Students deserve respect, not scorn
Students deserve respect, not scornA student walks with a white ribbon tied to his bag as a show of dissent against the government. The rally at the Democracy Monument seems to have given school students courage. Such scenes reflect problems in the Thai education system that has reproduced a traditional image of Thai youth -- obedient imbeciles without inquisitive minds. Take a look at Thai students' Pisa scores which are consistently performing below the international average in core subjects. Surely, Gen Prayut and other phuyai are uneasy with education reform that produces students who are different from them.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 19, 2020 23:26 UTC
Boy, 4, brutally assaulted by own mum
Boy, 4, brutally assaulted by own mumPolice escort a 20-year-old woman, centre, and her new husband, left, after she allegedly brutally assaulted her four-year-old biological son. The station chief said the boy was severely injured and in a coma. It was reported that the boy's biological father, 23, told police on Tuesday night that his son was severely assaulted and admitted to Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital in Sai Mai district. The woman told him that her father had assaulted the boy, but the maternal grandmother told him later that the woman and her new husband had taken the child from the grandparents in May, media reported. Police learned on Tuesday night that the boy was assaulted on Aug 12 -- Mother's Day in Thailand -- after he defecated in his bed.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 19, 2020 08:26 UTC
Arrest warrants for protesters who urged change to monarchy
Arrest warrants for protesters who urged change to monarchyMore than 1,000 students take part in an anti-government rally at Thammasat University Rangsit campus on Aug 10. The six include Panusaya Sithijirawattankul, 21, the student who read out a manifesto demanding reform of the monarchy. The Ministry of Digital Economy will file a complaint against exiled academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun for creating a Facebook group deemed critical of the monarchy, ministry spokesman Putchapong Nodthaisong told Reuters. "We have filed a request to Facebook to delete the entire group, but the platform hasn’t been cooperative,” Mr Putchapong said. Students told the Bangkok Post they were upset by reports of teachers and school directors trying to prevent pupils from taking part in demonstrations.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 19, 2020 08:03 UTC
Movie Preview: Sister mystery | Bangkok Post: learning
Intruder is the mystery Korean movie led by Song Ji-hyo whom Thai viewers may know from the popular TV game show Running Man. Intruder kicks off when an architect, Seo-jin receives a call saying that his younger sister Yu-jin, who had been missing for 25 years, has been found. While all the family members are excited for the return of Yu-jin, Seo-jin doesn’t feel comfortable with his long lost sister. Things become more strange when family members start behaving unusually. Is Yu-jin his real sister?
Source:Bangkok Post
August 19, 2020 05:15 UTC
Wednesday: 1 new Covid case | Bangkok Post: learning
The government on Wednesday reported one new case of Covid-19 infection, a quarantined masseuse who returned from India, raising the total number of cases to 3,382. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration said the 37-year-old woman arrived on Aug 8 on the same flight as 18 previously confirmed cases and was quarantined in Bangkok. So far, 3,286 people had arrived from India and the Covid-19 infection rate among them was 9.89%. Of the total cases, 3,199 people had recovered, including nine released over the past 24 hours, and 125 patients remained at hospitals. Thailand was in 115th place by the number of confirmed cases.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 19, 2020 05:15 UTC
Motorcycle, pickup collide, 2 killed
Motorcycle, pickup collide, 2 killedPolice and rescue workers at the scene of the crash between a motorcycle and pickup truck on Mancha Khiri-Phra Yuen road in Mancha Khiri district, Khon Kaen province, early Wednesday. Two men on the motorcycle were killed. (Photo: Chakrapan Nathanri)KHON KAEN: Two Myanmar migrant workers were killed when their motorcycle collided with a pickup truck in Mancha Khiri district early on Wednesday morning. The accident occurred about 12.15am near an intersection on Mancha Khiri-Phra Yuen road near Pa Phu village, Pol Capt Viroj Kowinthasud of Mancha Khiri police station, said. The two men were said to be Myanmar migrants who worked at a slaughterhouse in tambon Kudkhao, Mancha Khiri district.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 19, 2020 04:30 UTC
Nate won't face 'Boss' case probe | Bangkok Post: learning
Nate: Defended decisionThe Public Prosecutor Commission on Tuesday decided not to investigate Deputy Attorney-General Nate Naksuk over his decision to drop Red Bull scion Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya's reckless driving causing death charge in the 2012 hit-and-run case. Athapol Yaisawang, head of the Department of the Public Prosecutor Commission, said that the proposed panel would duplicate another panel set up by the attorney-general to review the case, Mr Athapol said. He added that the attorney-general has not yet approved the resignation tendered by Mr Nate. The attorney-general has the authority to put on hold the resignation for three months, Mr Athapol said. Previously, Mr Nate defended his decision to drop the charge against Mr Vorayuth in his resignation letter, saying the decision was above board.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 19, 2020 03:01 UTC
The iconic world of Andy Warhol
When Andy Warhol said 'pop art is for everyone', I believe he was keen for art to be accessible, not elitist. "In the exhibition, visitors can explore the most intimate and spiritual part of Andy Warhol. "The highlights are the best known icons of Andy Warhol such as the disc covers, the interviews, the invitation cards and the series of objects dedicated to Campbell's Soup. Also on view are unpublished images and the Two Dollars series signed by Andy Warhol in 1976 to mark the centenary of independence." "In my opinion, Andy Warhol was hiding a real Zen master behind a superficial mask of an enlightened consumerist.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 18, 2020 23:48 UTC
Treat the students fairly
