Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi (R) and his South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung Wha shake hands before their talks in Nagoya, central Japan, on Nov. 23, 2019. Image: Kyodo
MADRID (Kyodo) — Foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea reaffirmed the importance of solving a bilateral dispute over wartime labor compensation when they briefly met in Madrid on Sunday evening, a senior Japanese official said.
Toshimitsu Motegi and Kang Kyung Wha held talks for around 10 minutes before dinner in the Spanish capital on the sidelines of a ministerial conference of Asian and European countries, as bilateral tensions remain over the wartime labor issue.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 16, 2019. Carrie Lam is on a duty visit to Beijing. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)
BEIJING (Xinhua) — President Xi Jinping on Monday met with Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam, who is on a duty visit to Beijing.
During the meeting, Xi heard a report from Lam on Hong Kong’s current situation and the HKSAR government’s work.
Xi said 2019 has been the most grim and complex year for Hong Kong since it returned to the motherland.
“In the face of various difficulties and pressures, you have stuck to the bottom line of the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, governed in accordance with the law, scrupulously fulfilled your duty, and done a great deal of hard work,” Xi told Lam.
Xi also said Lam has led the SAR government to actively respond to social concerns, adopt a series of policies and measures to support businesses and mitigate difficulties for the people, and carefully study solutions to deep social tensions and problems.
Xi said the central government fully acknowledges the courage and sense of mission Lam has demonstrated during this special period for Hong Kong.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 16, 2019. Carrie Lam is on a duty visit to Beijing. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)
Xi stressed that he had made clear the stance and attitude of the central government on Hong Kong’s situation at the 11th BRICS summit in Brazil on Nov. 14.
“We have unswerving determination to safeguard China’s sovereignty, security and development interests, implement the ‘one country, two systems’ principle and oppose any external force interfering in Hong Kong affairs,” Xi said.
“We will continue to firmly support you in leading the SAR government to govern in accordance with the law, firmly support the Hong Kong police in strictly enforcing the law, firmly support all people who love China and Hong Kong, and hope Hong Kong people from all walks of life will unite and work together to bring Hong Kong’s development back on track,” Xi told Lam.
Senior officials including Han Zheng, Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, Guo Shengkun and You Quan attended the meeting.
TOKYO (Kyodo) — The government has decided to create a new law aimed at attracting more foreign visitors to museums and other cultural facilities in various parts of Japan, sources familiar with the plan said Monday.
The envisaged law, which will enable the government to provide subsidies for improvement of access to those facilities, is part of its efforts to increase the number of tourists visiting rural areas, besides major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, and promote Japanese culture and history.
U.S. Battle of the Bulge veterans put flowers to pay tribute during a ceremony to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge at the Mardasson Memorial in Bastogne, Belgium on Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
BASTOGNE, Belgium (AP) — Side by side, the Allies and former enemy Germany togethermarked the 75th anniversary of one of the most important battles in World War II — the Battle of the Bulge, which stopped Adolf Hitler’s last-ditch offensive to turn the tide of the war.
At dawn on Dec. 16, 1944, over 200,000 German soldiers started the most unexpected breakthrough through the dense woods of Belgium and Luxembourg’s hilly Ardennes. Making the most of the surprise move, the cold, freezing weather and wearied U.S. troops, the Germans pierced the front line so deeply it came to be known as the Battle of the Bulge.
Initially outnumbered, U.S. troops delayed the attack enough in fierce fighting to allow reinforcements to stream in and turn the tide of the battle by Christmas. After a month of fighting, the move into Germany was unstoppable.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper paid tribute to over 19,000 U.S. troops who died in one of the bloodiest battles in the nation’s history.
“Their efforts not only defended America but also ensured that the peoples of Europe would be free again,” Esper said, calling the Battle of the Bulge “one of the greatest in American history.”
U.S. Battle of the Bulge veterans, front row, listen to the U.S. national anthem during a ceremony to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge at the Mardasson Memorial in Bastogne, Belgium on Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
U.S. Army veteran Malcolm “Buck” Marsh took the tributes in stride Monday as he addressed royalty, military leaders and top government officials.
“It is great to be here but I’m glad I’m not digging a foxhole,” Marsh said.
