Royal Trophy for Robotic Innovations

(24-04-2013)

On 9 April 2013 the Minister of Education, Mr. Phongthep Theokanjana, chaired a ceremony to receive trophies donated by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn for the winning students of the National Robotic Competition in the academic year 2012. The ceremony took place at a meeting of the Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC).

After awarding the trophies to all the winning students, the Education Minister said that, this year, students had been awarded trophies in three categories: 1) vocational education robots from Hoy Lod Team of Samut Songkram Technical College, 2) rescuer robots from Sum Koh Team of Kamphaeng Phet Technical College and 3) automatic arms industrial robots from B-Tech Team of Buriram Technical College.

"Robots are increasingly important in the modern world as they are used in many industries. Moreover, robots can work as well and effectively as human beings as we often see in books and films. Nowadays robots are far better than the older ones and both adults and adolescents are becoming more interested in these human-like machines," said the Education Minister, adding that Thailand is now using robots for different purposes, but much depends on how Thai people can develop and improve them, especially rescuer robots and bomb detonating robots.

Thai students are becoming more interested in robots as they show their abilities for inventing them publicly in Thailand and overseas.

Congratulating the student winners for their good work and cooperation with all the organizers of the national competition, the Minister of Education hoped that they will improve and develop their work for the sake of practical usage in both the public and the private sectors.

Taking place from 6 to 9 April 2013 in Ayutthaya, the National Robotic Competition saw 40 student teams with vocational robots, 45 student teams with rescuer robots, 40 student teams with industrial robots with automated arms and 8 student teams with innovative robots with automated hands and arms for the disabled. The first prize went to students from Samut Songkram Technical College; the second prize went to Kamphaeng Phet Technical College; and the third prize went to Buriram Technical College. All the projects will inspire Thai youths to create and innovate higher robotic technology in the future.

OBEC Seeks New Teaching Methodology

(23-04-2013)

The Secretary General of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), Dr. Chinnapat Bhumirat, recently reported that OBEC would organize a round table seminar in the near future to discuss new ideas to change in-class learning. Participants will discuss the concept from the book, "Flip your Classroom", which provides an idea on how to adjust and change in-class activities under the context of ICT which is currently ubiquitous and can be used by students at all times. Dr. Chinnapat said that Thai students participated very little in class as the first 5 minutes were for the lesson introductions, the 20 minutes that followed were for lectures, the next 10 minutes were for demonstrations and only the last 5 minutes were given over to questions and answers. From now on, in-class learning should be reformed through the use of modern technology, just as the students now use tablets to search for information.

"In the future, students will go to class with questions for their teachers. They and their peers will be able to discuss the research topics assigned by their teachers in advance. No one will come to class with an empty brain and wait for teachers to fill it up with knowledge," said Dr. Chinnapat. He added that, if in-class learning was successfully reformed, many schools with limited resources would gain many advantages, especially schools in Southern Thailand, because students would spend less time in class and more time self-learning. However, the infrastructure, the teaching and learning materials and the curriculum need to be prepared and teachers should understand and be ready for the new teaching methodology.

2013 Is Year for Quality Improvement of Private Education: Bandit

(23-04-2013)

The Secretary General of the Office of the Private Education Commission (OPEC), Dr. Bandit Sriphutthangkul, recently announced a policy on private education management entitled, "Quality Improvement of Private Education in 2013". The policy aims to achieve the following eight major goals:

1) Primary students in Grade 4 should communicate fluently in English;

2) Primary students in Grade 3 should read and write Thai very well;

3) Students should have high achievements in mathematics;

4) Private schools should emphasize ways to improve students’abilities to think creatively through the use of proper teaching innovations;

5) Private schools should focus on how to enhance the life skills of their students by integrating Scouting into classroom learning;

6) All vocational students should have employment on graduation;

7) International schools should be certified to international standards; and

8) Non formal and informal schools should prepare for their internal quality assessment.

All the major goals are to deal with any potential changes and the opening of the upcoming ASEAN community. Foreign language learning, in particular, is crucial to upgrade Thailand to be an education hub. As a result, OPEC is highly concerned with this issue. Moreover, there are many private schools, such as Darun Sikkhalai or Sattayasai, which are so high in quality that they can be good models for others because they provide their students with both academic lessons and life skills, concluded Dr. Bandit.

Seeking Measures to Help Exporters Affected by the Stronger Baht

(24/04/2013)

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has instructed appropriate agencies to seek measures to help exporters affected by the ongoing appreciation of the baht.

The Prime Minister said that the impact of the stronger baht was an important issue and that officials involved must take action to assist those suffering from the impact.

In order to cope with the situation, the Prime Minister will call meetings with responsible agencies periodically to discuss ways to deal with the problem. The stronger baht will make Thai products more expensive for overseas buyers.

She believed that if all parties joined hands in handling the issue, the crisis from the strong baht would ease. Asked whether the Government would intervene or not, she said, it is the duty of the Bank of Thailand to take care of the baht value.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong said that the Government had set the export growth target at 9 percent in 2013. It needs to keep a close watch on the movements of the foreign exchange market to ensure that the set target will be achieved and Thai products remain competitive in the international market.

