Thailand Live Friday 9 Oct 2015

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STOP DRINKING NETWORK
Punish alcohol-backing celebs, says group
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- The Stop Drink Network has said celebrities who recently posted photos of themselves consuming branded alcohol drinks on popular social media site Instagram had violated the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act and should face the prospect of jail time.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861616-punish-alcohol-backing-celebs-says-group/

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Phuket bouncers filmed beating up foreign tourists



PHUKET:-- Video footage has emerged online which allegedly shows a group of Phuket bouncers attacking two foreign tourists.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861531-phuket-bouncers-filmed-beating-up-foreign-tourists/

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Mobile roadblocks against traffic violators scrapped nationwide

BANGKOK: -- After having received numerous complaints from members of the public, the National Police Office has decided to stop the practice of police setting up of mobile roadblocks to catch traffic violators.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861574-mobile-roadblocks-against-traffic-violators-scrapped-nationwide/

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Cyberactivists, Govt Don't Blink on 'Single Gateway'
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen


Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday at Government House in Bangkok.

BANGKOK — Six days before online dissidents threaten escalated attacks on government web servers, Thailand’s military government insists it is impossible to meet their demands.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861618-cyberactivists-thai-govt-dont-blink-on-single-gateway/

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SMOG
Haze hits Phuket tourism
PRATCH RUJIVANAROM,
VISARUT SANKHAM
THE NATION



Thailand offers to help Indonesia as annual fires cause flight delays

PHUKET: -- THE PROLONGED haze is hitting Phuket's tourism hard, with tourist operators on the island complaining about flight delays and holiday cancellations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861619-haze-hits-phuket-tourism/

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ERAWAN BOMB BLAST
Suspect was promised trip to Turkey for planting bomb
JESSADA JANTARAK,
JITRAPORN SENWONG,
JIRASAK WONGJANKHAM
THE NATION



Says he was told to attack busy shrine, hopes confession will win leniency

BANGKOK: -- A PRIME suspect in the Erawan Shrine bomb attack has told his lawyer that he was promised an opportunity to travel to Turkey if he planted the bomb as near to the crowded religious site as possible.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861620-suspect-was-promised-trip-to-turkey-for-planting-erawan-bomb/

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SHOOTING
Stray bullet may have hit 16-year-old, police say
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- A 16-year-old schoolgirl is believed to have been hit by a stray bullet while she was travelling in a car driven by her mother in Bangkok's Bang Chan area on Wednesday, police have said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861622-stray-bullet-may-have-hit-16-year-old-thai-police-say/

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SINGLE GATEWAY
PM upset with note-takers at meeting on plan
JEERAPONG PRASERTPOLKRANG
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday that he would take to task the officials who took down notes during the Cabinet meeting over the single Internet gateway plan.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861623-single-gateway-pm-prayut-upset-with-note-takers-at-meeting-on-plan/

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RICE-PLEDGING SCHEME
Court procedure an option if Yingluck refuses to pay compensation: Wissanu
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- If former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra refuses to pay compensation for the damage caused by her administration's rice-pledging scheme, the government can resort to court action to enforce the PM's administrative order, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861624-court-procedure-an-option-if-yingluck-refuses-to-pay-compensation-wissanu/

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ASIA RICH
Chearavanont family the 4th-wealthiest dynasty in Asia
The Nation


Dhanin

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's Chearavanont family is ranked fourth on the list of Forbes Asia's first-ever ranking of the top 50 Asian business dynasties, with a fortune valued at US$19.9 billion, while South Korea's Lee family, which controls the Samsung Group, tops the list with a combined wealth of $26.6 billion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861625-thailands-chearavanont-family-the-4th-wealthiest-dynasty-in-asia/

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RETAIL
Siam Paragon announces Bt100m sales campaign
Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Affected negatively by the economic slowdown and decline in purchasing power, the retail sector anticipates growth of less than 5 per cent this year, causing retail players to launch attractive campaigns to stimulate sales in the fourth quarter, the peak sales season of the year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861626-siam-paragon-announces-bt100m-sales-campaign/

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INVESTOR CONFIDENCE
More foreign investment in Thai shares anticipated
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
Erich Parpart
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Foreign investors were net-buyers of Thai shares this month, narrowing their net-sales from the beginning of this year to Bt103.4 billion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861627-more-foreign-investment-in-thai-shares-anticipated/

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UPDATE:

Temporary police traffic checkpoints banned
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- The use of temporary police checkpoints when looking for traffic violators is now banned nationwide unless they meet stringent criteria.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861574-mobile-roadblocks-against-traffic-violators-scrapped-nationwide/page-2#entry9943977

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Prayut calls for water plan
THE NATION



Armed forced mobilised to aid victims of looming storms

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday said he had instructed officials from the Water Resources Board to brainstorm for ideas to tackle the ongoing drought, such as possibly creating a reserve of underground water or turning seawater into fresh water.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861628-prayut-calls-for-water-plan/

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AMLO seeks law to block funding for weapons of mass destruction
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) is pushing for a draft law to block funding for the production of mass-destruction weapons before the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) assesses Thailand early next year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861629-thailands-amlo-seeks-law-to-block-funding-for-weapons-of-mass-destruction/

