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From Bangkok Post Medical chief backs reopening The director-general of the Department of Medical Services is backing the proposal to reopen the country to revitalise the virus-battered economy. Dr Somsak Akksilp said that not only was Thailand well prepared for a second wave of Covid-19 but that maintaining zero local infections was an unrealistic target since it was still not known when a vaccine would become available. "We cannot afford to maintain zero cases forever," Dr Somsak said. "We need to reopen the country. The country must move forward and people have jobs to do. "This means we may have to see a small number of infections but if we work together to prevent them, the country will be able to achieve a balance between public health and the economy." Sophon Mekthon, chairman of the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO), said that it had ensured enough supplies of face masks, N95 masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) in the event of a second wave of Covid-19 -- and more could now be produced locally. In particular, the GPO had been working with the Thai Textile Manufacturing Association and the Department of Science Service to make high-quality equipment, Dr Sophon pointed out. Opas Karnkawinpong, acting director-general of the Department of Disease Control (DDC), said it had about 1,000 rapid investigation teams and planned to triple the number. The aim was to control any further waves of infections within three to four weeks, reduce the death rate to below 1.4% and increase each province's ability to deal with Covid-19, Dr Opas said. Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda, meanwhile, pointed out that the mandatory quarantine period for tourists was still 14 days and had not yet been reduced to 10 days since further studies were needed.

From The Thai Enquirer Twitter reveals 926 social media accounts run by the Thai Army to discredit political opponents Twitter revealed on Thursday that it had uncovered a network of accounts “partaking in information operations” against prominent anti-government figures and opposition politicians. According to the social media giant’s safety page, the company discovered 926 accounts which could be “reliably link[ed] to the Royal Thai Army and was actively engaged in information warfare against the government’s political opposition. The full list of accounts associated with the RTA can be found here. Twitter said it would continue to take action against the network as it uncovers further details. Student and anti-government protests have gripped the country for the past three months with demonstrators calling for a new constitution and the military-backed government to step down. Students have raised concerns in the media and during the protests about propaganda campaigns conducted by the government to delegitimize their movement and possibly insight violence towards the protesters. Such notions are not far fetched as historic crackdowns by the government against previous student demonstrations have resulted in mass killings on university campuses, most notably one on October 6, 1973. The revelations by Twitter on Thursday will likely back up the student’s and opposition politician’s claims that they have been targeted by the government for harassment. Previous leaks pointing to an information campaign by the army was dismissed by the prime minister and the army commander who denied such campaigns existence. The Royal Thai Army and the government spokesman could not be contacted at the time of writing. In this file photo taken on October 6, 1976, shirtless students lie facedown on the ground, with their hands behind their heads, as police stand guard on the Thammasat University campus in Bangkok, when students protesting the return of a military dictator were shot, beaten to death and lynched by state forces and royalist mobs. ======================================================= From Bangkok Post Progressive Movement to contest at least 32 provincial elections The Progressive Movement will field candidates for election to provincial administration organisations (PAOs) in 32 provinces in its first test of support at the polls. The movement's leader, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, announced its intention on Friday. He said the group's candidates will run for office in at least 32 provinces in the PAO polls, which are to be held in December. More provinces could be added later if the candidates were ready, he said. Mr Thanathorn promised there would be no vote buying. Candidates would bid for voter support with policies including mass transit projects and tourism, environment and education issues. "We will campaign on our platform," he said. Mr Thanathorn and other former MPs of the Future Forward party have been on the political trail in many provinces since the party was disbanded by the court in February for accepting an illegally large 191 million baht election campaign loan from Mr Thanathorn.

From Khaosod English Protesters To Seize Democracy Monument, Tell Prayut to Quit BANGKOK — Pro-democracy activists on Thursday announced their demands for a protest scheduled to take place at the iconic Democracy Monument on Oct. 14, the anniversary of the student uprising against military rule in 1973. At a news conference held at Sanam Luang, the site of the previous rally held on the weekend of Sept. 19 and Sept. 20, the protest leaders demanded resignation of PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and his “cronies,” a special parliamentary session on charter amendments, and reforms of the monarchy. “We will bring Thailand back under democracy and return power to the people,” activist Panupong Jadnok said. The new set of demands are meant to unite all pro-democracy movements under the umbrella of the “People’s Party 2020,” a reference to a clique of military officers and civilians who toppled absolute monarchy in 1932 and established parliamentary rule. “The People’s Party hasn’t gone anywhere,” Panupong said. “They’re in the hearts of all democracy-loving citizens.” Today’s press conference at the Sanam Luang was also attended by leader of the Free People Movement Tattep Ruangprapaikitseree, Laponpat Wangpaisit of the Bad Student network, and Jatupat Boonpattararaksa of community rights advocacy group Dao Din. The group urged the protesters to gather from 2pm onwards on Oct. 14 at the Democracy Monument, where the campaigners will “seize the monument back for the people” as the first activity for the day, according to co-leader Arnon Nampa. Democracy Monument was built in 1939 to commemorate the revolt that overthrew the royal government six years prior. Originally designed as a public space, security officers in recent years barricaded the monument and turned it into a garden sealed off from the public, possibly to deter anti-government protests from taking place there.

