Barkar Nash (Page 907)

The cabinet has approved 346 million baht from the central budget to pay Buddhist Scripture educators this year, PM’s Office Minister Puangpet Chunlaiad said.

The money is to pay 3,320 educators nationwide, said Ms Puangpet. The National Office of Buddhism (NOB) requested the budget after the government underlined its commitment to support scripture studies education.

Ms Puangpet, who oversees the NOB, submitted the details for cabinet’s approval on Tuesday.

Phra Watcharasarn Bandhit, vice president of planning and development at Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, said he had met Ms Puangpet at Wat Mahathat Yuwaratrangsarit to discuss the matter and was impressed by the speedy results.

Educators were heartened by the government’s focus on Buddhist Scripture education, the monk said.

“We have high hopes for the government regarding Buddhist education, including scripture study and the development of universities under the NOB, both in policy and practice,” said Phra Watcharasarn Bandhit.

Deputy PM Somsak Thepsutin says asset seizures a key tool in suppressing drug gangs

Thailand has asked Lao authorities to help track down 54 drug trafficking suspects who have fled to the neighbouring country as both nations seek to tighten cross-border collaboration in a bid to stamp out the narcotic drugs trade.

Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin discussed new cooperation initiatives with a Lao delegation led by Maj Gen Khamking Phuilamanyvong, deputy minister of public security, at Government House on Wednesday.

Mr Somsak, who oversees the Justice Ministry, said the arrest of the fugitives would boost Thailand’s drug suppression effort, which is among the new government’s top priorities.

Even though suppression of illegal drugs has improved in the country, more tools are needed to make the efforts more effective, with confiscating drug-related assets a crucial tool.

He said it was a good sign that police, the Anti-Money Laundering Office and revenue officials have become aware of how important asset seizures are, and if such efforts were accelerated, the drug suppression policy would succeed.

“The costs of of production for narcotics are very low and if we don’t take this policy seriously we won’t succeed,” said the minister. “However, the government, especially the prime minister, is serious about stamping out the illegal drug trade by seizing assets.

“I’ve asked [Lao authorities] to help arrest drug suspects who have fled to Laos. There are as many as 54 arrest warrants. If these people are handed over to us, we can expand the investigation, and trace and seize their assets.”

Mr Somsak said some illegal online gambling websites are tied to drug syndicates, which use them to launder their money.

Maj Gen Khamking said the Lao government was keen on working closely with Thailand to curb the spread of narcotic drugs.

He said that he and Thai Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong had also agreed to push the issue during their recent meeting on further collaboration.

Police veteran backed by justice minister to lead development and security efforts

The cabinet has approved the appointment of Pol Lt Col Wannapong Kotcharak as the new secretary-general of the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC).

Pol Lt Col Wannapong, who currently heads the Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection, will assume his new position on Oct 1 pending royal endorsement, said government spokesman Chai Wacharonke.

He will succeed Rear Adm Somkiat Pholprayoon, who has headed the SBPAC in a caretaking capacity since his term expired towards the end of the previous government’s tenure, said Mr Chai.

The SBPAC was established in 1981 and comes under the jurisdiction of the office of the prime minister. It has a mandate to serve as an administrative unit that helps coordinate the work of the central government’s planning, financial and people planning agencies in Pattani, Yala and Nakhon Si Thammarat. The focus on both development and security reflects the unique needs of the area where a low-level separatist insurgency has been taking place for nearly two decades.

A source familiar with the appointment said Pol Lt Col Wannapong, 55, received the backing of Justice Minister Pol Col Tawee Sodsong, who once headed the agency himself.

Pol Col Tawee leads the Prachachart Party, which wields considerable political influence in the southern border provinces. The party won seven of 13 seats in the far South in the May 14 elections.

Before joining the Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection, Pol Lt Col Wannapong headed the Central Institute of Forensic Science. He has also served as deputy director-general of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).

He is the son of Pol Lt Gen Wannarak Kotcharak, a well-known former commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau and former commander of the Crime Suppression Division (CSD). Pol Lt Gen Wannarak, now retired, was the supervisor of Pol Col Tawee when the latter was in the police force.

Pol Lt Wannapong was chief inspector at the CSD before being promoted to deputy superintendent of the division. He was later transferred to the DSI where he worked as a special cases specialist before ascending to the post of DSI deputy chief.

Speculation swirled about the possible postponement of the naming of the new national police chief as the prime minister arrived to chair a meeting of the Police Comission that was due to decide on the appointment on Wednesday afternoon.

It was rumoured the matter could be withdrawn from the meeting agenda in the wake a high-profile search at the house of one of the four contenders.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin arrived at the Royal Thai Police Office (RTPO) at 1.30pm to chair the meeting of the Police Commission to select the 14th police chief.

The prime minister is the ex-officio chairman of the Police Commission under the Royal Thai Police Act.

Mr Srettha reviewed an honour guard at the RTPO, in the rain, before entering to chair the meeting.

The meeting was due to pick the successor of Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas, who retires on Sept 30.

It was speculated the decision might be withdrawn from the meeting agenda and deferred until October, along with the appointment of deputy national police chiefs and commanders.

It was thought some members of the Police Commission may propose that a problem involving one deputy national police chief, one of the four contenders, should first be cleared up.

This follows the search of houses occupied by deputy police chief Pol Gen Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, as part of a police probe into online gambling websites.

