Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Former Thammasat professor blames partnership between officials and leaders for 2nd wave
A former Thammasat University lecturer is claiming that the current surge in new infections of Covid-19 in Thailand is a result of the so-called “Covid mafia” which he defines as corrupt officials working closely with local influential figures to carry out illegal activities.
Kaewsan Atipothiclaimed that these alleged co-operative actions between leaders has enabled illegal gambling and human trafficking gangs, who are responsible for smuggling migrant workers and Thais from Myanmar back into the country. He more specifically mentions the smuggling of migrant workers from Myanmar into Samut Sakhon province, which was the hotspot area that kicked off the current surge of infections.
He also named the Burmese casinos bordering Thailand’s west and north, and the illegal gambling empire in the eastern provinces, along with Samut Sakhon, as the 3 hotspots in the current wave of Covid, as they were “under the control of a mafia network”.
“As we were concentratingon containingthe disease at Suvarnabhumi international airport, the contagion has already entered our home.”
“This crisis would not have happened in the first place, if there had not beenmafia-controlled illegal gambling dens or human trafficking gangs.”
He explained that “an influential figure in Rayong province has managed to buy the entirepoliceforce, be it the local policeandthe Bangkok police,includingthe Crime Suppression Division, by dealing with just one group of state officials.”
“When you can buy total power, the business operator or themafia boss will feel stable enough to invest heavily (in illegal gambling activities), to the point thatRayong has been labelled“Thailand’s Macau”and it has expanded to Chanthaburi and Chon Buri provinces.”
Kaewsan says he also “didn’t expect that the policewill ever be reformed under the present government, and there is no real opposition in the parliament either, but only the vengeful group of politicians and another group bent on toppling the Monarchy.”
As for the initial wave of Covid-19 that started in February 2020, he blames globalisation and Thailand’s “close contact with the international community.”
SOURCE: Thai PBS World
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187 new Covid-19 cases and 2 deaths were reported today in the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration’s daily briefing. There are currently 2,950 active cases in Thailand. Since the start of the pandemic, the CCSA has reported a total of 13,687 Covid-19 cases and 75 coronavirus-related deaths.
A 61 year old British man died after testing positive for Covid-19. The man recently travelled to Thailand from abroad. While in an alternative state quarantine hotel, he reported coronavirus-like symptoms. He tested positive for Covid-19 and was admitted to a hospital in Bangkok. Health officials say he had shortness of breath and died yesterday. It’s unclear if the man had any pre-existing conditions.
A 56 year old Thai woman died after testing positive for Covid-19. Health officials say the woman’s family members had come in close contact with someone infected with Covid-19. The woman had pre-existing conditions of epilepsy and stroke.
Out of the 187 new Covid-19 cases, 116 were detected through a proactive testing campaign primarily in Samut Sakhon, 61 cases are local transmissions and 10 cases involve those who recently entered Thailand.
Bangkok, Chon Buri and Samut Sakhon have the highest number of Covid-19 patients.
Active Covid-19 cases in Thailand as of January 24, according to Worldometers.
SOURCES: CCSA | Bangkok Post
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A Bangkok University poll indicates that around half of the Thai population are holding out hope that the Covid-19 vaccine will help end the pandemic. But the same respondents fear the vaccines’ side effects.
The poll was conducted on January 18-20 on 1,186 people nationwide, aged 18 and over. A bare majority, 50.1% say their jobs and incomes would be affected if the pandemic continues without the masses being inoculated. About 27% said the most worrisome effect of the continued pandemic would be getting infected by the virus. 15% said they would be most worried about travelling. The rest of respondents said the availability of necessities and food, expenses for protective gear, children’s education topped their lists of worries.
Asked if vaccines would help curb or end the pandemic in the country, 51.3% said they are moderately hopeful, with a smaller percentage, 32.8%, very hopeful, and almost 16% had little or no hope. When asked about their concerns surrounding vaccines, almost 40% chose side effects.
Almost 13% said they were concerned about new vaccines being needed to fight new Covid-19 variants, with the same amount worried they wouldn’t receive free vaccines. About 8% worried about receiving smuggled vaccines without the Food and Drugs Administration’s approval.
The biggest lessons Thais say they learned from the Covid-19 outbreak during the past year focused on the illegal entry of migrants – 40.2%. About 20% say they learned that hiding information could put other people at risk, while about 18% said recklessness on the part of some people could put the majority at risk.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
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Thailand State Railway governor says that cancellations will affect 13 local services on the northern line, 18 on the northeastern routes, 12 in the southern region and 14 eastern trains.
