Thailand Live Wednesday 28 Oct 2015

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NOVEMBER 1

Prayut warns of action over 'Red Sunday'
WASAMON AUDJARINT,
NATCHA ORAVEERAKUL
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday threatened to draw on his power under the interim charter to punish those who participate in a campaign to wear red shirts in support of former premier Yingluck Shinawatra on Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866107-prayut-warns-of-action-over-red-sunday/

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UPDATE

Hua Hin beach closed after oil and rubbish washes ashore

HUA HIN:-- Visitors to Hua Hin beach on Tuesday were shocked to find large amounts of oil and rubbish washed ashore.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865998-oil-spill-on-hua-hin-beach/

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POLICE
Sacked spokesman resigns from police
JESSADA JANTHARAK
THE NATION


Prawut

Prawut's ouster was not based on his performance, police chief clarifies

BANGKOK: -- POL LT-GENERAL Prawut Thavorn-siri has tendered his resignation, ending his police career after his abrupt removal as police spokesman, a high-ranking police officer told The Nation yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866108-sacked-spokesman-resigns-from-thai-police/

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THAIHEALTH
Deputy chief defends use of budget
Pratch Rujivanarom
The Nation


Wichai

Insists he has not violated the law

BANGKOK: -- A CONTROVERSIAL figure in the country's healthcare sector yesterday fiercely defended the Thai Health Promotion Foundation's use of its budget, as the body comes under intense public scrutiny.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866109-deputy-thaihealth-chief-defends-use-of-budget/

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ELECTION COMMISSION
Elected senators will have to be more accountable: EC members
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn suggested yesterday that all senators should be directly elected, as this would make them more transparent and accountable to voters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866110-elected-thai-senators-will-have-to-be-more-accountable-ec-members/

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UPDATE:

COLD CASE
DNA tests taken for 2007 murder
Mongkolchaowarat Thangmangmee
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- AS PART of the investigation into the murder of a Japanese tourist in the Sukhothai historical park, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and a forensic team yesterday collected DNA samples and fingerprints of 65 border police in Phitsanulok province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865956-senior-police-team-to-reopen-death-probe-of-japanese-girl-in-sukhothai-killed-8-years-ago/page-2?p=10011380#entry10011380

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TOT
TOT plans fund for underground cable project
Usanee Mongkolporn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- TOT plans to establish a telecom infrastructure fund to finance the removal of its overhead cable lines nationwide, and their replacement with underground cabling.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866112-tot-plans-fund-for-underground-cable-project/

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UPDATE:

Trawlers may lose licences in IUU crackdown
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The owners of more than 8,000 trawlers in 22 coastal provinces may lose their commercial fishing licences as the authorities consider cracking down on those whose licences don't correspond to the vessel size or fishing activity, and those who have failed to renew their licences for several years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866047-thai-trawlers-may-lose-licences-in-iuu-crackdown/#entry10011385

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Linked water sources to ensure constant supply proposed ahead of drought crisis
Visarut Sankham
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- OTHER than encouraging farmers to grow crops that consume less water ahead of the upcoming drought crisis, Thai academics have suggested a three-phase measure, which includes linking water sources to ensure a constant supply.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866113-linked-water-sources-to-ensure-constant-supply-proposed-ahead-of-drought-crisis/

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Panel to finish probe soon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A COMMITTEE established by the Public Health Ministry will likely convene just three more meetings to conclude its investigation into alleged irregularities and conflicts of interest at the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866114-panel-to-finish-thaihealth-probe-soon/

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Police submit shrine bomb report with military court
Jitraporn Senawong
The Nation



Raft of charges prepared against jailed duo as hunt on for remaining suspects

BANGKOK: -- THE OFFICIAL report into the August 17 Erawan Shrine bombing, which also encompasses the Sathorn Pier bombing the following day, has been submitted to the chief military prosecutor by Pol Lt-General Srivara Rangsibrahmanakul, acting deputy police chief.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866115-thai-police-submit-shrine-bomb-report-with-military-court/

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Cyberwar unit not linked to single gateway: PM
WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Thai Armed Forces' "cyberwarfare unit" has nothing to do with a controversial project to establish a single international Internet gateway, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said at his weekly press briefing yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866116-cyberwar-unit-not-linked-to-single-gateway-pm-prayut/

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New US envoy filled in on 'road map to democracy'
NATCHA ORAVEERAKUL
THE NATION


Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam yesterday receives a courtesy call from US Ambassador to Thailand Glyn T Davies at Government House.

