King Power Celebrates the Beginning of The New Year with A Dazzling “Kingdom of Dragons”

By

-

1 February 2024, 17:33

“King Power Chinese New Year 2024”, an extravagant celebration event, takes place 1-18 February 2024.

King Power marks the beginning of the new year with festivities heralding a fresh start. The travel-retail giant unveils a spectacle commemorating the grandeur of the Chinese New Year, ushering in the auspicious Year of the Dragon, and bringing everyone into a joyous celebration of new beginnings through the event:

“King Power Chinese New Year 2024.
Power Your Luck, Power Your Life.“

Embarking on a journey towards good fortunes as part of the celebration for the Year of the Dragon through the ‘Kingdom of Dragons’ concept centered around the theme of ‘Luck, Health, Wealth, Love.’ Embrace the potent energy of the dragon that radiates only positive vibes of good fortune, prosperity, happiness, auspiciousness, and fulfillment for both Thai and international visitors.

This event serves as a unifying platform for everyone to gather together to take delight in delectable feasts, seek blessings, enhance personal fortunes, and revel in live concerts featuring renowned artists, along with selected special promotions.

Ascend to prosperity and join in this collective celebration of the power of the Year of the Dragon, spanning 18 days from 1 February to 18 February 2024, at the Crown Atrium at King Power Rangnam. The festivities commence with divine worship and an array of promotional events, from 1 February to 18 February 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily.

Engage in highlighted activities scheduled from 6 February to 18 February 2024, between 12:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., set in the vibrant Fountain Square area. It’s an invitation for everyone to gather together, indulge in culinary delights, explore possibilities, make wishes, and relish live concerts featuring a diverse lineup of renowned artists.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for 6 February 2024, commencing from 5:00 p.m. onwards. Witness the grandeur of five dragon parades, elegantly striding along the entire Rangnam Road.

Leading the procession will be admired artists, including PP-Krit Amnuaydechkorn, Win-Metawin Opas-iamkajorn, JJ-Kritsanapoom Pibulsonggram, Daneng-Kanyawee Songmuang, Daou-Pittaya Saechua, and Offroad-Kantapon Jindataweephol.

On 10 February 2024, be captivated by the show led by Yin-Anan Wong, accompanied by a special performance by Chamook-Suchanan Mahaphromwan.

On 11 February 2024, immerse in the excitement with Nont-Tanont Chumroen and indulge in the most spectacular live shows, featuring musical performances and a myriad of captivating acts from China.

During the event, everyone will have the opportunity to savor “Auspicious Cuisine from over 50 Renowned Restaurants.” Discover delectable dishes from more than 50 legendary and Michelin Guide-endorsed eateries, including Tang Jai Yoo Restaurant, Tang Jai Yang Michelin Red Pork, Cross BKK, Mott32, Khao Kha Moo Trok Sung, Chaffeine Bubble Milk Tea, Gui Chai Saphan Han, Hong Tae Crispy Fried Chive Pancake, Charm Noodle, Ba Bin Gusto, and many more.

All are welcome to partake in the festivities marking the beginning of the new year and attract positive energies throughout the Year of the Dragon. This underscores King Power as the premier destination for celebrating all festivals in Thailand. Come together to usher in the new year at the “King Power Chinese New Year 2024 Power Your Luck, Power Your Life” event taking place from 1 February to 18 February 2024, at King Power Rangnam.

Phuket Police Suspect Russians Abducted Belarusian Couple For $900k Crypto

By

Khaosod English

-

1 February 2024, 17:18

PHUKET – Police officers from Phuket Town Police Station are investigating a suspected abduction incident involving a Belarusian couple at the Oh Ho Farm shop, Tambon Talat Yai, at around 10:00 p.m. on January 31, 2024. The injured man has been taken to the hospital.

The victims, a man and a woman from Belarus, were observed being forcibly dragged into a black Hyundai sedan with a red license plate near the O-OH Farm store. The car then drove off in the direction of Naka Market.

The foreign witness returned to the Royal P Hotel and informed a hotel employee, who then reported the incident to the 191 Emergency Center.

belarus russia — Two Belarusians were observed being forcibly dragged into a black Hyundai sedan with a red licence plate.

