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From The Nation Wang Thong Lang police officers on Saturday night arrested about 60 employees and visitors at Faros Sauna in Bangkoks Ramkhamhaeng Soi 21 for allegedly violating the state of emergency, the Communicable Disease Act and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)s announcement. The raid was conducted after people in the area informed police that the sauna was allegedly used for drugs and could spread Covid-19. Police reportedly found packs of methamphetamine, a narcotic drug, a syringe and used condoms in the area, while 14 of about 60 employees and visitors reportedly admitted to using drugs. "Investigation officials would interrogate and check for drug substance on employees, visitors and Jinna Kritjinda, 63, who claimed to be the sauna owner," said Pol Colonel Ekkaphop Tanprasert, superintendent of Wang Thong Lang Police Station. "Initially, they will be charged wirh violating the state of emergency, the Communicable Disease Act and BMA's announcement, while those who used drugs would face additional charges under narcotic laws." The police added that Jinna was also an owner of an entertainment venue on Pradiphat Soi 19. Continues with photos https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001203

Thai modern history reflects the issues raised in the two posts above. But as you look deeper, it's also about the fracture between the the ruling class of elites who control the nation's commercial, legislative, executive, judicial and military and members of the peasant and working classes who comprise the vast majority of the nation's citizenry (aka: yellow shirts vs red shirts). The Thai Enquirer continues it series with the event that took place seven years ago today: A Brief Oral History of the 2014 Military Coup Seven years ago, today, Thailand’s army launched yet another military coup. Once again toppling a democratically elected government, the Royal Thai Army under the leadership of General Prayut Chan-ocha said that they had to take power to restore peace and stability to the kingdom. The following is a brief oral history of the events that transpired on May 22, 2020 from the leaders of Thai society both then and now. Part 1: A Coup on the Horizon For months leading up to the coup, Thailand’s political scene was deadlocked between anti-government protesters and the Yingluck Shinawatra government. The protesters had initially come out onto the streets in November of 2013 to oppose an Amnesty Bill which would have forgiven all political players of any previous crimes, paving the way for the return of Yingluck’s brother Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin had been in exile since a previous military coup overthrew him in 2006. A group calling themselves the People’s Democratic Reform Committee led the protests. Headed by former Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban and a group of core leaders, they opposed the Amnesty Bill. Even though the government relented and backtracked on the bill, the protests continued. Akanat Promphan (Former Democrat MP and PDRC core leader): The PDRC was a people’s movement. We wanted to reform and have a revolution by the people. In order to make that happen, we had to show a symbolic force. We believe that a show of force would be necessary to make the government make changes. We wanted a period of reform before the election. The demonstrations started off because people wanted to show that they didn’t want the Amnesty Bill but as the demonstrations progressed, we realized that this was not the end of all of the problems. What Thailand needed was a major overhaul, we wanted reform. It needed to take place immediately. We did not trust politicians with power, they were not genuine about changing. We needed a people’s parliament to carry out the reform. The Senate would appoint an interim government. The interim government would handpick the people’s parliament to oversee the changes. Arun Saronchai (Journalist for Anadolu News Agency): It was bullshit. What they wanted was a “people’s revolution” where the people were effectively cut out. They wanted to appoint a non-accountable body to carry out reforms and put politicians on public trial. It is like these people never opened a textbook or read about the French Revolution. It was very ‘reign of terror.’ To make matters worse, the protesters were singing songs from Les Miserables, while marching and holding pictures of the king. My irony meter died that year. Continues with Parts 2, 3 and 4 https://www.thaienquirer.com/13394/a-brief-oral-history-of-the-2014-military-coup/

