Barkar Nash (Page 946)

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.

The ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra can petition for a royal pardon on the first day of his imprisonment following his return to Thailand, acting Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday.

Thaksin: Eligible for senior privileges

“All inmates have the right to seek a royal pardon on the first day of imprisonment because this right is available during the time of punishment,” said Mr Wissanu, who is also the acting justice minister. Somsak Thepsuthin resigned as justice minister to join the Pheu Thai Party in March.

“If the pardon is not granted after the petition is lodged, it cannot be repeated for the following two years,” Mr Wissanu said.

Upon Thaksin’s return, he will go to court to receive an imprisonment order for his three cases, which have been finalised, resulting in a combined jail term of 10 years, said Mr Wissanu.

Some of the cases have passed their statutes of limitations, and others have not yet reached court, including a case concerning Thaksin’s escape from the country.

Corrections officials are already prepared to receive the former prime minister, as he had earlier announced a return on his birthday, Mr Wissanu said. Thaksin turned 74 on Wednesday and has lived in self-imposed exile for 15 years.

Thaksin, being older than 60 years, will be treated differently from general inmates due to his age. Ill inmates are also eligible for some privileges, which are standard for those who meet the relevant criteria, said the deputy prime minister.

Although there are special rooms in prison, their use depends on the Corrections Department, and Mr Wissanu said he does not believe that Thaksin could be detained outside of prison.

“He will go to jail, however,” Mr Wissanu confirmed. Family members can receive him at [Don Mueang] airport and visit him in prison right away, he added.

Sitthi Sutheewong, deputy director-general of the Corrections Department, said yesterday that all new inmates would be quarantined for Covid-19 observation for five days, and there are special quarantine rooms for elderly inmates.

Inmates with underlying illnesses may be sent to corrections hospitals for appropriate care.

Police arrested three alleged members of a drug trafficking ring after 831 packs of heroin were found hidden inside crates containing jade sculptures destined for Australia.

The three, identified as Theeraphong “Benz” Noothong, 27; Theeraphong “Od” Phrikbenja, 42, and Ja-eua Ja-sue, 47, were apprehended on Tuesday separately in Nakhon Pathom, Songkhla, and Chiang Rai, respectively.

Arrest warrants for the suspects were issued by the Criminal Court on charges of attempting to smuggle heroin, a Category 1 drug, out of the country, and illegal possession of it, Crime Suppression Division (CSD) commander Pol Maj Gen Montree Kheskhan said yesterday.

CSD police earlier obtained information that heroin would be smuggled out of the country by traffickers hiding the drugs inside the wooden components of 11 crates used for exporting sculptures to Australia.

The 831 packs of seized heroin weighed about 32kg, said the CSD commander, who added they would be worth up to 100 million baht if smuggled to Australia.

CSD investigators said the drugs had been smuggled from the Mae Sai border district in Chiang Rai province and later kept in Salaya district of Nakhon Pathom pending shipment to Australia.

During questioning, the suspects denied all charges.

Criminal records showed that Theeraphong “Benz” had earlier been sentenced to 22 years, nine months, and 15 days on drug charges.

He had been imprisoned in Songkhla Central Prison.

All suspects were handed over to the Narcotics Suppression Bureau for further legal action.

Phuket International Airport will have direct flights to and from Saudi Arabia beginning in October, according to airport director Monchai Tanode.

This will mark Saudi Arabia and Phuket’s first direct commercial airline flights since bilateral relations were normalised last year.

Saudi Arabia’s flag carrier Saudia will operate the inaugural direct flight to Phuket.

Mr Monchai said Saudia launched commercial flights between Saudi Arabia and Suvarnabhumi airport in February last year. This came after diplomatic ties between the two nations were restored after three decades of frosty relations.

Saudi Arabia downgraded diplomatic ties with Thailand following the murder of Saudi diplomats and the disappearance of a Saudi businessman in Bangkok following the theft of gems belonging to the Saudi state in 1989.

A historic breakthrough came in January last year when Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha paid an official visit to Riyadh at the invitation of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who is also Saudi Arabia’s deputy prime minister and minister of defence.

