The Family’s Expenses Increase as School Opens A New Semester

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10 May 2023, 13:51

During this period, parents took their children to buy school uniforms and other necessities for school in preparation for the new semester which strart from May 15.

Parents may also bring gold or valuables to pawn or to sell in order to make money for their children. As a result of economic inflation, the cost of various items, including semester expenses, increases.

new semester2 — Parents took their children to buy school uniforms at shop in Sampeng Market, Bangkok.

Kasikorn Research presents its survey on families’ financial readiness for the school, which will open in the 2023 semester. A total of 10.4 million students (from kindergarten to high school) are expected to start school this semester, a 0.9 per cent increase from 2022.

68.5 per cent of parents said they were worried about family finances in the 2023 semester. The figure is slightly better than the same period last year as the economy has returned to normal and the tourism industry has gained momentum, leading to higher revenue in the service sector.

new semester3 — Some parents sell their gold in order to support their children financially.

The survey shows that the lower-to-middle income group (less than 40,000 baht per month) and those who have more than one child to study are most concerned about their financial situation. The majority of parents choose to save in order to spend money on their children.

The survey also found that spending on education has increased by 5 per cent compared to the same period last year, to a total of 28.5 billion baht. Some of the reasons are the increase in tuition fees and inflation in products.

Tuition fees (excluding international schools) increased by an average of 4.8 per cent year-on-year, equivalent to 23.8 billion baht.

The cost of student uniforms and other school equipment increased by about 8 per cent year-on-year, equivalent to 2.7 billion baht.

ASEAN Leaders Condemn Armed Attack on Aid Convoy in Myanmar

By

Associated Press

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10 May 2023, 12:38

Indonesia Southeast Asia Summit — Indonesian President Joko Widodo, center, stands with other leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to listen to ASEAN anthem during the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia, Wednesday, May 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia (AP) — Southeast Asian leaders condemned an armed attack on an aid convoy that the regional group had arranged for displaced people in Myanmar, calling Wednesday for an immediate stop to violence and for the military government to comply with a peace plan.

Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations convened in the picturesque harbor town of Labuan Bajo in southern Indonesia at the start of a two-day summit. Their host, President Joko Widodo, called for unity amid global economic headwinds and major-power rivalry that’s lashing the region.

The 10-nation bloc is also being pressed to address the crisis underway in member state Myanmar.

Over the weekend, a convoy delivering aid to displaced villagers and carrying Indonesian and Singaporean diplomats came under fire by unidentified men armed with pistols in Myanmar’s eastern Shan state. A security team with the convoy returned fire and a vehicle was damaged, but no one in the convoy was injured, state-run television MRTV reported.

AP23130097081562 — Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., right, stands with other ASEAN leaders, listen ASEAN anthem during the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia, Wednesday, May 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

Indonesia, which serves as ASEAN’s chair this year, had arranged for the delivery of the aid after a long-delayed assessment.

“We condemned the attack and underlined that the perpetrators must be held accountable,” the ASEAN leaders said in a joint statement Wednesday.

For the second year, the top general of member state Myanmar was not invited to the summit. He and his army forcibly took power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 in a power grab that degenerated into a civil strife in what has become ASEAN’s gravest crisis since its 1967 founding.

AP23130078807050 — From left to right, Philippine’s President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and East Timorese Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak hold hands as they pose for photographers during the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, Wednesday, May 10, 2023. (Akbar Nugroho Gumay/Pool Photo via AP)

ASEAN leaders said they were “deeply concerned with ongoing violence in Myanmar and urged the immediate cessation of all forms of violence and the use of force to create a conducive environment for the safe and timely delivery of humanitarian assistance and inclusive national dialogues.”

In an additional concern involving Myanmar, Indonesian officials said Sunday that 20 of their nationals, who were trafficked into Myanmar and forced to perform cyber scams, had been freed from Myanmar’s Myawaddy township and brought to the Thai border over the weekend. During the summit, ASEAN leaders planned to express their concern over such human trafficking schemes in a joint statement, a draft copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press.