He believed that if the baht did not strengthen rapidly, the export sector would be able to continue to grow. In this regard, the Ministry of Finance and other relevant agencies would closely monitor exchange rates.

The Director of the Center for Economic and Business Forecasting, University of Thai Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Thanavath Phonvichai, said that a survey conducted by the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce shows that the appreciation of the baht has led to a decline in Thai exports. According to the survey, 42.1 percent of business operators said that the stronger baht has affected their operations at a high level, resulting in a drop in orders and profits, while 31.6 percent consider the impact moderate. Most of them agreed that the baht should be traded at 30.48 per US dollar. The rate of 29.18 baht per dollar is still acceptable.

The survey also indicates that if the baht strengthens further, some businesses might have to lay off workers. Business operators want the Government to look into this issue by reducing the money exchange fee, bringing down the interest rate, and controlling capital inflow to ensure financial stability. If the baht strengthens to 27 per dollar, the export growth target is likely to drop to only 3 percent.

Mr. Paiboon Kittisrikangwan, Assistant Governor of the Bank of Thailand, stated that the private sector needs to adjust to the new situation. An assessment would be made on the necessity of measures to deal with the situation, since certain measures would produce long-term impacts. He reaffirmed that the current monetary policy rate at 2.75 percent per annum remains favorable to the expansion of credit and the growth of the Thai economy.

Ensuring Justice Emphasized for Peace-Building in the Southern Border Provinces

(23/04/2013) 

The Government has emphasized the principle of ensuring justice, as part of the peace-building process in the southern border provinces.

Deputy Prime Minister Police Captain Chalerm Ubumrung on 22 April 2013 chaired a meeting to listen to public opinions and suggestions on peace-building in the deep South. The meeting was organized by the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center.

At the meeting, Police Captain Chalerm instructed officials responsible for the resolving of southern problems to review various cases in order to eradicate unfair treatment and discrimination. He asked the Commander of the Southern Border Police Operations Center, Police Lieutenant General Paitoon Chuchaiya, to reconsider arrest warrants issued in accordance with the Executive Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations. The executive decree was announced in 2005 as an instrument that would enable state officials to deal with the southern situation more effectively.

He said that the arrest warrants would be revoked, if evidence was insufficient to charge the persons suspected of creating unrest in the South.

Police Captain Chalerm stressed that the authorities must ensure justice for local residents, saying that arrest warrants should be issued only when there was clear evidence.

Concerning the possibility of replacing the emergency decree with the Internal Security Act in more areas where the situation has improved, he said, the respective areas should send reports to the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center. The report will be further submitted to the Cabinet for consideration.

A group of Muslim Thais proposed that the Government appoint a Director-General of the Islamic Religious Affairs Department to supervise Islamic affairs in Thailand and adopt religious principles as guidelines for easing conflicts. It stated that each faith needs to provide proper religious teachings and principles to the people.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm urged all relevant agencies to propose projects, such as those concerning education, security, and social development, in order to seek budget allocations for the development of the five southern border provinces, name Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, Satun, and Songkhla.

He said that the Government has good intentions toward all groups of Thais, regardless of their faiths. It focuses on peaceful means in dealing with the southern situation and on enhancing better understanding between local people and between officials and local residents. The roles of religion and culture will also be emphasized in the peace-building process in the southern border provinces.

Thai-Cambodian Relations to Remain Cordial Regardless of the International Court of Justice Ruling

(22/04/2013)

The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul, has stated that relations between Thailand and Cambodia would remain normal whatever the International Court of Justice’s verdict on Phra Viharn temple would be.

In the weekly program “Yingluck Government Meets the People,” broadcast on the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT) and Radio Thailand on 20 April 2013, Mr. Surapong spoke about the Court’s public hearings on Phra Viharn from 15 to 19 April 2013 in The Hague.

Mr. Surapong said that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia, in their several meetings, emphasized that both countries would accept whatever the International Court of Justice’s verdict on the issue may be. They would not allow the case to undermine Thai-Cambodian relations in various areas.

Mr. Surapong said that what he would like to see was that Thailand and Cambodia would continue to co-exist as neighbors and jointly develop the temple and the surrounding area. He and Mr. Hor Namhong, Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, also stressed close bilateral relations between Thailand and Cambodia.

He pointed out that when the ASEAN Community is in place in 2015, Thailand and Cambodia will become inseparable. Like Laos and Myanmar, Cambodia shares many cultural similarities with Thailand. He explained that demarcation lines are likely to be meaningless, following the integration of ASEAN countries into a single community. So the best way forward is that both Thailand and Cambodia co-exist with good relations.

Meanwhile, the Thai Ambassador to The Hague, Mr. Virachai Plasai, who led the Thai legal team at the Court’s public hearings, said that Cambodia in 2007 unilaterally proposed the temple for listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thailand emphasized its stance that the inclusion of the Temple of Phra Viharn on the UNESCO World Heritage List should be agreed jointly by both countries.

