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Second round of registration for government’s shopping subsidy opens on Nov 11

NationalNov 06. 2020

By THE NATION

The Ministry of Finance will open registration for the second round of the government’s discounted shopping campaign on November 11.

The number of allowed registrants for the “Khon La Khrueng” (Let’s Go Halves) scheme will be announced on November 10, after the ministry has a final tally of people who give up their rights in the first round of registration, said Kritsada Jinavijarana, the ministry’s permanent secretary.

The three-month economic stimulus package was launched on October 16 in a bid to stimulate domestic consumption. Under the “Kon La Khreung” scheme, 10 million people can avail of daily discounts on their shopping of up to Bt150, capped at Bt3,000 at participating merchants, while the government will subsidise the merchants’ discounts via the Thung Ngern application.

“The second round registration aims to fill the 10 million people target after some have forfeited their rights to the discounts by not shopping within 14 days,” he said. “Currently we do not know the final number of people who have given up their rights, as we have to wait until those who registered on the last day of the first round fail to exercise their right within the 14-day limit, which will fall on November 10,” he said.

“Registrants who do not shop at participating merchant outlets under the campaign will automatically lose their right, but they can still participate in the ‘Shop Dee Mee Kuen’ [Shop and Payback] scheme,” he added. The scheme will offer tax deduction to taxpayers of up to Bt30,000 when purchasing goods or services (excluding alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, lottery tickets, accommodation and plane tickets) from VAT-registered businesses and will run from October 23 to December 30.

As of November 4, the ministry reported accumulated spending under the Khon La Khrueng campaign of Bt5.81 billion — Bt2.96 billion came from the registrants and Bt2.84 billion was subsidised by the government.

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Cool weather and isolated rain forecast for upper Thailand, isolated heavy rain in the South

NationalNov 06. 2020

By THE NATION

The Thailand Meteorological Department forecast on Friday that a high pressure system from China covers upper Thailand, bringing cool weather to the areas with isolated rain, while the northeast monsoon prevails over the Gulf and the South leading to isolated heavy rain over the lower South.

The category 3 tropical storm “Goni” has been downgraded to a tropical depression and is expected to make landfall over Qui-Nhon in Vietnam today, the department said. Isolated rain is likely in the lower Northeast and the East on November 6-7.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Cool weather with rain in 20 per cent of the areas; minimum temperature 21-23°C, maximum 30-33°C; temperature on hilltops likely to drop to 9-14°C.

Northeast: Cool weather with strong winds and rain in 20 per cent of the areas; minimum temperature 18-22°C, maximum 30-31°C; temperature on hilltops likely to drop to 11-15°C.

Central: Cool weather in the morning; minimum temperature 22-23°C, maximum 32-33°C.

East: Cool weather with strong winds and rain in 20 per cent of the areas; minimum temperature 22-24°C, maximum 32-34°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.

South (east coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas and isolated heavy rain; minimum temperature 23-25°C, maximum 30-33°C; waves a metre high and two metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas and isolated heavy rain; minimum temperature 22-24°C, maximum 32-34°C; waves a metre high and two metres during thundershowers.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Partly cloudy with rain in 10 per cent of the areas; minimum temperature 23-25, maximum 32-34°C.

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CCSA panel approves 10-day quarantine

NationalNov 06. 2020

By The Nation

A subcommittee of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Thursday approved reducing quarantine to 10 days for foreign tourists from countries with the same or slightly higher contagion risk as Thailand.

Travellers from high-risk countries will still be subject to quarantine for 14 days, said Public Health Permanent Secretary Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit, after chairing the health subcommittee. The panel believes cutting the quarantine period will attract more tourists to Thailand.

The move came after a medical trial found that 10-day and 14-day quarantines had the same result.

“Reducing quarantine to 10 days only slightly increases risk of infections, from 0.3 people per 1 million in 14-day quarantine to 1.5 per million in 10-day quarantine,” said Kiattiphum.

He added that if the usual 30 million people entered Thailand each year, around 300 asymptomatic Covid-19 cases might slip through the 10-day quarantine but wristband trackers and health system readiness would help trace them for treatment.

“After 10 days, it should be possible for tourists to travel to at least 10 provinces where disease prevention measures [are in place], including Chonburi, Phuket, Rayong, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Buriram and Surat Thani,” he added.

Health panel will now send its report and recommendation to the CCSA committee chaired by the prime minister for approval.

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Rail extension to Andaman coast for trade with BIMSTEC nations eyed

NationalNov 06. 2020

By THE NATION

The railway line between Chumphon and Ranong provinces will be extended to Ranong port in order to facilitate the transport of goods from the mainland to BIMSTEC countries via the Andaman Sea.

BIMSTEC countries include Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand.

Pailin Chuchottaworn, chairperson of the government’s economic steering committee, said a feasibility study on the 90-kilometre railway project is currently underway and the project will take three to four years to complete.

