Barkar Nash – Page 1105

Karen villagers can return to forest, rules committee

On: April 30, 2023

Park officers patrol the rice fields of Karen villagers near Bang Kloy Lang, in Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex in 2021. (Photo: Pratch Rujivanarom)

In 2021, garden officials patrol Karen villagers’ corn areas close to Bang Kloy Lang in the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex. ( Photo: Rujivanarom Pratch)

The Karen people have been given permission to go back to Bang Kloy Bon if they so choose by an independent commission looking into a land dispute between them and the officials.

According to Suchart Setthamalinee, a member of the National Human Rights Commission( NHRC ), the committee headed by Anucha Nakasai, the prime minister, published an article on April 18 offering suggestions for the Karen villagers who had been evicted.

The committee’s initial recommendation was to grant the request of 732 Karen people to return to their ancient home, arable land located deep within the Bang Kloy Bon forest in Kaeng Krachan National Park.

Another idea was to permit 150 Karen villagers in the Kaeng Krachan city of Phetchaburi province to establish a new place in Huay Mae Priang village. Both groups may receive assistance and compensation for the effects of being kicked out of Bang Kloy Bon.

The commission also provided additional assistance for widespread crops, their preferred method of growing grain.

According to Mr. Suchart, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has been given the task of assembling a working committee made up of Karen locals who want to go back to Bang Kloy Bon, along with the government itself.

The working council will also evaluate Karen villagers’ use of agricultural land.

According to Mr. Suchart,” The NHRC is pleased that the active commission surveyed, looked into, and resolved the debate for the Karen people from Bang Kloy and suggested to the PM that they should be permitted to resume the forest.”

The National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department( DNP ) had repeatedly tried to drive Karen residents of Bang Kloy Bon out of their village, but the NHRC had urged Prime Minister Prayut to protect their rights.

Wage hike pledges slammed

By: Barkar Nash

On: April 30, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Labour groups call sums unrealistic

Workers are seen at the PASAYA home-decor textile manufacturing factory in Ratchaburi’s Bang Phae district, which has pledged to ensure good working conditions for employees. The government, led by the Ministry of Labour, is hosting an event today to mark International Labour Day at Lan Khon Muang in front of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin is expected to preside over the event. Varuth Hirunyatheb

As the country marks Labour Day today, activists have expressed concerns over campaign promises made by parties to abruptly raise the minimum daily wages to levels they believe are unrealistic.

The Pheu Thai Party, for instance, has pledged to lift the sum to a single rate of 600 baht, while Move Forward Party (MFP) has promised to raise the minimum wage rate to 450 baht per day in every province.

Currently, the minimum daily wage in Bangkok is 353 baht, while workers in Chon Buri receive 354 baht a day. Their counterparts in other provinces receive a lower rate.

In the last general election campaign, similar promises were made by several parties. The ruling Palang Pracharath Party pledged to raise the daily wage to between 400 and 425 baht, a promise which has yet to be fulfilled. Meanwhile, Pheu Thai back then promised voters it would increase the amount to 400 baht per day.

”None of these parties has ever seriously supported movements by labour groups calling for a realistic bump in wages, yet they are now promising workers a ridiculous minimum rate,” said Sanguan Khunsong, leader of a group of workers from factories in Om Noi in Samut Sakhon and Om Yai in Nakhon Pathom.

”These promises are being conveyed only to win the election,” she said.

Worse still, none of the parties has mentioned how they will deal with the inevitable hike in consumer product prices that will follow any across-the-board rise in incomes, she said.

Wichai Naraphaibun, manager of Thai Labour Museum, said although he supports proposals to raise the rate, he has yet to be convinced that the country’s industrial infrastructure will improve any time soon.

He bases this assertion on what he has seen from the parties to date as they campaign for the May 14 election.

“Even the Yingluck Shinawatra administration, that promised to raise the daily wage to 300 baht and actually implemented the policy when they won, didn’t contribute to the country’s industrial infrastructure.

“Technology and research and innovation play a key role in development, as we have seen in countries such as South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan where wages are high,” he said.

In his opinion, Pheu Thai will never implement a 600-baht minimum wage and will blame that failure on a lack of support from its partners in a coalition government.

Since the policy was announced, the prices of certain consumer products have already gone up, according to Chanthip Loet-hathakan, an activist working with a network of workers in the informal economy.

However, Ekaporn Rakkwamsuk, a Pheu Thai list candidate, insisted the pledge is realistic, saying the party also has other policies that will help transform Thailand into a so-called digital country by 2027, and see gross domestic product (GDP) grow at least 5% per year.

