NationalOct 21. 2020Photo credit: National News Bureau of Thailand
By The Nation
The Pala-U Waterfall in Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Hua Hin District will remain closed until further notice because of high, fast-flowing water and slippery rocks.
Kaeng Krachan National Park chief Mana Permpool said the waterfall has been closed since October 10 due to heavy rain in upstream forests.
“From the latest assessment, the Huai Pa Lao National Park Protection Unit 3 chief has informed us that the water is still high and flowing quickly, while rocks in the area are slippery. Hence, we have to extend the closure of the waterfall until the situation returns to normal,” he added.
Tourists are being warned to stay away from a rock in Krabi’s Koh Talu island that was split in half by strong waves.
Prayoon Pongpan, chief of the Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, inspected the area on Wednesday.
“The broken rock weighs between 30,000 and 50,000 tonnes, and the breakage damaged 20 per cent of the coral below the surface,” he said. “We believe the rock was broken by strong winds and waves brought by a storm last week.”
He added that the island has a lot of cracks, which the national park will analyse to prevent similar problems in the future.
“Tourists should stay away from the area as it is dangerous,” he added.
By The NationThe Public Health Ministry has sent a letter to every hospital instructing them to treat and take care of all people injured in protests and also asked government officials and medical personnel to be cautious when expressing their political opinions online.
Department of Health Services Support deputy director-general Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn issued the urgent message to every hospital and related health agencies amid the sensitive political situation.
“With the emergence of political movements in many areas and provinces, the Public Health Ministry would like to ask all agencies to prepare to serve the people who may be affected by such events.
In addition, as civil servants, all officials should be careful when expressing their opinions on social media as these may be considered an offence.”
Meanwhile, the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital has urged all parties to use peaceful means to resolve the country’s problems and emphasised the hospital would provide equal care and treatment to all citizens regardless of one’s political views.
A drunk woman tried to strangle a taxi driver with her bag’s strap, which led to a scuffle and landed them both in a canal in Nonthaburi.
Police arrived at the scene to find the inebriated woman being held back by bystanders.
Cabbie Prasit Phoekaeo, 52, said he had been asked by a police officer to drive Kanokwan, 40, to her home in Pathum Thani.
During the ride, the woman suddenly yelled, “You deserve to die!”, before trying to strangle him with her bag’s strap from behind. That’s when the scuffle broke out.
When the cabbie started feeling faint, he decided to drive into the canal. Good Samaritans then showed up to pull Prasit and Kanokwan out of the car.
She tried to attack the cabbie again but was stopped by bystanders.
Police have arrested the woman and are waiting for her to regain her senses so she can be interrogated.
The government order to shut down “all platforms” of Voice TV, “like the charges against leading protesters, is a clear attempt by the authorities to intimidate and harass people”, Amnesty International said.
“Voice TV has been doing its job, reporting on the growing peaceful protests throughout the country,” Amnesty’s deputy regional director for Campaigns Ming Yu Hah said. “Like the charges against leading protesters, these tactics are clear attempts by the authorities to intimidate and harass people into silence.
“The harassment of media outlets is just one facet of the Thai authorities’ current assault on communications channels, alongside threats to block messaging platform Telegram and use of the Computer Crime Act, among other laws, against people for what they post and share online,” Ming said.
“Thai people of all ages are taking to the streets and growing the ranks of this peaceful youth-led movement. The Thai authorities should respect and protect the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and media freedom. They should let people peacefully air their views in the streets and on social media – and they should let journalists report on the developments.
“We again urge the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all peaceful protesters currently detained. Authorities should drop all charges against the protesters and, pending this, ensure that all those charged have access to legal counsel,” she said.
“We also urge the authorities to rescind the ban on the Voice TV group and other media houses and allow the independent media to operate freely without any intimidation, harassment or fear of reprisals,” Ming added.
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration on Wednesday reported nine new cases in state quarantine in 24 hours.
The latest cases are:
> Three soldiers who returned from a UN mission in South Sudan on October 12 and were found positive on October 15.
> A 23-year-old female freelancer who came home from the United States on October 8 and tested positive on October 19 in quarantine at a Samut Prakan hotel.
