Thailand Morning News For April 2

At least 94 people are implicated in cheating of fund for the destitute
As many as 94 people, including officials and civilians, were found to be involved in the cheating of fund for the Protection Center for the Destitute, said Lt-Col Kornthip Darote, secretary-general of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, on Monday.
— Thai PBS

Fishing sector ‘shipshape’ ahead of EU scrutiny
In a bid to get the European Union’s yellow card lifted from the lucrative fishery sector, Thai authorities have completed the registration of migrant workers ahead of a visit by an EU inspection team.
— Bangkok Post

SCB issues debt warning
Siam Commercial Bank (SCB)’s research house, the Economic Intelligence Center (EIC), has raised a warning flag about a potential re-acceleration in household debt after the household debt-to-GDP ratio at the end of 2017 edged up for the first time in two years
— Bangkok Post

Welfare graft mastermind to be named today as senior bureaucrats under fire
THE IDENTITY of the senior person or persons behind alleged irregularities at dozens of scandal-tainted provincial protection centres for the destitute would be revealed today, Public Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) secretary-general Korntip Daroj said yesterday.
— The Nation

Inflation in March led by alcohol, tobacco
Inflation in March was driven primarily by fuel, tobacco, alcoholic beverages and milled rice.
— Bangkok Post

PM calls on politicians to stop badmouthing if they want election to be held on schedule
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha today (Monday) warned ill-intent politicians to stop badmouthing on political issues in a way may cause public confusion if they want the election to proceed in accordance with the political roadmap.
— Thai PBS

DSI forwards “Victoria Secret” human trafficking case file to state prosecutors for court trial
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) on Monday submitted it’s lengthy case file of human trafficking that was relevant to Victoria Secret massage parlour to the Office of the Attorney-General to pursue legal action against all 45 suspects involved.
— Thai PBS

Senior journalist forced to resign over junta criticism
A news director at PPTV was reportedly pressured to resign after repeatedly criticising the deputy junta head over his undeclared luxury watches.
— Prachatai English

Cyberthreats ratcheting up
Cybersecurity threats in Thailand are intensifying, the country’s ranking dropping last year to 18th-worst from 25th in 2016, with cryptojacking in particular on the rise, says Symantec, a leading information security firm.
— Bangkok Post

DPM Prawit bares all about the wristwatch controversy
Breaking his long silence regarding the luxury wristwatch controversy, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan admitted for the first time today (Sunday) that the wristwatches were lent to him by Mr Patthavart Suksriwong, a wealthy businessman who was his close former classmate at St Gabriel College, according to Post Today online.
— Thai PBS

Obec boots out school chief over B400k bribe
The Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec) has fired former Samsenwittayalai School director Viroj Samruan for receiving “tea money” — a local euphemism for a bribe — from parents in exchange for enrolling their children in his institution last year.
— Bangkok Post

Spending rejig urged to ease inequality
ECONOMISTS have blamed government spending and taxation policies for the country’s widening income gap. They also want cuts in defence spending.
— The Nation

Thailand bans plastic bottle cap seals
Thailand has discontinued seals for plastic bottle caps to reduce waste in water pipes causing death to marine animals. The goal is to lower the volume of plastic waste amounting to 2,600 million pieces or 520 metric tons per year by 2019.
— News Today (video)

Thai students score less than half by average in ONET exam
Mathayomsueksa 6 students have scored less than 50 out of 100 marks by average for all subjects in ONET (Ordinary National Education Test) examination for 2017 educational year.
— Thai PBS

Buriram school celebrates maths success of 10 students
Buriram Phittayakhom School has held an honor ceremony celebrating the academic success of 10 students who outwitted their counterparts in mathematics nationally and internationally.
— News Today (video)

NBTC seeks return to original spectrum auction rules
THE National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) office will propose to the board that the originally proposed auction rules for 1800MHz licences be applied, rather than the sale take place under an amended draft version.
— The Nation

BoT spreading PromptPay reach
The Bank of Thailand is in talks to link the country’s PromptPay with Singapore’s PayNow to allow users in both countries to send money to each other using mobile phone numbers.
— Bangkok Post

Chaturon Chaisang: Pheu Thai’s strength is in its policies, its challenges lie in institutionalizing the party
Although Pheu Thai is currently facing a multitude of challenges, Chaturon Chaisang believes that the party can overcome them, from institutionalizing the party to opening up the party to participation by the new generation.
— Prachatai English

Tier-two cities urged for Asean airlines
The Transport Ministry will propose airlines in Asean countries operate direct flights to secondary cities in Thailand to cope with travel industry growth.
— Bangkok Post

UN voices concern after Thai authorities force Rohingya back to sea
THE UNITED NATIONS High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) yesterday voiced concern over the flight of 56 Rohingya boat people who landed in Thailand on Sunday and were pushed by Thai security authorities to again set sail onto the Andaman Sea with the hope of eventually landing in Malaysia.
— The Nation

UAE repatriates 18 Thai call centre gang members back to Thailand today
United Arab Emirates (UAE) today repatriated 18 Thais back to Thailand for trial in the call centre scam that used Dubai as their base to swindle over 50 million baht from their victims in Thailand.
— Thai PBS

Cambodian farmers sue Thai sugar group Mitr Phol over alleged land grab
Farmers from Cambodia have filed a lawsuit in a Thai civil court against Asia’s largest sugar producer, accusing it of rights abuses after it allegedly kicked farmers off their land, a rights group said on Monday.
— Reuters

Thailand’s Kasikorn Bank Launches QR Code Payment and Installment Plans for AirAsia Flights
Thai AirAsia has partnered with Thailand’s Kasikorn Bank to give AirAsia and AirAsia X passengers a new cashless payment option.
— TravelNewsAsia

Thai NGO supports Cambodian farmers over compensation
A group of Thai and International NGOs said yesterday that they supported Cambodian communities filing a lawsuit against sugar giant Mitr Phol seeking compensation and remedies over alleged human rights violations.
— Khmer Times

Ministry of Interior praises good citizens on its 126th anniversary 2
Permanent Secretary for Interior Chatchai Phromlert has presented golden honorary pins and certificates to good citizens on the occasion of the 126th anniversary of the Ministry of Interior.
— News Today (video)

Amid slew of complaints, Phuket airport chief says ‘everything’s fine’
Following a slew of complaints about the lack of seating and long queues to clear immigration, Phuket International Airport General Manager Petch Chancharoen yesterday (April 1) went public to claim that “everything is fine” at the facility.
— The Phuket News

Patong police transferred amid hotel boss private bodyguard probe
Two Phuket police officers have been transferred to a training academy in Surat Thani amid an investigation into why they were allegedly providing private protection services for a hotel executive in Patong.
— The Phuket News

Where Innovation and Opportunity Come Together: HIMSS Asia Pacific Soft Launches Innovation Hub at Thailand eHealth Summit, 24 – 25 May 2018
HIMSS Asia Pacific is pleased to announce that it will soft launch its innovation hub at the Thailand eHealth Summit (TEHS), 24 – 25 May 2018.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

Nikki Beach to take over management of luxury Chiang Mai hotel
In a somewhat surprise announcement, Nikki Beach Worldwide has signed on as operator of Chiang Mai’s Dhara Dhevi hotel.
— TheThaiger

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Thailand morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Thailand news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

Thailand Morning News For April 3 added by John Le Fevre on April 3, 2018
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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.