On February 1, officers from the Investigation Department of Phuket Provincial Police Region 8, immigration Police and the Tourist Police brought four Russian male suspects to Phuket Town Police Station for questioning. However, as the suspects could not communicate in English, Russian interpreters were called in.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Sinlert Sukhum, commander of the Phuket provincial police, said the investigation indicates that the perpetrators are Russian nationals who received a transfer of cryptocurrencies worth about 30 million baht or nearly 900,000 U.S. dollars. However, all four suspects claimed that the incident was just a joke.

Police are currently in a meeting and believe that there must be something definite in this case as the Belarusian refused to speak.

Related articles:

A Russian Man Is Arrested at Phuket Airport in an Attempted Murder Case

Thailand Prepares To Be A Hot Spot For The Chinese New Year

By

Khaosod English

-

1 February 2024, 16:18

BANGKOK – Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin expressed his satisfaction that Chinese tourists intend to visit Thailand for the Chinese New Year celebration in February, as a result of visa exemption. However, he is equally interested with facilitation and safety in welcome travellers.

On February 1, the Prime Minister directed relevant authorities, such as the Immigration Bureau, to manage immigration checks at the airport to minimise excessive congestion, and the AOT prepared to welcome visitors in a convenient and efficient manner, such as receiving luggage quickly, on time, and accurately. The police must prioritise the safety of tourists and prevent any criminal acts.

Kittipong Kittikachorn, Director of Suvarnabhumi Airport, Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT), said on Thursday that during the Chinese New Year Festival from February 4-16 (13 days in total), Suvarnabhumi Airport is expected to have a total of 2,366,940 passengers, or approximately 182,072 passengers per day, divided into 1,949,564 international passengers and 417,376 domestic passengers, an increase of 32.73 percent from last year’s Chinese New Year.

AOT also estimates that there will be a total of 12,883 flights during this period, or an average of 991 flights per day, divided into 9,878 international flights (including arrivals and departures) and 3,005 domestic flights (including arrivals and departures), up from 19.99 percent the previous year during the Chinese New Year holiday.

There are 10 airlines requesting to add extra and charter flights, totaling 226 flights, divided into 73 domestic flights and 153 international flights.

Ten airlines have requested extra and charter flights totaling 226 flights, with 73 domestic flights and 153 international flights. The top three airlines that requested additional flights (both inbound and outbound) were Bangkok Airways (73 flights), Thai Vietjet (42 flights), and Shanghai Airlines (26 flights), a 91.53 percent increase over last year’s Chinese New Year festival.

Noppasit Chakkrapitak, President of Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Company Limited, anticipates that the Chinese New Year, February 8-14, will be a time for both domestic and foreign travel. with a total flight volume of 16,766 flights, averaging 2,395 per day, a 17% increase over 2023.

During the Chinese New Year, there were 1,894 international flights between Thailand and China, with an average of 270 every day. Aeronautical Radio has produced equipment systems that are ready to provide continuous service in the area of air traffic flow management.

Chai Wacharonke, government spokesman, said earlier that the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) statistics on the number of international tourists entering Thailand (latest data as of 28 January). On average, over 20,000 Chinese tourists come to Thailand per day, totaling 444,702 people, making them the largest number of foreign tourists. And Thailand has had over 2,743,147 foreign tourists visit.

In addition, China International Travel Service (Qingdao) CO.,Ltd (CITS) that the results of the visa-free measures have led to the tourist group from Qingdao making Thailand a popular destination, especially during the Chinese New Year, which has the most flight bookings to Thailand.

After the visa waiver agreement between Thailand and China was signed on 28 January 2023, it was found that on Trip.com Thailand, the search rate for related search terms in China increased more than four times compared to the previous day.

The cities that Thai tourists searched for most frequently are Shanghai, Chengdu, Harbin, Shenzhen, Beijing, Tianjin, Chongqing and Zhangjiajie. On the Chinese side, the search rate for search terms relating to Thailand on the Chinese platform Ctrip also increased more than 7-fold compared to the previous month. Searches for flight tickets and hotels also increased more than 6-fold compared to the previous month.

