‘Political games’ blocking people’s right to clean air, say Democrats
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 04, 2023
With most of Thailand covered in a fog of fine dust nowadays, key Democrat figures say political games are delaying the deliberation of its bill on clean air.
Watanya “Madam Dear” Bunnag, who oversees the party’s working group on political innovation, blamed the delay on the frequent collapse of Parliament meetings due to a lack of quorum.
“The frequent collapses are obviously caused by politicians playing games. The Clean Air Bill is still stuck in Parliament, waiting to be tabled,” she said.
Watanya severed ties with the ruling Palang Pracharath Party on August 16 after the vote on calculating the number of party-list MPs was blocked by it. She joined the Democrat Party a month later.
On Saturday, the Democrat politician reiterated that everybody in the country has the basic right to clean air.
“The PM2.5 toxic dust is even more dangerous than a virus and has long-term impacts on your health.”
She was referring to the fine particulate matter that is smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter, which can be hazardous to people with lung and respiratory problems.
Many areas of Thailand, particularly Bangkok, have been shrouded by unhealthy levels of fine dust in recent weeks. Watanya said many political parties and the civic sector have been supporting the Democrat Party’s Clear Air Bill.
“I call on the government and those responsible for this delay to face up to the suffering of the people,” she said.
Watanya also noted that politicians appeared to be paying more attention to campaigning ahead of the next general elections.
She made these comments while visiting residents in Bangkok’s Bang Kho Laem district along with other key Democrats.
Meanwhile, former Democrat governor candidate Suchatvee Suwansawat, who joined Watanya during the visit, said on Saturday that PM2.5 levels in Bangkok were alarming.
“Bangkok residents should not consider this normal. These levels are among the highest in the world and this toxic dust is harmful to your health,” Suchatvee said.
PM2.5 readings exceeded 100 micrograms per cubic metre of air (μg/m³) in many parts of Bangkok on Saturday, well above the government’s safe limit of 50 μg/m³. The safe level set by the World Health Organisation is 12 μg/m³ or lower.
Suchatvee, a former university rector, said that one of the Democrat Party’s policy platforms is restoring Bangkok’s environment. He explained that the Clean Air Bill was aimed at “truly changing the lives of Bangkok residents” by putting strict controls on vehicles entering the city while preventing “irresponsible construction” to curb PM2.5 dust.
Not many Thais keen on paying taxes due to financial, welfare uncertainties
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 05, 2023
A recent opinion survey shows that 37.5% of the population is not willing to pay taxes because they are either facing financial difficulties or are uncertain about state welfare benefits.
The survey was conducted from October 17 to 31 by the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry on 6,970 people aged 15 and above nationwide.
The survey showed that some people are not willing to pay their taxes because they are unsure about whether they would get welfare benefits from the government.
Meanwhile, 44.6% of the respondents said they would pay taxes if it would improve their quality of life and access to welfare benefits. They also hoped that government welfare would be provided for everybody equally.
The survey showed that most respondents did not have trouble accessing welfare benefits, such as education, healthcare and other subsidies.
However, some complained about insufficient subsidies, inconvenient access and unstable websites.
Respondents also advised the government to take the following steps:
• Set up elderly care centres in communities to support the ageing society
• Organise activities to improve people’s quality of life, such as hiring new graduates as assistant health volunteers and government officials
• Improve digital access to government services
• Boost confidence that public healthcare is equal for everybody
• Grant people of all income levels equal access to free education and other subsidies
• Offer additional welfare to improve people’s lives, such as more household subsidies, childcare centres near workplaces and free public transport for people below the age of 25.
Court suspends Sondhi’s talk show temporarily over defamation lawsuit
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 05, 2023
The Civil Court ordered a temporary suspension of the “Sondhi Talk” show hosted by firebrand media mogul Sondhi Limthongkul on Saturday in response to a defamation lawsuit.
Businessman Tantai Narongkoon is suing Sondhi for falsely accusing him of being involved in criminal enterprises and money laundering.
Tantai, CEO of Titan Capital Group Holding, is also demanding 1 billion baht (US$30 million) in damages.
The charges against Sondhi stem from recent comments he made on his Sondhi Talk programme, broadcast via several channels including Facebook and YouTube.
The Civil Court’s order aims to protect Tantai while legal action is underway, his lawyer Nitisak Meekhuad said. He added that Sondhi’s lawyer has also acknowledged the court’s order.
“Hence, Sondhi has been instructed to stop broadcasting his Sondhi Talk programme via all channels, otherwise he may face punishment under the law,” he said.
He added that Sondhi has also been instructed to ensure there is no public access to his shows, messages or photos that can affect Tantai until changes are made.
