Mr. Jurin Laksanawisit, deputy prime minister and commerce minister of Thailand, and government officials attended the China International Import Expo 2019 (CIIE 2019) arranged during 5-10 November 2019 where displaying Thai Pavilion to promote foods and agri-products to Chinese market.
The minister also visited to CP exhibition booth presenting various foods under the concept “Kitchen of the World”. The minister was welcome by CP Senior Chairman Dhanin Chearavanont and CP and CPF Chairman Soopakij Chearavanont at the booth to explore about several CP products including Charoen Pokphand Foods PCL (CPF)’s various innovative food products such as Benja Chicken, Shrimp, Shrimp dumpling, desserts and healthy beverage to find more opportunities in Chinese market.
Mr. Sukhawat Dansermsuk CPF’s Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee and Mr. Prasit Boondoungprasert CEO of CPF, jointly presented products at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, China.
In this image made from video, People’s Liberation Army soldiers, with brooms, arrive to clean up the protest area at Hong Kong Baptist University in Hong Kong, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. (Television Broadcasts Limited Hong Kong via AP)
HONG KONG (AP) — Chinese troops came out of the barracks in Hong Kong on Saturday — not to quell protests but to help clean up.
It was a rare public appearance by the People’s Liberation Army on the streets of the semiautonomous territory, where the local government’s inability to end more than five months of often violent protest has fueled speculation that Beijing could deploy its troops.
Running in formation with brooms instead of rifles, they chanted in military cadence before joining street cleaners removing debris near Hong Kong Baptist University, where police fired tear gas during at protesters earlier this week.
Most anti-government protesters left Hong Kong’s universities Saturday after occupying them for about a week. Small contingents that remained harassed some of those cleaning up and kept a major cross-harbor tunnel closed.
For a city now accustomed to fierce weekend clashes between police and protesters, Hong Kong had a relatively quiet Saturday. About 1,000 people turned out for an annual Gay Pride event in the center of the city.
Dozens of Chinese troops, dressed in black shorts and olive drab T-shirts, came out from a nearby barracks to pick up paving stones, rocks and other obstacles that had cluttered the street and prevented traffic from flowing. Hong Kong riot police kept watch from nearby streets.
China, which maintains a garrison of about 10,000 soldiers in Hong Kong, publicly noted several times earlier during the protests that it could deploy them, though technically it would have to be requested by Hong Kong’s government.
Doing so, however, would incur international criticism and revive memories of the army’s bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters at Tiananmen Square in 1989.
There were scattered incidents of protesters arguing with people clearing roadways, and in one instance, throwing a gasoline bomb near City University of Hong Kong.
Protesters also massed near Hong Kong University in the evening to try to block a main road again, but they were stopped by police firing pepper-spray balls.
Several dozen protesters remained at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, some keeping watch on the blocked access road to the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, where they torched the toll booths on previous nights.
Traffic disruptions continued to plague parts of Hong Kong, and schools and universities remained closed in the city of 7.5 million people.
Now in their sixth month, the anti-government protests have grown increasingly violent even as they have shrunk in size, often causing chaos in the streets.
The protests were sparked by a government decision to submit legislation that would have allowed the extradition of criminal suspects to the mainland. Activists saw it as an erosion of Hong Kong’s autonomy under the “one country, two systems” formula implemented in 1997, when Britain returned the territory to China.
The bill has been withdrawn, but the protests have expanded into a wider resistance movement against what is perceived as the growing control of Hong Kong by Communist China, along with calls for more autonomy for the territory.
Universities have become the focus of the protests in the past week and the main battleground between pro-democracy activists and the police.
Police retook control of suburban Chinese University of Hong Kong after students and protesters left.
Authorities said that all lanes of Tolo Highway, which the Chinese University protesters had blocked, were reopened around midday.
Police and protesters fought intense running battles at the Chinese University campus Tuesday, which had been transformed into a fortress by hundreds of protesters.
