Barkar Nash (Page 900)

PHETCHABURI: The Fishery Department’s inland fisheries prevention and suppression unit is allowing people to catch up to 60 giant Mekong catfish in the Kaeng Krachan Dam during the current fishing season.

The season started on Nov 9 and will end on Jan 9. Those who want to fish must use a fishing net with at least 50 centimetres in mesh size and pay a 1,000-baht registration fee. In addition, they must pay 1,000 baht per giant catfish caught.

The money will be spent on 100 Mekong giant catfish hatchlings to be released back to the reservoir for sustainability, says the department.

The Mekong giant catfish is listed as a critically endangered species under the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species.

The the fishing season is organised during this time every year. If a total of 60 Mekong giant catfish are caught before Jan 9, the fishing season will end, said a source.

Most fishermen in Ban Phukhem village in Kaeng Krachan district are said to be happy to comply with the regulations to catch the giant catfish for sale. Buyers are also ready at the site. Each giant catfish can be sold at 250 baht per kilogramme.

Since Nov 9, a total of 20 giant catfish have been caught. The biggest one weighs 202kg and the smallest, 98kg.

PTT Plc is confident the Laem Chabang deep-sea port in Chon Buri will become a model for “green” ports in the country.

Noppadon Pinsupa, COO of PTT’s Downstream Petroleum Business Group, said yesterday that GPC International Terminal, which won the bid for the third phase of the deep-sea port’s development, is expecting to receive the area for development from the Port Authority of Thailand in 2025.

PAT is in the process of reclaiming the land needed for the port’s construction.

PTT, through its subsidiary PTT Tank Terminal Co, is part of the consortium deveoping the port, along with Chec Oversea Infrastructure Holding Pte, Ltd.

“Once the area is handed over, construction will take about two years. We will develop the sea port to be a ‘green port’,” he said, highlighting the renewable energy sources that will provide power and the electric vehicles and machinery that will support operations.

Once the third phase is completed, Laem Chabang will be able to accommodate the largest cargo ships, and exploit cutting-edge technology and automation, said Mr Noppadol, who added there will also be efficient logistics integration with the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).

The government has expressed condolences to the family of a teacher who was killed by a stray bullet in Klong Toey district on Saturday, promising swift action to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

“As the government’s representative, I would like to express our condolences for your loss,” said deputy government spokeswoman Kanika Aunjit yesterday.

She said the government is working with the ministries of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), Interior and various agencies, to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The incident took place near the Sacred Heart Convent School, where an unidentified group of men opened fire at a group of university students amid an argument on Saturday.

The shot that was fired missed the intended target and struck the victim on the back of her head, who was queuing up to use an ATM machine on Sunthon Kosa Road.

Sirada Sinprasert, a 45-year-old teacher, taught computer science at Sacred Heart Convent School. Her family organised her funeral rites in her native province of Suphan Buri.

Pol Col Withawat Chinkham, acting commander of the Metropolitan Police Division 5, said yesterday detectives had some progress in their attempt to identify the gunman.

The gunman covered himself with a long-sleeved shirt and full-face helmet, he said, and arrived at the scene on the back of a motorcycle.

The intended target was identified as Thanasorn Hongsawat, 19.

He was admitted to King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Detectives are tracking the gunman and expects to identify him soon, Pol Col Withawat said.

Parties ‘must protect’ women and children

The Friends of Women Foundation and its allies are calling on the Election Commission (EC) to work with parliament to jointly draft a new code of ethics that will bar candidates accused of sexual harassment or assault from participating in politics.

The move came after the expulsion of Move Forward Party MPs Wuttiphong Thonglour and Chaiyamphawan Manpianjit for alleged sexual harassment.

The foundation director Thanawadee Thajeen on Sunday said the call is backed by the Friends of Women Foundation, the Alliance Anti Traffic Thailand, the Foundation for Child Developers, the Raks Thai Foundation, the Student Christian Center and the women’s network in four regions. The move is also to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on Nov 25.

Ms Thanawadee said data from the Public Health Ministry’s One Stop Crisis Centre shows that about 15,000 women and children are victims of violence on average a year, of which about 300 become seriously injured, disabled or dead.

Many victims decide to keep the assaults or harassment secret because the offenders are family members or influential figures such as politicians, she said.

Ms Thanawadee said the group urges relevant agencies and bodies, including the EC, parliament and political parties, to set qualifications for MP candidates to screen candidates with such behaviour.

“As politicians are people representatives, they must have sex ethics,” she said. “The ethics must also be included in every political party.”

