FUKUOKA – Sadako Sasaki, a 12-year-old Japanese girl who died from radiation-induced leukemia caused by the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima by the United States, is remembered for making over a thousand origami paper cranes in her hospital bed under the belief it would aid her recovery.
Now her older brother Masahiro, 81, and other relatives are preparing to submit her paper cranes, along with other items such as her handwritten notes, to a UNESCO documentary heritage program for registry in 2025 to mark 80 years since the end of World War II.
Masahiro and his second-eldest son Yuji, a 53-year-old nephew of Sadako, will apply to have the paper cranes added to the U.N.’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s Memory of the World Register.
Sadako, who was 2 years old when she was exposed to the bomb’s radiation on Aug. 6, 1945, was at home with Masahiro and other family members, located about 1.6 kilometers from the hypocenter of the explosion.
File photo taken in Nakagawa, Fukuoka Prefecture, in February 2023 shows a paper crane made by Sadako Sasaki before her death. (Kyodo)
As they fled, Sadako, Masahiro and their mother, Fujiko, were separated from Sadako’s grandmother, who they never saw again. Shigeo, Sadako’s father, was a medic in the Imperial Japanese Army and although he was not in the city at the time of the explosion, he was also exposed to the radiation upon his return.
In the following years, Sadako grew up as a seemingly healthy girl, even joining her class’s track team, where she was known for her speed.
But a decade after the bombing, she began exhibiting severe signs of illness and was subsequently diagnosed with leukemia in the sixth grade of elementary school.
Masahiro says Sadako, who was hospitalized in February 1955, endured intense pain to avoid burdening her family with the cost of treatment for her condition. Knowing that Masahiro was fond of udon noodles, she would invite him to the hospital cafeteria where they would eat them together.
Sadako set about making over a thousand paper cranes while in the hospital after she learned of a famous Japanese folklore tale that says doing so can make a person’s wish come true. She died in October 1955, eight months after being hospitalized.
Surrounded by family members, Masahiro says that Sadako’s final words were, “Thank you, everyone.”
After her death, Sadako’s classmates came up with the idea of building a monument dedicated to her and all the other children who died as a result of the atomic bombing.
In 1958, the Children’s Peace Monument was erected in the western Japanese city’s Peace Memorial Park and features a statue of a girl modeled on Sadako.
Since her death, Sadako’s story has inspired countless books and movies, and paper cranes have become a symbol of peace for anti-nuclear activists.
Yuji, a singer and songwriter, says the idea of getting his aunt’s paper cranes listed on the heritage program came after learning that the diaries of Anne Frank, a Jewish girl who chronicled her life in hiding from the Nazis in the 1940s, have also been registered.
Supplied photo shows a stainless steel replica of Sadako Sasaki’s paper cranes given to leaders of the Group of Seven nations at the Hiroshima Summit in May 2023. (Photo courtesy of Castem Co.)(Kyodo)
Yuji continues to stress the importance of compassion and life through his aunt’s example. “My hope is that she will become a Japanese girl who grows increasingly recognized as a symbol of peace, like Anne Frank,” he said.
The Memory of the World Register began in 1997 and lists important documents, manuscripts and audio-visual materials.
As it would be difficult for Sadako’s relatives to apply based on the cranes alone given they are “three-dimensional” objects rather than more typical archival material, the plan is to submit Sadako’s medical charts and memos in the application, where she wrote down her white blood cell counts.
According to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the registration review is conducted once every two years, and countries can send up to two applications for consideration, with UNESCO due to begin accepting the latest batch this summer for registration next year.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and others, such as 85-year-old atomic bomb survivor Keiko Ogura, told Sadako’s story to leaders attending the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima in May, where they were also presented with stainless steel replica “paper crane” mementos of the girl.
Support from the national government and the authorities in Hiroshima Prefecture has given the case the international recognition and momentum the family says it needs to get Sadako’s paper cranes, medical records, and memos listed in the documentary heritage program.
The family is also being offered assistance from abroad. Since the early 2000s, Masahiro has been in touch with Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of former President Harry S. Truman, who ordered the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
The Truman Library Institute, where Clifton Truman Daniel serves as honorary chairman of the board of directors, has already agreed to assist with the application process.
“It is people working together that creates peace. The first step is to know the other person. My hope is that paper cranes can serve as a tool for that purpose,” Yuji said.
Sirinya Harnpachernchok, also known as Namtan, is the boss behind the famous ice cream with tile design of Wat Arun temple. She is the owner of the Facebook page “Pop Icon Ice-cream 3D”.
Sirinya told Prachachat Business about the factors that led to her success and how grateful she is that her first project became so successful and popular in such a short time.
“I am a big fan of ice cream. I love to travel and have a passion for Thai history and culture. That’s where I bring all the elements together and create a 3D ice cream with the tiles of Wat Arun as decoration,” Sirinya said.