People from Shanghai, Beijing, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Sichuan and Shandong searched more for information about Thailand. And the tourist attractions in Thailand that Chinese tourists searched for the most are Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui and Pattaya.

_____

Related articles:

Thailand Expects 75% Recovery in Chinese Tourists This Year

Midea Convention 2024 Unveils Innovative “Hyper Grapfins” and “Buakaw”

By

Contributor

-

1 February 2024, 14:48

“Midea”, a global leader of air conditioners and electrical appliances, organizes Midea Convention 2024 to present its “Hyper Grapfins” innovation as a flagship of the year and “Buakaw” as the perfect presenter for Midea products’ durability. The company now aims to achieve huge growth and become a top-of-mind brand in the air-conditioner and electrical-appliance market within three years.

Midea Thailand holds Midea Convention 2024 in a grand style under “STRONGER THAN EVER” theme to welcome New Year 2024 on 27 January 2024 at Centara Grand at Central Ladprao, with its partners from across Thailand invited to join the event.

At the convention, the company announces its business direction, product-launch plan, marketing communication strategy, and enhanced after-sales services with the aim to boost customers’ confidence as it proactively taps into the market throughout the coming year.

Mr. Thanawat Wongchanwuth, Deputy General Manager of MD Consumer Appliance (Thailand) Company Limited or Midea Thailand, reveals that Midea Convention 2024 is held to boost partners’ and customers’ confidence in Midea brand and its upcoming marketing campaign. The company has recently launched a key innovation, “Hyper Grapfins”, or the integration of graphene to air conditioners’ outdoor units.

Now available in all Midea’s air-conditioner models, this innovation increases resistance to corrosion, extends product use life, and proves suitable for all weather conditions in Thailand. Midea therefore is a perfect choice for consumers looking for durable and cost-effective air conditioners. Midea is the first brand to have integrated graphene to Thailand’s air-conditioner industry.

Hyper Grapfins is a corrosion-inhibiting coating. When compared with golden coating, this black coating is five times more effective in fighting corrosion. Graphene coating’s effectiveness also lasts between 20 and 50 years (depending on usage conditions and environment). Moreover, its vertical heat distribution releases heat 31% faster. When compared with aluminum foil, it reduces water vapor by 92.5%.

Midea Thailand, moreover, unveils “Buakaw” as the new presenter for its flagship air conditioner “mPro Easy” at the convention. This model’s outstanding design enables easy installation and disassembly as only one knot must be handled. The company expects Buakaw’s fame in Thailand and beyond to raise Midea brand awareness and pave the way for the brand to go into the hearts of more Thais. Buakaw’s character matches well with the brand personality, as his strengths and patience resonate with the durability of the brand’s air-conditioner.

On marketing strategy, Midea Thailand will elevate its transportation system and service delivery through the nationwide expansion of service centers. The move has been planned to provide convenience to customers and respond better to growing demand. On top of this, the company intends to launch new products throughout 2024.

New models of air conditions and household appliances will come to the Thai market to present a greater variety of choices to consumers, with a focus on what suits Thais’ lifestyles and needs the most. Midea Thailand Smart Factory, which is located at the Pinthong Industrial Estate 5, is Midea’s biggest factory for residential air conditioners in Asia. Products from the factory will hit the market for the first time this year. As models made at this facility have been designed and developed for Thailand’s weather conditions, they will play a crucial role in driving Midea’s upcoming big growth.

“This year, we will upgrade our product lineup further. For example, we will launch household appliances for cooking lovers. Our products will be differentiated thanks to our innovations. Importantly, our product presenters will contribute to our branding as we seek to deepen Midea’s status in the heart of Thais,” says Mr. Wiwatchai Sirithaworn, Marketing Manager of MD Consumer Appliance (Thailand) Company Limited or Midea Thailand.

Midea Thailand plans to hold marketing activities throughout 2024. Marketing communications will also be conducted both online and offline across Thailand to raise brand awareness. Promotional activities such as product roadshows and special deals at points of sales are parts of the plan to enhance selling opportunities for Midea’s partners. Midea Thailand’s goals are to raise its business growth by 2.5 times this year and to become a top-of-mind brand among air-conditioner/electrical appliance consumers within three years.

