Thailand morning news for May 13

CCSA worries that relaxed measures may cause 2nd wave of infection
The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration or CCSA has admitted that there are concerns about the possibility of a second wave of a COVID-19 viral outbreak.
— NNT

PM Squashes Official’s Speculation on Lifting Virus Decree
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said Tuesday the Emergency Decree may or may not be extended beyond the end of May, depending on the coronavirus situations.
— Khaosod English

Single-Digit Count in New Virus Cases for 8th Day
Thailand reported two new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, a single-digit increase for the eighth consecutive day.
— Khaosod English

Social Development and Human Security Ministry ready to help unregistered communities
People in Bangkok communities, whose jobs and incomes have been affected by the COVID-19 situation, but have yet to register with the government, are advised to contact the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security for immediate assistance.
— NNT

ThaiHealth promotes New Normal as way to prevent new COVID-19 outbreak
Despite new COVID-19 cases being reported in only a single digit each day, the Department of Disease Control is still encouraging the general public to protect themselves by wearing a face mask and washing their hands frequently, while the Thai Health Promotion Foundation has launched New Normal guidelines for a coronavirus-free city.
— NNT

11 Provinces affected by Summer Storms
Summer storms have affected many parts of the country. Agricultural plots and residences are among the most damaged.
— NNT

Authority surveys allowed activities due to relaxed measures in Samut Sakhon and Sisaket
Before beginning the second phase relaxation of COVID-19 measures, provincial authorities have sent officials to survey activities permitted in the first phase.
— NNT

PM insists THAI adheres to a viable rehabilitation plan
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said today that the only way for Thai Airways International (THAI) to survive its financial crisis is to enter and stick to an effective rehabilitation program, which will require the full cooperation of its management and staff.
— Thai PBS News

PM calls scrambling for donations at food banks “unacceptable”
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said today that people scrambling for donated items at food banks must stop, describing it as totally unacceptable.
— Thai PBS News

The end of the annual crop-burning season – Chiang Mai gets some fresh air
As the annual crop season in north Thailand comes to an end the only good side-effect of the whole Covid-19 outbreak is a drop in the number of fires and plantation burning activity in the past few months.
— The Thaiger

Thai industry defends government alcohol ban retraction as panic-buying fuels fears of new COVID-19 infections
Thailand’s retraction of a nationwide blanket ban on alcohol sales, which led to panic-buying and fears of a fresh wave of COVID-19 infections, has been defended by industry leaders who claim alcohol and social gatherings don’t necessarily go hand-in-hand.
— Food navigator-asia

Thai Government addresses criticism alleging moving too slowly to reopen businesses, says concerned of second wave of Covid-19
The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration or CCSA has admitted that there are concerns about the possibility of a second wave of a COVID-19 viral outbreak.
— The Pattaya News

PM says THAI plan not yet on cabinet agenda
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha says the rehabilitation plan of the loss-ridden Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) has yet to be completed and forwarded to the cabinet.
— Bangkok Post

Thai cabinet approves $12.5 bln spending plan to help virus-hit economy
Thailand’s cabinet approved on Tuesday a plan to spend 400 billion baht ($12.45 billion) to create jobs and strengthen southeast Asia’s second-largest economy, which appears headed for recession because of the coronavirus pandemic.
— Reuters

NSC set to mull lifting emergency in 2 weeks
The National Security Council (NSC) will decide whether to prolong the country’s state of emergency in two weeks’ time, secretary-general Somsak Roongsita said on Monday.
— Bangkok Post

Thai PM orders authorities to dig more wells to tackle drought
The Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the authorities to give aid to those suffering because of the drought, stressing the need to take a more proactive approach.
— Pattaya Mail

Blood bank asks donors to self-assess risks before giving blood
The National Blood Center is now asking donors to perform a self-evaluation on their health, before donating blood, in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
— Newsline (video)

Thai national parks to close for 3 months of regeneration
The Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment is aiming to propose a three month closure every year of national parks, to allow nature to regenerate itself.
— Pattaya Mail

Flash flood hits Lampang village
A village in Hang Chat district was hit by a flash flood late on Monday night after heavy rain fell on nearby Doi Khun Tan National Park.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand’s health safety measures put ahead of social, economic ones: PM
Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha reconfirmed on Tuesday health safety measures will be continually given higher priorities in face of the global pandemic than social and economic ones.
— Xinhuanet

Siriraj nod for trials of virus drug
Siriraj Hospital is gearing up to hold clinical trials of chloroquine, a medicine used to combat malaria for seven decades, after saying it shows promise in treating patients with Covid-19.
— Bangkok Post

Government to launch several COVID-19 assistance package for farmers
The Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the government will soon launch a crop price guarantee scheme, marking this year’s Royal Ploughing Ceremony Day.
— Newsline (video)

