Thailand morning news for September 5

Cops hunt ‘rape’ post sharers
The Samui provincial court has approved an arrest warrant for the administrator of the CSI LA Facebook page and 12 of its followers for posting and then sharing a report on the alleged rape of a British tourist on Koh Tao.
— Bangkok Post

Parties feel straitjacketed by new laws
Political parties cried foul Tuesday over some regime-sponsored laws including a 20-year national strategy, saying the rules would prevent them from initiating policy platforms or reformist agendas.
— Bangkok Post

Forced labour ‘widespread’
Rights defenders say exploitation of workers becoming more sophisticated; new law needed
–The Nation

Forest runoff causes havoc in Lop Buri
Several tambons in Lop Buri’s Muang district have been submerged in the wake of forest runoff triggered by hours of torrential rain.
— Bangkok Post

Human error blamed for August 31 crash of e-banking system
Human error was blamed as the cause of the crash of the e-banking system of five commercial banks, causing temporary disruptions of electronic transactions on August 31.
— Thai PBS

Labour groups oppose plan to raise SSF contributions based on monthly earnings
LABOUR RIGHTS advocates yesterday voiced their opposition to the Labour Ministry’s plan to increase Social Security Fund (SSF) contributions from Bt750 to a maximum of Bt1,000 a month for workers earning more than Bt20,000.
— The Nation

Impounded luxury car bid held up by Land Department
The Customs Department has halted its plan to put seized luxury cars under the hammer this fiscal year, forgoing an estimated 500 million baht in revenue, following the Land Department’s refusal to register such vehicles.
— Bangkok Post

Labor and migrant rights groups press for legislation on labor
Civil organizations concerned with basic human rights for migrants have called on the government to move forward with its deliberations on the Forced Labor Protection and Eradication Act draft, to ensure greater care for laborers in the future.
— NNT

PTT executives ‘to clarify business practices’ following Korn’s criticism
Former finance minister Korn Chatikavanij said on Tuesday that executives of PTT, the listed energy conglomerate, would meet him tomorrow to explain about the company’s business practices.
— The Nation

Thai politics under a new reign
More than four years after it seized power in May 2014, Thailand’s military government appears intent on holding onto power indefinitely. Led by General Prayut Chan-o-cha, the National Council for Peace and Order has repeatedly delayed election pledges.
— East Asia Forum

Limiting universal healthcare to those who earn less than Bt100,000 unfair, says activist
A PROMINENT health activist yesterday attacked the government over reports that it plans to provide free medical service under the universal healthcare scheme to only those earning less than Bt100,000 a year.
— The Nation

New bill aims to boost R&D and incentivise researchers
The cabinet yesterday approved a draft bill that promotes the use of R&D and lets researchers own the right to transfer their research to private companies.
— Bangkok Post

Thai princess still helping Leyte school hit by ‘Yolanda’
The Banayon Elementary School in this town continues to receive assistance from Thailand’s Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and the Royal Thai Embassy after it was hit by Super Typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan) five years ago.
— Manilastandard.net

Banquet held in Thailand to observe Vietnam’s National Day
The Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand held a banquet in Udon Thani province on September 2 to observe the 73rd anniversary of National Day of Vietnam (September 2).
— Nhan Dan

Lazada launches LazMall with ‘9.9’ online shopping extravaganza
Gear up for the start of the year’s biggest shopping season with Lazada, Southeast Asia’s largest e-commerce portal, as it celebrates the official launch of LazMall.
— The Nation

Street Wars: Bangkok Vendors Strike Back
Hundreds of vendors from throughout Bangkok marched Tuesday on the Government House to demand City Hall roll back years of regulations responsible for shutting down their street markets.
— Khaosod English

SEC orders IFEC boss removal
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has ordered the dismissal of Inter Far East Energy’s (IFEC’s) chief executive on grounds of insider trading and refusal to acknowledge a civil sanction.
— Bangkok Post

FPO presents hearing on AFAS protocol
The Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) is launching a public hearing on protocol to implement the eighth package of commitments on financial services under the Asean Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS), which will allow the Bank of Thailand to push toward the long-awaited establishment of the qualified Asean Bank (QAB) with Bank Negara Malaysia.
— Bangkok Post