Sirinya Harnpachernchok / Prachachat Business
Sirinya graduated from Chulalongkorn University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration (BBA). Previously, she worked in the marketing department. About this 3D ice cream project, she shared that her team had researched 30 to 40 times over the past two years until they found out that the tiles in Wat Arun Temple were made from old crockery, porcelain, and colored tiles. These materials were then put together to create a flower-like pattern on the stupa.
Sirinya took the research information and translated it into an ice cream with openwork tiles. She explained that the final work was a digestible version of the art on the stupa. She then named her work the Flower of Dawn, which is consistent with the meaning of Wat Arun Temple, the Temple of Dawn.
Flower of Dawn Ice cream is shown in front of the Temple of Dawn. / Prachachat Business
Not only the pattern of the ice cream reflects Thai culture, but also the 2 flavors offered by the ice cream, namely “smoked coconut and butterfly pea” and “Thai tea”. For the first flavor, Sirinya explained that coconut is fundamental to Thai cuisine, while the smoked candle scent represents Thai knowledge. This smoked coconut and butterfly fragrance comes in light blue color with an antique porcelain pattern.
For the Thai tea aroma, Sirinya explained that Thai tea is already a famous drink and the art pattern is a mixture of Thai and Chinese.
Kids are enjoying the ice cream. / Pop Icon ไอติม 3 มิติ Facebook page
Sirinya concluded the definition of her 3D ice cream by saying that she wanted “people to have fun and learn about Thai culture through the ice cream”.” The ice cream is now sold at ARUN CAFE at Wat Arun temple. It was first sold in May 2023 and became successful when tourists gave their reviews about the ice cream. Since then, the ice cream has always sold out.
Pop Icon ไอติม 3 มิติ The Facebook page noted that the Wat Arun-tile-design ice cream has sold out. It will be restocked on June 27, 2023.
In this photo provided by U.S. Navy, the United States and Vietnam national ensigns are raised in unison on the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) in Da Nang, Vietnam, for a port visit, Sunday, June 25, 2023. (Mass Communication 3rd Class Eric Stanton/U.S. Navy via AP)
BANGKOK (AP) — A U.S. aircraft carrier and two guided missile cruisers were visiting Vietnam on Monday, a rare port call that comes as the United States and China increasingly vie for influence in Southeast Asia.
The USS Ronald Reagan, along with the guided missile cruisers USS Antietam and USS Robert Smalls, arrived in Da Nang on Sunday for the visit.
Neighboring China is Vietnam’s largest trading partner but Beijing’s sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea have led to increasing friction with Vietnam, as well as with Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines.
The U.S., meantime, has been on a diplomatic push to strengthen economic and military ties in the Indo-Pacific region.
In this photo provided by U.S. Navy, Rear Adm. Pat Hannifin, right, receives a wreath during a welcome ceremony after the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), anchored into Da Nang, Vietnam, for a routine port visit, Sunday, June 25, 2023. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Keyly Santizo/U.S. Navy via AP)
The aircraft carrier’s port call — only the third such visit since relations were reestablished after the end of the Vietnam war — follows visits to Vietnam this year from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and USAID Administrator Samantha Power.
“Though aircraft carrier visits often spark media attention because of their highly visible nature, the broader question is how this will play into the development of ties, including Washington’s quest to upgrade relations,” Prashanth Parameswaran, a fellow with the Wilson Center’s Asia Program, wrote in a research note.
“An overly narrow focus on carrier visits can distract from the broader trend of the more comprehensive development of U.S.-Vietnam defense ties and relations more generally,” Parameswaran added.
Officers from the Ronald Reagan debarked Sunday and were greeted by Vietnamese officers after mooring in Da Nang, a port that was modernized and expanded by the United States during the war for its own use.
Capt. Daryle Cardone, the Ronald Reagan’s commanding officer, said some of the more than 5,000 sailors from the ship will volunteer at several community relations events, play sports with local athletes and take part in other cultural and professional exchanges during the visit through June 30.
“A few Reagan sailors call Vietnam home, but for most it will be their first time visiting,” Cardone said in a release from the U.S. Navy.
Washington sees Hanoi as a key part of its strategy for the region and has sought to leverage Vietnam’s traditional rivalry with its much larger neighbor China to expand U.S. influence in the region.
In this photo provided by U.S. Navy, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), approaches Da Nang, Vietnam, for a port visit Sunday, June 25, 2023. (Mass Communication 3rd Class Jordan Brown/U.S. Navy via AP)
Japan, a strong U.S. ally, also made a port call in Vietnam last week with its largest destroyer, Izumo, following exercises in the South China Sea with the Reagan and other American ships.
China has also been reaching out in an effort to mend fences, sending a navy training ship to make its own port call in Da Nang a month ago as part of what it called a goodwill tour that also took it to Thailand, Brunei and the Philippines.
Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry called the Reagan’s port call part of a “normal friendly exchange for the sake of peace, stability, cooperation and development in both the region and the world.”
Vietnam needs to balance its sensitive ties with Beijing with the U.S. outreach and domestic opinion, Parameswaran said, noting that polls suggest Vietnam’s people have among the highest levels of pro-U.S. sentiment in Southeast Asia.
