Politics and pandemic

[reader]

News of a major cabinet reshuffle and events surrounding Covid-19 in Thailand appearing in today's daily English-language media.

From The Thaiger

“I already lost heart years ago” – Thailand’s economic Tzar ponders his fate

Thailand’s Deputy PM and leading economic advisor, Somkid Jatusripitak, has acknowledged his fate if PM Prayut Chan-o-cha decides to reshuffle the cabinet.

“A decision to shake up the cabinet is the prerogative of the prime minister.”

“I have been prepared for a long time. I am old now. I already lost heart years ago.”

Mr Somkid has long been proclaimed as the country’s economic ‘Tzar’ and has contributed to Thailand’s economic stability over 2 tumultuous decades. The 66 year old has served in various cabinets as an economic philosopher and advisor since 2003 when he worked with PM Thaksin Shinawatra. He was banned from political activities for five years after the 2006 coup d’état but is recognised as one of Thailand’s few highly educated economists.

“When it comes to appointing cabinet ministers, the prime minister will have to choose the right person for the right job and put the national interest first… it is normal for cabinet ministers to come and go in a government.”

Discussing the resignation from the ruling Palang Pracharath Party of three cabinet ministers, Mr Somkid said this was “an internal affair of the party, and it will not affect the government’s work”.

Kobsak Pootrakul, deputy secretary-general of the PM, also resigned.

Two weeks ago the 74 year old Prawit Wongsuwon, loyal side-kick of Prayut, became the leader of Palang Pracharat Party. He is also a long-term deputy prime minister and has broad political and Army connections. He was put into the top spot of the ruling party to quell dissent amongst some of the coalitions 20+ parties, all pushing for their own agendas.

The problems for Somkid Jatusripitak is that all 4 members who resigned from Palang Pracharat are part of the economic cabinet put together under his mentorship. With a reshuffle on the cards his future heading up Thailand’s fiscal leadership is now in doubt.

The resignations of the 3 ministers follows a mini-coup within the ruling party in the middle of June. Some Palang Pracharat members backing new party leader Prawit Wongsuwan are demanding a cabinet reshuffle. The PM has stayed out of the fray at this stage and hasn’t announced whether a shuffle will happen or not.

Prawit has spent the past two weeks trying to call for unity and subdue the simmering tensions from the minority members of the coalition.

“I love you all equally. I want everyone to stop quarrelling. I know that everyone wants justice and equality. There must be an answer to inequality. The party must be unified without factions. Whatever happened in the past, you must put all this behind you. From now on, I will take responsibility.”

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From The Nation

Nearly one-third of tourism-related businesses 'may shut down permanently'

About one-third of tourism business operators in Thailand will run out of liquidity to keep their businesses afloat in the second half of 2020, Tourism Council of Thailand president Chairat Trirattanajarasporn has warned.

“The impact of Covid-19 will become most serious in the third quarter this year after many operators had tried to cut costs by letting some of their employees go, but after more than a million positions cut the situation still hasn’t improved, as no foreign tourists are allowed into the country yet,” he said.

“The council estimates that in the next three months up to 30 per cent of tourism-related businesses in Thailand are at risk of shutting down permanently.”

Chairat added that some operators are starting to sell their establishments, such as hotels, resorts, restaurants and gift shops to investors who wish to turn them into other business. “However, since the real estate business is also affected by the economic crisis, the hope of selling their properties is still bleak for these owners,” he added.

“The council had a meeting with Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha on Friday (July 10) and proposed five measures to help tourism business operators,” said Chairat. “These measures are: providing soft loans to tourism entrepreneurs; considering moving the schedule up to open the country to foreign tourists under a practice similar to the travel bubble scheme; offering discount on electricity bills, one of the main costs of hotel operators; having the Social Security Office extend the compensation payment to temporarily unemployed staff from June to December, and reducing the employer’s contribution to Social Security Fund from 4 per cent to 1 per cent.”

