Barkar Nash (Page 997)

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Academics believe a recent tweet by fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was intended as a political gambit to drum up support for the Pheu Thai Party, which pollsters are predicting may lose votes to the increasingly popular Move Forward Party (MFP) ahead of the May 14 general election.

Thaksin tweeted on Monday that now his seventh and youngest grandchild has been born, he will be back soon because, at 73 years old, he wants to take care of his grandchildren.

Thaksin wrote on Twitter that he was delighted with the news that his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra had just given birth to his seventh grandchild.

He added that all seven were born after he left the country.

“I’d like to ask for permission to return to take care of the grandchildren because I will be 74 years old this July. See you soon,” Thaksin wrote.

Ms Paetongtarn, herself a prime ministerial candidate for the Pheu Thai Party, wrote on Instagram that her son had been named Phruethasin Suksawat, and his nickname was Thasin.

She thanked everyone for giving her moral support and said she would meet the press soon when she had recovered from the birth.

However, Olarn Thinbangtieo, a political science lecturer at Burapha University, said he believed that there must be an ulterior political motive behind Thaksin’s tweet.

“He previously promised that he would stop communicating,” Mr Olarn said, adding that the latest tweet could be linked to a decline in Pheu Thai’s popularity, particularly on social media where the MFP is gaining the upper hand, particularly in major cities such as Bangkok.

“The MFP’s rising popularity will have an impact on Pheu Thai’s bid to achieve a landslide victory in the poll.

“This may force Pheu Thai to enter into an alliance with parties from the opposite end of the political spectrum, which may lead to some undecided voters supporting the MFP instead of Pheu Thai,” he said.

“This is why Thaksin has to step forward to call for sympathy from voters by saying he wants to return to take care of his grandchildren,” Mr Olarn told the Bangkok Post.

Jade Donavanik, dean of the faculty of law at Dhurakij Pundit University, echoed the view, saying that Thaksin believed the MFP’s increasing popularity is posing a threat to Pheu Thai.

“Thaksin wants to ensure Pheu Thai’s traditional base of 11-15 million supporters is well guarded, and he should be happy about that,” Mr Jade said.

He pointed out that there was no need for Thaksin to fight on multiple fronts against both the MFP and other rival parties, such as the United Thai Nation Party (UTN) or the Palang Pracharath Party, because the MFP is already the rival of these parties.

Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, a law lecturer at Thammasat University, said that Thaksin’s latest tweet would sway those who want him to return home into voting for Pheu Thai.

However, this would also prompt those who dislike him to throw their support behind the UTN, which has Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as its prime ministerial candidate, Mr Prinya said.

On Oct 21, 2008, the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions sentenced Thaksin to two years in jail, convicting him of violating the National Counter Corruption Act in the Ratchadaphisek land purchase case.

He was charged with abusing his authority when he gave consent to his then-wife Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra to participate in the auction of the 33 rai area put on the block by the Financial Institutions Development Fund. He fled the country in 2008, just before the court sentenced him. He then jumped bail after attending the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games with his then-wife in Beijing in August 2008. The couple later divorced, and she returned to Thailand.

Speaking in an interview with Kyodo News during a trip to Tokyo on March 24, Thaksin said he is ready to serve his prison term provided he is allowed to spend the rest of his life with his family.

However, critics did not believe he was serious about returning to Thailand and serving jail time.

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Labour advocates and human rights activists converged on Government House on Monday, calling on the government to raise the daily minimum wage to 700 baht and set up a fund to support laid-off workers.

The protesters, led by political activists Somyot Prueksakasemsuk and Thanaporn Wichian, marched to Phitsanulok Mansion and Government House in an effort to push their proposals to the government.

According to Ms Thanaportn, the proposal contained ideas which wouldn’t only improve labourers’ welfare but also increase their bargaining power with their employers.

If approved, she said, the proposal will not only allow workers to cover their daily living costs, but also better protect their rights as an employee, noting current rules do not provide sufficient protection for workers.

