Barkar Nash – Page 968

Thai, Nordic authorities agree on better deal for berry pickers

On: May 17, 2023

Thai workers pick berries in a forest in Finland last year. (File photo: Ministry of Labour)

The Royal Thai Police (RTP) recently held talks on human trafficking with Nordic authorities, promising to push for more regulations related to contracts signed by labourers.

The discussion was led by deputy police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn on May 16 and welcomed Janna Davidson, Swedish National Rapporteur, as well as representatives from the Nordic Police and Customs Cooperation.

Representatives from the Thai Labour Ministry, the Customs Department, human trafficking NGOs, and related sectors also attended the discussion.

According to Pol Gen Surachate — in his capacity as a director of RTP’s Child Woman Protection, Anti-Human Trafficking, and the Fishery Industry Centre — more cases of online child sex trafficking were reported and raided recently.

Due to an increase in human trafficking, Thailand was last year moved up to Tier 2 from the Tier 2 Watchlist in the United States 2022 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report.

Thailand’s success in raids against labour trafficking related to scams, namely call centre scam rings, was also raised by Pol Gen Surachate. However, he also saw that international coordination was still lacking since the scam rings were mostly based in neighbouring countries.

Ms Davidson praised the success of Pol Gen Surachate’s and Thailand’s efforts to tackle scam-related trafficking. However, Christian Froden from the Swedish Police Authority’s Human Trafficking Operations Department raised his concerns about the workload of Thai labourers who had obtained jobs as berry pickers in Sweden.

Following numerous complaints regarding unfair contract terms by Thai labourers, Wannarat Srisuksai, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Labour Ministry, announced that the ministry is actively examining Thai-Nordic labour contracts.

In the 2022 report, at least 10,000 Thai labourers were sent to Sweden and Finland through recruiters, he said.

However, in October, a number of berry pickers filed complaints to the Labour Committee about forced labour conditions and unfair wages. The complaints said that the labourers were overworked — working a minimum of 10 hours a day for at least three months — while being underpaid.

The problem was left unsolved for at least nine years, since 2014, and reportedly affected at least 50 labourers.

The results of a negotiation between the Department of Employment’s director-general, Pairoj Chotikasatien, and the representatives of Thai recruiters and berry distributors said that their income needed to be ensured.

The labourers should have at least 30,240 baht of income left after their personal spending, it was decided. The amount was calculated from the guaranteed minimum monthly income of 23,183 Swedish krona, or 81,372 Thai baht — a standard salary agreed upon by both Thai and Swedish officials.

Asean heat wave blamed on climate inaction

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 17, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Researchers say extreme conditions will become more common unless deep emissions cuts are made

A worker unloads a block of ice at a wet market in Bangkok during the heat wave in late April. (Photo: Bloomberg)

The extreme heat that baked parts of Southeast Asia last month was largely driven by human-induced climate change, according to analysis from a team of scientists.

Temperatures that soared beyond 40C from India and Bangladesh to Thailand and Laos were at least 2C hotter than they would have been without climate change, according to researchers associated with the World Weather Attribution initiative.

Extreme events like that seen in Asia will become more frequent and severe until overall greenhouse gas emissions are halted, they said.

Climate change made the record-breaking heatwaves at least 30 times more likely, the researchers said.

Parts of India saw temperatures above 44C in mid-April, with at least 11 deaths near Mumbai attributed to heat stroke on a single day. In Bangladesh, Dhaka suffered its hottest day in almost 60 years.

In Thailand, the highest official temperature ever recorded, 45.4C, was reported in Tak province, while Sainyabuli province in Laos hit 42.9C, an all-time national record, the study by the World Weather Attribution group said.

Two deaths were reported in Thailand, but the real toll was likely higher as the extreme heat caused widespread hospital admissions, with the poor and vulnerable the worst affected.

The new study by international climate scientists looked at the average maximum temperature and the maximum heat index, which includes humidity.

