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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015416

The Digital Economy and Society ministry has sought court orders to block access to 42 Internet addresses of YouTube, Twitter and Facebook pages that are sharing a controversial ad of online shopping platform Lazada.

Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn was referring to an ad that was seen as mocking the Royal Family and the disabled, which was created by influencers Nara Aniwat and Thidaporn “Nurat” Chaokuwiang to promote the platform for clothes shopping. The video depicts a woman in a wheelchair being bullied by another person of noble birth, sparking an uproar on the net.

Chaiwut said the ministry and the Technology Crime Suppression Division are working together to gather evidence and more information to take action against any online platform or site that defames the monarchy by sharing the ad.

So far, the two agencies have found 42 URLs for sharing the ads. He said the ministry will also inform the owners of the 42 addresses to remove the content or face legal action, Chaiwut added.

Asked what measures the ministry would take to prevent similar incidents, Chaiwut said advertisement agencies, influencers and PR agencies must have their own code of ethics and there should be a professional group to supervise them to make sure their ads will not be illegal and unethical.

Chaiwut said the PR agencies’ professional group must supervise to make sure that their ads would not cause people to feel bad or feel they are being bullied.

“It’s not right for government agencies to give them orders because they have their freedom of expression as guaranteed by the Constitution,” Chaiwut said.

“But please respect the law and go by the norms acceptable to Thai society. Do not do anything that is unacceptable to Thai society. If they do it, their business will get hurt.”

Asked whether he fears Thai-Sino ties will be affected now that several Thai government agencies have announced their boycott of Lazada, an online shopping platform from China, Chaiwut replied that Lazada should care for the feelings of Thais as well.

“It’s not right for them to do anything they want without caring how Thais would feel. Chinese people also have to respect Thai law and care about Thais’ feelings,” Chaiwut said.

Chaiwut said the Thai government needed to take action and send out warning signals to Lazada or other platforms that Thailand disagrees with such a controversial ad.

“If we don’t remind them or make known our disapproval, similar actions will continue endlessly. We have to send a signal to foreign businesses and foreigners that Thais cannot accept such things and they must stop doing this to Thailand,” Chaiwut said.

He added that Lazada should come up with an AI or algorithm to check and disable such controversial ads instead of waiting for an outcry from Thais before they remove the ads.

Published : May 10, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015415

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed all provincial administrations to come up with operation plans once Covid-19 is downgraded to endemic status, the government spokesman said on Tuesday.

Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said the premier issued the order after the Public Health Ministry downgraded the Covid-19 alert from Level 4 to Level 3 nationwide.

Thanakorn quoted the PM as saying that each province should have an operation plan ready once Covid-19 is declared endemic.

Meanwhile, he said, the alert level has been downgraded because the number of Covid patients requiring ventilators and Covid-related fatalities is dropping.

He added that 23 provinces have “plateaued” with the Covid situation stabilising, while 53 provinces are showing a marked drop in infections.

The PM is also encouraging members of the public and government agencies to continue practising universal prevention measures and to get as many people as possible vaccinated so the virus can be declared endemic.

The Public Health Ministry reported 6,230 new infections over 24 hours on Tuesday, four of whom had arrived from overseas. Thailand also logged 53 deaths during the period.

Currently, 1,481 Covid patients have developed lung inflammation and require ventilators, while 18.5 per cent of hospital beds are occupied.

From February 28, 2021, to May 8 this year, 134.73 million Covid vaccine doses have been administered nationwide, with 56.4 million people getting their first jab, 51.65 million their second jab, 23.8 million their third jab and 2.85 million their fourth jab.

Published : May 10, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015410

On May 9 H.E. Georg Schmidt, Ambassador of Germany to Thailand and Varawut Silpa-Archa, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), together with Lioba Donner, Policy Officer for Thailand, Division International Climate Initiative (IKI), General Issues of Bilateral Cooperation, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), visited the pilot areas of the Thai Rice NAMA (Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action) project in Doem Bang Nang Buat district of Suphan Buri province where innovative low-emission farming techniques have been introduced to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from rice production while increasing production efficiency.

In an exchange with local farmers, the delegation discussed how sustainable farming can help increase rice productivity and farmers’ income while contributing to greenhouse gas mitigation and adapting to the impacts of climate change.

