reader

From The Thaiger A Thai activist is facing one year behind bars for writing about his sexual experiences in prison on his Facebook account. Ekachai Hongkangwan was sentenced to one year in prison without parole yesterday. The activist’s relatives have applied to get him out on bail and are awaiting the Supreme Court’s final decision, which is expected to take two to three days. Ekachai is currently awaiting the verdict inside Bangkok Remand Prison, where he previously spent two years and eight months of his life. Ekachai was charged with violating the Computer Crime Act by “disseminating obscene material online.” But it wasn’t explicit photos or videos which got him in trouble with the law, it was words. The court’s decision yesterday relates to comments Ekachai made on Facebook back in 2017. In a series of posts called “My First Prison Life”, Ekachai went into explicit details about his sexual experiences during the two years and eight months he spent in the all-male Bangkok Remand Prison. Ekachai said the reason he wrote the posts on Facebook was to expose the conditions inside Bangkok’s prisons. He wanted the posts to create the opportunity for prison conditions to improve. He said the prison society is closed off and most people don’t know what it’s really like there, for example people don’t know what people’s sex lives are like behind bars. He said his intention was not to spread any kind of pornography online, which is against the law, but just to share his experience. He said the posts got a lot of attention, but there was not one comment suggesting the posts were a type of pornography. The court said that Ekachai could have written about problems in the prison system without the use of obscene language. The defendant’s actions were considered an offense by the court, who sentenced him to one year in prison without parole.

From Vietnam News HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam recorded seven COVID-related fatalities on Wednesday, the first time the daily death toll fell to single-digits since July last year. There were also 13,271 new infections recorded nationwide. The country’s COVID caseload since the start of the pandemic now stands at 10,502,590. More than 210.1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the country to date, of which 88,820 first doses have been given to children aged 5 to 11

Reading the tea leaves going into the meeting on Friday that will determine what--if any--changes are made to test-and-go, one influential member of the committee that decides its fate seemed to throw a bit of cold water on expectations that it will be scrapped altogether. In a piece in today's Bangkok Post, Supoj Malaniyom, secretary-general of the National Security Council (NSC) and head of the CCSA's operations centre, said it should be understood that those entry systems, particularly Thailand Plus tracing application, were not bad. Supoj went on to say that If not for those entry systems over the past year, he could not think what Thailand would be like now. Nevertheless it seems that some adjustments are in the offing, given the push from the Tourism Authority and hospitality sector leaders over recent weeks.

Don't let that keep you from improvising!

From Pattaya News Minor International Chairman William Heinecke submitted an open letter to the Prime Minister yesterday, April 18th, urging the Thai government to cancel the ‘Thailand Pass’ entry scheme and ‘Test & Go’ program as soon as possible to help recover the country’s tourism industry. The letter read: “Despite the cancellation of pre-arrival Covid-19 testing, the visitors to Thailand are still required to complete an unnecessary series of steps, including pre-booking RT-PCR tests, prepaid one-night hotel accommodations, mandatory health insurance, and more in order to secure a visa and/or Thailand Pass. Visitors must go through too many requirements before arriving in Thailand compared to many other countries that are now completely open, including nearby Cambodia.” The Chairman mentioned that many countries which relied on international tourism, such as Singapore, had already revoked complicated entry measures to boost the recovery of domestic tourism and their economies. He advised the Prime Minister to scrap the country’s entry measures, including the ‘Thailand Pass’ and the ‘Test & Go’ program, stating that only a vaccination certificate and/or medical documents to prove the vaccination should be enough.