Based in Yokosuka, Japan, the USS Ronald Reagan is the only forward-deployed American aircraft carrier. It is due to be replaced in that role next year by the USS George Washington, also a Nimitz-class carrier.
The PARQ, together with partners, celebrate Pride Month with the “Colors of Pride” Campaign Supporting the Acceptance of Gender Equality and Diversity in the Society
The PARQ, the mixed-use development integrating smart workplaces and lifestyle retail under the concept of “Life Well Balanced” unites with over 10 partners, its first-class partners, to celebrate the pride month of LGBTQIA+ creating the “Colors of Pride” campaign with the talk “Colors of the Talk”, to emphasize the equality, from the executives’ perspective about the gender equality and diversity in the society together with the special guests who experienced working closely with LGBTQIA+ such as Pam – Anshisa Sintrakarnpol, artist at Warner Music (Thailand) and Koko – Kavindhra Tiamsai, policy researcher driving LGBTQIA+ rights who will be sharing her experience and giving inspiration.
Moreover, there will also be the activity Heart of Pride, the space for everyone to share their encouraging message with others, including promotions, and lots of exclusive menus from retailers in The PARQ Life.
Mr. Kamolnai Chaixanien, Executive Director of TCC Assets (Thailand) Co., Ltd, said “The PARQ aims to enhance the being of the building users and visitors to continuously provide the quality of life in every aspect under the concept of “Life Well Balanced” and is the project that meets various type of usage. In Pride Month, The PARQ, therefore, hosts activities to join the celebration of the pride of gender equality, also, to carry on our mission to be the space where everyone can freely express themselves.
We want to thank our business alliances, more than 10 first-class tenants, for supporting the equality concept to be adopted in society and our special guests for creating the inspiration this time. In addition, there are more activities and promotions including exclusive menus from retail store in The PARQ Life, and to show the power, I would love to invite everyone to be a part of pushing equal diversity at the PARQ.
Fulfill your optimistic thinking in equality living with the “Colors of the Talk” from front-line executives and special guests giving their thought about gender equality, diversity, and being proud of yourself for 4 days on 13 – 16 June 2023.
Start with our executives sharing their knowledge and experience of the topic “Do You know Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DE&I)” led by Miss Wiyada Srinaganand, Country Head of 3M Thailand Ltd., Mr. Derek Heng, CEO of Marsh McLennan, Miss Natthanicha Worawannaseth, SVP Corporate Function (Thailand & Indochina) of Suntory Beverage & Food International (Thailand) Co., Ltd, and Mr. Atul Tuli, Managing Director, Indochina of SAP Systems, Applications and Products In Data Processing (Thailand) Limited shared “Every organization should value employee diversity, whether it pertains to race, culture, socioeconomic background, gender or experience. All employees should be treated equally. Besides reducing conflict within the organization, it also increases employee happiness in the workplace.”
The topic “We are Proud to be Ourselves” was chosen on June 14, 2023, to give people a sense of self-worth by Mr. Sittipong Liamsuwan, Market Access, Policy and Communication Director of Organon (Thailand) Ltd., Ms. Karnmanee Mitisubin, Policy and Government Affairs Lead, Organon Thailand Ltd., and Koko – Kavindhra Tiamsai, policy researcher driving LGBTQIA+ rights who is a transgender woman.
They shared their experiences and gave inspiration “We are all free to express ourselves fully without being looked down upon. And any difference in any way is not a fault. So be proud of yourself. Because we all have the same self-worth as everyone. And most importantly, Pride Month is not just a month of importance. But we must make every day a day of pride and help each other to be a voice to support equality in Thai society.”
On June 15, 2023, our special guest Pam – Anshisa Sintrakarnpol, an artist at Warner Music (Thailand) brought us happiness and entertainment through her wonderful voice. And also shared her view of living in an equal society in the topic “Welcome to Diversity & Equity world”. She said “The opportunity to interact with people of different ages, genders, and races increases both in personal and professional life. No matter how different we are, everyone can be solely responsible for their own actions. Personally, I see this as a world of equality. Diversity is like butterflies that bring color to the world”
Completed the last day with the topic “Colors of Us” by the representation of Jones Lang LaSalle (Thailand) Limited led by Mr. Michael Glancy, Country Head of Jones Lang LaSalle (Thailand) Limited came to pass on inspiration to everyone. “Because we always believe that difference is the initiative of creativity. Not only genders, but we all have dissimilar personalities. It is like our unique colors that support each other as a teamwork.
For JLL, we strive to support a culture that values diversity and emphasizes organizational unity. We are dedicated to supporting our employees in shining and being proud of their true selves. We firmly believe that the most important aspect of being ourselves is cultivating a positive working environment that fosters respectful inclusion and embraces diversity”. Moreover, it also supported by Suntory Pepsico Beverage (Thailand) Company Limited and Muaythai Mania Company Limited (Head Office) (MTM).