”By then every worker will earn at least 600 baht a day and while the whole family will be guaranteed to earn at least 20,000 baht a month,” he said.

Suthep Ou-oun, an MFP list candidate, meanwhile, said that aside from raising the daily wage once to 450 baht, the MFP also aims to raise the sum every year after that.

In the long term, the party intends to stop using daily wages in favour of using monthly incomes as part of its overall plan to create a welfare state, he said.

Manit Promkarikul, of the United Thai Nation Party (UTN) said the party intends to push for a national chain of “labour banks” which will allow workers under the social security system to use contributions they have paid into the retirement fund in as a form of collateral when making loan applications.

Manas Kosol, a president of the Confederation of Thai Labour and leader of the Nation Building Labour Party (NLP), stressed the need for fair employment laws to ensure secure the welfare for workers.

Sudarat latest to take aim at ending ‘rifts’

By: Barkar Nash

On: April 30, 2023

In: South-East Asia

TST can heal old wounds, says leader

Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, leader of the Thai Sang Thai (TST) Party, yesterday told voters in Chiang Rai that her party is a perfect fit to resolve long-standing political divisions.

Addressing 3,000 people in the northeastern province, she said these rifts have plagued the nation for more than 17 years and hindered national development.

But the TST, she said, stands alone and is not a proxy for any behind-the-scenes factions or donors.

This impartiality means it is ideally positioned to assist parties on both sides of the floor coordinate in putting their differences aside.

Khunying Sudarat expressed confidence the military would have no excuse to stage further coups if political and social wounds are healed and unity restored.

She said the TST’s policies are catered towards helping the “small people”, adding its proposal to hand out credit cards with a spending limit of 50,000 baht will replace the government welfare card programme.

During her visit, Khunying Sudarat also stopped off to campaign in Constituency 6 and Constituency 7 where Udomdech Duangkaew and Buasorn Prachamon are contesting the elections under the party’s banner.

BHUMJAITHAI COURTS DISABLED

The Bhumjaithai Party yesterday promised disabled voters a comprehensive policy that would improve their livelihoods and better protect their rights.

Anusaree Tapsuwan, a former social development and human security adviser, led a party-sponsored seminar during which it courted input from attendees with disabilities.

Based on that input, it hopes to fine-tune its plans to implement policies that address the group’s needs and challenges.

She said that apart from assistance from the state, people with disabilities should be better protected so they can live with dignity and pride.

It is the Bhumjaithai’s Party goal to strengthen the capacity of disabled people and promote equal opportunities for them, she said.

Sora-at Klinprathum, Bhumjaithai’s chief adviser, told the seminar legal amendments may be required to address issues facing people with disabilities.

He said the party would propose an amendment to the law on promoting the development of the quality of life of the disabled to ensure their rights are recognised and better protected.

The seminar was attended by various groups including the Association of the Physically Handicapped of Thailand, the Thailand Association of the Blind, and the Redemptorist Foundation for People with Disabilities.

TURNING LIKES INTO VOTES

The Move Forward Party (MFP) will be stepping up its online electioneering following a surge in support in recent polls.

MFP deputy secretary-general Natcha Boonchai-insawat said yesterday a surge in the party’s online campaign has been bolstered by young people acting on their own.

As the election campaign enters its last leg, the party and its candidates will seek to build on its online momentum and translate shares and likes into real votes at the polls.

He said key party figures including MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat may now appear in debates less often as they are needed in the provinces to help party candidates woo votes.

Mr Natcha said the party will also intensify its campaign against vote-buying.

It wants to raise awareness among voters that if they accept vote-buying money, they will open door to crooked politicians and financial backers to exploit the country for personal gains.

Health officials to hand out seasonal boosters

By: Barkar Nash

On: April 30, 2023

In: South-East Asia

A nurse prepares a Covid-19 vaccine shot in Samut Prakan province this month. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)

This quarter in Samut Prakan territory, a nurse is getting ready to administer the Covid – 19 vaccine shot. Somchai Poomlard in the photography

Similar to the annual influenza vaccine, the Public Health Ministry wants this summer to be the first in which individuals receive yearly Covid – 19 booster shots.

As cases of Covid – 19 infections spiked double last week as a result of the global spread of XBB, deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek stated on Sunday that Thailand still needs to keep an eye on the disease. A substrain of the Omicron variant is 1. 26.

The majority of those who passed away during that time were members of the so-called” 608″ at-risk collection, which includes people over 60, people with underlying conditions, and pregnant women.

