Let parliament do its job: Chuan - Bangkok Post

Let parliament do its job: Chuan

Police officers from Provincial Police Region 8 tighten security around parliament in Bangkok's Kiakkai area ahead of the two-day debate on charter amendment drafts that kicks off on Tuesday. Three groups of protesters plan to rally outside the compound. (Photo by Arnun Chonmahatrakool)

Parliament President Chuan Leekpai has urged protesters from the two opposing sides in the political conflict to leave the politicians alone so they can get on with their job.

Parliament reconvenes amid tight security on Tuesday for a two-day session to decide whether to accept seven charter amendment drafts for consideration.

"Don't pressure them into voting one way or another," Mr Chuan said. "Better to just let them vote independently."

Six proposals were submitted separately by the coalition government and opposition camp MPs, then debated extensively by MPs and senators in late September. However, a vote was postponed due to a proposal by a group of senators and government MPs to form a panel to study the drafts.

The seventh draft, proposed by civil group Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw) and initially supported by 100,000 people, has been assured of getting its fair share of debate time after clearing the verification process.

Three of the seven drafts, including iLaw's version, seek changes to Section 256 of the constitution to pave the way for the setting up of a charter drafting assembly.

If all seven bills are accepted, parliament must then pick only one for deliberation, said Mr Chuan.

Pol Maj Gen Piya Tawichai, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) said three groups were planning separate rallies around parliament on Tuesday and Wednesday, especially on Sam Sen Road.

The first group, led by the Thai Pakdee (Loyal Thais), has obtained police permission to hold a gathering on Tuesday from 9am-2pm.

The second group, "the Civil Politics Group'", will hold a rally from 9am-10pm on Tuesday and Wednesday. The third, the Ratsadon (People's Movement), intends to rally in front of parliament but has not yet sought permission, Pol Maj Gen Piya said.

The MPB will send about 1,350 officers to provide security.

Pol Maj Gen Piya also said that the MBP had asked the Marine Department to ensure security along the Chao Phraya River as a protest group had announced plans for a boat rally on the waterway, too.

Pol Maj Gen Piya said a plan was even in place to evacuate parliament if the protesters laid siege to the building.

He also warned against the protesters' plan to hold a feast, including eating moo kratha (pork hot plate) and grilling shrimps on pavements and nearby roads during the rally as that would violate cleanliness, traffic and public health laws.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said security officers would be responsible for controlling demonstrators, and that he had not given them any special instructions.

The prime minister also dismissed a rumour that he had told a close aide he wanted to resign in the face of mounting pressure.

Pheu Thai Party leader Sompong Amornvivat said it was agreed at a meeting of six opposition parties that they would vote to accept all seven charter amendment bills, including the one proposed by iLaw, during Tuesday's parliamentary session.

Deputy chief government whip and Democrat Party MP Chinnaworn Bunyakiat said the government whips' meeting agreed that coalition parties would vote to accept two bills proposed by the coalition government and opposition parties, calling for for the setting up of a charter drafting assembly.

However, the coalition parties would abstain from voting on four other bills proposed by the opposition camp, Mr Chinnaworn said. These specifically require the Senate to implement national reform and to join MPs in voting for a prime minister.

As for the iLaw-sponsored draft, the government whips would decide whether to accept it after Tuesday's debate on the draft, Mr Chinnaworn said.

Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat said his party would vote to accept all seven bills and then propose that the iLaw draft be the main bill in the charter amendment process.

Another warning for foreigners buying property - Bangkok Jack

Another warning for foreigners buying property

A senior government official faces forest encroachment charges after the seizure of a house built by an American man near Khao Kho national park in Phetchabun.

November 16, 2020

Officials inspect the site of a house near Khao Kho national park in Phetchabun. A senior government official reportedly owned the land plot and allowed her American friend to build a house there. (Photo: Sunthorn Kongwarakom)

Authorities filed a police complaint following an investigation by a team of 15 forestry officials, soldiers and local officials at the site in tambon Khao Kho.

They were acting on complaints that a foreign national had illegally built a luxury house in a reserved forest area.

The site in question, officials say, was originally two Ror Or Sor plots — land allocated by the army to defence volunteers who fought communist insurgents four decades ago. Such plots are not supposed to be sold.

Somehow the land ended up in the hands of a forestry official, who in turn sold it to a woman who works in the Office of the Prime Minister. She then allowed an American friend to build there.

When the inspection team arrived, they found a resort house and a shed for construction materials on the plot.