From The Thai Enquirer Opinion: Remember when the PAD wanted to close the country’s border? By Cod Satrusayang After the 2006 military coup that sent Thaksin Shinawatra into exile, the yellow-shirt People’s Alliance for Democracy argued for closing the country’s borders in response to international criticism. The country, the PAD argued, needed to shut its doors to foreigners while it cleaned house and eradicated the scourge of Thaksinomics and those that were disloyal to the crown. Many people scoffed at the idea but hardcore PAD supporters held onto the notion with many of these same arguments surfacing again during the People’s Democratic Reform Council protest in 2013/14 – the same protest that led to the Prayut Chan-ocha coup. Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, we finally have an inkling of what it would look like to shut down the country’s border. In short, economic disaster. Without tourism and international trade, our industries and services sector has withered. Our GDP contracted by its largest margin ever in 2020 fueled mainly by shut borders and a lack of international arrivals. What must be said is that the brain trust of the PDRC and the PAD that argued for shutting borders wanted to subject our country to these economic ravages willingly in the facile hope of “cleaning house” and “reeducating the population.” Think of the economic suffering that we are witnessing currently because of this pandemic. Think of the spiking suicide rates, the families falling below the poverty line, the countless hospitality jobs lost, the countless businesses closed, because of our country closing its borders to fight the pandemic. Now imagine a group of people so hellbent on ideological zealotry that they would subject the country to these ills voluntarily. Perhaps it is time that we as a collective whole unsubscribe from the dogmatic pursuit of purity demanded by those so loyal to the cultural and political institutions that demands such zealotry. Thailand must evolve into a 21st century country. Our situation demands it, our people demands it and our collective future demands it. We are situated on the Southeast Asian crossroads, caught between competing superpowers and ideologies. We cannot afford to cling so steadfastly to the past without considerations for the future. While it is important to understand where we come from, it cannot dominate our future so thoroughly that it undermines our progress. There are people who would tell you that being Thai means relinquishing all identity but those that are subservient to the feudal system where power is concentrated in the hands of a few. Those are the same people that would have so willingly led us to our destruction. It is time we move away from dogmatic beliefs and allow pluralism, debate, introspection and, yes, questioning of what it means to be Thai. Until we do that, until we allow that, we will always be on the bring of self-destruction. And we will be led by people who think that through privilege and access, that they know better than the rest of us. https://www.thaienquirer.com/27785/opinion-remember-when-the-pad-wanted-to-close-the-countrys-border/

From Bangkok Post HANOI: As an LGBTQ activist, legal whizz-kid and Vietnam's first openly gay candidate running for a seat in its rubber-stamp parliament, Luong The Huy is determined to lead long-lasting change for the country's marginalised communities. Huy, 32, is one of just nine independent candidates running for Vietnam's National Assembly in elections to be held across the country on Sunday and wants to boost the voices of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, who have long felt discrimination. But getting his name on the ballot in the communist, one-party state was no simple task. At the last elections five years ago, more than 100 independent candidates -- including dissidents, a taxi driver and a pop star -- tried to run, but just a handful made it through the gruelling selection process. Now that he's made it this far, he's clear about what he wants to achieve. "I want people's voices to be heard," Huy told AFP, sitting in his Hanoi office beside a framed poster bearing the slogan "Human rights are for everyone". Huy, who is currently director of Vietnamese NGO iSEE, which aims to empower minority groups to protect and promote their rights, has been campaigning for a decade to improve the lives of the Vietnamese LGBTQ community. He once addressed a session of the UN Human Rights Council and was listed by Forbes as one of the 30 most inspiring people under the age of 30 in Vietnam. But despite studying law -- Huy got a scholarship from the US's Fulbright Program to study at the University of California -- he says he has struggled to bring policy to the people who matter in Vietnam's opaque governmental system. "If I'm a member of the National Assembly, that path will be shorter, easier and more convenient for the community groups we serve," he said. Vietnam is seen as relatively progressive on LGBTQ issues compared with some other countries in Asia. But although the country lifted its ban on same-sex marriage in 2015, it stopped short of full legal recognition for those unions, and a long-promised transgender law to allow legal gender changes has not yet materialised. In schools, misinformation about sexual orientation and gender identity is widespread and some children are taught by both teachers and parents that being gay is a mental illness, according to a Human Rights Watch report published last year. Continues at https://www.bangkokpost.com/life/social-and-lifestyle/2119567/vietnams-first-openly-gay-candidate-seeks-change-with-parliament-run

