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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021073

Free rehab for drug addicts not the answer, say most Thais

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2022

Most Thais believe that treating drug addicts as medical patients would not help the country overcome its problems with narcotics or solve social issues. Instead, they said, this policy will only give the addicts an excuse to escape punishment and continue abusing as well as trafficking drugs.

These opinions were gathered in a recent poll carried out by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida). The poll, conducted from October 10 to 12, covered 1,310 respondents aged 15 and above from different backgrounds and income levels.

According to the poll, 64.04 per cent of the respondents disagreed with providing state-sponsored rehabilitation to drug addicts.

The government announced this policy after a former cop who was dismissed from the police force for consuming methamphetamines massacred sleeping children at a nursery in Nong Bua Lamphu on October 6.

Some 36 people, including 22 young children, were shot and knifed by the ex-cop, who later killed his wife and child before turning the gun on himself.

The government said the policy to provide rehabilitation to drug addicts was based on a resolution of the 2016 UN General Assembly Special Session on drugs on the World Drug Problem (UNGASS 2016).

When asked if they agreed with the new code which considers drug addicts as patients, the response was:

• Totally disagree: 50.15%

• Somewhat disagree: 13.89%

• Totally agree: 20.31%

• Somewhat agree: 15.57%

• No comment: 0.08%

When asked how many methamphetamine pills they think suspects should be caught with to be considered addicts and not traffickers, the response was:

• 1 pill: 30.76%

• 2 to 3: 16.11%

• 4 to 6: 7.33%

• 7 to 9: 2.75%

• 10 to 12: 3.59%

• 13 to 15: 1.75%

• No comment: 37.71%

As for why they believe drugs have become such a problem in Thailand, the respondents, who were allowed more than one choice, said:

• Lax enforcement of law: 48.02%

• Cheap drugs: 47.86%

• Inefficient drug suppression measures: 31.83%

• Officials looking the other way: 30.92%

• Social conditions encouraging abuse: 26.56%

• Inefficient government policies: 26.49%

• Inefficient preventive measures: 25.42%

• Drug addicts’ attitude: 21.30%

• Economic woes: 20.31%

When asked if they personally know a drug addict, 56.11 per cent said “No”, while 43.89 per cent said “Yes”.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021072

All Ayutthaya industrial estates safe from flooding, says IEAT

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2022

There is no reason to believe the industrial estates in Ayutthaya will be flooded, the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) said on Sunday.

Industry Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit had last week instructed IEAT to closely monitor the Nakhon Luang, Bang Pa-in and Bang Wa industrial estates as he feared they may be flooded from runoffs.

IEAT governor Veeris Ammarapala said the industrial estates were not at risk of flooding because the dams upstream of Ayutthaya have been reducing the drainage levels.

“If there are no more storms, the situation at the three industrial estates will remain normal,” Veeris said.

As for worries about floods having an impact on workers’ commute to and from work, he said IEAT has asked provincial agencies to ensure roads leading to the estates are not blocked by flooding.

Last month, Suriya had also instructed IEAT to check the levees put in place after the 2011 floods left a trail of destruction and losses as many factories in Ayutthaya industrial estates had to halt operations for several months.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021071

Mountain B Pub inferno claims 25th victim

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2022

A 26-year-old woman on Sunday became the 25th victim of the deadly blaze at Mountain B Pub in Sattahip in early August.

Parichart Kwanyuenyong was pronounced dead at Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok following 72 days of treatment for severe burns suffered in the August 5 inferno.

Parichart was drinking at the pub in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district with friends on the night of the fire. After the blaze erupted, she managed to escape via the front door after all other exits were locked, receiving burns to about 85 per cent of her skin.

She was rushed to Queen Sirikit Naval Hospital where she spent one night before being sent to Chulalongkorn Hospital.

During treatment her blood became infected and she suffered lung and kidney failure so was placed on dialysis.

Doctors finally halted treatment on Saturday after her body failed to respond to medicines, and she was pronounced dead on Sunday morning.