Midea’s products cover not just air conditioners but also various other appliances such as washing machines, refrigerators and chillers, air purifiers, cooling fans, electric fans, microwave ovens, blenders, water heaters, water dispensers, and water purifiers. Midea has operated five factories in Thailand – one for air conditioners, one for refrigerators, one for washing machines, one for small kitchen appliances, and one for compressors.

All of them are located at the Pinthong Industrial Estate 5 in Chon Buri. Together, these factories have been the largest manufacturing base of Midea Group outside China. Midea’s biggest factory in Thailand and Southeast Asia is in this complex. The company has planned to establish its Southeast Asia distribution center too.

Thailand Gets Applause For Not Sending Rock Band Bi-2 To Russia

By

Khaosod English

-

1 February 2024, 14:26

rock band russia1 — Phuket Immigration Police officers arrested Russian Rock Band Bi-2 members because they did not have work permits on January 24 after playing a concert in Phuket.

BANGKOK – Kanchana Patarachoke, a Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson, acknowledged on Thursday all the Russian rock band Bi-2 had left Thailand in “accordance with their wishes and Thai immigration laws and regulations.”

Thailand is under the close watch of international human rights campaigners after immigration officers arrested seven members of this band for not having a work permit. During that time, members of a rock band critical of Moscow’s involvement in Ukraine told the media that they feared being deported to Russia.

According to the Associated Press report, five of the seven Bi-2 musicians entered Thailand using Russian passports. At least four of the members are reportedly Israeli nationals, including the two founders, Uman and Bortnik. The latter is also an Australian citizen.

Guitarist and singer Aleksandr “Shura” Uman of Bi-2 said when he arrived at Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, the band was doing well and very tired after their ordeal.

He also called the conditions he and his band faced in a Thai jail as “horrible.”

“We are free and we will keep moving forward,” Uman said.

AP24032579309380 — Aleksandr “Shura” Uman, right, Yegor “Lyova” Bortnik, centre top, and other members of the band Bi-2 make a statement in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Uman thanked the Israeli, American and Australian diplomats, as well as human rights organizations, for their work to bring them to Israel. A handful of supporters met their early-morning flight with signs to welcome them to Israel.

The decision to allow the band to go to Israel was applauded by activists.

“Bangkok was right to refuse Moscow’s demands to send these activist artists back to face certain persecution and worse in Russia,” said Phil Robertson, Human Rights Watch’s deputy Asia director.

Bi-2 has 1.01 million subscribers to its YouTube channel and 376,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. Andrei Lugovoi, a member of the lower house of Russia’s parliament, had called the band members “scum” for their criticism of the war in Ukraine.

The Deputy Chief of Immigration Police, Pol. Maj. Gen. Pantama Nutnarot, said on Wednesday that members of the Russian rock band Bi-2 were arrested in Phuket last Thursday because they did not have a work permit in Thailand.

When it was discovered that these band members did not have proper working papers, they were sent to the investigating officer for charges and then to the detention room at the Immigration Police Office in Bangkok.

Maj. Gen. Pantama explained that it’s unknown whether Thailand has already signed an extradition deal with Russia, but individuals sought for political or ethnic reasons will not be returned to Russia.

russia rock — The Bi-2 rock band performed a concert in Phuket on January 24, 2024.

According to human rights principles, extradition is excepted in the case of political prisoners. Even they are the offenders, the Immigration cannot force someone to leave the country. The authorities will let them apply to international agencies such as the UNSCR or the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to become political refugees.

“Under the human rights principles, they can be released on bail to live as a refugee, but with the condition of not being able to pursue a career or do anything that is against the laws of Thailand,” Maj. Gen. Pantama stated.

____

Related articles:

Junya Ito Leaves Japan Team During Asian Cup After Sexual Assault Claims

By

Kyodo News

-

1 February 2024, 13:43

TOKYO – Japan football player Junya Ito has left Japan’s national team during the Asian Cup following an accusation he sexually assaulted two women last year, the Japan Football Association said Thursday.

The JFA, which noted discrepancies between the different accounts of the incident, said, “This demands a cautious response. This action was out of consideration for his mental and physical condition.”

