Thailand Live Monday 19 Oct 2015

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Surin arranges grand elephant event

SURIN, 19 October 2015 (NNT) - Surin province, in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), organizes the Amazing Surin Elephant Roundup 2015 to promote the province's tourism with elephants.

TAT Director for Surin province Chukiat Bhoto said the TAT and people of Surin welcomed both Thai and foreign tourists who came to join in the Amazing Surin Elephant Roundup 2015. Scheduled for 19-22 October 2015, the event features a parade of more than 200 elephants and the biggest buffet for elephants recognized by the Guinness World Records.

Apart from the Amazing Surin Elephant Roundup, there are many interesting tourist sites to visit during this period, including the Ban Taklang Elephant Village, Surin Museum, a silk village and Phanom Sawai Park.

-- NNT 2015-10-19

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Phuket governor pleas with residents not to join repeat riot in Facebook post

PHUKET: Last night (October 17) Phuket Governor Chamroen Thipiyapongthada posted a message on his Facebook feed urging residents not to stage a new protest against Thalang Police.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863879-phuket-governor-pleas-with-residents-not-to-join-repeat-riot-in-facebook-post/

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Bangkok's green lung slowly being eaten away
Pratch Rujivanarom
The Nation October


A land owner in Bang Krachao in Samut Prakan put up this sign to sell his plot. Signs like this are more frequently seen in Bang Krachao as the land price rises.

As more sell agricultural land in Bang Krachao, groups promote eco-tourism

BANGKOK: -- THE AGRICULTURAL image of Samut Prakan's Bang Krachao area is set for a radical change as more lands are being sold to property developers, forcing activist groups to encourage development of the area as an eco-tourism spot so as to protect the green lung of Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863893-bangkoks-green-lung-slowly-being-eaten-away/

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Govt to rebrand populism
Wasamon Audjarint
The Nation

Populist policies get a different slant - pracha rat - on state and private help for the grass roots

BANGKOK: -- The Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha government has begun re-branding populist policies as pracha rat in the hope it will lead to sustained economic and social development.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863894-thai-govt-to-rebrand-populism/

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BMA management under fire over its alleged irregularities
Natthapat Phromkaew
The Nation

Who paid for deputy governor's first-class air travel, retirement parties in japan? asks ex-mp vilas

BANGKOK: -- Former member of parliament Vilas Chanpitaksa is planning to file complaints against some bigwigs of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) over alleged irregularities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863895-bangkok-administration-management-under-fire-over-its-alleged-irregularities/

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SURVEY:

SURVEY: Do you agree with the police being given financial rewards?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863368-survey-do-you-agree-with-the-police-being-given-financial-rewards/

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SPECIAL REPORT
Referendum a tool for direct democracy
Wasamon Audjarint
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- As the charter-drafting process restarts, a referendum - a critical tool to know the people's consensus on issues of importance - has returned as part of the process toward an election and a restoration of democracy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863896-thai-report-referendum-a-tool-for-direct-democracy/

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NSC chief tipped to be new CAT chairman
USANEE MONGKOLPORN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- GENERAL THAWEEP NETRNIYOM, secretary-general of the Office of the National Security Council, is expected to be named the new chairman of the CAT Telecom board.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863897-nsc-chief-tipped-to-be-new-cat-chairman/

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Coca-Cola aims to cash in on AEC fizz
KWANCHAI RUNGFAPAISARN
THE NATION

Claudia Navarro

BANGKOK: -- Claudia Navarro took up her role as regional marketing director of Coca-Cola (Thailand) on April 1 with the intention of streamlining the company's strategic marketing direction to support the growth of the Coca-Cola portfolio in Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863898-coca-cola-aims-to-cash-in-on-aec-fizz/

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'TPP could benefit Thailand'
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION


New Zealand

BANGKOK: -- AS ONE of the 12 signatories to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, New Zealand suggests that Thailand should consider joining the TPP during the public scrutiny process by member states, arguing that the partnership will be the world's largest trade agreement - and one that many more countries will join, making it a huge market for the Kingdom.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863899-tpp-could-benefit-thailand/

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New tests for residents near big gold mine
Pratch Rujivanarom
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A FRESH round of blood/urine tests is now being processed through the initiative of five organisations, including the Industry Ministry, to assess a gold mine's impacts on the health of people living in Phichit, Phetchabun and Phitsanulok provinces.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863900-new-tests-for-residents-near-big-gold-mine/

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Scholarships on environment, science to get top priority
Visarut Sankham
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Recognising the need to prepare for natural disasters, the Office of the Civil Service Commission (OCSC) plans to give priority to students seeking scholarships in the fields of environment and science.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863901-scholarships-on-environment-science-to-get-top-priority/

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Science Ministry pursues Nobel-winning dreams
Chutima Inkam,
Visarut Sankham
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE Science and Technology Ministry has decided to take up the ambitious goal of producing young talent who may one day win a Nobel Prize.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863902-thai-science-ministry-pursues-nobel-winning-dreams/

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Two loggers accused of killing official surrender
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- TWO OF three men suspected of killing a forest protection official in the Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary in Chaiyaphum this month have surrendered.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863903-two-loggers-accused-of-killing-thai-official-surrender/

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Panel to discuss reconciliation
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Reform Steering Assembly will tomorrow discuss how to achieve national reconciliation. Alongkorn Ponlaboot, deputy chairman, said yesterday that after listening to members' suggestions, the NRSA would present its reconciliation proposals to a meeting of five core agencies on October 28.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863904-thai-panel-to-discuss-reconciliation/

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People want a simple, concise charter, poll shows
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Most people want the Constitution Drafting Committee to write a charter that is easy to understand, protects people's rights and is concise but comprehensive, a Dusit Poll survey released yesterday shows.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863905-people-want-a-simple-concise-charter-thai-poll-shows/

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BRN call for foreign observers at peace talks a key test for Bangkok
Don Pathan
Special to The Nation


Members of a bomb squad unit inspect the scene following a blast from a roadside bomb planted by suspected separatist militants in Narathiwat earlier this month.