AP23129372949971 — Indonesian soldiers stand guard at Labuan Bajo bay ahead of the 42nd China Trade meetings in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia, Tuesday, May 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

More than 3,450 civilians have been killed by security forces since Myanmar’s military forcibly took power, and thousands more remain imprisoned, said the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which keeps tallies of casualties and arrests linked to repression by the military government.

In April, military airstrikes killed as many as 100 people, including many children, who were attending a ceremony by opponents of army rule, according to witnesses. Human Rights Watch on Tuesday described the strike as an “apparent war crime.”

Indonesia has considerably eased its fierce criticism of Myanmar’s military since assuming the rotating role as ASEAN’s leader. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said her country is taking “a non-megaphone diplomacy approach” to encourage dialogue and end violence, which are goals of a five-point peace plan Southeast Asian leaders negotiated with Myanmar’s top general in 2021.

AP23130116555342 — Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, left, talks with his East Timorese counterpart Taur Matan Ruak during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia, Wednesday, May 10, 2023. (Willy Kurniawan/Pool Photo via AP)

Under international pressure to do more to address the violence, ASEAN leaders stopped inviting Myanmar’s top general to their summits after the military seized power, allowing only non-political representatives. Myanmar’s military rulers have protested the move as a violation of the bloc’s non-interference policy.

In a post-summit communique to be issued by Widodo on behalf of the ASEAN leaders, they plan to renew a call for self-restraint in the disputed South China Sea, repeating language used in previous ASEAN statements.

“Concerns were expressed by some ASEAN member states on the land reclamations, activities, and serious incidents in the area, including damage to the marine environment, which has eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions, and may undermine peace, security, and stability in the region,” said a draft of the communique, which was obtained by the AP.

The leaders will also raise alarm over the trafficking of Southeast Asian workers forced to commit online crypto currency frauds.

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JIM GOMEZ and EDNA TARIGAN reported from LABUAN BAJO.

CP Foods wins 3G Awards 2023 for excellence in sustainability development and social responsibility practices.

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Contributor

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10 May 2023, 10:30

Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CP Foods) received the Global Good Governance Awards (3G Awards), receiving two awards: the 3G Best Sustainability Framework Award 2023 for its outstanding corporate sustainability practices and the 3G Best CSR Programme Award 2023 for its significant CSR initiatives that create value for the society and the environment.

The prestigious award ceremony was recently organized by the United Kingdom’s Cambridge IFA International Financial Advisory, at the Global Good Governance Summit 2023 which held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

CP Foods is awarded the 3G Best Sustainability Framework Award 2023 for establishing policies and strategies to promote environmental and social sustainability in order to consistently generate economic benefits, create value for society and the environment, and ensure food security. The company is committed to placing an emphasis on innovation development and the utilzation of technology in the food production process to move forward to achieving a Net-Zero emissions goal by 2050.

The 3G Best CSR Program Award 2023 was presented in recognition of CP Foods’ exemplary social responsibility commitments to conserve and restore ecosystem and biodiversity by implementing forest conservation and restoration projects, such as the CPF Rak Ni-Ves at Phraya Doen Thong Mountain Project and the CPF Grow-Share- Protect Mangrove Forestation Project.

The 3G Awards honored governments, businesses, and individuals from all over the world for their leadership in sustainable social responsibility and good governance practices. The winners were selected by the award committee at Cambridge IFA with prioritized transparency, social responsibility, sustainability, positive impact on the community, and innovation.

Great ideas from Blue Tree Phuket to have the time of your life!

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Contributor

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10 May 2023, 09:32

If you are planning to visit Phuket to escape the searing heat, we have some great suggestions to help you to chill! Don’t wait any longer – pack your bags and fly straight to Blue Tree Phuket where a complete range of activities boasting the slogan “Entertainment Hub, Thrill & Chill, Day & Night” is on offer to suit all ages and lifestyles. Whether you prefer thrills or just want to relax, you’re guaranteed a blast that makes the cost of admission more than worthwhile!

When you arrive at Blue Tree Phuket, first cool down and relax in the free areas (except for the Blue Tree Lagoon zone) and plan where you want to start playing. Here are some ideas to help you decide what will be the most fun .

For the thrill-seekers.

