Blasts at Pattani petrol stations made to discredit govt: Army Area 4
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022
Army Area 4 has launched a manhunt for four insurgents who carried out two bomb attacks at two petrol stations in Pattani on Tuesday night in what is believed to be an attempt to discredit the government ahead of the Apec Summit this week.
The almost simultaneous attacks occurred at about 8pm at a PTT station on Highway 42 near the Pattani bus terminal in Tambon Bana, Muang district, and a PT station on the same highway in Tambon Piya Murang in Yaring district.
A worker at the PT station was slightly injured without any life-threatening wounds and complained of a ringing in the ears.
The fires caused by the two explosions were put out by firefighters about half an hour later.
Witnesses told police two assailants arrived on a motorcycle at the PT station and the pillion rider placed a small gas cylinder in the middle of the station near the cashier’s booth.
One of them fired into the air and at an oil dispenser and the two fled the scene before the gas cylinder exploded about two minutes later, causing a fire.
At the PTT station, the authorities found three dispensers were damaged by an explosion and the subsequent fire. Bomb shrapnel also slightly damaged a convenience store, a food shop and other shops inside the station.
Army Area 4 deputy commander Maj-General Pramote Prom-in and Pattani Taskforce commander Maj-General Kachornsak Inthong checked the two spots on Wednesday morning.
After the inspection, Pramote told reporters the two attacks had a similar pattern. In each, two assailants arrived on a motorcycle at almost the same time, planted a homemade bomb and fired gunshots to intimidate station staff before they fled and the bombs exploded.
Pramote said the southern Army has stepped up security in the province and deployed units to protect all vulnerable spots, especially petrol stations.
“We believe the assailants want to damage the economy, hoping to discredit the government before Thailand hosts the Apec summit this week,” Pramote said.
The deputy commander of the southern Army warned that the authorities will have to step up law enforcement against the assailants.
Pramote said that after the insurgents carried out 20 simultaneous attacks in three southern border provinces in August, the authorities obtained arrest warrants for 16 suspects and arrested six of them while one was killed in Pattani’s Nong Chik district when resisting arrest.
Also on Wednesday, Pol Colonel Yannapong Ubolban, commander of Pattani’s Muang district police station, said officers are gathering evidence in the hunt for the four suspects in the latest attacks.
Thailand’s hosting of Apec meetings expected to benefit economy, boost tourism
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022
Thailand’s hosting of the 2022 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit and related meetings will benefit the country and Thais in three different ways: stimulating the economy, showing the country’s potential, and boosting tourism, government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said on Wednesday.
The key leaders’ summit will be held at Bangkok’s Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre on November 18 and 19 under the theme of “Open. Connect. Balance”, with the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economy model for sustainable development in the spotlight.
Anucha said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had tasked the organising committee and related agencies with working together to make sure the country, as the host, benefits in three aspects:
1. The Apec meetings this week would significantly boost the economic recovery of Thailand and its trade partners in the Asia-Pacific region. During the summit member countries are expected to push measures to revive international travel and trade in the region, with the Covid-19 pandemic subsiding.
Meanwhile, Thailand will highlight the BCG model, which will benefit the country’s economy and the general public in the long term through sustainable and environmentally friendly business operations.
2. The summit will be a platform for Thailand to demonstrate to the global community its potential and readiness to host world-class meetings regardless of global challenges such as the pandemic and international tensions. This year’s meeting is also the first time in four years that Apec leaders will meet in-person.
3. The meetings are a great opportunity to promote Thailand’s tourism industry that is recovering from the impact of the pandemic. More than 3,000 international leaders, representatives and delegations are expected to participate in various forums, while over 2,000 foreign journalists will also be in Thailand to cover the event.
Anucha said the government had planned several performances and events to showcase Thailand’s uniqueness in culture, food and tourist attractions to foreign audiences during the Apec meetings and summit this week.
The summit and related meetings such as the Apec CEO Summit, Apec Business Advisory Council Meeting, and Apec SME Ministerial Meeting have all been organised as “green meetings” with a focus on reducing waste and impact on the environment. For example, the vehicles transporting participants will be electric, while the venues will be decorated with recycled materials, Anucha added.
We must tackle global warming here and now, Thai minister tells climate summit
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022
Many countries have been urged to deal immediately with climate change as the impact of global warming, floods and drought are set to intensify, Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa told the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) at Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, on Tuesday.
