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Thailand has welcomed 15 million international arrivals within the first seven months of this year, according to deputy government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek.

On Thursday, Ms Rachada said that school summer breaks in northern hemisphere countries have contributed to the increasing number of international tourists in Thailand.

Amidst this, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has pushed its new tourism campaign, “Amazing Thailand Health and Wellness: New Chapters New Experience”, which aims to promote medical tourism to attract wellness tourists with high purchasing power.

For domestic tourism, TAT plans to promote local attractions in every region to disperse tourism-generated income to locals across Thailand.

Ms Rachada said that TAT expects to see three trillion baht in revenue from tourism next year, with 1.92 trillion baht from international tourists and 1.08 trillion baht from domestic ones.

Apart from being a well-known destination for tourists after Covid-19, Thailand has become a popular location for filmmaking this year.

The Department of Tourism’s Thailand Film Office (TFO) said on Wednesday that there were 246 productions from 32 countries using Thailand as a filming location in the first half of 2023. The TFO said 143 foreign films were shot in Thailand for the same period last year.

The United States is reported to have spent the most on filmmaking in Thailand, with 519 million baht for 14 projects, followed by China with 349 million baht for 17 projects, Hong Kong with 328 million baht for 11 projects, the United Kingdom with 261 million baht for 19 projects and Germany with 201 million baht for 11 projects.

The TFO said the Thai government led by Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, has offered incentives to foreign filmmakers to choose Thailand as their film location, such as a 15%-20% cash rebate for those who invest at least 50 million baht while filming in Thailand.

The process of granting work permits for foreign filmmakers to shoot in Thailand has also been made convenient, with three days for visa assessment for an advert or music video production and 5-10 days for a film, series or reality show production, the TFO said.

In 2023, Thailand was a shooting location for the popular Korean TV series King the Land and the Chinese variety show Keep Running.

Nixing renomination ‘unconstitutional’

Legal experts are questioning whether a parliamentary resolution rejecting the renomination of Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat for prime minister was constitutional, suggesting the issue should be taken to the Constitutional Court for a ruling.

Borwornsak Uwanno, former chair of a constitution drafting committee, on Thursday slammed the resolution on Facebook, saying the Constitutional Court should look into the issue.

“Invoking a parliamentary session regulation has crippled the constitution despite the fact the charter specifically covers the prime ministerial election,” he wrote. “It’s a pity for Thailand.”

He said he was disappointed with MPs who voted against Mr Pita’s renomination.

He noted that the parliament’s interpretation was not final. Anyone who thought their rights were affected over this matter could petition the Ombudsman to determine whether the parliamentary resolution was a breach of Section 213 of the constitution, he said, apparently referring to Mr Pita.

The petition can be submitted to the Ombudsman, who will submit the petition to the Constitutional Court, Mr Borwornsak said, adding the affected person can also directly petition the court if the Ombudsman doesn’t.

“I will wait and see if parliament’s action violated the constitution,” he said. “I will see how the Constitutional Court will rule on this.”

Invoking a parliamentary session regulation has crippled the constitution despite the fact that the charter specifically covers the prime ministerial election, says Borwornsak Uwanno, former chair of a constitution drafting committee.

His comments came after a majority of MPs and senators voted on Wednesday to reject Mr Pita’s renomination on the grounds that parliamentary meeting regulation No.41 prohibited the resubmission of a failed motion during the same parliamentary session unless new circumstances were factored in.

They argued that an earlier motion regarding Mr Pita’s nomination was already rejected by parliament on July 13, when he failed to get the needed majority of votes in the first round.

Jade Donavanik, legal scholar and ex-adviser to a charter drafting panel, said that he believed Mr Pita’s nomination on July 13 was not a motion, so the regulation should not have been applied.

“The nomination of a prime minister candidate was not a motion. But the debate in parliament was off point,” Mr Jade said.

Khomsan Phokhong, law lecturer at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, pointed out that Regulation No.41 could be waived only if a new factor was introduced. For example, Mr Pita could be renominated for the prime minister post for the next round of a vote on Thursday if other candidates were also nominated alongside him.

“This means the circumstances are different, and the parliament president can decide to permit Mr Pita’s renomination,” Mr Khomsan said.

The nomination of a prime minister candidate was not a motion. But the debate in parliament was off point,  says Jade Donavanik, a legal scholar.

