Thailand Live Tuesday 13 Oct 2015

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You can now apply online for a 15 day visa on arrival for Thailand

BANGKOK:-- Thailand's Immigration Bureau has announced that visitors from 19 countries can now apply online for a 15 day visa on arrival.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862486-you-can-now-apply-online-for-a-15-day-visa-on-arrival-for-thailand/

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Fifa suspends former ExCo member Worawi Makudi for 90 days

The former Fifa executive committee member Worawi Makudi has been suspended for 90 days pending a full investigation, the Ethics Committee of football’s governing body said on Monday.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862481-fifa-suspends-thai-football-chief-worawi-makudi-for-90-days/

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CENSORSHIP
Film on monks banned
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THE CULTURE Ministry issued a ban on the screening of "Arbat" yesterday, forcing Sahamongkol Film to cancel all premiere events scheduled for today as well as the planned release set for Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862504-thai-film-on-monks-banned/

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THAI PBS
Board defends decision on Somchai, denies outside influence
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- AFTER being heavily criticised by the public, the Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS) policy committee yesterday defended its decision to terminate director-general Somchai Suwanban's contract last week by saying it was legitimate and had not been influenced by outsiders.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862505-thai-pbs-board-defends-decision-on-somchai-denies-outside-influence/

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UPDATE:

FAT
Fifa bans Thai football association chief for 90 days
The Nation, AFP

BANGKOK: -- Fifa on Monday banned Football Association of Thailand president Worawi Makudi for 90 days from all football-related activities with immediate effect for it said to be a breach of its ethics code.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862481-fifa-suspends-thai-football-chief-worawi-makudi-for-90-days/?p=9958831#entry9958831

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CORRUPTION
Yingluck appeals to Prayut over 'unfair' rice losses order
THE NATION


Yingluck

BANGKOK: -- FORMER prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday urged current PM Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha not to issue an administrative order to make her pay compensation for state losses over the rice-pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862411-ms-yingluck-asks-pm-for-fairness-in-the-civil-litigation-against-her-over-the-rice-scheme/page-2#entry9958835

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UPDATE:

COURT
Thaksin faces arrest for failing to attend trial
THE NATION


Thaksin

BANGKOK: -- THE Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant yesterday for fugitive former PM Thaksin Shinawatra after the Army filed a defamation lawsuit against him for criticising the military for ousting his sister Yingluck's govt.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862362-another-arrest-warrant-issued-for-fugitive-thaksin-shinawatra/page-4?p=9958838#entry9958838

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PHUKET
Rioters to face legal action
The Nation


A crane lifts a wrecked pickup away as authorities clear debris out of the Thalang Police Station yesterday. The station came under attack late on Saturday night following the death of two young men while being chased by police earlier on Saturday.

National police chief backs Phuket officers after death of young drug suspects, riot

BANGKOK: -- NATIONAL POLICE chief General Chakthip Chaijinda yesterday vowed to take legal action against the rioters who went on a rampage at the Thalang Police Station in Phuket late on Saturday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862506-phuket-rioters-to-face-legal-action/

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Thai exports in dire straits unless govt joins TPP, trade experts warn
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION


Duanden Nikomboriraks, research director at the TDRI

BANGKOK: -- EVEN THOUGH the recently agreed Trans-Pacific Partnership will not come into force until it is ratified by its member states, Thailand will immediately lose export orders and see its competitiveness decline next year, a seminar heard, and foreign direct investment will be the next casualty.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862508-thai-exports-in-dire-straits-unless-govt-joins-tpp-trade-experts-warn/

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UPDATE:

Koh Tao trial verdict set for December 24
Reuters

Defence team still expect victory; suspects claim sexual assault in jail

KOH SAMUI: -- THE verdict in the trial of two Myanmar migrant workers accused of killing two British tourists will be announced at the end of the year, a defence lawyer said yesterday following a trial that has been mired in controversy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855163-koh-tao-murders-2-dna-profiles-from-alleged-murder-weapon-do-not-match-defendants-dna/page-100?p=9958852#entry9958852

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Plenty of demand for workers, Ovec finds
Visarut Sankham
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- DESPITE high demand for workers in the hotel and tourism industry, plus the automotive service and electrical and electronics sectors, there was a distinct lack of manpower, a government meeting was told yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862509-plenty-of-demand-for-workers-thailands-ovec-find/

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Residents on board with Chao Phraya project: survey
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will hire a consultant for the Bt14-billion "Chao Phraya Landmark" roadway and recreational area project this month, city deputy spokesperson Benchasai Keeyapaj said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862510-residents-on-board-with-chao-phraya-project-survey/

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Police and local bodies 'the sources of most complaints'
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police and local administrative bodies are still the agencies that attract the most public complaints, Auditor-General Sriracha Charoenpanit said yesterday in his review of his agency's achievements in 2015 fiscal year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862511-thai-police-and-local-bodies-the-sources-of-most-complaints/

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BRN calls for international observers in peace talks
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A Thailand-based separatist group said yesterday it would join the peace talks with the government only if they are conducted formally according to international standards and norms.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862512-thailand-based-separatist-group-calls-for-international-observers-in-peace-talks/

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ThaiHealth denies funds were misappropriated
Pratch Rujivanarom
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THAI Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) has denied reports that the government suspended some of its budget and declared its innocence in the wake of allegations by the Monitoring and Auditing Committee on Fiscal Expenditure that it misused its budget and had conflicts of interest.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862513-thaihealth-denies-funds-were-misappropriated/

