Barkar Nash (Page 1,083)

The Education Ministry has distributed life insurance money and other financial assistance to the family members of a Mathayom Suksa 6 student who was killed when a fire extinguisher exploded during a fire drill at his Bangkok school on Friday.

Permanent secretary for education, Atthapol Sangkhawasi, met on Monday with the family of Khumthong “Benz” Premmanee, 18, who died in the incident at the Rajavinit Mathayom School in Nang Loeng area, Dusit district, to present them with the funds.

Niyom Phaisopha, director-general of Bangkok Secondary Educational Service Area Office 1, and Theprit Yodsai, the school director, also joined the visit.

The family received 200,000 baht in life insurance compensation through the school, with an additional 30,000 baht for the death from the Education Ministry and 5,000 for his family members from the permanent secretary’s office, Mr Atthapol said.

The Education Ministry has also given 5,000 baht to each family of those injured.

The ministry also planned to invite psychiatrists to the school when it reopens tomorrow.

Mr Atthapol said the ministry had ordered all schools to recheck their fire safety equipment.

The ministry has also ordered all schools through their provincial educational offices to take extra care when conducting fire drills or any activities that risk student safety, including checking equipment.

Meanwhile, Bunjong Sukritha, secretary-general of the Thailand Industrial Standards Institute (TISI), said the institute had approved Thai Industrial Standards (TSI) for three types of extinguishers: foam extinguishers, dry chemical compound extinguishers, and carbon dioxide extinguishers.

Regarding the extinguisher that exploded at the school, it was a carbon dioxide extinguisher without a TSI sign on the packaging, according to Mr Bunjong.

He added that the TISI did not put carbon dioxide extinguishers on the list of controlled goods, making TISI approval for carbon dioxide extinguishers not compulsory due to their lower popularity and efficiency when compared to others. The TISI will reconsider carbon dioxide extinguisher standardisation following the tragedy, according to Mr Bunjong.

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Political activist Ruangkrai Leekitwattana on Monday called on Move Forward Party (MFP) leader and prime minister candidate Pita Limjaroenrat to disclose details involving the sale of a 14-rai land plot he owned in Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Pran Buri district.

The move followed media reports by Isra News Agency which claimed Mr Pita recently sold the land for 6.5 million baht, although the plot was listed as being worth 18 million baht in an assets and debts declaration he submitted to the anti-graft agency in 2019.

Mr Ruangkrai, who is also a member of the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), said he sent a letter to the MFP leader to provide more information about the transaction to fulfil a constitutional requirement for a minister.

He said the MFP leader is seeking to become the prime minister, and so should prove he has the qualification listed in Section 160(4) of the charter, which says a minister must have a track record of honesty.

Among the information Mr Ruangkrai asked from Mr Pita was the land sale contract, the receipt, the estimated price, payment of land transfer fees, personal income tax, and a copy of the land ownership paper.

The PPRP member also wanted to know if Mr Pita had paid brokerage fees for the transaction and authorised anyone to carry out the transaction on his behalf.

Mr Ruangkrai also raised the question of whether the land was sold at the stated price.

Early this month, Mr Ruangkrai petitioned the Election Commission to look into the land plot and asked the poll agency to seek information regarding Mr Pita’s assets and debts declaration from the National Anti-Corruption Commission for use in the probe.

The Senate committee on political development and public participation also said last week it had launched a further probe into Mr Pita’s qualifications and his eligibility to contest the May 14 election, and it was seeking information related to Mr Pita’s assets and debts.

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Senator Upakit Pachariyangkun on Monday attended a preliminary hearing involving a 100-million-baht defamation lawsuit he filed against Move Forward Party MP Rangsiman Rome.

The lawsuit was lodged after the general debate in February in which Mr Rangsiman raised money laundering allegations against a senator with the Thai initial “Or”.

Then Mr Upakit had his lawyer file a defamation lawsuit against Mr Rangsiman seeking 100 million baht in damages. The Criminal Court scheduled the preliminary hearing on Monday before determining if the lawsuit would be accepted. It was reportedly postponed from May 1.

