledge for use at their own households.

The garden’s landscape is divided into sections based on the characteristics and uses of plants such as tubers, fragrant plants, water plants and plants used for treating physical discomforts such as hop headed barleria (เสลดพังพอน) and aloe vera. The garden also has a knob stone ground which can boost visitors’ health when walking on it.

Her Royal Highness had a tour around the garden and visited various booths displaying the properties of medicinal plants and products made from them such as soaps, shampoo, toothpaste and mosquito repellents. Her Royal Highness also watched a Khon classical mask dance performed by members of the 'Returning Khon to the Youngsters Group', which has been established to persuade the younger generation to appreciate the value of Thai art and culture and to spend their free time in a constructive way.


-- NNT 2015-05-21

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BEIRUT (AP) - Syrian activists say Islamic State extremists have seized almost full control of Palmyra.

YOLA, Nigeria (AP) - Officer: 275 rescued from Boko Haram put in military custody amid fears of aiding extremists .

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Death penalty repeal wins final approval in US state's legislature with veto-proof majority.

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Thai university students score 7/100 for English test

Bangkok:- The host of a popular English-teaching TV program “Chris Delivery” has stirred a hot debate on Thailand’s English teaching when he posted a photo of an English test paper that showed a score of 7 out of 100.

Christ Wright posted the photo on his Facebook wall, saying it was a test paper of a student from a famous university in Thailand whose name was not given.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826733-thai-university-students-score-7100-for-english-test/

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UPDATE:

ROHINGYA
Malaysia, Indonesia agree on temporary migrant shelters
THE NATION, AGENCIES

Thailand non-commital until May 29 meeting of 15 nationals; KL, Jakarta want international resettlement within a year

KUALA LUMPUR: -- MALAYSIA and Indonesia said yesterday they would no longer turn away boat people and would offer them temporary shelter, following a breakthrough arrived at during a meeting in Kuala Lumpur of three foreign ministers, including Thailand's Tanasak Patimapragorn, who refrained from participating in the offer.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826648-malaysia-indonesia-to-scrap-policy-of-turning-away-asylum-seeker-boats/#entry9428440

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Thai Rights Commission Challenges Shutdown of Redshirt TV Channel
By Khaosod English


Readshirt leader Nattawut Saikua in a YouTube segment uploaded by Peace TV on 19 May 2015.

BANGKOK — Thailand’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has disputed a state agency's decision to pull a Redshirt-operated TV station off the air, calling the move an unjustified violation of freedom of expression.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826767-thai-rights-commission-challenges-shutdown-of-redshirt-tv-channel/

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MFA affirms Thailand has long been helping Rohingyas

BANGKOK, 21 May 2015 (NNT) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded to international calls for Thailand to assist Rohingya migrants, saying the Kingdom has already been doing so.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826768-mfa-affirms-thailand-has-long-been-helping-rohingyas/

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Foreign Man injured in Chinese-led Road Rage incident in Central Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- A foreign man, thought to be German and aged in his fifties, was injured during a road rage incident which occurred in Central Pattaya early on Wednesday Morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826668-foreign-man-injured-in-chinese-led-road-rage-incident-in-central-pattaya/

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EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
Postage stamp to help Nepal
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- A new stamp collection was produced by Thailand Post to raise funds for earthquake victims in Nepal.

The "Thailand Post for Nepal' collection consists of 20 stamps and will be sold for Bt120 a set. Each stamp depicts scenic spots and the daily life of Nepalese people, photographed before the quake, by 2009 National Artist Woranan Chatchawanti-pakorn, and 1989 SEA WRITE Award winner Jiranan Pitpreecha, as well as other well-known photographers.

Half of the proceeds will be donated to quake victims via the Thai Red Cross Society. Those interested can make a reservation at post offices or order it through the website www.postemart.com.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Postage-stamp-to-help-Nepal-30260554.html


-- The Nation 2015-05-21

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Landscape adjustment campaign held to boost tourism in Krabi

KRABI, 21 May 2015 (NNT) - “Krabi: The City of Beauty and Clean Water” campaign has been officially launched in which electricity and phone cables and transport routes in the province will be rearranged to improve its landscape.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826769-landscape-adjustment-campaign-held-to-boost-tourism-in-krabi/

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Krabi to regulate placement of billboards for better landscape

KRABI, 21 May 2015 (NNT) - Krabi Province is to regulate placement of expired and worn-out billboards while city trees will be given pruning to improve the landscape of Krabi as a famous tourism city.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826770-krabi-to-regulate-placement-of-billboards-for-better-landscape/

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MEDICINE
Compulsory licensing sought for hepatitis C medication
PRATCH RUJIVANAROM
THE NATION


Aids patient-rights activists and Rural Pharmacists Association representatives yesterday rally |outside the Public Health Ministry in Nonthaburi

BANGKOK: -- ACTIVISTS yesterday called on the Public Health Ministry to use compulsory licensing to ensure wide access of the medicine for hepatitis C and to control its price.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826771-compulsory-licensing-sought-for-hepatitis-c-medication/

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NEW CHARTER
'Referendum won't be mandatory'
THE NATION

Amendment to interim charter will only provide plebiscite as an option; cabinet meets on Monday

BANGKOK: -- AN AMENDMENT to the interim charter could pave the way for a referendum to be held with legitimacy, but it would not stipulate that a plebiscite must be held, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826772-new-thai-charter-referendum-wont-be-mandatory/

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TAXATION
As NLA mulls inheritance tax, ministry resists raising threshold
ERICH PARPART
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- AS THE NATIONAL Legislative Assembly prepares for the second and third readings of the inheritance tax bill today, the Finance Ministry is standing firm on a tax threshold of Bt50 million, while a special committee of the NLA and most of the critics of the planned tax want it raised to Bt100 million.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826773-as-nla-mulls-inheritance-tax-thai-fm-ministry-resists-raising-threshold/

