Thai civil servants now allowed to work from home or co-working spaces
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2022
THE NATION
The Royal Gazette on Thursday published a Prime Minister’s Office regulation permitting government officials to work from outside their agencies’ premises.
The move aims to maximise work efficiency using modern technology while ensuring public services operate during emergency situations.
The regulation defines “areas outside agencies’ premises” as either officials’ residences, co-working spaces, or other locations specified by the agencies.
However, attending meetings, training, field trips, or temporary transfer to other locations in Thailand or overseas is not considered as working outside the agencies’ premises.
Under the regulation, government agencies must provide suitable support for their officials to work outside their office while ensuring that work efficiency is maintained.
Interior minister blames mental issues of perpetrator for massacre, denies failure of gun control
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2022
Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda on Friday blamed the perpetrator’s mental issues for the massacre at a Nong Bua Lamphu nursery on Thursday, and defended the ministry in response to questions over its role in gun control.
Speaking to reporters before flying to the northeastern province, General Anupong said that his agency carefully follows the law in issuing permits to own a gun.
The attack at Nong Bua Lamphu’s nursery for preschool children left 38 dead and 12 injured including the gunman and his family.
Anupong reckoned on Friday that the violence was caused by “some problem inside the mind of the perpetrator that needed control measures”.
He noted that the attacker, a sacked police officer, also used a knife, and not just his gun. “Are we going to ban knives too?” Anupong asked.
“This issue is not just about gun [control]. We have to see why some people have this kind of mind. Our society must get rid of people like this,” the interior minister said.
Meanwhile, Democrat Party deputy spokesperson Siripa Intavichein said that the Nong Bua Lamphu massacre reflected three issues of Thai society.
First, it was mental issues of people who have to experience stress constantly on the job.
The second issue involved gun ownership. She urged the authorities to “screen” the mental health of registered gun owners annually. Those who fail the screening should have their guns confiscated, the politician advised.
The third issue involved the amended drug law that treats users as patients. She said that this enabled abusers to get more drugs.
At the nursery where the massacre occurred, mourners placed white roses, snacks and milk to mourn the victims, which included 24 young children.
A team of officials from the Mental Health Department was dispatched to the nursery to counsel the grieving families.
Calls grow for action to prevent repeat of Nong Bua Lamphu massacre
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2022
A children’s welfare network on Friday called on Thai society and the government to help end violence against children and women, as well as prevent a repeat of Thursday’s massacre.
In a joint statement, the 340 groups condemned the “act of violence and severe violation of human rights that deeply moved Thai society and the world community”.
The network said it was not just a personal problem of the perpetrator – sacked policeman Panya Khamrab – but was an issue that should be tackled by the government and society.
“We need urgent measures to prevent such violence from taking place again and causing more losses to women and children,” the statement said.
In a four-point demand, the network asked mainstream media and social media users to be careful about displaying or sharing photographs of violent incidents.
“Think about the children’s rights and avoid interviewing the young survivors because it will just bring back the trauma and hurt the feelings of families who have lost their loved ones,” the statement said.
It also called on the government to issue remedial measures as well as take actions to restore the morale of those at the Nong Bua Lamphu nursery where scores of children were killed.
The government should also put in place strict regulations on suppressing narcotics consumption and gun ownership, as well as take tough action against state officials with a history of drug abuse.
The 34-year-old Panya, who shot down and knifed 24 small children, had a long history of drug abuse, dating back to his school days.
Spotlight on Thailand’s gun control after Nong Bua Lamphu massacre
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2022
The massacre in a Nong Bua Lamphu nursery has raised an important question: How effective are gun controls in Thailand?
The attack on Thursday at a local nursery for preschool children, which left 38 dead and 12 injured including the gunman and his family, is the third such incident in recent years.
The last such mass killings took place in early 2020 in Lopburi and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces.
Most critics are pointing to the enforcement of the 1947 Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, Fireworks and Imitation Guns Act, and in the latest massacre, the fact that the perpetrator was a former police officer.
The law, which has been amended nine times, aims to control the use of firearms as well as owners, users, gun dealerships and authorised officials.
As per the legislation, gun ownership is banned for former convicts, drug abusers, frail or disabled persons, mentally unsound or infirm persons, incompetent or semi-competent persons and minors.
Unemployed persons or those with no income or fixed place of residence, as well as those convicted of public-order offences are also not allowed to own guns.
Gun shops are required to renew their permits annually and are allowed to procure or import a maximum of 30 pistols and 50 rifles per year.
The law also sets requirements for gun registrars and authorised officials regarding firearm ownership, registration and imports.
Gun ownership in Thailand is the highest in Southeast Asia and the 13th highest in the world, as per the independent Geneva-based Small Arms Survey.
As of 2017, 10.3 million guns in Thailand were owned privately, or 15.1 guns for every 100 persons.
According to the Royal Thai Police, in 2019 alone there were 31,419 gun-related crimes – 6,410 of them involving registered guns, 24,348 unregistered firearms and 661 rifles.
As per the 2022 Gun Deaths by Country report, Thailand had the third highest number of gun-related crimes in Asia in 2019 after Iraq and the Philippines.
Thais across the country were united in shock and grief over the horrific events in Nong Bua Lamphu on Thursday. A selection of photographs tells the story of tears, sorrow, loss and grief of families separated forever from their loved ones.
Though mass shootings of small children are relatively less frequent compared to other gun violence, they have a more profound effect on every aspect of life, including schools, families and communities. Grief has pervaded Thailand after Thursday’s tragedy in which 24 children were shot dead by a former policeman.