The most challenging and hottest activity is the “Superfly” where you soar through the air before plunging into the water on the longest slide in Thailand! There are four levels of challenges with heights ranging from 6-10 meters waiting to greet thrill-seeking visitors. If that’s not enough to get your adrenaline flowing, try the “Flyboard,” an extreme sport that will take you to the sky, soaring over the water while admiring the views of the Crystal Lagoon below. Still not satisfied? Test your courage by shooting down the “Zipline,” another sport that will take you across the shore while enjoying the stunning views from a high angle of Blue Tree Lagoon. When you reach the cliff, let your heart go and “cliff jump” facing the ultimate challenge with heights of 5 and 10 meters. Or if that’s still not enough, go “rock climbing” to increase your strength, then jump into the Crystal Lagoon to fully satisfy your adventurous spirit!

Next, take a break from the excitement and enjoy the beautiful panoramic view of Crystal Lagoon with some light activities such as “Paddle Board”. Then, get ready for some action with the sport of “Muay Talay” (Sea Boxing) as boxers flex their muscles and show off their skills. If you still have the energy, try the exhilarating “Skimboard”, a sport with small boards that allows you to glide on the shallow waters and practice various techniques to enhance your skills and increase the fun even more.

Now indulge in some chill activities…

If you’re not into extreme sports, there are plenty of cool and enjoyable activities to enjoy. For the active, there’s Padel Tennis, the hottest sport from Europe that is easy to play and suitable for all ages and genders on a standard court of 10×20 meters, Water Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Beach Tennis, Darts and Contemporary Dance Class. In the mood for just relaxing? Then watching Blue Tree’s Aquatic Shows featuring special performances from underwater diving teams, cliff diving, and the super-exciting Extreme Sports Champion Flyboard, which guarantees a thrill a minute!

If you prefer just some light exercise, Blue Tree Forest, a garden area of over 50 acres, is the place to enjoy mountain biking, disc golf, surf skate, the outdoor gym, and more.

Something for the kids too

Parents don’t have to worry because we have Kids Planet, a supervised kids club that takes care of children from 1.5-6 years old. Kids can participate in various skill-building activities under the guidance of knowledgeable and experienced staff who understand tiny tots. The staff have been trained to international standards based on cleanliness and safety.

Additionally, there are many fun areas such as a large trampoline park, roller-skating rink, water park, climbing net, and various types of zip lines (Zipline), Ninja Warrior, and Tarzan & Jane zone in the Laguna area. These areas provide space for families, both children and parents, to have fun together with different kinds of slides.

Take a break and indulge in some delicious international cuisine…

There are plenty of options available when it comes to international food such as Bay Grill restaurant or a sunset drink at the Sunset View Tapas Bar. You can also try the Italian restaurant “Made In Italy”, and many more.

After satisfying your palate take a leisurely stroll to the Lifestyle Village Zone, which offers various lifestyle activities. Check-in and enjoy the beautiful tropical atmosphere, shop for trendy clothing, visit the relaxation massage shop, get your nails done, appreciate the art and paint on the walls, or take lots of photos at various attractions. available. Warning! The memory card may quickly become full!

Moreover, the Blue Tree Phuket – the ultimate entertainment hub – has a packed menu of entertaining activities every Saturday. Entitled “Wansao Picnic in the Park”, there is something for everyone including games, art workshops, markets, food stalls, movies and more.

With all that’s being offered at Blue Tree Phuket, it easy to understand how it lives up to its slogan of “Entertainment Hub, Thrill & Chill, Day & Night”. And these activities are just teasers for the complete fun experience. Stepping into Blue Tree Phuket is like entering into a new world thanks to its unique fun-filled activities. We promise you’ll have the time of your life so come and see for yourself.

For more information, please call at 076-602435 or click www.bluetree.fun/

#BlueTree #Phuket #BlueTreePhuket #Entertainmenthub #ThrillandChill #DayandNight

4 Unacquainted Teens Investigated Over Tokyo Rolex Store Robbery

By

Kyodo News

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9 May 2023, 22:46

The four individuals under investigation for possible involvement in the robbery of a Rolex specialty store in Tokyo’s upmarket Ginza shopping district are aged between 16 and 19 and were unacquainted with each other, investigative sources said Tuesday.