From The Thai Enquirer Germany considers halting FTA negotiations with Thailand over the suppression of democracy Germany is considering a proposal to halt free trade talks between the European Union and Thailand due to the Thai government’s undemocratic practices, according to debate within the Bundestag this week. To halt free trade negotiations, Germany would have to convince other European Union nations to follow suit. Frithjof Schmidt, a German MP from the Green Party, said in the Bundestag that the Thai “military junta” decision to dissolve the Future Forward Party, which was the country’s second-biggest opposition party, was undemocratic. “Some time ago, the European Union suspended negotiations over the free trade agreement because of the junta’s behavior,” he said while referring to the EU’s decision to end free trade talks with Thailand after the coup of 2014. “Are you willing to commit to the European Council to suspend these negotiations again as long as the junta still blocks the return to democracy in Thailand?” he asked. The talks resumed after the elections were held in Thailand last year but the progress of the trade deal is now in doubt as Heiko Maas, the German Foreign Minister, told the Bundestag that all options were open. The EU is Thailand’s fifth-largest trading partner after ASEAN, China, Japan, and the US. Trade between Thailand and the EU reached US$44.5 billion in 2019, accounting for 9.2 per cent of the country’s total trade. Of that, exports accounted for $23.58 billion and imports were worth $20.91 billion. The EU has last year signed an FTA with Vietnam which came into effect in August 2019 and it became only the second ASEAN country, after Singapore, to have signed a trade pact with the EU.

When I came across the fax machine quote from the spokesperson for the Thai National Shippers’ Council, it struck me as odd in this day and age. But apparently Thailand has found a niche manufacturing demand for a relatively low-tech product. The machines can be the traditional stand-alone units we're all familiar with from the past of combined into the more widely popular all-in-one machines (phone, fax, printer and copy). Came across a site that addressed the issue with 16 reasons people still prefer the "fax" feature. Three of the reasons seemed to carry the most weight, particularly the first where web security is becoming an increasingly critical factor. It can be isolated from the internet Confirmation pages (proof of message receipt) – the most import reason. Japanese, Chinese, and Korean characters are often written

From Reuters By Liz Lee KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's AirAsia X Bhd , the long-haul arm of AirAsia Group Bhd , said it wanted to restructure $15.3 billion of debt and slash its share capital by 90% to continue as a going concern. Hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic as closed borders have grounded most of its planes, the budget airline said it had severe liquidity constraints and, with no return to normalcy in sight, added, "Imminent default of contractual commitments will precipitate a potential liquidation." Its statement late on Tuesday came just days after Malaysia Airlines, the other major carrier, said it was very low on cash and had reached out to lessors, creditors and suppliers for urgent restructuring. AirAsia X is seeking to reconstitute 63.5 billion ringgit ($15.3 billion) of debt into a principal amount of 200 million ringgit and waiver of the rest. That debt restructuring as well as a revamp of its business model would be needed to raise fresh equity and debt, which in turn would be required to restart the airline, it said. =============================================================== From Bloomberg News AirAsia Ceases Operations in Japan AirAsia Group Bhd. will cease operations in Japan immediately as it tries to reduce cash burn amid the coronavirus outbreak that’s wiped out travel demand globally. AirAsia Japan has stopped operations as of Monday, Southeast Asia’s second-biggest budget carrier said in a statement. That will help the parent conserve cash. Further steps on the decision will be made in accordance with applicable laws and regulations including the Japan Civil Aeronautics Act, it said. The low-cost airline has been under immense pressure this year as Covid-19 roils the aviation industry. It reported its largest loss on record in the second quarter ended June 30 and Chief Executive Officer Tony Fernandes has been in talks for joint ventures and collaborations that may result in additional investment. “We have concluded that it would be an extremely challenging feat for us to continue operating without any visibility and certainty of a post-pandemic recovery path,” said Jun Aida, the chief operations officer of AirAsia Japan. “This painful decision to cease operations was decided neither in haste nor taken lightly.”

From The Nation Thai exporters are upbeat about business prospects, citing gradual increase in demand, but they are worried about the baht strengthening as well as the shortage of migrant workers. The Thai National Shippers’ Council (TNSC) has revised upward its export projection this year to 8 per cent contraction from 10 per cent contraction previously forecast, says Ghanyapad Tantipipatpong, the council chairman. Products in demand include rubber gloves, washing machines, fax machines, telephones and parts, and gold, she noted. The baht remains strong and can be an obstacle for exports, as it makes Thai products more expensive than products of competitors. The baht should stay at around Bt34 per dollar, down from the current Bt31 level, or it must move along with regional currencies, she said. A shortage of migrant workers is also adversely affecting businesses, she complained. The rise of logistics cost, including freight cost, is also a cause for concern, she pointed out.