The conference, which commenced on November 6, ends on November 18.
Varawut said Thailand aims to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050 and reach net-zero emissions in 2065 by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from 388 million tonnes equivalent per year to 120 million tonnes.
Under a short-term plan, he said, the kingdom has instituted its Nationally Determined Contributions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent by 2030.
“Thailand has done more than just talk, the country has turned words into action,” he pointed out.
Varawut said Thailand is working on dealing with climate change, such as an agreement on carbon credit trade with Switzerland under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement.
He added that Thailand is paying attention to balancing economic growth and environment preservation under the Bio-Circular-Green economy model.
This model is in line with late King Bhumibol’s “sufficiency economy” philosophy to enable the country and its people to cope with climate change while promoting an environmentally friendly, circular economy, he explained.
Varawut noted that high technology is necessary to change production guidelines and consumer behaviour in order to reduce and control greenhouse gas emissions.
It is not easy to change the behaviour of 67 million people across Thailand, which include farmers and businessmen, he told the conference.
Varawut said he cannot predict what disaster Thailand will face next year.
“But most importantly, we have to tackle climate change here and now,” he asserted. “We are confident that by working together, we will be able to fight climate change, a common enemy that we ourselves have created.”
He vowed to present further progress on dealing with climate change during COP28 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Ministry permanent secretary Jatuporn Burusphat, Department of Marine and Coastal Resources director-general Athapol Charoenshunsa, Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning secretary-general Phirun Saiyasitpanich, Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organisation (TGO) chairman Wijarn Simachaya and TGO executive director Kiatchai Maitriwong reportedly took part in the conference.
National Artist Chalermchai unhappy over planned transfer of Chiang Rai governor
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022
The Cabinet’s approval to transfer the Chiang Rai governor has affected plans to organise the “Thailand Biennale, Chiang Rai 2023” art event, National Artist Chalermchai Kositpipat bemoaned on Wednesday.
According to an Interior Ministry proposal, 26 provincial governors and 11 inspectors under the ministry would be transferred once His Majesty the King graciously gives the go-ahead.
Chiang Rai Governor Passakorn Boonyaluck is expected to become Krabi governor, while Krabi Governor Puttipong Sirimat will take over from Passakorn.
In a video clip, Chalermchai praised Passakorn for his knowledge of the arts, adding that he did not know the reasons why the Chiang Rai governor would be transferred.
He explained he had cooperated with Passakorn in organising Thailand Biennale, Chiang Rai 2023 since Passakorn was the provincial deputy governor.
“I was glad when Passakorn was chosen as Chiang Rai governor as he knows the arts,” Chalermchai added.
Chalermchai said he had invested as much as 35 million baht to build the Tankhun Art Gallery at Wat Rong Khun to support the event.
He said it “would be hard to place hope in Puttipong” in organising the big art exhibition because he had already built a strong relationship with Passakorn.
“Thailand Biennale, Chiang Rai 2023 has actually given me a headache because the budget for organising this art exhibition has been cut a lot,” Chalermchai said.
He pointed out that Chiang Rai locals and foreigners were hoping the art exhibition would be “great”. He also expected the event to generate a large amount of revenue for the province.
“It is now a government matter, not mine. I thought I would give up on it because I cannot take it anymore,” he added.
The Cabinet’s approval to transfer the Chiang Rai governor has reportedly shocked locals as Passakorn was in the post for just a short time.
Apart from organising Thailand Biennale, Passakorn had committed to promoting tourism during the high season and tackling air pollution in the province.
Various meetings and agreements during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Economic Leaders’ Week will hopefully boost Thailand’s economic growth and competitiveness in the long term, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
The special week began in Bangkok on November 14 and ends on November 19.
The ministry’s Information Department deputy director-general, Natapanu Nopakun, said the Apec Senior Officials’ Meeting began on Monday to promote a free trade agreement in the Asia-Pacific region.
This meeting is scheduled to wrap up on Wednesday.
Natapanu expected the free trade pact to become an important mechanism in eliminating international trade barriers and supporting supply chain connections among Apec economies.
“This meeting is in preparation for the Apec Ministerial Meeting on Thursday,” he said. “Results from the Ministerial Meeting will be proposed during the Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting on Friday and Saturday.”
Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai will preside over the Ministerial Meeting, Natapanu said.
Senior officials are currently in talks to reach an agreement on tax cuts on more products.