The four were arrested Monday after being spotted near a minivan apparently used to flee from Quark Ginza 888, where more than 100 wristwatches are believed to have been stolen earlier that day. Their arrest was not due to the robbery but for suspected trespassing in a nearby apartment building in Tokyo’s Minato Ward during their escape.

The Metropolitan Police Department have also confiscated smartphones owned by two of the four and are analyzing it to find out if the teens had been recruited for “yami baito,” literally meaning “dark part-time work.”

Another suspect in the robbery, which took place at around 6:15 p.m. on Monday, may still be at large, the sources said, after receiving eyewitness information that five people were spotted fleeing the scene of the crime.

One of the four in custody is 16, another is an 18-year-old high school student and the other two are both 19, the sources said. They are all residents of Yokohama, near Tokyo.

The sources said the high school senior denied trespassing in the apartment building, while the other three admitted doing so.

Some passersby appeared oblivious to the robbery, which took place at a time when the area was still busy with pedestrians.

ginza — Screen grab from video footage taken by an eyewitness shows three masked robbers fleeing a Rolex specialty store in Tokyo’s upmarket Ginza shopping district on May 8, 2023. (Kyodo)

“I thought there was a shooting of a movie. I initially could not believe it was an incident,” said a 35-year-old Tokyo man, who witnessed the masked individuals ransacking the store despite some people watching them from outside.

Eyewitness footage shows three masked individuals carrying what appeared to be crowbars, which they used to smash display cases before putting the luxury watches in black bags and fleeing in a waiting minivan. The video also shows passersby being verbally threatened as the robbers left the scene.

The police found the minivan about 3 kilometers from the store, the sources said, adding that it is believed to be a rental vehicle with a switched license plate.

They found and seized a black bag near the minivan containing around 30 watches and are confirming whether the watches are those stolen from the specialty store, the sources said.

The minivan’s bumper was damaged, suggesting it had been in an accident, the sources said.

The police said that a mask similar to those worn by the three people in the footage was also found in the area in Minato Ward where the four were apprehended.

As the four arrested wore different clothes from the three who broke into the specialty store, they may have changed their attire following the incident, such as while inside the minivan, the sources said.

None of the five sales staff in the store at the time of the robbery was injured.

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Previous report: Rolex Store In Tokyo Robbed, 4 Men Taken Into Custody

Putin Tells WWII Event West Is Waging A ‘Real War’ On Russia

By

Associated Press

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9 May 2023, 18:28

Russia Victory Day Parade — Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his speech during the Victory Day military parade marking the 78th anniversary of the end of World War II in Red square in Moscow, Russia, Monday, May 9, 2022. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday told his country’s traditional Victory Day parade on Moscow’s Red Square that the West’s “untamed ambitions, arrogance and impunity” are driving “a real war” against Russia, while the Kremlin’s forces fired another cruise missile barrage at Ukraine.

“Today civilization is once again at a decisive turning point,” Putin said at the annual commemorations celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. “A real war has been unleashed against our Motherland.”

AP23129326973775 — Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his speech during the Victory Day military parade marking the 78th anniversary of the end of World War II in Red square in Moscow, Russia, Monday, May 9, 2022. (Dmitry Astakhov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Putin’s remarks came just hours after the Kremlin’s forces fired its latest barrage of cruise missiles at Ukraine, which Russia invaded more than 14 months ago in what it officially refers to as a “special military operation.”

Ukrainian authorities said air defenses destroyed 23 of the 25 missiles that were launched. The air force said in a Telegram post that eight Kalibr cruise missiles were fired from carriers in the Black Sea toward the east and 17 from strategic aircraft.

Putin has repeatedly framed the war in Ukraine as a proxy conflict with the West. The Kremlin’s official narrative of the war depicts an existential battle with the West, which in Moscow’s view is merely using Ukraine as a tool to destroy Russia, re-write its history and crush its traditional values. That version of events has dominated Russian state media coverage of the war.

AP23129223652949 — Military vehicles move toward Red Square to attend a Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, May 9, 2023, marking the 78th anniversary of the end of World War II. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Putin praised soldiers taking part in the war in Ukraine and urged Russians to stand together.

