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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403487

PM to get his AstraZeneca Covid shot on Friday

PoliticsMar 09. 2021Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha Photo Credit: Royal Thai Government

By The Nation

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and some Cabinet ministers who are 60 or older will get the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine at Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute on Friday, a release from Government House said on Tuesday.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had said on Monday that Prayut was likely to be the first to get the jab, adding that Thailand has authorized the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine on people aged 60 and above, while China’s Sinovac will be used on younger people.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan is expected to be among Cabinet members who get a jab on Friday.

Thailand’s Covid-19 vaccination drive kicked off on February 28, with Anutin being the first to be inoculated.

He was followed by Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha, Culture Minister Itthiphol Kunplome, Public Health permanent-secretary Kiattiphum Wongrajit, Department of Disease Control director-general Opas Karnkawinpong and Education Deputy Minister Kanokwan Wilawan.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403486

Pro-democracy groups plan gatherings to protest court decision

PoliticsMar 09. 2021

By The Nation

Student-led pro-democracy groups will hold at least three rallies in Bangkok on Tuesday evening to protest against the Criminal Court’s decision to deny bail for three protest leaders being held over lese majeste charges.

The protest leaders are Jatupat ‘Pai’ Boonpattararaksa, Panusaya ‘Rung’ Sithijirawattanakul and Panupong “Mike” Jadnok.

The gatherings planned are:

• The United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration group will gather outside Criminal Court at 4pm to tie black ribbons and lay a wreath.

• Nontarure New Generation Network will gather near the Bangkok Remand Prison at 4pm to tie black ribbons and “mourn”.

• The Nakhon Pathom Ratsadon and Protect Freedom groups will gather on Buddhamonthon 4 Road at 4pm.

• The Guard Plod Aek group has instructed members to be on standby near MRT and BTS stations, but no time has been set.

Meanwhile, the Bad Student group is urging students to wear black ribbons or armbands to school from Tuesday onwards.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403467

Ratsadon group calls for ‘black ribbon’ protest after court rejects bail for its leaders

PoliticsMar 09. 2021

By THE NATION

Three leaders of the pro-democracy Ratsadon group — Panasaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul, Jatupat “Pai Dao Din” Boonpattararaksa, and Panupong “Mike” Jadnok — were denied bail by the Criminal Court on Monday and were transported to Bangkok Remand Prison and Central Women Correctional Institution at around 3.30pm.

They have been charged with violating Article 112 of the Criminal Code or the lese majeste law, for sedition under Article 116 of the Criminal Code as well as the unlawful assembly of 10 or more persons under Article 215 for their role in a political rally on September 19-20, 2020, at Thammasat University and Bangkok’s Sanam Luang area.

Fifteen other protest leaders also face charges under Articles 116 and 215, but the court set their bail amount at Bt350,000 per person.

Read More: 18 anti-establishment movement leaders to be sued for role in Sept 2020 Thammasat rally

Later in the evening, the Ratsadon group posted on its Facebook page inviting people to dress in black and wear a black ribbon “to mourn the death of justice in this country after the judicial power has abandoned the principle of the law”.

The Political Science Alumni Association at Chulalongkorn University also posted on its Facebook urging people to dress in black, while demanding the abolition of Article 112 and release of the arrested protesters.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403447

Govt must listen to pro-democracy protesters, survey says

PoliticsMar 08. 2021

By The Nation

A recent Suan Dusit opinion poll on living “amidst anti-government protests” revealed that most people believe the government and pro-democracy protesters should accept one another.

The survey, conducted between March 1 and 5, involved 1,147 respondents who have an interest in politics.

