Navy's case sub-standard
Navy's case sub-standardBy going ahead with the purchase of two more submarines worth 22.5 billion baht, the Prayut Chan-o-cha government and the navy have shown they don't share the feelings of people struggling with economic hardship due to Covid-19. The purchase of the first of the planned three subs was finalised using the 2017 budget. The navy's submarine plan had been stalled by elected governments, including Yingluck Shinawatra's, until the military took the control. The officer forgot one fact: the budget is taxpayers' money and the procurement was wrong from the beginning. Adm Sitthiporn and the government may not realise that the procurement will fuel public dissatisfaction with this administration.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 24, 2020 23:15 UTC
Sub deal shows navy detached from reality
Sub deal shows navy detached from realityIt looks as if the government is concerned that the latest bout of protests will die down too soon. The audacious subs deal could also mean that the powers-that-be are becoming too greedy. What if the subs deal turns into a new common ground that allows the moderate, even existing supporters of the government, to join forces with the protesters, who are currently seen by some as too radical? What is even more astonishing is despite the uproar, the navy still has the gall to defend its planned purchase. The subs deal with be reexamined by a House committee again next week.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 24, 2020 23:15 UTC
Tourist arrivals tumble 71% y
Tourist arrivals tumble 71% y/yAn airport staff member wears a protective mask due to the coronavirus outbreak as she sanitises rows of luggage carts at Suvarnabhumi Airport on March 12, 2020. In the January-July period, foreign tourist numbers were 6.69 million, down 71% year on year, with spending down 70.4% from a year earlier to 332 billion baht. Thailand, which had a record 39.8 million tourist arrivals last year, has recorded zero foreign visitors since April when it imposed a travel ban. In July 2019 alone, there were 3.33 million tourists who spent around 167 billion baht. Thailand expects to receive 8 million foreign tourists this year, down 80% from last year.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 24, 2020 11:48 UTC
Anti-government activist nabbed in Rayong
Activist Panupong 'Mike Rayong' holds a sign reading '1,000-rai sea reclamation. ahead of the arrival of Prime Minister Chan-o-cha for a mobile cabinet meeting in the eastern province on Monday. (Photo by Pattarapong chatpattarasill)An anti-government activist was arrested in Rayong province while waiting to greet Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha who led a mobile cabinet meeting in the province on Monday. What will Rayong people get?”Mr Panupong was on an arrest warrant issued in connection with the Free Youth protest at Thammasat University Rangsit campus on Aug 10. Mr Panupong is one of the three students who held posters slamming Gen Prayut when the prime minister visited Rayong in mid-July.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 24, 2020 11:40 UTC
Monday: 2 new Covid imports | Bangkok Post: learning
This photo taken on Aug 21, 2020 shows passengers wearing face masks as a preventive measure against the Covid-19 coronavirus walking along a concourse at the departure area of Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok. (AFP)The government on Monday reported two new cases of the novel coronavirus, a Qatari and a Thai who returned from India. The Centre for Covid Situation Administration said the first case was a Thai student, 35, who returned from India on Aug 6 and was quarantined in Bangkok. He was quarantined in a hospital in Bangkok and tested positive the same day. The centre said doctors were keeping an eye on the the Qatari’s two sons, who accompanied him to Bangkok, although both initially tested negative for the virus.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 24, 2020 04:47 UTC
Subs plan could sink govt fortunes
Subs plan could sink govt fortunesIn this 2017 file photo, Adm Luechai Ruddit, then Navy chief of staff, middle, chairman of the navy's submarine procurement management panel, addresses a press conference to defend the controversial submarine purchase. Yutthapong Jarassathian, a Pheu Thai Party MP and a subcommittee member, said the purchase was subject to fierce debate with no conclusion. This trend has become clear since the NCPO's time as the military budget keeps climbing. The strong desire to purchase submarines prompted speculation about the vested interests of some people concerned, in the form of commissions, perhaps. In short, China has obtained a big chunk of the military budget.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 23, 2020 23:15 UTC
Students need reality check
The army had seized the grounds of Thammasat University, prompting a protest by some 2,000 students which was co-led by Marut Bunnag, who would later become parliament president. Chulalongkorn and Thammasat students mounted a protest march against Cambodia and asserted Thailand's claim over the temple. On Oct 14, 1973, a popular uprising launched by university students culminated in the downfall of the junta government of Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn, and Oct 6, 1976 was marked by the massacre at Thammasat University. The student protest also came to the fore in the 1991 Black May popular uprising which drove the Suchinda Kraprayoon government from power. A stark difference is clearly defined between students during the time of my generation and the students of today.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 23, 2020 23:15 UTC
Expats lend support to protesters
