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From The Nation US pledges to help Thailand procure vaccines The United States is ready to help Thailand procure Covid-19 vaccines, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said during a meeting with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at Government House in Bangkok on Wednesday. Prayut congratulated Sherman on taking up her post, and US President Joe Biden for his victory in the election, expressing hope that the US and Thailand would continue building stronger friendship and cooperation, according to government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri. Sherman also praised friendship between the two countries that has lasted for over 188 years, Anucha said. "She said the US has a policy to help many countries, including Thailand, in seeking Covid-19 vaccines in a bid to enable them to overcome the crisis." He added that Prayut appreciated the US offer and was willing to commence operations under the vaccine import process. Anucha said Sherman and Prayut also talked about the climate, bio-circular-green (BCG) economy, human trafficking and the situation in Myanmar. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001595

The above posts reflect both the the good and not-so-good of policies put forward as the world attempts to come to grips with the real enemy: the virus itself. The last time the world attempted to defeat a threat on this scale was in WWII. And that battle was accompanied by the same interplay of political, regional and industrial interests. It was successful only to the degree that individual nations sublimated some of their own priorities and arrived at a grand compromise. As in that war, the opponent, the Axis powers, helped shape how the war was conducted. Now, it's the virus itself that is shaping the same political, regional and industrial responses. It's not always--or even rarely--a comforting process to witness. But its success or failure will be measured in the same way: was the threat defeated. At this moment, that remains undecided. Even many of those who stand to benefit from victory appear undecided on the cure. The same percentage (about two-thirds) of the population in both the US and Thailand are reluctant to receive a vaccine. The only thing all of us have in common is the desire for victory. And with such daunting odds, it's easy to get side tracked with the differences.

From the Thai Enquirer Thailand will launch a quarantine-free travel program for its ten top provinces for tourism starting in October, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the tourism and sports minister, said on Wednesday. The provinces are Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi, Chonburi, Phuket, Surat Thani, Krabi, Phang-nga and Buriram. Phiphat insisted on opening Phuket this July as planned despite a resurgence of Covid-19 infections. Phuket must achieve a vaccination rate of 70 per cent by this month, he said. The first group of foreign tourists is set to arrive at Phuket on July 3 from North America, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand. The estimated number of foreign visitors in the third quarter is predicted to be around 129,000. The minister said these ten provinces generated up to 1.5 trillion baht of tourism income, accounting for 75 per cent of total income, and brought about 40 million foreign visitors in 2019, prior to the pandemic. https://www.thaienquirer.com/28182/country-to-reopen-tourist-provinces-in-october-minister-says/ ============================= From The Tourism Authority of Thailand

From The Thaiger The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand has announced some specific flight rules on the procedure for international travellers flying into Phuket after July 1. This comes just after the Tourism Authority of Thailand laid out more general rules for travel within Thailand for international tourists. Tourism officials from TAT and the island have been steadfastly determined to reopen under its tourism “sandbox” plan, despite the current surge in cases and daily new cases still appearing in Phuket. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration will be evaluating Phuket’s readiness and reporting to the cabinet for a meeting Friday to approve or deny the July 1 reopening. The flight rules for passengers arriving into Phuket from abroad will require all arrivals to be fully vaccinated, receiving 2 doses of those vaccines that require it. Notably, an exception is made for AstraZeneca, only requiring a traveller to have received the first of 2 jabs for just that brand. Another exception for requiring the immunity that vaccination provides is that of natural immunity. People with documentation that they have fully recovered from a Covid-19 infection within the previous 90 days before their arrival will also be allowed to enter. New flight rules will require all passengers to have paperwork confirming that they have been tested for Covid-19 within the last 7 days and have returned a negative result. Any travellers attempting to board a plane without documents meeting these flight rules – proof of a negative test within a week and either 1 AstraZeneca shot, full inoculation, or full recovery from Covid-19 within the past 3 months – will be denied boarding by the airlines and not allowed to travel. https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/tourism/civil-aviation-authority-details-international-flight-rules =================================== Qatar to fly to Phuket 4 times weekly From The Thaiger Qatar Airways is going all-in on the Phuket sandbox plan to reopen the tourist island to international travellers on July 1. The airline has confirmed that they will run flights 4 times per week between the Qatari capital city of Doha and Phuket. This new route is in addition to the airline’s current 12 flights a week to Bangkok. The flights will be run using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a large plane capable of carrying a total of 254 passengers to Phuket, 232 in Economy Class and 22 in Business Class. The airline said in a press release yesterday that they believe the Bangkok and Phuket routes will connect the Middle East, Europe and the United States to Thailand. The flights will leave Doha at 2:55 am on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, arriving in the afternoon at Phuket International Airport at 1:30 pm. Return flights will leave Phuket 13 hours later, at 2:30 am, the early mornings of Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/transport/qatar-airways-will-fly-4-times-weekly-to-phuket-starting-july-1

Totally agree. Let's hope Biden makes good on his vow to send millions of doses overseas by the end of this month. From NBC News May 17, 2021, 12:57 PM EDT / Updated May 17, 2021, 2:23 PM EDT By Lauren Egan WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced Monday that his administration will send an additional 20 million Covid-19 vaccines abroad by the end of June, including for the first time vaccines that have been approved for use in the United States. "Our vaccination program has led the world, and today we are taking an additional step to help the world," Biden said in a speech at the White House. "No ocean is wide enough, no wall is high enough to keep us safe. Rampant disease and death in other countries can destabilize them — those countries — and pose a risk to us as well," he added. The 20 million doses of U.S.-approved shots are in addition to Biden's previous commitment to give 60 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to other countries, meaning that 80 million doses are expected to be shared with the world within the next few weeks. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-send-20-million-u-s-approved-vaccines-abroad-end-n1267596 ====================================== COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access, abbreviated as COVAX, is a worldwide initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines directed by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and the World Health Organization.

