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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019070

A man who hacked into the website of Thailand’s Constitutional Court last November was sentenced to one year and six months in jail on Thursday.

The Criminal Court also ordered the defendant, 34-year-old Wachira Supathian, to pay 87,227 baht in compensation to the court.

He was found guilty of violating the Computer Crime Act by making an unauthorised entry into the Constitutional Court’s computer system.

The hacker also renamed the website “Kangaroo Court”.

His lawyer Noraset Nanongtoom, from the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, said on Thursday that the Criminal Court did not grant a Constitutional Court request for 10.2-million baht compensation for damage to its reputation. He explained that it was because the plaintiffs did not offer any argument to support their claim of damage to reputation.

Regarding civil damages, the Criminal Court ordered the defendant to pay 87,227 baht in compensation to the Constitutional Court.

The hacker attack occurred on November 11, a day after the Constitutional Court ruled that three leaders of the anti-establishment movement — Arnon Nampa, Panupong Jadnok, and Panassaya Sitthichirawatanakul — were attempting to overthrow Thailand’s constitutional monarchy through their speeches given at Thammasat University’s Rangsit campus in August 2020.

Published : August 18, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019069

The Department of Land Transport (DLT) on Thursday urged taxi motorcycles to register with apps to widen their scope of providing services.

DLT director-general Jirut Wisanjit was quoted in a press statement as saying that it was the policy of Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob to make it convenient for passengers to use riding services.

The DLT issued the statement in response to a demand from a group of taxi motorcyclists that the DLT close “illegal applications” that provided motorcycle riding services.

The group of some 100 taxi motorcyclists had rallied at the DLT against GrabBike in particular. [Read the full report here.]

Jirut said motorcyclists from taxi stands (called Win motorcycles in Thai) should instead register with apps so that they could provide hybrid services.

The director-general explained that taxi motorcyclists can continue to receive commuters at their stands and accept passengers via the apps outside their stands’ areas as well.

Jirut said the DLT was in the process of allowing motorcyclists from taxi stands to register to provide services via apps.

Jirut said the DLT would have to give priority to the benefits and convenience of passengers by trying to improve alternative taxi services.

He added that the department would try its best to allow conventional taxi motorcyclists to live in harmony with those who provide service via apps.

Jirut said the DLT had surveyed passenger via social networks and found that many passengers wanted to call taxi motorcycles via apps instead of walking to the stands.

As a result, Jirut said, the department would speed up registering qualified motorcyclists as taxi drivers via apps so that they can provide services legally.

He said the DLT would try to explain the issue to the conventional taxi motorcyclists and would encourage them to provide hybrid services.

Published : August 18, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019067

The Public Health Ministry plans to open a vaccination centre at Bang Sue Grand Station in Bangkok until September 30 to meet the transition of Covid-19 to a surveillance communicable disease on October 1.

The vaccination centre director, Dr Mingkwan Wichaidit, said on Thursday that this decision came after discussions between the Department of Medical Services and the Department of Disease Control.

However, to reopen the country and the economy safely, she said the ministry would speed up the vaccination to ensure that around 60-70 per cent of people would have received their third jab.

She added that more than 50 per cent of people have received their third jab.

She expected the new generation of Covid-19 vaccines to be rolled out at the beginning of next year, a little later than the previous estimate of between September and October.

“The vaccination centre will be opened until September 30 to allow people to boost their immunity while waiting for a new generation of vaccines,” she said.

She added that people will be able to receive their Covid-19 vaccine jab at hospitals nationwide if the situation is not worrisome.

Mingkwan added that the vaccination centre at Bang Sue Grand Station, the biggest vaccination centre in Thailand, had administered more than 6.3 million vaccine doses so far.

She added that the ministry is ready to reopen the vaccination centre again within a day if the Covid-19 situation turns worse or if it is necessary to administer a new generation of vaccines.