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PM Prayut: There is no conflict within Thai Royal Army

BANGKOK, 13 October 2015 (NNT) - The Prime Minister has denied reports that there have been conflicts within the Royal Thai Army.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862514-pm-prayut-there-is-no-conflict-within-thai-royal-army/

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NCPO to launch citizen information campaign
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has initiated a campaign to send agents around the country to explain the charter drafting process to the masses.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862515-ncpo-to-launch-citizen-information-campaign/

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CDC members prefer fresh charter draft
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION

USING PARTS OF OLD CONSTITUTIONS 'MAY MEAN TOO MUCH WORK'

BANGKOK: -- THE Constitution Drafting Commission is looking to write a fresh charter rather than adapt elements from previous ones, its spokesman Amorn Winichwiwatana revealed yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862516-cdc-members-prefer-fresh-thai-charter-draft/

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EDITORIAL
Phuket riot reflects much that's gone wrong
The Nation

Government, police and even the grieving families have much to answer for after drug suspects killed and mayhem ensues

BANGKOK: -- Violence of any kind, regardless of who is involved, should be condemned in the strongest terms, but, in the case of the 12-hour riot on Phuket over the weekend, it's hard not to have at least some sympathy for those who instigated it.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862517-phuket-riot-reflects-much-thats-gone-wrong/

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UPDATE:

Pattaya “Coconut Bar” shutdown by Pattaya Police



PATTAYA: -- Pattaya’s Coconut Bar, otherwise known as Pattaya Beach Road, was raided by Police in the early hours of Monday and over 50 suspected male and female Prostitutes were arrested.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862396-pattaya-ladyboys-fined-100-baht/page-3?p=9958892#entry9958892

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Chinese Vegetarian Festival begins in Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- As previously reported by us, the Chinese Vegetarian Festival known as “Gin Jai” takes place between 12th and 22nd October and the grand opening of the festival took place on Monday at the headquarters of the Sawang Boriboon Foundation in Banglamung.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862518-chinese-vegetarian-festival-begins-in-pattaya/

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Dr Wissanu insists government has to demand compensation of Ms Yingluck through administrative order



BANGKOK: -- The government cannot delay the demand for compensation from former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra for the massive loss caused by the failed rice pledging scheme, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said on Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862520-dr-wissanu-insists-government-has-to-demand-compensation-of-ms-yingluck-through-administrative-order/

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How to boost Thai students' motivation
Jyrki Loima
Special to The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Links between motivation and learning outcomes in Thai basic education have been revealed in recent studies undertaken by an international research group based at Chulalongkorn University.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862521-how-to-boost-thai-students-motivation/

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Celebrity beer kerfuffle resolved, says deputy PM
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung,
Poungchompoo Prasert
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The case of Thai celebrities posting pictures of themselves online endorsing alcoholic beverages has been resolved as they have been brought up to speed with Thai laws, said Deputy Prime Minister Air Chief Marshal Prajin Jantong.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862522-celebrity-beer-kerfuffle-resolved-says-deputy-thai-pm/

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One dead as mob blockade delays rescue efforts
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: A Phuket rescue worker believes that the rioters who attacked Thalang Police Station and blockaded Thepkrasattri Road might have played a role in the death of a patient who was being transferred from a hospital in Krabi to a better equipped Phuket hospital.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862523-one-dead-as-phuket-mob-blockade-delays-rescue-efforts/

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Valuable relics lost in Mae Sariang blaze
Pathinya Srisupamart
The Nat1ion
Mae Hong Son



BANGKOK: -- YUAM TAI Mayor Sati Sapthaweephan yesterday called for the Mae Sariang Museum on the Myanmar border in the far northwest to be rebuilt after a fire gutted it yesterday and destroyed hugely important artefacts.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862523-one-dead-as-phuket-mob-blockade-delays-rescue-efforts/

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EU calls on Russia to end bombing campaign in Syria



The EU is piling pressure on Russia to end its aerial bombing campaign in Syria

LUXEMBOURG: -- Foreign ministers, who have been meeting in Luxembourg, are warning that strikes designed to support President Bashar al-Assad could deepen the civil war, which has left around a quarter of a million people dead.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862527-eu-calls-on-russia-to-end-bombing-campaign-in-syria/

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Pro-Europeans launch 'in' campaign ahead of UK referendum on EU membership

Leaving the EU would hurt Britain’s jobs and torpedo its global financial clout

LONDON: -- That is the message from pro-Europeans, who have launched their “in” campaign, ahead of a referendum on UK membership.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862528-pro-europeans-launch-in-campaign-ahead-of-uk-referendum-on-eu-membership/

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Russia's role in Syria crisis scrutinised at EU foreign ministers meeting



LUXEMBOURG: -- The Syria crisis and Russia’s involvement are topping the agenda of an EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862529-russias-role-in-syria-crisis-scrutinised-at-eu-foreign-ministers-meeting/

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Russian cruise missiles strikes prompt global aviation officials to issue safety alerts



MONTREAL: -- The cruise missiles fired from the Caspian Sea by Russia and destined for Syria have heightened concerns that commercial flights in the region could be put in danger.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862530-russian-cruise-missiles-strikes-prompt-global-aviation-officials-to-issue-safety-alerts/