From The Thaiger Starting today, 20 locations around Bangkok will transform into cultural learning centres to celebrate the city’s 240th anniversary. Attendees are invited to learn more about Thailand’s unique history and culture through activities and performances held from April 20 – 24 around the city. The events are intended to demonstrate the kingdom’s “soft power,” promote cultural tourism and instil pride among both Thais and foreigners in the country. The Thai government said the celebrations will commemorate Bangkok’s founding on April 21 1782 as well as commemorate King Rama I, the founder of the Chakri dynasty, and all monarchs of the Rattanakosin Era. A free shuttle service between venues will be provided by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority. Attendees can call 1348 hotline to confirm pickup and drop off locations. No exact times of activities have been released, so you are welcome to turn up to venues from April 20 – 24 and see what’s going on. The festivities are split into nine zones… Zone 1) National Museum Bangkok and National Theatre. Zone 1 will feature lights and sounds, exhibitions, a cultural products bazaar and cuisines. Zone 2) Santichaiprakarn Park. Zone 2 will feature cultural performances, a cultural products showcase and local cultural markets. Zone 3) Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall. Zone 3 will feature a cultural exhibition. Zone 4) Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Centre. Zone 4 will feature art and cultural showcases by youth artists, photography exhibitions and an exhibition entitled “ASEAN Communities in Rattanakosin: From Past to Present.” Zone 5) Wat Prayurawongsawas Waraviharn. Zone 5 will feature a local food showcase and cultural performances. Zone 6) Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre. Zone 6 will feature cultural performances. Zone 7) Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimonmangkhalaram Rajwaramahwaiharn. Zone 7 will feature merit-making ceremonies dedicated to previous Chakri kings. Zone 8 ) The Bangkok City Pillar Shrine. Zone 8 will feature a sacrificial offering ceremony. Zone 9) The Grand Palace. Zone 9 invites attendees to pay homage to the Buddha images and explore the Grand Palace. The venues holding activities are… National Museum Bangkok, Bangkok City Pillar Shrine, Siam Museum, Santichai Parakan Park, Police Museum Parutsakwan Palace, Wat Bowonniwet Vihara, Wat Chanasongkram Ratchawormahawiharn, The Grand Palace, Defence Hall Museum, Wat Prayurawongsawas Warawihan, Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre, Wat Saket Ratchawormahawiharn (The Golden Mount), Wat Ratchanatdaram, Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall, Rachadamnoen Contemporary Art Centre, Wat Suthat Thep Waram, Wat Ratchabophit, Wat Ratchapradit Sathitmahasimaram, Coin Museum Thailand and Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimonmungklaram (Wat Pho).

From The Thaiger Sunshine and the sound of saxophones is expected to draw tourists to Hua Hin next month for the return of the city’s annual jazz festival. The International Jazz & Blues Festival 2022 will take place on May 9 at the True Arena, a two to three hour drive south of Bangkok. The festival will feature a 90-minute performance from Jazz musician Kenny G, marking his debut in Thailand. Grammy award-winning artist Kenny G will headline the festival. The lineup also includes jazz fusion artist DRAGONFLY, Thai jazz singer Varitda Bhirombhakdi, Melodic Corner, Mellow Motif and blues artist Yamin & The SOS. Tickets are on sale now and prices range from 2,000 – 5,000 depending on the package. Tickets can be bought here through the Thai Ticket Major website. The event has a lower capacity than usual year due to Covid-19 restrictions with a maximum of 3,500 people. Attendees must be fully vaccinated – at least two doses – or show proof of a negative antigen test result issued within 72 hours of the festival. Hua Hin Jazz Festival began in 2001 and has traditionally featured both established musicians and new local talents. The Tourism Authority of Thailand and event sponsor Singha Corporation are confident that the beachfront event, with its celebrated music and food, will draw holidaymakers to Hua Hin next month.

Making him eminently qualified for the new post he's seeking as governor.

From Bangkok Post The Judicial Commission on Monday decided to dismiss Sarawut Benjakul from his post as a special adviser to the Office of the Judiciary (OTJ) over serious misconduct relating to a 42.3-million-baht court renovation project. Mr Sarawut will not receive his pension as a result of his dismissal, a source said. Mr Sarawut was investigated after a contractor was found to have started work on the court's renovation when bidding for the project had yet to be called, the source said. Mr Sarawut, a former secretary-general of OTJ, recently entered Bangkok's gubernatorial race as an independent candidate.

