Thai botanists discover ‘most beautiful’ species of flowering tumeric
FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023
A new species of flowering tumeric has been discovered in Ubon Ratchathani’s Buntharik district by botanists from Mahasarakham University.
Researchers from the university’s Walai Rukhavej Botanical Research Institute gave the new species the scientific name “Curcuma pulcherrima (Zingiberaceae)”, explaining that “pulcherrima” is Latin for “most beautiful”.
They also gave it a Thai name, “Krachiew Buntharik”, which refers to the district of the northeastern province it was discovered in.
The discovery was first reported in the international journal of botany “Biodiversitas” late last year, the researchers said.
They announced the Thai name earlier this week.
“This plant is an endemic and rare species found only in Ubon Ratchathani,” the researchers said. The plant blooms from June to August, depending on weather conditions.
More than 70 tumeric species have been discovered in Thailand.
Expanding access to education for children of migrants through learning centres
FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023
Thailand has become a key destination for migrant workers from neighboring countries, including Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, due to internal political conflicts and economic uncertainty in the three countries, as well as high demand for workers in Thailand’s labour-intensive industries.
Thailand hosts approximately 3.9 million migrant workers from the three countries, and most of them enter Thailand without valid documents, as unregistered or undocumented migrants.
Some female migrant workers arrive with their children and others give birth in Thailand.
Children of migrants experience barriers to receiving education in Thai public schools due to their undocumented status. However, the 1999 Education for All Policy and the 2005 Cabinet Resolution on Education for Unregistered Persons decreed that all non-Thai children are entitled to enjoy free basic education in Thai public schools.
Despite these favorable education policies, only 35 percent of about 390,015 migrant children are enrolled in Thai public schools, leaving the majority out of school. This may be due to negative attitudes and social stigma towards migrant children and lack of understanding of their right to attend school as well as the changing nature of parental workplaces.
Some Thai public schools refuse to enroll migrant children because they are unaware of the Education for All policy, or because they fear children will require additional resources and create more challenges.
Migrant children living in construction site camps typically stop attending school if their parents move to other construction site camps. In addition, they may not be enrolled in schools because their ages are unsuitable for the classes available to them. Other challenges may include language and literacy barriers. All of these factors create obstacles for migrant children to integrate themselves into formal education.
To mitigate issues of access to education for migrant children, the Thai government and Ministry of Education should work collaboratively with relevant stakeholders, including non-governmental and civil society organisations, to strengthen the migrant learning centres located in many provinces.
Although migrant learning centres are not recognised as formal education sites, they are often the preferred choice for migrant children, especially those from Myanmar. This is due to the cultural sensitivity of service provision at the centres as well as the fact that teaching is done in Myanmar’s language, creating a more effective learning environment for migrant children.
However, these learning centers still face critical challenges, including inadequate financial and human resources. Consequently, the Thai government and Ministry of Education should take enhancement of migrant learning centers into consideration to expand access to education to more migrant children.
Another proposed solution is that all stakeholders should promote initiatives in alternative education and literacy and numeracy programs. This solution may suit migrant children living in construction site camps. These alternative education initiatives may include mobile schooling with rotating teams of teachers in different construction site camps to deliver on-site sessions supported by learning applications (apps). This allows migrant children to learn their national literacy and numeracy, with their parent’s support, from apps after on-side sessions delivered by teachers.
It is increasingly important to actively involve parents in these learning activities. Learning apps should be developed with more than one language and these should include the languages of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
Teachers of migrant children should also be able to speak, read, and write the languages of their students. Teachers can be Cambodian, Laotian, and Myanmar students who are currently pursuing higher education in Thailand.
These students are capable of teaching migrant children and can be contacted via student associations at universities in Thailand.
This alternative education may not provide a standardised quality education for migrant children, yet it can be more responsive and effective in providing access to education, especially basic literacy and numeracy, for migrant children.
By Phanna Kov : Faculty of Social Administration, Thammasat University.
Prayut expects Thailand to become top destination for Chinese group tours now that restrictions are lifted
FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he expects Thailand to be among the first few countries to welcome Chinese group tours now that all travel restrictions have been lifted.
He was speaking while presiding over the opening of the Chinese New Year celebration at Rat Pracha Pattana Dam in Rachaburi’s Muang district on Thursday. The event will run until next Monday.
Also present at the ceremony were Yang Xin, minister counsellor and deputy chief of mission at the Chinese embassy; Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn; and Ratchaburi governor Ronnapob Luangpairote.
Prayut added that Thailand and China are marking the 48th anniversary of their diplomatic ties this year and thanked Thais for helping boost the country’s tourism sector. He said that thanks to this collaboration, Thailand’s tourism industry has already recovered 65% to its pre-pandemic level.