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From Khaosod English

Visa Amnesty Extension Unlikely, Immigration Spox Says

BANGKOK — Another round of visa amnesty for foreigners residing or stranded in Thailand is unlikely, an immigration spokesman said Friday. The amnesty, extended back in April, will expire at the end of this month.

Spokesman Col. Phakkhaphong Saiubon said there’s a need to “clear out people” as the situation of global pandemic starts to wind down. The government issued automatic extensions of stays earlier this year only after hundreds of foreigners queued up at immigration centers throughout the country. 

“There most likely will not be an extension. It’s all quiet on that front. It’s been a long time and we need to clear out people,” Phakkaphong said. “Thailand and the Thai government are already generous. No other country has this long of a visa amnesty.”

Foreigners wishing to extend their stay will also have to journey as far as the Impact Muang Thong Thani exhibition hall from July 13 onwards; immigration offices will temporarily move there to ensure physical distancing, the spokesman said.

[vinapu]

it seems good news are piling up right , left and center

[reader]

Today's headlines show increasing controversy over government policies that could further paralyze decision making on international tourism.

From The Bangkok Post

Visits by foreign diplomats, business reps suspended

The government has temporarily banned the entry of foreign diplomats and special business representatives after the young daughter of the Sudanese attache was found to be infected with the coronavirus after the family arrived from Khartoum.

Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, on Tuesday announced the suspension of arrivals by privileged foreigners and business reps under special arrangements, and foreign diplomats and their families.

He said it would remain in force while the CCSA plugged loopholes in its disease control measures.

Privileged visitors are people the prime minister or an emergency state supervisor invited to the country. Business reps under special arrangements plan on only short stays. Both categories have been allowed in since July 1. 

Dr Taweesilp said that in future arriving foreign diplomatic staff and their families would have to stay for 14 days at "alternative state quarantine" facilities that the government would arrange. It would be dangerous for them to stay at embassies, he said.

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From The Nation

Govt condemned for putting people’s lives at risk for comfort of ‘privileged’ foreigners

Thai social media on Tuesday (July 14) was filled with messages slamming the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), the Army and the government for allowing Covid-19 patients to enter the country just because they are privileged.

More than 30 Egyptian Air Force members were allowed to enter Thailand on July 8 for three nights, and one of them tested positive on Monday.

The incident sparked anger as the infected man was allowed to leave his hotel and visit public venues in Rayong province.

The Royal Thai Air Force reportedly allowed the Egyptian Air Force personnel to enter Thailand due to military ties between the two countries.

Netizens also slammed the authorities for allowing diplomats’ families to self-isolate at embassies or in their residences instead of insisting they be quarantined in state-run facilities.

Several people also attacked the authorities for being careless and prioritising the convenience of privileged people ahead of the safety of Thai citizens.

Meanwhile, Phumtham Wechayachai, adviser to the opposition leader, said the government should not punish the country’s people with its inefficiency, adding that the confusing statements from state organisations over the last few days only proves how unprofessional they are.

He also said that the government should not use this incident to generate fear and extend the state of emergency.

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From Khaosod English

‘We Really Need a Travel Bubble’

BANGKOK — The director of a major hotel chain in Thailand on Tuesday urged the government to reopen the country’s borders to international tourists under special travel agreements.

Hotels in the Minor Group are reopening under “New Normal” operations after being closed for months during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, but its representative said the tourism and hospitality industries still need international tourists if they ever hope to recover. 

 “We really need a travel bubble in place to welcome international travelers,” Thomas Meier, the senior vice president of Minor Hotels’ Asian operations, said. “We can’t open some of our operations because the business is not there, because the location is for international travelers, or it’s a meeting hotel.” 

“With no meetings, there’s no point to opening them,” he said at a news conference.

Minor Group owns hotels under the Anantara, Avani, Four Seasons, Marriott, and Radisson Blu brands, among others. According to Stock Market Exchange of Thailand, Minor Group was one of the hardest-hit hotel groups in Thailand, losing 1.7 billion baht in 2020’s first trimester.

Employees had to take leave without pay and of their 29 hotels and residences in Thailand, only three were able to open during the pandemic months, or about 10 percent.