From The Thaiger photo via Wingtips Facebook A thunderstorm hit Bangkok yesterday, causing the Service Hall at Don Mueang International airport to collapse. The hall was built just one year ago but hasn’t yet been used due to low levels of international travel throughout the pandemic. No injuries or deaths were reported. Luckily there was no one in there at the time. The walls of the Service Hall reportedly collapsed last night during a thunderstorm. The airport had built the hall to be used as a meeting place for group tours at Don Mueang Airport Terminal 1, the home of most budget international and some budget domestic flights. The management of Don Mueang Airport has ordered a team of engineers to inspect the damage and report the causes of the collapse in detail. Thailand’s Minister of Transport has ordered Airports of Thailand – or AOT – to also urgently investigate the cause of the incident. The Executive Director of AOT Nitinai Sirisatthakarn is currently awaiting a detailed report from the airport. The preliminary report stated there was a storm and heavy rainfall which overwhelmed some of the structure.

At the end of this article I'm posting a link to Gaybutton's board about the recent presentation by Pattaya Mail columnist Barry Kenyon at the Pattaya City Expats Club. The former British honorary consul to Pattaya discusses changes in the way the media has developed in Pattaya over the past three decades. I found it both entertaining and informative and thought you may, too. From Pattaya Mail By Brry Kenyon Employers throughout Thailand, particularly in the Pattaya region, are complaining that they cannot find enough manual workers to satisfy their demands. Officially, there are 600,000 Thais unemployed in government statistics. However, Poj Armamwattananint, vice-chair of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said that even unemployed Thais showed a great reluctance to accept labouring jobs. He thought there was no chance of this situation ending, especially as the Thai birth rate has been plummeting for years and continues to do so. Hence, attention has turned to finding more guest workers from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, the three countries which have Memoranda of Understanding with Thailand. There are currently an estimated 2.1 million migrant workers allowed to work legally here during the Covid-19 pandemic. The last Chonburi provincial figures, which include Pattaya, gave a total of 160,000 although the entire data is soft and does not include illegal entrants. About 80 percent are from Myanmar. Jessataporn Sriboo, managing director of the Chonburi foreign workers’ registration offices adjoining the Jomtien immigration bureau said, “In Pattaya City guest manual workers are needed for ongoing building projects, especially condominiums, as well as for many road repair projects which are sub-contracted by City Hall.” He added that outside Pattaya, there were also many vacancies for fruit pickers, factory workers and aboard fishing vessels. Mr Sriboo stressed that the main problem was the land border situation. “The official crossings are semi-closed because of Covid and only allow through goods traffic, returning residents and a small number of other foreigners.” He said that many Myanmars do approach the Thai immigration checkpoints only to be told that they require entry documentation and must immediately quarantine for 14 days in supervised accommodation. “The problem is that nobody, including potential employers, wants to pay for quarantine which, together with other registration costs, can amount to 20,000-30,000 baht.” As a result many wannabe labourers cross the borders illegally, with or without hired guides, and some end up in the Pattaya area where the streets are “paved with gold” according to rumour. However, the problem then is that they are not able to obtain proper work permit documentation because of their illegal status which, in turn, makes employers nervous of employing them because of inspections by immigration police or the Department of Labour. Illegal workers are not included in inter-country agreements about Covid health tests and access to free treatment in Thai public sector hospitals. As a partial solution, the Thai government has agreed to renew the work permits and visas of legal immigrants for up to two years, without their having to return to their homeland first as they were required to do pre-pandemic. In any case, the post-coup political situation in Myanmar makes journeying back home virtually impossible. =================================== Barry Kenyon at the Pattaya City Expats Club: https://gaybuttonthai.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10404&start=320

I agree to each his own. For me, getting to know some of the guys I've met in massage shops and bars has provided some of my best memories. I've found that once you get past the boiler plate exchanges, they're willing to share their personal histories with you. I travel 11,00 miles to meet them so I figure why would I not want to hear more about them.

