118 turtle eggs found on Phangnga beach

On: December 8, 2023

PUBLISHED : 9 Dec 2023 at 05:18

PHANGNGA: A total of 118 leatherback turtle eggs were found on a beach in Khao Lampi-Hat Thai Muang National Park in Thai Muang district yesterday, the first of the current nesting season, according to park officials.

Prarop Plaengngan, the national park chief, said officials were patrolling the beach for signs of a leatherback turtle, or Tao Mafueng, breeding site when they spotted turtle tracks on Hat Pang Friday morning.

They followed the tracks of the mother turtle, which was 160-170 centimetres in length, to the nesting site where they found 118 eggs. Of them, 34 were infertile.

Mr Prarop said the eggs were moved to a safe place where they would not be disturbed by other animals or human activity so they can be hatched safely, adding the nest is expected to hatch in early February.

Thamanat warns local rice farmers

By: Barkar Nash

On: December 8, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Alarm sounded on smuggled strains

PUBLISHED : 9 Dec 2023 at 05:15

The government has warned farmers not to smuggle or grow rice sourced from Vietnam that Thai authorities have not yet certified.

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Capt Thamanat Prompow on Friday issued the warning to Thai farmers saying they could be in trouble if Vietnam files complaints against them.

Capt Thamanat said this could also affect the country’s reputation and bilateral ties.

The minister admitted that rice strains from Vietnam produce more yield per rai than Thai rice strains, which can generate more income for farmers.

But he said it is impossible for the Department of Rice to certify rice strains smuggled in from neighbouring countries.

Capt Thamanat said he instructed the Department of Rice to research and develop new domestic rice strains that will yield more crops per rai with better quality so farmers can use them for growing in the next planting season.

On Tuesday, The Rice Trader (TRT) announced that Vietnam’s Ong Cua ST25 rice won the first prize in the World’s Best Rice 2023 contest at the World Rice Conference in Cebu, Philippines, held on Nov 28-30, beating about 30 other rice varieties submitted from various countries.

The second and third prizes were won by rice from Cambodia and India, respectively.

The president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, Chookiat Ophaswongse, said that Thailand did not join this year’s contest even though Thai rice is widely recognised for its high quality and standards.

Thailand’s Hom Mali 105 rice won the world’s best rice title for two consecutive years in 2020 and 2021.

However, Cambodia’s Phka Rumduol rice surpassed Thailand’s Hom Mali rice, winning the title of “Best Rice in the World” in 2022.

The failure of Thai rice to join the competition caused a stir among the Thai public, given that Thai rice has long been a world champion and has always been among the top three best rice types worldwide.

Capt Thamanat offered assurances about local rice despite its lower yield per rai.

“When it comes to quality, Thai rice is not inferior to any other rice variety,” Capt Thamanat said.

Daily minimum wage to rise by 2.4%

By: Barkar Nash

On: December 8, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Figure falls short of Pheu Thai’s promises

The daily minimum wage for Thai workers nationwide is set to rise from Jan 1, 2024 — and the new rates will vary from province to province, ranging from 330 to 370 baht, according to the labour ministry.

The tripartite committee on minimum daily wages, comprised of representatives from the business sector, labour and the government, approved the new rates on Friday.

The current rates are between 328 to 354 baht. The increases in the daily minimum wage will range from 2 to 16 baht, or an average of 2.4%.

Workers in Phuket will obtain the highest daily wage of 370 baht, up from 354 baht now, while workers in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala will receive the lowest wage of 330 baht, up from 328 baht.

Workers in Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan and Samut Sakhon will receive the new daily wage rate of 363 baht, up by 10 baht from the current 353 baht per day.

Speaking after chairing the committee’s meeting, which lasted five hours on Friday, Pairoj Chotikasathien, permanent secretary for the Labour Ministry, said that the wage hikes will be presented to the cabinet for acknowledgement before it is announced in the Royal Gazette.

The new wage rates will then take effect on Jan 1.

