Long holiday generates revenue and road deaths | Bangkok Post: learning
Photo by ARNUN CHONMAHATRAKOOLThe Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said the recent long national holiday generated 8.8 billion baht, while the Transport Ministry reported more than 400 road accidents. But with the Covid-19 pandemic and its economic impact, the TAT devised a campaign to encourage Thais to travel as much as possible, thus generating revenue. Transport Ministry data showed 325 car accidents with 48 deaths and 309 others injured. Meanwhile, there were 92 motorcycle accidents with 25 fatalities. Ratchaburi and Suphan Buri had the most motorcycle accidents.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 08, 2020 03:00 UTC
A coup 'won't happen again'
A coup 'won't happen again'Army chief Apirat Kongsompong yesterday dismissed rumours of a coup d'etat, as the spokesman of the opposition Move Forward Party warned against a power takeover, saying public sentiment has changed. [A coup d'état] will never happen again," Gen Apirat told the Bangkok Post yesterday. When asked about the protest planned for Sept 19 by students and activists, he added that the prime minister is capable of handling the political situation. The post also called a coup attempt would be "suicidal" and the military won't be able to redeem itself if it launches one today. The academic also suggested Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha resign to pave the way for the appointment of an "outsider" prime minister as allowed by Section 272 of the constitution.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 07, 2020 23:03 UTC
NACC 'looking' at Pareena
NACC 'looking' at PareenaPareena: Could face political banThe National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is pressing allegations of false asset declaration and forest encroachment against Ratchaburi MP Pareena Kraikupt, a source said yesterday. The source said the NACC has almost completed its investigation into Ms Pareena's asset declaration, and that the anti-graft commission has informed the MP so she can prepare her defence, stopping short of saying when the results will be announced to the public. The anti-graft agency is duty-bound to look into allegations of forest encroachment made against the Palang Pracharath Party MP, as well as whether the case represents an ethical violation, the source added. If the probe finds enough grounds to support the claims against Ms Pareena, the NACC will forward the case to public prosecutors, who will then decide on whether or not the case should be forwarded to the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions. Under the Anti-Corruption Act, if Ms Pareena is found guilty of the charges, she would be discharged from her position as MP and banned from politics for 10 years.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 07, 2020 23:03 UTC
Details of 'Boss' probe urged
Details of 'Boss' probe urgedThe Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT) yesterday submitted a letter to the prime minister calling on him to disclose details of the investigation into the alleged mishandling of the hit-and-run case against Red Bull scion Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya. The ACT's open letter urged the government to disclose the detailed results of a fact-finding committee chaired by former National Anti-Corruption Commissioner Vicha Mahakun. The fact-finding committee earlier submitted a full report to the prime minister but details of the alleged corruption and names of the wrongdoers were not made public. In its report, the Vicha committee identified eight groups of people who played a role in the controversial dropping of charges against Mr Vorayuth. Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said various people, including police officers, public prosecutors, lawyers and civilians, had been guilty of misconduct in their handling of the case.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 07, 2020 23:03 UTC
Purge poison of 'conspiracy'
The public was left stunned last week when the results were unveiled by Mr Vicha, a former national graftbuster. In addition, it accused lawyers and witnesses of giving false testimony, as well as naming those who were behind the conspiracy. Note that the prosecution's fact-finding panel cleared Mr Nate -- who has now resigned -- of any wrongdoing. The Public Prosecutor Commission also decided against setting up a panel to investigate Mr Nate over his decision. How can the public trust the results of other investigations against those implicated in the conspiracy, who include police officers, prosecutors, politicians, retired officials and civilian experts?
Source:Bangkok Post
September 07, 2020 22:30 UTC
Barrage projects divide opinion
The Songkhram River is home to a large area of ecologically rich wetland in Nakhon Phanom which was formally recognised by Unesco as a 'Ramsar Site' in May. However, the two barrage projects along the Songkhram River are worrying conservationists. The 14.8-billion-baht project is expected to change the course of the Songkhram River, one of the few rivers in the country currently unencumbered by man-made infrastructure. Hannarong Yaowalers, a veteran con- servationist, said the barrage will affect water flow and block fish migration. Mr Sanit said the Songkhram River basin was more fertile in the past, with 183 fish species between 1978 and 2005.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 07, 2020 22:18 UTC
Border areas on high alert after Covid cases surge in Myanmar | Bangkok Post: learning
Security authorities patrol the Moei River in Tak province to prevent illegal immigration. Photo by ASSAWIN PINITWONGThe Ministry of Public Health is worried about Covid-19 infections in Myanmar following predictions that the virus could reach the Thai-Myanmar border in the next two weeks. The director of the Division of Communicable Diseases, Sophon Iamsirithavorn, said the Covid-19 situation in Myanmar was a great concern as the country was now reporting more than 100 cases per day in many cities. Dr Sophon said stringent measures had already been put in place along the border. Meanwhile, three Cambodian men were arrested while crawling under razor-wire barriers from Poipet in Cambodia and all were immediately screened for the virus.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 07, 2020 22:18 UTC
Anon, 'Mike' freed after police withdrew requests
