Bo Mya’s son offers to hunt down Tak gold-shop robbers
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2022
The son of former Karen National Union (KNU) president Bo Mya offered to help Thai police hunt down two men behind a failed gold-shop robbery.
Maj-General Nerdah Bo Mya, who commands the KNU forces in Kawthoolei at the border of Tak’s Phop Phra and Umhphang districts, said on Sunday that he would help find the two men. The men, a Hmong tribesman and a Myanmar national, reportedly fled into KNU-controlled territory.
To launch the manhunt, the commander said he would require photographs and an official request from the Thai police.
On Thursday afternoon, four masked men on two motorbikes rode up and shot at the window of a gold shop in Tak’s Muang district to try and break in.
But the owner fired back, severely injuring one before police swooped in and arrested the injured and another. The other two fled across the border into Myanmar.
MRTA dismisses BTS’s allegation of corruption in Orange Line bidding
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2022
Thailand’s Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) issued a statement on Sunday denying allegations of irregularities in the second round of bidding for the Orange Line.
MRTA was responding to claims made on December 9 by Keeree Kanjanapas, chair of BTS Group Holdings.
In his speech marking International Anti-Corruption Day, Keeree alleged that the Orange Line project was rife with corruption and that graft has been on the rise over the past three years.
BTS and MRTA have been caught up in a row after the former’s bid for the Orange Line were rejected. BTS has also taken MRTA to court for alleged irregularities.
On Sunday, the MRTA issued a five-point statement to affirm the integrity of the bidding procedure for the Orange Line’s western section and the operation of the entire route.
The bid for the project was won in September by Bangkok Expressway and Metro (BEM).
The MRTA presented the following points to defend the bidding process and selection of the winner:
• The joint investor for the project based on an invitation letter dated May 24, 2022, was transparently selected under the “integrity pact” with the NGO, Anti-Corruption Organisation (Thailand).
The organisation had provided five observers to watch every step of the selection, and none of them raised any objections or doubts.
• The first bid as per the invitation letter dated July 3, 2020, in which the Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC) participated, was cancelled. The envelopes were returned to the two bidders and the cancellation had nothing to do with the selection of the winner in the second round.
• The BTSC did not meet the criteria when it submitted its bid in 2020, and its proposal on techniques and financial returns lacked credibility.
• The BTSC claimed it could not participate in the second round of bidding because the conditions were drafted to prevent its ally, Sino-Thai Engineering Plc, from participating.
However, the Central Administrative Court on August 8, 2022, rejected BTSC’s request for an injunction on the bidding process.
Instead, the court ruled that the bidding, called under an invitation letter dated May 24, was conducted in line with the directive of the Public-Private Partnership Committee and in accordance with Section 6 of the 2019 Public-Private Partnership Act.
The court also said that the May 24, 2022, invitation letter was adjusted to attract more private firms to participate and prevent what happened with the July 3, 2020 invitation.
• The selection of the winner to build and run the Orange Line followed every step required by law as well as the Cabinet and the PPP Committee’s resolutions.
The MRTA said the Office of the Attorney-General was now checking the draft contract between the MRTA and BEM.
The 35.9km-long Orange Line is divided into eastern and western sections. Construction of the 22.5km-long eastern section from Thailand Cultural Centre to Minburi, with 10 underground stations and seven elevated stations, is more than 90% complete.
The 13.4km western section stretches from Thailand Cultural Centre to Bang Khunnon and has 11 underground stations.
The bid winner would be required to sign a private-public partnership contract to operate the entire route after building the western section.
International film experts pinpoint the main hurdle facing Thai cinema – Thais
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2022
Nongluck Ajanapanya
Individual Thai films often make waves globally, but overall Thai cinema simply lacks the consistency to sustain a wave the way films from South Korea and Japan do, international film professionals told a seminar on Saturday as the 15th World Film Festival of Bangkok prepared to wind up.
The biggest hurdle facing Thai cinema is at home, they agreed.
Thai audiences do not support Thai films.
“It is not about nationalism to support your own country’s film. I simply ask that you be self-loving. Who will love you if you don’t love yourself?” Park Sungho, a programmer at the Busan International Film Festival, said at “The Opportunities for Thai Film in International Film Festivals” seminar.
Park was joined on the panel by Paolo Bertolin of the Venice Film Festival’s Selection Committee, Samuel Jamier of the New York Asian Film Festival, Sabrina Baracetti of the Udine Far East Film Festival, Thomas Bertache of the Udine Far East Film Festival, and Donsaron Kovitvanitcha, director of the World Film Festival of Bangkok, which concludes today.
The panelists agreed that Thai filmmakers are not novices in the international film market, noting that several Thai films have been massively successful internationally in terms of revenue, awards, and positive reviews over the last three decades.
Still, many film industry professionals, including Thais, are perplexed as to why Thai films are not as popular – or as widely distributed – as films from other Asian countries, particularly those from Japan and Korea.
Bertolin said he was surprised to learn that many Thai films that were successful internationally were not well known in Thailand and had generated very little revenue in the kingdom.
Park noted that Thai and Korean films have made unequal progress globally, saying this reflected different levels of support in their home markets.