Except for the Polytechnic University in Kowloon, most of the remaining nine major universities in the city were for the most part no longer occupied, except by a handful of protesters. A hardcore group retained their grip on Polytechnic.
Students there have amassed a huge arsenal that includes hundreds of Molotov cocktails, rocks and paving stones. The campus is adjacent to a major road tunnel under the water to Hong Kong island that has been closed for days after protesters set toll booths on fire.
Service remained partially suspended on at least three of Hong Kong’s 12 rail lines because of damage to stations and other facilities, and many of the city’s buses were not running.
The presidents of nine universities issued a joint statement late Friday calling on the government to resolve the political deadlock and restore safety and public order.
“No political viewpoint gives a license to damage property, employ physical threats, or use violence against individuals,” the statement read in part. “It is regrettable that societal disagreement has led to university campuses becoming major political battlefields, and that the government response has so far not been effective.”
Many universities have canceled classes for the rest of the year and hundreds of foreign students, and from mainland China, had left or were leaving Hong Kong. Some protesters targeted mainland students, while foreign students were asked to leave by their universities or governments.
Hong Kong media reported Saturday that at least 300 Dutch exchange students were asked by their home universities to return home because of the violence.
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Associated Press news assistant Nadia Lam contributed to this story.
CHANTHABURI — Police on Friday said a policeman was placed under investigation after security camera footage revealed moments he handed his sidearm to a clerk during a deadly shooting incident on Tuesday.
The video contradicted previous statements by the authorities who said the shooter was brought down by an on-duty police officer inside the Chanthaburi courtroom, which were then revised to say that clerk Thanakorn Theerawaradom, 22, grabbed the handgun from the officer, Capt. Kajorn Banjong.
But in a CCTV footage leaked to the media, Capt. Kajorn is seen standing outside the courtroom with Thanakorn when land dispute defendant Thanin Chantratip shot the plaintiff and his lawyers inside.
Kajorn, holding his handgun, then peeked into the courtroom, and looked back at Thanakorn. The two appeared to talk to each other before the officer apparently gave his sidearm to the legal clerk.
Thanakorn then moved to the door, assumed a firing position, shot the handgun, and entered the room.
Region 2 police commander Montri Yimyam said he ordered an inquiry into Capt. Kajorn. Despite the footage, Montri said more investigation is needed to ascertain whether Kajorn intentionally surrendered his firearm to Thanakorn.
“The officer declined his involvement. He said that he was responding to the shooting inside the court before his gun was taken away by Thanakorn,” Montri said. “We have not concluded whether Capt. Kajorn deliberately handed the gun to Thanakorn, but we expect the findings to be concluded soon.”
Khaosod English was instructed by its management not to show the footage due to fears of possible legal action from the court.
Kajorn previously told the media that he suddenly suffered from an unspecified health condition which prevented him from bringing down the shooter. Yet the video showed him leaning against the wall after the weapon was removed from him.
Kajorn’s supervisor, Col. Khomsorn Mabumrung of Chanthaburi provincial police, said the officer is not ready to give his testimony as he is currently “depressed.”
Autopsy examination found Thanin was shot six times. He died at a hospital.
Those killed by Thanin included plaintiff Bancha Porameesanaporn and his lawyer Wijai Sukharom. Bancha’s wife Supaporn Porameesanaporn and another lawyer Wichai Udomthanapat were injured, but they are now reportedly in stable condition.
Thanin’s ex-wife Khemjira Bantoonnipit, who divorced him four years ago, said Wednesday her ex-husband was waiting to surrender himself after the shooting, but he was shot by Thanakorn before the police arrived.
“I offer my condolences to all of the victims,” Khemjira said. “Think of it as the consequence of their karma because the dispute is over a monk’s land.”
Thanakorn was arrested Wednesday morning on murder charges for shooting Thanin dead. He is currently freed on bail.
PM Prayuth Chan-ocha meets Chinese PM Li Keqiang at Government House in Bangkok on Nov. 6, 2019.
When Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha recently compared Thailand to an ant and China to a lion in front of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Bangkok, it raised a few Thai eyebrows.
While some might say Prayuth was merely being humble and wanting to flatter his Chinese counterpart (he did say the ant could at times be helpful to the lion), or even realistic about the situation today, others found his remark disturbing.
Prachachart Party deputy chairman Nitiphumthanat Ming-rujiralai chastized Prayuth on his Facebook as something that shouldn’t have come out of Prayuth’s mouth because he is a national leader.
“Making such comparison may made the status of Thailand to seem low in the international arena. Every nation which sovereignty has equal dignity. Those wanting to compare itself as small should be a vassal state, a protectorate of a colony.”
The debate is actually not new. Over a century ago, in a 1889, author George B. Bacon wrote in his book “Siam: The Land of the White Elephant” that: “There still remains some trace of a remote period of partial vassalage to the Chinese Empire, in the custom of sending gifts – which were originally understood, by the recipients at least, if not the givers, to be tribute to Peking.”
Those who have the chance to visit the National Palace Museum in Taipei should see and admire the prized Xuande incense burner stored there. Made in 1428, the 8.2-centimeter tall bronzework was a gift sent by Ayutthaya Kingdom as a tribute to the Ming Emperor.
Nearly three centuries and a half later, when King Taksin established Thonburi as the new capital after Ayutthaya was destroyed by the Burmese in 1767, he sent a letter seeking recognition to the Qing Court. The letter, in Chinese, is now also kept at the National Palace Museum in Taiwan.
While historians can continue to debate as to whether Thailand, then known as Siam, was ever a semi-vassal of Imperial China, the Ming and Qing Dynasties are no more, and there is no need for Thais today to willingly want to become China’s vassal state.
There was a “Century of Humiliation” from the latter years of Qing Dynasty and the founding of modern China in 1945 when China was weak and “the Sick man of Asia.” During this period, Thais developed a very different and more equal attitude towards China and its people.
They welcomed an untold number of Chinese migrants, including my paternal grandfather who left the island of Hainan for Bangkok, seeking a better life.
For a century, up until the past decade or so, Thais do not feel inferior compared to Chinese, be it culturally or economically. We also do not have any bitter history that may poison Sino-Thai relations, unlike Vietnam, who was subjugated by the Chinese for almost a millennia and had a brief war with China just 40 years ago. Or Indonesia, which descended into an anti-Chinese riots in 1998 in Jakarta, Medan and Surakarta.
On the other hand, Thailand should not wish to let itself be overwhelmed by Chinese investments to the point of becoming a virtual economic colony.
Cambodia, for example, is increasingly under the Sinosphere just as the Western nations are wary about its lack of democratic credentials under strongman Hun Sen. In fact, Cambodian Foreign Ministry quickly issued a statement siding itself with the Chinese government in the early stages of the Hong Kong protests.
Statista, an online statistics website, reported last month that Cambodia and Laos are among the countries owing external loan debt to China at a level above 25 percent of its GDP. The two ASEAN member states and neighbors joined countries like Niger, Djibouti, Kyrgyzstan and the Maldives in similar situations.
Thailand, which is listed as having less than one percent of its GDP owed to China, should steer clear of such debt trap.
Any loan as part of the high-speed rail connecting Kunming to Bangkok as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative should be considered very carefully, not just by the Thai government but the Thai people as to its economic sustainability.
Napoleon Bonaparte was right in a quote attributed to him two centuries ago when the French emperor supposedly said: “China is a sleeping giant. Let her sleep, for when she wakes she will move the world.”
China is no longer asleep and if you cannot feel the rise of China in Bangkok and elsewhere then probably you are asleep.
China is now Thailand’s main export destination, standing at 12.5 percent of total exports compared to 11.3 per cent to the United States, according to the latest edition of The Economist’s Pocket World in Figures. China is also Thailand’s main origins of imports at 20 percent of total imports, followed by Japan at 14.5 per cent.