Executive panels and members of political parties must not have criminal records or even face accusations of sexual violence, forcing a woman to go through an abortion, domestic violence, abandoning a family, refusing to pay child support and sexual exploitation, she said.

If there is an accusation, a political party must have a fact-finding committee, in which two-thirds of members are representatives of organisations that protect the rights of women and children to ensure justice, she said.

Offenders must be punished by legal procedures and party regulations, she said.

Political parties must also launch a campaign to educate people about the rights of children and women and prevent domestic violence and sexual exploitation, harassment and assault in any form, she said.

Parties ‘must protect’ women and children

The Friends of Women Foundation and its allies are calling on the Election Commission (EC) to work with parliament to jointly draft a new code of ethics that will bar candidates accused of sexual harassment or assault from participating in politics.

The move came after the expulsion of Move Forward Party MPs Wuttiphong Thonglour and Chaiyamphawan Manpianjit for alleged sexual harassment.

The foundation director Thanawadee Thajeen on Sunday said the call is backed by the Friends of Women Foundation, the Alliance Anti Traffic Thailand, the Foundation for Child Developers, the Raks Thai Foundation, the Student Christian Center and the women’s network in four regions. The move is also to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on Nov 25.

Ms Thanawadee said data from the Public Health Ministry’s One Stop Crisis Centre shows that about 15,000 women and children are victims of violence on average a year, of which about 300 become seriously injured, disabled or dead.

Many victims decide to keep the assaults or harassment secret because the offenders are family members or influential figures such as politicians, she said.

Ms Thanawadee said the group urges relevant agencies and bodies, including the EC, parliament and political parties, to set qualifications for MP candidates to screen candidates with such behaviour.

“As politicians are people representatives, they must have sex ethics,” she said. “The ethics must also be included in every political party.”

Executive panels and members of political parties must not have criminal records or even face accusations of sexual violence, forcing a woman to go through an abortion, domestic violence, abandoning a family, refusing to pay child support and sexual exploitation, she said.

If there is an accusation, a political party must have a fact-finding committee, in which two-thirds of members are representatives of organisations that protect the rights of women and children to ensure justice, she said.

Offenders must be punished by legal procedures and party regulations, she said.

Political parties must also launch a campaign to educate people about the rights of children and women and prevent domestic violence and sexual exploitation, harassment and assault in any form, she said.

The Excellence Centre for Space Technology and Research (Ecstar) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with In-Space Missions Limited from the United Kingdom 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 the country’s space research and technological development.

Ecstar chairman Col Settapong Malisuwan said the partnership confirms Ecstar’s commitment to ensure Thailand’s space capacity is at par with other countries.

He said the MoU will foster collaboration and contribute to Thailand’s space affairs development.

The signing ceremony was attended by Ecstar director Charnwit Munikanont and Tony Holt, Chief Sales and Innovation Officer & Co-Founder of In-Space Missions Limited.

Mr Charnwit said Ecstar and In-Space Missions Limited had discussed the development of a satellite rideshare mission called Faraday Dragon within Asean.

He said the partnership would allow Thailand to join other countries in building satellites.

Both sides aim to start working in March next year and jointly manufacture a satellite in two years and utilise it in three years, he added.

Col Settapong, who became the chairman of Ecstar in the middle of this year, said the centre aims to develop the country’s first low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites as well as boost international cooperation with other space agencies.

The centre is also planning to support startup businesses conducting studies on climate change commissioned by the Spacecraft Commission for Economic and Social Security Subcommittee.

The Excellence Centre for Space Technology and Research (Ecstar) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with In-Space Missions Limited from the United Kingdom 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 the country’s space research and technological development.

Ecstar chairman Col Settapong Malisuwan said the partnership confirms Ecstar’s commitment to ensure Thailand’s space capacity is at par with other countries.

He said the MoU will foster collaboration and contribute to Thailand’s space affairs development.

The signing ceremony was attended by Ecstar director Charnwit Munikanont and Tony Holt, Chief Sales and Innovation Officer & Co-Founder of In-Space Missions Limited.

Mr Charnwit said Ecstar and In-Space Missions Limited had discussed the development of a satellite rideshare mission called Faraday Dragon within Asean.

He said the partnership would allow Thailand to join other countries in building satellites.

Both sides aim to start working in March next year and jointly manufacture a satellite in two years and utilise it in three years, he added.

Col Settapong, who became the chairman of Ecstar in the middle of this year, said the centre aims to develop the country’s first low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites as well as boost international cooperation with other space agencies.

The centre is also planning to support startup businesses conducting studies on climate change commissioned by the Spacecraft Commission for Economic and Social Security Subcommittee.