Barkar Nash – Page 1114

Officer in sex case summonsed

On: April 26, 2023

An army lieutenant general accused of illicit drug use and assault while having sex with another man in Songkhla is being summonsed for questioning, police at Songkhla’s Sadao station say.

Investigators have interviewed the alleged victim, identified only as Nut, and decided initially to press an assault charge against the accused. A summons has been issued for the lieutenant general for questioning.

Police said the accused will also be questioned about drug use and whether other charges are pressed depends on the evidence.

The summons was issued after Nut and his lawyer, Arm Suwanraksa, filed a complaint against the lieutenant general at Sadao station on Tuesday.

The victim was examined at Songklanagarind Hospital on April 24 and discharged on Tuesday. He said he was prescribed antibiotic drugs for his injuries. He said he wanted the lieutenant general to take responsibility for hurting him and demanded the army conduct a thorough investigation and not treat the incident as a personal matter.

Mr Arm said police would have to review the evidence to determine if a drug charge would be pressed against the army officer.

The lieutenant general was transferred to an inactive post pending an investigation after the incident came to the media’s attention on Sunday.

Nut showed a video clip of the scene and bruises over his body, which he claimed were due to him being assaulted while having sex with a lieutenant general with the initial “Wor”.

According to media reports, both met via an LGBTQ+ dating app and agreed to meet at a hotel in Sadao district. The lieutenant general allegedly asked the victim to take crystal meth by directly injecting it into his veins, but he refused.

Afterwards, the officer allegedly used a sex toy with the victim and lashed him with a whip. The lieutenant general allegedly refused to take responsibility for hurting the victim and threatened the victim before the accused offered 2,000 baht to end the matter.

Deputy minister hits out at bill hikes

By: Barkar Nash

On: April 26, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Deputy Interior Minister Naris Khamnurak yesterday criticised the Metropolitan Waterworks Administration’s (MWA) and Provincial Waterworks Administration’s (PWA) plan to raise tap water fees.

The minister was responding to media reports that both agencies will seek to increase bills to offset higher costs from energy prices.

Mr Naris said neither has submitted a proposal to cabinet seeking to raise bills. They are not expected to do so because such a move would add to financial burdens on households already struggling with the high cost of living.

MWA governor Manit Panaim yesterday explained why the agency, responsible for providing tap water services to 12 million users in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan, would have to raise water fees that have been capped for 23 years.

He said the agency has absorbed the costs of raw water for tap water production, which stands at 1 billion baht, while energy prices and other bills have increased in recent years.

“The new price structures are necessary to cover high costs. If the prices are not adjusted, by 2027 the MWA won’t be able to send revenue to the state,” he said.

Pheu Thai turns its attention to social media users

By: Barkar Nash

On: April 26, 2023

In: South-East Asia

PPRP pitches help to farming families

Pheu Thai candidates are being told to engage more with voters through social media platforms to maintain the party’s edge ahead of the election.

In a crash course attended by some 200 election candidates on Wednesday, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, head of the “Pheu Thai Family”, told participants via video link that the party was faring well in many opinion polls.

The encouraging poll results bode well for members’ morale although she urged the candidates not be complacent, saying: “Anything can happen in 20 days leading up the polls.”

But they should not be too concerned as competitors are not adequately prepared for the polls, she said.

Ms Paetongtarn added some parties are reliant on social media to canvass for votes, which explains their improved ranking in some surveys.

However, she insisted social media remains an effective instrument for getting campaign messages across and so she urged the candidates to do more to expand their social media engagements in the run-up to the election.

“We need to put the word out that we have what it takes to change the entire country,” she said.

Pheu Thai leader, Dr Cholnan Srikaew, said the party’s candidates in many constituencies command wider local support than rival candidates.

He agreed they should use social media more to communicate campaign policies to voters.

Latest handouts

The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) has pledged to give eight million farming families across the country 30,000 baht from an agricultural fund.

It is the latest campaign pledge by the PPRP as the May 14 election edges closer.

Charnkrit Detwithak, the party’s election strategy committee spokesman, said on Wednesday the fund is being submitted to the Election Commission for mandatory vetting.

He said the fund is intended to financially empower farming families and improve their living standards as many families struggle due to a lack of assistance money, he said.

The cash will be deposited into the bank accounts of eight million eligible families.

The outlay will also help stimulate the grassroots economy and raise domestic consumption, he said.

It is the most practical way to assist farmers, Mr Charnkrit said, adding the fund would not upset the country’s financial stability.

End to violence

The Prachachart Party is concentrating on finding a permanent solution to the southern violence and eradicating poverty by moving the country towards becoming a welfare state.

This message was conveyed by Pol Col Thawee Sodsong, the party secretary-general, at a debate in Muang district of Songkhla on Tuesday.

The debate was organised for parties competing for House seats in the South to showcase their vision for the region.

Pol Col Thawee said security woes in the southern border provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and parts of Songkhla, brought on by ongoing insurgent violence, remain a pressing issue.

He insisted the violence must be tackled at its root and the living standards of locals improved. Poverty is a national problem that can be fixed by creating a welfare state, he said.

Among the party’s top priorities is to give people equal access to welfare as well as offer 20 rai of farmland to each farming family, and free and quality education.

Dos and don’ts

The Democrat Party has kickstarted a “4 dos” and “3 don’ts” campaign to make clear where it stands on political and social issues.

Democrat leader Jurin Laksanawisit led a gathering of party heavyweights to explain the campaign at the Democracy Monument on Ratchadamnoen Avenue on Wednesday.

With the “4 dos”, the party has vowed to preserve and strengthen the constitutional monarchy, forge an honest democratic system, create a “full-stomach” democracy by building up wealth, skilled people and a strong nation, as well as eradicate illicit drugs through an eye-for-an-eye approach.

