Barkar Nash (Page 945)

The Ko Samui airport in the southern province of Surat Thani has become lively and crowded with many Thai and foreign tourists, who started arriving at this famous island resort on Friday, the first day of a six-day long holiday, thanks to the cabinet’s decision to declare Monday, July 31, an extra day off.

All Bangkok Airways flights from Suvarnabhumi airport in Samut Prakan province to Samui were fully booked, as were all direct flights to the island from Hong Kong and Singapore.

Many other tourists arrived at the island from Surat Thani by ferries.

It was initially estimated that at least 20,000 tourists would spend their time on Ko Samui during the long holiday, resulting in a substantial boost to the local economy.

Some visitors are also likely to continue their journey from Ko Samui to other popular islands, including Ko Pha-ngan and Ko Tao islands, especially the young ones who wish to attend the Full Moon Party on Ko Pha-ngan at Hat Rin beach on Aug 3.

Five Thais died in a road collision early Friday morning while passing through Laos to board a train to China.

The incident occurred in Boten of Luang Namtha province, Laos.

Just past midnight, a tour group of 20 people travelling in two passenger vans collided with an 18-wheeler truck on R3A Road connecting Chiang Khong district of Chiang Rai province to Boten. The accident occurred some 100 kilometres away from the Fourth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge.

The group planned to board a train in Laos, continuing their journey to Kunming in China.

According to reports, teh collision happened when the truck slammed into one of the vans while making a wide turn.

The incident claimed the lives of five Thai passengers and a Laotian driver, and three other members of the tour group sustained injuries.

Chiang Khong rescue workers delivered the injured to Chiang Khong Crown Prince Hospital, while the bodies of four men and one woman were transported for funeral rites.

Caretaker Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is concerned about the rallies organised by supporters of the Move Forward Party (MFP) to vent their dissatisfaction with the Senate and the ongoing political situation, according to Prime Minister’s Office Minister Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana.

Gen Prayut had expressed concern about the rallies for fear that they could drag the country back into conflict between groups of people with different political views, Mr Thanakorn said on Friday.

Mr Thanakorn, who is deputy leader of the United Thai Nation Party (UTN), said he would like the MFP to tell its supporters to abide by the law. The supporters were not satisfied with most of the junta-appointed senators who did not vote for prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat of the election-winning MFP.

He reiterated that the UTN would not vote for any prime ministerial candidate from a party with Move Forward as a coalition partner, mainly because of the MFP’s firm stance on amending Section 112 of the Criminal Code, or the lese majeste law.

When asked whether the Pheu Thai Party had approached the UTN to form a government, Mr Thanakorn said he was not aware of this, as the matter was being handled by the party leader and the secretary-general.

The UTN deputy leader expressed his confidence that his party and Pheu Thai can work together because it is now time for all sides to join hands to help the country to move steadily forward.

“I don’t see any problem for the two parties to work together, as long as we adhere mainly to the country’s interests,” Mr Thanakorn said. He also added that he believed the new prime minister would soon be selected once the concerned parties made a breakthrough in their negotiations.

The head of Khao Kho National Park has been ordered to be transferred to an inactive post, and an inquiry has been launched after several resorts were found encroaching on a forest reserve in Phetchabun province.

On Thursday, an operation was conducted, led by the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) and Khao Koh National Park chief Prasan Iadsang. The investigation focused on Pha Hua Sing (lion head cliff), which is part of the national park.

Authorities found two resorts illegally occupying park territory. The first one is Phu Thap Boek Suansawan, situated just over 200 metres from the edge of Pha Hua Sing on a 69-rai (110,400-square-metre) plot of land. The second resort, known as Good View-Hot View Suansawan Phu Thap Boek, was approximately 100 metres from the cliff’s edge and included a 100-metre-long stretch of land being used for tent camping.

The documentation of both sites has been seized, and they have been charged with violating forestry laws, including the unauthorised destruction of natural resources.

Atthaphon Charoenchansa, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, said on Friday that the issue is not being taken lightly, and the head of the national park has been ordered transferred out of the area to an inactive post and will be subjected to a thorough investigation by a committee.

