Anutin stated that reclassifying cannabis as a narcotic cannot be done and that the temporary laws governing marijuana, such as a ban on sales for those under the age of twenty, were already properly implemented after a resolution from the Narcotics Control Board (NACC), as proposed to the Minister of Public Health.
Anutin stated: "We already have Public Health regulations for marijuana that is still in effect, such as regulations prohibiting smoking in public under nuisance smoking ordinances. We already prepared an objection to end the current decriminalization period or reclassifying cannabis as a narcotic when the Draft Bill was proposed in Parliament. This is one of the reasons why the Public Health Ministry has to expedite the draft law announcement on marijuana use."
"If we reclassified cannabis as a narcotic, even temporarily, bringing back possible extended jail sentences and extensive fines, then do we have to put all previously released prisoners charged in marijuana-related cases in jail again? Would we be chasing down the millions of Thais with one plant and throwing them in jail? Would we have to shut down every plantation in the country, regardless of usage or purpose, affecting over a million Thais? Would tens of thousands of new businesses need to shut, putting Thais out of work? Would these people then also be criminals, even temporarily? And, there would be many more things to be reinterpreted if we listened to the opposition and made cannabis a narcotic again. Going backward is not an option."
Anutin also told the Associated Press that he would meet the Deputy Leader of the Democrat Party, Satit Pitutacha, following the deputy leader's appointment to create a mutual understanding following the conflict between the Bhumjaithai Party and the Democratic Party on the Cannabis and Hemp Draft Act.
Anutin told the Associated Press that there were no personal disagreements but it was rather about the decision of each political party.
Six years of elephant attacks in Thailand kill 135 and injure 116
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135 people have been killed and 116 injured by wild elephants in the past six years, including 27 deaths in the first nine months of this year alone, according to the Office of Wildlife Conservation Information of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.
Dr. Supakit Vinitpornsawan, director of the office, attributed the attacks to the increased population of wild animals and increasing occasions when elephants venture out of their habitats to forage for food.
He said that there are 3,000-4,000 wild elephants scattered across 38 national parks and 31 wildlife sanctuaries in Thailand, covering an area of 52,000 square kilometres. The number of elephants in the wild should not be considered as too many, but their numbers may outgrow some of their habitats and feeding grounds, he added.
About two years ago, he said that elephant attacks and intrusions were reported in 41 forests, but, this year alone, similar incidents were reported in 49 forests, causing harm to people and damage to crops.
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has identified five forests which have experienced a high incidence of elephant attacks.
The forests are in Kaeng Krachan and Kui Buri national parks, the western forest complex, which includes Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary and Sai Yok National Park, the Dong Phaya Yen-Khao Yai forests, which include Khao Yai, Tap Lan, Ta Phraya, Dong Yai and Pang Sida national parks and the Phu Khieo-Nam Nao forests.
Dr. Supakit said that key reasons why elephants leave their habitats to search for food include water and food shortages.
A brainstorming session among officials concerned was held today (Friday) at the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, in an attempt to develop plans for wild elephant management, to protect the animals, whilepreventing them from causing harm to humans and damage to property.
Chonburi Provincial Police released an official statement following an allegation made by some Thai media, not us, that accused Bang Saen of being a "savage city" over a brutal public brawl that went viral on Wednesday, September 14th.
Chonburi police ensured on the top of the statement in bold letters that "Bang Saen is not a savage city and is totally safe for tourists." The statement described a terrifying brawl that unfolded in the Bang Saen, Saen Suk subdistrict in the Mueang district of Chonburi, in the early hours of September 14th.
The incident was recorded and published on Facebook, showing 3-4 male college students getting brutally beaten by a large group of full-grown men until they all flopped to the ground, losing consciousness. The video, which drew widespread condemnation, was posted with the message "Is Bang Saen a tourism city or a savage city?"
According to the police statement, they received a report at 1 a.m. and immediately went to the scene on Wednesday to stop the brawl. The suspects were captured and interrogated.