Pailin said he had proposed this project during his tenure as deputy transport minister between 2017 and 2019, when he spotted an old railway track during a visit to the province. He learned from the locals that this route had been built by the Japanese army during World War II and has been abandoned for many years.

This railway track, he said, went as far as the coast of Ranong where people can take boats to Myanmar. However, he said, this route was only used during the war and had been attacked by the Allies.

Pailin said he wanted the Transport Ministry to study and reconstruct this rail track so it can be used as a trade link through the Andaman to other BIMSTEC countries.

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Renewable energy sector to deliver national development roadmap

NationalNov 06. 2020File Photo 

By The Nation

Thailand’s renewable energy sector will submit five proposals for development of sustainable energy to the government in December, the Federation of Thai Industries’ renewable energy club revealed on Thursday.

Natee Sithiprasasana, the club’s vice president, said the proposals are being drawn up according to opinions gathered by a working group at a seminar on the national Alternative Energy Development Plan (AEDP) organised by the sector.

The seminar discussed obstacles and recommendations for the development of various renewable energy sources, including electricity generated from crops, waste, solar and wind power. Also discussed was the national plan for electric vehicles (EVs) and charging stations. The resulting five proposals will be submitted to the Energy Ministry and other relevant government agencies in December.

The proposals are as follows:

1. Electric vehicles and charging stations.

The government should promote infrastructure to support the EV industry, including market demand, production, standardisation of EVs and charging stations, and labour skills. The policy must cover collaboration between the ministries of Energy, Industry, Transport, Interior, Board of Investment (BOI), etc.

The working group also presented a prototype electric tractor and charging station, as part of a plan to convert 13,500 old tractors into electric trucks supported by a network of 433 charging stations. The charging stations would be installed on three routes – Bangkok-Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), Bangkok-Saraburi, and Bangkok-Ayutthaya, with a budget of Bt127.87 billion over 10 years.

2. Power generation from waste energy (Waste-to-Energy)

The government should cut red tape when it comes to applications for waste-power plant projects, while increasing local awareness of their benefits. Households should sort their own waste to support local collection and sorting systems. Banks should help support waste power plant projects and waste management systems. Refuse-derived fuel (RDF) should form up to 20 per cent of fuel used in biomass power plants.

3. Electricity generation from crops

Electricity from community biogas and biomass power plants should be the first renewable energy that enters the country’s grid.

This will encourage communities to accept plants, reducing conflicts and inequality while distributing income to the grassroots economy amid the Covid-19 crisis. The government’s policy to purchase 150MW of renewable power per year will generate Bt10.3 billion for the economy. But implementing the target of 1,933MW in the 2018 Power Development Plan (PDP) would boost the economic value to Bt134 billion, including tens of thousands of jobs.

4. Electricity generation from solar and wind energy

With electricity from solar panels now cheaper than buying from the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), the government should reduce steps for households seeking permission to install roof solar, which could be done online. It should also promote public understanding of solar energy, including both peer-to-peer electricity trading via the National Energy Trading Platform. It should purchase solar rooftop electricity at Bt2.60 per unit and support installation of panels.

The government sector should set a PDP wind-power purchase target of 7,000MW at a reasonable per-unit rate. The process of applying for licences also needs to be simplified.

5. Power generation for own use

The government should promote power generation by households (“prosumers”), allowing them to sell excess electricity to others. This could be done by adjusting electric power market rules from “enhanced single buyer” to a wholesale power market, and accelerating development of the microgrid. The government also has to create concrete road maps to support prosumer’s entry to the grid. A digital electricity trading platform should be developed for third parties, who should be given access to the grid and have a clear wheeling charge rate.

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Thai trade bodies cheer for Biden presidency

NationalNov 06. 2020

By The Nation

Thai business associations are cheering for Joe Biden to grab the keys to the White House from President Donald Trump on hopes over trade deals.

Thai Feed Mill Association president Pornsilp Patcharintanakul said if Biden wins the ongoing vote count, the global economy would benefit from a realignment of US policy with international trade regulations.

“Thailand would gain from de-escalation of the US-China trade conflict, which would boost many businesses’ confidence in trading,” he said.

“Meanwhile, Biden [as president] would end the Covid-19 outbreak as quickly as possible. If the US can contain the spread of the disease, the economy will recover.”

He added that Biden would drive the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), adding that Thailand, which is not yet a member, should formulate a clear policy on this trade deal.

“Also, we expect a Biden presidency to reconsider the [suspension of] Generalised System of Preferences [GSP] privileges for Thai products because the US stands to gain less from exporting pork to Thailand than it does from Thailand importing its soybean meal,” he added.

The US last month halted GSP tax breaks on Thai agricultural products in retaliation for Thailand not opening its pork market.

