‘When you have a family, you lose so much more’: A dad’s story, from inside Changi Prison

HOPES OF A ‘SHORT SENTENCE’ DASHED

Even though James knew he was about to go to prison, he did not tell his sons. “It was not something to be proud of,” he says.

With remission for good behaviour, he had hoped he could be out in less than two years, “maybe just a year” if he could get into a community-based programme. “A short sentence,” as he puts it.

But things were about to get worse. While out on bail, he was at his fiancée’s restaurant one evening when, he says, a drunken customer grabbed her. “I couldn’t take it,” he says. “I hit him with a mug.”

James continued hitting the man until his fiancée stopped him. He was arrested again.

This time round, he knew there was no chance of him serving a short stint in prison, and he would have to tell his sons where he was going. “I have to answer for what I’ve done,” he told them.

He remembers the remorse he felt at the time, knowing he was about to leave his sons — and break his promise to them. And he felt worse as he saw his boys sitting quietly, heads bowed, taking in the news.

“I could feel the sadness,” says James, who encouraged them to take care of themselves.

“If you don’t have a family, you lose only your freedom,” he adds. “When you have a family, you lose so much more — you also break the hearts of your loved ones.”

How has imprisonment affected his relationship with his sons? What is the biggest challenge he faces behind bars? And what makes him so sure this will be his last stint in prison? Find out in the podcast Imperfect by CNA Insider.

Imperfect by CNA Insider is a podcast on which young mother Lianne Chia talks to other parents grappling with dilemmas that cause them to question whether they are doing things right.

This is the final episode of this season. If you have a view on the topic or an idea for future episodes, write to cnainsider [at] mediacorp.com.sg.

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Commentary: Titanic sub – why is extreme ‘frontier travel’ booming despite the risks?

In many instances that danger remains, but the commercial transaction strips away the perceived risks involved. Marketing materials aim to sell “safe” adventures, with the risks often listed in the fine print. A polar plunge in Antarctica, for instance, is often marketed as safe because participants are attached to a tether and the swim time is limited to prevent hypothermia.

Two decades ago, in forecasting the growth of space tourism, anthropologist Valene Smith said what tourists want, the industry will provide. This has become a truism, as the Titan voyages demonstrate.

The massive growth of frontier tourism could lead to even greater problems if the industry doesn’t respond in the right way. If travellers are going to expose themselves to extreme risks, whose responsibility is it, then, to ensure their safety and recovery should accidents occur?

Many tourism businesses and travel insurance companies make risks known to their guests. But regulations on disclosing risks differ between countries. This means travellers may have to evaluate the risks themselves, and this is fraught with danger if company standards are low.

One solution is frontier tourism might be best experienced in controlled and safe environments through digital storytelling or augmented and mixed reality. However, this may not be enough to satisfy the adrenaline junkies out there.

As the Titan incident illustrates, the unpredictable nature and unintended consequences of frontier tourism are very real things. While money can allow us to travel almost anywhere, it’s worth considering whether some places should just remain untouched, sacred and off-limits completely.

Anne Hardy, Can Seng Ooi and Hanne E F Nielsen are academics at University of Tasmania. Joseph M Cheer is Professor of Sustainable Tourism and Heritage, Western Sydney University. This commentary first appeared on The Conversation.

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Parliament ready to convene on July 3

The Royal Gazette has published a royal decree convening parliament on July 3.

The decree, countersigned by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, refers to Section 121 of the constitution, which requires parliament to convene within 15 days of the Election Commission’s announcement of the results.

The poll agency endorsed all the 500 MPs-elect on June 19. A total of 41 MPs from the United Thai Nation (UTN) and Bhumjaithai (BJT) parties turned up at the EC’s office to receive their letter of endorsement yesterday. They included BJT leader Anutin Charnvirakul and secretary-general Saksayam Chidchob.

All MPs except Anucha Nakhasai of the UTN were present yesterday. Mr Anucha, an MP for Sukhothai, is on a trip to Japan in his capacity as caretaker industry minister.

The document must be shown to the Secretariat of the House of Representatives upon reporting for the first time as a new MP. The letter will remain available for collection until July 3.

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Woman faces charges over fake foreign job scam

Police have apprehended a woman on suspicion of duping people into working in Japan.

The suspect, identified as Sukanya Buasri, alias Ruen, was jointly nabbed by Bang Dung and Thungfon police in Udon Thani on Friday, after police were overwhelmed by complaints against Ms Sukanya.

