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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016037

Over 150 motorcycle delivery riders rode to Energy Ministry headquarters in Chatuchak district on Friday to demand the government fixes the price of gasohol at 38 baht per litre.

The protesters rode from CentralWord mall on Rama I Road before mobilising at the ministry building on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road at noon.

They threatened to block traffic on the road unless Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow or permanent-secretary Kulit Sombatsiri came down to receive their letter of demands.

Siwares Thamwiset, the ministry’s inspection department chief, eventually accepted the letter and invited protest representatives to talk with Kulit via video.

During the one-hour video conference, the delivery riders demanded that gasohol be capped at 38 baht per litre until the end of year, and its excise tax cut by 5 baht per litre for six months. This could be achieved by suspending gasohol revenue contributions to the Oil Fuel Fund, protesters said.

They also demanded other government measures to help delivery riders, in recognition of the crucial role they play in economic recovery during Covid-19.

Kulit promised to propose the tax cut to the Finance Ministry but warned it could take time as it involved government revenue collection. He said he would inform the public about the ministry’s decision as soon as possible.

Kulit added that the government is seeking loans to boost liquidity of the Oil Fuel Fund, which is 70 billion baht in debt from subsidising the domestic price of diesel amid rising global energy prices.

Published : May 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016031

Ministry of Public Health reported on Saturday (May 28) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 4,488 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19 in the country.

Death toll increased by 38, while 3,921 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 2,215,564.
 

Published : May 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016027

Pride parade returns to Bangkok on June 5 to celebrate sexual diversity while raising issues of gay marriage, social justice, and gender inequality, its organisers said on Friday.

The procession is scheduled to start at 4pm at Maha Uma Devi Temple, or Wat Khaek, on Pan Road, ending at Silom Road.

“This will be the first real Gay Pride event in Bangkok’s history,” feminism activist Siri “Tata” Nilphruek told a press conference at The Sukosol hotel.

Previous Pride events held in the city were just street demonstrations, he said.

This year’s event is called “Bangkok Naruemit Pride 2022”. “Naruemit” means “creation” in Thailand.

It is being organised by various non-governmental groups promoting sexual diversity.

Friday’s press conference included representatives from state agencies, including the Prime Minister’s Office, political parties, foreign embassies, and the private sector.

Among the invited guests was Bangkok governor-elect Chadchart Sittipunt, who attended the event as an observer.

“Bangkok is a city of diversity in many aspects, not just sexual diversity. We can live happily when we can accept diversity,” Chadchart said.

He added that as per his plan, June would be designated “Pride month”. Every month is being correlated to Bangkok’s celebration of festivals.

Promsorn Veerathamjari, a representative of sex workers, said on Friday that this year’s Gay Pride event would also address social issues, in addition to sexual diversity.

“The organisers hope that Pride parade will become an important event on the calendar, similar to Songkran or Loy Krathong,” he said.

Due to its relatively high tolerance to sexual diversity, Thailand is regarded as a “utopia” for LGBTI+ people by many foreign visitors who experience abuses in their home countries. However, the Kingdom still does not legally recognise same-sex marriage, and discrimination against sexual diversity remains.

Prior to Covid-19, Pride parades were held in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket. In the capital, the events were organised by Silom nightlife business operators.

Pride parades, held in cities across the world, commemorate the Stonewall riots, which started when police raided the Stonewall Inn bar in New York City in June 1969.

Published : May 27, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016021

The state-run Transport Co Ltd aims to invest more than THB2 billion to rent 368 electric buses in a bid to reduce fuel costs by approximately 60 per cent.

Transport Co Ltd president Sanyalux Panwattanalikit said the company has hired King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang to study the possibility of providing services using electric buses.

She said the study found that electric buses are suitable for routes not more than 400 kilometres, while diesel buses are still necessary for longer routes.

“Hence, we have to analyse this issue before proposing it to the company’s subcommittee for strategy and management, as well as the board, for consideration in June,” she said.

She said there is a possibility that electric buses would be used on routes up to 300 kilometres, starting with six routes. Up to 60 buses will be used on these routes, she added.

“Using electric buses will help reduce operating costs by up to 30 per cent, as the price of diesel is currently high,” she said.

However, she said the company has to study this issue thoroughly as charging stations are need to be set up along the routes.

Meanwhile, a source from Transport Co Ltd said the company has a plan to rent 368 electric buses for seven years, expecting to use a budget of more than THB2 billion.