Chonburi police admitted that the two sides had a personal conflict. However, Chonburi police claimed that both sides came to a peaceful agreement without taking legal action. An investigation is being carried out, and all victims are safe at a hospital.
Police ensured in the statement that they did not neglect their duty because they could stop the incident before it escalated further. The investigation needed to be carefully proceeded to be fair for both sides. There was no exception for any culprits, Chonburi police said.
Additionally, the police asked the Thai media to check all the facts first before publishing because such an allegation could harm the tourism image of Bang Saen. They also urged people to call 191 or 038-385412 if seeing any similar incident. At the end of the statement, Chonburi police repeated, "Bang Saen is not a savage city, Rest assured."
The names of those involved or what exactly sparked the conflict were not revealed by law enforcement.
Yaowarat Road in the Chinatown area of Bangkok is crowded with people looking for tasty street food after dusk. WICHAN CHAROENPAKUL
Despite the global economic slowdown, the Thai economy remains on course for a recovery, according to a recent business survey.
Thanavath Phonvichai, president of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), said most business leaders interviewed among the 850 respondents nationwide saw the global economy as being in a slowdown, not a recession, and believe that the impact on the Thai economy is insignificant. The survey was conducted by the UTCC between Sept 6-12.
"We remain bullish on foreign arrivals exceeding 10 million this year, generating more than 240 billion baht for the economy. Exports also remain strong," he said.
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Mr Thanavath said the country's economic recovery will likely be "K-shaped", with some big businesses improving while smaller companies continue to struggle.
"It is very important for the government to continue stimulating the economy in the fourth quarter," he said.
Mr Thanavath said there are five key risk factors this year: a higher rate of inflation; interest rate increases; a depreciated baht, which would make the cost of imports higher; the daily minimum wage hike; and damage arising from the ongoing floods.
He said the economy is expected to start a clearer and stronger recovery in the fourth quarter this year, driven largely by growing exports and rebounding tourism.
"Export expansion, a tourism recovery and increases in the domestic daily minimum wage are expected to help propel the country's economic growth by 3.5-4% in the fourth quarter," said Mr Thanavath.
The university expects the economy to grow 3.0-3.5% this year, with an inflation rate of 6-6.5% and export growth of 6-8%.
He said key issues the business sector is concerned about are the rising cost of living and higher production costs for manufacturers that may affect their profits and sales, while reducing customer spending.
Rising interest rates would also affect the costs and liquidity of the business sector, while the hike in the daily minimum wage in early October will affect small businesses, notably in the agricultural sector, said Mr Thanavath.
According to the UTCC's estimates -- based on 10 million workers eligible for the wage hike and an average income increase of 450 baht per month per worker -- there will be about 4.5 billion baht injected into the economy.
He said the ongoing floods are expected to cause about 5-10 billion baht worth of economic damage.
However, the impact has not yet affected the country's industrial and agricultural sectors, said Mr Thanavath.
The UTCC expects the flood damage to be offset by higher income from the arrival of foreign tourists in the fourth quarter.
The university projects 1.5 to 2 million tourists to enter Thailand in each month of the final quarter.
Last year there were only 428,000 foreign arrivals to Thailand, while in 2019, before the pandemic, the tally stood at nearly 40 million.
BANGKOK, Sept 15 (TNA) – Thailand's homegrown COVID-19 vaccine would complete trial processes next year and its use was expected to start rolling out in 2024, according to a government spokeswoman.
Deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul quoted the Public Health Ministry as reporting progress in the spending of 995 million baht from the government's contingency fund in the 2020 national budget to locally-developed COVID-19 vaccine.
According to her, 596 million baht was spent for preparing the industrial production of viral vector vaccine. The preparation was completed.
Meanwhile, 365 million baht was used to develop the 1st Gen ChulaCoV-19, Wild-type vaccine and the 2nd Gen ChulaCoV-19 vaccine for new variants. The production of the 1st Gen ChulaCoV-19 was delayed due to the changes of its production process. For the 2nd Gen ChulaCoV-19 vaccine, its trial with animals will continue until next May.