Prayut Chan-o-cha
“China has been reopened and Thailand is among the first countries Chinese group tours are heading to,” he said.
Beijing lifted travel restrictions on January 8 after more than two years of strict measures to contain the spread of Covid-19. The following day, 269 Chinese tourists arrived in Thailand – a number that is expected to surge over the months.
All SIM card holders required to verify themselves in new bid to fight cybercrime
FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023
Government agencies have been instructed to help protect people from becoming victims of cybercrimes.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) has also instructed telecommunication operators to inspect the use of cross-country internet services and penalise those who misuse them.
The NBTC has also asked people who own a large number of SIM cards to verify themselves, government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said on Friday.
According to NBTC’s instructions, the following steps will have to be taken:
• 8,000-plus people who own more than 100 SIM have until the end of January to verify their identities.
• 22,000-plus people who own more than 30 SIM cards have until the end of March to verify their identities.
• 380,000-plus people who own more than five SIM cards have until the end of June to verify themselves.
The Anti-Money Laundering Office has also launched a crackdown against criminals misusing bank accounts, Anucha added.
“Meanwhile, the Digital Economy and Society Ministry is working on a draft decree on prevention and suppression measures to tackle cybercrime effectively,” Anucha said.
He added that government agencies have also been instructed to build awareness of cybercrime in a bid to protect people and their properties.
Anucha Burapachaisri
People have been warned to avoid clicking on links sent to them via SMS, installing any suspicious apps and using unsafe phones to make financial transactions.
Studies show that cybercrime incurred damages worth up to 72.6 million baht in 2,069 cases in 2021. Thailand ranks sixth among Asia-Pacific countries in cybercrime, while Japan ranks the highest in ransomware.
Incense stick innovation aims to cut cancer risk at Chinese New Year
FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023
Silpakorn University has designed incense sticks that burn quicker, to reduce air pollution including hazardous PM2.5 during Chinese New Year, which falls on Sunday.
Thais of Chinese descent celebrate the occasion by visiting shrines and lighting incense to honour the gods and the spirits of their ancestors.
As a result, Chinese shrines in Bangkok and other cities are often shrouded in perfumed clouds of smoke at this time of year.
“Traditional sticks usually burn for 20-30 minutes, creating smoke that causes air pollution, especially at popular shires with a high volume of visitors like Wat Mangkon Kamalawat (Wat Leng Noei Yi) in Bangkok’s Chinatown,” said Associate Professor Ratthaphol Onchaeng of Silpakorn University’s science faculty.
“Smoke from burning incense sticks contains heavy metals and allergens and could cause cancer after prolonged exposure. It is a serious health hazard, especially among seniors who like to pray,” he added.
The research team led by Ratthaphol came up with a new and safer design, which they call the “Silapakorn Rangsan Incense Stick”.
The new stick contains less incense mixture and therefore burns for only 5-6 minutes.
“The shorter time should not have an impact on people’s prayer rituals, which normally only last a few minutes anyway,” said Ratthaphol.
“Shorter sticks also help make it easier for shrine staff to dispose of the used sticks after worshippers leave.”
Ratthaphol said the shorter burning time means the Silapakorn Rangsan Incense Stick creates up to four times less pollution than traditional sticks.
The team is offering free samples of its new design at Leng Buai Ia Shrine in Bangkok’s Chinatown for worshippers who want to try new sticks that are healthier and better for the environment.
Primaya slimming tycoon surrenders to cops over luxury car boast
FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023
Slimming products tycoon Phitnari Tantiwit surrendered to police on Thursday night after raids on her Samut Prakan home and head office earlier in the day.
Phitnari, CEO of Prima Maya Co Ltd, is accused of uploading false information to deceive people into investing 6,000 baht to buy her Primaya slimming products.
A warrant for her arrest was issued on Tuesday after an influencer posted a photo of herself with a luxury car, claiming she purchased it with 15 million baht in profit she made from investing 6,000 baht in Primaya products.
Netizens urged police to investigate the company for false advertising last week after Phitnari posted photos of herself with the woman at a luxury-car showroom.
On Thursday night, Phitnari turned herself in along with five associates.
They were interrogated by police for eight hours before being released on bail of 100,000 baht per suspect.
In August last year, Phitnari and her husband, Sitthan Sansern, were summoned by police over complaints that their slimming products contained sibutramine, a banned appetite suppressant linked with cardiovascular events and strokes.
They denied the charges, claiming that they had already stopped ordering products from the factory that used the substance. The couple eventually made bail.
On Thursday, police seized Primaya products found at the company’s head office and sent them for testing.
Scale of Thai cybercrime revealed as almost 60,000 bank accounts frozen
THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2023
Almost 120,000 telephone numbers and 60,000 bank accounts operated by criminals were frozen last year, government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek said on Thursday.