From The Nation Expats can register for Covid jab from June 7 Foreigners living in Thailand can register for their Covid-19 jab at the nearest vaccination station from June 7 onwards, Natapanu Noppakun, deputy director-general of the Foreign Ministry’s Information Department tweeted on Friday. "To register, they can use either their passport or social security number at hospitals that have their medical records or at hospitals designated by the Public Health Ministry,” he said. Vaccination for different groups of foreigners is as follows: Diplomats, international organisations and their families Around 7,000 names collected by the Foreign Ministry will be sent to the Department of Disease Control (DDC). This group can get vaccinated at their hospital, or at 2-3 designated hospitals for those who do not have health records. Foreign government agencies May register staff for vaccination with the Foreign Ministry's Department of Consular Affairs. Foreign nationals married to Thai nationals/family members of Thai nationals / retirees in Thailand / business people/foreign investors in Bangkok Bangkok: On-site registration at vaccination centres under the Council of University Presidents of Thailand. Other provinces: The Public Health Ministry will allocate vaccines to local vaccination centres and foreign nationals may register at hospitals with their health records. Foreign students The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation will arrange for their vaccination under the Council of University Presidents of Thailand. Migrant workers The Social Security Office will coordinate with employers on vaccination for this group. Thai students planning to study abroad Register online with the Department of Consular Affairs. Chulalongkorn University will arrange for this group's vaccination on June 3-4. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001143 ============================================== COVID UPDATE (21 March) -- There have been 3,481 new infections announced today and 32 Covid-related deaths in the past 24 hours. 951 of today’s new cases come from Thailand’s prisons. STATE OF EMERGENCY UPDATE -- Thailand’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration is proposing an extension of the nationwide Emergency Decree for another 2 months. At a meeting today, the CCSA and Public Health Ministry noted that it may take until the end of July to bring the latest Covid wave under control. The last declaration of a State of Emergency has been in place since March 2020 and was set to expire at the end of May as the government can only declare the status for up to 3 months at a time.

Form the BBC The Venezuelans fleeing to Colombia to avoid fighting Thousands of Venezuelans have fled their country in the past month. They are running away from intense armed clashes which involve Venezuela’s army and Colombia’s rebel groups. Refugees say they were pushed out of their homes by the military and describe human rights abuses, disappearances and home break-ins. A prominent Colombian guerrilla fighter, Jesus Santrich, was killed on Tuesday in Venezuelan territory as part of the ongoing conflict. The BBC’s Daniel Pardo travelled to Arauquita, a small town on the Colombian side that is hosting the refugees who escape the fighting. Continues with video https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-latin-america-57178193

From MSN / AP China vaccinates its people in Thailand BANGKOK (AP) — Chinese citizens living in Thailand began being vaccinated on Thursday as part of China's global campaign to inoculate its nationals living and working abroad. China recently donated 500,000 vaccine doses, and Thailand agreed in turn to inoculate Chinese nationals as it slowly rolls out shots for its own citizens to contain a coronavirus surge that has sickened tens of thousands in the past two months. Yang Xin, minister counsellor at the Chinese Embassy, said Beijing's “Spring Sprout” program would benefit tens of thousands of Chinese in the country. An estimated 150,000 Chinese citizens live in Thailand. China has so far supplied millions of vaccine doses to the country, most of which Thailand purchased. The Thai government has said it will vaccinate Thais before inoculating most other foreigners, regardless of risk factors or age. In downtown Bangkok, a Chinese volunteer with a white mask, transparent shield and blue gloves stood in front of a red banner reading “Spring Sprout Action” flanked by the flags of China and Thailand at a vaccination center. Groups representing Americans living in Thailand sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week asking the government to supply some of the millions of unused vaccine doses available in the U.S. to inoculate American citizens in Thailand. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-in-global-campaign-vaccinates-its-people-in-thailand/ar-AAKbBB3