Here are some of the school shootings that have taken place across the world in the past four years:
The national flag will be flown at half-mast on Friday in mourning of those killed in the Nong Bua Lamphu massacre on Thursday.
Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has also instructed the Interior and Social Development and Human Security ministries to provide psychiatric help to victims’ families.
The premier is also urging people to not share images and clips of the incident as it will be distressing for victims and their families.
Prayut has also ordered relevant government agencies to step up and oversee the investigation, blood collection, psychiatric help, transportation and compensation, etc.
The PM himself will visit the victims’ families on Friday, Anucha said.
He added that victims’ families will initially be provided with the following compensation from the PM’s Office:
Death: 200,000 baht
Severe injury: 100,000 baht
Disability: 200,000 baht
Non-serious injury: 50,000 baht
More compensation will be provided in line with the situation, Anucha said.
The shooting spree at the nursery in Uthai Sawan tambon administration organisation compound claimed 38 lives, including 24 children, and left 12 injured.
Police vow to tackle drug addiction within ranks after mass killing by ex-cop
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2022
THE NATION
The Royal Thai Police have vowed to learn lessons after an ex-policemen thought to be high on drugs killed 38 people, mainly children, in Nong Bua Lamphu province on Thursday.
Panya Khamrab, 34, a former police corporal at Na Wang Police Station, went on a gun and knife rampage at a nursery in Uthai Sawan district on Thursday afternoon before killing his family and himself.
On Friday, the death toll from the massacre rose to 38. Twenty-four of the victims are children, including the killer’s son.
Police expect investigations to show that the killer was stressed and intoxicated with drugs, National Police chief Damrongsak Kittipraphat said.
He added that the force would respond by making efforts to tackle problems of drug addiction within its ranks.
“The police will take lessons learned from this incident, including tactics to tackle such incidents effectively and efforts to solve drug addiction issues,” he said.
The killer went on the rampage shortly after appearing in court on a drugs charge on Thursday morning, Damrongsak said.
The court was scheduled to issue its verdict in the case on Friday.
Panya had been dismissed from the force on June 15 for possessing methamphetamine.
His mother told police that after Thursday’s court appearance, her son had taken drugs before grabbing a gun and driving to the nursery.
The police chief said a blood test has been ordered on the killer’s body.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered police to set up a command centre and liaise with related agencies to relieve the suffering of victims’ relatives.
Thai media warned not to overstep line in reporting nursery massacre
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2022
THE NATION
Thailand’s journalism associations have warned media to be careful when reporting on the massacre in Nong Bua Lamphu.
Media should refrain from publishing accounts and photos that add to the suffering of relatives of the victims, said a statement issued by the National Press Council of Thailand, News Broadcasting Council of Thailand, and Society for Online News Providers.
The statement came after Panya Khamrab, a 34-year-old former police corporal, went on a shooting rampage at a nursery on Thursday afternoon before killing his family and himself.
On Friday, the death toll from the massacre rose to 38. Twenty-four of the victims are children, including the killer’s son.
The three press associations issued a four-point advisory statement to:
– Avoid publishing photos of the victims’ bodies that could cause further distress.
– Be careful before asking questions and publishing images that could distress victims’ relatives or condemn the killer.
– Be careful in publishing accounts of the killer and victims’ past that may lead to long-term distress for victims’ relatives.
– Be cautious about publishing information about the killer, including his actions during the incident, his criminal record, or his behaviour before the incident.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) also urged media reporting on the massacre to maintain journalistic ethics and strictly abide by laws on child protection, personal information protection and computer crime.
NBTC warned that victims’ relatives can sue media outlets that overstep the line under Section 37 of the Broadcasting and Television Businesses Act.
UN children’s agency expresses ‘shock, sadness, condolences’ over nursery massacre
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2022
THE NATION
The United Nations children’s agency, Unicef, has joined foreign embassies in offering condolences over the massacre in Nong Bua Lamphu province on Thursday.
Unicef said it was “saddened and shocked by the tragic shooting incident”, which claimed at least 38 lives, most of them young children at a nursery in the Northeast province.
“Unicef condemns all forms of violence against children. No child should be a target or witness of violence anywhere, anytime,” the agency said in a statement.
“Early childhood development centres, schools and all learning spaces must be safe havens for young children to learn, play and grow during their most critical years.”
Unicef also offered condolences to the victims’ families and urged the public and media to refrain from sharing photos of the attack out of respect for the grieving families.
Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was shocked and saddened by the horrific massacre, according to his spokesperson.
“The secretary-general extends his condolences to the families of the victims and wishes those injured a speedy recovery,” Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) also expressed deep condolences to the victims’ families.
“Attacks on schools, students and educators, are attacks on rights to education”, the agency tweeted. “No one should be a target.”
A message from UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, posted on Facebook by the British Embassy in Bangkok on Thursday, said: “I am shocked to hear of the horrific events in Thailand this morning. My thoughts are with all those affected and the first responders. The UK stands with the Thai people at this terrible time.”
The Australian Embassy in Thailand also posted a Twitter message sent by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
“It’s impossible to comprehend the heartbreak of this horrific news from Thailand,” wrote Albanese. “All Australians send their love and condolences.”
The US Embassy in Bangkok also released a statement on Thursday:
“The embassy is saddened by the tragic event in Nong Bua Lamphu province. We stand with the people of Thailand and offer our deepest condolences to the victims and their families.”
Police said at least 38 people including 24 children were killed after a gunman burst into the nursery at Uthai Sawan Tambon Administration Organisation office just after midday on Thursday. Another 10 persons were injured, eight of whom are in critical condition.
The shooter, identified as former policeman Panya Khamrab, later committed suicide at his house on Thursday after killing his wife, son and two other relatives.
Reuters