Cambodia and Thailand have claimed the area of 4.6 square kilometers surrounding the temple. After its listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, the area has become the focus of a territorial dispute between the two countries.

Cambodia had asked the International Court of Justice to interpret its 1962 judgment in the case concerning the Temple of Phra Viharn by defining the terms “territory under the sovereignty of Cambodia” and the temple’s “vicinity.” The Court ruling in 1962 stated that the Temple of Phra Viharn is on Cambodian soil, without mentioning the border demarcation.

Mr. Virachai said that since Cambodia had submitted its request to the Court for an interpretation, Thailand needed to defend its position in the case. The Court ruling on the issue will be delivered in late 2013.

Prime Minister to Pay an Official Visit to Mongolia

(21/04/2013)

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will pay an official visit to Mongolia to strengthen bilateral relations and promote further cooperation between the two countries.

She will be the first Thai Prime Minister ever to visit Mongolia, scheduled for 27-30 April 2013.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister will deliver a keynote statement at the seventh Ministerial Meeting of the Community of Democracies in Ulaanbaatar on 29 April as the guest of honor of the President of Mongolia. She will focus on Thailand’s leading role in empowering people, particularly at the grassroots level, in order to strengthen sustainable democracy.

A report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Prime Minister will also touch on Thailand’s adherence to the rule of law and democracy, as well as their inter-linkage with sustainable development. Such inter-linkage should be acknowledged in the context of the United Nations and the post-2015 international development agenda. Thailand will continue to work with all partners to promote democratic development.

As an active member of the global community, Thailand is committed to promoting democracy and human rights, regardless of gender, age, physical ability or economic status. For Thailand, raising global awareness on the significance of empowering people, especially by eradicating inequality and promoting inclusiveness, is also vital in order to ensure sustainable democratic growth.

Thailand has placed importance on Education for Democracy as a key mechanism for inculcating lifelong awareness of citizenship and democratic values into the people. Apart from co-sponsoring the resolution on Education for Democracy at the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly and adhering to the core international human rights conventions regarding this issue, Thailand has domestically applied the student-centered approach to education in order to strengthen the development of students’ democratic awareness, behavior, attitudes and values in a way that is physically, intellectually, and morally balanced.

Concerning Thai-Mongolian relations, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visited Mongolia in 2009. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Mongolia, Mr. Gombojav Zandanshatar, visited Thailand in late 2010.

Mongolia has also sent officials to learn more about Thailand’s development experience. It also hopes to become a dialogue partner of ASEAN in the future.

Both countries have close cooperation in combating human trafficking, SME development, ICT cooperation, and climate change. In recent years, Thai investors have taken a keen interest in investment in Mongolia in the areas of mining, hospitality, housing development, agro-industry, and infrastructure.

Thailand has stressed the need for both countries to strengthen people-to-people contact and increase the frequency of charter flights between them.

ASEAN Community 2015 is Top Priority at 22nd ASEAN Summit

(23-04-2013)

Brunei Darussalam is proud to chair ASEAN this year, and the country is all geared up to welcome delegates and media. First off the starters block will be the 22nd ASEAN Summit, which starts tomorrow (24 April). Visitors to the Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of the Sultanate, are immediately greeted by flags, banners, and posters. Pick up a copy of the local newspaper, and you are immediately reminded of the Summit.

"As we approach the establishment of the ASEAN Community in 2015, all ASEAN Member States are aware of the need to deliver the objectives which we set for ourselves," said ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luong Minh. "Our ability to meet the objectives will have far-reaching effect for ASEAN beyond 2015."

According to the World Bank, ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific is expected to grow by 7.9 percent this year, and 7.6 percent in 2014. This makes the region one of the fastest growing areas in the world.

Wednesday and Thursday's meetings are expected to set the agenda for the following ASEAN Meetings this year, leading to the 23rd ASEAN Summit in October. Leaders from the 10 member states are also expected to discuss topics such as ASEAN’s Central Role and the Regional Architecture, ASEAN’s Future Direction, and Exchange of Views on Regional and International Issues.

Australia Committed to ASEAN, Appointing a Resident Ambassador to ASEAN this year

(22-04-2013)

H.E.  Le Luong Minh, Secretary-General of ASEAN expressed appreciation for Australia’s strong commitment to deepen and enhance its cooperation with ASEAN to H.E.  Peter Varghese, Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia during their recent meeting at the ASEAN Secretariat.

SG Minh also recognized Australia’s support to ASEAN’s central role in regional cooperation as well as ASEAN’s Community building efforts. The Secretary-General further briefed Secretary Varghese on the recent developments in ASEAN.

Secretary Varghese said Australia placed high priority on ASEAN in its policy towards the region, especially in maintaining peace and stability. Mr. Varghese reaffirmed that Australia will appoint its resident Ambassador to ASEAN by the end of 2013. He also presented a letter from H.E. Bob Carr, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia, inviting SG Minh to visit Australia this year.

SG Minh and Secretary Varghese further exchanged views on regional and international issues.

