Thailand
Thailand’s PM asks people to avoid political gatherings over concerns for their health
Thailand’s PM is asking people to avoid political gatherings over concerns for their health due to the recent cooler weather. As the country is still not out of the woods with the recent Covid-19 breakout, the cold weather, in the northern half of the country, is adding to PM Prayut Chan-o-cha’s health concerns for Thai people.
Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri says the situation still warrants the government’s role to exercise its power under the emergency decree and Communicable Disease Act to help curb the spread of Covid-19.
He says all gatherings should be avoided, but is emphasising political ones and is thanking the “majority who have cooperated.” Now, he says the government is set to introduce more measures to help those affected by the new round of Covid and are preparing new economic stimulus programs.
Anucha says another high pressure system from China will cover northern Thailand starting from today and lasting through January 19. The system would see temperatures drop by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius in the northern and central areas of Thailand with the northeastern area seeing a drop of 4 to 6 degrees. PM Prayut has also asked people to be careful when setting up bonfires to keep warm during the cold spell.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
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On a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 being absolute freedom, Thailand scores at 30, a “not free” country, according to the nonprofit Freedom House. Each year, the organisation reviews the political rights and civil liberties of countries around the world. According to their recent assessment, Thailand has declined in terms of rights and liberties, dropping on the scale from “partly free” to “not free.”
The main reason for the drop on the freedom scale, the organisation says, is “due to the dissolution of a popular opposition party that performed well in the 2019 elections, and the military-dominated government’s crackdown on youth-led protests calling for democratic reforms.”
The Future Forward Party was dissolved in February 2020 after the court found that the founder, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, had made a large donation to the party that exceeded the legal limit. The party’s leaders were then banned from politics for the next decade.
Youth-led protests started in February, but the demonstrations were put on pause due to Covid-19 restrictions banning large public gatherings. Protesters gathered in July as restrictions lifted, but some leaders then faced charges for holding a public gathering, which was still banned under emergency orders.
In October, the prime minister imposed what Freedom House calls a “severe” State of Emergency order in Bangkok that banned gatherings of more than 5 people. Some protesters were arrested for violating the order nearly immediately after it was imposed.
With activists pushing for monarchy reform and an end to the military’s involvement in government, raising subjects considered taboo and unprecedented in Thai society, the Thai government has increased its use of the draconian lèse majesté law. Since November, dozens of activists have faced charges for insulting or defaming the Thai Monarchy.
Freedom House scores countries on topics like the electoral process, questioning if politicians and leaders were elected in free and fair elections, as well as freedom of expression and individual rights.
Thailand’s military seized power in 2014 in a bloodless coup. The 2017 constitution was drafted by a committee appointed by the military’s National Council for Peace and Order. In 2019, the country transitioned to what Freedom House calls a “military-dominated, semi-elected” government.
The 2019 elections were overseen by the Election Commission of Thailand, whose members were appointed by the military. All 250 senators were appointed by the military in 2019 to serve 5 year terms.
In 2020, the combination of democratic deterioration and frustrations over the role of the monarchy provoked the country’s largest anti-government demonstrations in a decade. In response to these youth-led protests, the regime resorted to familiar authoritarian tactics, including arbitrary arrests, intimidation, lèse majesté charges, and harassment of activists. Freedom of the press is constrained, due process is not guaranteed, and there is impunity for crimes committed against activists.
SOURCE: Freedom House
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A riot police officer, who was deployed at the recent pro-democracy protests in Bangkok, has tested positive for Covid-19. His supervisor, chief of Wang Thonglang station Ekapop Tanprayoon, says the officer had visited Samut Sakhon, a coronavirus hotspot.
Riot police who worked closely with the infected officer, Somyot Nuamcharoen, are ordered to quarantine. The Wang Thonglang police station and any items the police officer handled are being disinfected, the chief says.
The officer had met up with friends during a visit to Samut Sakhon, just southwest of Bangkok. He travelled to the coastal province on February 18 and returned to Bangkok the next day.
On the 20th, he was deployed to a protest outside of parliament, just after returning from his trip to the “red zone” province. On Sunday, he deployed the protest outside the military barracks in Bangkok. The demonstration turned violent and numerous people were injured.
On Tuesday, his friend from Samut Sakhon tested positive for the virus. The infected officer was tested for Covid-19 that day and his result came back positive yesterday.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
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The Thai musician and anti-government activist, Chaiamorn Kaewwiboonpan, aka, “Ammy”, has had his bail request declined. The singer was arrested at Ratchathani Hospital, in the central province of Ayutthaya on charges of lèse majesté, arson, and violation of the Computer Crimes Act. He is accused of being 1 of 3 people to set fire to a portrait of HM the King outside Bangkok’s Khlong Prem Central Prison on the night of February 28.
The Criminal Court turned down the request on the grounds that it considers Chaiamorn a flight risk. The singer’s mother had offered a bail payment of 90,000 baht. The singer has been allowed to remain at the Police General Hospital in the Pathumwan district of the capital for the next 12 days. He will be under police custody while receiving treatment for injuries sustained in a high fall. Officers say they will meet with the singer’s doctor today to determine when he can be discharged and transferred to Bangkok Remand Prison.
According to a Nation Thailand report, the singer’s mother reportedly plans to propose bail of 500,000 baht in a second attempt today.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
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Toby Andrews
Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 1:01 pm
Do any Thais really believe this rubbish?
Don’t protest against me and my government because it is bad for your health!
And as for this PM’s concerns for Thai people . . . let him stand in an election.
Let the Thais vote on whether they believe he has concerns for the Thai people.
