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From CNN / MSN Six members of an Islamist militant group were sentenced to death on Tuesday by a court in Bangladesh for the brutal killing of two gay rights campaigners five years ago. The killings were part of a series of attacks on atheist bloggers, academics and other minorities that shocked the South Asian nation of 170 million and led many to go into hiding or flee abroad. Of the eight defendants in the case, six were found guilty of murder and sentenced to death, public prosecutor Golam Sarwar Khan said. The Special Anti-Terrorism Tribunal also convicted the six of belonging to a terrorist organization, the al Qaeda-inspired domestic militant organization Ansar Ullah Bangla Team, Khan said, a group that police believe is responsible for the murders of more than a dozen secular activists and bloggers. The men's defense lawyer, Nazrul Islam, said they would appeal their sentences. The tribunal acquitted two other defendants, who are on the run and were tried in absentia, Khan said. Of the six men sentenced to death, two are also on the run and were tried in absentia. One of them is Syed Ziaul Haq, a sacked army major believed to be the group leader and accused of masterminding the killings. Mannan's magazine, Roopbaan, had no official permission to publish in Bangladesh, a Muslim country where same-sex relationships are illegal and the LGBTQ+ community has long been marginalized. "We are happy with the judgment. At least after a long time, we get justice," said Shahanur Islam, a gay rights campaigner. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/bangladesh-sentences-6-militants-to-death-for-killing-gay-activists/ar-AANXH9K ================================= Gay Games in Hong Kong face attacks as China’s proxies target LGBT groups HONG KONG —When Hong Kong was announced in 2017 as host of the 11th Gay Games next year, the first time the event would be held in Asia, it was a nod to the city's status as a cosmopolitan place and a relative bright spot in the region for progressive causes. Now, attacks on the Gay Games from local lawmakers aligned with Beijing are revealing bigotry in the financial hub, where space for promoting ideas such as equality and diversity has shrunk under China’s tightening control. Amid a crackdown enabled by a national security law introduced last year, the Hong Kong activists who would typically push back against such attacks are either behind bars or in exile. Leading the crusade is Junius Ho, a pro-Beijing lawmaker who has called the Gay Games “disgraceful” and a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” that could violate the security law. Another lawmaker, Priscilla Leung, said activists could use the sports and cultural event to promote political causes. Peter Shiu, a member of a center-right party, said Hong Kong can “tolerate” but not promote homosexuality. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/gay-games-in-hong-kong-face-attacks-as-china-s-proxies-target-lgbt-groups/ar-AANVAdE

The following excerpts are from a special report from Channel News Asia on what happened when individual Thai volunteers decided that they couldn't idly stand by as Covid overwhelmed Bangkok's health care system. When the city emerges from the depths of the crisis, it will be volunteers like this, and the front-line medical workers, who can be credited for turning the corner and not the posturing politicians who grab the daily headlines. Volunteers travel on a motorbike as they transport an oxygen tank for a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patient in Bangkok, Thailand August 5, 2021. Picture taken on August 5, 2021. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun BANGKOK: In April, a video clip of an e-sport legend went viral in Thailand. It was a Facebook live recording broadcast by Kunlasub ‘Up’ Wattanaphon, who once led a big e-gaming clan named VGB or Vagabond Team to successfully compete in various tournaments. “I’m close to collapse. I’m quarantining myself now but I don’t think I’ll make it,” said the 34-year-old ex-gamer in the clip. He had been trying in vain to seek treatment for COVID-19 for about a week and his condition was deteriorating. Coughing and struggling to breathe, Up recounted his ordeal with despair. “The hospital wouldn’t take me. Hotlines didn’t help. Hopeless. I’m going live in case any friends of mine could help. Please help me.” Up was admitted to a hospital the following day. By then, his lung function was only at 20 per cent. He died two days later. His final Facebook broadcast not only captured his painful moments, but also put the state of the public healthcare system in the spotlight. At that time, Thailand was witnessing the start of what would soon become the worst wave of COVID-19 it has dealt with so far. Infections spread very quickly from one of Bangkok’s fanciest neighbourhoods, where the wealthy had partied in exclusive nightclubs, into poor communities, crowded prisons and squalid worker camps. In just over five months, Thailand has reported more than 1.32 million cases and 13,826 casualties. Most of the cases are concentrated in Bangkok. Several months of soaring infections has turned the Thai capital into a hotbed of the pandemic, placing an enormous strain on its public health infrastructure. Many people have been left frustrated and disappointed by the government’s handling of the health crisis amid reports of limited testing, full hospital beds and shortages of vaccines. Voluntary groups started by ordinary citizens have since jumped into action, doing whatever they can to help the most vulnerable people. ZENDAI: A SOCIAL THREAD THAT SAVES LIVES For Bangkok residents, each day begins with reports of thousands of new infections. But for Kamonlak ‘Mahmud’ Anusornweeracheewin, a former inmate on death row, his day starts with a race against time to save as many lives as he can. He walked free from prison after serving 15 years and 10 months for drug charges. His sentence had initially been reduced to life imprisonment, and good behaviour later resulted in him being released. Currently, he volunteers with a COVID-19 response group called Zendai to rescue people in critical condition. Many of them are old, debilitated and living alone, with no family member to care for them. Mahmud, 41, knows what it is like to be forsaken and suffering. He also remembers how it feels to be given another chance at life when there is no hope. “Whenever I come across a severe case, I feel sorry for them. So when I have a chance to help them, I want to do it,” he said. Zendai has provided healthcare assistance to tens of thousands of people in Bangkok and nearby provinces, often when help from the government was unavailable or delayed. Its Facebook page receives about 1,000 requests for help daily - from hospital transfers to finding hospital beds - while its hotline is flooded with a further 1,000 calls every day. Taking its name from a Thai word for ‘thread’, Zendai functions as a connector between patients and healthcare providers. It was formed in April, shortly after Up’s death, by people who did not want his story to be repeated. The group offers emergency hospital transfers for people who are infected with the coronavirus but unable to travel by themselves. It also assists those in need with basic medical care and provides rapid testing in local communities as RT-PCR tests remain limited in public hospitals. Zendai’s volunteers in white protective gear are often seen tending to elderly patients and the less fortunate in underprivileged areas. Day and night, they travel around Bangkok to visit patients stuck at home, supplying them with food, medicines and oxygen cylinders to keep them alive. “The public healthcare system is truly overwhelmed. Government schemes - whether it would be the home isolation system or the registration of patients in the yellow and red groups for hospital beds - aren’t working so well just yet. Their COVID-19 testing isn’t working well either. This could be because they weren’t designed properly,” said Zendai co-founder Chris Potranandana. “Zendai’s mission isn’t just about helping people. We also want to encourage the right way to manage a system.” With 130 volunteers, Zendai has managed to save many lives when Bangkok’s healthcare system is overflowing with patients. CONSTRUCTION WORKERS LEFT ON MARGINS OF SOCIETY Since April, the Thai government has introduced various measures and restrictions to contain the deadly virus. Public movement has been reduced by a night curfew and several bans on social activities in highly infected areas such as Bangkok and its nearby provinces. While most people have been allowed some freedom of movement, one profession has spent at least a month in enforced confinement - construction workers. In June, clusters of COVID-19 broke out at construction sites and worker camps in Bangkok. As a result, hundreds of such venues were shut and sealed off for at least 30 days from Jun 28. All construction work was suspended and workers were prohibited from leaving the sites, even to buy food. Security officers were also employed to guard the entrance and exit of camps with cases of infected people. Bangkok is home to some 80,000 construction workers in more than 500 work sites, according to Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin. Many of them are not covered by social security and had to live with zero income for several weeks. Continues with photos https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/thailand-focus-civil-society-covid-19-bangkok-health-system-2164051

