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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40020899

Prayut responds to nursery killings with crackdown on drugs, rehab for addicts

MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2022

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the police and the Interior Ministry to accelerate action against drug trafficking and the Public Health Ministry to set up proper rehabilitation facilities for addicts.

This was in response to the Nong Bua Lamphu massacre last week by a former cop who was being tried for drug-related offences.

PM’s deputy secretary-general Anucha Burapachaisri said Prayut has instructed Royal Thai Police to coordinate with the Interior Ministry and other state agencies to launch frequent, comprehensive crackdowns on traffickers to rebuild public confidence.

On Thursday, a sacked police sergeant, who was on trial for drug abuse, went on a shooting rampage killing 36 people, mostly children, before killing himself, his wife and child. Initially, it was believed the shooter may have been under the influence of drugs, but no trace of substances was found in the autopsy.

Anucha said National Police chief Pol General Damrongsak Kittiprapas responded to the PM’s order by integrating proactive anti-drug operations with relevant state agencies, including the Provincial Administration Department, local administrations and the Public Health Ministry.

Police has also pledged to step up arrests of traffickers and use legal tools to confiscate their assets as well as act against the laundering of money earned from trafficking. Regular checks for potential users will also be conducted in communities, schools, entertainment venues and factories, police said.

Meanwhile, Anucha quoted Prayut as telling the national police chief to ensure his subordinates at all levels are free of drugs and take strict criminal and disciplinary action if any officer is found guilty.

The spokesman said Prayut is also urging the public to call the 1386 hotline to provide tip-offs on drug trafficking. He said informers will also receive a cash reward.

Prayut also called on the Interior Ministry to launch provincial-level campaigns against drugs. Provincial governors and private organisations will be encouraged to take measures to reduce both the demand and supply of narcotics, the spokesman said.

Anucha added that since the government has made drug suppression part of its national agenda, the Justice Ministry has been instructed to enforce the law stringently so drug dealers can be brought to justice.

Prayut has also called on government agencies to fight the scourge of drugs by focusing on the three measures agreed upon during the 2016 UN General Assembly Special Session on Drugs.

The three measures are providing government rehabilitation facilities, using psychoactive plants for medicinal and business purposes only, and finally, taking criminal action against drug traffickers.

Anucha said the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and the Justice Ministry have overhauled the anti-drug law by combining 24 legislations into a single narcotics code, which went into effect on December 9, 2021.

Anucha said the new law empowers authorities to take retroactive action against drug traffickers for as far back as 10 years.

The authorities believe they will be able to seize up to 100 billion baht worth of traffickers’ assets this year alone, or 10 times more than in previous years.

For fiscal 2023, ONCB has been granted funding to carry out several anti-drug missions, including training those at risk to shun narcotics, Anucha said.

ONCB will also seek cooperation from 25 countries and four international organisations to fight drug trafficking next year. The agency has also established an online database for other government bodies to use in their war against drugs.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40020898

All preparations for Apec Summit on track, PM hears at meeting

MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2022

THE NATION

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is confident that the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit in Bangkok next month would be conducted smoothly.

Prayut chaired a meeting regarding the preparations for the 29th Apec Economic Leaders’ Week (AELW) at Government House in Bangkok on Monday.

Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said after the meeting that Prayut acknowledged the preparations and thanked related organisations which were working diligently.

Anucha said that Thailand would be hosting the event on the theme “Open. Connect. Balance.”. He reported progress in several areas, such as:

• For facilitating trade and investment, members support Thailand’s idea to review the discussions of the Free Trade Area of the Asia- Pacific while the meeting of Ministers Responsible for Trade agreed to make a plan for the concrete result.
• For reconnecting the region, especially in tourism and travel (Connect.), Thailand pushed for reconnecting with Apec by making an information portal, issuing guidelines to support the consistency of vaccine certificates, and increasing the number of Apec Business Travel Card holders.
• For promoting sustainable and inclusive growth (Balance.), Thailand is making “Bangkok Goals” on a bio-circular-green economy, which has reached its final phase.

