Thailand Live Thursday 17 Dec 2015

[webfact]

Millions bid final farewell
The Nation



ROYALLY SPONSORED CREMATION OF 19TH SUPREME PATRIARCH COMES TO AN END

BANGKOK: -- MILLIONS OF THAIS wore black yesterday to bid final farewell to His Holiness Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, the late Supreme Patriarch of Thailand.

Thousands of them also followed a historic funeral procession for His Holiness in the morning.

The elaborate procession started at 8am to bring the golden mortuary urn of the late monk out of Wat Bovoranives Vihara, where His Holiness had stayed during his lifetime, to Wat Thepsirintharawas for the royally sponsored cremation ceremony.

The 456-metre-long funeral procession, beautifully decorated according to Thai tradition, moved over a 3.6km stretch and reached the destination at around 10am.

His Holiness Somdet Phramaharatchamangkhlachan, who carried out the duties of the Supreme Patriarch, joined the procession chanting a prayer. Also in the parade were soldiers and officials from various government agencies.

Along the route were people, young and old, who showed up to pay their last respects to the late monk. Many of these people held high the late monk's pictures.

The mortuary urn of the late Supreme Patriarch is of a special class, which is normally reserved for high-level royals. HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej has upgraded the urn class for His Holiness twice, making the late monk the country's first Supreme Patriarch to have received such an honour.

His Holiness is the 19th Supreme Patriarch of the Rattanakosin Period, and also the longest-living person in the post.

When he passed away on October 24, 2013, he was 100 years old.

He used to be the adviser and guardian of the present monarch when the latter was ordained as a monk in 1956, and also HRH Crown Prince Mahavajiralongkorn, who was ordained in 1978.

The Crown Prince yesterday represented the King in carrying out several rituals related to the funeral and the cremation of His Holiness.

At 4.30pm, the Crown Prince presented monastic fans to senior monks who performed funeral prayer rituals at the Wat Thepsirintharawas, and attended the merit-making ritual. He also granted a fire for the cremation.

Also attending the rituals were HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, HRH Princess Somsavali, HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha, HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, and Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya.

At 8 pm, the Crown Prince chaired the actual cremation ceremony, which was also attended by other members of the Royal family, senior monks and Cabinet members.

At Wat Bovoranives Vihara, Buddhists formed a long line to lay wooden flowers - dokmai chan - for the late Supreme Patriarch's cremation. The temple allowed people to do so between 12.30pm and 3.30pm as well as between 6pm and 7pm.

Arpa Tiyayon, a 69-year-old resident of Lamphun province, said she and her friends travelled to Bangkok by air to pay tribute to the late Supreme Patriarch.

"I come here out of love and respect," Arpa said.

"No one escapes death. We are aware of this fact. But even if he is not here physically anymore, he is in our hearts".

She said she was impressed with His Holiness' beautiful manners and simple living.

Across the country, people from all walks of life headed to temples in their hometowns to lay dokmai chan in remembrance of the great monk.

Most temples started the dokmai-chan rituals after 4.30pm.

In Nakhon Ratchasima's Muang district, Suttajinda Voravihara staged a big ritual and prepared vast space for interested members of the public. Big LED screens were also installed to let participants see what was happening in Bangkok too.

This morning, His Holiness' ashes and bones will be collected and transferred from the crematorium to Tamnak Phetch, Wat Bovoranives Vihara.

Tomorrow, members of the public will be able to pay respect to His Holiness' ashes and bones between 8am and 2pm.

Arpa said she would pay respect to the late monk's cremains at Wat Bovoranives Vihara before heading back to Lamphun.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Millions-bid-final-farewell-30275090.html


-- The Nation 2015-12-17

[webfact]

Full bilateral ties only after democracy restored: US envoy
MARISA CHIMPRABHA,
NUNTIDA PUANGTHONG
THE NATION


US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel shakes hands with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as they meet at Government House yesterday.