From Channel News Asia TOKYO: Japan can now give defence equipment and technology to Vietnam under an agreement signed on Saturday (Sep 11), as the two countries step up their military cooperation amid worries about China's growing military influence. Japan's Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi said the deal elevates their defence partnership “to a new level” and that Japan and Vietnam plan to deepen defence ties through multinational joint exercises and other means. Details about the transfer of specific equipment, including naval vessels, will be worked out in subsequent talks, the ministry said. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/japan-vietnam-sign-defence-transfer-deal-amid-china-worries-2172121

From Washington Diplomat The US-ASEAN Business Council, a powerful Washington-based corporate association active in 10 Southeast Asian countries, has named Ted Osius as its new president and CEO. Osius, a former US ambassador to Vietnam, assumed his new job Aug. 23, replacing Alexander Feldman, who led the council for 12 years. Feldman has since relocated to Singapore as president of Boeing Southeast Asia. In a Sept. 8 interview, Osius told The Washington Diplomat that COVID-19 recovery efforts top the agenda of his organization, whose main mission is to promote US trade and investment in the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. “With the emergency response to covid, the private sector can help fill in some of the gaps, not necessarily in providing vaccines, but at least support for those who are in trouble—oxygen, PPE, home health kits, that sort of thing,” he said. “Our council’s been very involved in this, and our companies have been phenomenal. Once the epicenter shifted from India to Indonesia, we kicked into gear, and now we’ll be looking at other countries in ASEAN that need our help.” In the longer term, Osius called for “greater openness” in trade policy by ASEAN member states to speed up the post-covid return to economic normalcy. “ASEAN used to be characterized by openness, but there’s been a little retreat during covid, some hunkering down,” he said. “That’s natural. Governments are looking after their own people first. Regulations have sprung up overnight because countries are very worried. But harmonizing those regulations will help accelerate the recovery. Specific pieces need to be dealt with, like supply chains and moving people across borders.” Formed in 1984, the US-ASEAN Business Council comprises 170 member companies. Together, they generate nearly $7 trillion in revenue and employ more than 14.5 million people. Besides Washington, the council has offices in New York, Bangkok, Hanoi, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore and Yangon. https://washdiplomat.com/ted-osius-ex-us-envoy-in-hanoi-to-head-us-asean-business-council/

