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Red-shirt leader accuses govt of saving its own skin, not monarch’s

NationalNov 19. 2020Jatuporn Prompan 

By The Nation

Jatuporn Prompan, chairman of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, slammed lawmakers for saving their own skins and not actually doing anything to protect the monarchy.

He said the outright rejection of iLaw’s draft charter was just a sign that no moves will be made to solve the political unrest and protesters will continue pushing for reforms.

The “people’s charter”, sponsored by rights group Internet Dialogue on Law Reform (iLaw) and supported by some 100,000 eligible voters, was rejected at the end of the first reading.

He also said the claim that the iLaw draft was aimed at bringing back a former premier did not make sense, and accused the government of wanting to keep Sections 255 and 256 untouched so it can hang on to power.

The current Constitution’s Section 255 governs changes to Chapter 1 (General Provisions) and Chapter 2 (Monarchy), while Section 256 needs to be amended to allow the setting up of an elected charter drafting assembly.

Jatuporn also accused the authorities of intentionally allowing armed ultraroyalists to attack pro-democracy protesters just so the clash can be used as an excuse to impose another state of emergency and launching a coup.

He said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was the biggest problem, as can be seen by his conflicting actions. The premier had previously said nobody would face lese majeste charges if they criticised the monarchy, but then pounced on critics by accusing them of inciting conflict.

Jatuporn said the 2017 Constitution will most likely not be amended but will be ripped up like the 1997 and 2007 charters.

“The government and the Parliament are not sincere in defending the monarchy,” he said. “The votes in Parliament only prove that they are more interested in saving their own skins, not the monarch’s.”

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Netizens console iLaw’s Yingcheep after Parliament rejects charter amendment

NationalNov 19. 2020Yingcheep Atchanont 

By The Nation

Pro-democracy netizens have thrown their support behind iLaw manager Yingcheep Atchanont after “the people’s amendment” was rejected by Parliament on Wednesday.

After the voting result was revealed, Yingcheep said he did not regret the effort but was proud of it and would attempt it again.

He then received consolation and praise from netizens who supported the amendment and the “democratic system”.

They said this was the first time the people’s amendment entered parliament and believed it would not be the last.

The netizens also encouraged one another to continue their fight for democracy.

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Former army chief General Apirat named deputy director of Crown Property Bureau

NationalNov 19. 2020

By THE NATION

The Royal Gazette website on Wednesday published His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s order to appoint General Apirat Kongsompong as deputy director of the Crown Property Bureau, under Sections 6, 7 and 8 of the Crown Property Act BE 2561.

The appointment took immediate effect.

Apirat (File Photo)

After retiring from his Army post earlier this year, Apirat was given the post of deputy secretary-general at the Office of His Majesty’s Principal Private Secretary. On October 8 he went into monkhood at the Hong Rattanaram Ratchaworawihan temple in Bangkok. He left the monkhood on October 27.

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Five hurt after pickup driver falls asleep, slams into car

NationalNov 19. 2020

By The Nation

Five people in a public transport vehicle were injured after the driver of a pickup fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into the car on old San Kampaeng Road in Chiang Mai province on Thursday.

The heavy collision trapped the passengers in the car. Rescuers had to use equipment to free them just as the vehicle caught fire.

Another group of rescuers quickly succeeded in extinguishing the flames, preventing further casualties.

The five injured people were taken to hospital. The accident also created a traffic jam.

Pickup driver Jetsada Norakaipan, 29, admitted to falling asleep and causing the accident.

The police are investigating to find out exactly how the crash occurred.

San Kamphaeng police station is holding the vehicles until the injured retrieve them.

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Eight new cases in quarantine

NationalNov 19. 2020

By THE NATION

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration on Wednesday reported eight new cases in quarantine over a 24-hour period.

The latest cases were six Thai nationals and two foreigners.

The six returnees were four women, aged 32, 37, 64 and 29, from Germany, Japan, Italy and the UK, and two men, aged 27 and 30, from the UK.

The infected foreigners are an Indian man, 48, and a Spanish woman, 34.

The new cases were asymptomatic, except for the three returnees from the UK.

As of Wednesday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand has increased to 3,888 (929 in state quarantine). Of these, 86 are in hospital and 3,742 have recovered and been discharged. The death toll remains at 60.

According to Worldometer, as of 10am the number of confirmed global cases has increased to 56.55 million (rising by 611,074 in 24 hours). Of these, 39.34 million have recovered, 17.2 million are active cases (101,458 in severe condition) and 1.35 million have died (an increase of 10,969).

Thailand ranks a safe 151st for most cases in the world.

The US has the most number, with 11.87 million, followed by India (8.95 million), Brazil (5.94 million), France (2.06 million) and Russia (1.99 million).