“In both regions, the researchers found that climate change made the humid heatwave at least 30 times more likely, with temperatures at least 2 degrees Celsius hotter than they would have been without climate change,” WWA said in a statement.

“Until overall greenhouse gas emissions are halted, global temperatures will continue to increase and events like this will become more frequent and severe.”

The analysis also found that such events in India and Bangladesh, previously once-a-century, can now be expected around once every five years because of human-caused climate change.

For Laos and Thailand, if global temperatures rise by two degrees Celsius — as will happen within around 30 years if emissions are not cut rapidly — such extreme events could happen every 20 years, compared to every two centuries now, the study said.

“We see again and again that climate change dramatically increases the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, one of the deadliest weather events there are,” said Friederike Otto of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment, who was involved in the study.

“Still, heat action plans are only being introduced very slowly across the globe. They need to be an absolute priority adaptation action everywhere, but in particular in places where high humidity enhances the impacts of heatwaves,” she added.

Scientists were previously reluctant to directly link a particular event to climate change, but in recent years a new field of “attribution science”, like that done by the WWA, has emerged.

Some weather events have a more complicated relationship to global warming than others, with the relationship to heatwaves and increased rainfall relatively easy to study.

Other phenomena such as droughts, snowstorms, tropical storms and wildfires are more complicated however, according to the WWA.

The formidable challenge of Pita Limjaroenrat to become the 30th Prime Minister

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 17, 2023

In: South-East Asia

WHA Utilities wins B2.9bn in water supply deals

SET-listed WHA Utilities and Power (WHAUP), which provides utilities under WHA Corp, Thailand’s biggest industrial land developer and operator, has secured two contracts worth 2.9 billion baht to supply “premium clarified water” to solar panel and rubber glove manufacturers, in a move to sell more value-added products.

17 May 2023

Former Thai embassy clerk arrested for visa fraud

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 17, 2023

In: South-East Asia

A former clerk at the Thai embassy in Beijing, centre, is arrested by Crime Suppression Division police at Suvarnabhumi airport on Tuesday night. His name was not released. (Police photo)

A former employee of the Thai embassy in Beijing has been arrested for dishonestly issuing the wrong type of visa to Chinese students coming to study in Thailand, and pocketing the difference in visa fees.

Pol Maj Gen Montri Theskhan, the Crime Suppression Division commander, said the man was arrested by CSD police at Suvarnabhumi airport on Tuesday night. His name was not released.

He said while the man was working as a clerk at the Thai embassy in Beijing under a temporary employment contract, nine Chinese students intending to travel to Thailand to study at Dhurakij Pundit University applied for non-immigrant visas.

The man instead issued them tourist visas and kept the difference in payment for himself. A non-immigrant visa costs more than a tourist visa.

The Foreign Ministry investigated the matter before filing a complaint with the CSD. A court warrant was subsequently issued for his arrest.

He was charged with forging official international travel documents. He denied the charge.

Democrats give conditional support to Pita for PM

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 17, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat announcing his party’s election victory on Monday. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)

Two key Democrat members say their party will vote for Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat as the next prime minister if the MFP gathers majority House support and protects the royal institution.

Chanin Rungsaeng, deputy secretary-general of the party, wrote on Facebook on Wednesday that there would be no problems if Democrat MPs support the candidate of the party that won the most House seats.

“But can you promise and confirm that Section 112 will not be revoked and there will not be any amendment to allow anyone to make accusations against the (royal) institution at will?” he said.

“Please do not betray Thailand and the people. Importantly do not touch or discredit the institution that Thai people respect. That would be intolerable,” Mr Chanin said.

Alongkorn Ponlabutr, acting deputy leader of the Democrat Party, said his party would respect the voters’ choice by supporting Mr Pita as the next prime minister without requiring its participation in the new coalition government in return.

The Democrat Party will give support if MFP is able to gather majority support in the House, Mr Alongkorn said. He planned to propose this position to the executive board and members of the Democrat Party next week.

“It is time for the Democrat Party to help find a way out of the deadlock that may occur in the process of the vote for the new prime minister,” he said.

