#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40010131

Inmates in Krabi’s central prison set fire to a building on Friday while rioting over the treatment of inmates infected by Covid-19. As of press time, no injuries or deaths were reported.

Some 400 male inmates began rioting on Thursday night demanding that all Covid-19 patients in the prison be shifted to a hospital outside. The prison only has one zone and no proper spaces to quarantine the infected.

When the prisoners began breaking objects in their sleeping quarters, more than 300 crowd-control police officers showed up to control the situation. Prisoners who tried to scale the prison wall were shot with rubber bullets.

The fire was spotted at 5.50pm on Friday by villagers living behind the prison. About two hours later the old sleeping quarters building, which had been turned into a library, was completely damaged before firefighters could control the flames from spreading.

Once the fire was extinguished, officials raided the cells and arrested 31 prisoners who they believed were leaders of the riot. They were transported to the maximum-security Khoa Bin Prison in Ratchaburi. Officials said most of these prisoners are serving long sentences for drug-related offences and therefore there is a high probability of them escaping.

The Department of Corrections is also expected to move the remaining 1,700 prisoners to facilities in other provinces so they can sweep up the area and estimate the damage. The department also promised to notify the families of prisoners being transferred so they do not worry about their wellbeing.

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Published : December 18, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40010122

Ministry of Public Health reported on Saturday (December 18) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 3,132 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 93 of whom have been found in prisons.

Death toll increased by 28, while 3,278 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 2,188,629 – 2,123,969 of whom have recovered, 43,305 are still in hospitals and 21,355 have died.

Separately, another 123,649 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 220,321 their second shot and 184,396 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 99,385,119.

According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 273.98 million on Saturday, 245.88 million of whom have recovered, 22.74 million are active cases (89,185 in severe condition) and 5.36 million have died (up by 7,036).

Thailand ranks 24th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 51.61 million, followed by India with 34.73 million, Brazil with 22.21 million, the UK with 11.19 million and Russia with 10.16 million.

Published : December 18, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40010118

The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Saturday (December 18) that the rather high-pressure system covers upper Thailand. Cool to cold weather and strong winds are likely over upper Thailand with a decrease in temperature by 2-4 °C. Mountaintops in the North and the Northeast are cold to very cold with temperature ranging from 3 to 13 °C. People should take care of their health due to variable weather.

Meanwhile, the active low-pressure cell over Malaysia causes isolated heavy rains in the lower South of Thailand. People should beware of the severe condition that may cause overflows and flash floods. Waves in the Gulf are about 2-3 meters high and over 3 meters high during thundershowers. People along the Gulf shore should beware of inshore surges. All ships should proceed with caution and keep off thundershowers. Small boats should keep ashore.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours is as follows:

North: Cool to cold weather with morning fog; temperature lows of 14-19 degrees and highs of 26-32 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 3-12 degrees Celsius.

Northeast: Cool to cold weather with strong winds; temperature lows of 13-21 degrees and highs of 27-31 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 5-13 degrees Celsius.

Central: Cool weather in the morning with strong winds; temperature lows of 19-22 degrees, highs of 30-32 degrees Celsius.

East: Cool weather in the morning with strong winds; temperature lows of 20-24 degrees, highs of 31-32 degrees Celsius; waves a meter high and 1-2 meters offshore.

South (east coast): Cool weather in the morning with thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas and isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 22-25 degrees, highs of 28-30 degrees Celsius; waves 2-3 meters high and more than 3 meters during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 23-24 degrees, highs of 27-32 degrees Celsius; waves a meter high and 1-2 meters offshore.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Cool weather in the morning with strong winds; temperature lows of 22-24 degrees, highs of 30-33 degrees Celsius.
 

Source: Thailand Meteorological Department

Published : December 18, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40010113

Some 400 male inmates in Krabi’s main provincial prison began rioting on Thursday night demanding that all Covid-19 patients in the prison be shifted to a hospital outside.