ASEAN and ROK Determine Future Directions

(22-04-2013)

The 15th ASEAN-Republic of Korea (ROK) Joint Planning and Review Committee (JPRC) Meeting was held recently at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta. The Meeting highlighted several important areas to further strengthen cooperation, including expediting cooperation in political security and ASEAN Connectivity.

The Meeting reviewed the ASEAN-ROK cooperation for the past year, in particular the progress in the implementation of the ASEAN-ROK Plan of Action (2011-2015), and exchanged views on the future direction of the ASEAN-ROK relations. The Meeting also discussed the follow-up to the initiatives and outcomes of the 15th ASEAN-ROK Summit, which was held in November 2012 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Both sides underscored the need to ensure that all follow-up actions are undertaken in a timely manner.

The Meeting adopted the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the ASEAN-ROK Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) and the ASEAN-ROK JCC Working Group. With the adoption of the TOR, the JPRC and the JPRC Working Group nomenclature will be replaced by the ASEAN-ROK JCC and ASEAN-ROK JCC Working Group, respectively, from 2014 onwards. The Meeting also noted the proposal of the ROK to convene the ASEAN-Korea Special Summit in December 2014 in ROK to commemorate the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-ROK dialogue relations.

The Meeting was co-chaired by H.E. I Gede Ngurah Swajaya, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Indonesia to ASEAN and H.E. Baek Seong-taek, Ambassador of the ROK to ASEAN in Jakarta. The Permanent Representatives of ASEAN Member States to ASEAN and their representatives, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the ROK, Mission of the ROK to ASEAN, and the ASEAN Secretariat attended the Meeting.

ASEAN Supports CLMV, Welcomes Attachment Officers to Build Capacity Ahead of Regional Integration

(22-04-2013)

An innovative CLMV Attachment Officers Programme, a project-oriented learning opportunity for officers from ministries of the governments of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam (CLMV) to gain experience on regional cooperation under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Blueprints commenced at the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC).

“We very much welcome the additional CLMV officers to ASEC. The topics that ASEAN is now engaged with in the economic and socio-cultural spheres require the officers to understand and appreciate the regional perspective,” says H.E. Le Luong Minh, Secretary-General of ASEAN during his recent meeting with the officers. “That will be their main education and contribution to ASEAN,” he added.

Eight Officers from the CLMV will be assigned in various AEC and ASCC departments and divisions to partake in programmes and areas of cooperation. Officers will receive hands-on assignment based on ASEC’s current operational needs and work collaboratively with ASEC staff to gain a deeper understanding of regional issues while contributing to its daily work. The Officers will also become familiarized with the work, activities, and procedures pertaining to ASEC, including preparing and organizing meetings and conferences under the ASEAN framework. In the process, the Officers are able to form themselves as a network of CLMV professionals, bonded by a common experience and compassion toward achieving ASEAN goals.

After the year-long attachment programme, the competency, capacity, and confidence of the participating Officers in managing AEC and ASCC-related matters of their home countries are expected to be enhanced. The programme is also expected to deepen the participants’ understanding and knowledge about ASEAN’s strategic partnership with dialogue partners, especially with Japan.

“This programme will help the CLMV narrow the development gap with ASEAN-6 and thus contribute to the efforts of ASEAN to building the ASEAN Community by 2015. Please take this opportunity to learn what is happening on the ground,” says H.E. Kimihiro Ishikane, Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN last week when he met the officers.

The Attachment of Officers from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Viet Nam for AEC and ASCC Involvement at the ASEAN Secretariat is a new initiative of the Government of Japan supported through the Japan ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF).

Ambassador delivered opening remarks at the Seminar on “Chile-Thailand FTA: Opportunities for Chilean Companies”

(24-04-2013)

On 22 April 2013, H.E. Mr. Surapon Petch-vra, Thai ambassador to Chile, delivered opening remarks at the Seminar on “Chile-Thailand FTA: Opportunities for Chilean  Companies,” organized by the Santiago Chamber of Commerce. 

The seminar aimed to promote bilateral trade between the two countries and to create awareness of the conclusion of Chile-Thailand FTA as well as to encourage the Chilean business community to make use of the agreement once it enters into force. 

The speakers in the seminar included Mr. Diego Torres, member of the Chile’s FTA negotiation team and Mr. Jaime Rivera, Director of ProChile in Bangkok.

Ambassador of Thailand to the United States, visited the State of Utah upon the invitation of Brigham Young University (BYU)

(23-04-2013)

On 4-6 April 2013, Dr. Chaiyong Satjipanon, Ambassador of Thailand to the United States, visited the State of Utah upon the invitation of Brigham Young University (BYU).  During the visit, the Ambassador met with Mr. Gary R. Herbert, Governor of Utah, to discuss how to further enhance the relationship between Thailand and the State of Utah.  He also gave lectures on “Thailand in Perspective” at BYU and the University of Utah, as well as observed a rehearsal of the BYU cultural Young Ambassadors.  In addition, the Ambassador delivered a speech about Thailand’s economic and trade potentials at the Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce

Teachers in South should be Developed and Encouraged: Panida

(23-04-2013)

The Permanent Secretary of Education Mrs. Panida Kamphu Na Ayutthaya gave a talk at a seminar of Thai private school administrators on how to give help to teachers working in the southern borders of Thailand. She said that the Ministry of Education was working with the Office of the Private Education Commission (OPEC) on ways to care for, promote and develop teachers in the south. On 28 March, part of a financial donation was given to them, and, on 10 April, the remainder will be given again to 160 families of teachers who had been affected by southern unrest and had to quit teaching immediately. Eight teachers were given 100,000 baht each and 160 families were given 100,000 baht each, too. The Ministry of Education has provided a total of 160,800,000 baht financial support to all teachers and their families. The rest of the money will be transferred to local offices of the Ministry in 12 provinces in southern Thailand for emergency use.

