Law and judiciary
Diplomats and businesses mix hope with caution on return of democracy
The International community on April 6 expressed hope that the promulgation of a new Constitution would pave the way for Thailand’s return to full democracy although some concerns remained because of restrictions on political rights and activities imposed by the junta. The private sector had mixed ...
Dredging fee fraud alleged
A French-Canadian businessman was charged on March 29 with defrauding a sand trader of more than $300,000 by promising to arrange official permission for a dredging operation. Interior Ministry police officer Chea Pesith said Seang Metta, 52, of Boeung Keng Kang II commune in Phnom Penh, claimed ...
Judge pledges to decide fairly in mining case
A Minbu court judge maintained that he would decide on a case involving illegal coal miners objectively, just a 400 people demonstrated against the prosecutions of a mining company owner and his workers. The protestors on Tuesday claimed that the Magway regional government had been ...
Thingyan permits will be revoked if resold
Mandalay authorities warned that they will revoke Thingyan pandal permits that are resold to third parties by winning bidders. Mandalay City Development Committee revenue department head U Win Maung said the authority was now auctioning off the building permits for pandals near the Mandalay moat, ...
Prison system sets up new accommodations for LGBT inmates
Bangkok’S Min Buri and Klong Prem prisons as well as Chon Buri’s Pattaya Prison have arranged separate zones to house self-identified lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender prisoners separate from non-LGBT prisoners, Department of Corrections director-general Kobkiat Kasiwiwat said on March 22. The move makes Thailand ...
Ranger station razed by mob
A mob of some 60 men burned down an environmental ranger station inside Mondulkiri’s Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary on Friday, allegedly as revenge against rangers who had previously stopped them from clearing forest, an official said yesterday. Keo Sopheak, provincial environmental department director, said the ...
Hluttaw to recess after budget approval
The 2017-18 National Planning Bill from the Union government was approved by Pyidaungsu Hluttaw on March 15, following a K296 billion cut from the original allocated amount. After reviewing the projects to be implemented by the ministries and Union-level organisations during the coming fiscal year, ...
Lao Front discusses achievements, structural improvements
Achievements over the past year and approval of a new organisational structure are tabled for discussion by the Lao Front for National Construction this week at the Front Committee’s second ordinary plenary session of the Tenth Congress. The Committee has translated six strategic programmes adopted ...
Revenue collection, timber auction dominate Govt meeting
Implementation of the revenue collection and expenditure plan, the auction of wood impounded by the government, and the upgrade of wood processing plants dominated the monthly government meeting on March 15. Other hot topics tabled at the two-day meeting included the export of wood, a ...
Critics skeptical of new privacy legislation
Myanmar’s newly enacted privacy and security protection law received skepticism from several civil society groups that said the legislation was “incomplete” and failed to fully ensure the protection of individuals’ privacy and freedom of expression as it was adopted hastily and without public consultation. The ...
