THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Tuesday 13 Dec 2016

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Koh Phangan hospital backtracks after pregnant English tourist is unable to pay medical bill

Image: Workpoint News via Sanook

 

A private hospital on Koh Phangan backtracked on a 100,000 baht hospital bill after initially taking an English woman's passport because she could not pay.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958234-koh-phangan-hospital-backtracks-after-pregnant-english-tourist-is-unable-to-pay-medical-bill/

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Australian woman was not raped by tuktuk driver, claim police 

 

BANGKOK:-- A 21-year-old Australian tourist was mistaken when she said she was raped by a tuktuk driver at a parking lot in Bangkok, said Metropolitan Police commissioner Lt-General Sanit Mahathavorn.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958214-australian-woman-was-not-raped-by-tuktuk-driver-claim-police /

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Submit your photos for the 2017 Thaivisa Calendar

 

Continuing the great work done by Tywais and team in previous years, it's that time of year for starting the design of the 2017/2560 Thaivisa Calendar.

 

Previous calendars, 2010-2016, were a great success due to the excellent photo contributions from Thaivisa members.

 

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/956062-submit-your-photos-for-the-2017-thaivisa-calendar/

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Dhammachayo’s followers flock into Dhammakaya ahead of a planned raid of the temple

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Followers and monks loyal to Phra Dhammachayo continue to flock into Wat Dhammakaya in droves reportedly to pray amidst unconfirmed report that officials of the Department of Special Investigation and police may search the temple to look for the embattled former abbot of the temple on Tuesday.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958241-dhammachayo’s-followers-flock-into-dhammakaya-ahead-of-a-planned-raid-of-the-temple/

 

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Former follower recalls his “riches to rags” story after being inducted to Dhammakaya sect

 

BANGKOK: -- A former follower of the Dhammakaya sect who claimed that his family went broke and broke up after they donated all their wealth to the temple showed up in front of the temple on Monday to support the planned arrest of the former abbot.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958242-former-follower-recalls-his-“riches-to-rags”-story-after-being-inducted-to-dhammakaya-sect/

 

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Pol Gen Srivara disagrees with searching Dhammakaya now

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The planned joint operation between the police and the Department of Special Investigation officials to search Wat Dhammakaya this week appears to have hit the snag as forensic police are not ready for the operation.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958243-pol-gen-srivara-disagrees-with-searching-dhammakaya-now/

 

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PM admires Thai students' accomplishments from 13th JISO, winning one gold and five silver medals

 

 

BANGKOK, 13 December 2016 (NNT) - The Prime Minister expressed admiration for the achievement of Thai students who won one gold medal and five silver medals from the 13th International Junior Science Olympiad (JISO) in Indonesia. 

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958244-pm-admires-thai-students-accomplishments-from-13th-jiso-winning-one-gold-and-five-silver-medals/

 

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DPM visits China to discuss cooperation in several issues

 

 

BANGKOK, 13 December 2016 (NNT) - The Deputy Prime Minister has embarked on an official visit to China to discuss on both countries' mutual cooperation on several important issues. 

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958245-prawit-visits-china-to-discuss-cooperation-in-several-issues/

 

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People Forum Called For Wide-Ranging Rights And Protections

By Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer -

 

Photo: NDM / Facebook

 

BANGKOK — One hundred and nine groups consisting of NGOs, civic groups, grassroots organizations, labor groups, students and anti-junta organizations met for two days over the weekend and came out with demands ranging from restoration of political rights, better education, welfare state and rights to local determination.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958246-people-forum-called-for-wide-ranging-rights-and-protections/

 

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Chinese Tourist Killed, Two Passengers Injured after Car Crashes in Kamphaeng Phet Province

 

KAMPHAENG PHET – One Chinese tourist has been killed and two other passengers injured when the car they were driving rammed into a tree at a ditch in Khanu Waralaksaburi district on late Sunday night.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958247-chinese-tourist-killed-two-passengers-injured-after-car-crashes-in-kamphaeng-phet-province/