A different group led by the Labour Congress of Thailand (LCT) also organised a march on Monday, which started at Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge to Lan Khon Muang in front of City Hall.

After praising the Ministry of Labour’s work over the past 2.5 years, Chinchote Saengsang, LCT president, read out the group’s seven demands, which include the establishment of risk insurance for workers and allowing subscribers to monitor the performance of the state’s social security scheme for workers.

The group also urged increasing pension payout from 3,000 baht a month to 5,000 baht a month in order to better match the real expenditures of the average labourer.

Furthermore, they asked the government to sign two International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions and follow up on the government’s promise to increase the daily wage to 425 baht a day, which it made ahead of the 2019 election, he said.

In the last general election campaign, similar promises were made by several parties. The ruling Palang Pracharath Party pledged to raise the daily wage to between 400 and 425 baht, a promise which has yet to be fulfilled. Meanwhile, Pheu Thai back then promised voters it would increase the amount to 400 baht per day.

Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin promised that the ministry would implement all of the proposals if he were selected to return to office.

He also said the ministry is looking into raising the pension payout.

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The Election Commission (EC) is expected to spend a week considering an 11-billion-baht subsidy on household electricity bills proposed by the government, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said.

Approved by the cabinet on April 25, the proposal was rejected by the poll regulator on April 28, according to a source.

After reviewing the government’s proposal, the source said the EC could not approve it as the Secretariat of the Cabinet failed to inform the EC of a cabinet resolution that approved the allocation of around 11 billion baht in subsidies under Section 169 of the constitution.

The section stipulates that any budget allocation for emergencies approved by an outgoing cabinet after a House dissolution must be endorsed by the poll agency first.

So the documents have been sent back to the government. The EC has not received a complete set of documents from the Secretariat of the Cabinet yet, said the source.

Mr Wissanu said on Monday that the cabinet initially believed that it should seek approval from the EC first before proceeding with the proposed subsidy.

But since the EC insisted that the cabinet must also send its resolution on the matter to the EC, the cabinet then resubmitted the cabinet resolution, along with a justification for its proposal, Mr Wissanu said, adding that the EC is expected to spend about a week considering the proposal.

Under the plan, the power subsidy would be extended for another four months from this month until August.

It would only apply to households that consume less than 300 units per month.

Those that consume 1-150 units a month would get a reduction of 92.04 satang per unit while those using 151-300 units would be given a reduction of 67.04 satang per unit.

About 7.6 billion baht would be drawn from the 2023 budget for emergency purposes to finance the plan. It is estimated that 18.36 million households would benefit.

Another measure to help people with costly power bills is a proposed reduction of 150 baht before VAT to households using no more than 500 units per month, valid for May’s billing only.

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According to Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, the Election Commission( EC ) is anticipated to spend a week deliberating an 11 billion baht subsidy on household electricity bills proposed by the government.

According to a supplier, the proposal was approved by the government on April 25 but rejected by polling officials on that day.

The source claimed that after reviewing the president’s proposal, the EC was unable to review it because the Secretariat of the Cabinet had forgotten to remind them of a cupboard resolution that had approved the distribution of approximately 11 billion baht in subsidies in accordance with Section 169.

According to the chapter, any emergency budget allocation approved by an cheerful cabinet following a House disintegration may first receive the polling organization’s approval.

The public has received the documents as a result. According to the source, the Secretariat of the Cabinet has not yet provided the EC with a comprehensive set of files.

Mr. Wissanu stated on Monday that the government initially thought it should first get the EC’s approval before moving forward with the suggested subsidy.

The cabinet resubmitted the cupboard resolution and a justification for its proposal, according to Mr. Wissanu, adding that the EC is anticipated to pay about one week debating the proposal after the latter insisted that it must also take its resolution.

The power payment may be extended from this fortnight through August under the plan for an additional four months.

Just households that consume less than 300 elements per month may be affected.

Those who use 151 to 300 units per month may receive a decrease of 67.04 satang per item, while those who only use 1 to 150 models may be given the same reduction.

