Govt to observe World Soil Day



BANGKOK, 26 November 2015 (NNT) – The Land Development Department and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will jointly organize World Soil Day celebrations in the US and Italy.

The events which focus on the theme ”Soils, a Solid Ground for Life” will be held on 5th December at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome.

HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha will participate in the activities on behalf of HM the King and will lecture on HM the King’s royal speech related to the UN’s motto ‘Healthy Soils for a Healthy Life’. HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha will also present soil monoliths to the UN headquarters and the FAO. The monoliths will be installed at both venues.

In 2002, the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) resolved to propose the 5th of December as World Soil Day to raise awareness of the importance of soil. The UN General Assembly later in 2013 declared 5th of December as the World Soil Day.

The Land Development Department will also organize an event between 3th and 6th December to educate the public on the significance of soil in the eco-system and highlight HM the King’s roles in soil conservation.

A walk-and-run activity will be held on 5th December in celebration of HM the King’s birthday at Wachira Benjatat Park (or Railway Park). Interested persons can download an application form via www.ldd.go.th/ldd/ or call 1122 for more information.


-- NNT 2015-11-26

Impatient, Drunk Customer Files Complaint by Torching Shop
By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee
Staff Reporter


A shop in Prachinburi province yesterday. Police are hunting for Suwan Kohmafai, who is suspected of scorching some snacks there in an arson revenge-attack for not being served alcohol quickly enough.

PRACHINBURI — What started as an argument about slow service at a grocery store in Prachinburi province escalated into a casual act of arson yesterday, the shop’s owner told police.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873660-impatient-drunk-thai-customer-files-complaint-by-torching-shop/

Authorities crack down on fake motorcycle taxis

BANGKOK, 25 November 2015 (NNT) - The Commander of the 1st Division, King’s Guard, has called for the prosecution of groups falsely collecting motorcycle taxi fees.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873665-thai-authorities-crack-down-on-fake-motorcycle-taxis/

LESE MAJESTE
Warrants for Army officers
THE NATION

Two police officers also wanted in lese majeste case involving Suriyan

BANGKOK: -- THE BANGKOK Military Court yesterday issued warrants for the arrest of two high-ranking Army officers and two senior police officers in connection with the high-profile lese majeste case involving late fortune-teller Suriyan "Mor Yong" Sujaritpolwong.

The four have been named as Maj-General Suchart Prommai, Colonel Kachachart Boondee, Pol Colonel Pairoj Rojanaka-chorn and Pol Lt-Colonel Thammawat Hirunya-lekha.

Suchart was an aide of former Army chief General Udomdej Sitabutr, who is now serving as deputy defence minister. Pairoj and Thammawat both recently quit the Crime Suppression Division.

Later yesterday, the court endorsed a police request for an arrest warrant for fugitive Kachachart. Previously working for the Third Army Area in the North, Kachachart has reportedly fled to Myanmar.

The PM's Office yesterday ordered the revocation of Kachachart's military rank and royal decorations due to his "severe wrongdoing". The order was signed by Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan.

In the lese majeste case, Suriyan, who allegedly died of a blood infection while in military detention recently, was accused of citing the monarchy for personal gains while collecting donations for the "Bike for Mom" cycling event in August. Other suspects in the case were Pol Major Prakrom Warun-prapa, who reportedly hanged himself while in military detention, and Suriyan's secretary Jirawong Watthanathe-wasilp.

The Bangkok Military Court yesterday approved the extension of Jirawong's detention at the 11th Military Circle for 12 days for the fourth time until December 7.

Deputy national police chief Pol General Sriwara Ransibhramanakul said yesterday the police were seeking to arrest four to 10 people in connection with the lese majeste case, including police and military officers.

Requests have already been made and police were waiting for court permission to issue the arrest warrants, he said. Sriwara said some of the suspects were part of Suriyan's network though some were not part of the late fortune-teller's group.

He said the police investigators found that Suriyan was the mastermind of this group. "He was the big boss of the group," Sriwara added.

The deputy police chief also said he was confident they had sufficient evidence against the suspects in the form of documents, witnesses and scientific proof. "We will not rely on confessions or accusations made by the suspects," he added.

However, Sriwara dismissed speculation that three police officers who held the rank of general, some of whom had resigned and some of whom had been moved to inactive posts, were also involved in the case.

Meanwhile, the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has confiscated assets worth Bt30 million in connection with this lese majeste case, said Seehanat Prayoonrat, its secretary-general.