The suspect was taken to Bang Dung station to face charges including fraud, illegal recruitment for jobs based overseas and failure to register as an employment agent. She was later remanded at the provincial court.

Wassana Suwannakram, one of the complainants, on Saturday told the media that her husband was deceived by Ms Sukanya to work as farmer in Ibaraki, a southern province of Japan.

Later she was sent to work for an agent identified as Jae Kai.

Ms Wassana said almost 100 workers under the supervision of Jae Kai were taken to work at a pub known for offering sex services to patrons.

She demanded at least 30,000 baht from those who wanted to change jobs.

Ms Wassana said she hoped the victims would receive justice after they spent more than 100,000 baht each to secure the work.

Meanwhile, a Thai worker in Japan told a news programme on Channel 3 that she wants Thai authorities to help more 30 Thais who were duped by Jae Kai into working at a vegetable packing factory.

They were promised better jobs in Chiba but she failed to deliver.

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Speaker spat to be settled ‘by Tuesday’

The Pheu Thai Party aims to finalise its stance on the selection of the House speaker on Tuesday, a day ahead of a meeting with the coalition-leading Move Forward Party (MFP) to solve the dispute.

Both parties want the position of House Speaker but they need to settle their differences before the opening of parliament on July 3. The date was confirmed with an announcement published yesterday on the Royal Gazette website.

His Majesty the King will preside over the opening ceremony, according to the Secretariat of the House of Representatives.

A day later, members of parliament will vote to choose the speaker of the House, who will also serve as parliamentary president, and two deputies.

It was reported earlier that Pheu Thai was open to letting the MFP have the speaker’s position as long as the runner-up party was given both the deputy posts. However, Pheu Thai later denied that any such accommodation had been reached.

Pheu Thai deputy leader Phumtham Wechayachai said yesterday that party executives would meet on Tuesday afternoon to hear a briefing on the results of the May 14 election and the timeline for the opening of the House. They will also finalise their decision for a speaker candidate.

The matter has been a key talking point among the eight-party coalition seeking to establish a government behind the MFP and its prime ministerial candidate, Pita Limjaroenrat.

Party leader Cholnan Srikaew said he was paying heed to the wishes of party MPs-elect and members, most of whom believe Pheu Thai should have the speaker’s post.

Mr Phumtham declined to say whether the meeting on Tuesday would produce the name of a candidate.

But he said a clear decision would be made by the time Pheu Thai and MFP members meet on Wednesday.

“While it will depend on how the discussion proceeds, I believe a direction that will be productive for formation of a government will be found,” Mr Phumtham said.

Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, a co-founder of the now-dissolved Future Forward Party, the predecessor of the MFP, said Wednesday’s discussion would mark a critical juncture.

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83 international cruise ships bring B2bn in tourism-related income

A total of 83 international cruise ships with more than 310,000 passengers on board brought in more than 2 billion baht in tourism-related income to Thailand since the end of last year, says the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre (TMECC).

The figures were recorded from October to the present, said navy commander Adm Choengchai Chomchoengpaet in his capacity as deputy TMECC chief.

The TMECC ensures the safety of tourists on board cruise ships coming to anchor in the Andaman Seas and Gulf of Thailand, which is part of the government’s tourism promotion policy.

He spoke yesterday while observing a medical evacuation drill joined by about 5,000 passengers of 1,600 crew members on board Royal Caribbean International’s Spectrum of the Seas, a large Miami-based cruise ship.

The drill was the first of its kind to be conducted in Thailand, and went well, he said.

It was held as the end of the high tourist season in the coastal areas of the country draws near, he said. More will follow when the new tourist season begins in September, he said.

The drill was part of the TMECC’s response to a recent inspection by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

It pointed to Thailand’s lack of a specific organisation to oversee marine searches and rescues in case of a major disaster involving a large-sized passenger ship, a standard operation plan and the regular exercise of the plan, he said.

After the IMO assessment, the TMECC drafted its first search- and-rescue operation plan for incidents involving large ships, he said.

While the draft is being reviewed by the Office of the Search and Rescue Commission, the TMECC and its partner organisations have begun practising emergency drills, he said.

The drill yesterday dealt with airlifting patients from a cruise ship in a simulated situation, Adm Choengchai said, adding the exercise went smoothly and produced satisfactory results.

The TMECC has also adopted the use of big data technology to keep records of visiting tourists in a database.

This will help ensure their safety and promptly provide medical assistance, he said. The technology proved useful in several past search and rescue operations by the TMECC, Adm Choengchai said.

