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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015562

Prisons nationwide have been ordered not to force inmates into quarantine on their release date, Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said on Saturday.

Somsak said he had received complaints from inmates’ relatives that prisons were placing convicts in Covid-19 quarantine convicts for 15-21 days before releasing them.

“Keeping prisoners after their release date is not right, as the prisons are supposed to test them for Covid-19 before their sentence is up,” said Somsak.

He added that the Corrections Department had no policy to quarantine released prisoners, so any prisons found doing so would face disciplinary punishment.

Somsak said he had instructed prison chiefs nationwide to stick to protocol and make sure that prisoners are released when their sentence is up. He also ensured prisoners’ relatives that he would make sure that such violations do not happen again.

On Friday, the Corrections Department reported 16 new Covid-19 infections among prisoners, while another 122 inmates tested positive via ATKs and are awaiting confirmation.

Cumulative cases of Covid-19 reported among prisoners nationwide stand at 95,101, with 206 total deaths and 404 still undergoing treatment.

On Saturday, Thailand recorded 6,736 new Covid-19 cases and 54 deaths. Cumulative cases in the country this year number 2,144,317.

Published : May 14, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015560

Photos of a leopard cat-kitten at the Krabokkoo Wildlife Rescue Centre in Chachoengsao province are melting the hearts of netizens across Thailand.

Posted on Facebook by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation on Saturday, the photos show the young feline being prepared for its reintroduction to the wild.

The kitten was rescued by officials from the centre after being found in a forest in Tha Takiap district with its parents nowhere in sight.

Leopard cats are often poached and sold into the illegal wildlife trade. The species is protected under the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act (1992).

The kitten is undergoing rehabilitation and has been named “Simba” by officials at the rescue centre. Simba is living in a large nursery enclosure with a simulated forest environment to help acclimatise him to living in the wild before he is released.

The department has urged villagers and farmers living near forest areas to keep an eye out for young wild animals who leave the woods to find food but are unable to get back on their own due to injury or separation from parents. Sightings can be reported to the wild animal rescue hotline at 1362.

Published : May 14, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015559

Irrawaddy dolphins will be listed as a reserved species – the highest class of protection for animals in Thailand – after only 14 of them were found in the latest survey of Songkhla Lake.

The national marine committee accepted a proposal to add the endangered river dolphins to the reserve list, according to fisheries professor Thon Thamrongnawasawat, who led the survey.

The move comes after Natural Resources and Environment minister Varawut Silpa-Archa said Irrawaddy dolphins needed urgent protection to prevent their extinction in Thailand.

Prof Thon said reserved-species status for the dolphins would spark increased conservation efforts, led by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources.

Short-term conservation measures will include boat patrols and building public awareness of the threats to Irrawaddy dolphins. In the long term, scientists will study their reproduction as well as ways to restore their habitat in Songkhla Lake. They will also increase their food stocks and create a centre to treat them.

Thon reported in April that only 14 Irrawaddy dolphins remained in Songkhla.

Irrawaddy dolphins are listed as critically endangered throughout Asia by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with 140 found in India, 90 in Indonesia, 90 in Cambodia, and 80 in Myanmar. Laos reported the death of its last Irrawaddy dolphin in April.

The main threats to the species are net-fishing and degradation of their habitat through human activities such as dam-building on the Mekong.

Published : May 14, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015555

The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has seized 14 assets worth 92.09 million baht from Apirat Jayankura na Ayudhya and four others accused of embezzling money from Wat Bowonniwet in Bangkok.

Apirat, a former special project manager of the Crown Property Bureau, is accused of embezzling over THB200 million from Wat Bowonniwet after befriending Somdet Phra Wannarat, the late abbot of the temple.

He was arrested by the Crime Suppression Division police on March 22.

According to police, Apirat repeatedly transferred money from the temple’s account into his own between November 2021 to January 2022, using it to buy luxury items including cars and condominium units.