Phuket is already being served by major Gulf carriers, such as Etihad and Emirates, as the province is seeing a steady, post-pandemic rebound in tourism.

Direct international flights to Phuket are operated from Russia, South Korea, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and India. Most long-haul flights to and from Phuket have layovers in Dubai, Mr Monchai said.

In March, the Phuket Tourist Association held roadshows in Saudi Arabia to stimulate Phuket’s tourism, particularly during the low season.

Mr Monchai said traffic at Phuket airport has been growing steadily since the end of Covid, regaining 80% of its domestic and 70% of international flights from the pre-pandemic period.

The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) has promised to change the city’s landscape by putting a total of 1,454 kilometres of electrical wires underground within 10 years.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of its 65th anniversary on Aug 1, MEA governor Wilas Chaloeysat said that the authority has firmed up its policy to provide electric power services to over 14 million people in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan.

This will be done by making it more convenient and efficient through smart technology that helps the MEA better manage the electricity system under a project aimed at smarter metro grids and smarter meters.

Regarding the smart metro grid project, he said the MEA has conducted a survey along main roads in the capital and its vicinity and found that more than 1,000km of MEA cable wires need to be put underground. The aim is to complete the project within 10 years, he said.

The main focus areas are along Skytrain and metro train lines. Currently, a total of 91km of electric wires have already been placed underground, covering major business areas and roads, such as in Sathon district.

The MEA will expand the project to cover another 236.1km by 2027. A total length of 1,454km will be moved to underground pipes, he said.

He also said the MEA will provide more smart meters — from 33,265 to 441,400 sets by 2027. The smart meter system will help MEA staff detect system errors and fix problems immediately before client complaints are made.

“We are making big changes for people living in the city to make life more convenient. We have followed our principle of ‘Go Smart, Go Digital and Go Green’ for a sustainable future,” he said.

He also said that the MEA has already rolled out a plan to support the government’s policy on promoting electric vehicles (EV) under an EV ecosystem.

Thailand is expected to have 6.6 million electric cars by 2037. The MEA has already established EV charging stations, designed smart charging systems for households and developed transformer load monitoring to prevent electricity overloads.

It is expected that the amount of electricity used will increase by 13% per year based on stronger demand and a higher number of EV cars.

For this year, the MEA forecasted that the amount of electricity used will reach 51,388 million units — a 0.84% increase from last year.

The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) has promised to change the city’s landscape by putting a total of 1,454 kilometres of electrical wires underground within 10 years.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of its 65th anniversary on Aug 1, MEA governor Wilas Chaloeysat said that the authority has firmed up its policy to provide electric power services to over 14 million people in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan.

This will be done by making it more convenient and efficient through smart technology that helps the MEA better manage the electricity system under a project aimed at smarter metro grids and smarter meters.

Regarding the smart metro grid project, he said the MEA has conducted a survey along main roads in the capital and its vicinity and found that more than 1,000km of MEA cable wires need to be put underground. The aim is to complete the project within 10 years, he said.

The main focus areas are along Skytrain and metro train lines. Currently, a total of 91km of electric wires have already been placed underground, covering major business areas and roads, such as in Sathon district.

The MEA will expand the project to cover another 236.1km by 2027. A total length of 1,454km will be moved to underground pipes, he said.

He also said the MEA will provide more smart meters — from 33,265 to 441,400 sets by 2027. The smart meter system will help MEA staff detect system errors and fix problems immediately before client complaints are made.

“We are making big changes for people living in the city to make life more convenient. We have followed our principle of ‘Go Smart, Go Digital and Go Green’ for a sustainable future,” he said.

He also said that the MEA has already rolled out a plan to support the government’s policy on promoting electric vehicles (EV) under an EV ecosystem.

Thailand is expected to have 6.6 million electric cars by 2037. The MEA has already established EV charging stations, designed smart charging systems for households and developed transformer load monitoring to prevent electricity overloads.

It is expected that the amount of electricity used will increase by 13% per year based on stronger demand and a higher number of EV cars.

For this year, the MEA forecasted that the amount of electricity used will reach 51,388 million units — a 0.84% increase from last year.