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Thai room rates expected to rise this year
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- ALTHOUGH Asia-Pacific markets will receive more international visitors this year, hotel room rates in cities in Thailand and China are expected to show the lowest growth among major cities in Asia because of having more hotel developments in the pipeline.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826774-thai-room-rates-expected-to-rise-this-year/

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TELL IT AS IT IS
On boat people: More SINNERS than saints

BANGKOK: -- Cockroaches" and "a plague of feral humans" were the terms used to describe boat people earlier this month by Katie Hopkins, a British television personality. She proposed that nations "bring on gunships, force migrants back to their shores and burn the boats".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826775-on-boat-people-more-sinners-than-saints/

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EDITORIAL
Political parties run by the people, not patriarchs

How to fix a glaring weakness in Thai democracy

BANGKOK: -- In the wake of three consecutive election defeats, former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced at the weekend that if he fails to guide the Democrat Party to victory in the next general election, he will step down as leader.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826776-thai-editorial-political-parties-run-by-the-people-not-patriarchs/

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THAI TALK
Referendum on new charter: A DECEPTIVELY SIMPLE issue

BANGKOK: -- Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha was initially against holding a referendum on the new constitution draft, citing the estimated Bt3 billion budget for the vote which, he said, could be more fruitfully spent elsewhere.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826777-referendum-on-new-charter-a-deceptively-simple-issue/

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Russian Woman drowns on Jomtien Beach

PATTAYA: -- Late on Wednesday Night, a 76 year old Russian Woman drowned in waters off Jomtien Beach.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826778-russian-woman-drowns-on-jomtien-beach/

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Pattaya Reporter “save the day” with lost handbag



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Wednesday a local Reporter facilitated the return of a lost handbag, which contained a purse full of money after he found the bag on Pattaya Second Road.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826779-pattaya-reporter-save-the-day-with-lost-handbag/

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ONE YEAR AFTER THE COUP
Delaying general election will put more pressure on junta
KRIS BHROMSUTHI
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THERE HAS been growing anxiety about the National Council for Peace and Order's "road map" to the general election, with discussions in recent weeks suggesting the election may be held much later than originally promised after the May 22 coup last year. Those interviewed say the longer the election is delayed, the more the pressure on General Prayut Chan-o-cha's administration and the NCPO.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826780-delaying-general-election-will-put-more-pressure-on-junta/

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Prasert puts accusation down to personal conflict

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- ONE OF the 45 state officials suspended for alleged corrupt practices proclaimed his innocence yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826781-prasert-puts-accusation-down-to-personal-conflict/

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BURNING ISSUE
Divisions still intense as reformers juggle with new charter
ATTAYUTH BOOTSRIPOOM

BANGKOK: -- THE National Reform Council (NRC) is about to hand the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) its suggested revisions to the draft constitution.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826782-divisions-still-intense-as-reformers-juggle-with-new-thai-charter/

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Plan to make 191 national emergency number
Usanee Mongkolporn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), in a joint project with the Royal Thai Police, is planning to promote 191 as the national emergency number.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826783-plan-to-make-191-national-emergency-number/

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D-Day in war against forest encroachers
KASEM CHANATHIT,
PIYANUT TUMNUKASETCHAI
THE NATION

NATIONWIDE CRACKDOWN SET TO BEGIN ON JUNE 1, ENVIRONMENT MINISTER SAYS

BANGKOK: -- NATURAL RESOURCES and Environment Minister General Dapong Rattanasuwan yesterday revealed that operations against forestland encroachers nationwide would be under way from June 1.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826784-d-day-in-war-against-thai-forest-encroachers/

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Police lock up rooms owned by key suspect, four more arrested in UFUN case
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- POLICE yesterday raided and blocked access to 13 rooms at a condominium on Ratchadaphisek Road owned by a Malaysian suspect involved in the controversial UFUN investment scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826785-thai-police-lock-up-rooms-owned-by-key-suspect-four-more-arrested-in-ufun-case/

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B.C. man’s elephant selfie in Thailand goes viral
By Amy Judd


This elephant selfie is garnering worldwide attention.
Credit: Christian LeBlanc

VANCOUVER – Call it an elephant selfie or an ‘elphie’, but it’s capturing the attention of media around the world.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826786-canadian-mans-elephant-selfie-in-thailand-goes-viral/

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Islamic State seizes ancient town of Palmyra in Syria
By ZEINA KARAM and SAMEER N. YACOUB

BEIRUT (AP) — Islamic State extremists captured the ancient Syrian town of Palmyra after government defense lines there collapsed Wednesday, a stunning triumph for the group only days after it captured the strategic city of Ramadi in Iraq.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826787-islamic-state-seizes-ancient-town-of-palmyra-in-syria/

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David Letterman to sign off as late-night host
By DAVID BAUDER

NEW YORK (AP) — After 33 years and 6,028 broadcasts of his late-night show, David Letterman is signing off.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826788-david-letterman-to-sign-off-as-late-night-host/

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US releases 100+ bin Laden documents
By CONNIE CASS and ROBERT BURNS

WASHINGTON (AP) — Documents swept up in the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound portray a leader cut off from his underlings, disappointed by their failures, beset by their complaints and regretting years of separation from much of his extensive family.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826789-us-releases-100-bin-laden-documents/

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Efforts underway to scrub spilled oil from California coast
By, Associated Press

GOLETA, California (AP) — Environmental workers Wednesday cleaned along a stretch of California coastline stained by thousands of gallons (kilograms) of crude oil that spilled from a broken pipe and flowed into the Pacific Ocean.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826790-race-to-cleanup-california-oil-spill/