There was also a 34-million-baht project to develop facilities to test vaccine in primates. The laboratories should start operation between November and next January.
The development of mRNA vaccine for COVID-19 by Chulalongkorn University would enter the third stage of its clinical trial next year. It will precede registration with the Food and Drug Administration and then the vaccine's use for people. The registration was expected in 2024, Ms Traisuree said.
Meanwhile, Chulalongkorn University and Baiya Phytopharm Co are developing the Baiya SARS-CoV2-Vax vaccine from tobacco leaf protein. Its registration for use was also expected in 2024, she said.
Besides, the Government Pharmaceutical Organization and the PATH institute of the United States would begin the third clinical trial of the inactivated NDV-HXP-S vaccine late this year and it should be registered for use next year, Ms Traisuree said.
She also said that the National Science and Technology Development Agency tested the intranasal Ad-5 Wuhan vaccine and found it effectively stimulated antibodies in animals. It would be developed to cope with emerging infectious diseases in the future, the spokeswoman said. (TNA)
The same measures used to prevent Covid-19 can help prevent other respiratory diseases, says Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, head of the Department of Disease Control. (Photo supplied)
Seasonal influenza has been spreading rapidly as people have relaxed their guard against Covid-19 infections, according to the Department of Disease Control.
Strict Covid prevention measures — wearing face masks, hand washing and social distancing — over the past months have helped prevent the spread of respiratory diseases such as influenza, said Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, the department's director-general.
Now, influenza has been found to be spreading more rapidly. The disease normally is more prevalent during the peak months of the rainy season, starting in August.
But since many Covid-19 restrictions have been eased in recent months, some people have relaxed their guard and are being seen not wearing face masks during gatherings such as parties, dining and drinking alcohol together. This has increased their risk of getting infected with respiratory diseases such as influenza, said Dr Opas.
Wednesday's ultimatum by Democrat Party MPs to the government and the Bhumjaithai Party attempts to call a halt to a rolling process which has led to a free for all concerning cannabis or marijuana use which was not what was promised or outlined at the start of the year when the cabinet voted to make access to the drug for medical use easier and broader. It is coming at a time when the scourge of illegal drugs is ravaging poorer or vulnerable parts of society in Thailand, particularly in southern provinces where there is a grassroots movement in some areas against drugs and drug culture which the legalisation of cannabis has come to represent in recent months.
MPs in the Democrat Party, the country's oldest political movement and part of the government, have thrown the gauntlet to the Bhumjaithai Party and the government over the handling of the decriminalisation of cannabis which they claimed has not conformed to plans outlined at the beginning of the year when the country was assured that the recreational use of the drug would still be strictly illegal and prohibited by law. The move on Wednesday comes with rising concern among the public in the kingdom's southern provinces since the drug has, in practice, been legalised for all forms of personal use. Crime and antisocial behaviour linked with illegal drugs have become key political issues. The MPs on Wednesday told reporters that the cannabis policy being pursued by the government is sending the wrong message to younger generations that drug taking was now acceptable, a situation which they said was highly damaging for society.
(Inset top right) Democrat Party MPs on Wednesday including Mr Satit Wongnongtaey of Trang, Ms Pimrapee Panwichatkul and Sakhon Kiewkhong of Krabi and party-list MP Issara Seriwattanakul made clear their opposition to the policy this year pushed by the Bhumjaithai Party and its leader, Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul (centre) to liberalise cannabis use which has seen a legal free for all with the drug now used openly across Thailand and even sold in shops contrary to the assurances given at the start of the year before the drug was delisted as a scheduled narcotic controlled by the Royal Thai Police. They now want the process reversed.
The Democrat Party, a key coalition partner, has called for a complete rollback of this year's marijuana or cannabis revolution which has led to the widespread legal use of the once-scheduled narcotic and even its sale in public from shops and stallholders.
