Barkar Nash (Page 225)

Thailand is in need of a “holistic wellness” approach to capitalise on the use of cannabis to boost tourism, according to Dr Kampon Sriwatanakul, chairman of the Thailand National Charter of Health.

“Thailand should apply cannabis using a holistic approach,” he said at a seminar during the 4th CISW MedCann Investment Summit 2023 yesterday.

Dr Kampon suggested wellness tourism should focus more on physical and mental health as well as spirituality.

Cannabis has a valid use case here because it can be used for both medication and relaxation, he said.

However, he said society needs a better understanding of cannabis because of the risks of abuse and negative effects. As such, it should be prescribed under the supervision of medical experts.

More research should be conducted to make better use of cannabis and hemp to benefit people’s health, he added.

Jacky Ong, the founder and president of CISW Holding group and CISW Global Club Thailand, said Thailand can become a hub of holistic wellness.

He said cannabis has many wellness applications due to its beneficial components.

“Cannabis is an herbal plant, not a narcotic drug. We have several reports on cannabis showing the plant has health benefits if used correctly. What we still lack in Thailand is [better] education for people to make the most use of it,” he said.

Cannabis can create economic value by drawing foreign investment for cannabis farms and creating jobs.

Seventy-three illegal Bangladeshi migrants have been arrested in the southern provinces of Songkhla and Phatthalung while being smuggled to work in Malaysia through Thailand.

The first arrests, jointly conducted by immigration and tourist police, occurred at an intersection on the southbound Asian Highway 2 in tambon Khuan Ru of Songkhla’s Rattaphum district, where a pickup truck was intercepted and searched at about 11pm on Tuesday.

The vehicle was found carrying 15 illegal migrants from Bangladesh, according to Pol Lt Col Phongsiri Phitak, a Songkhla immigration inspector, who led the operation. They were hidden under a tarpaulin.

The Bangladeshi migrants were detained, and the Thai driver, Saifa Chinnaket, 28, was arrested. He admitted the smuggling of the 15 illegal migrants from Chachoengsao to Songkhla for 2,000 baht per head.

In addition, the migrants paid 120,000 baht each to brokers to help them cross the border from Cambodia into Sa Kaeo in Thailand as a transit point for onward travel to Malaysia.

It was unclear how the migrants managed to travel from Bangladesh to Cambodia.

All were handed over to Rattaphum district police for questioning.

More arrests took place at a road checkpoint on the inbound Asian Highway in Khuan Khanun district of Phatthalung, where police, led by Pol Capt Chamnan Suwanchatree, deputy inspector of Highway Division 2’s Sub-division 7, searched three pickup trucks.

Police discovered 58 Bangladeshi migrants, including 26 women and seven children, hidden under a tarpaulin.

Police arrested the drivers and three other people in the vehicles.

The migrants told police that they had crossed the border from Myanmar into Thailand, from where the brokers would take them to Malaysia. They also said their travel costs were covered by the brokers.

One of the drivers, identified only as Jirayut, 25, said he was paid to smuggle the migrants to Songkhla for 1,500 baht per head. However, they were arrested in Phatthalung before the journey was completed.

He previously drove another group of illegal migrants to Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Deputy PM Somsak denies any role in corrections rule that will apply to ex-premier

Convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be eligible to be detained outside prison under a new regulation that allows for the detention of qualified inmates elsewhere, Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin confirmed on Wednesday.

Mr Somsak, who served as justice minister in the previous government, said Thaksin meets the criteria set out in the regulation, which was issued and took effect early this month.

Under the regulation, prisoners allowed to be detained outside of prison must meet certain requirements stipulated by the Department of Corrections and be categorised by a screening panel set up by the department.

Mr Somsak said the ex-prime minister’s jail sentence is less than four years, and he is not considered a danger to the public. “So he is eligible [to be detained outside prison], and his remaining sentence is relatively short,” he said.

The Pheu Thai Party minister strongly denied he was behind the regulation, saying the rule was issued recently and was in line with the 2017 Corrections Act that took effect before he became justice minister in the previous administration.

He said the regulation, which provides an alternative form of detention and could help alleviate prison overcrowding, is internationally accepted and was not intended to specifically benefit Thaksin.