Police launch manhunt for 12 more suspects linked to online gambling platform
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 04, 2023
Police are looking for 12 more people suspected of being involved in an online gambling platform after making the first arrest on Friday.
Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) commissioner Pol Lt-General Worawat Watnakornbancha said on Saturday that police will do their best to find the 12 remaining suspects, though some may have fled overseas. He added that more locations will be raided to gather evidence against those involved in the Macao 888 online gambling platform.
Natthapong Rachinla, 28, was arrested at his condominium in the Northeast province of Udon Thani on Friday for allegedly being in charge of the platform’s financial affairs.
Worawat said Natthapong is among the 13 sought in relation to the online gambling operation but refused to identify the remaining 12.
The CCIB chief would also not confirm if the suspects included any of the four brothers accused by actress Arisara “Due” Thongborisut of being involved in online gambling. He only said that the suspects escaped after the actress made her accusations on social media.
Worawat on Saturday afternoon chaired a meeting with police investigators at the CCIB headquarters.
After the meeting, which lasted more than an hour, he told reporters that the police will conduct more raids to ensure their evidence against the suspects is compelling.
“Police will try every means [to get the suspects] even if they may be living abroad,” Worawat said.
He dismissed allegations that some police officers were instrumental in the suspects’ escape, reiterating that they fled after the actress made accusations.
Lampang woman arrested over conning job seekers out of THB400,000
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 04, 2023
A Lampang native was arrested on Saturday for allegedly deceiving Thai job seekers with false promises of employment in South Korea.
Intuon (surname withheld) was arrested at her house in the northern province’s Mae Phrik district just before noon on Saturday.
A warrant was issued in her name after 16 people filed complaints with the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) police in July last year, accusing her of demanding 10,000 to 100,000 baht in exchange for so-called jobs in South Korea.
She has allegedly made more than 400,000 baht by defrauding job seekers, according to the Department of Employment.
Intuon, who claims to be married to a South Korean, is not licensed by the Department of Employment to recruit people for overseas jobs and has never been registered as a representative of a job placement agency, the department said.
The woman, who was handed over to the ATPD police, was charged on Saturday with embezzlement and making false promises to people. Police said she has admitted to the charges.
Why the proposed ‘media ethics bill’ worries me as a journalist
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 04, 2023
Guest Columnist By Teeranai Charuvastra
On Tuesday (February 7), unless something changes at the last minute, the draft of what is known as the “media ethics bill” will be introduced in Parliament. The prospect of this, however, is a cause of celebration for some, and anxiety for others. I’m among the latter.
As suggested by its formal name – Act on Media Ethics and Professional Standards – the draft aims to clamp down on the scourge of unethical practices in the press. If passed, a “Media Ethics Council” will be formed, funded with a budget of at least 25 million baht from the state and the authority to name and shame media agencies that dare to stray from their code of conduct.
It’s a noble goal. Who doesn’t want an ethical press? And while Thailand does have a network of professional media associations, whose job it is to promote ethical standards, they have no real authority to force anyone to change their ways. They are seen as powerless “paper tigers” at best, and dysfunctional at worst.
I know about these limitations firsthand, since I, too, am a key member of the Thai Journalists Association. Along with our partner organisations, we’ve tried to call out malpractice and offer guidance on whether it is ethical to provide coverage of suicides, the Russia-Ukraine War or mass killings – only to be shrugged off by every major media outlet. The sound of money being brought in by their web traffic and TV ratings is far louder than our voice.
That’s why I understand the frustration felt by media professionals who have contributed to the drafting of this legislation and thrown their support behind it. “We just need the tools to do the job”, I can hear them saying, “so we can finally get things done”.
But even though I believe the bill drafters have good intentions, I have reservations for three key reasons.
Firstly, there’s the wording of the proposed bill itself. As explained elsewhere, the bill has alarmed media freedom advocates because of its vague, sweeping language that opponents say could open the door to abuse or unfair treatment.
“The law aims to create a state-funded Media Council that will oversee the ethical compliance of media professionals or organisations that group themselves into ‘professional organisations’ and apply for membership under the Council,” my colleagues at Prachatai English wrote.
They continued: “The media recognised by the Council will have access to privileges that the Council may provide, such as training or national or international representation. Although there is still no idea of what the ethical standards will be, the Council can punish violations by 1) warnings, 2) probation and 3) public reprimand.”
This raises a number of legitimate questions. Who will be appointed to the Council? What will be their ties to those in power? How will they be held accountable, and how can we be sure that they will be impartial?
What is their definition of media ethics? What if some journalists and editors differ in their opinion of what constitutes ethical conduct?