While reading The Nation news today, I came across this headline: Tourist dollars only came from foreign film crew this year "The tourism sector’s only income this year has been from foreign filmmakers and crew, the Department of Tourism said recently." https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001539 Whoa, I thought. What about all those tourists who entered the Kingdom on Special Tourist Visas (STV) or other visas. Some have posted on this board. Sure enough, a brief search determined that 7,694 foreign tourists entered Thailand during January alone. https://www.bernama.com/en/general/news_covid-19.php?id=1945387 This raises the larger issue of a government agency that tosses out a press release and a media all too willing to publish anything that comes over the transom without feeling obliged to do some due diligence.

From Laotian Times Laos is to receive a shipment of some 100,620 doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine through the COVAX facility. To prepare for the arrival of the vaccine, the National Immunisation Programme has been provided with special freezers because the Pfizer vaccine requires special ultra cold chain storage conditions to preserve it and maintain its viability, according to the Center for Information and Education for Health. The equipment was provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) with support from the German Federal Ministry of Health. Laos will roll out vaccinations with the Pfizer vaccine to three priority groups, including medical personnel, the elderly, and people with chronic illnesses. https://laotiantimes.com/2021/06/01/laos-expecting-shipment-of-pfizer-vaccine/

Visions of the gang that couldn't shoot straight If the consequences weren't so dire , if the confusion didn't threaten the country's recovery, the debate below would be almost comical. Perhaps they'd be wise to adopt the proverb "It's better to seek forgiveness than ask permission." From The Thaiger / Bangkok Post In what could put yet another spanner in the works, the Thai government is questioning if local authorities can purchase vaccines and whether state-allocated budgets can be used for this purpose. The Bangkok Post reports that officials at the Interior Ministry fear a chaotic rollout, with several local administrative organisations racing to order supplies of Sinopharm, the latest vaccine to be approved for emergency use. Last week, the Chulabhorn Royal Academy confirmed its intention to order Sinopharm doses directly from China, which it says will supplement the government’s vaccine allocation for the national rollout, set to begin next Monday. The ministry has now referred the question of LOAs purchasing vaccines to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. The PM has also expressed concerns about how or if LOAs can afford to purchase vaccines and if they can legally use their allocated budgets to do so. Prayut Chan-o-cha insists he has no objection in theory, but points out that there may be restrictions in place which prevent them using funds for the purchase of vaccines. He says the laws governing the matter need to be checked. “If they can undo this (restriction), by all means go ahead and do it. I don’t want the issue to become politicised.” According to deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam, LAOs would need to ask the Interior Ministry to lift the restriction on how state-allocated funds can be spent. “Otherwise, the LAOs will be in trouble with the State Audit Office for wrongful utilisation of state funds.” He adds that LAOs cannot buy vaccines directly from manufacturers, but would need to order from their appointed representatives. In the case of Sinopharm this would be the CRA. However, the Interior Ministry remains concerned about the potential chaos resulting from over 7,000 LAOs across the country trying to buy their own vaccines. Minister Anupong Paojinda points out that some are wealthier than others, and the CCSA must decide if purchasing power can be devolved or if the government should obtain the vaccines for them. https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/government-unsure-if-local-administration-budgets-can-be-used-to-buy-vaccines ====================================== From the Tourism Authority of Thailand

From The Thaiger Deadline to apply for the 60-day “Covid” visa extension now July 29 The deadline to apply for a 60-day visa “Covid” extension has been pushed to July 29, now allowing stays up until late-September. The extensions are intended for foreigners who are unable to leave Thailand and return to their home country due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation. The deadline to apply has been extended by the Thai Immigration Bureau several times, typically announced at the last minute. The previous deadline was May 29. The 60-day visa extension program was launched late last year to allowing foreigners to stay in Thailand due to the global Covid-19 situation and limited international flights. The extension can be granted if… A foreigner cannot return to their home country due to the Covid-19 pandemic. There are no return flights available. The foreigner has a letter from their embassy requesting temporary stay. https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/visa/deadline-to-apply-for-the-60-day-covid-visa-extension-now-july-29