However, he conceded Thaksin’s case had drawn interest because he is a high-profile figure.

Thaksin, 74, returned to Thailand on Aug 22 after 15 years of self-imposed exile to face punishment for corruption and abuse of authority while in office prior to 2006. He was sentenced that same day to eight years in prison, later reduced to one year under a royal pardon.

The former premier was sent from Bangkok Remand Prison to the Police General Hospital on the night of Aug 22 for health reasons and reportedly has been there ever since.

Thursday will mark 120 days since Thaksin was transferred to the hospital, only hours after entering prison. By law, the minister of justice must personally approve any stay exceeding 120 days by an inmate receiving medical treatment outside a prison hospital.

’10,000 inmates eligible’

Mr Somsak dismissed criticism that the corrections regulation undermines the court system, saying the department is responsible for supervising an inmate’s sentence.

“But the process is not limited to detention in jail,” he said.

According to Mr Somsak, about 10,000 inmates could be eligible under the regulation.

He said Thaksin’s case, including his prolonged stay in hospital, presents corrections officials with an opportunity to explain the regulations to the public.

Asked why Thaksin, who looked physically fit, abruptly fell ill shortly after arriving back in Thailand, Mr Somsak said that tremendous stress could do a lot to a person’s health. He suggested reporters try a few nights behind bars to see for themselves.

Sahakarn Phetnarin, deputy permanent secretary for the Ministry of Justice and acting director-general of the Department of Corrections, said a working panel is finalising guidelines related to the regulation, and he is unsure if they will be ready before the year’s end.

Asked whether Thaksin would remain in hospital or be transferred to his house, he said the panel would determine which venue is suitable for each inmate. Any venue selected must still provide a measure of supervision and control over the inmate.

He declined to say if Thaksin would be among the first inmates to benefit from the new regulation, saying the list of eligible inmates is compiled by prisons nationwide.

Pichit Chaimongkol, leader of the Network of Students and People Reforming Thailand, on Wednesday submitted a petition to the Senate committee on human rights to investigate whether Thaksin still requires medical attention after corrections officials and Police General Hospital refused to provide details, citing patient confidentiality.

Senator Somchai Sawaengkarn, who chairs the committee, said it would invite Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong and relevant authorities to give details about the corrections regulation and Thaksin’s case on Monday.

A doctor told a House committee last week that Thaksin was suffering from hypertension, narrowed blood vessels and hepatitis B. He has had two surgical procedures for undisclosed conditions since his hospital admission. Officials have declined to elaborate.

Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin, (left), attends a government seminar at Impact Muang Thong Thani in October. Mr Somsak, who served as justice minister in the previous government, confirmed on Wednesday that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be eligible to be detained outside prison under a new regulation. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

Former Move Forward leader expresses confidence after testifying at Constitutional Court

The Constitutional Court will issue its ruling in the media shareholding case against former Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat on Jan 24.

The court made the announcement on Wednesday after hearing a defence statement from Mr Pita, now the advisory chairman of the main opposition party.

If the court finds that Mr Pita applied to run for office while knowing that he held shares in a media business — in this case the long-defunct broadcaster iTV — he could lose his MP status.

The case was brought before the charter court by the Election Commission (EC), despite a recommendation from an EC subcommittee that it drop the charge that Mr Pita violated Section 151 of the Election Act.

Mr Pita was one of three people who gave evidence on Wednesday. The court also heard from EC secretary-general Sawang Boonmee and Kim Siritaweechai, the executive director of iTV.

After reviewing the testimony of the three witnesses, the court said it would issue its ruling on Jan 24 at 2pm.

Mr Pita told reporters outside the court after his appearance that he was “content” with the day’s events and confident in the justice system.

Earlier, when he arrived bearing two bags filled with documents, he said he was not worried. He said he had been waiting for this day for a long time and welcomed the opportunity to explain the facts of the case.

“What I can disclose to the media is that iTV is not a media firm as it has not run a media business since 2007. Its revenue comes from interest from its investments,” he told reporters.

“If comparing with … past rulings (in similar cases), I am confident that iTV is not a media stock.”

The 42,000 shares in iTV were originally owned by Mr Pita’s father, and after he died his son became executor of the estate. The shares have since been transferred to other relatives, he has said. 

