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AOT going ahead with airport expansion plans despite expected Bt10-bn operational loss

NationalJan 19. 2021

By THE NATION

Airports of Thailand (AOT) expects operational losses at Bt10 billion in fiscal year 2021 for the first time since its establishment 40 years ago, AOT president Nitinai Sirismatthakarn said.

“However, with the current cash flow of Bt32 billion, AOT would continue to expand six airports in 2021 as planned, with total investment of Bt92 billion,” he said.

Nitinai added that this year AOT would propose a plan for expansion of the eastern, western and northern terminals at Suvarnabhumi Airport, aiming to accommodate 120 million passengers per year.

“Total investment for expansion at Suvarnabhumi would be close to Bt60 billion,” he added.

“The rest Bt32 billion investment will include the third phase of Don Mueang Airport expansion, which consists of constructing a new southern terminal to replace the existing domestic terminal.

“AOT is now conducting environmental impact assessment of the Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang projects and expects to submit the proposals to the Ministry of Transport and the Cabinet within May. The bidding process could start before the end of 2021,” Nitinai said.

Despite a projected loss in 2021, Nitinai is confident that the company’s situation will improve by the end of 2022 when the Covid-19 vaccine should become widely available in Thailand and international travel should be fully restored.

“With enough cash flow we will not need to borrow additional funds in 2021,” he added. “Furthermore, in 2020 we managed to reduce our cost by 29 per cent and expect to further reduce 9 per cent this year.”

Currently AOT’s airports have around 15,460-25,000 passengers per day, dropping drastically from the average 200,000 passengers per day before Covid-19, which generated cash flow of Bt40 billion annually.

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Stimulus packages expected to strengthen baht

NationalJan 19. 2021

By THE NATION

The baht opened at 30.12 to the US dollar on Tuesday, weakening from Monday’s close of 30.12.

The Thai currency is likely to move between 30.05 and 30.25 on Tuesday, Krungthai market strategist Poon Panichpibool said.

Poon said that the financial markets were still in risk-off state, due to concerns about the Covid-19 crisis around the world. Also, the market is monitoring the US Treasury Department under Janet Yellen, the new Treasury secretary, he added.

Yellen’s opinion on the dollar could weaken the currency, as she wants it to move in line with the market mechanism.
The market strategist explained that if the US political situation stabilises, the Biden government would push stimulus measures and the market would return to a risk-on state again.

In Thailand, the baht’s main factor was fund flows from foreign investors, which depends on the Covid-19 situation in the country.

In the short term, he advised investors to keep an eye on stimulus packages issued by the government this week. Poon added that the packages could soon strengthen the baht.

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Temperature drops in upper Thailand, strong winds in South

NationalJan 19. 2021

By THE NATION

The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Tuesday that the rather strong high-pressure system from China covers upper Thailand, resulting in temperatures falling by 2-4 degrees Celsius in the North, making the weather cool to cold.

Meanwhile, the strong northeast monsoon prevails over the Gulf and the South, bringing strong winds and triggering waves 2-3 metres high in the lower Gulf.

All ships should proceed with caution and small boats should keep ashore until January 20, the department said.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Cold weather with strong winds; temperature lows of 11-14 degrees and highs of 28-31°C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 4-12°C.

Northeast: Cold weather; temperature lows of 9-14°C and highs of 25-28°C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 4-12°C.

Central: Cool weather; temperature lows of 16-18°C, highs of 29-31°C.

East: Cool weather; temperature lows of 16-20°C, highs of 31-33°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.

South (east coast): Cool weather with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 20-24°C, highs of 29-31°C; waves 2 metres high and 2-3 metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 22-24°C, highs of 31-33°C; waves 2 metres high and over 2 metres offshore.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Cool weather; temperature lows of 18-20°C, highs of 30-32°C.