“Our heroic ancestors proved that there is nothing stronger, more powerful and more reliable than our unity. There is nothing in the world stronger than our love for the motherland,” Putin said.

He blasted “Western globalist elites” that “harp about their exclusivity, pit people against each other, divide society and provoke bloody conflicts and coups, sow hatred, Russophobia.”

But there were signs the Ukraine war is taking a toll on Russia. Military analysts say the Russian military has struggled with ammunition supplies, troop morale and poor leadership and organization. The conflict largely became a war of attrition over the winter after Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022 came up short.

AP23129209889577 — Russian soldiers march toward Red Square to attend a Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, May 9, 2023, marking the 78th anniversary of the end of World War II. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

The parade this year appeared shorter and much more pared-back than usual. Only some 8,000 troops marched in Red Square this year — the lowest number since 2008. Even the parade in 2020, the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, featured some 13,000 soldiers, and last year, 11,000 troops took part.

Unlike in previous years, there was no fly-over of military jets, and less equipment was on show in the parade. The event, unusually, lasted less than an hour.

Russia also enacted a major security clampdown for the commemorations. Authorities curbed the use of drones and ride-sharing services in Moscow and even jet skis on the canals of St. Petersburg.

AP23129312870172 — Bastions, Russian mobile coastal defence missile system launchers, roll during the Victory Day military parade at Dvortsovaya (Palace) Square on May 9 to celebrate 78 years after the victory in World War II, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, May 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

Russian media counted 24 Russian cities that canceled May 9 military parades — the staple of celebrations across Russia — for the first time in years. Regional officials blamed unspecified “security concerns” or vaguely referred to “the current situation” for the restrictions and cancellations. It wasn’t clear whether their decisions were taken in coordination with the Kremlin.

Last week, Russia was alarmed by two Ukrainian drones that in murky circumstances reportedly flew into the heart of Moscow under the cover of darkness and reached the Kremlin before being shot down. Other drones said to be fired by Ukraine have also hit Russian oil depots near the border.

The Immortal Regiment processions, in which crowds take to the streets holding portraits of relatives who died or served in World War II — another pillar of the holiday — have also been canceled in multiple cities. Some speculated, that the reason for this was not security but the fact that Russians might bring portraits of relatives who died in Ukraine to those processions, illustrating the scale of Russia’s losses in the drawn-out conflict.

The Red Square guest list was also light amid Putin’s broad diplomatic isolation over the war. Initially, only one foreign leader was expected to attend this year’s parade — Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov. That was one more foreign guest than last year, when no leaders went.

AP23129321740714 — Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu salutes his soldiers as he is driven along Red Square in the Aurus Senat car during the Victory Day military parade marking the 78th anniversary of the end of World War II in Red square in Moscow, Russia, Monday, May 9, 2022. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

At the last minute on Monday, officials announced that the leaders of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan were heading to Moscow as well.

The cruise missiles directed at Ukraine were launched hours before European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Union’s executive branch, arrived in Kyiv.

Ukraine is keen to join the European Union, but membership has many requirements and is still a long way off. Ukraine is also hoping to join NATO, after moving close to the Western military alliance during the war with Russia.

In the latest help from a NATO member, the U.S. was expected to announce Tuesday that it will provide $1.2 billion more in long-term military aid to Ukraine to further bolster its air defenses.

AP23129209805915 — Russian soldiers march toward Red Square to attend a Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, May 9, 2023, marking the 78th anniversary of the end of World War II. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Protest Against Labour Minister’s Threat To Migrant Workers

By

Khaosod English

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9 May 2023, 17:51

The Labour Network for People’s Rights, which includes the Migrant Working Group (MWG), protested in front of the Ministry of Labour on May 9, 2023, while reading the declaration of their activities for International Workers’ Day in front of the entrance of the Ministry of Labour on the side of the Thai-Japanese Youth Centre in Bangkok to counter Suchat Chomklin, the Minister of Labour, who was threatening to sue migrant workers under Section 112 and suspend their rights to work in the Kingdom.