The visit was joined by Natthapat Suwanprateep, Suphan Buri Governor, Phirun Saiyasitpanich, the Secretary-General of the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) and Apichart Pongsrihadulchai, Advisor to the Director-General of the Rice Department.

Rice is important as it is cultivated on roughly half of all agricultural land in Thailand and accounts for nearly 55% of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture. Thailand is the world’s fourth-largest emitter of rice-related greenhouse gases. Therefore, the Rice Department focuses on developing a sustainable rice strategy and promoting the ‘3 Increases, 3 Decreases’ campaign. Rice smallholders and agripreneurs are encouraged to adopt farming techniques and innovations to increase rice yields, rice quality and revenue while decreasing production costs, water consumption and ultimately GHG emissions to improve quality of life and livelihoods while preserving the environment vulnerable to global warming.

The delegation visited a demonstration of the Laser Land Leveling (LLL) Technique which is one of four techniques in sustainable farming, which comprise LLL technology, Alternate Wetting and Drying, Site Specific Nutrient Management, and Straw and Stubble Management (learn more about 4 low-carbon farming techniques here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhsaQv6aptM). The LLL technology is one of the key evidence-based approaches that help farmers increase rice yields and save water while reducing soil surface depletion and GHG emissions.

The approaches of sustainable, low-emission farming are also in line with the Glasgow Climate Pact of the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference (COP26), held in Glasgow, Scotland last year and will support Thailand’s announcement at COP26 of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 and aiming for net-zero GHG emissions by 2065.

The Thai Rice NAMA project is funded by the NAMA Facility with the Governments of Germany and United Kingdom as main donors. The project is implemented by the Rice Department (RD) on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC), the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and other partner agencies. The objective is to support Thai rice farmers in 6 provinces in Central Thailand, namely Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani and Suphan Buri, amounting to 100,000 farmer households, to have access to farming technology to increase the efficiency of rice production and shift to low-emission rice production. The project has a five-year period of implementation from August 2018 – August 2023.

Published : May 10, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015408

With the number of new cases dropping significantly, the Public Health Ministry decided on Monday to lower Thailand’s Covid-19 alert from Level 4 to Level 3. The downgraded level allows people to resume their daily lives with fewer restrictions. However, nightspots remain closed.

The new regulations under Level 3 are as follows:

• Risky venues: People advised against visiting entertainment venues/crowded places that are not well ventilated.
• Large gatherings: At-risk groups, partially vaccinated people are advised to stay away.
• Travel: At-risk group, partially vaccinated advised against using public transport.
• Leaving/entering Thailand: At-risk groups, partially vaccinated advised against travelling overseas.

Regulations under Level 4:

• Risky venues: People advised against eating and drinking together, visiting high-risk places.
• Large gatherings: People are advised to avoid close contact with others.
• Travel: Everyone is advised to avoid using public transport or travelling.
• Leaving/entering Thailand: Everyone advised against travelling overseas.

Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Department of Disease Control, said that most provinces are seeing a continuous improvement in their situation, which indicates that the country is entering a post-pandemic stage where Covid-19 will officially be declared an endemic disease.

Published : May 10, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015405

The Agriculture Ministry has ordered the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) to prepare staff and drainage equipment for the start of the rainy season next week.

Farmers should also store as much rainwater as possible and use it efficiently, said Agriculture Minister Chalermchai Sree-on on Monday.

“We cannot tell how many storms will hit Thailand this year, but we have ordered RID to prepare personnel and drainage equipment to deal with upcoming issues,” he said.

The rainy season will last from mid-May to mid-October, according to the Thai Meteorological Department. It forecast continuous rain across the country this week, with isolated heavy showers in the South.

Chalermchai said the Department of Agricultural Extension is drawing up a plan to grow crops that use less water, such as corn for animal feed. He expects to see the finished plan this week.

“The ministry also asked the Rice Department to seek effective rice species, and the Commerce Ministry to find new markets, such as in the Middle East,” he added.

He also asked farmers to cultivate crops that would keep agricultural product prices low.

Meanwhile, RID director-general Prapit Chanma said water management during the drought season went as planned. Thailand has 19.95 billion cubic metres of water reserved for the rainy season, higher than the targeted 15.55 billion cubic metres.

The rainy season is expected to bring lower rainfall between June and July and heavy rain from August and September, he said.