Shortly afterward, an American national, identified as the house owner, arrived along with a Thai man identified later as Panya Sawatongkhol.

Mr Panya told officials that he was authorised by the land owner, Dusita Srichoo, to point out the boundary of the land.

He showed them a letter authorising him to represent the woman and documents related to the land purchase.

Mr Panya said Ms Dusita had bought the 16 rai of land from a forestry official for 960,000 baht in 2009.

After inspecting the boundary, the officials found the land was part of the Phloklon national forest reserve near Khao Kho national park.

A further check showed that the plot claimed to be owned by Ms Dusita duplicated two Ror Or Sor land plots whose original holders were identified as Somboon Suwannachart and Yai In-ngarm.

Authorities said Ms Dusita was not the original land holder, and that the change of ownership violated a 1998 cabinet resolution that allocated land to the poor and landless.

As the land was being occupied illegally, officials moved to seize it. The forest encroachment caused initial damage estimated at 1.13 million baht to the state, they said.

Boonsom Totaensombat, head of the Khao Kho forest protection unit, was assigned to file a complaint with local police against Ms Dusita and others for violating the Forest Reserve Act and the Forest Act.

A source familiar with the investigation said Ms Dusita was director of the analysis and foreign affairs coordination division in the Office of the Prime Minister.

The forestry official from whom she had purchased the land was identified as Preecha Samart, now director of the natural resources and environment office in Nakhon Sawan province. – Bangkok Post

Officials check documents related to a house near Khao Kho national park in Phetchabun as its American occupant looks on. (Photo by Sunthorn Kongwarakom)

90% of Thais want a COMPLETE BAN on foreigners - Bangkok Jack

90% of Thais want a COMPLETE BAN on foreigners

November 16, 2020

Foreign tourists take pictures next to Thai commuters with face masks as they wait for a canal boat in Bangkok

Over 90% of respondents to a recent opinion poll fear the prospect of the second wave of COVID-19 infections and they want a complete ban on foreign arrivals in Thailand, according to a Suan Dusit Poll.

The poll gauged the opinions of 1,459 people, about their concerns over the possibility of a second COVID-19 outbreak, following two incidents last week.

One concerned Egyptian military mission members breaking self-confinement rules and the other involved a Sudanese diplomatic family, staying at a condominium instead of state quarantine facility, with one member of the family infected by the virus.

The poll shows 52.23% of the respondents are very concerned about the two incidents and 39.68% are quite concerned, while the rest are not concerned at all.

On the question of how to prevent a second wave of infections, 94.51% want the Government to forbid all foreigners from entering Thailand, 86.41% suggest stringent screening processes, 83.80% say people must wear face masks and regularly wash their hands, 81.40% suggest the Government keeps people updated about the pandemic and 76.73% want free access to COVID-19 tests.

95.89% of the respondents are most concerned about the prospect of a second wave of infections, 94.45% are most concerned about losing their jobs, 92.05% are worry most about business closures, 84.17% about their children's schooling and 82.39% fear a new round of lockdown restrictions.

73.82% believe there will be another round of lockdowns, while the rest dismiss it as a possibility.

In order to ease public concerns, 47.38% of the respondents suggest the Government should tighten up screening measures without exceptions, 33.43% want a total ban on foreign arrivals and 23.20% want the Government to address any problems related to the disease quickly. – ThaiPBS 

ATTA urges govt to consider Chinese tourists or risk 2 million people being left jobless - The Nation



ATTA urges govt to consider Chinese tourists or risk 2 million people being left jobless

National

Nov 16. 2020

By THE NATION

The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) believes some 2 million people in the tourism industry will end up being unemployed if foreign tourists do not return to Thailand in huge numbers. 

ATTA president Wichit Prakobkosol submitted a petition with the Tourism and Sports Ministry, asking for the government to allow the entry of travellers from 22 provinces in China that are safe from Covid-19. 

The provinces eyed by ATTA include Zhejiang, Anhui, Chongqing, Hebei, Hubei, Hunan, and Fujian.

Wichit added that once the government opens borders, these 22 provinces alone will provide 300,000 tourists monthly, who should generate more than Bt15 billion revenue per month, he added. 

He said 150,000 workers in tour businesses have been laid off by more than 10,000 firms. However, this job loss is temporary for 90 per cent of workers, while the remaining 10 per cent have lost their jobs permanently. He also said tour business operators should be given access to soft loans. 

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn was scheduled to meet 15 hotel operators on Monday. He said these operators wanted to know what kind of assistance they can expect from the government. 