This summer, the government urges people to receive both the flu and Covid – 19 vaccinations.

Covid – 19 vaccines are available for free to the general public at public hospitals, while the price of bullets at personally run facilities varies.

Additionally, the influenza vaccine is offered for free to at-risk individuals.

A completely flu shot is available once a year to Social Security Fund consumers over 50.

Flu shots will be available at their preferred facilities this year from Monday through August 31.

Thais who received Covid – 19 photos three to four months ago are advised to have boosted to lessen the severity of attacks by the Public Health Ministry. Major companies like Pfizer and Moderna offer double types and upgraded variations of the vaccine.

In order to provide seven at-risk groups with 2.9 million doses of flu vaccines against three variants — A H1N1, A H3N2, and B Victoria — under the universal health scheme, or gold card scheme— for free until August 31, the National Health Security Office and the Department of Disease Control will open vaccination sites.

Pregnant women, infants between the ages of 6 months and 2 years old, patients with chronic diseases like obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, heart condition, stroke, kidney failure, cancers, diabetes, people over 65, albumin and immunodeficiency, individuals weighing more than 100 kg, and those with aphasia are among these groups.

She advised Bangkok residents who didn’t use the Pao Tang app to register for vaccination to call the 1330 line or email”@ nhso” on Line to have the problem fixed.

Diving instructor cursed for killing titan triggerfish

By: Barkar Nash

On: April 30, 2023

In: South-East Asia

A Facebook post that was later removed shows a dead titan triggerfish and a bitten leg, along with a message reading the fish deserved to be killed for the attack. (Screen capture)

A later-removed Facebook post features a useless giant triggerfish and bitten foot, along with the information that the seafood deserved to be killed for the episode. ( Screen capture )

A swimming professor who killed a huge triggerfish and claimed it deserved to die after biting him was criticized by the minister of natural resources and the atmosphere.

The dive instructor should be aware that he should set a good example for his scholars and that swimmers are entering animal environments, so they should respect the guests, according to Minister Warawut Silpa-archa on Sunday.

” This situation has me very unhappy. He was fortunate to be outside of a national park. If not, I would get the harshest punishment possible, which would be prison, the minister said.

Titan triggerfish, according to Mr. Warawut, helped secure coral despite not being a species that was protected because they consumed coral-eating creatures.

It is your responsibility to conserve. What did divers look at if there are no river fish? It doesn’t make sense to shoot something after it hurts you as a diving instructor. Is it too simple to apologize in this situation? It will be good if folks adopts your mindset, he warned.

In response to a swimming instructor’s Facebook post, Mr. Warawut claimed to have killed the leviathan triggerfish while diving to coral off the Pathiu district of Chumphon after it bit his leg.

The article was heartfelt and stated that the fish should have died because it bit him and many other leaping clients.

After receiving harsh criticism, the dive instructor wrote a letter of apology.

Water birds were naturally protective of their environments and homes, according to assistance Prof. Thon Thamrongnawasawat of the marine biology division at Kasetsart University, and maritime travellers were guests to the animals’ homes and should abide by the hosts’ rules.

CP Group denies supporting slash-and-burn farming

By: Barkar Nash

On: April 30, 2023

In: South-East Asia

The dust situation in part of Chiang Mai town as seen in a photo taken on April 18. (Photo: Panumet Tanraksa)

The Charoen Pokphand Group, Thailand’s largest conglomerate, on Sunday issued a statement, saying it has never had a policy of supporting slash-and-burn agriculture, be it in the country or abroad.

In the statement, CP Group was referring to a pre-election debate on April 28 by politicians from various parties competing in the May 14 election. The theme of the debate was the PM2.5 dust pollution problems in the North.

During the debate, some debaters referred to CP in a way that could cause a misunderstanding to the general public with incorrect information, the company said.

First, the politicians said slash-and-burn was a method used by investors to cut capital costs. To this point, CP Group asserted it had never had a policy of reducing investment costs by promoting the method of cultivation in which forests are burned and cleared for planting.

CP Group went on to explain that in the past 10 years it has worked with farmers and society for a sustainable environment. During the past five years, CP had used the corn traceability system in buying corn. One hundred percent of corn seeds purchased by CP are legally produced, not from slash-and-burn practice, according to the statement, which added that CP had no policy of cutting costs by destroying the environment.

Second, it was said in the debate that animal feed investors had promoted contract farming and bought corn from farmers, without caring whether the farmers had used the slash-and-burn method. To this point, CP insisted it never promotes or purchases corn from farmers resorting to slash-and-burn.