New electric buses include 72 minibuses on eight routes and 296 large buses on 52 routes.

The draft terms of reference would be completed within May before proposing to the company board, while the bidding would be launched in the middle of this year, the source said.

The source said the winner of the bidding must invest in setting up charging stations along the route every 300 kilometres.

Once we get the winner, it is expected that minibuses will be gradually delivered to the company at the beginning of next year, while large buses will be gradually delivered to the company in the middle of next year, the source said.

The source added that new electric buses will be used instead of old buses on popular routes, such as Bangkok-Mae Sot and many routes in the Northeast.

In addition, new electric buses will help reduce fuel costs by approximately 60 per cent. Fuel costs amounted to THB295.53 million last year, the source added.

Published : May 27, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016017

Opposition Pheu Thai Party’s executive director Pachara Naripthaphan attended this year’s Southeastern European Gathering in Bucharest on Friday.

The two-day conference focused on “Leadership in Politics, Education and Diplomacy: Towards a Sustainable Peace in Society”, and one of the key topics was the Russia-Ukraine war.

Romania shares a border with Ukraine and has been providing refuge and sustenance to refugees.

Meanwhile, Pachara said he discussed digital policy promotion and ageing society with the leaders of Romania and Macedonia.

“The decline in young population in Eastern Europe is having a severe impact on budget management and development,” he said. “Thailand is also facing similar problems.”

He added that the leaders also discussed human trafficking, security and peace at the regional level and leadership crisis.

He went on to say that he was concerned that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha may not be able to control the situation if the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in November turns into an arena for powerful countries to debate over the Russia-Ukraine war.

Published : May 27, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016016

The face mask mandate will be lifted in Blue and Green zones from the middle of June, as Thailand transitions to endemic Covid-19.

The Public Health Ministry will ask the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) to scrap mandatory mask-wearing in areas with low infection and high vaccination rates, said ministry permanent secretary Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit.

However, face masks will still be required at gatherings and in poorly ventilated venues – and must also be worn by the elderly, pregnant women and people with chronic diseases.

Green Zone provinces (low surveillance) include Chai Nat, Phichit, Ang Thong, Nan, Maha Sarakham, Yasothon, Nakhon Phanom, Lampang, Amnat Charoen, Buriram, Trat, Surat Thani, Surin and Udon Thani.

Meanwhile, the Blue Zone tourism provinces are Bangkok, Krabi, Kanchanaburi, Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nonthaburi, Narathiwat, Pathum Thani, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phang-nga, Phetchaburi, Phuket, Rayong and Songkhla.

The mask mandate will still apply for people in 46 provinces in the Yellow (high-surveillance) Zone.

Published : May 27, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016015

Indians have become the largest group of tourists to Thailand, with more than 100,000 arrivals so far this year, with potentially up to 600,000 by year-end, a senior Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) official said.

Thanet Phetsuwan, TAT deputy governor of marketing for Asia and the South Pacific, said on Friday that his agency expects 500,000 Indian tourists to enter Thailand this year, generating an estimated 22.5 billion baht in revenue.

He added that arrivals from India will likely top 600,000, creating revenue of up to 27 billion baht.

“If things go like this, India will become the No 1 market for Thai tourism,” Thanet said.

In 2019, the year before the Covid-19 pandemic struck, 1.96 million Indians had visited Thailand. The number shrank to 261,730 the following year and dropped even further to just 6,544 last year.

Between January 1 and May 24 this year, 100,884 Indian nationals entered the Kingdom, according to the Thailand Pass entry registration system. Since the Test & Go requirements were scrapped on May 1, an average of some 3,000 Indian nationals have been entering Thailand every day.

Visitors from the United Kingdom have been the second-largest group this year, with 89,745 arrivals, followed by Germany (74,104), the United States (66,036), and Malaysia (62,192).

As Beijing remains firm with its “zero Covid” policy and bans outbound tourists, India will likely replace China as Thailand’s top tourism market, Thanet said.

“The Chinese government has made no clear move regarding outbound tourists. So, TAT needs to find new markets. India has the potential to be a replacement [for China] as the country has a large population and several flights to Thailand,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, said he did not expect China to allow outbound tourists anytime soon, due to its strict “zero Covid” policy. That was why the Thai tourism operators were looking at other markets, he added.

“Thai tourism businesses are seeking opportunities in other Asian markets, like India, Vietnam and South Korea,” Sisdivachr said.

