Censorship a futile tactic
Censorship a futile tacticThe embattled Prayut Chan-o-cha government seems set to ignore calls by several sectors of society to compromise and hold out the olive branch of a seat at the negotiating table for the young protest leaders. Instead, it looks increasingly prepared to up the ante by censoring the news reports of media outlets sympathetic to the cause of the pro-democracy movement. Deputy police spokesman Krissana Pattanacharoen branded the content "distorted information" with the potential to cause confusion and unease. "Bona fide journalists should be allowed to report important developments without the threat of bans, suspensions, censorship or prosecution hanging over them," the club said in a statement. Its efforts at censorship may ultimately be a bigger blight on its reputation than the already disseminated content it futilely hopes to redact.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 19, 2020 23:15 UTC
Vaccines 'by June' if jab gets govt nod
Vaccines 'by June' if jab gets govt nodThailand could get the first batch of a Covid-19 vaccine in June at the earliest, if the jab developed by AstraZeneca is approved for mass roll-out, according to the National Vaccine Institute. That is because Siam Bioscience Group was selected by the UK-based pharmaceutical firm as its regional partner to produce the vaccine for the Southeast Asian region, said NWI director, Nakorn Premsri. Siam Bioscience Group and AstraZeneca are expected to sign an agreement on technology transfer by the end of next month. Siam Bioscience Group has said that it has the capacity to meet 20% of the demand. In addition to producing the vaccine for domestic needs, Siam Bioscience Group will also be making vaccines for Asean countries.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 19, 2020 23:03 UTC
Clock ticking for PM to avoid disgrace
Clock ticking for PM to avoid disgraceA lone protester sits in front of police water cannon trucks to prevent them from advancing on demonstrators who gathered peacefully at Pathumwan intersection on Friday. He asked the other day while justifying the declaration of a severe state of emergency until next month. The use of water cannons against unarmed, mostly young protesters made many people wonder whether the government was using disproportionate force. The force of the water cannon was enough to wash away any semblance of PM Gen Prayut's legitimacy. It actually act might have, before the water cannon blasts.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 19, 2020 23:03 UTC
Media groups warn govt | Bangkok Post: learning
Several local media organisations spoke out after the leaking on Monday of an order issued by the government's joint Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES). They included the National Press Council of Thailand, the News Broadcasting Council of Thailand, the Thai Journalists Association, the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association, Online News Providers Association and the National Union of Journalists Thailand. In their joint statement, the local media organisations said they were opposed to any forms of media freedom suppression by any side and urged the government not to abuse the law by silencing the media. They condemned any use of media outlets to distort facts or provoke violence and urged their peers to make sure that their coverage of the political situation was comprehensive and without bias. DES Minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta said none of the named five media outlets - Voice TV, Prachatai.com, The Reporters, The Standard and Free Youth movement - had been banned or taken off the air following the order.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 19, 2020 22:41 UTC
Kaset intersection rally ends peacefully | Bangkok Post: learning
A view of the rally at Kasetsart intersection in Bangkok. (Photo by Varuth Hirunyatheb)A large crowd of mostly young people gathered at Kasetsart intersection in Bangkok, one of the three locations where rallies were held in the capital on Monday, before dispersing peacefully at 7.15pm. The three sites were the area in front of the Bangkok Remand Prison where their leaders are detained; Kasetsart intersection; and the MRT’s Public Health Ministry station in Nonthaburi, according to a post on Free Youth Facebook at 3.40pm. Leaderless protests have continued nationwide for the third consecutive day after a crackdown in Pathumwan, Bangkok, on Friday, even though their leaders had been arrested. Protesters have been relying on messaging apps to arrange rallies at several sites in a few hours before they take place.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 19, 2020 17:37 UTC
'Rung', 'Penguin' freed on bail
'Rung', 'Penguin' freed on bailParit 'Penguin' Chiwarak (left) and Panusaya 'Rung' Sithijirawattanakul during the really on Sept 19 at Sanam Luang. (Photo by Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)A court has granted bail for three protesters, including leaders Panusaya "Rung" Sithijirawattanakul and Parit "Penguin" Chiwarak. The Appeal Court on Monday evening overuled the lower court’s decision and allowed bail for Ms Panusaya, Mr Parit and Nutchanon Pairoj for a surety of 200,000 baht each. Bail requests deniedMr Jatupat, however, was not allowed bail since he had also been charged in other cases. Bunkueanun "Francis" Paothong, a student acitivist who faced the same charge, was released on bail on Saturday.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 19, 2020 13:52 UTC
Monday: 5 imported Covid cases | Bangkok Post: learning
(Bangkok Post file photo)The government on Monday reported five new imported cases of Covid-19, taking the total number of infections to 3,691. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Analysis (CCSA) said four of the five new cases were Thais who recently returned from overseas, and the fifth a Kenyan national. The first case was a Thai man who returned from Kuwait on Oct 4. The second case was a Thai woman who arrived from Turkey last Wednesday and was found to infected on Friday. Another Thai woman flew in from Japan last Wednesday and tested positive on Saturday.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 19, 2020 07:18 UTC
Police move to silence news, Facebook pages | Bangkok Post: learning