 

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Politicians want organic law revised
By OLAN LERTRUDTANADUMRONGKUL, 
JAKRAWAN SALAYTOO, 
CHANIKARN PHUMHIRAN 
THE NATION

 

File photo : Ong-art

 

BANGKOK: -- POLITICIANS have called on charter drafters to revise the draft organic law on political parties, saying it is not in line with the new constitution and undermines participatory politics.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958248-politicians-want-organic-law-revised/

 

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NLA to consider change to computer law
By The Nation

 

Pisit

 

BANGKOK: -- Members of the National Legislative Assembly will meet on Thursday to consider a change to the Computer Crime Act amid concerns by Thai citizens over rights and privacy issues threatened by the new amendment.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958249-nla-to-consider-change-to-computer-law/ 

 

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UPDATE:

 

Police abort raid on temple
By PIYANUCH TAMNUKASETCHAI 
THE NATION

 

 

Latest deadline ditched as police wait for special personnel in bid to arrest Phra Dhammachayo

 

BANGKOK: -- THE HIGH-PROFILE operation to arrest Phra Dhammachayo, the fugitive former abbot who has been ensconced in Dhammakaya Temple for months, has been aborted due to “lack of preparedness”, deputy national police chief Pol General Srivara Ransibrahamakul said yesterday.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958243-pol-gen-srivara-disagrees-with-searching-dhammakaya-now/?do=findComment&comment=11417888

 

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Chuwit among inmates to be released from prison under royal pardon
By PIYANUCH TAMNUKASETCHAI 
THE NATION

 

Chuwit

 

BANGKOK: -- OUTSPOKEN former MP Chuwit Kamolvisit will probably be among the first batch of 30,000 inmates released under an amnesty granted to mark His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s accession to the throne, according to Corrections Department director-general Kobkiat Kasiwiwat.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958250-chuwit-among-inmates-to-be-released-from-prison-under-royal-pardon/

 

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UPDATE:

 

Police reject tuk-tuk rape claim
By JESSADA CHANTHARAK, 
SURIYA PATATHAYO 
THE NATION

 

 

BANGKOK: -- A 21-YEAR-OLD Australian tourist was mistaken when she said she was raped by a tuk-tuk driver at a parking lot in Bangkok, said Metropolitan Police commissioner Lt-General Sanit Mahathavorn.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958214-australian-woman-was-not-raped-by-tuktuk-driver-claim-police /?do=findComment&comment=11417896

 

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Group wants Ombudsman to probe top cop
By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE NATION

 

Sanit

 

Sanit under fire for Bt50,000 monthly salary from Thaibev.

 

BANGKOK: -- AN activist group plans to file a petition with the Ombudsman’s Office against the Bangkok police chief today after it was disclosed that he receives Bt50,000 per month for serving as an adviser to a major alcoholic drinks company.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958252-group-wants-ombudsman-to-probe-top-cop/

 

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Floods in South threaten pomelo plantations after 10-day downpour
By THE NATION

 

 

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: -- SEVERE flooding in the South is threatening plantations of the country’s famous pomelo fruit that have been under water for more than 10 days.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958253-floods-in-south-threaten-pomelo-plantations-after-10-day-downpour/

 

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Govt aims to turn Kingdom into Asean’s No 1 cassava producer
By PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI 
THE NATION

 

BANGKOK: -- THE CASSAVA Management and Policy Committee has introduced new strategies for developing Thailand as the leading Asean cassava producer using innovation and technology.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958254-govt-aims-to-turn-thailand-into-asean’s-no-1-cassava-producer/

 

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KTB aims to give struggling clients boost to help economy
By SUCHEERA PINIJPARAKARN 
THE NATION

 

MOVE AIMED AT RETAIL AND BUSINESS CUSTOMERS STUCK WITH DEBT AMID SLOWDOWN

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958255-ktb-aims-to-give-struggling-clients-boost-to-help-economy/

 

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Trafficking alert in Sa Kaew rush
By CHATCHAWAN SOPHAPHAN 
THE NATION

 

Rong Kluea Market in Sa Kaew province is flooded by thousands of holidaymakers travelling from the North and the Northeast back to Bangkok and industrial provinces in the East after the long weekend.