Anucha added that several leaders from Apec countries, special guests, and representatives from international organisations have agreed to join the meeting. He urged Thai people to welcome them with friendliness.

Associated Press news agency had earlier reported that US President Joe Biden would be skipping the summit to attend his granddaughter Naomi Biden’s wedding on November 19.

Anucha said that the Cabinet has declared three extra holidays for Bangkok and surrounding provinces from November 16-18 to ease traffic and facilitate free movement for summit participants while increasing security for leaders.

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40020883

CNN crew not deported or banned from Thailand over Nong Bua report

MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2022

THE NATION

The CNN crew whose crime-scene report of Thursday’s Nong Bua Lamphu massacre angered many have not been barred from entering Thailand in the future.

The two-member crew was detained in Udon Thani for questioning after being accused of trespassing at the nursery, where 24 toddlers were killed.

National police chief Damrongsak Kittiprapas and his deputy Surachet Hakphan questioned them on Saturday morning.

Surachet said the pair arrived in Thailand from Hong Kong on Thursday, the day of the mass killing. They entered the crime scene on Friday between 10.30am and noon. They told police that the nursery gate was open and crime scene tape removed. They said they saw seven to 10 people inside and asked for permission to enter, though acknowledged there might have been a miscommunication.

Police also found that village health volunteers had granted the crew permission to enter despite having no authority over the crime scene.

Surachet said the CNN pair had not disturbed evidence but would be fined 5,000-10,000 baht for arriving in Thailand on tourist visas instead of media visas.

Both had admitted to working in Thailand illegally and their visas had been cancelled. The two reporters accepted the fines and could leave Thailand voluntarily, police said.

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40020882

CNN reporters apologise for ‘any extra grief’ caused by Nong Bua massacre report

MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2022

THE NATION

CNN has released a statement apologising for any distress caused by its report from the scene of Thursday’s mass shooting at a nursery in Nong Bua Lamphu.

The two-member CNN crew also offered a public apology by video after being detained by police in Udon Thani for allegedly trespassing at the scene.

Australian reporter Anna Coren, 47, said: “I’d like to offer my deepest apologies to the people of Thailand, especially the families of the victims of this tragedy. We are so sorry if we’ve caused you more pain and suffering, that was never our intention,” she said, in a video apparently filmed in the police station.

“We’d also like to apologise to the Thai police and to the deputy police chief for the inconvenience that we have caused. We know that your country is going through such a painful time and we never came here to cause more grief, so thank you,” Coren added.

British cameraman Daniel Hodge, 34, said: “I’d like to apologise to the people of Thailand for any extra grief we’ve caused through this incredibly traumatic time.” Both reporters then bowed with hands clasped in a wai gesture.

However, the video and news of the apology was not available on the CNN website at time of publication.

Their report, which featured graphic images of bloodstains, was widely criticised on Thai social media and condemned by the Thai Journalists Association and the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT).

“A CNN team entered a clearly marked crime scene without permission – no matter what they may claim,” the FCCT statement said. “This was unprofessional and a serious breach of journalistic ethics in crime reporting.” 

CNN also defended the report on Twitter, claiming that the police cordon at the nursery had been removed and three public health officials had given the CNN team permission to film inside the building.

“The team gathered footage inside the centre for around 15 minutes, then left. During this time, the cordon had been set back in place, so the team needed to climb over the fence at the centre to leave,” said the news agency.

However, CNN International’s executive vice president and general manager Mike McCarthy provided another statement on Saturday:

“CNN’s team reporting from the scene of the tragic event in Nong Bua Lamphu sought permission from Thailand Health Department officials present there to enter the daycare centre. The team now understands that these officials were not authorized to grant this permission. If the team had understood that the building and its rooms were off-limits, they would not have entered. It was never their intention to contravene any rules.