GOVT TRYING TO ACHIEVE BALANCE, ENSURE STABILITY, PM SAYS IN RESPONSE

BANGKOK: -- FULL bilateral cooperation between Thailand and the United States would be resumed only after democracy has been restored, Daniel Russel, the US assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879262-full-bilateral-ties-only-after-democracy-restored-us-envoy/

[webfact]

Hun Sen to attend joint Cabinet retreat tomorrow
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- CAMBODIAN Prime Minister Hun Sen will come to Thailand on an official visit tomorrow for the first time in 10 years. He will attend the joint Cabinet retreat in a move to improve ties and forge closer cooperation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879264-hun-sen-to-attend-joint-cabinet-retreat-in-thailand/

[webfact]

Chakthip up for talking to Paween, but open to suit
Suriya Patathayo
The Nation


Paween

Police chief says ready to forgive human trafficking investigator

BANGKOK: -- DESPITE STATING his readiness to talk to former human-trafficking investigator Pol Maj-General Paween Pongsirin, national police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda yesterday admitted that he had got Paween's recent interview translated into Thai to see if any part of it was libelous.

It would be clear by the end of this week whether police would be filing any complaints against Paween, he added.

"I can confirm that I'm ready to talk with Pol Maj-General Paween if he returns to the country and seeks a meeting with me. But I will ask him to speak the truth and reveal everything. I'm ready to forgive him," he added.

Chakthip said Paween should be thankful to him for finding a position for him when the Provincial Police Region 8 chief didn't want him to continue in the office because of what he viewed as lack of discipline. "So I asked the Southern Border Provinces Police Operation Centre [for Paween's transfer]," he said.

Paween, who quit the police force last month and is now seeking protection in Australia, had earlier told Australian media that he feared for his life because influential figures in the military and police implicated in the illicit trade wanted him dead. He also claimed to have received no protection from police bosses despite death threats faced by him.

Chakthip said he had ordered his assistant Pol Lt-General Srivara Rangsibrahmanakul to visit |the South, to check on the investigation into the case and ask the investigators in this human trafficking case, victimising the Rohingya and other migrants, to determine whether they faced any threats.

Regarding the recent transfer of Metropolitan Police Bureau deputy chief Pol Maj General Jaruwat Vaisaya back to the bureau after being ordered to assist civil service at the Royal Thai Police Operations Centre for one day, Chakthip said the move had no hidden agenda. He explained that Jaruwat was moved to the centre, originally for only a few weeks, in order to help create a special database on human trafficking criminals.

However, Jaruwat had many tasks under his previous post that he had to attend to. Also, he was required to attend meetings abroad with related agencies about human trafficking crimes, so he was sent back to the bureau, he added.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Chakthip-up-for-talking-to-Paween-but-open-to-suit-30275093.html


-- The Nation 2015-12-17

[webfact]

Critics say CDC's list for PM hopefuls 'meaningless'
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- POLITICIANS and a political critic agreed yesterday that the charter writers’ proposal for a list of prime ministerial candidates was unnecessary and unlikely to bring any added value to Thai politics.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879265-critics-say-cdcs-list-for-thai-pm-hopefuls-meaningless/

[webfact]

INVESTMENT PLAN
Big C plans REIT as part of Casino Group’s financial strategy for 2016
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- France-based Casino Group has decided to strengthen its financial flexibility with a deleveraging plan next year of more than 2 billion euros (Bt78.8 billion), mainly through real-estate transactions and the disposal of non-core assets.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879266-big-c-plans-reit-as-part-of-casino-groups-financial-strategy-for-2016/

[webfact]

BOT
BOT to announce higher 2015 GDP growth
Erich Parpart
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Bank of Thailand foresees a better-than-expected ending for the economy this year, despite the anticipated action on interest rates by the US Federal Reserve.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879267-bot-to-announce-higher-2015-gdp-growth/

[webfact]

4G AUCTION
900MHz auction set to be major windfall for govt
Usanee Mongkolporn,
Sirivish Toomgum
The Nation


4G Auction

BANGKOK: -- THE AUCTION prices for two 900MHz spectrum licences for 4G cellular services had already surged to Bt81.112 billion combined at press time yesterday, exceeding the combined price of Bt80.778 billion fetched for two 1800 MHz licences at auction last month.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879268-900mhz-auction-set-to-be-major-windfall-for-thai-govt/

[webfact]

MEDIA
Winner Kantar Media to hire 100 for Thai office
Watchiranont Thongtep
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- UK-based Kantar Media will set up an office in Bangkok while recruiting 100 employees very soon to support its TV rating service after a media-research association yesterday appointed the company as a new TV audience measurement service.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879269-uk-based-kantar-media-to-hire-100-for-thai-office/