From Thai Enquirer Hospitals restrict vaccine registration amid supply concerns The Chulabhorn Royal Academy (CRA) and several private hospitals were closing their registration procedures for vaccination against the Covid-19 virus on Monday. The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) last week asked people to “slow down” their vaccine registration via the Mor Phrom Application due to limited supply of vaccines. The locally produced AstraZeneca vaccine will reportedly not be delivered in June as scheduled. The CRA announced online that their registration has reached capacity, and it will not be registering any new patients to ensure vaccines are allocated to those who have registered. ================================================= Opinion: Corporations have chosen to remain open, it will cost lives and suffering By Cod Satrusayang Over the last two weeks, Thai companies have been questioned over Covid-19 outbreaks in their workplace. Construction firms have seen a spike in the number of cases in construction sites while factories have been closed due to outbreaks. The biggest names in Thai industry have been implicated including Sino-Thai Constructions, Italian-Thai Development, and now Charoen Pokphand. On Sunday, CP Foods announced the closure of one of its factories in Saraburi after 245 people tested positive for the virus. Their other 18 factories will remain open. It is interesting to note that even at the height of the Covid-19 crisis, firms like Sino-Thai and CP kept their factories and sites open to keep the bottom line as unaffected and their shareholders as happy as possible. Even when there are real human costs. The Covid-19 pandemic currently has a mortality rate of around 2 per cent. That number is less in Thailand but that is a testament to the fine doctors and nurses in our public health services. But the fact remains, people will die. Thousands have now been infected because these factories have stayed open, because best practices in keeping the workplaces safe have not been introduced, and because of corporate greed. Choosing to remain open, to keep building, keep processing, and keep working will cost people their lives. People have died, are dying, and will keep dying because these CEOs and business leaders that we venerate in the back pages of Thailand Tatler have chosen to value the bottom line more than human lives. It should not be surprising for longtime observers of Thailand that his is happening. This is a country where corporations rule supreme. Above politics, above government, above the rule of law, corporations operate on another plain in Thai society. But unlike other abuses in the past, both human and environmental – the effects of corporate greed have been laid bare for all to see during the coronavirus pandemic. The human costs aren’t hidden away in the margins of court rulings and knock-on environmental effects that manifest themselves decades later. So far, these corporations have not said whether or not they would support the families of workers who died through their negligence. Continues at https://www.thaienquirer.com/28050/opinion-corporations-have-chosen-to-remain-open-it-will-cost-lives-and-suffering/ ================================================== From Bangkok Post Bangkok spa, parks, beauty clinics to open Tuesday Five groups of places allowed to operate with some restrictions City Hall has allowed some places with no reports of Covid clusters to open from Tuesday, including spas and beauty clinics. Its communicable disease committee met on Monday to consider easing Covid-19 measures for businesses. The panel decided that since the Covid clusters to date were found in communities, markets and construction workers’ camps, measures for other places should be eased to help operators. The places allowed to operate from Tuesday are: museums, learning centres, with strict measures in place such as a ban on group visits tattoo shops, or shops providing any kind of skin-piercing services, and nail salons beauty and weight-control clinics and shops spas and massage shops, except sauna and facial massage services public parks, botanical or floral gardens, with strict measures in place such as a ban on group sitting and consumption of food and drinks, except drinking water Other places remain temporarily closed until June 14. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2124511/bangkok-spa-parks-beauty-clinics-to-open-tuesday ========================================== From Tourism Authority of Thailand ===================================================== From The Thaiger Tim and Bill of "Good Morning Thailand" go through all the latest news from around Thailand including an interview about the Bangkok slums areas of high density housing, also the latest in the Phuket Sandbox and Thailand reopening plans, Malaysia’s new ‘lockdown’. https://thethaiger.com/news/national/good-morning-thailand-the-situation-in-bangkok-slums-thailand-re-opening-plans

From Vietnam News Nội Bài International Airport to stop receiving passengers from abroad from June 1 HÀ NỘI — Nội Bài International Airport in Hà Nội will stop receiving foreign arrivals from Tuesday until June 7 amid the complicated development of COVID-19. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, outbound flights from Nội Bài Airport are allowed to take off as normal. The move followed orders of the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control and the Ministry of Transport to curb the virus transmission. The CAAV has also extended the suspension of receiving foreign arrivals at HCM City’s Tân Sơn Nhất Airport until June 14. Earlier the airport was ordered to stop receiving passengers entering the country from May 27 to June 4. Việt Nam has suspended international commercial flights to the country since early 2020 to prevention the coronavirus spreading. Foreign experts, workers and Vietnamese citizens on repatriation flights were earlier allowed to enter Việt Nam at Nội Bài, Tân Sơn Nhất, Đà Nẵng, Vân Đồn airports and must be in 21-day quarantine at centralised sites. Hà Nội has recorded more than 200 cases of COVID-19 since the outbreak resurged in late April. The city has taken strict preventive measures like ordering the closure of restaurants, public parks and suspended non-essential services like karaoke venues, bars and massage parlours. Meanwhile, 14-day social distancing under Directive 15 has been applied in the majority of HCM City’s districts from Monday. — VNS ============================================= From Vietnam Express Vietnam Airlines signs up for international vaccine passport program Vietnam Airlines has signed an agreement with the International Air Transport Association to trial a vaccine passport next month. It will implement the IATA Travel Pass initiative that allows people to store verified Covid-19-test and vaccination certificates on a smartphone app. They must be issued by authorized facilities registered with IATA. Le Hong Ha, CEO of Vietnam Airlines, said: "The most important goal of the initiative is to revive people’s faith in air transport and ensure safe and smooth travel." Nick Careen, an IATA board member, said it is a solution for facilitating international travel during the pandemic. Three countries have signed up for the use of the IATA Travel Pass, Singapore, Panama and Estonia, and 30 airlines.

From the BBC A gay rights group in the Catalonia region of north-eastern Spain has warned of increasing incidents of homophobia following attacks in Barcelona over the weekend. The Observatory Against Homophobia (OCH) said five gay men had been injured in three separate attacks. In the most serious incident, a man needed facial surgery after he and his friends were attacked on a beach. Police are investigating but have not made any arrests, local media reported. Local politicians took to social media to condemn the attacks. "We will never normalise this situation," tweeted the city council's head of citizenship rights, Marc Serra Solé. OCH president Eugeni Rodríguez said the incident on Barcelona's Somorrostro Beach involved two gay couples who were set upon by three men. The men approached them and insulted them and then attacked them after checking no police officers were in the area, Mr Rodríguez said, according to the Spanish EFE news agency. The most seriously injured victim underwent surgery on Sunday. Mr Rodríguez called the incident "barbaric" and said the number of homophobic attacks was rising. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57300640