CP asserted that it does not promote contract farming in areas where corn stubble is burned, in or outside the country. CP, with its corn traceability system, buys agricultural produce only from areas where there are no forest encroachments, according to the statement.

Park ranger shot dead on Ko Phangan

By: Barkar Nash

On: April 30, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Police and forensic officials examine a room where a park ranger was found shot dead in a house on Ko Phangan island off Surat Thani on Saturday. (Photo: Supapong Chaolan)

SURAT THANI: A ranger in the Namtok Than Sadet National Park on Ko Phangan island was found shot dead in a house for park rangers on Saturday, police said.

Pol Col Panya Niratimanond, chief of Koh Phangan police, said the discovery of the death was reported to the police station at 10.06am. Police went to the house at Moo 5 village in tambon Ban Tai, Koh Pha-ngan district to investigate.

Officers found Anantasak Seethon, 29, who was from Surat Thani’s Ban Nasan district, lying dead in a cloth hammock hung between windows across the corner of a room. He was wearing a green shirt and a pair of shorts. There was a gunshot wound in the right temple.

The room was splattered with blood. A knife and a bullet were found in the room. The police recovered a home-made shotgun from the bathroom.

Forensic officials and the police collected all evidence for examination.

Pol Col Panya said an investigation was launched into the death, which – judging from surrounding circumstances – looked more likely to be a murder than an act of suicide.

He said Anantasak was on record as having sought treatment for mental illness at Ban Nasan Hospital. Before he was found dead, Anantasak had gone to his home in Ban Nasan district. Prior to his return to the island, he reportedly went berserk and destroyed property in the house.

Pregnant ‘Am Cyanide’ faces mulitiple murder charges

By: Barkar Nash

On: April 30, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn was arrested in Bangkok on Tuesday. (Photo supplied)

On Tuesday, Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn was taken into custody in Bangkok. ( Photo provided )

As officers continued their investigation into multiple casualties thought to be connected to cynanide poisoning, a pregnant woman detained by the name of” Aem Cyanides” is facing 10 cost, most of which are related to premeditated murder.

Late on Saturday night, Pol Col. Anek Taosuparp, the Crime Suppression Division’s assistant captain, went into detail about the arrest warrants for Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn. In instances ranging from late 2020 to as late as this quarter, seven of the warrants were based on allegations of premeditated crime.

The murders of: were covered by the seven permits for suspected premeditated murder.

– a woman named Darinee Thepthawee, who was discovered dead on December 13, 2020, in the state of Nakhon Pathom.

Surat Toraphap, a soldier from Kanchanaburi,

On January 6, 2021, Kanika Tuadecharat, a different person, was in Ratchaburi.

Pol Capt. Kanda Torai, a police officer, was in Nakhon Pathom on August 10, 2022.

– on September 10, 2022, a sexual teacher named Maneerat Pojanat was in Nakhon Pathom.

On November 20, 2022, Pusadee Samboonmee, a female speaker, was in Nakhon Pathom.

Pol Maj Nipa Saenchan, a police officer, was in Nakhon Pathom on April 1.

In addition, Ms. Sararat was sought after for the alleged & nbsp murder of Rosjarin Nilhoi in Samut Sakhon on August 10, 2022, the attempted premeditated killing of Kantima Paesa-ard in Kanchanaburi, and the theft involving the death of a woman, Siriporn Khanwong, on April 14 of this year.

Because many of the deceased each transferred funding to Ms. Sararat in five to six-digit amounts prior to their deaths, Pol Col. Anek stated that authorities were looking into lending organizations that may contain her.

The 36-year-old suspect, known as Am and a native of Kanchanaburi province, was given the moniker” Am Cyanide” after authorities discovered cyanide signs in the most recent lifeless body, that of Siriporn, as well as the suspect’s vehicle during an investigation into what is thought to be serial killings.

Ms. Sararat, who is four months pregnant, was detained on Tuesday at the Bangkok public building on Chaeng Watthana Road. At the Central Women’s Correctional Institute, she was currently being held.

132 Thais arrive home from Sudan

By: Barkar Nash

On: April 30, 2023

In: South-East Asia

The 132 Thais who returned home from Sudan on a Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) flight were greeted on arrival at Don Mueang's military airport by Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai and Air Force commander ACM Alongkorn Wannarot. (Photo supplied)

Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai and Air Force chief ACM Alongkorn Wannarot greeted the 132 Thais when they arrived at Don Mueang’s military aircraft after flying from Sudan to their home country. ( Photo provided )

On a Royal Thai Air Force( RTAF) Airbus A340-500 that touched down at Don Mueang’s military airport at around 11 p.m. on Saturday night, the second group of 132 Thais returned from Sudan.