Who will fall under their authority? What happens to the media who stays away and refuses to register with the Council out of suspicion or lack of faith? Will they be targeted by state officials branding them as “rogue media” not worthy of constitutional protection?
There’s certainly good intention behind the bill, and some fair suggestions that could help encourage media ethics, but those questions should be addressed before it gets passed into a law
Another point of my concern is the lack of awareness among the media. Many journalists were surprised to learn that the draft bill even existed. I, for one, only found out about the bill after it made news in January 2022 when the Cabinet endorsed it, despite my role as the press reform watchdog at TJA.
As a result, very few representatives from the press have been consulted.
This alone does not imply a malicious intent to keep the media in the dark; the bill has simply been in the pipeline for so long – ideas for such a law were raised as early as 2011 – that many in the media industry have simply forgotten about it, while younger journalists may not have heard of it at all.
Even professional media associations, or the very people at the heart of the existing self-regulation mechanism, have not reached a consensus about the draft bill. Some, like the National Press Council of Thailand, appeared to endorse it in at least some forms, while others either speak out against the legislation or remain undecided.
Just on Friday, the News Broadcasting Council of Thailand became the latest organisation to oppose the draft bill.
Such discord does not bode well for any law that seeks to establish an entity with a claim to represent the professional media community in its mandate to police the press.
Finally, my last point of concern has to do with the current government and its allies in the legislative branch, who will be overseeing the deliberation of the draft bill, if it does enter the Parliament in coming days.
The administration of PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has sadly proven itself in the past to be hostile to the freedom of the press. It has attempted to outlaw news coverage that spreads “fear” among the public, shut down media outlets covering anti-government protests, and mischaracterise criticism as “fake news,” while repeated police violence against journalists has gone unpunished.
Trusting the coalition parties and the unelected Senate – whose members were handpicked by General Prayut nearly in its entirety – with an opportunity to design how the media should do their job brings to mind the Thai proverb of “letting a cat guard a grilled fish”.
One has to also wonder why the lawmakers so urgently want to see this bill through in the parliament’s final stretch, when signs already indicate that a new election is on the horizon – a matter of weeks if not days away.
To his credit, there are indeed examples of laws beneficial to society that were passed under Prayut’s tenure. They include the anti-disappearance bill, which aims to end the longtime practice of security officers abducting and murdering dissidents, and the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), a legislation hailed by many experts for its attempt to balance the need to protect citizens’ privacy and the media’s ability to serve public interest.
But those achievements should be treated as an exception, not the norm. Even some proponents of the bill share my fear that pro-government lawmakers may still try to weaponise the proposed media ethics law into a new tool to silence the independent press.
We are especially concerned over the deliberation procedures, where draft laws are typically most vulnerable to passages not intended by the original drafters, a common trick we journalists call “stuffing”.
This is the time for caution, not haste. I believe the bill should be at least postponed until the next parliament takes charge, to give it more time for more clarity and broader participation from the media community.
But if the bill does get introduced to the parliament this week, then the media and civil rights watchdogs should do everything they can to make sure its deliberations are well informed and transparent. We should also ensure that any potential loopholes in the draft bill for interference from the state are closed for good.
Thailand is already blessed with a number of laws that – in their current form and enforcement – put a strain on what the media can report, from lèse-majesté to defamation. Journalists should make sure we don’t end up adding one more entry to the pantheon of censorship.
Teeranai Charuvastra is a journalist at Prachatai English and former news chief of Khaosod English. He also serves in the Thai Journalists Association as its vice president for Press Freedom and Media Reform.
New Bangkok massage parlour manager held for running unlicensed entertainment venue
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 04, 2023
The manager of a new Bangkok massage parlour was arrested on Friday night for allegedly running an entertainment venue without permission.
However, he was released on a 50,000 bail guarantee and police confirmed on Saturday that no prostitution charges were filed because no evidence of such activity was found during the raid.
Lalisa massage parlour in the Sutthisan area was raided on Friday night.
During the raid, a customer and a “masseuse” were found inside a room, along with a receipt and a basket containing bathing supplies.
Refurbishments are apparently underway at the massage parlour and the only room ready was the one being used, a source said.
The unidentified manager told police during questioning that the customer had been invited by a new “promoter” to try the services, police said.
Hershey’s ‘SHE Cares’ campaign sheds light on struggles of Thailand’s ‘angel of strays’
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 04, 2023
The first Thai to become part of Hershey’s SHE Cares campaign says it costs her nearly 1 million baht a month to look after some 1,900 strays.
