News from Thailand – Tuesday, April 21, 2015
This page contains a selection from the Thai news. We include headlines from major news sources including: Bangkok Post, The Nation, ThaiPBS, MCOT, etc., as well as some regional newspapers such as Phuket Gazette and Pattaya One. Behind the news items is a web link, when you click on it you can read the full article at the English source.
News from Thailand, including:
– CDC: New constitution will bring real reconciliation
– Prayut: Even corrupt retired officials are dealt with
– Thailand close to an EU import ban on fish
– Begging on the street is prohibited
THE NATION
The Nation publishes an article reporting on the first debate on the new constitution. The drafters say again that the constitution will contribute to reconciliation in the country. Critics fear the constitution will widen political rifts and want a referendum. Anek Laothamatas, a member of the drafting committee (CDC) who wrote the new constitution, is clear about this: “The new chapter [on the National Reform Program and promoting reconciliation] will promote reconciliation in Thailand for all political colours. It does not matter whether one sympathizes with red, yellow or with another party.”: http://goo.gl/tqVpTj
BANGKOK POST
Bangkok Post opens with the message that the network of fraudulent and corrupt officials of the Land Department will close. This also applies to retired civil servants if it appears that they were involved in providing illegal ground deeds, Prime Minister Prayut said yesterday. “When they are guilty, they will not escape punishment!” he warned. Theft and illegal cultivation of land is a hot item in Thailand. For years, this was possible thanks to corrupt officials. The Minister of Justice has therefore instructed the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) to expand its investigation into illegal practices. The approach to land grabbing gained momentum due to fraud during the construction of the holiday park Bonanza in Nakhon Ratchasima. The Land Department is likely to revoke the permits and deeds issued by the holiday park. Another problem is the illegal plantations of rubber trees. It is estimated that 4,4 million rai have been planted illegally: http://goo.gl/Ix1aoA
OTHER NEWS
Thailand is one step away from a fish boycott by the EU. The European Union has given Thailand six months to drastically change its policy. The EU is particularly concerned about illegal fishing and poor working conditions in Thai fisheries. An import ban would be a serious blow to the already struggling Thai economy. It could cause damage of half a billion euros per year. In addition, it is not inconceivable that the US will also introduce such a sanction. The EU says that global illegal fishing accounts for about 1% of all catches. It concerns an illegal trade worth 15 billion euros. EU Member States that do not comply with the rules will also be dealt with. Thailand is in the danger zone and could receive a red card if the situation does not improve quickly: http://goo.gl/ToqUA6
– Begging on the street in Thailand is banned. This also applies to street artists who do not have permission from the authorities. The cabinet approved a bill on this yesterday. The law replaces an old law from 1941 that did not specifically prohibit begging. The government wants to encourage beggars to learn a trade and simply work for their money. Foreign beggars will be rounded up and deported: http://goo.gl/xBrneA
– You can read more current news on the Twitter feed of Thailandblog.nl: twitter.com/thailand_blog
I wonder where the disabled and elderly single people are going to get their money from now.
That probably won't be in the new law.
it would be nice if begging would be banned. but then adjust the social provision first. How should those people live differently, No work or disabled, so first improve
and then ban it.
> Begging on the street in Thailand is banned
I don't get it… those monks walking down the street with such a basket for food… what is that? That's different then? Hmm…
You can beg from me…but leave your children at home…that begging with kids…makes me unhappy and idd…improve first and only then ban it. Education and health care at number 1, then the next generation will be all better, I think.
Monks picking up food to eat is not begging.
It gives the people who provide the food the opportunity to get good karma and be honest, you can hardly expect a monk to earn his living in construction or at BigC behind the cash register.
Can you see him standing on the jetty in his monk's habit?
(Without underpants, because they are not part of the monk's clothing)
Of course, the Thai economy is doing great.
Fish import ban. Planes that have nowhere to land.
A strong Thai Bht while the whole country is in a debt crisis.
Of course you can take everything from the poor in society. You don't have to replace it with anything.
You have to watch out for those rich. They bite back. That can still hurt a lot.
Cor van Kampen
I agree that you beg for food and drink. But every now and then I see a man with a broken leg below the knee and moving on his ass. In fact, he can already walk on crutches, but of course he doesn't. Until I caught him in a parking lot, strapped on his lower leg and got into a new fortuner. This can't be the point of begging.
Every afternoon at about 2 o'clock a can of beggars is opened on the beach with half legs, 1 leg, 1 arm, mother with small child and that for years, that would be one less annoyance. we are terribly sorry about that.