On the list of 14 items seized by AMLO are two condo units in Chatuchak district, a building in Prawet district, Bentley, Porsche and Tesla cars, two Volvo cars, two vanity licence plates, and four saving accounts. Apart from Apirat, other individuals listed as co-owners of the assets are his mother Suwarat, his father Aphichai, his brother Chalermporn, and Karin Kittiamphon.

AMLO and the police said they will gather additional evidence of Apirat’s money trail before filing charges against him and his alleged accomplices.

Published : May 14, 2022

By : THE NATION

Ministry of Public Health reported on Saturday (May 14) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 6,736 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 2 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.

Death toll increased by 54, while 9,213 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 2,144,317.
 

Published : May 14, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015539

More than 200 people gathered at Mae Ram Phueng Beach in Rayong province on Friday to demand compensation for the January 25 oil spill.

The demonstrators said that they had not received the compensation they deserved, claiming that many unaffected people had already been paid.

Star Petroleum Refining Plc, which operates the underwater oil pipeline off Map Ta Phut Bay in the eastern seaboard province, has paid more than THB50 million to people affected by the oil spill caused by leakage on the night of January 25.

The oil spill spread to some coastal areas of Rayong, including Mae Ram Phueng Beach.

At their protest site on Friday, the demonstrators hung placards with messages accusing the company of being unfair in paying compensation.

Sarinthip Thapmongkolsap, chairwoman of the Koh Samet Tourism Association in Rayong, said that she had joined the rally to seek “fair treatment” from the company regarding the compensation.

“Today, people are gathering to call for fair treatment under the principle of good governance,” she said.

Also, she asked for rehabilitation of natural resources and the environment in Rayong’s seas following the damage caused by the oil spill.

Meanwhile, Thanisara Pongsuwan, a 32-year-old vendor who sells papaya salads, said many vendors like her affected by the oil spill at Mae Ram Phueng Beach were yet to receive compensation.

“We were directly impacted, as oil residues were swept onto the beach,” she said.

Published : May 13, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015537

China’s embassy in Bangkok said on Friday that the content in Lazada’s controversial promotional video clip was “unacceptable”.

In its Facebook post, the Chinese embassy said it was aware of the “incident” and “shares the same view that the content in the video is unacceptable”, according to its spokesperson.

It was the first official response from the Chinese government regarding this matter since the furore started early this month.

The embassy’s Facebook post got almost 2,000 likes within a few hours. Many followers thanked the Chinese mission for “good understanding” about the sensitive matter.

Some commenters asked what action the Chinese government would take against the executives of the e-commerce company for “hurting the feelings of many Thais”.

Lazada, an international e-commerce company, is owned by China’s Alibaba Group.

The e-commerce platform’s promotional video, which has since been taken down, featured a transgender social-media influencer known as “Nara Crepe Katoey” and a woman in a wheelchair.

The way the disabled woman was treated in the advert led to criticism that it was a mockery of disability. Meanwhile, royalists viewed the portrayal of the wheelchair-bound woman as a veiled reference to a Royal Family member.

The influencer claimed the perceived royal insult was pure imagination.

However, angry royalists continued to push for legal action against her.

The Royal Thai Army’s commander-in-chief has banned Lazada from delivering parcels inside its premises. The Navy and Air Force, meanwhile, discouraged their personnel from buying from the online e-commerce platform.

Published : May 13, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015538

The Customs Department wants to cut the import tariff on child car seats by 20 per cent to make them cheaper when they become mandatory in September.

The use of car seats, an imported item, will be compulsory for children under the age of six from September.

The move to cut the tariff follows concern that the compulsory car seat rule will add to families’ financial burdens during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

The department is discussing the tariff cut with the Federation of Thai Industries in a bid to soften any impact on local manufacturers, department spokesman Chaiyut Khamkhun said on Friday.

The government earns around 10 million baht per year from the car-seat tariff.

From September 4, adults must ensure children under the age of six or under 135cm tall use a car seat when travelling in a private vehicle. Violations of the new rule are punishable by a fine of 2,000 baht.

Any driver or passenger with a health-related reason preventing them from using a safety seat or wearing a seat belt is exempted, but an alternative measure to prevent injuries in case of accident must be implemented instead.

