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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40005603

Immigration police investigating officer over alleged extortion plan in Hat Yai

Immigration Division 6 set up a committee on Wednesday to investigate the case of an officer asking for a monthly fee from an immigrant in Songkhla’s Hat Yai district.

The move came after the Strong Thailand Anti-Corruption Facebook page unveiled a sound clip of conversation between the officer and the unidentified immigrant on Tuesday.

To prove whether any immigration officer was involved in the case, Immigration Division 6 set up the committee to investigate the case and make a conclusion within seven days.

“Any officer or person involved in the case will face legal action without exception,” the division vowed.

From January 1 to June 30 this year, Immigration Division 6 arrested 520 suspects from 30 human trafficking networks. The suspects comprise 69 Thais, 346 from Myanmar, 35 Cambodians, 53 Vietnamese, 11 Malaysian, four Chinese and two others, whose nationality wasn’t mentioned.

Immigration officials also seized 30 cars and 14 motorcycles.

The officials, armed with 61 arrest warrants, subsequently nabbed 52 suspects, with nine still on the run.

Published : September 02, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40005599

Revenue collection misses the target by 10% due to Covid-19

The government’s revenue collection in the first 10 months of fiscal year 2021 – October 2020 to July 2021 – was Bt1.9 trillion, lower than the estimated Bt216.8 billion, or 10.2 per cent, which is about the same level as the year before, the Finance Ministry reported on Wednesday.

“The Revenue Department missed the target by Bt142.7 billion or 9 per cent,” Fiscal Policy Office director Kulaya Tantitemit said.

“Meanwhile, the Excise Department missed its target by Bt67.5 billion or 12.9 per cent. State enterprise revenue also missed the target by Bt24.2 billion or 16.5 per cent.”

Kulaya said the Customs Department showed an improving trend of revenue collection due to an increase in exports and imports as the global economy started to recover from the pandemic.

Revenue collection misses the target by 10% due to Covid-19

“The impact from Covid-19 and lockdown measures resulted in decreased economic activity, which led to lower-than-expected revenue collection,” she said.

“The Finance Ministry estimates revenue collection for fiscal year 2021 will miss the target by 10 per cent or by about Bt200 billion. However, this should pose no problem as the government has already borrowed extra money to cover expenses,” she added.

Published : September 02, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40005591

Thailand recorded 14,956 Covid-19 cases and 262 deaths on Thursday

Ministry of Public Health reported on Thursday (September 2) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 14,956 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 356 of whom have been found in prisons.

Death toll increased by 262, while 17,936 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country are at 1,234,487 with 12,103 total deaths.
 

Published : September 02, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40005589

Army files complaint against Move Forward MP for allegedly falsifying documents

Representatives of the Second Army Area filed a complaint against Move Forward Party MP Nattacha Boonchaiinsawat at Nakhon Ratchasima police station on Wednesday for allegedly presenting fake documents during a no-confidence debate against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

“During the debate, which started on Monday, Nattacha presented documents titled ‘Royal Thai Army’s Information Operation’, that referred to the Second Army Area but had several suspicious details,” Second Army Area spokesman Maj-General Sawarat Saengphol said.

“The documents which he claimed were issued from March to July 2021 carry the signatures of the Second Army Area commander and sub-commander but they do not match the real signatures of both individuals. Moreover, one of the documents misspelled the commander’s last name,” Sawarat said.

Army files complaint against Move Forward MP for allegedly falsifying documents

“The documents also listed the wrong ranks and misspelled names of some other officers. These mistakes would not happen if the documents were real as there would be proof-readers to cross-check with the agency issuing the documents,” he pointed out.

Sawarat said the Second Army Area is also investigating photos that Nattacha presented during the debate while claiming them as evidence that the Army had disbursed extra allowances to soldiers during the Covid-19 situation.

“The Second Army Area has never received any such budget from the government as he claimed. We suspect the pictures could have been taken before the Covid-19 outbreak as personnel in the photos were not wearing face masks,” he added.

Published : September 02, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40005587

Thundershowers forecast to whip Thailand, with heavy rains in some regions

Thundershowers are forecast to hammer Thailand, with isolated heavy rains in some areas as the southwest monsoon prevails across the country, the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand while a monsoon trough lies across the lower North, the upper Central region and the Northeast, the Meteorological Department said on Thursday.

It warned people in risky areas to beware of severe conditions that may cause flash floods.

Here’s the weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Thundershowers in 70 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 24-25 degrees, highs of 32-34 degrees Celsius.

North: Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees and highs of 32-35 degrees Celsius.

Northeast: Thundershowers in 70 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees and highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius.

Central: Thundershowers in 80 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 24-25 degrees, highs of 33-35 degrees Celsius.

East: Thundershowers in 70 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 24-25 degrees, highs of 31-33 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (east coast): Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 31-33 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Thundershowers in 70 per cent of the area with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 21-25 degrees, highs of 30-32 degrees Celsius; waves 1-2 metres high and 2 metres during thundershowers.

Source: Thailand Meteorological Department

Published : September 02, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40005580

Bangkokians can dine in restaurants, but no buffets allowed

With the daily number of new Covid-19 cases dropping, the authorities have relaxed some measures.

Dr Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai, Department of Health director-general, said as of Wednesday (September 1) restaurants in 29 “dark red” provinces can serve diners, but only until 8pm. Air-conditioned restaurants are allowed to fill 50 per cent of their seats, while open-air eateries are allowed 75 per cent.

Alcoholic drinks and buffets are still prohibited.

