Thailand morning news for June 19, 2020

Thailand records six new COVID-19 cases among returnees from abroad
Thailand’s new COVID-19 infections surged to six today. All are in state quarantine after their return from Saudi Arabia and India.
— Thai PBS News

CAAC chief: International flights unlikely before September
Dashing hopes that international arrivals (code for ‘tourist flights’) could resume on July 1, Thailand’s senior civilian aviation regulator says that they’re are likely to resume as late as September.
— The Thaiger

Government: foreigners seeking to return to Thailand must seek embassy assistance
The Deputy Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said foreigners seeking to return to Thailand must contact the Thai embassy in their nations for assistance.
— Newsline (video)

Car sales to plunge 30-50% in 2020: FTI
Domestic car sales in Thailand may drop by 30-50% this year from last year’s 1 million vehicles as the coronavirus hit demand, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) said on Thursday.
— Bangkok Post

Returnees from NZ had fevers
Four Thais returning from New Zealand were found to have a high fever on their arrival at Suvarnabhumi airport on Wednesday night.
— Bangkok Post

Thai Musicians plead to the government to re-open live entertainment style venues so they can work
A group of fifty independent Thai musicians appealed to the Thai Government today in Bangkok to allow live entertainment style venues, which is where they make most of their income, to re-open.
— The Pattaya News

Central bank plans digital payment prototype
The Bank of Thailand unveiled on Thursday plans to build a prototype of a payment system for businesses using central bank digital currency (CBDC), or traditional money but in digital form being developed by monetary authorities around the world.
— Bangkok Post

My Experience With Prejudice as an African Priest in Thailand
I’ve been working in Thailand as a Catholic priest since 2012. Many times, I have been bullied and subject to discrimination just because of my black skin.
— Khaosod English

Airlines in Thailand to restart international flights with business travelers and investors
To prepare for the reopening of international flights, The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand or CAAT invited all airlines with international flight services, to reach a mutual understanding about observing the new public health measures issued by The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
— Pattaya Mail

No more social distancing on domestic flights in Thailand
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has further eased domestic air travel service restrictions, by doing away with the on-board social distancing requirement.
— Thai PBS News

Move Forward seeks changes to emergency law
The Move Forward Party is pushing a law amendment to make the government more accountable during the state of emergency.
— Bangkok Post

Pick me! Health Minister Anutin wants 1st dose of experimental vaccine
The beleaguered health minister who went from would-be public health hero to zero through a series of unforced errors is ready for his redemption arc: as human guinea pig.
— Coconuts Thailand

Most Thais still anxious about resuming ‘normal’ life: survey
Most Thais still felt uncomfortable leaving their home to return to pre-COVID-19 lifestyles, a study has found.
— Coconuts Thailand

Former coup co-leader and military general to head Thailand’s ruling party
Prawit Wongsuwan, seen as one of the masterminds behind the 2014 coup and a former military general, will be voted in as the leader of Thailand’s ruling Palang Pracharath Party, local media and party insiders said on Thursday.
— Thai Enquirer

Online marijuana dealer arrested in Nakhon Si Thammarat
Authorities in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat have arrested a young man whose online marijuana sales soared during the Covid-19 outbreak.
— The Thaiger

Gold Line set for October opening
Bangkok’s Gold Line electric rail route will begin operating in October as planned, despite a delay in construction caused by the coronavirus outbreak, its developer Krungthep Thanakom (KT) said on Thursday.
— Bangkok Post

Fiscal 2021 budget to be used for organizing local elections
Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Wissanu Krea-ngam said it is possible to organize local elections after October 1st, using the fiscal 2021 budget.
— Newsline (video)

Thailand considers ‘Emergency Decree’ alternative after June 30
Health and security agencies will consider enforcing existing laws instead of the Emergency Decree for COVID-19 control, after the end of the State of Emergency, while the general public is constantly reminded to continue taking precautionary measures.
— Pattaya Mail