Seehanat said more than 10 items had been confiscated from Suriya, Prakrom and Jirawong, as well as other people who were involved with them. He said the assets were obtained from businesses that made donations to the Bike for Mom event through the suspects, who later used the assets for their own benefit.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Warrants-for-Army-officers-30273744.html

-- The Nation 2015-11-26

THAI PREMIER LEAGUE
Satun banned for three years
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Satun United have been handed a three-year suspension and a hefty fine for crowd violence that marred their 1-0 home defeat against Khon Kaen United in thirdtier Division Two's promotion playoff round Champions League at the weekend.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873719-thai-premier-league-satun-banned-for-three-years/

NEW CHARTER
CDC urged to reject NCPO proposals
PIYAPORN WONGRUANG
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- AN INTERNATIONAL rights group yesterday called on the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) to reject a request by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to consider including in the new charter a clause exempting it from accountability for actions committed in the name of national security.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873720-new-thai-charter-cdc-urged-to-reject-ncpo-proposals/

GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS
Farmers worry new bill will allow GMO contamination
Pratch Rujivanarom
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- ACTIVIST AGRICULTURAL groups and organic farmers have expressed concern over a proposed Biological Safety Bill they say will lead to contamination of their crops by genetically modified organisms (GMO).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873721-thai-farmers-worry-new-bill-will-allow-gmo-contamination/

SONGKHLA
Army explains reason for baby's DNA sample
Nakarin Chinworakomon,
Visarut Sankham,
Santhiti Khorjitmet
The Nation

Action defended as way of bringing bombing suspect to justice

SONGKHLA: -- THE ARMY yesterday explained why it collected a DNA sample from the five-month-old son of Seri Waemamu, a fugitive suspect in a 2012 car-bomb attack in Songkhla's Hat Yai district.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873722-thai-army-explains-reason-for-babys-dna-sample/

DENGUE
Actor Tridsadee 'improving slowly' after 3 surgeries and amputation
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- AFTER undergoing four surgeries, including the amputation of his left foot, famous actor Tridsadee "Por" Sahawong has finally showed some signs of improvement.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873723-dengue-actor-tridsadee-improving-slowly-after-3-surgeries-and-amputation/

Thailand advised to raise retirement age
SUCHEERA PINIJPARAKARN
THE NATION


Brigitte Miksa, head of international pensions at Allianz Asset Management.

BANGKOK: -- THAILAND SHOULD increase the average retirement age from 55 to reduce the government's pension expenditure, according to Allianz Asset Management.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873724-thailand-advised-to-raise-retirement-age/

Farmer's suicide blamed on poor rubber prices
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A 60-year-old rubber farmer hanged himself yesterday in Bung Kan's So Pisai district, possibly because he was stressed by the plummeting price of rubber.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873725-farmers-suicide-blamed-on-poor-rubber-prices/

Charges against 14 tech students after fatal brawl
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police have filed charges against 14 technology college students for their alleged roles in Tuesday's brawl in Bangkok's Suan Luang district that led to one death and one injury, the acting metropolitan police commissioner said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873726-charges-against-14-tech-students-after-fatal-bangkok-brawl/

Pilot project set up to protect battered women, children
The Nation


Demonstrators hold signs as they march from the Education Ministry to the United Nations Office in Bangkok to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- MORE than 23,977 Thai women and children have been the victims of violence so far this year, which amounts to an average of 66 people every day, said Dr Sophon Mekthon, permanent secretary of the Public Health Ministry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873727-pilot-project-set-up-to-protect-battered-thai-women-children/

Yingluck invited on 'personal basis'
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Two members of the European Parliament who invited former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to exchange views on the Thai political situation did so on a personal basis, Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873728-yingluck-invited-on-personal-basis/

BURNING ISSUE
Charter drafters' dilemma - how to justify non-elected senators?
ATTAYUTH BOOTSRIPOOM

BANGKOK: -- THE Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) has hinted that in the new charter it is writing, senators will not be directly elected or appointed. Members of the Senate will instead take office through "indirect election".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873729-thai-politics-charter-drafters-dilemma-how-to-justify-non-elected-senators/

COURT
Court accepts petition against former DSI chief
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Justice Court yesterday agreed to consider a petition against a former Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief and three other officials for making false allegations against former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his then-deputy Suthep Thaugsuban in relation to their role in the deadly 2010 crackdown on red-shirt protesters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873730-court-accepts-petition-against-former-dsi-chief/

NEW CONSTITUTION
CDC won't rule out organ to deal with political crises
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION

Drafters see role for Constitutional Court and some other existing agencies

BANGKOK: -- THE IDEA of a "special organ to break deadlocks during critical times" has not been completely ruled out from the charter, spokesman of the Constitution Drafting Commis-sion (CDC), Udom Rathamarit, said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873731-thai-constitution-cdc-wont-rule-out-organ-to-deal-with-political-crises/

Bomb exposes fatal flaw in far South security plan
Don Pathan
Special to The Nation
Ban Khok Khilek, Pattani


Security forces inspect the scene of a bomb attack on a village defence post that killed four volunteers in Ban Khok Khilek, Pattani province, on November 12.

