Thailand Live Tuesday 17 Nov 2015

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More than 5 tons of rice in Govt's stock sold by Commerce Ministry

BANGKOK, 17 November 2015 (NNT) - The Ministry of Commerce distributed up to five million tons of rice in the government's stock this year. Spoiled rice is expected to be auctioned off within this month.

Permanent Secretary for Commerce Chutima Boonyapraphatson said the ministry had carefully distributed 18 million tons of rice in the government's stock. The ministry had scheduled the rice distribution so that it would not affect domestic rice price, said the official.

The five million tons of rice already distributed were worth more than 50 billion baht. Proceeds have been used to pay the debts caused by the rice pledging scheme.

The official expressed her confidence that the ministry would be able to distribute the rest rice by 2016 as scheduled by the prime minister. Quality rice for consumption will be distributed again in March 2016 and inedible rice will be auctioned to the industry sector late November.


-- NNT 2015-11-17

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Condemned convict declines to appeal against his death sentence

A railway worker who was condemned to death by the Appeals Court for raping and killing a 13-year old girl travelling on a night train has declined his right of appeal the verdict to the Supreme Court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871120-condemned-convict-declines-to-appeal-against-his-death-sentence/

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Ministry of Science and Technology promotes electric vehicles

BANGKOK, 17 November 2015 (NNT) -- Science and Technology Minister Pichet Durongkhawaroj discussed with members of the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand ways and means to promote uses of electric automobiles in the country and set technical standards and regulations for such vehicles.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871173-thai-science-ministry-promotes-electric-vehicles/

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UPDATE:

High School Footballer Falls to Death From Train
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Police investigate the scene under a railroad bridge where a high school athlete died just after midnight this morning in Phitsanulok province. Photo: Courtesy Phitsanulok rescue workers foundation

PHITSANULOK — A 15-year-old student died just after midnight this morning after falling from a moving train in Phitsanulok province – the second such accident in the past two weeks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871108-chiang-mai-teenager-killed-in-train-fall/#entry10086352

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RAJABHAKTI PARK
Army says donations paid for park, govt not involved
Jitraporn Senawong,
Natthapat Phromkaew
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- DEPUTY PM and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan yesterday dismissed calls by Pheu Thai Party and others for the government to explain alleged irregularities in the Rajabhakti Park project in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871176-army-says-donations-paid-for-park-govt-not-involved/

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NEW CHARTER
Listing PM candidates is 'the right approach'
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION

Drafting chief defends move requiring PM candidates t be listed by parties

BANGKOK: -- CHARTER drafting chief Meechai Ruchupan has stood firm over the requirement that parties list candidates to be prime minister, saying it is not a door for a non-elected PM.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871177-listing-thai-pm-candidates-is-the-right-approach/

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PARIS ATTACKS
Close watch on Malaysian border
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THAILAND has tightened its screening for foreign arrivals, particularly at checkpoints along the Thai-Malaysian border, in the wake of the recent bloody attacks in France and Lebanon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871178-paris-terror-attacks-close-watch-on-thai-malaysian-border/

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CHIANG MAI

Flights cancelled over floating lantern fears

The Nation

Floating lanterns from the Loy Krathong Festival at Chiang Mai.

CHIANG MAI: -- NEARLY 100 domestic and international flights to Chiang Mai International Airport have been cancelled or postponed between November 24 and 26 over fears of passenger safety due the sky being littered with floating lanterns from the Loy Krathong Festival.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871179-flights-cancelled-to-chiang-mai-over-floating-lantern-fears/

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POLITICS
Assembly calls for speedy corruption verdicts
WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- IF THE country hopes for anti-corruption reform, prosecutions in graft cases must be speeded up and accompanied by more severe penalties, members of the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) declared during a meeting at Parliament yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871180-thai-assembly-calls-for-speedy-corruption-verdicts/

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Thailand and India aim to boost trade ties
WATCHIRANONT THONGTEP
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- TO boost bilateral trade between Thailand and India, the government hopes to encourage Indian companies to invest in business sectors in special economic zones as India aims to use Thailand as a gateway to the rest of Southeast Asia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871181-thailand-and-india-aim-to-boost-trade-ties/

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NEWSFEED
Competitive enhancement fund being considered
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The Finance Ministry has submitted an initial study on the proposed national competitiveness enhancement fund to Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871182-thai-business-competitive-enhancement-fund-being-considered/

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Four police colonels quit over lese majeste
Donrawee Sudphum
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- FOUR commissioned police officers have stepped down after being slapped with transfer orders over their alleged involvement in a high-profile lese majeste case. The transfers took place on October 18 and their resignations took effect on Friday.