I have not read any reference to this article in other news sources. Hope it to bears fruit. ============================================ From the Phnom Penh Post Five of the six Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries – Cambodia, China, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam – are willing to welcome tourists fully-vaccinated against Covid-19 to their shores amid the pandemic, in an effort to kick-start a recovery in the tourism market dampened by Covid-19. The commitment was conveyed on May 27 during the 47th meeting of the tourism working group, comprised of representatives of GMS countries and Metro Manila-based Asian Development Bank. Myanmar seemingly took no part in the meeting. At the meeting, Ministry of Tourism director-general for Tourism Development and International Cooperation Sieng Neak shared Cambodia’s key strategies, as outlined in the 2021-2025 three-phased national tourism roadmap – approved by Prime Minister Hun Sen on April 1, and ministerial plans to allow fully-vaccinated international tourists to enter the Kingdom with little or no quarantine stay. “The meeting has agreed upon the draft of the Mekong Tourism Communication Recovery Plan to produce the right messages about tourism and select the right channels in order to promote tourism in the subregion to the right market,” he said later that day. Neak also presented an update on tourism infrastructure and management capacity in coastal areas in Cambodia’s southwest, stressing that all work is being carried out in line with ASEAN tourism standards. Khmer Angkor Tour Guide Association president Khieu Thy told The Post that reopening the Kingdom to foreign tourists would be a dream for the tourism industry. Suffering a dearth of international visitors for well over a year, Thy pointed out that the tourism sector also faces an unprecedented shortage of professionals and skilled tradespeople. "If Cambodia were to reopen to foreign tourists in the fourth quarter, that'd likely restore jobs and income for those working in the sector," he said. A tourism ministry report revealed that 1,306,143 international tourists visited Cambodia last year, down 80.2 per cent from 6,610,592 in 2019. Last year’s decline in international tourist arrivals cost the Cambodian tourism industry more than $3 billion lost in revenue, with revenues from international tourism generating only $1.023 billion in 2020, down 79.2 per cent compared to $4.919 billion in 2019. https://phnompenhpost.com/business/gms-countries-mull-welcoming-vaccinated-visitors

From The Thaiger / Thai Examiner PHOTO: Chinese media argues with Thai police over the handling of last week's luxury mansion raid. (via Facebook/ ตำรวจห้วยใหญ่) Controversy is swirling around the police raid on the Pattaya luxury mansion last week where a Chinese National shot 2 police officers, as the man and Chinese media claim that the raid was “executed poorly”. Senior Thai police officers claim the raid was carried out appropriately, while the Chinese man claims he panicked after being approached by suspicious men who were not clearly identified as police officers. The Chinese media has claimed that proper procedures were not followed and a search warrant was not obtained in advance. Video footage has been circling online showing a group of plain-clothes men coming through the rear of the property, where the owner was relaxing by the pool before fleeing to lock himself in his home. From the upstairs bedroom, he shot more than 60 rounds from a 9mm automatic pistol licensed to his Thai girlfriend. He also released tear gas on the storming police officers, and investigations later revealed that another Chinese man in the house had a concealed gun. 2 police officers were critically injured, one shot in the stomach and 1 shot in the leg, though the most recent information is that both will recover from being shot. The deputy spokesman for the Royal Thai police says that the court issued a search warrant after reviewing the evidence from a special operations squad, so police would have prior knowledge of who might be inside and what to expect during a raid. He argues that raid procedure was followed with uniformed police officers and 4 police cars at the front of the property while police entered from the rear to stop anyone from fleeing. The shooter in custody, a Chinese man known as Leo carrying a passport for investment haven Saint Kitts and Nevis, claims that he fired on the intruders for fear of being kidnapped or harmed with no knowledge that the people storming his property were police. The police contradict his statement and argue that all officers had proper ID displayed during the raid and had already identified themselves to a gardener when they entered the property. While Leo’s lawyer maintains that the search was executed without a warrant and run improperly, police maintain they had gone through proper procedures while investigating money laundering and illegal online gambling operations believed to be going on in the luxury mansion. His lawyer claims that Leo has no involvement with any illegal business or organised crime, and is merely a businessman who made money in gold, property, Bitcoin, and is in Thailand to develop a luxury real estate market. Police argue that bulletproof vests found during the raid and the use of teargas imply more nefarious activities. Continues at https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/crime/chinese-media-thai-police-argue-over-handling-of-mansion-raid

From the Tourism Authority of Thailand Bangkok, 30 May, 2021 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would like to provide the latest update that the Thai Cabinet agreed to extend the Emergency Decree nationwide for two more months until 31 July, 2021. Approved by the Cabinet on 25 May, 2021, and officially published in the Royal Thai Government Gazette on 27 May, 2021, Thai Prime Minister, General Prayut Chan-o-cha signed the announcement on the twelfth consecutive extension of the state of emergency for two more months after it expires on 31 May, 2021. =========================== ============================================= From Bangkok Post 73% of Thais feel 'hopeless' amid pandemic About three-quarters of the population feel anxious and hopeless about their lives during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the result of an opinion survey by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University, or Suan Dusit Poll. The poll was conducted online on 1,713 people throughout the country during May 24-27 to gauge the population's mental state in the "Covid-19 era". Regarding their state of mind, 75.35% said they were under stress and worried; 72.95% felt hopeless; 58.27% felt irritated; 45.19% frightened; and 13.50% were in a normal mental condition. Asked about the causes, 88.33% cited the worsened Covid-19 pandemic; 74.53% pointed to the economic slump; 51.89% cited concerns over vaccination; 36.50% mentioned travel and traffic conditions; and 15.98% cited health concerns.

From Thai PBS World Govt move to restrict freedom of information is a mandate for corruption, critics warn Proposed amendments to the Official Information Act are aimed at protecting state secrets, contrary to the law’s original goal of securing the public’s right to access government data, critics warn. The draft amendments would prohibit the disclosure of any official information deemed potentially damaging to the monarchy or its security. They also cover information on military affairs and national security, among others. The prohibitions are listed in an added chapter titled “Information Prohibited from Disclosure”. The controversial bill also sets much harsher penalties for violators of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of Bt200,000, compared to the current maximum three months jail time and Bt5,000 fine. Critics say the tougher punishment is likely to act as a deterrent against disclosure of official information, as officials opt to err on the side of safety. Proposed by the Prime Minister’s Office, the bill gained Cabinet approval on March 24 and could be debated during the new parliamentary session, which started on May 22. The Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT) on May 20 asked the government to review the draft amendment following widespread opposition and claims that it violated constitutional clauses requiring transparency of the state. In an open letter to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, ACT warned that preventing transparent disclosure of official information would undermine his government’s policy of fighting corruption. ACT secretary-general Mana Nimitmongkol, who sits on the regulatory Official Information Board set up under the law, said state agencies and politicians often attempted to delay or limit disclosure when asked for official information like government budget spending. “The current law is a serious obstacle. State agencies and politicians intentionally interpret the law and regulations in a way that benefits them,” he said. Already unhappy with the current law’s limits on access to official information, critics warn the amendments will restrict freedom of information for Thai citizens even further. Law Professor Worachet Pakeerut of Thammasat University said he was “rather shocked” on reading the contents of the draft bill. “The state is going to control the flow of news and information more intensely,” said Prof Worachet, who sat on the regulatory Official Information Board for 16 years. Continues at https://www.thaipbsworld.com/govt-moves-to-restrict-freedom-of-information-is-a-mandate-for-corruption-critics-warn/