[webfact]

Activist gets suspended jail sentence in Gulf Electric case
Kesinee Taengkhieo
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THE SUPREME Court has given a two-year suspended jail term to an environmental activist for violating the liberty of Gulf Electric Co employees during their area observation for the Bo Nok and Hin Krud coal-fired power plant projects in Prachuap Khiri Khan province in 2001.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879270-thai-activist-gets-suspended-jail-sentence-in-gulf-electric-case/

[webfact]

Gold miner goes ahead with legal action against schoolgirl, 15
Visarut Sankam
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thung Kham Ltd will today go to the Loei Juvenile Observation and Protection Centre to take legal action against a 15-year-old schoolgirl for her allegedly libellous reporting as part of Thai Public Broadcasting Service’s TV citizen-reporter scheme, according to Thung Kham’s legal department.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879271-gold-miner-goes-ahead-with-legal-action-against-schoolgirl-15/

[webfact]

Rayong police chief pushes for posthumous promotion for dead officer
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Provincial Police Region 2 chief Pol Lt-General Thanet Pinmuang-ngam has proposed that Rayong’s Pluak Daeng Police Station superintendent Pol Colonel Somchai Sunthornvanich be posthumously promoted to the post of general.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879272-rayong-police-chief-pushes-for-posthumous-promotion-for-dead-officer/

[webfact]

Arrest warrants out for Phuket rioters
The Nation

Arrest warrants have been issued for 88 suspects

PHUKET: -- The chaos - which saw 10 cars set ablaze, damage to the station and some police officers sustaining injuries - erupted when people protested outside the station demanding justice for two young men who were killed after a police pickup truck hit their motorcycle in a chase. The youngsters had reportedly jumped a checkpoint and were believed to be carrying drugs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879273-arrest-warrants-out-for-phuket-rioters/

[webfact]

Cabinet okays funds for new breathalysers
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet has approved Bt234.4 million for the Interior Ministry to purchase 2,930 breathalysers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879274-thai-cabinet-okays-funds-for-new-breathalysers/

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE

Is a Suthep-Sukhumbhand political tango on the cards?

ATTAYUTH BOOTSRIPOOM

BANGKOK: -- THE RIFT between Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra and his colleagues in the Democrat Party appears to be widening. Both sides have shown mutual animosity. The dispute could have worsened but for the order by the National Council for Peace and Order that bars political gatherings.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879275-is-a-suthep-sukhumbhand-political-tango-on-the-cards/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Yingluck again denied leave to travel abroad
THE NATION


Yingluck

FORMER prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra has failed again to win court approval to leave the country

BANGKOK: -- Yingluck is standing trial for her role in her administration's controversial rice-pledging scheme and all defendants are required to remain in the country unless the court grants them permission to take a trip abroad.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879152-supreme-court-rejects-yinglucks-request-to-leave-thailand-again/#entry10200912

[webfact]

Puchong says he's ready to fight EC's libel actions
Chanikarn Phumhiran
The Nation


Puchong

BANGKOK: -- Sacked Election Commission (EC) secretary-general Puchong Nutrawong said yesterday that he was ready to defend himself following the threat of a libel case posed by the commission.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879276-puchong-says-hes-ready-to-fight-ecs-libel-actions/

[webfact]

NCPO gives FCCT talk on academic freedom the green light
Kasamakorn Chanwanpen
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) gave the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand to hold a discussion on “Academic Freedom under the Military” on Wednesday evening after visiting the club before the event kicked off.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879277-ncpo-gives-fcct-talk-on-academic-freedom-the-green-light/

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Arsonists punished, but what of their leaders?
The Nation

The red shirts who incited the torching of city halls in 2010 have not faced justice, bolstering suspicions of double standards

BANGKOK: -- The tough sentences handed down to protesters found guilty of setting fire to city halls during the political unrest in May 2010 have drawn a clear line between legitimate protest and serious crime. Demonstrators will now think twice when their leaders try to incite them to cross that line.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879278-arsonists-punished-but-what-of-their-leaders-thai-editorial/

[webfact]