Consumer Confidence Index in August reaches 64-month high
The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) has released its Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) in August, which hit its highest level in 64 months.
— NNT

Electronics trade objects to draft recycling law
MANUFACTURERS and vendors of electronics and electrical appliances have expressed strong opposition to a draft bill on the disposal of waste gear, citing the high costs they would face.
— The Nation

Ascott Opens Brand-New Somerset Maison Asoke In The Heart of Sukhumvit, Bangkok
CapitaLand’s wholly-owned serviced residence business unit, The Ascott Limited in Thailand is proud to introduce the brand-new Somerset Maison Asoke Bangkok, which will officially welcome its first guest on 28th September 2018.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

2.1 Million Counterfeit and Pirated Goods Destroyed by Thai Government
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan has presided over a ceremony to dispose of 1.3 billion baht’s worth of counterfeit and pirated goods.
— Pattaya Mail

Cabinet approves B16bn capital infusion for IBank
The cabinet yesterday gave the nod to raising the registered capital of state-owned Islamic Bank of Thailand (IBank) by 16.01 billion baht to strengthen the bank’s financial status and attract potential partners.
— Bangkok Post

Greater transparency urged in airport duty-free concession
The government sector must ensure transparency and fairness in framing the terms of reference for the airport duty-free concession, which is due this year, the Thai Retailers Association (TRA) said yesterday.
— The Nation

Dept of Foreign Trade & SME Bank to support agricultural businesses
The Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) and the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand (SME Bank) have signed an agreement to promote and develop the potential of innovative agricultural businesses.
— NNT

Governor lowers boom on Phuket tour boat safety
Officials have been given seven days to ensure that at least passenger manifests on tour boats departing Phuket are accurate and filed with authorities following an order from Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong at a meeting early today (Sept 4).
— The Phuket News

Bangkok climate conference sounds alarm before UN summit
Time is running out to save the Paris Agreement, UN climate experts warned Tuesday at a key Bangkok meeting, as rich nations were accused of shirking their responsibility for environmental damage.
— Bangkok Post

8th PETAsia & Recycling Outlook pinpoints Sustainable PET Packaging, Recycling, PET Resin Trade
Major PET packaging companies, resin producers, technology providers and recyclers are convening at the annual Asia PET packaging summit – organized by Centre for Management Technology (CMT). On 30th October, discussions start off with an analysis of ‘Global/Asia’s PET & RPET Market’ by Reliance Industries, followed by an Assessment of the ‘PX & MEG Markets’ by Nexant. Day 1 also features Indorama’s session on ‘PET sustainability and recycling initiatives’.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

Simpler VAT refunds urged to boost sales
The government should let private operators run downtown VAT refund booths as part of the push to develop Thailand as a shopper’s paradise, says the head of the Thai Retailers Association (TRA).
— Bangkok Post

UNWTO: China and Thailand top league
Both China and Thailand gained slots in the top-10 for arrivals, while Thailand appeared in the top revenue earners list in fifth place.
— TTR Weekly

PM orders Big Data collected on rice market
The Prime Minister has ordered Big Data on rice demand, be collected more accurately so as to calculate production, while the National Rice Policy and Planning Commission has approved an increase in the quota of organic rice for sale to Europe to 5,000 tons.
— News Today (video)

Thai king’s yellow and blue volunteers boost his support, visibility
The “Volunteer Spirit” scheme, which officially began in 2017, has created a new army of civilians who have pledged allegiance to the king and are boosting the image of Vajiralongkorn ahead of his formal coronation at year-end.
— Reuters (video)

Cabinet OKs use of state welfare card for cash withdrawals
The Cabinet has resolved to allow holders of the state welfare card to withdraw the 100 or 200 baht monthly credit in cash from now until the end of the year.
— NNT

Thai demand offers scope for S Korean
THE THAI market has enough demand side support for South Korean robotics and automation firms to invest in the country thanks to Thailand’s 4.0 policy, Kim Jongheon, director of the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement (KIRIA), said yesterday.
— The Nation

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 September 5 added by John Le Fevre on September 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.