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Spotlight back on sexual crimes as alleged child rapist commits suicide in prison

NationalJan 22. 2021

By THE NATION

An alleged rapist was found dead in his prison cell in Ayutthaya’s Nakhon Luang Police Station early on Friday.

The suspect, 35-year-old Nirut Kiaosawat, who hanged himself with a shoelace, was arrested on Thursday for allegedly raping an 11-year-old.

Rape is a problem Thai society has been struggling with for several years. The Pavena Foundation for Children and Women announced in late December that it had dealt with 10,147 cases of abuse in 2020, 863 of which were rape cases.

Founder Paveena Hongsakul said the number of rapes her foundation dealt with last year had risen by 9.8 per cent from 786 cases in 2019.

Of the assaulters, 43.26 per cent were friends, lovers or acquaintances, 30.6 per cent relatives or family members and 5.6 per cent neighbours.

Also in December, the Women and Men Progressive Movement Foundation announced an unprecedented rise in sexual assaults in Thailand compared to data collected between 2017 and 2019.

According to data, of the 333 cases of sexual assault reported in 2019, 43.9 per cent were rapes and most victims or 47.3 per cent were aged between 11 and 15.

The five provinces with the largest number of rapes are Bangkok, Chonburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi and Udon Thani.

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Virus takes Bt6.5bn bite out of Thai chicken exports

NationalJan 22. 2021

By THE NATION

The Covid-19 crisis drove down Thai exports of processed, refrigerated and frozen chicken in 2020 to 945,000 tonnes worth Bt105 billion, from 950,000 tonnes worth Bt111.5 billion in 2019, said the Thai Broiler Processing Exporters Association on Friday.

“The outbreak resulted in lockdowns in Japan and the European Union, which are Thailand’s biggest markets,” said association head Kukrit Areepakorn.

“The situation was especially bad in Japan, since they called off the 2020 Olympic Games, meaning they cancelled orders of chicken from us that were expected to feed participants and tourists.”

Kukrit added that in the past year Thai chicken exporters had to increase shipment volumes to secondary markets such as China (up 82 per cent) and Singapore (up 59 per cent).

“The association forecasts chicken exports this year will rise 1 per cent to Bt106 billion from 950,000 tonnes, mostly due to the availability of Covid-19 vaccines in several countries,” said Kukrit.

“Meanwhile, after Brexit the United Kingdom will halve its import tariffs for Thai chicken outside the normal quota, while the recovering economy in China will also push up demand for Thai chicken.”

Among negative factors that could hit exports this year are a new wave of Covid-19, the shipping container shortage, increased freight fees and a strengthening baht, said the association.

“Moreover, shrinking demand during the outbreak has also lowered the price of Thai chicken in EU markets, from an average US$2,000 per tonne in 2020 to only $1,300-$1,500 per tonne in January,” added Kukrit.

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Thailand pledges to promote sustainable agriculture at global conference

NationalJan 22. 2021

By The Nation

Thailand lays emphasis on a 3-S policy — safety, security and sustainability — in the agricultural sector and food system, a senior official told the 13th Berlin Agriculture Ministers’ Conference on Friday through teleconference.

Rapibhat Chandarasrivong, assistant permanent secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, told the meeting that Thailand has emphasised the 3-S policy by promoting food safety to attain international standards and nutritionally building food security, which can ensure the well-being of farmers.

The ministry is ready to support sustainable agriculture that is environmentally friendly, including prevention of plant and animal diseases and bringing technology and innovation to agriculture. The ministry also supports participation in the Global Soil Partnership (GSP), under the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and water resource preservation on the global stage.

He emphasised the support for sustainable soil and water resources management. Thailand is ready to participate in various commitments and would work with the FAO and related agencies to support the implementation of the global food system policy to push for practical results to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2 (zero hunger), SDG 13 (climate change) and SDG 15 (life on land) goals, he said.

It is also important to store Big Data on soil, water, climate change, diseases of plants and animals, said Rapibhat, adding that would lead to accurate production planning.

