Thailand’s pro-army party wins popular vote: Election Commission
Thailand’s chaotic election took another turn on Thursday when the Election Commission announced that the pro-army party, which is seeking to keep the current junta leader in power, had won the popular vote, with 100 percent of ballots counted.
— Reuters
Thai duty-free monopoly under pressure after election
After more than three decades, King Power’s duty-free monopoly in Thailand may be coming to an end as the country’s next government is expected to act on calls to break the company’s long-standing grip on the sector.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Gov’t Moves to Protect Bangkok’s Famed ‘Green Lung’
The government on Thursday banned large-scale constructions or waste disposal in a river island south of the capital renowned for its lush nature.
— Khaosod English
Election results: Phalang Pracharat wins popular vote, Pheu Thai wins most seats
The Election Commission, acting on increased pressure from a number of political and NGO complaints, has released the general election popular vote count, saying the pro-junta Phalang Pracharat won the most popular votes at over 8.4 million, while Pheu Thai came second with 7.9 million votes.
— The Thaiger
Election Results Removed After Media Spot Discrepancies
The Election Commission on Thursday took down its full voting report hours after releasing it to the media, amid growing questions of the results’ numerous discrepancies.
— Khaosod English
Big Joke announces even stricter crackdown on E-Ciggarettes and Vaping, arrests thirteen major sellers in public announcement
Thailand’s top cop Lt Surachate Hakparn known as Big Joke – has turned his attention to people selling cigarettes and vaping fluid.
— The Pattaya News
Farm prices increase for first time in 22 months
The farm price index rose for the first time in 22 months in February, largely because of an increase in paddy price and a smaller decline in rubber prices, says the Fiscal Policy Office (FPO).
— Bangkok Post
PM asks media not create stress with excessive political coverage
Incumbent Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has expressed his concern over the psychological effects on people who have been closely monitoring political developments since Sunday’s election and is pleading with the media to be more discreet in their news presentation in order not to add to their stress.
— Thai PBS World
Thailand seeks to join consultations over India’s sugar subsidies case in WTO
Thailand has expressed its interest to join the consultations sought by Guatemala under the aegis of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) dispute settlement mechanism against India’s sugar subsidies.
— Business Standard
Students launch impeachment campaign against Election Commission
Students from nine of Thailand’s universities have launched a signature-collection campaign to demand the impeachment of the Election Commission (EC), accusing it of mishandling the March 24th general election resulting in alleged poll irregularities.
— Thai PBS World
Wissanu: Gen Prayut can stay full term if re-elected to office
Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha will not have to leave office early if re-elected as prime minister according to deputy premier Wissanu Krea-ngam.
— NNT
Stalemate before catastrophe? – challenges to democratic camp after election result
Thailand is now stuck in a political stalemate. The democratic camp can win the House, but cannot choose the Prime Minister, while the pro-junta camp can choose the Prime Minister but cannot pass legislation through the House.
— Prachatai English
Chiang Mai creates ‘safety zones’ for citizens to escape hazardous air pollution
Congrats Chiang Mai, you’re no longer top of the world’s most polluted city list. But the simple fact that dropping down to fifth place is considered an improvement for Chiang Mai is very telling of the severity of Thailand’s pollution…
— Coconuts (paywall)
Thai Election Commission faces criticism in vote count
Thailand’s Election Commission held a sudden news conference Thursday to release full preliminary results of the country’s recent general election, though some of the data was inconsistent, adding to concerns over the management of the nation’s first poll since a military coup.
— AP
Working Prayut on saline drip
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s staff posted a picture of him receiving a intravenous saline infusion while working at Government House on Thursday.
— Bangkok Post
Farm prices increase for first time in 22 months
The farm price index rose for the first time in 22 months in February, largely because of an increase in paddy price and a smaller decline in rubber prices, says the Fiscal Policy Office (FPO).
— Bangkok Post
Sony closes smartphone plant in Beijing, moving to Thailand
Sony Corp will close its smartphone plant in Beijing in the next few days, a company spokesman said, as the Japanese electronics giant aims to cut costs in the loss-making business.
— The Pattaya News
Loan curbs likely to see amendment
The Bank of Thailand will likely amend the soon-to-be implemented mortgage lending curbs after they take effect, depending on speculative behaviour, credit quality and the financial accessibility of homebuyers.
— Bangkok Post
ANFREL issues a report on election; calls for transparency
Yesterday (27 March), the Asian Network for Free Election (ANFREL) issued an interim report on the 2019 general election, calling for all issues in the election process to be addressed promptly.
— Prachatai English
SRT opening bidding for Bang Sue plot
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) plans to open bidding next year for a mixed-use development worth 35-80 billion baht on 120 rai next to SCG’s head office in Bang Sue.