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Dugong found disembowelled off Krabi islands

NationalJan 19. 2021

By THE NATION

The disembowelled carcass of a dugong was found floating in the sea near the twin islands of Ko Lao Ka in Krabi province, authorities said on Monday.

According to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation’s Facebook page, the dead dugong was discovered on Sunday by a travel boat operator, who informed officials of Than Bok Khorani national park.

The carcass was retrieved from the sea and taken to a research centre in Trang for post-mortem examination. Dugongs are an endangered species, with only around 200 thought to remain in Thai waters.

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Six arrested at weekend protests released on bail

NationalJan 18. 2021

By The Nation

Two courts in Bangkok on Monday granted bail to six protesters arrested at Victory Monument and Samyan Mitrtown on Saturday.

Dusit Municipal Court granted bail of Bt20,000 bail each to two leaders of a group arrested at Victory Monument while creating a 112-metre-long banner with slogans criticising the prime minister.

They are charged with violating the emergency decree concerning Covid-19 and the Communicable Disease Act.

Meanwhile, Patumwan Municipal Court granted Bt20,000 bail each to four protesters who had been arrested in front of Samyan Mitrtown complex at a demonstration demanding the release of the two leaders arrested at Victory Monument earlier.

They are charged with violating the emergency decree.

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Schools, markets set to reopen in Nakhon Ratchasima, Lampang

NationalJan 18. 2021

By THE NATION

The Covid-19 situation in Nakhon Ratchasima and Lampang seems to have improved, with schools and walking streets being reopened.

Nakhon Ratchasima’s educational office announced that 602 of the 615 schools temporarily closed have been reopened. The remaining 13 will have to remain closed because some staff members or students were related to confirmed cases.

The provincial authorities also said on Monday that no new Covid-19 cases had been found over the past six days and the total number of infected persons in the new wave was 10, seven of whom have returned home.

Lampang authorities, meanwhile, said all three patients in the new wave of infections have recovered and discharged. The province plans to reopen its Lampang Cultural Street on Friday and the Kad Kong Ta street market this weekend.

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Bangkok market closed for three days after merchant positive for Covid-19

NationalJan 18. 2021

By THE NATION

Thanommit Market in Bangkok announced via its Facebook page that a male vendor who ran a food stall at the market had tested positive for Covid-19.

The vendor was among 10 cases confirmed by Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Sunday.

“Upon receiving the notification from the Bang Khen public health office, market staff told the vendor to close his stall and go home immediately to prepare for treatment,” the announcement said.

“After he left, we cleaned his stall and the nearby areas with disinfectant and closed the areas off temporarily.”

The market will be shut from January 19 to 21 to perform thorough cleaning in all areas and reopen on January 22, the FB post said.

“On Tuesday, officials from the Ministry of Public Health and Bang Khen district office would collect samples from merchants and market staff and would release the results by January 21,” said the announcement. “Merchants who test negative will be allowed in the market to prepare their stalls for the opening on Friday.”

The market also posted a timeline and travel history of the merchant, who is the 437th case in Bangkok.

From December 29 to January 9, he came to work at Thanommit Market on a personal motorcycle.

On January 10, he visited a relative at Chatuchak Market on his personal motorcycle, while having symptoms of coughing and phlegm.

From January 11-13, he came to work to Thanommit Market on his personal motorcycle.

On January 14, he received testing from Bangkok’s mobile testing unit and was found to be infected at 7pm.

On January 15, he was admitted to a hospital for treatment.

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Pro-democracy guard recounts his mysterious kidnapping

NationalJan 18. 2021Mongkol Santimetakul

By The Nation

Mongkol Santimetakul, a member of the pro-democracy protesters’ security unit, on Sunday recounted his kidnapping on Saturday night by a group of mysterious men.

Mongkol’s nightlong disappearance saw members of the pro-democracy group and guards gather outside the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) in Bangkok’s Dusit district on Sunday morning to demand answers.