AOT expects flights, passengers to return to 2019 levels only in 2022
Airports of Thailand (AOT) expects flights to recover to 2019 levels only in 2022, the company told the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) on Wednesday (June 17).
— The Nation

‘No amnesty’ for convicted politicians
The government on Wednesday denied reports claiming it was willing to grant an amnesty to all convicted politicians living in exile as part of a bid to forge national unity.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand Says Rising Yields No Bar to $32 Billion Borrowing Plan
Thailand expects to accelerate the pace of borrowing for a 1-trillion-baht ($32-billion) stimulus program and isn’t concerned by a recent steepening in the sovereign-debt yield curve.
— Bloomberg

Kingdom still attractive to foreign investors thanks to top-notch logistics, technology, agriculture
Thailand, especially the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), will recover quickly from the Covid-19 crisis because the country can draw investment from its readiness in logistics infrastructure, technology, medical industry as well as capacity to grow food, the EEC Office said.
— The Nation

Central bank orders cut in interest rates across the board
The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has ordered commercial banks and non-banking entities to cut down the interest rates they charge for credit cards, personal credit and hire purchase by 2 to 4 per cent in a move to help people struggling with debt due to the Covid-19 crisis.
— The Nation

Thailand’s strategic drift: local politics and superpower competition
China’s relatively fast recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and the reopening of its economy have posed a new dilemma to ASEAN states over whether to accept or reject Beijing’s ‘coronavirus diplomacy’ of aid and assistance.
— The Strategist (blog)

Government approves projects to help those affected by COVID-19
The Cabinet has approved four projects to help people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as they have not received assistance from the government in the past three months.
— Newsline (video)

MCOT to fight B3.2bn spectrum deal
MCOT Plc has vowed to appeal against the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission’s (NBTC) decision to pay 3.2 billion baht in compensation for the 2600-megahertz spectrum recall for the 5G licence auctions in February.
— Bangkok Post

Government to help temples clear overdue electricity bills
The government is preparing to roll out aid measures for 60 million Buddhist monks affected from COVID-19 pandemic, including ways to help temples reduce their unpaid electricity bills worth 50 million baht in total.
— Newsline (video)

Hotels ready for price war
Hotels are desperate to cut room rates in the scrum to draw domestic tourists following the state’s subsidised tourism packages, hoping to gain any occupancy before the country opens up to foreign travellers.
— The Phuket News

Industry asks govt to inject liquidity as sentiment rises for first time in 4 months
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has advised the government to inject liquidity into the private sector, after the Industries Sentiment Index rose for the first time in four months.
— The Nation

Thailand boosts green economy after COVID-19
Thailand’s Board of Investment (BoI) has approved adjusting investment privileges and conditions for agriculture categories to promote the bio, circular and green (BCG) economy.
— Vietnamplus

Provinces hold trade fairs to help reduce living costs
The Ministry of Commerce has held trade fairs in many provinces, selling affordable products to help reduce the cost of living for Thai families, well as providing marketing opportunities for farmers and community enterprises.
— Newsline (video)

Care founders call on govt to quit
Care, the newly formed political group, has sent a strong message urging “all uncles” to end their grip on power and return democracy to the country.
— Bangkok Post

People warned of Dengue fever
The Sakaeo provincial administration has warned people of dengue fever and reminded that the disease is still very dangerous, amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
— Newsline (video)

Thailand promotes tourism via ‘stay one night, get one night free’ at hotels and resorts
Fifty-one hotels and resorts in Trat province have joined a ‘stay one night, get one night free’ campaign to promote tourism under new normal conditions.
— Pattaya Mail

RTAF to Launch Satellite on June 19th
The Royal Thai Air Force is going to launch “นภา-1”, the satellite to be used for observation and disaster support, on the 19th of June.
— Newsline (video)

Govt considers Bt100 billion in subsidies for rice farmers
The National Rice Policy Committee has earmarked about Bt100 billion to provide subsidies for rice farmers for the 2020-2021 crop year.
— The Nation

