Barkar Nash (Page 311)

The cabinet has agreed to cut gasohol prices for three months to help people with the cost of living.

Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga said yesterday the cabinet had agreed to lower gasohol prices as proposed by the Finance Ministry via an excise tax reduction and financial management of the state Oil Fuel Fund.

Initially, the excise tax will be cut by one baht per litre for all types of gasohol (petrol combined with ethanol). The measure will be implemented from Nov 7 to Jan 7.

The reduction in the gasohol 91 price would be bigger than the cut for other gasohol types, at 2.50 baht per litre, because the Oil Fuel Fund would subsidise it at 1.50 baht per litre in addition to the one-baht excise tax decrease, Mr Pirapan said.

Deputy Finance Minister Krisada Chinavicharana said this would cost the government about 900 million baht a month or 2.7 billion baht in revenue during the three-month period.

PHUKET: A Costa Rican-American man was found dead in his room with stab wounds at a hotel in Thalang district on Monday, according to local police.

Pol Capt Warawut Sensop, an investigator with the Choeng Thalay Police Station, said the body of a 35-year-old man, identified from his two passports as Daniel James Artus Jerez, was found at 9.40am inside the hotel on Bangtao Beach in tambon Choeng Thalay.

The hotel manager, whose name was not given, discovered the body after he smelled a rank odour emanating from the man’s room and decided to investigate, according to Pol Capt Warawut.

The body was found lying face-down at the end of the bed. The man had on a pair of shorts, with four stab wounds on the left side of his neck and a large bloodstain on the floor. He was estimated to have been dead for at least 2–3 days due to the state of the body.

His belongings were found to be intact. Police seized as evidence ketamine and cannabis from the man’s bathroom and a 25-centimetre, bloodstained knife near the entrance.

According to the hotel manager, Artus checked in on Aug 30 and paid two months’ rent. He later paid more in advance to further extend his stay and was last seen on Oct 26.

Artus came across as well-mannered but he was often drunk and visibly under considerable stress, the manager said.

Police are investigating the cause of death, said Pol Capt Warawut.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Tuesday agreed it’s a reasonable idea to have a team communicating information on the digital wallet scheme to the public so to avoid any confusion.

The premier was responding to suggestions from several quarters that a dedicated team be formed, directly responsible for passing information about the government’s flagship policy. He agreed it was a good idea and had been on his mind for a while.

Mr Srettha acknowledged that different sets of information about the wallet scheme had been circulated. It would be less confusing for everyone to be patient and wait for the official details of the scheme, which will be announced all at once in due course, he said.

However, before he attended the cabinet meeting, the premier was asked by reporters to comment on a remark by Pichai Chunhavajira, one of his advisers, that the digital wallet programme would likely be delayed until September next year due to a budget shortage. The scheme was initially planned to begin in February.

When asked to confirm if the handout would be delayed as suggested, the prime minister declined to comment and walked away.

Mr Srettha later told reporters he would keep the public up-to-date on the digital wallet committee meeting when information becomes available.

The government has established a main committee overseeing the implementation of the handout scheme. It is expected to hold regular meetings to discuss proposals put forth by a sub-committee which has mulled over possible changes to the policy, such as cutting back on people eligible to receive the digital money, initially being offered to everyone aged 16 and above, regardless of their financial status.

The wallet may also be used within a district where a recipient resides rather than within a 4km radius of their home.

Speaking at a forum organised by the Senate to discuss the handout scheme on Monday, Mr Pichai said the policy would be adjusted to reduce its scope following concerns from critics while adding that the number of eligible people for the programme could be cut to around 40 million.

The financially well-off would be excluded from the scheme to save on the 560-billion-baht budget earmarked for the scheme, according to Mr Pichai.

Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, meanwhile, said it was the government’s responsibility to strictly follow the main objective of the digital wallet policy although “minor” details of the scheme might have to be revised.

More importantly, Mr Phumtham said, a clear reason and explanation will be required to justify changes to the scheme. Asked to confirm whether the February debut of the plan was still valid, he said that since nothing has changed so far, the timeline stands.

The bodies of another 10 Thai workers killed by Hamas terrorists in Israel are being flown back to Thailand and will arrive on Wednesday.

Another 281 Thai evacuees were also scheduled to arrive home on Tuesday night.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement issued on Tuesday that the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv had arranged for the 10 Thai victims to be carried on EI AI flight LY083, departing Israel at 8pm on Tuesday (1am Wednesday Thai time) and arriving at Suvarnabhumi airport about 12.40pm on Wednesday. 

Fifteen other Thais who were killed arrived home on two earlier flights. 

Those arriving on Wednesday are all male. They were identified as Jakkaphong Chantharasena, Sattawat Pia-iea, Pithak Thorlaeng, Wutthiphat Wisetdonwai, Jaroon Chartdamdee, Somkhuan Phansa-ard, Prinya Taemklang, Nanthawat Pinjai, Tu Sae Lee and Bancha Datchathuyawat.

Thirty-two Thai workers have been reported killed during the Hamas-Israel conflict, with another 22 abducted by Hamas and 19 injured. The bodies of eight Thai workers slain in Israel arrived on Oct 20 and seven more arrived on Oct 26.

The ministry statement said two more groups of Thai evacuees would arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport on Tuesday night.

Arkia Israeli Airlines flight IZ593 with 211 Thais was due at 7.20pm and EI AI flight LY085 with 70 Thais was expected at 11pm.

Rights groups call on PM Srettha to act on his statement that ‘problematic’ law needs amending

The courts have handed down 100 rulings, including 79 convictions, in royal defamation cases since the use of Section 112 of the Criminal Code was revived two years ago, rights groups said on Tuesday.