"There is suspicion that at least two of these police officers had engaged in alleged lese majeste offences. But to date, they have not been identified as suspects," an informed source disclosed yesterday.

The source said the available information suggested two of these police colonels allowed Pol Major Prakrom Warunprapha, who had worked at the Technology Crime Suppression Division, to use state resources such as guns, vehicles and radio communication devices for personal purposes and helped Prakrom destroy evidence of the alleged crimes.

Prakrom, late fortune-teller Suriyan "Mor Yong" Sujaritpolwong and his secretary, Jirawong Wattanathewasilp, were arrested in October for allegedly claiming royal connections for their own vested interests.

Prakrom and Suriyan have both died while in custody.

Lt-General Srivara Ransibrahmanakul, acting deputy National Police commissioner, is heading the investigations.

The same source revealed that a 500-page investigation report on the matter had been submitted to the National Police Office's Criminal Affairs Division. "Twelve other cases against this [alleged] gang are also pending," the source said.

Colonel Kachachart Boondee a staff officer at the Third Army Area, was charged alongside Jirawong in another lese majeste case. They are accused of falsely citing the Royal Family to demand money from big firms. Kachachart stopped showing up for work when the others were arrested. His name is also linked to a major-general who recently resigned.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan yesterday confirmed that a major-general had recently tendered his resignation.

"I have assigned General Preecha Chan-o-cha, the Defence Ministry's permanent secretary, to approve the resignation," he said.

Prawit said he did not know the exact reason behind the resignation, but he insisted there was no need "to get suspicious here".

He said the whereabouts of Kachachart were still unknown.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Four-police-colonels-quit-over-lese-majeste-30273089.html

-- The Nation 2015-11-17

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Thai architect wins prestigious award
Manote Tripathi
Special to The Nation


Duangrit Bunnag

BANGKOK: -- ACCLAIMED Thai architect Duangrit Bunnag has won the acclaimed Asia's Best Building of the Year prize at the Arcasia Awards for his design of The Naka Phuket resort.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871183-thai-architect-wins-prestigious-award/

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VERSAILLES, France (AP) - Hollande says bill to extend state of emergency for 3 months will be presented Wednesday.

VERSAILLES, France (AP) - Hollande says victims in the Paris attacks are of 19 different nationalities.

BRUSSELS (AP) - NATO chief vows to 'redouble our efforts' to counter extremism in wake of Paris terror attacks.

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UPDATE:

Child killer Wanchai accepts his fate
The Nation


Wanchai

BANGKOK: -- Former train worker Wanchai Saengkhao, whose death sentence for raping and murdering a 13-year-old girl was upheld by the Appeals Court last year, has said he will not take his case to the Supreme Court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871120-condemned-convict-declines-to-appeal-against-his-death-sentence/#entry10086392

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BURNING ISSUE
Prayut needs to win the hearts of more red shirts
JINTANA PANYAARVUDH



BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-o-cha may return from his second trip to the red-shirt stronghold - the Northeast - wreathed in smiles rather than fury.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871185-prayut-needs-to-win-the-hearts-of-more-red-shirts/

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More graft-panel powers mooted
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) yesterday floated the idea of introducing new mechanisms to help the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) curb the rising instances of corruption at the local level, CDC spokesman Amorn Wanichwiwatana said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871186-more-graft-panel-powers-mooted/

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RICE PLEDGING SCHEME
'Nothing new' about executive order targeting Yingluck
THE NATION


Yingluck

BANGKOK: -- THE government has defended its decision to issue an administrative order seeking a massive compensation from former premier Yingluck Shinawatra due to the huge loss of taxpayers money over her government's rice-pledging scheme, arguing that there is nothing unusual about the move.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871114-nothing-new-about-executive-order-targeting-yingluck/

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EDITORIAL
A crude response to the horrors in Paris
The Nation

PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, a government adviser and private citizens have exploited the terror attacks for their own purposes