BANGKOK: -- DEPUTY Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam yesterday outlined the military-led regime's "road map to democracy" to US Ambassador Glyn Davies, saying the general election should be held by May 2017.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866117-new-us-envoy-to-thailand-filled-in-on-road-map-to-democracy/

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BURNING ISSUE
Why Myanmar elections are important to Thailand
SUPALAK GANJANAKHUNDEE
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE NOVEMBER 8 election is not only important for Myanmar but also for Thailand, as political changes in this neighbouring country have always had an impact on this part of the region.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866118-why-myanmar-elections-are-important-to-thailand/

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EDITORIAL
Weaning ThaiHealth off its bad habits
The Nation

Dubious use of funds and unethical moves by its executives have finally spurred a reassessment of the public agency

BANGKOK: -- Money corrupts, just as power does, and great wealth can corrupt absolutely. For this reason public agencies with massive budgets, such as the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), must be utterly transparent in their dealings with the taxpayer. Their credibility is at stake, after all, and by extension their very existence.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866119-weaning-thaihealth-off-its-bad-habits/

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STOPPAGE TIME
Vanity, definitely my favourite sin
Tulsathit Taptim

BANGKOK: -- We all like to promote good deeds. We want the world to be full of people like Krabi's mud-caked saviour. We shared his story and showered him with praise. We cleaned him up, dressed him and supplied his home with electricity. He was garlanded with flowers and got to shake hands with people he would never have crossed paths with otherwise. Meanwhile the Internet was busy turning a local hero into an international star.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866120-thai-opinion-vanity-definitely-my-favourite-sin/

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Feuding couple blamed for East Pattaya road crash



PATTAYA: -- On Tuesday Morning a serious road crash occurred on the rail road running along the Eastern side of Pattaya which resulted in 3 people sustaining injuries and is thought to have been caused by a feuding couple inside a pick-up.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866121-feuding-couple-blamed-for-east-pattaya-road-crash/

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Pattaya Police break-up mass brawl at South Pattaya Constructors Campsite



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Tuesday more than 50 Pattaya Police Officers were called to a mass brawl which was taking place at a Constructors Campsite in South Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866122-pattaya-police-break-up-mass-brawl-at-south-pattaya-constructors-campsite/

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Motorbike accessory theft in South Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- Late on Monday night the owner of a Honda MSX motorbike reported the theft of a low-value accessory which had been taken from his vehicle by two men.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866123-motorbike-accessory-theft-in-south-pattaya/

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WASHINGTON (AP) - US Senate passes cybersecurity bill encouraging information-sharing among firms, government.

WASHINGTON (AP) - US officials: Iran invited for first time to join international talks on Syria's future.

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UPDATE:

Hua Hin beach hit by 10km long oil slick



HUA HIN: -- An oil slick stretching about ten kilometers long hit the beach of Hua Hin today (Tuesday) emitting foul smell and driving away local and foreign tourists from the beach.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/865998-oil-spill-on-hua-hin-beach/page-2?p=10011446#entry10011446

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NACC faults ex-revenue chief Sathit and another official of malfeasance over 3 billion baht tax fraud



BANGKOK: -- Former Revenue Department director-general Sathit Rangkhasiri and a senior revenue official have been faulted by the National Anti-Corruption Commission of malfeasance in office for helping a group of ghost companies reclaiming over three billion baht in value-added tax from the state.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866124-nacc-faults-ex-revenue-chief-sathit-and-another-official-of-malfeasance-over-3-bln-baht-tax-fraud/

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Business operators warned of more stringent tax collection next year



BANGKOK: -- PricewaterhouseCoopers Thailand warned business operators today to brace for tougher actions next year from the taxmen to squeeze taxes of all forms from them to replenish the shortfall in government’s revenue collection.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866125-thai-business-operators-warned-of-more-stringent-tax-collection-next-year/

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Good samaritan chases Phuket gold thief
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- A Phuket local pursued a snatch thief attempting to flee the scene of the crime for three kilometers before the thief crashed his motorbike today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866126-good-samaritan-chases-phuket-gold-thief/

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Migrants' arrest sparks concern
Myanmar Eleven
The Nation
ANN



BANGKOK: -- MIGRANT ORGANISATIONS are pressing the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok to protect the rights of young migrants arrested recently over the murder of a Thai girl.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866128-murder-of-a-thai-girl-migrants-arrest-sparks-concern/

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Govt eyes raising Thai workers' potential, cutting road deaths

BANGKOK, 28 October 2015 (NNT) – The government has expressed determination to enhance the competitiveness of the Thai workforce and reduce the number of road accidents and fatalities ahead of the opening of the ASEAN Community.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866129-govt-eyes-raising-thai-workers-potential-cutting-road-deaths/

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Catalan ex-premier investigated for money laundering and tax fraud



MADRID: -- Former Catalan premier Jordi Pujol and three of his children have had their homes raided by the Spanish National police.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866130-catalan-ex-premier-investigated-for-money-laundering-and-tax-fraud/

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Caviar, but no body, found in speeding hearse in Russia



KHABAROVSK: -- An unusual discovery was made when police pulled over a speeding hearse on a Russian motorway.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866131-caviar-but-no-body-found-in-speeding-hearse-in-russia/

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MSF hospital in north Yemen destroyed in airstrike three weeks after Kunduz



YEMEN: -- First, Kunduz in northern Afghanistan, and now three weeks later it is Heedan in Houthi-controlled north Yemen, another Medicins sans Frontieres hospital destroyed by an air raid.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866132-msf-hospital-in-north-yemen-destroyed-in-airstrike-three-weeks-after-kunduz/

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Portuguese cabinet to be sworn in…but for how long?



LISBON: -- Portugal is set to swear in a new centre-right minority government on Friday, (October 30), but how long it will last remains to be seen.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866133-portuguese-cabinet-to-be-sworn-inbut-for-how-long/