Samut Prakan Provincial Court has dismissed lèse-majesté, sedition and computer crime charges against defendant Thanakorn (surname withheld), the Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw) said on Wednesday.
Thanakorn was arrested on December 8, 2015 in Samut Prakan province and charged with sedition and computer crime for sharing details of alleged corruption in the Army’s Rajabhakti Park project in Prachuap Khiri Khan. The court dismissed the charges, upholding Thanakorn’s legal right to air his suspicions of corruption. It also ruled he had not violated the Computer Crime Act because it could not be proved the information he shared was false.
The defendant was also charged with lese majeste for clicking “like” on a satirical Facebook page featuring a picture of King Rama IX, and for his Facebook post about Rama IX’s dog. The court dismissed that charge, too, ruling that the evidence was not proof that he intended to defame the monarchy.
ILaw, an independent NGO, said Thanakorn was interrogated for seven days in an Army camp before being detained by a military court, which denied him bail release. After spending several months in Bangkok Remand Prison, the court finally granted him bail on Bt500,000 surety on March 8, 2016.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the government announced a US$2-million grant to help promote the adoption of climate-smart agriculture in the North of Thailand.
The grant, provided by the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction, will see local governments teaching highland farmers climate-resilient practices and providing technology for improving productivity, value addition and food traceability, while tapping local knowledge to enhance food security in a changing climate.
“Providing opportunities to raise income will help reduce poverty and income inequality, and boost the resilience of highland communities and their ecosystems,” said Srinivasan Ancha, ADB’s principal climate-change specialist for Southeast Asia. “The grant will improve local governments’ technical and institutional capacities and help them integrate climate-change adaptation in agricultural planning. It will also help boost rural employment and support Thailand’s economic recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The grant was launched in a virtual ceremony attended by Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chalermchai Sri-on, the ministry’s permanent secretary Thongplew Kongjun, ADB Thailand’s director Hideaki Iwasaki, and Asian Institute of Technology president Eden Woon.
Also present were officials from different ministries including Finance, Commerce, and Natural Resources and Environment, as well as representatives from the Embassy of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Poverty in Thailand is concentrated in the North, with average household incomes there less than half of that in Greater Bangkok. Rural households are aging rapidly as younger generations continue migrating to urban areas. The area also suffers frequent droughts and floods, as well as rising temperatures. Private sector investment in highland agriculture have been limited, largely because of the high cost of logistics and limited capacity of farmers to grow safe, high-quality agri-food products. Unsustainable farming practices and natural resource degradation, exacerbated by climate change, have led to low productivity and unstable incomes.
The technical assistance aims to draw a roadmap for provincial governments to reverse the above trends and attract investment in agriculture, agribusiness and horticulture value chains in order to boost farm productivity and rural incomes, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and vulnerability to climate change. Lessons learned from this technical assistance may be applied to similar agricultural systems of Thailand’s neighbours, thus offering opportunities for cross-country knowledge sharing through the Greater Mekong Sub-region programme.
The grant will help the government promote climate-friendly agribusiness, identify opportunities for value-added agri-foods, and improve market connectivity, which can promote private sector investments and support post-pandemic economic recovery.
The assistance can help upgrade the skills of returning migrants from urban areas, which is key to addressing income disparities that are worsened by supply chain disruptions amid the pandemic.
ADB has so far committed $8.55 billion for 100 loans, three grants, and 179 technical assistance projects for Thailand.
As many as 370 patients can be accommodated in Rayong province now that space for 170 more beds has been made available in two new field hospitals, said Noppadol Tangsongcharoen, chairman of Rayong Chamber of Commerce.
The two new field hospitals include one in Bang Khae district and a resort in Rayong town.
Noppadol said these provisions should be enough to accommodate patients because the number of new Covid-19 infections in the province is dropping.
He added that the government should step up and help because the tourism sector in the province has been hit very badly, with up to 90 per cent of hotels and resorts being affected and retailers losing 50 to 70 per cent of their business.
“The government must allocate funds for provinces to restore their economies, unlock red zones, suspend debt repayment, offer soft loans etc. These remedial measures should be offered as soon as possible, otherwise things will worsen,” he warned.
Klin Sarasin, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the private sector has been helping the government by providing spaces to create field hospitals. Besides, he said, the Chamber of Commerce has donated medical equipment, while the Siam Cement Group has been providing mobile toilets for field hospitals in Samut Sakhon province.
