Barkar Nash – Page 1024

Thousands flock to Khao Yai for long holiday

On: June 5, 2023

Visitors find scenic spots to take photos at the Haew Suwat Waterfall in Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima. (File photo: VARUTH HIRUNYATHEB)

Thousands of travellers flocked to Khao Yai National Park for a long holiday from June 3-5, generating nearly 800,000 baht in revenue for the park from entrance fees, park chief Chaiya Huayhongthong revealed on Monday.

He said a total of 13,370 Thai and foreign holidaymakers visited the park during the period. They included 11,947 Thai adults, 943 Thai children, 394 foreign adults and 86 foreign children.

They travelled to the park via two entry points – the Chao Pho Khao Yai Shrine in Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, and Noen Hom in Muang district, Nakhon Nayok – with 3,585 cars, 623 motorcycles and a six-wheel passenger bus. The park collected a total of 784,590 baht in revenue from entrance fees.

Elderly people aged 60 and over, 578 in total, and 54 children aged 3 and lower were exempted from the entrance fees.

Khao Yai National Park is a World Heritage Site straddling Saraburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Prachinburi, and Nakhon Nayok provinces. It is still rich with natural resources such as forests and wildlife, and well-known for natural tourist spots with cool weather throughout the year.

Only about 170 kilometres from Bangkok, the park’s scenic views draw numerous visitors, especially during long holidays.

Mr Chaiya said on Saturday night more than 1,000 holidaymakers occupied the Lam Ta Khong camping site, adjacent to wildlife grazing nearby.

If they are lucky, they may also see a herd of 10-20 wild elephants passing by, he added.

Covid inpatients increase amid concerns about children’s development

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 5, 2023

In: South-East Asia

A health professional prepares a dose of Covid-19 vaccine for inoculation in Bangkok early this month. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)

The number of Covid-19 inpatients rose last week while health authorities encouraged vaccination for young children to protect their development.

Dr Tares Krassanairawiwong, director-general of the Department of Disease Control, said that from May 28 to June 3 there were 3,085 Covid-19 inpatients, up 4% from the previous week.

On average there were about 440 Covid-19 inpatients a day last week, up from 424 in the previous week.

However, the number of inpatients with lung inflammation dropped to 386 from 425. Among them, 243 were dependent on ventilators, down from 253.

Meanwhile, fatalities related to Covid-19 rose. Last week there were 68 new fatalities, up by 62% from 42 in the previous week.

Dr Tares said that elderly people, those with underlying diseases and pregnant women formed 97% of the new deaths and they were insufficiently vaccinated against Covid-19.

He encouraged people to receive annual vaccinations to prevent serious illness and death in case they contract the disease.

He said this year children younger than one year old had the highest rate of Covid-19 illness, 1,581 per 100,000 people, followed by those aged 70 years old and over, (647 per 100,000).

Dr Tares recommended parents bring young children for Covid-19 vaccinations. He said there were fewer undesireable symptoms among the young than among older children, and Covid-19 vaccines had proven internationally to be very safe for recipients.

There could be a fever for a few days, but no severe or dangerous symptoms in young vaccine recipients, he said.

Prof Dr Kulkalaya Chokpaibulkit, a paediatrician at Siriraj Hospital, said vaccination cut the risks of long Covid symptoms and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).

Unvaccinated children with underlying illnesses could develop severe and prolonged symptoms which might affect their development, she said.

Pita promises same-sex marriage at 50,000-strong Pride parade

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 5, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Move Forward Party leader and prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat (left) poses for a selfie with a member of the LGBTQIA+ community during the Pride March event in Bangkok on Sunday. (AFP photo)

The frontrunner to be Thailand’s next prime minister joined a Pride parade in the capital on Sunday, promising to pass a law that would allow same-sex marriage and gender identity rights if he becomes premier.

Thousands of LGBTQ+ people, their allies and political leaders marched through central Bangkok, marking Pride month and promoting gender equality in the second official Pride parade to be held in the country.

Marchers waved rainbow flags with one holding a placard that said “freedom to choose gender” and another that said “love is love,” in rainbow colours. Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt said that over 50,000 people joined this year’s Pride parade, more than double the attendance of last year’s event.

Move Forward Party leader and prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat (2nd right) gestures during the Pride March event in Bangkok on Sunday as Pheu Thai Party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra (2nd left) looks on. (AFP photo)

Political figures joining the parade included Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the progressive Move Forward party, which is pushing to lead a coalition after winning the most seats in a May 14 general election when voters made clear their hope of ending almost 10 years of rule by the military and military-backed governments.