“The department is cooperating with provincial agencies to monitor the water situation and prepare equipment, such as water pumps, excavators and tractors,” he added.

The Thai Meteorological Department also warned people in upper Thailand to look out for thundershowers and isolated heavy rain, adding farmers should protect their crops. Meanwhile, the South will see heavy rain that may bring flash floods.

“All ships should proceed with caution and keep off thundershowers today [May 10],” the department added.

Published : May 10, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015401

Monday’s meeting of the Oil Fuel Fund executive committee agreed to fix the price of diesel at 32 baht per litre for this week, said Oil Fuel Fund Office (OFFO) director Wisak Watanasap.

He added that the fund will subsidise diesel at 11.35 baht per litre to lower the market price of 38 baht per litre and alleviate people’s cost of living. Last week, the fund subsidised diesel at the lower rate of 9.55 baht per litre.

Wisak said the Oil Fuel Fund currently has liquidity of 12.93 billion baht. He added that this should be enough to subsidise fuel prices nationwide after the government scrapped the diesel price cap, in place since October 2021, and announced gradual increases from May 1 to reflect rising global fuel prices.

“The meeting calculated that global fuel prices may start to fall when winter ends in Europe,” he said. “The OFFO will continue to monitor the Russia-Ukraine war closely and evaluate its impact on global fuel prices, before announcing the adjustment of retail fuel prices again next week on Monday.”

Meanwhile, the Government Savings Bank and Krung Thai Bank have expressed interest in lending money to the Oil Fuel Fund, which is seeking 2 billion baht to increase its liquidity. The OFFO is now studying the lending terms and expects the loan money to be distributed within June.

As of May 8, the Oil Fuel Fund was 66.68 billion baht in deficit. Its oil account is in the red by 33.258 billion baht and its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) account by 33.423 billion baht.

Published : May 10, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015391

Ministry of Public Health reported on Tuesday (May 10) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 6,230 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 4 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.

Death toll increased by 53, while 11,132 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 2,114,133.
 

Published : May 10, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015389

Bangkok’s Talingchan district court has ordered the seizure of 413 million baht worth of assets owned by the late founder of the darknet AlphaBay website, a public prosecutor said on Monday.

Jumpol Phansamrit, foreign affairs director of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), said the court accepted the public prosecutors’ request and ordered the seizure of assets owned by late Canadian national Alexandre Cazes.

Cazes was only 25 when he committed suicide in a Thai prison in 2017.

Jumpol said the OAG foreign affairs department has yet to speak to US authorities on how funds collected from the sale of Cazes’ properties can be shared. The assets include a Lamborghini car worth 45 million baht, a Porsche worth 10 million baht, three houses valued at 308 million baht and eight bank accounts carrying 46 million baht.

Jumpol said the Thai authorities had earlier seized 911 Bitcoins from Cazes and handed them over to US authorities, but his department will ask the US to return the Bitcoins so they can be auctioned off with the remaining assets.

Cazes’ case came to light when the US authorities informed their Thai counterparts about an arrest warrant issued for him by a California court on 16 charges.

According to the charges, Cazes allegedly used his website to sell drugs, and weapons and launder money, and allegedly took payments in Bitcoins.

Cazes and his wife Sunisa Thapsuwan were arrested on July 5, 2017, and while the extradition process was ongoing, he killed himself on July 12.

Jumpol said the US authorities had asked the OAG to coordinate the seizure of Cazes’ assets in Thailand in May 2019, but the Thai court only ordered the seizure on April 27 this year.

In the next process, the OAG will auction off the assets, including the 911 Bitcoins, and discuss with the US how the money should be shared, Jumpol added.

Published : May 09, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015387

A man, who claimed to be “the father of all religions” and allegedly told his followers to eat his waste, has been arrested on several charges after 11 corpses, mostly belonging to his followers, were found at his campsite in Chaiyaphum province.

The cult leader was identified only as Thawee, 74, a resident of Nong Rua district of Khon Kaen province, Chaiyaphum Governor Kraisorn Kongchalard said on Monday.

He was arrested on Sunday when a celebrity shaman, Jiraphan Phetkhao, better known as Mor Pla, led police and authorities from other government agencies to raid the campsite located in a forest in Moo 2 village in Tambon Dong Klang of Chaiyaphum’s Khon San district.

