A TikTok video clip of a foreign man catching parrotfish somewhere in the sea off Thailand left Thai netizens outraged on Thursday.
Thai netizens were furious after the story was posted on the popular Mor Lab Panda Facebook page and demanded legal action.
Most netizens slammed the foreigner, saying that his actions were against the law and destroyed the marine ecosystem. They also called on government agencies to take legal action against the foreigner and the boatman.
Meanwhile, the Facebook page “Drama-addict” shared the data from the Department of National Parks Wildlife and Plant Conservation, which said that the catching of parrotfish for entertainment or cooking had caused the destruction of many coral reefs.
“The department also urged people not to purchase or consume parrotfish,” the page said, “People can inform national park officials to take legal action against anyone who hunts parrotfish in the national park area.”
The page added that anyone who harms or takes animals away from the national park area would face up to five years’ imprisonment or up to a 20,000 baht fine, or both, under Section 16(3) of the National Park Act BE 2504 (1961).
Communities and a host of government agencies have already been urged to cope with possible flash floods and surface water runoffs due to tropical storm Mulan, Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda said on Thursday.
His statement came after the Thailand Meteorological Department announced on Wednesday that the storm would bring isolated heavy to very heavy rains across the North, the Northeast and the East from August 11-13.
Anupong said the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation had warned people and related agencies to be ready for possible disasters, especially those in areas at risk of flooding and landslides.
The department has already checked the condition of warning towers nationwide, he said.
“We don’t want to see anyone suffer. We will assist them as soon as possible if a disaster occurs,” he promised.
Anupong said he also does not want to see Thailand hit by flooding similar to South Korea, which is seeing its worst inundation in 115 years.
The minister hoped Thailand would not see a repeat of the disastrous 2011 floods.
Widespread flooding triggered by tropical storm Nock-ten at the end of July 2011 spread across a majority of northern, northeastern and central Thailand provinces, especially those along the Mekong and Chao Phraya rivers.
In October that year, floodwaters from the North reached the mouth of the Chao Phraya and went on to inundate several parts of the capital.
The floods persisted in some areas even until the middle of January 2012, resulting in 815 deaths, three missing and 13.6 million people affected.
Meanwhile, 65 of 76 provinces were declared flood disaster zones, and more than 20,000 square kilometres of farmland were damaged.
Police and officials from the Office of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) raided two houses in Nonthaburi and Nakhon Pathom provinces, arrested the house owners and seized fake Covid rapid antigen test kits (ATKs) and an assortment of fake medical products.
The results of the joint operations were announced at a press conference at the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) by Central Investigation Bureau commissioner Pol Lt-General Jirapop Phuridet, CPPD commander Pol Maj-General Anan Nanasombat, Pol Colonel Neti Wongkularp, commander of CPPD Subdivision 4, and FDA secretary-general Paisarn Dunkum.
Jirapop said the CPPD police and FDA officials planned the operations after they received complaints that ATK kits, with fake FDA licences, were sold via Facebook pages.
Neti said police obtained a warrant from the Nakhon Pathom court to search a commercial building in Tambon Naraphirom of Nakhon Pathom’s Bang Len district and found that the place was used as a factory to make fake ATKs.
The owner of the building was arrested. She was identified as Anusara (surname withheld by police).
Neti said over 10,000 pieces of medical items in 14 categories were seized from the place, including ATKs of testsealabs gica, testsealabs nex, and zybio brands.
Neti said police later obtained a warrant from the Nonthaburi court to search a house in Tambon Bang Khen of Nonthaburi’s Muang district and found over 10,000 pieces of several medical items, including ATKs of testsealabs gica, testsealabs nex, greenspring, singclean, seinofy, hip, deepblue, humasis, bioteke, and ustar brands.
The seized items included fever thermometers and finger oxygen-measuring devices.
The suspect in the second raid was identified as Patchayaporn (surname withheld).
Neti said the suspects had been selling fake ATKs via their Facebook pages since April at 40 to 45 baht per kit.
