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Police seal radius of Parliament complex ahead of protests

NationalNov 17. 2020

By THE NATION

Police on Tuesday afternoon put up barbed wire, barriers and public buses to cordon off a 50-metre radius around Parliament in Bangkok’s Kiak Kai area in Dusit district. Only the main entrance of the complex was kept open.

The authorities cordoned off the area to prepare for pro-democracy protesters, who are scheduled to gather outside Parliament to monitor the deliberation on charter amendments, especially the “people’s draft” put forward by civil group iLaw.

“Traffic police has been deployed to ensure smooth traffic flow from Bang Kra Beu intersection to the Parliament,” Bangkok police chief Pol Lt-General Pakkapong Pongpetra, said.

“Only Parliament staff and press will be allowed to enter the complex.”

Pakkapong added that police boats have been stationed in canals nearby to monitor the situation.

“We are assessing the situation to see if closing more routes is necessary,” he said. “Police intelligence reports say the ultraroyalist Thai Pakdee group will hold a rally on Pracharat Sai 1 Road until 2pm, while the Ratsadon group is going to hold a rally at Bang Kra Beu intersection from 3pm, but it is not yet confirmed whether they will stay the night.”

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Bangkok metered taxis can now charge special fees for luggage

NationalNov 17. 2020

By The Nation

The Transport Ministry has announced that as of Tuesday, Bangkok metered taxis will be allowed to charge passengers handling fees for large luggage items, but not for equipment such as wheelchairs or walking sticks.

Under the new regulations, taxis will be allowed to charge luggage handling fees as follows:

• Bt20 for every bag that exceed 26 inches in width, height or length.

• Bt20 for every additional item of luggage after the first two.

• No more than Bt100 per piece for sports equipment like golf bags, bicycles, surfboards or musical instruments that are 50 inches or more in size.

• No more than Bt100 for equipment, tools or appliances that are 50 inches or more in size.

The cabbie is required to inform the passenger in advance about the extra handling fees.

No charges will be allowed for carry-on baggage such as handbag, computer bag, backpack or personal belongings carried by the passenger.

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Charming images of guilty baby elephant wins hearts on social media

NationalNov 17. 2020

By The Nation

Images of a guilty baby elephant trying to hide behind an electricity post after being caught stealing sugarcane have gone viral on the internet.

The photographs were published on Facebook on Sunday night after a baby elephant was caught feasting on a crop of sugarcane.

Realising that humans were approaching, the little pachyderm began looking for a hiding place and decided an electricity post nearby would provide it with plenty of cover.

It also thought that humans wouldn’t notice it if it stood absolutely still.

People were not just amused by this but also found it endearing and decided to share it with others online.

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Man pays a heavy price for trying to make peace in Chanthaburi

NationalNov 17. 2020

By The Nation

An armed clash between two youth gangs in Chanthaburi province on Tuesday ended when a man who tried to intervene got caught in the crossfire.

Early on Tuesday, police responded to calls and showed up at the shooting site in Pak Saeng fruit market to find Thammarat Suntorn, 34, with several gunshot wounds and a left hand that badly damaged by a bomb. He was immediately taken to Prapokklao Hospital.

Police collected 12 bullet shells and a few grenades as evidence.

According to witnesses, the two gangs began fighting at the market before Thammarat showed up to break them up with a grenade in his hand to threaten them with. However, he was caught in the crossfire, and the grenade in his hand exploded.

Thammarat had been arrested in 2015 for gun possession and attempt to murder, but managed to escape. He will be detained once he recovers.

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‘Why has Thailand not got the praise it deserves for containing Covd-19?’

NationalNov 17. 2020

By The Nation

It is intriguing for some countries why Thailand has not got the praise it deserves for effectively containing the Covid-19 pandemic, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said in an interview.

He was speaking at Government House on Monday about the 34th Asean Summit via video conferencing, when he broached on the situation of Thailand in the eyes of the world.

He said that in some countries, like New Zealand, the leaders were praised for their administration during the pandemic and re-elected, making some wonder why Thailand has not gained more attention for its efforts.

“I told them we are not like the others. People in our country know the result and the benefits, and at this moment Thai people have different points of view. They see a usurpation [of power],” he said, in a veiled reference to the anti-government street protests.

The minister said that the summit would not be linked to Thai affairs, but foreigners want to know why the public wants the prime minister to resign.

Therefore, he had emphasised to them that the situation developing in Thailand was a usurpation of power, typical of Thai politics that he had always seen.

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Three foreigners found positive in quarantine

NationalNov 17. 2020

By The Nation

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

All the cases were asymptomatic males.

A 20-year-old Indian cargo ship crew from a Philippines port arrived on November 8 and tested positive in alternative quarantine on November 11. He was transferred to Laem Chabang Hospital for treatment.

Two British men — a 51-year-old and a 70-year-old — travelled from the UK, and arrived on November 9 after taking a connecting flight in Dubai. They test positive in an alternative state quarantine hotel in Bangkok on November 14 and 15 respectively.

Meanwhile, three patients have recovered and been discharged.

The total number of confirmed cases in Thailand increased to 3,878 (919 in state quarantine), 94 are in hospital, 3,724 have recovered and been discharged and 60 have died.