The Democrat Party unofficially won 25 House seats, placing sixth, at Sunday’s general election. MFP emerged on top with 152 House seats.

Under the constitution, the 250 senators have the right to take part in the vote for the new prime minister along with the 500 members of the new House of Representatives.

The new prime minister needs the support of at least 376 members of the two Houses.

MFP is negotiating to form a coalition with former opposition parties that would give them 309 MPs. MFP members have been calling on MPs from other political parties and senators to also back Mr Pita.

Thaksin praises Move Forward disruptors

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 17, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Exiled former PM says generals should retire ‘with dignity’, reiterates plan to come home in July

Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday reiterated his intention to return home in July, even if it means doing jail time. “I’ve been overseas for 17 years, it’s like being in a big prison,” he said. (Photo from Clubhouse stream)

Former premier Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday hailed the election-winning Move Forward Party as disruptors who had mastered social media, and said the ageing army generals central to years of turmoil should retire with dignity.

The self-exiled tycoon also waded into the growing debate over the sensitive lese-majeste law, which Move Forward wants to amend, saying Pheu Thai would not back any action that could harm the monarchy.

Move Forward, he said in a Clubhouse chat on Tuesday, proved that social media and user-generated content (UGC) can triumph over big-spending campaigns and vote-buying.

Before Sunday’s vote, the populist political juggernaut founded by Thaksin had won every election since 2001, despite being ousted from office three times. On Sunday it won 11 seats less than Move Forward, which received 14.2 million votes for party-list MPs, versus 10.8 million for Pheu Thai. Even in several provinces where it did not win many constituencies, Move Forward won more list votes than any other party.

“They used UGC on TikTok because the youngsters use TikTok. It’s getting votes and canvassers organically and you don’t use a lot of resources,” Thaksin said during a two-hour political discussion streamed online.

Move Forward had strong appeal and organisation in university towns, he said, adding many young people convinced their parents to vote for Move Forward.

“Pheu Thai got hammered because we did not disrupt ourselves enough. Move Forward’s trend overcame Pheu Thai and the other parties that had money,” he said.

Move Forward rode a wave of excitement among young people attracted to its liberal agenda and promises of bold change, including tackling monopolies and amending a law that prescribes long jail sentences for insulting the monarchy, long a taboo issue.

Pheu Thai has agreed to form a six-party alliance with Move Forward, hoping more will join to keep the defeated pro-military parties out of government.

Thaksin still wields significant influence over the second-ranked party despite being in exile for 17 years to avoid a jail sentence for abuse of power, which he denies. He reiterated his plan to return to Thailand in July and asked about prison said: “Whatever will be, will be.”

He also pledged loyalty to the palace and stressed Pheu Thai would not back any actions by Move Forward that would have a negative impact on the monarchy.

Move Forward and Pheu Thai on Sunday trounced the parties fronted by Gen Prawit Wongsuwon and Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, who led the 2014 coup that ousted the government of Thaksin’s sister Yingluck.

No ‘secret deal’

Thaksin dismissed speculation of a secret deal with one of those generals to form a government, calling it an attempt to discredit Pheu Thai using online trolls. He said it was an “information operation” (IO) and hinted that Move Forward might have had something to do with it, something the party strenuously denied.

He also noted that Move Forward even won support in districts with large concentrations of rank-and-file soldiers, highlighting generational differences over the military’s political role.

“For the two uncles, it should be enough is enough,” he said, referring to Gen Prawit and Gen Prayut. “Hanging up your gloves has dignity.

“It’s a wake-up call for the army. Using excessive power is something Thai society rejects. So it added to Move Forward’s currency.”

Meanwhile, he distanced his family from Move Forward’s plans to ease rules outlawing criticism of the royal family.

“The stance of the Pheu Thai Party and the Shinawatra family is we respect and love the institution of the monarchy,” Thaksin said, responding to a question about how the party doesn’t touch issues on the royal family.

“How others perceive it is not something I can control. I am who I am, and I am open to criticism because I’m not fighting to do anything bad to the monarchy. I’m only fighting for political wins.”

