Thailand Morning News For April 13

PM urges all Thais to celebrate Songkran traditionally
The Prime Minister has urged all Thais to celebrate Songkran traditionally while safeguarding the nation’s key institutions.
– NNT

THAI wants more time on bribe probe
Thai Airways International (THAI) has asked to extend its investigation into the Rolls-Royce bribery scandal involving former executives to the end of this month, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittiyapaisith said.
– Bangkok Post

Cabinet approves rice-assistance programs
The cabinet has approved three programs aimed at developing rice production output, with a budget totaling over 25 billion baht.
– NNT

Ministry tells public to shun on social media three lese majeste suspects
The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society has urged members of the public to stop following on social media three persons who regularly posted messages deemed to violate the lese majeste law.
– The Nation

Army insists Section 44 is ‘vital for security’
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha needs to retain his wide-reaching Section 44 powers for the sake of security and for maintaining peace for the late King’s royal cremation as well as the coronation of His Majesty the King, army chief Chalermchai Sittisat says
– Bangkok Post

Public debt up 0.5% in February
THAILAND’S public debt outstanding as of February 28 was Bt6.09 trillion, up Bt30.58 billion or 0.5 per cent from January 31, while the Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) has maintained Thailand’s credit-rating ceiling at “A+” with “stable” outlook, the Finance Ministry’s Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) reported yesterday.
– The Nation

Consumer Protection Board launches investigation in Japan tour scam
The Office of Consumer Protection Board has launched an investigation into the recent Tour to Japan scam in Nakhon Sawan Province, while Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, has advised citizens to seek extensive information before making purchase decisions.
– NNT

Transport minister: New rail project well on track
Bidding for construction of the Thai-Chinese joint rail development scheme is expected to take place during July-August, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said.
– Bangkok Post

Election process to begin next year: PM
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha urged all political stakeholders to have patience, saying that election process will begin next which is still within the 8-month timeframe.
– Thai PBS

Ministry of Agriculture unveils e-card program for communicating with farmers
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is developing an e-card program for farmers, in order to provide convenient government information to cardholders, as part of the government’s Smart Farmer program.
– NNT

BMTA scraps NGV bus deal with Bestlin Group
Bangkok Mass Transit Authority, the operator of city bus service, has scrapped its contract to procure a fleet of 498 NGV buses from Bestlin Group effective as of Wednesday.
– Thai PBS

Thailand sends first cooked duck to New Zealand
Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) has been the first food company in Thailand to exploit New Zealand’s policy change that allows imports of cooked Thai duck for the first time ever.
– Global Meat News

U.S. beef gains expanded access to Thailand
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) reported that U.S. beef has gained expanded access to Thailand now that bovine spongiform encephalopathy-related import restrictions have been lifted.
– Feedstuffs

Over 2,400 wanted for alleged involvement in illegal money lending syndicate
The Department of Special Investigation plans to seek warrants for the arrest of over 2,400 people suspected of involvement in a major illegal money lending syndicate said to have networks throughout the country.
– Thai PBS

10 Facts about the 10 April Crackdown: 7 years of unhealed wounds
2017 marks the 7th anniversary of military operations against red shirt protesters in April 2017. Though many years have passed, justice for the deceased and injured victims of state-sanctioned political violence has yet to come.
– Prachatai English

EA joint venture aims to propel renewables
SET-listed Energy Absolute Plc (EA) will join a Taiwan-based subsidiary and a Chinese company to develop a plant to produce batteries for renewable power systems and electric vehicles.
– Bangkok Post

Migrants Say Thai Authorities Charged for Deportation Rides
A group of four Cambodian “illegal” migrants jailed in Thailand say they were forced to bribe authorities there to take them back to Cambodia, officials said this week.
– The Cambodia Daily (paywall)

Thai start-up in line for major funding
Somsak Boonkam’s start-up Local Alike, which matches foreign tourists’ interests to specific experiences being offered locally, is one of 10 companies selected for an “accelerator programme” in sustainable tourism being organised by Booking.com.
– The Nation

So much to see in upcountry Songkran festivities
You can spend “Songkran in the Ancient Capital” at the Ayutthaya Historical Park tomorrow through Saturday (April 13-15), where elephants with trunk-loads of water are sure to get you in the mood.
– The Nation

AEC News Today wishes all of its Thailand morning news readers a safe and enjoyable Songkran. Happy New year!

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Thailand Morning News For April 13 added by John Le Fevre on April 13, 2017
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John Le Fevre

Thailand editor at AEC News Today

John is an Australian national with more than 40 years experience as a journalist, photographer, videographer, and copy editor.

He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia, with stints in the Middle East, the USA, and England.

He has covered major world events including Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, the 1991 pillage in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Bangkok political protests.

In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.

Prior to AEC News Today he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.

In the mid-80s and early 90s he owned JLF Promotions, the largest above and below the line marketing and PR firm servicing the high-technology industry in Australia. It was sold in 1995.