From Lonely Planet Nok Aen Cliff at Phu Kradueng National Park © mr_gateway / Shutterstock Forget the Rockies or the Alps, trekking in Thailand is the business. With wistful misty peaks, ancient hidden temples, otherworldly karst outcrops and dense jungle teeming with wildlife, the country offers a veritable feast for hikers. Whether you want to conquer mountains, circumnavigate stunning sandy islands or simply hotstep to Thailand's biggest waterfall, there's plenty to pick from. What's more, with a superb transport system, it's easy to reach most hiking trails independently – though there are plenty of excellent trekking guides available too. So grab a heavy-duty insect repellent, pack some sunscreen and buy some leech socks, we’re about to set off. These are the best hikes in Thailand. (NOTE - What follows are capsule descriptions of the sites. Visit the link at the end of article for additional information on all of these scenic locations.) Krabi’s Tiger Cave Temple 0.6 miles (1km), half day, moderate It's a short, steep climb up to the 278m-high (912ft) limestone outcrop that overlooks Krabi Town, but hikers who successfully tackle the 1260 stairs to the summit are rewarded with a access to Wat Tham Suea (Tiger Cave Temple) and some stellar views. Khao Yai National Park Distances vary, 2-3 hours, easy Established as Thailand's first national park in 1962, Khao Yai is the best place for a jungle trek near Bangkok. It boasts more than 31 miles (50km) of hiking trails that teem with macaques, gibbons, civets, barking deer and endemic bird species such as the Great Hornbill. Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail Best hike in Thailand 1.6 miles (2.7km), 2-3 hours, easy The short Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail offers hikers a chance to see one of the most beautiful panoramic views in Thailand. Set inside the Doi Inthanon National Park near Chiang Mai, the 2200m-high (7218ft) Kew Mae Pan mountain stands only a few hundred meters south of Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s highest peak at 2565m (8415ft). Khao Sok national park Best jungle trek Distances vary, 2-3 hours, moderate Skirting the southern side of Cheow Lan lake, the dense forest and towering limestone karsts of Khao Sok make the national park one of the best jungle treks in southern Thailand. With 48 mammals roaming the forests, there’s plenty of excellent wildlife spotting opportunities too. It’s gibbons, macaques and barking deer for the most part, but more elusive species such as sun bears, clouded leopards and tigers have been known to make an appearance too. Koh Jum Distances vary, 4-6 hours, easy to moderate Motorcycles are the only vehicles allowed on the low-key island of Koh Jum, just off of Krabi. Fortunately, the most rewarding way to explore this paradisical atoll is on foot. The western coast has a flat trail that flits between coves and quiet beaches for 3.7-miles (6km), but for views as far as Ko Phi-Phi (on clear days), tackle the steep climb up Khao Koh Pu hill. Um Phang Best multi-day hike Distances and times vary, moderate-to-hard Overlooked for the more popular Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son provinces, Um Phang and Tak offer spectacular hiking but with a fraction of the visitors. All treks start in and around the Um Phang Wildlife Sanctuary and use the Mae Klong River as a handy artery for deeper jungle exploration. Phanom Rung 0.6 miles (1km), half-day, easy It may not be a traditional hike, but few places are more inspiring than the Phanom Rung complex near Buriram. Standing on the rim of a dormant volcano, some 200m (656ft) above the rice fields of Isan, this 10th-century Khmer temple is built from pink sandstone. Phu Kradueng National Park 5.9 miles (9.5km), 4-6 hours, moderate-to-hard Phu Kradueng (Bell Mountain) is the main peak in the namesake national park of Loei Province in northeast Isan. The climb isn’t that taxing to begin with, but it gets tougher as hikers approach the plateau-like summit. A campsite at the top offers hikers the chance to spend the night and rent bicycles for those wanting to explore the area at their own pace. Bangkok Phrapradaeng Loop Best hike near Bangkok 7.5 miles (12km), 3 hours, easy Known as the "Green Lung'' of Bangkok, this walking trail and bicycle path starts at the Bang Kachao Pier and has been protected by long-standing laws prohibiting the construction of tall buildings in this area. Hiking out here is a rare opportunity to see how the Thai capital looked a few decades ago. Continues with photos https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/best-hikes-in-thailand

From Pattaya Mail Japan’s rail operator JR Hokkaido is donating the train cars decommissioned since 2016 to Thailand, with the cost of transportation and refurbishment covered by the SRT. The State Railway of Thailand has stressed the used trains from Japan it is receiving as donations are still in good condition. The state railway operator will need to pay for the transportation of the 17 train carriages at a cost of 42.5 million baht. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has announced outcomes of the inspection of the 17 multiple unit diesel train carriages being donated by Japan, finding them all in good condition. Japan’s rail operator JR Hokkaido is donating the train cars decommissioned since 2016 to Thailand, with the cost of transportation and refurbishment covered by the SRT. Mr Aekkarat Sriarayanpong, the SRT’s Public Relations director, said the SRT will conduct a safety inspection and refurbishment of these trains on their arrival, to make the trains suitable for operations in Thailand as tourism trains. The SRT had earlier in October 2018 received 10 train cars from Japan. These carriages are also being refurbished to serve as a tourism train. The trains, expected to enter service next year, will include three regular passenger carriages, a family car, and a recreational car, with the livery reflecting areas the tourist train passes through. (NNT) Continues with photos https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/thailand-will-employ-japan-donated-trains-in-tourism-371507

From Pattaya News Bangkok – Kratom leaves can be freely planted, used, possessed, sold, boiled raw (not mixed with any other ingredient) for drinks, and distributed but cooking as part of food and making herbal juice or drink concoctions for sale is still illegal, Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin clarified yesterday, September 9th. Kratom was recently legalized in Thailand, notes TPN media, but that doesn’t mean one will see legal Kratom restaurants or cafes anytime in the immediate future. “Leaf-chewing, cultivating, possessing, and selling of uncooked fresh leaves is not illegal. But, if the leaves are used for making herbal products that help relieve various symptoms one must apply for permission under the Medicinal Products Act of the Ministry of Public Health. Additionally, selling products with kratom that involve cooking, mixing, blending, shakes or similar processes are illegal.” he stressed. Mixing and combining Kratom in food or drinks are still not allowed according to the Public Health Ministry’s Food Act. Violators are facing imprisonment for 6 months to 2 years and/or a fine of 5,000 to 20,000 baht. In essence, restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops cannot yet take advantage of the fact that Kratom leaves are legalized. However, the Ministry did state that they are looking to amend many of these laws to potentially allow further use of Kratom. https://thepattayanews.com/2021/09/10/what-you-can-and-cannot-legally-do-with-kratom-thai-justice-minister-explains/