From The Thaiger A team of Thai researchers found in a study that without face masks, there was a 10% risk of being infected with Covid-19 in public toilets. Random? The team, lead by a researcher from Chulabhorn Research Institute in Bangkok, found that the risk climbed to almost 100% if the Covid-19 infected person actually coughed or sneezed in the toilet. The study claimed, however, that if both wore N95 or surgical face masks, the risk was just 0.01%. Now, the researchers are warning the public not to take off face masks while in public toilets. Thammanitchpol Denpetkul, a lecturer at the faculty of tropical medicine at Mahidol University, told the Bangkok Post that some masks are much more effective than others. “Some cloth masks may not be good enough to protect against the virus … but if someone uses an N95 mask and wears it properly, the risk is one in 100,000.” The study was published in the Journal of Water and Health. The trend for Thailand’s daily new Covid infections is definitely heading down, for now. Despite the warnings of increased cases from some medical authorities in Thailand (up to 100,000 infections per day in one estimate), the trend over the past week has been down.

Today's edition of the Thaiger carried an article reportedly about a new provision of the Thai Pass program. I recall, however, that this policy previously existed on one form or another for some time now. From The Thaiger New info posted on the Thailand Pass website. The change, which starts tomorrow according to the announcement, will now allow applicants to arrive on a different day to the date originally approved in their Thailand Pass application, as long as it’s no more than 7 days either side of the original date. If you are travelling to Thailand at the moment, everyone, including Thais, need to register for a Thailand Pass, whether they are arriving under the Test & Go, Sandbox or Alternative Quarantine programs. Here’s the announcement… “Applicants can use their approved Thailand Pass QR Code to enter Thailand on different date of arrival if the new date of arrival is within 7 days before or after the original date of arrival as indicated on the QR Code. This starts from Monday, April 18 (tomorrow). CAAT (Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand) and the airlines have already been informed. You do need to rebook hotels and hotel van transfer plus change the dates on your insurance. But you don’t need to upload to the TP website. Just show at check-in and on arrival to health authorities.”

From CNN Travel Experts are predicting a summer of travel chaos. Here's why (CNN) — It's time! Travel restrictions are easing, infection rates are settling, you're fully vaccinated, and you're finally thinking about going on vacation. This is the year to make up for the holidays you didn't enjoy over the past two years. You've likely saved for two years to make it a good one. This -- finally -- is it. Or is it? While you may have got all your ducks in a row, the same can't be said for all of the travel industry. Not only are there ever-changing rules on testing, vaccines and quarantines to abide by when traveling; but once you've sorted your side out, getting to your destination looks set to be fraught with difficulty. Top of the chaos board? Aviation. The industry was, of course, decimated by the pandemic -- but many airlines and airports currently seem unable to cope with travel's resurgence. Countries on both sides of the Atlantic are seeing a slew of canceled flights due to lack of crew, long lines at airports thanks to understaffing, and the kind of rates for rental cars that make buying a vehicle look cheap. That's, in part, because everyone has the same idea as you -- only this week, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian announced that March 2022 had been the carrier's best month for sales in its history. Facing unprecedented demand, the much-reduced industry is struggling to cope. In the US, things have been brewing for the past year, as domestic travel has taken off again. Meanwhile in UK, the chaos at major airports has made the news every day for the past couple of weeks, and seen the national carrier, British Airways, reported to the industry regulator for potential law-breaking. The flying experience may be smoother elsewhere in Europe, but car rentals are not. A bubble car can set you back more than your hotel -- and that's before you factor in rocketing gas prices. Traveling within the US? That "carmageddon" is hitting just as hard. Welcome to a summer of chaos? Let's hope not -- but industry figures rather fear it will be. "I think it's a preview of things to come -- and I do think things are going to get worse," says consumer advocate Christopher Elliott, who's been monitoring the situation in the US and Europe. "The summer will be chaos," he believes -- so much so that he's advising his followers to avoid Europe in August, the peak of the peak season. That airline chaos? He lays it squarely at the door of the airlines. "I think we've been seeing some delays related to the pandemic, but I think they're baked into the equation at this point -- I don't think that's really a legitimate excuse," he says. "It's everyone's fault except their own. If they took a good look in the mirror they'd realize that during the pandemic they downsized and laid staff off, and now demand has come surging back and they're caught off guard. They haven't been able to staff up fast enough to meet demand." Continues with photos at https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/travel-chaos-summer-2022/index.html