“This adjustment will allow workers to achieve a standard of living that is based on economic conditions and is suitable for businesses,” Mr Pairoj said.

He also explained that 370 baht has been approved for workers in Phuket because the island province is unique in that there is little farming in the province and most labourers work in the tourism sector there. Furthermore, the cost of living in Phuket is higher than that of other provinces.

“Therefore, the new daily wage of 370 baht for Phuket is appropriate,” Mr Pairoj said.

However, the new daily wage falls short of the level promised by the Pheu Thai Party during its election campaign earlier this year.

This wage adjustment has attracted more public attention than usual after the ruling Pheu Thai Party had previously announced a policy to raise the minimum wage to 400 baht per day, a promise the party made during the last general election.

However, Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn last month poured cold water on that idea, saying wages would probably rise by only 2% — in line with the current low inflation.

The last wage increase approved by the tripartite committee was 5%, in October last year.

Pheu Thai’s plan for a big wage hike had rattled businesses that feared it would push up operating costs and make the country less competitive for investors at a time when the economy is underperforming.

Mr Pairoj said there would be another wage increase in 2024, when the committee would seek to raise the level to 400 baht.

Mr Phiphat said after the meeting on Nov 27, a sub-committee under this main wage committee submitted wage hike figures proposed for each province before a screening panel. He said that five provinces, including Phuket, did not request wage hikes.

“This was unacceptable and unfair to workers. The daily wage should be raised in every province and vary from province to province depending on their respective economic conditions.

“Provinces where the government is trying to stimulate the economy should receive high wage hikes. I believe the daily wage of 400 baht is expected to be approved for provinces which enjoy healthy economies in line with the government’s policy,” he said.

“If things get off to a good start next year, the daily wage is expected to rise further to 600 baht in 2027,” the minister said.

Atthayuth Leeyawanich, president and chairman of the Employers Confederation of Consumer Goods and Services, said that the new wage rates are appropriate and acceptable to employers as they were screened by a panel of academics before being submitted to the tripartite committee.

He also noted that the increase of 2 baht is only for three provinces while most provinces will still receive an increase of 8-10 baht.

Veerasu Kaewboonpun, an employee’s representative on the committee, said he was satisfied with the new rates.

The new rates are high in some provinces and low in other provinces, depending on local economic conditions, he said, adding that the new rates are intended to maintain employment given that some employers may replace workers with machinery which will lead to lay-offs.

Cops quiz TikToker over Soi Nana clip

By: Barkar Nash

On: December 8, 2023

In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED : 9 Dec 2023 at 04:00

A Chinese woman who expressed concerns about women’s safety in Bangkok at night in a TikTok video clip has been questioned by immigration police regarding the motive behind her video.

The video, shot while she walked along Soi Nana on Sukhumvit Road, and posted on Dec 5 around 11.30pm, was perceived by many as detrimental to Thailand’s tourism image because it portrayed the country as unsafe.

In response, Immigration Bureau commissioner Pol Lt Gen Itthipol Itthisanronnachai ordered an investigation, which identified the woman in the video as Zi Yu Wang, a 28-year-old Chinese national who entered the country on a Thai Privilege Card visa.

During questioning, Ms Wang admitted to creating and sharing the video on social media but denied intending to damage Thailand’s reputation. She said she only wanted to warn foreigners about areas where walking alone at night might be unsafe for women.

But police said the Chinese TikToker was trying to discredit and spread distorted information by saying Soi Nana, located in Lumpini police station’s jurisdiction, was unsafe for women and that 99% of people here were not good.

The video clip depicted a scantily clad Ms Wang walking in Soi Nana with other foreigners gazing on her.

When one foreigner approached her, she walked away and said into her camera that the man had asked her “How are you today?” She then said that if he had intended to assault her, she might not have been able to escape.

She also said if other women encountered the same scenario they too would not be able to escape.

According to the investigation, the woman had been engaged in live streaming to sell goods online during her time in Thailand, a violation of employment regulations.

