Thailand Live Tuesday 22 Sep 2015

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Transport Min: Purple Line train to begin service in Aug 2016



CHON BURI, 22 September 2015 (NNT) – The Ministry of Transport has confirmed that the Purple Line electric train system is currently near completion and will be up and running within August next year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857627-bangkok-purple-line-trains-ready-for-test-track-run/

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New study shows Thai likes Danes better than Norwegian

BANGKOK: -- Thailand is very popular in Norway. In return Norwegians are not very popular among Thais according to a new study from Hoegskolen in Hedmark.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857469-new-study-shows-thai-likes-danes-better-than-norwegian/

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Police Chief reveals changes in various bureaus



BANGKOK, 22 September 2015 (NNT)-National Police Chief, Police General Somyot Pumpanmuang, has revealed that 52 police officials consisting of commanders and deputy commanders will change their posts 2015.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857510-thai-police-chief-reveals-changes-in-various-bureaus/

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Thailand unaffected by Tier 3 ranking in Trafficking in Persons Report



BANGKOK, 22 September 2015 (NNT) - The Secretary-General of the Department of American and South Pacific Affairs says Thailand’s Tier 3 ranking in the Trafficking in Persons report will have no repercussions on Thailand’s economy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857511-thailand-unaffected-by-tier-3-ranking-in-trafficking-in-persons-report/

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MOT to support Thailand as Logistic Hub of ASEAN



BANGKOK, 21st September 2015 (NNT) -The Ministry of Transport is supporting Thailand becoming the logistic hub of ASEAN and the GMS, to co-ordinate with neighboring countries and to develop the domestic infrastructures.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857513-mot-to-support-thailand-as-logistic-hub-of-asean/

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UPDATE:

PHUKET
Fugitive Filipino brothers nabbed
THE NATION,
PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER/ANN



BANGKOK: -- TWO Filipino brothers and politicians wanted in their country over the murder of a prominent anti-corruption crusader have been arrested in Phuket - three years after they first came to Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857347-philippine-brothers-reyes-wanted-in-ortega-killing-arrested-in-bangkok/#entry9881374

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UPDATE:

ANTI-TRAFFICKING CAMPAIGN
Trafficking crackdown on officials
JITRAPORN SENWONG
NUNTIDA PUANGTHONG
THE NATION



32 police transferred; arrest warrants soughtfor four more military officers

BANGKOK: -- THE DRIVE against human trafficking has brought further retribution on state officials with the authorities yesterday slapping 32 police officers with transfer orders for their alleged roles in the trade, national police chief Pol General Somyot Poompanmuang said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857510-thai-police-chief-reveals-changes-in-various-bureaus/#entry9881378

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SURAT THANI
Forensic team to testify in Koh Tao trial
CHULARAT SAENGPASSA
THE NATION



Aust expert among defence witnesses

KOH SAMUI: -- Officials from the Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS) will testify today in the defence of two Myanmar suspects who stand accused of murdering two British tourists in Koh Tao.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857515-forensic-team-to-testify-in-koh-tao-murder-trial/

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NEW CHARTER
'Stick with tested democratic ideas'
WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION


Likhit

BANGKOK: -- A 1997 CHARTER drafter said yesterday that society should deal with crises according to the prevailing system because it is questionable whether implementing an outside mechanism to tackle problems would restore peace.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857516-new-thai-charter-stick-with-tested-democratic-ideas/

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UPDATE:

POLITICS
Regulations will determine if Chitpas can join 191: police
THE NATION


Chitpas

BANGKOK: -- THE Metropolitan Police Bureau will use regulations when deciding whether to appoint a former People's Democratic Reform Committee leader to a position within the Patrol and Special Operation Division, the police spokesman said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857370-thai-police-protest-giving-officer-position-to-former-pcad-leader/page-2#entry9881394

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Police complaint made at Pattaya City Hall



PATTAYA: -- A group of protesters converged on Pattaya City Hall on Monday afternoon to present a petition which asked the Mayor to ask the Police to “go easy” on rule breakers for now so they can recover from the recent floods.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857517-police-complaint-made-at-pattaya-city-hall/

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'Possessed' Girl 'healed' behind Pattaya City Mountain Sign



PATTAYA: -- For some it’s a bizarre story and for those who believe in ghosts it is disturbing as a 14 year old girl, who is believed to have been possessed by evil spirits was healed following a visit to the Pratamnuk Mountain in South Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857538-possessed-girl-healed-behind-pattaya-city-mountain-sign/

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TENNIS
Djokovic and Nadal to promote Thailand as a destination
Lerpong Amsangiam
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- World No 1 Novak Djokovic and ninetime French Open champion Rafael Nadal will promote Thailand as a tourist destination in a daylong activity that will include shopping at OTOP and visiting the Prime Minister's Office during their Bangkok exhibition next month.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857539-djokovic-and-nadal-to-promote-thailand-as-a-destination/

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Trademark Act to be amended to cover protection of sounds
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE GOVERNMENT will soon approve an amendment to the Trademark Act that adds protection to the sound of a product or service.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857540-trademark-act-to-be-amended-to-cover-protection-of-sounds/

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Bomb suspect nabbed in M'sia yet to be verified
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- IT IS still not confirmed if a suspect arrested in Malaysia is the prime suspect of the fatal Erawan Shrine blast, national police chief Pol General Somyot Poompanmuang said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857541-bangkok-bomb-suspect-nabbed-in-malaysia-yet-to-be-verified/