> A 34-year-old male cruise ship worker who travelled to Morocco, Mexico and the Netherlands and returned to Thailand on October 10. He was found positive on October 15 in quarantine at a Bangkok hotel.
> Two masseuses, aged 27 and 31, who travelled back home from the United Arab Emirates on October 9 and tested positive on October 14 and 16, respectively, under quarantine at a Bangkok hotel.
> A 50-year-old male freelancer who returned from Portugal on October 10 and was found positive on October 15 in quarantine at a Bangkok hotel.
> A 41-year-old Omani woman who arrived in Thailand for medical treatment and tested positive under quarantine at a Bangkok hospital.
Meanwhile, four patients have recovered and been discharged.
As of Wednesday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand has increased to 3,709 (762 in state quarantine). Of these, 155 are in hospital and 3,495 have recovered and been discharged. The death toll remains unchanged at 59.
According to Worldometer, as of 10am the number of confirmed global cases has risen to 41 million (increasing by 381,716 in 24 hours). Of these, 30.6 million have recovered, 9.28 million are active cases (77,071 are in severe condition) and 1.12 million have died (an increase of 6,145).
Thailand ranks a safe 144th for most cases in the world.
The US has the most number, with 8.52 million, followed by India (7.64 million), Brazil (5.27 million), Russia (1.43 million) and Spain (1.02 million).
An arrest warrant has been approved for another anti-government protester, who allegedly attempted to “harm Her Majesty the Queen’s liberty” on October 16.
Active Youth group coordinator Suranat Paenprasert was charged under Section 110 of the Criminal Code, which could lead to imprisonment of 16-20 years or even life in prison.
He is the third protester accused of intending to harm the liberty of Her Majesty, after Ekkachai Hongkangwan and Boonkueanoon Paothong.
The incident took place during a protest on Phitsanulok Road, when the royal motorcade passed by a group of demonstrators who were waiting for the police to allow them to march to Government House.
A driver was injured and his wife killed after his 22-wheel trailer truck crashed into a concrete barrier along a road in Prachin Buri.
Wangkhondaeng provincial police were informed early on Wednesday by a local rescue team about the accident on Road No 304 as it sloped from Khao San Poo Tone in Prachin Buri’s Na Di district.
At the scene police found the wrecked trailer smashed against the concrete barrier. It had broken off from the truck cab and its containers were strewn on the road, obstructing traffic.
Driver Weerechai Wongchit, 47, was caught under the cab’s console and had to be assisted out by rescue staff. He was sent to hospital.
The body of his wife, Warintip Chancham, 45, was found under the trailer. There were severe wounds on her body.
Police believe the accident occurred because of a brake problem. However, they aim to interrogate the driver once he gets better.
The flood situation in Nakhon Ratchasima remains critical as more water has accumulated in the area behind Phimai dam, resulting in a higher water level.
On Wednesday morning, agricultural areas in Tha Luang, Rang Ka Yai and Samrit districts were flooded by 1-metre-high water, while the water level in Phimai district was 20 centimetres, cutting off the Tha Luang-Phimai Road.
Governor Wichien Chantharanotha has warned people who live in lowlands or near the water basin to evacuate and closely follow the situation.
Local governments, the private sector and volunteers are gathering to mitigate the situation and assist people affected by the flood.
Major Cineplex Group will have a “haunted” drive-in theatre ready for Halloween at Bangkok’s Central Festival Eastville from October 29 to November 1.
The “Amazing Thailand Major Cineplex Drive-in Theatre: Haunted Park Presented by Toyota” is a collaboration between the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Toyota Motors Thailand.
Surachedh Assawaruenganun, chief media officer of Major Cineplex Group, said this event will be similar to the “drive-in theatre” event held in the first half of this year.
He said the film will be projected on a 4K-resolution LED screen and air-conditioning will be provided, so engines do not have to be kept running. He also said provisions will be made to “scare” visitors because it is Halloween after all.
This event is held for those aged over 13 without heart disease or asthma.
Photo credit: National News Bureau of Thailand 
