Anti-Junta bloc announces coalition with at least 255 seats
by Kas Chanwanpen The Pheu Thai Party’s de facto leader Sudarat Keyuraphan has announced this morning that an ‘anti-junta’ bloc had mustered at least 255 MPs from seven parties to form a coalition government.
— The Thaiger
Phalang Pracharath Insists on Leading Coalition, Won’t Name Allies
A party backing junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha said Wednesday it would have enough support from other parties to form a coalition government, though it will not disclose who they are.
— Khaosod English
Airport rail deal talks put on hold
A consortium led by Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group) has asked to put off Thursday’s talks with the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) over a high-speed rail project linking three major airports. The talks are likely to begin next Thursday.
— Bangkok Post
Provinces move to tackle water shortages nationwide
Provinces across Thailand have continued to tackle water shortages, with Khon Kaen Province’s Ubol Ratana Dam at only 26% of capacity.
— NBT World (video)
Plan to construct own trains in Northeast gathers steam
The Transport Ministry is planning to set up train assembly plants in the Northeast to ease Thailand’s heavy dependence on train imports in a move to slash government spending on new rolling stock 10-fold.
— Bangkok Post
Bodybags, rats, waste: Disaster response turns to VR for grim training
A Thai policewoman trudges through waste and ruined buildings looking for bodies – but she needs only a joystick and a virtual reality headset for the grim task, as technology comes to the aid of disaster management training.
— Channel NewsAsia
Patong announces ‘Songkran Festival on the Beach’ schedule
Patong Municipality has announced details for this year’s ‘Songkran Festival on the Beach’ in Patong which will be held at Bangla Park on April 11-13, at the end of Bangla Road. April 11 Sand pagoda forming contest Miss Songkran Beauty Contest Thai dancing shows April 12 Shows from …
— The Thaiger
Border trade grows in first two months
Thai border trade grew 0.92 percent to 219 billion baht in the first two months of 2019, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
— NBT World (video)
New Economics Party confirms coalition with Pheu Thai
New Economics Party leader Mingkwan Sangsuwan has confirmed the party’s intention to join the Pheu Thai Party in setting up a coalition government.
— Bangkok Post
Report Faults Delays in Probing Mass Graves along Malaysia-Thai Border
A decision to destroy a human trafficking camp soon after its discovery in the jungle near Malaysia’s border with Thailand and to delay for months the removal of corpses of Rohingya and Bangladeshis from mass graves hindered proper investigations, an independent inquiry alleged Wednesday.
— Benar News
Military-backed party ‘confident’ it can form government, setting stage for standoff in Thailand
The pro-military Palang Pracharat party has claimed the right to form the next Thai government, based on its early lead in the popular vote.
— Channel NewsAsia
New Zealand ‘spoiled’ ballots arrived on Saturday night
Thai Airways has confirmed the box containing ballots cast by Thai voters in New Zealand arrived in Thailand on the evening of March 23, ahead of Sunday’s election.
— Pattaya Mail
Thai, Japanese zoos to work on R&D
Thai and Japanese zoos have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on research and wildlife preservation.
— NBT World (video)
Govt panel holds meeting on water conservation plans
The Subcommittee on Water Situation Analysis has urged sectors to manage the water resources as planned.
— NNT
Why Thailand’s election looks headed for deadlock
A “democratic front” of seven parties said on Wednesday that it had the right to form Thailand’s next government because, together, the allies won a majority of lower house of parliament seats in last weekend’s inconclusive election.Sudarat Keyuraphan, Pheu Thai Party’s prime ministerial candidate (2L), Thanathorn
— Reuters
Measure with 1.349 billion baht budget for oil palm planters approved
The cabinet approved measure for oil palm planters with a 1.349 billion baht budget.
— INT
Thailand’s opposition parties form alliance, demand junta step aside
Thailand’s opposition “democratic front” of seven parties on Wednesday said it had won a majority in the lower house of parliament after a messy election, and had the right to try to form a government after five years of military rule.
— Reuters
Phuket boat operators asked to be careful during Asean ministerial visit
The Phuket Marine Office issued a notice today calling for all boat operators “to be careful” while a high-powered delegation conducts a marine life inspection tour between Ao Po Grand Marina to Rassada Pier tomorrow (Mar 28).
— The Phuket News
Armed forces alumni board revokes Thaksin’s awards
The board of Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School alumni on Wednesday resolved to withdraw Thaksin Shinawatra’s alumnus achievement awards, citing his past jail sentence.
— Bangkok Post
Pro-Junta Party Furious at Pheu Thai Coalition Bid
A party allied to junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha said Wednesday the opposition has no mandate to form a coalition pact.