Most of the cases stemmed from defendants’ participation in pro-democracy demonstrations and political expression, including online posts, said a report by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), Union for Civil Liberty and Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw).

According to information compiled by TLHR, between Nov 30, 2021 and Oct 30 this year, courts of first instance have ruled in cases involving 100 defendants charged under the lese-majeste law. Of these, 79 were found guilty and 21 were acquitted. The longest prison sentence imposed was 28 years.

“The number of lese-majeste convictions is again reaching alarming levels,” said Adilur Rahman Khan, the secretary general of FIDH.

“Thailand’s prime minister said he is in favour of amending Article 112 of the Criminal Code, so he should do whatever is in his power to ensure that its enforcement does not violate human rights,” he said, referring to earlier statements made by Srettha Thavisin.

According to data from TLHR to Sept 30 this year, 1,928 people have been prosecuted for political participation and expression since the beginning of the Free Youth protests in July 2020. At least 258 are facing charges under Section 112 and 130 have been charged with sedition under Section 116.

Twenty of those facing charges under Section 112 are under the age of 18. Some of the most prominent pro-democracy activists, such as human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa, face prosecution in multiple cases, which could result in prison terms of up to 300 years.

Section 112 imposes jail terms for those who defame, insult or threaten the King, the Queen, the Heir to the throne or the Regent. Persons found guilty face prison terms of three to 15 years for each count.

Anyone can file a Section 112 complaint and police are obliged to investigate it. One tactic frequently used by royalists is to file a complaint in a province hundreds of kilometres from the residence of the accused. Defendants are then forced to travel to the province where the complaint was filed to attend all their court hearings.

At least 16 people charged with lese-majeste are currently detained: one awaiting trial; two children detained at the Children Observation and Protection Center; 10 appealing their cases; and three serving their prison sentences.

Most of those who have been found guilty of lese-majeste since November 2021 are not currently imprisoned because they were either granted bail pending appeal or had their prison sentences suspended.

The activist groups have urged the government to amend Section 112 to bring it into line with the country’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

The current wave of lese-majeste prosecutions began in late November 2020 after then-prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha pledged to enforce “all laws and articles” against leaders and protesters who participated in the pro-democracy rallies that were sweeping the country.

During many of these demonstrations, protesters broke a longstanding political taboo by directly criticising the monarchy and calling for reforms of the institution.

“We recall the remarks made by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on April 6 2023, in the lead-up to the May 14 general election, that Article 112 ‘is problematic in its enforcement’, and that it ‘needs to be reviewed … so as to prevent it from being used as a political tool’,” the rights groups said in a statement.

“FIDH, TLHR, UCL, and iLaw also reiterate their calls on the Thai government to reverse many of the previous administration’s repressive policies and actions, including by refraining from carrying out arrests, prosecutions, and detentions of individuals for the peaceful and legitimate exercise of their fundamental right to freedom of opinion and expression.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara on Tuesday began a visit to Qatar and Egypt to discuss help for Thais abducted by Hamas from Israel.

Mr Parnpree, a deputy prime minister, said before he left on Tuesday that he expected to return on Thursday. 

He planned to meet the prime minister and foreign affairs minister of Qatar in Doha later on Tuesday and the foreign affairs minister of Egypt in Cairo on Wednesday.

“The Thai government is opening all negotiation channels possible to coordinate with Hamas to seek the release of the (Thai) hostages as soon as possible,” Mr Parnpree said.

“I say again that all Thais in Israel to return home as soon as possible, because no one can even imagine how far the situation in Israel and the Gaza Strip will escalate,” he said. 

The foreign minister said the whereabouts of the Thai captives were unknown. 

On Monday Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said 22 Thais were confirmed being held hostage. Others could still not be contacted.

Saiyid Sulaiman Husaini, leader of an association of Shia Muslims in Thailand, wrote on Facebook that a Thai delegation discussed the release of Thai abductees with Hamas representatives at the office of the Iranian president in Tehran on Monday.

Thais who bought their own air tickets to return from war-torn Israel can now apply for reimbursement from the government, labour permanent secretary Pairote Chotikasathien said on Tuesday.

Since the conflict erupted on Oct 7, many Thais working there had left Israel. Some had been evacuated by the government and others bought their own air tickets.

Those who used their own money to return home could now submit requests for reimbursement for travel expenses, Mr Pairote said. 

In Bangkok, application could be made at the labour ministry’s centre to help workers and monitor the unrest in Israel. Elsewhere, requests could be submitted at provincial labour offices.

They would have to show proof of travel expenses incurred since Oct 7 – tickets and boarding passes, receipts or other documents confirming payment, ID cards, copies of passports/travel documents, copies of bank accounts. All costs must have been incurred while overseas.

Mr Pairote said the ministry was duty-bound to receive requests filed by all Thais, students and workers, who returned home from Israel because of the violence. The documents would be forwarded to the Foreign Affairs Ministry for consideration. the labour secretary said.

Applications could be followed up through the Department of Consular Affairs’ hotline, tel 02 572 8442.

“Labour Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn has expressed his concern for the safety of Thai workers in Israel. He has instructed ministry officials to take the best care of all Thai workers and provide urgent assistance to them, both in Israel and to those who returned home,” Mr Pairote said.

“It is government policy that all Thais in Israel should return home, as it gives priority to their safety. Relatives are urged to tell family members who decide to stay in Israel to change their minds and return home as soon as possible.”

Anyone wanting to return home could notify the embassy or go straight to the government shelter at David InterContinenal Kaufmann Street 12 hotel, Tel Aviv, 61501, Mr Pairote said.