Bent, slow, yet sturdy, the veterans returning to the battlefield continued to amaze the crowds. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi marveled at the composure they must have had during the battle when many were still teenagers.
She said European leaders also lauded the grit and courage of soldiers who were so young – and yet so willing to fight for the freedom of others.
“I said, ‘Well, they didn’t come here because you were Americans. They came here because they were Americans. And that’s what we do,’ ” Pelosi told The Associated Press.
Even though German deaths also exceeded well over 10,000 in the battle that stretched deep into January, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier took special time to thank the U.S. troops.
“On this day, we Germans would like to thank the United States of America. The American armed forces, together with their allies, liberated Europe and they also liberated Germany. We thank you,” Steinmeier said.
“Those who died were victims of hatred, delusion, and a destructive fury that originated from my country,” he said.
Germany is now an ally of the United States and its wartime partners in NATO. During the poignant ceremonies at the star-shaped Mardasson memorial in Bastogne, the current discord between the United States and several European allies over trade and security were never mentioned.
Even if it was a relatively warm 6 degrees Celsius (43 F) as opposed to the shivering conditions 75 years ago, the commemoration took place under leaden skies and rain with fog hanging low.
US tanks at Amonines, Belgium, are stuck in heavy snow during the Battle of the Bulge in January 1945.
Hitler had hoped the advance would change the course of World War II by forcing U.S. and British troops to sue for peace, thus freeing Germany to focus on the rapidly advancing Soviet armies in the east.
Out of the blue at dawn, over 200,000 German troops counter-attacked across the front line in Belgium and Luxembourg, smashing into battle-weary U.S. soldiers positioned in terrain as foreign to them as it was familiar to the Germans.
Yet somehow, the Americans blunted the advance and started turning back the enemy for good, setting Allied troops on a roll that would end the war in Europe less than five months later.
This battle gained fame not so much for the commanders’ tactics but for the resilience of small units hampered by poor communications that stood shoulder to shoulder to deny Hitler the quick breakthrough he so desperately needed. Even though the Americans were often pushed back, they were able to delay the German advance in its crucial initial stages.
“It was ultimately the intrepid, indomitable spirit of the American solider that brought victory,” Esper said.
When the fortunes of war turned, it was most visible in the southern Ardennes town of Bastogne, where surrounded U.S. troops were cut off for days with little ammunition or food.
When Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe of the 101st Airborne received a Dec. 22 ultimatum to surrender or face total destruction, he offered one of the most famous — and brief — replies in military history: “”Nuts.” Four days later, U.S. troops broke the Nazi encirclement.
“News of their fierce defense quickly spread, boosting the morale of allied forces all along the Western Front,” Esper said.
After the fighting in the Battle of the Bulge ended on Jan. 28, 1945, Allied forces invaded Germany, eventually leading to the Nazi surrender and the end of the war in Europe.
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Casert reported from Brussels. Photojournalist Virginia Mayo contributed from Hamm, Luxembourg.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump made clear Monday that he intends to participate in at least three general election debates, but he is threatening to sidestep the nonprofit group charged with running them.
“I look very much forward to debating whoever the lucky person is who stumbles across the finish line in the little watched Do Nothing Democrat Debates,” Trump tweeted Monday morning after The New York Times reported that he was considering skipping them entirely.
Trump said his record “is so good” that “perhaps I would consider more than 3 debates.” But he also complained, without evidence, that the Commission on Presidential Debates is “stacked with Trump Haters & Never Trumpers” and threatened to bypass them.
“As President, the debates are up…….to me, and there are many options, including doing them directly & avoiding the nasty politics of this very biased Commission,” Trump wrote, adding that he would “make a decision at an appropriate time.”
Trump tussled with the commission as well as Fox News about the debates during the 2016 election cycle.
He incorrectly claimed Monday on Twitter that the commission was “forced to publicly apologize for modulating my microphone” in the first general election debate against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in September 2016.
The commission acknowledged after the September 2016 debate at Hofstra University in New York that “there were issues regarding Donald Trump’s audio that affected the sound level in the debate hall,” but it did not apologize.