Immigration police charged her with working illegally in the country.

Pol Lt Gen Itthipol said this case serves as a reminder to foreigners not to produce unsubstantiated content that could harm Thailand’s image and tourism.

Violators could be subject to legal action and may be blacklisted as a consequence, he added.

Srettha vows to improve education system amid poor scores

By: Barkar Nash

On: December 8, 2023

In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED : 9 Dec 2023 at 04:00

All past governments must take responsibility for the poor results of Thai students in recent international tests, according to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.

His government, which took office three months ago, will strive to resolve the problem and improve the Thai education system, he said.

The prime minister was referring to the latest Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Pisa test that saw Thai students’ scores hit 20-year lows.

Thailand is one seven countries with an already deteriorating reading performance before the pandemic. That group also includes Costa Rica, Finland, Iceland, the Netherlands, the Slovak Republic and Sweden.

Mr Srettha said many people have criticised Thai education for its poor quality, particularly in terms of curriculum and teacher quality, but no one has taken serious action to fix it.

“More than a million children have been forced away from the education system due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We will have to help them return,” he said.

“Big companies should also help support Thai education.”

Siripong Angkasakulkiat, assistant spokesman for the Education Ministry, blamed the pandemic for lowering the performance of Thai students taking the test as they had been forced to study online and lost concentration when learning.

This has also affected their reading and critical thinking skills, he said.

He said most students with low scores were found to be studying in schools offering educational opportunities to children in the provinces, particularly those operating under the Office of the Basic Education Commission and local administrative organisations.

Meanwhile, the scores of students in some schools that focus on science achieved high scores, even higher than those of their peers in Singapore. As a result, the teaching models of these successful schools need to be applied to other schools in the country, Mr Siripong said.

Prof Sompong Jitradab, an education scholar, urged the premier to urgently resolve the education issues, especially for such subjects as English, mathematics and science.

“Unfortunately, the Education Ministry only concentrates on pushing learning about history and subjects related to civic duty. Why?” he asked.

He urged the government to take action to reform education, something that has been talked about for decades but never implemented.

The government needs to improve the learning environment for students in provincial schools to encourage young people there to attend class and avoid illicit drugs and other illegal activities as these problems may cause them to drop out, he said.

Pheu Thai and Move Forward parties – so are they friends or foes?

By: Barkar Nash

On: December 8, 2023

In: South-East Asia

So are they friends or foes?

If anyone thought the ruling Pheu Thai Party and the main opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) are perennial enemies, they should think again, according to a political source.

The two parties looked to have broken off ties when Pheu Thai ditched the MFP to form a government with parties from the previous administration.

But the old saying still holds true: there are no permanent friends or foes in politics.

Lending credence to the belief that there is no real bitterness between the two biggest parties is the MFP’s reaction, or a lack thereof, to Pheu Thai’s very controversial digital wallet money handout scheme.

In fact the MFP, as the primary force on the opposition bench, appears to be letting the government off easy, not only on the wallet policy, but also jailed former premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s unusually long hospital stay away from prison. Thaksin has not spent a day or night in prison since he returned from exile overseas to face imprisonment months ago.

The MFP has found itself beset by scandals and allegations involving its members and MPs. However, it has no excuse for underperforming as an opposition party, according to the source.

The only senior MFP figure actively questioning the wallet scheme is Sirikanya Tansakun, a deputy party leader who was at one time groomed to be finance minister. But her weighing up, viewed by some as half-hearted, was merely scratching the policy’s surface.

The source said the 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme was not exactly tenable, with hordes of critics, including noted economists and even the Bank of Thailand, pointing to its potential flaws, both from legal and practical points of view. Pheu Thai, however, declared there is no turning back on the policy which the party has maintained will lift the country out of crisis by pulling the economy out of stagnation.

The source has conveyed the critics’ remarks that it is out of character for the MFP to be sitting on its hands and to not jump at the chance of grilling Pheu Thai over Thaksin’s protracted hospitalisation and the planned heavy spending of taxpayers’ money on the wallet policy.