He was appointed P.M. by his pals, and was never even a member of the Thai parliament!
Michael Dirk
Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 1:54 pm
Better for foreigners who live here on Thailand not to make any public negative comments about the government or the monarchy.
Keep your negative thoughts snd and comments to yourself, even though many may or may not agree with you.
Do not incite or encourage others, especially those that live here to make likewise comments, or worse.
Thailand has its own norms and laws and we should not interfere or make public negative comments about them.
intlbankster
Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 3:18 pm
I will stand up against any govt the moment everyone else on this planet does so at the same time. but until then I will do as I’m told. Long term no individual in any govt has a real interest in furthering their own demise. They all just do it for a pay check, it’s not like any of them actuality believe in the institution that employs them. And so they’re really not the enemy or the problem… long term.
You see its not about the thai govt. All govts are ran by the same folks over at the Business of International Settlements.
If there is anyone to be afraid of, its those sacks of $#!+
Mister Stretch
Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 3:26 pm
I disagree with you, Mr. Dirk.
Foreigners who live here should be able to express ideas, as freely as the locals can. While I don’t agree with Mr. Andrews on many things, I believe he has a right to express them within the confines of the law.
There is no law that marks political discussion or comments by non-Thais as illegal. Section 36 of the current constitution says: “A person shall enjoy the liberty of communication by any means.” It doesn’t say “only persons of Thai nationality or ethnicity”, it’s all persons.
While it’s probably not a good idea to begin a political debate with a bunch of Thai men drunk on Mekhong Whiskey, there is nothing wrong in expressing your thoughts about the government.
Depending on where you are from, Thais are happy to criticize your government, if they feel inclined to do so. The shoe’s on the other foot.
Criticizing the monarchy is another matter.
Libeling someone is a different matter here, as well. So, feel free to criticize, but be smart enough to know when you cross the line into libelous territory.
I have no problem discussing the politics of any country, mine, theirs, or yours. It’s just a discussion. I’m not marching in the streets with a sign. Though, if you do that in my home country, we don’t care where you are from, to be honest. The only reason it’s an issue here is we live in a homogeneous country and most foreigners stand out.
Feel free to criticize the corrupt and illegitimate government of Prayut.
Issan John
Monday, January 18, 2021 at 12:59 am
FWIW, Mr S, “Mr Andrews” doesn’t live here.
He lived in Pattaya for six years but he left last year because he’d had enough of the “corruption”, the “dictatorship” and the “opposition” being silenced, so when his visa expired he moved to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where things are different …
Toby Andrews
Monday, January 18, 2021 at 2:24 pm
Yes here in Cambodia, we can drink in bars all night if they are open.
50 cents a glass in some.
Restaurants are open. No curfew. No bans on alcohol. No hysteria about the tiny chance of catching a virus. No deaths from the aforesaid virus.
No provinces closed. No smog! And no Isaan idiots in bars airing their knowledge.
I left Thailand because I could see what was coming, and I was right.
Issan John
Monday, January 18, 2021 at 2:59 pm
You were indeed “right” Toby, and I’m sure you could “see what was coming” – two days until you were thrown out, IIRC 🙂
“No smog!”? Maybe everything’s a bit hazy from too much drinking in bars all night.
Bangkok’s AQI, from IQAir over the lst four days, is 86 (today), 125, 165 and 169, peaking on Sunday at 173.
Phnom Penh’s, same source, is 90 (today), 92, 151 and 160, peaking on Saturday at 198.
James R
Monday, January 18, 2021 at 10:23 pm
Laos John
No farang ‘live’s in Thailand, they are visiting on longer than usual temporary visas which have to be applied for on a year to year basis with three monthly checks.
Once they are old they will be back to wherever they came from as Thailand will not look after them if they become long term ill.
Toby Andrews
Monday, January 18, 2021 at 2:11 pm
I think you have been planted by Thai authorities “Dirk” to pursuade the foreigners not to reveal any matter corrupt or wrong about Thailand.
I have never seen any of your other posts. Is this your first one?
Mr cynic
Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 9:28 pm
I disagree with you mr dirk,they are not breaking the websites owners guidelines or they would not be published.
only they have the right to decide what is appropriate for their website.
plenty of people clearly disagree with your comments however they are here also.
James R
Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 10:07 pm
How is demonstrating different to day-to-day life in Thailand as far as distancing is concerned?
I was there for many months last year and when is a supermarket or any other shop people do not distance themselves from each other, you have to squeeze past each other as always.
Fruit is still picked up, examine and then placed back on supermarket displays, when weighting your Vegatable to get the prices sticker placed the items people are bunched together.
So over the county tens if millions are crowded together each day so what different will a few hundred demonstrators make?
Issan John
Monday, January 18, 2021 at 3:06 pm
The numbers in any given confined area are hardly comparable, although to be fair the demos will be outside.
I’m not sure how much experience you have of demonstrations, but it may have escaped your attention that demonstrators tend to shout rather a lot – rather a lot more than those “weighting your Vegatable to get the prices sticker placed”, unless the supermarket queues are different in Phuket.
James R
Monday, January 18, 2021 at 10:17 pm
Laos John
A few thousand people shouting is not relevant.
I can see you are not very bright by mentioning the vegetables but ignoring my main point which is the fact millions of Thais are in closed contact every day while shopping.
There is no social distancing.
Has living in Laos-Issan rubbed off as it is after all the least educated part of Thailand.
You really believe the figure the military government are dish out to you?
Nipral
Monday, January 18, 2021 at 12:33 pm
“Over concerns for their health” ?????????????????????????