From Khaosod English No Refunds: Gov’t Delays ‘Special Tourist Visas’ 2 Days Before Launch PHUKET — The special visa would allow tourists to visit Thailand during the coronavirus pandemic was delayed indefinitely just 48 hours before it was supposed to come into effect. Officials on Phuket, the tourist island slated to be the experimental ground for the visas, said on Tuesday preparations for receiving foreign tourists are not completed in time. A tourism agency chief confirmed the news on Wednesday, adding that the group of 300 Chinese tourists and businessmen who were scheduled to arrive in Thailand tomorrow would no longer be admitted due to the delay. The government will not offer them any refunds for flights, accommodation, insurance, and other fees they already paid for the Special Tourist Visas, or STV, since the delay is not officially considered as a cancellation of the policy. “It’s part of the conditions of the STV that they had to pay first,” Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Yuthasak Supasorn said by phone. “So, there’s no need for those refunds, because their trip is not cancelled, it’s just delayed.” It is unclear how much the would-be visitors paid for their flights and stays in Thailand. Officials previously said the group of 300 Chinese would be holidaying in the Kingdom for months. “The batch of tourists expected for tomorrow can’t come because we haven’t worked out all the details to receive them,” Narit Kanjanopas, Ministry of Tourism and Sport spokesman said Wednesday by phone. But Yuthasak the tourism authority director said he’s confident the special visa will be implemented later this month after all necessary measures are in place. According to government reports, the next batch of tourists under the special visa program are also expected to arrive on Oct. 21 from Europe. “They will come within October for sure,” Yuthasak said.

Correction: It should read "upon returning from a domestic trip..." Sorry, Anddy!

From Bangkok Post 'Reopen now or face collapse' Pailin Chuchottaworn, head of a panel steering the economic recovery, on Monday urged the government to reopen the country in order to prevent it from collapsing. He said that despite the lockdown having been gradually eased six times, the country's output would not improve unless the country reopens, albeit with precautionary measures. This year's annual GDP is predicted to fall to minus 8-10%, equating to the country losing 1.5-1.7 trillion baht in a single year, Mr Pailin warned. He said that although the government had spent some time preparing to reopen the country to foreign tourists under the Special Tourist Visa (STV) scheme, Thailand is effectively closed. If Thailand could not find a way to reopen its borders for the upcoming high season in the fourth and final quarter of this year, the STV scheme may have to be scrapped, he said. "Currently, tourism is an important priority," Mr Pailin stressed. If no steps were taken soon to reopen Thailand during the peak season, there would be no time to schedule incoming flights and if it reopened any time after that, it would be too late. Mr Pailin also lamented the number of requirements for foreign travellers to enter Thailand. For example, they not only needed to show they had tested negative for Covid-19, but the test also needed to be taken 72 hours prior to travel. They must also have a medically trained escort with them, though it is unclear where they will find such people. Those foreigners also had to undergo another test upon arrival and yet more while in quarantine, he said. Mr Pailin added that the 72-hour requirement also made it impossible to travel on Monday because of Saturdays and Sundays were non-working days. Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn earlier said the first two STV groups from China had been pencilled in for this Thursday but as the ministry still needed to settle some entry processes, those itineraries had to be rescheduled until later this month.

From Bangkok Post No coup, unless... New army chief Gen Narongphan Jitkaewtae says the chance of a coup is zero unless conditions deteriorate, urging parties to prevent that. Gen Narongphan, who took the position last Thursday, held his first press conference on Tuesday after a meeting of armed forces and police chief at the army headquarters on the previous day. Asked whether he could assure there would be no coup during his three-year tenure ending in 2023, he declined to reply directly. "Every army chief has been asked this question and he invariably says the chance was zero 'on condition that no one causes a conflict that leads to violence and unrest'," he said. When the question was repeated, he said: "The chance is none. I think that there is no such situation in Thailand because our country is now at its best. It's evident that the country has the most freedom and plentiful resources which guarantee a happy life. "Anyone wants to be in Thailand, especially during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic... Therefore, we must help each other get rid of such conditions," the army chief said. The 57-year-old general said political problems must be addressed by political solutions and he was a government official who had to follow the policies of the government, defence minister and defence forces chief. Asked about the protection of the royal institution, Gen Narongphan said four things were on his mind —the nation, religions, the king and people. "I will do whatever it takes to ensure security," he added.

