Thailand Live Wednesday 14 Oct 2015

[webfact]

PRD ready to promote govt policy, drought countermeasures



BANGKOK, 14 October 2015 (NNT) - The Permanent Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office has said it is ready to initiates its projects with the Public Relations Department (PRD), including those related to drought countermeasures.

Permanent Secretary to the PM Office Pol Gen Aek Angsananont said it will promote government policy through the PRD. He said that with cooperation from all parties, this approach should provide clear information directly to the public.

After attending a meeting to discuss water resource strategy and management for 2015-2016, PRD Director-General Apinan Juntarangsri revealed that Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-Cha has expressed concern over the drought crisis.

Gen Prayut has instructed related officials to promote farming that is appropriate to the current situation, as well as alternative, water-saving crops. He also urged the general public to limit their water consumption. These messages will be disseminated via radio and television.


-- NNT 2015-10-14

[webfact]

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Crisis management must be part of charter: Meechai
PIYAPORN WONGRUANG,
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION


Meechai

BANGKOK: -- SOME sort of a crisis-management mechanism is badly needed in the new charter so that the country can cope with any political paralysis, Meechai Ruchupan, chairman of the Constitution Drafting Commission, told |The Nation in an interview yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862769-crisis-management-must-be-part-of-charter-meechai/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

PHUKET RIOT
Warrants sought for 9 Phuket riot leaders
SALINEE PRAB
THE NATION



Police say they have CCTV footage of rampage at Thalang station; some leaders had 'records of drug or alcohol use'

PHUKET: -- POLICE are seeking arrest warrants for nine key instigators of the riot at Thalang Police Station in Phuket.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862679-police-seek-arrest-warrants-against-nine-instigators-of-phuket-riot/#entry9962887

[webfact]

UPDATE:

POLITICS
Yingluck case to go ahead, PM says
WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha insists that his government will go ahead with a civil compensation claim against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to recover losses from her government's rice-pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862688-pm-defends-the-use-of-administrative-order-against-ms-yingluck-as-necessary/#entry9962891

[webfact]

UPDATE:

ANGTHONG
Japanese man, 83, slain
The Nation

ANGTHONG: -- An 83-year-old Japanese retired businessman was found dead in his residence in Angthong's Wiset Chaichan district yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862624-japanese-man-murdered-at-his-home-in-thailand/page-5?p=9962894#entry9962894

[webfact]

SOUTH CRISIS
Prawit cool on 'BRN call' for outside observers to monitor peace talks
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- DEPUTY Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan yesterday rejected a condition reportedly set by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu Patani (BRN) calling for "observers from other states" to attend any future peace talks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862770-prawit-cool-on-brn-call-for-outside-observers-to-monitor-peace-talks/

[webfact]

STIMULUS PACKAGE
Cabinet approves five measures
Business reporters



BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet yesterday approved the Finance Ministry's five proposals to boost business sentiment, accelerate the government's venture-capital scheme, help low-income earners buy their first home and rev up the economy in the near term.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862771-stimulus-package-thai-cabinet-approves-five-measures/

[webfact]

FAT
Thai football poll deferred
KITINAN SANGUANSAK
THE NATION


Fifa official James Johnson speaks with reporters after a meeting at the Golden Tulip Sovereign hotel yesterday.

Association chief Worawi may be chance to clear his name after 90-day ban; he vows to fight Fifa move

BANGKOK: -- THE Football Association of Thailand (FAT) issued a statement late yesterday saying the upcoming election for a new president will be postponed - with no new date given. This follows president Worawi Makudi being suspended late on Monday from football activity for 90 days by Fifa's Ethics Committee.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862772-thai-football-poll-deferred/

[webfact]

Police 'trained on checkpoint searches, interception'
PANTHIPA JITRAWUTTIPORN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- POLICE say they have received training on how to intercept and search suspects at a checkpoint, and use procedures on a par with international standards.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862773-thai-police-trained-on-checkpoint-searches-interception/

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE
Future of the NRC reform agenda lies in Meechai's hands
SUPALAK GANJANAKHUNDEE
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- IT'S SURPRISING to hear that Meechai Ruchuphan, chief of the new Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC), appears to have no ideas for the new charter, despite the fact that reform agenda from the now-defunct National Reform Council (NRC) is already in the hands of the Cabinet.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862774-thai-politics-future-of-the-nrc-reform-agenda-lies-in-meechais-hands/

[webfact]

Auditor-General wants power to review govt policies
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE Auditor-General yesterday urged charter drafters to include a provision in the new charter giving his office more authority to scrutinise government policies - populist or otherwise - that damage the country and ask the Senate to halt those policies, impeach the responsible politicians and order them to pay compensation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862775-auditor-general-wants-power-to-review-thai-govt-policies/

[webfact]

Thinnapan, 81, says he is healthy enough to lead reform steering panel

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- CAPTAIN Thinnapan Nakata was yesterday selected chairman of the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) with no challenge.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862776-thinnapan-81-says-he-is-healthy-enough-to-lead-reform-steering-panel/

[webfact]

People will be kept up-to-date, says Prayut
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday that he would continue delivering his message to people as it was necessary to keep them informed, especially during this period of reform.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862778-people-will-be-kept-up-to-date-says-prayut/

[webfact]