Hence, he said, the authorities must take urgent action to control the new wave of Covid-19 infections in Samut Sakhon province.
The Royal Thai Navy announced on Wednesday that no new infections have been found after two officers in Chonburi province contracted Covid-19 after visiting a brew house.
The officers were part of the crew onboard aircraft carrier HTMS Chakri Naruebet, which is docked at the Sattahip naval base in Chonburi.
The Navy said that more than 300 crew members have been tested and isolated, adding that initial swab tests on them have so far come out negative.
The Department of Disease Control (DDC) said on Wednesday that the cool temperature is not making the Covid-19 virus more transmissible, adding that disinfectants can still kill the virus.
Since it has been quite cool in Thailand recently, people have been worried that low temperatures can extend the lifetime of the virus.
DDC’s Dr Taweesap Siraprapasiri said that though the virus can live on surfaces for a longer time in low temperatures, it can die fast if wiped clean with disinfectant or under sunlight.
Taweesap, however, said people should take extra care to stay away from crowded places and maintain a distance from people they don’t know.
The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has announced it is seizing assets in three key cases under investigation, including the fake government-to-government rice deal under the Yingluck administration.
Defendants in that investigation are former rice dealer Apichat Chansakulporn, who was sentenced to jail for his role in the deal, and his associates.
“AMLO will seize money in the defendants’ bank account [and other assets] worth Bt13.72 million,” said Preecha Jaroensahayanon, acting AMLO secretary-general.
Since 2016, the office had seized a total Bt16.22 billion in assets from this case, he added.
The second case involves the State Railway Workers’ Union Saving and Credit Cooperative, with cooperative founder Boonsong Hongthong among the defendants. AMLO has ordered the seizure of defendants’ assets worth over Bt4 million.
The final case involves suspected money laundering in a drug syndicate run by Chinese national Xiang Ma. Soonthon Mayer and accomplices were arrested in June last year while driving a truck allegedly carrying Ma’s drugs in Chiang Rai province, and were found to possess several bank accounts with hundreds of million baht in transactions. AMLO has ordered the seizure of 39 items assets including bank accounts and an apartment worth Bt11.54 million.
“To nullify the seizure, the defendants must present evidence within 90 days that the seized assets are not involved in the case,” said Preecha.
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has released a list of places where a cluster of 20 people visited between December 20 and January 2 after being exposed to two infected persons at the New Jazz Club Plaza in Thonburi.
The BMA is advising people who visited the following places at specified times to monitor their symptoms and seek medical advice if they suspect infection.
December 20:
• Ta Joe Temple in Ayutthaya province during the morning
• Bus No 68 arriving at The Mall Tha Phra department store at 8pm
• Mr Club by Marum, Bang Khae district at night
• 7-Eleven convenience store in Soi Ratchada Tha Phra 7/1 at 9pmDec 21
• The Mall department store, Tha Pha branch (5pm)
• 7-Eleven convenience store in Soi Ratchada Thapha 7/1 (9pm)
December 23:
• Ratchada flea market at noon
• 7-Eleven convenience store in Soi Ratchada Tha Phra 7/1 at 9pm
• Bus No 68 arriving at the New Jazz Plaza in the evening
December 24
• Mae Klong Hua Pla Mor Fai restaurant in Talingchan district at 5pm
• Day Off store in Thonburi Plaza at 10pm
• Bus No 101 from Bang Pakok area in Rat Burana district to New Jazz Plaza in the evening
December 25
• Indy flea market in Thonburi’s Dao Khanong area at 7.30pm
• Bus No 108 from Tha Phra temple to New Jazz Plaza from 6pm
• Ninja Suki restaurant at Thonburi Plaza from 7am
• Bus No 68 arriving at New Jazz Plaza in the evening
December 26
• Bang Saen Beach all day
• The Most Bar & Bistro on Ratchaphruek Road at 6pm
• Tee Noi Suki restaurant, Bangkok’s Victory Monument branch from 11.30pm to 1am
December 27
• Barbeque Plaza restaurant, Seacon Bangkhae, all day
• Nak Temple flea market, all day
• VC Snooker Club, Thonburi, all day
• Day Off store, Thonburi branch from midnight to 4am
• Third floor of Thonburi Plaza from midnight to 4am
• Por Kung Pao restaurant, Pinklao branch from 8pm to 9pm
