Thailand Morning News For April 5

Brickbats and bouquets for govt from UN rights group
A UN group has urged the Thai government to improve human rights protection for migrant workers, indigenous local communities, and human rights defenders.
— The Nation

Thailand aims to become ‘the economic engine room’ of Southeast Asia
New Zealand companies have the opportunity to expand into Thailand with the development of its Eastern Economic Corridor, an industry leader says.
— New Zealand Herald

School made fraudulent claims for state subsidies
Executives of a private school in Tha Muang will face civil, criminal and disciplinary action for alleged falsification of pre-kindergarten pupils’ birth certificates to get state subsidies.
— Bangkok Post

US-China trade conflict has no serious impact on Thailand
As trade dispute between the United States and China is escalating, the state and the private sectors saw this would not have serious impact on Thai exports.
— Thai PBS

Thai businesses must act to curb abuses at home and abroad – U.N.
Thailand’s fishing industry has made significant progress in curbing abuse, but measures to prevent rights violations must now be adopted in other sectors, and by Thai firms operating overseas, United Nations experts said on Wednesday.
— Reuters

Private sector revises Thai GDP growth estimate this year
The private sector has revised its Thai economic growth estimate following the economy’s continuous expansion but still warns against external factors.
–– News Today (video)

Education Ministry eyes Japanese vocational programs in support of EEC project
The Ministry of Education will discuss with Japanese schools the planned opening of vocational programs in Thailand to help create more human resources for the Eastern Economic Corridor project.
— NNT

Premchai off hook on five charges
The public prosecutor’s decision to drop five charges against construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta has been met with fierce criticism.
— Bangkok Post

CIA nominee to explain role in Thailand ‘torture programme’
President Donald Trump’s nominee to be CIA director will fully explain what her role was – and what it wasn’t – in the agency’s use of harsh interrogation practices on terror suspects after 9/11, the top US intelligence chief said Wednesday.
— Bangkok Post

Cabinet passes PPP bill to raise efficiency of PPP projects
The Cabinet has endorsed a new draft Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Act in the hope of enhancing investment cooperation between the public and private sectors and bettering the lives of the Thai people.
— News Today (video)

Comply with WTO ruling, Thailand told
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has agreed to look into Thailand’s alleged non-compliance to a 2010 ruling on discriminatory taxes imposed by Bangkok on Philippine cigarette exports.
— Malaya

This Thai Billionaire Just Saw Half of His Fortune Wiped Out
Energy Absolute Pcl’s Chief Executive Officer Somphote Ahunai has seen almost half of his fortune erased after shares of the renewable energy company he founded turned into the industry’s worst performer the past month.
— Bloomberg

Two Thai companies face flak over practices in Cambodia and Myanmar
THAI OVERSEAS investments in Cambodia and Myanmar have come under criticism for irresponsible business operations and human rights violation, which has also led to the first-ever class-action lawsuit against a Thai company in its home country.
— The Nation

TDRI chief: Giants don’t qualify for relief plan
Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) chairman Somkiat Tangkitvanich has voiced opposition to a plan aimed at granting five-year extensions for the payment of final instalments in the 900-MHz band licence auction.
— Bangkok Post

Prayut rejects call to lift political activities ban
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday dismissed a concerted call by major political parties to lift a controversial junta order that prevents political activities.
— The Nation

Exim Bank to provide loans for investors in special zones and machinery upgrades
The Export-Import Bank of Thailand (Exim Bank) has created a loans-fund of 5 billion baht for investors in special zones, and business requiring machinery upgrades. The policy is aimed at modernizing the country’s industrial sector and supporting investment in regions with high potential.
— NNT

Where Is the New Indonesia-Thailand Defense Pact?
Late last month, a new defense pact between Indonesia and Thailand inched forward toward realization with agreement on its ratification.
— The Diplomat

Joint investment in the laying of new fiber-optic submarine cables
True Corporation has entered into joint investment with NEC Corportion to install new fiber-optic submarine cables which will connect communications systems of countries of Southeast Asia and North Asia.
— Thai PBS

