Frightened feline loses place to stay after Narathiwat blast
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2022
Apart from a loss of life and property, the car bomb attack at the Narathiwat police flats on Tuesday also caused a cat to lose its home.
The cat, owned by a Narathiwat Police Station officer, is still living in fright due to the explosion.
Police were forced to evacuate to other areas as most of the rooms inside the flats were damaged.
The explosion occurred at 12.50pm in the compound of the flats in Muang district. The homemade bomb was reportedly hidden inside a pickup truck thought to have been parked at the heart of the complex.
Traffic police officer Captain Sutthirak Phanthaniyom was killed on the spot while the number of those injured – mostly from families of officers staying in the flats – rose to 43. Several cars and motorcycles were also damaged in the blast.
Security tightened in Betong after blast at Narathiwat police flats
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2022
Police and volunteers in Yala’s Betong district have tightened security in a bid to prevent a repeat of the car bomb attack at the Narathiwat police flats.
The explosion occurred at 12.50pm on Tuesday inside the compound of the flats in Muang district. The homemade bomb was reportedly hidden inside a pickup truck thought to have been parked at the heart of the complex.
Traffic police officer Captain Sutthirak Phanthaniyom was killed on the spot while the number of others injured – mostly from families of officers staying in the flats – rose to 43. Several cars and motorcycles were also damaged in the blast.
Betong Police Station chief Pol Col Ekachai Prahmanakul on Wednesday ordered police to check all people and vehicles that enter the police station or flats.
“Motorcycles, cars and suspicious belongings will be checked thoroughly to prevent a repeated incident,” he said.
Meanwhile, volunteers have set up checkpoints in Betong district and also boosted security for teachers and students at schools.
The volunteers asked locals and tourists to look for suspicious persons and objects in a bid to prevent unexpected violence in the area.
A local in Betong district pointed out that violence affects business and tourism growth in the Southern provinces.
“What we can do as citizens is to help officials ensure safety in the area,” she said.
Police captain killed in Narathiwat bomb attack to get posthumous promotion
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2022
A police captain who was killed in a car bomb attack at the Narathiwat police flats on Tuesday will be given a posthumous promotion to police general while his family will receive total compensation of 3.77 million baht, the National Police chief said.
The explosion occurred at 12.50pm inside the compound of the flats in Muang district. The homemade bomb was reportedly hidden inside a pickup truck thought to have been parked at the heart of the complex.
Traffic police officer Captain Sutthirak Phanthaniyom was killed on the spot while the number of others injured – mostly from families of officers staying in the flats – rose to 43. Several cars and motorcycles were also damaged in the blast.
National Police chief Pol General Damrongsak Kittiprapas said on Tuesday evening that Captain Sutthirak would be promoted to police general and his current royal insignia will be upgraded two levels.
The Royal Thai Police will provide funeral allowance, monthly pension and scholarships for his children, as well as other compensation worth approximately 3.77 million baht.
Captain Sutthirak’s children will also be granted the right to work in the police force if they want, he added.
Damrongsak was visiting the site of the attack on Tuesday evening to supervise forensic officials collecting evidence.
They found an unexploded bomb planted opposite the flats, in front of the Nara Sikhalai nursery school.
The so-called “double-tap” attacks, in which security forces responding to one blast are then targeted by a second, often larger, bomb, are the hallmark of southern insurgents.
CCTV footage revealed an unidentified man dressed similar to a police officer driving the truck into the compound before leaving the scene.
The National Police chief expressed confidence that the suspect would be nabbed soon.
Navy to seek guarantee from Chinese counterpart on Chinese-made submarine engine
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2022
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) would seek a guarantee from its Chinese counterpart over the quality of a proposed engine for the S26T Yuan-class submarine being built by a Chinese manufacturer, the Navy chief said on Tuesday.
Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Choengchai Chomchoengpaet said he would like China’s navy to guarantee the quality of the improved version of the CHD620 engine offered by China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co (CSOC).
The Royal Thai Navy hired the CSOC to build a S26T Yuan-class submarine and under the initial contract it was to be equipped with an MTU 396 diesel engine from Germany.
But after Germany refused to sell MTU 396 diesel engines to China on grounds that they are regarded as a military item, the CSOC offered the CHD620 engine to the RTN. The RTN tested the engine in September but declined to approve it due to doubts of its reliability as the engine has not been used in a Chinese submarine.