Earlier, police agents bought the fake products from some shops near the alleged factory in Nakhon Pathom and the sellers implicated Anusara.
Neti said police were investigating for more information and evidence to try to arrest four more Chinese businessmen behind the factory making the fake medical items.
Neti said the Chinese businessmen sent the fake items in separate pieces for the factory in Nakhon Pathom to pack them in retail packages for sale.
Paisarn said the oxygen-measuring gadgets and ATK kits were medical tools under control and the distribution of fakes would case severe public risks as they would contribute to spreading the Covid virus.
He said if convicted, the suspects would face a maximum jail term of 10 years and a maximum fine of 1 million baht.
The tourism minister said on Thursday that he would ask the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration to consider allowing pubs and bars in major tourism provinces to remain open until 4am.
Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said he would propose the extension despite strong criticism from some sections of society.
Currently, pubs and bars must close by 2am.
Phiphat said he will not propose that all pubs and bars nationwide be allowed to remain open until 4am: it’s only those in major tourism provinces, he made it clear.
The minister said his proposal was in line with foreign tourist lifestyles, especially those from Europe and the Middle East.
Tourists from these two regions often have dinner from 10pm. The meals take time to arrive and they start drinking only after midnight, he pointed out.
“When they are about to reach the peak of the good time, it would be about time for pubs to close, and the tourists want to drink more. So, the 2am closing does not respond to their needs,” Phiphat said.
The tourism minister noted that entertainment places in foreign countries also close after 2am.
“For example, when Thais make foreign trips, they also want to have a good time to the fullest extent,” Phiphat said.
“So, the public should not be worried about this. And I would like to tell everybody and every agency concerned and NGOs, which are opposed to the idea, that although pubs and bars close at 2am, tourists will still buy alcohol and continue drinking elsewhere anyway.”
He said some might continue drinking in areas that would be hard to monitor and this could lead to crimes.
“If the zoning is set for a 4am closing, I’m confident the government can guarantee the safety of tourists by up to 80 per cent,” he believed.
Phiphat has been one of the rare politicians to dare to openly support what is seen as a “social vice”. Supporters have been stigmatised because they’ve been seen as going against the morality of Thailand’s “Buddhism society”, with their proposals always being shot down by those claiming to be devout Buddhists.
Admission to all national parks across the country is free on Friday, August 12 – the 90th birthday of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit the Queen Mother, and also a public holiday.
Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation director-general Ratchada Suriyakul na Ayutthaya said on Thursday the exemption of entrance fees applies to Thai nationals and their vehicles.
“The move aims to celebrate the birthday of the Queen Mother, who has been working diligently in the conservation of natural resources to increase public awareness in nature and wildlife conservation and to promote domestic tourism,” he said.
Ratchada advised travellers to check the opening hours of national parks at https://shorturl.asia/fA4ku as some parks have been closed for rehabilitation.
He also urged park visitors to maintain social distancing and wash their hands after touching communal surfaces to prevent Covid from spreading.
Thailand will focus on sending skilled or semi-skilled workers to Saudi Arabia to fulfill the Gulf nation’s demands, Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin said on Wednesday.
He said Thai workers are now able to work in Saudi Arabia, thanks to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s efforts to restore relations between the two countries after three decades of sour ties.
Riyadh cut trade and diplomatic relations with Bangkok after the so-called Blue Diamond affair, in which the theft of jewels by a Thai worker from a Saudi palace in 1989 was followed by the killing of Saudi representatives in Thailand.
“Overseas labour markets will be opportunities for our children to seek experiences and learn new technologies to be applied in Thailand,” Suchart said.
He vowed to complete a memorandum of understanding to send workers to Saudi Arabia within 90 days.
The Saudi Crown Prince has a vision to build a huge city with modern technology as a centre of finance in the Middle East, which would create more than 1 million jobs, Suchart pointed out.
Saudi Arabia has good demand for workers in its tourism, hotel, restaurants and healthcare sectors, he added.
