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Thailand ‘Building Back Better’ with ASEAN

NationalNov 16. 2020

By THE NATION

Usana Berananda, Director-General of the Department of ASEAN Affairs, said last week that ASEAN will continue to work together intensively on enhancing public health cooperation to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

So far, cooperation ranges from exchange of information and best practices, provision of medical supplies and equipment, trainings for medical professionals and personnel, and the recent establishment of the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund, which was initiated by Thailand.

“Three months after COVID-19 became a global pandemic, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai came up with the idea to set up an ASEAN fund as a mechanism to promote cooperation among its members to tackle the outbreak,” she said.

“This idea was endorsed by the ASEAN Leaders at the Special ASEAN Summit on COVID-19 in April and now the Fund is already operational, ready for ASEAN Member States to tap on in the fight against COVID-19. The project is taking concrete shape.”

The rationale of the Fund is to utilise existing funds in ASEAN, including cooperation funds with Dialogue Partners, while being open for voluntary contribution from ASEAN Member States and other external partners, to address the unprecedented COVID-19 challenges in the region.

“Cooperation funds with Dialogue Partners are usually used for programmes and projects to enhance cooperation between ASEAN and the concerned Dialogue Partners in areas such as cultural or media exchanges.” she said. “But at a time like this, the utilisation of these funds can be refocused and reprioritised to promote cooperation and contribute to the regions’ efforts in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. As a token of our commitment, Thailand was also the first country to make a voluntary contribution of US$100,000 to the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund.”

During the 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meetings and Related Meetings in September, several Dialogue Partners expressed their interest to support the Fund.

“China, Japan and the Republic of Korea announced that they will donate $1 million each, with Australia pledging A$1 million. During the ASEAN-UK Ministerial Meeting later on, the United Kingdom also pledged another £1 million,” she said.

“The Fund is open for any ASEAN Member State to come up with project proposals that help them tackle the COVID-19 outbreak, such as purchasing necessary medical equipment, surgical masks, personal protective equipment [PPEs] or conducting research and development on COVID-19 treatment and vaccine,” she said. “Thailand’s Public Health Ministry is also working on its proposal.”

DG Usana added that Thailand has provided 1 million sanitary face masks and PPEs to Myanmar last month as part of cooperation among ASEAN Member States.

“At the same time, ASEAN is also working on bolstering regional economic cooperation amid the pandemic, with a focus on preserving supply chain connectivity in the region, maintaining food and energy security, and strengthening economic stability and resilience in the long term.” she added.

During the 37th ASEAN Summit last week, the leaders launched the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework which focuses on the region’s comprehensive recovery strategy on public health, as well as social and economic aspects in the long term.

“For Thailand, we attach great importance to helping SMEs, who are the backbone of ASEAN’s economy because SMEs account for over 80 per cent of all businesses and create more than 90 per cent of the region’s employment,” said DG Usana. “The Prime Minister is concerned about the recovery of SMEs who are among the sectors hardest-hit by COVID-19, and recognises the need to ensure that SMEs have access to funding to maintain their liquidity and get through this crisis. This idea has been incorporated in the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework.”

Another aspect that was focused on during the ASEAN Summit was the ‘ASEAN Travel Corridor Arrangement’, which will set out a framework to facilitate essential business travel among ASEAN Member States. This is to ensure uninterrupted economic activities during the period of restricted international travel.

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National Artist Suchart challenges ultra-royalist’s call for destruction of Democracy Monument

NationalNov 16. 2020

By The Nation

An ultra-royalist who is also a part of the Royal Family, Julajerm Yukol, has come under criticism after calling for the destruction of the historic Democracy Monument in Bangkok.

“If they are allowed to use it as a pointless playground, please destroy it. It has no value now, just an obstacle on the road,” he posted on his Facebook account.

After the message went viral on the Internet, National Artist Suchart Sawadsri asked Thai netizens to give their opinion on whether the monument should be destroyed.