Separately, the Tourism Authority of Thailand will meet next Tuesday to come up with a tourism recovery plan for 2021 and 2022, which will then be proposed to the Cabinet for approval.

Would you take a Covid19 vaccine if it was mandatory to travel/stay in Thailand?

 Reader Talkback Question of the week: Would you take a Covid19 vaccine if it was mandatory to travel/stay in Thailand?

Monday, 16 November 2020, 10:37

PHOTO: Bangkokbiznews

Thailand-

It is time for our weekly feature in which every week at the start of the week we ask a question for our local readers wanting YOUR feedback and thoughts. We share these results later in the week or early on the next one.

This weeks question is "Would you take a vaccine for Covid-19 if it was mandatory to either have to travel to Thailand or to renew your visa and stay?"

This is prompted by the news earlier this month that vaccines, especially from Pfzier, are making excellent progress and may soon start being made available and declared "safe" in the very near future.

Many people have their opinion on if they would or would not take the vaccine, but we want to ask you the following question: If the vaccine is made mandatory to travel to Thailand would you take it, even if not a fan, or plan trips elsewhere?

Or, if you are already here, if Thailand makes the vaccine MANDATORY to renew your visa and stay in the country, such as work visa or retirement visa, would you take it or leave?

You can comment below, on our social media channels or if you prefer to be private send us a mail at pattayanewseditor@gmail.com

We have a feeling this is going to be a popular question and can't wait to read what you have to say!

Protesters plan to lay siege to Parliament on Tuesday - The Nation

Protesters plan to lay siege to Parliament on Tuesday

Pro-democracy protesters of the "Ratsadon" group are planning a rally outside Parliament on Tuesday, according to a Facebook post by Free Youth group on Sunday.

"On November 17, which is the first day of the meeting to consider the draft of the amended constitution submitted by the public, the Ratsadon group will surround Parliament by air, land and water channels," the group said. "After the draft consideration has been postponed and delayed for more than a month, it finally entered the Parliament process.

"We will gather at Parliament near the Kiak Kai intersection from 3pm onwards, and will not leave until Parliament accepts the public's draft, which aims to reform the monarchy by bringing them under the constitution," it added. "This is a historic moment for Thailand. Please come out and join us to ensure a better future for everyone."

'Mob Fest' protesters face rap - Bangkok Post

'Mob Fest' protesters face rap

Anti-government protesters are set to face a slew of charges related to their "Mob Fest" gathering at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok on Saturday, said Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB).

The charges are: assaulting two police officers, covering the Democracy Monument and breaking a city ordinance, according to MPB deputy commissioner Piya Tawichai.

Regarding the first charge, protesters are accused of hitting a policeman with a flag pole, leaving him with cranial swelling. Another officer was hit with a hard object in the face.

The protesters who committed the acts will be charged with assaulting state officials and obstructing their duty.

The police have filed a complaint against the protesters with Samran Rat station, Pol Maj Gen Piya said.

Regarding the second offence, the protesters are accused of climbing the monument and draping a cloth banner over it.

The act is deemed to have degraded the value of the monument, an offence under the Historical Places Act and the Cleanliness Act.

The Fine Arts Department and City Hall are assessing the damage, Pol Maj Gen Piya added.

The protesters will also be held accountable for blocking traffic and spraypainting offensive messages on public properties around the monument, he said.

The deputy police commissioner did not disclose how many protesters will face the charges as the police are still identifying them.

A total of 175 people have been charged by police so far in connection with recent protests, said the Lawyers for Human Rights Centre.



15 nations sign world's biggest free trade pact at virtual meet - Bangkok Post

 15 nations sign world's biggest free trade pact at virtual meet

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and leaders of 14 nations mark the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership during the virtual Asean leaders' summit hosted by Vietnam. Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit represented Thailand in the trade deal signing. (Government House photos)

Fifteen nations in the Asia-Pacific, including Thailand, yesterday signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade pact, the world's biggest free trade deal, as they concluded the 37th Asean Summit and related summits held virtually from Nov 12-15.

The RCEP is a proposed free-trade agreement (FTA) between the 10 member states of Asean and six dialogue partners: China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand. The deal will come into force when six Asean countries and three dialogue partners ratify the deal.

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit represented Thailand at the signing, which came after almost eight years of talks.

They agreed on the deal last year when Thailand held the Asean chair.

RCEP negotiations began in late 2012 at the 21st Asean Summit in Phnom Penh but last year India decided against joining the RCEP over unresolved issues, especially those concerning agricultural tariffs, which the government in New Delhi feared would harm its local producers.

