Thailand morning news for July 24, 2019

Calls for suspension of EEC city plan
A group of residents is urging Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to suspend a city plan being mulled for development of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project, saying it lacks local input.
— Bangkok Post

Former DPM Suthep found at fault over alleged collusion in police station project
Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission has faulted former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban, former acting national police chief Pol Gen Pateep Tanprasert and several others for alleged collusion concerning the construction of 396 police stations nationwide, a project worth an estimated 5.8 billion baht.
— Thai PBS News

Report from Ministry of Tourism that tourism is up disputed by different government Ministry, accused of spin doctoring
Reports from the government that Thai tourism is up were disputed today by another government branch, showing that the true picture of tourism is, at best, murky.
— The Pattaya News

Businessman fights back against 29 officials
A businessman has asked Crime Suppression Division police to take action against 29 soldiers, police and local officials for a wide range of charges, including false charges of providing illegal money lending services.
— Bangkok Post

Bids in for SRT’s B11.4bn double-track rail project
Four groups of investors and one company on Tuesday submitted bids to supply train signalling and communications equipment for the first phase of the double-track rail upgrade project, worth 11.4 billion baht, according to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).
— Bangkok Post

AoT aims to double cargo-handling cash
Airports of Thailand (AoT) plans to set up a sister company to operate its centre for pre-export agricultural product inspection, in an effort to attract more customers in China, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam to help double its annual income from cargo-handling services.
— Bangkok Post

OPM now accepts Consumer Organization Establishment Applications
The Office of the Prime Minister has started accepting applications from individuals and agencies wanting to form “consumer organizations” to help protect and defend consumer rights.
— NBT World (video)

Chuan warns MPs against unruly conduct during the parliamentary debate on government policy statement
Members of parliament have been warned by the parliament’s president to be disciplined and to refrain from unruly behavior during the two-day debate on the government policy statement, which begins on Thursday, saying that they will be watched and judged by the people.
— Thai PBS News

Chinese enterprise completes detailed design of China-Thailand Railway’s 1st phase
Chinese enterprise has completed detailed engineering design of China-Thailand Railway’s 1st phase.
— Xinhuanet

70 PPRP MPs to debate government policies
The Palang Pracharath Party has organized a seminar in Wang Nam Kheow District of Nakhon Ratchasima Province, preparing for the upcoming policy debate in support of Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha.
— NBT World (video)

Big dams let water out to save rice crop
Water discharge from the country’s two main dams, Bhumibol and Sirikit, is being sped up in a race against time to save vast areas of recently-planted paddy rice from drying out, according to the Agriculture Ministry.
— Bangkok Post

TCEB connects MICE business all over Thailand and increases trade opportunity with Thailand’s first E-MICE marketplace “Thai MICE Connect”
Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) ventures to drive MICE industry 4.0 in Thailand with the country’s first E-MICE marketplace to give more business opportunities to MICE entrepreneurs through the pioneer project “Thai MICE Connect” into 3 regions; the central, the south and the northeast regions of Thailand in 2019.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

Circular living: a movement to drive sustainability
The National Geographic together with PTT Global Chemical PLC recently hosted the Circular Living Symposium to highlight the importance of shaping a sustainable world through optimizing the use of natural resources and reducing waste generation.
— NBT World (video)

Deadline set for B41m payment in Praewa case
The four defendants in the 2010 tollway crash legal case must pay compensation of about 41 million baht by Aug 28 to the 25 people affected by the tragedy, which killed nine people and injured four others, the Justice Ministry said yesterday.
— Bangkok Post

Senators hold seminar ahead of policy statement delivery
Senators have attended a seminar preparing for the government’s policy debate, which will be delivered before parliament on July 25th and 26th.
— NBT World (video)

Thailand to Host AMM and Other Related Meetings
As Chairman of ASEAN in 2019, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand will host the 52nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (52nd AMM), the Post Ministerial Conferences (PMCs), and related meetings from July 29th to August 3rd in Bangkok.
— NBT World (video)

East, South still face heavy rain
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has instructed personnel in eight provinces in the eastern and southern regions prepare for possible downpours this week, while urging to keep the central administration informed on the situation.
— NBT World (video)

Public Health Minister visits Loei to follow up on Dengue Fever
The Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Health has visited the northeastern province of Loei to assess the dengue fever situation.
— NBT World (video)

Energy Minister holds meeting to steer work
The Minister of Energy has convened a meeting to discuss with its officials upcoming projects and policy, expressing his confidence in seeing concrete results being made in the near future.
— NBT World (video)

IMF urges expansionary policy for Thailand
An IMF delegation has recommended Thai policymakers use an expansionary policy mix to boost domestic demand while the economy stutters, according to preliminary findings of the agency’s team after an annual visit to Thailand.
— Bangkok Post

Draft policy statement has 24 policies
The government’s draft policy statement consists of 12 long-term policies and 12 urgent policies.
— NBT World (video)