The other panelists agreed that the support of local audiences is crucial for the success of a nation’s film industry because it provides the consistency necessary for the industry to develop in the long run.
Thai films are distinct and diverse, said Bertache.
“The storytelling is strong, and the image sequence is well-timed, with excellent composition and production. As a result, there are numerous opportunities for Thai films in international film markets and festivals,” he added.
Bertache, Bertolin, and Jamier said Thai filmmakers should not limit themselves to producing films for festivals, but should also make high-quality films to entertain Thais.
This includes making more movies for popular genres like comedy, romance, tragedy, and martial arts. Films like “Tom Yum Kung”, “Ong-Bak”, “Nang Nak”, and “Satree Lek” deserve support, they said.
The panelists also agreed that government support would help, saying that the success of a country’s film industry is due to the convergence of support from people, the private sector, and the government.
They urged the government to keep out of film production, give filmmakers more freedom, and relax censorship.
The government must be fair and open-minded, and refrain from interfering in the industry to achieve its own political agenda, they added.
Thailand has the human resources – as well as the necessary infrastructure, funding, and cutting-edge technology – to produce films that can shine in foreign markets, they agreed.
Even in tightly regulated markets like Italy’s, there are plenty of opportunities for Thai films, Baracetti said. She added: “All you need to do is be more confident.”
Titan shatters record with $1.3 million bid for lucky license plate
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2022
The much-coveted “9กก 9999” license plate fetched a record-breaking 45.09 million baht at an auction of special plates under the “9กก” category on Saturday, the Department of Land Transport said.
The category combines a repetition of “Kor” – the first letter of the Thai script – with a lucky number. It has never been auctioned before.
Investment firm Titan Capital Group Holding won the auction, which drew 202 bids.
“The number ‘9’ is synonymous with the phrase ‘take a step forward’ in Thai, while Chinese people believe the number will bring prosperity to trade,” the department explained.
The previous auction record was set in 2003 when the department received 28.10 million baht for plate “8กก 8888”.
The department is auctioning 301 “9กก” plates from Saturday to Sunday at its headquarters in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district.
The proceeds will be spent on promoting road safety and purchasing medical equipment for people who were disabled in road accidents.
Elderly Thai man dies on flight home from Saudi Arabia
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2022
A 71-year-old Thai man died while on a flight home from Saudi Arabia on Saturday, according to the Ruamkatanyu Foundation which helped airport staff and police handle the emergency.
Foundation staff said they rushed to Suvarnabhumi International Airport when they were alerted by airport staff about the death after the plane landed at about 12pm.
They said they later tested the deceased – identified as Bahem Saeso – for Covid-19 using a rapid antigen test, which found he had the virus.
They had not confirmed the cause of death, but said the man died while on the flight and that an autopsy would be performed at Ramathibodi Chakri Naruebodindra Hospital.
The foundation is famous in Thailand for its more than seven decades of assistance to vulnerable people, including deceased people who have no relatives.
Selling fake banknotes can land you in jail for life, Bank of Thailand warns
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2022
People caught selling or buying fake banknotes can face life in prison, the Bank of Thailand warned on Saturday.
Somboon Jitpenthom, the central bank’s assistant governor, said BOT has been keeping a close eye on social media posts offering to sell counterfeit currency. He said BOT is also working closely with the Royal Thai Police’s Economic Crime Suppression Division and Central Investigation Bureau to collect evidence and facts. Somboon warned that people involved in the sale or purchase of forged banknotes can face a maximum penalty of life in prison and/or fines of up to 400,000 baht. People who knowingly use fake bank notes can land in jail for one to 15 years and/or be hit with a fine of up to 300,000 baht, he added.
Somboon also said that many social-media users get tricked into transferring money in exchange for fake foreign currency. Though in many cases, victims do not get anything. He said that BOT has learned that these social media accounts are used by criminals to fool their victims, and urged users to be more careful before making any money transfers. Somboon also advised members of the public to carefully check banknotes to ensure they are genuine. He said people should look for unique watermarks in the notes. Details of all Thai banknotes can be found at https://www.bot.or.th/English/Banknotes/Pages/identify.aspx.
Covid-19 treatments still free under Thailand’s SSO scheme
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2022
Subscribers to the national healthcare scheme will still be covered for Covid-19 even though it has been declared endemic in Thailand, the Social Security Office (SSO) has said.
In a Facebook post on Friday, SSO said people who test positive and have symptoms like fever, coughing, fatigue or develop pneumonia can be treated for free at their designated hospital.
Under the Social Security Act’s Articles 33 and 39, people are eligible to free treatment if they have contributed to the scheme for at least three months.
Meanwhile, those who have lost their jobs will remain eligible for free treatment for at least six months from the date of termination under Articles 38 and 41.
In its explanation, SSO said the office will cover the basic treatment costs, but not extra requests made by the patient.
It also said that though the designated hospital will be the “main hospital”, beneficiaries can seek free treatment at other hospitals or clinics under its jurisdiction.
If the designated hospital is not able to treat the patient and has to transfer them to another, the designated hospital will have to cover the expenses.