Anti-government demonstrators led by the Free People group gather at the Democracy Monument on Ratchadamnoen Avenue on Aug 16. The group demanded the government dissolve parliament, draw up a new constitution and put a stop to threats to its critics. (Photo by Arnun Chonmahatrakool)In front of Democracy Monument under police guard was a grey-haired foreigner in a blue T-shirt and shorts. However, they were awakened by two female students who dared to question his behaviour before they joined forces to turn him upside down. The same day, about 60 demonstrators had joined a pro-monarchy rally led by vocational students at Democracy Monument.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 23, 2020 23:15 UTC
The winds of change are blowing
The winds of change are blowingThe wind of change has swept across Thailand and awakened Thai youth faster and more furiously than I've witnessed before in my lifetime. I fully agree with him that the time for change has revisited the country. The unknown factor is to what extent change will occur and which institutions or organisations will be affected. For the time being, it appears the demands of the young protesters have gone far beyond regime change as originally stated. Or they will fail the young generation like the current regime.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 23, 2020 23:15 UTC
Senate must give way
It is known that the 2017 constitution was written in a way that makes any amendment to the charter very difficult. This is due to the fact that under the charter, the military-installed Senate has a decisive role in approving or rejecting any changes to the constitution. Among the votes, at least one-third must be from the Senate, or 84 senators. The composition of the Senate, and their roles under the constitution, are among the root problems which need to be addressed. The Senate played a crucial role in helping Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha retain the premiership after the March 24 elections last year.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 23, 2020 23:15 UTC
Thais living abroad back anti-govt rallies at home
Thais living abroad back anti-govt rallies at homeAnti-government demonstrators led by the Free People group gather at the Democracy Monument on Ratchadamnoen Avenue on Aug 16, 2020. (Photo by Arnun Chonmahatrakool)Pro-democracy rallies are sprouting up abroad in support of the anti-government demonstrations in Thailand. "In our generation, we must end this toxic relationship between Thai people and the ruling regime in Thailand," read one of the banners. Meanwhile, the Taiwan Alliance for Thai Democracy (TATD) said on its Facebook page that it had held its own rally in support at Taipei Main Station yesterday evening. The group told Taiwan News that 150-200 people joined the event.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 23, 2020 23:14 UTC
Anti-govt rally in Khon Kaen
Anti-govt rally in Khon KaenKHON KAEN: A group of students and and supporters of the Free People group staged a brief rally in Muang district of this northeastern province on Saturday night, calling for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to resign and dissolve parliament, the writing of a new constitution and an end to the government's intimidation of the people. The rally at the democracy monument on Srichan road in the Khon Kaen municipal area started at 9pm. We want the decentralisation of power and the right of communities to manage their own resources. The rally continued with speeches by core members of the group and music played by various bands. The demonstration, watched by police and other authorities, was called off at 10pm.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 23, 2020 04:48 UTC
Noir 'The Batman' footage thrills fans at DC virtual event
The virtual "DC FanDome" from Warner Bros comes after real-world extravaganzas beloved by comic-book fans -- such as Comic-Con -- were canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Headline billing went to "The Batman," a dark, detective-style mystery take on the Caped Crusader which star Pattinson said had to shut down midway through production in March due to Covid-19. Saturday's all-day event premiered footage and panels for follow-ups to blockbusters "Wonder Woman," "Suicide Squad" and "Shazam!" Kicking things off Saturday was "Wonder Woman 1984" -- penciled to be the next DC movie due out, in October, despite the pandemic. The event comes as WarnerMedia -- which owns the movie rights to DC comics -- undergoes a massive restructuring, including the loss of hundreds of studio jobs.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 23, 2020 02:26 UTC
It's not the economy, stupid: stock markets soar to record highs
It's not the economy, stupid: stock markets soar to record highsThe booming stock markets will offer little solace to the many millions of people who have lost their jobs and livelihoods in the coronavirus pandemicPARIS - The record highs attained by Wall Street last week might come as welcome news for US President Donald Trump. For many, then, the party mood on stock markets might appear "indecent", said Saxo Banque economist Christopher Dembik. "The stock market is not the economy," said Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor. "The stock market remains convinced that the (US Federal Reserve) is never going to let any worst-case trading scenario unfold for the stock market." It was a "well-known fact that this stock market has generally greeted any weakness as a buying opportunity."
Source:Bangkok Post
August 23, 2020 01:18 UTC
Floods expected in Phrae, Nan
Communities on the Yom and Nan riverbanks in Phrae and Nan were told to brace for floods as water levels in the two main northern rivers rose rapidly due to torrential rain yesterday. As heavy downpours continued, water in the rivers spilt onto banks in Muang district in Phrae and Wiang Sa district in Nan, he said. In Sukhothai province, a disaster mitigation and prevention office issued a warning about a huge volume of water running off from Phrae and Nan provinces. Sri Satchanalai is expected to be the first district to be affected by the flood as it borders Phrae, according to the office. Yesterday afternoon, flash floods were reported in Sawankhalok district of Sukhothai.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 22, 2020 23:37 UTC