This year's legal moves by the government led by the Bhumjaithai Party to decriminalise cannabis included the introduction of legislation that is currently being vetted in parliament.
It started with the declassification of the drug as a scheduled narcotic by an order signed by the Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul earlier in the year and which came into force on June 9th last.
Opposition to the proposed new cannabis regime at the outset from officials on the basis that it would open the door to unbridled use of the drug
There has long been scepticism among government agencies and officials at the highest level as to how the new legal regime would work without allowing unbridled use of the drug.
In January, the government agreed to this but strictly on the basis that recreational use of the drug would be prohibited and regulated by new legislation while its THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) would be kept at well below the level seen in the then highly illegal weed for sale on the streets.
Call to reverse the process on Wednesday from Democrat Party, a coalition partner on the basis that the proposed law fails to prevent recreational use
The call to recriminalise cannabis use by the Democrat Party came on Wednesday afternoon after a meeting of the party to review the proposed legislation which is increasingly seen by many analysts as failing to regulate the drug and quite to the contrary, allowing a provision and a legal framework for its complete legalisation including recreational use at some point in the future even while the current de facto position because of policy decisions and implementation is that cannabis and its use for recreational purposes are now completely legal in Thailand except for minor legal provisions, enforceable through secondary laws, concerning where it can be smoked and the control of cannabis smoke as a public health nuisance.
Indeed the new legal provision being revised by the House of Representatives appears to copperfasten this situation while providing a mechanism to make what is currently legal in practice, also legal in theory.
The Democrat Party's new position was announced by several MPs after the meeting who also referred to growing concerns about the drug situation nationally following disturbing incidents throughout the country in recent weeks which have alarmed the public.
MPs vow to vote against the law in parliament
On Wednesday, 4 MPs outlined the view of the Democrat Party after the meeting and warned that the key coalition party was now prepared to vote against the cannabis bill in parliament if it proceeds.
The position was voiced by Trang MP and former minister at the Prime Minister's Office during the government of Abhisit Vejjajiva, Mr Satit Wongnongtaey as well as MPs for Krabi, Ms Pimrapee Panwichatkul and Sakhon Kiewkhong as well as high profile party-list MP, Issara Seriwattanakul.
'We would like the committee vetting the bill to withdraw it for review so that it could be amended in line with an altered version of the Ministry of Public Health's announcement,' declared Mr Satit. 'If the House insists on continuing with the deliberation of the bill, the Democrat Party will vote against it.'
First and most serious coalition government breach on legislation has its roots in a growing populist anti-drug movement in provinces such as Krabi
The announcement is the first significant and open breach on legislation within the coalition government and comes just days after an ultimatum was given to a senior security official by Krabi residents threatening to launch a significant protest campaign against the government's handling of what it calls a crisis in the southern province after the death of three high school student at the hands of a drug-crazed small businessman last week who had taken methamphetamine pills and a later violent attack on a highly respected elderly poet and artist also in Krabi.
The 83-year-old Monora performer known as 'Yai Khaem' or 'Gandama Kaem' was attacked by an intoxicated man with a machete who struck her in the neck.
The revered figure had recited the famed Monora, a treasured Thai love story, to acting Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan on his visit to Krabi last week.
Muslim community in southern Thailand is organising against the new cannabis dispensation, a situation that could damage the Bhumjaithai Party
There is also growing opposition in the southern provinces to the decriminalisation of cannabis among the kingdom's Muslim community where key religious leaders see it as encouraging people to consume the substance for recreational use.
Political analysts suggest that the campaign to legalise marijuana will backfire on the Bhumjaithai Party in the next election with growing signs that the Democrat Party is regaining control over its former stronghold.
The Bhumjaithai Party, in the last extensive National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) opinion poll conducted nationally in Thailand, stood with only 2.5% support or a quarter of what it polled in the 2019 General Election while the Democrat Party nationally, retains 8% support.