The SSO suggested that beneficiaries contact SSO staff at the hospital or at the closest SSO branch.
Visit www.sso.go.th or call the 1506 hotline for more information.
Thai govt postpones collection of land and building tax again
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2022
The collection of land and building tax has been delayed by two more months due to the damage caused by recent flooding in many provinces.
Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda released a statement last month saying the implementation of the 2019 Land and Building Tax Act was being postponed. The announcement said many local administrative organisations have been unable to survey the land and buildings subject to taxes, even though the flooding has improved in many areas. The statement said that to ensure “effective and complete collection of tax”, the interior minister has shifted the deadline for local administrative organisations to survey taxable buildings and land by two months to January. The deadline for the payment of land and building tax has also been postponed.
The local administrative organisations now have until April 1 instead of February 1 to announce the tax rates, the statement said. The tax forms can be mailed to taxpayers within April instead of February, while the submission of the forms has been put off from April to June. The deadline for tax payment is now June instead of April. The interior minister’s announcement, dated November 14, was published in the Royal Gazette on Friday. The collection of land and building tax had been postponed several times to help ease the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on taxpayers. “The original schedule for people required to comply with the Land and Building Tax Act of 2019, regarding the tax collection for land and buildings in 2022, shall be extended for three more months,” read the interior minister’s announcement issued in June. The move came after the private sector pushed for the tax payment deadline to be delayed in a bid to ease the burden caused by the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.
New MRT Orange Line bidding process rife with corruption, claim BTS bosses
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2022
The bidding process for Bangkok’s MRT Orange Line is rife with corruption, a top BTSC executive claimed.
Surapong Laoha-Unya, chief of the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTSC), was speaking at an anti-corruption seminar organised on Friday by the Democrat Party. The meeting, held to mark International Anti-Corruption Day, was held at Chong Nonsi BTS station.
Surapong said BTSC had participated in many government auctions and always won them transparently.
When bidding for the western section of the MRT Orange Line opened in May 2020, 10 companies including BTS bought the auction envelopes, he said.
Surapong said this was strange and untransparent, so BTS took its complaint to court, which ruled that the previous criteria be reinstated.
Then on November 9, 2020, two companies including BTS bid for the Orange Line, but MRTA scrapped the bids on February 3, 2021.
BTS again took the case to the Administrative Court, but its plea for an injunction was rejected and MRTA was allowed to go ahead with the bidding.
Surapong said he was surprised his company was not allowed to join the bidding under the new criteria even though BTSC has been part of the industry for years.
He said his company has been bidding transparently for infrastructure projects for more than 30 years now, including the BTS Green Line, MRT Pink Line and expressways.
“Since today is Anti-Corruption Day, I would call on those who are involved to think of their country, because they are damaging it for their personal benefit. If the country is not stable, nobody can survive,” Keeree said.
He also said the government should be able to justify its reasons for pushing through a project that is rife with corruption as it is “committing a sin against the country”.
“What I want to see today is justice. I admit that I have won and lost bids, but every bid was won lawfully. BTS has people’s trust and has never damaged the country,” he said.
“It will be a shame if this project worth more than 100 billion baht is approved because it will be the worst corruption case in Thailand and I will not give up easily if things are incorrect.”
Earlier last week, Surapong spoke about a rumour that the Cabinet will push through the MRT Orange Line bidding process. He said he wasn’t sure about this rumour because three related cases are still being considered by the Administrative Court.
Police probe non-profit in Chiang Mai as crackdown on Chinese triads expands
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2022
Police say they are investigating a foundation in Chiang Mai after receiving information that it may have been used by Chinese criminals to extend visas in Thailand, as part of an ongoing crackdown on triads that has extended to 18 provinces since it was launched in Bangkok a month ago.
Deputy National Police Chief Gen Surachet Hakparn said the non-profit was under investigation after searching a house on Friday in the northern province’s San Pa Tong district belonging to Chinese national Ni Yibo. Surachet said Ni had been acting as a visa-extension agent for other Chinese nationals.
Ni allegedly applied for a visa extension through the Creating Balance Foundation, which is chaired by Thai national Korakrit Jittham, Surachet said.
Neither the foundation nor Korakrit could be contacted. The foundation is one of at least two in Chiang Mai using the name.
Police also said that Korakrit had falsely registered himself as the father of a girl – whose biological parents are Ni and another Chinese national named Gao Yang – so that the girl could obtain Thai citizenship.
Surachet said the investigation into the foundation should conclude in two weeks. Police will investigate its activities and the sources of its funding, he said.
Over the past week, police have been investigating businesses and foundations suspected of helping Chinese nationals illegally stay in Thailand as their probe into Chinese triads expanded to 53 locations in 18 provinces, including Bangkok, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima and Udon Thani.
The investigation began last month after former massage parlour tycoon Chuwit Kamolvisit gave police information on Chinese triads in Thailand. Chuwit’s information quickly led to an arrest warrant for alleged narcotics kingpin Chainat “Tuhao” Kornchayanan. Chainat is the husband of a senior Thai police officer and gained Thai citizenship through the marriage. He surrendered to police on November 23, denying all charges against him.
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