The criminal channels were suspended as part of efforts by the Digital Economy and Society Ministry, police force and other agencies to tackle cybercrimes.
“Eight foreign call centre gangs comprising 166 suspects were arrested last year,” said Rachada, adding that 118,530 telephone numbers and 58,463 bank accounts used by criminals had been frozen.
Investigators also shut down eight criminal account-trading groups on social media and 1,830 gambling websites last year.
The Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) has launched a crackdown against criminals opening bank accounts, she added.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission has also asked around 8,000 people who own more than 100 smartphone SIM cards to verify their identities by the end of this month in a bid to tackle call centre scams, Rachada said.
The website www.thaipoliceonline.com received 163,091 complaints of cybercrime accounting for 27.30 billion baht in damages between March 1 and December 31 last year, she added.
Of them, 51% of complaints related to call centre gangs in other countries, followed by online scams in Thailand (40.5%) and other cybercrimes (8.5%).
Other cybercrimes logged by the site included computer hacking, online ransom, and sexual harassment.
“The government is fully focused on tackling cybercrimes,” Rachada said, explaining that Thai agencies are cooperating with international bodies and considering law amendments to tackle the issue.
People can file complaints of cybercrime at www.thaipoliceonline.com or via the Electronic Transaction Development Agency’s 1212 hotline.
Thailand’s first female AG takes aim at alleged triad boss, 40 ‘accomplices’
THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2023
The Attorney General’s Office on Thursday charged suspected crime boss Chaiyanat “Tuhao” Kornchayanant and 40 alleged accomplices for involvement in the drug trade, money laundering, and organised crime.
Attorney General Naree Tantasathien, the first Thai woman to serve in the post, made her decision after examining a police investigation report submitted by national police chief Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas on January 13.
At 3pm on Thursday, the attorney general assigned her agency’s Narcotics Litigation Division to file a 332-page lawsuit with the South Bangkok Criminal Court.
Police were also instructed to search for and arrest suspects still at large.
Among the charges against Tuhao and his alleged accomplices are colluding in the sale of illicit drugs, money laundering, transnational organised crime, possession of unregistered firearms, operating an entertainment venue without permission, hiring foreign nationals who lack work permits, and providing accommodation for illegal immigrants.
Icon Siam marks Chinese New Year with Thailand’s longest lantern dragon
THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2023
Bangkok’s luxury mall Icon Siam is celebrating the Chinese New Year with special performances that feature a 108-metre-long lantern dragon, the longest in Thailand.
The lantern dragon is a collaboration between the Stamford Dragon Lion Arts and Cultural Troupe of Singapore and Thailand’s Kungpak Dragon and Lion Dance Sports Club.
Icon Siam’s “Eternal Prosperity Chinese New Year 2023” festival, which started on Wednesday and runs until next Tuesday (January 24), marks the advent of the lunar Year of the Rabbit.
A highlight of this year’s festival is the “Glorious Lantern Dragon” show, which is meant to symbolise prosperity, heavenly blessing, and happiness throughout the new year. There are also cultural Chinese performances that are supposed to bring luck, wealth, happiness and prosperity, in addition to appearances by Thai actors and singers.
Kanchanaburi to declare no-hunting zone after surge in tiger, leopard sightings
THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2023
Kanchanaburi province will declare a no-hunting zone over 350 square kilometres of mountain forests where large numbers of wild animals have been sighted.
The Si Sawat No-Hunting Area will cover 219,000 rai (35,040 hectares) in Si Sawat and Bo Phloi districts of Thailand’s westernmost province, said Prawut Prempree, who heads the working group tasked with preparing the zone.
The land belongs to the Treasury Department and is currently used by the Royal Thai Army’s 9th Infantry Division, Prawut said. Both agencies have agreed to allow the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to take over jurisdiction of the area after it is declared a no-hunting zone, he added.
Motion-activated camera traps had recorded a rising number of wild animals in the area, Prawut said on Thursday.
Among the animals sighted were endangered Indochinese tigers, clouded leopards, and gaur.
The zone adjoins existing national parks and forest reserves and has recently seen migration of wildlife from the nearby forests, including the Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary.
However, the area has also suffered a rise in hunting, illegal logging, forest encroachment, gathering of forest produce, and cattle raising. The department decided to combat these problems by declaring a no-hunting zone.
The new non-hunting zone will cover three areas – Si Sawat No-Hunting Area, which adjoins the Khuean Srinagarindra National Park, Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park, and Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary; an extended area of the Si Sawat No-Hunting Area; and the planned Khao Salop No-Hunting Area.
Prayut Chan-o-cha
Anucha Burapachaisri
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