Affectionately called “Auntie Tim”, Kawiporn Vinijthaopathom told The Nation that she ended up selling her house in Saraburi and a plot of land in Chonburi for 25 million and 16 million, respectively, to fund her animal shelter.
The 73-year-old runs the CHSAThai Stray Animal Shelter – also known as “Angel’s Home of Strays” – in Saraburi and has 1,300 dogs and 600 cats under her wing.
Kawiporn said the shelter has been getting a monthly donation of 100,000 baht and animal feed from His Majesty the King since September 2021. However, she said, the actual bill runs up to about 1 million baht a month with staff salaries, vaccinations, sterilizations other medical expenses.
Kawiporn began rescuing animals in December 2003. At the time, her concrete mixing business was flourishing, with some 280 trucks running the show. Eventually, she had to sell all but 10 of these trucks to fund her shelter.
Kawiporn’s son Ananthon said he received a phone call late last year from a Hershey’s representative, saying his mother would be featured in a campaign honouring women who contribute to society.
He said Hershey’s did not offer any money, but “if we get better known due to this campaign, I hope we will get more donations to help my mother feed her strays”.
Kawiporn, meanwhile, also does not have great expectations, adding that she does not think too many people will buy the Hershey’s chocolate featuring her on the wrapper because she is not famous.
However, she said she hopes this campaign will make her shelter better known. “We can’t abandon the animals in our care, while our daily costs continue rising,” she said.
The chocolate featuring the “angel of strays” will hit the shelves on March 8 to mark International Women’s Day.
TK Park announces strategic plans for 2023 to better serve patrons, improve access to learning centers and narrow the inequality gap for 18th anniversary celebration
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 04, 2023
The big plans involve; developing an “effective learning ecosystem”; creating “One Library” that links the knowledge centers’ libraries nationwide; developing “learning cities” in provinces to promote lifelong learning for all; and implementing Big Data in its operations to better provide services to different group of patrons.
Bangkok, January 25, 2023 – January 2023 marks a very special moment for TK Park as it celebrates 18 years of connecting people to information and creating activities to promote positive learning development. The knowledge center is taking this special opportunity to announce a 2023 strategic operation update focused on developments and expansions intended to better serve patrons, improve access to learning centers and reduce the inequality gap.
The plans incorporate; building an effective learning ecosystem through media, books and creative activities; encouraging lifelong learning by using innovations, and creating “One Library” by enhancing the quality of MyTK app in order to connect TK Park’s libraries nationwide together and provide convenience for members when borrowing and returning books. They also include; installing self-service borrowing stations at the city’s landmarks; using Big Data to analyze patron behaviors and create activities that promote learning and training courses in order to upskill and reskill; broadening collaboration networks nationwide to achieve its goal of creating “learning cities” in line with the UNESCO sustainable goals; and opening new knowledge centers in Bangkok, Surat Thani and Phayao.
TK Park Director-General Kittiratana Pitipanich noted that this year, TK Park will continue its task of creating a learning ecosystem in response to the needs of learners. To achieve this, it has invested in innovation and big data analytics to integrate big data about services of different centers.
“The tools give us consistent and accurate data that enables us to make good decisions. We have used them to collect, process and analyze big data of patrons’ behaviors when using our libraries so that we are able to improve our services to meet their needs. And patrons can make use of the information we provide in their daily life,” he said.
TK Park has also created “One Library” to provide convenience for members when borrowing and returning, he added.
“We have improved the quality of MyTK app in order to link our libraries nationwide together. Our members living in the provinces can borrow books they want to read from any center whether this is in Bangkok or in other provinces, while those in the city can do the same from a center in any province. It can be done easily in a similar way to online shopping. Patrons just select a book they want to read and put it in a cart when borrowing it. Then, we provide a book delivery service for borrowers,” Mr Kittiratana said.
Networking is key to success
He noted that TK Park will continue expanding its collaboration network which will allow it to provide the best possible services to its patrons. According to him, TK Park plans to work with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, True Digital Park, Young Entrepreneur Chamber of Commerce and the private sector.
“We think creative activities that promote learning and new investment are not enough to enable us to reach our goals of creating an effective learning ecosystem. What we need to do is to work more with experts and partners who have many years of experience. And that will bring quicker results,” he said.
In February, TK Park plans to open a new knowledge center at True Digital Park West, an office building on Sukhumvit Road equipped with spacious event spaces, making it the first branch in Bangkok. The building also serves as the city’s new tech hub and start-up community.
This year, TK Park also plans to open two new centers in two provinces – one at Koh Lamphu Public Park in the center of Surat Thani province and another at Phayao municipality. Another important plan includes developing a “Learning City” in each province to promote lifelong learning for all by working together with local partners to respond to the UNESCO sustainable development goals.
