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Protesters dismiss Prayut’s legal threat, refuse to bow to ‘failed govt’

NationalNov 20. 2020

By THE NATION

The “Free Youth” pro-democracy group has urged its supporters not to surrender, after the prime minister declared that “all relevant laws” will be used against protestors.

On Thursday, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha warned that the government and security agencies would step up law enforcement to handle demonstrators who act illegally and fail to respect other people’s rights and liberty. The warning came after two days of protest culminated in protesters splashing paint over signs and walls at police headquarters in Bangkok on Wednesday, in retaliation for a crackdown with tear gas and water cannon on Tuesday.

Responding via social media, Free Youth said Prayut’s threat to use “all relevant laws” would include using the lese majeste law against protesters who are calling for a more accountable and transparent monarchy. The police on Thursday confirmed they would use the lese majeste law against protesters if asked to do so.

Free Youth said the PM’s statement also sounded like a declaration of war by the government against the people.

The group said it was not discouraged by the actions of a “failed government” against peaceful protests such as paint splashing. It stated that the future of Thailand depended on all Thai people – whether office workers, landowners, farmers, etc.

The pro-democracy Ratsadon movement would not surrender to a government that had failed in its duties, it said.

“If we do not fight, we will be slaves for years. Be ready for the actions of the failed government,” the Free Youth statement said.

Prayut’s announcement also met with fierce criticism from supporters of the youth-led democracy movement.

The government “has done justice to the paint-splashed signs by cleaning and repainting them. But it has not offered justice to the victims of authorities,” said Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a self-exiled academic living in Japan.

Fellow exiled academic Somsak Jeamteerasakul said Prayut’s statement amounted to a threat to re-impose the draconian lese majeste law, which carries long prison sentences.

Meanwhile, activist Sombat Boonngamanong said it was ridiculous to see a PM who came to power in a coup using legal means to deal with citizens who only want him to resign.

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C&G Environmental Protection granted CSR Industrial award

NationalNov 19. 2020

By The Nation

He Ning, chief executive officer of C&G Environmental Protection (Thailand) (pictured second left) recently received the Corporate Social Responsibility – Department of Industrial Works Award (CSR-DIW Award 2020) from the director-general of the Department of Industrial Works.

C&G Environmental Protection (Thailand) is the operator of a waste incineration power plant to produce environmental friendly energy at Nong Kheam Solid Waste Disposal Centre, which located in a densely populated area and is surrounded by educational institutions. Recipients of this award have to meet seven operational criteria: organisational governance, human rights, labour practices, the environment, fair operating practices, consumer issues, and community involvement and development.

C&G Environmental Protection is a Hong Kong-based company. It declares that its corporate governance policy emphasises environmental, economic, and quality-of-life sustainability to comply with Thai and international industrial standards.

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People jump on chance to register for Let’s Go Halves shopping subsidy scheme

NationalNov 19. 2020

By The Nation

As many as 730,000 Thais joined the third round of privileges offered under the “Khon La Khrueng” (Let’s Go Halves) subsidised shopping scheme in just over an hour after it was launched at 6am on Thursday.

The scheme, which started on October 23 and runs until December 31, offers some 10 million citizens discounts of up to Bt150 a day on purchases at participating stores. The discount is capped at Bt3,000 throughout the period.

“We will publicise soon if another round is being held because some people may be disqualified if they don’t use their privileges within 14 days,” deputy government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek said, adding that the second phase of the scheme will kick off in January once this one is completed.

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Red-shirt leader accuses govt of saving its own skin, not monarch’s

NationalNov 19. 2020Jatuporn Prompan 

By The Nation

Jatuporn Prompan, chairman of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, slammed lawmakers for saving their own skins and not actually doing anything to protect the monarchy.

He said the outright rejection of iLaw’s draft charter was just a sign that no moves will be made to solve the political unrest and protesters will continue pushing for reforms.

The “people’s charter”, sponsored by rights group Internet Dialogue on Law Reform (iLaw) and supported by some 100,000 eligible voters, was rejected at the end of the first reading.

He also said the claim that the iLaw draft was aimed at bringing back a former premier did not make sense, and accused the government of wanting to keep Sections 255 and 256 untouched so it can hang on to power.

The current Constitution’s Section 255 governs changes to Chapter 1 (General Provisions) and Chapter 2 (Monarchy), while Section 256 needs to be amended to allow the setting up of an elected charter drafting assembly.

Jatuporn also accused the authorities of intentionally allowing armed ultraroyalists to attack pro-democracy protesters just so the clash can be used as an excuse to impose another state of emergency and launching a coup.

He said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was the biggest problem, as can be seen by his conflicting actions. The premier had previously said nobody would face lese majeste charges if they criticised the monarchy, but then pounced on critics by accusing them of inciting conflict.

Jatuporn said the 2017 Constitution will most likely not be amended but will be ripped up like the 1997 and 2007 charters.

“The government and the Parliament are not sincere in defending the monarchy,” he said. “The votes in Parliament only prove that they are more interested in saving their own skins, not the monarch’s.”