Yet Thailand can be more than just an ant and not a semi-vassal state of China if its people cherish its independence and national pride. Thailand should always be a good friend of China, as a much smaller partner, while fostering better relations with the EU, Japan, South Korea, India, the US and other nations, to neutralize China’s influence.
VATICAN CITY — The Pope on Friday night said he wished to forge friendships with Thailand’s Buddhists when he arrives in the kingdom for an official visit next week.
In the video lasting nearly 3 minutes, Pope Francis said he was looking forward to visiting the multi-ethnic and diverse nation that has “worked hard to promote harmony and peaceful coexistence not only among its own people but also throughout the region of Southeast Asia.” His trip in Thailand is set to take place from Nov. 20 to 23.
“I also hope to strengthen the bonds of friendship that we share with many Buddhist brothers and sisters who bear eloquent witness to the values of tolerance and harmony that are so characteristic of your people,” he said.
Thailand is home to a minority population of Catholics numbering 0.58 percent of the population, or about 388,000 people with 524 churches, in contrast to 93.5 percent of Buddhists.
“During my journey I will have the opportunity to meet with the Catholic community of Thailand, to encourage them in their faith and in the contribution they make to the whole of society,” he said in the video.
Lifting his eyes from his script and breaking from a monotone reading voice, the Pope said, “They are Thais and must work for their country.”
He said he hoped his visit would underline the importance of inter-religious dialogue, service of the poor, and peace.
Lastly, he thanked the people preparing for his visit.
“In these days I bring you all, dear friends, to my prayers,” he said, signing off. “I pray for you, for your family, for your country; and I ask you, please, not to stop praying for me too.”
BANGKOK — To help Pope Francis and Spanish-speaking Catholics worldwide understand the theme song written for his visit to Thailand, a Columbian priest translated it into Spanish.
Father Andres Felipe Jaramillo translated “Let Love Be the Bridge” from Thai into the Spanish “Un Puente Construir,” the Thai Catholic church said Thursday. He unveiled its Spanish lyrics Friday.
“I want Spanish-speaking people who don’t understand Thai to understand how Thai people are feeling about Pope Francis’ visit, about how joyful we are,” Jaramillo said, after singing the song at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Bangkok’s Din Daeng district.
Jaramillo, who has been living in Thailand for six years and speaks fluent Thai, is a Columbian priest from a Catholic missionary organization named Yaruma Society.
“Not Hanuman,” he said, laughing. “None, or very little, Thais know about the mission.”
The Thai version is performed by variousThai Catholic celebrities, including Fond BNK48 and Tom Room 39. The church also released a new version on Friday of Saint Louis Hospital staff singing the song, from doctors to nurses to security staff, since the Pope is scheduled to visit the hospital on Nov. 21.
The translated song will be sent to Pope Francis, so he can understand the words.
“I think a lot of people want to listen to this in their own language,” Jaramillo said in Thai. “The song is not just for Christians, but all humans to form cooperation, friendships, and unity. That’s the goal of Pope Francis’ visit.”
Jaramillo said he tried to keep close to the original meaning of the song, but had to adjust some of it for lyrical purposes and to convey that the song was specific to the Pope’s 2019 Thailand visit.
“In this Thai land, welcome to your home. You invite us, Pope Francis, to confirm our faith,” a part of the Spanish chorus says.
The Catholic Social Communications of Thailand sent Khaosod English Jaramillo’s Spanish lyrics on Friday.
Song: “Un Puente Construir” Lyrics: Andres Felipe Jaramillo
Vienes a animar y a compartir tu fe
Oh Francisco con tus gestos de bondad
Mensajero de la paz y la unidad
Fortaleces nuestros lazos de amistad
Nos llamas a primerear en el amor
Fieles al ejemplo de Jesús
A descubrir su rostro en los demás
Compartirlo a Él que es luz, vida y verdad
Un puente construir
En unidad vivir
Es el llamado que nos haces
A amarnos siempre en Jesús.
