Cambodia speeds up demolition of burned down Poipet casino
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 04, 2023
Cambodian authorities are accelerating the dismantling of the Grand Diamond City Hotel and Casino wreckage in the border town of Poipet.
The Thai-owned property on the Cambodian side of the Ban Kong Luk checkpoint in Sa Kaew’s Aranyaprathet district went up in flames at around 11pm on December 28.
Hundreds of people are believed to have been injured or killed and, so far 27 bodies of Thai nationals have been transported to Thailand as of December 30.
Officials in Sa Kaew province said Ngor Mengchroun, deputy governor of Bantaey Meanchey, led Cambodian officials to remove properties from the wreckage, especially the seven lockers containing Thai baht in cash.
“Cambodian authorities have also vowed to help hunt for the missing victims,” the officials said.
The Cambodian authorities have reportedly kicked off the operation of dismantling the hotel and casino by blocking all routes to the site. They plan to first
bring down the bridge linking two buildings in the complex to ensure the area is cleared as soon as possible, officials said.
Officials also expect the Ban Klong Luk checkpoint to be reopened once the demolition is complete.
New handbook on marijuana consumption for tourists in Thailand
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 04, 2023
The Public Health Ministry has come up with a guide called “10 Things Tourists Need to Know about Cannabis in Thailand” to help clarify doubts over the newly decriminalised plant.
The English-language guide is necessary as Thailand is the first Asian country to legalise marijuana and will attract foreigners interested in consuming cannabis-related products, the ministry’s deputy permanent secretary Dr Narong Apikulwanich said on Tuesday.
The guide has been published on www.moph.go.th, while authorities in tourist provinces have also been instructed to publish handbooks for tourists. The handbook will soon be translated into other languages, including Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Russian.
The 10 things tourists need to know about cannabis in Thailand are:
• Transporting seeds or parts of the cannabis plant to or from Thailand is not permitted.
• Cultivation of cannabis is legal provided growers register on the Food and Drug Administration’s Plook Ganja application or via a relevant government website.
• Using cannabis flower buds for research, export, sale or processing for commercial purposes requires official permission.
• Cannabis cannot be consumed by people under the age of 20, pregnant or breastfeeding women except under the supervision of health professionals.
• Possession of extracts containing more than 0.2% THC and synthetic THC requires permission.
• Cannabis in food is only available in authorised restaurants.
• Approved cannabis health products are accessible through specific channels.
• Smoking cannabis in public places, including schools and shopping malls, is illegal.
• Avoid driving after consuming food or products containing cannabis.
• Those who have a bad reaction to cannabis are advised to immediately see the doctor for treatment.
“The ministry allows the use of cannabis and hemp for medical and research purposes, but still prohibits recreational use,” Narong said.
He added that while the Cannabis and Hemp Act is being considered, the ministry has issued several regulations to control the use of cannabis and hemp to ensure public safety and prevent abuse.
Examples of these regulations are mandatory registration for the use of cannabis buds and flowers in products, classifying cannabis smell and smoke as a public nuisance and mandating that food vendors using the former narcotic as an ingredient notify consumers in writing.
The Cannabis and Hemp Act which regulates the use, cultivation, sale and import of cannabis and hemp is currently being considered in Parliament.
New video shows drug party at Bangkok ‘triad club’: Chuwit
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 04, 2023
Former massage parlour tycoon and politician Chuwit Kamolvisit has released a video clip allegedly showing drug dealing at Bangkok’s Jinling nightclub, the focus of a police crackdown on Chinese triad activity in Thailand.
Police raided the nightclub in Bangkok’s Yannawa district in October, and 104 revellers, 99 of whom were Chinese, tested positive for drugs. Police also seized recreational drugs and about 30 luxury vehicles.
The following month, Chuwit handed the police information on alleged Chinese triads operating in Thailand and using Jinling nightclub as a base.
The tip-off led to an arrest warrant being issued for alleged triad kingpin Chaiyanat “Tuhao” Kornchayanant.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Chuwit said the video showed pub staff removing drugs from a wooden tray and selling them to customers after being alerted that police were on their way. He claimed the video was taken at around 11pm on October 26, just before the raid. He said police had not seized the visibly drug-tainted tray as evidence, prompting him to question the transparency of the investigation.
Chuwit claimed that a similar tray was also found in the Toyota Alphard van belonging to Chaiyanat that police later confiscated on December 27, which proved that he was linked to the Jinling nightclub.