16-year-old female Pimp and 3 underage Prostitutes arrested by Pattaya Police



PATTAYA: -- Pattaya Police conducted an undercover operation early on Wednesday which resulted in the arrest of a suspected Pimp aged only 16 and three of her sex workers who are all aged under 18.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879279-16-year-old-female-pimp-and-3-underage-prostitutes-arrested-by-pattaya-police/

[webfact]

Woman assaulted by group of men at Pattaya Country Music Concert



PATTAYA: -- A woman aged in her twenties was reportedly sexually assaulted by a group of Asian men, thought to be either Cambodian or Burmese after she urinated in a bush close to the site of a Country Music Concert in South Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879280-woman-assaulted-by-group-of-men-at-pattaya-country-music-concert/

[webfact]

8 suspected Pattaya drug dealers caught by Banglamung Police



PATTAYA: -- A press conference was held at Banglamung Police Station on Wednesday afternoon to confirm the arrest of 8 suspected drug dealers of which 4 of the suspects are thought to be leaders of major drug dealing networks in the area.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879281-8-suspected-pattaya-drug-dealers-caught-by-banglamung-police/

[webfact]

Police investigate 'Open ATM' at North Pattaya Convenience Store



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Wednesday, Banglamung Police were called to a 24-hour convenience store in North Pattaya after members of the public saw one of the ATM’s in front of the store was either damaged or had been broken into.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879282-police-investigate-open-atm-at-north-pattaya-convenience-store/

[webfact]

Chinese tourist drowns off Lanta Yai, Krabi
Eakkapop Thongtub


Rescue workers performed CPR at the scene, but Mr Chen was pronounced dead by drowning at the hospital soon after. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

KRABI: -- A Chinese tourist drowned while swimming with his girlfriend at Koh Lanta Yai, Krabi, yesterday afternoon (Dec 15).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879283-chinese-tourist-drowns-off-lanta-yai-krabi/

[webfact]

Court condemns a kidnapper and killer of an 11-year old girl to death

TRANG: -- A neighbor who kidnapped and killed an 11-year old girl and then dumped her body in a sewer was on Wednesday sentenced to death by the Trang provincial court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879284-thai-court-condemns-killer-of-11-year-old-girl-to-death/

[webfact]

Cabinet to be asked to lift ban on the use of artesian water in city



BANGKOK: -- The Water Resources Department will ask the cabinet next month to lift the decade-old ban against the use of artesian water in Bangkok and neighbouring provinces to alleviate water shortage problem.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879285-cabinet-to-be-asked-to-lift-ban-onuse-of-artesian-water-in-bangkok-and-neighbouring-provinces/

[webfact]

Royal Thai Police cautions those sharing content regarding the royal institution & national security



BANGKOK, 17 December 2015 (NNT) - The Royal Thai Police have urged citizens to exercise good judgement before sharing messages and images that are affecting the royal institution or national security, as there can be legal ramifications.

Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police Chakthip Chaijinda spoke regarding the recent prosecution of those found to be in violation of section 112 of the criminal code for defaming the royal institution. He affirmed that there was clear evidence that the suspects had committed leste majeste, regardless of whether their actions were intentional.

Pol Gen Chakthip therefore implored the public to use their judgement when disseminating content that can be seen as detrimental to the royal institution or national security.

-- NNT 2015-12-17

[webfact]

Paedophile Stuart Hall home for Christmas after serving half his sentences
By Tom Morgan

Exclusive: Former BBC broadcaster leaves Wymott prison near Preston, Lancs, as parole bosses tell him he cannot move to Spain

LONDON: -- Victims of Stuart Hall, the disgraced broadcaster, reacted with anger as he was released from prison early to return to the £1million home he kept by signing over to his wife.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879286-uk-paedophile-stuart-hall-home-for-christmas-after-serving-half-his-sentences/

[webfact]

Tornado hits Sydney



SYDNEY: -- A rare tornado hit Sydney on Wednesday with winds above 200 km an hour and hail the size of cricket balls.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879287-tornado-hits-sydney/

[webfact]

Spanish PM Rajoy struck in head during election campaign event



MADRID: -- He was on home soil, but not everyone was feeling friendly towards Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy during an election campaign event on Wednesday (December 16).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879288-spanish-pm-rajoy-struck-in-head-during-election-campaign-event/