At the event, there is the activity “Heart of Pride”, a rainbow heart which is the symbol of pride surrounded with mirrors to show yourself becoming a chic photo spot for everyone to express themselves through the mirrors, upload on their social media, and share the pride in themselves on Post-it sticky note pads.
Let’s be a part of the celebration of pride in beautiful diversity with the campaign “Colors of Pride” this June. Don’t miss out on our limited edition “Colors of Pride” bucket hat from The PARQ for FREE when spent a minimum of 1,500 Baht (collect receipts within the same day) at participating shops and restaurants in The PARQ Life (MRT Sirikit Convention Center, Exit 2) from June 1– 30, 2023.
For the latest news and more information on “Colors of Pride” Facebook: The PARQ Instagram: @THEPARQBKK Website: www.theparq.com Tel. 02-080-5700 #COLOROFPRIDE #ThePARQ #LifeWellBalanced
CP Foods promotes digitization among its business partners and farmers to ensure sustainable growth.
Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CP Foods) showcases groundbreaking digital technology and agro-industry innovations worldwide at the ‘CPF the NeXt Tech Show.’ This event aims to empower its business partners and farmers to embrace digitization, transforming their practices and ensuring food security while promoting long-term sustainable development in response to the digital era.
This event showcased more than 100 state-of-the art digital technologies, applications, and innovations for agriculture and livestock from more than 30 partner organizations across the globe. Additionally, the knowledge of CP Foods’ executives and agro experts. The opening ceremony was presided over by Prasert Poongkumarn, Vice Senior Chairman of CP Group, and Adirek Sripratak, Chairman of the Executive Committee of CP Foods, along with CP Foods executives and customers nationwide.
Rewat Hathaisattayapong, Head of Feed Business at CP Foods, said the event was arranged to mark the 70th anniversary of CP Foods’ animal feed business. The conference and exhibition aim to introduce the latest global agro-industrial technologies, preparing business partners to be ready for the digital world under the theme ‘Technology of the Future…for Sustainable Livestock Growth.
Rewat said the exhibitions and knowledge-sharing sessions at the two-day event allow participants to discover the latest in digital agriculture and gain valuable insights from leading IT and digital agriculture experts. This aims to strengthen the company and its partners’ competitiveness and promote sustainable growth.
The company has continuously developed and applied innovation and technology to enhance the feed production process, ensuring the production of quality animal feeds that meet international standards. Additionally, the company distributes these products at appropriate prices for farmers, considering them as ‘life partners.’
The NeXt Tech Show represents our commitment to our customers and farmers, ensuring that they are well-equipped to thrive in the post-COVID world. Embracing digital technology is key to maintaining a leadership position in every industry, including agriculture. We are dedicated to preparing the next generation for a resilient and sustainable future,” affirmed Rewat.
With over 100 digital agriculture innovations on display from more than 30 global partners of CP Foods, the NeXt Tech Show strives to inspire its feed business partners to adapt to the digital era. It will spotlight advanced digital platforms and applications, including robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Renowned IT experts and CP Foods experts share their insights during the Tech Talk segment, including strategies for navigating disruptions and sustaining growth. CP Foods’ executives will also present their vision for improving Thailand’s agro-industrial sector to the top ranks of the global market.
The company constantly integrates automation into its operations; and the automated manufacturing process is with international standards and certified by independent third-party organizations.
The Cape Shark Pool Villas Resort which was built into the rocks on Koh Tao, Koh Phangan District, Surat Thani Province was inspected by officers from the Forest Protection Operations Centre, headed by Dr. Yuthaphon Angkinan, Advisor to the Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources on Sunday, June 25.
Images were shared on social media and criticised for the way a resort was constructed in this natural area.
The owner of the resort, Mrs. Sunisa Laporte, admitted guilt and insisted she would restore the area after the resort’s construction without permission. There was also a sewer pipes that discharged untreated sewage into the ocean, against to government regulations.
The officer then forwarded the case to the Ko Pha Ngan police station so that she could be charged with violating a number of laws, including the Building Control Act, the Hotel Act, and the Promotion and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act.
The resort was promoted on the website Agoda: “This property is in high demand!” It puts you close to attractions and interesting dining options. Rated 4 stars, this high-quality property provides guests with access to a massage, a restaurant, and an indoor pool on-site.
Since June 22, 2023, officials have prohibited people from using or entering any part of the building.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen on monitors as he addresses the nation after Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, called for armed rebellion and reached the southern city of Rostov-on-Don with his troops, in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, June 24, 2023. (Pavel Bednyakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
The greatest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power fizzled out after the rebellious mercenary commander who ordered his troops to march on Moscow abruptly reached a deal with the Kremlin to go into exile and sounded the retreat.
The brief revolt, though, exposed vulnerabilities among Russian government forces, with Wagner Group soldiers under the command of Yevgeny Prigozhin able to move unimpeded into the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and advance hundreds of kilometers (miles) toward Moscow. The Russian military scrambled to defend Russia’s capital.