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Starfish selfies land tourists in hot water

Chinese divers will face charges of violating marine resource protection laws

Chinese tourists hold up starfish to take selfies during a diving trip at Ao La off Koh Racha Yai in Phuket on Thursday. (Photo supplied/Achadthaya Chuenniran)
Chinese tourists hold up starfish to take selfies during a diving trip at Ao La off Koh Racha Yai in Phuket on Thursday. (Photo supplied/Achadthaya Chuenniran)

PHUKET: Two Chinese tourists have reported to police after pictures surfaced of them holding up starfish to take selfies and stepping on coral reefs during a diving trip off Koh Racha Yai.

A representative of the tour company Jinyang Holiday Group took two customers — Sanyang Qin and Wen Zhang — to meet investigators at the Chalong station, police said on Saturday.

They were among three Chinese visitors accused of holding up starfish and climbing on coral reefs to take selfies during their diving trip at Ao La off Koh Racha Yai on Thursday.

On Friday, marine protection officials filed a police complaint against three after photos and videos of their activities were posted on social media. The Phuket marine and coastal resource conservation centre launched an investigation that shed light to the offenders.

During questioning, the two tourists confessed to committing wrongdoing. Police charged them with violating a ministerial announcement on marine resource protection on two islands: Koh Racha Yai and Koh Racha Noi.

After gathering evidence, police plan to take them to court. They are tracking down the remaining tourist wanted for the same offence.

Three Chinese divers are accused of disturbing coral reefs in order to get photos with starfish. (Photo supplied/Achadthaya Chuenniran)

A Chinese man and a woman are interviewed at the Chalong police station in Phuket. (Photo: Achadthaya Chuenniran)

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Pheu Thai to finalise speaker stance on Tuesday

Top two coalition parties will seek to resolve issue on Wednesday, just days before parliament opens

His Majesty the King will preside over the opening ceremony of parliament on July 3, according to the Secretariat of the House of Representatives. (Photo: AFP)
His Majesty the King will preside over the opening ceremony of parliament on July 3, according to the Secretariat of the House of Representatives. (Photo: AFP)

The Pheu Thai Party aims to finalise its stance on the selection of the House speaker on Tuesday, a day ahead of a planned meeting with the coalition-leading Move Forward Party (MFP) to resolve the dispute.

Both parties want the position but they need to settle their differences before the opening of parliament on Monday, July 3. The date was confirmed by an announcement published on Saturday on the Royal Gazette website.

His Majesty the King will preside over the opening ceremony, according to the Secretariat of the House of Representatives. A day later, members of parliament will vote to choose the speaker of the House, who will also serve as the parliament president, and two deputies.

It had been reported earlier that Pheu Thai was open to letting Move Forward have the speaker’s position as long as the runner-up party was given both deputies’ posts. However, Pheu Thai later denied that any such accommodation had been reached.

Pheu Thai deputy leader Phumtham Wechayachai said on Saturday that party executives would meet on Tuesday afternoon to hear a briefing on the results of the May 14 election and the timeline for the opening of the House of Representatives. They will also finalise their decision for a speaker candidate.

The matter has been a key talking point among the eight-party coalition seeking to establish a government behind the Move Forward Party (MFP) and its prime ministerial candidate, Pita Limjaroenrat.

Party leader Cholnan Srikaew said on Thursday that he was paying heed to the wishes of party MPs-elect and members, most of whom believe Pheu Thai should have the speaker’s post.

Mr Phumtham declined to say whether the meeting on Tuesday would produce the name of a candidate. But he said a clear decision would be made by the time Pheu Thai and MFP members meet on Wednesday.

“While it will depend on how the discussion proceeds, I believe a direction that will be productive for the formation of a government will be found,” Mr Phumtham said.

Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, one of the co-founders of the Future Forward Party, the predecessor of the MFP, said Wednesday’s discussion would mark a critical juncture for the setting up of the next administration.

While not predicting the outcome of the meeting, Mr Piyabutr said that avoidance of conflict between the two parties would speed up the process.

Given that Move Forward won more than 14 million votes and Pheu Thai received nearly 11 million in the party-list balloting, it was the responsibility of both parties to ensure that the wishes of 25 million Thais were respected, he added.

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Beijing swelters in extreme heat for third straight day

BEIJING: Beijing, sweltering in extreme heat, is expected on Saturday (Jun 24) to top 40 degrees Celsius (104F) for a third day, with sizzling temperatures already baking an area the size of California in northern China. In Beijing between 1990 and 2020, the average number of days with temperatures ofContinue Reading