Published : May 27, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016011

Eight thousand durian saplings worth THB240,000 were confiscated at a border checkpoint in the northeastern Ubon Ratchathani province on Friday as they were being transported across the border.

Durian is one of 11 Thai plants prohibited from exports under the Plant Varieties Protection Act.

Acting on a tipoff, the Chong Mek border checkpoint’s plant quarantine station and Customs officials intercepted a truck waiting to cross the border into Laos, Agriculture Department director-general Rapeepat Chansriwong said on Friday.

A search of the vehicle found 8,000 saplings of the popular Mon Thong durian variety valued at THB240,000.

The truck driver was charged with exporting a protected plant variety without permission, an offence that carries the penalty of a maximum of three years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to THB4,000.

The driver was handed over to the police and the durian saplings were seized and placed in the custody of the Customs checkpoint.

The 11 protected plants prohibited from exports include: durian, grape, lychee, coconut, tamarind, pomelo, longan, and pineapple, according to the Agriculture Department’s Rapeepat.

The official said that smuggling of the protected plants out of the country for cultivation elsewhere would severely impact Thailand’s agricultural sector and economy. He asked those with knowledge of such a violation to inform any of the Agriculture Department’s plant quarantine stations across the country.

Published : May 27, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016010

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) must ensure that the True Corporation (True) and Total Access Communication (Dtac) merger does not cause market dominance, the Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) said on Thursday.

Saree Ongsomwang, TCC’s secretary-general, said the True-Dtac merger will reduce the number of mobile operators to just two, which is not acceptable as the market will no longer be competitive.

“The council will continue monitoring the issue and submit proposals to NBTC,” she said.

Meanwhile, Sirikanya Tansakun, spokesperson for an extraordinary commission for considering the impact of the merger, accused the telecom watchdog for not looking after consumers.

She also warned that if the merger went through, it would result in a 20 per cent hike in people’s mobile phone bills, citing a Chulalongkorn University study.

The NBTC board should make honest decisions over the True-Dtac merger and ensure public interests are protected, she said.

Former NBTC commissioner Dr Prawit Leesatapornwongsa said the commission should study the merger thoroughly, with a special focus on public interests.

If the merger does go ahead, NBTC should ensure the market remains competitive and mitigate the merger’s impact as much as possible, he said.

He added that liberalising the telecom market by allowing foreign companies to enter Thailand will make the market more competitive.

Consumers should also express their opinion on the merger, so their interests can be protected, while the government sector should strengthen cooperation, such as improving regulations.

TCC deputy secretary-general Suwit Wichitsopha advised NBTC to study the merger with the Trade Competition Commission and Commerce Ministry to prevent consumers from being hit by a spike in charges.

“We want NBTC to pay attention to consumers before allowing the merger deal to happen,” he said, “The commission should also launch measures to protect consumers’ interests.”

Saran Phaloprakarn, Advanced Info Services (AIS) head of the business development department, said NBTC has the authority to decide on the True-Dtac merger.

He added the merger will reduce the number of competitors, which in turn will cut down on promotional campaigns.

Saran added that AIS is ready to continue competing, but the NBTC should determine regulations that benefit all competitors.

Published : May 27, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016003

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida agreed to boost economic, investment and tourism ties between Thailand and Japan during their talk in Tokyo on Thursday.

The meeting was a follow-up after the two countries agreed a new defence deal during Kishida’s visit to Bangkok on May 2. Thailand and Japan also agreed to elevate their relationship to a “comprehensive strategic partnership”, deepening bilateral security ties amid China’s growing regional influence and assertiveness.

Following up on Thursday, Prayut thanked Japan for agreeing to set up more Kosen engineering vocational schools in Thailand to create an Asean economy skills hub.

Meanwhile, Kishida said Japan’s technology and innovation sectors are ready to boost investment in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Japan is spearheading efforts to make the EEC a regional centre of electric vehicle manufacturing.

Both parties also agreed to cooperate on meeting Asean’s zero-carbon goals in line with Thailand’s BCG (bio-circular-green) economic model and Japan’s Green Growth Strategy.

On tourism, Prayut said he was pleased that Japan chose to open its borders to travellers from Thailand this month, reciprocating by inviting Japanese to visit Thailand.

Meanwhile, Kishida said Thailand and Japan would strengthen their tourism cooperation.

On Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Prayut said Apec chair Thailand was ready to welcome Kishida and other members to Apec summits in Bangkok in November.

Published : May 27, 2022

By : THE NATION