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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40024309

Cabinet approves THB7.5 billion budget for four more months of power subsidy

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2023

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a budget of 7.5 billion baht as subsidy for household use of electricity for four more months.

Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said the subsidy would be given to household users of electricity from January to April.

A household must not use more than 300 units of electricity to be eligible for the subsidy, he added.

The subsidy will be granted to users of electricity from the Metropolitan Electricity Authority and the Provincial Electricity Authority. Families under welfare of the Royal Thai Navy will also be eligible.

Anucha said the subsidy would be provided in two rates:

– A subsidy of 92.04 satang per unit will be given (100 satang equals one baht) to those using no more than 150 units.

– A subsidy of 67.04 satang per unit will be given to those who use more than 150 units but not more than 300 units.

The spokesman said the government expected 19.66 million families to avail of the subsidy at a total cost of about 1.868 billion baht per month.

He said so far, the Cabinet had provided total subsidy of 18.353 billion baht for electricity use to households.

On April 19 last year, the Cabinet had approved a budget of 1.724 billion baht to provide subsidy for power use from May to August and on September 13, another 9.128 billion baht was approved for subsidising power bills from September to December, Anucha said.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40024308

Surachate to wrap up probe against 80 immigration police on Monday

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2023

Investigation into the case of 80 immigration police officers helping some 5,000 Chinese triad criminal gangs stay illegally in Thailand should be completed by the end of this month.

Deputy National Police chief General Surachate Hakparn said on Tuesday that the case should be wrapped up by next Monday and handed over to the top inspector general to take disciplinary action. He added that all 80 officers have been summoned to testify and that he will meet the investigation team next Monday to wrap up the case. He said the investigation is more than 90% complete.

Surachate, who is also known as Big Joke, led the Immigration Bureau until 2019 before he was suddenly transferred to the civilian post of adviser at the PM’s Office. He was reinstated to the police force in March 2021.

Last week, Surachate said that the 80 suspects, including three generals who were his former classmates from the police academy, were summoned to hear charges. The charges included malfeasance and demanding bribes.

A nationwide investigation was launched in November after former massage parlour tycoon-cum-politician Chuwit Kamolvisit provided information on alleged Chinese triads operating in Thailand.

The tip-off quickly led to an arrest warrant being issued for alleged triad kingpin Chaiyanat “Tuhao” Kornchayanant, a Chinese national who gained Thai citizenship by marrying a senior Thai police officer.

Surachate, who led the investigation, said officials were found to have issued student and other visas to some 3,000 Chinese nationals in the Northeast and more than 1,000 in the North from 2020-2021, allowing them to stay in Thailand and engage in illegal operations.

He confirmed on Tuesday that the three generals in question will face criminal charges for violating the Criminal Code’s Section 157 by carrying out nonfeasance and Section 149 for demanding bribes.

Once the three generals are formally charged, the investigation committee will inform the National Anti-Corruption Commission to launch a graft probe against them, he added.

He went on to say that the Immigration Bureau chief will oversee disciplinary action against the 80 officers, with no interference from the higher-ups, including the National Police chief.

Related stories:

Three generals among 80 immigration police charged in triad visa scam

27 Thai immigration police officers found to be aiding Chinese triads

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40024306

Songkran on Unesco list for consideration as intangible cultural heritage

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2023

Unesco has included Songkran festival in a tentative list to be considered as Thailand’s intangible cultural heritage.

Thailand now has four items awaiting consideration at the end of this year — Khon, traditional Thai massage, Nora, and Songkran.

Intangible cultural heritage is considered by member states of Unesco in relation to the tangible World Heritage focusing on intangible aspects of culture.

In 2001, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation had made a survey among states and non-governmental organisations to try to agree on a definition. The Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was drafted in 2003 for its protection and promotion.

Thailand, under the Culture Ministry’s Department of Cultural Promotion, has determined seven categories of the country’s intangible cultural heritage to be submitted to Unesco every year.

The seven categories are: performing arts, craftsmanship, folk literature, sports, traditions, wisdom and languages.

Thailand also aims to propose many other items to Unesco, such as Muay Thai, Phi Ta Khon, rice topped with curry and mango sticky rice.

Related stories:

Cambodian martial art added to World Heritage List

Thailand, Singapore, two other nations to nominate kebaya for Unesco listing

Major glaciers, including Dolomites and Yosemite, to disappear by 2050 – UNESCO report

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40024303

Covid jab campaign for foreign tourists expanding nationwide

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2023

The Public Health Ministry on Tuesday asked provinces nationwide to open vaccination centres so foreign tourists can get affordable Covid-19 jabs.

Ministry permanent secretary Opas Karnkawinpong said the move is part of measures to contain Covid-19 as Thailand is a top destination for international travellers.

Vaccines procured by the government would be available at the centres, he added.

The move is expected to give Chinese tourists access to mRNA vaccines that are unavailable in their homeland.

