Barkar Nash (Page 904)

Qatar-mediated war truce a separate deal

Hopes are climbing for the release of Thai hostages as reports have emerged of an agreement brokered by Iran, suggesting that Hamas might free 23 Thai workers detained in the Israel-Hamas war.

However, the Foreign Affairs Ministry has not yet confirmed the authenticity of the reports.

London-based pan-Arab news site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, quoted by The Times of Israel, said Tehran gave Bangkok details about the condition of the hostages kidnapped in the Oct 7 attacks, saying that 23 Thai hostages may be released on the sidelines of a swap taking place between Israel and the terror group.

According to an unnamed Egyptian source quoted on the news site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed on Thursday, Hamas is set to release 23 Thai hostages following Iranian mediation between the Palestinian group and Bangkok.

The Thai government has held separate negotiations with several governments including Iran and Qatar to help with the release of a total of 26 Thai farm workers.

That deal is separate from the Qatar-mediated temporary truce between Israel and Hamas that was set to take effect yesterday.

Hamas was set to release 13 women and children on Friday  in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, part of a deal that will halt the intense fighting for several days and is expected to see 50 hostages and 150 Palestinian prisoners released.

The ministry has recognised this latest achievement as an important breakthrough after weeks of negotiations.

It also welcomed the humanitarian pause, as called for by the United Nations Security Council, to ensure support reaches those in need.

Thailand hopes this momentum can be maintained so the remaining hostages, including Thai nationals, will be released at the earliest opportunity, the ministry said.

It also commended the efforts of the governments of Qatar, Israel, the United States, Egypt, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, as well as all of those involved in securing this latest release of hostages.

However, Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara said on Friday there had been no official confirmation the 23 Thai hostages would be set free.

Bangkok is coordinating with other foreign governments to ensure the immediate release of Thais, he said, adding the Qatari government will also hold a meeting to discuss efforts to secure their release.

“We are in the process of coordinating with everyone involved, especially the governments we have contacted. We have been informed there might be good news soon,” he said.

Mr Parnpree went on to say the ministry remains committed to facilitating the repatriation of Thai citizens.

When the Thai hostages are released, they are expected to be taken to a safe location, such as near a border crossing in Egypt, where they will be handed over to officials from Thai embassies, he said.

In the event that some Thai hostages are injured during the release, Israeli authorities may keep them in a local hospital until they have recovered, Mr Parnpree added.

Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke said on Friday that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has been following the situation regarding the Thai hostages and has instructed relevant agencies to explore every avenue to ensure they are freed as quickly as possible and can return home safely.

Regarding the official visit to Thailand by Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani, Mr Parnpree said it followed his own recent visit to Qatar where he met Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

During the meeting, he said he asked his Iranian counterpart to help coordinate with Hamas for the quick release of the Thai hostages.

Mr Parnpree said that Mr Ali, while in Thailand, had discussions with several government agencies, mostly focusing on Thai-Iranian trade cooperation.

Another group of 24 Thais, trapped in northern Myanmar due to escalating clashes between Myanmar soldiers and ethnic rebel groups, were repatriated to the Mae Sai border district of Chiang Rai province yesterday.

Myanmar authorities notified their Thai counterparts about the repatriation of the 16 men and eight women.

The evacuees were moved from Laukkai to Kengtung in Myanmar’s Shan State amid the conflict between Myanmar soldiers and an alliance of ethnic minority groups — the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, Ta’ang National Liberation Army and Arakan Army.

The 24 Thais were under the protection of Myanmar soldiers in Kengtung, about 168 kilometres north of Mae Sai. The group left Kengtung around 7am yesterday.

They were handed to Thai authorities at the permanent border checkpoint in Mae Sai on the same day, according to a source at the Thai-Myanmar border.

Of the Thais, the youngest was an 18-year-old woman, while the oldest was a 35-year-old man. All will undergo health check-ups before being handed over to officials at Chiang Rai immigration checkpoint.

The Third Army’s public relations centre said on its Facebook page that the 24 individuals were handed over to army officers at the second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge in Mae Sai at about 11.30am yesterday.

On Sunday, the first group of 41 Thai nationals were moved by Myanmar authorities from Wa state to Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai before returning home.

On Monday, another group of 266 Thais who were evacuated by Myanmar authorities from the border town of Laukkaing in Shan State to Kunming in China on Sunday, arrived at Don Mueang airport on two commercial flights.

Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara said the 24 returnees have taken the number of Thais repatriated from Myanmar to 331.

But some Thai nationals are still trapped in northern Myanmar and the government is stepping up efforts to repatriate them, he said.

Almost 150,000 people rode the Pink Line during the first two days of a free trial, according to Department of Rail Transport (DRT) director-general, Pichet Kunadhamraks.

Free rides are being offered during a trial period for the 34.5-kilometre Pink Line service, which started on Nov 21. The line has 30 stations connecting the Government Complex on Chaengwatthana Road to Min Buri.

Some 149,172 passengers used the train on Nov 21–22, with 50,910 riding in 69 train services on the first day’s five-hour operational period from 3pm–8pm. From Nov 22 to Dec 3, the service is available from 6am to 8pm with train services every 10 minutes.

Wat Phra Si Mahatat Station was the most crowded station, with 17,000 passengers catching or alighting from trains at the station as it connects with the BTS Green Line.