The MFP MP insisted on Monday he was doing his job when he raised alleged irregularities involving the senator during the general debate.

Mr Rangsiman said there had been several developments involving the senator after the general debate, which he felt the need to discuss publicly.

“I’ll fight the cases against me, and I’m confident I’ll win,” he said.

Mr Rangsiman’s legal team said the court would review the plaintiff’s witness testimony to determine if there are grounds for the allegations.

Mr Upakit, who was greeted by a group of supporters, said on Monday two witnesses, including himself, would give statements to the court.

The senator was recently charged with colluding in money laundering and involvement in a transnational criminal organisation while serving in the upper chamber.

He strongly denied the allegations that he had connections with drug rings and laundered ill-gotten money through an electricity supply business operating on the Thai-Myanmar border.

The attorney-general will decide on the matter on July 26.

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The Constitutional Court has asked the attorney-general for an update on a petition lodged against the Move Forward Party (MFP) and its leader Pita Limjaroenrat over their policy to abolish the lese majeste law.

Originally filed by Theerayut Suwankesorn, the petition seeks to compel the court to order the MFP and Mr Pita, who is the party’s prime ministerial candidate, to block the move as it may contravene the charter.

Mr Theerayut has suggested the MFP’s plan is a breach of Section 49, which prohibits people from using their rights and freedoms to overthrow the constitutional monarchy.

It also states that an individual who learns of such an act can ask the attorney-general to forward the matter to the Constitutional Court. In case the attorney-general rejects the petition or fails to take action within 15 days, the person can lodge a petition directly with the Constitutional Court.

In his petition, Mr Theerayut claimed he filed the petition with the attorney-general on May 30 and decided to bring the matter to the Constitutional Court because the attorney-general had not acted within 15 days.

Mr Theerayut cited the Constitutional Court’s ruling on calls for reforms of the monarchy by protest leaders to support his petition.

The court ruled in November 2021 that the actions of three protest leaders at a rally at Thammasat University in August 2020 were an attempt to overthrow the constitutional monarchy.

At the rally, Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul read out a set of 10 demands, including reform of the monarchy. The incident shocked many people, and the protesters were accused of crossing the line.

Then, Natthaporn Toprayoon, a lawyer and former adviser to the chief ombudsman, petitioned the court to consider the actions of human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa, Panupong Jadnok and Ms Panusaya.

The judges ruled the actions of the trio had covert intentions to exercise their rights and liberties to undermine and overthrow the democratic regime with the King as head of state, and the trio were ordered to halt such a move.

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The United States and the United Kingdom have pledged to support the promotion of LGBTQ+ rights in Thailand.

The pledge was made by the US and UK envoys at the US-UK Annual Pride Event, which was held on June 23 with the theme “United in Love 2023”.

At the event, held to celebrate the efforts of human rights defenders working on LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion, as well as to reaffirm the UK and US commitment to gender equality and LGBTQ+ communities in Thailand, both envoys said everyone, everywhere, should be free to love who they want.

Mark Gooding, the British ambassador, said that Thailand is a welcoming country toward LGBTQ+ individuals from all around the world before noting that Thailand is currently on its own journey towards gender equality.

Drawing on his own experiences, Mr Gooding stressed the importance of ensuring gender equality for LGBTQ+ individuals. Mr Gooding and his husband were among the first couples to be registered when the UK passed the Civil Partnership Bill in 2005, and they married in 2015 after the Marriage Act was amended in 2014.

“This is important … to be treated equally, not differently from other people. Not be given more, not be given less. Also, the rights that come with [marriage], from tax benefits, inheritance, need to be equal,” he said.

When asked to give advice to the incoming government on LGBTQ+ rights, he said that the UK is ready to support the push, and he looked forward to seeing and sharing the experience.

Like Mr Gooding, Robert F Godec, the US envoy, said he was pleased to see the progress the US and Thailand have made on LGBTQ+ rights. “We look forward to working shoulder to shoulder with the community and Thai government to share our experiences and hopefully continue to make progress in the months and years ahead… This community needs to be fully and globally recognised and fully free to love whom they love and marry whom they wish and make their own choices about their lives. That is what’s important, and it is true across the entire world.”