Mingkwan urged people to receive their jabs, as their beloved ones could become victims of Covid-19, especially the elderly, pregnant women and people with chronic diseases

People can receive their vaccine jab at Bang Sue Grand Station’s vaccination centre by registering with mobile network operators or walk-in.

“We advise people who know when they will be free to receive the vaccine to register with mobile operators in advance,” she added.

Published : August 18, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019063

There is high risk of major floods this year as 15 more storms are expected to hit the country by the end of the year, a flood expert said.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Seri Suparatit, a flood expert from Rangsit University, said that there are three factors that might cause a big flood:

1. Accumulated rainfall is higher than normal before the rainy season.

2. The La Niña phenomenon at the end of the year will be strong and will cause water temperature in the western Pacific Ocean to be higher than in the east, leading to high humidity.

3. The Indian Ocean dipole is negative which will cause the temperature in the eastern Indian Ocean to be higher than in the west, causing high humidity.

Seri explained that the estimated rainfall from August to November will be higher than normal including last year. If the amount of rainfall is 18 per cent higher than normal, there would be a great risk of flooding similar to 2011.

Thailand suffered one of its worst floods ever in that year.

However, the flood pattern will not be the same.

He explained that if there are heavy rains above dams, big dams in the Northern region would have around 50 per cent of capacity.

But if it is rains below dam levels, floods will occur in fields in the Central region before moving to cities.

He added that the middle and southern Northeast, the East, and the upper South also face a risk of major floods.

Seri added that there are five uncontrollable factors:

• The amount, direction, and severity of storms; he expected another 15 storms in the rest of 2022 of the 23 total storms expected this year.
• The capacity of water basins is reducing as a result the water level will rise; he cited as an example water in the Central region last year was 20 per cent less than in 2011 while the water level is equal to or higher.
• The preparation and understanding of people in the risky areas
• The conflict of the citizen sector in risky areas
• The management of the situation; he said that related organisations should monitor the situation closely and warn people in time to reduce the impact.

Published : August 18, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019058

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) will on Friday consider downgrading the coronavirus to a communicable disease under surveillance, an official confirmed on Thursday.

General Supot Malaniyom, National Security Council secretary-general in his capacity as director of CCSA operations, said the administration would consider the Public Health Ministry’s proposal during a meeting on Friday.

The ministry is asking the CCSA to downgrade Covid-19 from a dangerous communicable disease to a communicable disease under surveillance from October 1.

Supot said that after the disease is downgraded, the CCSA will consider whether any special law or order is still required to control the situation. If not, the CCSA may be disbanded, he said.

However, the emergency law is still needed for now although the situation has improved, the secretary-general said.

Supot explained that the emergency law was still needed to control arrivals into the country and departures and to prohibit activity that would worsen the spread of the disease.

Covid infections seemed to be on the uptrend but measures to treat infected people and self-treatments were now heading in a promising direction, Supot pointed out.

The CCSA will also consider a Public Health Ministry plan to distribute Covid medicine via private hospitals and clinics before the drugs are made available at drugstores but only on a doctor’s prescription, he said.

The ministry earlier said it would ask the CCSA to allow private hospitals and clinics to buy antiviral drugs directly from companies for treating Covid.

During the meeting on Friday, governors who chair provincial communicable disease committees will be instructed to implement an operation plan to prepare their provinces for declaring Covid an endemic disease.

The meeting will also consider opening more border checkpoints, according to Supot.

He added that if the Tourism and Transport ministries request the CCSA to extend the opening hours of pubs and bars to 4am in main tourist destinations, the CCSA would in turn ask the Interior Ministry to consider the matter and if the extension would affect Covid prevention measures in the tourist provinces.

Published : August 18, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019057

Legendary Thai actor Sombat Metanee — one of the world’s most prolific movie stars — passed away in his sleep in his home in Bangkok on Thursday. He was 85.

His family became aware of his passing when they attempted to wake him up in the morning.