Repatriation of Thais needs ramping up
In recent weeks, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has accelerated efforts to bring Thai citizens stranded overseas back home.
— Bangkok Post

No Justice 10 Years After Thailand’s ‘Red Shirt’ Crackdown
On the evening of May 10, activists in Bangkok used laser projectors to display the message “Searching for the Truth” onto walls of many downtown buildings.
— Human Rights Watch (media release)

Office market remains robust
Despite work-from-home policies challenging demand, the office market will continue to be robust and attract overseas investment if Thailand can contain the outbreak after reopening, says property consultant Colliers International Thailand.
— Bangkok Post

Over 10,000 Thais return home from neighboring countries
Over 10,000 Thai nationals have returned home so far from neighboring countries and been immediately put into quarantine, a government official said on Tuesday.
— Xinhuanet

Disaster dept gauges storm aftermath
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation is going to survey the damage caused by a tropical storm that hit seven provinces over the weekend.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand Asks Billionaires to Help Kickstart Stagnant Economy
Thailand’s billionaires have been told it’s their civic duty to fight the Covid-19 economic crash, which threatens to exacerbate a climb in poverty over recent years.
— Bloomberg

Thailand: Family, Rights Group Seek Justice for Deadly 2010 Crackdown
Phayaw Akkamad has spent the past decade seeking justice for her daughter, one of six people killed by sniper fire in Bangkok during one of Thailand’s bloodiest military crackdowns on pro-democracy demonstrators.
— Benar News

Union calls for equal recognition for healthcare workers
The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) workers union is calling on the state to redesignate about 150,000 temporary medical employees nationwide as permanent staff in recognition of their hard work battling the Covid-19 pandemic.
— Bangkok Post

Government issues funding to aid agriculturalists
With much of the first lot of financial aid having reached employees and freelancers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the government is continuing its scheme to reach agriculturalists.
— Newsline (video)

‘Blue Flag’ lorries to hit city streets
The Commerce Ministry will begin the third phase of its low-priced consumer goods distribution programme on Wednesday, in which 300 lorries laden with goods for purchase will be dispatched to communities in Bangkok and its surrounding provinces.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand Mobile Expo moved to July
The organiser of Thailand Mobile Expo says the country’s flagship smartphone trade show will be postponed from June to July because of the pandemic.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand to export ‘Butterfly Pea’ to Indonesia for 1st time
Thailand will be able to export dried butterfly pea flowers to Indonesia within this month after the two countries made an agreement on phytosanitary guidelines.
— Pattaya Mail

Deaf community hit by pandemic
The new coronavirus pandemic is continuing to wreak havoc on people from all walks of life.
— Bangkok Post

Businesses gear up for June boost
More activities and medium-sized businesses which have been temporarily halted or closed since late March will be allowed to resume next month, as the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) mulls a further easing of government-imposed restrictions ordered to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus disease.
— The Phuket News

SME debt scheme hampers loan access
The troubled debt restructuring (TDR) scheme offered to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) was affected by subpar economic growth, a stumbling block for many firms in accessing additional lending as well as the central bank’s sponsored soft loans, says the head of the National Credit Bureau (NCB).
— Bangkok Post

Prayut lashes out at pantry raiders for abusing goodwill
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has condemned those who emptied “pantries of sharing” and abused the public’s goodwill, saying it must not be allowed to happen again.
— Bangkok Post

Udon low-income earners get their pawned tools redeemed
Some low-income earners in this northeastern province who pawned their work tools for emergency cash have got their items back for free — thanks to a redemption project initiated by governor Nirat Pongsithithaworn.
— Bangkok Post

Tourist Arrivals to Thailand May Plunge by Two-Thirds
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) on Monday released its latest forecast, indicating that the number of foreign tourists may plunge by almost two-thirds to 14 million this year, the lowest level in 14 years as COVID-19 pandemic hits global travel.
— Khaosod English

Thais in Cambodia slow to return
Since the opening of border crossings allowing Thai nationals to return from neighbouring countries, only 216 Thai nationals have returned across the Thailand-Cambodia border in Sa Kaeo, a small number compared to the number of Thai nationals currently in Cambodia.
— NNT

Cabinet names 4th December Day of Unity
The Cabinet has named 4th December of every year, the Day of Unity, in line with the royal initiative of His Majesty the late King Rama IX.
— NNT

Police probe projection of political messages on 10th anniversary of end of red-shirt protests
The Royal Thai Police have been asked, by the Ministry of Defence, to investigate the use of a laser to project a political message, on several government buildings and public places Sunday night, marking the anniversary of the military crackdown on red-shirt protesters on May 10th, 2010.
— Thai PBS News

Hungry monkey caught after stealing local’s food in Banglamung
A hungry and mischievous macaque, a type of monkey, has been caught after stealing local residents food in Banglamung.
— The Pattaya News