Thaksin’s stance draws a line in the sand on an issue that has faced staunch resistance within the political establishment. While pro-democracy groups like Pheu Thai are eager to return to government, they’re also cautious not to provoke a strong reaction from military factions that led two coups against them in the past decade.

Move Forward aims to propose two key amendments to Section 112. One would reduce the current harsh sentences, currently three to 15 years’ imprisonment. The second would require that only the Bureau of the Royal Household could file a royal defamation complaint. Currently, anyone can file a complaint against anyone else and police must investigate it.

Finally, Thaksin reiterated that he was ready to return home, even if it means doing jail time.

“I’ve made my decision. I don’t care about anything else,” he said, reiterating earlier remarks that he plans to come home in July. “I’ve been overseas for 17 years, it’s like being in a big prison.”

Another teen girl faces 112 charge

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 17, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Suspect had just turned 14 when alleged offence took place, making her the youngest on record

Police officers with riot shields stand in front of the Samran Rat station in Bangkok on the night of May 10. In front of them is a photograph of a teenage lese-majeste detainee known as “Yok”, on whose behalf protesters had gathered that night.

A teenage girl from Phitsanulok has been released on bail after being formally charged with royal defamation, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).

The alleged offence took place when the girl, who is now 16, was 14 years and one month old, making her the youngest person ever charged under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, the lese-majeste law, the lawyers’ group said on Wednesday.

Police investigators said that the girl, identified only as “May”, used Facebook on the night of Nov 18, 2020 to post messages online making comments deemed insulting to His Majesty the King. A member of the public, Naengnoi Asavakittikorn, saw the messages and filed a complaint with police.

Police officers at the Muang Phitsanulok station issued a summons on June 4, 2021 for May to be questioned, but only as a witness, as a formal charge had not been drawn up yet.

She complied, but said later that the experience had been very upsetting. Subsequently, she said, Special Branch police officers visited her home, and she occasionally observed plainclothes police officers in front of the house and at her school. Finally she quit school and left Phitsanulok to live in Bangkok.

On Monday of this week she and her parents travelled from Bangkok to answer another summons at the Phitsanulok Provincial Police station. She denied all the allegations. Later that day, she appeared in Phitsanulok Juvenile and Family Court, where police applied to have her detained. However, they did not object to bail, which the court granted, noting she had complied with the summons. She was released on a surety of 20,000 baht put up by her parents.

According to TLHR, May is the 19th juvenile accused under Section 112 since 2020. Four of them were under 15 years old when the alleged offences were committed, and 15 were aged between 15 and 18.

The most high-profile case is that of a Bangkok teenager identified as Thanalop or “Yok”, who on Wednesday marked her 50th day in detention at a juvenile facility in Nakhon Pathom.

In her case, the Central Juvenile and Family Court issued a statement last week in response to criticism of her detention. It said that the girl’s mother had failed to appear for her bail, which led to her extended stay in the Ban Pranee Juvenile Vocational Training Centre for Girls.

The charges against Yok sparked a violent protest at the Samran Rat police station on May 10. Demonstrators spray-painted the stairs, walls and police vehicles and broke doors, and a subsequent clash with police officers led to nine arrests. Seven men and two women appeared in court on charges including damaging public property, and were subsequently released on bail.

According to data from TLHR to April 30 this year, 1,902 people have been prosecuted for political participation and expression since the beginning of the Free Youth pro-democracy protests in July 2020. At least 242 are facing lese-majeste charges and 130 have been charged with sedition.

Three arrested for honey-pot murder of Chinese businessman

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 17, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Police and rescue workers at the crime scene in Muang district of Trang on Tuesday. (Photo: Kusolsathan Foundation)

Three natives of Satun province, one a 17-year-old girl, have been arrested for allegedly stabbing to death a Chinese businessman at a hotel in Trang province and taking the victim’s car, money and phone.

Police arrested the three suspects in La Ngu district of Satun on Wednesday, charging them with the murder Li Rui at a resort hotel in Muang district of Trang.