The remarks were directed at the main opposition party at a time when Progressive Movement chairman, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, admitted for the first time that he met Thaksin, who is accused of being the de facto leader of Pheu Thai, in Hong Kong prior to the former premier’s return to the kingdom and the government’s formation earlier this year.

Mr Thanathorn did not elaborate. However, his admission adds weight to the rumour that a political deal may have been struck between the MFP and Pheu Thai. Mr Thanathorn is no stranger to the MFP, having led its predecessor, the now-defunct Future Forward Party which was dissolved on the Constitutional Court’s order because of Mr Thanathorn’s illegal loan to the party.

However, Mr Thanathorn told a news talk programme: “I don’t hold any political office. If I had cut any political deals, the MFP could have been dissolved.” He was referring to laws barring outsiders from wielding influence over a political party.

The source said tongues were wagging over whether the MFP was lying in wait for the right moment to reconcile its perceived differences with Pheu Thai. There is no precluding the possibility of the two parties reuniting and establishing a government together in the future if and when the existing coalition comes to an end.

Former finance minister Korn Chatikavanij has theorised that the MFP may be reluctant to dissect the wallet programme and give it the tough scrutiny it deserves because the party might be wary of the danger of being demonised.

If the MFP’s scrutiny was potent enough to contribute to the sinking of the policy, the vast numbers keen on collecting the handout money would turn against the party. They are bound to include the MFP’s own supporters.

“An opposition party doesn’t have to disagree with the government on every issue. Its duty is to highlight the faults in the government’s work.

“In case the faulty policies run substantial risk of breaking the law, the opposition is duty-bound to counter them through all avenues,” said Mr Korn in his Facebook.

He added: “That is what checks and balances are all about.”

A new chapter begins

Prayut: Still a PM candidate

Upon being appointed by His Majesty the King as a member of the Privy Council, former prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has effectively closed the door on his political career, according to political observers.

Although he was in power for almost a decade, Gen Prayut has a few years left before he reaches the eight-year term limit due to a Constitutional Court ruling that his tenure started on April 6, 2017, when the current charter was promulgated, rather than when he assumed office following the 2014 coup he orchestrated.

Gen Prayut became the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party’s chief strategist, seeking to return to power for another term. When the UTN failed to win a mandate and form the government after the May 14 general election, he announced his decision to wash his hands of politics.

While the charter does not provide a process for him to withdraw the candidacy, by joining the Privy Council, which serves as a body of advisers to the monarchy, Gen Prayut has essentially stepped away from the political arena, even if he is still listed as a prime minister candidate of the UTN.

Several observers say Gen Prayut’s departure from politics has raised questions about the future of the country’s political landscape, especially when the term of the Senate expires in May next year.

Over the past nine years, the public has gained some insight into the inner workings of the power structure, particularly the role of the 250-member Senate in co-electing a prime minister in parliament, according to political watchers.

Handpicked by the now-defunct National Council for Peace and Order, the senators overwhelmingly voted for Gen Prayut, who was nominated by the Palang Pracharath Party, to be prime minister, following the 2019 polls.

In August this year when Gen Prayut stepped back, Pheu Thai’s prime minister candidate, Srettha Thavisin, won the premiership vote in parliament, surprisingly, with the backing of senators known to be close to Gen Prayut.

Mr Srettha’s rise to power is widely seen as a compromise between the old powers and the Pheu Thai Party, whose de-facto leader Thaksin Shinawatra, returned from exile the same day Mr Srettha was elected to the top post.

Olarn Thinbangtieo, a political science lecturer at Burapha University, told the Bangkok Post that the political situation following Gen Prayut’s transition from politics is of intrigue.

He pointed to recent remarks made by Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, leader of the Progressive Movement, in a media interview that he met Thaksin in Hong Kong in July ahead of the formation of the government.