En esta tierra Thai
Bienvenido a tu hogar
Nos invitas Papa Francisco
A confirmar nuestra fe
A seguir siendo fieles
Entregándolo todo por Jesús
Desde el fin del mundo abres tu corazón
Para responder a la voz del Señor
Peregrino entre nosotros aquí estás
Para presidirnos en la caridad
Nos llamas a primerear en el amor
Fieles al ejemplo de Jesús
A descubrir su rostro en los demás
Compartirlo a Él que es luz, vida y verdad
Un puente construir
En unidad vivir
Es el llamado que nos haces
A amarnos siempre en Jesús.
En esta tierra Thai,
Bienvenido a tu hogar
Nos invitas Papa Francisco
A confirmar nuestra fe
A seguir siendo fieles
Entregándolo todo por Jesús
KOH SAMUI — A Frenchman fell to his death Thursday after falling off of a waterfall while trying to take a selfie.
A 30-year-old French national slipped and fell from the top of Na Mueang Song Waterfall on the holiday island in Surat Thani province, police said Friday. Local officials also quote the victim’s friends as saying he ignored signs forbidding him from climbing the waterfall.
Rescue officials took three hours Thursday to retrieve the body.
Police said the victim’s friend told them that they had been hiking to the top of the waterfall Thursday. While they were admiring the view, the man stepped close to the ledge.
The friend told him that there were danger signs and warned him to step back, but he did not listen and tried to take a selfie, according to the police. He eventually slipped on algae-covered rocks and fell to his death.
The area has signs in English warning people not to climb the rocks.
Khaosod English is withholding the name of the man until it is confirmed that his next of kin has been notified.
A monk fainted after drawing a ticket which sent him into the military service at a drafting station in Phitsanulok on April 2, 2018.
BANGKOK — Conscription is still necessary for national security, a defense ministry spokesman said Friday in response to the opposition’s plan to submit a bill that would scrap mandatory military service.
Maj. Gen. Kongcheep Tantravanich said the armed forces will review the draft law for its effects on the current manpower and budget, but he also warned that downsizing the force means the military will have to acquire more weapons and technology.
“The bill affects many laws and regulations, so we have to review it first,” Kongcheep said. “It’s too early to say whether the bill will benefit the armed forces, but the system we are using is already effective.”
The draft bill was proposed by the Future Forward Party, whose key election pledges include abolishing conscription.
The current law on military conscription requires Thai men over the age of 21 to report for conscription lottery, which takes place annually in April. However, people who received military training in high school, those with medical conditions, transgenders who can produce medical certificates, and priests are exempted from the draft.
Under the proposal, the mandatory military service will be replaced by recruiting volunteers. A deputy party leader said the new system would improve the force by introducing highly-trained professional soldiers willing to serve.
“The century-old conscription should be changed,” Lt. Gen. Pongsakorn Rodchomphu, a former army officer, said at a news conference.
The minimum age for recruits will be lowered from the current age of 21 for draftees to 18, while the length of service will be extended from two years to a minimum of five years, according to Pongsakorn.
He said volunteers will also have the opportunity to enlist and seek promotion to lieutenant colonel until they would retire at the age of 46.
But Kongcheep the defense spokesman said extending the length of service to five years will become a major strain on the military’s budget, since the bill also requires the armed forces to pay salaries and grant scholarships to the recruits once they left the service.
“We always welcome what is good for our force,” Maj. Gen. Kongcheep said. “We already have plans in place to trim our armies, but if we cut down the number of men, we will have to invest more on weapons, which in turn get us more criticisms.”
He added that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who also serves as the defense ministry, is open to proposals.
Kongcheep also said the ministry has not been consulted in the drafting of the bill. He encouraged the party to discuss the matter in the parliament rather than to the media, which he said it may end up confusing the public.
NEW YORK — Thai Blinks and netizens are rejoicing Friday as Lisa Blackpink was chosen as one of the 100 influential young people by Time magazine.
