Search Results for: prayut chan-o-cha
- Politics News
An English translation of the PM’s letter to Thailand’s 20 richest
Much has been written and said about PM Prayut Chan-o-cha’s letter to Thailand’s 20 richest people, requesting their “input and ideas,” with even Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam stepping in to clarify that the letter is “not begging for money.” Here is an English translation of the PM’s letter, which he announced following a nationally televised 10-minute speech on Friday. The…
- Covid-19 News
Thailand’s new ‘normal’ – Government charts course post-April 30
“The government will ease restrictions on businesses reopening only when it does not place people at a higher risk of catching the disease.” Trying to find a balance between the public health needs and the imperative to re-boot Thailand’s economy, the Government is rumoured to be mulling another month of the emergency decree. The current emergency decree is set to…
- Covid-19 News
PM will decide whether to relax Covid-19 restrictions
A spokeman for the Centre of Covid-19 Situation Administration says PM Prayut Chan-o-cha will decide in the next 10 days whether to relax remove restrictions imposed as part of the Emergency Decree to fight the spread of Covid-19. Dr. Taweesilp Visanuyothin says that the decision regarding the curfew and business closures “will depend on the situation ahead.” “As we move…
- Thailand News
Thailand News Today – Friday, April 17
Healthcare leader predicts 200,000 people could be infected with Covid-19 Despite the relatively low number of new coronavirus cases in Thailand, hospitals are already reaching capacity in dealing with patients that need ICU treatment and ventilators… this from Boon Vanasin, chairman of Thonburi Healthcare Group. He claims that the three main hospitals in Bangkok specialising in Covid-19 treatment are already…
- Covid-19 News
Lifting of restrictions depends on compliance
“Decisions about any relaxation are difficult. There may first have to be a level of ongoing social distancing that people must observe.” The current national state of emergency is due to expire at the end of the month, and PM Prayut Chan-o-Cha has hinted some restrictions might be relaxed at that time, even if he extends the emergency decree. But…
- Politics News
Thai Health Minister demands apology for inflammatory comments
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has criticised fellow Bhumjaithai Party member Boonkua Pussatevo for a Facebook comment that, according to The Nation, translates loosely to “stupid citizens will lead us to death” and has asked for a public apology over the comments. The remarks follows a computer glitch affecting the distribution of the 5,000 baht assistance many citizens were expecting.…
- Covid-19 News
PM says restrictions could be eased by April 30
The current national state of emergency is due to expire on April 30. While PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has hinted he might extend it, which he has the constitutional right to do (up to 90 days), he says that he’ll evaluate the Covid-19 situation in the last week of April to see if some restrictions can be lifted. The PM has…
- Covid-19 News
Government only has enough to pay 5,000 baht aid package for 1 month – PM
Shortly after the national state of emergency was declared in Thailand, the government of PM Prayut Chan-o-cha announced an aid package of 5,000 baht per month to “informal workers” left behind by the Covid-19 crisis. The original announcement, part of a 117 billion baht stimulus package, was for 3 months, but this was later extended to 6 months, despite the…
- Covid-19 News
New national curfew exceptions
PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has issued exceptions to the nationwide curfew mandate for some groups and job sectors. The order gives exemption to government authorities, including civil servants on duty by order of state agencies. Also exempt are the first responders such as healthcare personnel who must be available at all hours. This also extends to emergency patients and transport of…
- Northern Thailand News
4 teenagers violate the order not to celebrate Songkran outside
Under the emergency decree that has been announced by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, it has been confirmed that Songkran (the traditional Thai new year festival) is officially postponed this year to lessen the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak. However, 4 teenagers defying the emergency decree was arrested in Roi Et province, far north-eastern Thailand, after live broadcasting their water wars. The…
- Covid-19 News
PM urges Thailand to observe Songkran at home on April 13
PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is calling on all citizens and residents to refrain from celebrating Songkran, cancel their trips home and avoid all gatherings during the 3 day festival, which kicks off on Monday. The government announced last month that the Songkran holidays would be postponed to later, unspecified dates, in line with efforts to curb the spread of the Covid-19…
- Covid-19 News
Crackdown on mask hoarders as police seek Facebook admin for defamation – VIDEO
UPDATE: The Technology Crime Suppression Division of Thailand is working with police to search for more suspects involved in a network connected to the March 31 arrest of Phanyot Paradonraphab, chief of the little known Paradonraphab political party. Phanyot allegedly imported 513,300 masks illegally under a company he opened called Thai Health International and managed to sell more than 640,000,…
- Covid-19 News
14 Thai provinces apply travel restrictions for residents
14 provincial governors around the country have declared ‘travel restrictions’ in and out of their provinces. Under the emergency decree PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has given full authority to provincial governors to increase prevention measures. The ‘lockdowns’ are done to help contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus. In some provinces, inter district and inter sub-district travel is also being restricted.…
- Covid-19 News
Bangkok bans booze April 10-20
All sales of alcohol will be banned in Bangkok starting tomorrow until April 20. Police made the announcement this afternoon at the Covid 19 Disease Management Centre in Bangkok. The stated reason for the ban is to encourage social distancing and stop the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. However, many netizens have already commented that it follows similar moves in…
- Thailand News
Thailand News Today – Wednesday, April 8
111 new Thai coronavirus cases. 3 more deaths, all foreigners 111 new confirmed cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus have been announced today. Of the 111 cases announced today, 69 got the virus from contact other infected people, while 42 were those returning from a religious festival in Indonesia. Phuket is the province with the highest percentage of active Covid-19 cases,…
- Covid-19 News