Parliamentary party meeting heard reports of a rise in mental illness and violence linked with uncontrolled recreational use of marijuana or cannabis
On Wednesday, after their parliamentary party meeting, Mr Satit told reporters that the assembly of MPs from around Thailand heard reports of a rise in people using cannabis for recreational purposes and later developing mental illnesses or disorders which have led to violence.
He called urgently upon Thailand's Ministry of Public Health to come up with stronger measures to rein in the recreational use of the substance which is now widespread and suggested that it again be placed on the schedule of prohibited drugs making it subject to strong police enforcement as before.
He reiterated his party's support for the medical use of cannabis but underlined that it must be strictly limited to that.
New marijuana bill in parliament rejected by Democrat Party MPs as doing the opposite of what was intended and promised earlier this year
He said that a review by MPs of the draft bill being proposed for a second reading in parliament suggested that it was designed to facilitate the recreational use of the drug by the public.
This would be contrary to the basis on which the decriminalisation of the drug was agreed upon by the cabinet in January and to the assurances given by Deputy Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul in July while addressing parliament when similar reservations were expressed across the house during a censure debate.
Mr Satit warned that the current legal provisions and the existing situation were having an adverse impact on Thai society.
Violence in Krabi linked with drugs raised by Democrat Party MP Pimrapee Panwichatkul saying the government's policy sends the wrong message
His colleague Pimrapee Panwichatkul, an MP from Krabi raised the subject of the horrific attacks in that province over the last week that have perturbed the population.
She noted that cannabis was now freely available in an unacceptable manner beyond the control of authorities as law enforcement and legislation proposed to remedy this situation, does nothing of the sort.
She said that the move to decriminalise cannabis was sending the wrong message to society and particularly to young people.
It was creating a positive attitude towards drug culture, particularly marijuana and this was wrong.
She warned that it was having a deeply negative impact on young people in her province and across Thailand.
Bhumjaithai Party spokesman reacts to the broadside
Bhumjaithai Party spokesman Paradorn Prisnananthakul came out to deal with the broadside from his party's coalition partner on Wednesday.
He pointed to the approval of parliament earlier this year for the move to delist cannabis as a scheduled narcotic by his party leader, the Minister of Public Health, Anutin Charnvirakul.
He said the Democrat Party had voted for this and had supported the plans to make cannabis freely available for medical use.
He suggested that the bill before parliament was designed to do this and its failure would lead to a legal vacuum.
'The bill being deliberated on is intended to provide clear guidelines for the use of cannabis. If this legislation were dropped, there would be a vacuum regarding the use of cannabis,' Mr Paradorn explained.
Unwieldy and ambiguous proposed new law does not effectively prohibit recreational use of marijuana which is what was clearly promised earlier this year
However, the unwieldy nature of the legislation with a multitude of amendments and alterations as well as its ambiguous posture has raised eyebrows as it has progressed through parliament under the guidance of a committee led by Mr Supachai Jaisamut, a veteran politician of the Bhumjaithai Party.
There has also been a clear statement from the Bhumjaithai Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Mr Anutin Charnvirakul that the bill does provide a basis for full legalisation of the drug in the future by parliament through an amendment procedure by a parliamentary committee.
Political gauntlet thrown down to Bhumjaithai Party
Nevertheless, the Democrat Party has now thrown down the gauntlet in its opposition to the process.
It is a move which is likely to have political implications, particularly with growing public apprehension caused by the widespread availability of cannabis and a groundswell of opposition in the country's southern provinces.
An extensive poll in June, weeks after the drug was liberalised, showed that 72% of the Thai public have reservations linked to the danger posed by cannabis to the public if widely used for recreational purposes.
This apprehension is supported by authoritative medical studies which have proved a clear link between serious mental health issues and the drug across all age groups.
