Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, or so-called “Tony Woodsome”, claimed he would return to Thailand this year.
He made the remark during the Care Talk x Care ClubHouse programme on Tuesday.
Thaksin said he wanted to raise his grandchildren, assist the government, attend talks and invite Thai millionaires to raise funds for supporting startups once he returns to Thailand.
He said his move to raise funds for supporting startups would also help improve people’s quality of life.
“I would like to provide a helping hand because I wish to see a strong strategy that benefits the country,” he said.
Thaksin was overthrown in a military coup on September 19, 2006. His party was outlawed and he was barred from any political activity.
He has since lived in self-imposed exile, except for a brief visit to Thailand in 2008. He was sentenced in absentia to two years in jail for abuse of power.
He has continued to influence Thai politics from abroad, through the People’s Power Party that ruled in 2008 and its successor Pheu Thai Party, as well as the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, or the “red shirt” movement.
In keeping with traditions, reporters on the Government House have come up with nicknames for the government and its ministers. Here are some of the monikers handed out this year:
Government: “Yue Yut” (Holding on Prayut)
This government continues to give all authority to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha with no concern about citizens and the country’s development.
PM Prayut Chan-o-cha: “Chamrut Yut Som” (Worn out Prayut)
Prayut has been single-handedly running the show all year, yet most people find his management style a complete failure, especially in terms of the Covid-19 crisis, economic stimulus measures and politics.
Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan: “Rong Chum” (Suffering Deputy Prime Minister)
As the eldest of the 3Ps – including Prayut and Anupong “Big Pok” Paochinda – Prawit has had a difficult year, especially in terms of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party’s internal conflicts.
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul: “VAAAACCINE”
Anutin has had to defend himself against pressure and severe criticism related to the delay in the delivery of mRNA Covid-19 vaccines and general confusion over Thailand’s response to the pandemic. He has been the subject of unmerciful jokes on social media.
Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit: “Nayok Bang Poll” (Prime minister in some poll)
Some surveys show that Jurin is a preferred PM choice for many political party leaders.
Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow: “Maha Choei 4D” (Superslow 4D)
The minister’s policies to deal with economic issues, such as rising oil prices, have been seen as ineffective. His growth projects like the 4D scheme have been labelled as just “daydreams”.
Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin: “Suchart Chom Keng” (Great with compliments)
Suchart is always full of praise for Prayut and Prawit when asked about the government’s policies or even his own work. His loyalty to Prayut is so strong that he even accepted the kickboxing challenge posed by Thai Civilised Party leader Mongkolkit Suksintharanon on the premier’s behalf. Mongkolkit had challenged Prayut to fight him in the ring and dared that the loser steps down from his post.
Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob: “Sai Khom Nom Chompoo” (Bitter nature disguised as strawberry milk)
Saksayam has not been able to solve the long-standing bitter battle over the BTS Green Line. He was also linked to the Covid-19 cluster that sparked the third wave in April this year after a photograph of him at a bar in Bangkok’s high-end entertainment district Thong Lor began doing the rounds on social media. The minister defended himself by saying the photograph only reflects the life of a single man who sings karaoke and drinks “pink milk” for happiness after work.
Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn: “Deal Lom Radab Lok” (World-class deal crash)
Phiphat’s dreams were dashed and the government’s credibility shattered when South Korea’s YG Entertainment rejected his offer to have BlackPink’s only Thai member Lalisa “Lisa” Manoban lead the New Year countdown in Phuket.
Quote of the year: “Naja”
Prayut often uses the endearment “naja” to soften his comments. However, this has sparked a wave of criticism online, with netizens accusing him of making light of the Covid-19 crisis. The hashtag #นะจ๊ะ (naja) was top-trending on Twitter on June 28.
House of Representatives said on Saturday that former Palang Pracharath Party Bangkok MP Sira Jenjaka initially must pay 8.49 million baht to the House after the Constitutional Court ruled him to lose his seat on Wednesday.
Sira was disqualified to run for the House because he had been sentenced by the Pathumwan District Court on offences relating to property (fraud) in 1995.
The verdict came after Seri Ruam Thai Party leader, Pol General Sereepisuth Temiyavet, together with a group of 145 members of the House of Representatives, asked the Constitutional Court to determine the qualification of the member since he had been sentenced by the district court.
House of Representatives said 8.49 million baht consist of Sira’s salaries, meeting allowances and medical expenses, including salaries for his seven assistants, in the past three years.
However, the House said Sira must pay for travel and offsite seminar expenses which the investigation is expected to be completed next week.
In a bid to curb Omicron infections, the government has instructed the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to cancel two countdown events, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Thursday.
Private events can go ahead as planned, he added.
The events to be cancelled are the New Year Buddhist chanting ceremony scheduled to be held in the Town Square in Phra Nakhon district and the countdown on Lad Ya Road in Khlong San district.
“Private parties that have received permission from the BMA to hold events can proceed as planned, provided they adhere to the prevention measures set by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration,” Thanakorn said.
These measures include ensuring all participants have been double-jabbed or have a negative test result via the ATK method and are wearing a facemask at all times. Consumption of alcohol is only allowed in open-air restaurants until 1am on New Year’s Day.
“Not all New Year countdown events in Bangkok have been cancelled as some may have thought,” Thanakorn added.
The Constitutional Court ruled that Palang Pracharath Party Bangkok MP Sira Jenjaka is disqualified to run for the House of Representatives.
As a result, he was removed from his House seat because he had been sentenced by the Pathumwan District Court on offences relating to property (fraud) in 1995.