From Channel News Asia KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia reported a record of 6,806 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday (May 20), as the country continues to battle a third wave of infections. This is the second consecutive day that Malaysia has logged record numbers of daily cases since the pandemic began. On Wednesday, the country saw 6,075 new COVID-19 cases, the highest since Jan 30. Of the 6,806 infections reported on Thursday, 2,277 cases were from Selangor and 615 cases from Johor. Kuala Lumpur saw 655 new cases, the health ministry said. There were also a record 59 fatalities, bringing the national death toll to 2,099. This is the fourth time Malaysia has logged record daily numbers for COVID-19 deaths in less than two weeks, surpassing the previous high of 47 deaths on May 18. As of Thursday, Malaysia's tally of COVID-19 cases stands at 492,302, of which 50,171 are active or infectious. There are 587 patients in the intensive care unit. Health authorities in recent days have implored members of the public to stay at home and minimise non-essential activities. On Wednesday night, the Health Ministry posted a tweet, urging residents to conduct their own "self lockdown". Measures include not inviting guests to their homes and only heading out to buy groceries once a week. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/malaysia-covid19-record-high-daily-2nd-consecutive-day-6806-14848562

From The Thaiger 70% of people to have first dose of Covid-19 vaccine by September By September, 70% of the population in Thailand is expected to have received at least their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. An accelerated rollout of vaccines is expected to takeoff next month when the locally produced AstraZeneca vaccine is ready for public use. Thailand’s Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul says the government will focus on administering the first shot to the majority of the populations within the next 3 to 4 months and assures the public that doses will be available for a second shot. As of yesterday, just over 1.5 million people had received their first dose of the vaccine while 819,961 people were fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. The population of Thailand is around 70 million people. In a previous statement, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha said the Thai government aims to vaccinate 50 million people by the end of the year. Many have criticised the Thai government for being too slow on its nationwide vaccination programme, saying they relied too heavily on the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is being produced locally by Siam Bioscience.

From South China Morning Post Socially-conservative Singapore on Wednesday said it “noted with regret” that the US embassy in the city state had co-hosted a webinar with a local LGBT support group earlier this week. Multi-ethnic Singapore has strict laws regulating public assembly. Foreigners are prohibited from taking part in events dealing with a political cause. “Ministry of foreign affairs has reminded the US Embassy that foreign missions here are not to interfere in our domestic social and political matters, including issues such as how sexual orientation should be dealt with in public policy,” it said in a statement. “These are choices for only Singaporeans to debate and decide.” The May 17 webinar marked the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia and focused on the economic advantages of LGBTQI+ equality and inclusion around the world, the US embassy in Singapore said. “The US Embassy regularly works with civil society partners on a wide range of issues to build awareness and advance the human rights of all persons,” it added. The event was co-hosted with support group Oogachaga. Under a rare colonial-era law, Section 377A of the penal code, sex between men is punishable by up to two years in jail, though prosecutions are rare. Previous attempts to overturn the legislation have failed. The episode comes ahead of this year’s edition of Pink Dot Sg – Singapore’s main lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) affirming rally. The June 13 event, now in its 13th year and which has previously drawn crowds of over 20,000 people, will be online-only for the second year running due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Previous in-person editions took place at Hong Lim Park, the republic’s sole free-speech zone. Amid the rise in Pink Dot’s stature, the government in 2017 imposed restrictions on foreign participation, with non-citizens barred from taking part in the rally. Foreign companies like Facebook, JP Morgan and Google which had previously been sponsoring the event were also told not to do so. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loonghad previously said he was prepared to live with the “uneasy compromise” of living with Section 377A “until social attitudes change”. Along with the retention of Section 377A, which the government says it retains on the books for “symbolic” purposes but will not enforce, LGBTQ people in Singapore say they are disadvantaged by certain policies aimed at incentivising heterosexual marriage and childbearing. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3134091/singapore-warns-us-embassy-over-webinar-lgbt-group .

This quote stayed with me: "I hope this frees me so that I can experience real, unadulterated joy, so that I can experience peace, so that I can experience intimacy, so that I can have sex without shame. This is for me. I’m doing this for me. I have too much shit to do, and I don’t have any fear about it anymore." At one time or another, I think we've all been there. It's our common denominator, and one we're frequently prone to forget.