“Without no one guaranteeing its quality, we can’t be assured that it is really good,” Choengchai said.
“We believe the Chinese navy would not risk its reputation to guarantee the quality of an engine that is not really good. So, we would like the Chinese navy to guarantee it first.”
The Thai Navy chief said he would raise this condition during a meeting with the CSOC representatives early next month to discuss the engine issue.
Choengchai said the Thai Navy chief-of-staff would head a panel of the Navy to meet CSOC representatives early next month and the meeting would also be witnessed by the Chinese ambassador to Thailand and the Chinese embassy’s military attaché.
The Navy chief said the Thai side would like to know for how long the procurement project would be extended so that the RTN could plan other projects. Currently, the RTN could not start other projects as it has to prepare a budget for the submarine procurement. Currently, the project implementation has been extended to the middle of 2024 after the CSOC failed to deliver the submarine as initially scheduled, the Navy chief added.
Choengchai added that he has learned the Pakistani navy had tested the engine installed on its submarine but there was still no information on the spare parts of the Chinese engine.
“We are now awaiting for more information so that we can be assured the engine can run effectively like what they claim,” the Navy chief said.
“If it does not unfold as stated in the contract, the Thai side can annul the contract. Actually, we can annul it now but we must negotiate with them first. We’ll try to have the Chinese navy take part in the negotiations, too.”
Choengchai added that the RTN would also have to take into account the good ties between Thailand and China before making a decision on the issue.
Industry Ministry to set strict standards for car seats to improve safety
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2022
The Industry Ministry intends to issue laws that ensure all entrepreneurs manufacture or import car seats compliant with Thai Industrial Standard (TIS) 3418-2565.
This move came after the industrial standards committee on November 14 approved car seats as controlled products, Industry Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said on Tuesday.
“This move aims to boost road safety and improve consumers’ decision on purchasing a car seat,” he said.
He said the ministry would launch a public hearing and accelerate lawmaking to ensure that it will be enforced by next year.
“The lawmaking will be conducted along with allowing entrepreneurs to have time to request permission to manufacture or import car seats,” he said.
The TIS 3418-2565 was launched in October this year, stating that car seats must pass crash simulation test, including crash on the front at a speed of 50 kilometres per hour and crash on the rear at 30 kilometres per hour.
The test will be conducted based on the weight of children: below 10 kilograms, below 13 kilograms, 9-18 kilograms, 15-25 kilograms and 22-36 kilograms.
BMA queries interest added to BTSC bill, will not default on payment: deputy Bangkok governor
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2022
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is working towards paying off its debt to the Skytrain operator and will not default, a deputy Bangkok governor announced on Tuesday.
Wisanu Subsompon told the press that BMA has also filed an appeal with the Central Administrative Court over the amount of interest the court ordered it pay to the Bangkok Transit System Corporation (BTSC), which operates the Skytrain.
The deputy governor called a press conference on Tuesday to explain the progress of the 40-billion baht debt, which the city owes BTSC for operating and installing systems for the two Green Line extensions in April 2017.
Wisanu echoed Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt’s comment on Monday, saying that BMA will not default on its payments provided everything is done in line with the law.
Chadchart was responding to video clips being played repeatedly on BTS trains and stations demanding that the BMA or the central government honour the 40 billion baht debt.
On Tuesday, Wisanu said the amount of interest included in the 40-billion-baht debt was incorrectly calculated because the contract signed by BMA’s business affiliate Krungthep Thanakom (KT) and BTSC does not specify the rate of interest it would be liable for if payments were delayed.
KT has hired an advisory company to study the contract and calculate a suitable interest rate, which may change the total amount that BMA has to pay, Wisanu said.
In September last year, BTSC filed a lawsuit against BMA suing it for the 12 billion baht it is owed for operating the Green Line extensions and another 20 billion baht it is owed for the train operating system. The Central Administrative Court on September 7, 2022, ordered that either BMA or KT pay 32 billion baht plus interest, which pushed the debt up to nearly 40 billion baht.
The Green Line was extended in two parts. One runs from Bang Chak to Bearing stations and from Pho Nimit to Bang Wa, and the second runs from Mo Chit to Khu Khot and from Bearing to Keha (Samut Prakan).