From Channel News Asia Security agencies concerned Taliban takeover in Afghanistan could increase terrorism in Southeast Asia SINGAPORE: Many security agencies are concerned that the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan could lead to more terrorism in the region, Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said on Friday (Sep 10). This is because Afghanistan had, under the previous Taliban regime, provided a safe haven for potential terrorists from Southeast Asia, including from Singapore, he said. "If you ask what do would-be terrorists need or what helps would-be terrorists go out and do bad things: A safe haven, a place where they can train, a place where their minds can be hardened and radicalised even more," Mr Shanmugam told reporters ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Sep 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States. "And previously, what happened with ISIS and Al-Qaeda was that there were such safe havens. Afghanistan provided a safe haven for training persons from Southeast Asia, including from Singapore; and it provided a safe haven for training, access to weapons, people become hardened because there's training on fighting, and that makes it very dangerous." He added: "Will that happen again? A lot of people fear that. I fear that that might happen again. So yes, I think the prospect of increased terrorism in the region, I think many security agencies and serious people are concerned about it." https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/afghanistan-taliban-terrorism-shanmugam-2168406

The shifting sands of Pattaya's fate The news today regarding Pattaya's near-term future is mixed at best. The good news--well, as good as it gets for the moment--is that it opens under a Phuket-like sandbox scheme with all the accompanying testing and restrictions and entry requirements that will put off most punters. But at least it's a first step toward some semblance of normalcy. There's also news that foreign investor are keenly snooping about for distressed hotels they hope to scoop up on the cheap. Not that there's anything wrong with that but many here would be disappointed if the like of Poseidon and others, which have long served the gay community with good food and accommodations, fall into the hands of opportunists. But I suppose that's the price we have to expect to pay for survival. For those who can tolerate the inconvenience and bureaucratic madness in exchange for an early return, your time may soon be at hand. But for the rest of us it looks like early 2022 before arriving in Thailand is anything like we recall from 2019. ================================= From Pattaya Mail Pattaya open to fully vaccinated foreign tourists in October The Thai government has reiterated health and safety measures as it prepares for the second phase of its tourism reigniting plan and many look forward to the annual high season. Proceeding along its path to again welcome foreign travelers after having notable success with its Sandbox programs over the past two months, producing 1.634 billion baht in revenue, the government is poised to continue the effort to support economic recovery. In October, the administration is to implement its Universal Prevention measures while entering the second phase of its reopening timeline, which will see Bangkok, Chonburi (Pattaya), Petchaburi, Prachuapkirikan and Chiang Mai will be allowed to receive foreign guests once again, on the condition they meet vaccination targets. The Bangkok Sandbox and Hua Hin Recharge campaigns have already been outlined in anticipation of the transition. Phase three of the plan is to begin in the middle of October and see 21 more provinces reopen under strict COVID-19 prevention measures. The fourth phase begins in January of next year and will focus on 13 border provinces and the use of travel bubbles. One province slated to reopen on October 1st is Chonburi with its Pattaya Moves On program covering Pattaya, Banglamung and Sattahip. Various committees have been established in anticipation of the date, and they will oversee matters such as meeting a 70 percent vaccination target in the local population. Visitors to Chonburi will have to be fully vaccinated or have RT-PCR test results from their country of origin and a health certificate. They will have to submit to another RT-PCR test upon arrival in Chonburi and undergo a total of three checks during their stay, the second being during the first six to seven days of their stay and the third on the fourteenth day. https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/pattaya-open-to-fully-vaccinated-foreign-tourists-in-october-371282 ================================ From The Thaiger / BP Foreign investors keep a close eye on struggling Pattaya hotels With Pattaya hotel operators in dire financial straits brought on by the lack of tourists during the pandemic, foreign investors are apparently keeping a close eye on the situation. The hotel operators in the tourist city are being warned that if they do not get assistance for their outstanding loans, then their businesses could be taken over by foreign investors. Pattaya is one of the areas in Thailand that has been hit the hardest by Covid-19. The city’s famous “Walking Street” has been compared to the zombie apocalypse series, the “Walking Dead.” Many businesses have been struggling to stay afloat. The president of the hotel association of the eastern region warned hotel operators to take care of their outstanding loans and called on the government to support the hotel sector, such as by suspending loan payments to financial institutions and cutting interest rates. He says that if hotels do not get help, and if the tight travel restrictions remain in 2022, then many will have no other option than to sell the business and many groups of foreign investors, mostly Chinese, are interested in buying hotels in Pattaya. https://thethaiger.com/news/pattaya/foreign-investors-keep-a-close-eye-on-struggling-pattaya-hotels ================================ From Channel News Asia ASEAN-China travel bubble ? KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob proposed that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China could consider a cross-border travel bubble, adding that it would be “vital for recovery” from the COVID-19 pandemic. In a recorded video message during the 18th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) on Friday (Sep 10), he said both sides could explore common initiatives such as travel bubbles and quarantine arrangements. “By doing this, we will be in a much better position to revive not only the tourism industry, but also our people-to-people connectivity,” Mr Ismail Sabri said. Mutual recognition of vaccination certification is also a fertile area for collaboration, the prime minister noted. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/malaysia-ismail-sabri-asean-china-travel-bubble-covid-19-2168991