Meanwhile, Department of Employment director-general Pairoj Chotikasathien said seven Saudi Arabian companies have made requests for 2,161 Thai workers from the department, including nurses, drivers, cleaning staff and engineers.
He said 60 Thai workers have applied for jobs there, 45 of who applied as nurses and 15 as engineers.
The department will send eligible workers to Saudi Arabia as soon as possible, he promised.
He added that private employment agencies would also be allowed to send workers to Saudi Arabia in the future.
Pairoj expected more jobs to be available in the Gulf kingdom, especially those in the service sector with monthly salaries of more than 100,000 baht.
He also expected Saudi Arabian demand for Thai workers to increase because of its project to build a smart city on the Red Sea coast.
A special Chinese documentary and culture festival was held at Bangkok’s China Cultural Centre on Tuesday to strengthen Thai-Chinese relations.
The event featured Chinese documentary films and culture, including a guzheng (the Chinese plucked zither) on display, a documentary on Sanxingdui, a key archaeological site in Sichuan, as well as scrumptious Chinese fare for visitors to taste, with students especially enjoying a variety of freshly made food.
Meanwhile, several photos to mark the 10th anniversary of the cultural centre’s establishment were exhibited.
Chinese Ambassador Han Zhiqiang said the event aims to promote cooperation between China and Thailand in arts and culture, as well as enable a new generation of Thai students to get to know more about China.
He said the cultural exchange between the two nations is “going well”, thanks to support from their leaders.
“We hope that cultural exchanges and mutual learning will play an important role in strengthening the relationship between the two countries,” he added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s wife Naraporn Chan-o-cha praised the China Cultural Centre’s role in cementing ties over the past ten years.
She also hoped there would be increased cooperation in arts and culture in the future.
Eight provinces in the North and Central region are at risk of flooding on Thursday, while a host of others could see some areas inundated because of rising sea levels, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said.
The eight are Phichit, Sukhothai, Phitsalulok and Phetchabun in the North and Chanthaburi, Trat, Ang Thong and Ayutthaya in the central region.
In a Facebook post, the department advised residents in these eight provinces to follow updates from government agencies, take care while driving and beware of poisonous creatures or electrical shock.
The department also said the following provinces may be flooded due to rising sea levels:
The special economic crisis management committee will on Thursday consider additional measures to help lower electricity costs, Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said on Wednesday.
He said the measures would be added to those by the ministry to reduce the cost of living. One of the ministry’s main measures is the fifth phase of the “Khon La Khrueng” (Let’s Go Halves) co-shopping subsidy scheme, which will run from September 1 to October 31.
Meanwhile, ministry permanent secretary Krisada Chinavicharana said the committee, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, would also seek solutions to the economic crisis.
He said the committee had prepared a plan to tackle the crisis in both the short and long terms.
“The committee will consider whether there is anything that needs to be dealt with,” Krisada said.
According to him, the economic situation has seen an improvement, but the issue of electricity tariffs still needs looking into.
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has introduced two more trains on the Bangkok-Padang Besar route and vice versa starting from Thursday (August 11) to facilitate travellers who wish to visit Malaysia.
They are:
1. Express Train 45, departing from Bangkok at 3.10pm and arriving in Padang Besar at 9.50am (Thailand time).
2. Express Train 46, departing from Padang Besar at 5.06pm (Thailand time) and arriving in Bangkok at 12.45am.
SRT Public Relations Centre director Ekarat Sriarayanphong said the move aims to promote tourism in the southern region and attract tourists from Malaysia after the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration eased travel restrictions at Thai-Malaysian borders.
Ekarat said with the addition of the two trains, SRT now operates a total of 200 trains per day – 36 on northern routes, 46 on northeastern, 52 on southern, 24 on eastern, 34 on Mahachai routes and eight on Mae Klong routes.
On July 15, the SRT added four trains to its Hat Yai-Padang Besar routes to make it more convenient for travellers in Hat Yai to visit Malaysia.
They are:
1. Train 947, Hat Yai-Padang Besar (departing at 7.30am, arriving at 8.25am)
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