Hotel employees petition against sudden lay-off
Twenty-eight former employees of the Wangchan Riverview Hotel in Muang district filed a petition with the Damrongtham Centre on Tuesday, complaining they were laid-off without being given any notice.
— Bangkok Post

Drunk cop ‘tries to grope’ 15-year-old girl
A police lieutenant is facing dismissal and possible criminal penalties after drunkenly asking a teenage girl if he could grope her private parts, according to his supervisor.
— Bangkok Post

Major slump in tourists expected this year
It’s not looking to good for Thailand’s tourism industry. This year will have the lowest numbers the country has seen in over a decade, and that’s assuming there’s some reopenings for international travel sometime later in the year.
— The Thaiger

Thailand rescue dog from meat trade performs on Britain’s Got Talent
A dog rescued from Thailand’s illegal meat trade brought tears to those on the TV show Britain’s Got Talent.
— The Thaiger

Thailand receives 30 million baht shipment of medical PPE from China
Today at Don Mueang International Airport General Chanchan Changmongkol, the Deputy Minister of Defense represented the Thai government in receiving medical equipment and supplies from Mr. Yang Xin, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, to aid the people of Thailand during the Covid-19 outbreak.
— The Thaiger

Lawmaker Opposes Gov’t Ban on Strikes in Pandemic
An opposition MP and former union leader said a recent government ban on labor strikes during the coronavirus pandemic is counterproductive to workers’ rights.
— Khaosod English

Thailand’s Digio raises US$4M in Series B funding round from Beacon VC, others
Digio, a Thailand-based payment technology provider, has raised US$4 million in Series B round from Beacon Venture Capital, Thai interbank payments provider PCC, and Private Equity Trust for SME Growing Together 2 with Siam Alpha Equity (SAE) as Trust Advisor, to accelerate product and services development.
— e27

Former Future Forwarders take credit for ‘Seek the Truth’ campaign, say more is on the way
After police said they would hunt down those behind a campaign to light landmarks commemorating 2010’s street protests and violence, former members of a defunct political party stepped forward to take credit.
— Coconuts Thailand

MNRE to nominate Ranong mangrove forest area for “natural world heritage” status
May 10 has been declared National Mangrove Forest Day and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) has been preparing to nominate Ranong’s mangrove forest area natural world heritage status.
— NNT

Intoxicated Thai man upset about lack of government financial aid climbs power pole in Pattaya to protest
An intoxicated 59 year old Thai man climbed a power pole this morning in Pattaya to protest the lack of government financial aid given to him during the current Covid19 Coronavirus situation in Thailand.
— The Pattaya News

Thanathorn’s group warned over laser messages
Police and soldiers warn the Progressive Movement of prosecution for its building projections, with messages related to the political demonstration crackdown in 2010.
— Bangkok Post

Checkpoint-tech introduced at the Phuket road entry point
Today 10 million baht was donated to the Tha Chatchai checkpoint (at the northern road entry on the island) for a new project called “Phuket Smart Check Point”.
— The Thaiger

Naked man frightens off woman, steals her motorcycle
A naked man seized a motorcycle from a shocked woman at an intersection in Sichon district on Sunday and rode off on it, and police finally found him at a nearby market on Tuesday – still without clothes.
— Bangkok Post

Instant noodle exports increase as neighbouring countries stock up
Craving noodles? Seems like many people stuck at home want the cheap and quick meal. Preparation is quick, the price is low, there’s flavours aplenty and they’re easy to find.
— The Thaiger

6 arrests after attack on Pattaya shop owner and family for refusing to sell alcohol – VIDEO
Six curfew-breakers have been arrested for allegedly attacking a Pattaya shop owner and his family, as well as damage to their business and car, on Saturday night.
— The Thaiger

Phuket bus driver shares government quarantine facility with coffin
A bus driver who left Phuket to return to his home city of Trang was left feeling a little, well, uneasy when he realised he would be sharing his government quarantine facilities with a coffin.
— The Thaiger

Slump pushes spreads on risky bonds to decade-high
Thailand’s tourist-dependent economy is slowly re-opening but the dent from the coronavirus outbreak is so large that weaker borrowers are facing a tough time in the credit market.
— Bangkok Post

“Pantry of Sharing” campaign unlocks Thais’ spirit of generosity
The Pantry of Sharing initiative has spurred Thais’ willingness to help out those in need. It remains to be seen, though, whether this new spirit of giving will last amid reports that some people are exploiting the generosity of those who stock the pantries with food donations.
— Thai PBS News

Feature photo ILO Asia-Pacific
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, May 17

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).

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About Thailand morning news.

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Thailand morning news for May 13 added by John Le Fevre on May 13, 2020
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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.