The pact comprises 20 chapters, which include provisions for trade in goods, rules of origin, customs procedures, sanitary measures, e-commerce, small business, government procurement and dispute settlement.

In 2019, the combined GDP of RCEP members was worth more than US$26.2 trillion (790.2 trillion baht), making up about 30% of the world's GDP.

Trade between its members was valued at US$10.4 trillion over the same period, or 28% of world trade.

"RCEP is the most progressive free-trade agreement initiated by Asean. It is set to enhance Asean's role in the region and strengthen its cooperation with its partners," Mr Jurin said.

He said the signing of the RCEP deal showed the participating countries' determination to support free trade and investments, create job opportunities and strengthen the region's supply and manufacturing chains.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and leaders of 14 nations mark the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) during the virtual Asean leaders' summit hosted by Vietnam. Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit represented Thailand in the trade deal signing. government House photos

The deputy prime minister said the deal would also help the region recover from the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. He added that the door remained open for India to join.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha praised the RCEP for not only being the largest free-trade agreement in the world, but also for the quality of the pact and its likely positive impact on the region's competitiveness and economic benefits, according to government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri.

Once the agreement is in force, the prime minister believes it will create an attractive and conducive environment for businesses and investors around the world, Mr Anucha said. In turn, this would allow all members to have the capacity and resilience to manage future economic challenges, while helping them to recover from the impact of the ongoing pandemic, he added.

Some analysts have said the RCEP may put some US companies and multinational companies outside the zone at a disadvantage, particularly after President Donald Trump withdrew from talks on a separate Asia-Pacific trade deal formerly known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Meanwhile, human rights groups voiced concerns over the RCEP agreement, saying it could hurt small-scale farmers, cause more land conflicts and leave poorer workers without protection as they struggle to deal with increased competition.

The Asean chairmanship was handed over to Brunei Darussalam at the conclusion of the 37th Asean Summit and related meetings.



WHO praises Thailand for being successful model of Covid containment

By 

The Thaiger & The Nation

15-11-2020

The director of the World Health Organisation is praising Thailand for being a successful model of Covid-19 containment. Dr. Panprapha Yongtrakul, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Health says the WHO director noted that despite Thailand having a population of 70 million with many densely populated cities, the total number of cases is less than 4,000 with only 60 deaths so far.

But she says that the success isn't coincidental, but more of a result of over 40 years of investments by past and present governments to improve the public health infrastructure, including recruiting public health volunteers, which have played an important role in the regions during SARS and now Covid.

Today, Thailand is reporting 8 new cases of Covid-19, all arrivals from abroad, and undergoing state quarantine. Currently, the total number of cases is 3,874 with the death toll remaining at 60.

SOURCE: Thai PBS World

Superdeal med Lufthansa i Business Class - BusinessClass

 

Destination, Flyg

Superdeal med Lufthansa i Business Class

Publicerad 2020-11-13 19:53

Flyg från Stockholm till Dubai med Lufthansa i Business Class för under 10 000 kr, eller till Bangkok för under 13 000 kr – även det i Business Class. Dessa är ett axplock av de många fantastiska priser som är tillgängliga hos Lufthansa fram till den 22 November.

Vi på BusinessClass har hittat en otroligt bra deal hos Lufthansa – i alla tre premiumklasserna till spännande destinationer runtomkring i världen. Vanligtvis är kampanjpriserna låsta till specifika datum, vilket gör det svårt att beställa biljetter med tanke på den osäkerhet som vi idag upplever. Lufthansa har däremot förstått detta och erbjuder nu ovanligt bra priser med flexibilitet inkluderad. Här finns det något som passar för varje enskild plånbok, alltifrån Premium Economy och Business Class till First Class. Lufthansas systerbolag Swiss erbjuder för närvarande en liknande kampanj.

Fram till den 22 november kan du säkra biljetter till otroligt bra priser för resor till och med den 31 oktober 2021. Om det finns ett behov av att ändra datum, så kan det göras kostnadsfritt fram till avresedagen för nya datum till och med den 31 december 2021. Vi kommer inte bli förvånade om denna tidsfrist förlängs ytterligare, så detta kan vara en otroligt bra tillfälle att säkra en resa till ett mycket fördelaktigt pris i antingen Premium Economy, Business Class eller i First Class.

