Thailand Live Saturday 23 May 2015

[Lite Beer]

ONE YEAR AFTER THE COUP
Views from both sides of the divide on the military seizure of power
KRIS BHROMSUTHI
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- ONE year after the coup, four high-profile individuals share their views on how they view the process to transform society under the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). The following are excerpts from interviews:

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827314-views-from-both-sides-of-the-divide-on-the-military-seizure-of-power/

[Lite Beer]

NBTC extends first-lot Digital TV coupons validity

BANGKOK, 22 May 2015 (NNT) – The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has extended the validity of the first-lot of Digital TV coupons for two more months, allowing the public to redeem for hybrid set top boxes within a longer timeframe.

The NBTC Secretary-General Takorn Tantasith has revealed that the NBTC has received permission from the National Council for Peace and Order to extend the validity of the first-lot Digital TV coupons, originally set to expire on 31 May 2015, to 31 July 2015.

This extension will provide holders the chance to redeem the voucher for the hybrid set top box that will allow viewing of both digital television and satellite television channels. The new set top boxes are expected to be available in the market in June 2015.

On the progress of digital TV channel license payments, the NBTC Secretary-General has said that 16 channels' transactions have already been completed. The licensing payment deadline cannot be further extended.

-- NNT 2015-05-22

[Lite Beer]

Thailand to review open sky policy
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand is to review the open sky policy, eyeing to adopt conditional liberalisation.

Transport Minister ACM Prajin Juntong said Friday that air traffic required the management of flight frequency at airports and air traffic control.

The airspace starts to get congested, he said after a meeting with transport officials. If the situation remains this way, it might affect the quality of service and safety, he added.

Relevant departments are assigned to draft a new plan within September and the plan will be submitted to the Cabinet by the end of this year, he said.

Source: http://www.nationmul...y-30260777.html

-- The Nation 2015-05-22

[Lite Beer]

THRESHOLD RAISED TO BT100M
NLA passes first inheritance tax bill
ERICH PARPART
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Assembly backs levy 145-5 after threshold raised to Bt100m, minimum rate dropped to 5%, as sommai lauds bid to decrease inequality

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827316-nla-passes-first-inheritance-tax/

[Lite Beer]

ONE YEAR AFTER THE COUP
HRW calls for pressure on the junta
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- HUMAN Rights Watch yesterday called on the foreign community to continue to pressure the Thai government of General Prayut Chan-o-cha to return democracy to the Kingdom.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827318-hrw-calls-for-pressure-on-the-junta/

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

COUP ANNIVERSARY
Dozens arrested in anti-coup protests in Bangkok, Khon Kaen
KRIS BHROMSUTHI
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH
JITTIMA JUNPHOME
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- ANTI-COUP protests flared up in at least three locations in Bangkok and Khon Kaen yesterday to mark the first anniversary of the coup.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827153-small-thai-anti-junta-groups-vow-protests-on-coup-anniversary/?p=9436102#entry9436102

[Lite Beer]

Suspect in KMITL case nabbed
THE NATION

A key suspect in the King Mongkut Institute of Technology Lat Krabang embezzlement case, Kittisak Matthujad, is escorted to a police press conference after he was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

BANGKOK: -- Man wanted in institute's embezzlement case arrested at Suvarnabhumi airport

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827320-suspect-in-kmitl-case-nabbed/

[Lite Beer]

Pol search ex-Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative chairman's office.
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police have seized many documents and valuable objects from the office of the former chairman of the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative as part of the probe in the alleged embezzlement at the cooperative.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827321-pol-search-ex-klongchan-credit-union-cooperative-chairmans-office/

[Lite Beer]

Bt1.8-billion UFUN assets smuggled to Malaysia, say police
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- AROUND BT1.8 billion of UFUN Thailand's investment assets belonging to Thailand-based investors has been withdrawn and wired to Malaysia for laundering, chief investigator Pol Lt-General Suwira Songmetta said yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827322-bt18-billion-ufun-assets-smuggled-to-malaysia-say-police/

[Lite Beer]

Isoc to consider rights body's land plan
PRATCH RUJIVANAROM
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THERE has been more progress in the effort to find a solution to land conflicts caused by the government's forest-reclamation policy, with the authorities accepting a draft public sector master plan written in response to the issue.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827323-isoc-to-consider-rights-bodys-land-plan/

[Lite Beer]

BT8.2 MILLION FOR QUAKE VICTIMS
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Nation Multimedia Group has raised almost Bt8.2 million for victims of the Nepal earthquake.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827324-bt82-million-for-quake-victims/

[Lite Beer]

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Lottery ticket sales 'are set for radical change'
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE sale of lottery tickets could be subject to an unprecedented change after June 16, the date by which retailers must sell lottery tickets at Bt80 per ticket, the chairman of the Government Lottery Board implied yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827325-lottery-ticket-sales-are-set-for-radical-change/

[Lite Beer]

Chavalit denies 'Kra Canal deal'
THE NATION

Former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh issued a statement at his Nonthaburi residence yesterday, dismissing as untrue reports that he signed an agreement with the Chinese government about possible dredging of a channel across the Isthmus of Kra in Ra

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827328-chavalit-denies-kra-canal-deal/

[Lite Beer]

EC urges alternate charter reforms, opposes plan for open party-lists
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE ELECTION Commission delivered an eight-point proposal to the constitution drafters yesterday in which it called for the EC to get increased power, including the capacity to disqualify poll candidates and call a new election in the event of suspected fraud.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827329-ec-urges-alternate-charter-reforms-opposes-plan-for-open-party-lists/

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

1 YEAR AFTER THE COUP
Prayut, junta want 'happiness for Thais'
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- A YEAR AFTER SEIZING POWER, PM PLEADS FOR MORAL SUPPORT

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827295-prayut-and-junta-still-want-happiness-for-people/#entry9436177

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL
Technology mustn't gobble up 'quality time'
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Work has been made easier, but human interaction is shrinking

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827331-technology-mustnt-gobble-up-quality-time/

[Lite Beer]

Thailand and China to strengthen cooperation on human rights

BANGKOK, 22 May 2015 (NNT) - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Don Pramudwinai had a meeting in Bangkok with Luo Haocai, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the 9th and 10th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and President of China Society for Human Rights Studies (CSHRS) during the latter’s visit to Thailand in order to strengthen cooperation on human rights with academic institutions and relevant organizations in Thailand.

