Covid spreaders should own up
Covid spreaders should own upIf Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha thinks his national address on Friday night will restore public confidence in the government's handling of the latest wave of Covid-19 infections, he is dead wrong. He also talked about vaccines that have been ordered and attempts to get vaccines from other sources. The violations by those venues and other areas were possible as police and the authorities turned a blind eye. Yesterday, it was reported that local authorities in 42 provinces stiffly enforced the measure, slapping hefty fines, a 20,000 baht maximum, against those appearing in public places without masks. Such a rule, with enforcement, may allow the country to avoid an absolute lockdown that destroys the economy.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 24, 2021 23:15 UTC
New passport, pity about the mug shot
New passport, pity about the mug shotA fortnight ago I picked up my new British passport. The only downside of the new passport is the scary mug shot which claims to be me. Of course I've gotten used to non-flattering passport "portraits" which have changed considerably over the years and not for the better. The first passport went on to host dozens of immigration stamps befitting an overland journey from England to India and beyond. Shoeless and cluelessThe uninspiring nature of the stamps in my passport reflects a certain lack of adventure in recent times.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 24, 2021 22:52 UTC
Cops pick up pick-up man in pickup
Cops pick up pick-up man in pickupBUENG KAN: A 41-year-old man was arrested yesterday as he collected bags of speed pills and crystal methamphetamine that had been left by the Mekong River in Pak Khat district. Police only identified him as Sudkhate, a resident of Nong Khai. He was caught in possession of 2,114,000 meth pills, 58kg of crystal meth, and 489kg of another substance that looked like crystal meth, according to Thai media reports. Police estimated the the haul at about 200 million baht. A man in a boat left the drugs by the river in Ban Woendon and Mr Sudkhate was caught picking them up and loading them on to his pickup.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 24, 2021 02:11 UTC
MP's assets need scrutiny
MP's assets need scrutinyWith the mysterious disappearance of 10-billion-baht of debt from the asset list of Deputy Transport Minister Weerasak Wangsuphakijkosol, a Bhumjaithai Party list MP, and his wife Yolada, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is left facing a major dilemma -- how to improve transparency among politicians. Eyebrows were raised after it was revealed that 10-billion-baht in debt had been written off within two years. Initially, the politician and his wife had declared the sum in the "assets and debts" category when he became a list MP in 2019. Mr Weerasak said that debt was incurred by someone else and he, as guarantor for that person, declared it accordingly. He could make a start by revealing to the NACC for whom he acted as surety for in that 10-billion-baht debt.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 23, 2021 23:15 UTC
Officials must boost public trust in jabs
Officials must boost public trust in jabsA man is injected with a Covid-19 vaccine at a city centre. The country has seen a surge in infections, surpassing 1,000 for about a week, while virus transmission has covered every province. It means only 13,000 vaccine doses are being administered each day. It is the duty of the government to boost public trust in vaccines -- that it is a major tool to keep us safe, the best available option and side effects are only minimal. However, the government has to admit that its own flaws in law enforcement have dented public trust.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 23, 2021 23:15 UTC
PM discourages Thais from jumping land border
PM discourages Thais from jumping land borderPrime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is reassuring Thais who overstayed in Malaysia that the government is looking for ways to bring them home. Rachada Dhnadirek, deputy government spokeswoman, said the PM has instructed government agencies to help the Thais return to the kingdom. Currently, Thais residing in Malaysia are allowed to return home via land border checkpoints on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, she said. Gen Prayut is discouraging Thais in Malaysia from sneaking into Thailand using natural passages, Ms Rachada said. The Thais reportedly told police they paid a Malaysian middleman 6,000 baht per person to cross the border.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 23, 2021 23:03 UTC
Stand firm on coup crisis
Stand firm on coup crisisTomorrow, leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) will gather in Jakarta for a summit to discuss the crisis in Myanmar while the world watches on anxiously. The first attempt was on Feb 24 when Thailand brokered a meeting between Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Myanmar's military-appointed Foreign Minister, Wunna Maung Lwin. It was followed by a meeting via video call on March 2 during which Asean called on the coup makers to release Aung San Suu Kyi. China has just hosted a meeting to discuss the crisis with four Asean members, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore in Fujian. It is understood that Asean has limited options in dealing with the crisis given its own non-interference principles.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 22, 2021 22:52 UTC
Ministry offers advice to overstayers in Malaysia
Ministry offers advice to overstayers in MalaysiaTanee Sangrat, spokesman of the Foreign MinistryThe Foreign Ministry has urged Thais who have overstayed their visas in Malaysia to quickly apply for repatriation to avoid legal penalties. Ministry spokesman Tanee Sangrat said the Thai embassy in Kuala Lumpur and the Thai consulates in Penang and Kota Bharu have urged Thais who have overstayed since Jan 1 last year to register for repatriation on http://dcaregistration.mfa.go.th. Thais who are at risk of breaking the law are advised to join Malaysia's Recalibration Programme (Repatriation) and arrange to pay the fine of 500 ringgit. They will then be given a special pass to return to Thailand without being prosecuted in Malaysia. The deadline for leaving Malaysia under the repatriation programme is June 30, Mr Tanee said.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 22, 2021 22:49 UTC