• Jub Pae Chon Kae Restaurant from 10pm to 2am
December 28
• Kumpaeng Temple in the morning
• Jub Pae Chon Kae restaurant at 3pm
December 29
• Chai Shim Plee Temple flea market in the morning
• Bajika restaurant, Thawee Watthana district in the evening
• Central Rama 3 department store in the afternoon
• Paseo shopping mall, Kanchanaphisek branch at 5pm
December 30
• Wongwian Yai market
• Big C, Rama 2 branch from noon to 2pm
• A sushi shop near the cinema in IconSiam at 1pm
• Longlae restaurant at 5pm
• Third floor of the Thonburi Plaza from midnight to 4am
December 31
• MK restaurant in Seacon Bangkhae at noon
• Koko Japanese restaurant, Soi Sathorn 4 at noon
• Zabnoi Restaurant, Salaya district of Nakhon Pathom at noon
• Prannok Market at noon
• Makro retail shop, Kallapruek branch at noon
• Sawang Arom Temple, 1pm to 8pm
• Longlae Restaurant, 6pm
January 1
• MK Restaurant in Seacon Bangkhae at noon
• Ratchada flea market at noon
January 2
• Wang Lang market from 4pm to 6pm
• Tesco Lotus store, Bang Yai branch, from 6pm to 9pm
Prominent media and political figures have paid tribute to Matichon vice president Thakoon Boonparn, who died on Tuesday aged 59.
Thakoon reportedly died at home after a bout of cancer. His funeral is being held at Wat Samian Nari Temple in Bangkok.
Thakoon started at Matichon as a financial reporter for Prachachart Turakij newspaper in 1984. A member of the Boonparn family who founded Matichon Group, he went on to help guide the media giant through the transition from print media to digital. As editor of Matichon’s Khaosod daily, he was known for his democratic ideals and fierce opposition to the deadly crackdown on red shirts in 2010.
Among those paying online tribute to the prominent media figure were former prime ministers Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra.
Thaksin said he had known Thakoon, nicknamed Tong, for a long time. His vision coupled with knowledge was a driving force behind the success of Matichon, said the former PM. “He was also friendly, beloved by many people in different spheres.”
Meanwhile Yingluck said Thakoon had a good heart and liked to help people in need. Moreover, he was a reader, thinker and advocate of democracy who stayed true to his ideals, she said.
Low temperatures across the country have been a gift for people in hot areas such as Bangkok, but for some in northern and northeastern provinces, the cold weather is a nightmare, with at people dying.
On Wednesday morning, Muang Nong Khai police were informed that a 65-year-old man died in his hut. Medical officers suspected the man died from a heart attack brought on by the low temperature at night.
Meanwhile, another man aged 59 in Udon Thani died from perforated peptic ulcer due to drinking alcohol, amid the cold weather on Tuesday.
A report said that his wife, 57, found him unconscious in his truck after he had a drink and she called police. He was later reported to have died.
Mae Sot officials fear Myanmar migrants may flee to Thailand amid tense situation
NationalJan 13. 2021Villagers fleed to temporarily stay nearby forest after armed force crash.
By The Nation
Mae Sot officials are concerned about the situation along the Thai-Myanmar border at Tha Song Yang district, Tak province, after Myanmar’s government ordered three battalion commanders to be removed from office on charges of “conspiracy with foreigners to destroy the country” and a clash in the neighbouring nation between its military and ethic rebels.
This has resulted in a tense border situation on the Myanmar side, which is already grappling with the spread of Covid-19.
There is also a potential risk of more clashes between Myanmar’s military and ethnic armed forces after the three commanders were dismissed.
Most recently, there were reports of clashes between Myanmar’s military and an armed minority group at Ser Kaw Der village, Karen State Division 5 in Hpa-An district, opposite Thailand’s Tha Yong Yang.
Both sides used personal weapons as well as heavy arms to attack each other, leading to more than 80 Karen households, or some 588 people, fleeing from their villages of Ta Kaw Dell, Pa Kaw Khee and Pa Kaw Htar into the forest. They have already come close to the Thai border.
However, Third Army commander Lt-General Apichet Suesat, who is in charge of the northern region, said on Wednesday that the removal of the top leaders will not affect Thailand since what was happening in Myanmar was a purely internal affair.
Thakoon Boonparn
Villagers fleed to temporarily stay nearby forest after armed force crash.