Time Magazine listedBlackpink, which includes Thai national Lalisa “Lisa” Manoban, on the Time 100 Next list which chooses 100 rising stars in various fields worldwide. The list also includes a famed Thai architect and a billionaire-turned-politician whose party swept over 80 MP seats in the latest poll.
“They’re heralding a new era of Korean acts stepping past language barriers to play global stages,” Time wrote.
Blackpink, a K-pop girl group under YG Entertainment, has 31 million subscribers on YouTube – more than any other music group in the world. In April, Blackpink was also the first K-pop act to perform at Coachella.
Thai netizens congratulated Lisa for being one of the three Thais on the list.
“Blinks, keep on fighting,” YouTube user Mayuree Praking commented, referencing the name for. “Let’s make all of their music videos reach a billion views. I turn them on everyday on my commute to work.”
“Their talent and hard work is clear evidence. It’s not a surprise everyone loves them,” wrote another commenter on Youtube, Khunthana Phakhow. “Antis are just jealous.”
“Lalisa Manoban or Lisa Blackpink, are the first K-pop idols to go to Coachella and to get a billion views on YouTube,” wroteTwitter user SamZemSame, “But please have a comeback! That’s from me, not from time!”
“Lisa, you’re a girl who really went far, farther than we thought. You’re so talented,” wrote Facebook user Or Wilieraf.
In Thailand, Lisa, 22, is one of the most popular celebrities around, with Blackpink concerts selling out in minutes. She’s a presenter for various brands but also has a large online following – she single-handedly started a viral memefor changing one’s phone background to a Chinese wealth god after she was seen doing so.
Netizens showered her with compliments when she donated moneyto rural flood victims in September. Even influential politicianshave declared themselves Blinks. Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha has been autotunedsinging Blackpink hits, and young girls as far as Sa Kaeo posted viral cover dances of “Playing With Fire.”
However, some commenting on Time’s postabout Blackpink’s position on their list resented the presence of Korean pop stars on the list of an American magazine.
“Why we are talking about a bunch of untalented robots make [sic] of silicone and made by a very far industry who doesn’t care about animal and people rights!” wrote Facebook user Freya Karstein Malvert.
“K-pop isn’t a real thing in America. Maybe 32 people like it, they are just really loud about it,” wrote user Timothy Ronald Pell.
Two other Thais made the Time 100 Next list are Kotchakorn Voraakhom, the prolific architect behind the popular Chulalongkorn University Centenary park, and leader of the Future Forward party Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit.
Wishbeer's Beer Gardeen at The Vue in Bangkok in 2017. Image: Wishbeer / Facebook
BANGKOK — Not all hope is lost for fans of open-air “beer gardens” after shopping mall CentralWorld announced it would no longer host one this year.
Veteran beer delivery franchise Wishbeer said it’s opening a “Winter Garden” at Gaysorn Village, right opposite CentralWorld where the annual beer gardens used to be. Wishbeer CEO Jerome Le Louer said the venue will run from tonight, Nov. 15, till Jan. 6.
Instead of the routine convenience store lager like Chang and Singha served at the now-canceled beer gardens at CTW, Wishbeer’s Winter Garden will be offering craft beer.
“We will have 12 craft beers on tap and live music from Thursday to Sunday every week,” Le Louer said in an email.
The news will likely bring some solace to Bangkokians saddened by the news of CentralWorld’s cancellation of its year-end event, in which major booze conglomerates vied for customers by offering free performances by top singers and bands.
Central Pattana vice president Nattakit Tangpoonsinthana told Prachachat the mall dropped its beer gardens because consumers are now looking for something else, but the news site quoted a source as saying the real reason had more to do with stricter enforcement of booze laws in recent years.
Wishbeer Winter Garden at Gaysorn Village is the second edition of a similar beer garden featuring craft beer by the same firm, which was held in 2017 at The Vue on Thonburi side. Khaosod English’s livestream of the event – one of the most enjoyable experiences in this reporter’s career – was unfortunately taken down due to legal concerns.
