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Lampang man suspected of immolating himself after bid to reconcile with wife fails

NationalDec 29. 2020

By THE NATION

Police in Lampang province found the charred body of a man in a burning house, in a suspected case of self-immolation.

Ngao Police Station was alerted on Monday to the fire at a house in Ban Mai Jaroen Suk village in Luang Tai subdistrict of Ngao district.

Firefighters took around 10 minutes to put out the flames in the wooden two-storey house.

Police found the charred body of Sawas Wikaha, aged 59 years, a farmer and owner of the house in the damaged house. Police contacted his wife who reportedly said that they had separated for about four months. Sawas reportedly went to her and asked to get back together before the incident, but she refused.

One of the deceased’s relatives reportedly told officials that Sawas had been under a lot of stress after splitting up with his wife and they earlier had caught him buying a bottle of gasoline but he did not reveal the purpose. They took away the gasoline from him, but they suspected that Sawas might have bought a new bottle.

Police are investigating other evidence and have sent the body for autopsy to determine the cause of death.

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Four police officers in Rayong transferred after gambling den becomes Covid-19 hotspot

NationalDec 29. 2020

By THE NATION

National Police chief Pol General Suwat Jangyodsuk on Monday signed an order transferring four senior police officers of Muang Rayong police station to the Provincial Police Operation Centre 2, a news source revealed.

The four officers will no longer serve under their original command and will remain under the chief of Provincial Police Operation Centre 2 until further notice, as per the order.

Rayong police chief Pol Maj-General Paphatdet Ketphan had earlier been shifted to an inactive post after health authorities tracked more than 90 cases and one death in the eastern province to illegal gambling.

The four senior officers who have been shunted away are:

Pol Lt-Colonel Kiattiphong Kromkhunthod, the superintendent (crime suppression);

Pol Lt-Colonel Kosol Kerdmanee, superintendent (investigation);

Pol Lt-Colonel Khamphan Kwanthong, inspector (investigation);

Pol Colonel Thana Wisetchai, inspector (crime suppression).

The Royal Thai Police will set up an investigation committee to look into the matter for possible dereliction of duty or abuse of power by police officers, added the source.

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89 arrested in raid on gambling den in Bangkok

NationalDec 29. 2020

By THE NATION

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) on Monday raided a gambling den in Bangkok’s Chaeng Wattana area and arrested 89 alleged gamblers.

“The CIB has been working with Thung Song Hong police after we received a tip-off that a building in Chaeng Wattana Soi 14 in Bangkok’s Thung Song Hong subdistrict was being used as a gambling den,” said Pol Lt-General Torsak Sukwimol, the CIB chief.

“At the scene, officials arrested 89 suspected gamblers — 75 Thais and 14 foreigners — and confiscated four gambling tables and several gambling equipment.”

The detainees were charged with gambling and violating the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations BE2548, which prohibits unauthorised gathering in a crowded space.

“Although they were wearing face masks, the crowded environment might have put them at risk of contracting and spreading Covid-19,” added Torsak.

“Officials checked their temperature before taking them into detention, and have contacted the Bangkok public health office to perform detailed testing.”

Torsak added that the building had been used as a gambling den in the past and had been ordered to shut down, but the gamblers had returned and reopened the place.

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Dense fog forecast for many parts of upper Thailand as cold spell continues

NationalDec 29. 2020

By THE NATION

The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Tuesday that the weak high-pressure system covering upper Thailand and the South China Sea would bring morning fog, with dense fog in some areas.

The weather in the North and the Northeast remains cool to cold, while mountaintops are cold to very cold. Motorists in upper Thailand should proceed with caution due to poor visibility, the department said.

Meanwhile, a weak northeast monsoon prevails over the Gulf and the South, resulting in less rain.

The department said that from December 30 to January 3, the strong high pressure from China would extend to cover upper Thailand. Cool to cold weather will be likely over upper Thailand with a 6-8 degrees Celsius drop in temperature and strong winds.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Cool weather with fog in the morning and dense fog in some areas; minimum temperature 14-21 degrees Celsius, maximum 32-36°C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 5-13°C.

Northeast: Cool weather with fog in the morning and dense fog in some areas; minimum temperature 18-22°C, maximum 32-35°C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 12-16°C.

Central: Fog in the morning and dense fog in some areas; minimum temperature 23-24°C, maximum 35-36°C.

East: Partly cloudy with fog in the morning; minimum temperature 23-24°C, maximum 31-35°C; waves 1-2 metres high and two metres off shore.

South (east coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 20 per cent of the areas; minimum temperature 22-24°C, maximum 31-33°C; waves 1-2 metres high and two metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; minimum temperature 22-25°C, maximum 32-34°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Fog in the morning; minimum temperature 25-29°C, maximum 33-36°C.

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Nonthaburi heritage gem revealed by cable-burying project

NationalDec 29. 2020

By The Nation

Nonthaburi’s old Provincial Hall is getting a facelift to remove the ugly lines that have marred its century-old beauty just to the north of Bangkok.