Kampanjpriserna förutsätter att man är två personer som reser tillsammans. Det finns inget minimumkrav på längden av vistelsen på destinationen, men du kan vara borta i högst tre månader. Tillgången på tillgängliga datum för kampanjpriser är ovanligt bra.

Här hittar du kampanjsidan med alla dessa erbjudanden.

Prisexempel för två personer:

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Så här ser det ut i de olika klasserna ombord på Lufthansa:

 

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Läs mer om: Business Class, First Class, Lufthansa, Premium Economy

Parliament, WHO Talk Road Accidents as Deaths Pile Up - Bangkok Herald

Parliament, WHO Talk Road Accidents as Deaths Pile Up

15 November 2020

Parliament joined hands with the World Health Organization for a seminar focusing on reducing in the number of road accidents, injuries and deaths, along with an exhibition to raise road-safety awareness.

The Senate's Joint Committee on Emergency Medicine and Road Safety and the World Health Organization Thailand have convened a seminar on the reduction of injuries and deaths resulting from road accidents. The seminar was overseen by House Speaker Chuan Leekpai, and participated in by members of parliament, delegates from embassies in Thailand, academics, and delegates from road safety organizations.

Joint committee president Surachai Liengboonlertchai, said Saturday that the seminar has served as a platform for participants to exchange their views and share their experiences on road safety, including advancements and challenges related to the parliament's work on this matter in the past year, as well as deciding on a joint commitment for the House of Representatives and the Senate on road accidents.

The seminar featured presentations on the latest global road safety agendas, and successful road safety measures backed by empirical data.

A panel of speakers delivered lectures and exchanged ideas on road safety topics, including the WHO's Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 by WHO representative to Thailand Daniel Kertesz, and a report on road injuries and deaths by the Road Safety Policy Foundation's Secretary-General Thanapong Jinvong.

In addition to the seminar, an exhibition was presented to raise road safety awareness, including the drink-don't-drive campaign. A minute of silence was observed to mourn victims of road accidents.

Talking points and outcomes of the seminar will be considered in the move by the government to pursue road safety policies, in line with a national reform plan on road safety. 

Local economy most urgent issue for provincial govt: poll - Bangkok Post

Local economy most urgent issue for provincial govt: poll

Community-level economic development is the most urgent issue for new provincial administration organisations (PAOs) to tackle following the elections of PAO chairmen and council members on Dec 20, according to an opinion poll conducted by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University, or Suan Dusit Poll.

The survey was conducted online on 1,059 eligible voters throughout the country from Nov 5-12 to compile their opinions on the first PAO elections in six years.

A huge majority of the respondents -- 74.23% -- said the elections would affect their lives, with 38.81% saying they were very important to them and 35.32% rating them moderately important. Another 20.50% said they paid little attention to them, while 5.28% completely ignored them. 

Most of the respondents -- 77.05% -- thought PAO elections are stepping stones for candidates to enter national politics, while 22.95% did not think so.

Asked whether they were more interested in national or local politics, 54.20% said both are equally interesting; 21.62% said national-level politics is more interesting; 15.20% found local-level politics more interesting; and 8.98% said neither interest them.

Asked to name the three most urgent issues they want new PAOs to tackle, with the respondents allowed to give more than one answer, community-level economic development came first at 73.28%. Next was eradication of drugs and other vice at 67.75%, followed by promotion of occupations and employment with 64.12%.

Asked whether they believed the forthcoming PAO elections would be clean and fair, a majority -- 54.01% -- said "no", with 39.75% saying they would definitely not be, while 14.26% were doutbful. The rest, 45.99%, said "yes", with 31.54% saying they were quite certain and 14.45% fairly confident.

Traditional Thai coffeeshop remains unchanged for over a CENTURY - Bangkok Jack

Som NOTORISK kaffevän så måste ju detta upp på bordet 



Traditional Thai coffeeshop remains unchanged for over a CENTURY

November 14, 2020

A small cafe just north of Bangkok has been selling hand-roasted coffee in the same spot for the last 114 years.

The Tia Yong Lii shop in Pathum Thani province has been using the same coffee recipe for more than a century at the same location. (scroll down for video feature)

It was built along canals created for traders during the 1890s and would sell coffee to them as they travelled to and from Bangkok markets.

However, these days customers are now tourists, cyclists or locals enjoying day trips along the once busy trading route.

It is now owned by 60-year-old Ananchai Teeralapsuwon, who is the FOURTH generation of the same family, continuing the same daily routine as his father and grandfathers did before him.

That includes starting the day by hand-roasting coffee beans over hot coals for over than an hour.

