Thailand morning news for September 4

Thailand morning news for September 4
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Thailand morning news

Karen activist ‘Billy’ killed and incinerated in oil drum – DSI
Karen human rights defender Polajee “Billy” Rakchongcharoen was killed and his body stuffed into and burned in a 200-litre oil drum, which was later dumped into a river in Kaeng…
— Thai PBS News

Ninth turtle succumbs to pollution in Sattahip this past week
Another dead turtle washed up on a Sattahip beach, bringing this week’s total to nine. Sea Turtle Hospital Veterinarian Kirin Sorapipatcharoen confirmed after autopsy the turtle died from consuming plastic garbage, most likely confusing it for jellyfish.
— Pattaya Mail

Paris court hands ex-Thai airline CEO 4-year jail term over 2007 crash
A French court on Tuesday sentenced the former head of a Thai budget airline to four years in jail over a 2007 crash that killed 90 people, nearly two-thirds of them foreigners.
— CNA

NESDC: Growth is slow, there is no recession yet
The government think tank National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) insists the economy experiencing slow growth, not a recession.
— Bangkok Post

More heavy rain incoming for Pattaya, Tropical Storm Kajiki affecting area
Tropical storm KAJIKI” is 80km northeast of Xekong, southern Laos or latitude 16.1 degrees north, longitude 107.2 degrees east. With its maximum sustained winds of 65 km/hr, the storm was moving south-southwest slowly.
— The Pattaya News

Police arrest suspected bomb maker
Authorities have arrested the suspected bomb-maker responsible for the explosives used in a series of blasts in Bangkok last month as the city hosted a major regional summit, police said on Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post

Flood-hit Northeast braces for more rain
Rescue teams are working around the clock to drain water in flood-stricken towns across the top half of the country as a new storm moves in, bringing more rain to the region.
— Bangkok Post

Prayut to attend debate on oath-taking controversy on Sept 18
The government has agreed to hear the debate proposed by the opposition on the oath-taking controversy that has hounded Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for over six weeks on September 18, Energy Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong said on Tuesday.
— Thai PBS News

Thailand authorities say bone found in abandoned oil drum belongs to Karen land rights activist Pholachi ‘Billy’ Rakchongcharoen
A skull fragment found in a scorched oil drum dumped in a reservoir in Thailand belongs to a prominent ethnic minority rights activist who went missing in 2014, Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) said on Tuesday.
— Firstpost

MPs want more time to grill PM
The opposition cried foul on Tuesday over the cabinet’s decision to leave the general debate on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s oath-taking blunder until the last day of the current parliamentary session on Sept 18.
— Bangkok Post

Second terminal project at Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi airport confirmed
Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha confirmed on Tuesday a second passengers terminal will be built at Suvarnabhumi international airport.
— Xinhuanet

Thailand urged to act on disappearances
International groups are calling for Thailand to enforce a law against the torture and involuntary disappearance of human rights advocates, protestors and suspects in national security cases after a UN Working Group published details of 86 outstanding incidents.
— Bangkok Post

National park chief says officials implicated in Billy’s murder won’t be protected
Chief of the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department has given an assurance that he will not protect any of his officials if they are implicated in the kidnapping and murder of Karen human rights defender Polajee “Billy” Rakchongcharoen.
— Thai PBS News

Porlajee ‘was murdered’
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is identifying suspects after concluding that missing Karen rights activist Porlajee “Billy” Rakchongcharoen was murdered, following the discovery of a burnt piece of his skull in the reservoir of Kaeng Krachan dam in Phetchaburi province.
— Bangkok Post

Plans to streamline tourism handout
The Comptroller-General’s Department plans to streamline the registration process to attract merchants to participate in the 1,000-baht cash giveaway as well as the 15% rebate for travel to destinations outside home provinces as the participation level is below 50%.
— Bangkok Post

Prosecutors to tell Thanathorn on October 1st if he faces criminal proceedings over Facebook show
Future Forward leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit and two members of the opposition party will be told on the first day of October if they are to face criminal charges in court over a Facebook live broadcast on June 26th last year.
— Thai Examiner.com

Gulf strengthens regional base with Vietnam, Laos plants
SET-listed Gulf Energy Development Plc plans to develop power plants in Vietnam and Laos to strengthen its business presence in Indochina.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand eyes to boost border trade with Malaysia
The government of Thailand is making efforts to remove hurdles to cross-border trade with Malaysia as the Thai Commerce Ministry will host a business matching event for enterprises of the two countries next month to boost bilateral trade, local media reported.
— Vietnamplus