Please keep in mind that I'm only posting what media sources have reported. But I believe you'll find your answer in the second paragraph of the quote you posted above: "Exceptions are to citizens returning from abroad, permanent residents who meet certain requirements, and senior ranking foreign government officials travelling here on official business." Countries may have closed their borders to international tourists but make many exceptions for diplomatic, medical and business reasons in addition to those mentioned in the article. If you want to get an idea of how much commercial air traffic is going into and out of KL (or any other airport), you could always check tracking websites like Flight Aware. And as Vinapu said, air cargo has experienced a huge surge in demand since the onset of the virus. Many carriers have expanded their cargo capacity by reducing passenger seating capacity. I recall Anddy posting how surprised he was when, upon returning to BKK from an international trip, he observed so many foreign carriers at the terminal gates.

From Channel News Asia YANGON: Outraged over ongoing discrimination in Myanmar, Myo Min Tun decided to stand as the first openly gay election candidate in a country where same-sex relations are illegal. His decision to enter the political fray came after transgender friends told him how they had suffered police harassment. The officers allegedly forced them to remove their bras and kneel in humiliating positions before touching them inappropriately, Myo Min Tun told AFP. "This was a violation of their rights," he said. "And I realised there's no one in parliament to talk about this." So he decided to run for a seat in the regional assembly in his home city of Mandalay. "I'm doing this to be a pioneer for all LGBT people so they know we can be anyone we want." From florist and noodle soup chef to HIV prevention worker, the 39-year-old says he has been lucky not to suffer discrimination in his varied career in Myanmar's second city. But a British colonial era law means same-sex relations are still illegal – even if space is opening up for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in the conservative country. Yangon's Pride party in February attracted more than 10,000 people, with many painting their little fingers pink to campaign to decriminalise same-sex relations ahead of November's election. But Myo Min Tun thinks it is too soon to fight that battle. Instead, he vows to tackle the daily acts of discrimination the community faces, an issue thrust into the spotlight with the prominent suicide of a gay man last year. Workplace bullying was widely blamed after the man's final Facebook post displayed mocking comments and photos from colleagues. An official probe concluded, however, the employer was not responsible, saying the man had simply been "mentally weak". "We still have a long way to go," Myo Min Tun said, sighing. Continues at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/myanmar-first-openly-gay-election-candidate-lgbt-13202154

From The Thai Enquirer Review: Sunisa Manning’s ‘A Good True Thai’ is a timely novel Every few years, it seems, Thailand is convulsed by the throes of protest. People fill the streets with waving flags, witty posters, and vicious slogans – sometimes directed at the powers that be, sometimes directed at fellow citizens. Each time, the protests feel unique: the 2010 red-yellow shirt protests distinctive in their polarizing effect, the 1992 protests in their bloodiness, the 1973 protests in their unifying, national character, and the 1976 protests in their geopolitical resonance with the global Cold War. The ‘newness’ of current protests is once again touted by the press: this is the first time we’ve seen open protest of the monarchy! Never before have students so young led protests! No Thai movement has embraced such a progressive agenda! The protests are pivotal and it is the work of the press to capture what is so topical about them. On the other hand, it is the work of political scientists and novelists to reach for the deeper truths of any particular moment – to put into words the traces of frustrations, anguish, heartbreak, and hope. Maybe the most remarkable thing about the current protests is not how new they are but just how much they have in common with ghosts of protests past. In that sense, no book is timelier for the current political moment than Sunisa Manning’s ‘A Good True Thai.’ The book is a vibrant, captivating story about three students navigating the 1973 – 76 protests and brings to life a period that was equally tumultuous and equally pivotal for Thai politics. Written long before the current protests exploded across the country, Manning paints a vivid portrait of a nation gripped with frustration at the tyranny of military dictatorship, of students unafraid of being deeply critical of the systems that created ‘Thainess’, the cross-generational and cross-class fractures of protest politics and, more than anything, the deeply human struggles that meet those willing to challenge the status quo. The struggles are animated by the interpersonal tensions between the novel’s three main characters: Det, Lek and Chang. Det comes from a prominent family, his father the Minister of Education, and his mother a royal descendent with the title Mom Rajawongse. On the opposite end of the social spectrum, Chang grew up in the Khlong Toey slums, living with his single mother who is a factory worker in a leather handbag factory. Lek rounds out their trio, a sharp, beautiful Chinese immigrant and scholarship kid with a passion for literature. Det and Chang become best friends at officer training camp. In Thailand, the military still facilitates the few spaces in Thailand where the rich and poor meet – at ror dor, on draft day. Despite – or because – of this, they are spaces laden with class tension and caste-like privilege. Rattawut Lapcharoensap’s ‘Draft Day’ lays bare the tragedies of being poor in a Thailand where this means all the difference between a two-year conscription sentence and a get-out-of-jail-free card. For Det and Chang, however, the shared experience forges a friendship that forces both outside of their comfort zones. Continues at https://www.thaienquirer.com/19241/review-sunisa-mannings-a-good-true-thai-is-a-timely-novel/