The women claimed he sexually assaulted them last year, but Ito’s lawyer said the player has denied their claims and has filed a criminal complaint for false allegations.

An investigative source said Wednesday the 30-year-old is under investigation by Osaka police after the women filed a criminal complaint against Ito following a report by a major publisher’s news website of non-consensual sexual conduct involving the women.

According to the report, Junya Ito, who played for Japan at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, is suspected of having engaged in such sexual conduct involving the women, who were drunk, at a hotel in Osaka in June last year after playing for Japan against Peru.

The report, first posted on Daily Shincho on Wednesday, came hours before Japan’s round-of-16 match at the Asian Cup against Bahrain in Doha. Ito, a midfielder with the French club Stade de Reims, remained on the bench for the first time in the tournament as Japan won 3-1 to reach the quarterfinals.

Ito’s lawyer said the allegations are “totally unfounded.” While Ito did spend time with the two women, the complaint states that their accounts are inconsistent, and there is no physical evidence supporting their allegation.

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu told reporters after the match Wednesday, “I’m not fully aware (of the allegation) yet. I’ll deal with it after examining it.”

The website is run by the publisher of the major weekly Shukan Shincho, whose latest issue hit newsstands Thursday.

Vise Tightening On Myanmar’s Economy 3 Years After Military Takeover Triggered Civil Strife

By

Associated Press

-

1 February 2024, 00:14

Myanmar Economy — FILE - Woman arrange flowers at a street market in Yangon, Myanmar, on Feb. 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw, File)

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) — Myanmar was a rising star in Southeast Asia before its military seized power three years ago in a takeover that has brought civil strife and a tightening vise of international sanctions, undoing years of progress and leaving the economy 10% smaller than it was in 2019.

Economists say the generals who toppled Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government on Feb. 1, 2021, increasingly rely on illicit revenues from gem mining and logging to fund their battles against a broad popular resistance movement.

Weak law enforcement, corruption and poverty resulting from a dearth of economic opportunity, meanwhile, are fueling a surge in drug production and trafficking, online scam rings and other criminal activities.

Export manufacturing and other mainstream business activities in Myanmar have suffered since the military takeover, wiping out jobs that millions relied on to get by. The economy is forecast to grow at a meager 1% pace this year and about half the population is estimated to be living in poverty. More than 2.6 million people have been displaced by civil war.

From the early 1960s, Myanmar muddled through decades of mismanagement and isolation under military administrations until the early 2010s, when reforms loosened the military’s grip on power, opening the economy to foreign investment.

AP23130322624441 — FILE – Myanmar military officers leave the venue during a parade to commemorate Myanmar’s 78th Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Monday, March 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo, File)

But that era of fast growth and nascent industrialization was derailed by the military’s takeover, which sparked peaceful protests that turned into armed resistance against the army’s use of deadly force to suppress them.

Fighting with pro-democracy guerrillas and ethnic minority armed groups has escalated in recent months, raising pressure on the military, which has suffered some key defeats.

Recent visitors to Yangon, Myanmar’s biggest city, say conditions there appear calm. However, United Nations officials estimate that nearly 18 million of the country’s nearly 57 million people are in need of humanitarian aid.

Many lack secure access to food. Myanmar’s kyat has depreciated sharply against the U.S. dollar and other currencies, raising prices for many necessities, while restrictions on trade and movement and active fighting have disrupted farming.

“The junta’s inept policies are steering the Myanmar economy towards a trajectory reminiscent of North Korea, where there is a struggle to provide basic necessities for the population,” Miemie Winn Byrd, a professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, wrote in a recent report.

The Myanmar military administration reported $602 million in foreign direct investment last year, mostly in the energy sector, with only $112 million invested in manufacturing. That compares with a peak of $4.8 billion in 2017 and $1.2 billion in 2022.

Pilgrims visit Myanmar famous Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar on Sunday, June 19, 2022. Photo: AP

In addition to the risk of unrest, corruption and disruptive swings in policies such as an order for all foreign exchange to be converted into kyats, sanctions on key areas of the economy have also stifled investment.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative issued a fresh business advisory on Jan. 26 highlighting what it said were “sectors and activities of concern” to inform companies and people about risks of doing business in Myanmar.