Both sides discussed and exchanged views on several issues of common interest including human rights projects and activities of both governments and civil society organizations in both countries.

In addition, they shared their views on efforts to increase public awareness on human rights, which should start from young children and adolescents, as well as cooperation in researches and studies to promote human rights in the era of information technology and social media.

-- NNT 2015-05-22

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

NLA passes inheritance tax bill by majority votes

BANGKOK: -- The National Legislative Assembly on Friday endorsed the final reading of the inheritance tax bill by 145 votes against 5 with ten abstentions after heated debate on certain sections of the bill.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827316-nla-passes-first-inheritance-tax-bill/#entry9436213

[Lite Beer]

Islamic State loyalists claim Saudi mosque attack
ABDULLAH AL-SHIHRI, Associated Press
AYA BATRAWY, Associated Press

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — A suicide bomber unleashed a blast in a Shiite mosque in eastern Saudi Arabia as worshippers commemorated the birth of a revered saint, killing at least 21 people and wounding dozens more in the deadliest attack seen in the kingdom in more than a decade. Loyalists of the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the bombing.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827332-islamic-state-loyalists-claim-saudi-mosque-attack/

[Lite Beer]

Clinton received sensitive info on private email account
LISA LERER, Associated Press
MATTHEW LEE, Associated Press
JACK GILLUM, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton received information on her private email account about the deadly attack on U.S. diplomatic facilities in Benghazi that was later classified "secret" at the request of the FBI, according to documents released Friday, underscoring lingering questions about how responsibly she handled sensitive information on a home server.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827333-clinton-received-sensitive-info-on-private-email-account/

[Lite Beer]

Yes or no? Ireland decides whether to legalize gay marriage
SHAWN POGATCHNIK, Associated Press

DUBLIN (AP) — Voters determined to have their voice heard on gay marriage turned out in strength Friday for Ireland's most hard-fought referendum in decades, a contest that pitted the liberal forces of social change against the nation's conservative Catholic foundation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827335-yes-or-no-ireland-decides-whether-to-legalize-gay-marriage/

[Lite Beer]

Cameron: Tough times for EU ahead of UK membership vote

RIGA, Latvia (AP) — British Prime Minister David Cameron set off Friday on a whirlwind campaign to change the way the European Union is run, warning of a rough road ahead to achieve the reform needed to keep his country from leaving.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827336-cameron-tough-times-for-eu-ahead-of-uk-membership-vote/

[Lite Beer]

AirAsia plane shudders to a halt in Phuket bomb scare
Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: A language teacher in Phuket faces up to five years in jail and a fine of up to B200,000 for making a false bomb threat on an AirAsia aircraft about to take off from Phuket International Airport this morning (May22).

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827338-airasia-plane-shudders-to-a-halt-in-phuket-bomb-scare/

[Lite Beer]

Sold for ransom: On the trail of Thailand's human traffickers
By Jonathan Head
South East Asia correspondent

As the trade in human beings becomes more and more profitable, the BBC's Jonathan Head discovers that entire communities in Thailand are helping the traffickers.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827342-sold-for-ransom-on-the-trail-of-thailands-human-traffickers/

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RT@RichardBarrow: Retro Bangkok: The Classic Car exhibition at Seacon Square this weekend featuring 30 rarely seen classic automobiles http://t.co/u4wrYqJcZN

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RT@RichardBarrow: Thai Craft Fair today from 10am-3pm in the Jasmine City Building near BTS Asok #Bangkok http://t.co/z8WGbMeZmv

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RT@CNNInternatDesk: Kim Jong Un's brother seen at Eric Clapton concert http://t.co/ZlaE7OWnfX

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RT@NOW26_ktnews: #MorningNews "คสช."อนุมัติยืดอายุคูปองดิจิทัลล็อตแรก2เดือน http://t.co/UB7jREMi3h #NOW26 #ktnews http://t.co/yL7dByXLUQ

[Lite Beer]

Princess Maha Chakri graces the opening of national conference on Ageing and Elderly

BANGKOK, 23 May 2015 (NNT) - Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over on Friday the opening ceremony of the third national conference on Ageing and Elderly held at Chulalongkorn Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society in Pathumwan area, Bangkok.

The conference is being jointly organized by the Thai Red Cross Society and Chulalongkorn University from May 22 to 24 to update knowledge and understanding on bio-medical and social sciences and integrative issues on ageing.

The meeting held under the theme: ASEAN Active Ageing Conference 2015, comprises 4 plenary sessions to discuss the use and application of knowledge, research and study results, experiences, technology and innovation to improving services and quality of life of the elderly.

Attending the meeting are academicians, researchers, students, leaders of different levels and sectors, executives/administrators, practitioners, concerned parties and the elderly

-- NNT 2015-05-23

[Lite Beer]

Two arrested following recent Chinese Bag Snatch in North Pattaya

PATTAYA:--On Friday Morning, Banglamung Police announced the arrest of two men wanted in connection with a bag snatch which occurred on 20th May in North Pattaya.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/827353-two-arrested-following-recent-chinese-bag-snatch-in-north-pattaya/