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Wat snaps ties over enlightened status for jet-setting monk
THE NATION


Luang Pu Nenkham

BANGKOK: -- Ubon Ratchathani's Wat Nong Pa Pong has decided to break ties with its branch temple in France, Wat Phothiyannaram, after its abbot Phra Pankhao Yannatharo allegedly used the temple's name to ratify Wirapol Sukphol as a modern day arahant or enlightened one.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861630-thai-temple-snaps-ties-over-enlightened-status-for-jet-setting-monk/

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Four from citizens group oppose military-court trial
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- FOUR members of the Resistant Citizen group have filed a petition with the Bangkok Military Court, opposing a move to have them tried at the military court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861631-four-from-citizens-group-oppose-military-court-trial/

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Borwornsak rejects CDC advisory post
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION


Borwornsak Uwanno, centre, former chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee, yesterday poses for a selfie with reporters at the Krungthai Bank

BANGKOK: -- THE CHIEF of the former charter drafting panel, Borwornsak Uwanno, has refused to take an adviser post with the new Constitution Drafting Committee after vowing to stay out of the process when the draft he helped to write was rejected.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861632-borwornsak-rejects-cdc-advisory-post/

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BURNING ISSUE
More clarity needed on alternative energy development
SASITHORN ONGDEE

BANGKOK: -- ALTERNATIVE energy development in Thailand is going to be in jeopardy if the government does not have clarity on what to promote, and how to do so.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861633-thai-politics-more-clarity-needed-on-alternative-energy-development/

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Those who broke law during political conflict could be pardoned: Prayut
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha suggested yesterday that those breaking the law during political conflict could be pardoned if they agreed to pursue their cases in court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861634-those-who-broke-law-during-political-conflict-could-be-pardoned-prayut/

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TELL IT AS IT IS
Is the wheel of Ayudhaya turning full circle on us?
Pornpimol Kanchanalak
Special to The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Twice in its 416-year history (AD1351-1767), the kingdom of Ayutthaya became a vassal state of Burmese overlords. The first period lasted between 15 and 20 years, the second 10 months.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861635-is-the-wheel-of-ayudhaya-turning-full-circle-on-us/

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EDITORIAL
The numbing down of America
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The litany of senseless gun murders in the US will continue as long as so many citizens continue labouring under the mistaken belief that personal weapons are essential

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861636-the-numbing-down-of-america/

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UPDATE:

Norwegian reports assault by Motorbike Taxi Driver in Central Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Thursday a 50 year old Norwegian was reportedly assaulted and robbed by a Motorbike Taxi Driver in Central Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861496-50-year-old-norwegian-tourist-assaulted-robbed-in-pattaya/#entry9944010

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Suspected female drug dealer caught by Pattaya Police



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Thursday, Pattaya Police Detectives arrested a 40 year old woman, who had been under surveillance for some time, and was suspected of selling class 1 drugs in Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861637-suspected-female-drug-dealer-caught-by-pattaya-police/

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'Middle-Eastern' suspect wanted following South Pattaya Hotel theft



PATTAYA: -- Police are currently searching for a man, they believe to be Middle-Eastern, following the theft of a mobile phone from a Hotel receptionist who was asleep at the time.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861638-middle-eastern-suspect-wanted-following-south-pattaya-hotel-theft/

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Five killed when a van crashed into a ten-wheel truck in Korat



KORAT: -- A van driver and four passengers were killed and six other passengers were injured when a van crashed into the rear of a ten-wheel truck on the highway in Soong Noen district of Nakhon Ratchasima on Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861639-five-killed-when-a-van-crashed-into-a-ten-wheel-truck-in-korat/

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UPDATE:

Phuket night club fires bouncers after brutal beating of Aussie tourists
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- Management from the White Room Night Club in Patong today denounced the violent actions of five of their bouncers in a confrontation with six Australian tourists last night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861531-phuket-bouncers-filmed-beating-up-foreign-tourists/page-3#entry9944031

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Nato ready to send troops to defend Turkey, says Stoltenberg



BRUSSELS: -- Nato defence ministers are meeting in Brussels. Top of the agenda – the escalation of Russian military activities in Syria.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861640-nato-ready-to-send-troops-to-defend-turkey-says-stoltenberg/

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Netanyahu bans al-Aqsa visits from ministers to ease tensions



JERUSALEM: -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has banned cabinet ministers from visiting the al-Aqsa mosque compound, in a bid to ease tensions around the flashpoint holy site in recent weeks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861641-netanyahu-bans-al-aqsa-visits-from-ministers-to-ease-tensions/

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Belarusian journalist Svetlana Alexeivich wins Nobel Prize in Literature



STOCKHOLM: -- In the gilded rooms of the Royal Swedish Academy the Nobel Prize in Literature 2015 was awarded to the Belarusian writer Svetlana Alexievich “for her polyphonic writings, a monument to suffering and courage in our times.”

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861642-belarusian-journalist-svetlana-alexeivich-wins-nobel-prize-in-literature/