“Most of the cancelled trains will start at Hua Lamphong station, including trains that are popular with tourists, including services to Kanchanaburi and Hua Hin.”
Niruj Maneepun says the move is to support the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration’s effort to curb the virus’ spread by maintaining travel restrictions.
“Already all sightseeing and most long-haul trains have been temporarily cancelled due to Covid-19.”
Thailand has logged 13,500 confirmed infections and 73 deaths since the start of the pandemic in January 2020. The current outbreak that began on December 20, with the epicentre centred around seafood markets in coastal Samut Sakhon, has spread to 63 Thai provinces.
Recently, Bangkok has allowed the reopening of 13 types of businesses as long as they follow strict guidelines surrounding safety measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Businesses allowed to reopen under these measures…
- Banquet venues, which will need authorisation from BMA for events with over 300 participants
- Beauty salons, tattoo and piercing shops
- Fitness centers, but personal trainers and communal steam rooms are not allowed
- Game Arcades; but all points of contact must be regularly disinfected and facemasks worn at all times.
- Internet cafés
- Senior nursing homes, but with limited activities
- Sports venues, except for boxing rings and race tracks, but no audiences allowed
- Spas, Thai massage shops, excluding massage parlours
- Gymnasia and boxing venues for training only
- Bowling alleys and ice skating rinks, but no competitions or audiences allowed
- Dancing academies
- Martial art schools, but no tournaments or audiences allowed
- Amulet shops and markets
Other provinces in Thailand, such as Chonburi, are waiting for the green light to reopen businesses and travel. Chonburi has reported 0 cases of Covid for 3 days in a row, prompting locals to become frustrated with the strict measures that won’t ease up until at least the end of the month.
SOURCE:Bangkok Post
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B.T.
Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 2:49 pm
There is nothing new in the article.The “feudal system” working for many years and there are no desire to change it.The forces who can change it are part of the system and have enormous benefits form the status quo.
Vna
Monday, January 11, 2021 at 9:55 am
Yes. The definition of ‘ corruption top to bottom ” is Thailand. Put in the dictionary
Toby Andrews
Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 3:19 pm
Thai morality will not deter them from making money from illegal activities.
They want cheap labour, fine the Burmese are smuggled in and the immigration and police are paid off. When this labour is found to have the virus, some are dumped by the side of the road!
The only matter the Thais are concerned with is the loss of cheap labour.
They want gambling with Thai customer access, fine the This immigration and Thai police are paid off.
The bombers of Bangkok paid off the immigration on the border to enter Thailand illegally, and went on to kill people in Bangkok with a bomb.
The overwhelming evidence of the nasty Thai nature is revealed every day!
Issan John
Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 5:24 pm
So he’s saying what anyone who’s been in Thailand for a few months / anyone who’s been in Pattaya for a few weeks already knows, down to who the “influential figure” is and was before him without anyone needing to name him or his “influential” father.
Nothing to do with any “nasty Thai nature”, just widespread corruption and abuse of power from on high, from within the system.
Blaming them directly for the recent local outbreaks, and “globalisation … and Thailand’s “close contact with the international community” ” for the initial outbreak is probably stretching things a bit, though, unless he wants to turn back the clock a century or so.
Yogibaer
Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 3:27 pm
Seems the gambling and human trafficking Business is more powerfu than the Tourist Business…?
dispensePC
Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 4:39 pm
Yeah, I never understood the logic of bringing in cheap migrant labor when your own people can’t find work.
I suspect it’s all politics and a matter of managing public perceptions, which is pretty much what CV-19 has been about in every country. In the case of Thailand, Western tourists are highly visible, but Burmese migrants can blend.
Rasputin
Monday, January 11, 2021 at 1:54 am
There is no logic to it, while Thais are available and able to do it The villains are the greedy businessmen/politicians, devoid of, or severely lacking in any morality whatsoever
Issan John
Monday, January 11, 2021 at 11:23 am
There’s plenty of logic to it, Ras.
While Thais might be “available”, even if they’re in the wrong place, in many cases they’re not “able” to do the jobs.
Issan John
Monday, January 11, 2021 at 11:20 am
Thw “logic” is that the cheap migrant labour is already here, that Thais don’t want to do the jobs, and that Thais can’t do the jobs as many are highly skilled / skilled / semi-skilled.
Long term, ‘yes’, Thais could take over the jobs but in the shirt term it’s impossible.
Issan John
Monday, January 11, 2021 at 11:33 am
Sorry, typo, “shOrt term” 🙂 !
pew
Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 4:29 pm
Thainess
Geoff
Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 4:43 pm
So easy to believe.