UPDATE: Visa amnesty signed by PM
UPDATE: PM Prayut Chan-o-cha today signed an executive order granting visa amnesty to foreigners left stranded in Thailand by the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. The order, released by the Ministry of Interior, grants “special permission for some classes of aliens to stay in the Kingdom.” It was signed by Prayuth and head of the Ministry of Interior, Anupong Paochinda. ORIGINAL STORY:…
- Covid-19 News
Foreigners in Thailand worried about their security
Ever had the feeling you’re not wanted at the moment? As the highly infectious Covid-19 disease spreads through Bangkok’s streets, Thai PBS World reports the city’s expatriate community has multiple reasons to be nervous. The trouble began in early last month when Thailand’s mercurial Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul blasted “all farang” (a derogatory term for white-westerner), for not wearing…
- Covid-19 News
New immigration measures for stranded visitors considered by Thai cabinet tomorrow
“Under the government’s social distancing policy, these tourists will no longer have to visit the immigration bureau and risk contracting the virus in a crowd.” Thai Immigration officials are seeking cabinet approval for new measures to categorise foreigners stranded in Thailand because of the Covid-19 crisis. The proposals will be submitted to tomorrow’s cabinet meeting. Last week Thai TM Prayut…
- Covid-19 News
Preparing further measures to control the spread of Covid-19
The Thai Ministry of Interior Permanent Secretary has sent an urgent official memo to Provincial Governors around the country informing them that the National Covid-19 Coronavirus Disease Management Centre is calling for a range of measures to be addressed immediately and urgently. “These measures are in accordance with overall stepped up measures to help stop the spread of Covid-19 and…
- Covid-19 News
Even if effective, Thailand’s curfew may be extended
Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam told reporters on Friday night that even if the current nationwide curfew, currently 10pm to 4am, shows signs of helping reduce gatherings and preventing crime, it could be extended. “The primary purpose of the curfew is to encourage social distancing and combat the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus.” Critics of the curfew say the limited 6…
- Covid-19 News
Journalists barred from field reporting during curfew hours
“There shouldn’t be any news during that 6 hour period.” Journalists have been instructed not to report in the field during the nationwide curfew that went into effect last night night. Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam told reporters at the government’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration that journalists will not be exempted from the curfew, though he said that newspaper circulation,…
- Covid-19 News
Police warn of harsh punishments for curfew violators
“We will quickly forward the case to prosecutors and ask the court to hand them harsh punishments without sentence suspension.” Police are warning that that people who leave their homes during curfew hours will be prosecuted and face harsh punishments. The warning comes after amid national curfew went into effect last night under the recently imposed state of emergency. The…
- Covid-19 News
Is a 24 hour national curfew next?
The Thai government may impose a 24-hour curfew if the rate of new Covid-19 infections does not slow to a manageable level after this current national trial curfew of 10pm to 4 am and 8pm to 3am in Phuket now in effect. The national curfew was announced yesterday by Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and came into affect from today. There…
- Covid-19 News
Curfew in place from today – the details
Under the state of emergency declared last week, the government of PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has imposed a nationwide curfew starting from today, banning all people from leaving their homes from 10pm to 4am, in its latest move to contain the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. Existing curfew orders in other provinces with stricter requirements will remain in effect. In a…
- Covid-19 News
PM may suspend public transport over virus fears
Even though intra- and interprovincial travel has fallen by about 40%, following the declaration of a national state of emergency last week, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha said today that he might order a reduction or even a suspension of public transport if the rate of Covid-19 coronavirus infections does not show a sustained drop. The PM says he “might have to…
- Covid-19 News
Thai PM says tourists will get automatic visa extensions
Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is concerned that foreigners seeking visa extensions have been gathering in their hundreds at Thailand’s immigration offices each day, at a time when social distancing is needed due to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. This from a spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Ministry today. Deputy ministry spokesman Natapanu Nopakun announced that the cabinet has responded with a…
- Covid-19 News
PM warns not everyone eligible for 5000 baht aid package
“About 20 million people have registered for the assistance. But this does not mean they will all get the money.” A week ago, the Thai government announced it would supply “informal workers” with 5000 baht per month for 3 months during the Covid-19 coronavirus crisis. Now it warns it will take it back from those who have registered but are…
- Covid-19 News
Ministries will give up 10% of their 2020 budget to fight Covid-19 in Thailand
The third round of government measures are set to apply 10% of the country’s fiscal 2020 budget allocated to each ministry, and put into a central funding pool to battle against the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the rehabilitation of the economy. Deputy PM Somkid Jatusripitak says that the central fund will be overseen by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha. “The measures…
- Covid-19 News
Thai PM suspends military conscription for 3 months
Thailand’s mandatory annual military conscription has been put on hold due to the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak. The Ministry of Defence, under an order from PM and Defence Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, has postponed this year’s round of the draft, which was scheduled for April 1 to 12, for up to 3 months. Conscription in Thailand is traditionally done by drawing lots…
- Covid-19 News
Army officers sidelined over illegal boxing match that caused ‘Covid-19’ cluster
The head of the army’s welfare department has been “transferred to an inactive post” along with other army brass, as an inquiry begins into a now-notorious boxing event on March 6 at the Lumphini Boxing Stadium that’s has led to scores of Covid coronavirus infections. The Royal Thai Army announced today that that Major General Rachit Arunrangsri, who was in…