Their answers were as follows:

Sources for information on the protest:

Television: 70.04%

Facebook: 65.33%

Live broadcasts: 37.29%

Word of mouth: 36.33%

Websites: 31%

Thoughts on the anti-government movement:

Different from the past: 55.33%

More young people fighting for democracy: 50.61%

Constitution guarantees right to hold protests: 49.04%

More frequent clashes between protesters and police: 48.43%

Situation worsened by presence of third parties: 47.9%

Government’s move to tackle protesters:

Focus on intercepting protests/arresting leaders: 51.41%

Using violent measures: 50.35%

Moves to control the situation: 48.94%

Ignoring protesters’ demands: 46.92%

Authorities only trying to maintain peace: 41.11%

How best to resolve the situation:

Both sides should come to an understanding: 50.07%

Government must pay attention to protesters’ demands: 13.67%

PM must resign, charter amended, Parliament dissolved: 10.79%

Rallies must be peaceful and held under the law: 9.64%

Both sides must seek solutions together: 5.04%

Views on pro-democracy protests:

Disagree: 27.3%

Almost agree: 25.2%

Almost disagree: 23.98%

Agree: 23.19%

Government’s moves to tackle protests:

Disagree: 39.49%

Almost agree: 28.6%

Almost disagree: 23.63%

Agree: 8.28%

Assoc Prof Anchalee Ratana, a lecturer at Suan Dusit University’s School of Law and Politics, said the government’s moves to disperse pro-democracy rallies were unacceptable under universal principles because holding protests is part of one’s constitutional rights.

“The government should allow protesters to express themselves to find a solution together. Protesters should also improve their behaviour to protect themselves and maintain their rights under the Constitution,” she said.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403427

Palang Pracharath wrests Nakhon Si Thammarat seat from Democrats in by-election

PoliticsMar 08. 2021Ayasit (centre)

By THE NATION

Palang Pracharath Party candidate Ayasit Srisuwan won the by-election for the vacant Nakhon Si Thammarat Constituency 3 held on Sunday, wresting the MP seat from coalition partner Democrat Party.

The Election Commission announced the unofficial vote count at 10.30pm on Sunday. Ayasit received 48,701 votes, followed by Phongsin Senpong of Democrat Party with 44,632 votes, Sarawut Suwanrat from Kla Party 6,216 votes, and Apirat Rattanaphan from Thai Liberal Party at 2,302 votes.

The by-election on Sunday saw a turnout of 105,468 out of 152,020 eligible voters, or 69.38 per cent. Of the total ballots cast, 1.66 per cent were voided while 1.77 per cent of voters did not vote for any candidate.

The by-election was held after Democrat MP Thepthai Senpong was disqualified by the Constitutional Court earlier this year. He was found guilty of election fraud by the Nakhon Si Thammarat provincial court.

He has appealed against that conviction.

The Democrats fielded his brother, Phongsin, as candidate for the by-election, but he finished second.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403410

Chadchart, Chakthip among preferred top choices for Bangkok governor: poll

PoliticsMar 07. 2021

By The NationThe majority of respondents in a National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) survey backed former transport minister Chadchart Sittipunt and former police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda for the post of Bangkok governor.

The survey was conducted on March 2 and 3 on 1,315 Bangkokians aged over 18 years.

Asked about the nominee the respondents would support:

66.00 per cent said an independent nominee;

17.11 per cent said a nominee affiliated with a political party;

14.30 per cent said anyone;

2.59 per cent said a nominee affiliated with a political group.

Regarding problems the respondents want the Bangkok governor to solve (multiple choice):

66.01 per cent said traffic;

35.29 per cent – cost of living;

33.84 per cent – environment, such as air and water pollution;

31.18 per cent – flooding;

24.18 per cent – narcotics and crimes;

20.15 per cent – garbage;

20.00 per cent – roads and footpaths;

9.20 per cent – hawkers;

8.67 per cent – education;

8.14 per cent – public health;

5.63 per cent – children and youth;

0.46 per cent – lights and jaywalkers;

Asked who they would vote as Bangkok governor:

29.96 per cent said they haven’t decided;

22.43 per cent named former transport minister Chadchart Sittipunt;

15.51 per cent said former police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda;

7.68 per cent said current Bangkok governor Pol General Aswin Kwanmuang;

4.49 per cent said a nominee from Pheu Thai Party;

4.26 per cent named former senator Rosana Tositrakul;

4.26 per cent said a nominee from the Progressive Movement Group;

3.35 per cent named Suchatvee Suwansawat, president of King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang;

3.27 per cent said a nominee from Palang Pracharath Party;

2.66 per cent said a nominee from Democrat Party;

1.75 per cent said Bangkok deputy governor Sakoltee Phattiyakul;

0.23 per cent didn’t answer;

0.15 per cent said they would not vote.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403405

Saturday’s rallies leave seven policemen injured, damage nine police vehicles

PoliticsMar 07. 2021

By THE NATION

Nine vehicles comprising three prisoner trucks, one pickup truck, two normal trucks and three buses were damaged during the pro-democracy rallies in Bangkok on Saturday, the Metropolitan Police Bureau said on Sunday.