In January 2016, he boycotted the seventh Republican presidential debate after Fox News, which was hosting the debate, refused to accede to Trump’s demand that network anchor Megyn Kelly be replaced as a moderator. Instead, Trump held a fundraiser for veterans at the same time as that debate.
In a statement, the commission said, “The televised general election debates are an important part of our democratic process.” It said the commission has conducted 30 general election presidential and vice presidential debates since 1988.
“Our record is one of fairness, balance and non-partisanship,” the statement said.
The commission has scheduled three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate for the 2020 election cycle. The University of Notre Dame, the University of Michigan, and Belmont University have been tapped to hold presidential debates. The commission selected the University of Utah to host the vice presidential debate.
Navy midshipmen celebrate a Navy touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, in Philadelphia. Navy won 31-7. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
When is OK not okay?
Some West Point cadets and U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen flashed what looked like a sideways OK finger gesture during a live television broadcast over the weekend at the Army-Navy football game. Now military officials are probing their intentions. Was it an affirmation? An innocent made-you-look “circle game?” Or a sinister white supremacy signal?
Screenshots and clips of the hand gestures captured by cameras at Saturday’s game in Philadelphia went viral on social media. Some Twitter users condemned the gesture as a “white power” sign. Others called it the “gotcha” or “circle game” popular with children, where someone flashes an upside-down OK sign below his waist and punches in the shoulder anyone who looks at it.
The circle game, around for generations, was featuredin the early 2000s sitcom “Malcolm in the Middle” and has made a resurgence as a photobomb prank in sports team photos–along the same line as “bunny ears” fingers. In more recent years, it became an internet meme in a online game of “gotcha.”
But the Anti-Defamation League said the gesture, with the thumb and forefinger touched in a circle and the other fingers outstretched, has also been appropriated as a signal for white supremacy. That started as a hoax perpetuated on the online message board 4chan. The original idea was to take an innocent and common gesture and arbitrarily transform it into something that would enrage liberals.
The campaign was so successful, the gesture came to be used semi-sincerely by Neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klansmen and other white nationalists to signal sympathizers in public places.
Brenton Tarrant, the white supremacist accused of killing 50 people at two New Zealand mosques, flashed the sign to reporters at a court hearing last March.
Mini-scandals involving the hand gesture have become regular media fodder. In 2018, the U.S. Coast Guard suspended an officer who appeared to be making the hand sign during a Hurricane Florence television broadcast.
A high school in a Chicago suburb yanked all copies of its yearbook from distribution amid concerns about a photo in which students displayed the gesture. The Chicago Cubs last May banned a fan from games after he flashed the symbol behind a broadcaster.
The true intentions of the cadets and midshipmen who were recorded making the gesture while smiling and laughing during Saturday’s game are unclear.
Heidi Beirich, director of the Southern Poverty Law Center’s intelligence project which investigates hate groups and extremism, said it was important that the military schools investigate to find out the context for the students and future active-duty military members using the symbol.
“Do the investigation, find out if it was harmless or not,” she said.
“If these people are influenced by white supremacy, they can’t be allowed to continue in the military.”
There have been longstanding concerns about white supremacists in the military. In 2008, an FBI report found white supremacist leaders were making a concerted effort to recruit active-duty soldiers and recent combat veterans. A Military Times poll in 2017 found more than 30% of service members saw white nationalism as a significant threat to national security.
The Pentagon reaffirmed military policies forbidding extremist advocacy in 2017, after the Anti-Defamation League reported a Marine staff sergeant was the leader of the white supremacist group Vanguard at the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Against the backdrop of concerns about hate groups in the military, both the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, said they have appointed officers to investigate the motivations behind the hand signals flashed by their students.
Lt. Col. James Sink, professor of military science at Arizona State University and a 2000 graduate of West Point, said it may turn out the actions were innocent, if ill-advised.
“Honestly, it looks to me like they’re playing the game we used to call the circle game,” Sink said Monday. “I think the Army’s done a lot since the 1990s when I came in to rid our ranks of white supremacists.”
Oren Segal, director of the Anti-Defamation League’s Center on Extremism, said people should let the investigation run its course and not jump to conclusions about the motivations behind the students’ gestures.
Segal said even if the motivations turn out to be innocent, the public discussion generated is a victory for white supremacists.