Servicemen sit in a tank with a flag of the Wagner Group military company, as they guard an area at the HQ of the Southern Military District in a street in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Saturday, June 24, 2023. (AP Photo)
Under the deal announced Saturday by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Prigozhin will go to neighboring Belarus, which has supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Charges against him of mounting an armed rebellion will be dropped.
The government also said it would not prosecute Wagner fighters who took part, while those who did not join in were to be offered contracts by the Defense Ministry. Prigozhin ordered his troops back to their field camps in Ukraine, where they have been fighting alongside Russian regular soldiers.
Putin had vowed earlier to punish those behind the armed uprising led by his onetime protege. In a televised speech to the nation, he called the rebellion a “betrayal” and “treason.”
In allowing Prigozhin and his forces to go free, Peskov said, Putin’s “highest goal” was “to avoid bloodshed and internal confrontation with unpredictable results.”
The risk for Putin is whether he will be seen as weak, analysts said.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, looks out from a military vehicle on a street in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Saturday, June 24, 2023, leaving an area of the headquarters of the Southern Military District. (AP Photo)
“Putin has been diminished for all time by this affair,” former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst said on CNN.
Moscow had braced for the arrival of the Wagner forces by erecting checkpoints with armored vehicles and troops on the city’s southern edge. About 3,000 Chechen soldiers were pulled from fighting in Ukraine and rushed there early Saturday, state television in Chechnya reported. Russian troops armed with machine guns put up checkpoints on Moscow’s southern outskirts. Crews dug up sections of highways to slow the march.
Wagner troops advanced to just 200 kilometers (120 miles) from Moscow, according to Prigozhin. But after the deal was struck, Prigozhin announced that he had decided to retreat to avoid “shedding Russian blood.”
Prigozhin had demanded the ouster of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, whom Prigohzhin has long criticized in withering terms for his conduct of the 16-month-long war in Ukraine. On Friday, he accused forces under Shoigu’s command of attacking Wagner camps and killing “a huge number of our comrades.”
If Putin were to agree to Shoigu’s ouster, it could be politically damaging for the president after he branded Prigozhin a backstabbing traitor.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, left, Russian President Vladimir Putin, walk along the Red Square during the Victory Day in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. (Yuri Kochetkov/Pool photo via AP)
The U.S. had intelligence that Prigozhin had been building up his forces near the border with Russia for some time. That conflicts with Prigozhin’s claim that his rebellion was a response to an attack on his camps in Ukraine on Friday by the Russian military.
In announcing the rebellion, Prigozhin accused Russian forces of attacking the Wagner camps in Ukraine with rockets, helicopter gunships and artillery. He alleged that Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff, ordered the attacks following a meeting with Shoigu in which they decided to destroy the military contractor.
The Defense Ministry denied attacking the camps.
Congressional leaders were briefed on the Wagner buildup earlier last week, a person familiar with the matter said. The person was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. The U.S. intelligence briefing was first reported by CNN.
Servicemen of the Wagner Group military company sit in their military vehicles as they prepare to leave an area at the HQ of the Southern Military District in a street in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Saturday, June 24, 2023. (AP Photo)
A possible motivation for Prigozhin’s rebellion was the Russian Defense Ministry’s demand, which Putin backed, that private companies sign contracts with it by July 1. Prigozhin had refused to do it.
“It may well be that he struck now because he saw that deadline as a danger to his control of his troops,” Herbst wrote in an article for the Atlantic Council.
Early Saturday, Prigozhin’s private army appeared to control the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, a city 660 miles (over 1,000 kilometers) south of Moscow, which runs Russian operations in Ukraine, Britain’s Ministry of Defense said.
Russian media reported that several helicopters and a military communications plane were downed by Wagner troops. Russia’s Defense Ministry has not commented.
Members of the Wagner Group military company load their tank onto a truck on a street in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Saturday, June 24, 2023 (AP Photo)
After the agreement de-escalated tensions, video from Rostov-on-Don posted on Russian messaging app channels showed people cheering Wagner troops as they departed. Prigozhin was riding in an SUV followed by a large truck, and people greeted him and some ran to shake his hand. The regional governor later said that all of the troops had left the city.
Wagner troops and equipment also were in Lipetsk province, about 360 kilometers (225 miles) south of Moscow.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin declared Monday a non-working day for most residents as part of the heightened security, a measure that remained in effect even after the retreat.
Ukrainians hoped the Russian infighting would create opportunities for their army to take back territory seized by Russian forces.
“These events will have been of great comfort to the Ukrainian government and the military,” said Ben Barry, senior fellow for land warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. He said that even with a deal, Putin’s position has probably been weakened.
Servicemen of the Wagner Group military company sit atop of a tank, as local civilians pose for a photo prior to their leave an area at the HQ of the Southern Military District in a street in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Saturday, June 24, 2023. (AP Photo)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late Saturday, shortly before Prigozhin announced his retreat, that the march exposed weakness in the Kremlin and “showed all Russian bandits, mercenaries, oligarchs” that it is easy to capture Russian cities “and, probably, arsenals.”