Published : May 13, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015535

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who doubles as defence minister, met US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon on Thursday to discuss cooperation and bilateral issues.

The meeting also focused on the “friendship that stretches back more than 200 years”, news agencies said on Friday.

Austin announced plans to visit Thailand next month, his first as US secretary chief, though no exact date was disclosed. This would be his fourth trip to the Indo-Pacific region in this position.

At the meeting, Austin thanked Thailand for giving the US military access to the U-Tapao Naval Airfield in Chonburi province, as per the script of his welcoming remarks that is available on the US Department of Defence website.

“We deeply appreciate your continued support for our military operations and exercises. We’re grateful for the access that Thailand has provided to U-Tapao Naval Airfield and other key sites, which has supported critical operations in the region,” Austin said.

He also told Prayut that the US was planning to hold a “full scale” Cobra Gold military exercise in Thailand next year.

The annual drill, billed the largest of its kind in this region, has been downsized after Thailand’s 2014 military coup and later the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, critics have warned that closer military ties with the US – particularly allowing access to the key airbase – could undermine Thailand’s relationship with the Asian superpower China.

At the Pentagon meeting, Prayut thanked the US government for providing Covid-19 vaccines and other key medical equipment to Thailand during the pandemic.

He also sought to expand bilateral cooperation with the US to boost Thailand’s ability to confront cybersecurity and space threats, the Pentagon website showed.

Prayut told his US defence counterpart that his government was looking at Washington’s “successful experiences in terms of research and development in the defence industry” to ensure that defence equipment produced in Thailand is accepted by the international community.

The PM also urged the US defence industry to consider investing in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) special industrial zone.

“We wish to jointly invest with other countries to promote technology transfer and advance Thailand towards self-sufficiency in this area. We also hope that Thailand could be a part of the supply chain for the defence industry,” he said.

Prayut’s visit came as US President Joe Biden hosted leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Washington DC, as his administration makes an extended effort to demonstrate that the US has not lost focus on the Asia-Pacific.

Published : May 13, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015534

The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) has been ordered to review the plan to construct a mass transit system (tram) for Phuket province to cope with rising construction costs, a source from the Transport Ministry said on Friday.

The project will cover a 42km distance from Phuket International Airport to the Chalong intersection with the aim of facilitating commuting at a reasonable price.

The Transport Ministry has ordered the MRTA to review the project as the ministry believes that rubber-wheeled electric vehicles would save up to THB15.28 billion in construction costs, reduce the construction period from the current nine months and offer cheaper fares.

A source said the ministry has told the MRTA to review the project in keeping with the current situation, as well as reduce investment costs as much as possible, to enable citizens to use services at THB20-40 per trip.

It added that the MRTA has also been ordered to discuss with the Highways Department the possibility of setting up routes on highway areas in a bid to lower construction costs on tunnels and elevated roads.

“The construction costs of tunnels and elevated roads are quite high and would cause fares to rise,” a source said, adding that rising fares would cause citizens to use other modes of public transport instead.

A source added that the ministry had also advised the MRTA to study fare collection guidelines, with fares increase depending on distance, similar to Bangkok electric trains.

Fares should be collected depending on each zone as commuters in Phuket would not prefer short-distance travel, it added.

Meanwhile, MRTA governor Pakapong Sirikantramas said the agency is undertaking a feasibility study. He said the MRTA would use rubber-wheeled electric vehicles to reduce construction costs.

“In addition, the MRTA is discussing with the Highways Department to study using highway areas to support services in line with the Transport Ministry’s policy, expecting to reach conclusion within two months,” he said.

He said the MRTA board would review investments included in the revised plan before proposing to the Public-Private Partnership Committee. He also expected the bidding process to be completed this year once they get the go-ahead.

“Currently, we have to start from zero to reduce costs and make fares more reasonable,” he said, “In addition, we will study opportunities to generate revenue by developing passenger stations to be commercial areas,” he added.

Published : May 13, 2022

By : THE NATION