The network said that this year’s event was held during the election campaign, so they did not only make demands on workers but rather talked about national policies related to workers. On that day, a Cambodian national gave a speech about national discrimination and the double standard of being treated as a “foreign worker”.

However, during the speech, a group of protesters, 24th June Democracy, held up a sign reading “Reform the monarchy, Create the welfare” to highlight their demands. The network stressed that the speaker, who was talking about transnational workers, had nothing to do with the political protest group.

After the event, far-right media outlets such as Thaipost, Top News and the Labour Minister’s Facebook page spread disinformation and misinformation slamming migrant workers as “ungrateful to [Thailand]” or “don’t know your place”. It is reported that many migrant workers received threatening phone calls saying they would be sued under Section 112.

The statement highlights that Section 112 has been used to restrict and manipulate people’s freedom to express their opinions in order to attack political enemies including the working class. The impact of restricted freedom has also affected the living conditions of workers.

The arrest, impeachment and harassment of innocent people is a tyranny on the workers who are suffering hardship in their financial situation. Even if the demand is not about royal reformation, workers are conditioned not to speak about their suffering as the Thai Labour Minister threatens to suspend their rights to work.

The network then condemned Thai Labour Minister Suchat Chomklin and the far-right media, calling on them to stop spreading fake news.

Prayut’s Party Denies Using a Laser Campaign on the Rama VIII Bridge

By

Khaosod English

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9 May 2023, 15:46

The attractive laser campaign of the United Thai Nation Party on the Rama VIII Bridge has become a hot issue in the final stages of the election campaign.

The government deputy spokesperson, Tipanan Sirichana, who is also a member of the United Thai Nation Party, had posted the pictures on the Rama VIII Bridge’s pole as a projection of lasers with the message campaign of the United Thai Nation Party on Monday night. Her posts have become criticisms of how the government party can use the public building for campaigning.

She later claimed Tuesday she did it herself, but a leaked letter dated Monday shows the request was made on behalf of her party, while the United Thai Nation Party, of which PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is the leader, released the statement that Tipanan did it without asking or telling the party’s executives.

The party also claimed that when it learned about this campaign, it reprimanded, issued a warning letter, and ordered Ms. Tipanun to stop doing so immediately.

Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt said Tuesday that City Hall has failed to look into the details of the letter seeking to have the United Thai Nation Party campaign message projected on Rama VIII Bridge and has now ordered it be stopped.

“We insist that City Hall gave no preferential treatment to any particular political party but it was a misunderstanding… We have it stopped once we knew about it,” the governor said.

Election Commission secretary general Sawaeng Boonme said later that the use of laser gun to project Election campaign message on Rama VIII Bridge by the United Thai Nation Party is not against the election laws.

Divisive Thai Ex-Pm Vows To Return From Exile After Polls

By

Associated Press

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9 May 2023, 15:02

FILE - In this Friday, March 22, 2019 file photo, Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra welcomes his guests for the wedding of his youngest daughter Paetongtarn "Ing" Shinawatra at a hotel in Hong Kong. Photo: Kin Cheung / AP

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s self-exiled former prime minister said Tuesday he wants to return home by July, making his declaration less than a week before the country heads to polls in which his daughter is a frontrunner.

Thaksin Shinawatra tweeted for the second time this month that he would like to come home to see his grandchildren. He said he is prepared to face justice, including several convictions on charges including abuse of power and corruption.

“I have made a decision that I’ll go home to raise my grandchildren by this July, before my birthday. Please excuse me. It’s been nearly 17 years that I have to be away from my family. I’m already old,” he said.

Thaksin, 73, was a populist prime minister when he was ousted by a military coup in 2006.

He fled Thailand to escape a prison term in several criminal cases, which he decried as politically motivated. The government of his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, was also toppled in a 2014 coup led by the current prime minister and candidate in the May 14 election, Prayuth Chan-ocha.

If Thaksin follows through on his pledge to return before his birthday on July 26, he could face at least a decade behind bars. Thaksin is a popular but divisive figure in Thai politics, and there are concerns that his return could be destabilizing.

In his tweet, Thaksin said he won’t be a burden to his daughter’s Pheu Thai Party.