Booze spigot tightened for a safer Songkran
More public areas will be off-limits to people consuming alcohol during next week’s Songkran festival in an attempt to reduce road accidents during one of the most congested times of the year.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand to indict construction tycoon for wildlife poaching
Prosecutors said on Wednesday they are seeking to indict the president of Thailand’s largest construction company for poaching wildlife, a case that has raised concern about impunity for the rich and powerful.
— Reuters

Yaowapa ditches Pheu Thai, exits politics
Yaowapa Wongsawat, the sister of two ousted prime ministers, has left the Pheu Thai Party and quit politics, according to her husband Somchai Wongsawat.
— Bangkok Post

TrueMoney scores Vietnam payment services license
TrueMoney Vietnam (“TrueMoney”), part of Southeast Asian Fintech company Ascend Money, has obtained the Intermediary Payment Services License from the State Bank of Vietnam to operate digital financial services in e-money, e-payment, wireless transfers, and payment gateways.
— Finextra

Foreign Ministry’s App puts Isaan food as close as your mobile phone
The Foreign Affairs Ministry on Wednesday introduced a “Street Food Isaan” mobile application to attract foreign visitors to the northeastern region of the country.
— The Nation

Isoc joins hands with PACC to boost anti-corruption fight
THE INTERNAL Security Operations Command (Isoc) has made its collaboration with an anti-graft agency official, to bolster the country’s fight against corruption.
— The Nation

Energy Regulatory Commission’s plan to raise public awareness on energy security
One of the main missions of the Energy Regulatory Commission is to raise awareness on energy security and sustainability amongst people across the country.
— News Today (video)

Police disagree with the prosecutor’s indictment of only six charges against Premchai
Police will submit its objection against the public prosecution’s decision to indict Italian-Thai Development boss Premchai Karnasuta and three hunting partners of six counts of charge instead of nine counts as recommended by the police, said Pol Gen Srivara Ransibrahmanakul, the deputy national police chief, on Wednesday (April 4).
— Thai PBS

Guard caught stealing from traveller at Suvarnabhumi
A security guard at Suvarnabhumi airport was caught after pilfering B6,000 from a passenger’s carry-on bag at an X-ray station yesterday evening
— The Phuket News

Anupong vows to punish local administration officials for graft in garbage truck procurement
Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paochinda vowed to punish corrupted interior officials after the counter corruption division police have detected corruption in the procurement of garbage trucks by several local administration organisations across the country.
— Thai PBS

True Corp taps Comarch for loyalty management
Thailand’s True Corporation has selected Comarch to help the operator overhaul its loyalty management services.
— telecomasia.net

Air Force put into service 4 South Korean trainer jets
The Royal Thai Air Force has commissioned four South Korean-made T-50 TH trainer jets into service at Air Wing 401 based in Takhli airbase, Nakhon Sawan after the planes had gone through tough inspection procedure.
— Thai PBS

Ubon Ratchathani clears Sirinthorn Dam area of land mines
April 4th each year marks International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. This year the Royal Thai Armed Forces have again held a campaign to raise awareness of land mines and have announced the clearing of mines at Sirinthorn Dam.
— NNT

Three Singaporeans arrested for operating online gambling in Chonburi
Transnational Crime Coordination Centre (TCCC) and Chonburi provincial police yesterday (Apr 3) arrested three Singaporeans after a raid at their rented home found it was used to operate online lottery and soccer gambling.
— Thai PBS

Arms smuggler arrested in Satun
A 35-year-old resident of Singha Nakorn district of Songkhla province was arrested on Tuesday (Apr 3) for arms trafficking after two submachine guns and 4,500 rounds of ammunition were found hidden in his pickup truck.
— Thai PBS

Airline passengers to be shuttled between Chiang Mai airport and city center
Airline passengers can now take a bus to and from Chiang Mai airport and the northern city’s center.
— NNT

Feature photo John Le Fevre

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

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 5 added by John Le Fevre on April 5, 2018
View all posts by John Le Fevre →

Bio
Latest Posts

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.