Every table is required to have a bottle of sanitising gel, and diners are required to maintain a distance of one or two metres. Each restaurant, especially air-conditioned ones, is required to open windows and doors frequently for ventilation. Diners are allowed to spend no more than one hour inside a restaurant.

Dr Suwanchai said that currently it is not necessary for restaurant staff to be fully vaccinated and customers to show proof of vaccination, but that requirement may be applied next month.

The 29 provinces under maximum control include Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chonburi, Rayong, Samut Prakan among others.

Meanwhile, restaurants in the 37 maximum-control provinces are allowed to serve until 11pm. However, they cannot serve more than 50 people at any given time.

In the 11 “controlled” provinces, restaurants can open as usual, but have no more than 100 diners on the premises.

Published : September 01, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40005579

Phuket to lift ban on domestic travellers next week

Fully vaccinated domestic travellers will be able to visit Phuket from September 8, when the island will lift its lockdown.

Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew said visitors from other parts of Thailand would be screened under new measures effective from next Wednesday.

Under the new measures, domestic tourists will need proof of their hotel or accommodation reservation on Phuket, paid in advance. Domestic travellers who stay on the island for longer than nine days must also get a Covid-19 test at their own expense on the fifth day.

All visitors must also show proof of vaccination with two shots of Sinovac, Sinopharm, Sputnik V, mixed Sinovac-AstraZeneca jabs, or one jab of AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson at least 14 days before entry. They must also have a negative result from a Covid-19 RT-PCR or antigen test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival.

Phuket to lift ban on domestic travellers next week

Published : September 01, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40005576

Exodus from Bangkok as national bus service resumes after 1 month

Interprovincial buses began operating again from Bangkok on Wednesday (September 1) after the service was shut down for a month due to the Delta outbreak. The service is a vital link between Bangkok’s army of migrant workers and their hometowns upcountry.

Bus operator Transport Co said its services had resumed on eight routes to the North, 10 routes to the Northeast/East and eight routes to the South. However, the number of trips was still down 30-40 per cent on normal levels.

On Wednesday morning, passengers had booked 44 per cent of seats on Northern buses and 20 per cent on Northeast/East buses, said Transport Co president Sanyalux Panwattanalikit.

The buses are allowed to operate at 75 per cent passenger capacity with Covid controls, including a ban on eating.

Published : September 01, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40005571

Curfew could be cut or lifted, says PM

The curfew in 29 Dark Red Zone provinces including Bangkok may be shortened or cancelled, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Wednesday.

Speaking on the day when Dark Red Zone restrictions were eased to allow restaurants and some shops to reopen, Prayut said Covid-19 infection rates were being monitored closely as authorities mull their next move. 

New daily cases dropped for the 16th day in a row on Wednesday, falling to below 15,000.    
The PM said the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) will talk to nightlife business owners about lifting more restrictions. 
However, he said he was still concerned about people flocking to venues.

Speaking before the second day of the censure debate in Parliament against his government, the PM said lifting or reducing the 9pm-4am curfew was currently under consideration. 
“In the meantime, we are monitoring infection rates closely,” he said. 
“[Nightlife] associations or entrepreneurs will need to talk with the CCSA before information is passed on to public health and medical officials.”

Asked about the government’s controversial purchase of 8.5 million Lepu antigen test kits (ATK)s, the PM urged the public to trust the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has approved the kits. Test kits registered by the FDA are used in many other countries and the main goal is to find the best and the cheapest ATKs, he said.
The 8.5 million Lepu ATKs will be distributed free of charge in the Dark Red Zone, he added.

Published : September 01, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40005568

Private sector ups 2021 GDP forecast as Thailand’s Covid-19 situation improves

A joint private sector committee has adjusted Thailand’s estimated gross domestic product (GDP) growth for this year to between -0.05 and 1 per cent, higher than the previous estimate of -1.5 to 0 per cent.

The committee is comprised of three private sector organisations, namely the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) and Thai Bankers’ Association (TBA).

“The committee estimates that exports this year will expand 12 to 14 per cent due to a recovering world economy and the government’s support of the business sector. The general inflation rate is estimated at 1 to 1.2 per cent,” said Payong Srivanich, TBA chairperson who led the committee’s virtual meeting on Tuesday.

“Comprehensive distribution of Covid-19 vaccines among labourers and free availability of rapid test kits will effectively control infections in the manufacturing sector.

“If the daily infection rate continues dropping and Thailand can procure more vaccines, lockdown measures should be eased from September,” he added.

“Thailand’s recovery for the rest of the year will depend on two important factors: Protecting the supply chain of the manufacturing sector from an outbreak among workers and the government’s economic stimulus measures like co-payment shopping schemes and promotion of tourism during the high season to boost local spending.”

However, he said, if the Covid-19 situation worsens, these measures will likely not be launched, and the country’s economy will spiral back into recession.

As for the official 3-5 per cent estimate of GDP growth in 2022, the committee said this was too low and that the government should aim for a more challenging target of 6 to 8 per cent. It said the 6-8 per cent target would be easily achievable once more than 50 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated.

Private sector ups 2021 GDP forecast as Thailand’s Covid-19 situation improves

“The government should also increase the ratio of public debt against the GDP from 60 per cent to 70-80 per cent, which will allow some 1.5 trillion baht to be added to the economy,” Phayong said. “The government, meanwhile, should continue to promote employment and ensure that small and medium enterprises have access to the 150-billion-baht fund so they can stay afloat if the outbreak lasts longer than estimated.”

Published : September 01, 2021