Thailand Live Thursday 16 Jul 2015

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Military instructed to help mitigate drought

BANGKOK, 16 July 2015 (NNT) - Minister of Interior Anupong Paochinda has instructed the military to do the utmost in helping the drought-affected people by providing support for government units and distributing water.

The minister also told provincial governors nationwide to urgently make the local people understand the Cabinet’s resolution to stop allocating water for agriculture and discharging less water from major dams. The drought preventive measures were imposed to ensure that people across the country would have sufficient water for consumption until mid August, said the minister.

According to a survey conducted with more than 60,000 villages nationwide, only 5,000 of them may have water for use until the end of July. Groundwater wells have been drilled for public supply.


-- NNT 2015-07-16

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CDC decides to grant NACC a 9-year term

BANGKOK, 16 July 2015 (NNT) - The Constitution Drafting Committee has resolved to allow members of the anti-graft agency to stay in office for a nine-year term.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840830-cdc-decides-to-grant-nacc-a-9-year-term/

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CDC reaches resolution on the powers of impeachment

BANGKOK, 16 July 2015 (NNT) - The Constitution Drafting Committee has resolved to give both the Parliament and the Senate the power to impeach a holder of political office accused of certain wrongdoings.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840831-cdc-reaches-resolution-on-the-powers-of-impeachment/

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Cop Hunts Webmaster for 'Mimicking' His Lottery Prophecies
By Khaosod English


Pol.Maj.Gen. Nitipat Pattanatabutr, commander of the Fifth Region Police, speaking to reporters on 14 July 2015.

CHIANG MAI — A police commander and part-time lottery prophet in Chiang Mai province said he has ordered an investigation into the owner of a website that has impersonated him and offered lottery number predictions in his name.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840832-chiang-mai-cop-hunts-webmaster-for-mimicking-his-lottery-prophecies/

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UPDATE:

11 Koreans arrested in Pattaya-based Online Gambling Operation



PATTAYA: -- Chonburi Transnational Crime Suppression Police and Pattaya Tourist Police conducted three simultaneous raids on 3 luxury houses in Pattaya late on Tuesday Night as they looked to shut-down a Korean Online Gambling Operation which was being run in Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840648-another-south-korean-online-gambling-gang-smashed-in-pattaya/#entry9624765

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Two Pattaya Drug Couriers caught by Police



PATTAYA: -- Banglamung Police announced the arrest of two suspected drug couriers in the early hours of Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840833-two-pattaya-drug-couriers-caught-by-police/

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LIVERPOOL
Rodgers says a big thank you to Thailand
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers hopes his team's comprehensive victory on Thai soil would bring them some luck during the forthcoming Premier League season.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840834-liverpool-manager-brendan-rodgers-says-a-big-thank-you-to-thailand/

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DROUGHT
No water for farming
The Nation


A boat noodle shop sits on a dried-up canal bed in Pathum Thani province.

Chao Phraya River resources to be used only for tap water and to sustain ecology; government mulling emergency decree

BANGKOK: -- AMID FALLING water levels in the Chao Phraya River, water distribution will be halted for the agricultural sector from today, the Royal Irrigation Department said, adding all water will be allocated for domestic use and to sustain the ecology.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840835-drought-crisis-thai-govt-mulling-emergency-decree/

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UPDATE:

SUBMARINES
Military defers plan, will conduct more studies
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- THE MILITARY has put on hold the proposal by the Navy to purchase three submarines from China, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wonsuwan said yesterday, suggesting the Navy will conduct more studies on the worthiness of its proposal.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840694-submarine-procurement-project-put-on-hold-says-thai-deputy-pm/page-2#entry9624790

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ILLEGAL MIGRATION
Remaining Uighurs in detention may go to Turkey
The Nation

China 'has the suspected criminals already and does not want the others'

BANGKOK: -- THE LAST group of 52 Uighur migrants detained in Thailand will likely be going to Turkey because China has already been given those it wants for alleged crimes and violence in its territory. Beijing has got those who are suspected of involvement in crimes in China, so the remaining Uighur migrants are not wanted by China. It seems that the remaining migrants have no criminal record in China so they may go to the country of their choice or Turkey," a high-ranking security official said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840837-remaining-uighurs-in-detention-may-go-to-turkey/

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DEFAMATION SUIT
Phuketwan journos defend themselves
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- TWO JOURNALISTS of the English-language website Phuketwan took to the stand at the Phuket Provincial Court yesterday to defend their right to exercise their freedom of expression by reporting on the Navy's role in the trafficking of Rohingya migrants.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840838-defamation-suit-phuketwan-journos-defend-themselves/

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POLITICS
Radio operators in hot water for blocking Prayut's show
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) and the Second Army Region have threatened to severely punish 250 radio operators in the Northeast if they continue to block the broadcast signal of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha's weekly radio programme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840839-radio-operators-in-hot-water-for-blocking-prayuts-show/

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EDITORIAL
Ploughing back what we reap
The Nation

Ordinary Thais' everyday acts of generosity make society a better place to live, despite the ruthless practices of our super-rich

BANGKOK: -- The oft-heard phrase "There's no such thing as a free lunch" is meant to underscore the commercial reality of the world in which we live. But this harsh "rule" is being flouted daily by generous businesspeople who give away their goods to citizens in need.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840841-thai-editorial-ploughing-back-what-we-reap/