“We hope these meetings will help support Thailand’s economic growth and enhance the country’s competitiveness in the long term,” he added.
On Tuesday, government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha will host bilateral discussions with international leaders at Government House and Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre during this week’s Apec summit.
The baht opened at 35.80 to the US dollar on Thursday, weakening from Wednesday’s close of 35.63.
The currency will likely move between 35.70 and 35.95 against the greenback during the day, Krungthai market strategist Poon Panichpibool predicted.
He said the baht is coming under more pressure to weaken as the market has descended into a risk-off state and is therefore supporting the dollar.
Furthermore, foreign investors might offload additional Thai assets for profit so the baht might weaken in the short term, he believed.
Poon suggested keeping an eye on statements from hawkish US Federal Reserve officials as they could cause the market to fluctuate.
Investors are wondering that if the Fed does slow down its interest rate increases, by how much will the rate rise? And is the Fed still deeply concerned about the state of the economy and the rate at which it is slowing?
Poon said mass gold sales could also be a factor in the weakening of the baht.
He expects the currency’s resistance level to be 35.85-36 to the dollar and feels the support level would be 35.50, something most importers are waiting for to purchase the greenback and other foreign currencies.
Poon advised investors to use hedging tools such as options to manage risks in a highly volatile currency market.
Business council adds three urgent items to Apec leaders’ agenda
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022
Nongluck Ajanapanya
The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Business Advisory Council (ABAC) has urged Apec leaders to develop a plan to address three urgent economic issues: inflation, food and energy security, and climate change.
The request has been abruptly added to their five key recommendations to accelerate economic recovery in the aftermath of Covid-19.
ABAC chairman Kriengkrai Thiennukul said at a press conference on Wednesday that the three sudden requests arose from worries of business leaders in the Asia Pacific region.
“We are concerned about the impact of inflation, which we believe will slow the recovery. Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions have a significant impact on energy and food security, and weather variability caused by climate change poses a significant risk to our economic sustainability,” Kriengkrai noted.
He expected Apec leaders to give these urgent items on the agenda serious thought and develop some policies to help mitigate the negative effects.
After four major meetings held throughout the year in Singapore, Canada, Vietnam and Thailand, the meeting finalised five key recommendations with 69 sub-clauses under two objectives, “Promoting speedy and sustained recovery” and “Regaining momentum for sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth”, according to Kriengkrai.
“The latter includes advancing towards sustainability, deepening regional economic integration, and fostering an enabling environment through digitalisation. The working group will then deliver the complete report to Apec leaders,” he noted.
ABAC is also the host and chair of “Apec CEO Summit 2022”, which will be held from November 16-18 under the theme “Embrace, Engage, Enable”.
This summit brings together economic leaders, thought leaders, and leading CEOs to discuss trade perspectives, investments, and the social drive that will allow the Asia-Pacific region to embrace opportunity, engage in collaboration and enable new possibilities in partnership with the private sector.
Dominique Ng, the next ABAC and Apec CEO Summit chairman of the United States, was also honoured at the press conference.
He praised Thailand and the working group for working tirelessly to find a solution to the current challenges, notably how to support micro, small, and medium enterprises, which account for more than 90% of the Apec region’s economic activities.
He also revealed that the next ABAC’s theme would be: “Equity, Sustainability, and Opportunity”, which will be implemented in 2023.
He pledged to continue promoting the role of the private sector for the benefit of the people, ensuring economic growth while remaining environmentally conscious, and implementing concrete policies that provide inclusive opportunity.
‘Revival of talks on FTA a key development from Thailand hosting Apec Summit’
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022
Neena ML.
Auramon Supthaweethum, director-general of the Department of Trade Negotiations (DTN), expects to see positive conclusions from the Apec meetings this week in terms of trade and investment in Thailand’s bio-circular-green economy and free-trade agreements.
In an exclusive interview with The Nation, Auramon speaks about the role of her department in helping Thailand’s preparations to host the Apec Summit, trade and investments issues, bilateral free trade agreements between Thailand and other economies and the predicted outcome of the summit.
Q: As the curtains go up for Apec 2022, how excited is the Department of Trade Negotiations about the possibilities?
A: Very excited, because we have been helping, assisting with the organisation of the Apec Summit since the beginning of this year as an economic pillar.
Q: What are the areas towards which the DTN has contributed?
A: The department has been involved with four key activities that will take place in the next few days.
