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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000109

PM must resign over vaccine procurement fiasco, says opposition leader

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is unable to rule the country judging by his government’s results over the past few years, Seri Ruam Thai leader Sereepisuth Temeeyaves said on Thursday.

Sereepisuth told Parliament he suspected Thailand had received Covid-19 vaccines later than other countries because procurement was linked to Prayut’s hidden interests.

However, he added that his suspicions stemmed from his experience rather than witnesses or hard evidence. But he and his team would seek evidence to prove the allegation.

“The PM always complains to the press that any eligible person can take his role. But this man does not dare to step down from power. His work in the past is already proof that the PM is unable to rule the country. It is time for him to leave,” Sereepisuth stated.

Only 0.82 per cent of Thailand’s population had been vaccinated against Covid-19 as of Tuesday (April 20), according to Oxford University’s “Our World in Data” report.

The report ranks Thailand eighth-lowest among the 10 Asean countries for the share of the population that have received at least one vaccination.

Published : April 22, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30405026

Government closely monitoring face mask availability and price

PoliticsApr 18. 2021

By The Nation

The government is making efforts to ensure that there will be sufficient face masks for medical staff and citizens, deputy government spokesperson Ratchada Dhanadirek said on Sunday.

She said the subcommittee for supply management during the Covid-19 outbreak, chaired by the permanent secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office, is working to ensure that the country has plenty of quality face masks and other medical supplies to be sold at a reasonable price.

She added that the subcommittee recently held a meeting with officials from Commerce, Public Health and Interior ministries as well as related agencies on monitoring the situation and surgical mask management.

“Currently, the production capacity of face masks at 63 factories nationwide was up to 5 million pieces a day,” she said.

“So far, we have imported 256.82 million pieces of surgical masks, 238.23 million pieces of fabric masks and 992.98 million pieces of dustproof masks.”

She explained that the Public Health Ministry and Government Pharmaceutical Organisation are responsible for the management of face masks for medical staff, while the Department of Internal Trade, Food and Drug Administration and Royal Thai Police are responsible for checking face masks’ quality, arresting people who sell used face masks, and controlling the price to be in line with laws.”

She added that retailers must sell surgical masks at not more than Bt2.50 a piece and must receive permission before exporting, citing the Central Committee on the Price of Goods and Services’ announcement.

“People can contact the Department of Internal Trade: 1569 if retailers were found to be jacking up face mask price,” she added.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404922

Pro-democracy group to mark Songkran with ‘colour bombs’ on Prayut, Cabinet

PoliticsApr 15. 2021

By The Nation

The pro-democracy Ban Talu Fah or UNME of Anarchy group posted a message on Facebook calling on its supporters to show up at Government House on Thursday from 2pm to mark Songkran by “throwing colour bombs at [Prime Minister] Prayut [Chan-o-cha] and his Cabinet” at 2pm on Thursday.

Thursday (April 15) is the last day of Songkran and is traditionally the day when people seek blessings from the elderly.

Meanwhile, Lt-General Piya Thawichai, deputy chief and spokesman of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, warned that anybody attending the rally will be violating two laws and will be punished accordingly.

Protesters will be violating the Emergency Services Act, which is punishable by up to two years in prison and/or a fine of up to Bt40,000 and the Communicable Diseases Act, which is punishable by up to a year in prison and/or a fine of Bt100,000.

Piya called on the protesters to think about the nation and the public before holding a rally during the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. He said holding gatherings at this time will worsen the virus situation for people, who are already in a state of panic. He also said that police will be on standby to arrest and prosecute those who break the law.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404847

Anutin rejects claims that AstraZeneca, Sinovac vaccines are ineffective

PoliticsApr 13. 2021Anutin Charnvirakul

By The Nation

Experts have confirmed that though the AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines might not prevent all Covid-19 infections, they do prevent severe illness and death, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Monday.