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Water official, judge, police officer among NACC targets
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE Songkhla Public Prosecutor has filed a petition with the provincial court to confiscate Bt113 million in assets from Samart Jaisamut, head of the Office of Water Resource region 8.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857542-water-official-judge-police-officer-among-nacc-targets/

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BURNING ISSUE
Does junta want political parties to start from zero?
JINTANA PANYAARVUDH

BANGKOK: -- AFTER the May 2014 coup, politicians had been well aware that they could be the targets of reforms as the junta's attitude towards lawmakers had been so obviously negative.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857543-thai-politics-does-junta-want-political-parties-to-start-from-zero/

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Legal slip saved Sombat from 2 years in jail
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION


Nuling

BANGKOK: -- ANTI-COUP activist Sombat "Nuling" Boonngam-anong yesterday survived a penalty for violating an order from the junta that he report to the military.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857544-legal-slip-saved-sombat-from-2-years-in-jail/

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Charter drafters must heed the public: ex-NRC members
THE NATION


Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha greets vendors exhibiting goods at the Impact Arena, Exhibition and Convention Centre in Nonthaburi province after presiding over an opening ceremony for the Outstanding Working Capital Awards.

CALL FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS AND LIVE BROADCASTS OF DRAFTERS' MEETINGS

BANGKOK: -- FORMER members of the now-defunct National Reform Council (NRC) have called for public participation to be allowed in the drafting of the new constitution.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857545-charter-drafters-must-heed-the-public-ex-nrc-members/

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Phuket officials ponder limiting the number of tourists on island tours
Tanyaluk Sakoot


'This is not just for the sake of tourism businesses; we are worried about the environmental impact as well,' said V/Adm Sayan. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot

PHUKET: -- The lead joint-agency law-enforcement task force for Phuket is considering regulating the number of tourists permitted to visit the islands around Phuket for environmental and safety concerns.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857547-phuket-officials-ponder-limiting-the-number-of-tourists-on-island-tours/

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Two Democrats nominated for new reform committee
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE Democrat Party has nominated former party-list MPs Kasit Piromya and Thawil Praison to become members of the National Reform Steering Committee, a party source said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857548-two-democrats-nominated-for-new-reform-committee/

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How to Fight the Islamic State

By Joseph S. Nye, Jr.

Khaosod English

CAMBRIDGE – The Islamic State has captured the world’s attention with gruesome videos of beheadings, wanton destruction of antiquities, and skilled use of social media. It has also captured a large part of eastern Syria and western Iraq, proclaimed a caliphate based in Raqqa, Syria, and attracted foreign jihadists from around the world.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857549-how-to-fight-the-islamic-state/

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Wisconsin's Walker exits '16 race with harsh words for Trump
By SCOTT BAUER and JULIE BYKOWICZ

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Warning that the Republican presidential race has become too nasty, Scott Walker exited the 2016 campaign on Monday and urged others to quit, too, and "clear the field" so someone can emerge to take down front-runner Donald Trump.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857550-scott-walker-drops-out-of-us-2016-presidential-race-with-harsh-words-for-trump/

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VW rocked by emissions scandal as prosecutors come calling
By FRANK JORDANS and PAN PYLAS

BERLIN (AP) — Volkswagen, the world's top-selling automaker, lost a stunning 17.1 percent of its value Monday after admitting that it intentionally rigged nearly half a million cars to defeat U.S. smog tests.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857551-vw-rocked-by-emissions-scandal-as-prosecutors-come-calling/

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Bickering in the Balkans: Officials clash over migrants
By DUSAN STOJANOVIC

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — The war of words over Europe's migrant crisis is turning vicious, with officials in the bickering Balkans trading blame and accusations of lying, while also disparaging each other's actions as "pathetic" and a "disgrace."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857552-bickering-in-the-balkans-officials-clash-over-migrants/

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Former peanut exec gets 28 years in prison for outbreak
RUSS BYNUM, Associated Press

ALBANY, Georgia (AP) — A former peanut company executive was sentenced Monday to 28 years in prison for his role in a deadly salmonella outbreak, the stiffest punishment ever handed out to a producer in a foodborne illness case.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857553-us-salmonella-outbreak-peanut-boss-jailed-for-28-years/

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Republican Ben Carson claims benefits from Muslim criticism
STEVE PEOPLES, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican White House contender Ben Carson shook off growing criticism and refused Monday to back off his weekend charge that a Muslim shouldn't be elected as U.S. president.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857554-us-republican-ben-carson-claims-benefits-from-muslim-criticism/

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Hawaii man bit by shark swims to shore, posts video online
By CALEB JONES

HONOLULU (AP) — A Hawaii spear fisherman who was bit in the leg by a tiger shark off the coast of the Big Island swam to shore and then filmed a video of his deep wound as he was being carried away on a gurney.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857555-hawaii-man-bit-by-shark-swims-to-shore-posts-video-online/

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UPDATE:

4 Thai military officers sought in alleged human trafficking

HAT YAI, Thailand (AP) — A court in southern Thailand has issued arrest warrants for four military officers in connection with the trafficking of ethnic Rohingya migrants, police said Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857434-navy-army-officers-charged-with-human-trafficking-in-southern-thailand/#entry9881552

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Good News: Parts of Thai-Cambo border back open for some Out/In stamps



BANGKOK:-- Thaivisa.com understands that Immigration officials at some checkpoints on the Thai-Cambodian border are starting to issue some Out/In stamps.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/857561-good-news-parts-of-thai-cambo-border-back-open-for-some-outin-stamps/