Thailand Live Thursday 27 Aug 2015

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Thailand hosts the 5th Meeting of Thai-Cambodian Border Provincial Governors

BANGKOK, 27 August 2015 (NNT) - Thailand’s Interior Ministry is currently hosting the 5th Meeting of the Thai-Cambodian Border Provincial Governors at a hotel in Bangkok from 26-28 August, hoping to boost bilateral relations and economic ties between Thai and Cambodian provinces along their common border.

The meeting was chaired by Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paochinda and his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Kralahom Sar Kheng. It is participated by about 120 high-ranking officials from both countries such as Interior permanent secretaries, and border provincial governors, seven from Thailand and nine from Cambodia.

Permanent Secretary for Interior Wiboon Sanguanpong revealed that the meeting followed an official visit to Phnom Penh of Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha in October last year. Gen Prayut and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen agreed at that time that both sides hold such a governor’s meeting periodically.

During the 5th governor’s meeting, both countries planned to draw up draft memorandums of meeting on border security maintenance, economy, border trade, and social and cultural cooperation. The memos are expected to improve relationship and quality of life of people living on both sides of the border.

On the last day of the meeting at 9.30 a.m., Gen Anupong and Samdech Kralahom Sar Kheng are scheduled to co-chair the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of Sister Cities between Thailand’s Surin and Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey.

-- NNT 2015-08-27

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AFTERMATH
Erawan bomb has left pall over shrine's business neighbours
The Nation


An artisan from the Fine Arts Department yesterday fixes the chin of the Brahma statue that was damaged in the deadly bomb explosion at the Erawan Shrine last week. Apart from the chin, the blast also damaged a knee, fingers and sash on the statue.

BANGKOK: -- IN THE wake of the deadly Erawan Shrine bombing on August 17, businesses in the nearby shopping zone have plunged into stagnant trading.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851410-erawan-bomb-has-left-pall-over-shrines-business-neighbours/

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ECONOMY
Somkid to speed up stimulus measures
ERICH PARPART,
USANEE MONGKOLPORN
THE NATION



Other newly appointed economic ministers roll out a plethora of packages to lift growith

BANGKOK: -- IN A BID to revitalise the sagging economy, economic agencies under the jurisdiction of Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak will fast-track Cabinet approval for a series of urgent measures, including topping up the Village Fund scheme, offering soft loans to small and medium enterprises, and small-scale rural development projects.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851411-somkid-to-speed-up-stimulus-measures/

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BANGKOK BLAST
Police examining data on recent Turkish visitors
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- POLICE are examining the pictures of Turkish people who travelled into Thailand during the 15 days preceding the deadly Erawan Shrine bomb blast in their efforts to nail down the bomber and his accomplices, an informed source disclosed yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851413-bangkok-blast-police-examining-data-on-recent-turkish-visitors/

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UPDATE:

COURT
KTB's former chiefs get 18 years jail in loan case
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- TWO FORMER top executives of state-owned Krungthai Bank were each sentenced to 18 years in jail yesterday for approving a questionable loan of more than Bt9 billion to a property company.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851280-18-year-prison-sentence-to-suchai-viroj/page-2?p=9781244#entry9781244

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NEW CHARTER
CDC defends five-year 'transitional system'
PIYAPORN WONGRUANG,
KHANITTHA THEPKAJORN
THE NATION

Full-fledged western-inspired democracy 'unfit for Thailand'

BANGKOK: -- THE NEW charter is aimed at getting Thailand back on its feet with a five-year "transitional" democracy, rather than trying to inflict another "mature" democracy on the country, Borwornsak Uwanno, chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee, told the press yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851414-full-fledged-western-inspired-democracy-unfit-for-thailand/

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IVORY
US praises Thailand for crushing 2.1 tonnes of illegal ivory
Anapat Deechuay
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THE United States has the applauded Thai government's action - working with local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and international partners - in destroying 2.1 tonnes of confiscated ivory.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851415-us-praises-thailand-for-crushing-21-tonnes-of-illegal-ivory/