“The team entered the compound through an open gate to the yard, where other journalists were already present. There was no police tape on the scene at the time. After working carefully and respectfully inside the building for around 15 minutes the team went to leave, however the gate to the grounds was now closed and police tape had been erected, which meant they needed to climb over the gate to exit.

“The team entered the building in good faith, to gain a fuller impression of what transpired inside and to humanize the scale of the tragedy for their audience.”

He said that CNN had ceased broadcasting the report and removed the video from its website.

“We deeply regret any distress or offence our report may have caused, and for any inconvenience to the Thai police at such a distressing time for the country,” he added.

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40020874

CNN crew face fine, deportation after police find volunteers granted crime scene access

MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2022

THE NATION

A CNN media crew who allegedly trespassed at the crime scene of the Nong Bua Lamphu nursery massacre will face punishment before deportation, the National Police said on Sunday.

Australian reporter Anna Coren, 47, who reported from inside the nursery, and her British cameraman Daniel Hodge, 34, were detained at a hotel in Udon Thani and escorted to Nong Bua Lamphu police station for interrogation.

Following the interrogation, assistant National Police chief Surachate Hakparn explained that Coren and Hodge had entered the crime scene after receiving permission from village health volunteers in the area.

He said police had summoned the volunteers for questioning. He added that the trespassing incident had not been caught on CCTV cameras at the nursery as these had been removed for the investigation.

He also said the probe into the trespass incident would conclude today with a public announcement on what went wrong.

Surachate said Coren and Hodge will initially face a fine of 5,000 to 10,000 baht for using tourist visas rather than media visa to report in Thailand.

The CNN crew will face further punishment if they are found to have broken trespass rules at the crime scene.

“If they are found guilty, they will face punishment before deportation,” said the assistant police chief.

He added that so far, the police had not found evidence of wrongdoing by the CNN crew.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said the CNN journalists were not permitted to report from inside the nursery despite receiving permission to enter.

Police would decide whether to take legal action against Coren and Hodge, he said.

Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul denied public health officials had granted access to the scene, contradicting an earlier claim by CNN.

He said that public health officials do not have authority at crime scenes but added his ministry would not file charges against the CNN reporters. Anutin said foreign reporters should always adhere to journalistic ethics in such sensitive cases.

CNN is accused of encroaching at the scene in Uthai Sawan subdistrict where a 34-year-old ex-policeman launched a gun and knife attack on Thursday that left 36 dead, including 24 young children.

The CNN broadcast was shared widely on Thai social media, sparking anger over how the outlet gained access to film graphic images including bloodstains and the young victims’ belongings.

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40020872

Runoffs from Ubol Ratana Dam inundate many areas of Khon Kaen

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 09, 2022

THE NATION

Many parts of Khon Kaen province were inundated after Ubol Ratana Dam exceeded its capacity by 87 million cubic metres on Sunday.

The water level of the dam hit 3.13 billion cubic metres, some 129 per cent beyond its capacity of 2.26 billion cubic metres.

Many roads in Khon Kaen’s Waeng Noi district, including Highway No 2065 to Chaiyaphum’s Khon San district, were also swamped and had to be closed to traffic.

In addition, more than 200 households and farms in six communities in Khon Kaen’s Khok Pho Chai district were badly affected by the flooding. The communities are Ban Pho Chai, Ban Mun Nak, Ban Mun Nak, Ban Non Than, Ban Non Kayom and Ban Kud Lob.

A shelter has been set up at Pho Chai municipality’s child development centre to help flood victims.

Separately, local authorities and residents in Nong Bua Lamphu’s Non Sang district have set up sandbag barriers to prevent water from entering the area.

District chief Somsak Saenin said officials were ready to evacuate locals and four shelters have been set up to accommodate them.

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40020871

Nation Group joins partners in offering help to swamped Pathum Thani community

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 09, 2022

THE NATION

Nation Group and its partners handed out 109 relief packs to flood victims in Pathum Thani Muang district’s Ban Lama community on Sunday.