The goal of the World Food Systems Leadership Summit (2021 UN Food Systems Summit), of which Thailand has been appointed a National Dialogues Convenor, is to collect information from all sectors involved in the food system and use it to prepare policies and activities to report to the leadership meeting at the end of this year.

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Energy Absolute expects greater earnings from electric vehicle business this year

NationalJan 22. 2021

By THE NATION

Energy Absolute (EA) expects the proportion of its revenue to change this year, especially since its electric vehicle-related business has been growing.

EA director Amorn Sapthaweekul said the power plant business will drop from 60 per cent to 50 per cent, and biodiesel business from 40-45 per cent to 30-35 per cent. The remaining 10 to 20 per cent of the business will be contributed to by the EV business, he said, adding that EA’s total revenue this year will grow by around 20 per cent thanks to the growth of EV.

Amorn also said the construction of EA’s battery plants will be completed in the first quarter, which will contribute to growth, especially since the batteries can support both electric cars and boats that EA produces.

He also said the company has received orders for some 400 to 500 electric public vehicles and products will be ready for delivery at the end of the first quarter.

Its electric boats, meanwhile, will be delivered in March to state agencies to be used for public transport between Bangkok and neighbouring provinces.

He added that EA will build more charging stations nationwide to increase the number of stations from 400 to 1,000 as originally targeted.

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Water cut in 47 areas of Bangkok this weekend

NationalJan 22. 2021

By The Nation

Residents in 47 areas of Bangkok will not be able to use tap water from 10pm on Saturday to 8am on to Sunday due to maintenance work on a water main in a park on Rama VI Road, the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) said on Friday.

The 47 areas are:

1. Rama VI Road

2. Ratchawithi Road

3. Yothi Road

4. Sri Ayutthaya Road

5. Phetchaburi Road

6. Banthat Thong Road

7. Phya Thai Road

8. Rama I Road

9. Rong Mueang Road

10. Charu Mueang Road

11. Charat Mueang Road

12. Nikhom Makkasan Road

13. Krungkasem Road

14. Phloenchit Road

15. Rajdamri Road

16. Ratchaprarop Road

17. New Petchaburi Road

18. Sawankhalok Road

19. Larn Luang Road

20. Rama V Road

21. Nakhon Sawan Road

22. Rajdamnoen Klang Road

23. Rajdamnoen Nai Road

24. Rajdamnoen Nok Road

25. Damrongrak Road

26. Bamrung Mueang Road

27. Luang Road

28. Rachinee Road

29. Charoen Krung Road

30. Tri Phet Road

31. Tee Thong Road

32. Phahurat Road

33. Chak Phet Road

34. Worachak Road

35. Chakkrawat Road

36. Yaowarat Road

37. Song Wat Road

38. Samsen Road

39. Ratchasima Road

40. Prachathipatai Road

41. Nakhon Chai Si Road

42. Amnuay Songkhram Road

43. Sukhothai Road

44. Phitsanulok Road

45. Luk Luang Road

46. Wisut Kasat Road

47. Phra Sumen Road

The MWA apologised for inconvenience caused by the water cuts, adding that residents who faced problems could contact its 24-hour call centre on 1125.

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FDA gives go-ahead to AstraZeneca vaccine

NationalJan 22. 2021

By The Nation

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved AstraZeneca’s viral vector vaccine after studying the 10,000 pages of documentation submitted on December 22, FDA chief Paisan Dankhum said on Thursday.

The approval is based on effectiveness, quality and safety. The import licence and vaccine certificate is effective for one year.

The first lot of 50,000 doses will be imported from Italy next month. When the vaccine arrives, the Department of Medical Sciences will conduct random tests to see if the vaccine is of the quality specified by the company. Similar batches will be sent in March and April.

As for the manufacturing deal signed between AstraZeneca and Siam Bioscience, a factory will be registered and production will kick off in May.

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Ayutthaya, Nakhon Ratchasima relax some measures as infections drop

NationalJan 22. 2021Wichian Chantaranothai

By The Nation

Strict measures were put in place in many provinces after a new wave of infections originating from a shrimp market in Samut Sakhon and a gambling den in Rayong hit the country in mid-December.

