Thailand Live Wednesday 5 Aug 2015

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“Creative Industry: Gifts for Mom” still bustling on 2nd day

BANGKOK, 5 August 2015 (NNT) - The second day of “Creative Industry: Gifts for Mom” Fair, held at Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem market near the Government House, saw a large number of visitors of all ages since morning whereas fashion products were the best sellers.

Most of the products put up at the fair are from OTOP suppliers nationwide. Hats, bags, scarves and silks are highly popular among buyers.

Apart from goods, the fair also features a special exhibition in honor of all mothers and handcraft training by craftsmen of the Bang Sai Royal Folk Arts And Crafts Center.

The fair is set to run for three weeks from August 3 to 23 with three different themes each week. The first week from Aug 3-9 comes under the “In Trend Mom&Child” theme during which mothers and their children can shop for trendy and fashionable stuff such as clothes and accessories. Highlight of the event seems to be the famous Praewa silk cloth woven in 11 patterns using threads in 78 colors .


-- NNT 2015-08-05

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Commerce Min may cut export growth target to 0%

BANGKOK, 5 August 2015 (NNT) – The Ministry of Commerce is considering a reduction of the export growth estimate to zero percent for this year due largely to the continued slowdown in the world economy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845907-thai-commerce-min-may-cut-export-growth-target-to-0/

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Booze Ban to be Arbitrarily Enforced During 6-month 'Study'
By Khaosod English


Police officers raid a bar close to a university in northern metropolitan Bangkok in a file photo from 22 March, 2013.

BANGKOK — Thailand will go back to the drawing board with its unilateral ban on sales of alcohol near schools, while leaving it on the books as vaguely written for selective enforcement based on the “judgment” of law enforcement officers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845908-booze-ban-in-thailand-to-be-arbitrarily-enforced-during-6-month-study/

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UPDATE:

CRIME
Five Thais held in China prostitution scam
JESSADA JANTHARARAK
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- FIVE THAIS suspected of being members of a transnational gang that forced Thai women into prostitution in China by promising "hooter girl" jobs have been arrested after four victims filed police complaints.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845781-thailand-arrests-five-for-trafficking-women-into-sex-slavery-in-china/#entry9699535

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THAI-TURKISH RELATIONS
Turkey 'ready to accept' remaining Uighurs
NANTIDA PUANGTHONG
THE NATION, AGENCIES

BANGKOK: -- Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu yesterday told his Thai counterpart General Thanasak Patimaprakorn that his country was ready to take on the remaining 59 Uighur asylum seekers awaiting nationality identification, a source said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845823-turkey-ready-to-take-on-remaining-59-uighur-people-in-thailand/#entry9699536

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POLITICS
Prayut vows to follow what's stated in the constitution
MARISA ISHIKAWA
THE NATION


Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, along with students and officials

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday refused to be wrangled into a discussion about the "road map to democracy" and the suggestion that he might stay in power to carry out "reforms".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845909-prayut-vows-to-follow-whats-stated-in-the-constitution/

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NATIONAL REFORM COUNCIL
NRC members 'free to exercise their judgement'
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION

Alongkorn urges reformers not to yield to lobbyists on charter draft

BANGKOK: -- NATIONAL Reform Council members are free to vote according to their own stance on issues, Alongkorn Ponlaboot, secretary of the NRC whip, said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845910-nrc-members-free-to-exercise-their-judgement/

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SOUTH CRISIS
One killed, two injured in two South gun attacks
Santhiti Khorjitmet,
Pares Lohasan
The Nation

PATTANI: -- A villager was killed and another injured in a gun attack on a teashop in Narathiwat's Chanae district yesterday, while a school bus driver was hurt when another teashop in Pattani's Ma-Yor was attacked in a similar fashion in the morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845911-one-killed-two-injured-in-two-south-gun-attacks/

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Three arrested following theft of car from Pattaya Motel car park



PATTAYA: -- A press conference was held at Banglamung Police Station on Tuesday to announce the arrest of three people in connection with the theft and sale of a car.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845912-three-arrested-following-theft-of-car-from-pattaya-motel-car-park/

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Young Child abandoned in front of house close to Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- Police were called to a house in the Bang Sai area, close to Pattaya, on Tuesday afternoon, following the discovery of an abandoned child, thought not to be a Thai national.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845913-young-child-abandoned-in-front-of-house-close-to-pattaya/

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Wife attacks drunk husband with knife in front of East Pattaya Apartment



PATTAYA: -- Early on Tuesday Morning Police were called to an apartment block located close to the railroad running along the east side of Pattaya to deal with a domestic dispute involving a husband, wife and a knife.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845914-wife-attacks-drunk-husband-with-knife-in-front-of-east-pattaya-apartment/

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COPYRIGHT LAW
Public reminded not to fall foul of the amended copyright law

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's amended Copyright Act, which took effect yesterday, has already caused some confusion about what can and cannot be shared on social media.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845915-public-reminded-not-to-fall-foul-of-the-amended-thai-copyright-law/

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ECONOMIC
Private sector urges govt to prop up local economy
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The private sector is urging the government and all other sectors to step up promotion of the domestic side of the economy, given weaker-than-expected signs in regard to export performance.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845917-private-sector-urges-thai-govt-to-prop-up-local-economy/

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MARKETING CAMPAIGNS
Gloom prompts aggressive pricing plan at shops
Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn
The Nation


In-store materials show product prices at a Big C Supercentre store. Major superstore operators have launched proactive pricing strategies to attract buyers during a period of economic difficulty, especially for grass-roots consumers.