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Netizens console iLaw’s Yingcheep after Parliament rejects charter amendment

NationalNov 19. 2020Yingcheep Atchanont 

By The Nation

Pro-democracy netizens have thrown their support behind iLaw manager Yingcheep Atchanont after “the people’s amendment” was rejected by Parliament on Wednesday.

After the voting result was revealed, Yingcheep said he did not regret the effort but was proud of it and would attempt it again.

He then received consolation and praise from netizens who supported the amendment and the “democratic system”.

They said this was the first time the people’s amendment entered parliament and believed it would not be the last.

The netizens also encouraged one another to continue their fight for democracy.

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Former army chief General Apirat named deputy director of Crown Property Bureau

NationalNov 19. 2020

By THE NATION

The Royal Gazette website on Wednesday published His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s order to appoint General Apirat Kongsompong as deputy director of the Crown Property Bureau, under Sections 6, 7 and 8 of the Crown Property Act BE 2561.

The appointment took immediate effect.

Apirat (File Photo)

After retiring from his Army post earlier this year, Apirat was given the post of deputy secretary-general at the Office of His Majesty’s Principal Private Secretary. On October 8 he went into monkhood at the Hong Rattanaram Ratchaworawihan temple in Bangkok. He left the monkhood on October 27.

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Five hurt after pickup driver falls asleep, slams into car

NationalNov 19. 2020

By The Nation

Five people in a public transport vehicle were injured after the driver of a pickup fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into the car on old San Kampaeng Road in Chiang Mai province on Thursday.

The heavy collision trapped the passengers in the car. Rescuers had to use equipment to free them just as the vehicle caught fire.

Another group of rescuers quickly succeeded in extinguishing the flames, preventing further casualties.

The five injured people were taken to hospital. The accident also created a traffic jam.

Pickup driver Jetsada Norakaipan, 29, admitted to falling asleep and causing the accident.

The police are investigating to find out exactly how the crash occurred.

San Kamphaeng police station is holding the vehicles until the injured retrieve them.

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Eight new cases in quarantine

NationalNov 19. 2020

By THE NATION

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration on Wednesday reported eight new cases in quarantine over a 24-hour period.

The latest cases were six Thai nationals and two foreigners.

The six returnees were four women, aged 32, 37, 64 and 29, from Germany, Japan, Italy and the UK, and two men, aged 27 and 30, from the UK.

The infected foreigners are an Indian man, 48, and a Spanish woman, 34.

The new cases were asymptomatic, except for the three returnees from the UK.

As of Wednesday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand has increased to 3,888 (929 in state quarantine). Of these, 86 are in hospital and 3,742 have recovered and been discharged. The death toll remains at 60.

According to Worldometer, as of 10am the number of confirmed global cases has increased to 56.55 million (rising by 611,074 in 24 hours). Of these, 39.34 million have recovered, 17.2 million are active cases (101,458 in severe condition) and 1.35 million have died (an increase of 10,969).

Thailand ranks a safe 151st for most cases in the world.

The US has the most number, with 11.87 million, followed by India (8.95 million), Brazil (5.94 million), France (2.06 million) and Russia (1.99 million).

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Teen novice monk arrested after stealing scooter

NationalNov 19. 2020

By The Nation

A 15-year-old Buddhist novice monk in Lampang province was arrested after stealing a scooter on Wednesday so he could “ride to his home in the Northeast”.

After a complaint by the scooter owner at 10am, Mae Ta Station police coordinated with traffic officers to conduct a search for the stolen black Honda Scoopy i.

Later in the afternoon in Phrae province, police were notified of a scooter accident and went to check. The scooter was exactly the same stolen Scoopy i.

The teen at the scene confessed that he grabbed the scooter with a key in it because he missed home in the Northeast and planned to ride back there on the Scoopy i, before which he threw away his robe and stole some of the scooter owner’s clothes, which he put on.

He said his unfamiliarity with the route led him to meet an accident.

The novice was arrested for stealing and later sent back to Mae Ta police station in Lampang for further legal action.

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Surat Thani dog owner refuses to pay full hospital bills after 2 bitten

NationalNov 19. 2020

By THE NATION

A Surat Thani dog owner whose pet bit two persons in the span of two days refused to pay their whole hospital bills, leading to one victim’s father lodging a police complaint.The latest case came to light when a woman posted photos on Facebook of a boy with bite wounds in Surat Thani.

The 9-year-old told reporters he was bitten on Tuesday, at around 9pm. He said he was playing with his friends when their ball bounced into the house with the dog. Unconcerned about the animal, he went to collect the ball and was promptly bitten on his left hand and back. His father took him to hospital shortly after.

The boy’s father said the treatment cost precisely Bt5,822.51. When he showed the dog owner the bill, the person stated that he would pay only Bt500.

The angered father then filed a complaint with Muang Surat Thani police.

On Monday, another person was bitten.

The owner at first assured the person that he would pay the whole hospital bill, but later came up with only Bt1,000 and refused to pay more

Reporters tried to contact the dog owner, but his house was locked and his phone turned off.

The police, too, have been unable to contact him.

The man reportedly had two dogs in his garden. One was tied while the other roamed around freely in the compound.