He explained that everything linked to Khana Ratsadon in 1932 which transformed the country’s political system from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy, had also been destroyed, relocated or erased from history.

On December 10, 1936, General Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena (Phot Phahonyothin), the second prime minister of Siam, ordered the installation of the Khana Ratsadon memorial plaque at Dusit Palace Royal Plaza to commemorate the 1932 coup.

However, on April 14, 2017, the historic plaque went missing and subsequently it was replaced with an ultra-royalist plaque.

In 2020, a Khana Ratsadon memorial plaque was resurrected by the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration group which attempted to bring back a symbol of the fight for democracy.

Pro-democracy demonstrators have rallied several times at the Democracy Monument to make their political demands as the monument is symbolic of the goal they wish to achieve.

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Two arrested in Lopburi over alleged Bt400m lottery ticket fraud

NationalNov 16. 2020

By THE NATION

Lopburi police on Sunday arrested Thossaphon Jitmaen and Yutthana Thongkham, who are accused of cheating lottery ticket sellers.

The two were picked up from a house in Khoksamrong district of Lopburi province.

On October 7, more than 100 lottery ticket sellers in Surin province had filed a police complaint that two distributors had taken their money but failed to deliver the lottery tickets for the October 16 and November 1 draws, worth over Bt400 million.

One of the plaintiffs said the suspects had invited them to buy lottery tickets at a price of Bt80 each, but they had to buy in bulk of at least 500 tickets. “They delivered the first 4-5 lots on time, but in October we could no longer contact them despite already having given them the money,” they said. “After their arrest, we have submitted an appeal to the police to deny them bail as they might get out and coerce the sellers.”

Police said that the suspects had fled from Surin and hid at a house in Lopburi. Police also reportedly found Bt700,000 cash and some gold jewellery in the house.

The two suspects have reportedly confessed to the alleged fraud, but said that the money they received was less than Bt400 million. They were taken to Muang Lopburi Police Station for interrogation.

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Corrections department rebuts protest leaders’ claims of substandard food in prisons

NationalNov 16. 2020

By THE NATION

The Department of Corrections has sprung to its defence, saying it maintains strict control over food served in prisons, after protest leaders of the Free Youth group recently said prisoners were being served substandard food.

“The department has been strictly following the protocols in food procurement, inspection of ingredients and meal planning, which are based on food sanitation principles,” the department’s director-general, Ayut Sinthopphan, said. “We also have been working with external parties to inspect and control food quality to ensure safety and good nutrition for inmates.

“All meal plans are notified to inmates in advance, with variety based on the geographic areas, while still maintaining nutritional values. Sick inmates are given a different meal plan based on their dietary needs,” he added.

“Those who require special diets due to religious beliefs will also have different menus, which are prepared in separated containers.

“Although the department has been allocated a budget of only Bt54 per inmate per meal for three meals day, which includes both ingredients and fuel costs, we have strictly adhered to the aforementioned measures to make sure that all inmates receive good quality food according to the principles of nutrition,” Ayut said.

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Cool weather with fog in upper Thailand, thundershowers in the South

NationalNov 16. 2020

By THE NATION

The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Monday that the high-pressure system over upper Thailand had started to weaken, increasing the temperature in the areas.

The cool weather with morning fog continues while mountaintops are still cold. The northeast monsoon over the Gulf and the South has weakened, resulting in less rain in the South with isolated heavy showers in some areas.

The category 2 tropical depression has downgraded into an active low-press cell in Pakxan, Laos. It is expected to disperse upwards. Light to moderate rain is likely over the Northeast and the North on Tuesday. Farmers are advised to beware of damage to crop.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Cool weather with fog in the morning and isolated light rain; minimum temperature 17-21 degrees Celsius, maximum 31-34°C.

Northeast: Cool weather with fog in the morning and rain in 20 per cent of the areas; minimum temperature 17-20°C, maximum 27-31°C.