Jiraphan claims to have special powers to help people affected by superstition, and runs a TV programme in which he campaigns against those he calls fake shamans and Buddhist months who violate the monk laws.

Jiraphan said a woman had sought his help after her mother went to the campsite, which was regarded by followers as a “hermitage”, and was allegedly not allowed to return home.

Jenjira, 53, a resident of Khon Kaen, told Jiraphan that her mother, Noi, 80, went to the hermitage and had not returned home. Jenjira said she later learned that the followers were told to eat mucus, urine, excrement, and scurf of “The Father” Thawee because all wastes from him could cure all diseases.

When Mor Pla, the Chaiyaphum governor and Khon San police chief Pol Colonel Watanachai Janhathum arrived with other authorities at the campsite, they found Thawee was surrounded by some 30 followers, who appeared to be middle-aged and elderly people.

They stayed together in a large make-shift wooden hut whose roof was made of grass leaves.

When the authorities arrived, no one in the hut was wearing a face mask to protect themselves against the Covid-19 virus.

All the followers reportedly affirmed their belief to the authorities that they thought Thawee was “Father, the God” who could cure them of all diseases.

Shockingly, several of them drank Thawee’s urine and ate his scurf fresh from his arms in front of the authorities.

But the 11 bodies, including one of Thawee’s mother, kept at the campsite – both in the main hut and satellite huts, apparently proved otherwise.

The followers admitted to the authorities that the bodies belonged to sick followers who had died at the campsite after they went there to seek treatment from “The Father”. They wanted their bodies to remain there for “The Father” to later send them to “heaven”.

All the bodies had death certificates issued by local authorities and they were put in zip-lock bags and placed inside coffins. The followers pierced the bottom of the coffins for residual liquids to seep out and fall to the ground, but the bodies were not preserved with formalin.

Asked by Mor Pla on Sunday why the followers thought he was “God, the Father”, Thawee claimed that it was not something he had taught, but it was his followers’ belief.

Chaiyaphum Governor Kraisorn said Thawee was charged with encroaching on forest land and violating the public health law and disease control act.

Kraisorn said the authorities have seized the 11 bodies to perform autopsies to find the cause of their death and further charges may be slapped on the accused.

Thawee is being detained at the Khon San Police Station and a dozen of his followers went to the station to wait for him outside.

Published : May 09, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015386

In reaction to an “offensive” TikTok advert, Thai Army chief General Narongpan Jitkaewtha on Monday ordered all military units to stop buying goods on the Lazada shopping platforms.

He also ordered officers to stop any delivery trucks from entering military complexes.

“Military officers can buy goods from other e-commerce platforms, but they will have to pick up their purchases outside,” a military press release said.

The presser added that Lazada delivery trucks were previously allowed to enter the Royal Thai Army complex in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district.

Separately, the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry has said it will sue all parties involved because the advertisement is seen as an insult to the monarchy. DES Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn has reportedly ordered officials to collect evidence before the case is handed over to the Technology Crime Suppression Division.

Meanwhile, prominent activist Srisuwan Janya, who is also secretary-general of the Association for the Protection of the Thai Constitution, has lodged a complaint against influencer Aniwat Prathumthin or Nara Crepe Katoey, Intersect Design Factory and Lazada Thailand for creating an ad that mocks the disabled and the monarchy.

The TikTok ad, part of Lazada’s 5.5 sales campaign, was posted on Wednesday and had been created by Aniwat and Thidaporn “Nurat” Chaokuwiang. Soon after it was posted online, the clip – depicting a woman in a wheelchair being bullied by another character of noble birth – sparked an uproar on the net.

The #BanLazada hashtag almost instantly became top trending on Thai Twitter, with netizens slamming Lazada for mocking disabled people and the royals. Many royalists also threatened to remove the Lazada app from their mobile devices.

However, Lazada issued an apology on Friday, saying that this was “an unacceptable mistake”.

“We fully recognise that the content was hurtful and demeaning to human dignity. As soon as we became aware of the incident, we immediately demanded the post to be taken down,” the statement said.

“Our brand does not condone the mockery of others including those with disabilities. It is absolutely unacceptable and a breach of Lazada’s value of being respectful and inclusive.”

Meanwhile, Intersect Design Factory Co, which had hired the influencers to promote Lazada’s campaign, said the duo have issued a public apology and taken responsibility.

Published : May 09, 2022

By : THE NATION