It cited trade in rare earths, which are often used in high-tech products such as electric vehicles, timber, gold and other metals, aviation and financial services.

Such areas often operate as military or state-controlled monopolies and are linked with corruption and human rights and labor rights abuses that might expose companies to violations of U.S. sanctions or anti-money laundering laws, it said.

To a certain extent, black market trading and other illicit activities enable people to cope with increasing poverty and precarious living conditions.

But transnational criminal syndicates have been expanding into Myanmar’s border regions, where online scam rings, casinos and drug production and trafficking are generating revenues for both military and anti-regime groups.

“There’s no economic opportunity in the country because the economy’s collapsed,” Jeremy Douglas, the regional representative of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said in a recent briefing in Bangkok.

“This is a political problem for this region and the world, because this system is there, generating money in its own right and generating money for the syndicates,” he said.

Syrian Human Trafficker Arrested With Egyptian Woman in Bangkok for Overstaying

By

Khaosod English

-

31 January 2024, 20:44

BANGKOK – Immigration Bureau police announced the arrest of a 43-year-old Syrian man, Adnan, and a 35-year-old Egyptian woman, Sabir, at a hotel on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok’s Klongtoey district. The two were arrested for overstaying their visas.

According to the Immigration Department, Sabir’s visa expired 1,526 days ago, while Adnan’s visa expired 2,451 days ago.

Further investigations revealed that Adnan had been arrested by the Special Investigation Bureau in 2017 for human trafficking and prostitution of Moroccan women. He had also been issued arrest warrants for robbery, assault and other crimes in the Nana and Sukhumvit areas.In some of these cases, no judgement has yet been passed.

Initial investigations revealed that Adnan had not applied to change his visa status to fight the allegations against him. As a result, the Immigration Police charged both him and Sabir as illegal aliens who had failed to comply with their visas. They were then taken to the Immigration Department’s Criminal Investigations Division for legal proceedings.

The arresting officers also found evidence of communication between Adnan, Sabir and another Thai woman. They believe all three are connected and police will investigate further to determine the nature of their relationship and whether they have committed any other crimes.

Thai Court Rules That Progressive Move Forward Party Must Stop Trying To Change Royal Defamation Law

By

Associated Press

-

31 January 2024, 19:46

JUTARAT SKULPICHETRAT, BANGKOK — Thailand’s Constitutional Court ruled Wednesday that the progressive Move Forward party must cease advocating amending the law on royal defamation — a decision that leaves the party vulnerable to being dissolved.

The court’s nine judges deemed it unconstitutional to advocate a change in Article 112 in the country’s Criminal Code — also known as lese-majeste law — which protects the royal institution from criticism by imposing severe penalties on those found to violate it, including up to 15 years in jail per offense.

Critics say the law is often wielded as a tool to quash political dissent. Student-led pro-democracy protests beginning in 2020 openly criticized the monarchy, previously a taboo subject, leading to vigorous prosecutions under the law.

Since those protests, more than 260 people have been charged with the offense, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.

AP24031359108903 — Move Forward party’s leader Chaithawat Tulathon, center right, with its former leader Pita Limjaroenrat, center left, talks to reporters during a news conference at parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

The Move Forward party came in first in the 2023 general election, campaigning heavily on making an effort to amend Article 112, along with other democratic reforms. The win suggested Thai voters were ready for change after nearly a decade of military-controlled government.

But the military-installed Senate effectively blocked the party from power when they refused to approve then-party leader Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister. Senators said they opposed Pita because of his intention to seek reforms to the monarchy.

In July, Teerayut Suwankesorn, a lawyer associated with royalist politics, petitioned the court to block Pita and the Move Forward party from seeking to change the law. He argued the election campaign proposal to amend the law on royal defamation violated a constitutional clause against seeking to overthrow the system of constitutional monarchy.

“The court unanimously voted that the act of the two accused exercised the rights and freedom to try to overthrow Democratic System under His patronage … and order to cease all opinions including speech, writing, publishing, advertising to amend 112,” read the court’s ruling.