According to police, the victim and a Thai girl checked in at the hotel for a one-night stay on Monday evening. A maid opened his room on Tuesday afternoon after he failed to check out at noon, saw a pool of blood on the floor and ran to get help.

Police and rescue workers were called to the scene and found the 43-year-old Chinese man dead in the bathroom. The body lay face down and had about 20 stab wounds on the front and back.

The three suspects are residents of La Ngu district of Satun, where they were arrested. Two of them are young men, aged 22 and 19, and the other a 17-year-old woman.

Police seized from them a short knife and the victim’s white Honda Accord car registered in Bangkok, wallet, 11 bank books, five ATM cards, one credit card, two passports and a mobile phone.

One of the suspects allegedly said his 17-year-old friend checked in with the victim and later opened a window of the single storey-hotel room for him to enter. He murdered the victim and both of them fled the scene in a vehicle driven by the other male suspect, according to police.

Police traced the suspects through surveillance camera footage. The victim had a Thai wife in Trang. He reportedly owned several factories processing rubber wood for export in Songkhla, Surat Thani and Trang provinces.

Ceremony foretells ample water, food and prospering economy

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 17, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Two sacred oxen are offered trays with an assortment of food and drink during the Royal Ploughing Ceremony at Sanam Luang, Bangkok, on Wednesday morning. They chose grass and liquor. The annual ceremony was presided over by Their Majesties the King and Queen. (Pool photo)

Sufficient water, abundant crops and a prosperous economy were predicted during the Royal Ploughing Ceremony at Sanam Luang in Bangkok presided over by Their Majesties the King and Queen on Wednesday morning.

The ceremony was also attended by caretaker Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, outgoing cabinet members and the diplomatic corps.

This year, Prayoon Insakul, permanent secretary of agriculture and cooperatives, was the Lord of the Plough.

The Lord of the Plough chose a sarong, which means there will be sufficient water with abundant rice production and other food this year.

Two sacred oxen chose to feed on grass and liquor. Soothsayers then predicted there will be plenty of water and food, transport will be more convenient, foreign trade will improve and the economy will prosper.

The ceremony was followed by the presentation of awards by the King to outstanding farmers.

The Royal Ploughing Ceremony, also known as Farmers Day or simply the Ploughing Festival officially marks the beginning of the rice-growing season. This annual ceremony is held in many Asian countries, including Cambodia and Thailand.

Tourist found trapped down Pattaya drain

By: Barkar Nash

On: May 17, 2023

In: South-East Asia

The American tourist was covered in sludge when he was lifted out of the sewer pipe in Pattaya, Chon Buri, on Tuesday night. (Photo supplied/ Chaiyot Pupattanapong)

CHON BURI: An American tourist was found trapped in a stormwater drain in Pattaya on Tuesday night after a passerby heard him calling for help

Rescuers of the Sawang Boriboon emergency centre were called to the mouth of Soi Thepprasit 8 in Moo 11 of tambon Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district about 7.30pm.

They were directed to a nearby drain on the side of the road. When they looked through the metal grid over the hole, they saw a man about 1.50 metres below, trapped in the 60 centimeter sewer pipe. They opened the grid and lifted him back to the surface.

Chalee Boonsri, 26, a security guard, told police he had arrived at the spot on his motorcycle to buy a soft drink from a shop and he heard a man yelling, apparently calling out for help. He looked around, but saw no-one. Then he looked down through the grill over the nearby drain, and saw a man in the murk below.

Pattaya and tourist police soon arrived at the scene. The trapped man was identified as Jonathan Ioane Vaimaona, 36, an American who arrived in Thailand with his girlfriend on May 12. They stayed at a condominium on Thap Phraya road, about two kilometres away.

Mr Vaimaona appeared exhausted by his ordeal. He was wearing only a pair of pants, his body covered with sludge. Asked how he became stuck in the sewer pipe, his answer was confusing. It was not yet clear what happened.

Barkar Nash (Page 968)