Thai people earn more in 2nd quarter: report
Thai people have earned more incomes in the second quarter of this year, reported the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council on Monday.
— Xinhuanet

TAI pushes 19 measures for EV progress
The Thailand Automotive Institute (TAI) has suggested 19 measures for the Industry Ministry to promote the government’s electric vehicle (EV) scheme as it is concerned the country will lose competitive advantage against Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.
— Bangkok Post

NBTC mulls payment reprieve following 5G spectrum auctions
The telecom regulator is considering allowing a three-year grace period for licence payments for the upcoming auction on a series of spectrum ranges meant for 5G development to attract them to invest in network infrastructure.
— Bangkok Post

MPs petition against domestic abuse law
The government is facing its next time bomb after the opposition petitioned the Constitutional Court, challenging the status of the emergency decree the cabinet has passed in connection with criminal investigations into domestic violence cases.
— Bangkok Post

SIMTec launched to develop labor skills to accommodate EEC
Fourteen state enterprises and 18 foreign companies have jointly established the Sumipol Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SimTec) in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), as part of the government’s effort to prepare for the infrastructure to support investment in high-tech industries in the EEC.
— NBT World (video)

10 firms seek to capitalise on BX closure
Bitcoin Co Ltd’s recent closure announcement is unlikely to have a negative effect on Thailand’s digital asset industry because there are about 10 other companies applying to become authorised digital asset exchanges, says the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
— Bangkok Post

ERC looks into free rural electricity
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is considering offering free electricity to local communities and villages around power plants nationwide, in line with an assignment from Energy Minister Sontirat Sontijarawong.
— Bangkok Post

Chiang Mai steps up efforts to woo growing Muslim travel market
Thailand tourism players are priming Chiang Mai to become a halal-friendly destination by investing in improved services and halal tourism infrastructure to cater to the rapidly-growing segment of Muslim travellers.
— TTG Asia

Local polls likely early next year, says Anupong
Local elections will likely be held early next year to fill the about 100,000 positions left vacant after the May 22, 2014 military coup, Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paojinda said yesterday.
— Bangkok Post

Thai firm to expand power plants to VN
Besides Việt Nam, Gulf also wants to develop a power plant in Laos.
— Viet Nam News

Senate endorses state attorney
The chief of the Department of Special Litigation under the Office of the Attorney-General has won the Senate’s endorsement as the new attorney-general.
— Bangkok Post

Digital Ministry to introduce anti fake news LINE account
The Minister of a Digital Economy and Society has held discussions with LINE Thailand about setting up an official account on the LINE chat platform in order to address fake news.
— NBT World (video)

Agriculture minister to propose guaranteed rubber prices
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has revealed it will propose to the cabinet plans to guarantee the prices of rubber products and assist the 1.4 million rubber farmers who have suffered revenue losses during the last five years due to declining rubber prices.
— NBT World (video)

Employee help fund ‘still healthy’
A senior labour official has dismissed concerns that the government’s employee compensation fund is running out of money to provide financial aid following a spike in unemployment.
— Bangkok Post

Fund management in Thailand
Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Capital Market Supervisory Board (CMSB), a supervisory authority within the SEC organisational structure, are the government agencies that have the authority to regulate fund management in Thailand.
— Lexology

Toyota plugs into hybrid vehicle battery recycling in Thailand
Toyota Motor Corp. has started recycling hybrid vehicle batteries in Thailand, aiming to establish a sustainable scheme for the key power source of eco-friendly cars and to cut costs.
— The Japan Times

Terminal 2 ‘must proceed’
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha insists that construction of Terminal 2 at Suvarnabhumi airport must go ahead despite an ongoing dispute over its location.
— Bangkok Post

Dual pricing at hospitals to become legal September 29
Dual-pricing isn’t just for national parks, museums and amusement parks anymore. Thai public hospitals can now legally charge foreign nationals higher rates for services under new regulations published Friday. More than dual-pricing, the new regs set four tiers of rates that can be charged based on a patient’s visa status. …
— The Pattaya News

Thailand, Myanmar expand transboundary cooperation
Thailand and Myanmar on Tuesday agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation on transnational issues, including drug smuggling, the repatriation of Myanmar refugees, and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU).
— Bangkok Post

Rail regulator weighs off-peak discounts
The Department of Rail Transport is considering electric train discounts during off-peak hours on certain routes to boost the number of passengers by about 10%.
— Bangkok Post

Two Fishermen Charged for Killing Dolphins for Jerky
Two fishermen were charged on Monday for illegal fishing after a video of them catching several dolphins in a fishing trawl sparked online outrage.
— Khaosod English