“I’ll enter the legal process, and the day I return will still be in a period of Gen. Prayuth’s interim government. All of this is my own decision from my love and bond with my family, my homeland, and our master,” he said. It was unclear whom he was referring to as the master, but it could be a reference to Thailand’s king, who is revered by his people.

ไม่ต้องกังวลว่าผมจะเป็นภาระพรรคเพื่อไทย ผมจะเข้าสู่กระบวนการกฎหมายและวันที่ผมกลับยังเป็นช่วงรัฐบาลรักษาการของ พล.อ.ประยุทธ์อยู่ ทั้งหมดคือการตัดสินใจของผมเองด้วยความรักผูกพันธ์กับครอบครัว/แผ่นดินเกิดและเจ้านายของเรา

— Thaksin Shinawatra (@ThaksinLive) May 9, 2023

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin’s youngest daughter, has consistently topped opinion polls as a favored prime minister candidate. The residual popularity of her billionaire father, especially among poor and working-class Thais, is a major factor behind her rise.

After she gave birth to a baby boy this month, Thaksin tweeted that he would like to come home to see his grandchildren, ending the tweet with “See you soon.” It prompted Paetongtarn to play down the significance of the message, saying it was just a natural expression of a grandfather who was “very happy and excited.”

In 2013, Yingluck’s government, largely seen as Thaksin’s proxy, had floated a proposal for a political amnesty bill that could allow Thaksin to escape imprisonment. It triggered a series of protests which turned violent, eventually leading to the coup in 2014.

“I am my dad’s daughter, always and forever, but I have my own decisions,” Paetongtarn said during one of her Pheu Thai’s campaign rallies.

RBSO European Tour 2023 Stages the royal compositions of Princess Sirivannavari

By

Contributor

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9 May 2023, 14:03

“RBSO European Tour 2023” brings to the world’s three prestigious musical halls the royal composition by HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya from May 18 to 22, 2023

From May 18 to 22, 2023, three of the world’s prestigious classical music halls will stage the royal compositions of HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, performed by Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra under HRH’s patronage.

“RBSO European Tour 2023” starts at Musikverein, Vienna on May 18; Herkulessaal, Munich on 20; and, La Seine Musicale, Paris.

The orchestra is conducted by Maestro Michel Tilkin—a renown Belgian conductor and Music Director of RBSO since 2018. Joining as soloists in the royal compositions are: Niklas Liepe, violin, on Concerto for Violin and Orchestra; and, Titos Gouvelis, piano, on Le Mariage de Minuit – Fantaisie pour piano et orchestre. The repertoire also includes Smetana’s Vltava and Dvořák’s Symphony no. 8.

The musical compositions of HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya embody the classical contemporary music, which concentrates on the program music genre. Each composition is characterized by different arrays of tone color from sweet romance to robust sounds, from traditional tunes to exotic airs, whilst strictly following classical and traditional formats of musical arrangement.

Her Royal Highness’ inspiration for musical composition has derived from her collective memories, experiences, observation, impression, contemplation and consideration over the dynamic works and diverse missions through which she has involved over years. Her passion in the dressage, artistic creation of textile, and haute couture design has also associated immensely to her musical composition.

Dr. Harald Link, RBSO Foundation Chairman, remarked: “It’s always been in HRH Princess Sirivannavari’s determination to bring RBSO to the world stages, especially in Europe. HRH’s compositions and RBSO’s performance serve as a cultural exchange and an affirmation of friendship between Kingdom of Thailand and the three countries from which the classical music has evolved.”

To officially launch RBSO European Tour 2023, the first concert will be given at Thailand Cultural Centre on Friday 12th May 2023, at 7:30PM.

“RBSO European Tour 2023” receives broad cooperation from Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Culture. The Royal Thai Embassies and the Royal Thai Consulate General at the three countries—Austria, Germany, and, France—have taken part in coordination and organization of the concerts. The tour is also made possible by the supports of B.Grimm, Government Savings Bank, Muang Thai Insurance, King Power, BJC-BigC, CP, SCB, SCG Foundation and Central Group.

For more information, please contact RBSO office:

Tel. 02 255 6617-8 / 02 255 9191-2

Email: [email protected]

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