Mr Pichet said that he had asked Northern Bangkok Monorail (NBM) to focus on crowd control management to prevent overcrowding at the station.

The Pink Line also connects with the Purple Line at the Government Complex station, and the free trial has led to a growing number of Purple Line passengers. About 78,355 people are now using the Purple Line per day, the highest figures since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Pichet said he has asked the Mass Rapid Transport Authority and NBM to speed up access to every station entrance on the Pink Line and interchange walkway construction before commercial operations start on Dec 4.

The Public Health Ministry has been monitoring clusters of respiratory illnesses in children in northern China as the World Health Organization (WHO) is keeping an eye on the mounting number of cases.

Public Health Minister Dr Cholnan Srikaew said yesterday this appeared to be a normal occurrence in China during the cold season. It has not yet impacted Thailand.

Dr Cholnan said Thailand also experiences a similar pattern where cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) surge during the cool season. The ministry is following the virus situation closely, said the minister.

However, as a precaution against the virus spreading rapidly along the lines of the Covid-19 pandemic, the minister has ordered close tabs be kept on the situation. Related agencies were also watching out for international arrivals who were unwell.

Dr Cholnan said most visitors arriving at airports were adults in good health. Most would have aborted their trip if they came down with an illness, he said. The respiratory ailment in China is mostly affecting children.

“There’s no need yet to set up surveillance and screening of passengers at airports. But we’re putting our guard up,” he said.

The minister added no visitors should be made to feel they are being singled out for monitoring. His remark came as visitors from China have not bounced back to pre-Covid levels.

On the side of the Department of Disease Control (DDC), its deputy director-general, Dr Sophon Iamsirithaworn, said the DDC emailed the WHO on Nov 23 seeking further details on the spread of the respiratory illness in China.

However, no fatalities were reported from the cluster, and no unusual patterns of transmission among children have been detected.

On Nov 22, the WHO made an official request to China for detailed information on the situation and reported clusters of pneumonia among children.

Citing a report on Nov 13 by China’s National Health Commission on a spike in the number of such cases, the Chinese authorities attributed the increase to the lifting of Covid-19 curbs and the circulation of known pathogens such as influenza, mycoplasma pneumoniae (a common bacterial infection which typically affects younger children), RSV, and SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes Covid).

Authorities stressed the need for enhanced surveillance in healthcare facilities and community settings, as well as strengthening the capacity of the health system to manage patients, according to the WHO.

On Nov 22, the WHO requested additional epidemiological and clinical information, as well as laboratory results from these reported clusters among children, through the International Health Regulations mechanism.

Two tourists, who were part of a group of 26 Thais injured in a bus crash in Turkey on Thursday, were pronounced dead yesterday morning, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday.

Ministry spokeswoman, Kanchana Patarachoke, yesterday provided updates on the bus accident in Denizli province and on the casualties.

Ms Kanchana said the ministry had received information from the Royal Thai Embassy in Ankara on Thursday that the tour bus carrying the Thais had crashed into a roadside signboard.

She said two Thais were reported to have died yesterday morning, and one Turkish individual was also reported dead. Their names have not been released yet.

The 24 injured Thais were taken to three hospitals for treatment. Some with light injuries have already been discharged, while two others were reported to be in serious condition.

The spokeswoman said a representative of the tour agency has taken responsibility for caring for the affected tourists.

She said the embassy has been in contact with the hospitals and tour agency to monitor the situation.

The embassy has also reached out to the families of those affected by the accident. A group of Thai volunteers in Ankara were also providing assistance.

“The Royal Thai Embassy in Ankara reported having sent embassy staff to visit the injured. As for the deceased, it is up to their families as to what to do next. The embassy is always ready to help,” she said.

She added that if the families were unable to contact the tour agency, they could reach out to the consular department or the Royal Thai Embassy in Ankara for more information and assistance.

Concerning damages, she said it was an accident, and legal procedures in Turkey would determine what happens there.

Chalor Kerdthes, the ex-police commissioner convicted for murder in connection with the high-profile Saudi royal jewellery theft case almost three decades ago, passed away on Friday at the age of 85.

His death was recorded at Maharaj Hospital in Nakhon Ratchasima at 4.54pm. The cause was heart failure.

Born on Aug 28, 1938 in Bangkok, Chalor was the child of Lt Col Chaem and Thongkum Kedthes. He graduated from the 15th class of the Royal Police Cadet Academy before working in the police station.

He was promoted to Deputy Commander of the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) and then the commander of Phitsanulok Provincial Police Station.

Chalor’s highest position was that of Royal Thai Police Department Chief, holding the rank of Police Lieutenant General (Pol Lt Gen).

He was also a national football team manager and the chairman of the National Football Association.

He first became a public figure when he took part as an investigator in “The Blue Diamond Affair”, the name given to the 1989 stolen Saudi jewellery case.

He and seven other people were charged in 1993 with malfeasance and conspiracy to steal the missing Saudi royal jewels, with abuse of authority, after being implicated in the abduction of gems trader Santi Srithanakhan and the abduction and murder of Santi’s wife and son.

In 2006, the Appeals Court sentenced him to death. He was earlier given life imprisonment by the Criminal Court and stripped of his police rank.

The sentence was reduced to life imprisonment after receiving a royal pardon in 2010, and cut to 50 years in 2011.

He was released from Central Prison in 2013 after his sentence was suspended due to his paralysis.

Chalor was married to Surang Phonlasup, and they had three children.