Central: Cool weather with fog in the morning; minimum temperature 19-21°C, maximum 32-34°C.

East: Cool weather with fog in the morning; minimum temperature 19-22°C, maximum 31-33°C; waves 1-2 metres high and two metres offshore.

South (east coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas and isolated heavy rain; minimum temperature 21-24°C, maximum 31-33°C; waves 1-2 metres high and over two metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 30 per cent of the areas; minimum temperature 23-25°C, maximum 32-34°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Cool weather with fog in the morning; minimum temperature 21-23°C, maximum 33-35°C.

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Thailand signs RCEP agreement but PM warns of challenges ahead

NationalNov 15. 2020

By The Nation

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha participated on Sunday in the 4th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Summit (RCEP), which was one of the meetings in addition to the 37th Asean Summit through teleconference.

The PM said he was very pleased that the meeting could conclude the outcome of the negotiations together and witness the signing of the RCEP agreement, which is the world’s largest free trade agreement.

He said that members face many challenges due to differences in the level of economic development, the sensitivity of each country, and the latest crisis from the situation of the coronavirus outbreak.

The union of the members will provide the RCEP region with a favourable environment and attract global trade and investment, the PM said. This gives member countries the ability and flexibility to cope with future economic challenges. It will also be a tool to drive the world economy towards more free trade. As a result, our region and our people would continue to benefit equally and sustainably, Prayut said.

The PM attended the RCEP signing ceremony with representatives from 15 countries. For Thailand, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Jurin Laksanawisit signed the agreement.

Jurin said today was a very important part of history, as there would be an agreement between 15 countries made up of 10 Asean countries and five from the Asia Pacific — China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. He said he hoped India would join the agreement in future.

Jurin added that the Thai private and public sectors would need to accelerate preparations and adapt to the world’s largest new investment trade and agreement, including studying regulations that become relevant.

After the signing on Sunday, each country has to follow its own process of ratifying the deal.

It is expected to come into effect in the middle of next year. In order to come into effect, there must be six Asean countries and three other countries ratifying for the agreement to be enforced.

RCEP has left its doors open for India, which took part in the early deliberations but decided to stay out. The members are hopeful that India can join the agreement in the future, making the grouping account for one-third of world GDP and population.

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Four Laotians arrested on way to Phuket over alleged illegal stay

NationalNov 15. 2020

By The Nation

Four Laotians were arrested in Surat Thani province at 4.30am on Sunday for alleged illegal stay in Thailand.

Three of them were charged with entering the Kingdom without permission and another was charged with overstay.

The first three sneaked into Thailand in August, but they could not find a job and decided to seek opportunities in Phuket while the latter was allowed to stay until October 31 but did not submit a request for extension of stay.

They took a Bangkok-Phuket bus but police were waiting to catch them at Surat Thani before they could proceed further.

The law has been strictly applied to immigrants during the pandemic to prevent a second wave of the coronavirus, which could be brought from other countries, officials have said.

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Majority of people shun superstition in quest of lottery luck: poll

NationalNov 15. 2020

By The Nation

A recent poll shows that a great majority of people consider winning a lottery just a matter of luck, uninfluenced by the superstitious practices many people fall prey to.

The Nida poll showed that 70 per cent of respondents considered winning a lottery a matter of personal luck, 37 per cent thought that expecting sacred practices to help was being naive, while 36 per cent said lucky numbers from celebs was just a marketing trend.

The Nida Poll on “Lucky number: luck or lie” was conducted between November 11-13 by the National Institute of Development Administration, and surveyed 1,320 people aged more than 15 years old nationwide.

The poll also took people’s opinion on news of sacred things or strange events at various places that give lottery numbers and lucky numbers obtained from celebrities, singers, and actors.