On the same flight, three non-Thames already arrived: one Indian and two Chinese nationals who were from Siamese families.

Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, RTAF chief ACM Alongkorn Wannarot and his wife Group Captain Panprapa Wannrot, as well as representatives from the relevant agencies, welcomed them at the airport.

Following their takeoff, the passengers underwent safety checks by representatives from the Disease Control and Mental Health sections of the Public Health Ministry, had their travel information checked by immigration officials, and received information about their rights from representatives with the Ministry of Labour and the Ministries of Social Development and Human Security.

Around 40 of them were scheduled to travel to Bo Thong aircraft in Pattani on Sunday morning in an RTAF C – 130. They were to travel to their property in the southern border provinces from it.

According to reports, the five Thais still in Sudan were en route to complete an RTAF group waiting at King Abdulaziz aircraft in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with two C – 130 transport planes. On a C-130 that is scheduled to return to Thailand in the afternoon of May 1, they will be flown place.

The daily ferry from Sudan to Saudi Arabia had a pretty long line, so earlier the Saudi government dispatched 66 Thais to Jeddah from the Port of Sudan. Along with several Saudi public officials, Saudi Arabia also flown 32 Thais from Sudan to Jeddah on two C-130 airlines.

Paetongtarn top choice for PM among Nakhon Sawan voters: Nida Poll

By: Barkar Nash

On: April 30, 2023

In: South-East Asia

According to a poll conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration, or Nida Poll, citizens in the middle Western province of Nakhon Sawan are most likely to support Paetongtarn” Ung Ing” Shinawatra for the position of prime minister, followed by Pita Limjaroenrat of the Move Forward Party.

600 men aged 18 and older who had varying levels of education, occupation, and income were surveyed over the phone on April 11 and 19 to determine their political views in advance of the May 14 vote.

In the House of Representatives, Nakhon Sawan has six Members. The Palang Pracharath Party won four of the six House votes in the 2019 election, followed by the Bhumjaithai Party and the Pheu Thai Party.

The responses to the question of who they would back for prime minister in the upcoming poll were:

For Ms. Paetongtarn of the Pheu Thai Party, 34.33 %
Mr. Pita of the Move Forward Party received 19.67 %.
For Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha of the United Thai Nation Party, 16.67 %
Srettha Thavisin of the Pheu Thai Party received 8.83 %.
7.67 % said that no one was suitable.
3 % for Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan of the Thai Sang Thai Party
Pol Gen Sereepisuth Temeeyavel of the Seri Ruam Thai Party received 2.50 % support.
Anutin Charnvirakul of the Bhumjaithai Party received 1.83 %.
Democrat Party Jurin Laksanawisit received 1.50 % support.
1.33 % for Palang Pracharath Party Gen. Prawit Wongsuwon
1.00 % in favor of Korn Chatikavanij of the Chartpattanakla Party
The remaining 1.67 percent, or 1.67 %, were for Cholnan Srikaew( Pheu Thai ), Kanchana Silpa – archa( Chartthaipattana ), Mongkolkit Suksintaranon, and those who had no answers or were uninterested.

When asked which occasion they would support in the district system for an MP, the following responses were given:

48.17 % Pheu Thai
— 21. 33 % Advance
3.67 % of the United Thai Nation
Bhumjaithai, 3.67 %
3.34 percent Republican
2. 50 % Seri Ruam Thai
1. 83 % of Thai Sang Thai
1. 83 % of Palang Pracharath
1.83 % are still unsure.
For Chartpattanakla, Thai Civilized, New Economics, Sang Anakhot Thai, and those without answers or uninterested, the remaining 1.83 % combined.

In the party-list network, when asked which occasion they would support, the responses were:

49.17 % Pheu Thai
22.00 % Advance
14.33 % of the Thai people
2.83 % Democrat
2. 83 % Bhumjaithai
2.17 % Seri Ruam Thai
2. 0 % Palang Pracharath
1. 83 % of Thai Sang Thai
1.17 % of respondents are still unsure.
The remaining 1.67 percent, or 1.67 %, for Chartpattanakla, Chartthaipattena, Thai Pakdee, Thailand Civilized, Pheu Chart, and New Economics.

Barkar Nash (Page 1,105)