Thai Shrimp Association president Somsak Paneetatyasai said the result of the US presidential election would not affect Thai shrimp exports to the US as these were not covered by the GSP.

“If Trump wins, Thailand will benefit from the strong relationship between the Trump and Prayut governments,” he said.

“If Biden wins, the US-China trade conflict will ease as he would find other ways to negotiate with China.”

Whatever the election result, he expects the US to keep Thailand in Tier 2 of its annual Trafficking in Persons report.

Thai Frozen Foods Association president Poj Aramwattananont said the election outcome would not affect the export of frozen tuna and shrimp to the US because Thailand did not have tariff privileges on these products.

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Chuan consults former post-coup PM Surayud about reconciliation panel

NationalNov 06. 2020Surayud Chulanont 

By Krungthep Turakij newspaper
The Nation

Even though the pro-democracy protesters have rejected the government’s decision to set up a reconciliation committee, Parliament President Chuan Leekpai is going ahead with its creation.

Interestingly, Chuan’s first step towards establishing this panel is to hold a meeting with Privy Councillor Surayud Chulanont, who became prime minister after the 2006 military coup ousted Thaksin Shinawatra’s government.

During his time as premier, Surayud had formally apologised for atrocities committed in the South of Thailand while he was Army chief, particularly the Tak Bai massacre. However, he denied he had anything to do with the 1992 Bloody May crackdown.

It is widely believed that without Chuan, there would be no Surayud. While Chuan was prime minister between 1997 and 2001, Surayud was made Army commander.

As Army chief, Surayud made a name for himself by overseeing a successful operation of rescuing more than 100 hostages from a hospital in Ratchaburi province that had been captured by armed Karen rebels.

However, Surayud’s power was restrained during Thaksin’s regime, when he was given the loftier, but much less influential post of Army supreme commander. It is believed that this move marked the end of Thaksin’s government.

Surayud, known for his conservative beliefs, is well respected among other similarly old-school military top brass including Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Chuan, meanwhile, said he will be meeting with lots of influential personalities, adding that the topic of monarchy reform will remain untouched.

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Protesters handled within confines of the law, insist police

NationalNov 06. 2020

By The Nation

Of the 140 people arrested in relation to pro-democracy protests in 26 provinces, 85 of the arrests are in Bangkok alone.

Bangkok’s deputy police chief Piya Tawichai said of the 140, 79 protesters face the charge of organising gatherings of 10 or more people and inciting political unrest, 68 for violating the emergency decree, three for violating Section 110 (violence against the Queen), 13 for violating Section 116 (sedition) and two for violating other laws.

Some protesters face more than one charge.

Pol Colonel Kritsana Pattanacharoen, deputy police spokesman, said protesters have the right to rally but need to respect the law, adding that police does not have double standards.

As for the National Human Rights Commission’s concerns about violence against protesters, he insisted that police had strictly followed the procedure.

He also said that the authorities are looking into the case of Wanchalerm Satsaksit, a political exile who was mysteriously kidnapped on June 4 from a street in the Cambodian capital.

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NMG driven by strong journalistic ethics: chairman

NationalNov 05. 2020Chairman of the executive directors Shine Bunnag 

By The Nation

Nation Multimedia Group (NMG) always upholds strict journalistic and ethical standards in order to benefit the public, chairman of the executive directors Shine Bunnag said on Thursday.

The group will mark its 50th anniversary next year.

He added that the group maintains good relations with Nation TV channel anchors Anchalee Paireerak, Santisuk Marongsri and Sataporn Keusakul, whose resignations take effect on November 30. He wished them success in their future careers.

He said he had no idea whether rumours were true that veteran anchormen Kanok Ratwongsakul and Teera Tanyapaibul will also leave the group, adding that both were still working as usual.

He also compared NMG to a football club, where it is normal to see new players arrive and existing players leave. But as a news institution, the group would always maintain its policy of producing strong content for the benefit of society.

He affirmed that during this time of escalating political conflict, the group would adhere to strict professional ethics in reporting the news and do everything to avoid stirring hatred or conflict.

He emphasised that the group does not regard pro-democracy protesters as its opponents. At the same time NMG stood committed to protecting the three pillars – nation, religion and monarchy.

Shine also denied a rumour that Khunying Potjaman Na Pombejra, former wife of ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, had acquired NMG shares, adding the company’s shareholding structure remains unchanged.

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Ghost ships spur fears for Phuket tourism industry

NationalNov 05. 2020Photos by Charoon Thongnual 

By The Nation

A fleet of deserted cruise ships docked at Chalong pier shows the devastating toll of Covid-19 on Phuket’s tourism industry.

The virus outbreak has drained the world-class destination of its economic lifeblood – foreign tourists.

Despite government stimulus measures and a mobile Cabinet meeting held In Phuket this week, local businesses have expressed fears that tourism here may never recover.