From Channel News Asia COVID-19 sweeps through Thailand's overcrowded prisons The Thai prison population stood at around 311,000 earlier in 2021, more than two-and-a-half times the system's official capacity. (Photo: AFP/WILLIAM DAVIES) BANGKOK: A coronavirus surge sweeping through Thailand's prisons has thrown the spotlight on the kingdom's overcrowded penal system, where some inmates have less space to sleep than the inside of a coffin. More than 22,000 people have tested positive inside jails, where inmates living cheek by jowl have been encouraged to keep wearing their masks even while they sleep. Authorities have floated plans to give early releases to prisoners with underlying medical conditions and have announced funding for more testing and medical care in recent days. But those behind bars say they have been kept in the dark about the seriousness of the outbreak. "Prisoners don't have the knowledge to protect themselves," said Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, a high-profile activist facing charges under Thailand's harsh royal defamation law. Somyot was bailed last month and told AFP that he had not been tested for COVID-19 once during his 10-week stint in custody. He was not worried about contracting the disease while in jail because he had no idea about the level of risk. "But after this I'm so scared (for everyone still inside) ... if you are inside the prison you are at risk, it's unavoidable," he said. Thailand's prison outbreak has skyrocketed from just 10 publicly announced cases a month ago and sparked growing public concern after a handful of prominent activists contracted the illness. The Thai prison population stood at around 311,000 earlier this year, the International Federation for Human Rights said - more than two-and-a-half times the system's official capacity. Four inmates in every five are serving time for drug charges because of harsh anti-narcotics laws that can see offenders jailed for a decade for possessing just a few methamphetamine pills. Many cells are so packed with bodies that some inmates only have half a metre of space. "That is less room for a body than the inside of a coffin," Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin told local media in February. Somsak said he was examining ways to give early releases to prisoners with underlying medical conditions, possibly through a royal pardon. Even if the plan goes ahead, prisoners will still have to complete a quarantine before returning home. "For us to bail anyone or do anything, it has to be done properly," Somsak told reporters on Monday. "We can't allow them to spread infections." Rights groups say the plan should go further and urged authorities to also free non-violent offenders in order to reduce overcrowding. "Authorities should reduce the detainee population... of those held on politically motivated charges or for minor offences," said Brad Adams of Human Rights Watch. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/covid-19-thailand-prison-jail-overcrowded-outbreak-14909396 ================================= From Tourism Authority of Thailand

From Channel News Asia KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will close all economic and social sectors by implementing a "total lockdown” throughout the country. The first phase of the lockdown will last from Jun 1 to Jun 14. This move was announced in a media statement posted on Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s Facebook page on Friday (May 28) night. Only essential economic and service sectors listed by the National Security Council will be allowed to operate during Phase 1 of the lockdown, said the statement issued by Prime Minister's Office (PMO). “This decision was made after taking into account the current situation of COVID-19 transmission in Malaysia with daily case numbers exceeding 8,000 and active cases exceeding 70,000,” the statement read. More than 2,550 people in Malaysia have died from the disease. The emergence of more virulent COVID-19 variants also influenced the National Security Council's decision to implement the lockdown. With the sharp rise in the daily number of COVID-19 cases, hospitals' capacity to treat patients throughout the country are "becoming more limited", the statement added. If the phase 1 total lockdown is successful in reducing daily COVID-19 cases, the government will implement a four-week phase 2 lockdown by allowing the reopening of a few economic sectors that do not involve large gatherings. Phase 2 lockdown will last four weeks. “Once the phase 2 lockdown ends, the next step is phase 3, which is implementing a movement control order (MCO) similar to the current one in effect, where social activities are not allowed and nearly all economic sectors are allowed to operate subject to strict standard operating procedures and limited physical presence at workplaces,” the PMO said. PMO's announcement came as Malaysia set a COVID-19 case record for the fourth straight day with 8,290 new infections, bringing the national total past 549,000. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/malaysia-total-lockdown-jun-1-14-muhyiddin-covid-19-cases-record-14905394

From Coconuts Bangkok Cal-Comp workers staged a protest Thursday night to complain about conditions and demand action by the factory’s management and health officials. Photo: Petchpoom Hot News By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee Sealed inside a factory to contain a COVID-19 outbreak, hundreds of frustrated and angry migrant workers say they’ve been left in the dark by power outages without adequate food and no medical care. The poor conditions that led more than 1,300 workers at the Cal-Comp Electronics factory in Phetchaburi province to protest, including loss of electricity for 12 hours, had not been addressed as of today, according to workers and an NGO there, and no Thai authorities had arrived to help. “We take care of each other. No officers here,” Tlay Nyo, one of the Burmese workers stuck at the site, said by phone in Thai. “There was no electricity for hours yesterday and we don’t know if it will happen again today.” The actual number of workers stuck at the factory is unclear. While media reports put it at 1,300, Tlay Nyo said there are at least 1,500 Burmese workers plus others who are Cambodian. While he said that he had received enough food, others said they did not. “At around 9am today, a worker told me they had not been given breakfast,” Than Zaw Htike of the Migrant Workers Rights Network, who is currently at the site, told Coconuts Bangkok. He confirmed Tlay Nyo’s assertion that there were no Thai officials present as of Monday morning. The number of infected workers has ballooned in the past week. Labor rights campaigner Andy Hall said the most recent count had put it at more than 3,500 people. Calls to Cal-Comp went unanswered as of publication time. It is owned by Taiwanese manufacturing concern New Kinpo Group. It supplies electronics to U.S. computer maker HP as well as Japan’s Hitachi and Konica Minolta, according to the Migrant Workers Rights Network. Two years ago it paid compensation to workers who were led into virtual slavery by large debts to the recruiters who got them jobs there. The Cal-Comp Electronics factory was ordered shut from May 21 through June 4 after nearly 700 of its 3,300 workers tested positive for COVID-19. Phetchaburi provincial health chief, Petcharuek Tansawat, said the closure of the factory was a “voluntary decision” by the management, who promised to care for the employees quarantined inside. Than Zaw Htike shared photos taken inside of the workers taking care of their own by checking each other’s blood pressure along with images of uncooked meat the workers were forced to eat last night because the electricity had been cut for hours. https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/left-to-eat-raw-meat-in-the-dark-workers-sealed-in-thai-factory-protest-mistreatment/