Anutin said he was responding to criticism from politicians who claimed that Covid-19 vaccines procured by the government so far were ineffective. The criticism had caused confusion among the public, the minister added.

He said the politicians cited foreign news reports to refute the efficacy of the AstraZeneca and Sinovac brands, even though both vaccines had been approved by the World Health Organisation.

He also claimed the politicians’ criticism had caused difficulties in the government’s plan to administer vaccines to all Thailand residents within this year.

“Chulalongkorn University virologist Dr Yong Poovorawan and Department of Disease Control director-general Dr Opas Karnkawinpong have confirmed that AstraZeneca and Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines are able to contain the spread of the virus and have different side effects,” Anutin noted.

“So it’s up to people whether to believe doctors or politicians.”

He said the Public Health Ministry would administer vaccines for MPs next month, adding that MPs who don’t want to take vaccine jab must inform Parliament.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404820

New Bt12bn Parliament building to open next month

PoliticsApr 13. 2021

By The Nation

The new Parliament building, Sappaya Sapa Sathan (Peaceful Place of Assembly), will open on May 1, Pornpit Petcharoen, secretary-general of the House of Representatives, said on Monday.

Pornpit said construction was almost 99 per cent complete, with the finishing touches being applied to the landscape and interior decoration at the new riverside assembly.

The new Parliament is topped by a golden pagoda representing Mount Meru in Buddhist cosmology. The pagoda was designed by national artists Pinyo Suwankiri and Phao Suwansaksri.

“The walls of the Parliament’s state hall have also been decorated with a mural by the Traditional Arts Office,” she said. “The mural represents the story of Thai society across the nation and includes an image of citizens wearing face masks.”

She added that the new parliament was designed to make Thais feel proud of their artistic heritage.

“People can also visit the Democracy Museum once the new Parliament is opened, to study the political history of Thailand,” said Pornpit.

Construction of the 11-storey Parliament on a 119.6-rai plot in Bangkok’s Dusit district started in 2013 and covers an area of more than 424,000 square metres. The building cost approximately Bt12 billion and is said to be among the largest parliamentary assemblies in the world. It can accommodate more than 5,000 people and has parking space for about 2,000 cars.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404777

Bangkok Special Prison rubbishes rumours on pro-democracy activist Parit’s death

PoliticsApr 11. 2021

By The Nation

Social media was agog with rumours after a Facebook user, Ampapan Petsuwan, posted a message that student protest leader Parit Chiwarak aka Penguin had died in custody at the Bangkok Special Prison.

He wrote that prison staff had woken Penguin up in the middle of the night, bashed him up and forced him to eat, and Parit had succumbed to his injuries.

Bangkok Special Prison debunked the rumours on its Facebook page, stating there was no truth to it.

The prison said it has arranged nursing staff for inmates 24 hours a day.

On April 10, nursing staff had examined the condition of Penuin, 22, who was jailed for defamation or malice, and he was in good condition.

There is slight exhaustion and slightly dry lips. The itchy rash on the chest and back had improved and Parit was able to stand up, walk, sit up and perform daily activities. Parit still refuses to eat. He still receives intravenous infusion, according to the doctor’s treatment plan. Vital signs, in general, are normal. His body temperature was 36.1 degrees Celsius, heart rate 52bpm, respiratory rate 18bpm, blood pressure 104/63 mmHg and weight 98.5 kg. The medical team is now monitoring the low sugar effect from fasting. A nurse has frequently checked on the symptoms.

Bangkok Special Prison reiterated that the prison’s operations were strictly in accordance with the regulations and guidelines set by the Department of Corrections.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404773

PM tasks newly formed team with procuring alternative Covid-19 vaccine

PoliticsApr 11. 2021Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha

By The Nation

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Saturday formed a working team for procuring alternative Covid-19 vaccine.

The team will cooperate with private hospitals in procuring alternative Covid-19 vaccine in order to reach the target to vaccinate 40 million people.

Clinical Prof Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn, adviser to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, was appointed as chairman of the committee.