From Pattaya Mail One lane of Jomtien beach road near Grand Jomtien Hotel collapsed, pulling palm trees down to the beach and caused traffic chaos. Pattaya awakened on Wednesday morning to what looked like a scene out of a Hollywood disaster movie. All throughout the night the tropical storm wielded its wrath, dumping non-stop heavy rain all over the country and Pattaya was not spared. The rain did not stop at dawn but kept pouring down all morning and through most of the day. Pattaya streets are known to flood even with the slightest of rainfall, but with such a forceful blitz of rain throughout the night, the worst was about to hit the unsuspecting citizens that day. By late morning, the extent of the devastation became more visible as water rose to new heights in almost every part of town. One of the hardest hit areas was Jomtien Beach Road at the intersection near Grand Jomtien Hotel. The beach road collapsed and slid 5 meters onto the beach. Palm trees and traffic light posts were sucked down to the beach too. Police had to close off that section of road and direct traffic through little sois so people could travel to and from Pattaya. Continues with many photos https://www.pattayamail.com/news/monumental-floods-and-destruction-in-pattaya-wednesday-morning-371093

From AFP / Channel News Asia BEIJING: Chinese authorities have ordered gaming giants Tencent and NetEase to end their focus on profits and cut content perceived to be breeding "effeminacy", as Beijing tries to direct youth culture, gender ideals and the reach of big tech. The move is the latest by authorities to tighten their grip on the embattled technology sector, and sent shares in some of the industry's biggest names plunging. Officials on Wednesday (Sep 9) summoned gaming enterprises including Tencent and NetEase, the two market leaders in China's multibillion-dollar gaming scene, to discuss further curbs on the industry, which has already been ordered to limit gaming time for those under 18 to three hours a week. Among the new targets are media representations of men, which experts say are a cause for anxiety among the conservative, older generation of Communist Party leaders. In recent days, regulators have ordered broadcasters to resist "abnormal aesthetics" such as "sissy" men, calling for more masculine representations in programming. Continues at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/china-gaming-giants-effeminate-gender-imagery-tencent-netease-2166016

Move along....nothing to see here After announcing on Monday that The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) will cease to exist when the state of emergency decree was lifted, the government today said something akin to "yes, we have no bananas". From Bangkok Post The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) will continue its role in leading the country's fight to contain the Covid-19 outbreak, although it may later be transformed into a new body under a new disease control law that will replace the state of emergency, the government said on Wednesday. According to Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, because the CCSA was established under the Emergency Decree, when the state of emergency is lifted, then the CCSA will technically no longer exist. "However, in practice, the CCSA will continue to function while the government deliberates the new disease control law, although it may have to be transformed into something else after the state of emergency is lifted," he said. Mr Wissanu was responding to questions about the possibility of dissolving the CCSA when the government revokes the state of emergency, which it is said would usher in the next steps of containing the coronavirus outbreak. The government is waiting for a new law that will allow it to declare a state of public health emergency without having to invoke the Emergency Decree, which generally covers all other emergencies, including terrorism and mass unrest, he said. "When the new law is in place, a body even larger than the CCSA may be established if needed, so it doesn't really matter if the CCSA is dissolved or not," he said. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2178567/ccsa-shake-up-looms File under: (a) TIT (b) You can't make this stuff up (c) Th-th-th, that's all folks" (d) All of the above Mr Wissanu was responding to questions about the possibility of dissolving the CCSA when the government revokes the state of emergency, which it is said would usher in the next steps of containing the coronavirus outbreak.