The bureau added that seven police officers were injured on Saturday, and six were in hospitals.

Regarding the arrest of We Volunteer (Wevo) group leader Piyarat Chongthep, the police explained that they had decided to arrest him at Major Cineplex Ratchayothin, as this man and his associates could stir violence at the protest site.

Major Cineplex Ratchayothin is located near the Ha Yaek Lat Phrao, where the demonstration by the “Redem” group started.

The bureau added that 15 catapults, 50 nuts, 300 glass balls, 30 gas bombs, 30 plastic bags of pickled fish, 13 helmets, 37 flak jackets and a hammer were found among the Wevo guards’ belongings.

Piyarat and 17 guards were among demonstrators who had been transported to Border Patrol Police Region 1 in Pathum Thani province.

The police said that no one involved in the demonstrations on Saturday had been released. They will be taken to the Criminal Court on Monday.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403403

Royalists vow weekly gatherings to pledge loyalty to monarchy

PoliticsMar 07. 2021Photo by Sukpamorn Hengprapakorn

By The Nation

A royalist group, “Vocational Group Protecting the Monarch”, has vowed to hold demonstrations every Sunday from March 14 to show their loyalty to the country’s highest institution.

Photo by Sukpamorn Hengprapakorn

Photo by Sukpamorn Hengprapakorn

Photo by Sukpamorn Hengprapakorn

The group made the statement during their assembly at the Ratchaprasong intersection in front of CentralWorld Department Store on Saturday.

Photo by Sukpamorn Hengprapakorn

The group called off the demonstration at 4.30pm after singing the national anthem and the royal anthem.

Photo by Sukpamorn Hengprapakorn

The group then went to Police General Hospital to visit police officers who were injured by pro-democracy protesters during the anti-government rally and handed out surgical masks to medical personnel.

Photo by Sukpamorn Hengprapakorn

Photo by Sukpamorn Hengprapakorn

Photo by Sukpamorn Hengprapakorn

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403345

Police brace for protests in Bangkok on Saturday

PoliticsMar 05. 2021

National police chief Suwat Jangyodsuk

By The Nation

Police are ready to deal with protesters at several locations in Bangkok tomorrow (March 6), insisting their pro-democracy rallies are illegal.

Demonstrators from different protest groups plan to gather at the Criminal Court on Ratchadapisek Road, the 11th Infantry Regiment headquarters in Bang Khen district, and Democracy Monument.

National police chief Suwat Jangyodsuk warned the assemblies would be illegal under the emergency decree. He voiced concern that the protests could become violent but said police would do no more than was necessary to control the situation.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403313

ILaw files court complaint against military IO campaign in South

PoliticsMar 04. 2021Winyoo “John” Wongsurawat (left) and Yingcheep Atchanont (right)

By The Nation

Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw) filed a complaint with the Administrative Court on Thursday, calling on the Royal Thai Army to refrain from “inappropriate” information operations (IO).

The move by the rights NGO came a day after Facebook said it had removed accounts linked to the Thai military that were using “inauthentic coordinated behaviour” to target the deep South. The Thai military has been accused of widespread human rights abuse in the deep South, which has been wracked by a separatist insurgency for the past two decades.

“We call on the Army to stop the [information] operation immediately,” iLaw manager Yingcheep Atchanont said, adding that the NGO had evidence showing the Army was using IO to target its opponents. ILaw had refrained from filing a criminal complaint to avoid accusing military officials directly, he said.

“We will submit additional evidence to Facebook and a letter to the United Nations special rapporteur,” Yingcheep added.

Meanwhile, a human rights lawyer said the Army had no authority to run such information operations outside wartime conditions, adding that the court could order the military to clarify the matter.

Facebook announced on Wednesday it had removed 185 accounts and groups engaged in military propaganda in the insurgency-hit dee South. The network comprised 77 accounts, 72 pages and 18 Instagram accounts linked to the military’s Internal Security Operations Command.