From Vietnam News HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam is expected to receive 31 million COVID-19 vaccine doses developed by US-based firm Pfizer in the second half of 2021, said the Ministry of Health (MoH). The MoH and relevant agencies have taken measures to accelerate negotiations towards signing an agreement to purchase the vaccine. According to Health Minister Nguyễn Thanh Long, the ministry has coordinated with the Government Office, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Ministry of Justice, to consult Cabinet members on the purchase of the Pfizer vaccine, and prepare to sign an agreement for 31 million doses as soon as possible. The MoH has also negotiated with many COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers such as Astra Zeneca, Moderna, Gamelaya with the goal of having enough COVID-19 vaccines to serve the country. It is also working with foreign partners on the transfer of vaccine production technology. Currently, four Vietnamese vaccines are under development, produced by Nagogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC, the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC), Vaccine and Biological Production Company No. 1 (Vabiotech) and the Center for Research and Production of Vaccines and Biologicals (Polyvac). — VNS https://vietnamnews.vn/society/952066/viet-nam-to-purchase-31-million-pfizer-vaccine-doses.html

From Bloomberg News Thai Airways International Pcl’s creditors approved the airline’s debt restructuring plan, paving the way for payment extension and unpaid interest waiver on at least 170 billion baht ($5.41 billion) of its debt. The plan was backed by 91% of creditors at an online meeting, Kitipong Urapeepatanapong, chairman of Baker & McKenzie in Bangkok, the airline’s legal adviser, said by phone on Wednesday. Five people have been appointed as its administrators including acting Chief Executive Officer Chansin Treenuchagron and former CEO Piyasvasti Amranandthe, Thai Airways said in a statement after the meeting. The airline in March proposed a three-year freeze on loan payments and a deferment of bond repayments for six years. To help it return to profitability after posting a record loss of 141 billion baht last year, Bangkok-based Thai Air also plans to cut its workforce by half, sell property and is seeking to raise 50 billion baht in new capital. The issues faced by the airline have become more acute as the country has been hit by its deadliest outbreak of the coronavirus so far. Thailand this week slashed its growth outlook for this year, citing a delay in reopening borders to foreign tourists and slow vaccination. New cases reached a record this week, prompting a government’s plan for additional borrowing of 700 billion baht to fund new stimulus. While Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha has rejected calls to extend direct financial support to Thai Air, the finance ministry as the airline’s largest shareholder has pledged its support for the restructuring plan. A lack of government support may make it difficult for Thai Air to survive the current slump in global aviation, according to Shukor Yusof, founder of aviation consulting firm Endau Analytics. “I don’t think any national carriers in this region can survive without significant government support as well as 3-4 years extension to their aircraft leases,” Yusof said. “The flare up in infections is certainly working against the creditors too. The longer the pandemic goes the less chance creditors and lessors have of getting their money back.” https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-19/thai-air-gets-creditors-approval-for-debt-restructuring-plan-kov5c9t7