Mongkol had apparently been pulled into a van as he was walking out of a convenience store on Saturday night by a mysterious man who then proceeded to send out messages on the guard’s phone claiming he was an Isoc officer. 

“All that night, this man kept ordering me to sign a document, which I refused because I could not read it,” he said.

“He also issued threats demanding that I stop participating in pro-democracy rallies.”

Mongkol said there were several men, one of whom spoke in the southern Thai dialect, adding that he had not been tortured.

As for the post reading “help” on his Facebook page, Mongkol said he did not post that message because the group had seized his smartphone, adding that he had to give them his phone password to save his life.

“Later, one of the men said they will drop me off in the border area, but then apologised because they had ‘misunderstood’.

“He then covered my head with a jacket before pushing me out of the van,” he said. “When I removed the jacket, I found myself at Soi Pang Pu 29 in Samut Prakan province and I asked staff at a convenience store nearby to contact my friends to pick me up.”

After Mongkol recounted his experience with the press, an attorney from the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights took him to file a police complaint at the Pak Nam Police Station.

Separately, Move Forward Party MP Rangsiman Rome said this case is similar to the forced disappearance of Thai activist Wanchalearm Satsaksit, who was abducted from a street in Phnom Penh on June 4 last year.

He said Isoc should cooperate with police officers or other agencies to take legal action against those who kidnapped the guard instead of just denying the case.

“I also think the House speaker should consider a draft legislation that will prevent forced disappearances, because this problem has existed in society for a long time now,” he said.

“I would also like to emphasise that we cannot deny abduction cases, because people can be kidnapped at any time.”

Meanwhile, pro-democracy activist Sombat Boonngamanong also wrote in a Facebook post of his experience when he was abducted for nine days. He said abducting people just because they differ in political ideologies is villainous behaviour.

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Rayong infection rate dropping, 8,000 migrant workers next for screening

NationalJan 18. 2021

By The Nation

Health authorities say the rate of Covid-19 infections in Rayong, one of the five provinces under maximum controls, is dropping.

Provincial health officials reported two new cases on Sunday, bringing the total since the outbreak began in mid-December to 564 cases. Of these, 450 have recovered, 113 are still in hospital and only two remain in a field hospital.

Officials said that if no further surge in infections is seen, the virus situation in Rayong will soon be under control.

The two latest cases were traced from an infected van driver who went to several drinking parties and a friend’s house in Map Cha Lao On village, Klaeng district.

Meanwhile, a separate case hunt was launched after a 5-month-old infant was found infected – though its parents, close contacts and hospital staff all tested negative.

Rayong health officials are also preparing teams to screen about 8,000 migrant workers and about 300 food delivery workers at factories in the province.

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ACT opposes appointment as prosecutor of official involved in Vorayuth case

NationalJan 18. 2021Wongsakul Kittipromwong, Attorney-General, nominated name list for prosecutor, which was opposed by ACT

By The Nation

The Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT) has opposed the appointment of two officials, one involved in the botched prosecution of absconding Red Bull scion Vorayuth ‘Boss’ Yoovidhya, and another facing a criminal investigation.

In an open letter, the ACT opposed the promotion of Nate Naksuk as senior public prosecutor and Poramet Intarachumnum as inspector-general. The ACT called for reconsideration of the decision, warning it might destroy public faith in the justice system.

The list of public prosecutors and senior prosecutors from the Office of the Attorney-General has been sent to HM the King. The list included Nate, former deputy attorney-general, and Poramet, chief of the Thon Buri Litigation Department.

ACT said the decision has caused concern among the public as both prosectors are still under investigation. Nate came under fire for his decision to dismiss the final charge of reckless driving causing death against Vorayuth. Poramet was charged with drunk-driving causing danger to others and reckless driving causing danger to others in August 2020.

In the letter, the ACT urged the attorney-general to reconsider the appointments and clarify the reason behind the decision which could stain its reputation as the defender of justice.