One killed, 16 injured as car bomb rips through Narathiwat police flats
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2022
A massive car-bomb blast ripped through the supposedly safe green zone of downtown Narathiwat on Tuesday afternoon, killing one policeman and injuring 16 others.
The explosion occurred at 12.50pm inside the compound of Narathiwat police residential flats in Muang district.
The homemade bomb was hidden inside a pickup truck thought to have been parked at the heart of the complex by Malay-Muslim insurgents fighting a two-decade battle for southern autonomy.
Traffic police officer Capt Sutthirak Phanthaniyom was killed on the spot while 16 others – mostly members of police families staying in the flats – were injured.
A police bomb disposal team later found an unexploded bomb planted opposite the flats, in front of the Nara Sikhalai nursery school.
So-called “double-tap” attacks, in which security forces responding to one blast are then targeted by a second often larger bomb, are a hallmark of southern insurgents.
Firefighters took about 20 minutes to put out the fire in flats and vehicles that resulted from the explosion. The blast also blew off the roof of the car park and sent black smoke billowing over the Narathiwat skyline.
A bomb detection squad scoured the area for more hidden devices but found none.
Police sealed off the area as they searched for evidence and more bombs.
Security forces also stepped up security in downtown Narathiwat on Tuesday afternoon.
Sustainable practices will help Thailand with its net-zero goals: Varawut
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2022
Jarupong Krisanaraj
Sustainable consumption, production and a circular economy are the key drivers to help Thailand achieve its carbon neutrality goal, Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa said.
He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 16th Asia-Pacific Roundtable for Sustainable Consumption and Production (APRSCP) at Pathumwan Princess Hotel in Bangkok on Monday.
He said the production sector should focus on environmental preservation and adapt to becoming more carbon neutral.
“Manufacturers should pay attention to how they can be responsible for the environment,” he said.
He added that shifting towards carbon neutrality will help manufacturers cope with obstacles like environmental taxation, adding that many countries worldwide had already initiated this scheme.
“Once manufacturers and consumers start paying attention to protecting the environment, the consumption of natural resources will go down and the country can move towards sustainability,” he said.
Varawut added that the subcommittee on plastic waste and electronic waste management that he chairs has resolved to suspend the import of some kinds of plastic scrap in the next three years.
He said this measure was introduced after some entrepreneurs were caught smuggling in plastic waste along with plastic scrap. He said Thailand has not been importing plastic waste for many years now.
“Thailand will also stop the import of plastic scrap, except for some kinds that cannot be found in Thailand like acrylonitrile butadiene styrene [ABS] for producing car consoles,” he said.
The minister said the measure will also allow the application of circular economy principles to waste management.
He said environmental disasters like severe floods and drought will eventually encourage people to change their behaviour to prevent environmental issues from intensifying.
Sanjay Kumar, president of the APRSCP board of trustees, said the Asia Pacific region was at a crossroads, facing both opportunities and challenges that will have a long-term impact on future generations.
However, he is confident that the region will bounce back better and stronger from the pandemic and global geopolitical impacts.
“Governments must carve a new growth path – one that is not only more equitable and environmentally friendly but also promotes shared prosperity,” he said.
Wijarn Simachaya, president of the Thai Sustainable Consumption Production Network, said sustainable consumption and circular economy were being adopted globally to mitigate climate change and allow for sustainable growth.
“It is high time that threats to the survival of natural ecosystems and living beings are addressed, especially in the Asia-Pacific region,” he said.
After a few grim years, Hong Kong is ready to turn the corner
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2022
Vitaya Saeng-Aroon
The removal of travel restrictions, an expanded airport, and most importantly deep trade relations with Thailand and other Asean nations will pave the way for the re-emergence of Hong Kong as one of the great trade, financial, and investment hubs of Asia, a forum heard on Monday.
Speaking to a crowded gathering on “Hong Kong-Thailand: Entering a New Era of Opportunities”, representatives from Hong Kong’s trade and government agencies reaffirmed the future role of China’s special administrative region (SAR) as a gateway to connect markets and investors from the mainland with overseas interests.
The event was organised by Hong Kong Trade Development Council at Waldorf Astoria Bangkok on November 21.