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Teen novice monk arrested after stealing scooter

NationalNov 19. 2020

By The Nation

A 15-year-old Buddhist novice monk in Lampang province was arrested after stealing a scooter on Wednesday so he could “ride to his home in the Northeast”.

After a complaint by the scooter owner at 10am, Mae Ta Station police coordinated with traffic officers to conduct a search for the stolen black Honda Scoopy i.

Later in the afternoon in Phrae province, police were notified of a scooter accident and went to check. The scooter was exactly the same stolen Scoopy i.

The teen at the scene confessed that he grabbed the scooter with a key in it because he missed home in the Northeast and planned to ride back there on the Scoopy i, before which he threw away his robe and stole some of the scooter owner’s clothes, which he put on.

He said his unfamiliarity with the route led him to meet an accident.

The novice was arrested for stealing and later sent back to Mae Ta police station in Lampang for further legal action.

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Surat Thani dog owner refuses to pay full hospital bills after 2 bitten

NationalNov 19. 2020

By THE NATION

A Surat Thani dog owner whose pet bit two persons in the span of two days refused to pay their whole hospital bills, leading to one victim’s father lodging a police complaint.The latest case came to light when a woman posted photos on Facebook of a boy with bite wounds in Surat Thani.

The 9-year-old told reporters he was bitten on Tuesday, at around 9pm. He said he was playing with his friends when their ball bounced into the house with the dog. Unconcerned about the animal, he went to collect the ball and was promptly bitten on his left hand and back. His father took him to hospital shortly after.

The boy’s father said the treatment cost precisely Bt5,822.51. When he showed the dog owner the bill, the person stated that he would pay only Bt500.

The angered father then filed a complaint with Muang Surat Thani police.

On Monday, another person was bitten.

The owner at first assured the person that he would pay the whole hospital bill, but later came up with only Bt1,000 and refused to pay more

Reporters tried to contact the dog owner, but his house was locked and his phone turned off.

The police, too, have been unable to contact him.

The man reportedly had two dogs in his garden. One was tied while the other roamed around freely in the compound.

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BEC World scotches rumour Juangroongruangkit family will take over business

CorporateNov 19. 2020

By The Nation

BEC World Plc’s chief executive officer has said a rumour that the Juangroongruangkit family plans to take over the business is not true.

Rumours have been doing the rounds in the past few days that the company will come under the administration of the Juangroongruangkit family, of which its most prominent member is Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit.

However, Channel 3, operated by BEC, confirmed in a news broadcast quoting the CEO that the family would not take over the media business.

The rumour has been circulating during this sensitive period of political unrest, when student-led pro-democracy protesters have urged mainstream media to report any anti-government moves.

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Baht under pressure from BOT measures

EconNov 19. 2020

By THE NATION

The baht opened at 31.31 to the US dollar on Thursday, unchanged from its closing rate on Wednesday.

The Thai currency is likely to move between 30.20 and 30.40, said Jitipol Puksamatanan, senior director of the chief investment office at SCB Securities.

On Wednesday night, the S&P 500 decreased by 1.2 per cent amid market concern over the dire Covid-19 situation in the US.

The Stoxx 600 Index increased by 0.4 per cent due to investors’ hopes that the EU would issue a fresh stimulus package, he said.

Meanwhile, the WTI crude oil price rose by 0.7 per cent, to $41.70 (Bt1,265) per barrel.

The dollar continued to weaken, and the US Ten-Year Treasury yield decreased by 2 basis points to 0.88 per cent. Investors decided to invest in the yen as a safe-haven asset. Bitcoin was trading at $17,000 (Bt51,5856) amid speculation.

In Thailand, the baht came under pressure from the Bank of Thailand’s (BOT) measures to prevent the currency from strengthening quickly. However, Jitipol said the recent movement of the baht was not mainly from speculation, so BOT will not implement strict measures targeting speculators.

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BMA to deploy 7 more electric shuttle boats

NationalNov 19. 2020

By THE NATION

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) plans to deploy seven additional electric shuttle boats in Phadung Krung Kasem canal from November 27, after it has been running the first electric boat for several months now, a source said on Thursday.

“The electric boat pilot project has received a warm welcome from commuters, as the boat produces no noise or air pollution,” he said.

“The BMA said that by adding seven more boats, they can increase the trips from 14 to 39 per day, or every 15 minutes, from 6am to 7pm on weekdays, and 23 trips on weekends. Electric boats will be free of charge until further notice.”

The electric boats will run on a 5-km-long route through 11 piers, passing major landmark such as Hua Lamphong train station, the Energy Ministry, Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue and Democracy Monument.

“The boats are 100 per cent powered by electricity generated from 12 solar panels on their roofs. They are also equipped with a lighting system, GPS, anti-slippery mat and a wheelchair accessible seat, apart from 30 normal passenger seats,” the source added. “The boats can run at a maximum speed of 17 km/h and for up to four hours on a fully charged battery.”