From Coconuts Bangkok Quarantine Dispatch: After 6 surprise months abroad, my costly journey back to Thailand By Lobsang Dundup Sherpa Subirana The room is spacious and habitable. There’s a television, large fridge, an attached bathroom, a balcony with a view to a desolate field and a table with Personal Protective Equipment. Also on it are a booklet outlining the hotel’s quarantine rules and a paper with a QR code guests must scan to contact the nurse daily via Line. The phone rings immediately. “Hello! Welcome to Thailand! Did you have a good flight?” says the operator, who identifies himself as Mac and insists on going through the “Guide Book” together. Just minutes earlier, a car fitted with a protective screen, driven from a barren Suvarnabhumi Airport terminal by a man wearing what looked just short of a full hazmat suit, pulled up before the deserted hallway of an allegedly packed hotel. It all felt like a mix between Chernobyl, a prison ward and a laboratory experiment. “Hotel look empty, but you take last room,” Mac said, adding that nobody was allowed outside until they passed their first Polymerase Chain Reaction, or PCR, swab test, seven days into confinement. That will mean a half hour on the patio, with a day’s notice and a mask on while rooms were being cleaned. Just as other expats became stuck abroad when the country closed its borders in March, this reporter’s Swiss holiday turned into an unexpected six-month stay that just ended last week. After longing to see friends and family over half a year and wondering month after month when a return would be possible, my repatriation ended up requiring great reserves of patience – and money. Amid the seemingly endless extensions of Thailand’s emergency decree and uncertainty among many a farang stranded outside or inside the kingdom, one thing is clear: Allowing the lucky minority who qualifies to come back is being done efficiently, but not easily. Money is a must While communication with embassies abroad is generally free-flowing and efficient, requirements to qualify for repatriation can be costly to gather at once. The hefty price hikes of flights, the cost of insurance and the quarantine facilities alone favor those with larger paychecks, just like providing nine-month visas to a reduced quota of tourists, or mulling a seven-day quarantine to replace the current 14-day one. It all invariably seems a knee-jerk gimmick to allow a select few in while keeping the decree alive and borders shut, despite almost no local cases being recorded in the country for months. A one-way ticket into Bangkok from Europe’s major cities such as Paris, London or Frankfurt is no cheaper than THB15,000 on any given day. Return tickets in March, before the border closure, were about THB18,000. Flights from New York are the cheapest from the United States’ major cities, at about THB25,000. Health insurance – which must specifically state coverage of all COVID-19-related expenses – hovers at about THB30,000. This means returnees have to repurchase insurance if theirs refuses to reissue them a modified certificate. The cheapest approved government accommodation for a 15-day stay is another THB30,000 baht to THB40,000. While they all follow an obligatory standardized package model with meals, airport pickup and tests included, the 14 most affordable venues on a list of 16 hotels two weeks ago all said they had no rooms left for the month. Another had one remaining, but it was windowless. The “last room” this reporter booked at a Samut Prakan hotel, according to Mac, cost THB37,000. Added to this is the cost of the PCR test that must be taken a maximum of three days before take-off to obtain a “Fit to Fly” certificate. It could be free or a couple hundred euros in Europe, but can set people back more than USD$1,000 (THB32,000) in the United States. Add it all up, and it’s THB100,000 some may not have for the Certificate of Entry the government issues applicants when all documents are compiled. Continues with photos at https://coconuts.co/bangkok/features/quarantine-dispatch-after-6-surprise-months-abroad-my-costly-journey-back-to-thailand/ ================================================ From The Thai Examiner Special Tourist Visa a fiasco boss warns Most Western and European tourists are still excluded from Thailand as a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed, over the weekend, that only visitors from Covid 19 free countries will be eligible to apply for the visa. The news comes as a top Thai tourism industry leader, Chairat Trairattanajaratporn, castigated the Thai government for failing to listen to his industry and warned that up to 1 million hotel and hospitality workers will have been laid off by the end of the year as disaster looms for the industry despite heroic efforts to keep it alive. A leading Thai tourism industry leader has slammed the Thai government’s efforts to reopen the country to foreign tourism saying that representations from those within the industry were falling on deaf ears. Mr Chairat’s comments came as observers rubbished efforts by the government culminating this week in the announcement of a new Special Tourist Visa as a drop in the ocean compared to what the country is losing every day from 2019 revenues. The boss of the Tourism Council of Thailand said that, so far, only 500,000 of Thailand’s tourist workers have been laid off or let go as Thailand’s hotel and hospitality sector desperately tries to keep the industry open in the face of adversity but fears that at least another 500,000 will be laid off before the end of 2020. Mr Chairat dismissed government efforts at domestic tourism to replace the lost income from foreign tourism and pointed out that many hotels that had reopened on such promises had again been forced to shut their doors after the hoopla fell flat. The hard-hitting comments by the tourism boss come as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this weekend pointed to even further restrictive measures linked with the Special Tourist Visa which is only projected by Thailand’s Tourism Authority to generate a minuscule 1,200 visitors a month and ฿1 billion in revenue, a figure itself questioned by industry analysts as it would represent a massive 1,600% increase in expenditure per tourist per visit.