Wagner troops have played a crucial role in the Ukraine war, capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut, an area where the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. But Prigozhin has increasingly criticized the military brass, accusing it of incompetence and of starving his troops of munitions.
The 62-year-old Prigozhin, a former convict, has longstanding ties to Putin and won lucrative Kremlin catering contracts that earned him the nickname “Putin’s chef.”
He and a dozen other Russian nationals were charged in the United States with operating a covert social media campaign aimed at fomenting discord ahead of Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential election victory. Wagner has sent military contractors to Libya, Syria, several African countries and eventually Ukraine.
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Associated Press writers Danica Kirka in London, and Nomaan Merchant in Washington, contributed.
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Follow AP coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine-war
According to the Ministry of Commerce’s report for the first four months (Jan-Apr) of 2023, Thailand’s durian exports and frozen durian had a total value of 63,627 million baht, up 166 percent from the same period last year.
The top export market was China with a value of 62,068 million baht, an increase of 170 percent from the previous year, foloowing by Hong Kong with a value of 941 million baht, up 77 percent year-on-year, and Taiwan with a value of 198 million baht, up 36 percent year-on-year.
Notably, Vietnam ranked tenth as an export market with a value of only 0.15 million baht in 2022 and 16.25 million in 2023, but recorded a remarkable 10,769 percent increase.
Keerati Rushchano, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, told Prachachat that durian exports, both fresh and frozen, have increased by over 100 percent in the first four months of this year. However, the trend for the second half of the year has yet to be evaluated, especially durian production in the southern region as production in the eastern region is almost complete.
In addition to market management, the ministry has also been monitoring transport across the Vietnamese and Lao borders for export to China. However, there are currently no plans to expand exports to other countries. The Ministry of Commerce has coordinated with the two border inspection posts of the two countries to ensure a smooth export process.
Sanchai Puranachaikiri, president of the Thai Fruit Traders and Exporters Association, said durian exports are expected to increase by 50 per cent this year. Durian production in the eastern region has been a major contributor to the increased exports in the first four months, which recorded a remarkable 166 percent increase compared to the same period last year, breaking previous records. The price of the popular Monthong durian has also reached a new high of 270 baht per kilogram.
It is worth noting that while China remains the top export market, the market in Vietnam, which is one of Thailand’s top 10 markets, has experienced a staggering 10,000 percent growth rate. Despite the relatively low volume, traders have shifted their focus to export through Vietnam as a gateway to China, passing through checkpoints such as You Yiguan, Dongxing and Ping Qian.
The cross-border route through Vietnam is already widely used and declaration procedures vary. Some traders declare their goods directly to China, while others declare them to Vietnam, as the products sometimes do not need a middleman when they are ticketed to Vietnam, as they are considered cross-border products and no taxes are charged, only border fees.
Sanchai added that the Durian Association Group held a joint meeting with the elected members of the Move Forward Party, which won in the eastern region, at the Blue Rabbit Hotel in Chanthaburi on 23 June to discuss the implementation of the new durian care measures by the National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards.
Workers unload fruits transported from Thailand on the China-Laos Railway in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan province, April 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Qin Wenlu)
They were worried that these standards will have long-term implications for the control of durian exports. The work involved is complex and leads to overlap in licensing. Currently, the inspection power has been transferred to the private sector, with the government becoming a tool for this group.
“In the beginning, the discussion revolved around finding solutions to the problem of immature durians. However, the discussion ended up controlling the middleman, not the farm. Penalties were imposed on those who do not sell immature durians. The middleman only buys the immature durians from the farmer who harvests and sells the immature durians. Instead of focusing on controlling the orchards and the people involved in harvesting, attention shifted to controlling the warehouse controllers,” Sanchai explained.
Move Forward Party leader and PM candidate Pita Limjaroenrat in Phuket province on June 9, 2023.
With the parliament to reconvene on July 3, the voting for the new prime minister is not too far away now. Some prominent junta-appointed senators continue to claim that Move Forward Party PM candidate Pita Limjaroenrat will not be getting their support, or enough votes, and the possibility that Pita will not be chosen as the next PM is a lingering fear.
For weeks now, some protest leaders, including monarchy-reform protest co-leader Arnon Nampa have been reminding protesters to be prepared to take to the streets en masse in case of such eventuality.
If and when that happens, we can expect protracted street protests and no side will give in easily. A clash between pro and anti-Pita demonstrators on the streets can never be ruled out, in fact it should be expected, judging from history. The so-called ‘third hand’ or hired instigators will then make sure there will be random attacks of explosions, mostly at night, causing injuries and even deaths, so the stage will be set, and events cited as a pretext for another military intervention.
With another military coup, the future can at least bifurcate into two of the following scenarios:
First, the army succeeds anew after political leaders, activists and a few persistent journalists were rounded up for temporary detention, euphemistically called “attitude adjustment,” and the tens of thousands of protesters on the streets reluctantly obeyed when they were told to go home with a new general election promised sooner than later.
