A female doctor has been sacked from a Bangkok hospital for condemning the use of violence by the authorities against protesters on October 16.
Dr Rienthong Nanna, the “ultra-royalist” director of Mongkulwattana Hospital, fired Dr Jarosdao Rimphanitchayakit after she signed her name together with 385 other doctors opposing the violent action against the peaceful protesters. The hospital’s policy reportedly does not accept employees supporting political movements.
The doctor posted a message on her Facebook page, bidding goodbye to all her patients and co-workers and thanked them for their support. She also expressed her gratitude to Rienthong for giving her one year’s professional experience.
“I’m sorry that this time I cannot let it go. From now on, I have stepped into the unknown region of life but I will keep going,” Jarosdao said on Saturday.
Rienthong, known as an “ultra-royalist”, earlier had established a Facebook movement called “Organisation for the Removal of Trash of the Land”, aiming to oppose lese majeste groups.
Six students and activists were arrested for violating the emergency decree on Saturday and taken to Border Patrol Police Region 1.
According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights Centre, Korakot Sangyenpan, 27, a member of the Democracy Restoration Group, was arrested at 2.10pm.
The centre was later informed at 5.20pm that Wasan Klamtaworn, 48, had been arrested. Sirapop Pumpuengput, 20, a Srinakharinwirot University student activist, was arrested at 5.47pm after his house was surrounded by police.
Nawat Liangwattana, 26, a Silpakorn University alumnus, was arrested at 7.28pm, and Panupong “Mike” Chadnok, 23, leader of pro-democratic movements, was arrested along with Natkanon Payakpan, 29, at 8.40pm after participating in a flash mob at Ramkhamhaeng University.
Panupong said that the police broke the window of his car to pull him out of the vehicle. He called out their action for being violent towards the people.
There were seven new Covid-19 cases over a 24-hour period, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration reported on Sunday.
All new cases are asymptomatic.
A 47-year-old Thai woman, who returned from Sweden on October 11, tested positive at a Bangkok state quarantine facility, a 39-year-old businesswoman returned from the United Kingdom on October 12 and tested positive in a Samut Prakan state quarantine hotel, and a 54-year-old Belgian technician arrived in Thailand on October 12 and was found positive in a Samut Prakan alternative quarantine hotel.
A 33-year-old Burmese driver was deported to Myanmar after he tested positive at the Mae Sot border checkpoint on October 16.
Three Burmese family members residing in Mae Sot district, Tak province — a one-year-old boy, a 10-year-old girl and a 23-year-old man — considered as having close contact with the previously reported case of a Myanmar couple, were sent to Mae Sot Hospital on October 16.
A Mae Sot provincial official announced a provincial lockdown on Saturday in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19 with schools closing for seven days and religious ceremonies suspended.
Meanwhile, three patients have recovered and been discharged.
The total number of confirmed cases in Thailand increased to 3,686 (739 in state quarantine), 146 are in hospital and 3,481 have recovered and been discharged, while the death toll is 59.
According to Worldometer, as of 10 am on Sunday, the total number of confirmed cases has increased to 39.94 million (up by 372,120), 29.88 million have recovered, 8.95 million are active cases (71,955 in serious condition) and 1.1 million have died (up by 5.562).
Thailand ranks 144th for most number of cases in the world, while the US has the most number with 8.34 million, followed by India 7.49 million, Brazil 5.2 million, Russia 1.38 million and Spain 982,723.
More than 25,000 households in 25 provinces are affected by flash floods, landslides and windstorms, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said.
The damage is spread over 86 districts, 241 subdistricts and 849 villages.
One person died in Chanthaburi province and three were injured in Singburi.
Eleven provinces — Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Sa Kaeo, Surat Thani, Trang, Satun, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Samut Sakhon, Nakhon Pathom, Kanchanaburi and Uthai Than — continue to reel under floods.
The overall flood levels are going down, the department said, adding it has joined with provincial military units and related agencies to urgently help the victims. Efforts are being made to accelerate the drainage of water from the flooded areas. The department said the areas were being surveyed for damage, covering all aspects so as to provide assistance according to the regulations of the Ministry of Finance.
Rains would persist over most regions of the country with isolated heavy rains in the Northeast, the Central, the East and the South, the Thailand Meteorological Bureau said on Sunday.
An active monsoon trough lies across the lower Central, the upper South and the East into a low pressure cell, and the strong southwest monsoon prevails across the Andaman Sea, the South and the Gulf of Thailand.
People in risky areas should beware of the severe conditions that may cause flash floods and water runoffs, the department said.
Strong winds are likely with waves 2-3 metres high in the Andaman Sea and more than three metres high during thundershowers. All ships should proceed with caution and small boats should keep ashore, the department said.
Forecast for the next 24 hours:
North: Cloudy with scattered thundershowers and strong winds in Kamphaeng Phet, Uttaradit, Phitsanulok, Phichit, Phetchabun and Tak provinces; minimum temperature 22-26 degrees Celsius, maximum 31-33°C; northeasterly winds 10-30 kilometres per hour (kph)
Northeast: Very cloudy with fairly widespread thundershowers and strong winds; isolated heavy rains in Loei, Nong Khai, .Udon Thani, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Bueng Kan, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Mahasarakham, Kalasin, Roi Et, Yasothon, Mukdahan, Si Sa Ket, Ubon Ratchathani and Amnat Charoen provinces; minimum temperature 20-23°C, maximum 25-29°C; northeasterly winds 10-30kph.
