Social development
Human rights
Lower Klity Creek villagers: Living with lead poisoning
Over the past five decades, a lead-processing mine and factory in Kanchanaburi province has released toxic waste including lead into the rivers and creeks of the Lower Klity creek, home to about 400 ethnic Karen people. The factory operation began in the mid-1960s and, though ...
First-ever Schuman Awards granted to Myanmar citizens
European Union Ambassador Roland Kobia presented Schuman Awards to U Ko Ni (posthumous), Daw Ja Nan Lahtaw and U Aung Myo Min in Yangon on April 4. The Schuman Awards – named after former French Foreign Minister and founding father of the European Union, Robert Schuman ...
Legal experts warn Article 44 remains major impediment
Unless the absolute power of Article 44 and existing National Council for Peace and Order’s orders are revoked, citizens will still face a struggle to protect the environment and their rights, legal experts say. As the new constitution came into effect yesterday, legal experts who ...
King signs new Constitution
His Majesty the King on April 6 signed the country’s new constitution – the 20th – giving it royal endorsement and setting in motion a process for the next general election, which is expected late next year. Through a court secretary, HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn proclaimed ...
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 ...
Asylum seeker family awaiting deportation
The asylum applications of all but three Montagnards in Phnom Penh have been rejected, though an appeal window remains open for the group, an official said yesterday, as the government prepares to repatriate at least four members of the ethnic minority back to Vietnam. Yesterday’s ...
Families back sugar land deal
Families in Koh Kong province’s Sre Ambel and Botum Sakor districts have agreed to accept land and $2,500 per family in a compromise with the Land Ministry to end their land dispute with sugar cane plantation companies. However, they have asked the ministry to speed ...
Vientiane gears up for an exciting Lao New Year
People nationwide are eagerly anticipating the Lao New Year (Pi Mai Lao) festival (Year of the Rooster) next week, with the official holiday taking place from April 14-16. Vientiane is preparing an exciting programme of activities for locals and visitors alike, including a Miss Vientiane ...
Joint panel discusses prior consultation process for Pakbaeng dam
Delegates from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam met on April 4 at the second meeting of the Joint Committee Working Group on the procedures for notification, prior consultation and agreement for the Pakbeng hydropower project. The Pakbaeng hydropower project is one of the five Mekong mainstream ...
Data science poised to boom
Big data and analytics spending in Thailand is expected to continue double-digit growth in 2017, driven by the availability of data, a new generation of technology and a cultural shift toward data-driven decision making. Teradata Thailand, the local enterprise solfware unit of US-based Teradata Corporation, expect ...
