Thailand English-language News for January 5

In Thailand English-language News for January 5, 2018, Newsline presenter Sandra Hanutsaha tells us about:

00:42 | Disassembly of the royal crematorium built for the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej is expected to take 90 days to complete. Decorative items will be removed and put on display at three locations, while 44 tamarind trees will be planted around Bangkok. Sanam Luang will then be renovated before being reopened to the public.

02:06 | Thailand’s Ministry of Labour (MoL) will submit an updated report on human trafficking and illegal labour to the EU at the end of this month, and to the USA on March 31. The government is hopeful that the updated report will see Thailand’s ranking in the EU and USAs trafficking in person’s (TIP) lists improve.

03:30 | Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has called on the media to report ‘constructive’ stories and on its work plan to solve problems in the country to encourage more cooperation from the public. The comments came at an event hosted at Government House for Thai media. He said he wanted the government and the media to have a ‘mutual understanding’ regarding solutions to problems in the country. He then gave unidentified and unvalued gifts to the Thai journalists

04:18 | Defence ministry spokesperson Lieutenant General Kongcheep Tantrawanit yesterday said that the latest security reform meeting had discussed methods to overhaul Thailand’s security affairs to stay abreast of the constantly changing global situation. Among areas to receive updates is the intelligence system, the security system, and the defence ministry.

05:43 | Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC), Meechai Ruchupan, said yesterday that he does not expect Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to enter politics at the general election tentatively scheduled for November this year, despite comments he made indicating the contrary on Tuesday.

Mr Ruchupan said he was unable to speculate on whether changes made to the Law on Political Parties made by the government using its omnipotent Article 44 powers will see the election delayed by up to six months as some people are speculating.

07:14 | Deputy Amnat Charoen governor Natthapong Sanguanchit has held a meeting of relevant officials to prepare for a visit by members of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) on February 13 and 14 to discuss issues affecting officials and residents.

10:37 | Deputy interior minister Suthee Makboon has reported that road accidents and fatalities during the ‘seven dangerous days’ of the New Year holidays fell. There was 58 less crashes than the year prior, with 3,841 crashes being recorded.

Four hundred and twenty-three people were killed on Thailand’s roads over the seven days, 55 fewer than the previous year, while 4,005 people were injured, 63 fewer than the previous year. Udon Thani had the highest number of road crashes at 139, while Nakhon Ratchasima recorded the most deaths at 17. Drunk driving remained the leading cause of road crashes.

12:22 | Deputy commissioner-general of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), Police General Chalermkiat Sriworakhan, has told a media briefing that no crime occurred at households participating in the ‘home watch’ programme this year, which saw some 9,000 households participate, an increase of 2,000 on last year.

13:43 | Newsline presents an interview conducted with General Navin Damrigan, deputy secretary-general to the prime minister for political affairs by Thailand Today on the change of status for Thailand from Priority Watch List (PWL) to Watch List for Intellectual Property (IP) by the United States Trade Representative (USTR).

General Damrigan said that the improved status will boost investor confident in Thailand in protecting IP rights.

16:10 | Supreme Commander General Tanchaiyan Srisuwan and his team has visited Sirindhorn Camp in Yarang district of Pattani province to deliver policy updates and to receive a briefing from the Region 4 Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC).

17:13 | Newsline takes a look at the Land Development Department of Thailand’s (LDD) soil laboratory programme that helps farmers improve soil quality.

19:53 | Myanmar’s President Htin Kyaw has called for reform of the military-drafted constitution without mentioning the on-going Rohingya crisis.

21:45 | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam has reported an 8.25 per cent increase in gross regional domestic product (GRDP) for 2017. Export turnover was valued at US$35.2 billion, while foreign investment topped $6.38 billion, with foreign remittances hitting $5.2 billion. The city will continue revising laws aimed at boosting investment and economic growth.

• and more.

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. AEC News Today publishes Thailand English-language News M-F.