Central: Very cloudy with scattered thundershowers and isolated heavy rains in Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Kanchanaburi, Suphan Buri, Saraburi, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Ratchaburi and Nakhon Pathom provinces; minimum temperature 22-25°C, maximum 29-30°C; northeasterly winds 10-30kph.
East: Very cloudy with fairly widespread thundershowers and strong winds; isolated heavy rains in Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat provinces; minimum temperature 23-24°C, maximum 28-30°C; southwesterly winds 20-35kph; waves about two metres and above two metres in thundershowers.
South (east coast): Very cloudy with scattered thundershowers and isolated heavy rains in Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces; minimum temperature 23-24°C, maximum 30-34°C.
Chumphon northward: Southwesterly winds 20-35kph; waves about two metres high and above two metres in thundershowers.
Surat Thani southward: Southwesterly winds 15-35kph; wave 1-2 metres high and above two metres in thundershowers.
South (west coast): Very cloudy with fairly widespread thundershowers and isolated heavy rains in Ranong, Phangnga, Phuket and Krabi; minimum temperature 22-24°C, maximum 29-32°C; southwesterly winds 20-40kph; waves 2-3 metres high and above three metres in thundershowers.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Very cloudy with fairly widespread thundershowers and isolated heavy rains; minimum temperature 24-25°C; maximum 30-31°C; easterly winds 10-25kph.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has deployed its Department of Law Enforcement officers on Yaowarat Road to ensure people’s safety during the Vegetarian Festival from October 16 to 25.
BMA permanent secretary Silapasuay Raweesangsoon said the officers are coordinating with the Samphanthawong District Office and police officers in publicising information, arranging the area and facilitating movement of traffic on Yaowarat Road and nearby areas each day.
“Also, the officers will instruct retailers to undergo Covid-19 preventive measures while selling foods, such as wearing face mask or face shield and providing hand sanitising gels for customers,” she said.
She added that people who come to buy vegetarian food must have their temperature checked at six checkpoints, check in and check out via the ThaiChana platform, wear a face mask, and follow social distancing.
There are three new Covid-19 patients in Mae Sot district of Tak province, taking the total number of cases in the district to five, provincial Governor Pongsarat Piromrat said in Saturday.
The three new patients are family members ofa Myanmar couple, who were reported early in the morning as being infected with the virus.
The province has already stepped up screening measures at the communities near their house and has ordered the closure of some nearby schools for one week. Screening checkpoints also been been set up in districts bordering Mae Sot.
The operator of the Airport Rail Link said on Saturday that the Department of Rail Transport has ordered all operators of public rail transport in Bangkok to increase security measures after a state of emergency was declared from Thursday morning.
Suthep Phanpheng, managing director of Electrified Train Co, the Airport Rail Link operator, said: “We will follow the order by increasing security measures as follows:
“Increase the number of security guards and inspection staff throughout the train system as well as increase the frequency of their patrol rounds.
“Check all CCTV camera, communication system and security equipment to make sure that they are functioning properly.
“Prepare an emergency evacuation plan for passengers and staff in case the situation escalates.
“Publicise security measures and latest updates of the situation to passengers periodically.”
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha declared a state of emergency in Bangkok effective from 4am on Thursday, to control the escalating rallies by pro-democracy protesters at several venues in Bangkok.
“We would like to ask all passengers to cooperate with security staff who will need to check your belongings before entering the train system,” he added. “If you require assistance or wish to report suspicious activity within the Airport Rail Link system, please contact call centre 1690 or www.srtet.co.th, facebook: AirportRailLink and Twitter: Airport Rail Link.”
The Big C Rajdamri and Siam Square branches of Government Housing Bank (GH Bank) are closing early until October 18, as they are located near the student-led protesters’ rally site.
According to the announcement on Friday, GH Bank officials said these branches are open from 10.30am to 1pm until Sunday.
The officials also advised customers to use other bank branches nearby, such as CentralPlaza Grand Rama 9 and Huamark Towncentre.
“These branches are ready to provide services. The bank will inform customers as soon as possible if there are any changes,” the official said, apologising for the inconvenience.
Customers can call (02) 645 9000 or visit the bank’s website or Facebook page for more information.
Royalists seek action against protesters over ‘inappropriate behaviour’ on Oct 14
NationalOct 17. 2020Photo by Thanachart Chuengyaempin
By The Nation
A royalist group calling itself People Protecting the Institution filed a complaint on Saturday at Metropolitan Police Bureau against student-led protesters, accusing them of inappropriate behaviour during the royal motorcade on October 14.
Chakrapong Klinkaew, leader of the group, led lawyers and royalists to submit evidence to investigation officers, headed by Pol Maj-General Sukhun Prommayon, Metropolitan Police Bureau’s deputy commissioner.
People who came to submit evidence were divided into two groups: those who were at the Nang Loeng intersection, and those who were at Chamaimaruchet bridge near Government House.
Chakrapong said the group has submitted evidence, such as video clips and photographs to the police and asked them to take action against the protesters for alleged inappropriate behaviour during the royal motorcade on October 14.
He added that the group would identify the perpetrators later.
Photo by Thanachart Chuengyaempin 