One of the most popular choices is 'Nhor Kao' which simply translates as 'two mouths,' which is a mixture of coffee bean, tea leaf, condensed milk and sugar.

Even the prices haven't changed much and Ananchai charges between ten and fifteen baht per cup.

For over a century his family have been buying their coffee bean and tea leaf from farms across Thailand as boat merchants passed by the shop on their way to the capital.

The mode of transport is just about the only thing that has changed over the years, which is a shame really.

Ananchai said that he would continue until he can no longer work and that he doesn't need to increase his prices as he still lives very comfortably from his business.

Although he does say that he doesn't think his own children will take over from him as they probably have 'better prospects' somewhere else.

He need not worry, I am sure there will be a queue of people lining up to continue this particular family tradition, although I expect that's when the prices will start going up. – Albert Jack

Thai army accused of causing ‘rifts and hatred among Thais’ - Bangkok Jack



Thai army accused of causing 'rifts and hatred among Thais'

November 15, 2020

Twitter have taken down almost 1000 Twitter accounts linked to the Royal Thai Army, that they said were used by political and state-backed groups to deceive users.

"Our investigation consequently uncovered a network of accounts partaking in information operations that we can reliably link to the Royal Thai Army (RTA)," Twitter said in a blog post.

"These accounts were engaging in amplifying pro-RTA and pro-government content. They were also engaging in behavior targeting prominent political opposition figures."

Twitter also said the network involved 926 accounts. "[We will] continue to enforce against small-scale activity associated with this network, as we identify it."

The origins and extent of the army's efforts to paint critics in a negative light and influence public opinion online are detailed in a paper titled "Cheerleading Without Fans."

It was released on Thursday by the Stanford Internet Observatory.

"To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a social media company has suspended a network of accounts linked to the Thai Army," the paper said.

Twitter accounts targeted Thai government opposition parties

A former politician whose party was the apparent target of a disguised online propaganda campaign by the Thai army earlier this year said Friday she and her colleagues plan legal action in response.

Pannika Wanich, former spokeswoman for the now-dissolved Future Forward Party, said they had already been gathering information about the army's information operations — or "IO" — when Twitter announced Thursday that it had identified and removed 926 accounts that had unacknowledged or concealed links to the Thai military.

She described the worst aspect of the army's alleged action to be "using tax money to cause rifts and hatred among Thais," and said the former party will file a lawsuit when its fact-finding is completed.

She did not say what charges against the army it would seek.

Thai media have speculated about the general nature of the army's IO activities, but Pannika said Twitter's action proved the allegations were real because the social media company is a neutral party not involved with Thai politics.

Thai army refutes Twitters claims

Col Sirichan Ngathong, a deputy army spokesperson, said the unidentified Twitter accounts were unfairly linked to the Thai army without any in-depth analysis.

"Unidentified user accounts had nothing to do with any official account of the army. [The Twitter report] focused on quantities, frequencies and hashtags that anyone could do at will," she said.

The Thai army constructively used Twitter accounts for communications with people and its personnel and shared true information via them, she added. Above all referring to @armypr_news and other official accounts of army units.

More than 41 per cent of Thais have no savings and are living pay cheque to pay cheque, a new poll shows.- Bangkok Jack / The Nation



More than 41 per cent of Thais have no savings and are living pay cheque to pay cheque, a new poll shows.

Albert JackNovember 15, 2020

Bangkok Poll by Bangkok University Research Centre on Saturday published a survey on "Thai people's financial status in 2020", saying that 41.1 per cent of respondents lived pay cheque to pay cheque and had no monthly savings.

28.3 per cent said they had to borrow just to support their families.

Some 17.6 per cent said they earned adequately, but their savings this year had been reduced.

The survey was conducted among 1,221 respondents from all regions of Thailand.

The majority of respondents (61.3 per cent) listed the reason for their reduced earning/savings as the soaring prices of consumer products, while 36.8 per cent said they had to pay mortgage for house or car, while 29.3 per cent said their businesses had seen fewer customers this year.

When asked how they coped with financial problems, 81.7 per cent said they had to become more thrifty and think before spending, while 55.7 per cent said they had to cut back on dining out and travelling, 22.7 per cent opted to seeking supplementary income, such as selling items online and becoming a delivery person.

When asked what expenses were still the top priority even in this economic situation, 80.8 per cent of respondents said utility bills (water, electricity, internet, telephone), followed by food (73.3 per cent) and educational expenses for their children (43.8 per cent). – The Nation