The following interview is with a former female sex worker in Pattaya who is now living and working in Isaan. But I think what she has to say could have just as well been said by her male contemporaries. From National Public Radio (US) By Suchada Phoisaat and Aurora Almendra In February, NPR published a story on the tolls of the pandemic on Thailand's sex workers. Before COVID-19 hit, international tourism made up 20% of the country's gross domestic product — and fueled a thriving sex industry. That collapsed in March 2020 when the country shut its borders to keep the coronavirus at bay. Sex workers in the cities of Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket struggled to cope with the lack of sex tourists. Most were barely scraping by, and many returned to their home provinces in the rural countryside. We check in with M., one of the sex workers whom we interviewed and who has asked for anonymity because individuals have been disowned by their families or ostracized by their communities for association with a stigmatized, illegal industry. When we interviewed sex workers in Thailand back in September 2020, many were holding out hope that the coronavirus pandemic would end soon. But the country's coronavirus crisis has only gotten worse, with the average number of daily new infections reaching its peak on Aug. 13 at 23,418 cases. While some resort islands, like Phuket, have reopened to vaccinated foreign tourists, tourism is far from having rebounded. We caught up with M., 33, whom we met in the Thai tourist hub of Pattaya. Before the pandemic, she was earning good money as a topless dancer at a go-go bar and as a sex worker. But when we spoke to her amid the crisis last year, she said she was struggling to send money to her mother, who was caring for her two sons, and was sharing a studio apartment with two other women who worked at the same bar. In January, she returned to her rural hometown in the northeast region of Isaan and started a job in accounting at a local hospital. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. A year ago, you were worried that if tourism didn't improve in Pattaya, you'd have to move back to Isaan. What led to your decision to leave the city? The COVID situation became more severe. There were no tourists or foreigners staying in Pattaya, and I was very worried about COVID. I started to think about going home because there were almost no customers. My roommates went back home around November last year. It was sad. Our room was quiet, and I still had to pay rent for the room [on my own]. Luckily, over New Year's Eve, I made some money from a customer from Bangkok who came to Pattaya for an island holiday, and I saved it. In early January, the bar owner decided to close the business. I wasn't sure what else to do in Pattaya. I called my mother and told her I was coming home. But I didn't leave for another [few weeks] because I was trying to find a job in a [government-designated quarantine] hotel in Pattaya, but no luck. What was the city like on the day you left? I was speechless. I lived in Pattaya for [six years] and never thought that Pattaya would become a deserted city. Pubs and bars that were always lit up at night are now shut down. The beach is lonely without tourists. At night, the beach has become a place for people [who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19] to sleep, and others go there to donate food to the homeless. When I think about it, my heart aches. I'm happy I survived. Before the pandemic, you had dreams of saving enough money in Pattaya to buy more farmland for your family and starting your own rubber tree plantation in Isaan. How much of a dent did the pandemic put in your savings? I only had a small amount of money left. I had about 10,000 baht [$300] saved and used it to pay off my rent in Pattaya. I sent some money [in advance] to my mother for the expenses of my two sons, about 3,000 baht [$100]. What was it like when you first got home to your province? When I returned to my hometown, I still couldn't stay at our home. I had to report to the village leader and was required to quarantine for 14 days. My mother sent me to live on our [small] rubber plantation. She sent me some food and drinking water. After the quarantine period was over, I was able to go home. I didn't have much to do apart from [helping my mom with her] rubber plantation. I was frustrated because I didn't know what to do next with my life. I began to look for work, starting with applying for a job as a Grab rider [a motorcycle-delivery and ride-hailing app]. There are not many restaurants for food-delivery service in my hometown, so most of my job was picking up passengers or parcels. It did not earn much money but was better than staying home and earning nothing. I was also picking up a few shifts at the 7-Eleven and working as a life insurance agent. Your mom and sons depended on your income as a sex worker to supplement their living expenses. How did they survive when you returned to Isaan and did not have a steady job? Living at home without any money [in Isaan] is not as difficult as living in Pattaya. In the countryside, we own a house so we don't need to pay rent. My mother grows vegetables for herself. Sometimes we buy meat from the market, and the price of fresh food is not expensive like in Pattaya. Last year, my mother leased half of her rubber plantation to some farmers, so she made enough cash to live on. What are you doing now? I [started] working as an accounting officer at a hospital [in early July]. My friend told me that the hospital was looking for staff. I had to take an accounting exam to be able to apply. I wanted this job because I intended to [make enough money to] continue improving our house. Before the pandemic, you said your job in Pattaya's red-light district earned you more money than from your previous office job. Are you making enough money in your office position now? I'm a full-time employee with a monthly income. The salary may not be much, but there are health care, child's education and pension benefits. How does COVID continue to affect you? I'm afraid I will be infected with COVID because there are infected patients who come to the hospital. I protect myself by wearing a double mask. What is life like for you now? My routine has changed. On the weekends, I have time to be with my family. I'm making new friends. [Instead of going to bed late because of my evening shift at the bar], I get up early and go to a daytime job. It's funny — I used to complain that someday I would have to sleep like a normal person! Do you miss anything about Pattaya? Party life, handsome men, drinking with friends. I hardly drink now because of my new profession, but I miss it so much. Suchada Phoisaat is a Thai producer based in Bangkok. Aurora Almendral is an American journalist based in Southeast Asia. https://www.wbur.org/npr/1033267519/whatever-happened-to-the-thai-sex-worker-trying-to-rebuild-her-life-in-a-pandemi

From The Thaiger Tourism officials push for resumption of Russia flights in last quarter The Tourism Authority of Thailand says it’s essential that commercial flights between Russia and Thailand be allowed to resume during the last quarter of the year. However, under Thailand’s emergency decree, international flights can only operate as semi-commercial, with limited seat capacity. Khanittha Phanworawat from the TAT’s Moscow office says this means the Russian aviation authority is still not allowing flights to Thailand. The Bangkok Post reports that while there is some demand for Thailand in the Russian market, the lack of direct flights to places like Phuket is proving an obstacle. Further exacerbating the situation is Aeroflot’s decision to suspend flights to Bangkok until October 31 in order to avoid flying over Afghanistan’s airspace. Khanittha says that if international air travel could resume between Russia and Thailand, Russian tour operators are prepared to operate charter flights within a month. Russia has recently resumed flights to 56 other countries, including destinations popular with Russian tourists, where there are fewer restrictions and lower costs, compared to Thailand. During 2019, Thailand welcomed 1.48 Russian tourists, generating nearly 103 billion baht. Nearly 700,000 of them came in the last quarter of the year. During 2020, the number of Russian visitors plummeted by over 60%. Next year, the TAT hopes to lure 500,000 – 700,000 Russians. Following the Thai government’s decision to approve the Sputnik V vaccine for tourists entering Thailand, Khanittha says around 100 Russians a day have applied for a Certificate of Entry. She says most are return visitors to Phuket, favouring destinations with no mandatory quarantine. However, she says the additional costs associated with travelling to Thailand at the moment risk being a deterrent, including payment for multiple PCR tests and Covid-19 insurance. https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/tourism/tourism-officials-push-for-resumption-of-russia-flights-in-last-quarter