More than 300 out of 2,159 prisoners have been infected but not isolated because the prison only has one zone.

A prison official reported that the riot got so bad at around 10pm that they had to call police and soldiers for backup.

A large group of male inmates, led by some 40 leaders, began breaking objects in their sleeping quarters. Some also tried to climb up the prison wall, prompting crowd-control teams to shoot rubber bullets at them.

Just after midnight, Krabi governor Phutthiphong Sirimat showed up to negotiate with the riot leaders and agreed to shift 14 inmates with severe symptoms to hospital for treatment. Three prisoners who sustained injuries from rubber bullets have also been sent to hospital.

However, the rioters are still reportedly not satisfied with the result.

As of press time, more than 300 crowd-control police officers were still surrounding the prison to prevent the situation from escalating.

Prison officials were also considering whether the more than 300 women inmates, sequestered in a block next to the area where men are held, should be shifted to a temporary prison in Krabi Noi subdistrict.

Related News

Four prison officials axed for alleged extortion, inmate abuse

11 escapees from Nakhon Sawan prison captured

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Published : December 17, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40010112

The Administrative Court of Thailand on Friday temporarily suspended the Public Health Ministry’s order that people will have to pay if they want to opt for alternative Covid-19 vaccines.

The order also said that patients who develop an allergy or a Covid-19 infection after getting these shots will not be provided with free treatment at government hospitals.

The court ruled that this order is discriminatory and unconstitutional because every Thai citizen is entitled to treatment under universal health coverage. It has temporarily suspended the order and will issue an official verdict later.

The ruling will offer the following benefits to citizens:

• Every citizen with a Covid-19 infection or allergic reaction to the vaccine must be treated at public hospitals free of charge. Citizens should also not be required to buy insurance to treat allergic reactions to the Covid-19 vaccine.

• No law authorises the Public Health Ministry to insist citizens pay for alternative vaccines themselves. This order may be illegal and people have the right to be reimbursed.

Published : December 17, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40010111

A freak storm at 5am on Friday in Songkhla’s Sathing Phra district knocked over up to 10 homes and buildings, though no casualties were reported as of press time.

The Ban Hua Yang village’s Kho Thong cattle farm, which is owned by the Kho Saeng Chan community enterprise, was also badly hit, with its barn roof collapsing and damaging equipment.

However, the 120 cattle were unaffected.

The community enterprise’s president, Chongrat Thongsuwan, said he was enjoying his morning coffee when the wind suddenly picked up and battered the farm for about five minutes. He estimated the total damage at 1 million baht.

Nattakit Thongmueng, chief executive of the Wat Chan subdistrict administration organisation, put the total damage down to more than 3 million baht. He said he has contacted relevant organisations to investigate and help citizens who were affected.

Songkhla has been hit by continuous rain over two days, with particularly heavy rainfall on Thursday night.

Related News

Police decide to pursue legal action against Chana Rak Thin protesters

Chana protesters head home after cabinet agrees to delay controversial Songkhla industrial project

Prayut admits Chana locals voices were ignored, but refuses to halt controversial project

The Southern-East Coast Meteorological Centre has forecast heavy rain on the East coast of the South of Thailand, including Songkhla, from Friday to Saturday.

Heavy winds are expected from the lower Gulf of Thailand with waves rising two to three metres.

Published : December 17, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40010107

The Chana Rak Thin protesters who had gathered outside Government House on December 6 were handled in line with the Public Assembly Act and the emergency decree, Pol Maj-General Nakarin Sukontawit, commander of Protection and Crowd Control Division said on Thursday.

He made this remark at a meeting with the committee for the development of politics, mass communication and public participation, as well as other related agencies, at the Parliament.

Nakarin said the police is responsible for ensuring that people use their rights without causing trouble to others.

“Police will initially negotiate with protesters if they are trying to destroy objects, and will only use force when protesters resist but in line with the law,” he explained.