Thanks, Gaybutton, for your clarifications. Because The Nation article is long, I'm copying the remaining content that covers many topics. If anyone is aware of other discrepancies or ommissions it would be helpful to call attention to them. =================== Thai embassies and consulates are issuing a Certificate of Entry (COE) for all travellers to Thailand, including those in the visa exemption list, as well as 60-day tourist visas and special tourist visas (STV). Foreigners entering Thailand are required to have an ASQ hotel reservation and Covid-19 insurance. At present, only semi-commercial flights are allowed to land in Thailand. Foreigners allowed entry include diplomats and foreign workers, including their families, business representatives and experts invited by the government, permanent residents, foreigners with Thai families, students and their guardians, medical tourists and their attendants, business visa holders, Thai Elite Visa holders, APEC cardholders, STV and tourist visa holders, non-immigrant O retirement visa, non-immigrant OA and OX holders and migrant workers with official documents. All foreigners are required to get in touch with their local Thai embassy to apply for a COE and for more information. Until September 30, 2021, Thailand will allow a limited number of long-stay tourists under the STV programme. This long-stay visa is open to foreign nationals travelling to Thailand with the intention of staying long-term as a tourist. Those eligible can get in touch with the Tourism Authority of Thailand Office or Thai embassy in their current location for more information. Visa amnesty/extension What is visa amnesty? As of May 29, 2021, all foreign nationals living in Thailand affected by the Covid-19 crisis will be granted a 60-day visa extension. Who is covered by the visa amnesty? All foreign nationals living in Thailand legally with a visa exemption entry stamp, tourist visa, non-immigrant visa or yearly extension of stay. What are the rules related to visa amnesty? Visa or permit to stay that is still valid and updated by the local immigration office. Foreigners holding long-term visas, such as a work visa, marriage visa or retirement visa are required to apply for their yearly extension at the immigration office as usual. Foreigners do not need an embassy letter to be granted the automatic visa extension due to Covid-19. Is the Covid-19 visa extension free of charge? No, the Covid-19 extension of visa costs 1,900 baht. Will the visa amnesty be extended? There is no indication that this visa amnesty or grace period will be extended. What happens when the visa amnesty is lifted or not extended? When the situation is resolved and returns to normal, foreigners must leave Thailand on or before the permit to stay date in their passports is up or must apply for the proper type of visa at the immigration office. Travel Ban Most international flights are banned, though some semi-commercial flights are allowed to land in Thailand. Foreigners qualified to enter Thailand must apply for a “Certificate of Entry to Thailand” before they book a seat on the available repatriation flight. 90-day reporting If you are a foreigner staying in Thailand for a period longer than 90 consecutive days holding a Non-Immigrant Visa or Extension of Stay, you are required by Thai Immigration to report your current address every 90 days. You may file for the TM47 notification in person, by mail, online, or through an agent. Consequences of visa overstay During this Covid-19 crisis in Thailand, some foreign nationals may find themselves overstaying in Thailand either by mistake, miscalculating the length of stay, forgetting their visa expiration date or by unforeseen cancellation of their flights due to travel restrictions. As a foreigner, you are strongly advised to avoid overstaying in Thailand. But if you do find yourself in Thailand on an expired visa it is very important that you act fast and in the right way. Cancellation of Visa on Arrival Travellers from the following countries are no longer allowed visa on arrival: Bulgaria, Bhutan, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, and Vanuatu. Travellers from these countries are required to obtain a proper visa to travel to Thailand. Though the visa on arrival for Russia has been cancelled, Russian passport holders may still enter Thailand for 30 days under the bilateral agreement. Cancellation of Visa on Arrival Travellers from the following countries are no longer allowed visa on arrival: Bulgaria, Bhutan, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, and Vanuatu. Travellers from these countries are required to obtain a proper visa to travel to Thailand. Though the visa on arrival for Russia has been cancelled, Russian passport holders may still enter Thailand for 30 days under the bilateral agreement.

