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Baht strengthens, faces capital market pressure

NationalOct 21. 2020

By THE NATION

The baht opened at 31.22 to the US dollar on Wednesday, strengthening from 31.27 at close on Tuesday.

The Thai currency is likely to move between 31.13 and 31.33, said Jitipol Puksamatanan, senior director of the chief investment office at SCB Securities.

On Tuesday, US financial markets recovered after investor concern receded temporarily on the economy and finances. The S&P 500 index increased by 0.5 per cent. However, the EU’s Stoxx 600 decreased by 0.4 per cent due to investor worries over Brexit and the Covid-19 crisis in Europe.

Financial markets were in a risk-on state, and the dollar weekend by 0.3 per cent compared to the other main currencies. The price of gold and oil rose by 0.2 per cent and 1.5 per cent, respectively, and the US Ten-Year Treasury yield increased by 2 basis points to 0.79 per cent.

As for the baht, Jitipol predicted it would be traded in a narrow range without any clear direction due to capital market pressure.

He advised investors to monitor the US stock market, as it could be a factor in strengthening the baht.

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First group of Chinese under STV scheme arrive

NationalOct 21. 2020

By THE NATION

Thailand on Tuesday evening welcomed the first group of Chinese tourists, who arrived under the special tourist visa (STV) scheme at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The 41, who came from Shanghai, underwent strict checks by public health officials before being sent to state quarantine for 14 days.

The second group, comprising more than 100 tourists from Shanghai and Guangzhou, are expected to arrive on October 26 and 28.

Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Yuthasak Supasorn said officials were still considering where flights carrying future STV tourists from Europe would land, as it would depend on where the tourists have booked their 14-day mandatory quarantine.

“I confirm that all foreigners who arrive will have to strictly comply with health measures. They will be allowed to travel around the country only if they are clear of infection once the quarantine period is over. However, each tourist will be required to have a tracker app,” Yuthasak said.

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Less rain forecast across most of Thailand

NationalOct 21. 2020

By THE NATION

Less rain is likely across most parts of the country, and temperatures in the Northeast, the North and the Central region will see an increase of 1-2° Celsius, the Thailand Meteorological Department said on Wednesday, adding that the monsoon trough still lies across the upper South. The department advised all ships in the Andaman Sea to proceed with caution in areas experiencing thundershowers, as a moderate wind was likely to whip up waves of 2 metres or more.

Meanwhile category 3 tropical storm Saudel in the Pacific has moved to the South China Sea. It will make landfall in Vietnam on October 24 and 25 before declining quickly.

Here’s the weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

Bangkok and its vicinity: Very cloudy with isolated light rain. Minimum temperature 23-24°C, maximum 29-31°C.

North: Very cloudy with isolated light rain; minimum temperature 21-22°C, maximum 27-30°C.

Northeast: Very cloudy with isolated light rain; minimum temperature 19-21°C; maximum 26-30°C.

Central: Cloudy with isolated light rain; minimum temperature 22-23°C, maximum 28-30°C.

East: Very cloudy with isolated thundershowers; minimum temperature 23-24°C, maximum 30-32°C. Wave height 1-2 metres and about 2 metres in areas with thundershowers.

South (east coast): Cloudy with scattered thundershowers; minimum temperature 23-25°C, maximum 30-34°C. Wave height about 1 metre and about 2 metres in areas with thundershowers.

South (west coast): Cloudy with scattered thundershowers; minimum temperature 23-25°C, maximum 31-34°C. Phuket northward: Wave height about 2 metres and above 2 metres in areas with thundershowers. Krabi southward: Wave height 1-2 metres and about 2 metres in areas with thundershowers.

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Online provocateurs seeking violence at rallies, police warn

NationalOct 20. 2020Police spokesman Pol Col Siriwat Deepor 

By The Nation

The Digital Economy and Society Ministry has asked police to take action against 58 social media accounts for “inciting unrest”, in violation of Bangkok’s special emergency decree, said the Severe State of Emergency Joint Operation Centre on Tuesday.

Police spokesman Pol Col Siriwat Deepor said fake news was being spread via anonymous Twitter accounts to incite looting during ongoing political demonstrations.

“Chats in Twitter are claiming this kind of action [looting] occurs during rallies abroad. They are persuading participants to destroy government and private property at rally sites to raise the level of protest,” Siriwat said.

“We are concerned over this behaviour and would like to warn people who attend rallies not to become a tool of the bad guys who are trying to provoke these actions. Besides violating the emergency decree, such offences constitute theft, robbery, or causing loss of property under the Criminal Code.”

Meanwhile those using online channels to instigate violence at rallies would be prosecuted under the Computer Crimes Act and the emergency decree,” he said.

Several online provocateurs were under investigation but many netizens were also warning against committing violence at protests, he added.

“We would like to thank you for your mindfulness in warning each other as a precautionary measure against third-party or malicious intervention,” Siriwat told the press.

Meanwhile deputy Bangkok police chief Piya Tawichai said no order had been given to cancel the emergency decree by 6pm on Tuesday, as demanded by protesters. He added that police were preparing for the “surprise” protesters promised at Tuesday’s rally.

