Thailand Live Friday 30 Oct 2015

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Thai-British cooperation for joint investment projects discussed

BANGKOK, 30 October 2015 (NNT) – State Enterprise Policy Office Director Eakniti Nitithanprapas and British Ambassador to Thailand Mark Kent discussed Thai-British cooperation for joint investment projects.

The Thai-British cooperation under 2013's Public-Private Partnership Act (PPP) is designed to assimilate experiences and ideas among members of the public and private sectors of both countries.

The State Enterprise Policy Office director said the PPP cooperation is one of the Thai government's major policies under which investments are to be expedited and promoted by both the public and private sectors.

Excess liquidity in the banking system, currently reported to amount as much as 2.2 trillion baht, may be used to finance investment projects.

Moreover, he said, the State Enterprise Policy Office will introduce the so-called PPP Fast Track to streamline approval process for investment projects and reduce auction process from two years to eight months.


-- NNT 2015-10-30

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THAI-US RELATIONS
US ambassador upbeat after his meeting with PM
WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION


Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha with US Ambassador Glyn T Davies at Thai Khu Fah building, Government House, yesterday to discuss bilateral relations and cooperation.

Prayut explains circumstances behind coup; says justice process fair and no groups targeted

BANGKOK: -- GLYN DAVIES, the new US ambassador to Thailand, has expressed confidence in Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's sincerity in wanting to restore democracy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866691-us-ambassador-davies-upbeat-after-his-meeting-with-pm-prayut/

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LESE MAJESTE CASE
CP tycoon Dhanin's affiliates to be questioned
THE NATION


Sukho Tamseri

BANGKOK: -- POLICE PROBING the high-profile lese majeste case in which suspects have already been arrested plan to question people close to billionaire tycoon Dhanin Chearavanont, the Metropolitan Police commissioner said yesterday.

Pol Maj-General Chayapol Chatchaidej, who is part of the investigation team, said unnamed company employees of Dhanin's businesses would be questioned.

"The investigators will not directly question Dhanin," he added. "Only people involved will be questioned."

Three people have been arrested and accused of citing the monarchy for their own personal gain. They are well-known fortune-teller Suriyan Sujaritpolwong, his secretary Jirawong Wattanathewasilp and late Police Major Prakrom Warunprapa.

They have been charged with violating Article 112 of the Penal Code.

Suriyan and Jirawong were accused of earning Bt1.2 million from a private company identified as Mac Bara, in procuring commemorative pins for the recent Bike for Mum event at an inflated price.

Police have produced a chart that shows five affiliates of Dhanin's Charoen Pokphand (CP) conglomerate were hired by Mac Bara to produce the pins.

Dozens of investigation teams are currently questioning suspects in the case, according to Chayapol. He said each team would be headed by a senior police officer above the rank of colonel and below the rank of major-general when questioning important figures.

Pol Lt-General Srivara Rangsibhramanakul, the deputy national police chief and head of the investigation team, said the South Bangkok Criminal Court yesterday granted a police request for a warrant to arrest Sukho Tamseri, 32, another person allegedly involved with the case.

Sukho, who is considered to be close to Prakrom, will be charged with possessing firearms and ammunitions without permission.

Initially, Sukho had not been found to commit any offence against Article 112 of the Penal Code, according to Srivara, who added that he would face additional charges if his interrogation reveals that he committed more offences.

Srivara said the investigation of the three original suspects is more than 80 per cent completed. He also said the eight junior police officers transferred to the Central Investigation Bureau who had previously worked under Prakrom, had no links to the case.

No links have been established with any other senior police or military officer, he said.

Meanwhile, police have begun the process of confiscating assets from people close to Suriyan, according to Chayapol. He said those people, many of whom are Suriyan's relatives, could be charged with receiving stolen goods.

In a related development, a news team from The Nation went to a house inside the Lalil Green Ville in Prawet district yesterday, which was registered as the office of Mac Bara. The people inside the house declined to be interviewed.

According to the Business Development Department, the company was registered in August last year with a registered capital of Bt1 million. Its business involves import and distribution of furniture and electrical devices, as well as the import and sale of premium products, gifts and souvenirs.

In a related development, Samart Telecom denied involvement in Prakrom's allegedly illegal activities with regard to the setting up of a digital satellite radio station during the Bike for Mom campaign.

In a statement issued on Wednesday evening, it said the temporary station was established on the Baiyok II building at the request of IT police to facilitate communications during the cycling event held on August 16.

Police had claimed Prakrom, Samart Telecom and others had set up the station without permission.