BANGKOK: -- Diplomatic protocol - as well as compassion - obliged Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to deliver a message of condolence to the French government and people following Friday's terror attacks in Paris. What's harder to explain is his decision to use the same message to justify his own political agenda and invoke Thai nationalism in a way that can only embarrass Thailand further.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871188-a-crude-response-to-the-horrors-in-paris/

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UPDATE:

Dr Wisanu defends the government’s use of administrative order against Ms Yingluck



BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Wasanu Krea-ngarm defended the government’s use of an administrative order to demand compensation from former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra for losses incurred from the rice pledging scheme, claiming that the government has no bias against her.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871114-nothing-new-about-executive-order-targeting-yingluck/?p=10086417#entry10086417

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Ex-House secretary-general faces disciplinary probe



BANGKOK: -- Former secretary-general of House of Representatives Mr Chare Panpruang is facing disciplinary investigation for alleged corruption in connection with the construction of the new parliament building.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871189-ex-house-secretary-general-faces-disciplinary-probe/

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Academic denies rumor of new dengue strain

BANGKOK, 17 November 2015 (NNT) – An academic at Mahidol University has brushed aside claims that a new strain of dengue virus has emerged in Asia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871190-thai-academic-denies-rumor-of-new-dengue-strain/

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UPDATE:

Thai Customs Nab Russian with 6.5 Kilo’s of Cocaine in Koh Samui

KOH SAMUI -Kulis Sombatsiri, Director-General of the Customs Department at the Surat Thani island office, said in a news conference on Monday that Russian National, Sergei Lelekov, has been arrested at the customs office in Koh Samui for allegedly smuggling 6.5 kilograms of cocaine worth about 26 million baht into Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871080-russian-man-arrested-on-koh-samui-for-allegedly-smuggling-in-65-kgs-of-cocaine/?p=10086436#entry10086436

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U.N. diplomat in Thailand settles maid slavery case out of court
BY ALISA TANG

NONTHABURI, Thailand (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - An Ethiopian housemaid who was suing the head of the U.N. World Health Organization (WHO) in Thailand and his wife for beating and enslaving her on Monday settled the lawsuits out of court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871192-un-diplomat-in-thailand-settles-maid-slavery-case-out-of-court/

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UPDATE:

Thai Driver Surrenders to Police after Running Over Israeli Tourist on Koh Samui

KOH SAMUI – Lt. Cpt. Boonnam Srithanarat has reported that the driver of a pickup truck that ran over Israeli tourists 43-year-old Amir Cohen, has turned himself into police.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871005-hit-and-run-suspect-admits-to-running-over-tourist-on-samui/page-2?p=10086452#entry10086452

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Inmates at Ayutthaya jail get chance for better future
Visarut Sankham
The Nation



Vocational courses to help firsttime offenders boost their job prospects

AYUTTHAYA: -- WELL-BEHAVED inmates at the Ayutthaya Provincial Prison will get an opportunity to do vocational courses and obtain vocational qualifications while serving their time thanks to a new initiative launched yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871193-inmates-at-ayutthaya-jail-get-chance-for-better-future/

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Effects of Paris attacks being felt globally as Thais hold their breath
SUCHEERA PINIJPARAKARN,
ERICH PARPART,
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION, AGENCIES

BANGKOK: -- AIRLINES, STOCKS, and currencies are among the casualties of last Friday's deadly terrorist attacks in Paris as Asian markets mostly fell yesterday - but the impact on the global economy and Thai tourism sector is expected to be short-lived.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871195-effects-of-paris-attacks-being-felt-globally-as-thais-hold-their-breath/

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G20 pledges to cooperate as ISIS threatens further attacks



ANTALYA: -- G20 leaders have promised to cooperate over border security, airline safety, sharing intelligence on suspected terrorists and freezing their assets.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871198-g20-pledges-to-cooperate-as-isis-threatens-further-attacks/

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'Wanted and dangerous' – Still no sign of Salah Abdeslam after Paris attacks



PARIS: -- All roads lead to Belgium, it seems, for police probing the Paris attacks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871199-wanted-and-dangerous-still-no-sign-of-salah-abdeslam-after-paris-attacks/

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French show solidarity by attending memorial services



PARIS: -- Security surrounding the memorial services was tight after the events of Friday night, but that did not stop thousands of people turning out to join in and pay their respects. Some of them explained to euronews why they decided to attend.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871200-french-show-solidarity-by-attending-memorial-services/