Gupta Singh
Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 4:52 pm
Lets all wait for Issan John to enter this conversation and correctly tell us what is really going on, why its happening and the solutions after he does his 100% correct fact checking first. All whilst lying down! Please give him at least 30 minutes to do his checks on the every aspect of the Thai political system for the past 100 years.
Geoff
Monday, January 11, 2021 at 7:24 am
555! Good comment. I wonder if Imodium would work?
Issan John
Monday, January 11, 2021 at 11:38 am
I’ll have to ask the doctor.
I’ve never heard of immodium being used to treat a broken back and crushed vertebrae, but I’m sure she’ll give your suggestion all the respect it deserves.
Geoff
Monday, January 11, 2021 at 4:18 pm
I don’t care about that which you have typed. True or not,it doesn’t matter. What I see is what you write. Constantly correcting people. Very long diatribes that are not read. If you have a valid point, make it short and sweet. It’s all in good fun anyway.
By the way, I lost my legs in a garden accident, both arms when my attempt at cooking went wrong, and my nose and tongue due to frostbite when I was at the North Pole. For the sake of proprietry, I won’t tell you what I’m typing this with. 🙂
Joe
Monday, January 11, 2021 at 8:16 am
And Issan John’s most likely reply will be that you are being anti Thai, that’s his standard answer when he is lost for words.
Issan John
Monday, January 11, 2021 at 11:43 am
Really? Only in your rather sad dreams.
Where it’s justified, go for it and knock yourself out but I’ll probably have been there before you; where it’s not, it’s just crying “Wolf”.
Ted
Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 5:30 pm
I don’t understand what is meant by finishing of the story, as they did; “he blames globalisation and Thailand’s “close contact with the international community.”
What is Kaewsan Atipothiclaimed after, sure it can’t be. Does the ex-lecturer mean the Thailand has to blame the rest of the world, for its illegal gambling and workforce….? Well if that is the case, do like most parts of the world and legalize gambling and start to attract Thai citizens for these jobs, if you can’t afford to sell your products, as cheap as you do, well don’t! But as been said before, then the ruling party will loose to much kickbacks so that will probably not happen during our lifetime.
James Pate
Monday, January 11, 2021 at 1:07 pm
Yeah, I don’t get that, either. I guess the professor has years of research and reams of data to back up his conclusion regarding the “international community”. Is he too afraid to say “Chinese”?
murika
Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 6:31 pm
when you are rich in thailand, you pay the police and invest in illegal gambling / brothel / drugs / human traffic / guns / money laundering , i mean don’t be naive that where the money is, payut know all of it of course, and probably get a piece of the cake, with all the other officials, in the village i live in, the mayor elected by buying vote in, is doing all of the above without hiding, he is too powerful for anyone to testify against him, so people just let it be, this guy just built a huge property in the national park, on top of the mountain for everybody to see, and every night girls, drugs and casino ! It’s the same all over the country, and when something bad happen their is tons of burmese or poor thais to blame and put in jail, TIT and most thai know it !
Wayno
Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 8:04 pm
someones space bar is playing up
Andre
Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 9:32 pm
Wow! There is nothing new in what he claims, but that he dares to go public with this is amazing in amazing Thailand.
Issan John
Monday, January 11, 2021 at 11:27 am
Nothing daring about it – he hasn’t named anyone, so who cares?
Pedro
Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 10:36 pm
It is obvious to those looking in from the outside that gambling is in the Thai psyche, and no Government will ever stop it, so to make gambling illegal in Thailand is playing into the hands of Organised Crime. Far better to legalise and control, and make money for the country from taxes lawfully applied, and from employment contributions. Control can be overseen in many formats and paid for by the extra tax revenues. Also, more criminal intel will come in about the illegal gambling particularly from those involved in the licensed casino’s.
Issan John
Monday, January 11, 2021 at 12:20 pm
Agreed 100%, Pedro.
I can understand the arguments against gambling, particularly given who the strongest objections came from (now deceased), but being realistic it’s like banning abortions as it’s impossible to stop so it’s driven underground instead.
Far better to be realistic, accept that it’s going to happen, and to legalise, regulate and control it with the country profiting from it rather than the criminals.
Jeff
Monday, January 11, 2021 at 10:16 am
Of course the sheeple can’t find the wisdom or courage to support the young people of the country trying to do something about it.
Issan John
Monday, January 11, 2021 at 11:31 am
I may have missed it, but what are “young people of the country trying to do about it” that “the sheeple” aren’t?