Insurgent group says it is willing to negotiate if Thailand follows international norms

BANGKOK: -- For an organisation whose leadership is very secretive, Barisan Revolusi Nasional is drifting into uncharted territory as its "Information Department" reaches out to foreign media to make their case about Thailand's questionable effort to secure peace in its southernmost provinces.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863907-brn-call-for-foreign-observers-at-peace-talks-a-key-test-for-bangkok/

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EDITORIAL
The how and why of 'Slow Life'
The Nation

Fad or reaction to the social media era, it's a concept of living worth grasping

BANGKOK: -- Social media users have been promoting the "slow life" concept for a while. One thing you need to do to better embrace this concept, rather ironically, is turn off social media as much as you can.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863908-thai-editorial-the-how-and-why-of-slow-life/

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REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Welcome to Thailand's diplomatic jamboree
Kavi Chongkittavorn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Early October, Rear Admiral Simon Ancona, Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) from the United Kingdom was in Bangkok to "re-engage" Thailand after the power seizure last May. He was one of most senior defence officials from Europe to stop over here for such a purpose. For Thailand, the UK is the most important European country as far as security is concerned.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863909-welcome-to-thailands-diplomatic-jamboree/

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'Police Impersonator' arrested at East Pattaya Beer Bar



PATTAYA: -- Nongprue Police arrested a Traffic Police Volunteer who was pretending to be a real Police Officer at a Beer Bar in East Pattaya on Saturday Night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863910-police-impersonator-arrested-at-east-pattaya-beer-bar/

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Bangkok Police-led operation to arrest illegal foreign workers in Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- Over 100 Police Officers were involved in an early morning operation on Saturday to arrest illegal foreign workers residing in Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863911-bangkok-police-led-operation-to-arrest-illegal-foreign-workers-in-pattaya/

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Bangkok Police arrest Pattaya Beach 'Loiterers'



PATTAYA: -- In a similar operation carried out earlier this week by Pattaya Police, officers from the Crime Suppression Police based in Bangkok rounded-up over 50 individuals found on Pattaya Beach Road, on Saturday Morning, who are suspected of engaging in illegal activities or loitering with intent to commit a criminal act.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863912-bangkok-police-arrest-pattaya-beach-loiterers/

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Eight middle-ranking police officers axed



BANGKOK: -- Eight middle-ranking police officers were ordered transferred to inactive posts at the Central Investigation Bureau on Sunday with immediate effect.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863913-eight-middle-ranking-thai-police-officers-axed/

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Face Recognition Equipment to be Installed at Thai Border Checkpoints
By Manop Thip-Osod

BANGKOK – Speaking at a security seminar in Bangkok on Friday, police spokesman Pol Gen Prawut Thavornsiri said the face recognition equipment will be installed at every border checkpoint, to make the process of immigration screening more efficient and to prevent transnational crimes.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863914-face-recognition-equipment-to-be-installed-at-thai-border-checkpoints/

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UK man arrested for 4chan post that triggered university lockdown in Canada
BY BNO NEWS

LONDON: -- A 22-year-old man has been arrested in London, England, after allegedly making an online threat that caused a lockdown at the Waterloo campus of Wilfrid Laurier University, Canadian police say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863915-uk-man-arrested-for-4chan-post-that-triggered-university-lockdown-in-canada/

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Suspected serial killer arrested in 1980s murders in Oregon
BY BNO NEWS

PORTLAND: -- A 55-year-old man identified as Homer Lee Jackson has been arrested and charged in a series of murders that targeted prostitutes in Portland in the 1980s, police announced on Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863916-suspected-serial-killer-arrested-in-1980s-murders-in-oregon/

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Germany offers Turkey concessions package to get support in refugee crisis



ANKARA: -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel made a visit to key ally Turkey on Sunday, meeting with both President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Prime Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863918-germany-offers-turkey-concessions-package-to-get-support-in-refugee-crisis/

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Israel bans Arab workers from schools in several cities and further tightens security



JERUSALEM: -- The atmosphere of crisis is gaining ground in Israel, with at least four cities including Tel Aviv temporarily banning Arab labourers from working in their schools.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863919-israel-bans-arab-workers-from-schools-in-several-cities-and-further-tightens-security/

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Pope Francis proclaims married couple saints in historic ceremony



ROME: -- Four new Catholic saints were proclaimed by Pope Francis on Sunday at a mass for some 65,000 people in St Peter’s Square.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863920-pope-francis-proclaims-married-couple-saints-in-historic-ceremony/

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Egypt votes in parliamentary poll set to strengthen President Sisi



CAIRO: -- A milestone in the road-map to democracy. That is how Egypt’s long-awaited parliamentary election, which began on Sunday, is being presented.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/863921-egypt-votes-in-parliamentary-poll-set-to-strengthen-president-sisi/