“This was started as a way to troll the media, to think something as simple as an OK symbol is representative of hate,” Segal said. “Every time there’s a public discussion like this, white supremacists who use this symbol for nefarious purposes are celebrating the fact that people are talking about them.”
“If nothing else, the public scrutiny of this latest controversy demonstrates these gray areas that extremism and hate operate in,” Segal said. “It’s an area that makes use of pop culture, day-to-day symbols, and tries to co-opt them for hate.”
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Associated Press writer Deepti Hajela in New York City contributed to this report.
CP Vietnam Corporation (CP Vietnam) hosted Capacity building for partnership 2019 training programme in an effort to promote sustainable supply chain management by guiding its business partners to comply with international standards for human rights and labor practices.
Over 150 partners from 78 companies were participated at the training hosted by CP Vietnam, in cooperation with the provincial Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs of Dong Nai.
Mr. Chamnan Wangakkarangkul, Executive Vice President- Animal Feed & Breeder Business and President of Sustainable Sourcing Committeeof CP Vietnam, told that the company has adopted the Sustainable Sourcing Policy and Supplier Guiding Principle, which take human rights and wellbeing of those who work in the company’s value chain into a top priority.
In line with the policy, CP Vietnam has initiated the training program to share its expertise on occupational health and safety as well as human rights principle and labour practices to business partners.
“The company cannot achieve sustainable growth without good partners. Therefore, we have initiated the Sustainable Sourcing Policy and Supplier Guiding Principle to guide our business partners to undertake any kinds of international labor standards, helping them to grow sustainably and together with us.” Mr. Chamnan said, adding that the better labour practices will also raise competitive advantage for Vietnam’s food industry at the global stage.
Mr. Worawit Arunraksa, Assistant Vice President Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainable Development (CSR&SD) of CP Vietnam, added that company has adopted and communicated the sourcing policy, covering four main areas including product and services’ traceability (Product), fair treatment of employees and human rights (People), environmental-friendly process (Process), and verifiability performance and risk management (Performance). It is also importance to note that 100% of critical suppliers has been assessed on sustainability aspects.
Being recognized for its sustainable practices, the company was listed in the Corporate Sustainability Index (CSI) 100 for 2 consecutive years, demonstrating outstanding performances in the area of economy, society, and the environment.
The first whisky created from yeast growing wild on Glenmorangie’s own barley, marks the tenth anniversary of the Highland Distillery’s pioneering Private Edition series. For a decade, Glenmorangie has invited whisky aficionados to explore its passion for innovation through this acclaimed series of rare and intriguing limited-edition single malts. Now, in the collection’s rich, fruity tenth release Glenmorangie Allta (Scots Gaelic for ‘wild’ and pronounced ‘al-ta’), the Distillery reveals the importance of yeast to Scotch whisky’s flavours. The launch event in Thailand is recently held at WARP, Central World.
Yeast has always been a key ingredient in Scotch whisky. But over the years, its impact on taste has been all-but forgotten and emphasis placed on other aspects of whisky-making instead. With a background in yeast physiology, however, Glenmorangie’s Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation & Whisky Stocks, Dr Bill Lumsden, has always remained keenly aware of yeast’s potential. Years ago, he recalled a little-known story the late, great whisky writer Michael Jackson had told him, about a unique ‘house’ yeast Glenmorangie was said to have possessed. And he began to further explore yeast’s influence on flavour.
As Dr Bill walked the barley fields near the Distillery, he was inspired to collect a few ears of Cadboll barley and take them to the laboratory for analysis. There, he discovered Saccharomyces diaemath – a species of wild yeast unidentified until that point – and which, crucially, could be used for creating whisky. Dr Bill was intrigued to discover this wild yeast’s effect on Glenmorangie’s spirit. So, he arranged for the yeast to be cultivated and, when the barley on which it had grown was ready for use in the Distillery, he brought them together in the whisky-making process, to create a fragrant spirit. He then transferred this spirit into superior ex-bourbon barrels, including many second-fill casks, to showcase the fruity character given by the yeast. The rich, creamy whisky which emerged years later, unveils a new seam in Glenmorangie’s character.