Her family will hold the funeral at Wat Nong Wa in Rayong.

Thirteen victims were killed in the Mountain B blaze and 12 more have since succumbed to their injuries. It followed a 2009 inferno at the Santika Pub in Bangkok that killed 67 people and left 32 severely injured at a New Year’s party.

An investigation showed Santika had no signs for fire exits or emergency lights for escape routes.

The pub owner, Wisuk Setsawat, and Boonchu Laosinart, manager of the company hired to install the lighting system blamed for the blaze, were each sentenced to three years in jail.

Meanwhile the investigation of the Mountain B blaze found all fire escapes had been locked, giving pubgoers only one escape route through the front door.

The pub had also sound-proofed the roof using rubber tyres, which caught fire and began dripping onto the pub and partygoers below.

Workers demolished the gutted pub on Saturday, removing the remaining debris by truck and leaving only bare ground.

Relatives of the victims have filed a case for compensation at the Pattaya Court.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021070

Thailand 5th best country in Asia, shows USNews.com ranking

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2022

Thailand came in fifth best in Asia and the 28th in the world as per a recent survey conducted by the American media company US News.

Of the 85 countries surveyed, Switzerland was named the best country this year, followed by Germany, Canada, the United States and Sweden.

The Asian list was led by Japan, followed by China, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.

Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said that based on the Asia listing, Thailand can be considered the second best country in Asean after Singapore.

The ranking covered 10 criteria, namely adventure, agility, cultural influence, entrepreneurship, heritage, movers, open for business, power, social purpose and quality of life.

Anucha said this ranking proves that foreigners have a positive view of Thailand, which is considered one of the best travel destinations in the world.

Thailand got the No 3 rank in this year’s Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards.

Meanwhile, Anucha quoted Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as saying that Thai people’s potential and generosity are also key factors that make the country so popular among foreigners.

“Thailand can overcome all crises if all Thais join together to help with the country’s development,” he said, quoting Prayut.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021069

South Korea’s hottest virtual model to debut at Thai landmarks

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2022

A South Korean virtual female model is about to rise over Thailand’s cityscapes, fuelling the country’s love affair with K-pop.

Onmind, a subsidiary of South Korean game-maker Neptune, said Friday its artificial intelligence virtual model Sua has signed a three-year modelling deal to work with top Thai advertiser DDD.

DDD advertises for Thai Airways, global luxury brands such as Chanel and Dior, and large Korean conglomerates. It currently has advertising billboards at major landmarks in Bangkok including Suvarnabhumi Airport and Siam Paragon and MBK Center malls.

Under the contract, Sua will appear on billboards at these major landmarks to promote products and brands in DDD campaigns.

The South Korean company said it will continue to work with its Thai counterpart to expand Sua’s presence in Southeast Asia.

“The expansion into the Thai market is based on the agreement between our two companies on Onmind’s 3D virtual human technology aptitude and its business potential, and Thailand’s Hallyu [K-pop] craze and the potential of the country’s 3D virtual human market,” Onmind said in a statement.

Sua is Korea’s first AI virtual human capable of live interaction, according to its developers. It recently appeared in a local SK Telecom commercial with K-pop star Jang Won-young.

The Korea Herald

Asia News Network

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021068

Phuket old town under metre-deep flood after overnight storm

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2022

Heavy overnight rain left Phuket old town under floodwater up to one metre deep on Sunday.

A monsoon downpour that began Saturday evening was still battering the tourism destination in the early hours of Sunday, causing flash floods to sweep across many parts of the island.

Among buildings submerged were the old town’s traditional Sino-Portuguese shophouses, a magnet for Thai and foreign tourists. Floods hit the Charter Bank Intersection, the Thep Kasattree-Thalang Intersection, Klang Road and the Clock Tower roundabout.

Phuket old town roads were submerged by floodwater up to one metre deep.

Roads in the Patong Beach area in Krathu district were also underwater, while flash-flooding cut the main road leading from Krathu’s Tambon Kamala to downtown Phuket.