“Once the government is formed we will support Marriage Equality (Act), Gender Identity (Act) and several others, including welfare,” Mr Pita told reporters at the parade.

“These few things will make the celebration of diversity in Pride Month into pride always,” he said.

Pheu Thai Party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra (centre) take part in the Pride March event in Bangkok on Sunday. (AFP photo)

The coalition, which consisted of eight political parties, has made a joint pledge to pass laws, including the Marriage Equality Act, to ensure equal rights for all couples regardless of gender, after the passage of the draft law and related legislations were stalled in parliament under the previous government.

Thailand has one of Asia’s most open and visible lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, but many political activists say the country’s laws and traditional institutions have yet to reflect changing social attitudes and still discriminate against LGBT people and same-sex couples.

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Family fears for Malaysian woman missing in Chiang Rai

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 5, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Malaysian woman Angie Chong Sum Yee, 22. Her family has lost contact with her since she wentto Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai province. (Photo supplied)

CHIANG MAI: A search has been launched for a young Malaysian woman whose mother says has been out of contact since sending photos taken during a visit to the border town of Mae Sai in Chiang Rai province.

She fears her daughter may be in danger.

The mother’s Facebook message in Chinese and English was posted on Friday along with pictures sent by her daughter, Angie Chong Sum Yee, 22.

The message, which was later translated into Thai, and the pictures were shared widely on social media including the “Muang Chiang Mai” Facebook page.

The mother said her daughter travelled to Chiang Mai alone by air on May 29. Her daughter took pictures of various places in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai and sent them to her.

The last pictures she took and sent to her indicated that she was in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai, a border town opposite Myanmar’s Tachilek. They included those of the border checkpoints of Mae Sai and Tachilek.

She said her daughter had been out of contact since sending the pictures from Mae Sai.

The mother was afraid her daughter might have crossed the border from Mae Sai to Tachilek and could be in danger.

Immigration and tourist police have contacted Myanmar officials at the Tachilek checkpoint.

They were asked to check security camera recordings to see if the young Malaysian woman had crossed the border to Tachilek, where there are many large casinos and business complexes where many people from Thailand and other countries work.

Sereepisuth offers S112 assurances

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 4, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Pol Gen Sereepisuth Temeeyaves, leader of the Seri Ruam Thai Party, a member of the prospective coalition led by the Move Forward Party (MFP), has assured the Senate that he will not allow the lese majeste law to be amended, in what is seen as a bid to woo support ahead of the prime ministerial vote.

Pol Gen Sereepisuth moved to allay the concern about any bid to revise Section 112 of the Criminal Code after the MFP and its seven partners signed an MoU agreeing on a joint policy platform on May 22.

“Amending Section 112 is not included in the memorandum of understanding,” Pol Gen Sereepisuth said.

He pointed out that several senators had said they would not vote for MFP leader and PM candidate Pita Limjaroenrat as long as the party still wants to amend Section 112.

“I will not allow Move Forward to amend the law. Other parties [which are partners of the prospective coalition] such as Prachachart and Pheu Thai have also opposed the bid.

“Therefore, the senators should not worry as they can vote [for a prime minister candidate] freely,” he said.

Under the constitution, the 250 senators appointed by the now-defunct coup-engineer, the National Council for Peace and Order, are allowed to join MPs in electing a prime minister in parliament. MFP has said it is prepared to go it alone in seeking votes for its S112 changes.

Meanwhile, acting Democrat leader Jurin Laksanawisit yesterday commented on complaints against MPs-elect in about 25 constituencies as announced by the Election Commission (EC), saying he believed this would not affect the bid by the MFP-led coalition to form a government.

“As long as the eight parties in the prospective coalition stick together, they should retain a majority of House seats even if they would have their House seat numbers deducted by 25,” Mr Jurin said.

Pheu Thai secretary-general Prasert Chantararuangthong also downplayed the complaints against MPs-elect, many of whom are believed to be election candidates from Pheu Thai and the MFP.

He said that even if they are disqualified, this still should not obstruct the MFP-led coalition’s bid to form a government.

But the EC will have to endorse at least 95% of all 500 MPs-elect first, Mr Prasert said. “If the EC is to hold election reruns, I am confident voters will still support us anyway,” he said.

EC chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong said on Saturday that he was confident 95% of the votes would be endorsed well ahead of the 60-day, mid-July deadline. However, he said 280 complaints have been lodged against MPs-elect. Those complaints targeted 20 winning candidates.