This interregnum could last up to 5 years as we saw when then army chief Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha staged the May 2014 coup. This will be the same old vicious cycle, a miserable loop that will plunge Thailand deeper into a state of political despair.
The second scenario will see protesters, particularly young protesters who came of (political) age when they joined the monarchy-reform movement three years ago in 2020 refusing to go home and the situation getting out of control. Tens of thousands were willing to be arrested and detained and there is eventually not enough space to detain them all.
The tide eventually turns against the coup makers and some soldiers refuse to follow the illegitimate order while the silent majority start speaking out against the coup. The media refused to portray the coup makers as a well-intended savior of the last resort – as they have mostly done in the past over the decades, one coup maker after another.
This second scenario eventually sees a failed coup attempt and a successful people’s revolt that may see the army sent to the barrack, ushered army reform, and strictly placed the armed forces under civilian oversight and supremacy as well as reforms to modernize the monarchy institution in line with the twentieth century. Under this scenario, the controversial lese majeste law will be amended, and more.
The young and politicized voters, including those still too young to vote, are the key variable here and if there is a coup attempt in the months ahead, it will also be their biggest political test.
They will get the Thailand that they deserved and that will depend on the amount of their fortitude and resolve not to fail like what the older generations have failed them.
As for the Move Forward Party, ever since it was still the Future Forward Party, it was clear that some key elements within the party were not ideologically driven to not just seeking to become part of the powers that be, but to alter the status quo and Thailand as a result. Pita being rejected as PM may then just be the right ignition their supporters needed in order to push for a fundamental political and social change.
Russian servicemen guard an area standing in front of a tank in a street in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Saturday, June 24, 2023. (Vasily Deryugin, Kommersant Publishing House via AP)
A rebellious mercenary commander said Saturday he ordered his mercenaries to halt their march on Moscow and retreat to field camps in Ukraine, appearing to defuse a dramatically escalating crisis that represented the most significant challenge to President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power.
Moscow had braced for the arrival of forces from the Wagner Group, a private army led by Yevgeny Prigozhin that has been fighting alongside regular Russian troops in Ukraine, by erecting checkpoints with armored vehicles and troops on the city’s southern edge. Red Square was shut down, and the mayor urged motorists to stay off some roads.
But Prigozhin announced that while his men were just 200 kilometers (120 miles) from Moscow, he decided to turn them back to avoid “shedding Russian blood.”
Two servicemen stand on a tribune of Lenin mausoleum closed due to security reasons, Red Square in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, June 24, 2023. (AP Photo)
He did not say whether the Kremlin had responded to his demand to oust Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. There was no immediate comment from Putin’s government.
The announcement followed a statement from the office of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko saying he had negotiated a deal with Prigozhin after discussing the issue with Putin. Prigozhin agreed to halt the advance in a proposed settlement including security guarantees for Wagner troops, Lukashenko’s office said, without elaborating.
Putin had vowed harsh consequences for organizers of the armed uprising led by his onetime protege, who brought his forces out of Ukraine, seized a key military facility in southern Russia and advanced toward Moscow.
In a televised speech to the nation, Putin called the rebellion a “betrayal” and “treason.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen on monitors as he addresses the nation after Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, called for armed rebellion and reached the southern city of Rostov-on-Don with his troops, in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, June 24, 2023. (Pavel Bednyakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
“All those who prepared the rebellion will suffer inevitable punishment,” Putin said. “The armed forces and other government agencies have received the necessary orders.”
It wasn’t immediately clear what concessions, if any, Putin may have made to persuade Prigozhin to halt his march.
If he accedes to Prigozhin’s demand to oust Shoigu, Prigozhin would emerge from the crisis as a clear winner in a major blow to Putin’s authority.
If Prigozhin agrees not to press the demand, Putin could award him with more lucrative government contracts like those on which he has built his fortune in the past.
However, it would be awkward and politically damaging for Putin to backtrack after branding Prigozhin a backstabbing traitor.
Some observers speculated that Prigozhin could make concessions such as putting the Wagner Group under federal authority, or he could shift the force’s activities back to Africa, where his mercenaries have been active in recent years.
Early Saturday, Prigozhin’s private army appeared to control the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, a city 660 miles (over 1,000 kilometers) south of Moscow that runs Russian operations in Ukraine, Britain’s Ministry of Defense said.
Wagner troops and equipment also were in Lipetsk province, about 360 kilometers (225 miles) south of Moscow, where authorities were “taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the population,” said regional Gov. Igor Artamonov, via Telegram.
In this handout photo taken from video released by Prigozhin Press Service, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, records his video addresses in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Saturday, June 24, 2023. (Prigozhin Press Service via AP)
Authorities declared a “counterterrorist regime” in Moscow and its surrounding region, enhancing security and restricting some movement. On the southern outskirts, troops erected checkpoints, arranged sandbags and set up machine guns. Crews dug up sections of highways to slow the march.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin warned that traffic could be restricted in parts of the capital and declared Monday a non-working day for most residents.