In terms of financial support for Islamic teachers, especially Po Noh and Tadeeka teachers, the Ministry of Education will be responsible for Po Noh teachers while Tadeeka will be transferred from the Interior Ministry at a later date. Furthermore, the Ministry of Education is now proposing an increase of remuneration for teachers in the south from 2,500 Baht to 3,500 Baht in the next fiscal year. This remuneration is a part of an educational development effort to encourage teachers in the south to keep teaching in the area.

26 New ASEAN Educational Centers Open

(22-04-2013)

The Minister of the Office of the Prime Minister, Ms. Sansanee Nakphong, the Deputy Minister of Education, Mr. Sermsak Pongpanit, the Assistant to the Education Minister, Dr. Phuangphet Chunlaiad, the Inspector General of Education, Mrs. Ongjit Methayaprapas, the Deputy Secretary General of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), Dr. Benjalak Namfah, the Secretary General of Office of Non Formal and Informal Education, Mr. Prasert Bunreung and administrators of non formal education centers attended the opening of new ASEAN Educational Centers, a project for building the foreign language capabilities of women and the presentation of signboards for the ASEAN Educational Centers to eleven schools under the supervision of OBEC and local ONFIE offices in 15 provinces on 10 April 2013.

According to Mr. Sermsak, on behalf of the Ministry of Education, he was pleased to see education playing a key role in human development, especially regarding the capacity building of Thai women. The Ministry has two main projects towards the ASEAN Community: educational development and the establishment of Thailand as an international education hub.

OBEC is also preparing schools and students for the ASEAN Community by improving the teaching of English and ASEAN languages as well as upgrading the curriculum to international standards. ONFIE is also preparing language courses for Thai people and, especially, Thai women.

Ms. Sansanee, congratulating the opening of the new ASEAN Educational Centers, talked about the policy of the Prime Minister, Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, to fund the development of Thai women with the aims of supporting female power for national improvement and solving the problem of human rights violations against women.
   Dr. Phuangphet, representing the Minister of Education to chair the committee on mobilizing the Ministry of Education towards the ASEAN Community, said that the role of the Ministry was to provide Thai people with knowledge of ASEAN languages. The Thai Woman Empowerment Project is also important for improving the professional and language skills of Thai women and it shows the progress that the Ministry of Education is making in promoting the role of women.

The 26 ASEAN Educational Centers are under cooperation of OBEC and ONFIE with the aim of improving the language abilities of Thai women, particularly in Chinese and English. However, other ASEAN languages will be taught depending on the geographical position of each region of Thailand. For example, Burmese will be taught in the north, Lao in the northeast and Malay in the south.

The emphasis of the language training is to allow Thai women to know foreign languages so that they can communicate and work with people from foreign or neighboring countries. It will be initiated during this year and, in 2014, ONFIE will expand the centers to 1,000 areas and OBEC to 225 areas.

Dr. Benjalak added that the ASEAN Educational Centers would also teach the cultures and traditions of all ASEAN countries so that Thai people will know how to behave with other ASEAN people. This is because all ASEAN people are expected to know about their shared identities, their cultural diversity and their connection with the world.

The ASEAN Educational Centers will provide curricula that students of all ASEAN countries will use. In 2014, OBEC will enforce the curricula in public and private schools because it is responsible for taking care of primary and secondary schools in the country. The curricula will be downloadable from OBEC's website so that schools can adjust it to fit their specific contexts.

Songkran Celebration at MOE

(22-04-2013)

On 9 April 2013, the Minister of Education, Mr. Phongthep Thepkanjana, along with the Deputy Minister, Mr. Sermsak Pongpanit, the Assistants to the Minister, Mr. Suwat Tantipat and Dr. Phuangphet Chunlaiad and the Assistant to the Minister's Secretary, Mr. Worakorn Khamsingnok, joined a ceremony to celebrate Songkran organized by the Ministry of Education.

The Minister of Education said that he was glad to celebrate the traditional Thai New Year with all ministerial staff because they were a strong force in strengthening the work of the Ministry. He believes that the next generations of Thai people will be much stronger and better able to develop the country as the more intelligent Thai children are, the better the country will become.

On this occasion, the Minister thanked all senior staff of the Ministry whose contributions were invaluable to the development of Thailand. Also, the former Deputy Minister of Education, Mr. Somchai Wutthipreecha, was invited to give his best wishes to all the staff of the Ministry.