The other 17 working team members are government officials from the Public Health Ministry, Government Pharmaceutical Organisation, Food and Drug Administration and Private Hospital Association.

However, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was not included in the working team.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404531

Ex-police chief Chakthip joins the race for Bangkok governor as independent candidate

PoliticsApr 05. 2021Chakthip Chaijinda

By THE NATION

Former National Police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda announced on Sunday that he would run for Bangkok governor as an independent candidate despite having been approached by Palang Pracharath Party to be their candidate.

“Palang Pracharath leader General Prawit Wongsuwan had earlier contacted me and invited me to run for governor if I had nothing to do,” said Chakthip. “I did not accept his invitation, as I had no plan to run for governor at that time. But now I think I will run as an independent.”

Chakthip added that he planned to use his knowledge and experience gained from working as National Police chief to solve problems in Bangkok, especially traffic, waste management and general safety.

“I will use four pillars for my campaign: sincerity, transparency, listening to every concerned party, and using knowledge and experience to solve the problems,” he added.

“I have started visiting the locals in the past few months to listen to their problems, which might put me at a disadvantage compared to other candidates who have been campaigning for longer. However, I still have an edge from my past experience of working in Bangkok areas, which helps me know about all the underlying problems.”

When asked about the possibility of voters seeing him as the government’s nominee for the governor’s office due to his long association with Prime Minister General Prayut Cha-o-cha and Deputy PM Prawit, the former National Police chief said that he had no immediate plan to join any political party. “Besides, there are examples of people who were acquaintances but ended up in different political parties,” he added.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404457

WeVo leader Toto granted bail

PoliticsApr 02. 2021Piyarat Chongthep

By THE NATION

The Criminal Court temporarily released We Volunteer (WeVo) leader Piyarat “Toto” Chongthep on Friday under the proviso that he does not instigate any violence.

Piyarat was among other WeVo members arrested on March 6 near Bangkok’s Major Cineplex Ratchayothin.

Police arrested up to 18 activists that day, whisking them away in four vehicles, two of which were stormed by protesters. The one carrying Piyarat was reportedly abandoned by the driver after it was mobbed by protesters.

The WeVo leader then surrendered to Phaholyothin police because he did not wish to be accused of fleeing arrest. The Thai Lawyers for Human Rights was informed that the other detainees had been taken to the Border Police Region 1 in Pathum Thani province.

Police had initially planned to slap several charges on Piyarat, including holding an illegal gathering, violating the emergency decree, the Communicable Disease Act, planning to attack police and instigating violence.

However, he was only found guilty of holding an illegal gathering and since the penalty for this charge is not severe, the court decided to release him on a Bt45,000 bail guarantee.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404448

Court revokes order for Yingluck to pay Bt35bn compensation for rice scheme

PoliticsApr 02. 2021Yingluck Shinawatra

By THE NATION

The Central Administrative Court on Friday revoked a Finance Ministry order demanding that former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra pay Bt35 billion in compensation for her government’s rice-pledging scheme.

The ministry had earlier ordered Yingluck to pay compensation for overseeing rice-scheme corruption that caused financial damage to the state.

On Friday, the court ruled the compensation order was invalid, reasoning that Yingluck was not the only person with administrative control over the scheme, which was also managed by the Cabinet and National Rice Policy Committee.

The court added that Yingluck had disclosed she knew about the government-to-government (G-to-G) rice contracts but not about the corrupt sales of rice under the contracts to private companies.

In 2017, the Supreme Court sentenced Yingluck to five years in jail in absentia for mismanagement of the rice scheme. Yingluck had already fled the country, fearing that the military regime that ousted her government in 2014 would seek a harsh sentence.

On Tuesday, the Central Administrative Court upheld an order for five former Yingluck government officials, including ex-finance minister Boonsong Teriyapirom, to pay Bt14.4 billion in compensation for the fake G-to-G rice contracts.