 

SA KAEW: -- OFFICERS stepped up security at Rong Kluea Market in the border province of Sa Kaew to prevent illegal smuggling and human trafficking as up to 40,000 tourists per day flocked to the bazaar over the long weekend.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958256-trafficking-alert-in-sa-kaew-rush/

 

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Plans for civil servant medical scheme must be made public 
By Chularat Saengpassa 
The Nation

 

BANGKOK: -- It is now clear that the Finance Ministry is seriously pushing to transfer management of the Civil Servants Medical Benefit Scheme (CSMBS) to the private sector. 

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958257-plans-for-civil-servant-medical-scheme-must-be-made-public /

 

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Romania: Left scores huge election comeback

 

 

What a difference a year makes!

 

BUCHAREST: -- Romania’s leftist Social Democrats (PSD) have won Sunday’s parliamentary election, with over 45 percent of the vote.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958258-romania-left-scores-huge-election-comeback/

 

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António Guterres sworn in as new UN Secretary General

 

 

UNITED NATIONS: -- Former Portuguese Prime Minister António Guterres, has been sworn in as Secretary General of the United Nations during an inauguration ceremony at the organisation’s Headquarters in New York. He was appointed to the post in October.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958259-antónio-guterres-sworn-in-as-new-un-secretary-general/

 

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Turkey: further crackdown after Saturday’s twin bombing

Catherine Hardy

 

 

ISTANBUL: -- At least 235 people have been detained in raids across Turkey over alleged links to Kurdish militants.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958260-turkey-further-crackdown-after-saturday’s-twin-bombing/

 

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11 arrested in France over Nice attack

Catherine Hardy

 

 

PARIS: -- In France, 11 people have been arrested in connection with the investigation into last summer’s terrorist attack in the Riviera city of Nice.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958261-11-arrested-in-france-over-nice-attack/

 

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Aleppo battle ‘reaches its end’ in devastating blow to rebels

 

 

ALEPPO: -- The battle for Aleppo has reached its end, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said on Monday, marking a devastating blow for the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958263-aleppo-battle-‘reaches-its-end’-in-devastating-blow-to-rebels/

 

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Trump's criticism of Russia hacking claim could haunt him

By ERIC TUCKER

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump held firm Monday to his skepticism of the huge intelligence apparatus he's about to inherit, doubting anew the CIA conclusion that Russia tried to hack its way into tipping the U.S. election his way.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958264-trumps-criticism-of-russia-hacking-claim-could-haunt-him/

 

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Trump ups US ante on Taiwan, but China has leverage too

By MATTHEW PENNINGTON

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump sounds ready to use U.S. policy toward Taiwan as a bargaining chip to extract concessions from China, but both of the world powers could play at that game.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958265-trump-ups-us-ante-on-taiwan-but-china-has-leverage-too/

 

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NGV buses stuck at Laem Chabang - company hopeful that contract can be fulfilled

 

Picture: Daily News

 

BANGKOK: -- The company that won the contract to supply the BMTA with 489 new eco-friendly buses says they are hopeful of completing the delivery on time.

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958266-ngv-buses-stuck-at-laem-chabang-company-hopeful-that-contract-can-be-fulfilled/

 

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Engagement good news for Thai parents as Irishman promises seven figure dowry

 

Picture:T-News

 

SURIN: -- An engagement ceremony took place in Surin yesterday when the groom, a 64 year old Irishman, promised his 44 year old bride's parents a "seven figure dowry".

 

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/958267-engagement-good-news-for-thai-parents-as-irishman-promises-seven-figure-dowry/