The following article was published in The Nation today. Guide for foreigners living in or travelling to Thailand As of May 6, the Thai government has restored the mandatory 14-day quarantine for both vaccinated and unvaccinated arrivals in the country, regardless of their nationality. Continues at https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001414

From The Thaiger Pattaya will reopen to foreign tourists this year under a model similar to Phuket… but only if 70% of residents are vaccinated against Covid-19. Local officials are seeking more vaccine doses in an effort to reach herd immunity and bring people back to one of Thailand’s most popular tourist destinations. Under the plan “Pattaya, Move On,” quarantine in Pattaya would be waived for foreign travellers who are vaccinated against the coronavirus. Pattaya mayor Sontaya Kunplome says they plan to reopen to foreign tourists during the fourth quarter of the year. City officials are targeting tourists from Germany and Russia. The mayor says only tourists who are fully vaccinated and are travelling from countries that are classified as a low risk by the Public Health Ministry will be allowed to enter Pattaya under the proposed plan. Travellers will need to stay in Chon Buri’s Sattahip and Banglamung districts, which includes Pattaya, for 14 days before travelling to other areas. During their stay, tourists will need to download a tracking application and report to health officials each week. Those travelling to Pattaya under the proposed travel model will need to stay at a hotel that is certified by the Safety and Health Administration. The plan still needs to be presented to the Public Health Ministry and then approved by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. https://thethaiger.com/news/pattaya/pattaya-plans-for-reopening-with-no-quarantine-for-vaccinated-travellers

From Bangkok Post Princess allows new vaccine imports His Majesty the King's sister has approved coronavirus vaccine imports by an institution she sponsors, bypassing the government as it deals with surging infections and growing public anger over a slow and chaotic rollout. The secretary-general of the Chulabhorn Royal Academy wrote on Facebook that the "alternative vaccines" would supplement the government campaign until it could meet the country's needs. The government, which has long insisted it must handle all vaccine imports, will next month start its mass immunisation drive, which relies heavily on AstraZeneca vaccines manufactured locally by a company owned by the king. The announcement in the Royal Gazette took some in the government by surprise, and comes as the country suffers its most severe Covid-19 outbreak so far and growing unease about the vaccine plan. The decree was announced late on Tuesday and expanded the Chulabhorn Royal Academy's ability to respond to coronavirus. It was signed by Princess Chulabhorn, its chairwoman and the youngest sibling of King Maha Vajiralongkorn. "The Royal Academy will procure 'alternative vaccines' until vaccines that are produced in the country reach a capacity that can sufficiently protect against outbreaks," its secretary-general, Nithi Mahanonda, posted on Facebook, adding that it would comply with regulations on imports and registration. Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said he was unaware of the royal order before it was published. "I just saw the announcement last night," Mr Anutin said when asked about it during a local television interview. "But if it is a benefit to the country, we are ready." The Chulabhorn Royal Academy, which includes a hospital and research institute, will organise a news conference for Friday about what it said was its importation of the vaccine of Sinopharm. Thailand is expected to approve the Chinese vaccine for emergency use this week. It was not immediately clear how many vaccines the academy would import and when, as well as whether they would be free. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2122619/princess-allows-new-vaccine-imports ================================================== From The Thai Enquirer Opinion: A royal intervention in the healthcare arena is a rebuke against Prayut Any political science student would have been taught that the defining concept of a functioning state is the monopoly on the legitimate use of force. This notion was first proposed by the great political scientist Max Weber in 1919. In 2019, 100 years later, the Coronavirus may have given us a new definition of what it means to be a state. If we were to re-define the Weberian concept to fit with today’s most pressing concern, it is probably not far-fetched to claim that instead of the monopoly on the use of force, it is rather the monopoly on the legitimate implementation of healthcare policy that is the most important indication of a well-functioning state. The announcement in the Royal Gazette that the Chulabhorn Royal Academy can ignore and bypass the Prayut government’s policy to centralize the procurement of the Covid-19 vaccines is not only an embarrassment to the government, but also tantamount to a pseudo power-grab, at least within the healthcare realm. (Read more here) The Chulabhorn Institute and the Royal Academy are scientific research organizations, named after and chaired by HRH Princess Chulabhorn. Specifically, the decree grants autonomous power to the Institute in negotiating and importing Covid-19 vaccines with the manufacturers both in Thailand and abroad. This was a right that was reserved for only the Thai government. Any effort to procure the vaccines was supposed to be centralized at the Ministry of Health. While the announcement is most certainly a benevolent gesture by the Institute, it highlights the royal frustration and the split among the ruling elites over how the Prayut government is handling the crisis. HRH Princess Chulabhorn is taking the matter in her own hands. She is trying to do what she can to alleviate the dire healthcare situation and to compensate for the delay in vaccine procurement by the Ministry of Health and its relevant agencies. But the royal move, exercised in this manner however well-intentioned, calls into question the political legitimacy of the government and its authority in the management of the crisis. It is a no-confidence censure and a royal rebuke of both Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Minister of Health Anutin Charnveerakul. At the moment, Thailand is ranked sixth in ASEAN in the vaccination rate, behind Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Myanmar. We have only fully vaccinated 1.4% of our population and there are 104 countries in the world ahead of us on this metric. At the current rate, some estimates claim that it would take us more than 7 years to get to the goal of 100 million doses administered. On top of this, there are questions over whether we would have enough vaccines at all and how much longer would the delivery be delayed. Making the matter worse is the inability of our leadership to communicate coherently and effectively which has further hampered people’s confidence. While the royal intervention may be welcomed by those who have become hopeless in the current situation, it points to a larger problem in our society. When our top institution becomes too involved in people’s welfare, whether it exercises that power directly or through an agency, it exposes itself to being politicized and thus such a move is a double-edged sword that could end up hurting its own reputation and sanctity. It may have helped obviate the need for the royal institution to feel like it needs to save Thailand from sinking deeper into a health-care abyss, if our governance is cushioned by an effective, democratic check-and-balance system that can hold our government accountable in times like this. When we do not have that system to rely on–and we rarely ever do in our political history–we become accustomed to waiting and seeking a politically exogenous intervention. Sometimes, this materialized as a military putsch. At other times, we had extra-judicial interference. This time, it came in a form of an ostentatious royal intervention with a health-care twist. For now, we can be sure that the ruling elites have split and that move by HRH Princess Chulabhorn has highlighted the royal anxiety over the government’s mishandling of the crisis. What this means in practice is that our government is no longer in control of its health care apparatus and there is a functioning, competing alternative health-care system led by HRH Princess Chulabhorn herself. If Prayut and Anutin do not step up their game quickly, it will be to no one’s surprise when a more powerful intervention beyond the healthcare arena finally takes place. And sadly, it will once again happen at the expense of Thai democratic development. https://www.thaienquirer.com/27935/opinion-a-royal-intervention-in-the-healthcare-arena-is-a-rebuke-against-prayuth/ ==========================================

