Thailand Live Thursday 11 Jun 2015

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CDC’s Anek: Charter drafting needs to hear people’s voices

BANGKOK, 11 June 2015 (NNT) – A member of the Constitution Drafting Committee insists that the charter drafting process must take into account voices of the people.

CDC member Anek Laothamatas said on Wednesday that people’s voices expressed through an informal channel were actually efficient ways of opinion giving.

Mr. Anek’s opinion was heard during his attendance at a workshop which was titled “The Reform of the System of Health and Life – The Reform of the Democratic Conscience”.

He stated that, only in the absence of official format, the true voices of the people will be heard.

Mr. Anek added that democracy means everyone must share the sense of ownership and the spirit of volunteer while being able to listen to the others and not only focusing on the election system.

He went on to say that the setting up of a health assembly is a good idea as it will enable the society to be responsible for the formulation of policies while the government will be the one to listen to what the people will have to say.


-- NNT 2015-06-11

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American found dead in Pattaya condo room

Pattaya, Chon Buri:- A 77-year-old American man was found dead in a Pattaya condominium room Wednesday, police said.

Pol Lt Sombat Kaewmoolmook, an interrogator on duty of Pattaya police station, was alerted at 2 pm Wednesday that a foreigner was found dead inside a room of the Center Condotel on South Pattaya Road in Tambon Nongplue of Bang Lamung district.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832006-american-found-dead-in-pattaya-condo-room/

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Urinating Foreigner Facebook Clip angers Thai social media Pattaya community



PATTAYA: -- A clip of a foreigner urinating out of the rear of a moving Pattaya Baht Bus was posted on a Pattaya-based Facebook Group on Wednesday and has angered many Thai’s who would like the foreigner locked-up for his actions.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832030-urinating-foreigner-facebook-clip-angers-thai-social-media-pattaya-community/

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Sheesha Crackdown around Pattaya begins



PATTAYA: -- Banglamung District Officials in conjunction with the Royal Thai Army, have begun a city-wide crackdown on those supplying Sheesha, which has now been outlawed in Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832031-sheesha-crackdown-around-pattaya-begins/

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Money Lender arrested after assault on woman at South Pattaya Hotel



PATTAYA: -- A 31 year old man, accused of assaulting a 34 year old Hotel Worker on 7th June, was arrested on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832032-money-lender-arrested-after-assault-on-woman-at-south-pattaya-hotel/

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Gang assaults man outside of South Pattaya Condotel



PATTAYA: -- On Tuesday Night a 24 year old man was viciously assaulted by a gang of men outside of a South Pattaya Condotel. The incident is connected with a problem his girlfriend had with another woman, which was supposed to have been resolved.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832033-gang-assaults-man-outside-of-south-pattaya-condotel/

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INUNDATION
Interior Ministry steps in to help ease flooding problems
The Nation


The storm after the calm. Immediately upon his return from an overseas trip, Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra yesterday convenes a meeting with relevant officials on flood prevention at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra held an urgent meeting yesterday with Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda and relevant officials to discuss flood-prevention measures. The meeting was held shortly after the governor returned from a foreign trip.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832034-interior-ministry-steps-in-to-help-ease-bangkok-flooding-problems/

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POLITICS
Public faces dilemma over referendum
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK,
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH
THE NATION



Observers warn of Catch-22 situation - rejection of charter would extend junta rule

BANGKOK: -- WHILE critics say amendments to the interim charter are aimed at altering the road map to facilitate an extended reign by the military government, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha insists that his regime will not stay on until 2017.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832035-thai-public-faces-dilemma-over-referendum/

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CABINET RESHUFFLE?
Somkid tipped for Cabinet as ban scrapped
NOPHAKHUN LIMSAMARNPHUN
THE NATION


SOMKID JATUSRIPITAK

BANGKOK: -- SOMKID JATUSRIPITAK, a former deputy prime minister, is expected to join the Cabinet around the end of July after an amendment to the provisional charter of 2014 is approved by the National Legislative Assembly.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832037-somkid-tipped-for-cabinet-as-ban-scrapped/

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UPDATE:

NEW CHARTER
Referendum on charter likely on January 10
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE DATE of the public referendum allowing voters to decide on the fate of the draft charter has been tentatively set for January 10, Election Commission (EC) chairman Supachai Somcharoen said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/831904-ec-proposes-jan-10-as-referendum-date/#entry9502342

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IRREGULAR MIGRATION
53 Rohingya trafficking suspects to face indictment by June 25


Social Development and Human Security Minister Adul Saengsingkaew

BANGKOK: -- PUBLIC PROSECUTORS dealing with the Rohingya trafficking case will be ready to indict all 53 suspects in custody by June 25, deputy Attorney General Somnuek Siangkong said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832038-53-rohingya-trafficking-suspects-to-face-indictment-by-june-25/

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2010 CRACKDOWN
NACC gets new evidence
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has received new information related to the impeachment case against former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his then-deputy Suthep Thaugsuban in relation to charges over the 2010 crackdown.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832039-2010-crackdown-nacc-gets-new-evidence/

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MERS blamed for cancelled trips
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- ABOUT 10 PER CENT of trips to South Korea have been cancelled for fear of Mers, the Thai Travel Agents Association said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832040-mers-blamed-for-cancelled-trips/

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EDITOIRAL
Public transport should GO ELECTRIC

GENTLE ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE PUBLIC PURSE, ELECTRIC BUSES ARE THE WAY TO GO

BANGKOK: -- Electric buses are undergoing trials in the capital this month, with the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) offering free rides on three routes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832041-thai-editorial-public-transport-should-go-electric/