From AFP / BP Mass Covid testing launched in Bangkok's biggest slum For families struggling to survive on $150 a month in Bangkok's biggest slum, coronavirus swab tests are a luxury that few can afford. The Klong Toey slum, where an estimated 100,000 people live packed into tiny, overcrowded dwellings, has been a major concern as the country battles the third wave of the pandemic. Now the Bangkok Community Help Foundation, a charity, has launched a mass testing drive to try to identify cases and help stop Klong Toey from becoming a reservoir that reinfects the whole city. The foundation said the programme -- linked to guaranteed hospital beds for positive cases -- was long overdue. Almost 1,000 people have been swabbed in recent days, it said, with close to 50 coming back positive. "There are many people living in very tight and confined spaces. In many cases people are living with 10 people in a house... of maybe 20 square metres, which means if one has Covid, the rest have it," foundation co-founder Friso Poldervaart told AFP. "It's usually the case that if people (test positive), they get given a home isolation kit. The issue is here that they cannot home-isolate." Rice donations, mangosteen juice and a free lunch were among incentives the charity used to encourage hesitant residents to undergo a swab test. Continues with photo https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2178483/mass-covid-testing-launched-in-bangkoks-biggest-slum

Special report from Reuters Air Force chief Maung Maung Kyaw is a key member of the junta that overthrew Burmese democracy earlier this year. His son and nephew are part of a young generation of military families with wide-ranging business interests, including supplying the armed forces. By POPPY MCPHERSON, READE LEVINSON, JOHN GEDDIE, WA LONE, SIMON LEWIS and STEPHEN GREY A week after the Burmese military seized power, a Twitter account that had lain dormant for nearly a decade flickered back into life. The Twitter user mocked anti-coup protesters, hundreds of whom have been killed in a crackdown by security forces since the Feb. 1 coup. After a police truck fired high-pressure water cannons on demonstrators in the capital city of Naypyidaw on Feb. 8, he made a trolling reference to the nation’s traditional April new year celebration: “Water festival come earlier for them lol.” A few weeks later, the user wrote “#fuckthereds,” making a dismissive reference to the political party of Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Prize-winning civilian leader who had been overthrown and arrested in the coup. A review of an archived version of the account, which has since been shut down, revealed the username was a pseudonym belonging to Ivan Htet, the 33-year-old son of a leading figure in the coup: the chief of the air force, Maung Maung Kyaw. But Ivan Htet hasn’t just been an enthusiastic supporter on social media of the Tatmadaw, the name for the Burmese military, which has dominated political life since independence in 1948 for Myanmar, then called Burma. He is also trying to cash in, helping equip the military, along with his wife Lin Lett Thiri, who co-founded a private firm to supply Myanmar’s armed forces, Reuters has found. Corporate filings and a military procurement document reviewed by Reuters, as well as interviews with friends and associates of the family and with five defence contractors, show that the couple are part of a young generation of military families with business interests across the economy. Besides his son and daughter-in-law, the air force chief’s nephew and niece have also prospered: They own a company that supplies the country’s aviation sector, corporate filings and media interviews show. Two defence contractors, a business associate and a former Myanmar airline executive told Reuters that the nephew was also involved in deals to supply the armed forces. Maung Maung Kyaw, 57, was promoted to head the air force in 2018 and has presided over a modernisation program, with hundreds of millions of dollars spent on upgrading aircraft used to support a military that for decades has been accused of human rights abuses. These included mass killings in 2017 of the Rohingya Muslim minority with “genocidal intent,” according to United Nations investigators. The military has denied this, saying it was waging a legitimate campaign against militants who attacked police. Continues with photos https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/myanmar-generals-families/

This is also an opportunity to celebrate Bryan Ruby who becomes the only active pro baseball player to be out as gay. From USA Today Bryan Ruby first started to realize he was different at 14 years old. That's when the hiding began. Along with the darkness. He found emotional refuge in two different parts of his identity. He's a professional baseball player, a member of the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, which makes him much closer to a journeyman than a major-leaguer. And he's a country music songwriter, having written two songs that reached the charts, plus countless ballads in his notebook. Yet it's Ruby's hidden part of his identity that he now believes can have the biggest impact, partially because it's so foreign to the worlds of baseball and country music. Ruby is a gay man, the only active professional baseball player at any level to be publicly out. "I kept thinking about the little 14-year-old me, who was scared because I'm a baseball player who loved country music," Ruby, 25, told USA TODAY Sports. "Those are worlds where people like me are told they can't belong. I'm not a hot-shot prospect. But today, you can't find a single active baseball player who is out publicly. I want to help create a world where future generations of baseball players don't have to sacrifice authenticity or who they really are to play the game they love." His coming out follows a summer in which Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib and Nashville Predators prospect Luke Prokop also came out as gay. After years of no actively out players in men's professional sports, now there are three. Playing the guitar in his bedroom in recent months, with posters of Dierks Bentley and Cal Ripken Jr. hanging in the background, Ruby sang a song he's co-written that seems especially relevant given his purpose behind coming out. "If that white line ever gets lonely, if the nights get a little too cold, if it don't work out, if you have your doubts, you've got a place to go." Ruby's goal is clear: to help others who are forced to hide their identity, too. "Being closeted for basically 10 years, it was a struggle the whole time," he said. "I used to hate myself. Hate how I felt. I'd ask why am I feeling this way?" "I kept having people tell me, 'Be very cautious of who you tell' or 'They don't need to know your personal life.' The best way to describe the hiding as an athlete is like you're running with a weighted vest on," he said. "It's on all day and you can't take it off. I've been gradually taking that weight off." Continues with photos and video https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2021/09/02/bryan-ruby-only-active-professional-baseball-player-out-gay/8244571002/

