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More than 1,000 doctors protest violence against protesters

NationalOct 19. 2020

By The Nation

The number of doctors who have signed a petition protesting violence against anti-government protesters has risen from 386 to 1,008.

On Monday, medics issued a statement condemning policing of the rally on Friday (October 16), when water cannon was used to clear protesters from Pathumwan Intersection and an ambulance was blocked while transporting a casualty.

The statement said medical personnel had to treat every person without discrimination under any circumstance and protect the rights and privacy of patients.

The doctors also demanded that authorities follow international regulations and stop using violence against peaceful protests, while ensuring that hospitals are safe and neutral locations.

International regulations forbid the use of chemical irritants against peaceful protesters, the medics said. Protesters complained of a burning sensation in their eyes and skin after being targeted by water cannon on Friday.

The government should heed international standards and open a space for people who want to voice their opinion, the doctors added.

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74 held over past three days of protests, police threaten to detain more

NationalOct 19. 2020Left : Shinawatra Chankrajang Right : Dr Tossaporn Serirak 

By The Nation

Police said the “severe” state of emergency gives them the power to arrest anyone considered to be breaking the law, adding that arrest warrants are being sought for protesters who allegedly broke the traffic police box at Bang Na intersection on Sunday night.

Over 24 hours, police have detained Shinawatra Chankrajang and Dr Tossaporn Serirak for allegedly violating the emergency decree. So far, some 74 protest leaders and demonstrators have been arrested.

Deputy Metropolitan Police chief Pol General Piya Tawichai said on Monday that protesters have been using three key areas as assembly points in Bangkok, namely Victory Monument where some 12,000 to 14,000 gathered, Asoke intersection with 2,000 people and Bang Na intersection with approximately 3,500 people. He reckons some 20,000 protesters have taken to the streets over the past three days.

Meanwhile, 12 police teams have been prepared to deal with protesters if they gather on Monday.

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Extraordinary Parliament session considered, Prayut says

NationalOct 19. 2020Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha 

By The Nation

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced on Monday that the government was considering reopening Parliament for an extraordinary session to ease political tensions.

He said the Cabinet will discuss the issue when it meets on Tuesday. The premier also said that there were no plans to extend the state of emergency to other provinces apart from Bangkok, adding that the government has done its best to make compromises with the protesters.

The prime minister slapped the capital with a “severe” state of emergency at 4am on October 15 in a bid to control the protesters, who want Prayut and his government to resign, the charter made more democratic and the monarchy reformed.

Meanwhile, Parliament President Chuan Leekpai said most representatives of political parties and Cabinet members who met on Monday agreed with the option of holding an extraordinary Parliamentary session. He said Prayut will be informed of this resolution right away.

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Free Youth slams moves to shut down media, resurfaces with new Facebook page

NationalOct 19. 2020

By The Nation

The pro-democracy group Free Youth has set up a new Facebook page, “Free YOUTH V.2”, and is condemning the government for threatening media.

New National Police chief Pol General Suwat Jangyodsuk on Friday signed an official document to block access to Voice TV, Prachathai.com as well as the Facebook pages of The Reporters, The Standard and the Free Youth movement.

The reason given was that the media delivers information that is misunderstood by the public and can affect national security.

“We and other media may be shut down by the government. Moves to impede the media is the act of a dictator, not democracy as they claim,” was the message posted on Free Youth’s new Facebook page.

The group also spoke of the incident in which a Prachathai reporter was arrested on Friday, when police directed water cannons at protesters in a bid to disperse the crowds.

The reporter was released a few hours later after being fined.

Free Youth said a true democracy means a free media that can freely inform the public.

Meanwhile, assistant National Police chief Pol Lt-General Jaruwat Waisaya said there was no policy restricting the freedom of media, but that police only wanted to handle “problematic information”.

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Diamonds are a dog’s best friend

NationalOct 19. 2020

By The NationA stray dog’s life has made a complete turnaround after it was adopted by a drunk man and turned into a celebrity.

Yutthaphum Kaewekhem woke up one morning to find a dog in his bed and later learned that he had stolen the stray from outside a restaurant after a drunken night out.

The story went viral online and Yutthaphum decided to do the right thing and adopt the mutt, much to the joy of all animal lovers.

The dog, now living a life of luxury, recently posed for photos sporting diamond jewellery.

The images of the dog called “Moo Ta” were posted on Yutthaphum’s Facebook account with the message: “Don’t leave a dog with a gay man.”

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Ebbing tide strands dugong

NationalOct 19. 2020

By The Nation

A hungry dugong was found crying for help on a beach in Trang province on Sunday after the tide ebbed and left it stranded.