Transfer of defence responsibilities is pushing local residents further into the line of fire

PATTANI: -- The stacks of tyres and cement barricade at this temporary outpost were meant to protect the half-dozen village defence volunteers, known locally as Chor Ror Bor, from attacks by intruders.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873732-bomb-exposes-fatal-flaw-in-far-south-security-plan/

THAI TALK
How do charter writers predict 'unforeseeable' scenarios?
Suthichai Yoon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- No, it wasn't exactly the Ten Commandments. But the 10-point "proposal" from the National Council of Peace and Order (NCPO) to the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) will certainly be meticulously considered by the charter writers. And some of the proposed clauses will surely come under close scrutiny by the public.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873733-thai-talk-how-do-charter-writers-predict-unforeseeable-scenarios/

EDITORIAL
A canal's promise freed from bondage
The Nation

The vendors of Saphan Lek Market have been swept aside so the klong they buried can serve its intended purpose

BANGKOK: -- The rebirth of a section of Bangkok's Klong Ong-ang has come at the detriment of the street vendors making their home there, but is a revelation for residents interested in the city's history and opportunities for its beautification, improved storm drainage and perhaps better traffic flow.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873734-thai-editorial-a-canals-promise-freed-from-bondage/

Pattaya GoGo Bar incident with Indian Tourist



PATTAYA: -- A GoGo Bar on Walking Street in South Pattaya is currently under investigation following an alleged assault of an Indian Tourist in-front of the Bar in the early hours of Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873735-pattaya-gogo-bar-incident-with-indian-tourist/

Confusion over 'Gambling' closure at two Loy Krathong Temple Fairs in Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- Fair workers around Pattaya are in a state of confusion at the moment following a raid of two Temple Fairs which saw a number of stalls offering players a chance to win items, shut-down.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873736-confusion-over-gambling-closure-at-two-loy-krathong-temple-fairs-in-pattaya/

Fireworks vendor arrested at South Pattaya Market



PATTAYA: -- On Wednesday afternoon an undercover operation took place whereby an operative purchased fireworks from a store at the Market opposite the Chaimongkol Temple in South Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873737-fireworks-vendor-arrested-at-south-pattaya-market/

Eden man returned from Thailand to face charges in teen prostitution ring
By Danielle Battaglia

GREENSBORO — A man wanted in Rockingham County for his alleged connection to an Eden teen prostitution ring returned to America Wednesday after being arrested in Thailand earlier this month.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873738-us-eden-man-returned-from-thailand-to-face-charges-in-teen-prostitution-ring/

Idiot ruins Loy Krathong spirit by stealing cash from people's floats (VIDEO)
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- These poor people in the video who celebrated Loy Krathong last night had to watch their hopes and dreams being crushed (and bad luck restored to their souls) after a careless thief raided their krathong for money.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873739-idiot-ruins-loy-krathong-spirit-by-stealing-cash-from-peoples-floats/

Phuket pauper hands in B10k cash found on the ground
Suthicha Sirirat


Wan Supalert (2nd from left) speaks with Phuket Vice Governor Dr Prajiad Aksornthammakul (right) at the Damrongdhama Centre (ombudsman’s office) at Phuket Provincial Hall today (Nov 25). Photo: Suthicha Sirirat

PHUKET: -- A 61-year-old man from Srisaket who makes a meagre living from growing and selling herbs and vegetables has handed in nearly B10,000 in mixed banknotes that he found on the ground, which no one has claimed and he says he doesn’t want.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873740-phuket-pauper-hands-in-b10k-cash-found-on-the-ground/

AMLO seizes 79 million baht worth of assets from an informal money lender



BANGKOK: -- The Anti-Money Laundering Office has frozen about 79 million baht worth of assets belonging to a Khon Kaen-based money lender who allegedly cheated her customers of their land plots used to guarantee the extended loans.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873741-amlo-seizes-79-million-baht-worth-of-assets-from-an-informal-money-lender/

Army Letter Demanding Free Booze a Forgery, Police Say
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


The photo of the purported army letter posted yesterday to the Facebook page “I Must Have Received 100 Million Baht from Thaksin.”

BANGKOK — A widely shared image said to be of a letter sent by an army unit in the northeast demanding a supply of free alcohol from a police station has been ruled as a forgery.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873742-army-letter-demanding-free-booze-a-forgery-thai-police-say/

Water Slide Goes Wrong
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter


Pantip User No. 2782534 documented Tuesday the point of peril he experienced at a Hua Hin water park Image: User No. 2782534 / Pantip

HUA HIN — A water park adventure became too thrilling for tourists stuck in the nation’s biggest water slide Tuesday in Hua Hin.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873743-water-slide-in-hua-hin-goes-wrong/

GrabTaxi Reduces Vehicle Hire Fare
BY JACOB MASLOW

BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s GrabTaxi has announced that it will be reducing fares for GrabCar, a private taxi hire booking service. The company is offering a 20% reduction in prices in order to compete with US-based rival Uber. Uber recently cut its fares for UberX, its low-cost service.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873744-thailands-grabtaxi-reduces-vehicle-hire-fare/