The poll agency has to check all 95,000 polling stations nationwide to determine where vote recounts or even poll reruns might have to be held.

New govt agency to manage ‘big data’

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 4, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Public information will direct policies

The government has created the Big Data Institute (BDI), a public agency that will handle the massive amount of data generated by the public and state agencies.

The BDI, announced in the Royal Gazette on Friday, is expected to be up and running within 180 days, said Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, president and chief executive of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (Depa).

The agency will supersede the Government Big Data Institute (GBDi), opened in May 2019.

Mr Nuttapon said the BDI will become the first public agency in the country to use big data to drive economic and social developments and direct future policies.

The institute will engage sectors that want to use its big data to help solve issues hampering their work, increase their productivity, or write economic-related policies.

The institute will also provide big data analysis services and support for big data innovations that meet international standards. It will support the data analysis business and help training workers in the big data industry.

According to the Royal Gazette, the BDI will be responsible for big data development, both under law and by government order, and can urge the public sector’s support for any cooperation the institute needs.

Depa under the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) has supported the use of big data for the nation’s benefit since the GBDi was in operation, said Mr Nuttapon.

The now-defunct GBDi was directed by young experts to capitalise on the nation’s big data.

Big data, he said, has helped streamline over 100 projects by 67 state agencies. It has also assisted in the development of platforms such as the Health Link, Travel Link, Youth Link, and CO-Link.

The transformation of GBDi into the BDI will enhance national development, said Mr Nuttapon.

Move Forward slams holiday booze ban

By: Barkar Nash

On: June 4, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Says curbs go against country’s constitution

The ban on the sales of alcoholic beverages during Buddhist holidays has sparked a heated debate between advocates and critics of the law — including the Move Forward Party, which is campaigning for the end of the ban.

MFP key figures have voiced their opposition to the ban, calling it an unnecessary restriction on individual freedom.

Party executive, Amarat Chokpamitkul, took to social media yesterday to express her disagreement with the ban, which was enforced on Saturday to honour Vesak, also known as Visakha Bucha Day, which marks the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing.

According to Ms Amarat, banning the sale of alcoholic beverages on Buddhist holidays goes against the nation’s constitution, which also guarantees the people’s right to belong to religions other than Buddhism.

Since many other religions do not frown upon the consumption of alcoholic beverages the way Buddhism does, the ban encroaches on their freedom to choose what’s best for themselves, she said.

Under current regulations, those who violate the ban could face up to six months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to 10,000 baht.

There are five Buddhist holidays in every calendar year during which the sale of alcoholic beverages are prohibited, namely Makha Bucha Day, Visakha Bucha Day, Asarnha Bucha Day, as well as the start and end of Buddhist Lent.

Ms Amarat said such a ban isn’t common in other countries, before urging authorities to strictly enforce other rules to prevent alcohol-related accidents, such as the drink-driving law.

Similarly, MFP MP-elect for Bangkok Taopiphop Limjittrakorn wrote on Facebook saying that basing the ban on a religious belief affects freedom of religion and occupation under the constitution.

However, Songkran Pakchokdee, director of the StopDrink Network Office, a temperance group, said yesterday Thailand’s ban on alcohol sales on Buddhist holidays is in line with the guidelines set by the World Health Organization.

“The ban restricts access to places where alcohol can be bought and sold, not its consumption. People can still stock up in advance for consumption at their homes, anyway,” he said.

“No one has ever kicked up a fuss about the matter until now,” Mr Songkran said.

He said the group isn’t opposed to the MFP’s progressive liquor policy, but it disagrees with any bill which seeks to lift restrictions of alcohol advertising.

In response to Ms Amarat’s call for the lifting of the alcohol ban, Phetchawat Wattanapongsirikul, a list-MP candidate for the Pheu Thai Party, said the ban should be retained as it helps prevent road accidents caused by drink-driving.

A total of 836 people were arrested on charges of drink-driving on April 16, said Mr Phetchawat, who formerly served as a deputy chairman of the House committee on religion, arts and culture.

The MFP is pushing the “progressive liquor bill” to amend the Excise Tax Act, in an bid to end the monopoly of big businesses in the alcoholic drink business and allow small-scale producers to enter the market.

However, the bill was shot down at its second and third readings in the House of Representatives late last year, shortly after the cabinet approved a new set of rules to control alcohol production.

The party lambasted the rules for posing stiffer barriers to small makers of alcoholic beverages and attempting to protect the interests of large brewers. But the government said the new regulations help ensure the quality of alcoholic drinks.

MFP slams holiday booze ban