BANGKOK: -- Supercentres and convenience-store operators have been launching aggressive pricing campaigns to stimulate shoppers' spending and the frequency of store visits during the ongoing period of economic difficulty, which resulted in same-store sales dropping by between 1 per cent and 3 per cent in the first half.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845918-gloom-prompts-aggressive-pricing-plan-at-shops-in-thailand/

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BANDWIDTH
Dtac urges NBTC to rethink cap on bandwidth
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The plan by the National Broad-casting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to limit how much bandwidth each telecom can own might mean they don't have enough to provide adequate service, Total Access Communication (Dtac) said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845919-dtac-urges-nbtc-to-rethink-cap-on-bandwidth/

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JOB CREATION
Cabinet OKs Bt6.5-bn job creation scheme
Erich Parpart
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet has approved job-creation measures worth Bt6.529 billion in a bid to boost grass-roots purchasing power amid the slowdown of domestic consumption that was brought on by the economic slump that began last year, high household debt, and natural disasters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845920-thai-cabinet-oks-bt65-bn-job-creation-scheme/

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EDITORIAL
The reincarnation of Newin Chidchob
The Nation

The transformation is welcome, but can Buri Ram's saviour avoid the temptation to become another 'Banharn'

BANGKOK: -- In the past few years, one name has been conspicuously absent from Thailand's political turmoil. An amnesty-bill crisis led to the Bangkok "shut down" headed by Suthep Thuagsuban, and then, amid much talk of a threat of civil war, the military seized power and launched yet another round of "reform". Now, just over a year into military rule, Suthep has announced he is returning to the scene. Keen-eyed observers might be wondering where political wheeler-dealer Newin Chidchob has disappeared to.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845921-the-reincarnation-of-newin-chidchob/

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STOPPAGE TIME
Suthep's back. What's next?
Tulsathit Taptim
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The question of why Suthep Thaugsuban is returning to action is probably not as important as what impact his comeback will create. After all, "outcomes" don't have to be consistent with "motivations". And modern Thai politics is strewn with such words as "backfire", "setback" and "blunder". Lung Kamnan is back, no matter what his plans are, and we should go from there.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845922-sutheps-back-whats-next/

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South Africans imprisoned in Thailand want to come home
South Africans incarcerated in Thailand pleaded with government to consider a prisoner transfer agreement.
Mandy Wiener

JOHANNESBURG – South Africans incarcerated in Thailand are pleading with the government to consider a prisoner transfer agreement that would allow them to serve out the remainder of their prison sentences at home.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845923-south-africans-imprisoned-in-thailand-want-to-come-home/

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Thailand's Generals Don't Have an Economic Plan
By William Pesek

BANGKOK: -- Militaries tend to justify coups d'etat by making assurances of political competence: The previous government failed the people, and military technocrats will now restore order, cleanse the system and get big things done.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845924-thailands-generals-dont-have-an-economic-plan/

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BURNING ISSUE
Blame the coup for Thailand's Tier 3 rating woes
SUPALAK GANJANAKHUNDEE
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- If Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha wanted to blame something or somebody for Thailand languishing in Tier 3 in the 2015 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, he should blame himself and his May 22 coup.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845925-blame-the-coup-for-thailands-tier-3-rating-woes/

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Narong gets nod to return as top public health official
THE NATION


Narong

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday ordered the immediate reinstatement of Narong Sahamethapat, the former Public Health Ministry permanent secretary, after a fact-finding panel cleared him of allegations that he failed to respond to the government's policies.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845926-narong-gets-nod-to-return-as-top-public-health-official/

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Heavy pay-outs for dead cyclists' families
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- An insurance firm yesterday agreed to pay Bt1.2 million to the families of three cyclists killed in a car accident last month.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845927-heavy-pay-outs-for-dead-cyclists-families/

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Proposal to test street racers' hair for drugs
PIYANUT TUMNUKASETCHAI
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- A PROPOSAL to have street-racers undergo random drug tests using strands of hair will be proposed to the Justice Ministry soon, Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS) director-general Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845928-proposal-to-test-street-racers-hair-for-drugs/

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Heal wounds from Tak Bai: NHRC
WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- NIRAN PITAKWATCHARA, a member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), yesterday called on the government to provide a clear time frame on seeking justice for Tak Bai victims and healing the wounds the incident caused.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845929-heal-wounds-from-tak-bai-nhrc/

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Germany's top prosecutor fired over treason probe
FRANK JORDANS, Associated Press

BERLIN (AP) — A treason investigation against two German journalists claimed its first casualty Tuesday — the country's top prosecutor who ordered the probe.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845931-germanys-top-prosecutor-fired-over-treason-probe/

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Obama, Netanyahu make dueling appeals on Iran to US Jews
By JULIE PACE

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made dueling appeals to the American Jewish community Tuesday as they sought to rally support for their opposing positions on the Iranian nuclear deal.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845932-obama-netanyahu-make-dueling-appeals-on-iran-to-us-jews/

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Sandra Bland's family sues state trooper, wants answers
By MICHAEL GRACZYK

HOUSTON (AP) — The family of a black woman found dead in a Texas jail three days after a confrontation with a white state trooper filed a wrongful-death lawsuit Tuesday against the officer and other officials, saying it was a last resort after being unable to get enough information about the case.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845936-sandra-blands-family-sues-texas-state-trooper-wants-answers/

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German MP Patzelt opens home to two Eritrean migrants

BERLIN: -- A German conservative MP, Martin Patzelt, has taken two Eritrean refugees into his home and is helping the young men find jobs locally.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845937-german-mp-opens-home-to-migrants/

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Mothers: US officer restrained children with cuffs on arms

FRANKFORT, Kentucky (AP) — A school resource officer placed two disabled elementary school students in handcuffs because they were acting out, causing physical and emotional pain to the children, their mothers say in a federal lawsuit filed against the official and his boss, the county sheriff.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845938-us-lawsuit-over-handcuffing-of-disabled-kentucky-schoolchildren/