The Standard is web-based, but has a Facebook page. Voice TV also has a Facebook page. Pol Gen Suwat said the four news outlets and the protest leaders' Facebook page published content harmful to national security. The emergency decree, which has been enforced since Thursday, allows authorities to ban media and other information deemed threatening to national security. Police want to shut down four media outlets and a Facebook page run by protesters, on grounds their content constitutes a threat to national security.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 19, 2020 07:07 UTC
The cost of reopening the country | Bangkok Post: learning
(Photo by Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)What is the real cost for tourists when planning a trip to Thailand in the Covid-19 era? Last year, when foreign tourist arrival numbers nearly hit 40 million, major revenue came from Asian tourists. If applied, the scheme would draw 100,000 travellers a month and help tourism with at least 5 billion baht in revenue, Atta said. Hong Kong and Singapore recently reached agreement on a travel bubble policy, which will soon let people from those two countries travel back and forth without being quarantined. "We have to live with this virus as we have with others before like the common cold or dengue," Mr Fernandes said.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 19, 2020 03:02 UTC
Tab, Coca-Cola's Diet-Soda Pioneer and a '70s Icon, Is Going Away
THE COCA-COLA COMPANYThe soda giant's first diet cola was a pop-culture icon in the 1970s and early '80s, then faded after the launch of Diet Coke. The top sellers were Diet Coke, with 35% of sales, and Coke Zero Sugar, with 22%. By the end of 1983, Diet Coke had captured 17% of the diet-soda market, making it the No. Though Diet Coke all but eclipsed Tab, the beverage company kept the throwback brand alive. "We want to make sure those who want Tab get Tab," Douglas Daft, Coca-Cola's then-chairman and chief executive, said in 2001, when Tab's market share had fallen below 1%.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 18, 2020 23:29 UTC
EconThai: Jobs drag into Q1
The Employers' Confederation of Thai Trade and Industry (EconThai) expects the country's employment to continue slowing until the first quarter of 2021. EconThai vice-chairman Tanit Sorat forecasts average capacity utilisation this year at 60.8%, a poor sign for businesses and their employment. EconThai said the government's economic stimulus measures such as a job retention scheme and a job fair have yet to result in significant impact. Last month's three-day job fair, during which up to 1 million jobs were offered to attendees, was part of state attempts to curb the unemployment rate. The ongoing political conflicts, notably anti-government protests, worry EconThai because the issues may depress the economy and keep employment from recovering.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 18, 2020 23:26 UTC
Not time to get tough or stage another coup
Not time to get tough or stage another coupThe crackdown on peaceful, unarmed protesters last Friday signalled the government's intention to get tough with pro-democracy groups. The opening of the special session requires at least 245 MPs, or half the Lower House, to support it. Last week, the country managed to avoid a confrontation between pro-democracy activists and pro-government groups as both sides mobilised members at rallies along Ratchadamnoen Avenue. Yesterday, Democrat party leader Jurin Laksanawisit welcomed the special session and even pledged that the government should play host to the meeting. There are issues that need to be cleared, including some allegations against the pro-democracy protesters, especially the unfortunate incident involving Her Majesty the Queen's motorcade on Oct 14.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 18, 2020 23:26 UTC
Equality improves but hurdles remain
Politicians and observers say this higher ratio of women MPs has promoted greater gender equality, but the male-dominated political environment and a lack of female candidates remain obstacles. "These younger female MPs come from various backgrounds and join politics because they are eager to change the country for the better. These new female MPs are different from their senior counterparts who fear losing their strongholds if they push a progressive agenda," she said. Ms Ruengrawee said the number of female MPs matters but depends on the political will of each party because there is no legal obligation to ensure equality. "Studies show the government established funds for women, but one criterion states that eligible applicants must be members of a political party.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 18, 2020 23:15 UTC
Talks vital in this cat and mouse game
Talks vital in this cat and mouse gameProtesters march through the streets of Bangkok. It looks as if the protesters are playing a cat and mouse game. But in this game there are several mice running around, making it difficult for the cat to catch them. The government, together with right-wing elements, alleged that demonstrators blocked the royal motorcade, while clips that were widely shared in social media countered that claim. Verbal abuse is a form of violence similar to the use of force to break up a peaceful protest.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 18, 2020 23:15 UTC
Thai celebs break silence on democracy protests
'Their voice is vital' - Thai celebs break silence on democracy protestsPro-democracy protesters hold up their mobile phones as lights during an anti-government rally at Victory Monument in Bangkok on Sunday. Political statements are unusual from Thai celebs, whose lucrative endorsements rely on the billionaire clans that are a pillar of the country's establishment. Thai-American K-Pop idol Nichkhun, better known as the "Thai Prince", told his 6.9 million Twitter followers he cannot "stand idly by" after Friday's scenes, an escalation after months of student-led protests. "We've had a lot of injustice going on in Thailand for decades, fighting against our government for democracy," she added. The support from some celebrities, and silence from others, are not lost on the young protesters.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 18, 2020 12:00 UTC