From the Malay Mail KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 -- British Airways has resumed flying into and out of Kuala Lumpur starting today even as the Covid-19 virus continues circle the globe. Six months after suspending its operations, the flagship carrier for the United Kingdom said it will resume its four flights a week from Kuala Lumpur to the UK and other parts of the world. “After a long period of uncertainty caused by the global pandemic, we are glad to be able to offer four flights a week from Kuala Lumpur to London Heathrow,” Moran Birger, the airlines’ head of sales for Asia Pacific and the Middle East, said in a statement. “We know many of our customers in Malaysia have been waiting to be reunited with their loved ones or to travel for business and these flights will give them the opportunity to do that.” Malaysia Airports Group CEO Datuk Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh said British Airways is one of 33 airlines in operation at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and the third flying to Europe. Malaysia continues to close its borders to international travellers. Exceptions are to citizens returning from abroad, permanent residents who meet certain requirements, and senior ranking foreign government officials travelling here on official business.

For readers who wish to gain a better understanding of the arguments surrounding the constitutional debate on going in Thailand, a link to the the discussion (held in Bangkok on Oct. 1) is available on demand below. Panel members present different views and a Q and A session follows. Some of the content is in Thai but an English translation immediately follows to enable non-Thai speakers to easily follow the proceedings. (It is not necessary to log in to Facebook to access the video). Presented by the Foreign Corespondents Club of Thailand (FCCT) Panel discussion: The Battle for the Constitution The 2017 constitution had a troubled birth, its legitimacy tarnished by military oversight, controversial provisions such an appointed senate, and by a referendum in which criticism of the charter was outlawed. Its principal architect Meechai Ruchupan, a man who has helped draft three charters under military rule, described it as ‘strong medicine’, and said he could not promise it would be Thailand’s last. Public pressure to change or replace the constitution has risen quickly both inside and outside parliament with even the government and some senators, beneficiaries of the current charter, now agreeing it can be amended. However, any amendments require the approval of at least one third of the 250 senators, who would in effect be voting themselves out of a job. Opposition parties have disagreed about tactics; should they push to strip the senate of its powers immediately, or join a new drafting process that could take years? And then there is the sensitive issue of royal powers under the constitution; some activists say these should be discussed, while conservative voices say the monarchy cannot be touched. Behind this debate is Thailand’s chronic promiscuity with constitutions, which are written and then discarded far more frequently than in most countries; can this country agree on a charter that will last? Join us for an invigorating discussion at the clubhouse, and live streamed on our Facebook page. Speakers: Siripan Nogsuan Sawasdee, Associate Professor and the Head of Department of Government, Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University. Yingcheep Atchanont, manager of the Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw) Paiboon Nititawan, deputy leader of the Palang Pracharath Party Rangsiman Rome from the Kao Klai (Move Forward) party, which has pushed hardest for constitutional reform in parliament https://www.facebook.com/FCCThailand/videos/vb.266552830096341/1255331338177351

From Bangkok Post High-risk tourists barred from visit The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday clarified the details of the Special Tourist Visa (STV) for long-stay tourists, saying the most important requirement for all applicants is they must be coming from low Covid-19 risk countries. The STV scheme is a part of the state's bid to revitalise the economy. Prospective STV applicants are being advised to check which countries' citizens are being permitted by the Public Health Ministry to travel into Thailand, said deputy ministry spokesman Natapanu Nopakun yesterday. Citing an announcement by the Interior Ministry on Sept 30 regarding permission for foreigners to apply for the STV, he said holders of this special visa will be allowed to first stay in the country for 90 days and then renew the visa twice for 90 days each time. The programme was launched on Thursday. The ministry has stressed to Thai embassies and consular offices overseas the importance of processing the STV accurately and disseminating information to prospective travellers, he said. Documents required include a certificate of eligibility, proof of payment for state or hospital quarantine for 14 days, full payment for post-quarantine accommodation or ownership of accommodation, a Thai health and accident insurance policy with at least 400,000 baht inpatient coverage and 40,000 baht outpatient coverage, and a health insurance policy with at least US$100,000 (3.16 million baht) coverage for Covid-19 treatment, he said.