Finally, the Minister of Education bathed a Buddha image, poured water on the hands of the senior staff to ask for their best wishes and gave them souvenirs.

Chinnapat Attends Buddhist Prayers

(22-04-2013)

The Secretary General of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), Dr. Chinnapat Bhumirat, chaired a Buddhist morning-prayer and meditation session to promote effective levels of performance and to boost the ethics and morality of OBEC staff. This activity took place in response to the government's policy concerning the key performance of working transparently to enable public officers to work effectively. In addition to Dr. Chinnapat, senior officers and staff from OBEC also attended the activity at the Bangkok headquarters of OBEC on 18 April 2013.

Ministry of Labour plans to work with Women and Men Progressive Movement Foundation to campaign against alcoholism in workplaces. It initially targets to create 40 alcohol-free workplaces

(23-04-2013)

Mr. Anusorn Kraiwatnussorn, Vice Minister of Labour, said after receiving an open letter from Mr. Chadej Chaowilia, Director of Women and Men Progressive Movement Foundation along with a group of employers and labour unions, calling for Ministry of Labour to press ahead with alcohol-free workplaces policies to improve quality of lives of workers, that his ministry is ready to work with the foundation in campaign and public relations work to inform companies about the ban on alcohol sales in factory and prevent alcoholism in workplaces.

Mr. Anusorn said Ministry of Labour has also assigned Department of Labour Protection and Welfare to work with the foundation in working out a project to help workplaces achieve alcohol-free status. The project might be named “alcohol-free workplaces”.

A network of 20 drug-free workplaces is campaigning against alcohol sales to workers in workplaces to improve their quality of lives and reduce violence in family.

According to foundation data, the rate of alcohol consumption among female workers rose 68.4 percent early this year. Two in three female workers drank alcohol three times a week. 43.8 percent of them got drunk. Many of them went into debt. 93.2 percent of the workers were found to have spent their income on alcohol, gambling, cigarette and lotto.

International Court of Justice Urged to Dismiss Cambodia’s Request for Interpretation of the 1962 Judgment

(20/04/2013)

Thailand has urged the International Court of Justice to dismiss Cambodia’s request for interpretation of the Judgment of 15 June 1962 in the Case Concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear.

On 19 April 2013, the final day of the Court’s public hearings on Preah Vihear (Phra Viharn), Thailand’s Agent, Mr. Virachai Plasai, Ambassador to the Netherlands, and the country’s foreign legal counsels and experts delivered statements, rejecting Cambodia's use of the Annex I map to mark the two countries' border surrounding the temple.

Mr. Virachai asked the Court to consider the case inadmissible because it does not fall under the Court's jurisdiction. However, if the Court finds Cambodia’s request admissible, it should decide that there is no reason to interpret the 1962 Judgment, as the Judgment is clear and Thailand has fulfilled all legal obligations prescribed by the Court in the original case.

After the conclusion of the public hearings, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul, commended the Thai team and the country’s foreign legal counsels and experts for their well-prepared presentation, with complete documents and evidence. He also thanked all relevant officials for their hard work concerning the case during the past three years.

Upon returning to Thailand from The Haque, the Thai delegation attending the public hearings will report the issue to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The International Court of Justice will take about five to six months before pronouncing its verdict in the case concerning Cambodia’s request for interpretation of the 1962 judgment on the Temple of Preah Vihear.

Thailand’s Presentation of Arguments and Evidence Concerning Phra Viharn Is Satisfactory

(19/04/2013)

The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul, has expressed his satisfaction with Thailand’s presentation of arguments and evidence in the public hearings concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear (Phra Viharn).

He referred to Thailand’s oral pleadings on 17 April 2013 at the International Court of Justice, saying that the pleadings resulted from the hard work undertaken by the legal team during the past few years.

On 18 April 2013 after the second round of Cambodia’s pleadings, Mr. Surapong said that Cambodia tried to convince the Court to accept its request for interpretation of the 1962 Judgment by arguing Thailand and Cambodia disagree about the scope and meaning of the Judgment, in particular with regard to the Temple’s “vicinity” and the withdrawal of forces from Cambodia’s “territory.” Cambodia posited that it never accepted Thailand’s determination of the limit of the Temple’s vicinity or the barbed-wire fence set up according to the Thai Cabinet’s Resolution in 1962.

Cambodia underscored the status and significance of the “Annex I map” in the 1962 Judgment by claiming that the Court recognized and based its decision on the frontier line on that map.

Earlier on 17 April 2013, Thailand showed the Court that the 1962 Judgment is clear and that Thailand already implemented the obligations contained therein. It countered with solid evidence against Cambodia’s claim that the Court recognized the line in the “Annex I map” as boundary to determine the Temple’s vicinity and maintained that Cambodia had never disputed the Thai Cabinet’s line in effect approximates the Temple’s vicinity.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong added that the Thai legal team and the foreign counsel and experts would hold consultations to prepare Thailand’s oral pleadings to the Court on 19 April 2013. He believes there is substantial information and strong evidence to rebut Cambodia’s counter-arguments.