Chuwit previously posted CCTV footage he claimed was shot inside the nightclub on October 25, one day before it was raided. The video shows staff selling party drugs to patrons in front of the karaoke rooms.
“Jinling pub is a huge entertainment complex in Bangkok that features a casino, VIP and karaoke rooms for drug use, and prostitution,” said Chuwit, adding that he will continue to post more clips to prevent evidence from “mysteriously going missing” from the police investigation.
No need for special Covid rules to handle Chinese tourists: Prayut
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 04, 2023
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has expressed confidence that Thailand’s Covid-19 prevention measures can handle the influx of Chinese tourists from Sunday (January 8).
He told press at Government House on Tuesday that China’s move to lift travel restrictions is good news for Thailand’s tourism.
Prayut said Thailand had imposed measures to ensure that Covid-19 will not affect the country’s public health system, adding that other countries have their own measures. However, Thailand’s Covid-19 controls are considered Grade A measures, he said.
Thailand has not followed moves by the US and other countries to impose tighter controls on Chinese arrivals including requirements for a negative Covid test. The PM said the influx of Chinese tourists will generate revenue for Thailand.
He also asked people to take care of their health.”Our experience [in containing the spread of Covid-19] is important,” he said, adding that many countries have used Thailand as an example in implementing their own prevention measures.
So far, the US has been joined by Japan, India, Italy, Malaysia, South Korea, Spain and Taiwan in imposing tighter requirements including negative Covid tests on travellers from China, where infection rates are soaring.
5 crew members of doomed HTMS Sukhothai still missing
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 04, 2023
There is still no sign of the HTMS Sukhothai’s five missing crew even after Royal Thai Navy (RTN) divers canvassed the eight islets off the coast of Chumphon province.
RTN reported on Tuesday evening that the islets checked were Khang Sua, Rang Ha, Phrao, Yor, Khee Nok, Rang Banthat, Khram and Phitak. Tuesday marked the 16th day of the search mission.
Navy Seals and divers have been checking the coasts, beaches, cervices and underwater areas of these islets for traces of the missing crew, but have turned up nothing, RTN said.
The warship sank some 20 nautical miles (32 kilometres) off the coast of Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Bang Saphan district on December 18 in stormy weather with 105 crew onboard.
So far, 76 members of the crew have been rescued and brought safely to shore, while 24 sailors have been declared dead and five missing. Since December 29, no bodies have been found.
Of those found, all have been identified except for one that is undergoing DNA testing process.
So far, 33 islets in the waters of Chumphon and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces have been searched. The navy said the search mission will continue.
House committee plans strong push to develop space technology competence
TUESDAY, JANUARY 03, 2023
Thailand will enjoy great benefits from the space industry, with more than 300-400 additional job opportunities created if the proposal gets approved, according to chairman of the House of Representatives’ subcommittee on space economy and security.
Settapong Malisuwan, who heads the committee on communications, telecom, digital economy and society, will propose the results of the study regarding the possibility and suitability of operating outer space-launching services and infrastructure to the House of Representatives.
The study said that the spacecraft launch sector made huge amounts in revenue for nations having advanced space technology, while also playing a vital role in creating essential space infrastructure to support a sustainable space industry.
The study found that an effective spaceport and efficient management are the cores of this business.
The government and concerned sectors can uphold the country’s space industry by, for example, approving a “sounding rocket sandbox” for students, engineers, or researchers to conduct experiments about sounding rockets, said Settapong.
He added that Thailand is in a prime location for developing a spaceport, owing to its proximity to the equator.
The existence of a spaceport in Thailand will support the domestic space industry, boost the economy, increase gross domestic product, and especially develop citizens who have expertise in space technology and innovation, which will benefit other industries such as energy, petrochemicals and tourism at the same time.
Spaceport also resulted in more than 300-400 additional job opportunities, such as spacecraft technician, spacecraft assembly technician, spacecraft payload engineer, and spacecraft ticket sellers.
Settapong said despite the current advances in technology, there is a lack of technological proficiency amongst Thai citizens. The country needs to increase the technological ability of its people, especially the young generation.
“We aim to raise awareness about the relevance of space technology to us,” he added.
