Thailand Live Saturday 8 Aug 2015

[Lite Beer]

Supa Piyajitti claims loss from rice scheme exceeds 600 billion baht

BANGKOK: -- Loss from the controversial rice pledging scheme of the former Yingluck government has now surpassed 600 billion baht because of additional rotten rice in the stockpiles, said Ms Supa Piyajitti, a member of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, on Friday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....0-billion-baht/

[Lite Beer]

Military court hands down 30 years jailterm on lese majeste offender

BANGKOK: -- A Kanchanaburi-based tour company’s agent was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment on charges of lese majeste and computer law violations by the military court.

The defendant, 48-year old Mr Pongsak Sriboonpeng, was arrested by police on December 30 last year after he posted messages deemed to be offending the Monarchy in his Facebook page, named Sam Parr, four times in September, 2013 and twice in November last year.

Accompanied by his lawyer, Mr Pongsak was taken to the military court on Friday and the court read out the lese majeste and computer crime charges against him. Mr Pongsak pleaded guilty to the charges and was given 10-year jailterm for each of the six counts of offence totaling 60 years.

But because of his confession, the court halved the sentence to 30 years.

Prior to the court’s delivering of the verdict, the defendant’s lawyer asked for permission for the court to allow observers to witness the trial but it was rejected by the court claiming that the case was related to security.

Source: http://englishnews.t...ajeste-offender

-- Thai PBS 2015-08-07

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

PLANNED PROFITABILITY BY 2016
THAI to offload properties
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Carrier hopes sell-off and other measures will see it return to operating profitability by 2016

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846601-thai-to-sell-30-properties-overseas-and-in-thailand/#entry9711299

[Lite Beer]

PM keen to meet new US ambassador
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- PRIME Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha Friday welcomed United States Ambassador to Thailand Glyn Davies, saying he wished to talk to the envoy and forge mutual understanding.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....-us-ambassador/

[Lite Beer]

CHUWONG SAETANG'S SHARES
Brokers' association wants stricter rules for share transfers
THE NATION

An AEC Securities official presents documents related to the share transactions of Srithara Promma after Police Spokesman Lt-General Prawut Thavornsiri led a team to search the company

BANGKOK: -- AN ASSOCIATION of brokers is seeking stricter regulations related to the transfer of stocks through securities firms in order to prevent fraud.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846722-brokers-association-wants-stricter-rules-for-share-transfers/

[Lite Beer]

FLOOD VICTIMS
Royal donations for Myanmar
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THEIR MAJESTIES the King and the Queen have graciously given Bt5 million to Myanmar flood victims via the Rajaprajanugroh Foundation under royal patronage.

The foundation submitted the amount to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister General Tanasak Patimapragorn also represented the government in handing the donation of another Bt5 million to Myanmar's ambassador to Thailand, U Win Maung.

Tanasak promised that the government would deliver food and various other relief items to Myanmar.

"In the future, Asean nations will forge closer collaborations in disaster response and management," he added.

Twelve of Myanmar's 14 regions have been struck by heavy flooding, with 74 people killed and more than 330,000 affected.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Royal-donations-for-Myanmar-30266171.html

-- The Nation 2015-08-08

[Lite Beer]

Peace and security 'desired most'
WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- NATIONWIDE SURVEY OF 53,000 'LISTENED TO WISHES OF THE PEOPLE', RESEARCHERS SAY

SOCIETIES with harmony, peace and security are most desired by Thais, according to a survey conducted with more than 50,000 people - aimed at raising awareness of what can be done to create a Thailand closer to what people want.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846723-peace-and-security-desired-most/

[Lite Beer]

Asean 'risks overstretching for AEC'
Supalak Ganjanakhundee
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Academic says Greek crisis is a warning for Asean that integration takes time

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846724-asean-risks-overstretching-for-aec/

[Lite Beer]

Banyin tells of land deals with Chuwong and the fatal crash
The Nation

Banyin Tangpakorn

BANGKOK: -- FORMER deputy commerce minister Pol Lt-Colonel Banyin Tangpakorn revealed recently that he and the late construction tycoon Chuwong Saetang worked together on several business projects and were even planning to set up a political party before the accident that took Chuwong's life.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846725-banyin-tells-of-land-deals-with-chuwong-and-the-fatal-crash/

[Lite Beer]

Govt 'will have to pay Bt9.6 bn for Klong Dan'
Anapat Deechuay
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE GOVERNMENT will have to pay more than Bt9.6 billion in compensation to a consortium over the corruption-plagued Klong Dan wastewater-treatment plant, which has been cancelled, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha confirmed yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846727-govt-will-have-to-pay-bt96-bn-for-klong-dan/

[Lite Beer]

Govt coming up with strategies to handle an ageing society
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- As elderly people will account for a fourth of the population by 2028, the government has come up with a strategy to set up health centres and give older people vocational opportunities, Social Development and Human Security Minister Adul Saengsingkaew said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846729-govt-coming-up-with-strategies-to-handle-an-ageing-society/

[Lite Beer]

PM denies bid to cut groups' funding
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- PRIME Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has denied cutting funds for the Thai Health Promotion Foundation and the Thai Public Broadcasting Service.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846730-pm-denies-bid-to-cut-groups-funding/

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

US investors are confident about Thailand, Prayut says
NATTHAPAT PROMKAEW
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- INVESTORS FROM the United States have expressed their confidence in Thailand and are ready to invest in the country, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846680-us-investors-have-full-confidence-in-thailand-prayut/#entry9711354

[Lite Beer]