Anon, 'Mike' freed after police withdrew requestsLawyer Anon Nampa (left) and student activist Panupong 'Mike' Jadnok shows a symbol of their pro-democracy protest after being released from Bangkok REmand Prison in Bangkok on Monday evening. (Photo by Apichit Jinakul)Human rights lawyer Anon Nampa and student activist Panupong "Mike" Jadnok have been released after police cancelled their detention requests. In Mr Panupong's case, the court did not revoke his bail but required 200,000 baht in cash as a surety. Refusing to give up their fundamental rights for freedom, Mr Anon did not re-apply for bail and Mr Panupong did not put up the money so both ended up in cells at Bangkok Remand Prison. In a statement, police claimed they have acted within the legal framework and refrained from using violence in dealing with them.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 07, 2020 12:22 UTC
Patients 'improving' on weed treatment
Patients 'improving' on weed treatmentInitial studies have found that patients, including those with cancer, have benefited from cannabis extract treatment and it may inhibit cancer cell growth, according to the Government Pharmaceuticals Organisation. The Prasat Neurological Institute also found that five out of seven multiple sclerosis patients who did not respond to standard treatments were improving while being treated with THC:CBD (1:1) extract. They normally suffered from dry lips and throats, confusion, headaches and palpitations, as well as nausea and vomiting, Ms Nanthakan said. For Parkinson patients, THC:CBD (1:1) was applied to 16 patients at Sakonnakhon Hospital in Sakon Nakhon province for three months. More tests could be conducted on animals later, Ms Nanthakan said.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 07, 2020 07:18 UTC
Monday: 1 new Covid-19 case | Bangkok Post: learning
Returnees arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport in Samut Prakan province on Sunday as the country logged one more Covid-19 case. (Photo by Wichan Charoenkiartpakun)The government on Monday reported one new coronavirus case, a returnee from India, as total cases rose to 3,445. He was quarantined in Bangkok and the infection was confirmed in his first test on Saturday while he was asymptomatic. Meanwhile, global Covid-19 cases rose by 235,260 over the past 24 hours to 27.3 million. Thailand ranked 122nd by the number of confirmed cases.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 07, 2020 05:37 UTC
Almost 300 Rohingyas arrive in Aceh
Almost 300 Rohingyas arrive in AcehRohingya migrants look on following their arrival by boat in Lhokseumawe, Aceh, on Monday. Nearly 300 Rohingya migrants came ashore on Indonesia's Sumatra island early on Monday, authorities said, in what is believed to be the biggest landing of the persecuted Myanmar minority in years. (Photo by Rahmat Mirza/AFP)LHOKSEUMAWE, Indonesia/BANGKOK: Almost 300 Rohingya refugees believed to have been at sea for six months landed in Indonesia’s Aceh province early on Monday, Indonesian authorities said. Junaidi Yahya, head of the Red Cross in Lhokseumawe, said the group was currently being held in a temporary location. But both Malaysian and Thai authorities pushed them back, she said, as borders tightened due to coronavirus pandemic.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 07, 2020 05:36 UTC
How a ‘business rest’ can drive you forward
The headline might alarm you because no business leader that I know of wants to see their business take a rest, especially during the troubled times we’re facing today. But ask yourself this: Do you simply want to survive, or do you want to drive the business toward something bigger? We often think of rest as stopping work, reducing stress and taking a step back. But instead of completely stopping operations, which would be a financial strain on any business, consider taking a step back from the usual ways of working. The critical element of “business rest” is to create room for controlled failure.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 06, 2020 23:37 UTC
Digital divide leaves poor out of scheme
Digital divide leaves poor out of schemeA man tries to climb up a fence at the Finance Ministry out of frustration after he missed out on the government's 5,000-baht handout despite being eligible. The scheme is expected to inject about 90 billion baht into the economy, equivalent to a gross domestic product growth of 0.28%. Though Thailand has a high rate of social media penetration, there is a massive digital divide which prevents the most vulnerable in society from accessing the government's aid programmes. This digital divide means more tech-savvy, middle-class individuals -- who weren't as economically affected by the Covid-19 lockdown -- are more likely to grab the cash handouts. This is in stark contrast to the rich and affluent, who can easily access any government aid scheme and are likely to survive the pandemic more or less unscathed.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 06, 2020 23:26 UTC
Repatriation effort calls on all hands
The ministry has joined hands with airlines to ease the financial burden of repatriation. "Each ministry sends its staff to clear up unresolved issues at the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). Despite obstacles along the way, Mr Chatri said staff feel committed and happy to help repatriate Thais and foreigners to their homelands safely. We asked the airline to let her board the flight for emergency reasons to see her mother on her deathbed. Some blame us for not picking up calls or using inappropriate words in reply, but we have chosen not to respond.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 06, 2020 23:26 UTC
Time to settle mine dispute
Time to settle mine disputeNow is a critical time for the government to fight tooth and nail in the Akara gold mine case saga that was brought to an international arbitrator. If defeated, the country will have to fork out 30 billion baht in compensation as demanded by the Sydney-based firm. Some media outlets reported that Mr Suriya proposed to the cabinet in March that it settle the legal case, paying the mine operator compensation. Gen Prayut said earlier he will "take responsibility" for the legal dispute. Whether the government goes through the arbitration process or settles the case through negotiation, it should make people's livelihoods and health safety the priority.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 06, 2020 23:15 UTC