From Coconuts Bangkok See and hear Oct. 6 massacre with AR tech at anniversary exhibition A lynched student’s corpse is beaten with a chair as a smiling crowd watches on in a photograph taken by Associated Press photographer Neal Ulevich. One of the darkest chapters in Thailand’s history will be revisited next week through augmented reality experiences, politically charged rap, and its survivors themselves. Tuesday marks the 44th anniversary of the Oct. 6, 1976, massacre at Thammasat University, when disinformation and propaganda stoked the flames of nationalism, provoking security forces and right-wing paramilitaries to murder student pro-democracy campaigners by the dozens. A black stain on the national psyche that is little taught or discussed, the event is recognized each year by those keeping the memory alive, including its aging survivors. At an event held on the campus where it happened, technology helps close the gap of time by giving a glimpse of the sights and sounds from that day through augmented reality. Designed by computer engineering professor Priyakorn Pusawiro and her team, the installations will have QR codes attendees can scan. Mime troupe Babymime will perform as well as rap collective Rap Against Dictatorship. Some student activists who survived the massacre, most now in their 60s, will join a panel discussion on Oct. 4. Artifacts on display include from the time including newspaper scraps, photographs, blood-stained jeans, a bullet-ridden megaphone and the infamous “Red Gate” where two electricians were lynched after protesting against the dictatorship of the time. It was a mock hanging staged in response on the campus that led to ultranationalist extremists storming the campus and murdering dozens of students and activists after the media played up accounts an effigy of then-Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, who is now king, had been hanged. The 44th anniversary exhibition runs through Oct. 11 at Thammasat University, Tha Prachan campus. It is organized by CCPC Thai, a group pressing for constitutional reforms based on public consensus, and the October 6 Museum Project. FIND IT: 44th anniversary of Oct. 6 exhibition now until Oct. 11 Thammasat University (Tha Prachan campus) Continues with photos and video https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/see-and-hear-oct-6-massacre-with-ar-tech-at-anniversary-exhibition/

From Reuters Thailand's 'Bad Students' demand education reform BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's "Bad Student" campaigners toured Bangkok high schools in a truck on Friday in a protest cheered on by pupils to demand education reform and an end to the harassment of students and of school rules they say are outdated. The school demonstrations are part of an anti-government protest movement that has been growing since July and is also demanding greater democracy. Some campaigners seek reforms to the powerful monarchy to "Stop the harassment of students, cancel outdated rules, and give us comprehensive education reform," said Laponpat Wangpaisit, an activist from the group that calls itself "Bad Student" outside one Bangkok school. From behind school gates, pupils cheered the protesters, sang songs mocking school rules and gave the three-finger salute of pro-democracy campaigners. At one school, pupils put a sign on the gate saying: "Teachers at this school harass students." The protesters were later due to go to the education ministry to demand the resignation of the minister if he does not agree to their demands. The ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the protests. Student campaigners complain that Thailand's school system is geared more towards instilling obedience than education. Concerns over the harsh treatment of pupils have risen this week after the emergence of closed-circuit camera footage of teachers hitting very young children. The clips prompted outrage and calls for measures to be taken against the schools. ---------------------------------------------------------- From Bangkok Post Elite city school 'took tea money' The former director of Triam Udom Suksa School, already undergoing heavy public scrutiny, has revealed the prestigious school he had worked for had been probed for receiving tea money amounting to about 100 million baht a year in exchange for student places. "I have kept quiet as I do not want to ruin the reputation of the school," Sophon Komon, former director of Triam Udom Suksa told the media at the Ministry of Education yesterday. Mr Sophon has been facing fierce criticism recently as teachers and students have accused him of transferring teachers who did not toe his line to other posts two days before he retired. Triam Udom Suksa, a prestigious school known for having ace students, is now embroiled in controversy. During his press conference yesterday, Mr Sophon touched upon the controversial issue of under-the-table payments the school had accepted. Mr Sophon revealed that a group of alumni and teachers had asked the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to investigate allegations the school had been accepting tea money when he became director in 2018. He said the acceptance of tea money was originally initiated under a special quota admission -- 300 seats annually during 2016-2018. He said the system had been put in place before he accepted the post. "The special quota admissions should have been announced publicly. But they were not," he said.

From Khaosod English Former PM Thaksin Diagnosed With Coronavirus in Dubai ANGKOK — Self-exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his family were sent to hospital for contracting coronavirus, his aides said Friday. Thaksin, who is residing in the United Arab Emirates, is receiving the treatment at a hospital in the city of Dubai, according to the aides. Members of his family who live in the same mansion in Dubai were also reportedly infected, including his elder sister Yaowapha Shinawatra, a chauffeur, and a secretary. Former PM Yingluck Shinawatra, a younger sister of Thaksin, is said to be the sole resident who was unaffected. It is not immediately clear when and how the 71-year-old billionaire, who headed the Thai government from 2001 until he was toppled in a 2006 coup, caught the coronavirus. Thaksin fled Thailand in 2008 just before a court convicted him of corruption during his tenure. The tycoon-turned-politician insisted the verdict was politically motivated.