"Samart Telecom wants to insist that it has neither done anything beyond what it was told nor any illegal activities whatsoever," the company said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/CP-tycoon-Dhanins-affiliates-to-be-questioned-30271894.html


-- The Nation 2015-10-30

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CYBER ARMY
Military stresses need for cyber vigilance
ASINA PORNWASIN
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- THE military yesterday stressed the need for cybersecurity readiness at the national level, as the country still only maintains preparedness at the military and ministry level.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866692-thai-military-stresses-need-for-cyber-vigilance/

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UPDATE:

RICE PLEDGING SCHEME
Court sets the dates to hear witnesses in Yingluck's trial
THE NATION



First testimony to be heard on January 15, last on November 18

BANGKOK: -- THE Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders will hear the first witness testimony on January 15 next year and the last testimony on November 18, in the case against Yingluck Shinawatra, the court said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866644-yingluck-rice-subsidy-trial-to-stretch-through-end-of-next-year/#entry10019747

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EDUCATION
Wages go up across the board: survey
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- WORKERS with vocational degrees enjoyed the highest average wage increase in the past seven years, according to a joint survey by Sripatum University and the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866693-wages-go-up-across-the-board-thai-survey/

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DIGITAL TV
Springnews TV cuts 40 staff
Watchiranont Thongtep
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The television industry has become oversupplied after the arrival of 24 digital channels. Many broadcasters are struggling to stay healthy either by managing costs or cutting jobs amid fierce competition in a flat-growth market.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866694-digital-tv-springnews-tv-cuts-40-staff/

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4G
TOT may hold off lawsuit after approval for 4G upgrade
Usanee Mongkolporn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- TOT might not file a lawsuit against the planned auction of 900MHz licences by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission as the NBTC's telecom committee yesterday agreed to allow TOT to upgrade 60 megahertz of its bandwidth on the 2.3-gigahertz spectrum to offer fourth-generation wireless broadband.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866695-tot-may-hold-off-lawsuit-after-approval-for-4g-upgrade/

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FINANCE MINISTRY
Somkid urges ministry to fast-track six tasks
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak yesterday asked the Finance Ministry to accelerate data collection of six tasks this year before forwarding them to the Cabinet next year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866696-thai-dpm-somkid-urges-ministry-to-fast-track-six-tasks/

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DSI seeks DNA samples of over 100 police officers
Pichet Netbutr,
Chularat Saengpassa
The Nation
SUKHOTHAI

Investigators to screen out possibilities in the murder of Japanese woman in 2007

BANGKOK: -- THE team investigating the murder of a Japanese tourist at Sukhothai Historic Park eight years ago will collect DNA samples and fingerprints of more than 100 border patrol police officers who underwent training at a camp near the crime scene at the time of the murder.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866698-murder-of-japanese-woman-dsi-seeks-dna-samples-of-over-100-thai-police-officers/

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DSI to charge abbot of Wat Dhammakaya
Piyanuch Thamnukasetchai
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THE Department of Special Investigation (DSI) investigating the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative (KCUC) case has resolved to file charges against Wat Dhammakaya abbot Phra Dhammachayo and others for allegedly aiding former cooperative chairman Supachai Supa-aksorn in embezzlement and money laundering.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866699-dsi-to-charge-abbot-of-wat-dhammakaya/

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VJ Ja denies earning from photos posted on Instagram
POUNGCHOMPOO PRASERT
THE NATION


Natthaweeranuch Thongmee

BANGKOK: -- IN HER testimony to the Alcoholic Drink Control Committee yesterday, Natthaweeranuch Thongmee insisted that she earned nothing from the photographs she posted on Instagram.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866700-alcoholic-drink-vj-ja-denies-earning-from-photos-posted-on-instagram/

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Team assembled to prosecute alleged human traffickers
Kesinee Taengkhiao
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Attorney-General Pongniwat Yuthapanboripan has assigned an 18-strong public prosecutor team to work on the case against the alleged human trafficking syndicate that preyed on Rohingya and other migrant victims.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866701-team-assembled-to-prosecute-alleged-human-traffickers/

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Ex-minister faces impeachment over false asset declaration
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- THE NATIONAL Legislative Assembly (NLA) yesterday kicked off impeachment proceedings against former education minister Somsak Prissanananthakul over charges of owning disproportionate wealth.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866702-former-thai-minister-faces-impeachment-over-false-asset-declaration/

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BURNING ISSUE
True reforms - more questions than answers
PIYAPORN WONGRUANG

BANGKOK: -- On Wednesday, the new "Five Rivers" met for the first time since the previous draft charter was shot down, which led to two organisations - the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) and the National Reform Council (NRC) - being dissolved and two new bodies being set up to take their place in the group.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866703-thai-politics-true-reforms-more-questions-than-answers/

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CDC defends new electoral system
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE RECENTLY proposed voting system will not undermine political parties, but instead bolster them, the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866704-thai-cdc-defends-new-electoral-system/

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EDITORIAL
An inconvenient truth in the deep South
The Nation