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TELL IT AS IT IS
The dangers of SELECTIVE TRUTH

BANGKOK: -- In 2011, Reuters reporter Andrew MacGregor Marshall left the agency after 17 years in the job. His exit, according to the UK's Independent newspaper, came after he dared to "tell the truth" about Thailand in articles and a book.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832042-thai-opinion-the-dangers-of-selective-truth/

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Krabi is free of MERS-CoV, provincial health official confirms

KRABI, 11 June 2015 (NNT) - Krabi, a famous tourism province of Thailand, has stepped up MERS-CoV surveillance to ensure safety of all tourists, revealed chief of the Krabi Public Health Office Panas Soponpong.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832043-krabi-is-free-of-mers-cov-provincial-health-official-confirms/

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More than 80 M16 assault rifles in Korat went missing since 2013-2014

KORAT: -- Security officials in Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) are investigating a huge cache of assault rifles which went missing since 2013-2014 from the armory of a local territorial defense volunteer corps under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832044-more-than-80-m16-assault-rifles-in-korat-went-missing-since-2013-2014/

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Clean-up scheme signals new approach to overcrowded prisons
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE "big clean-up" at prisons around the country, currently housing over 300,000 inmates, will continue, Wittaya Suriyawong, head of the Corrections Department, said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832045-clean-up-scheme-signals-new-approach-to-overcrowded-thai-prisons/

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Police want elimination of street-racing on national agenda
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- POLICE WILL propose that the elimination of street racing be put on the national agenda with the implementation of urgent measures such as setting up checkpoints from midnight to 6am for the next couple of years, police spokesman Pol Lieutenant Prawut Thavornsiri said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832046-thai-police-want-elimination-of-street-racing-on-national-agenda/

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CDC given another 30 days to complete charter draft
KRIS BHROMSUTHI
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- CONSTITUTION Drafting Committee (CDC) spokesman General Lertrat Ratanavanich yesterday came out in support of the Cabinet proposal to extend the drafters' working time-frame.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832047-cdc-given-another-30-days-to-complete-thai-charter-draft/

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ANALYSIS
Confrontation looms as two fortresses rise in South China Sea
BERNIE V LOPEZ
PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER
ASIA NEWS NETWORK
MANILA

MANILA: -- In just two years, China has poured billions of dollars into reclamation work and military structures on three reefs in the contested Spratlys, implying that it is there to stay.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832049-confrontation-looms-as-two-fortresses-rise-in-south-china-sea/

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US orders more troops to Iraq, but no overhaul of strategy
By JIM KUHNHENN and LOLITA C. BALDOR

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama ordered the deployment of up to 450 more American troops to Iraq on Wednesday in an effort to reverse major battlefield losses to the Islamic State, an escalation but not a significant shift in the struggling U.S. strategy to defeat the extremist group.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832050-us-orders-more-troops-to-iraq-but-no-overhaul-of-strategy/

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Pope creates tribunal for bishop negligence in abuse cases
By NICOLE WINFIELD

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis took the biggest step yet to crack down on bishops who cover up for priests who rape and molest children, creating a new tribunal inside the Vatican to hear cases of bishops accused of failing to protect their flock.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832051-pope-creates-tribunal-for-bishop-negligence-in-abuse-cases/

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Iraq still in disarray 1 year after Islamic State took Mosul
By VIVIAN SALAMA

BAGHDAD (AP) — The Islamic State group gave only three options for the soldiers and police officers guarding Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, when they neared it a year ago: Repent, run or die.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832052-iraq-still-in-disarray-1-year-after-islamic-state-took-mosul/

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Health head: Congress' problem if court voids health law aid
By ALAN FRAM

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress and the states will need to find an answer if the Supreme Court strikes down the federal subsidies that are a foundation of President Barack Obama's health care law, his health secretary told lawmakers Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832053-us-health-head-congress-problem-if-court-voids-health-law-aid/

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Greek leader meets creditors, seeks bailout breakthrough
RAF CASERT, Associated Press
DEREK GATOPOULOS, Associated Press

BRUSSELS (AP) — Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras reinforced his diplomatic offensive on Wednesday to try to convince European creditors to pay out the bailout loans the country needs to avoid default.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832054-greek-leader-meets-creditors-seeks-bailout-breakthrough/

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Bill Clinton defends family foundation
NICHOLAS RICCARDI, Associated Press

DENVER (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton said Wednesday that if his wife is elected president he will stop giving paid speeches and, if she asks, step down from the foundation that bears his name and has fueled attacks against her during her nascent campaign.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832055-bill-clinton-defends-family-foundation/

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4 B.B. King daughters raise possibility of 'missing' will
KEN RITTER, Associated Press

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Four of B.B. King's 11 surviving adult children are raising the possibility that a second will exists, and they're again accusing the blues legend's longtime business manager of stealing his wealth and endangering his health in his dying days.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832056-4-bb-king-daughters-raise-possibility-of-missing-will/

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FDA panel backs Amgen cholesterol drug for some patients
MATTHEW PERRONE, AP Health Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal health advisers said Wednesday that a highly-anticipated cholesterol-lowering drug from Amgen Inc. should be approved for patients with dangerously high levels of the artery-clogging substance.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832057-us-fda-panel-backs-amgen-cholesterol-drug-for-some-patients/

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Thai varsities lose ground in Asia
The Nation



Though KMUTT, Mahidol stay in region's top 100, both slide in the rankings

BANGKOK: -- Two Thai universities have continued to rank among the Times Higher Education list of Asia's best universities this year, but both have slipped.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/832058-thai-varsities-lose-ground-in-asia/