January 15, 2021 Thai Enquirer Summary Political News Police have made clear that they are going after pro-democracy activists once again after their ramping up charges of lese majeste against more students. In less than 24 hours after Thammasat University freshman Sirichai “New” Natueng was taken into custody by the Khlong Luang provincial police of Pathum Thani on Wednesday, Khlong Luang provincial police of Pathum Thani brought another lese majeste charge under Section 112 of the Criminal Code against another Thammasat Student. Chayaphol Danothai, a sophomore at Thammasat University, is the latest to face the charge, according to the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration (UFTD) Facebook. The UFTD page, however, said it is not possible that Chayaphol committed a lese majeste offence because Chayaphol was not present in the same place as Sirichai who was allegedly spray-painted text about taxes and the abolition of Section 112. Sirichai was arrested and accused of committing over an image of royals and the nameplate of the university’s Rangsit campus in 6 spots in the area in total. The
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January 15, 2021 Thai Enquirer Summary€¦ · 15/01/2021 · Pheu Thai secretary-general Prasert Chanthararuangthong said it is possible that the opposition would bring forward
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January 15, 2021
Thai Enquirer Summary
Political News
Police have made clear that they are going after pro-democracy activists once again after
their ramping up charges of lese majeste against more students.
In less than 24 hours after Thammasat University freshman Sirichai “New”
Natueng was taken into custody by the Khlong Luang provincial police of Pathum
Thani on Wednesday, Khlong Luang provincial police of Pathum Thani brought
another lese majeste charge under Section 112 of the Criminal Code against
another Thammasat Student.
Chayaphol Danothai, a sophomore at Thammasat University, is the latest to face
the charge, according to the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration
(UFTD) Facebook.
The UFTD page, however, said it is not possible that Chayaphol committed a lese
majeste offence because Chayaphol was not present in the same place as Sirichai
who was allegedly spray-painted text about taxes and the abolition of Section 112.
Sirichai was arrested and accused of committing over an image of royals and the
nameplate of the university’s Rangsit campus in 6 spots in the area in total. The
UFTD said Chayaphol was away in his hometown when the incident took place
on January 10.
The latest move by the police coincides with secretary-general of the Progressive
Movement Piyabutr Saengkanokkul’s move to renew his call for the abolition of the lese
majeste law under Section 112 of the Criminal Code.
Sirichai, a Thammasat University student, has been granted bail after facing two
separate lese majeste charges in the span of fewer than 24 hours.
In his Facebook message, Piyabutr vowed to take the abolition of the lese majeste
law to the parliament when the parliament reconvenes. Piyabutr pointed out the
need for the parliament to scrap Section 112 and called for “people’s
representatives” to push for the amendment of Section 112 of the Criminal Code
as soon as possible.
Piyabutr said, “We must not let “the future of the country” faces charges under
Section 112 any longer.
More than 33 state officials including more than 20 police officers are found to be
involved in the smuggling of illegal migrant workers from Myanmar into Thailand,
deputy national police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphat revealed.
Police alleged to be involved rank from non-commissioned officers to a deputy
commander of provincial police, Pol Gen Damrongsak said, adding that he will
submit a detailed report about this case, and a recommendation that a fact-finding
panel to be set up to explore legal and disciplinary actions against those
implicated, to the national police chief Pol Gen Suwat Chaengyodsuk.
The deputy national police chief said he will ask national police chief Pol Gen
Suwat Jangyodsuk next Monday to set up an inquiry panel to consider criminal
prosecution and disciplinary action against all those implicated.
In a related development, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, also the Defence
Minister, signed his approval to appoint 2 inquiry committees to look into trafficking of
illegal migrant workers and gambling activities in illegal gambling dens, the 2 major
causes of the latest resurgence of the virus.
The committee looking into trafficking of illegal migrant workers comprises 15
members and is chaired by former National Anti-Corruption Commission
(NACC) chairman Phakdee Phosiri.
The other committee looking into illegal gambling activities comprises 10
members and is chaired by permanent secretary for justice Charnchao
Chaiyanukij.
Both committees have been instructed to submit their findings back to the Prime
Minister in the form of classified reports every 30 days.
Kla Party leader Korn Chatikavanij has floated an idea to legalise gambling in the
kingdom, saying doing so will not only help contain the spread of Covid-19 in illegal
gambling dens more effectively but also to gain more tax revenue.
Mr Korn, a former finance minister, was responding to Prime Minister Prayut
Chan-o-cha's plea on Wednesday for public cooperation in tackling illegal
gambling, now seen as a major factor in the spread of Covid-19.
It was wrong from the beginning for the government to aim to make people stop
gambling as a way of containing the spread of Covid-19, said Mr Korn in a
Facebook post. The government had better legalise gambling so the business can
be regulated properly in terms of not only containing the virus' spread but also
getting gamblers to spend their money in legal casinos in the country rather than
in casinos elsewhere, he said.
When legalised, casinos will pay taxes to the state, which the government could
use to fund its policy for the public betterment, he said.
The opposition parties are set to meet today to finalise details of a censure debate motion
before submitting the motion to Parliament speaker.
Pheu Thai secretary-general Prasert Chanthararuangthong said it is possible that
the opposition would bring forward the submission of a censure debate motion
against the government to the 3rd
week of this month, instead of the 4th
week of
this month. The party expects the opposition parties to achieve clarity on the
matter after a meeting today
Initially, opposition party leader Sompong Amornwiwat and Pheu Thai MP for
Mahasarakham Yuttapong Charasathien to lead the upcoming censure debate.
The Election Commission (EC)’s meeting resolved to set March 28 for municipal
elections.
Registration of candidates for mayors and councillors of municipalities of all
levels is set between February 8 and 12.