In response to Mr Borwornsak, Sen Seree Suwanpanont, a former constitution drafter, said that hundreds of MPs and senators agreed that Mr Pita’s renomination was not permitted under the parliamentary meeting regulation and thus they voted against Mr Pita’s second bid.

“The MFP can renominate Mr Pita for a new round of voting as it wishes, but we will stand by the same principle,” Sen Seree said. “The party has the right to petition the Ombudsman or the Constitutional Court.”

Meanwhile, MFP secretary-general Chaithawat Tulathon said on Thursday that he met key Pheu Thai figures for talks on how to proceed with the formation of a new government.

“We are trying to ensure that a government comprising the eight coalition partners is formed successfully,” he said.

Asked what the MFP would do if Pheu Thai nominated its candidate, Srettha Thavisin, for the next round of a PM vote, he said the matter would be discussed at a meeting of MPs and executives of the MFP.

Asked about Mr Srettha’s comments that Pheu Thai will oppose any change to Section 112 of the Criminal Code, Mr Chaithawat only said that there was no discussion with Pheu Thai yet.

“The eight coalition allies will meet for talks in the next few days and things will become clear,” he said.

This means the circumstances are different and the parliament president can decide to permit Mr Pita’s renomination, says Khomsan Phokhong, a law lecturer.

Samut Songkram is celebrating after its mackerel, known as platu Mae Klong, received geographical indication.

According to governor Somnuek Promkhiew, the province submitted a request for the indication to the Intellectual Property Department in September 2021, and it was recently approved.

The fish is normally seen in the waters of Muang Samut Songkhram, Ampawa and Bang Kon Tee districts.

The registration covered both cooked and uncooked fish found in those areas, he said.

Activists call for senators to resign

Groups of protesters supporting Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat as the nation’s 30th prime minister have sprung up in numerous places in Bangkok this week.

This occurred after parliament rejected Mr Pita’s second bid for the premiership and the Constitutional Court’s decision to suspend him as a member of parliament pending its deliberation of his iTV shareholding case.

The United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration, the Talugas Group and the Student Organisation of Thailand announced on their Facebook pages their plan to hold rallies today and on Sunday.

Today’s planned gathering will begin outside Kasetsart University’s auditorium at 5pm and then again at 7pm outside the Bangkok Art & Culture Centre (BACC).

The People Assembly Reforming Thailand and its allies yesterday kicked off an 11-day campaign in support of a “democratic government” starting at the Pathumwan intersection.

Sombat Boonngam- anong, a political activist, posted on his Facebook page a call for another gathering on Sunday at the Asok intersection from 5pm to express moral support for Mr Pita and the MFP. He invited Mr Pita to attend.

The People Movement for a Just Society (P-move) also issued a statement condemning what it described as attempts to destroy democracy and obstruct a consensus reached by 14 million voters in the May 14 general election for the MFP to lead a new government.

The organisation also called on senators to resign en masse and for all pro-democracy movements to come out to demonstrate their opposition against “distorted democracy”.

Meanwhile, Pol Gen Sereepisuth Temeeyaves, a list-MP and leader of the Seri Ruam Thai Party, has urged the MFP to break away from the eight-party alliance first to make way for Pheu Thai to win the prime ministerial vote.

Seri Ruam Thai is a member of the prospective eight-party coalition.

Pol Gen Sereepisuth described this as a sacrifice to support the alliance’s goal of forming a coalition.

The MFP could return as a coalition partner later, he said.

“As a senior enough person here, I’d like Pheu Thai and the MFP to think twice if they will continue contending for the premiership together, because if a new candidate fails the vote again, there won’t be a second chance for him,” he said.

Tak: Five people, four of them suspected to be illegal job seekers from Myanmar, were killed, and a dozen others were injured when a pickup truck they were travelling in was hit by a six-wheeled delivery truck in Muang district early yesterday morning.

Rescuers rushed to the Thang Luang Tak intersection on Phahon Yothin Road after the crash occurred at about 4am and retrieved the bodies of four Myanmar men and the pickup truck driver.

Twelve other Myanmar nationals, including four women, were injured. They were rushed to a local hospital.

Police have not yet identified most of the dead and injured victims, but they are suspected to be illegal border crossers seeking work in Thailand.

According to police investigators, they travelled in a Kamphaeng Phet-registered pickup truck heading to Chon Buri.