From Bangkok Post Newly appointed Suwat does things differently and plans to make big changes Pol Gen Suwat Jangyodsuk, the newly-appointed national police chief, at the police force leadership handover ceremony. Chanat Katanyu The newly appointed national poilce chief does things differently and plans to make big changes. Despite his rather humble personality, he has a very ambitious goal to redesign the national police's five-year strategic plan, which he believes will help pave the way for the Thai police to deal more efficiently with changes to fighting crime in the future. In the next two years, he is determined to speak to all levels of policemen to find out what they want to see the police organisation become within five years. He has pledged to turn their ideas into a strategic plan for developing the police force. The values for "Our Cops", which stand for oneness, are practices that are up-to-date with universal standards, reliability and trust, competency, overall fairness, people-orientation and service-mindedness. These values are outlined in the police chief's vision for the 2021 budget year, he said. He plans to remove all overlapping police roles and to increase the number of patrolling officers. However, the first step is to convince the younger generation about the need for police, he said. Unlike any of his predecessors, the new national police chief started out by sending out an urgent memorandum to all police officials saying that there was no need for them to visit him at the office just to congratulate him on his promotion. "No congratulations or celebrations [for me] on the new promotion, birthday, New Year and Songkran. Be there and do your work. Text me on Line if you want to send your best wishes," he wrote in the memo. Pol Gen Suwat admitted that he had never thought he would become a policeman. After graduating in a science-mathematics programme from Saint Louis School Chachoengsao, he won a place to study at both Triam Udom Suksa School and the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School (AFAPS). He finally chose the AFAPS and the reason was he didn't want to become a medical doctor. His father said he would end up becoming a medical doctor if he chose to study at Triam Udom Suksa School. He studied and graduated in Class 20 at AFAPS. Continues at https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1995063/new-police-chief-puts-forth-bold-vision ===================================================== Chief halts roadside drink-driving testing The new national police chief has ordered the suspension of drink-driving checkpoints until police can ensure the transparency of the tests. Pol Gen Suwat Jangyodsuk laid down the order at a meeting with 496 senior police officers, commanders and higher, at the Royal Thai Police Sports Club on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road on Friday. Pol Gen Suwat, who started in his new position on Thursday, said there must be no drink-driving checkpoints until police can ensure transparency in the process. “There must not be roadside examination. It must be done at a hospital, so that people can have confidence that they will not be cheated. Until we can do that, we will set them at zero for now,” the national police chief said. Pol Gen Suwat also said there must be no big gambling dens, online gambling or buying of police positions. He wanted officers at all levels to be well trained in both the law and tactical operations. He ordered that police install 5,000 surveillance cameras in Bangkok in four months, saying detectives could no longer make excuses about the lack of cameras.

From The Thai Enquirer Sompong elected as the head of Pheu Thai Sompong Amornvivat, a close Thaksin ally, has been elected as the new head of the Pheu Thai party. The current head of the opposition will be charged with leading the party out of the doldrums and balance pro-democracy protests with the party’s relationship with Thailand’s conservative institutions. Sompong is seen as close to the party’s patriarch Thaksin and his election could signal the former prime minister’s reemergence and reassertion in the party’s politics. Somphong is a former ministry of industry, labour, transports, justice under previous Thaksin administrations. The long-standing MP from Chiang Mai was a former member of the People’s Power Party that was dissolved in 2008. He was banned from politics for 5 years. ============================================================================== Prayut and government willing to address charter amendment Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha will support the rewriting of the entire charter, the Deputy Prime Minister, Wissanu Krea-ngam, told reporters on Thursday. Prayut and his administration have been under pressure for the past several months as opposition parties in parliament and protestors on the streets push for a rewriting of the constitution. Even coalition partner, Thailand’s Democrat Party, has pushed for amendments to the current military-drafted charter. But so far the government has pushed back on amending the constitution voting last month to delay all motions to fix the charter and instead set up a research committee. The move prompted the opposition to walk out of parliament and drew an angry response from protesters. Some senators, including senator Tuang Antachai, said last week that any attempt to set up a charter drafting committee before a referendum was unconstitutional – possibly delaying mendments further. Paiboon Nititawan, an MP from the ruling party, then double-downed on the claim on Wednesday that a referendum would be needed if there was a proposal to amend the entire constitution. On Thursday, Wissanu said that the prime minister was willing to consider re-drafting the charter and said that the senate’s concern should be brought up with the investigative body. He said that any charter that is re-drafted must also pass a referendum and that would require the drafting of referendum laws as well.

From The Nation As many as 23 hotels in Koh Samui have been proposed as alternative local state quarantine (ALSQ) sites and most of them are expected to pass the grade, the tourism sector said. Thai Hotels Association – Southern Chapter East Cost said of the 23 hotels and resorts proposed to the ALSQ committee, eight had been checked on September 23, while the remainder will be checked in October. Ruengnam Chaikwang, the association’s president, said most of the proposed hotels had pool villas and were a fair distance from main streets and local communities. Hence, he said, it will be difficult for tourists to get away during their quarantine period. Also, he said, tourists’ movements will be monitored by the more than 1,000 CCTV cameras installed around the island. The Tourism Association of Koh Samui also said each of the proposed hotels had more than 70 rooms, and put together, they would have over 1,000 rooms. The association believes at least 90 per cent of the 23 hotels will pass the grade and some 200 tourists will visit Koh Samui initially.