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THAI TALK
A TV debate between Prayut, Yingluck and Abhisit?
Suthichai Yoon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- It's not likely to happen, but wouldn't it be interesting if someone could get Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha and his two predecessors - Yingluck Shinawatra and Abhisit Vejjajiva - to appear together on the same TV programme to discuss Thailand's future?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840842-a-tv-debate-between-prayut-yingluck-and-abhisit/

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TELL IT AS IT IS
A view from Iran on the nuclear accord
Pornpimol Kanchanalak
Special to The Nation

BANGKOK: -- President Barack Obama put his best foot forward when he made the official announcement on the historic agreement reached between the six world powers and Iran over the latter's nuclear programme. "This is not an agreement based on trust, but on verifiability."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840843-a-view-from-iran-on-the-nuclear-accord/

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WHAT OTHERS SAY
El Chapo's brazen escape puts Mexico's reputation on the line
The Dallas Morning News

DALLAS: -- Barely a day after Mexican Foreign Secretary José Antonio Meade concluded a Dallas visit touting his nation's progress on trade and security, billionaire drug kingpin Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán escaped from his maximum-security prison cell. In a flash, Mexico's public relations efforts to dispel the negative stories and exaggerations about lax security in their country vaporised into the wind.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840844-el-chapos-brazen-escape-puts-mexicos-reputation-on-the-line/

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Hoarders and profiteers of bottled drinking water warned of legal actions

BANGKOK: -- Retailers or wholesalers of bottled drinking water have been warned that they will face legal action which carries a fine of 140,000 baht and/or seven years imprisonment if they overprice the water or hoard the water for profiteering, said Commerce Minister Chatchai Sarikalaya on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840845-hoarders-and-profiteers-of-bottled-drinking-water-warned-of-legal-actions/

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BREAKING: ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Greek Parliament passes austerity bill needed as 1st step to open bailout negotiations.

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BURNING ISSUE
Government PR team has a tough job selling TV show
JEERAPONG PRASERTPOLKRUNG

BANGKOK: -- THE GOVERNMENT and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) have encouraged political rivals to take part in their new TV programme entitled "Moving Reform Forward".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840846-thai-politics-government-pr-team-has-a-tough-job-selling-tv-show/

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'No request for extradition' of Thai nationals from France
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- There was no request for an extradition from France of three Thai nationals accused of violating the lese majeste law, French Ambassador to Thailand Thierry Viteau told The Nation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840847-no-request-for-extradition-of-thai-nationals-from-france/

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Anusit dismisses claim of plot
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- NATIONAL Security Council secretary-general Anusit Kunakorn yesterday dismissed reports that two major political parties had joined forces to topple the military-led government by providing funding to instigate a southern insurgency.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840848-anusit-dismisses-claim-of-plot/

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Gen Prawit: Kamronwit will be dealt with in accordance with the law

BANGKOK: -- The government will strictly adhere to the law in dealing with the former metropolitan police chief now that he has returned to Thailand after the Japanese public prosecution decided against prosecuting him on charge of arms possession, said Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840849-gen-prawit-kamronwit-will-be-dealt-with-in-accordance-with-the-law/

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EU certifies two Thai coffees
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- AFTER campaigning more than five years, Doi Tung and Doi Chang Coffee recently won the European Union's geographical indication certificate.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840850-eu-certifies-two-thai-coffees/

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Children's shelter avoids closure
Kornkamol Aksorndej
The Nation



Deputy police chief lends Ban Kru Noi much-needed support

BANGKOK: -- A PRIVATELY run shelter has been given a new lease on life just weeks before it crumbled under the weight of debts, leaving up to 65 children without any support.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840851-ban-kru-noi-childrens-shelter-avoids-closure/

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Ex-MPs defend change to 2007 charter
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- EX-MEMBERS of Parliament defended themselves yesterday against allegations of unlawfully amending the 2007 constitution, insisting that the proposal they approved matched the eventual change of the charter.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840852-ex-mps-defend-change-to-2007-thai-charter/

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UPDATE:

Three elephants might be killed by electrocution



HUA HIN: -- Three wild elephants which were found dead mysteriously near Kaeng Krachan National Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan province today might be killed by electrocution.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840663-three-elephants-die-mysteriously-in-hua-hin/#entry9624915

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Manhunt to target gun thieves
The Nation



NARATHIWAT: -- A MANHUNT will be launched in Narathiwat for the insurgents suspected of stealing four state-issued shotguns and two personal guns from assistant village headmen and a defence volunteers in Bacho district's Kayor Mattee sub-district on Tuesday evening.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840853-manhunt-to-target-gun-thieves-in-narathiwat/

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Testimony from Rosenberg brother released in famous spy case
By ERIC TUCKER

WASHINGTON (AP) — The brother of Ethel Rosenberg, who was a star trial witness against his sister and brother-in-law in a sensational Cold War atomic spying case, never implicated his sister in an earlier appearance before a grand jury and said that they had never discussed her role "at all," according to secret court records unsealed Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840855-testimony-from-rosenberg-brother-released-in-famous-spy-case/

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Greek Parliament passes austerity bill

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840856-greek-parliament-passes-austerity-bill/

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Obama vigorously challenges critics of landmark Iran deal
By JULIE PACE

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vigorously challenging his critics, President Barack Obama launched an aggressive and detailed defense of a landmark Iranian nuclear accord Wednesday, rejecting the idea that it leaves Tehran on the brink of a bomb and arguing the only alternative to the diplomatic deal is war.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/840858-obama-vigorously-challenges-critics-of-landmark-iran-deal/