In addition, the poll agency yesterday resolved not to verify results of provincial
administration organisation (PAO) elections in 8 final provinces due to election
fraud complaints.
The EC said it received 517 electoral fraud complaints related to 8 provinces
which are Nonthaburi, Buriram, Rayong, Samut Prakan, Ang Thong, Sa Kaeo,
Narathiwat and Chumphon. It still has to process such these complaints.
The Thai Pakdee Group (Loyal Thai) led by Warong Dechgitvigrom yesterday submitted
a registration request to the registrar of political parties at the Election Commission (EC)
to set up a new political party called, the “Thai Pakdee Thailand” Party.
Wichai Lamsutthi, secretary-general of the Thai Pakdee Group, and 16 group
members submitted a request to the EC’s political party registrar with documents
including the party’s new logo.
The group is currently seeking at least 500 people to be its founders and co-
founders and seed funding of at least 1 million baht.
Economic News
The government rushed to spurn rumours that it intends to give 2 cash handouts of 3,500
baht per month under the “Rao Chana” (We Win) scheme during February- March to
only those who live the 28 red zone provinces in the wake of the latest Covid-19
outbreak.
A source with Government House said the government has yet to reach a
conclusion on recipients of the proposal for 2 monthly payments of 3,500 baht---
among a raft of measures designed to ease people’s plight amid the resurgence of
the outbreak despite rumours that people who live outside the 28 red zones may
not get the cash relief. The decision will be made at the next cabinet meeting on
January 19, the source said.
Earlier, Finance Minister of Thailand Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said the new
cash handout program will cover 30-35 million Thai people affected by the virus
outbreak.
Low-income earners who participate in the co-payment subsidy program would
be entitled to the new handout program and could receive handouts through their
e-wallet.
Other eligible groups will obtain handouts through the PromptPay system from
this month to next month. The new handout program would also welcome
government welfare card holders, low-income vendors, food deliverymen and taxi
motorcyclists.
The year 2021 will be a challenging year for new university graduates amid the pandemic
that is dragging on the Thai economy.
The Council of University Presidents expects around 282,000 new graduates from
the academic year 2019/2020, Bundhit Eua-arporn, the president of
Chulalongkorn University, said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Employment assessed that more than 540,000 new
graduates from the academic year 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 to enter the labour
market.
The Tourism Council of Thailand found more than 50 per cent of workers in the
tourism industry, accounting for 2-3 million, being laid off as the virus pandemic
forced businesses to shut down temporarily. The Council expects the number of
workers being made redundant to keep rising as a result of the new wave of the
outbreak.
Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin said his ministry is trying to come up with
measures to assist employees and help them retain employment but admitted that
there is a large number of new graduates who could not find work.
Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has floated the idea of a tourism
fund to allow foreign tourists to insure themselves in case of incidents or illnesses while
visiting the Kingdom. The Tourism and Sports Minister said the idea resembles Japan’s
implementation of the “Sayonara” tax on travellers.
The idea is that foreign tourists will be required to pay for the fund, Phiphat said,
explaining that each foreign visitor might be required to pay a fee of US$10
(approximately 300 baht) to cover their hospital treatments to support the
proposed fund through the ministry. Thailand expects to receive some 10 million
visitors this year
Latest reports said the proposed guidelines for the collection of a 300-baht
tourism fee from each international visitor has been approved by the National
Tourism Policy Committee.
The details of the fee collection will be announced in the Royal Gazette once the
policy has taken effect.
In a bid to resuscitating the country’s ailing tourism sector amid the Covid-19 pandemic,
the government has approved 6 golf resorts for quarantine, including 3 in Kanchanaburi
and 1 each in Nakhon Nayok, Phetchaburi and Chiang Mai.
The government said foreign tourists entering the kingdom can choose to undergo
14-day COVID-19 quarantine at these golf resorts.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said foreign tourists undergoing
quarantine at these golf resorts will be allowed to play golf and move freely rather
than confining themselves in their rooms during 14-day mandatory quarantine.
Foreign visitors choosing golf quarantine need visas – either Single-Entry Tourist
Visa or Special Tourist Visa, medical and travel insurance as well as a certificate
of entry.
The golf quarantine is the latest effort to woo foreign tourist amid the resurge of
the outbreak in the country.
Property Perfect Plc executive advised the government to set aside 20 billion baht to
purchase Covid-19 vaccines to provide free jabs to members of the public in key tourist
cities.
Chainid Adhyanasakul, chief executive officer of Property Perfect, said
businesses and the economy will recover in a fast pace if Covid-19 vaccinations
reach the public fast.
He said it can happen if the government speed up the vaccination program against
the outbreak by investing 20 billion baht to provide vaccines for residents in key
tourist cities such as Bangkok and adjacent provinces, Chiang Mai, Phukey,
Krabi, Samui, Chon Buri, Rayong, etc.
Chainid wants the government to include those in the tourism and services sectors
as the priority group to be immunised because the Thai economy relies on the
tourism industry. Tourism receipts alone account for 17 per cent of GDP in
Thailand while the employment in the tourism and service sectors accounts for
11.16 per cent of total employment or 4,393,294 people.
PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc (OR) has priced its initial public offering (IPO) at 16-18
baht, which will be offered to retail investors from Jan 24 to Feb 2 and institutional
investors from Feb 3-5, according to the company's filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC).
For PTT shareholders, subscriptions are available during Jan 25-28. At the offer
price of 16-18 baht per share, the price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) stands at 23.9-26.9
times, relatively lower than other international and domestic companies with
similar businesses that have an average P/E of 31.7 times.
OR is offering up to 3 billion newly-issued ordinary shares, divided into 2.61
billion common shares and 390 million over-allotment shares, or a greenshoe
option.
Shares of OR are expected to be listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand on Feb