It's not only a case of international carriers adjusting routes to avoid Russian airspace, Russian carriers run the risk of their leased Boeing and Airbus equipment being seized by lessors. The current issues of Aviation Week reports that 78 have already been grabbed. This leaves only 193 (Russian-built) aircraft available for international passenger service out of a fleet of 1,367. Meanwhile, US carriers have not only seen business return to pre-pandemic levels but some are surpassing that mark. The surge, however, comes with its own set of problems as airlines have neither sufficient pilots or flight attendants to handle the demand. Some are trimming capacity going into the busy summer season. Jet Blue (which has its sights set on buying LLC's Spirit and Frontier) faces the strongest headwinds because it has the greatest relative staffing shortfalls. Delta is the current favorite of investors and not only because it's been posting good numbers. A decade ago Delta purchased an oil refinery in Pennsylvania to supply future jet fuel requirements. Some observers though it was ill conceived, especially when the pandemic drove fuel prices down. Funny how things can change on a dime.

Definitely pursue all options. Four years ago I had a fully-refundable economy ticket that Qatar was reluctant to refund. I finally appealed to bank that issued my credit card and it posted a full credit to my account and debited Qatar. During the height of pandemic in 2020, Singapore processed a full refund on a discounted ticket because Thailand was closed.

From The Nation The refilling of Jomtien Beach was a triumph because it drew many tourists during the Songkran break, the Marine Department announced recently. The department expanded the 800-metre Jomtien beach’s width from just 5 metres to 51 metres in line with the Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob’s policy to prevent beach erosion. After refilling the beach, the department handed the management back to the Na Jomtien Municipality on December 29. The Marine Department said the refilling of the beach was a huge success because it managed to draw a lot of tourists during the Songkran holidays, allowing tourism operators there to earn good revenue.

From Reuters April 14 (Reuters) - Rubble and ashes, overlooked by a single golden pagoda, are almost all that remain of the wood and brick houses most people had built for themselves in the quiet riverside village of Bin in the Buddhist heartland of central Myanmar. Bin is one of more than 100 villages partially or completely burned by Myanmar's military since the start of this year, its homes among more than 5,500 civilian buildings razed as troops try to suppress opposition to last year's coup, according to media reports collated by activist group Data For Myanmar. Dozens of satellite images reviewed by Reuters, supplied by U.S earth-imaging company Planet Labs and U.S space agency NASA, show widespread torching of villages in the central part of the country. The photos, largely confirming the local media reports, are among the strongest evidence to date that the military is using widespread arson to step up its assault on resistance in the central Sagaing region, where residents have told Reuters there is armed opposition to the junta. Continues with video https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/troops-burn-villages-myanmar-heartland-seek-crush-resistance-2022-04-14/