From Pattaya Mail By Warapun Jaikusol Pattaya’s women-of-the-second-category are learning how to stay home and bake cookies. The Sisters Foundation launched its second round of vocational training courses for LGBTQ people who want to be bakers. The project began in April, funded by a 370,000-baht grant from the International Organization for Migration, a United Nations-affiliated group that provides services and advice concerning migration to governments and migrants, including internally displaced persons, refugees, and migrant workers. Some of those participating in Sisters’ bakery classes are LGBTQ migrants from neighboring countries. Project coordinator Rawitcha Sakpreechakul said the training is aimed at former transgender entertainers who were put out of work by the coronavirus pandemic. The current class has 13 students who work in groups no larger than five people, in line with Covid-19 restrictions, and use kitchens provided by the foundation, although the instructor teaches remotely. Classes cover easy-to-make items using simple tools suitable for beginners. Coming out of the ovens are butter cookies, brownies, cupcakes, macaroons, cheesecakes and more. The chefs then sell the baked goods to generate income. Continues with photos https://www.pattayamail.com/news/pattayas-ladyboys-staying-home-baking-cookies-370870

From Coconuts Bangkok “The education system is failing 1.8 million students because online learning takes students for granted,” reads a banner hanging from a skywalk at BTS Asok in an image from a Voice TV report. Thousands of students pledged to participate in a strike on virtual learning that started yesterday. School gates have been closed since April and learning moved online. While that hasn’t been a burden on families with resources, thousands of others have struggled to keep their children educated. There are many students for whom just getting online is an epic undertaking. Adding to that, are reports of teachers taking their abusive impulses online, forcing students to obtain permission before drinking water and wear uniforms at home. Fed up with the virtual classroom experience, activist group Bad Student has called on fellow students to ditch online learning altogether and demand a better and more inclusive learning experience. Answering the call of a student-led campaign called ‘I’m fucking done with these online classes,” more than 7,000 students nationwide pledged to boycott lessons this week. The campaign’s hashtag #IAmFuckingDoneWithOnlineClasses had been retweeted more than 1 million times at time of publication. The group has also called for a better vaccine distribution and reduced workloads for both students and teachers, such as fewer lesson hours and assignments, so long as schools remain closed. Continues at https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/thousands-of-thai-students-vow-to-ditch-school-to-oppose-virtual-learning/

Smiling always seemed to come naturally to the guys I've met from any SE Asian country, and I'm 30 plus years their senior for sure. I never ask if they're gay for all the reasons others have described above. I do try to pick up on non-verbal cues but I don't waste time trying to over think what the pending encounter has in store. Like Forky123, I've found it best to go with the flow and recall few disappointments.

For more photos and reflections on PAL: https://filipiknow.net/things-we-no-longer-see-on-philippine-airplanes/

I think we'll all be grateful that there are national carriers competing in the international marketplace. If you removed all of the national carriers serving east Asia, who would you have left? Damn few and fares would go out of sight for lack of competition. Demand will be returning far sooner than a "couple of years." Count on it.

This begs the question: what carriers will benefit from Philippines Air fall from grace? Since many potential customers I think would have a moment of pause before booking the carrier going forward, Qatar, Singapore and Turkish appear to be best positioned to attract former customers of the bankrupt airline. All three have better balance sheets and more frequent service, not to mention reputation.

From Bangkok Post Govt may lift emergency decree The government is considering lifting the emergency decree when the current extension expires at the end of this month, which would also mean the closure of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, a top security official said on Monday. National Security Council secretary-general Gen Natthapol Nakpanich said the government and CCSA were making the necessary preparations. If the decree was not extended, the Communicable Disease Control Act would be used to manage the Covid-19 pandemic, under the auspices of the Public Health Ministry, he said. The end of the decree would also mean the end of the CCSA, which was set up under the decree to handle the coronavirus situation, he said. The ministry was responsible for fighting disease outbreaks before the decree came into force. Gen Natthapol, who is the CCSA operations chief, admitted some groups felt uneasy about the use of the decree. He said use of the disease control act under the ministry would be enough to control the spread of the virus. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2177327/govt-may-lift-emergency-decree

From Bangkok Post The Tourism and Sports Ministry vows to open the whole country without quarantine by January next year, but such a move largely depends on nationwide herd immunity. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the tourism and sports minister, said Bangkok was scheduled to reopen in October as part of the second phase for the country, but this phase has been delayed to November as the majority of residents will not receive their second vaccine dose until the end of October. "The plan for Bangkok is more challenging as it has extended territory covering vicinities that require more elaborate standard operation procedures [SOPs]," he said. Meanwhile, Chiang Mai, Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin) and Chon Buri (Pattaya) will go ahead as planned on Oct 1, as well as Phetchaburi, which hasn't yet started its SOPs and needs to speed up this month, said Mr Phiphat. At a meeting between the ministry and the Tourism Authorities of Thailand (TAT) on Friday, he said they agreed to add some provinces to the third phase of reopening under the 7+7 extension programme. As a result, from Oct 15 there are 25 provinces tourists can enter via the sandbox programme as second destinations after spending seven days in one of these destinations: Phuket, Samui, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi and Bangkok. Continues at https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2176951/tourism-ministry-sets-january-date-to-reopen ================================== Phuket sours on Sandbox The private sector in Phuket is urging the government to fully reopen the resort island by Dec 1, saying the move can bring in more than 210 billion baht in tourism-related revenue in just three months. The call came as businesses in Phuket realised that they won't be able to survive with the island only partially reopened under the Phuket Sandbox scheme. "Only over 20,000 tourists have come over the past two months since the Phuket Sandbox was launched," said the vice-president of Phuket Tourism Association, Nanthida Atiset. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2176819/phuket-sours-on-sandbox