Opas also confirmed that foreign residents such as businesspeople, workers and diplomats can still receive free vaccine jabs.

Health agencies have been told to ensure vaccine stocks are sufficient to cover the Thai population, he added.

A pilot project to vaccinate foreign tourists kicked off on January 18 with cooperation from several public health agencies, Department of Disease Control director-general Dr Tares Krassanairawiwong said.

Foreign travellers can receive Covid jabs at Bang Rak Medical Centre and the Institute for Urban Disease Control and Prevention in Bangkok. He added that Covid vaccination is also available in tourism provinces such as Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Phuket.

“Several agencies including the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and medical schools have submitted requests to set up vaccination points for foreign tourists,” he said.

AstraZeneca and Pfizer jabs are priced at 800 baht and 1,000 baht, respectively.

He added that foreign tourists must pay a 380-baht medical service fee on top of the jab cost.

He also confirmed that Thailand has sufficient vaccine in stock to meet demand from Thais and foreigners.

Foreign tourists can currently get jabs at four hospitals in Bangkok – the Institute of Dermatology, Rajavithi Hospital, Lerdsin Hospital, Nopparat Rajathanee Hospital – and at Chiangmai Neurological Hospital, said Medical Services department chief Dr Thongchai Keeratihuttayakorn.

He added that the Institute of Dermatology and Rajavithi Hospital are the main vaccination points for foreign tourists as both are located near tourist hotels and have staff who are fluent in foreign languages.

“The department has laid on [hospital] public relations staff who are proficient in English and Chinese,” he said.

Thirty hospitals under the department nationwide have been asked to set up vaccination points for foreign visitors.

He added that the department’s vaccination programme for Thais was now focused on administering booster doses to protect against severe symptoms and death.

Related stories:

Tourism committee to decide next week on entry fee for foreign tourists

Thailand targets 80m foreign tourists per year – 10m more than population

No vax needed for Thai travel but China arrivals must have Covid insurance

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40024300

Son admitted to hospital after punishment at boarding school, mother alleges

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2023

A mother has alleged that her third-grader son was punished by a boarding school in Narathiwat province to do 300 squats until he became ill and had to be admitted to hospital.

The allegation was posted on a Facebook page “Yak Dung Diew Jud Hai” Part 5.2 (If you want fame, we’ll provide) on Monday.

The post alleged that the boy, who studied at a boarding school in Rue Soh district, was punished by an official in charge of the boarding house, who was not a teacher.

The post alleged that the boy was forced to do 300 squats on January 30 and he could not walk and suffered from kidney problem and could not urinate.

The name of the school and the boy were withheld.

The mother, Nimuranee, 33, filed a complaint with Rue Soh Police Station on Monday.

A relative of the family later commented on the post that the official in charge of the boarding house had admitted to forcing her son to do 300 squats.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40024294

Motorists will face 4,000-baht fine and point deduction for failing to stop at pedestrian crossing

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2023

THE NATION

The new traffic law showed that drivers who do not stop for pedestrians at zebra crossings will be fined 4,000 baht and lose one of their 12 total points, with the loss of all counts resulting in a 90-day suspension of a driving licence.

All driving licence holders will start with 12 points each. If drivers are caught breaking traffic laws, 1-4 points will be reduced depending on their types of violations. 

Before driving through a zebra crossing, drivers must stop for three metres and wait for pedestrians to cross over a road. 

Motorists must strictly abide by the traffic rules such as following a traffic light signal. 

A loss of all 12 points will contribute to a 90-day suspension of a driving licence. Motorists who drive while their licence gets suspended will be charged with a maximum of 10,000 baht or/and will face up to three months in prison. 

If drivers receive their third suspensions within three years, their licences will be invalidated for more than 90 days. However, the fourth suspension will result in driving licence revocation. 

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40024292

RTAF queries suspicious payments made to squadron in Surat Thani

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2023

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is investigating corruption allegations against Air Squadron Wing 7 in Surat Thani.

The move came after a post on the “Watchdog ACT” Facebook page claimed on Monday that 110,000 baht was transferred to 50 air force men (2,200 baht per person) as night flight training allowance even though no such training had taken place.

The page also displayed a Line chat showing that the 50 air force men were asked to transfer their allowance back to a “Flight Sergeant First Class” who had disbursed the funds.

RTAF spokesman Air Vice Marshal Prapas Sornjaidee said on Tuesday that commander-in-chief Air Chief Marshal Alongkorn Vannarot ordered an investigation into the case immediately.

He added that the RTAF chief has also instructed all officers to ensure that cash disbursements are done in line with rules.

Air Vice Marshal Prapas Sornjaidee

“RTAF adheres to performing its duties with transparency,” he said, adding that any officers found guilty will be duly punished.

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Government House opens doors to children for first time since pandemic

Navy sends Seafox drone to capture video of HTMS Sukhothai on seabed

Air Force hopes to get US answer on F-35 by July