The raid on Pol Gen Surachate’s houses in Bangkok on Monday morning were part of an operation code-named “Big Cleaning Day”, which targeted 30 houses in Bangkok and five provinces — Phetchaburi, Samut Prakan, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani and Saraburi.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is greeted by outgoing national police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas as he arrives at the Royal Thai Police Office to chair the Police Commission meeting on Wednesday afternoon. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)

Move Forward MP for Phitsanulok Padipat Santipada reiterated his desire to remain deputy House speaker on Wednesday, and said the party’s new executive board was expected to discuss the issue soon.

Mr Papidat said the matter could not be resolved until the Move Forward Party (MFP) made a decision on taking up the role of opposition leader in the parliament. As an MFP member, his eligibility to be first deputy speaker was directly related.

He expected to discuss this issue soon with MFP leader Chaithawat Tulathon and the new executive committee. 

“A decision on the post of first deputy House speaker does not rest with me.  Other factors, including a resolution by the Move Forward Party, must be taken into consideration too. As for speculation the party will use this to expel me from the party so I can keep the post of deputy speaker, I want to hear it first with my own ears.

“So far it has just been talk from other people,’’ Mr Padipat said.

The constituency MP said he did not feel under any pressure, even though members of the government whip had asked the MFP to take only the one position. Any decision he made would not be to cling on to benefits for himself. It would be for the good of the country and the people, he said.

Asked whether a timeline for his decision would be the next parliamentary session, he said the timeline depended on the MFP.

However, if he refused to make a decision on the issue, no opposition leader could be appointed. The planned talks would discuss this issue in detail, he said.

Asked whether he wanted to continue as deputy speaker, Mr Papidat sighed before replying. He then said he wanted to continue in the job because there were several tasks awaiting him, such as ensuring the transparency of parliament. He wanted to accomplish his mission.

Under Section 106 of the constitution, the opposition leader is appointed from the biggest party not in government. Its MPs cannot serve as cabinet ministers or as House speaker or deputy speaker. 

With Mr Padipat serving as first deputy speaker, the MFP cannot legally lead the opposition camp despite commanding the largest number of seats in the House, 151.

Mr Chaithawat was elected MFP leader on Saturday, replacing Pita Limjaroenrat, who still faces a court challenge to his eligibility and stood aside in the middle of this month to allow his replacement to take on the role of opposition leader.

There has been repeated speculation Mr Padipat could be expelled from MFP as a tactic to allow him to join another party and retain the deputy speaker’s position. The Fair Party, which has only one MP, has expressed a willingness to take him in. MFP could then benefit from having a sympathetic deputy speaker chairing meetings in the House.

PATTAYA: The body of a missing 22-year-old Russian swimmer hit by a Pattaya speedboat that entered an off-limits zone was found on rocks off Haad Tian on Koh Larn on Wednesday morning.

Enrike Rakhman and his 20-year-old Thai girlfriend  were swimming off the beach on Monday and were both struck by the speedboat. Haad Tian is off-limits to speedboats.

The young woman, Narada Taichaisong, was found dead soon after, with many deep propeller cuts. Her  male companion was missing. Two days of searching had failed to find him.  

Rakhman’s body was found washed up on rocks, face down, by local residents on Wednesday morning, They called police.

Police said there were five propeller cuts on his back, shoulder and neck. The young man’s body was found about 60 metres from where he was hit by the boat while enjoying the water in a swimmers-only area. 

Speedboat driver Thawatchai Chompupuang, 19, was earlier arrested and charged with reckless driving causing death. He told police he did not know his speedboat hit anyone.

Pattaya deputy mayor Manote Nongyai said Haad Tian was off limits to speedboats because there were no buoys delineating safe and unsafe areas. Haad Tian was a popular beach because of its clear water, he said.

Pattaya authorities would have to speed up installing safety buoys along all beaches, he said.

Pol Lt Col Chainarong Jitsoonthorn, investigative inspector of Pattaya, said the young tourist arrived on Aug 11 and on Monday he and his girlfriend went to Haad Tian after checking out of a hotel near Na Baan beach, also on Koh Larn.

Education Minister Pol Gen Permpoon Chidchob has instructed all education officials to avoid potential conflicts of interest in an effort to prevent graft and corruption.

Pol Gen Permpoon said such interests can lead to malfeasance and corruption so all agencies must do their best to ensure transparency and accountability. He said a number of guidelines have also been issued for education personnel to follow to keep them from violating the rules.

The minister said all education agencies have also been instructed to keep a record of gifts worth more than 3,000 baht received from others as well any bribery-related complaints and submit them to their supervisors every six months.

Online gambling should be legalised to increase government revenue, said Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin.

Mr Somsak, who supervises the Justice Ministry, was speaking to reporters before Tuesday’s cabinet meeting. This followed reports that eight policemen were involved in online gambling operations, which led to cyber crime police raiding 30 locations in six provinces on Monday.

They included five houses owned by deputy national police chief Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn.

The targets were those allegedly involved in the online gambling network dubbed “Betflix”. Most forms of betting are illegal in Thailand.

“More forms of gambling should be legalised, for example on football. As of now, the state and the public do not benefit from [gambling taxes],” he said.

“If these were taxed like other gambling activities the Interior Ministry has licensed, including bull and cock fighting, it would be good because it would help increase state revenue.”

He said he would discuss the issue with the Strategic Transformation Office and possibly make a proposal to the cabinet later.

“Legalising gambling would be beneficial because online gambling involves huge amounts of money. The government could collect taxes and use that money to help people with disabilities, elderly people and underprivileged children,” the deputy prime minister said.

About 4,400 online gambling websites have been shut down this year while cyber crime police have handled 6,000 related cases, said Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong.

He said administrators of gambling sites and people who place bets risk jail time and fines.