However, now that the number of new cases is dropping, some provinces are making moves to ease some measures.

Ayutthaya:

Provincial governor Panu Yaemsri announced on Friday that health establishments, spas and foot-massage operators can reopen provided they are willing to comply with Covid-19 control measures. Operators will also be given guidelines on reopening their businesses safely and correctly.

Nakhon Ratchasima

Travellers from controlled areas no longer need to quarantine for 14 days.

A statement released by provincial governor Wichian Chantaranothai on Friday said:

1. Travellers from the 23 highly controlled provinces, such as Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Chachoengsao, Tak, Chumphon, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani, etc, need to follow these guidelines:

• Travellers staying for more than 14 days are required to report to the village headman, district chief, health officer or communicable disease control officer within 12 hours for screening and risk assessment.

• If staying overnight, the traveller has to report to provincial health officials as well as observe strict control measures.

2. Travellers from the five “red-zone” provinces, namely Samut Sakhon, Rayong, Chonburi, Chanthaburi and Trat, are required to quarantine for 14 days, report to the village headman or health volunteer within 12 hours and present documents showing the necessity of travel.

3. Holding large gatherings:

• If fewer than 300 people are participating, the organiser has to notify the district public health office;

• If more than 300 people are participating, the event must be approved by the provincial communicable disease committee.

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Muay thai legend Buakaw keeps Man Utd promise

NationalJan 22. 2021Buakaw Banchamek

By THE NATION

Thai boxing legend Buakaw Banchamek shaved his head on Thursday, fulfilling a promise he made about the English Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United last Sunday.

The boxer had announced on Facebook that he would shave his head if his favourite team, Manchester United, did not lose to the current EPL title holders. The match ended 0-0 and Buakaw duly kept his promise by sporting a new bald look on Thursday.

Surin-born Buakaw, 38, is among the most feared fighters ever to have graced a muay thai ring. His lethal combination of precision, power and pressure fighting have earned him titles as Omnoi Stadium champion (twice), Lumpinee Stadium champion, No 1-ranked fighter in Lumpinee Stadium, Thailand featherweight champion, K-1 World MAX champion (twice) and 2011 and 2012 Thai Fight tournament champion.

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Ministry ready to hear companies’ concerns on anti-dumping measure for packaging film

NationalJan 22. 2021Kirati Ratchnano

By THE NATION

Entrepreneurs who will be affected by the Commerce Ministry’s anti-dumping measures on biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film can submit evidence of the impact to the Department of Foreign Trade.

The Committee on Dumping and Subsidy will consider them before imposing the measures.

“The anti-dumping measures are likely to increase the cost for manufacturers of food, drugs, medical equipment and consumer products who use BOPP films imported from China, Indonesia and Malaysia,” said Kirati Ratchnano, the department’s director-general. “Those who are in canned food or related industries, such as metal and tinplate manufacturing, could be impacted as well.

“The department will listen to entrepreneurs who provide concrete evidence that the measures will hurt their businesses, according to the Anti-Dumping and Countervailing of Foreign Products Act, which stipulates that the anti-dumping measures must prioritise the benefits of domestic manufacturers, consumers and the public.”

A source revealed that among manufacturers who will submit the evidence is Thai President Foods Pcl, manufacturer of the country’s best-selling instant noodles under “Mama” brand.

“The company pointed out that the measures would drive up the cost of packaging for instant noodles, which makes up 10 per cent of total cost, or approximately Bt0.5 per package,” said the source. “Should the measures be imposed, the company may have to adjust the retail price up, which will affect consumers on a large scale.”

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CCSA team faces risk of infection as TV anchor tests positive for Covid-19

NationalJan 22. 2021File Photo

By The Nation

After a TV anchor tested positive on Friday morning, Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesman Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin announced that he and his team may be at risk.

The National Broadcasting Services (NBT) TV anchor works with a female anchor who usually helps the CCSA team during their daily press briefing, putting her and teams as close contact.

Taweesin said he will take a Covid-19 test in the afternoon and then go into isolation.

Mobile biosafety units will also be sent to the NBT building to test everybody inside. So far, there is no information on who may be at high risk.