The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) and local authorities are moving the electric cables and posts that obscure the teakwood façade and placing them underground. The cable rerouting is part of first-phase renovation of Nonthaburi Pier on the Chao Phraya River.

The Provincial Hall, now a museum, is a large two-storey teak building built in the European style during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V) in 1910.

The Fine Arts Department listed the building as a historic site in 1981, while the Association of Siamese Architects granted it an award for conservation in 2000. In 2009 the old Provincial Hall reopened as the Nonthaburi Museum, after renovation work on its exquisitely crafted wooden facade.

Now, the electrical cables in front of the building are being rerouted underground, with work scheduled for completion in January.

The MEA has so far buried 48.6 kilometres of cables that used to run overhead along major routes in Bangkok, including Silom, Sukhumvit, Phahonyothin, Phaya Thai, Rama I, Rama IV, Ratchadamri, Ratchawithi, Ratchaprarop, Sri Ayutthaya, Sawankhalok, Sathupradit, Sawang Arom, Phitsanulok, and Nakhon Sawan roads.

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Classroom time to be reduced in ‘education upgrade’

NationalDec 29. 2020Natthapol Teepsuwan

By THE NATION

The Education Ministry said on Monday it will upgrade the education system next year by reducing the time students spend in classroom in order to boost personal learning time.

Education Minister Natthapol Teepsuwan said the move was part of an ongoing push to improve Thai education in 2021.

He added that the new budget for school lunches will soon be proposed to the Cabinet as a “gift to students”.

Natthapol also said more foreign teachers would be back in the classroom soon, after many were barred from returning to Thailand due to the Covid-19 travel ban.

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PM orders probe of Rayong gambling dens blamed for outbreak

NationalDec 29. 2020

By The Nation

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered police to investigate illegal gambling in Rayong province, where an illicit casino is thought to be the source of a serious Covid-19 outbreak.

“The first punishment will be for ignorance and the next step will be to investigate who owns those casinos,” the premier said on Monday.

Rayong police chief Paphatdet Ketphan has been shifted to an inactive post after health authorities tracked more than 90 cases and one death in the eastern province to illegal gambling.

Rayong governor Charnna Iamsaeng reported that several people were infected at illegal casinos, contradicting the Rayong police chief’s claim that no such establishments existed in the province.

Netizens have ridiculed Rayong police, saying the episode reflects the inadequacy of Thai authorities to deal with the pandemic situation.

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Deputy ministers meet Songkhla locals opposed to huge industrial estate

NationalDec 28. 2020Photos by Charoon Thongnual

By The Nation

Deputy Agriculture Minister Thammanat Prompao and Deputy Labour Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat visited Songkhla province on Monday to hear complaints from residents over a controversial industrial estate project.

The two politicians gathered feedback on the Jana Industrial Estate from people living in Baan Suan Kong in Jana district. They also met with the Jana Ruk Thin Network of local activists opposed to the project.

Thammanat said residents’ comments would be collected and sent to Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan before being considered by the Cabinet.

On December 10, the Jana Ruk Thin Network camped out near Government House in Bangkok, calling for the planned project to be halted until a thorough environmental assessment is carried out. It also accuses the government of rushing the decision to approve the project to benefit a private company that had donated several million baht to the Palang Pracharath Party, the core member of the ruling coalition.

Managed by TPI Polene and IRPC, Jana Industrial Estate will cover 16,700 rai (2,672 hectares) in three subdistricts of Jana district – Sakom, Taling Chan and Na Thap. It will be the largest industrial estate project in the South and thus have significant impacts on surrounding communities, especially on environmental and marine resources.

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Covid death confirmed from Rayong gambling den

NationalDec 28. 2020

By The Nation

Deputy Health Minister Satit Pituthecha has confirmed the fresh outbreak of Covid-19 has claimed its first life, pushing Thailand’s death toll up to 61.

A 45-year-old man with heart disease had succumbed to the virus at Rayong Hospital, said Satit on Facebook. The victim was a guard at the illegal gambling den thought to be at the centre of the outbreak in the eastern province.

The man was tested on Sunday and developed severe breathing problems on Monday. He was rushed to hospital by a friend but stopped breathing on the way. Doctors performed CPR for 30 minutes but were unable to revive him.

The victim had a record of ischemic heart disease, stroke and diabetes, according to Satit.

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Govt House reporters take a dig a ‘loan happy’ administration

NationalDec 28. 2020Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha

By The Nation

Reporters on the Government House beat have dubbed this government as “very koo”, with “koo” in Thai meaning loans and rescue. 

The moniker was inspired by the Bt1 trillion loan the government has taken to revive the economy from the fallout of Covid-19.

Government House reporters have a tradition of coming up with nicknames for the government, prime minister and ministers based on their traits and performance. 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, whose actual nickname is “Too”, has been dubbed “Too who will keep fighting”, referring to his strong stance as premier.

Prayut’s remark, “I won’t step down. What have I done wrong?” was also chosen as the quote of the year. 

He had made this remark to the press on October 16, when asked how he would respond to the pro-democracy protesters’ demands for him to step down. The pro-democracy protesters have also been pushing for a new democratic charter and reform of the monarchy.