— Khaosod English
Polystyrene containers ditched by Southern province
You would expect the Capital to lead the way. But this time it’s one of Thailand’s southern provinces showing the way forward with one of Thailand’s biggest disposable waste problems.
— The Thaiger
UTCC survey: Grocery store owners adjusting to competition, change in customer behaviors
A recent survey conducted by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) finds that many grocery store owners in Thailand have to adjust their operations due to new competitors and a change in consumer behaviors.
— NNT
Patong Beach sunbed operators push for more space on the sand
Less than 48 hours after the polls closed in the national election on Sunday, Patong sunbed operators have filed a formal request to extend their areas at Patong Beach, including setting up an entirely new section of sun beds along one of the busiest sections of Phuket’s most popular stretches of sand.
— The Phuket News
UTCC survey: Grocery store owners adjusting to competition, change in customer behaviors
A recent survey conducted by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) finds that many grocery store owners in Thailand have to adjust their operations due to new competitors and a change in consumer behaviors.
— NNT
Red-shirt co-leader demands complete recount of votes
Tida Tawornset, a key member of the red-shirt movement, has demanded a full recount of all votes cast during the general election to ensure public acceptance of the results, alleging irregularities during polling.
— Bangkok Post
Activist Launches Petition to Oust Election Commission
An activist on Wednesday was calling for Thais to help him relieve the Election Commission officials – via paper petition.
— Khaosod English
Bangkok Motor Show opens as Thai car sales move online
PHOTO: New Nissan all-electric LEAF, on display at the Bangkok Motor Show by Kingsley Wijayasinha “Despite the increase in sales online, including new automobiles, we’re not worried that fewer people will show up at the event to purchase vehicles.”
— The Thaiger
Royal Rainmaking Dept: Weather not conducive to artificial rainmaking
The Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation has admitted that current weather conditions are not conducive to cloud seeding, but equipment and aircraft are on standby to take advantage at a moment’s notice.
— NNT
Big C Thailand apologizes for heavily criticized raffle offering real live puppies as prizes
Big C, one of the biggest supermarket chains in Thailand, issued an apology yesterday for having hosted and promoted a raffle promising real live puppies as prizes.
— Coconuts (paywall)
Manufacturers slash fertilizer prices to help farmers
The Deputy Prime Minister and related agencies have developed policies to reduce the cost of fertilizers for farmers.
— NNT
Car makers jittery on post-poll instability
Car makers are voicing concerns over potential post-election instability and wage increases that could challenge Thailand’s automotive market, despite this year’s healthy sales projections.
— Bangkok Post
Ring road project spurs investigation
The State Audit Office (SAO) is spending a month examining a complaint from residents whose community is affected by the proposed construction of the third Western Outer Ring Road, according to SAO secretary-general Piya Luedetsakul.
— Bangkok Post
Sea turtle saved after eating fishing net and plastic off Pattaya coast
PHOTOS: Sea Turtles Conservation Centre of the Royal Thai Navy A Green Sea Turtle has been saved after eating bits of a fishing net and plastic in Pattaya last week.
— The Thaiger
US Calls for Immediate Release of Thai Election Results
The United States government released a statement Tuesday congratulating Thailand on the “long-awaited” election but urged for an “expeditious announcement” of the results.
— Khaosod English
Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam disses Pheu Thai ‘coalition’
“The final seat tally is subject to change since the commission has only announced 95 per cent of the voting results.”
— The Thaiger
Cabinet acknowledges road accident prevention, reduction plan for Songkran
The cabinet has acknowledged an integrated plan for road accident prevention and reduction during the Songkran festival this year.
— NNT
British Lance Whitmore, former Pattaya local, sentenced to 50 years for drug charges in Thailand to be sent back to UK
A British man who was sentenced to 50 years in prison in Thailand for ecstasy possession is set to be transferred to the UK to serve the remainder of his sentence.
— The Pattaya News
Politico Caught With Loaded Gun at Weapons Trial
A former Redshirt leader was arrested Wednesday after security officers found a fully loaded handgun on him inside a Bangkok court.
— Khaosod English
Election observers call still-partial Thai vote count flawed
A group of international observers criticized vote counting in Thailand’s first election since a 2014 military coup, saying Tuesday that the “tabulation and consolidation of ballots were deeply flawed” though it had no reason to believe the issues affected overall results.
— Pattaya Mail
NZ Overseas Voters Pan EC Over Voided Ballots
After overseas ballots from New Zealand for the general election were voided because of alleged “late delivery,” Thais registered to vote in the island nation vented their anger Wednesday to protest the Election Commission’s decision.
— Khaosod English
Feature photo John Le Fevre
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Thailand morning news for March 28 added by John Le Fevre on
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John Le Fevre
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.
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