Mr Thanathorn, a key supporter of the main opposition Move Forward Party (MFP), described the ruling party as an ally even though they were on opposite sides and the country’s future was in the hands of Pheu Thai and the MFP.

“Will the so-called secret deal between the old powers and the Pheu Thai Party remain intact? Will the MFP continue to be soft on the ruling party? People are watching closely,” said Mr Olarn.

According to the academic, the MFP is apparently not making the efforts to scrutinise the Pheu Thai-led government as it is supposed to. While the current political situation seems to be favourable to all political parties, it is not in the best public interest, he noted.

But, he dismissed as highly unlikely speculation that Thaksin will be released from jail before he serves at least six months, or half of his reduced jail sentence.

It had been speculated that Thaksin, who has yet to spend a day in jail after his return on Aug 22, stood a chance of benefitting from a royal pardon to mark His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great’s birthday on Dec 5.

However, Justice Minister Thawee Sodsong said on Wednesday that Thaksin has not requested a second royal pardon for a further jail term reduction.

Neither Thaksin nor his family has sought a second royal pardon since he was granted the first one, which saw his eight-year jail term cut to one year by His Majesty the King.

The justice minister also said the Corrections Department will consider doctors’ opinions before deciding whether to extend Thaksin’s hospitalisation outside prison further, to 120 days, at the end of this month.

Thaksin was placed in quarantine at the Bangkok Remand Prison and after experiencing chest pain, hypertension and low blood oxygen on the first night, he was moved to the Police General Hospital where he has remained since.

According to Mr Olarn, it is likely to be in the old powers’ interest if Thaksin, who is believed to be the political puppet master, remains confined given that the MFP is pushing for a political amnesty and wholesale charter amendment.

“I believe the old powers won’t risk it with him although he is said to be pulling the strings from the 14th floor [of the Police General Hospital]. They must have realised the whole ball game could change if he is freed,” he said.

Mr Olarn noted that Gen Prayut’s new role will keep his supporters happy for the time being. “Let’s wait and see what happens after May next year [when the Senate’s term expires],” he said.

First in-house satellite ‘ready in 2 years’

By: Barkar Nash

On: December 8, 2023

In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED : 9 Dec 2023 at 04:00

The first in-house satellite to be built as part of a collaboration deal between the Excellence Centre for Space Technology and Research (Ecstar) and the United Kingdom-based In-Space Missions Ltd is expected to be ready in two years, government spokesman Chai Wacharonke said yesterday.

Building the satellite is one of the missions included in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two companies.

The MoU, signed last month, is expected to be used to pursue cooperation in satellite and space affairs.

Ecstar, which is under King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang’s International Academy of Aviation Industry (IAAI), is keen to develop space research and technological development in the country.

Mr Chai said the country will benefit from the collaboration in many ways. The first is knowledge transmission and the development of related technologies that will help with crucial issues, such as air pollution, wildfires, and climate change.

According to Mr Chai, the MoU, especially regarding satellite building, is expected not only to gain international trust but also to help encourage technology development and job opportunities.

“The satellite collaboration is expected to help modernise Thailand in every aspect. The prime minister [Srettha Thavisin] is confident the country will have the opportunity to have technology development and knowledgeable workers for growing space operations,” said Mr Chai.

The collaboration is expected to kick off next March, with the first product to be finished in two years. The satellite is due to be sent into orbit within three years, the spokesman added.

Ecstar director Charnwit Munikanont said earlier the MoU was forged to maximise the country’s opportunities in building in-house satellites with other countries in the future.

Office of the Narcotics Control closes ranks with Laos on drug smugglers

By: Barkar Nash

On: December 8, 2023

In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED : 9 Dec 2023 at 04:00

The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) is working closer with its counterparts in Laos to suppress drug smuggling along the shared border and to track down 48 suspects in the neighbouring country, a source said yesterday.

Pol Lt Gen Panurat Lakboon, assistant national police chief and acting secretary-general of the ONCB, met Public Security Minister Maj Gen Khamking Phuilamanyvong and the Lao police chief on Wednesday to discuss bilateral cooperation on drug suppression and to track down Thai drug suspects who remain at large in Laos, the source said.