Four hurt in Pattani protection unit attack
PATTANI: Armed men of unknown affiliation have attacked a tambon protection unit in Muang district of this southern province.
— Bangkok Post

Future Forward to push for scrapping of Charter section 279 and junta-appointed Senate
The Future Forward party has vowed to press ahead with its plan to collect more than 100 signatures of fellow MPs to support its motion to amend the Constitution, with the aim of scrapping all the NCPO’s orders and doing away with the junta-appointed Senate.
— Thai PBS News

Deadline set for B41m payment in Praewa case
Four defendants in the Praewa tollway crash in 2010 are to pay 41 million baht in damages and interest to 25 plaintiffs by Aug 28, Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said on Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post

Fake goods valued at 11 million baht go up in smoke in Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai Province’s Customs Department in Mae Sai has incinerated illegal and fake items valued at over 11 million baht.
— The Thaiger

Suthep to face corruption charges in police station case
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has found grounds to charge former protest leader and ex-deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban and others in a case involving alleged irregularities in a police station construction project, a source at the anti-graft agency said.
— Bangkok Post

Thai Government to focus on EEC projects to propel economy
PM Prayut Chan-o-cha will unveil his new government’s policy statement in Parliament when it sits formally on Thursday.
— The Thaiger

Thai Airways To Charge Extra For More Legroom
Thai Airways will begin charging extra for front row seats starting Monday, citing the need to “increase revenue.”
— Khaosod English

Draft EEC town plan complete
A full draft of the new town plan for the government’s flagship Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) is scheduled to go before the EEC Policy Committee for approval early next month.
— Bangkok Post

Pheu Thai launches ‘Pheu Thai Plus’ group
The opposition Pheu Thai Party has launched a new political group, Pheu Thai Plus, which it says brings members of three generations together to work together for the public good.
— Bangkok Post

Facebook Blocks Historian’s Monarchy Post
Facebook is blocking access to a post about the Thai Royal Family written by an exiled monarchy critic, it emerged earlier this week.
— Khaosod English

EC busy preparing local govt polls regulations
The Election Commission is speeding up preparation of regulations for local government elections, expected to begin in September.
— Bangkok Post

#DroughtWatch: Isaan Blisters, Mekhong Evaporates, As Planes Try to Make It Rain
Boats crossing the Mekhong from Pak Chom district to Vientiane have been halted, as the once-mighty river has evaporated to rocky puddles.
— Khaosod English

Queen Mother, HM Queen Sirikit, recovering in Chulalongkorn Hospital Bangkok
Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, has been admitted to the Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok after developing a fever and persistent cough.
— The Thaiger

Thailand’s aCommerce raises US$10M ahead of its 2020 IPO plans
A Bangkok-based startup that helps to establish product sales of brands, has announced that it has raised more than US$10 million in fresh funding from existing investors, including KKR & Co, as reported by Bloomberg.
— e27

IMF urges Thailand to adopt fiscal reforms, monetary easing to support growth
Thailand should adopt an expansionary policy mix, including fiscal reforms and monetary easing to help support growth, which has slowed amid rising global trade tensions, the International Monetary Fund said on Monday.
— Bangkok Post

Model Faces Jail Time for Posting Striptease in Line Group
Net idol and pretty promotional model faces up to five years in prison for allegedly posting revealing videos and photos of herself in a paid Line group, police said on Tuesday.
— Khaosod English

Arab Tourists arrested for racing motorbikes in South Pattaya
After midnight, July 23, 2019, Pattaya Police and Traffic Police descended on Soi Yensabai near Walking Street and Soi Vc in Pattaya.
— The Pattaya News

Chiang Mai airport threatens to sue Grab car driver
Chiang Mai airport officials are denying a Grab car driver’s claims that officials attacked him and say counter-charges will be filed.
— The Thaiger

Foreigner found dead inside deserted college building
A man believed to be a foreigner was found dead with a plastic bag over his head inside a deserted building on the extensive grounds of an agricultural college in this northeastern province on Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post

Royal barge transported to Naval Dockyard Department
The Royal Thai Navy has transported the Suphannahong Royal Barge to the Thonburi Naval Dockyard in preparation for the royal barge procession later this year.
— Pattaya Mail

Health dept warns about penis enlargement shots
The Department of Health Service Support has warned men of the perils of unapproved injections intended to enlarge their penis, saying it could lead to severe infection and even cancer.
— Bangkok Post

Malaysian demand for cheap labour fuels Thai human trafficking spike
Malaysia too demands cheap labour, causing a rise in illegal trade.
— FMT News

Number of human trafficking victims in Thailand at record high following demand for cheap labour in Malaysia
The number of human trafficking victims rescued in Thailand is set to hit a record high this year, according to government data, with demand for cheap labour in neighbouring Malaysia causing a jump in the illegal trade.
— Malay Mail

Feature photo Thai PBS

This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on air quality throughout Asean.

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. Due to The Nation‘s habit of hijacking urls and diverting them to promotion pages we no longer include it in our clippings.

Thailand morning news for July 24 added by John Le Fevre on July 24, 2019
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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.