To finance the method, about 7.6 billion baht may be taken out of the 2023 finances for emergency purposes. 18.36 million residents are thought to advantage.

A proposed 150 ringgit before VAT reduction to households using no more than 500 models per month, true for May’s billing just, is another step to assist people with expensive energy bills.

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For tuberculosis vaccines, including Messenger RNA ( mRNA ) technology, Thailand’s National Vaccine Institute( NVI ) has teamed up with the US Immune Research Centre( VRC ).

Senior representatives from the Public Health Ministry, led by Pongkasem Kaimook, the agency’s assistant continuous minister, visited the VRC in the United States on April 20, the government announced on Monday.

The VRC has created 15 different vaccine types for illnesses like disease, flu, Covid-19, Ebola, and Zika illness. It is the top organization in the world for immunization research. & nbsp,

Richard Koup, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ assistant director of the VRC, greeted the team, according to Dr. Pongkasem.

The Department of Medical Sciences in Thailand and NVI have declared their intention to work with the US VRC to create a novel disease vaccination. & nbsp,

According to the public, Thailand intends to conduct research on four different mRNA and disease vaccines.

The affiliated agencies of the Public Health Ministry work to ensure vaccine protection in the nation by creating mRNA vaccines that have been directly researched. & nbsp,

According to Dr. Pongkasem, the VRC has higher offered Thai researchers the opportunity to subscribe worldwide tuberculosis control and research networks in order to aid in international efforts to combat the disease.

Dr. Pongkasem stated that 17 organizations have collaborated on the Genomics Thailand Strategy Roadmap ( 2022 – 2025 ) to develop genomic medicine using data from the Department of Medical Sciences.

He claimed that the Cancer Genetics Clinic had also been founded and that genetic data for more than 50,000 patients with rare diseases or tumours had been gathered over the years.

According to Dr. Pongkasem, the ministry has also included genomic medicine in the common health plan.

For health genetics and bioinformatics, we really need medical personnel and researchers. By 2024, there should be 725 health professionals working in these fields, according to Dr. Pongkasem.

He added that the genetic medicine research system may be created by the Public Health Ministry to gather genomic data for genetic analysis and treatment improvement. & nbsp,

To include training for genetic code evaluation, the National Human Genome Research Institute of the United States is anticipated to participate in the Genetics Society of Thailand’s International Conference. & nbsp,

Additionally, the NHGRI has provided funding to Thailand for the development of genomics, Dr. Pongkasem added.

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The mother of a woman who died in Bangkok seven years ago and is suspected to be the 15th cyanide-poisoning victim of Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, dubbed “Aem Cyanide”, met Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police investigators on Monday, a police source said.

Ms Ladda, 64, from Kamphaeng Phet province, reported to a team of investigators under deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn at the Police Club on Vibhavadi Rangsit road in response to a letter from police.

The woman gave the police information about her daughter Montathip, alias Sai, 37, who died in Bangkok seven years ago. She reportedly told police she personally thought it was Ms Sararat who caused the death of her daughter, although she had no evidence to substantiate the belief.

She said she was glad Pol Gen Surachate had accepted her daughter’s case for investigation, believing that Montathip would be given due justice.

Pol Col Anek Taosuparp, the CSD deputy commander, said a meeting was held on Monday to follow up the cases involving Ms Sararat. He said the investigation was about 80% complete.

In the case of Siriporn Khanwong, 33, who was said to be one of the victims, Pol Col Anek said no evidence had been found to implicate people other than Ms Sararat. He said the statements from five witnesses in the case were useful for further investigation.

So far there had been no evidence to suspect a senior police officer, who was Ms Sararat’s former husband, of any involvement.

Rapee Chamnanrua, a man who was asked by Siriporn’s relatives to help them investigate her suspicious death, also reported to the team of police investigators at the Police Club on Monday.

Mr Rapee said he would go to Kanchanaburi province to take an important piece of evidence regarding a bank account of one of the alleged victims. Although the owner had died, the account was still active with hundreds of thousand of baht in circulation. He said he would bring the account documentation for the police investigators to examine.

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