Everywhere you look, signs of a self-inflicted crisis are evident. The crowded conditions in migrant worker camps were identified more than a year ago as major breeding grounds for new infections yet little or nothing was done. In one location, infections were linked to having to deposit coins to gain access to a public toilet. From the Thai Enquirer Infighting between the public health ministry and the BMA is slowing Thailand’s Covid response Disagreements and infighting between the Ministry of Public Health and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has intensified in recent days as both try to charter a course out of the current Covid crisis, sources told Thai Enquirer on Wednesday. The third wave of the pandemic continues unchecked in Thailand as the total number of people infected since April 1 approaches 100,000. Bangkok continues to be worst hit area in the country with high daily infection rates that have not gone down despite lockdown measures imposed by the local and national government. Now, sources within the public health ministry and inside parliament tell Thai Enquirer that disagreements between the two largest organizations responsible for managing the situation in Bangkok are threatening the capital’s recovery. “The governor’s office have basically told the MoPH that Bangkok is their jurisdiction and to butt out,” said a senior advisor to the Ministry of Public Health. “They have their own health advisors and are charting their own path – a path which is sometimes at odds with the ministry’s guideline.” One such example is the decision by the governor to only focus vaccinations initially on outbreak sites. According to the source within the MOPH, the rate of vaccination inside the capital is actually slower than other outbreak sites like Samut Sakhon and Rayong because of the BMA’s mismanagement. “I think the governor and his team think that this is a public relations opportunity and are putting their name on every billboard at vaccination sites or proudly proclaiming their covid success,” said the source. “It is tone deaf.” “We are facing the worst part of the crisis right now and Bangkok is at the epicenter,” said the MP from Bangkok. “If the two most relevant government agencies can’t even see eye-to-eye and work together then what hope does the country have?” “Right now speed is of the essence but this fight for who gets to take credit is actually costing us time and lives.” https://www.thaienquirer.com/27671/infighting-between-the-public-health-ministry-and-the-bma-is-slowing-thailands-covid-response/ =========================================== From Bangkok Post Construction camps major cause for concern Bangkok has five new Covid-19 clusters, raising the total to 34, health authorities announced on Wednesday. Unhygienic construction camps, many housing more than 1,000 workers, are a major cause of concern. Situation Administration, said the new clusters were at Bang Kapi market, a construction workers' camp in Bang Kholaem district, an ice factory in Chatuchak district, a construction workers' camp of Italian-Thai Development Plc in Don Muang district, and a cargo warehouse in Bang Sue district. "There are concerns about construction workers' camps, which exist in all 50 districts of Bangkok. Some districts have more than 20 camps each, including Bang Kapi, Bang Khen, Lat Phrao and Huai Khwang," she said. Dr Apisamai said some camps housed more than 1,000 workers. One camp in Bang Khoaem had 1,374 workers. There were seven construction camps in the district. "In some camps, workers share buckets and cups of drinking water. They must be informed that cannot be allowed. In addition, transport to and from the camps of infected workers must be restricted, to prevent disease transmission to other camps," Dr Apisamai said. ======================================== From the Thaiger / Thai PBS Restroom turnstile linked to hundreds of Covid infections at Pathum Thani market The turnstile at a public restroom is said to be linked to hundreds of Covid-19 infections at a Pathum Thani produce market, just north of Bangkok. Health officials tested 10,480 vendors and workers at the Simmummuang fruit and vegetable market and say 867 tested positive with many believed to have contracted the virus by inserting coins in the slot and touching the gate before using the public toilets at the market. The market is sectioned off into 10 zones, with 2 of them closed off following the outbreak while the other 8 zones remain open. A field hospital has been set up in the closed section of the market to house 400 Covid-19 patients. Another field hospital with 400 beds is being set up and planned to open tomorrow. https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/restroom-turnstile-linked-to-hundreds-of-covid-infections-at-pathum-thani-market

From the BBC We earlier posted on reports that Palestinian rockets launched into southern Israel had struck a packaging factory in the Eshkol region and killed two Thai workers. Thailand's foreign ministry has now confirmed that two of its citizens died - while eight others were wounded - in the attack at 14:50 local time (11:50 GMT) some 14km (about nine miles) from the border with Gaza. The two Thai men had been working at the Obad farming estate in Eshkol town, the ministry said. One eyewitness, Adirek Jinseng, a Thai worker at the estate, told the BBC's Thai service that the attack happened as people were resting during their lunch break. "I heard two explosions in the sky, but there was no warning siren. More than 10 workers then rushed... to hide in the bunkers," Adirek said, adding that he saw one person killed at the scene and several others with serious injuries. A senior Thai diplomat in Israel told the BBC that around 4,000 of the country's citizens had been working within a 100km radius of Gaza. Some were relocated to safer areas over the weekend.

From AFP Thailand Multiple online posts have shared a claim that Thai citizens can get inoculated against Covid-19 with their vaccine of choice when they visit as tourists in neighbouring Laos. This claim is false: as of May 18, 2021 foreign tourists were not permitted to enter Laos; the country only administers the Chinese-made Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine to those eligible for jabs. The Thai-language claim was shared in this Facebook post on May 3, 2021. It reads in part: “Whoever wishes to get a Pfizer jab abroad but has insufficient funds to travel far, you can try to go to Laos. “They see how Thai nationals don’t want to take Sinovac, but the Thai government refuses to import Pfizer, so they announced that tourists are able to receive free vaccinations in Laos, with a choice of Pfizer, Astra [Zeneca] Sputnik and Sinopharm.” The misleading post links to a registration page for Covid-19 vaccination run by the Laos Ministry of Health. https://factcheck.afp.com/online-posts-falsely-claim-thai-tourists-get-free-covid-19-vaccines-neighbouring-laos