His funeral rite is being held from Thursday (August 18) to next Wednesday (August 24) at Phra Sri Mahathat Woramahawihan Temple in Bangkok’s Bang Khen district.

Sombat is survived by his wife Kanchana and their five children — four sons and one daughter.

A legend of the Thai silver screen, Sombat had been a familiar face in the entertainment industry for many decades. He was once listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most prolific movie actor, acting in 617 films, virtually all as the protagonist.

By his own count, Sombat had made more than 2,000 films and television shows and series, including Thai soap operas known as “lakorn”.

Sombat began his acting career in 1961 and soon became popular.

During his heyday in the 1960s and 1970s, described as the “golden era” of the Thai film industry, the actor often worked on several films at the same time.

On average, he starred in 30 films a year, covering various genres ranging from action, drama and comedy to romance and musical.

Also well known for his singing voice, Sombat released a number of movie soundtrack records and albums.

During his long career, the veteran actor continued to star in Thai films and television series while making frequent appearances on talk shows and in television commercials.

Born on June 26, 1937, in the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani, his mother’s hometown, Sombat worked briefly in an engineering consulting company before he was drafted for military service.

After his conscription was completed in 1959, Sombat was looking for a job when he ran into an acting scout. His tall build and looks helped him get his first acting job at Channel 7 TV station. He starred in a drama series alongside Wilaiwan Wattanapanit, a popular actress at that time.

His first movie was “Rung Phet” (Diamond Rainbow) released in 1961.

In December 2016, the National Culture Committee selected Sombat as a National Artist in the field of performance arts.

The veteran actor also made his foray into politics. In April 2006, he was elected a senator for Bangkok but Parliament was dissolved after the military coup in September that year. Sombat was instead appointed a member of the National Legislative Assembly set up after the coup.

In 2007, Sombat became deputy leader of a new political party called Pracharaj, but he failed to get elected.

He later joined Pheu Thai Party and contested the 2011 general election as its party-list candidate, but failed to get elected.

Sombat once disclosed that he had been approached by three sisters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra — Yingluck, Yaowapa and Yaowaret — to join Pheu Thai in order to help with the national reconciliation efforts.

The legendary actor revealed that he had known Thaksin and his family for over three decades from the time the future prime minister was a police captain.

Published : August 18, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019054

Some 100 motorcycle taxi riders gathered at the Land Transport Department (DLT) to demand that it put the brakes on GrabBike services and stop riders with white licence plates from registering for yellow ones.

The group first came together at Victory Monument on Thursday before moving to the Transport Ministry to inquire about the “progress” of shutting down GrabBike and yellow plate registrations.

Motorcycle Taxi Association of Thailand representative Santi Patipanrat said it were capitalists who stand to benefit as riders provided services through an application and they could get customers anywhere.

Santi added that he will not negotiate with the authorities any more if the issue does not come to an acceptable conclusion.

Another representative, Chamnan Cherdchai, argued that riders who follow the rules have lost 30 to 40 per cent of income because of a limited service area.

He said the association requested the DLT to shut down illegal applications and punish unauthorised riders. It also disagreed with extending the period for allowing illegal riders to register.

Chamnan asked the Transport Ministry to help by creating an application to improve competition.

Santi dispatched 10 representatives to meet with Wirach Pimpanit, adviser to Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob, and officials from the DLT and related organisations.

Published : August 18, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019052

An academic network is inviting Thai people to cast their digital vote this weekend on whether Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha should step down on completing eight years as PM on August 24.

The voting is being organised by People’s Voice, a network of academics from eight universities, namely Thammasat, NIDA, Srinakharinwirot, Rangsit, Burapha, Chiang Mai, Prince of Songkla, and Ubon Ratchathani, in collaboration with media organisations in Thailand.

Prayut will finish eight years in office next week as he had taken the reins of PM on August 24, 2014 following a military coup staged by him that led to the installation of a government backed by the junta’s National Council for Peace and Order.