According to Worldometer, as of 10am on Tuesday, the total number of confirmed cases has increased to 55.3 million (up by 483,386), 38.45 million have recovered, 15.52 million are active cases (99,780 in severe condition) and 1.33 million have died (up by 7,150).

Thailand ranks 151st for most cases in the world, while the US has the most number with 11.53 million, followed by India 8.87 million, Brazil 5.87 million, France 1.99 million and Russia 1.95 million.

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TAT expects long weekend in November to generate over Bt12.6 billion tourism revenue

NationalNov 17. 2020

By THE NATION

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects around 3.02 million people will travel in Thailand during the long weekend from November 19 to 22.

TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said that the total number of travellers will be close those during September 4 to 7.

TAT expects the travellers during the long holidays to generate over Bt12.6 billion into the system while room occupancy would average 37 per cent.

He added that news on Covid-19 cases in recent times, could influence travellers’ plan to visit during the holidays.

Yuthasak said that these long holidays would not be that busy, as several private companies have not followed government agencies in granting the extra holidays.

Besides, there will be another long holiday in December, so some people may decide to travel at that time instead of during the long weekend in November.

The governor said that most people tended to visit famous provinces, such as Chonburi, Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Rayong, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai or Ayutthaya.

He added that the cool weather at this time of the year would be a factor in motivating many people to visit the northern and southern regions.

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Baht appreciates, but investors await outcome of MPC meeting tomorrow

NationalNov 17. 2020

By NATION

The baht opened at 30.19 to the US dollar on Tuesday, strengthening from 30.23 at close on Monday.

The Thai currency is likely to move between 30.10 and 30.30, said Jitipol Puksamatanan, senior director of the chief investment office at SCB Securities.

On Monday night, the financial markets were in a risk-on state, and recovered from news of a Covid-19 vaccine. The S&P 500 and Stoxx 600 indices both rose by 1.2 per cent.

The WTI crude oil price increased by 3.1 per cent, while the price of gold fell by 0.1 per cent. However, the news of a Covid-19 vaccine did not prompt investors to sell their safe haven asset as much as in the past.

In the US and Germany, the Ten-Year Treasury yield stayed at 0.90 per cent and –0.55 per cent, respectively.

The dollar weakened 0.2 per cent, compared to other main currencies. The euro and the franc did not weaken, since the European Central Bank signalled that it would issue more stimulus packages next month.

In Thailand, speculators have reduced the baht they held due to the Bank of Thailand measures amid the strengthening baht, Jitipol said.

In the next phase, he forecast that foreign investors would watch the outcome of the Monetary Policy Committee meeting on Wednesday, before deciding on returning to Thailand.

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Government liberalises sale and possession of category II narcotics

NationalNov 17. 2020

By THE NATION

A new Public Health Ministry regulation allows the sale and possession of category II narcotics under the Narcotic Act BE 2522 (1979).

An announcement to the effect was published in the Royal Gazette website on Monday.

Category II comprises 102 ordinary narcotics, such as morphine, cocaine, codeine, medicinal opium, and fresh opium.

Under the ministerial regulation, the permit to sell category II narcotics will be granted to applicants for the following purposes:

▪︎ Medical treatment or disease prevention in patients or animals;

▪︎ Medical or scientific analysis or study;

▪︎ For the benefit of the government.

The permit to possess category II narcotics will be granted to applicants for the following purposes:

▪︎ Manufacturing of category III narcotics, which are in the form of medicinal formula and contain narcotics of category II as ingredients in accordance with the rules prescribed by the minister, such as cough medicine, diarrhoea medicine;

▪︎ Used as an example for educational purposes;

▪︎ Medical or scientific analysis or study;

▪︎ For the benefit of the government;

▪︎ For providing first aid or in case of emergency in public transport ships or aeroplanes operating on international routes that are registered in the Kingdom.

This regulation will be effective 240 days after the date of announcement in the Royal Gazette.

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Merchants warned against unfair practices to benefit from shopping subsidy scheme

NationalNov 17. 2020

By THE NATION

The Commerce Ministry has warned merchants participating in the government’s shopping subsidy scheme to clearly display product/service prices and refrain from price hikes, or they could face jail or be fined under the law.

Responding to consumer complaints that some merchants in Khon Kaen province, who had joined the government’s “Khon La Khrueng” (Let’s Go Halves) campaign, had unfairly increased their prices to earn higher subsidy, Chaiyajet Jan-Aksorn, chief of Khon Kaen Commerce Office, said that he had told officials to survey the markets and make sure that all merchants follow the rules. They must display the price clearly so that customers can make appropriate choices, he said.

The scheme, which runs from October 23 to December 31, offers about 10 million citizens discounts of up to Bt150 per day on purchases at participating stores, capped at Bt3,000 throughout the period. The government through Krungthai Bank will subsidise the discount amount to registered merchants via the Thung Ngern application.

“Merchants who fail to display their prices will face up to a Bt10,000 fine under the Price of Goods and Services Act BE 2542,” he said.

“Those who unfairly increase their prices could face up to seven years in prison, or Bt140,000 fine, or both.

“Merchants who joined the Ministry’s Blue Flag Shop campaign and broke the law would have their Blue Flag status revoked on top of punishment stipulated by the laws,” he added.

“If you want to report unfair price hiking, you can do so at yiur local police station, provincial commerce office, or contact the Department of Internal Trade’s hotline 1569,” he said.