Jaturong Ploypradab, 26, driver of the six-wheeler, told police he was hired to transport steel storage units from Phitsanulok to Tak.

He said that he did not see the traffic light when he was reaching the intersection and rammed the pickup while it was making a turn ahead.

The navy will kick a non-commissioned officer out for prolonged absence from duty amid allegations that he stole large quantities of ammunition from Sattahip naval base in Chon Buri.

The sailor has been absent without leave since July 5, Royal Thai Navy spokesman Adm Pokkrong Monthatphalin said yesterday.

He added that the navy will propose the sailor’s dismissal to the Defence Ministry and seek a warrant for his arrest from the military court.

“The navy is not nonchalant and will quickly find the wrongdoer to take disciplinary and criminal action,” Adm Pokkrong said without naming the sailor.

Sources said the suspect is a chief petty officer second class who supervises an arsenal at the Sattahip naval base.

Adm Pokkrong said a search of the suspect’s home on Wednesday found stolen cartridges, which he said shows the missing sailor had stolen rounds of ammunition from the base.

The alleged theft was reported on Sunday by the popular CSI-LA Facebook page, run by a Thai expatriate in the US, which alleged tens of thousands of M855 and M856 rounds as well as thousands of 40mm grenade launcher cartridges, had gone missing from the navy’s stores.

Adm Pokkrong said financial transactions that were examined have indicated that the thefts took place over a long period of time.

The suspect has turned off all his communication devices and is believed to be in hiding somewhere in the country, he said.

Police will hunt for the man and arrest him, he added.

The Social Security Fund (SSF) needs a revamp to function effectively and stay afloat, as MPs and academics fear it might go under in 30 years if nothing is done to improve its financial standing.

The SSF’s operation took centre stage during a House debate yesterday, with Khattiya Sawasdipol, a Pheu Thai list MP, saying the 750-baht monthly contribution from private workers to the SSF was too small.

It needs larger contributions to grow into a secure source of income for pensioners, she said, adding SSF subscribers will be happy to contribute more if they could be assured that the fund is managed in a transparent manner.

According to Ms Khattiya, the fund manager hired to invest SSF funds in stocks and bonds said that the return on investment between 2019 to 2021 averaged 1.6%, which is below market standards.

The MP asked if the SSF will revise its investments to improve profitability, noting the SSF was 28 billion baht in the red in 2021.

Chutima Kotchapan, a list MP from the Move Forward Party (MFP), said some employers have not submitted their mandatory contribution to the SSF.

Worawan Charnduaywit, a social security programme adviser at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), said the SSF risks suffering a financial collapse in the next 30 years.

He said the fund will be paying pensions to more and more people due to the ageing population while the workforce continues to shrink each year.

SSF investments are also not turning in much profit, as a large portion of the fund is invested in low-risk ventures and assets with low returns, he said.

Meanwhile, Social Security Office secretary-general Boonsong Thapchaiyut said the SSF has continued to grow except between 2020-2022 when the Covid-19 pandemic caused financial hardship that forced workers to contribute less to it.

However, he said that by 2027, the fund will have more than three trillion baht in its reserve. He assured a plan is being worked out to increase members’ contributions.

“The SSF is constantly looking for ways to improve its investment portfolios,” he said, insisting the fund was stable and secure.

Mr Boonsong also gave his assurance that the fund was being managed professionally and with transparency.

No politicians can manipulate or abuse the SSF, he added.

Defendant was 16 when offence took place at 2020 protest

A teenager has been sentenced to 12 months in prison for royal defamation, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).

The offence took place at a pro-democracy protest in 2020. The Bangkok Post has opted not to report the precise nature of the offence. The name of the 19-year-old was withheld by the court.

“The king is of a sacred status that should not be violated,” the court said in its judgement, according to TLHR.

The defendant, identified by TLHR as “Napasit”, was initially sentenced to three years in jail, “but as the defendant committed the crime when he was a minor aged 16, it was reduced by half to one year and six months. … And due to useful testimony the defendant gave, the sentence was reduced to 12 months”, the group said.

According to data from TLHR to June 30 this year, 1,916 people have been prosecuted for political participation and expression since the beginning of the Free Youth protests in July 2020. At least 252 are facing lese-majeste charges under Section 112 of the Criminal Code and 130 have been charged with sedition under Section 116.