Pol Lt Gen Panurat conveyed his thanks to Laos for its collaboration in intercepting illicit drugs before they are smuggled into Thailand through exchanges of information and by beefing up checks of courier parcels, the source added.

So far this year, Thailand has intercepted 4.8 million meth pills from smugglers which has led to the arrest of five suspects.

An investigation is underway to track down the ring leader, with cooperation from Laos to target the 48 suspects who remain at large there.

Thailand will support Laos in terms of providing the information, tools and technology needed to help locate the 48 suspects and smash the drug network, he said.

Maj Gen Khamking thanked Thailand for helping to crack down on the illicit drugs trade.

The two sides will keep working together to reduce the severity of drug smuggling in certain areas, he added.

Pol Lt Gen Panurat also referred to a bilateral meeting on border drug smuggling in Krabi that took place from Sept 25-27, saying both sides have planned to step up measures to suppress the flow of cross-border narcotics drugs. Laos has also listed the fight against illicit drugs as a national agenda.

Pol Lt Gen Panurat said the government is trying to alleviate drug-related issues affecting people, the source said.

Loan sharks now targeted by Srettha

By: Barkar Nash

On: December 8, 2023

In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED : 9 Dec 2023 at 04:00

The government has declared a crackdown on illegal loans and loan sharks as a national priority.

Describing these illicit lending practices as “modern-day slavery”, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin emphasised the urgent need to eliminate such activities to restore normalcy and social order.

“Addressing illegal loans has become a national priority. This policy isn’t about the government’s or my image. It’s about alleviating people’s hardships and returning their smiles and sense of security. People must be able to live without fear,” said Mr Srettha.

The prime minister announced the policy yesterday. The government has opened avenues for affected debtors to file petitions through the Damrongtham Centre hotline at 1567 or by visiting their local district offices until Feb 29. As of yesterday, 75,199 people had signed up for the scheme, with at least 3.82 billion baht of debt needing to be settled.

Additionally, the Royal Thai Police (RTP) has set up a suppression centre for the issue on its 1599 hotline to receive complaints about loan sharks, as well as the Office of the Prime Minister’s 1111 hotline.

The complaints will be collected before they are transferred to related agencies. Police and prosecutors can arrest those in question immediately after the complaint is received, according to Mr Srettha.

The state will also provide mediation between debtors and loaners with a provision for reconciliation. A settlement written between both parties is expected after the negotiations conclude.

The agreement must follow a system set by the Interior Ministry and include the most suitable debt clearing for each debtor, including interest rate, instalments, and instalment period, said Mr Srettha.

After this, the Office of the Prime Minister will keep track of the results. More negotiations will be arranged if the parties see no success. A lawsuit will be needed if any predatory lending has been reported afterwards, said Mr. Srettha.

Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul warned lenders not to obstruct their debtors from registering.

Responding to reports of vandalism related to the scheme, Mr Anutin said such actions would not improve the situation but rather exacerbate the legal repercussions against those engaging in illegal lending practices.

ONCB closes ranks with Laos on drug smugglers

By: Barkar Nash

On: December 8, 2023

In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED : 9 Dec 2023 at 04:00

So far this year, Thailand has intercepted 4.8 million meth pills from smugglers which has led to the arrest of five suspects.

An investigation is underway to track down the ring leader, with cooperation from Laos to target the 48 suspects who remain at large there.

Thailand will support Laos in terms of providing the information, tools and technology needed to help locate the 48 suspects and smash the drug network, he said.

Maj Gen Khamking thanked Thailand for helping to crack down on the illicit drugs trade.

The two sides will keep working together to reduce the severity of drug smuggling in certain areas, he added.

Pol Lt Gen Panurat said the government is trying to alleviate drug-related issues affecting people, the source said.

Barkar Nash (Page 224)

A new chapter begins