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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014624

Police on Sunday were seeking a court order to prevent former Democrat Party deputy leader Prinn Panitchpakdi from leaving the country after he was hit with multiple accusations of sexual abuse.

However, his highest-profile accuser arrived at Bangkok South Criminal Court on Sunday to oppose any granting of bail for Prinn.

Anna Hathairat, a prominent member of the Ruam Thai United Party, said she wanted to prevent Prinn from escaping overseas or using his authority to threaten other victims. Anna has filed a rape complaint against Prinn.

Police said they will ask the court to make it a bail condition that Prinn does not leave the country, as the suspect has a house outside Thailand and his alleged offences carry severe penalties and involve many complainants.

Five women have filed complaints of alleged sexual abuse by Prinn so far, though lawyer Sittra Biebangkerd said that number could grow to more than 20.

Prinn surrendered at Lumpini police station on Saturday to acknowledge one charge of rape two of sexual assault. He denied the charges and said he would fight the cases to clear his name.

Anna said she would continue campaigning for the Bangkok Metropolitan Council election after being informed by the election commission that she could not withdraw from the race. However, she said she would still be able to handle the legal case.

She was joined in her protest against granting bail to Prinn by pro-democracy activist Thanat “Hi-so Luk Nat” Thanakitamnuay.

Thanat said he hoped the Democrat Party would take responsibility for the case, adding that Prinn had not yet contacted him. 

Published : April 17, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014623

The number of Covid-19 cases in Thailand is now on a downward trajectory, according to Chulalongkorn University science lecturer Jessada Denduangboripant.

Citing Public Health Ministry statistics, he explained that the number of infections during the Omicron outbreak surged in February before peaking at the beginning of March.

He said the infection curve then climbed again at the end of March after the Omicron BA.2 subvariant arrived in Thailand. However, the caseload began declining in April.

“Hence, we can confirm that the number of Covid-19 cases in Thailand is currently on a downward trajectory,” he wrote in a Facebook post on Saturday.

“The decline in Covid-19 infections is in line with the global situation, which saw new cases peak two months ago before falling.”

However, Thailand’s infection curve has fallen more slowly than elsewhere as the country was hit by simultaneous outbreaks of the Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 subvariants, he added.

Jessada also forecast a rise in new cases after Songkran but said the infection rate would not reach the level it did at the beginning of the Omicron outbreak.

He added that the number of patients developing lung problems and being placed on respirators is still high, in line with the number of daily Covid-19 infections.

“Hence, we have to prepare to see these numbers increase for a while,” he added.

Thailand recorded 17,775 new cases and 128 deaths on Sunday.

Published : April 17, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014622

People should monitor themselves for symptoms, avoid gatherings and work at home after the Songkran festival, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) said on Sunday.

The announcement comes amid forecasts of a surge in new Covid-19 infections as people return from their hometowns after Songkran get-togethers. A big rise in the number of virus cases and deaths would threaten Thailand’s plan to declare Covid-19 as an endemic by July.

DDC director-general Opas Karnkawinpong said people could be carrying the virus as they travel back across the country after the holiday.

Opas urged people to take three steps after Songkran:

• Monitor themselves for symptoms for seven days. People who have a fever, sore throat, runny nose or headache should take a rapid antigen test.
• Avoid gatherings. People who must be in contact with others should wear a face mask.
• Work at home if this does not affect public services.

At this time, it was important for people to get vaccinated against Covid-19 to build immunity and to make sure they strictly obey measures to contain the spread of the virus, he added.

For updates and information on the Covid-19 situation, call the DDC hotline at 1422

Published : April 17, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014617

Public Health Ministry reported on Sunday (April 17) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 17,775 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 82 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.

Death toll increased by 128, while 24,545 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 1,806,524.

Published : April 17, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014611

Bangkok’s Chatuchak Bus Terminal was teeming with people on Saturday as holidaymakers returned from the provinces now that the long Songkran break wraps up on Sunday.