The verdict came after Seri Ruam Thai Party leader, Pol General Sereepisuth Temiyavet, together with a group of 145 members of the House of Representatives, asked the Constitutional Court to determine the qualification of the member since he had been sentenced by the district court.
Supporters of the pro-democracy group Ratsadon and their affiliates gathered at Bangkok’s Ratchaprasong intersection from 4pm on Sunday to demand the abolition of the Criminal Code’s Article 112 (lèse majesté law).
The rally was led by political activist Somyot Pruksakasemsuk, leader of the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration Natchanon Pairoj and Natpakorn Nammuang from the Internet Law Reform Dialogue or iLaw.
Ratchadamri Road from Ratchasprasong intersection to Pratunam intersection was closed to traffic and protesters were allowed to set up booths to sell products or collect signatures.
The protesters also sang songs and lit candles in support of pro-democracy leaders who are in jail such as Arnon Nampa, Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak and Panupong “Mike Rayong” Jardnok.
Protesters began shouting “stop threatening people” when police tried to remove a vinyl banner reading “Ratsadon ruling Criminal Code’s Article 112” at around 5pm. However, no serious clashes were reported and the protest wrapped up peacefully at around 9pm.
The Constitutional Court on Wednesday ruled that five co-leaders of the now-defunct People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) have lost their status as members of Parliament and ordered by-elections in Chumphon and Songkhla to replace the removed MPs.
The five comprise three Democrat Party MPs – Chumphon MP Chumphol Julsai, party-list MP Issara Somchai and Songkhla MP Thaworn Senneam. The other two, both party-list MPs, are from the Palang Pracharath Party – Buddhipongse Punakanta and Nataphol Teepsuwan.
The Criminal Court on February 24 sentenced the five and others for up to five years in prison for their roles in the PDRC protests from 2013 to 2014 that led to the coup which ousted the Pheu Thai Party-led government.
Following the verdict, Thaworn, Buddhipongse and Nataphol had to quit their positions as deputy transport minister, digital economy and society minister and education minister, respectively. They were later released on bail and filed an appeal, while their MP status awaited judgement by the Constitutional Court.
Now, the court on Wednesday ruled that the roles of the five as members of Parliament should be terminated retroactively from April 7, 2021.
The court also ordered by-elections in Chumphon’s constituency 1 and Songkhla’s constituency 6 to fill the vacant MP positions.
As for the vacant party-listed MP slots, it will be filled by the next candidates on the list of the respective parties.
Over 18,000 vehicles have been found to emit black smoke exceeding the safety standard since the Air Pollution Administration Centre started testing random vehicles nationwide on October 1, said the centre’s communication chief Theerapat Prayoonsit on Wednesday (December 8).
“The campaign aims to tackle air pollution problems during cold season especially ones that caused by PM2.5 dust particles (particles less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter),” said Theerapat, who is also a permanent secretary at Prime Minister’s Office. “Of the vehicles that emit black smoke exceeding safety standard, 612 have been barred from usage until the issue is fixed.”
The centre has been working with the Pollution Control Department, Department of Land Transport and Traffic Police Division in setting up checkpoints to inspect emission rate of large and small vehicles in big cities such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
“We also dispatched officials to urge farmers to refrain from burning their fields after harvesting, which is one of the major sources of dust particles,” he said. “Vehicle users have also been told to keep their vehicles in good condition and only go out when necessary, especially during rush hours to protect their health from air pollution.”
Border patrol soldiers from the Royal Thai Army’s 13th Ranger Regiment arrested seven Cambodian migrants on Tuesday as they tried to cross the Sa Kaeo border in Aranyaprathet district in an attempt to go back into Cambodia.
“Officers spotted the group of suspects, comprising four men and three women, as they waded through a sugarcane field in Pa Rai subdistrict, which shares the border with Cambodia,” said one of the soldiers.
“A preliminary investigation showed the seven had entered Thailand without any documentation to work in Sa Kaeo province.”
One of the migrants reportedly said that the group hailed from Battambang and Siem Reap provinces in Cambodia and intended to go back home after hearing that the first Covid-19 Omicron case had been found in Thailand. They were afraid a new wave could emerge in the country.
The migrants also said they had received a warning shared among Cambodia workers in Thailand that the Omicron variant is extremely dangerous and easily transmittable, prompting them to quit their jobs and attempt to flee the country.
Thailand’s first Omicron case was detected in a 35-year-old American businessman on Friday (December 3). He had travelled from Spain on November 30 after living there for a year.
The Department of Disease Control said the patient had no symptoms and was not in close contact with many people.
The detained migrants were tested for Covid-19 before being taken to Khlong Leug police station to be charged with entering and trying to leave the country without any documentation.
The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) has posted pictures of Venus as the planet shone at its brightest for the last time this year on night of Tuesday (December 7).
In a facebook post on early Wednesday morning, NARIT said Venus was clearly visible last night next to the crescent Moon on the western side of the horizon. “Thanks to the clear and cloudless sky, Thai people can see it from almost all regions, except for some areas of the South that are experiencing monsoon weather,” it said.
“Venus will shine brightest when it orbits at suitable distance from Earth,” said the post. “The next time it will shine will be on February 9 of next year on the eastern side of the horizon, before the Sun rises.”
Venus is the brightest planet and the second planet in the solar system. It is called both the morning star and evening star because people can see the planet for a short while before sunrise or after sunset.
SootinClaimon.Com 