The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced that hotels and guest house accommodation in Hua Hin – Cha Am is near fully occupied as Thais and foreigners come to the seaside resort towns to greet His Majesty the King on Coronation Day, May 5, 2014.

Mr. Somchai Chompoonoi, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (Central Region) said the reservation rate of approximately 20,000 hotel rooms in Hua Hin and Cha Am districts, Petchaburi province over the period 3rd – 5th May was more than 90%. All attractions in Prachuap Khiri Khan province are packed with Thai and foreign visitors who plan to welcome His Majesty the King on Coronation Day, Monday May 5, 2014. At least 10,000 travelers are expected to participate in the royal event, generating revenue in the coastal region totaling multi-millions of baht.

In addition, TAT organized the Hua Hin of Yesteryear festival, now held annually in Hua Hin district, Prachuap Khiri Khan, allowing every sector to pay homage to Their Majesties the King and Queen in celebration of their wedding anniversary (28 April 1950) and to promote local traditions and tourism. This year the 5th Hua Hin of Yesteryear festival was held from April 26th – May 3rd 2014 at Hua Hin’s Queen Park, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.

BANGKOK, 4 May 2014 (NNT) – The ruling Pheu Thai Party says it is willing to hear from Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva about his political roadmap, which is aimed at ending the ongoing political conflict.

In response to Mr. Abhisit’s nine-point political roadmap, Pheu Thai Deputy Spokesperson Anusorn Aimsaard said the Pheu Thai Party would be willing to study Mr. Abhisit’s proposal as long as it did not breach the Constitution, adding that the party would be supportive if Mr. Abhisit’s roadmap was really meant to solve the ongoing political unrest in the country.

However, he said that the Pheu Thai Party would announce whether or not it would take Mr. Abhisit’s advice after a thorough study.

The roadmap proposed by the Opposition party leader suggests that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra resign and that the election be postponed in order to avoid the possibility of future violence and a military coup d’etat. The proposal also calls for a neutral interim government, which will be in charge of a political reform.

According to Mr. Abhisit’s political roadmap, the reform process should take about 18 months while the election should be organized within 150-180 days upon the completion of the reform.

BANGKOK, 3 May 2014 (NNT) –The Ministry of Public Health is developing units to offer assistance to any protesters suffering injury in demonstrations.

Mr. Wachira Pengjuntr, M.D., the Deputy Permanent Secretary, has instructed the various units to be responsible for the care of people at the large rally sites including Lumphini Park, Phan Fa Lilat Bridge, Changwatthana Government Complex, and Aksa Road (Phutthamonthon).

UBON RATCHATHANI, 3 May 2014 (NNT) -The Department of Mineral Fuels is preparing to survey the source of mineral fuels in Ubon Ratchathani province. The department has invited all related parties to develop a strategic master plan to strengthen both credibility and industry image in 2014 and to visit the area in Pungkhen subdistrict, Natan district.

The Ubon Ratchathani Internal Security Deputy Director. Colonel Wen Jumpasa together with the Director of the Planning Division of Mineral Fuels, Jittima Utha-aroon and officials of related agencies joined the meeting on May 2nd, 2014 to develop a strategic master plan, especially in regard to the drilling of natural fuel sources in Ubon Ratchathani province. Related agencies provided information both for and against to the public, concerning the likely impact on the local area.

Moreover, the consulting team and observation team met with community leaders to gather information in order to develop guidelines for the master plan. A further public discussion will be held at the end of May at Ubon Ratchathani province.

PATTANI, 3 May 2014 (NNT) – The Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center in cooperation with the Pattani Industrial and Community Education College and the Indonesian Alumni Association is organizing a career training program for Indonesian female alumni who live with their Thai husbands in border provinces of Southern Thailand.

Yupadee Aungwuttiwat, Director of the Pattani Industrial and Community Education College has disclosed the purpose of career training for Indonesian females and Indonesian alumni at a graduation ceremony. The training purpose is to ensure that Indonesians who are married to Thai men and live in Southern Thailand, have an equally good quality of life as native Thais. They are trained to acquire skills for useful work that will earn them revenue. Pattani Industrial and Community Education College arranges a 30 hour Thai cooking course over five days; preparing Thai food favorites including desserts and bakery items. The popular program has encouraged 30 Indonesian female alumni to join the course. The Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center will give further serious support to various professions as well as set up an association of Indonesian women living in Thailand, called “Persatuan Wanita Indonisia de Thailand”

BANGKOK, 4 May 2014 (NNT) – The Election Commission (EC) says it may not be necessary to consider Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva’s political reform roadmap, explaining that it has already reached a conclusion with the government.

Election commissioner in charge of elections Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said the EC did not need to consider Mr. Abhisit’s request to have the election postponed as it had already reached an agreement with the government to hold an election of July 20th. However, he said if changes were to be made, the decision would have to come from the government side.

He also urged the government to make clear of its stance towards the proposed roadmap.

The EC will on May 6th convene a meeting to discuss the issuing of a royal decree for an election, while expressing belief that the election will be staged within the 60-day time frame.