Both the party and its critics say the decision paves the way for follow-up legal action that could see the party dissolved.

Move Forward supporters believe the conservative royalist establishment seeks to eliminate the party as a political force through rulings by courts and state agencies such as the Election Commission, which are staunch defenders of the status quo.

But agitation for a more liberal atmosphere surrounding discussion of the subject has grown since the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 2016.

Speaking at a news conference Wednesday after the court’s ruling, Pita was asked if it marked an end to efforts to reform the harsh lese majeste law.

“It’s an opportunity lost, that we can use the parliament to find different views and an opportunity to find the consensus building for such an important and critical and fragile issue, that parliament would be the best place to do it, and we lost that opportunity today,” he responded.

“What’s my message to the voters?” he said. “We’ve tried our best and we have a very true intention of finding the proportionality of law between the protection of the monarchy and the proportionality of freedom of speech in the modern Thailand, so we’ve tried our best.”

Pita had been suspended from the legislature pending the court’s ruling on whether he violated the election law by owning shares in a media company. He was the executor of his father’s estate which included stock in a company that is the inactive operator of a defunct independent television station. Thailand’s Constitutional Court ruled Jan. 24 that Pita did not violate the law and can retain his seat in Parliament.

Pita has stepped down as party leader after his suspension so that a party colleague could become leader of the parliamentary opposition.

Earlier Wednesday, the Bangkok South Criminal Court convicted a prominent political activist of defaming the country’s monarchy and sentenced her to a two-year suspended jail term under Article 112.

_____

Thai Activist Gets Two-Year Suspended Prison Sentence for 2021 Remarks About Monarchy

Troop of Monkeys Scare Investors, Affecting Lopburi’s Businesses

By

Khaosod English

-

31 January 2024, 19:26

LOPBURI – The Lopburi economy is suffering as shops in the city centre threaten to close after a troop of over 3,500 monkeys caused significant problems. Businesses and stores have shuttered and relocated, while Chinese investors have put their investments on hold.

Pongsatorn Chaichanapanich, president of the Lopburi Chamber of Commerce, told “Prachachat Business” that the heart of Lopburi city on Ratchadamnoen Road, which used to be a major business district in the province, is now deserted and dilapidated because businesses are closing and moving away.

One of the reasons for this is that the heart of Lopburi city is a historic city center for which there are laws, such as limiting the height of buildings and maintaining the condition of the original buildings. Another major problem is the number of monkeys in the area, estimated to be at least 3,500, which is considered very high.

This is a major factor in companies moving out of the area more quickly. This can be clearly seen in the area opposite the historical monument Phra Prang Sam Yot (Three Stupas), which has been completely cleared.

Pongsatorn also proposed solutions to the problem, including amending the law to allow the management of monkeys in urban areas and designating the city government as the main authority to seek opinions from other agencies such as the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. He also said that the problem of a dense monkey population in urban areas has spread to other provinces such as Phetchaburi and Nakhon Ratchasima.

“The government needs to decide at the policy level how it will develop Lopburi as a historical city with many historical sites and how the government will help promote tourism in the province and attract more tourists.”

Surachat Chanprasit, deputy of Pingya Shopping Center, stated that monkeys often enter the mall to climb and disturb customers who come to shop. Customers who rent a space to sell goods have to repair damage to roofs, windows and other things almost every month.

This has resulted in fewer and fewer customers coming to shop, and the mall has lost money. As a result, the mall was put up for sale, with the price reduced from 100 million baht to 70 million baht, or 6.25 million baht per unit.

However, two years after the mall was put up for sale, it has yet to be sold due to the poor overall economy. Some tenants’ leases are about to expire and some are asking to terminate their leases. For this reason, the shopping center has reduced the rent by 50-70 percent to help the tenants.

“Previously, a Chinese investor had visited the area to check the feasibility of an investment. However, when the investor realized that the problem of monkey population threatening the heart of the city had not been solved, he postponed the investment indefinitely,” Surachat said.

In response to the situation, the governor of Lopburi, Ampol Angkhapakornkul, visited the problem areas. On February 7, Lopburi Province will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to jointly find solutions to the monkey problem.

_____

Related articles:

Hot News

LATEST NEWS