The current Constitution, which came into force in April 2017, prohibits anyone from serving as prime minister for longer than eight years. However, there has been a debate on whether the stipulation takes effect retrospectively, as Prayut had taken office before the current Constitution came into effect.

The voting will start on 6am on Saturday (August 20) and end at midnight on Sunday (August 21). People can vote by scanning the QR code that appears on TV channels and social media pages of participating media with their mobile phone and vote “yes” or “no”. Each mobile number can vote only once.

Participating media include Nation TV, Thairath TV, Workpoint News, PPTV, The Standard, The Matter, The Momentum, and The Reporters.

The results of the poll will be announced on the following Monday.

Published : August 18, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019051

The renovation of Rajini pier as a new Bangkok landmark on the Chao Phraya River bank is 95 per cent complete and will open for service next month, Deputy Transport Minister Atirat Ratanasate said on Thursday.

Atirat was speaking to reporters while making an inspection trip to evaluate progress of the renovation.

The pier, which is located in Rachini Alley, Phra Borm Maha Ratchawang subdistrict, Phra Nakhon district, is a mere 50 metres from Sanam Chai MRT station.

Rajini is one of 29 shuttle boat piers which the Marine Department has renovated or is renovating.

The Transport Ministry plans to develop the new pier as a hub for shuttle services, linking boat, railway and road transportation, Atirat said.

The Transport Ministry will install a system next year to turn Rajini into a smart pier to enable the transportation links, he added.

Atirat said the new pier structure was designed taking into account “Thainess” and will be the most beautiful one on the Chao Phraya and a new landmark in Bangkok.

He said the renovation involved three main construction features:

– A two-storey building with 1,277 square metres of usage area. It will have a roof that can be used for public activities and double up as a viewpoint on the river. The interior decorations will reflect Thainess.

– A convenient walkway is being built to link the pier to Sanam Chai MRT station. The gate to the pier will also reflect Thainess.

– A 9×24-metre floating buoy has been built for shuttle boats to dock, with an adjustable stairway for people to walk up from the boats.

Atirat said once the renovation is complete, the number of commuters using the pier will rise from 782 a day now to 1,900.

Four other piers are under renovation and will be ready for service this year:

– Tha Tien pier. The renovation is 68 per cent complete and will be finished on September 30.

– Tha Bang Pho pier. Around 78 per cent of construction has been done and will be completed on September 20.

– Tha Phraram 7 pier. About 40 per cent of the renovation has been carried out and the pier will be ready on October 31.

– Tha Phayup pier. The renovation is 60 per cent complete and will be finished on September 30.

Renovation of Tha Kiak Kai would be completed next year, the Marine Department added.

Published : August 18, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019049

A loan to the state oil fund is considered as public debt which the Office of the Fuel Fund must repay within seven years, Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith made it clear on Wednesday.

His statement came after the Cabinet on Tuesday approved an executive decree that would enable the Finance Ministry to guarantee a loan of 150 billion baht to the Fuel Fund.

Arkhom revealed that the fund’s balance sheet was largely “negative” and it was risky to borrow any money from banks, so the Finance Ministry had to step in to guarantee the loan.

The minister said he would look into how the Office of the Fuel Fund reduces expenses and manages revenue.

The fund does not have to use the entire 150 billion baht as the decree allows, he added.

Arkhom reiterated that the money the fund borrows will be considered public debt even if the ministry did not guarantee the loan, as the Cabinet had already approved a 30-billion-baht loan.

It will affect public debt during a certain period but the ministry has set a condition for the Office of the Fuel Fund to repay the loan in seven years, Arkom said.

He told the Energy Ministry that borrowing should be a last resort because there were costs and interest associated with loans.

However, the borrowing will not affect the government’s budget because the Office of the Fuel Fund has the responsibility to manage and repay the loan, Arkhom added.

Published : August 18, 2022

By : THE NATION