This landmark malt embodies Glenmorangie’s creativity. Since 2009, the series has allowed the Whisky Creation Team to explore rare cask finishes, experiment with raw ingredients and give their imagination free rein. Dr Bill said: “Glenmorangie Allta is a whisky with which to mark the Private Edition’s tenth anniversary. Yeast’s influence on taste has been overlooked for years, but it’s an area ripe for exploration. With a nose of biscuit, baking bread and floral notes, and rich tastes of vanilla, orange syrup and sweet chilli, Glenmorangie Allta opens up compelling possibilities for the future of Scotch whisky.”
Marking 95 years in business, Daikin reaffirms its leadership in intelligent and innovative air conditioning with the launch of Magnetic Bearing Chiller which uses the same innovation as Thailand’s first bullet train. The newly-introduced product demonstrates the company’s ambition to penetrate the country’s commercial segment. After Siam Daikin Sales Co.’s total revenue has exceeded the targets for three consecutive years, the company expects to see more than 16 billion baht in 2020 thanks largely to quality products and expertise covering all market segments and good and reliable after-sale services.
Mr. Akihisa Yokoyama, President of Siam Daikin Sales Co. ,Ltd. leader in intelligent and innovative air-conditioning market, said that Daikin which is an expert in air-conditioning system from Japan has been in the business for 95 years. Established in 1924,the companyhas manufacturing plants in over 150 countries around the world. It currently employs over 76,484 staff in 292 headquarters and subsidiaries around the world.Daikin recorded 1.20 million yen or approximately 335.19 billion baht turnover in 2009, and we foresee the sales growing to 2.2 billion yen or around 615.94 billion baht in 2019.
With continuous efforts to search for the latest cooling innovations, the company produced more than 6.6 million air-conditioners in 2017. It has a capacity to produce as many as 13 air-conditioners per minute. During the past 10 years, the company has invested as much as 401 billion yen (approximately 115 billion) in R& D; making it obtain over 20,000 patents. Of all patens, 180 are the air-conditions that use R-32 refrigerant. Meanwhile, more than 83 percent of Daikin’s building around the globe are green building that can reduce greenhouse gas by more than 54 million tons – equivalent to growing over 6.1 billion trees and reducing greenhouse gas from the fuel consumption of up to 44 million vehicles.
“On our 95th anniversary, Daikin is still determined to be the leader in intelligent and innovating cooling system who cares about environment. We provide consumers with alternatives – energy-saving air-conditioners with low maintenance cost. With its advanced technology, Daikin has earned trust from the consumers around the world, and the company is very proud of that. The company will never stop developing innovative products to respond to the consumer needs. We expect that this 2019 fiscal year, ending next March, will see our turnover grow by 15 per cent of last year’s sale worth 14.2 billion.
The launch of Magnetic Bearing Chillers will enable Daikin to create new experience for commercial customers. Together with Inverter technology that makes
Daikin the leader in residential air-conditioning market, the company will remain its dominance in Thailand’s overall air-conditioning market worth 60 billion baht with a market share of around 28 percent,” said Yokoyama.
On Daikin’s strategy, Mr. Yokoyama added that: “Our management is young-blood generation and they have emphasized sales and services. Next year will see Daikin focus on commercial segment with the VRV – MAX air-conditioners as the spearhead that provides intelligent technology to respond to the needs of customers looking for energy-saving quality. It’ll be unprecedented for this type of air-cons. The VRV – MAX will be the system that helps extend the lifespan with lightweight zinc aluminum magnesium alloy material that is coated with high technology. It offers users maximum efficiency, durability and prevents corrosion even in use in harsh climates as well as saving electricity consumption by up to 25 percent. It comes with the 5-year “warranty called “Worry Free program”.
As for large-scale air-conditioners, Daikin has just launched Magnetic Bearing Chillers which is the most effective cooling system to date whose mechanism shares with the like of Japanese bullet train based on the principle of magnetic field. The axis of rotation is floating in the air so it reduces the friction during rotation, making it save energy consumption. It provides a quiet operation, and with oil-free design there is no need for oil management systems to effectively improve compressor. Daikin is the first air conditioner in Thailand to develop Magnetic Bearing Chillers system for use with large air conditioners with sizes of 1.2 to 14.4 million BTU or 1,200 tons of cooling, which is considered a very large size in the air conditioner market. The main target groups include big buildings, shopping malls, 5-star hotels and large hospital chains.
