Thailand English-language News For March 23, 2017

In the March 23, 2017 edition of Newsline, presenter Sandra Hanutsaha tells us about:

• The Ministry of Commerce rice committee has presented its 2017 framework for managing off-season rice to Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o cha, calling for assistance measures to rice farmers to undergo further review due to low market prices. The 2017 framework calls for paying rice millers up to Bt200 million (about US$5.772 million) in interest compensation to store up to three million tons of off-season rice. Farmers are expected to produce no more than six million tons of rice during the off-season, with the selling prices forecast to be Bt7,300 ($210) per ton.

• The Chairman of Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC), Meechai Ruchupan, is confident that the draft constitution will enhance political stability, ensure clarity in Thai laws, and reform public offices, claiming that political crisis in the country is contributed by opportunism and corruption.

• Ten out of 12 civil groups have submitted proposals on matters as wide reaching as environmental conservation and corruption to the government’s reconciliation sub-committee ahead of the April 5 deadline by which all proposals need to have been evaluated.

• The Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) has extended the deadline for the submission of suggestions and ideas to promote national reconciliation to April 5, claiming meetings already held nationwide had received numerous constructive and useful ideas.

• The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has held a meeting attended by representatives of the Meteorological Department (MD) and Royal Irrigation Department (RID) to discuss the effects of a potential water shortage during the summer season. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has been instructed to develop a drought prevention plan for the 50 districts of Bangkok.

• Thailand’s Government Public Relations Department is planing on adding additional channels to its NBT network, with the emphasis on increasing ratings and providing material with greater audience appeal. Under the reforms Government broadcasts would be limited to special announcements.

• Filippo Grandi, the 11th United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), will visit Thailand between March 27 and 30 for a meeting with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Secretary-General of the National Security Council of Thailand General Thawip Netniyom. Mr Grandi will also meet Myanmar refugees at the Mae La refugee camp in Tha Song Yang District of Tak Province in Thailand’s west.

• Thailand’s industrial confidence index fell for a second consecutive month in February, falling from 87.2 in January to 86.2. Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) president Jaruig Chuensombuti attributed the continuing decline to reduced domestic spending power as a result of economic stimulus measures introduced by the government coming to an end, and concerns over the appreciating baht. Domestic vehicle sales in February totalled 68,435, a year-on-year increase of 19.9 per cent, and 19.5 per cent increase over January. Manufacturers are expected to reduce output in April and May in line with a government request to conserve energy during the summer peak.

• and much more.

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Newsline is a daily Thailand English-language news and current affairs programme produced by the National News Bureau of Thailand (NNBT) under the Thailand Government Public Relations Department (PRD) for *NBT World, the NNBTs 24/7 English language television service delivering Thailand government news and information to the Thai, Asean, and wider Asian communities via cable and satellite. It is also available via android and iOS apps.