The Cabinet met on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, at the Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows:
The cabinet approved in principle Draft Ministerial Regulation on customs and border checkpoint (No. …) (Ban Khao Din Border Checkpoint under Aranyaprathet Customs Checkpoint), as proposed by Ministry of Finance, and ordered for it to be forwarded to Office of Council of State for its consideration.
In pertinent to Ministry of Interior’s notification to the Customs Department about the Ministerial Regulation on opening of Ban Khao Din permenent border pass in Khlong Had district, Sakaeo province to promote cordial relations between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Kingdom of Cambodia, and to facilitate transport, and economic/trade/tourism development, Ministry of Finance, on the authority of Sections 5 (1) and (2) of the Customs Act, B.E. 2560, has deemed appropriate to revise Ministerial Regulation on customs and border checkpoints, B.E. 2560, to include Ban Khao Din permenent border pass in Khlong Had district, Sakaeo province as Ban Khao Din Border Ceckpoint under Aranyaprathet Customs Checkpoint.
The cabinet approved in principle Draft Royal Decree on stipulation of government agencies under Liability for Wrongful Act of Officials, B.E. 2539 (1996) (The Thai Red Cross Society), as proposed by the Thai Red Cross Society, and ordered for it to be forwarded to Office of Council of State for its consideration.
The draft Royal Decree stipulates the Thai Red Cross Society as government agency under Liability for Wrongful Act of Officials, B.E. 2539 (1996). At present, there are 60 agencies that are under the aforementioned Act. Four agencies that are under the scrutiny of Office of Council of State are the Thai Media Fund, State Audit Office, National Health Commission Office, and Office of National Human Rights Commission.
The cabinet approved the following proposals made by Ministry of Commerce:
1. Approved renewal of Memorandum of Agreement on Rice Trade between the Thai Government and the Government of the Philippines for another two years from December 31, 2018- December 31, 2020. The renewal is undertaken through an exchange of notes between governments of the two countries.
2. Assigned Minister of Foreign Affairs or a representative to sign the Exchange of Notes on renewal of Memorandum of Agreement on Rice Trade between the Thai Government and the Government of the Philippines.
The renewed Memorandum of Agreement on Rice Trade between the Thai Government and the Government of the Philippines stipulates rice trade of no more than 1 million tons per year pending on market demand, production situation and quantity of rice of the two countries, as well as prices at the time of trading. During 2014-2018, the Governement of the Philippines imported 1.1 tons of Thai rice in 6 times, worth US$499 million (16,674 million Baht).
The cabinet approved ratification of International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism with no acceptance on dispute settlement through arbitration and the International Court of Justice. Ministry of Foreign Affairs is ordered to take action according to the related procedure, while Office of Atoms for Peace is assigned to be the national liaison office under the obligation of the aforementioned Convention. This is as proposed by Ministry of Science and Technology.
The cabinet approved in principle the draft Statement of ASEAN Ministers Responsible for CITES and Wildlife Enforcement on Illegal Wildlife Trade, and the Joint Press Statement, and approved for Minister of Natural Resource and Environment or a representative to endorse the aforementioned Statements. Should there be an amendment in parts that are not gist nor against national benefits, Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment is authorized to proceed without having to resubmit to the cabinet for consideration. This is as proposed by Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment.
Objectives of the Statement of ASEAN Ministers Responsible for CITES and Wildlife Enforcement on Illegal Wildlife Trade, and the Joint Press Statement are as follows:
1. To implement and undertake according to Global and Regional Wildlife Trade Policy, such as UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) #15.7 (To take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna, and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products), and 15.c (Enhance global support for efforts to combat poaching and trafficking of protected species, including by increasing the capacity of local communities to pursue sustainable livelihood opportunities); Plan of Action for ASEAN Cooperation on CITES and Wildlife Enforcement (2016-2020); Work Programme of SOMTC Working Group on Illicit Trafficking of Wildlife and Timber (2019 – 2021), etc.
2. To reduce consumption demand for wildlife, flor, and fauna.
3. To tighten related law enforcement
4. To suppress and tackle Wildlife Cybercrime
--Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) March 19, 2019--