Millions had left the capital to either spend the Thai New Year holidays with their parents and relatives upcountry or to get away from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis.

The Public Health Ministry has advised those returning to the capital to avoid busy places for a week and monitor themselves for any Covid-19 symptoms.

Before the Songkran exodus, the ministry urged travellers to undergo ATK tests to check if they might be infected. These tests can prevent asymptomatic carriers from spreading the virus to their elderly relatives upcountry, the ministry said.

Published : April 16, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014610

Nineteen-year-old rapper Milli is the first Thai solo artist to perform at this year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California.

Milli, whose real name is Danupha Khanatheerakul, will join a line-up that features many big names in pop, hip-hop and rock music.

She is scheduled to take to the stage on Sunday at 8.50am Thailand time, according to her record label YUPP!

A live broadcast of Coachella, held across two weekends April 15-17 and April 22-24, can be viewed via its official YouTube channel.

Milli is among eight Asian musical artists to perform at the coveted festival this year. The others include K-pop icon CL, multi-hyphenate Jackson Wang, Japanese-American singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada, Korean singer-songwriter Bibi, rising Indonesian star Warren Hue, Indonesian singer-songwriter Niki and Indonesian rapper Rich Brian, the organiser 88rising reported on its website.

Milli made headlines in July last year when Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha pressed defamation charges against her for social media remarks slamming him for his alleged mismanagement of the Covid-19 crisis. The rapper confessed to the charge and paid the 2,000 baht fine.

Police have also threatened her and other celebrities with the charge of spreading misinformation and fake news about Covid-19 under the Computer Crime Act.

The last Thai singer to join Coachella was K-pop band Blackpink’s Lisa “Lalisa” Manoban, who performed at the music festival in 2019.

Published : April 16, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014609

Former Democrat Party deputy leader Prinn Panitchpakdi reported to Lumpini Police Station in Bangkok on Saturday after being hit by multiple sexual harassment allegations.

The 44-year-old politician was accompanied by his lawyer.

Prinn turned himself in after Metropolitan Police Bureau deputy commissioner Trairong Piwpan said an arrest warrant may be issued for him on Saturday.

“I come here to fight the case through the justice process,” he told reporters before leaving the police station at around noon.

He is required to report again at 8am on Sunday to attend a South Bangkok Criminal Court hearing on whether he should be remanded during the investigation.

Prinn was also reportedly interrogated by investigators at the police station.

So far, three complaints have been filed with police against the politician and they are all being treated as separate cases, so he will have to seek bail for them separately, deputy Metropolitan Police chief Pol Maj-General Jirasan Kaewsaengake said on Saturday.

Jirasan added that police have no authority to detain Prinn as he has surrendered voluntarily unless he fails to show up for court hearing on Sunday. He also said that police will ask the court to make “no overseas trips” a bail condition for Prinn.

“The suspect has a house outside Thailand and his alleged offences carry severe penalties involving many complainants,” the police officer added.

He also maintained that police have no concerns about dealing with Prinn’s case even though the suspect holds several political positions. “The police adheres to the law. We work fairly and transparently. Everyone must come under the law,” he said.

On Friday, Trairong said Prinn could be charged with indecently exposing himself in a public place based on an allegation made by an 18-year-old college student.

The student claims the incident occurred after Prinn invited her to a rooftop restaurant on Sukhumvit. She and her mother filed the complaint at Lumpini Police Station on Tuesday via their lawyer Sittra Biabungkerd.

Police also questioned the taxi driver who transported the student.

Three more women have now filed complaints against Prinn, according to Trairong.

One of the complaints is similar to that filed by the student, but allegedly stems from an incident at the end of February.

Prinn has denied the allegations but said he had resigned from all his Democrat Party posts to fight the charges and clear his name.

If found guilty, he could face a jail term of up to 10 years and/or a fine of up to 200,000 baht.