From Reuters By Nanchanok Wongsamuth, Thomson Reuters Foundation * Lockdown seen fuelling chemsex parties among gay, bi men * Campaigners warn of risks from unprotected sex, drugs * Chemsex users seeking help find scant official support BANGKOK, May 18 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Beam, a gay sex worker, used to go to a “chemsex” party about once a month before the coronavirus pandemic shut Thailand’s bars and clubs. But since then, the drug-fuelled gatherings have become much more frequent. As Thailand grapples with a third COVID-19 wave, campaigners are warning of the health risks posed by an apparent increase in chemsex - where mainly gay and bisexual men meet to take drugs such as crystal meth or GHB and unprotected sex is common. Beam, 34, who also works as a porn actor and regularly meets his clients at the parties, said changes to people’s working routines under lockdown had made the gatherings more popular. “It’s now a golden opportunity for partygoers,” Beam, who asked not to give his full name to protect his identity, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Chemsex users are at risk of drug addiction or overdoses, as well as mental health problems, campaigners said, and Thai media have recently carried reports about chemsex-related violence including physical assault. As in other parts of the world, where authorities have voiced concern over the phenomenon, the parties are widely advertised on Twitter and gay dating apps like Blued and Grindr. At Bangkok Rainbow Organization, an LGBT+ NGO, the president, Nikorn Chimkong, said chemsex was “now a new normal” and that the trend was evident in an increase in inquiries about the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) anti-HIV drug. He said about 30 or 40 people per month contact the group every month nowadays to ask about the drug, a once-daily pill that protects people from becoming infected with the virus. That compares to less than 10 before the pandemic, with the majority taking the pills before chemsex parties, he said. LACK OF SUPPORT Three current and former chemsex partygoers, and experts supporting users, said Thai public health providers lack the knowledge needed to support those seeking help for chemsex use. Elsewhere in Asia, too, there are no harm reduction programmes that simultaneously address the risk of drug use and the sexual activity of gay and bisexual men and transgender women, found a recent report by APCOM, a health advocacy group for gay and bi men. In Europe, where surveys in Britain, Spain and the Netherlands have found that 30-45% of gay and bi men have engaged in chemsex at least once, doctors warned in 2019 that the practice was refuelling epidemics of HIV in urban areas. Earlier this year, Britain increased penalties for GHB following two high-profile trials, one of which detailed the drug’s use in the rape of almost 50 men. In Thailand, where gay sex and drug use is widely frowned upon, people who want support for chemsex issues are often reluctant to seek help for fear of being stigmatised, campaigners said. “There are very few service providers that make users feel like they are another human being,” said Midnight Poonkasetwattana, APCOM executive director. “These are the groups that we must provide services for in order to reduce their risks of HIV.” ASSAULTS, OVERDOSES One place that does offer help is KRUBB Bangkok, a gay social club and community centre, which opened about nine months ago and provides chemsex counselling services for gay men. Sergeant Shaowpicha Techo, a psychologist at a Bangkok health centre who also sees patients at KRUBB, said he was seeing up to a dozen patients per week compared with one or two before the pandemic. Thailand does not have official statistics on chemsex, but the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said up to 90% of gay and bisexual men who have used their healthcare services have experimented with chemsex. Most are aged between 20 and 40. Anggoon Patarakorn, deputy director of the government’s Princess Mother National Institute on Drug Abuse Treatment, said he had not noticed a surge in chemsex during the pandemic, but acknowledged officials did not yet have expertise on the issue. “We’re not giving special priority (to this group) at this time, but we may focus on them more in the future,” he said. The Royal Thai Police’s anti-narcotics bureau declined to comment. News reports of assaults and fatal overdoses at chemsex parties prompted a group of campaigners to form a network called Safety Net in June last year to support chemsex users. Aiming to raise awareness among government officials and health workers, it is also working on a first aid handbook for users including advice on what to do if someone overdoses. Arthur, a 32-year-old actor and model who asked to be identified only by his nickname, has had less work during the pandemic and said he had been attending chemsex parties more often as a result. But the regular drug use took a toll on his mental health and he is now seeking treatment and helping Safety Net. "I have hurt myself (from cutting) and attempted suicide many times in the past," he said. "About five of my friends have died from drugs ... and now I want to help other people." (Reporting by Nanchanok Wongsamuth @nanchanokw; Editing by Helen Popper and Rachel Savage. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers the lives of people around the world who struggle to live freely or fairly. Visit news.trust.org) https://www.reuters.com/article/thailand-lgbt-drugs-idUSL8N2BP44C