The Thai state's propaganda machine cannot win the battle for hearts and minds

BANGKOK: -- Citizens and activists who take a more critical view of the government's policy and actions in the Malay-speaking South have not only been subjected to harassment by the authorities but also nasty propaganda, often referred to as "IO", or information operations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866705-thai-editorial-an-inconvenient-truth-in-the-deep-south/

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Pattaya Baht Bus pickpockets arrested by-chance thanks to Norwegian victims



PATTAYA: -- Late on Wednesday Night a Norwegian Couple reported the theft of a wallet whilst travelling on a Baht Bus and by-chance they encountered the suspects at Pattaya Police Station after they had been detained for acting suspiciously.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866706-pattaya-baht-bus-pickpockets-arrested-by-chance-thanks-to-norwegian-victims/

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Unidentified woman falls to her death from Pattaya Condominium



PATTAYA: -- Police and rescue workers were called to a Condominium in Jomtien early on Thursday Morning to deal with a suspected suicide.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866707-unidentified-woman-falls-to-her-death-from-pattaya-condominium/

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Baby locked inside parked pick-up in Central Pattaya



PATTAYA; -- A newborn child was accidentally locked inside a parked pick-up truck in Central Pattaya on Thursday Morning prompting a full emergency response by the authorities who knew they had to rescue the child quickly as the air-conditioning was not switched on.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866708-baby-locked-inside-parked-pick-up-in-central-pattaya/

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Pattaya Bar manager complains of mistaken Speeding Tickets



PATTAYA; -- A Pattaya Bar Manager made a Police Report at Nongprue Police Station on Wednesday relating to 3 speeding tickets he had received for a vehicle featuring his license plate.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866709-pattaya-bar-manager-complains-of-mistaken-speeding-tickets/

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New school hours to be effective on Nov 2

BANGKOK, 30 October 2015 (NNT) – The Ministry of Education is ready to impose shorter school hours, beginning this November 2nd, in compliance with the measure to allow students more time to take up extracurricular activities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866711-new-school-hours-in-thailand-to-be-effective-on-nov-2/

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Suspected militants cause havoc in Yala



YALA: -- Residents of Yala’s Muang and Bannang Sata districts were told to stay home and not to venture out Thursday night after suspected militants blew up a power pole and the foot of a bridge and set fire to car tyres at several spots in the two districts.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866712-suspected-militants-cause-havoc-in-yala/

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Former Songkhla PAO mayor sentenced to death for murder



BANGKOK: -- The Appeals Court has overturned the acquittal verdict by the lower court for the former mayor of Songkhla provincial administration organization and four accomplices charged with the murder of former Songkhla mayor.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866713-former-songkhla-pao-mayor-sentenced-to-death-for-murder/

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Phuket vendors cry foul over no '10% zone' at Ley Phang Beach
Saroj Kueprasertkij


Tony restaurant is one of the businesses at Ley Phang Beach that the Navy says it will not wait for the court's decision before moving to demolish the building. Photo: The Phuket News / file

PHUKET: -- A large contingent of Ley Pang Beach vendors were waiting for Vice Governor Chokdee Armornrat yesterday (Oct 28) to voice their problems with the beach-management system which they say has taken away their source income during the past year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866715-phuket-vendors-cry-foul-over-no-10-zone-at-ley-phang-beach/

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New top cop to focus on crime prevention
Phuket Gazette


Col Teeraphol will take up his new post on October 30. Photo: Chutharat Plerin

PHUKET: -- Phuket’s new top cop has vowed to focus his attention on crime prevention instead of crime suppression.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866716-new-phuket-top-cop-to-focus-on-crime-prevention/

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GISTDA says oil slicks came from Mae Klong and Tha Chine estuaries



HUA HIN: -- Oil slicks which were swept into Hua Hin beaches in the past few days came from fishing boats at the estuaries of Mae Klong and Tha Chine rivers about 100 kilometres away from the seaside resort town, according to Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866719-gistda-says-hua-hin-oil-slicks-came-from-mae-klong-and-tha-chine-estuaries/

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Tour Bus Overturns Injuring 24 Tourist in Ratchaburi Province

RATCHABURI – Twenty-two people were injured when their tour bus overturned in a ditch in Ratchaburi’s Photharam district on Thursday afternoon, there were 34 people on board.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866720-tour-bus-overturns-injuring-24-tourist-in-ratchaburi-province/

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Italy's 'Martian Mayor' withdraws resignation



ROME: -- Italian politics is known for its twists and turns and Thursday (October 29) was no exception.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866721-italys-martian-mayor-withdraws-resignation/

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Iran takes seat in international peace talks on Syria



VIENNA: -- Iran’s foreign minister arrived in Vienna on Thursday (October 29) for peace talks on Syria.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/866723-iran-takes-seat-in-international-peace-talks-on-syria/