He added that 37 protesters – 31 women and six men – were detained for allegedly violating the emergency decree, blocking traffic and breaking the Communicable Disease Control Act during Covid-19 situation. The detainees were released the following day.

Nakarin also said police suspected that insurgents had joined the group, though he was not sure if they were part of Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu Patani or not.

However, Move Forward Party MP Amarat Chokpamitkul, who is also secretary of the committee for intelligence notification, rejected the claims, saying police were aggressive with the protesters.

“Apart from arresting an elderly Muslim woman and a 12-year-old child, police also blocked the press by using shields to cover cameras and flashing light in their eyes,” Amarat said.

She added that she will sue the police for wrongful acts under Article 157 of the Criminal Code.

Some 50 members of the Chana Rak Thin group travelled all the way from Songkhla province in the South to protest against the establishment of the Chana Industrial Estate in their hometown. They are demanding that the government halt the project and conduct a strategic environment assessment (SEA) first.

Prime Minister’s Office Minister Anucha Nakasai said the premier has appointed Deputy PM Supattanapong Punmeechaow to head a committee to inspect the project and ensure agencies conduct the SEA study transparently.

However, many members of the group see this as a move to buy time and have threatened to return if the government does not keep its promises.

Related stories:

• Police decide to pursue legal action against Chana Rak Thin protesters
• Chana protesters head home after cabinet agrees to delay controversial Songkhla industrial project
• Prayut admits Chana locals voices were ignored, but refuses to halt controversial project

Published : December 17, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40010106

The Royal Thai Police announced on Friday that its Anti-Trafficking in Persons Task Force has rescued 364 human-trafficking victims this year.

“Most of the victims were rescued from Cambodia, while three were brought back from the UAE,” National Police chief Pol General Suwat Jangyodsuk said.

“Several suspects, both Thai and foreigners, have been arrested in relation to the cases,” he said.

The biggest bust took place in November when the task force rescued more than 300 Thais from slave-like conditions in Phnom Penh. Nine Thais and 20 Chinese nationals were arrested for this operation.

Suwat added that police will help all human-trafficking victims regardless of whether they entered their destination countries legally or not.

“People looking for jobs overseas should carefully check the legal standing of potential employers with related government agencies first,” he warned. “Also beware of jobs that promise huge wages. If they sound too good to be true, they probably are.”

Human-trafficking cases can be reported via the 1599 hotline or  through https://www.facebook.com/antihumantraffickingpolice.

Related News

Police bust human-trafficking gang, rescue 214 Thais forced to work in slave conditions in Cambodia

Trafficked Thai workers set to return from Cambodia today

120 Myanmar workers sent back over illegal entry

Published : December 17, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40010101

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Friday that Covid-19 antigen test kits that provide a reading when placed on the tongue have yet to be approved for use in Thailand.

“These oral test kits are relatively new and there is still no information regarding their safety in the long term,” said Dr Surachoke Tangwiwat, FDA deputy secretary-general. “We still need data on the risk of toxicity build up from repeated use, and the risk of chemical from the detector being washed out by saliva and flowing into the user’s throat.”

He also pointed out that this kit has not been approved anywhere for use on children under 12 due to the risk of them chewing on the detector.

“The FDA has only approved two types of antigen test kits for people to use at home – one that collects samples via nasal swabs while the other tests saliva,” he said. “Saliva collection varies from brand to brand and can range from spitting in a cup or rubber bulb to using a swab stick. However, the method of putting the detector directly in the mouth has yet to be approved.”

The FDA has also advised people to only purchase ATK kits that have an “approved by FDA” stamp and follow the instructions carefully.

A list of FDA-approved test kits for both home and professional use can be found at https://www.fda.moph.go.th/sites/Medical. Video clips showing how they can be used are also available here.

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If ATK is too cheap, the result will be false, warns Thai FDA

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Published : December 17, 2021

By : The Star