The group was met by many residents, some of whom had to row out on boats due to high water levels.

Nation Group’s CEO Shine Bunnag reckoned the community had been under water for more than eight weeks, pointing out that many households may require access to medicines, especially if they have bedridden patients.

“The Nation Group is ready to work with partners on mitigating people’s suffering,” he said.

Meanwhile, community leader Sombat Songsan thanked the Nation Group and its partners, saying nobody has responded to the community so far. “We want to thank the Nation Group and its partners for assistance,” she said.

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40020870

Most Thais struggling to make ends meet, latest poll finds

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 09, 2022

THE NATION

More than half of the respondents in a Suan Dusit Poll said their expenses now exceed their income.

Even though Thailand has lifted all Covid-related restrictions and tourists are returning, locals are suffering from rising prices due to inflation and economic recession.

The survey on “expensive products and the poor” was conducted between October 3 and 6 on 1,067 respondents nationwide. Of them, 54.54 per cent said they did not make enough to cover their expenses, while 45.46 said they were fine.

When asked what items were most expensive, 82.96 per cent complained of rising fuel and commuting costs, followed by electricity and water (71.19 per cent), cooking gas (66.38 per cent), cooked food (53.67 per cent) and cooking ingredients (52.64%).

“Rising prices of consumer goods are having a severe impact on people as many were laid off during the pandemic or ended up having to take loans,” Suan Dusit researcher Pornphan Buathong said. “The government needs to step up to tackle this problem and reduce people’s burden as soon as possible.”

As to what can be done, 85.73 per cent said the government should reduce the price of consumer goods, followed by 68.43 per cent demanding cuts in fuel tax, while 56.52 per cent want the government to be more transparent.

When asked about the reason behind rising poverty in Thailand, 80.38 per cent blamed rising product prices, 74.72 per cent put it down to layoffs, and 70.47 per cent said it was dropping purchasing power.

As many as 78.32 per cent said they want the government to launch measures to help people generate revenue in the long term, followed by 77.19 per cent urging the government to be serious about tackling the challenges.

As for whether the government can or will do anything to solve the problems, 59.23 per cent said they don’t believe the authorities will tackle the surging prices, while 77.32 per cent do not expect anything to be done about the rising poor.

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40020868

Thai police arrest CNN reporters accused of violating massacre crime scene

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 09, 2022

THE NATION

Two members of a CNN media crew have been arrested in Udon Thani for allegedly encroaching at the crime scene of the Nong Bua Lamphu nursery massacre on Sunday.

Australian reporter Anna Coren, 47, who reported from inside the nursery, and her British cameraman Daniel Hodge, 34, have been escorted to Na Klang Police Station, which has jurisdiction over the crime scene.

The arrests came after Uthai Sawan Subdistrict Administrative Organisation president Danaichoke Boonsom filed charges against CNN at Na Klang Police Station.

Danaichoke said the CNN broadcast had taken a serious toll on locals, especially the victims’ relatives.

The CNN crew broadcast graphic images from inside the nursery, prompting public anger and accusations from Thai media that it had violated journalistic ethics.

Danaichoke added that media outlets were barred from serious crime scenes unless permitted to enter. CNN claimed its crew received permission from Thai officials to enter the crime scene, though Thai media outlets deny any permission was granted.

The Immigration Bureau has also revoked the tourist visas of Coren and Hodge, explaining that reporting without a media visa is a criminal offence. It added that their encroachment on the crime scene may have tampered with evidence and disrupted the work of investigators.

CNN is accused of encroaching at the scene in Uthai Sawan subdistrict, where a 34-year-old ex-policeman launched a gun and knife attack that left 36 dead, including 24 young children.

The CNN broadcast went viral among netizens amid controversy over how the outlet gained access to the scene to broadcast graphic images including bloodstains and the young victims’ belongings.

The outlet defended its crew in a Twitter message on Saturday, claiming they had received permission from Thai public health officials to enter the crime scene.

THE NATION