Published : April 16, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014605

Thailand ranked 61 globally and took third place regionally in this year’s World Happiness Report.

The country scored 5.891 points in the Average Life Evaluation category in the report compiled using data from 2019 to 2021.

In Southeast Asia, Thailand ranks third after Singapore and the Philippines, who globally hold the 27th and 60th rankings respectively.

As for the six factors contributing to happiness, Thailand earned 1.535 points in GDP per capita, 1.096 in social support, 0.697 points in healthy life expectancy, 0.617 in freedom to make life choices, 0.321 in generosity, 0.023 in perceptions of corruption and 1.6 in dystopia plus residual.

Meanwhile, the 10 countries topping the happiness list are Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Sweden, Norway, Israel and New Zealand.

The World Happiness Report is published by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network and compiled by a group of independent experts acting in individual capacities.

This year’s World Happiness Report used data gathered by Gallup World Poll from 2019 to 2021. The data from these three years was combined to make the sample size large enough to reduce errors.

Published : April 16, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014604

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the Public Health Ministry to prepare for a surge in Covid-19 infections as people return after the long Songkran holiday.

“Ahead of a possible spike in Covid-19 cluster cases after the Songkran break, the prime minister has ordered the Public Health Ministry to prepare hospital beds and community isolation centres for new patients,” said government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana on Saturday.

“Meanwhile, the National Health Security Office has been told to increase the number of 1330 Covid-19 hotlines to deal with an anticipated rise in call traffic after the holidays.”

The 1330 hotline was established as a triage point for people who test positive for Covid-19, registering them either for home/community isolation or transport to a hospital depending on their symptoms. The hotline also provides preventive information and updates for people in high-risk groups and those who suspect they may have contracted the virus.

“PM Prayut also urged people to remain at home in isolation for 7-10 days after they return from their Songkran trips,” said Thanakorn.

“If you have symptoms such as coughing, runny nose or fever above 37.5 degrees Celsius, please consult a doctor or take an ATK to test before going back to work or interacting with others.”

Thailand recorded 18,892 new Covid-19 infections and 125 deaths over 24 hours on Saturday. Meanwhile 22,220 cases recovered and left hospital.

This year, the country has logged a total of 1,788,749 cases.

Published : April 16, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014603

Thailand spent 750 billion baht or 4.43 per cent of the GDP on looking after seniors last year compared to just 430 billion baht in 2013, the Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) reported recently.

FPO director Pornchai Teerawet said this is a sign that Thailand is fast turning into an ageing society.

As of 2021, 19 per cent or 12.5 million of Thailand’s 66.7 million population were above the age of 60. This year, more than 20 per cent of the population is expected to cross the 60 mark and by 2033, this number is expected to rise beyond 28 per cent.

With the number of working-age people falling, the government’s revenue from tax will also drop significantly, while the expense of taking care of elderly people will rise, Pornchai said.

He added that soon the government will end up spending up to 1 trillion baht on welfare and pensions.

Hence, he said, to ensure the elderly do not become a financial burden on the state, the government should introduce measures such as:

• Creating a savings and senior social security system so people have enough funds after retiring.
• Revolutionising the labour market to compensate for fewer workers by allowing seniors to continue working.
• Boosting efficiency in tax collection and expanding the tax base both directly and indirectly.

He said the government should also support voluntary savings via Retirement Mutual Fund (RMF), Super Savings Fund (SSF) and pension life insurance.

Pornchai also put the rising costs down to inefficiency. He said there is no single agency that is responsible for setting an overall policy or building a central database for the pension system.

Hence, he said, the FPO is pushing for the establishment of a national committee that will set a policy for the pension scheme and coordinate with saving funds. It will also create a central database of pensioners to ensure efficiency.

The Cabinet approved the setting up of this agency last year and the Council of State is currently examining the draft law.

Published : April 16, 2022

By : THE NATION