Barkar Nash (Page 915)

The Thai and Chinese governments have agreed to join hands to combat transnational crime, call centre scams and cybercrime.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon welcomed Xu Ganlu, Vice Minister of Public Security and Commissioner of the National Immigration Administration of China at Government House yesterday.

The meeting focused on bilateral cooperation to enforce the suppression of crime. Mr Xu said that China would welcome assistance from Thailand with law enforcement along the Mekong River.

Mr Xu will also join the 26th Asean Directors-General of Immigration Departments and Heads of Consular Affairs Divisions of Ministries of Foreign Affairs Meeting (DGICM) from Aug 7–11 in Phuket.

“Thai-Chinese diplomatic ties play an important role in Thailand’s foreign policies. Thailand still stands firmly behind the-China Policy and is glad to see our relations improve following high-profile visits from both sides. Our two countries still have a lot to offer one another,” said Gen Prawit.

Mr Xu also mentioned that they had agreed to cooperate further in enforcing laws to suppress transnational crime and also boost immigration opportunities.

Gen Prawit also reportedly expressed his condolences after recent severe floods in several cities in China, including Beijing.

Tax evasion claim hurts chance to win

Senators are divided over whether to support Srettha Thavisin if Pheu Thai nominates him for the prime ministerial vote in parliament.

Senator Wanchai Sornsiri said he was optimistic that most senators would support Pheu Thai and its prime ministerial candidate now it had split from the Move Forward Party (MFP), whose policy to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, or the lese majeste law, was opposed by many senators.

Only when Pheu Thai manages to gather support from more than 250 MPs in forming a government will he be confident a candidate from the bloc will succeed in clinching the premiership with sufficient backing from the Senate.

Senators hope the formation of a new government will be done as soon as possible. They do not want to be criticised as an obstacle to the country moving forward, he said, adding the tax allegation against Mr Srettha could still be scrutinised later.

This week, whistleblower Chuvit Kamolvisit implied there had been land sale tax evasion in Sansiri’s purchase of 400 square wah of land on Sarasin Road in Bangkok in August 2019, when Mr Srettha was still CEO.

The former massage parlour tycoon implied that Mr Srettha and Sansiri colluded with the landowners to evade 521 million baht in taxes on the developer’s purchase of the prime block of land.

Several groups of senators have left no stone unturned when it comes to examining the prospects of a Pheu Thai-led government, including an offer of a place in the coalition to the MFP in the event of a cabinet reshuffle in the future, according to Mr Wanchai.

The senator said he strongly believes Pheu Thai is well aware of what it should and should not do in order to succeed in leading a new government.

Senator Seree Suwanpanont, in his capacity as chairman of the Senate committee on political development and public participation, meanwhile, said the panel has agreed to look at a petition lodged by political activist Ruangkrai Leekitwattana against Mr Srettha over the tax evasion allegation.

According to Mr Ruangkrai, Mr Srettha’s part in the alleged tax evasion makes him ineligible to become a prime minister.

Senator Somjet Boonthanom said he has no reason not to vote for Pheu Thai’s candidate but wondered why the party puts the charter over economic recovery.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) should build on its readiness to deal with future uncertainties and disruptions, said the Indonesian ambassador to Thailand, Rachmat Budiman at a forum organised by C Asean in Bangkok yesterday to mark the 56th anniversary of Asean’s founding.

As Asean chairman for 2023 and the host of the 2023 Asean summit, Indonesia has chosen “Asean Matters: Epicentrum of Growth” as this year’s working theme.

Mr Budiman said the theme was chosen to reflect Indonesia’s visions and priority for this year — namely “Asean Matters”, “Epicentrum of Growth”, and the Asean Outlook for the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

“Asean does matter, so we would like to see Asean strengthen its position, which would highlight the bloc’s importance to people both within and beyond the region,” he said.

“We have to be more adaptable and responsive in the face of uncertainties,” he said, citing recent disruptions such as the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, as well as the digitisation of businesses.

He said Indonesia would push to institutionalise informal dialogues on human rights to enhance cooperation between Asean members in combatting rights abuses such as torture and human trafficking.

In order to be an epicentre for growth, Asean members must work together to improve food and energy security, as well as enhance and harmonise financial and regulatory standards across the region, the ambassador went on to say.

When asked about the AOIP, Mr Budiman said Asean is working on mainstreaming the protocol to ensure Asean’s partners in the region and beyond have an understanding of Asean’s vision for maritime and security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, as well the bloc’s economic aspirations and targets.

Polapatr Suvarnazorn, as the vice chairman of C Asean, which organised the forum, said in his opening remarks that the fact Asean is celebrating its 56th anniversary at the very place where it was founded speaks volumes about the success of the regional gathering.