The party also voiced support for the use of cannabis for medical purposes although it was against a full liberalisation policy.

Cannabis decriminalisation was the flagship policy of its government coalition partner, the Bhumjaithai Party at the last election.

Mr Jurin said with the “3 don’ts”, the party remains steadfast in its resistance to repealing Section 112 of the Criminal Code, or the lese majeste law, illicit drugs and corruption.

Court upholds death for gold shop killer

By: Barkar Nash

On: April 26, 2023

In: South-East Asia

The Supreme Court yesterday upheld the death sentence for gold shop-robber Prasittichai Khaokaeo, a former primary school director in Sing Buri who shot dead three people, one a child, and wounded four others during a holdup at a Lop Buri mall in 2020.

On Jan 9, 2020, Prasittichai, armed with a 9mm handgun, stormed into Robinson department store in Muang district and killed a security guard, a two-year-old boy walking with his mother, and an employee of Aurora gold shop. He also shot and wounded four other people.

Prasittichai stole gold necklaces, worth 664,470 baht in total. The Supreme Court yesterday ruled there was no reason he should be granted a reprieve for the cold-blooded crimes he had committed.

Prayut touts UTN bread and butter policy

By: Barkar Nash

On: April 26, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha campaigns for votes in Yaowarat area on April 20. (Photo: Nutthawat Wicheanbut)

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party’s No 1 prime ministerial candidate, on Wednesday launched the party’s bread and butter policy aimed at improving living standards.

Gen Prayut said the policy was unveiled to let the public know what the party would do and how it would achieve its goals if it were to become the next government following the elections on May 14.

The UTN’s policy was built on what his administration has already achieved over the past several years, Gen Prayut said.

The policy seeks to address the problems faced by various groups of people nationwide, he added.

The prime minister stressed the importance of laying a foundation for inclusive and sustainable growth.

“I’d like to see our party be the main party. If we win a substantial number of seats, we can better implement the policies,” Gen Prayut said.

“We have a multi-party coalition after the election, and each party has its policies,” he said.

“It’s like footballers from different teams called up for the national squad. I’m asking every party to consider the government’s policy.”

Gen Prayut said the UTN’s campaign promises had been carefully formulated and could be successfully implemented.

He also urged other parties to think carefully about making campaign pledges and called on them to weigh the benefits with any possible negative impacts.

UTN leader Pirapan Salirathavibhaga said the UTN policy is not just about wooing voters’ support. Mr Pirapan said it had been well-researched and has considered the country’s economic situation.

Included in the new policy is the “Welfare-Plus Card”, which would increase benefits from 300-400 baht a month to about 1,000 baht a month; a 30-billion-baht emergency fund; a higher child-rearing allowance of 1,000 baht per month for children from birth to 10 years old; and a 10,000-baht pension for retired subscribers of the Social Security Fund.

The prime minister also called on coalition parties to refrain from attacking the government as they had worked together for four years.

“We shouldn’t attack each other. Instead, they should tell people what they will do if they become the government,” Gen Prayut said.

“Don’t forget we have been in the same boat for four years. Don’t pin it on me. I’ve listened to every suggestion from cabinet ministers,” he said.

“It’s collective work, and I didn’t make all the decisions by myself,” he added.

China agrees to 3 key sub conditions

By: Barkar Nash

On: April 26, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Navy wants engine change assurances

Royal Thai Navy top brass hold a press briefing at the force’s headquarters in Bangkok in 2020 to defend the purchase of two more submarines worth a massive 22.5 billion baht from China. (Photo: Apichit Jinakul)

Chinese authorities will accept three conditions regarding warranty, compensation and safety, if the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) chooses a Chinese-made engine as a substitute for a German-made one for a S26T Yuan-class submarine being assembled in China, Navy commander Adm Choengchai Chomchoengpaet says.

Speaking after a meeting with China’s navy chief and defence minister on Tuesday, Adm Choengchai said the Chinese navy has pledged to support the certification of the Chinese-made CHD620 engine built by China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co (CSOC) as agreed last year.

The CSOC offered the CHD620 after Germany refused to sell its MTU 396 diesel engine to China as it is designated a military/defence item.

That said, the Thai navy came up with three conditions to determine whether it should continue or cancel the contract, he said.

The Chinese navy must certify the CHD620 engine with the Thai navy and assure its safety, as well as provide compensation for any construction delays while waiting for the engine.

Chinese authorities insisted its engine incorporates technology almost similar to the German-made model and has been fitted in many Chinese vessels and aircraft carriers.

If the CHD620 is modified, it can be compatible with Thai and Pakistani submarines or even Chinese submarines in the future, he said.

“They [Chinese authorities] guaranteed the safety of the engine,” said Adm Choengchai.

The navy also discussed with CSOC compensation details regarding the engine’s warranty as well as for any delay in the procurement process and changes to the value of parts. But further details could not be disclosed, he added.

Asked if it was possible the navy could receive a second-hand submarine as compensation, he said it needs to be discussed in further detail and must be approved first by the navy, which might accept the offer to use the CHD620.

The CHD620 engine must be certified by the Chinese navy by June, before further discussions, including compensation, warranty and maintenance, can proceed.

When asked about the length of time it will take to finish the submarine if the navy opts to use the CHD620, he said it may take about three years and four months.

However, the navy chief said the procurement of the second and third submarines may need to be postponed.

Responding to a question about a training programme for Thai sailors after obtaining the first submarine in 2025, he said the Chinese navy chief had pledged to support the training to ensure they can operate it as stipulated by the contract.

China compromises to push submarine engine sale to Thailand