From Thompson Reuters Foundation News Bangkok's micro homes: a model for slum dwelling in COVID-19? Newly built micro homes helped residents brave a surge of the coronavirus, and could be a model for a planned redevelopment By Rina Chandran BANGKOK, May 21 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Flimsy shacks of tin and ply have given way to sleek, painted newbuilds - small, clean and leak-free - in Bangkok's biggest slum, creating model homes and a blueprint for city development. That's if community leader Surawat Krabsomboon and other residents can defeat plans to bulldoze much of Klong Toey slum and make way for the sort of gentrification transforming the Thai capital. "We were living in broken houses and were unable to afford to repair the houses," Krabsomboon told the Thomson Reuters Foundation from his home in the city's oldest slum. "But we did not want to live like that - we wanted better homes, better amenities," said the 29-year-old Thai, making the case for thousands more micro homes to replace the dilapidation that has mushroomed without design over decades. "These houses have allowed us to remain here, and relieved the burden of residents when they had to stay home during the lockdown and could not go out," he said. Klong Toey's slum, an area of about one square mile in the heart of the city, is home to nearly 100,000 people, mostly rural migrants from northern Thailand, many of whom came to the city decades ago for jobs at the nearby Bangkok port. They stayed on even as those jobs dried up and the area around them boomed with plush malls and high-rise blocks Krabsomboon had tried many times to fix their housing - the shacks are like saunas in summer and leak rain in the monsoon. Now, with help from a charitable foundation and a top Bangkok architect, dozens of residents have new homes where their tired shacks once leaned - with sturdy steel frames, insulated roofs and fire-resistant floors of fibre cement board. The micro homes, funded by the Charoen Pokphand Foundation, have helped residents brave the pandemic, and could be a model for the larger planned redevelopment of the slum, said Surawat. But the Port Authority of Thailand, which owns much of the land on which residents built their shacks illegally, wants to clear the slum to make way for office and commercial blocks, tourist spots and a modern transport and logistics hub. About 12,000 households must relocate - either to a new high-rise complex nearby, to plots about 30 km (19 miles) away, or take a cash compensation and move elsewhere, authorities say. The plan is opposed by residents who say their lives and livelihoods will be affected, and that the small flats on offer will not suit large families, or people with shops or chickens that roam the narrow alleyways. Most residents work in construction, as street vendors and as motorbike taxi riders ferrying people around the city of about eight million, and say they need to stay local to earn. "Development is needed, better homes and living conditions are needed, but they must first listen to the community and their needs," said Prateep Ungsongtham, founder of the Duang Prateep Foundation that runs a charitable school in Klong Toey. "If the redevelopment happens without that, then this community will disappear and this will become just like any other expensive neighbourhood in Bangkok with no place for the poor people who serve the city," she said. Continues with photos https://news.trust.org/item/20210521075200-l4h3r

From Bloomberg News When Singaporean car dealer Keith Oh first read the Facebook message, he wasn’t sure it was real. A Chinese client ordered a S$1.1 million ($830,000) Bentley—sight unseen—over the social network. “They just asked for the price and when we could do the delivery, that’s all,” he said. “It’s a million dollars to us but it’s probably nothing to them.” The quick sale was the latest sign of a wider trend: Money is sloshing around Singapore like never before. As the coronavirus pandemic hammers Southeast Asia and political turmoil threatens Hong Kong, the city has become a safe harbor for some of the region’s wealthiest tycoons and their families. For rich people “who can decide where they want to live and settle down, Singapore is a place of choice now,” said Stephan Repkow, who founded Wealth Management Alliance in 2015 after four years at Union Bancaire Privee. He said two of his foreign clients had become residents in the past 12 months and more are on the way. Singapore has long been a draw for wealthy Chinese, Indonesians and Malaysians who would come for short trips to shop, play baccarat at the casino or get medical check-ups at world-class clinics. Mount Elizabeth Hospital Orchard, just steps from the flagship stores of Gucci and Rolex, features a UOB Privilege Banking Centre in the lobby. The pandemic has changed all that, prompting many tycoons and their families to stay for months, in some cases seeking residency to ride out the storm. On a per capita basis, the mortality rates in Malaysia and Indonesia are more than 10 and 30 times higher than in Singapore, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University. The number of single family offices in the city-state has doubled since the end of 2019 to about 400, including firms recently set up by Google co-founder Sergey Brin and Shu Ping, the billionaire behind Chinese hotpot empire Haidilao International Holding Ltd. Demand for private golf club memberships is soaring, real estate prices have jumped the most since 2018 and until the recent clampdown, Michelin-star restaurants were packed. Global banks like UBS Group AG meanwhile are expanding in the city to manage the massive influx of assets. A spike in virus cases that’s led to stricter border measures and the cancellation of upcoming events such as the World Economic Forum meeting may pause some of the rich migration to Singapore, but it’s likely to be short-lived. While cases have jumped to a few dozen a day, it’s a far cry from the several hundred daily infections in New York City alone. Singapore is also charging ahead with vaccines: It’s given enough jabs for 30% of the population, almost twice the rate in China and even further ahead of neighboring Malaysia and Indonesia. It's a delicate balance for Singapore, which relies more on trade and open borders than just about any other Asian nation. Locking down and restricting travel for too long would make it unattractive to global investment and talent, while failing to control the virus risks a political backlash and its reputation as a safe regional hub. “Our recent spike of pandemic is very unfortunate, but we will eventually go through this phase again,” Repkow said. “Singapore is resilient and able to manage crisis in a very pro-active and efficient manner.” Continues with video and photos https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-05-26/singapore-during-covid-is-city-of-choice-for-billionaires-and-their-families?srnd=premium