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UPDATE:

US investors now less satisfied with Thailand
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- US investor satisfaction with the business climate in Thailand has decreased across 14 of the 16 indicators, sometimes by more than 20 per cent, according to the annual Asean Business Outlook Survey, released yesterday by the US Chamber of Commerce and that country's chambers in Asean countries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851320-us-businesses-shrinking-optimism-towards-thailand/#entry9781252

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No need to fear currency war, says Apisak
ERICH PARPART
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- A CURRENCY war in the region is unlikely as countries have different monetary tools to deal with different situations, Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851416-no-need-to-fear-currency-war-says-apisak/

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Year's tourism target stays despite blast
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- WHILE A SENIOR official's worst-case scenario after the deadly bomb blast at Bangkok's Erawan Shrine last week is that Thai tourism could lose up to 1 million international arrivals and income of Bt70 billion in the event of a further attack, official full-year projections for the sector remain unchanged.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851417-years-tourism-target-stays-despite-blast-at-bangkoks-erawan-shrine/

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Disabled Thai man falls to his death from 14th floor at North Pattaya Condominium



PATTAYA: -- Late on Tuesday Night Police and medics were called to a 35-storey condominium in North Pattaya to deal with an apparent suicide of a 68 year old Thai resident.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851418-disabled-thai-man-falls-to-his-death-from-14th-floor-at-north-pattaya-condominium/

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Chinese Tourist injured in Jomtien Beach Bag Snatch



PATTAYA: -- A 26 year old Chinese Tourist sustained minor facial injuries after he attempted to fight off a group of Thai men who successfully stole his bag which contained phones, money and passports.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851419-chinese-tourist-injured-in-jomtien-beach-bag-snatch/

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Armed robbery from Mother & Daughter in East Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- A Mother & Daughter who were travelling on a borrowed motorbike were forced to stop by two men and at gunpoint had their bike stolen from them.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851420-armed-robbery-from-mother-daughter-in-east-pattaya/

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EDITORIAL
Fear of failure is hampering the bombing probe
The Nation

The blame game being played by the police and the BMA is getting us no closer to finding the culprit behind last week's attack

BANGKOK: -- The investigation into the Erawan Shrine bombing on August 17 has led to a dispute between the police and the city administration.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851421-thai-editorial-fear-of-failure-is-hampering-the-bombing-probe/

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THAI TALK
Somkid's economic team has to hit the ground running
Suthichai Yoon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The day he was ousted as deputy premier for economic affairs, MR Pridiyathorn Devakula, apparently upset, publicly rejected Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha's invitation to become one of his advisers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851422-somkids-economic-team-has-to-hit-the-ground-running/

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UPDATE:

Elephant takes revenge on mahout



CHIANG MAI: -- The 30-year-old bull elephant that gored a mahout to death after he fell from its back at Phutawan elephant camp in Mae Wang district of Chiang Mai today went wild because it saw another mahout who had abused it, according to investigation by Mae Wang police and witness accounts.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851296-berserk-elephant-kills-mahout-runs-away-with-chinese-tourists-on-its-back/page-2#entry9781288

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Former tourism chief indicted at Criminal Court



BANGKOK: -- Former Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Juthamas Siriwan was indicted at the Criminal Court on Tuesday on malfeasance charges allegedly for taking bribes from an American couple in exchange for awarding them a contract to manage Bangkok International Film Festival during 2003-2005.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851423-former-tat-chief-juthamas-siriwan-indicted-at-criminal-court/

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Transport Ministry to speed up 17 projects to spur the economy

BANGKOK: -- The Transport Ministry will speed up implementing its five development strategies which encompass 17 infrastructural projects which include deep-sea ports and railroad projects among others.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851424-thai-transport-ministry-to-speed-up-17-projects-to-spur-the-economy/

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Phuket hotels targeted for earthquake, tsunami preparedness
The Phuket News



PHUKET: -- “Hotel operators must learn to handle the emergencies effectively to ensure the safety of everyone in their area. Tourism businesses such as hotels and resorts can take care their guests and clients, and local people, before local officials can get to them,” Gov Nisit said yesterday (August 25).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851425-phuket-hotels-targeted-for-earthquake-tsunami-preparedness/