Thailand’s oral pleadings on the final day of the hearings will adhere to the same position and aim to make the Court realize Cambodia’s true intention, which is not to request the Court for an interpretation of the Judgment, but rather to ask the Court for what the Court expressly rejected over 50 years ago.

Thailand to Present Additional Evidence in Its Second Round of Arguments on Phra Viharn

(19/04/2013)

The Thai legal team will present additional evidence at the International Court of Justice to defend Thailand's position in the second round of arguments concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear.

The second round of arguments will be presented on 19 April 2013, from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Thai local time). It will be broadcast live on NBT (Television of Thailand Channel 11), Radio Thailand (FM 92.5 and AM 891), and the website www.phraviharn.org.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Thailand believes that its oral arguments could comprehensively and convincingly rebut Cambodia’s pleadings.

Thailand’s foreign legal counsel and experts successfully emphasized the country’s arguments to convince the Court that Cambodia’s request for interpretation of the Judgment of 15 June 1962 in the Case Concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear is in fact a disguised appeal, asking the Court to adjudicate that the Thai-Cambodian boundary line in the disputed area must follow the “Annex I Map” line, a submission which the Court had expressly rejected in the 1962 Judgment.

Moreover, the legal counsel and experts underscored that there is indeed no dispute with regard to the scope and meaning of the 1962 Judgment and that Thailand has fulfilled all legal obligations prescribed by the Court in the original case.

In fact, Cambodia has officially accepted Thailand’s implementation of the Judgment on several occasions. The recent conflict is a boundary dispute which both Parties should settle through their Joint Border Committee (JBC).

Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf, a member of the Court, asked both Thailand and Cambodia to indicate the precise territorial extent that each of the Parties considers to be the “vicinity” of the Temple. Each party should answer the question by providing a set of geographical coordinates or by referring to one of the maps which were produced before the Court in the original proceedings.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister, Mr. Pongthep Thepkanjana, said that Thailand was not worried about Judge Yusuf’s request because its position had always been clear.

The Ambassador to The Hague and Thailand’s Agent, Mr. Virachai Plasai, said that Judge Yusuf’s question to the Parties was not on behalf of the Court. He noted that it was quite common in international dispute settlement bodies for judges to request additional information from the parties. While waiting for the question to be submitted in writing through the Court’s Registrar, the legal team would hold consultations to prepare Thailand’s response.

Cambodia, in its second round of arguments on 18 April 2013, stressed that it did not accept the Thai Cabinet's resolution in 1962 to unilaterally define the temple boundary. Cambodia also reaffirmed the “Annex I Map” line and the country's request for the International Court of Justice to interpret its 1962 judgment.

231st Anniversary of the Rattanakosin Period

(19/04/2013)

The year 2013 marks the 231st anniversary of the Rattanakosin, or Bangkok, period. The Ministry of Culture is joining hands with various agencies in organizing the celebration of Rattanakosin.

The event, called “Culture-led Thailand,” takes place between 20 and 22 April, 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., around the Rattanakosin Island, which is well-known as part of Bangkok’s heritage.

According to Culture Minister Sontaya Kunplome, activities during this event include a food fair, khon masked drama, lakhon dance drama, demonstrations of 10 traditional crafts, or chang sip mu, and a traditional old market. Major temples around the area, such as Wat Chana Songkhram, Wat Bovornives, Wat Maha That, and Wat Phra Chetuphon (Wat Pho) welcome all visitors to listen to sermons and pay homage to Buddha images.

Sightseeing tours will be arranged from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to various sites, such as the National Museum, the City Pillar Shrine, Museum Siam, Tha Tian, and Nakhara Phirom Park. A special religious ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, 21 April, at the City Pillar Shrine, in commemoration of the day when the Rattanakosin Kingdom was established.

The history of Rattanakosin dates back to the year 1782, when King Rama I, or Phraphutthayotfa Chulalok the Great, established Bangkok as the capital.

The first king of the Royal House of Chakri, King Rama I built the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha complex, which is now a major landmark of Bangkok and one of the country’s important tourist attractions.

He was born during the Ayutthaya period. Following the destruction of Ayutthaya in 1767, Thai people moved south to Thon Buri to regroup and restore their kingdom. King Rama I at that time was appointed a field commander of King Taksin the Great of the Thon Buri Kingdom.

After the death of King Taksin, he ascended the throne on 6 April 1782, when he was 46 years old. He started to establish Rattanakosin, or Bangkok, as the royal capital. Realizing that Thon Buri, on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, would always be threatened by enemy attacks, he moved the capital from Thon Buri to Bangkok on the east side. The establishment of the new capital was the starting point of the history of Rattanakosin.

Bangkok abounds in cultural and historical sites reflecting the country’s long history and unique culture. Besides touring historical and cultural sites, tourists can also spend an enjoyable time walking around the Rattanakosin Island, the heart of the original city. Foreign visitors and the Thai people can also admire the distinctive beauty of Thai culture and learn about its great history at various places in this city, which has been voted as the best tourism city in Asia for several consecutive years.