Wissanu denies rumours of NCPO pushing for 'selected' Senate
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said he has no knowledge of the rumour that some National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) members are pushing the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) to ensure that all Senate members are selected under the new charter.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846733-wissanu-denies-rumours-of-ncpo-pushing-for-selected-senate/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

UN rights envoy says meeting with Myanmar's Rohingya blocked

ROBIN McDOWELL, Associated Press

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — A U.N. human rights envoy says her whirlwind visit to Myanmar was marred by disappointments: She was barred from meeting long-persecuted Rohingya Muslims. Talks with several high-ranking officials were denied or cancelled at the last minute. And when she met with government critics, security officials were there, quietly snapping pictures.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846726-un-rights-envoy-says-meeting-with-myanmars-rohingya-blocked/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Myanmar floods: Death toll rises to 88 as heavy monsoon devastates South-East Asia

The death toll from severe flooding across Myanmar has risen to 88, officials say, as rising waters swallow more homes in low-lying regions in some of the poorest parts of the country.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846728-myanmar-floods-death-toll-rises-to-88-as-heavy-monsoon-devastates-south-east-asia/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Sydney grandmother Lorn Cheng smuggled heroin from Cambodia to pay off gambling debts

A Sydney grandmother says she agreed to smuggle pellets of heroin into Australia because she owed $10,000 in gambling debts.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846731-sydney-grandmother-lorn-cheng-smuggled-heroin-from-cambodia-to-pay-off-gambling-debts/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Preah Vihear temple in Cambodia now safe to visit

A ninth century Angkorian temple on the boarder between Thailand and Cambodia is now considered safe to visit after being the subject of conflict between the two countries since 2008.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846732-preah-vihear-temple-in-cambodia-now-safe-to-visit/

[Lite Beer]

Restoring democracy 'will boost economy'
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Anuttama Amornwiwat, Pheu Thai Party's caretaker deputy secretary-general, has called on the government to work on stimulating the Thai economy, adding that restoring democracy would prevent the economy from collapsing.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846734-restoring-democracy-will-boost-economy/

[Lite Beer]

Illegal fishing penalties put in force
Pratch Rujivanarom
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- ILLEGAL fishing vessels and equipment will be seized or destroyed and vessel owners could be jailed for up to five years under a new order by the National Council for Peace and Order, issued under section 44 of interim constitution.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846735-illegal-fishing-penalties-put-in-force/

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL
Asean's birthday heralds the start of its greatest venture
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The imminent launch of the Asean Economic Community presents a daunting array of challenges and possibilities

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846737-aseans-birthday-heralds-the-start-of-its-greatest-venture/

[Lite Beer]

Ladyboys arrested in Central Pattaya German street robbery case

PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Friday, Pattaya Police arrested two Ladyboys accused of stealing a wallet full of money from a German.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846738-ladyboys-arrested-in-central-pattaya-german-street-robbery-case/

[Lite Beer]

“Son of Police Officer” caught with gun at South Pattaya Police Checkpoint

PATTAYA: -- Just before daybreak on Friday a 25 year old man was caught with a loaded gun at a Police Checkpoint in South Pattaya and when he was arrested he claimed to be the Son of a serving Police Officer at Banglamung Police Station.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846739-son-of-police-officer-caught-with-gun-at-south-pattaya-police-checkpoint/

-- Pattaya One 2015-08-08

[Lite Beer]

Syringes litter beach behind Police Resort in North Pattaya

PATTAYA: -- A secluded beach behind a Police Resort in the Northern outskirts of Pattaya is littered with syringes which are a potential health hazard and for now the origin of the syringes is a mystery.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846741-syringes-litter-beach-behind-police-resort-in-north-pattaya/

[Lite Beer]

PM insists spending of Thai PBS and ThaiHealth must be audited by government panel

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha has insisted that the spendings of ThaiHealth, Thai PBS and the National Sports Development Organisation will be subjected to examination by the government’s audit panel known as the committee to follow up and examine the expenditure of the government sector.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846742-pm-insists-spending-of-thai-pbs-and-thaihealth-must-be-audited-by-government-panel/

[Lite Beer]

21,000 fishing boats can continue fishing

BANGKOK: -- About 21,000 fishing boats out of a total of 42,000 have been legally registered and can now set sail to fish.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846743-21000-fishing-boats-can-continue-fishing/

[Lite Beer]

Holmes gets life term after jury fails to agree on execution
SADIE GURMAN, Associated Press

CENTENNIAL, Colorado (AP) — Colorado theater shooter James Holmes will be sentenced to life in prison without parole after a jury failed to agree Friday on whether he should get the death penalty for his murderous attack on a packed movie premiere.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846744-holmes-gets-life-term-after-jury-fails-to-agree-on-execution/

[Lite Beer]

Kabul blasts kill 35, test Afghan president's peace plan
LYNNE O'DONNELL, Associated Press
AMIR SHAH, Associated Press

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Two massive attacks in Kabul on Friday, one near a government and military complex in a residential area and the other a suicide bombing outside a police academy, killed at least 35 people, sending the strongest message yet to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani that militants are still able to strike at his heavily fortified seat of power.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846745-kabul-blasts-kill-35-test-afghan-presidents-peace-plan/

[Lite Beer]

Trump says he can't recall using insults he's made often
LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press
JILL COLVIN, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump said Friday he can't recall using words such as "dog," ''fat" and "disgusting" to insult women he believes have slighted him, but such language litters his Twitter feed and other public comments he's made for years.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846747-trump-says-he-cant-recall-using-insults-hes-made-often/

[Lite Beer]

RT@Thai_Talk: Prayut: “If [uS ambassador] listens to other people and doesn’t listen to me at all, we won’t understand each other."