“For the past 56 years, Asean has been working to make a peaceful, stable and resilient community. We are still faced with more uncertainties and challenges like wars, social unrest and natural disasters. But, Asean’s vision has continued unchanged, and it remains resolute on keeping the bloc’s cohesiveness as one community,” he said.

Teen in Kamphaeng Phet communicated with clients who scanned QR codes on her Twitter account

Police arrested a 16-year-old girl on Tuesday in Kamphaeng Phet province for human trafficking and luring minors to be prostitutes.

The suspect was arrested by a Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) team at a hotel in tambon Nakhon Chum of Muang Kamphaeng Phet district.

The bureau’s Thailand Internet Crimes Against Children (Ticac) unit took up the investigation after the bureau received a report about the suspect from Alliance Anti-Traffic Thailand.

According to the investigation, the girl offered sexual services in Muang Kamphaeng Phet district. Clients interested in the services were required to scan a QR code posted on her Twitter account.

She then sent four pictures of teenage girls ranging from 14 to 16 years old to the prospective client. The client was required to pay 1,100 baht, including a 200-baht deposit and 900 baht for the girl to be paid at the selected hotel.

A CCIB officer posing as a client contacted the suspect, who delivered the girls to the hotel. The suspect was arrested after money changed hands.

The suspect said she was a sex worker who procured others at the request of her clients. She was charged with sex trafficking and child prostitution.

PHUKET: A network of environmental groups has petitioned the Thalang district office and the 3rd Naval Area Command to step up protection of the 3,700 rai Bang Khanun reserve forest, citing widespread deforestation.

Chamrun Koetdam, president of the Network of Gulf of Thailand-Andaman Conservation Areas, on Tuesday submitted a petition to Bancha Thanu-in, chief of the Thalang district office, asking the office to specifically order two tambon administrative organisations in the district to enforce the Building Control Act in one particular area of Bang Khanun reserve forest.

Part of the 3,700 rai forest is used by the 3rd Naval Area. However the environmentalist groups have obtained information about widespread deforestation in several parts of the reserve forest, including that given over for use by the navy, Mr Chamrun said.

The network had previously discussed the problem with 3rd Naval Area commander VAdm Arparkorn Yukongkaew and asked the regional navy command to help protect and rehabilitate the forest area under its care, said Mr Chamrun.

Citing also information supplied by several groups of environmentalists working in Phuket, Mr Chamrun said past major flooding at Phuket International Airport in Thalang district might have been caused by this widespread deforestation, which has also occurred on mountains close to the airport.

“We have received information about serious encroachment and deforestation in the reserve forest. This is a threat to the country’s natural resources and to tourism,” he said.

The network has already asked the 3rd Naval Area to minimise construction in the reserve forest, never compromise with encroachers, stop allowing foreigners to earn income from fruit trees grown in the forest, regrow trees as much as possible and pursue legal action against those involved in the encroachment and deforestation.

VAdm Arparkorn said the navy had already responded to all these calls while continuing to support the investigation conducted by the Department of Special Investigation into the matter.

At least nine parties had been charged since the investigation began in 2021, according to an informed source.

Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, the second son of His Majesty the King, is on a visit to Thailand after 27 years living abroad, to the delight of many Thai people.

A 30-second video of Vacharaesorn, 42, walking out of the arrival terminal at Suvarnabhumi international airport went viral on social media on Monday.

He was seen waving to a group of Thais who were there to greet him. He gave them a wai, smiling and saying, “Thank you very much”, before proceeding to an exit.

Vacharaesorn reportedly departed from the John F Kennedy airport in the United States on Aug 5 on board a Cathay Pacific flight to Hong Kong, where he took a connecting flight that landed at Suvarnabhumi on Sunday evening.

From the airport, he went to a hotel in the heart of Bangkok. It was reported he would stay in the country for about one week.

No announcement of his visit was made by the Royal Household Bureau.

On Monday morning, Vacharaesorn went to Wat Ratchabophit Sathitmahasimaram Ratchaworawihan in Phra Nakhon district where he paid respect to the Supreme Patriarch.

He then proceeded to pay homage to the City Pillar before moving on to Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram and Wat Hong Rattanaram Ratchaworawihan temples where he posed for pictures at the request of people who happened to recognise him.

Vacharaesorn is second of the four sons of HM the King and his former consort Sujarinee Vivacharawongse. Their younger sister is Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, who lives in Thailand.

The four brothers had their primary education in Thailand before moving to the United Staes.

Vacharaesorn has both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in law from Stetson University College of Law in the United States. He is a legal counsellor at a law firm in New York, where he has lived for 27 years. He has reportedly joined other Thai people in the US in activities showing Thai traditions and culture.

