Thailand English-language News for March 12

In Thailand English-language News for Mach 12, 2018, Newsline presenter Cholaphansa Narula tells us about:

00:44 | Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn attended the final day of the ‘Love and Warmth at Winter’s End’ festival on Sunday, where she visited various exhibitions on the works of the late King Rama V and laid bricks before his statue.

01:42 | Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has reported that government agencies are working around the clock to bring a rabies outbreak in the northeastern provinces under control, using guidelines established by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The announcement coincides with Nan Province declaring Yod sub-district a quarantine zone after a dead dog tested positive for rabies. Local authorities have ramped up campaigns to educate the public about the disease.

03:01 | Government spokesperson, Lieutenant General Sunsern Kaewkumnerd, said on Sunday that Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha had expressed his appreciation to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and the Department of Pollution Control (DPC) over their efforts in helping to reverse a court ruling which ordered the government pay Bt9.6 billion (about US$306.513 million) in compensation to contractors of the corruption-plagued and failed Klong Dan wastewater treatment plant.

The Central Administrative Court (CAC) reversed the earlier court’s verdict based on new evidence presented by the MoF and the DPC. The private companies involved have 30 days to appeal the ruling, he said.

04:20 | Government spokesperson Lieutenant General Sunsern Kaewkumnerd yesterday responded to public concern over the terms of leases provided to foreign companies working in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), saying only commercial and industrial properties are eligible for leases, with the initial period of between 35 and 50 years. The lessee and the lessor may agree to extend the lease for not more than an additional 50 years.

Lieutenant General Kaewkumnerd said the land always remained the property of the owner, and that only those working in the ten targeted fields of growth for the EEC will be granted lease contracts.

05:47 | Deputy Prime Minister for Legal Affairs, Dr Wissanu Krea-Ngam, said yesterday that the government is considering establishing a law reform body for sustainable development of Thai legislation, adding that some laws currently in use in Thailand were drafted 600 years ago and have not been adjusted since.

Dr Wissanu said a number of current Thailand laws are not on par with international treaties and agreements, while some appear to contradict the rule of law. No fewer than new 300 laws have been promulgated over the past three years and ten months of the current administration, he said.

06:57 | Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), Police General Chakthip Chaijinda, yesterday expressed confidence in the ability of Police General Srivara Rangsibrahmanakul to manage the illegal wildlife hunting case involving president of Italian-Thai Development PLC. (ITD), Premchai Karnasuta, adding that he had no plans replace him, despite on-going criticism

10:32 | Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has warned investors of the risks associated with cryptocurrencies, saying fundraising through initial coin offerings (ICOs) remains new to many investors, who should fully investigate the risks carefully.

He added that the government has begun preparing regulations to make sure that all operations are transparent and open for inspection. Potential investors should wait under regulations have been written to help avoid against losses, he said.

11:24 | Deputy Prime Minister Dr Somkid Jatusripitak said that today’s tourism policy committee will focus on developing tourism programme for the elderly to secondary tourism destinations. He said Thailand needs to introduce measures to accommodate older people after their retirement age, particularly those in the middle class with purchasing power.

12:31 | The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) subcommittee on Sunday began a project aimed at developing six communities as tourist sites in the Ka Di Chin area of Bangkok in accordance with the sufficiency economy philosophy of the late Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The project provides training for people in the communities, including activities aimed to promote patriotism, ethics, and environmental conservation. The communities have been in existence for more than 200 years and comprise a mix of cultural and religious beliefs.

13:35 | Deputy Bangkok governor Chakkaphan Phewngam has led a team of government workers, soldiers, and volunteers to begin cleaning Ban Khamin Canal and other waterways in Bangkok Noi district, as part of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMAs) flood prevention plan.

The BMA plans to unclog 6,400 kilometres of sewer lines and 1,682 small and large canals stretching over 2,000 kilometres. The works are expected to significantly reduce the dispersion of flood waters in Bangkok Noi.

14:48 | The Meteorological Department has forecast rainfall in upper Thailand and in the Southern provinces will subside until March 15 and has advised farmers to protect their crops. Fishermen along the lower Gulf of Thailand should beware of strong winds and high waves, they warned.

14:00 | Newsline takes a look at the mangrove forest community at Ban Pred Nai in Trat Province. The community is committed to preserved the forest and has protected their natural resources from exploitation.

19:58 | The Asean Cultural Center (ACC) held a ‘Wedding In Asean’ event over the weekend bringing together large number of couples who plan to get married this year. The event offered demonstration classes for those wishing to make their own wedding souvenirs such as towels, cupcakes, and traditional Thai sweets and desserts.

20:54 | Indonesia’s Communication Ministry has confirmed that is has blocked micro-blogging site Tumbler after pornography was found on hundreds of accounts, which the service provider refused to remove.

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.