News from Thailand – December 28, 2014
On this page you can read a bird's-eye view of the most important Thai news. We list headlines from major news sources including: Bangkok Post, The Nation, ThaiPBS, MCOT, etc.
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News from Thailand – December 28, 2014
– The Nation opens today with a big photo of the mass exodus due to the New Year holidays. Also an article about the concern of many Thai people about the new constitution and the fact that a prime minister does not have to be a member of parliament. General Lertrat Ratanavanich, spokesman for the committee that is drafting the constitution, denies that this choice has to do with the fact that the junta wants to secure its position and thus hold on to power. Lertrat said there will be conditions that parliament can only appoint an outsider when the country faces a crisis or deadlock. In addition, dthree quarters of MPs approve the appointment of an unelected prime minister.
– The Meteorological Department of Thailand reports that Chiang Rai was hit by an earthquake measuring 2.2 on the Richter scale on Saturday: http://t.co/rHk0VpN39b
– The five southern provinces of Thailand have to take into account persistent heavy rainfall. The Meteorological Department today issued a weather warning for the provinces of: Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat. Residents should be prepared for very heavy rainfall. The northeast monsoon also creates high waves on the Gulf of Thailand: http://t.co/QZ6iSN2rNB
– The director of the Marketing Organization of Farmers (MOF) must answer to the Thai government for the disappearance of more than 100.000 bags of rice from the government's stock: http://goo.gl/UnSNSm
– Expats are not entitled to the reduced entrance fees that apply to Thai when visiting the National Parks. Not even with a valid work permit and proof that they pay taxes in Thailand. The Phuket News found this out in response to questions from an expat. That there will nevertheless be farang who did pay the Thai rate is more the exception than the rule. Thai prices range from 10-40 baht, while rates for foreigners range from 50-400 baht, five to 10 times higher: http://t.co/09ahl4iiiP
– Budget airline AirAsia launches three new routes to Nan, Loei and Roi Et. The flights will start from February 9, 2015: http://goo.gl/6MWfXD
– Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the governor of Bangkok Sukhumbhand Paripatra today opened the new eight-kilometer bicycle path around Rattanakosin Island with a bicycle ride. Speaking at King Rama III Memorial Park, Prayut asked motorists to share Thailand's roads with cyclists: http://t.co/0XG9bNNWQv
– A 38-year-old Dutchman was knocked unconscious in a karaoke bar in Chiang Mai on Christmas Day after a discussion about a bill of more than 1 Baht: http://goo.gl/HKzZgN
What madness !!!
Foreigners who have to pay up to 10 times more than a Thai!
To visit a park !…And there are many such examples.
Actually, they should charge 30 times more, then I have more room
if I visit that park once every 10 years instead of twice a year!
What are they going to invent in this big PARADYS to lure the tourists away?
I love this country but they are so STUPID sometimes!!!!!
Greetings…..
There is one important detail missing in this news about admission prices.
Everyone (including foreigners) under the age of 3 and from 60 years old have free access according to the article.
What I do wonder is the validity of the reasoning of the park managers.
They say that there is no law that states that a foreigner must pay the same as a Thai.
However, there will also be no law saying they have to pay a different rate.
The question then becomes whether the person who sets the rates has the right to set different rates for foreigners.
That is probably a question you should ask Mr. Prayut.
Dear Ruud,
Je moet nog even wachten. De grondwet is voor het overgrote deel buiten werking gesteld door de machthebbers maar daarin stond dat discriminatie verboden is. Als er weer een grondwet is zou je een proefproces kunnen beginnen tegen degene die andere prijzen rekent voor buitenlanders en Thaise burgers. Je wint het vast maar maakt je niet geliefd in dit land. Dat is zeker. Beter dus proberen achter het mobiele nummer van Phrayuth te komen of gewoon een klacht schrijven naar een van de adressen die de regering heeft geopend om mensen in dit land gelukkiger te maken.