Many months of pro-democracy protests in 2019-20 had rattled Hong Kong’s economy, which took a further hit soon after due to strict Covid-19 control measures following China’s zero-Covid policy.
The Hong Kong government was allowed only recently to relax Covid-19 rules for travellers and tour groups. Since September 26, international arrivals are no longer required to quarantine in hotels.
“Hong Kong would still be an ideal place for trade and investment,” said Algernon Yau, JP, secretary for commerce and economic development, Hong Kong SAR.
In July this year, on the 25th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to China in 1997, China’s President Xi Jinping gave a speech that pointed to the favourable conditions and distinctive advantages of Hong Kong’s close connection with global markets.
Dr Peter K N Lam , Chairman Hong Kong Trade Development Council
Meanwhile, investors and economists were sceptical about the Chinese city of Shenzhen — known for its proximity to Hong Kong and serving as a hi-tech hub — superseding Hong Kong as an international trade and finance hub. The rise of Shenzhen was watched even more closely when Hong Kong was forced to deal with a series of protests over Beijing’s strict policies.
However, Hong Kong enjoys clear advantages because of its long-term and close economic ties as well as collaboration with Asean nations, including Thailand, speakers at the forum said.
Supattanapong Punmeechaow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of Thailand
“Coming to Hong Kong, there are greater business opportunities. It’s a global hub to capture opportunities in China,” said Jack So Chak-Kwon, chairman of the Airport Authority Hong Kong.
Chartsiri Sophonpanich, president of Bangkok Bank, the first Thai commercial bank to open a branch in Hong Kong, said Hong Kong remains important to trade and investment to link to China, while Thailand serves as a gateway to Asean countries.
Thailand is Hong Kong’s fourth-largest trading partner among Asean members. Bilateral trade in goods grew more than 18% year on year in 2021, reaching US$20.6 billion.
Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee, who attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting in Bangkok, has called for further strengthening of economic, trade and investment cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between Hong Kong and Thailand.
BMA will not default on its payments, Chadchart tells BTSC
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2022
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will pay what it owes to the Skytrain operator, but legal steps must be taken first.
This statement was made by Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt on Monday in response to video clips being played repeatedly on BTS trains and stations demanding that the BMA or the central government honour the 40 billion baht debt. The debt has been growing due to accumulated interest and fees for operating extensions.
“I affirm that the BMA has no problem paying its debts, but everything must be done in accordance with the law. Any deal that creates debt in the future must be approved by the Bangkok Council first,” Chadchart said.
He said he has not yet approved the payment because a BMA regulation states that the council must first approve all deals before they can be signed by the administration.
He said he learned that his predecessors had signed a contract hiring Skytrain operator Bangkok Transit System Corporation (BTSC) to run the trains and install systems for the second Green Line extension from Mo Chit (Chatuchak Station) to Khu Khot, and from Bearing to Samut Prakan. This contract was signed without permission from the Bangkok Council, he said.
Hence, Chadchart added that he will first find out if the council had approved the agreement before it was signed. If not, then the city council will be asked to draft a new contract and formally approve it before the BMA can legally start repaying BTSC.
“I think the BMA either sent a letter to the council last week or will do so this week,” Chadchart said.
He added that the money owed for the first extension of the Green Line was pending a Cabinet decision on whether it should be added to the concession granted to the BTSC by the now-defunct National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
The NCPO extended BTSC’s concession for the Green Line by another 30 years (2029-2059) in exchange for BTSC shouldering the money owed to it for operating the first extension.
The decision of extending the concession has yet to be re-affirmed by the Cabinet after Chadchart voiced disagreement.
He added that council approval is also required before the BMA can take over the debts and assets of the second Green Line extension for operation. The second extension was built by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand and handed over to the BMA to operate.
The Navy chief said the Thai side would like to know for how long the procurement project would be extended so that the RTN could plan other projects. Currently, the RTN could not start other projects as it has to prepare a budget for the submarine procurement. Currently, the project implementation has been extended to the middle of 2024 after the CSOC failed to deliver the submarine as initially scheduled, the Navy chief added.
Dr Peter K N Lam , Chairman Hong Kong Trade Development Council
Supattanapong Punmeechaow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of Thailand
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