Thailand Rebuts Cambodia’s Arguments on Phra Viharn

(18/04/2013)

Thailand’s Agent, Mr. Virachai Plasai, Ambassador to the Netherlands, and the country’s foreign legal counsels and experts have delivered statements arguing Thailand’s position and responding to Cambodia’s arguments at the International Court of Justice’s public hearings on Phra Viharn.

The statements were made on 17 April 2013 at the first round of Thailand’s presentation of oral arguments to the International Court of Justice on the Request for Interpretation of the Judgment of 15 June 1962 in the Case Concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear (Cambodia v. Thailand).

The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul, briefed the press on the main points in Thailand’s oral arguments as follows:

1. Cambodia’s request for interpretation of the 1962 Judgment is in fact a disguised appeal for the Court to rule on what it expressly refused to over 50 years ago.

2. The territorial claim over an area of 4.6 sq km is new and arose from Cambodia’s wish to inscribe the Temple on the World Heritage List.

3. The current disputed area of 4.6 sq km is not the “vicinity” of the Temple referred to in the Judgment, but is far larger than the area that Cambodia claimed in the original case, which was only 0.35 sq km.

4. The line adopted by Thailand’s Council of Ministers in 1962 marks an area that corresponds to the “vicinity” of the Temple in the 1962 Judgment. Cambodia understood and accepted this as it never protested that Thailand had not withdrawn its forces from that area.

5. Thailand’s cartographic experts demonstrated irregularities in the evidence that Cambodia introduced to the Court. For instance, the “Annex I map” that Cambodia offered as evidence in the original case is different from what it is now presenting to the Court. There exist different versions of this map, the lines on which cannot be transposed to the actual topography without causing further problems. Cambodia even altered the map Thailand presented in the original case and submitted as its own evidence in the present case.

6. Thailand has fully implemented the Provisional Measures ordered by the Court on 18 July 2011. Since then, there have been no further armed incidents in the border area, and no further loss of life. Thailand and Cambodia have even worked together and agreed on ways to implement the Measures. In addition, both countries now enjoy cordial relations. There are mechanisms and channels in place to resolve conflicts, including the territorial dispute that Cambodia is requesting the Court to settle which can be negotiated bilaterally through the MoU on the Survey of Demarcation of Land Boundary agreed and signed in 2000.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister also commented that what Thailand argued in the Court on 17 April 2013 closely follows the approach prepared in advance, which is to request the Court to dismiss Cambodia’s request for interpretation of the 1962 Judgment. But if the Court finds Cambodia’s request admissible, it should decide that there is no reason to interpret the Judgment, as the Judgment is clear and Thailand has already implemented all the obligations contained therein.

Government’s Earnings in the First Half of the 2013 Fiscal Year

(18/04/2013)

The Government’s earnings from tax collection in the first half of the 2013 fiscal year amounted to 978.8 billion baht, an increase of 18.7 percent over the same period of the 2012 fiscal year.

Director-General of the Fiscal Policy Office Somchai Sujjapongse said that tax collection from October 2012 to March 2013, also exceeded the set target by almost 94.86 billion baht, or 10.7 percent.

During the six-month period, the Revenue Department earned 702.6 billion baht. The earnings that were higher than the set target came from personal income tax, value added tax, and corporate tax.

The Excise Department was able to collect 231 billion baht, a rise of 28.9 percent over the same period of the 2012 fiscal year. Collection of automobile tax represented a significant increase of 102 percent, as a result of the Government’s first-car buyer program, under which car buyers would be refunded the actual amount of tax they had paid.

The Customs Department was able to collect 58.66 billion baht, an increase of 1.3 percent. Top earnings came from five major items: automobiles and auto parts, machinery and parts, electrical appliances and components, iron and steel, and iron and steel products.

During the first half of the current fiscal year, state enterprises remitted a total of 50.76 billion baht in revenue to the Government. The amount represented a decline of 11 percent, when compared to the same period of the 2012 fiscal year, but was higher than the set target by 12.8 percent.

The Fiscal Policy Office expects that Thailand’s GDP in 2013 will grow by 5.3 percent, an increase from the 5 percent predicted earlier. Increased private sector consumption and investment are likely to contribute to the 2013 economic growth. Public sector investment is expected grow by 14 percent. The Government’s investment of 350 billion baht under its long-term water resource management and flood prevention plan would be a supporting factor to spur the economy.

Thai exports are expected to grow by 9 percent. The recovery of the world economy in 2013 would help boost Thai exports. Inflation in 2013 is likely to remain at 3 percent. The unemployment rate is likely to be at a low level. Even so, Thailand needs to monitor risk factors closely, including the fluctuation of the baht and the economic situation of its major trading partners.

Meanwhile, Director-General of the Public Debt Management Office Chularat Suteethorn revealed that Thailand’s outstanding public debt as of February 2013 amounted to more than five trillion baht, accounting for 44.05 percent of GDP.

Out of this amount, 341.78 billion baht was external debt, accounting for 6.74 percent. Domestic debt amounted to 4.7 trillion baht, accounting for 93.26 percent of the total public debt.