Complaint to Ombudsman over Wissanu's brothers' appointment to NRSA
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THE ASSOCIATION for the Protection of the Thai Constitution filed a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman yesterday calling for a probe into Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his deputy Wissanu Krea-ngam for appointing members of Wissanu's family to the National Reform Steering Assembly.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862779-complaint-to-ombudsman-over-wissanus-brothers-appointment-to-nrsa/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Finance minister the richest
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- FINANCE MINISTER Apisak Tantivorawong appears to be the richest member of the current Cabinet, with his net worth standing at Bt394 million, according to the asset-declaration report released by the National Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862666-finance-minister-apisak-the-richest-minister-in-pm-prayuts-cabinet/?p=9962937#entry9962937

[webfact]

Wissanu assigned to examine all unresolved government-related cases
Wasamon Audjarint
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam has been assigned to examine all unresolved government-related cases in order to be able to take proper actions to resolve them, PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862780-wissanu-assigned-to-examine-all-unresolved-government-related-cases/

[webfact]

NAYPYITAW, Myanmar (AP) - State media say Myanmar election to go ahead as planned on Nov. 8 despite proposed delay.

[webfact]

Phuket riot police gifted B100k in cash for bravery, peacefully holding the line
Saroj Kueprasertkij


Phuket Provincial Police Chief Maj Gen Pachara Boonyasit assured that the cash donated was out of other police officers' own pockets. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- Police officers injured in the riots at Thalang Police Station over the weekend received cash donations from fellow officers today (Oct 13).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862781-phuket-riot-police-gifted-b100k-in-cash-for-bravery-peacefully-holding-the-line/

[webfact]

Phuket party town bouncer conduct to be reviewed after brutal beating
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- President of the Patong Entertainment Business Association Weerawit Kurasombat has called on representatives from nightlife venues in Patong to gather tomorrow to review policies concerning the conduct of bouncers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862782-phuket-party-town-bouncer-conduct-to-be-reviewed-after-brutal-beating/

[webfact]

At least five dead, 20 wounded in 'Day of Rage' in Israel



JERUSALEM: -- Men wielding guns and knives reportedly killed at least 3 people and wounded 20 more in a spate of attacks in Israel, on a “Day of Rage” called by Palestinian groups.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862783-at-least-five-dead-20-wounded-in-day-of-rage-in-israel/

[webfact]

YPG militia alliance set to attack ISIL stronghold Raqqa 'within weeks'



DAMASCUS: -- The city of Raqqa – the Syrian base of the militant Islamic State is now a target for the YPG which expects to attack the stronghold within weeks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862784-ypg-militia-alliance-set-to-attack-isil-stronghold-raqqa-within-weeks/

[webfact]

Iran's parliament backs nuclear deal



THERAN: -- Iran’s parliament on Tuesday (October 13) approved the nuclear deal struck with world powers in July, according to state media.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862785-irans-parliament-backs-nuclear-deal/

[webfact]

Japanese tug-of-war over the fate of Okinawa US air base



OKINAWA: -- The governor of Japan’s southern Okinawa prefecture has revoked a permit allowing the move of a US military base farther away from residents upset about its presence.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862786-japanese-tug-of-war-over-the-fate-of-okinawa-us-air-base/

[webfact]

Kosovo opposition MP freed by police after violent street protests



KOSOVO: -- Kosovo MP Albin Kurti has been released by police after being detained for questioning over last week’s incident in parliament when he set off a tear gas cannister.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862787-kosovo-opposition-mp-freed-by-police-after-violent-street-protests/

[webfact]

Syrian Kurds accused of 'war crimes' – Amnesty International



DAMASCUS: -- A Syrian Kurdish militia has driven out thousands of non-Kurdish civilians from areas they have captured from ISIL militants.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862788-syrian-kurds-accused-of-war-crimes-amnesty-international/

[webfact]

US airdrops military supplies to Syrian rebels



DAMASCUS: -- US forces have airdropped small arms ammunition and supplies to Syrian Arab rebels as part of a revamped American strategy. It’s barely two weeks since Russia intervened in the Syrian conflict on the side of President Bashar al-Assad.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862789-us-airdrops-military-supplies-to-syrian-rebels/

[webfact]

Germany: PEGIDA slams Merkel over refugee influx



DRESDEN: -- Not all Germans are welcoming refugees with open arms.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862790-germany-pegida-slams-merkel-over-refugee-influx/

[webfact]

Election rallies are suspended in Turkey following bombing



ANKARA: -- A commemoration has been held outside the main railway station in Ankara in remembrance of the victims of Saturday’s suicide bombings.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862791-election-rallies-are-suspended-in-turkey-following-bombing/

[webfact]

Netanyahu vows 'knife terror' won't beat Israel as stabbings multiply



JERUSALEM: -- The pace of Palestinian stabbing attacks in Israel escalated on Monday, with Jerusalem the focus of violence.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862792-netanyahu-vows-knife-terror-wont-beat-israel-as-stabbings-multiply/

[webfact]

AB InBev and SABMiller agree takeover deal to create new beer giant



LONDON: -- If at first you don’t succeed, try try again. After being rebuffed several times in its bid to take over SABMiller, brewing giant AB InBev’s perseverance seems to have paid off.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/862794-ab-inbev-and-sabmiller-agree-takeover-deal-to-create-new-beer-giant/