Thailand Morning News For April 13

Permanent Secretary for Social Development suspended amid corruption probe
TheThai Cabinet has decided to suspend Permanent Secretary for Social Development and Human Security, Puthipat Lertchaowasit, and his deputies and inspectors from the civil service without pay for the time being to facilitate an investigation into suspected corruption.
— NNT

First day of Songkran claims 39 lives and 461 injuries in road accident
Thirty nine people were killed and 461 injured on the first of the “seven dangerous days” of the Songkran traditional New Year holiday travel on the country’s roads, officials said on Thursday (Apr 12).
— Thai PBS

3,339 people nabbed for alleged drink driving on first day of Songkran festival
A total of 3,339 motorcyclists and drivers of public transport and private cars were arrested by authorities for drink driving in a way which may cause road accidents on the first day of the long Songkran festival on Wednesday (Apr 11).
— Thai PBS

BOT to maintain relaxed monetary policy
The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has announced its plan to keep the monetary policy loose following continued expansion of the Thai economy in March.
— News Today (video)

Netizens unimpressed by govt plan to spend Bt7 million on Line stickers
THE government is launching a new set of Line stickers, at a cost of Bt7 million for production and distribution, despite the controversy that dogged its “12 values of virtues” sticker launched in 2014.
— The Nation (annoying popups)

Road safety rules now in full force
The Ministry of Interior has set up the centre for accident prevention and assistance to handle traffic emergencies during the notorious 7-day dangerous period from April 11-17.
— Thai PBS

TCC sees Songkran spending at a 13 year high
Robust economic growth and a fervor for Thai tradition have led to estimates that over 132 billion baht will circulate this Songkran holiday, the highest figure in 13 years.
— NNT

Thailand ‘not free’ since coup
Thailand bears little resemblance to a liberal democracy and it’s only getting worse. This is the verdict of US think tank Freedom House.
— Bangkok Post

Fifteen new political parties get approval
FIFTEEN GROUPS have received initial approval to register as new political parties nearly six weeks after the registration was opened.
— The Nation

Requirement to declare valuable items at airport terminated
Thais are no longer required to declare valuable items to customs officers before leaving the country following the Customs Department’s recent termination of its mandate.
— NNT

Meechai to rewrite police reform plan
Proposals put forward by a previous police reform committee may not comply with the constitution and a new panel will be set up to revise them, says Constitution Drafting Committee chairman Meechai Ruchupan.
— Bangkok Post

Police seize weapons, drugs in pre-Songkran blitz
Police Region 8 yesterday put on display 167 firearms as well as more than 680,000 meth pills and more than 1.7 kilos of crystal meth all seized in a pre-Songkran anti-crime blitz from April 1-10.
— The Phuket News

DSI and Thanachart Bank unveil video clips combating call center scams
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has joined forces with the Thanachart Bank to unveil 10 video clips warning against call center scams.
— NNT

Thailand, Austria get smart in EEC
Thailand and Austria have teamed up to develop the smart city initiative in the flagship Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
— Bangkok Post

Government entices tourists to visit secondary cities
The Government is encouraging local and foreign tourists to visit the Kingdom’s secondary cities. For more details, we join K. Na-ark Rojanasuvan.
— News Today (video)

900 and 1800 Mhz concession auctions postponed while new NBTC board sought
Auctions for 900 and 18000 Mhz frequency concessions set to expire this September 15 have been pushed out to until a new National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is formed.
— NNT

HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn honored by FAO for her work against hunger
A summit of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has honored Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn for her assistance to the malnourished and impoverished in Thailand and the region.
— NNT

Architects give Kiakkai Bridge plan the thumbs down
City Hall’s multi-billion-baht Kiakkai Bridge project faces fierce opposition from architects and university scholars, who see it as an eyesore that will also present security concerns for the new parliament building nearby.
— Bangkok Post

US protectionism and currency central talking point at Kasikorn economics seminar
Kasikorn Bank has held a seminar entitled “The Symbol of Your Visionary” discussing the world economy’s impact on trade and investment in Thailand this year.
— NNT

SCB seeking Gen Y yields from mortgage products
Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), the country’s biggest mortgage lender, is focused on offering high-yield housing loan products to the high-risk, Gen Y segment to keep up with rising demand from young borrowers.
— Bangkok Post

TAT offers free bus tour of 10 Bangkok temples during Songkran
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has organized a free bus tour to enable participants to pay their respects at 10 temples across Bangkok as a way of welcoming the Thai New Year.
— Pattaya Mail

Young Thai Politicians Champion Democracy, End of Military Rule
As political parties begin to stir to life in junta-controlled Thailand, young politicians are appealing to Thais of all political beliefs to have faith in democracy as a form of government to keep the military from repeatedly seizing power.
— Benar News

CDC Chairman to call for first meeting to adjust police reform plan after Songkran holiday
The Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee is to call a meeting to work on the adjustment of the police reform plan after the Songkran holiday.
— NNT

Largest sand pagoda built in Chiang Mai
Many temples in Chiang Mai province have started to decorate the structures in traditional Lanna style in preparation for the Songkran Festival. Meanwhile, a large sand pagoda has been constructed in Wat Chet Lin in the capital district.
— News Today (video)

Feature photo John Le Fevre

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Thailand morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Thailand news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

Thailand Morning News For April 13 added by John Le Fevre on April 13, 2018
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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.