Thailand Morning News For March 15

Thailand to tax gains from cryptocurrency trade: minister
Thailand plans to impose a 15-percent withholding tax on gains from cryptocurrency trade, Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong said on Wednesday.
— Reuters

Army removes volunteer lifeguards from Phuket beaches
The commanding officer of the Royal Thai Army contingent stationed in Phuket has confirmed that soldiers under his command last Tuesday (Mar 6) “asked” volunteer lifeguards at Kamala to leave the beach and no longer provide lifeguard patrols for tourists.
— The Phuket News

Thai growth momentum exceeds expectations: central bank chief
The momentum of Thailand’s economic growth has exceeded central bank expectations and recovery has become more broad based, but monetary policy needs to remain accommodative, the central bank governor said on Wednesday.
— Reuters

Anti-graft panel split over summoning Prawit
A fact-finding committee on a collection of luxury watches worn by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon is divided over whether to summon the deputy premier to make a statement.
— Bangkok Post

Income from digital assets to attract 15% withholding tax in rules catch-up
THE REVENUE Department plans to impose a 15 per cent withholding tax on profits and dividends generated by transactions involving digital assets.
— The Nation

Premchai denies he killed black panther
Breaking his long silence on the illegal hunting trip in Thung Yai Naresuan wildlife sanctuary last month, Italian-Thai Development Plc CEO Premchai Karnasuta told the media today (March 14) that he felt sorry for being accused by the society for being a wildlife poacher.
— Thai PBS

NACC holds forum on fostering intolerance against corruption
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is joining hands with the entertainment industry to cultivate intolerance of corruption among Thai citizens, targeting a concrete change within five years.
— NNT

NBTC plans appeal of court ruling
The board of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) Wednesday resolved to appeal Tuesday’s Central Administrative Court order to the Supreme Court within 30 days.
— Bangkok Post

DEMOCRAT SUSPECTS CONSPIRACY AS NLA AND CDC WAFFLE AFTER PRIOR APPROVAL
NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE Assembly (NLA) vice president Surachai Liengboonlertchai has expressed concern that the next election might be delayed if the MP election bill was referred to the Constitutional Court.
— The Nation

16 destitute centre directors transferred pending disciplinary probe
The directors of 16 protection centre for the destitute have been ordered transferred to assist work in the Department of Social Development and Welfare pending a disciplinary probe against them.
— Thai PBS

Dtac faces profit hit over auction delay
Thai operator Dtac could be facing fresh struggles related to its expiring 850-MHz and 1800-MHz spectrum licenses, with regulator NBTC stating that no spectrum auctions are likely to be held until late 2018.
— telecomasia.net

Thailand’s Cabinet Moves to Regulate and Tax Cryptocurrencies
The Cabinet of Thailand, the executive branch of the country’s government, has provisionally passed two royal decree drafts aimed at regulating cryptocurrencies, a report states.
— CoinDesk

An open letter to PETA on elephant welfare in Thailand
We at Minor Hotel Group share the same values and long-term goals as PETA for the welfare and conservation of both wild and captive elephants and other animals in Thailand and throughout Southeast Asia.
— The Nation

Thai growth momentum exceeds expectations, says central bank chief
The momentum of Thailand’s economic growth has exceeded expectations and its recovery has become more broad-based, but monetary policy needs to remain accommodative, the central bank governor said on Wednesday.
— Reuters

Prosecutor indicts Phra Buddha Isara and 16 PDRC members with treason and terrorism charges
Activist monk Phra Buddha Isara and 16 members of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) were on Wednesday (March 14) indicated by the special public prosecutor with eight criminal charges, including treason and terrorism for their role in the “Bangkok Shutdown” anti-government protest in 2013.
— Thai PBS

Govt to ease transport woes with neighbouring nations
THE GOVERNMENT will build more roads and rail lines linking neighbouring countries with Thailand in the Mekong sub-region in order to ease traffic congestions at major border points, said Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisit.
— The Nation

Phuket Town prepares for drought
Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana has called on residents to conserve water as Phuket heads into the hot season, with little rain forecast until the rainy season begins in May.
— The Phuket News

Welfare corruption probe to begin at top ministerial levels
THE NATIONAL Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) office on public sector corruption has been assigned to investigate each step of the budget allocation process for provincial protection centres for the destitute involved in the recent corruption scandal, NACC commissioner Pol General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit said yesterday.
— The Nation

Thailand aims to eliminate rabies by 2020
The Director-General of the Livestock Department, Aphai Sutthisang, said cooperation from all sectors, particularly local agencies, partner organizations, and public members, are essential to achieve this goal.
— NNT

Finland ‘happiest country’, Thailand less joyous than ever
If cold weather and a lack of sunlight in winter are enough to get you down, chances are you’re not Finnish.
— Bangkok Post

Feature photo Max Pixel

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 March 15 added by John Le Fevre on March 15, 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.