“Daikin customers are both residential and commercial. Since 2017, the large-sized buildings in the commercial segment has grown three folds each year, and in 2018 the sales record reached 12 billion baht, making Daikin see an opportunity to develop technology to cope with the rising market demand. Daikin has offered air conditioners that are worthwhile, save energy and reduce maintenance costs. The customers can regain its investment in the air-conditioners within 3-5 years, “said Mr. Akihisa.
For residential or “Room Air” market , Daykin is going to introduce “Room Air” (Big Wall) next year. The new product will be unprecedented as it will be the first on the market – Room Air inverter with up to 36,000 BTU. The company has been widely accepted for its intelligent and high-efficiency cooling system with energy-saving benefit. The units can also connect to Smart Home Kit and Home Automatic with Wifi adaptor which is accessory that comes with all Daikin Room Air units.
The latest development saw Daikin partner with the Department of Environmental Engineering King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi to develop high-efficiency particulate air filter. The institute then tested Daikin with the filter designed to deal with PM2.5 in the 26-cubic-meter room. The result was satisfactory: Daikin with newly developed air filter could reduce the PM2.5 from the very dangerous to safe level
within 190 minutes. This makes Daikin the first air-conditioning company to test such a product with the high recognition institute. Daikin plans to include PM2.5 air filter in every model that is launched in the year 2020. Daikin is also the first to use inverter which meets new energy-saving label 5 of the Electricity Generating Authority and responds to consumers’ needs.
The trend of air-conditioning still emphasizes good health, good design and durability. It is also required promotional campaigns once in a while such as adding anti-moldy odor prevention systems, an extended life of a circuit board or surge protection system. All, are to cover all variable requirements. Daikin has also developed an air purifier with high technology Active Plasma Ion and streamer that can inhibit both external and internal germs. Supplemented by electrostatic dust filters, it can capture up to 99 percent of small dust 0.1 to 2.5 microns and grinds the carbon filter to eliminate odors with PM 2.5 dust sensor and large dust to provide to those who want to take care of their health as well.
“As for Daikin’s after-sale services, it has added an application so that it can step up the services which matches the lifestyle of new generation. Customers can rest assure that they would have convenient access to the services. More than well-trained 500 engineers and technicians are in the after-sale team to provide customers with their expertise in air-conditioning. This, is in accordance with so-called Daikin Way that enables Daikin to grow and succeed throughout 95 years in the business. We take this as our pride and pass on the DNA of Daikin Service Pride in every technician in the team. We strongly believe that once we are proud of our product, we can certainly deliver quality services to customers. With smart and innovative technology, Daikin can provide high quality products and expertise to serve the demands of all segments of customers. That is the reason that Daikin still dominates the market with about 28 percent of the total air-conditioning market worth 60 billion baht.
BANGKOK — A run event widely seen as a jab against the government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha will go ahead as planned on Jan. 12, 2020, organizers said Monday.
“Run Against Dictatorship” will start at Thammasat University’s Tha Prachan campus at 4.30am on that morning. The route will take runners around the historic quarters of Bangkok for about six kilometers (see map below) before finishing at the same venue where they began.
The event is known as Wai Lai Lung in Thai, or “Run to Oust Uncle,” an obvious reference to PM Prayuth, who is often referred to as “Uncle” by the press and his supporters.
Although activists behind the event insist the run is not a protest, many government critics on social media see it as an opportunity to show their opposition to the regime. Several opposition leaders also endorsed the event, including Future Forward Party chairman Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit.
Entry to the run costs 600 baht, which comes with event T-shirts and medals.
Organizers said special medals will also be handed out to participants who showed photos of themselves joining street protests in 2014 that paved the way for the May 2014 coup, which brought Gen. Prayuth to power.
They said they expect up to 2,000 runners on that day, though campaigner Tanawat Wongchai said police have yet to formally approve the program.
Nevertheless, he insisted the event will go ahead no matter what.
“This is the basic rights of the people,” Tanawat said.