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Cabinet gives green light to special Parliament session

NationalOct 20. 2020

By The Nation

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal from lawmakers for the Parliament to hold an extraordinary session to seek a way out of the brewing political conflict in the country.

However, government spokesman Anucha Buraprasri said the date will be formally announced once it has been discussed with the parliament president.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said the government wants the Parliament to convene as soon as possible, but the earliest it can do so will be October 26 because October 23 is a public holiday.

It was earlier reported that Parliament will convene for an extraordinary session on October 26 and 27.

The decision to hold a special Parliament meeting follows ongoing rallies in which protesters are calling for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to step down, the charter be revised and the monarchy reformed.

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Over 1,000 academics sign petition calling on Prayut to resign

NationalOct 20. 2020

By The Nation

As many as 1,118 academics have signed the Thai Academic Network for Civil Rights’ petition demanding that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha step down.

A group of academics and students led by Thammasat anthropology lecturer Anusorn Unno and Rangsit University’s political science lecturer Thamrongsak Petchlertanan marched to Government House on Tuesday to deliver the letter.

The letter decries the October 16 crackdown on protesters and the government’s moves to silence critics.

Anusorn said the water cannons directed at the protesters caused injuries and only resulted in further angering the public.

Hence, he said, the network wants the government to stop using violence against unarmed protesters, cancel laws that silence critics or violate people’s right to freedom of speech and accept the protest movement’s demands.

The protesters are calling for the resignation of the prime minister, the Constitution to be rewritten so it is more democratic and for the monarchy to be reformed.

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Korat flood fears ease as dam level stabilises

NationalOct 20. 2020

By The Nation

The water level in a Nakhon Ratchasima dam has begun to stabilise after surging beyond maximum capacity on Monday, triggering a warning for residents in six districts downstream to evacuate.

On Monday, Lam Takhong dam held 330 million cubic metres of water, or 105 per cent of its maximum level, but runoff is now decreasing, Lam Takhong Water Operations director Chayutpong Amrungsuk said on Tuesday.

Floodgates have also been strengthened so that the dam can now safely store up to 37 million cubic metres, he said. The dam structure had remained stable and no water had been released so far, he added.

Meanwhile, no more heavy rain is forecast for the area, as Thailand enters the dry winter season.

“We are confident that we will be able to manage the water in Lam Takhong Dam for sure,” said Chayutpong.

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Criminal Court hands a very lenient sentence to pistol-wielding civil servant

NationalOct 20. 2020

By THE NATION

Piset Nakapan, assistant to the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s secretary-general, was on Tuesday given a jail sentence and a Bt31,000 fine for threatening a Bangkok cabbie in 2018.

On October 10, 2018, the 54-year-old jumped out of his black Honda to point a pistol at a taxi behind him, yelling: “Why are you following me? Use other routes!” 

The incident in the Government Complex in Bangkok’s Lak Si was recorded by the cab’s dashboard camera and later became viral on the internet. 

Piset faced charges of carrying a firearm in public without good reason, threatening others and violating the criminal code.

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Court finds Voice TV Facebook in violation of law, orders closure

NationalOct 20. 2020

By The Nation

A court has ordered the closure of Voice TV Facebook due to the violations of the state of emergency and the Computer Crimes Act, according to the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society.

Deputy permanent secretary Putchapong Nodthaisong said that the ministry had examined the media and found it had violated the emergency decree, and the court had agreed to rule for the closure of Voice TV’s online platforms.

Meanwhile, cases against other media that faced the same accusation, such as Prachathai.com, The Reporter, and The Standard, are being considered.

He said because of the state of the emergency, there could be no appeal against the closure verdict, but Voice TV was allowed to open a new URL.

Voice TV responded on its Facebook account saying that it was an open space for the people to know the facts from every aspect, which greatly contributed to society. It demanded that people who were related to this action be responsible and just.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has suggested it might be a better option to have the “offending” news removed instead of suspending the entire media outlet.

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Close to 2,000 police officers stationed around Bangkok to deal with protesters

NationalOct 20. 2020

By THE NATION

Deputy Metropolitan Police chief Pol Maj-General Piya Tawichai said on Tuesday that 12 companies comprising 1,860 police officers have been prepared to deal with protesters, who announced on Monday that they will continue rallying.

“The 12 companies will be supervised by deputy Metropolitan Police chief Pol Maj-General Saharat Saksinlapachai and will comprise both ordinary officers and rapid response units. The aim is to maintain public security and prevent violence that may be caused by a third party,” he said.

Piya added that the rallies on Monday held in different venues, such as Kaset intersection, the Bangkok Remand Prison (Klong Prem) and Nonthaburi MRT station wrapped up peacefully at around 8pm. So far, 76 people have been detained, of whom 21 face criminal charges, 54 have been charged for violating the state of emergency and one has been charged with violating police orders.

“Police will continue operating from mobile command centres in six locations to monitor the situation and facilitate traffic flow, though it is still not clear where the protesters will rally today [Tuesday],” he added.

Meanwhile, the mobile command centres have been stationed at Kasetsart University (Bang Khen campus), Bangkok Remand Prison, Silapakorn University (Tha Phra Campus), New Sathu Pradit Road, Central Rama II shopping complex and Muang Nonthaburi Police Station.