Road accidents kill 40 more people on Monday as holiday death toll climbs to 263
TUESDAY, JANUARY 03, 2023
Road accidents on Monday claimed 40 lives, taking the total death toll in the first five of the so-called “7 dangerous days” to 263, the Road Safety Centre said on Tuesday.
Boontham Lertsukhikasem, director-general of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department and secretary-general of the centre, told the press that 294 road accidents had occurred on Monday, which left 295 people injured and 40 dead.
The centre has been monitoring road accidents since December 29 and will keep a close eye on roads until January 4, when the New Year break wraps up.
The centre has been holding a daily press conference to provide updates on road casualties to remind travellers to be more careful.
Here is a break-up of road accident data on Monday:
Top causes of accidents
• Speeding – 36.73%
• Drunk driving – 23.13%
Vehicle type with the most accidents
• Motorcycles – 79.40%
Where most accidents took place
• Straight roads – 79.59%
Location of most accidents
• Highways – 37.41%
• Village roads – 32.31%
Time of most accidents
• 12.01am to 1am – 8.50%
Age-range of most casualties
• 20-29 – 18.51%
Boontham said relevant agencies have taken steps to reduce road accidents. On Monday, a total of 55,861 officials were deployed to man 1,880 road checkpoints nationwide.
On Monday alone, 397,459 vehicles were stopped, and legal action taken against 57,635 motorists and motorcyclists.
Of those facing legal action, 16,783 will be charged with driving without a licence, 16,320 for riding motorbikes without a helmet and 7,394 for exceeding the speed limit among others.
Nakhon Si Thammarat province reported the highest number of road accidents with 14 recorded on Monday and the highest number of injuries at 17.
Meanwhile, Si Sa Ket province had the highest number of deaths at five on Monday.
Boontham said the total number of road accidents in the first five days were 1,960, leaving 1,938 people injured and killing 263 people.
Over the past five days, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Sakon Nakhon provinces have had the highest number of road accidents at 65 each, Nakhon Si Thammarat had the highest number of injured victims at 70 and Chiang Rai province the highest number of road deaths at 13.
Six provinces — Narathiwat, Bueng Kan, Phang Nga, Yala, Satun and Sukhothai — did not report any road deaths, he said.
Boontham said the volume of vehicles on Thai roads has dropped as most people had already finished their New Year travels.
“However, provincial authorities have been instructed to check motorists’ speeding as that would a source of serious road accidents,” he said.
He advised motorists to follow traffic laws strictly and be kind to others, to ensure safe travel for all.
Prayut wishes for national peace as he starts 2023 with merit making
TUESDAY, JANUARY 03, 2023
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha started his first working day of 2023 on Tuesday with a merit-making ceremony at Government House.
Also present were his wife Naraporn, members of the Cabinet, deputy premiers, advisers as well as civil servants and representatives of different state agencies.
Prayut and his wife lit candles and incense before offering alms to 10 monks. The rest of the participants did the same and the ceremony was wrapped up with Somdet Phra Maha Ratchamongkol Muni, abbot of Wat Traimit Wittayaram, blessing everybody with holy water.
The premier then paid respect at different shrines in the Government House compound before greeting reporters on the Parliament beat.
“Hello everybody, let’s be happy and help each other keep the city peaceful,” he said.
When asked what his top wish for 2023 was, he said: “My wish may be the same as yours – peace in the country.”
Bangkok Music Fest brings free Sunday concerts to Museum Siam
TUESDAY, JANUARY 03, 2023
The Bangkok Music Fest tops the Thai capital’s entertainment bill this month with free outdoor concerts every Sunday at Museum Siam Park in Phra Nakhon district.
The month-long music festival kicked off on December 25 and runs through January 29, Bangkok deputy governor Sanon Wangsrangboon said on Monday as he invited Bangkokians returning from the New Year exodus to enjoy live music in the city’s heart.
On January 8, 15, 22 and 29, music lovers can enjoy performances of classical Thai and international songs by the Bangkok Metropolitan Orchestra, plus modern songs sung by Namfa Kaewrattnasripho, Kanjana Chanphai, Saran Khungbanphot and others.
Performances of traditional music, modern dance and xylophone will also be held from 5pm amid the cool temperatures of winter.
On Saturday, January 28, the city will also hold a dance event at the Bangkok Youth Centre (Thai-Japanese) in Din Daeng district. Both amateurs and competitive dancers are invited on to the open floor from 2pm onward.
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