BANGKOK, 3 May 2014 (NNT) – The Government Public Relations Department (PRD) is celebrating its 81st anniversary, vows to continuously help educate and prepare Thai people for the advent of ASEAN Community.

On the occasion of the PRD’s 81st anniversary, Mr. Apinan Juntarungsri, the PRD Director General, warmly welcomed a number of well-wishers from both the government agencies and the private organizations at the Public Relations Department located in Soi Ari Samphan.

According to him,the PRD, under the supervision of the Office of the Prime Minister, has always focused on improving the potential of its employees and staff as well as enhancing its technology in television and radio broadcasting, in a bid to ready the nation for the forthcoming ASEAN Community, which is to be realized in 2015.

The PRD has been working hard in promoting the Thai culture and traditions in the international stage, adding that it has been working in collaboration with Muslim leaders in helping Muslim youths in southern border provinces understand the true meaning of being Muslim, said the director general.

On this occasion, the PRD has hosted a seminar entitled “The Next Step of the PRD”. It is a stage where senior and experienced civil servants exchange thoughts and ideas on how to mobilize the department forward in line with its vision to become the main information provider for all Thais.

As the digital television era is approaching, the seminar also discussed strengths and weaknesses of the department in order to draw up a development plan that would steer the PRD in the right direction and ensure its future growth.

On this occasion, the PRD also presented awards to 20 outstanding civil servants and employees who greatly contributed to the organization.

His Majesty the King will grant a public audience to members of the Royal Family and government officials on the occasion of Coronation Day, 5 May.

The public audience will take place at Rajapracha Samakhom Pavilion, Klai Kangwol Palace in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, at about 10:00 a.m. on 5 May 2014.

Prachuap Khiri Khan Governor Veera Sriwatanatrakul said that preparations are now underway for this special occasion. The Television Pool of Thailand will broadcast the ceremony live to mark the royal coronation anniversary. A total of 12 large LCD screens will be installed on Phetchakasem Road near the palace for well-wishers to watch the audience live.

The landscape around the Klai Kangwol Palace has been improved, with light decorations along both sides of Phetchakasem Road, from Hua Hin Airport to the Hua Hin Municipality Market. Flags and portraits of His Majesty the King are also displayed.

Medical teams, water, and snacks will also be prepared for well-wishers, while security checks will be conducted from the afternoon of 4 May. Parking lots have also been prepared to provide convenience for people travelling to Hua Hin for this occasion.

On the occasion of his 86th birthday anniversary on 5 December 2013, His Majesty will grant an audience to members of the Royal Family and government officials at Rajapracha Samakhom Pavilion within the Klai Kangwol Palace.

On the fifth of May each year, Thailand celebrates Coronation Day, which marks the coronation anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. It is a public holiday in Thailand. His Majesty had a royal coronation ceremony performed in the Grand Palace on 5 May 1950, four years after he actually assumed his kingship in 1946.

After he became King Rama IX in 1946, His Majesty returned to Switzerland to resume his studies at the University of Lausanne. He returned to Thailand in 1950, when the royal coronation ceremony was performed.

By tradition, the royal coronation ceremony signifies the official recognition of the ruling monarch by the entire society. A monarch who has not performed the royal coronation ceremony is regarded as an uncrowned king, referred to by his original name, adding “in charge of the reign,” and accorded a seven-tiered royal umbrella, not the full-honor nine-tiered one. An order from the monarch cannot be called a royal command until a royal coronation ceremony is performed in accordance with ancient royal tradition.

Significantly, at the traditional coronation ceremony on 5 May 1950, His Majesty pronounced the traditional Oath of Accession: “We shall reign with righteousness for the benefits and happiness of the Siamese people.”

The National Anti Corruption Commission (NACC) expects to rule on the PM’s rice mortgage scheme fraud case on May 15th, assuring the public that the commissioners would carefully consider all the available evidence while maintaining impartiality and freedom from political influence.

The NACC Secretary General Sansern Poljiak made the comment, saying his agency would reach a conclusion on the case on Tuesday, before reviewing it on May 8th and issuing a ruling on May 15th.

Meanwhile, an NACC commissioner, Vicha Mahakhun, told the media that the case does not post any concern to the anti-graft agency, as it has been carefully processed using all the facts available to the commissioners. He reassured the public that a ruling in the case does not have a hidden political agenda as the NACC is an independent agency.

The municipality of Hat Yai has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with its Malaysian counterpart, Sungai Petani to boost cooperation between the two cities.

Had Yai’s mayor, Prai Pattano, said the MoU has been designed to strengthen the partnership between the two cities in various ways ranging from economics, science and technology, and education to the environment.

Representatives of Sungai Petani were led by mayor Datuk Haji Ismail bin Haji Said. Beside the signing ceremony on Saturday morning in Hat Yai, there were also other activities such as sports competitions and a seminar to strengthen ties and exchange project ideas between the two cities.

The Hat Yai mayor expressed his hope that the MoU would benefit the residents of both cities in boosting the local economies and enabling other key urban developments.