The demolition of the violating resorts has been authorised, Mr Atthaphon added.

Room occupancy rate on Koh Larn has reached 100%

CHON BURI: Beaches and tourist attractions in Pattaya buzzed with tourists on Friday, the first day of a six-day long holiday, with hotel rooms on Koh Larn, an island situated about 7 kilometres off the coast of Pattaya, fully booked.

Many Thais and foreign tourists boarded ferries at Bali Hai pier in South Pattaya to Koh Larn on Friday morning. The Pattaya City Municipality and the Marine Office deployed officials to facilitate the travel of holidaymakers at the pier. More parking spaces were also arranged to accommodate the rising number of vehicles.

Authorities have sought cooperation from operators of ferries to strictly abide by safety measures regarding the number of passengers suitable for the type of boats. All passengers were told to wear life jackets and/or be fitted with other rescue equipment to prevent a possible untoward incident.

On Koh Larn, there were about 3,000 rooms to serve visitors. The room occupancy rate on the island has reached 100% since early this month. The long holiday period was expected to generate more than 100 million baht on the island, known for its beaches and tranquility. 

There was a rising demand for rooms on Koh Larn after the caretaker cabinet on Tuesday approved the cabinet secretariat’s proposal to declare Monday, July 31, a special government holiday, creating a six-day vacation period from July 28 to Aug 2 to spur tourism.

July 28 is His Majesty the King’s birthday, Aug 1 is Asahna Bucha Day and Aug 2 the beginning of Buddhist Lent, all government holidays. The extra day makes it an uninterrupted six day-weekend for government employees.

Tourists enjoy a stroll along a beach in Pattaya, Chon Buri. (Photo: Chaiyot Pupattanapong)

A total of 110 people have been infected with the mosquito-borne Zika virus since January, and the number of infections has been rising since May, according to the Public Health Ministry.

From Jan 1 to July 19, there were 110 reported cases in 20 provinces, Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, permanent secretary for public health, said yesterday. The biggest number, or 30 cases, was reported in June, he added.

This month the virus has infected six pregnant women in five provinces — two in Chanthaburi and one each in Phitsanulok, Rayong, Samut Songkhram and Trat.

The disease may pose a greater risk of miscarriages or microcephaly, a birth defect that leads to smaller-than-average head sizes in babies, Dr Opas warned.

Health officials closely followed up on 241 pregnant women infected with the Zika virus between 2016 and last year.

Among them, four experienced miscarriages, three gave birth to babies with microcephaly, all testing positive for the Zika virus.

The officials also followed up on the development of children in 77 cases for two years, and four cases were found to have abnormal development, he said.

RID vows to prevent El Nino disruptions

The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has given its assurances that there will be enough water to supply the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) in spite of the El Nino phenomenon.

RID director-general Prapit Chanma yesterday said the Bureau of Water Management and Hydrology and Irrigation Office 9 had instructed the authorities to proceed with their water management plan to mitigate the effects of El Nino by ensuring sufficient water for industries in the EEC.

The El Nino weather phenomenon will affect the country from October to December before it weakens in April. As a result, rainfall will drop below average when the phenomenon intensifies.

According to data from the Thai Meteorological Department, the volume of accumulated rainwater from January to July 16 fell 41% when compared to the same period last year.

The water management of the EEC in Chachoengsao, Chon Buri and Rayong relies on a network of reservoirs. On May 30, officials commenced water pump operations in the areas to boost water supplies to the Pra Sae reservoir in Rayong, a water distribution centre for the EEC.

Mr Prapit said the water supply operation will continue until the end of this year, with the aim of maintaining a supply of 250,000 cubic metres of water per day, or 7.5 million m³ per month.

In addition, water from the Bang Pakong River and Khlong Phra-ong Chao Chaiyanuchit will be diverted to the Bang Phra Dam to maintain water quality and volume in accordance with the water production standard in Chon Buri, he said.