DMS to recruit virus hotline volunteers
DMS to recruit virus hotline volunteersThe Department of Medical Services (DMS) is recruiting more health workers to answer its Covid-19 Hotline, after a swathe of complaints about unattended calls. He said the hotline was only established two weeks ago to provide help to infected patients waiting for treatment. The hotline currently has 20 phone lines to provide help, Dr Somsak said. The DMS is attempting to increase the number of available phone lines to provide help across the country. The handle serves as an alternative to the DMS' hotline.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 22, 2021 22:49 UTC
Infected village head failed to quarantine
Infected village head failed to quarantineNakhon Phanom governor Kaisorn Kongchalard, centre, collects details about the village head accused of failing to self-quarantine after returning from Pathum Thani, one of 18 high-risk provinces. Nakhon Phanom governor Kaisorn Kongchalard said on Thursday that the infected woman faces a fact-finding probe. The 55-year-old head of a village in tambon Nam Kam had visited her daughter in Pathum Thani province on April 9. Pathum Thani is one of 18 provinces declared "red" maximum control zones by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). If found at fault, the village head would face disciplinary action.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 22, 2021 05:15 UTC
Don't silence deep thinkers
Don't silence deep thinkersThe recent termination of employment, work permit and related visa of David Streckfuss, an American academic who has worked at Khon Kaen University for the past 27 years, has intensified fears over suppression of academic freedom. About a month before his termination, Mr Streckfuss helped organise a seminar on Isan identity. Mr Streckfuss wrote Truth on Trial in Thailand: Defamation, Treason and Lese-Majeste, published by Routledge Press in 2011. Thus, how could Mr Streckfuss have been expected to fulfil his duties of enrolling exchange students on to the Khon Kaen University programme? Immigration Division 4 in Khon Kaen have said they need more time to inspect the paperwork -- that could be another foot-dragging tactic but attempts to eliminate him are useless.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 21, 2021 21:33 UTC
The evolution of khon
While Pichet and Jitti both approach khon as dancers and choreographers, with wildly different results, there are other artists in Thailand whose contribution to khon should not be overlooked. What does it mean to modernise or bring into the present a performing arts form? The number of young khon artists who continue to dance in khon productions and who have sought out opportunities to train and perform with artists like Jitti and Pichet is proof that the new generation of artists continues to see khon as relevant to them and has the desire to innovate and build upon their artistic roots. Khon is a relatively straightforward art form. Who says then that curiosity in the performing arts has to start only in the theatre and after-school classes?
Source:Bangkok Post
April 21, 2021 21:26 UTC
Exploring islands less known
Koh Nok Phao was not a familiar destination to me when talking about exploring the islands in the southern province of Surat Thani. Known as Muang Roi Koh (meaning Hundred Island Province), Surat Thani has many islands and islets that have not yet become well-known unlike Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Koh Nok PhaoLocated about 5km from the mainland, Koh Nok Phao can be visited year-round. Koh Nok Phao temple is located on the beach next to the Ban Koh Nok Phao School on the northwest of the island. This little bridge on top of coastal rocks is a popular selfie spot on Koh Nok Phao.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 21, 2021 21:11 UTC
April sees surge in retail cryptocurrency traders
April sees surge in retail cryptocurrency tradersThe number of retail cryptocurrency traders in Thailand continues to skyrocket with 24,000 new accounts created in one week in April following the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) approval for Bitkub to resume accepting new accounts. Some traders in such groups suggested opening accounts with foreign exchanges as they accept credit cards as payment method while local exchanges do not. Poramin Insom, founder and director of Satang Corporation, said the Bank of Thailand had banned credit cards as payment methods for cryptocurrency trading since 2018. However, some transactions may have evaded the bank's inspection as the merchant codes for those transactions were not identified as cryptocurrency trading. Mr Poramin said traders should not take risks with a higher interest rate cost of credit cards because the price of cryptocurrencies is highly volatile.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 21, 2021 21:00 UTC
Two deaths,1458 new cases
The 1,458 new cases confirmed on Tuesday comprised 1,454 local infections and four quarantined arrivals, from Japan (two Japanese, one Thai) and Malaysia (a Thai woman). So far this month, the capital had 4,329 cases and adjacent provinces reported a total of 2,656 cases, Dr Apisamai said. "Many new cases are people who were in contact with previously confirmed cases and this raises the number of infections among family members and the local community," she said. Of the 46,643 total cases, 29,371 (63%) had recovered, including 413 discharged over the previous 24 hours, and 17,162 were in hospital. Global Covid-19 cases rose by 824,975 in 24 hours to 143.54 million.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 21, 2021 07:01 UTC