Asia Briefs: Thailand to issue free postcards of late king

The free commemorative postcards with a stamp of the late Thai king will be issued to the public before Jan 20.
The free commemorative postcards with a stamp of the late Thai king will be issued to the public before Jan 20. PHOTO: EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY

Thailand to issue free postcards of late king

BANGKOK • Thailand's post office is offering 9,999,999 free postcards with a one-baht stamp depicting the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch who died recently at the age of 88, Thai media reported yesterday.

The commemorative postcards will be handed out to the Thai public, one per person, before Jan 20, after an online registration exercise.

People will receive the postcards in gold envelopes which they can keep as a memorabilia of the late king, who died on Oct 13.


Indonesia ratifies sea border pact with S'pore

JAKARTA • The Indonesian Parliament ratified a sea border agreement between the country and Singapore yesterday, reported Indonesia media.

The move ratifies a landmark treaty signed in 2014 by Indonesia and Singapore demarcating the sea borders in the eastern part of the Strait of Singapore, in the area between Changi and Batam.


Let Emperor Akihito step down, says panel

TOKYO • A panel appointed by the government has concluded that Emperor Akihito should be allowed to step down, with plans to recommend a special one-time law in a January report, the Nikkei Asian Review reported yesterday.

The ruling coalition and opposition parties are expected to start discussions after the panel publishes its report.

A phone survey of 1,008 people by Kyodo news agency in August showed 87 per cent in favour of abdication.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 16, 2016, with the headline Asia Briefs: Thailand to issue free postcards of late king. Subscribe