Mr Prapit said the RID plans to keep up water supplies to prevent operation disruptions in the EEC. However, the water will be diverted away if the level of saline exceeds the limit, he said.

He said the RID strictly complies with standard guidelines.

The network of water sources essential for the EEC comes from the Pra Sae, Nong Pla Lai, Dok Krai and Khlong Yai reservoirs as well as dams in Chon Buri, he said.

The RID has been working with the Department of Industrial Works to regulate the use of water to ensure sufficient supplies for the EEC, he said.

For the long term, the RID will expedite the construction of the Khlong Wang Tanod reservoir in Chanthaburi, the Khlong Nam Khiao reservoir in Rayong and the Nong Kra Ting and Khlong Ka Pong reservoirs in Chachoengsao, he said.

The RID has also come up with plans to provide assistance, including by deploying water pumps and trucks, to areas affected by water shortages, he said.

Prachuap Khiri Khan mulls relocation plan

A pilot project in which a number of crab-eating macaques were transferred from communities in Phetchaburi to live on an island in Phuket has proved successful.

It’s paved the way for more members of the fast-growing macaque population in the province, as well as in neighbouring Prachuap Khiri Khan, to be moved to more islands, the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry said yesterday.

Moving macaques to an island is part of the ministry’s bid to help ease the negative impact of their fast-growing population on local communities, said Yuthapol Angkinan, an adviser to the natural resources and environment minister.

Mr Yuthapol was assigned by Environment and Natural Resources Minister Varawut Silpa-archa to lead an urgent bid to resolve macaque-related problems in Phetchaburi, where a growing number of complaints have been received about problems caused by the aggressive monkeys.

Many complaints dealt with them invading and breaking into houses to steal food, damaging lampposts and attacking tourists, passengers and students in Phetchaburi’s Muang district.

The population of crab-eating macaques in Phetchaburi’s Muang district alone was found to have grown rapidly from around 9,500 in April to 12,000 in June and 20,000 now, said Phetchaburi governor Natthachai Namphunsuksan.

And because the macaque is a protected species under the 2019 Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act, the province could do little to resolve the problems caused by the aggressive animals, which explained why many locals have been calling for their removal from the protected species list, he said.

The pilot project, initiated five years ago, found the macaques have adjusted well to their new environment on Payu Island in Phuket, and they do not disturb the locals or natural resources, said Mr Yuthapol.

They also appear to be happy living in a mangrove forest on the island. The macaques play a key role in environmental protection on the island, he said, citing findings from the project.

Veterinarian Pattaraphon Maneeon said more islands in nearby provinces are being surveyed and assessed to see whether they are suitable places to relocate more macaques from Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Public hearings will be conducted before any new relocation plans are approved, he said.

The relocation is being conducted along with ministry efforts to control the macaque population through sterilisation, said Mr Yuthapol.

Police yesterday arrested a man accused of sexually assaulting a minor in Ratchaburi’s Damnoen Saduak district earlier this year.

Pol Maj Gen Theeradej Thamsuthee, commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau’s investigation division, said Khwanchai, aka Jan or Ball, 33, was arrested after the provincial court issued a warrant for his arrest over allegations that he raped a 9-year-old girl in March.

Khwanchai became close to the victim after he started volunteering to take her to school, Pol Maj Gen Theeradej said.

One day, Khwanchai took the victim to a room and began assaulting her, upon which the victim yelled for help, prompting the suspect to release her, he said.

Khwanchai allegedly threatened the victim not to tell anyone about what happened before fleeing to tambon Don Klang in Damnoen Saduak.

He was arrested in tambon Don Kruay yesterday.

According to police, the suspect admitted to the accusations brought against him, saying that he committed sexual crimes as a form of revenge for being raped himself at the age of 12.

Police said the suspect has a history of committing sexual crimes dating back to 2015, for which he served four years in prison for raping a 9-year-old girl.

A probe will be expanded to determine if he committed other sexual crimes since his release from prison in 2019.

According to an initial probe, more than three girls, aged between 9 and 13, have been assaulted by Khwanchai, including the 9-year-old in 2015.