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The Education Ministry has issued life insurance money and other financial assistance to the family members of a Mathayom Suksa 6 student who was killed when a fire extinguisher exploded during a fire drill at his Bangkok school on Friday.

Permanent secretary for education, Atthapol Sangkhawasi, met on Monday with the family of Khumthong “Benz” Premmanee, 18, who died in the incident at the Rajavinit Mathayom School in Nang Loeng area, Dusit district, to present them with the funds.

Niyom Phaisopha, director-general of Bangkok Secondary Educational Service Area Office 1, and Theprit Yodsai, the school director, also joined the visit.

The family received 200,000 baht in life insurance compensation through the school, with an additional 30,000 baht for the death from the Education Ministry and 5,000 for his family members from the permanent secretary’s office, Mr Atthapol said.

The Education Ministry has also given 5,000 baht to each family of those injured.

The ministry also planned to invite psychiatrists to the school when it reopens tomorrow.

Mr Atthapol said the ministry had ordered all schools to recheck their fire safety equipment.

The ministry has also ordered all schools through their provincial educational offices to take extra care when conducting fire drills or any activities that risk student safety, including checking equipment.

Meanwhile, Bunjong Sukritha, secretary-general of the Thailand Industrial Standards Institute (TISI), said the institute had approved Thai Industrial Standards (TSI) for three types of extinguishers: foam extinguishers, dry chemical compound extinguishers, and carbon dioxide extinguishers.

Regarding the extinguisher that exploded at the school, it was a carbon dioxide extinguisher without a TSI sign on the packaging, according to Mr Bunjong.

He added that the TISI did not put carbon dioxide extinguishers on the list of controlled goods, making TISI approval for carbon dioxide extinguishers not compulsory due to their lower popularity and efficiency when compared to others. The TISI will reconsider carbon dioxide extinguisher standardisation following the tragedy, according to Mr Bunjong.

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The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has launched an automatic traffic-management system on four city roads in a pilot project aimed at boosting vehicle flow along the routes.

Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt, who presided over the launch, said the system had been installed at 13 intersections on Rama VI Road, Ratchawithi Road, Phahon Yothin Road and Praditpat Road.

He said that currently, almost 1,000 officers are deployed to control traffic lights across the city, with half of them being traffic light controllers. However, information-sharing between units is inefficient.

The new Bangkok Area Traffic Control Project (BATCP) will collect information, including density, wait time at lights and tailback locations, to enable improved management of traffic and prevent jams from worsening, he said, adding that it would also help to reduce the workload of officers.

The BMA plans to expand the intelligent traffic-management system to cover 500 spots across the capital by 2026. In the future, motorists may also access traffic information on their smartphones so they can plan their journey in advance.

Bangkok deputy governor Visanu Samsompol said that under the Area Traffic Control system, cameras are installed at intersections and connected with a city-wide control system to synchronise the network better.

He said that equipment to detect congestion will be installed to calculate traffic signal timing, and volumetric data will also be used to assist police in traffic management.

Mr Visanu said the Area Traffic Control system is expected to boost traffic flow by 10% during busy periods and by 30% at other times.

He said the BMA had received assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) in the implementation of the system.

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The eight prospective coalition parties are expected to discuss a contingency plan at a meeting on Thursday if they cannot proceed with the formation of a government, according to Pheu Thai secretary-general Prasert Chantararuangthong.

Asked if Pheu Thai had a backup plan in case the Move Forward Party (MFP) cannot form the government, Mr Prasert said: “If necessary, the issue may be raised at a meeting on June 29, the day the eight-party coalition will have a meeting.”

“After the selection of the House speaker, the next step is to select a prime minister. We may have to discuss the matter carefully, particularly the number of MPs who support [each candidate],” Mr Prasert said.