First, we are helping the MFA [Ministry of Foreign Affairs] host the Apec Ministerial Meeting [AMM], which will be chaired by Jurin Laksanawisit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, and Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand. It will provide opportunities for ministerial levels to discuss this year’s Apec theme: Open. Connect. Balance. Another activity that my department has been involved in is the bilateral meetings of minister Jurin, because there is going to be a good opportunity to meet other Apec ministers who accompany their leaders to Thailand. It’s a good opportunity to discuss bilateral trade issues with them. The other important development is: we are planning for the ministers to sign a MoU [memorandum of understanding] between Thailand and Australia on economic cooperation, and we are also helping the Department of International Trade Promotion and the Ministry of Commerce in showcasing Thai products on the BCG theme at the event.
Q: What other FTAs are likely between Thailand and other economies?
A: We are going to have the AMM meetings, but they also provide opportunities for Thailand to have bilateral discussions with our trading partners. We have already set the agenda with some countries for ministers to meet. For instance Japan. So it will be a good opportunity.
Q: Apart from Japan, are any other meetings planned, such as with China or Russia for example?
A: Maybe not China and Russia this time. In the case of Russia, the ministers had already met last year. There’s going to be a leaders’ meeting — between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha — so there’s no need for a ministerial level meeting.
Q; Amid geo-political tensions, are you concerned about any disagreements in international trade between the economies and also would it cause concern or inconvenience to Thailand in negotiating trade with the other economies as well?
A: I think Apec is a forum where members can discuss cooperation, so when Thailand was chosen to host Apec, we set the theme as: Open. Connect. Balance. When we chair and host the AMM on November 17, we have provided some topics for Apec economies to discuss. It will be relevant to the three key areas in the theme, and the meeting will be divided into three main agendas. The agenda that Minister Jurin will chair will be related to Open. I think this will guide Apec economies to discuss their ideas on how Apec can move forward to have open trade in order to make the Apec region very efficient and have sustainable economic integration.
Q: How do you see Apec moving forward and contributing to the world situation right now, especially when the world is recovering from the pandemic, and economies are hit by recession or downturn? How do you see this cooperation between Thailand and the other economies panning out?
A: During the pandemic, we realised the problem that arose from countries’ lockdowns, which caused constraints in the flow of goods and services across borders. So Thailand has tried to kick off the idea of moving forward the FTA agreement of Asia Pacific members. This is the revival of an idea that was brought up in Apec more than 10 years ago. It was suggested by the Apec Advisory Group — ABAC, the private sector. However, over the last decade, not much progress has been made on the FTA Asia Pacific. In order to help members recover from the economic situation from the pandemic, they all realised that having lockdowns and closed borders is not going to help. They recognised the importance of open trade, and the FTA Asia Pacific is one outcome that can support Open trade. So in May this year, when we organised the ministers responsible for trade meetings, the issue was discussed by Apec members and they all supported the idea. They believe that it’s positive to move forward the FTA Asia Pacific. However, because Apec comprises 21 economies — both developed and developing countries — they have different levels of economic development, so their ideas may be different. That is why, Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce held discussions with members at the senior official meetings. We are trying to formulate a four-year work plan to realise the FTA Asia-Pacific and this work plan will be endorsed at the AMM meetings.
Q: What about Asean? Are there any matters of concern related to Apec?
A: Apec is a cooperation forum where members can exchange views and ideas, in order to come up with best practices for members. Of the 21 Apec economies, only some members are from Asean. So we are individual countries, we are not talking in terms of Asean. Because, for example, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar are not Apec members, however, there are various issues related to trade that members can bring up for discussion.
Q: In the end what is the DTN’s plan for expanding Thailand’s trade and investment and also cooperation between Thailand and the 20 other Apec economies?
A: My department takes care of Thailand’s FTA negotiations — launching new FTAs, as well as trying to implement the existing FTAs. We already have FTA agreements with most of the Apec members. At present, Thailand has 14 FTAs with 18 trading partners. We have FTAs with Asean, China, Japan, South Korea for example, Australia, New Zealand. There are still countries in Apec with whom Thailand does not have an FTA yet, countries such as the US, Canada and Mexico. So, when we are talking about creating an FTA Asia Pacific, we believe that it will also provide additional benefits to Thailand, because it will be an opportunity for Thailand to discuss FTA with the countries that we haven’t had a deal with yet. At the same time my department is also involved in bilateral trade between Thailand and our trading partners so we could also take the opportunities to discuss bilateral trade, to enhance our trade and investment, cooperation, and expansion and there are some countries that we have already set up schedules for ministers to meet during the Apec Summit.