According to media sources, the government will propose removing the Test & Go scheme and Thailand Pass at a meeting with the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration on April 22. The Tourism Authority of Thailand is again requesting the cancellation with the tourism ministry, according to Tourism and Sports Minister, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. The Thaiger reports: "If the changes and revisions are approved, the changes could start as early as May 1, allowing travellers to enter Thailand using their vaccine documents rather than waiting 1 to 5 days for the Thailand Pass to be approved." Suvarnabhumi Airport officials report that an arriving passenger can now use the downloaded Test and GO QR code to find the booth of their booked hotel. The airport’s general manager, said the QR code will tell travellers which desk to go to. I recently had by Thai Pass approved with 48 hours of submission. I booked my hotel through Agoda which seems to speed up the process because the Thai Pass software can confirm Agoda bookings immediately upon submission of reservation ID number. My confirmation from the hotel also included information on what desk number I should go to for my hotel transportation. https://thethaiger.com/news/national/time-to-say-goodbye-to-test-go-and-the-thailand-pass

You think? Not as if Spin9 was posting something scandalous or inappropriate. He was calling attention to a situation that was causing confusion among arrivals. Thai officials responded by improving conditions. I give them a thumbs up.

From AFP Taiwan's military published a handbook on Tuesday advising civilians on how to prepare for a potential Chinese invasion, including where to find bomb shelters and how to stockpile emergency supplies. China's Communist Party has never controlled self-ruled Taiwan but it nonetheless views the island as part of its territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if necessary. Those threats have turned more bellicose under Xi Jinping, China's most authoritarian leader in a generation. Russia's recent invasion of Ukraine has also heightened fears that China might one day follow through on threats to annex its smaller neighbour. The 28-page guide contains information which "the general public can use as an emergency response guideline in a military crisis or natural disaster," defence ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang said during an introduction at an online press conference. It is the first time Taiwan's military has published such a handbook. Drawn from similar guides by Sweden and Japan, it tells residents where to find bomb shelters via mobile phone apps and what to do in an emergency including how to distinguish air raid sirens. "The guide is for the public to better prepare themselves before a war or disaster happens," Liu Tai-yi, an official of the ministry’s All-Out Defense Mobilization Agency, said. It includes information on basic survival skills for the public during air raids, massive fires, building collapses, power outages and natural disasters. "We hope the public can familiarise themselves where the safety shelters are beforehand," he added.

Next time I'm in Yangon think I'll just take a cab because only places I'll be going are the spas that Vessey posts about. 🙂

The good news is that Airports of Thailand officials said they have since increased the number of counters and arranged them alphabetically to make it easier for passengers to spot their hotel’s logo.

From Breaking Travel News With the reopening of Vietnam’s borders, Marriott International has announced plans to expand its portfolio in Vietnam, expecting to add nearly 9,000 rooms within the company’s portfolio, as well as debuting brands Ritz-Carlton Residences, Marriott Hotels, Westin, and Courtyard by Marriott. “Vietnam experienced impressive pre-pandemic economic growth driven in part by coordinated development policies and the strong investment in infrastructure,” said Rajeev Menon, President, Asia Pacific (excluding Greater China), Marriott International. “Our growth in Vietnam reflects the trust our local owners and franchisees continue to have in Marriott International, and we look forward to presenting them with opportunities to leverage our comprehensive portfolio of 30 brands, as well as our strong distribution network.” Marriott’s premium brands continue to resonate in Vietnam. As the most global brand within the portfolio, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, expects to make its debut in several new destinations across Vietnam, including on the Emerald Island of Phu Quoc, the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay, the “City of Eternal Springs” Dalat and the shores of Binh Chau. A stylish new Renaissance Hotels is planned to open in the seafront city of Danang, while Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts plans to debut in Danang and Cam Ranh. The flagship Marriott Hotels brand is expected to debut in Hanoi, and Hoi An, while the Westin – the company’s leading wellness brand – is expected to open in Hanoi and Cam Ranh. Marriott Executive Apartments, the popular longer-stay brand, is also slated to start welcoming guests in Danang. Fairfield by Marriott is slated to be introduced in locations such as Vinh Yen, Ha Long and Hanoi, while several Courtyard by Marriott hotels are expected to open across Danang, Ha Long and Nha Trang. The highly anticipated The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Hanoi also expects to make its debut in Vietnam in 2024.