I augusti kunde Finnair räkna in 880 500 passagerare. Det är visserligen nästan 12 procent ner i jämförelse med juli månad men generellt, på årsbasis ljusnar det för det finska flygbolaget, i alla fall vad gäller europatrafiken som stod för 645 000 av passagerarna under månaden. Men det sätter i sin tur fokus på det stora problemet: långlinjerna. Asientrafiken hade 75 000 passagerare och Nordamerika 68 000 passagerare under augusti, långt under normala beläggningar.
Linjerna österut har varit ryggraden i Finnairs trafik i många år. Snabb transit i Helsingfors och drygt dussinet destinationer i Asien har lockat resenärer från hela Europa. Men så kom pandemin och därpå kriget i Ukraina. Det stängde möjligheten att flyga snabbaste vägen österut via Sibirienkorridoren och även om Finnair håller ett antal linjer öppna så kräver det betydande omvägar norr eller söder om ryskt luftrum och med det betydligt högre kostnader.
Därför har Finnair nu tagit fram en strategi med mål att under 2024 vara tillbaka på en verksamhet och ekonomiskt resultat motsvarande det som var innan pandemin. Och vägen dit kräver att Finnair omvandlas till ett "slankare flygbolag", enligt vd Topi Manner.
Bantningskuren kommer att omfatta alla områden i verksamheten: Bland annat förhandlingar med de anställda, både på marken och i luften om nya avtal, vilket kan innebära att både teknisk personal och kabinpersonal outsourcas. Vidare omförhandlingar av olika leverantörskontrakt, och nya samarbetsformen liknande det som nyligen startat med Qatar där Finnair ska börja flyga till Doha från Arlanda, Kastrup och Helsingfors. Linjenätet ska ses över för att skapa ett mer "geografiskt balanserat" flygprogram, i klartext: mindre beroende av trafiken till Asien och mer fokus på Europa, mellanöstern och Afrika.
Av allt att döma sätter det Finnair i samma situation som SAS, att flygplansflottan är för stor, i alla fall vad gäller de större maskinerna.
I dagsläget ser Finnairs flotta på 80 flygplan ut så här:
A350-900 – 17
A330-300 – 8
A321-200 – 15
A320-200 – 10
A319-100 – 6
ATR72-500 – 12
ERJ-190 – 12
Enligt uppgift ska flottan minskas med upp till 15 procent, alltså 12 flygplan och det lär knappast bli en överraskning om det är A350 och A330 som får stryka på foten tillsammans med några av de äldre maskinerna ur A320-familjen. Alla A330-300 kan dock inte försvinna eftersom de är en del av det nya samarbetet med Qatar vilket kommer att kräva att minst tre av dem behålls. Flygningarna till Doha och codeshare-samarbetet med Qatar är ett sätt att ha fortsatt hög tillgänglighet till Asien även om det inte är Finnair själva som flyger. Det innebär också att det redan existerande samarbetet med Japan Airlines och kinesiska Juneyao Air ska utvecklas.
All Eyes Are On The Constitutional Court On Wednesday At 10am As Judges Begin Deliberating On Whether Suspended Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha Has Exceeded His 8-Year Term Limit.
The court is expected to announce that it has enough evidence to make a decision on Prayut's tenure in the next 15 days, the timeline for a ruling in such cases.
The case stems from a petition lodged by the opposition, which asked the court to rule on whether Prayut's eight-year term ended on August 24.
Section 158 of the 2017 Constitution bars any individual from being premier in excess of eight years, regardless of whether or not the four-year terms are served back-to-back.
Prayut assumed office on August 24, 2014, following the military coup he led in May that year. However, he argues that his eight-year term as premier should be counted from April 6, 2017, when the current Constitution was promulgated.
A news source said that should the court announce it does not yet have enough evidence to make a decision, they could demand additional witnesses or order related agencies or personnel to submit more evidence.
The source also said security measures are being tightened at the Ratchaburi Direkrit Building in Bangkok's Lak Si district, where the meeting will take place. Unauthorised personnel have been barred from entering the building, while all members of the press need to exchange their media ID for official passes.