The animal was found on Laem To Chai beach by Libong villagers at around 7.30am. It is a 1.8-metres-long female weighing around 220 kilograms.

Chaiyapruek Veerawong, chief of the Koh Libong Wildlife No Hunting Area, reported that villager Lerd Yodsri came to him asking for help as he was unable to move the animal on his own.

When wildlife officials arrived, they found clumps of halophila and other types of seagrass, which they believe drew the dugong to shallow waters and left it stranded when the tide ebbed.

Lerd was awarded for his act of kindness so others can also be motivated to help save wildlife.

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Sandbag wall erected to protect Nakhon Ratchasima museum from floodwater incursion

NationalOct 19. 2020

By The Nation

A wall of sandbags has been erected around Phimai National Museum in Nakhon Ratchasima province as massive water flows are expected within five days.

Chamnan Kritsuwan, director of the 10th regional office of the arts department at Nakhon Ratchasima, and Somdet Leelamanotham, chief of the Phimai Historical Park, came up with the measure to prevent water overflowing from dams in the northern region entering the museum.

Some 4,000 sandbags were placed around the museum to protect valuable assets inside the building such as earthenwares, statues and antiques from the Dvaravati period.

The sandbags barrier stands 60 centimetres above Mun River and 1 metre above the water level. It is expected to be high enough to keep at bay the water inflows.

Chamnan said residents of Phimai district had been warned to move to higher ground as the water would arrive in five days and movable historical artefacts in the museum were also taken to safe places.

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Five new Covid-19 cases as global numbers exceed 40 million

NationalOct 19. 2020

By The Nation

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration reported five new cases over a 24-hour period on Monday.

A 27-year-old Thai male freelancer, who had returned from Kuwait on October 4, and a 21-year-old Thai woman who had returned from Japan on October 14, were found positive in a Chonburi state quarantine facility on October 16. Both of them were asymptomatic.

A 31-year-old Thai woman returned from Turkey with cough symptoms. She tested positive at an alternative state quarantine hotel in Samut Prakarn on October 16.

A 21-year-old Kenyan male student who arrived in Thailand to see a patient, his grandfather, was found positive in a Bangkok alternative hospital quarantine on October 16.

A 45-year-old Thai woman returning from Bahrain tested positive at the airport screening checkpoint. She revealed that she had been coughing for three weeks.

Meanwhile, seven patients have recovered and been discharged.

The total number of confirmed cases in Thailand rose to 3,691 (744 in state quarantine), 144 are in hospital and 3,488 have recovered and been discharged, while 59 people have died.

According to Worldometer, as of 10am on Monday, the total number of confirmed cases crossed 40 million (up by 324,927), 30.1 million have recovered, 9 million are active cases (71,995 in serious condition) and 1.1 million have died (up by 3,971).

Thailand ranks 144th for most cases in the world, while the US has the most number with 8.38 million, followed by India 7.54 million, Brazil 5.23 million, Russia 1.39 million and Argentina 989,680.

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Chiang Mai University to advise students targeted by officials over protests

NationalOct 19. 2020

By THE NATION

Chiang Mai University on Sunday urged its students to contact the student development division, in case they receive summons or arrest warrants from police officials.

The announcement was published via the division’s Facebook page, after students on Sunday demanded that university executives stand by the students and protect them.

The university also said that it does not agree with violence, and all executives and professors agreed to monitor the political situation.

“In case students are contacted by officials, or receive summons or an arrest warrant, they can call 090-829-5623 for 24 hours, and ask the student development division for solutions” the announcement informed.

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Baht expected to strengthen in line with Asian currencies

NationalOct 19. 2020

By THE NATION

The baht opened at 31.17 to the US dollar on Monday, unchanged from Friday’s close.

The Thai currency is likely to move between 31.07 and 31.27 on Monday and between 31 to 31.50 this week, said Jitipol Puksamatanan, senior director of the chief investment office at SCB Securities.

He predicted that the dollar would be pressured this week by the recovery in Asian economies, while the support will be from the stock market and fluctuation in the US before the upcoming election.

He said that the dollar would move in a wide range until next week, while the dollar index this week would move between 93 and 94 points, from the present 93.7 points.

The senior director said that the baht would strengthen in line with other Asian currencies, supported by the recovering economy.

This week, he advised investors to monitor Chinese economic numbers, as well as the debate between the candidates for US president and developments in the US Congress about the stimulus policies.

On Monday, China’s economic numbers will be announced, while the US Housing Starts and Existing Home Sales will be revealed on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively. Thai export and import numbers will be announced on Thursday as well.