Commerce Min unveils ‘Lot 5 Back to School’ program to ease financial burden of students’ parents
The Ministry of Commerce has launched a project to help ease the financial burden of parents, who are buying school supplies and uniforms for their children ahead of the reopening of schools next month.
— Newsline (video)

Russia, Thais in joint virus fight pledge
Thailand and Russia will strengthen cooperation to tackle Covid-19 under the Asean umbrella.
— Bangkok Post

PM’s Office secretary general to promote public access to government information
The Office of the Prime Minister and the Public Relations Department (PRD) jointly followed up on the progress of the 2020 public relations projects to raise public awareness and understanding of government policies.
— Newsline (video)

Central Pattana embarks plan to rebuild economy
Central Pattana Plc. (CPN), Thailand’s leader in shopping centre and property development under brands centralwOrld, CentralPlaza, CentralFestival, Central Phuket, and Central Village kicks off its strategic recovery plan to help rebuild economy after the COVID-19 situation has been improving, while still reinforcing social distancing measures to keep people safe.
— Bangkok Post

Woman slashes her dad’s penis
A woman who allegedly killed her father by stabbing him in the head and slashing his penis is being checked for mental illness and drug abuse.
— Bangkok Post

Bangkok on track for more green spaces with park on old train line
A new park in Thailand’s capital – built on an abandoned train track – can be a model for turning the city’s other unused spaces into much-needed green areas to boost well-being and mitigate climate-change impacts, urban experts said on Tuesday.
— Eco-Business

Revealing the secrets of “Sri Trang Gloves” – Thailand’s largest rubber glove producer and one of the world’s leader
The demand for rubber gloves in several industries, particularly in the health industry, has been growing constantly in recent past, due to the increased use of health and hygienic products among consumers in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Bangkok Post

Illegal online gun dealer nabbed in Nonthaburi
Police in Nonthaburi province, on the northern outskirts of Bangkok, arrested a man this morning for selling guns illegally online, and seized 2 firearms found in his possession.
— The Thaiger

Thai LGBT advocates push for equal rights for same-sex marriage
LGBT equality advocates are calling on Thailand to allow same-sex marriage, asking that laws regarding marriage simply change the words “man and woman” so same-sex couples can have the same rights as traditional married couples.
— The Thaiger

Top Gov’t Officials Split on Extending the Virus Emergency Law
Senior government officials on Thursday remained divided on whether to extend the Emergency Decree, which is set to expire by the end of this month.
— Khaosod English

Job Opportunity: Snitch on People Polluting Bangkok Canals
See a neighbor dumping a washing machine or mattress into the waterways of the Venice of the East? Call the city authorities and get paid half the fine, officials said Wednesday evening.
— Khaosod English

Thai Constitutional Court to consider parliamentary status of Agriculture Minister Thammanat Prompao
Thailand’s Constitutional Court has accepted for consideration a petition, filed by a group of opposition MPs, challenging the parliamentary status and ministerial post of Deputy Agriculture Minister Thammanat Prompao yesterday.
— The Pattaya News

Aussie woman arrested for shoplifting in Chiang Mai – VIDEO
Police in the northern province of Chiang Mai yesterday announced the arrest of a 38 year old Australian woman who allegedly stole 6 inexpensive items from a store in tambon Chang Moi, in Mueang Chiang Mai district.
— The Thaiger

Ghostly Horror Romance to Headline Thai LGBT Film Fest
First love at an abandoned pool and love between Beijing opera performers will screen at an LGBT film festival in late June.
— Khaosod English

Editorial: Enough with the threats and warnings, focus on transparency and clarity
For nearly every day of the last few weeks of the news cycle in Thailand as the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration lifts restrictions and regulations put in place to help control a potential spread of the Covid-19 Coronavirus we have been treated to round after round of threats and warnings, veiled and not.
— The Pattaya News

Feature photo Gift of Happiness Foundation
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on World Refugee Day, June 20.

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

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Thailand morning news for June 19 added by John Le Fevre on June 19, 2020
View all posts by John Le Fevre →

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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.