The reach and liabilities of the Personal Data Protection Act
Earlier this year, Thailand enacted its Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), which was published in the Government Gazette on 27 May 2019.
— Bangkok Post

Abbot Raped Teen for Five Years, Refuses to Exit Monkhood
An abbot who confessed to serially raping a teenager over a period of five years until she fell pregnant is refusing to leave the monkhood as of Tuesday.
— Khaosod English

One Stop Shop Labour Permits
The Thai government has announced a brand new streamlined system for manual workers from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos seeking employment in Thailand.
— Pattaya Mail

Warrants out for gold shop heist suspects
SONGKHLA: The Na Thawi provincial court has approved arrest warrants for six suspects allegedly involved in a 49.6-million-baht gold shop heist in the district on Aug 24.
— Bangkok Post

Rail Dept. mulls 40% off-peak discount for Blue & Purple lines and Airport Link
The newly-established Rail Department will propose that the Transport Ministry consider a reduction in electric train fares of up to 40% during off-peak hours, from 10 am to 4 pm.
— Thai PBS News

Thai Idol Docufilm ‘Girls Don’t Cry’ Wins German Prize
A documentary about Thailand’s premier idol girl group won best in its category at the Soundtrack Cologne film fest, the film’s director announced Tuesday.
— Khaosod English

US promotes free and open Indo-Pacific at naval exercise
A senior U.S. naval officer has underlined Washington’s commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific as the United States launched its first joint naval exercise with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
— Pattaya Mail

The problems with Phuket’s lifeguarding, in plain sight
After viewing the news and photos today of yet another body retrieval from Phuket’s ocean waters, this latest is unfortunately one in a long-line of such grisly episodes, for as many years as I can remember.
— The Thaiger

Massage parlour busted in Pattaya providing sexual services and underage staff
Pattaya Mail Police have raided the Thong Dang Thai traditional massage parlour on Central Road, Pattaya. They allege that staff were offering sexual services to customers whilst employing underage girls.
— The Thaiger

Large heroin bust announced in Bangkok
The deputy national police has announced the arrest of two suspects in two large drug seizures. Heroin weighing 100 kilograms, plus one and a half kilograms of cocaine were seized.
— The Thaiger

Thailand, South Korea Sign Cooperation Agreements, MOUs
Thailand and South Korea on Monday signed several agreements in varied aspects of bilateral cooperation. At Government House, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and the visiting South Korean President Moon Jae-in witnessed the signing of the cooperation agreements between the two governments.
— Khaosod English

AirAsia X orders 42 new long-haul Airbus jets
Bernama AirAsia X, the long-haul part of the AirAsia Group, has now finalised a major order with Airbus for 12 more A330-900 and 30 A321XLR aircraft.
— The Thaiger

Three Russians arrested over alleged property fraud in Pattaya
Chonburi police have arrested three Russians in the car park of the Ocean Portofino Condo, next to Ocean Marina, in Na Jomtien, south of Pattaya yesterday.
— The Thaiger

Mae Hong Son school inundated by flooding in Thailand’s north
The clean up is continuing today at a school for hilltribe children in Mae Hong Son’s Mae Sariang district in far north Thailand was hit by mountain runoff and floodwaters from last week’s heavy rain.
— The Thaiger

Third Bangkok Bombing Suspect Arrested
Another suspect has been arrested in connection to bomb attacks that rocked the capital on Aug. 2. Muhammad Ilham Saeed, 28, was flown from a detention center in the Deep South to Bangkok for further interrogation on Monday, after he was arrested at a border checkpoint in Narathiwat on Aug. 5.
— Khaosod English

Thai police get tough on drivers at pedestrian crosswalks in Pattaya
Police in Pattaya have launched a campaign aimed at encouraging pedestrians to use crosswalks, and fining motorists who don’t stop at them.
— The Thaiger

Pet leopard not a hit with neighbours in Chonburi, Thailand
A couple in Chonburi, eastern Thailand, have not ingratiated themselves with neighbours after it was revealed they’re keeping a pet leopard in their home.
— The Thaiger

 

 

Feature photo Central Thailand Mission 

This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on International Day of Charity, September 5.

 

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).

 

About Thailand morning news.

Thailand morning news roundup is the most comprehensive hand-curated selection of Thailand English language news headlines published. Each weekday we scour hundreds of local and international news sites and websites to find the most recent Thailand English language news today.

We filter our the dull, the boring, the repetitive, and the click-bait and package all of the Thailand daily news that you need to know to start your day into an easy to read, time saving format of Thailand news headlines and first paragraphs before 7.15am Bangkok time.

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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.

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