Eighteen activists of the Thalu Wang group have been summonsed to hear charges in connection with a protest on Sunday in front the Ministry of Culture demanding senator Naowarat Pongpaiboon be stripped of the title “national artist”.

The summonses were issued by Huay Khwang police in response to a complaint filed by officials from the Ministry of Culture and Huay Khwang district office, Pol Maj Gen Atthaporn Wongsiripreeda, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 1, said on Tuesday.

Those summonsed include Netiporn “Boong” Sanehsangkhom, Tantawan “Tawan” Tuatulanond and Thanalop “Yok” Phalanchai.

They face charges of trespassing, damaging property, violating the 2014 coup-makers’ National Council for Peace and Order ban on the use of fireworks or similar objects, violating the Public Assembly Act of 2015 in organising a gathering without prior permission and breaking the Cleanliness and Orderliness Act prohibiting vandalising of public property, Pol Maj Gen Atthaporn said.

All 18 were required to report to the police to acknowledge the charges this week.

Police had examined and collected evidence from the protest site to support the charges, he said.

On Sunday about 5pm, members of the Thalu Wang group gathered at the entrance gate of the Ministry of Culture on Thian Ruamit road in Huay Khwang district. They sprayed coloured paint on the footpath, on decorative cloth on the ministry’s fence and on the road surface.

They also splashed coloured liquid on the ministry’s name sign and lit coloured smoke flares in front of it.

Some of the protesters were dressed in black and wore a variety of masks to hide their faces.

They demanded the Ministry of Culture strip senator Naowarat Pongpaiboon of the title of national artist because he had abstained when the joint parliament sat to vote on the nomination of Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat for prime minister on July 13. Mr Pita failed to get the required support, with the majority of senators opting not to vote.

The protesters also called for the abolition of Section 112 of the Criminal Code, known as the lese majeste law.

A motorcycle taxi driver shot dead four people during a homicidal rampage police said was fuelled by jealousy, and then killed himself, in Bangkok’s Lak Si district on Monday night.

The shootings occurred in Soi Chaeng Wattana 6. The killer was identified by police as Somchai Kaewkomol, 54, Pol Capt Chairat Thamseeha, a Thung Song Hong duty officer, said.

According to eyewitnesses, about 7.30pm Somchai arrived on a motorcycle at Nicknack market in Soi Chaeng Wattana 6 and shot his estranged wife’s mother Sopha Jansoda, 59, a lottery vendor, in the head. She died later at Mongkutwattana Hospital.

Somchai then drove to Ban Suan Ratchathani condominium, about one kilometre from the market. He broke into room 225/213 on the 9th floor of Building 5 and shot dead Sopha’s elder sister, Thawee Sinma, 60, and  two boys – Thanakrit Kaewkret, 7, and Kritpas Kaewkret, 9.

All his victims were shot in the head.

Somchai then shot himself in the head and died in a shelter in front of the condominium.

Pol Capt Chairat said the two slain boys were the sons of his estranged wife Viraya Sinma, 39, by her former husband.

He said Somchai and Ms Viraya had lived together as a couple for about two years. About a month ago, Ms Viriya broke up with him after they frequently quarrelled, and she went to live with another man.

Jealousy and family problems were believed to be the motive for the killings, police said.

The government will increase its tourism offices overseas to promote Thailand among travellers from the US and the Middle East, according to a deputy spokeswoman.

An additional office will open in the US, and one will open in Saudi Arabia.

Rachada Dhnadirek said the government has updated its tourism strategy to meet demands in the international market as part of policies assigned by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has worked to attract long-haul travellers, especially in Europe, the US and the Middle East, and it expects related revenues to hit 1.62 trillion baht by the end of this year, she said.

During the first six months of this year, 2,933,660 travellers from European countries, 620,474 from the US and 231,206 from the Middle East visited Thailand, she said.

Citing TAT data on tourist spending in the first quarter of this year, she said long-haul travellers from Europe, the US and the Middle East spent the largest amounts of money and stayed the longest in Thailand when compared with other foreign visitors.

European travellers spend an average of 19.40 days and 71,718 baht per person per trip in Thailand, with Arab travellers at an average of 16.17 days and 99,172 baht per person per trip and US travellers an average of 15.26 days and 76,297 baht per person per trip.

With an increase in the number of international flights from April to October, the TAT has estimated that 7 million long-haul travellers will visit Thailand this year, bringing 60.6 billion baht to the tourism sector, she said.

She said that the TAT will open a new overseas office in Chicago, making it the third such office in the US, the others being in New York and Los Angeles.

Moreover, another office will be opened in the Saudi capital Riyadh to promote Thailand to Middle Eastern and Northern African tourists, she said.