Q: How do you see the conclusion of this Apec Summit on November 19?
A: This is a good question. I think there will be a statement issued at the level of AMM meetings as well as at the leaders’ meetings. The statement certainly will cover all the main issues that members have discussed since the beginning of the year when Thailand became Apec host. It will cover three main areas: Open. Connect. Balance. Regarding Open, members have already discussed how to move forward towards an Asia Pacific FTA. I’m sure it will be covered in the statements. Members also have discussed Connect. How to reconnect after facing the Covid-19 crisis? Also there will be a statement on Balance and the BCG model and how members support the Bio-Circular-Green economy.
Q: Do you think there will be more trade and investment in BCG after the summit?
A: I think so. We can see that this idea has been discussed amongst Apec economies. Various countries have also demonstrated that they also have these policies and they implement green policies and they are trying to move forward in order to tackle climate change. They are also trying to add value to their products by doing recycling, so I think this is a trend between international forums. And like I mentioned to you, the Ministry of Commerce is also involved as we are showcasing the products of Thailand which are aligned with the BCG model. We are also showcasing products that we can use and reuse waste and create new value-added products. This has been organised by the Department of International Trade Promotions.
Q: Do you think that there will be any obstacles to reach an agreement between members, considering serious differences between some members?
A: I think at the working level we are trying to finalise it, trying to get endorsement and support of Apec economies. So we have to wait and see.
Q: If you could choose, what would be an ideal outcome of the meeting?
A: I hope that Thailand will benefit from the meeting. I hope that Thai people and the private sector can perhaps utilise what we have discussed in the Apec Summit and put it to good use and be able to network with Apec economies. If they can engage in more trade with our trading partners and enhance their revenue, it will generate income for the country and also move Thailand’s economy and society forward in a more sustained way
No replacement for Cambodia at Apec Summit after Hun Sen tests positive for Covid
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022
Nongluck Ajanapanya
Don Pramudwinai, Thailand’s deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister, confirmed that Cambodia will not send a representative to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit in Bangkok this week.
His remark comes after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen tested positive for Covid-19 and was forced to cancel his participation at the G20 and Apec summits.
Don explained that Hun Sen had been invited as a special guest by the Thai government. The host nation cannot suddenly invite another leader to replace him.
Don was speaking during his visit to the Apec media centre on Tuesday afternoon.
Don also emphasised the significance of Tuesday’s Concluding Senior Officials’ Meeting, at which Apec senior officials will discuss trade and investment issues in accordance with Apec 2022’s theme of “Open. Connect. Balance.”
He assured that Thailand would benefit from this meeting, particularly the Bangkok Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Goal.
“The outcome of this discussion will provide new impetus to address climate change and current environmental issues. You cannot expect a concrete result in three to five years. What we are discussing now is the preparation for our next generation,” Don stated.
The two-day Concluding Senior Officials’ Meeting, which will take place on November 15-16 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, will discuss a multi-year work plan to help drive the region’s economic recovery and long-term resilience against future pandemics and other disruptions.
Free Thai massage for all media members at Apec 2022
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022
Opal Varunsuda
In a bid to promote Thai traditional massage as soft power, the Labour Ministry has for spa services to be offered to Thai and foreign journalists covering the Apec Summit.
Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin said Apec 2022, being held at Bangkok’s Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre all this week, provides a perfect showcase for Thailand’s soft power.
He said traditional Thai massage is well-known and can be used as a soft power to promote Thailand overseas.
Boonchob Suttamanaswong, Labour Ministry’s permanent secretary, said members not only is the service completely free, it is also part of a public relations campaign to educate non-Thai massage practitioners about Thailand’s traditional therapy.
Members of Thai and foreign press can get a neck and shoulder massage, or a hot stone treatment and also try out healthy herbal beverages. Also on offer is an introduction to herbal products used in spas
a pounding massage
Every day, some 50 masseurs will be serving visitors from 9am to 7pm at the media reception area at QSNCC.
“We believe the assailants want to damage the economy, hoping to discredit the government before Thailand hosts the Apec summit this week,” Pramote said.
a pounding massage
a hot stone treatment
SootinClaimon.Com 