“We encourage all provinces to participate in this project. A learning city helps foster a culture of learning throughout life,” Mr Kittiratana said.
He added that TK Park also aims to improve its services to provide convenience to patrons. In the middle of 2023, the center plans to install self-service borrowing stations at the city’s landmarks, with each station having more than 300 books to borrow and operating around the clock.
“We will select the right locations to ensure that they are easily accessible,” he said.
Committed to giving the best services for all
TK Park has always been committed to serving the needs of different group of patrons. Apart from its core services that include providing books, learning materials and knowledge sets, the knowledge center has run “Train the Trainers” sessions to equip teachers and educators with the skills they need to provide the best experience to learners. The “Mentoring Project” is aimed at helping high-school students explore and identify their careers and set the up for future success. In the near future, the center plans to launch a project for employees looking to develop their skill sets to advance their careers and another that promotes creative thinking and design work. It’s also giving consideration to a project for retired persons who wish to take up new hobbies or learn new skills in their golden years to keep their mind and body active, the director general said.
“We collected data on patrons’ behaviors and their interests when they were using our services and taking part in programs we organized. We processed and analyzed the data using an advanced technique. That has allowed us to create programs that cater to the exact needs of different age groups,” Mr Kittirattana said.
TK Park will continue promoting positive youth development through projects to help prepare kids to learn and succeed in the new era. It has provided learning projects for kids to help develop their imagination and creativity, while promoting teamwork and understanding others.
TK Park has also created fun activities and games for parents and kids to enjoy together and arranged training program both in-person and online aimed at promoting learning activities for teachers.
Additionally, TK Park has implemented the sharing economy, a system that is built around the sharing of resources, to its operation to help parents save money, Mr Kittiratana noted.
“The sharing economy is one of the most talked-about topics at the moment. The concept has been implemented by companies and organizations. We have done it too. We have encouraged patrons to share books and parents to share toys for their kids. They don’t need to buy new ones.” he said.
TK Park also aims to turn the libraries into community centers, Mr Kittiratana noted.
“If we want people to make visits to our library, we need to offer services and activities that meet their exact needs and match what they are interested in. We must identify the unique features of communities and create activities that relate to the locals’ way of life,” he said.
Mr Kittiratana noted people who have transferable skills are able to survive and adapt in a constantly changing world as the skill set can help them solve problems they face in their everyday lives.
“We have supported lifelong learning. The more you learn, they more you know. Self-directed learning is trending. Many people learn better by themselves. Learning at their own pace allows them to learn in a way that suits them, in a comfortable environment. That’s why TK Park has offered a comprehensive range of services and activities for learners to choose from. By doing this, we truly help tackle the gap of social inequality.” he said.
F1 champions Red Bull unveil 2023 car, announce partnership with Ford at NYC launch event
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 04, 2023
Reuters
Formula One world champions Red Bull took their season launch to the United States on Friday (February 3, 2023) with a spray of pyrotechnics in front of a rapt, standing room-only Manhattan crowd as fans braved the bitter cold outside.
“It’s a great feel, you know, it looks good, but you want to have a car that suits your driving style, and you are able to do be confident with and be able to take the maximum out of it. It’s very important,” said Red Bull Racing Driver Checo (Sergio) Perez.
The event also served as the unveiling of a new partnership with the Ford Motor Company, which will partner Red Bull Powertrains, the company established to build engines for Red Bull, in a show of confidence for the sport’s U.S. popularity.
Ford will return to Formula One with the reigning champions in 2026 after an absence of more than 20 years.
Formula One will have a new power unit from 2026 using 100% sustainable fuels and a greater electrical component.
Red Bull are currently using V6 turbo hybrid engines made by former partner Honda in Japan and last year called off talks with Porsche.
The new Red Bull F-1 Racing Team unveils the RB19 car in a partnership with Ford during a launch event in New York City, U.S.
“This is fantastic for us because as we started on our journey of becoming an engine manufacturer, to now sign an agreement with Ford, where they become a partner in this project for the new 2026 Formula One regulations, we’re able to draw on all their knowledge and expertise, particularly on the EV side with the electrification and the battery technology and cell technology and software technology that they have,” said Oracle Red Bull Racing CEO and Team Principal, Christian Horner. “So, for us, it’s a great, it’s a great partnership. It also opens us up to the US market more, which is so important to Formula One and, and to Red Bull.”
Las Vegas will join Austin and Miami as the third race in the United States in the 2023 calendar as F1 looks to make further inroads into the lucrative market.
The new Red Bull F-1 Racing Team unveils the RB19 car in a partnership with Ford during a launch event in New York City, U.S.
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