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Australian Father Hires Former Commando’s to Grab his Daughter in Thailand

QUEENSLAND – A heartbroken Australian father took the astonishing step of turning to a team of former special forces soldiers to find his daughter who was taken out of the country to Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851426-australian-father-hires-former-commandos-to-grab-his-daughter-in-thailand/

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Cuba preparing for biggest American tourist invasion ever

MIAMI: -- It will be the largest number of American tourists to arrive in Cuba since the 1959 Revolution. The increase is expected to exceed the 50% of visitors who have already made their bookings.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851427-cuba-preparing-for-biggest-american-tourist-invasion-ever/

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UPDATE:

Jumbo kills mahout, runs off with tourists
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- An elephant in a rut killed its mahout yesterday before fleeing with a Chinese family of three on its back. After three hours of staying in a wooded area of Chiang Mai's Mae Wang district, the elephant was located and the tourists were rescued.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851296-berserk-elephant-kills-mahout-runs-away-with-chinese-tourists-on-its-back/page-2#entry9781326

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UPDATE:

Grandpa killed boy then reported him missing: police
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- A Phetchabun resident allegedly confessed to killing his two-year-old grandson before filing a missing-persons report to conceal the crime. He claimed he was angry with his daughter for leaving her four children with him without giving him money to support them.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851333-police-say-man-killed-grandson-he-reported-missing/?p=9781331#entry9781331

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Prawit brushes off pressure over charter
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- DEPUTY Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan yesterday shrugged off a rising political sentiment towards voting down the charter draft, saying the matter rested with the National Reform Council (NRC).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851428-prawit-brushes-off-pressure-over-thai-charter/

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Prime minister orders Cabinet members to drop other jobs
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha wants any Cabinet members who also hold posts as government officials to give them up by the end of next month.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851429-pm-prayut-orders-cabinet-members-to-drop-other-jobs/

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UPDATE:

Fired reporter kills 2 former co-workers on live TV
By STEVE HELBER, PAM RAMSEY and JONATHAN DREW

MONETA, Va. (AP) — He planned it all so carefully — a choreographed execution of two former colleagues, broadcast live to a horrified television audience, and also recorded by him and then shared worldwide across social media.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851374-us-tv-reporter-and-cameraman-fatally-shot-during-live-report-in-virginia/page-2?p=9781356#entry9781356

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Saudi arrested in 1996 bombing that killed 19 Americans
By AYA BATRAWY and KEN DILANIAN

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A man described as the mastermind of the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing that killed 19 American servicemen in Saudi Arabia has been captured, a U.S. and a Saudi official said Wednesday, ending a nearly two-decade manhunt for one of the FBI's most-wanted terrorists.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851430-saudi-arrested-in-1996-bombing-that-killed-19-americans/

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Obama to seek unity with pope on issues in White House visit
By JOSH LEDERMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sweeping into office in 2009, President Barack Obama captured near rock-star status around the world among millions who saw him as the embodiment of a new sense of social purpose. Now, that baton has largely been passed to Pope Francis, whose visit to the White House next month will put his common cause with Obama on vivid display.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851431-obama-to-seek-unity-with-pope-on-issues-in-white-house-visit/

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US stocks surge, snapping 6-day losing streak
By ALEX VEIGA

NEW YORK: -- The Dow Jones industrial average rocketed more than 600 points Wednesday, its biggest gain in seven years, snapping a six-day losing streak that had Americans nervously checking their investment balances.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851432-us-stocks-surge-snapping-6-day-losing-streak/

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Experts: Trump, Ramos confrontation shouldn't be a surprise
By DAVID BAUDER

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump's onscreen confrontation with Univision's Jorge Ramos on Tuesday over the Republican presidential candidate's immigration plan should only be a surprise to those who don't know Ramos.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/851434-experts-trump-ramos-confrontation-shouldnt-be-a-surprise/