“It has been 16 years since my father’s passing in 2006 and iTV has not been in operation since 2007,” said Mr Pita. “I will take this opportunity to speak for the first time and communicate.”

Mr Pita’s supporters showed up at the court to give him encouragement. Some hugged him before he entered the courtroom; some held placards of support.

The Constitutional Court suspended Mr Pita on July 19 from duty as an elected member of the House of Representatives.

Mr Pita has questioned the EC’s motive in investigating his shareholding in iTV.

He noted that iTV and the telecom firm Intouch Holdings, its major shareholder, had produced financial documents showing that the defunct media firm had stopped broadcasting and had no income from media operations.

Citing previous media shareholding complaints against about 60 MPs in 2020, he also said they were not suspended from duty pending rulings.

SONGKHLA: Immigration police arrested a Thai pickup driver and 15 illegal Bangladeshi migrants hoping to get jobs in Malaysia, in Rattaphum district of this southern province.

The pickup truck was stopped for a search at an intersection on south-bound Asian Highway 2 in tambon Khuan Ru of Rattaphum district about 11pm on Tuesday.

The vehicle was found to be carrying 15 illegal migrants from Bangladesh, according to Pol Lt Col Phongsiri Phitak, Songkhla immigration inspector, who led the operation. They were hidden under a tarpaulin.

The Bangladeshi passengers were detained and the Thai driver, Saifa Chinnaket, 28, was arrested.

During questioning, Mr Safa allegedly admitted having been hired to transport the 15 illegals from Chachoengsao to Songkhla, and being paid 2,000 baht per head. His passengers had been smuggled across the border from Cambodia into Sa Kaeo via a natural crossing and wanted to work in Malaysia. Some had paid as much as 120,000 baht to brokers, he said.

All were handed over to Rattaphum district police for legal proceedings.

Pita Limjaroenrat, advisory chairman of the Move Forward Party (MFP) charged over his shareholding in the defunct broadcaster iTV, arrived at the Constitutional Court to present his defence statement on Wednesday morning.

Mr Pita was carrying two bags believed to contain documents when he arrived at the Court at 9.10am. The  court was due to begin the examination of witnesses in his iTV shareholding case at 9.30am. 

Speaking to reporters before entering the court’s room, Mr Pita said he was not worried. He had been waiting for this day for a long time and welcomed the opportunity to explain the facts of the case.

He was confident and hoped he would receive justice from the court, he said, He declined to go into details of the case, saying he would explain in detail in court.

“What I can disclose to the media is that iTV is not a media firm as it has not run a media business since 2007. Its revenue comes from interest from its investment. If comparing with the justice system and past rulings (on similar cases), I am confident that iTV is not a media stock,” said Mr Pita.

He was ready to answer all questions about all aspects of iTV.

“It has been 16 years since my father’s passing in 2006 and ITV has not been in operation since 2007. I will take this opportunity to speak for the first time and communicate. It is a good sign and I have been waiting for this day for a long time,’’ said Mr Pita.

Mr Pita’s supporters showed up at the court to give him encouragement. Some hugged him before he entered the courtroom; some held placards of support for him.  

Election Commission secretary-general Sawang Boonmee arrived at the court at 8.40am. He refused to speak to reporters.

On July 19, the Constitutional Court suspended Mr Pita, then Move Forward Party leader and prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat from duty as an elected member of the House of Representatives.

The court made the announcement after accepting for consideration a petition involving Mr Pita’s inherited shareholding in defunct media company iTV Plc.  The petition was filed by the Election Commission.

The constitution prohibits parliamentarians from holding stock in a media organisation. Mr Pita has argued the 42,000 shares were part of his late father’s estate, which he managed as executor. He said title had since been transferred to relatives.  Mr Pita questioned the EC’s motive in investigating his shareholding in iTV.  

He asked the EC whether its move to ask the court to suspend him from MP duty pending a ruling was fair. iTV and the telecom firm Intouch Holdings, its major shareholder, had produced financial documents showing that the defunct media firm had stopped broadcasting and had no income from media operations.

Citing previous media shareholding complaints against about 60 MPs in 2020, he said they were not suspended from duty pending rulings.