When asked for their opinion on news of sacred or strange events at various places giving hint of lucky lottery numbers:

– 37.12 per cent of people said it was stupid;

– 27.50 per cent said it was an opportunity for a fortune;

– 20.68 per cent said it was a marketing strategy to generate a trend;

– 16.21 per cent said they believed in sacred lucky numbers or “the incident”;

– 2.73 per cent said it was a personal belief;

– 0.68 per cent did not answer or ignored the question.

Asked about news being published on people winning a lucky number from a sacred or strange event in various places:

– 70.61 per cent of respondents said it was an individual’s luck;

– 22.58 per cent said it was just a coincidence, but it was credulous;

– 7.58 per cent said it was a marketing strategy to generate a flow;

– 4.62 per cent said it was lucky, whether sacred or a strange incident;

– 3.48 per cent said it was an impulse to buy or want to ask for a lucky number;

– 1.29 per cent said it was a strangely interesting thing.

Regarding lucky lottery numbers obtained from celebrities, singers, or actors:

– 36.29 per cent of respondents said it was a marketing strategy to generate a trend;

– 31.06 per cent said it was stupid;

– 27.95 per cent said it was an opportunity for a fortune;

– 6.29 per cent believed in celebrity lucky numbers

– 2.20 per cent did not know or did not care.

Asked about news of celebrities, singers and actors who won the lottery with their lucky numbers:

– 52.73 per cent said it was the luck of each person;

– 24.02 per cent said it was just a coincidence;

– 17.20 per cent said it was a marketing strategy to generate a trend;

– 6.44 per cent said it was the luck of the sacred that the stars looked up to;

– 5.45 per cent said it was an impulse to buy before the next period;

– 3.86 per cent said that it was a unique ability of an individual;

– 1.82 per cent said it was a strangely interesting thing;

– 0.68 per cent did not know or did not answer.

When asked about people buying lucky numbers based on sacred things, strange events or celebrities in the past one year, the survey found:

– 68.79 per cent said that they did not buy the idea;

– 17.88 per cent said they had never bought a lottery ticket in the past year;

– 11-14 per cent said that their purchase was influenced by a sacred thing;

– 5.30 per cent said their purchase was based on strange events;

– 2.73 per cent said they had once purchased based on what celebrities had said.

Asked whether the media should publish news about lucky numbers:

– 68.03 per cent said it was freedom of the press whether to continue to offer such news or to stop offering such news;

– 21.29 per cent said the media should stop offering such news;

– 9.92 per cent said the media should continue to offer the news;

– 0.76 per cent did not answer

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Couple riding a Harley-Davidson injured in road crash

NationalNov 15. 2020

By The Nation

A couple riding a motorbike were heavily injured in Lampang province on Saturday when they crashed into a car, sending them flying.

Hang Chat district policemen rescued the victims and sent them for medical attention.

Police found Jirayuth Tippharat, 36, lying on the road with injuries on his arms, but his wife Natchaya Tippharat, 28, was unconscious.

Jirayuth said that the car came from another direction and he could not brake his Harley-Davidson motorbike in time to prevent the crash.

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Panusaya rejoins pro-democracy protests, tells govt ‘not to undermine’ citizens

NationalNov 15. 2020

By The Nation

Student protest leader Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul re-emerged at the pro-democracy protests again as a participant on Saturday after being arrested and detained for weeks, and asked the government not to undermine the people.

Speaking at the “Mob Fest” on Saturday for “Free Women”, a group of female protesters focused on suppression and harassment, she was asked about the laws that were used against the protesters.

She responded that the laws had to be questioned for their appropriateness as in some cases Section 116 related to sedition was slapped on people who protested about welfare.

Rung then asked the government not to undermine the people, as sovereignty belongs to the citizens of the nation.

She also said that now the protesters no longer needed leaders as the ideology has been planted in the public.

In addition, pro-democracy activist Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak also took the stage, telling thousands of protesters of his experience in jail before he was released on bail.

He reiterated a call for reform of the monarchy and vowed solidarity with the pro-democracy protesters.