Asked about a rumour that a substantial sum of money would be paid to renegade MPs in certain parties in exchange for their support during the vote on the House speaker or the vote for a prime minister, Mr Prasert said: “It will not be easy this time because democracy has progressed considerably.

“In previous elections, renegade MPs could not make it back into parliament,” he said, adding that Pheu Thai never grants its MPs a free vote on important issues such as the selection of the House speaker.

The rumour mill went into overdrive recently about a move by rival parties to form a government and usurp the eight-party coalition led by the MFP by paying to lure the support of rene­gade MPs.

Responding to the rumour that about 60 renegade MPs would be paid 100 million baht each in exchange for their support, Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul said: “People [in their right mind] wouldn’t pay.”

Asked whether Bhumjaithai would join a coalition government led by Pheu Thai if the MFP fails in its bid to form a government, Mr Anutin said that there had been no signs showing the MFP would fail so far.

He also said that Bhumjaithai had never even thought of joining a minority government.

Meanwhile, Phichai Ratnatilaka Na Bhuket, programme director for politics and development strategy at the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida), said that Mr Pita stands a good chance of becoming the next prime minister.

He said that when 500 MPs and 250 senators convene to select a PM, should Mr Pita fail to secure the support of more than half, or 376 lawmakers, the eight-party coalition must try to gather the backing of other parties.

If that support is still not enough, Pheu Thai will have the legitimacy to form a government, Mr Phichai said.

However, he said the Democrat Party may become a decisive factor in deciding the fate of Mr Pita.

Mr Phichai said the Democrats would hold a general assembly on July 9 to select a new leader, and if Abhisit Vejjajiva, its former leader, is re-elected, it is likely that he will support Mr Pita to become the next prime minister.

Mr Phichai said he did not think Pheu Thai would try to oust the MFP to become the leader in forming a government as this would hurt the party’s reputation.

Olarn Thinbangtieo, a political science lecturer at Burapha University, echoed the view, saying he did not think a minority government was a possibility, particularly as the sums quoted to secure the support of renegade MPs were not worth paying.

“A minority government will lack political legitimacy and could not run the country. It also remains to be seen whether Pheu Thai will stick with the eight-party coalition or change sides,” Mr Olarn said.

Writing on Facebook on Monday, former senator Paisal Puechmongkol said that the plot to buy renegade MPs had been aborted because Mr Anutin refused to join a minority government, and the Democrats appear to support Mr Abhisit’s return as party leader.

Mr Abhisit is likely to uphold democratic principles by supporting a candidate from the party that won the most House seats in the election, Mr Paisal said.

His Majesty the King will preside over the state opening of parliament on July 3, and members of parliament will select the House speaker the following day, according to Senate Speaker Pornpetch Wichitcholchai.

After the selection of the House speaker, a joint sitting of the House of Representatives and the Senate is expected to convene on July 13 to select a new prime minister.

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The number of Covid-19 patients in Thailand is dropping while Covid-19 deaths are mostly people aged above 70 and the unvaccinated, according to the Public Health Ministry.

Dr Opas Karnka­winpong, permanent secretary for public health, on Monday said that the number of Covid-19 cases and deaths worldwide is gradually dropping.

In Thailand, reports also showed that Covid-19 inpatients and clusters are disappearing, he added.

However, Dr Opas noted that deaths were in the so-called “608” at-risk group; people 60 years and over, those with underlying conditions and pregnant women. Most of them were unvaccinated and older than 70 years old.

It is still advised that large gatherings be avoided and Covid-19 preventive measures encouraged. Dr Opas said that masks should be worn when in close contact with the elderly, children and people with underlying conditions.

The Public Health Ministry is encouraging people with family members who are senior citizens or in the 608 group to get Covid-19 vaccine boosters as well as an influenza shot.

For children aged six months to five years old who have not been vaccinated, Dr Opas said parents should get them vaccinated to avoid severe Covid-19 symptoms and death.

In Thailand, the dominant subvariant is the Omicron-lineage, which does not increase its transmissibility. The virus can still be detected by an antigen-test kit or RT-PCR, he said.

Opas: ‘Clusters disappearing’

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