The dramatic developments came exactly 16 months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Europe’s largest conflict since World War II, which has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions and reduced cities to rubble.
Ukrainians hoped the Russian infighting would create opportunities for its army to take back territory seized by Russian forces.
In this photo taken from video, people gather to look at military vehicles parked in a street in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Saturday, June 24, 2023. (AP Photo)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moscow was suffering “full-scale weakness” and that Kyiv was protecting Europe from “the spread of Russian evil and chaos.”
The Federal Security Service, or FSB, called for Prigozhin’s arrest Friday night after he declared the armed rebellion.
Prigozhin said earlier Saturday that his fighters would not surrender, as “we do not want the country to live on in corruption, deceit and bureaucracy.”
“Regarding the betrayal of the motherland, the president was deeply mistaken. We are patriots of our homeland,” he said in an audio message on his Telegram channel.
Prigozhin said he had 25,000 troops under his command and urged the army not to offer resistance.
He posted video of himself at the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don and claimed his forces had taken control of the airfield and other military facilities in the city without any deaths or even “a single gunshot.” Other videos on social media showed military vehicles, including tanks, on the streets.
The rebellion came as Russia is “fighting the toughest battle for its future,” Putin said, with the West piling sanctions on Moscow and arming Ukraine.
“The entire military, economic and information machine of the West is waged against us,” Putin said.
State-controlled TV networks led their newscasts with Putin’s statement and reported the tense situation in Rostov-on-Don. Some showed social media videos of residents denouncing Wagner troops.
Broadcasters also carried statements from top officials and lawmakers voicing support for Putin and condemning Prigozhin.
In this photo taken from video a Russian armored vehicle stands in a street in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Saturday, June 24, 2023. (AP Photo)
In announcing the rebellion, Prigozhin said he wanted to punish Shoigu after he accused Russian government forces of attacking Wagner field camps in Ukraine with rockets, helicopter gunships and artillery. He claimed that “a huge number of our comrades got killed.”
Prigozhin said his forces shot down a Russian military helicopter that fired on a civilian convoy, but there was no independent confirmation.
He also alleged that Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff, ordered the attacks following a meeting with Shoigu in Rostov, where they decided to destroy the military contractor.
The Defense Ministry denied attacking the Wagner camps.
The 62-year-old Prigozhin, a former convict, has long ties to the Russian leader and won lucrative Kremlin catering contracts that earned him the nickname “Putin’s chef.”
He gained attention in the U.S. when he and a dozen other Russian nationals were charged with operating a covert social media campaign aimed at fomenting discord ahead of Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential election victory. He formed the Wagner mercenary group, which sent military contractors to Libya, Syria, several African countries and eventually Ukraine.
After Putin’s address, in which he called for unity, officials sought to reiterate their allegiance to the Kremlin and urged Prigozhin to back down.
Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the lower house of parliament, said lawmakers “stand for the consolidation of forces″ and support Putin.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova echoed that, saying in a Telegram post that “we have one commander in chief. Not two, not three. One.″
Ramzan Kadyrov, the strongman leader of the Chechnya region who used to side with Prigozhin in his criticism of the military, also expressed his full support of Putin’s “every word.”
“The mutiny needs to be suppressed,” Kadyrov said.
Even with the confrontation seemingly defused, it appeared likely to further hinder Moscow’s war effort as Kyiv’s forces probed Russian defenses in the initial stages of a counteroffensive.
Wagner forces have played a crucial role, capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut, an area where the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. But Prigozhin has increasingly criticized the military brass, accusing it of incompetence and of starving his troops of munitions.
A man takes down the poster with writing reading “Join us at Wagner”, which is associated with the owner of the Wagner private military contractor, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is seen above a highway on the outskirts of St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, June 24, 2023. (AP Photo)
Prigozhin’s actions could have significant implications for the war. Orysia Lutsevych, the head of the Ukraine Forum at the Chatham House think tank in London, said the infighting could create confusion and potential division among Russian military forces.
“Russian troops in Ukraine may well now be operating in a vacuum, without clear military instructions, and doubts about whom to obey and follow,″ Lutsevych said. “This creates a unique and unprecedented military opportunity for the Ukrainian army.”
Ukrainian soldier Andrii Kvasnytsia, attending a funeral for a comrade, said Prigozhin’s intentions toward Ukraine might be worse than Putin’s, but that the infighting would still benefit the country.
Western countries monitored developments closely. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his counterparts in the other G7 countries and the European Union’s foreign affairs representative, his spokesman said, adding that Blinken “reiterated that support by the United States for Ukraine will not change.”
Latvia and Estonia, two NATO countries that border Russia, said they were increasing security at their borders.
The Kremlin said Putin spoke by phone with the leaders of Turkey, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan about the events.
Although there was speculation that Putin had left Moscow, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied it.
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Associated Press writer Danica Kirka in London contributed.