Put on hold any attempt to punish school students who display the three-finger salute or white ribbons ostensibly to show solidarity with the pro-democracy rallies. Instead of teaching students to be able to think for themselves, many teachers are stuck in past methods of rote-learning where teachers hold supreme positions of authority. That is one reason why we should not be surprised that young school students have stepped up to the forefront of the political conflict and showed solidarity with protesters. Students expressing their political standpoint in schools may be an unprecedented phenomenon, but it's nothing to be feared. Young students must be protected from all forms of violence and intimidation as they exercise their right to freedom of expression through peaceful means.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 18, 2020 23:26 UTC
New govt spokesman named
New govt spokesman namedAnucha Burapachaisri, secretary to Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan, has been appointed the new government spokesman. Mr Anucha's new role was announced yesterday by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha following the weekly cabinet meeting, which also approved new permanent secretary appointments at three ministries. Gen Prayut said the communications strategy pursued by the government spokesman's team would be adjusted to meet the changing environment. The cabinet also named Krisada Chinavicharana, currently director-general of the Customs Department, as permanent secretary for finance; Thani Thongphakdi, ambassador to the US, as foreign affairs permanent secretary; and Thongplew Thongchan, director-general of the Royal Irrigation Department as permanent secretary for agriculture and cooperatives. Other posts approved by the cabinet were Chutintorn Kongsak, currently ambassador to India, as a deputy foreign affairs permanent secretary; Cherdkiat Atthakor, now director-general of the Department of Information and Foreign Ministry spokesman, as a deputy foreign affairs permanent secretary; and Tanee Sangrat, ambassador to Vietnam, as director-general of the Department of Information and new Foreign Ministry spokesman.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 18, 2020 23:15 UTC
Govt U-turns on submitting own charter change bill
Govt U-turns on submitting own charter change billDeputy government spokeswoman Rachada DhnadirekThe government has decided not to present its own version of a charter amendment bill, prompting speculation that it was a ploy to buy time over the contentious issue. "This will follow legal procedures and feedback will be gathered from the committee [on studying charter amendments] and the public. He said then that the government would present its own version of a charter rewrite bill in the next parliamentary session. The premier's move came amid mounting calls for charter changes, particularly from the opposition and student activists. "When the government refuses to play host [to charter change], then we cannot be sure that we can amend the constitution.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 18, 2020 23:15 UTC
Nate won't face 'Boss' case probe
Nate won't face 'Boss' case probeNate: Defended decisionThe Public Prosecutor Commission on Tuesday decided not to set up a panel to investigate Deputy Attorney-General Nate Naksuk over his decision to drop Red Bull scion Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya's reckless driving causing death charge in the 2012 hit-and-run case. The commission reasoned that the proposed panel would duplicate another panel set up by the attorney-general to review the case, Mr Athapol said. He added that the attorney-general has not yet approved the resignation tendered by Mr Nate. The attorney-general has the authority to put on hold the resignation for three months, Mr Athapol said. Previously, Mr Nate defended his decision to drop the charge against Mr Vorayuth in his resignation letter, saying the decision was above board.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 18, 2020 23:03 UTC
'Test-&-trace' crucial but won't beat coronavirus alone: study
By itself, the test-and-trace approach can reduce the virus' reproduction rate, or R number, by 26 percent, they reported in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, using mathematical models to examine data from previously published studies. The reproduction rate measures the number of people in a population, on average, infected by each person carrying the virus. "Our results show that test and trace can help reduce the R number but needs to be carried out effectively and quickly to do so," he said in a statement. - Herd immunity not close -In the United States and the UK, delays can be even longer. "Test and trace alone won't be enough to control transmission in most communities, and other measures alongside will be needed to bring the R number below 1," said Grassly.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 18, 2020 22:52 UTC
Prawit: 3-finger gesture is Scouts' salute | Bangkok Post: learning
Scouts... scouts," Gen Prawit said. Asked if the three-fingered salute was acceptable, he declined to answer and left. Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon dismissed the three-fingered hand gesture used by protesting students as the salute used by the Boy Scouts. Some students at Samsen Wittayalai School in Bangkok displayed white ribbons and others raised a three-fingered salute on Tuesday morning. (Photo: Arnun Chonmahatrakool)Click "play" to listen to Prawit: 3-finger gesture is Scouts' salute and "Download" to keep this file for educational purpose.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 18, 2020 17:15 UTC
Prawit: 3-finger gesture is Scouts' salute
Some students at Samsen Wittayalai School in Bangkok displayed white ribbons and others raised a three-fingered salute on Tuesday morning. (Photo: Arnun Chonmahatrakool)Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon light-heartedly dismissed the three-fingered hand gesture used by protesting students as the salute used by the Boy Scouts, and then warned that people supporting the political demonstrations should think carefully. Scouts... scouts," Gen Prawit said. Asked if the three-fingered salute was acceptable, he declined to answer and left. Students in many schools have been seen flashing the three-fingered salute during their morning assembly before the national flag, and wearing white ribbons, in opposition to dictatorship.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 18, 2020 08:15 UTC