— Bangkok Post
Loan curbs likely to see amendment
The Bank of Thailand will likely amend the soon-to-be implemented mortgage lending curbs after they take effect, depending on speculative behaviour, credit quality and the financial accessibility of homebuyers.
— Bangkok Post
No Politics in Stripping Thaksin’s Award, Armed Forces Say
A top military figure said Thursday politics wasn’t behind the army’s decision to strip former leader Thaksin Shinawatra of an award.
— Khaosod English
SET mulls partners for digital assets
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) is open to joining with local and foreign partners to build up the digital asset ecosystem, with a focus on developing three asset-backed digital tokens in the initial stage.
— Bangkok Post
Prayuth, Pheu Thai Should Step Back, Avoid Bloodshed: Activists
Thailand could witness further deadly clashes if politicians do not step back from the deadlock, a committee chair for relatives of those killed in the May 1992 political confrontations said Thursday.
— Khaosod English
Krungsri Auto targets 9% loan growth
Krungsri Auto, an auto lending arm under Bank of Ayudhya (BAY), aims for total lending to expand 9% this year, despite marginal growth projected for new domestic car sales.
— Bangkok Post
Child drowning cases – dramatic drop over two decades
The leading cause of death in Thai children, below the age of 15, is drowning. “Even though the cases have recently fallen to an all time low, it’s still not low enough.”
— The Thaiger
Hospitals train staff to recoup money from non-paying foreigners
The Public Health Ministry’s Department of Health Service Support has provided training to public hospitals in tourist provinces to help them collect fees from foreigners, director-general Dr Nattawuth Prasertsiripong said yesterday. The move is aimed at reducing hospital debts.
— The Thaiger
Home exchange: investors curls Swiss pensioners to Thailand – view
White beaches, plenty of sunshine and low cost of living. For foreigners living in Thailand certainly has its appeal. Especially German and Swiss pensioners appreciate the advantages of the Southeast Asian country.
— KXAN36
Planet Plastic: Thai citizens suffer from plastic addiction and poor waste management (VIDEO)
The smell smacks you in the face like a cartoon rake from a solid 200-meters away. Usually, you smell it from further out than that, depending on the direction of the wind.
— Coconuts (paywall)
Bangkok Roads to Close 5 Days During King’s Coronation (Maps)
For five days several roads in the capital city will be closed to traffic for the royal coronation ceremony.
— Khaosod English
9 Arrested for Sharing Election Hoax News
Police said Wednesday they arrested a group of netizens who shared hoax news about the Election Commission.
— Khaosod English
Phuket’s Songkran festivities announced
Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana and Patong Municipality have invited people to join this year’s Songkran celebrations in various locations on the island between Thursday, April 11 and Monday, April 15.
— The Phuket News
Thai villagers discover 3 tiny leopard cubs, believed to be only 2-weeks old, near a farm (VIDEO)
Because we know it’s been such a long, stressful week following the general election, here’s a cute story that will hopefully get you to take a break from your Thursday to exclaim “aw.”
— Coconuts (paywall)
Bomb making equipment discovered in Krabi cave
Krabi officers have discovered bomb-making equipment inside a cave in Krabi. Yesterday officers raided the cave on Koh Talu in Ao Lueak, Krabi after they found that the cave is part of an area of a company who received a concession to produce and farm bird nets.
— The Thaiger
Phuket PEA chief debunks election slurs over rising power bills
The chief of the Phuket office of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) today responded to a slew of complaints online over higher electricity bills although the standard rate charged per unit had not increased, with some people blaming the utility price hike on political machinations.
— The Phuket News
PRD briefs media members on Coronation ceremonies
The Public Relations Department has briefed members of the media the information about the Coronation ceremonies.
— NNT
Phuket PEA chief debunks election slurs over rising power bills
The chief of the Phuket office of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) today responded to a slew of complaints online over higher electricity bills although the standard rate charged per unit had not increased, with some people blaming the utility price hike on political machinations.
— The Phuket News
Thailand delays 700-MHz auction
Thai telecom regulator NBTC has postponed plans to hold a 700-MHz auction for at least three months due to delays establishing details of the auction terms.
— telecommasia.net
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. Due to The Nation‘s habit of hijacking urls and diverting them to promotion pages we no longer include it in our clippings.
Thailand morning news for March 29 added by John Le Fevre on
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John Le Fevre
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.
Latest posts by John Le Fevre (see all)
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- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 24 — Asean tops 230,000 cases, nudges 90,000 active – July 24, 2020
- Thailand morning news for July 24 – July 24, 2020