A report from Thailand Overseas Americans Are Desperate To Get COVID-19 Vaccines Audio story from National Public Radio's Morning Edition: Millions of Americans live abroad in places where vaccine rollouts are slow and cases rampant. They're pleading with the U.S. government to send surplus shots overseas. The answer so far is no. But now the White House has taken notice. https://www.npr.org/2021/05/18/997783450/overseas-americans-are-desperate-to-get-covid-19-vaccines

From CBS 60 Minutes 60 Minutes has tackled many strange stories on 60 Minutes, but perhaps none like this. It's the story of the U.S. government's grudging acknowledgment of unidentified aerial phenomena— UAP—more commonly known as UFOs. After decades of public denial the Pentagon now admits there's something out there, and the U.S. Senate wants to know what it is. The intelligence committee has ordered the director of national intelligence and the secretary of defense to deliver a report on the mysterious sightings by next month. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ufo-military-intelligence-60-minutes-2021-05-16/

From Bangkok Post Key tourism scam suspect turns self in A key suspect in an investment scam which included a well-known tourism project turned himself in to police on Monday to face charges of defrauding the public of about 1 billion baht. Well-known businessman Prasit Jeawkok, chairman of the Kuen Khun Pandin ("Paying Back the Land") project, showed up at the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) with his lawyer to answer charges of colluding with five others to swindle the public. Four of them -- Major Amaraphon Wisetsuk, who is an army doctor and chairwoman of the Tiew Puea Chart (Travel for the Nation) project, Nuttawan Uttamaprakrom, Sirima Naovarat, and Kittiwat Oum-aree -- had already been arrested while the other, Kittisak Yenyanond, remains at large. Police raided locations in greater Bangkok last week, acting on complaints filed by thousands of victims who were lured to invest in various schemes with offers of high returns. The investors received initial dividends and were persuaded to invest more, at which point the payments stopped. A group of 20 complainants led by fellow victim Atichart Laohapibulkul on Monday gave further statements to the CSD. Mr Atichart said he thought he could trust Mr Prasit who is a high-profile public figure and had been part of every investment scheme offered by Mr Prasit's group. He said he had ended up losing about 80 million baht over the course of two years. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2117291/key-tourism-scam-suspect-turns-self-in

From The Bangkok Post 50,000 inmates set for release as Covid explosion hits Thai prisons Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin says about 50,000 prisoners could be released next month as part of urgent plans to tackle the explosion of Covid-19 in Thai prisons. Somsak was speaking on Monday as overcrowded prisons logged 6,853 new cases, accounting for 71 per cent of Thailand’s daily caseload. The Department of Corrections is continuing its proactive testing programme in prisons, which have so far recorded a total of 10,384 infections. All prisons will now give weekly reports on the number of inmates infected and recovered from infection, the minister said. The department has also informed the ministry that it needed stocks of Favipiravia and fah talai jone (Andrographis paniculata) to treat infected prisoners. Meanwhile, a new drugs law before Parliament would enable about 50,000 inmates convicted of non-serious drugs offences to be released wearing electronic monitoring (EM) bracelets, said Somsak. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000986

From The Thaiger Action against corruption in Thailand is now a “national agenda” and a 20-year plan, backed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission, is set to be rolled out to promote transparency in the Thai government, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha announced today. On a scale of 0 to 100, with 0 being “highly corrupt” and 100 being “very clean,” Thailand’s score is 36, according to the Corruption Perceptions Index by the global coalition Transparency International. Each year, the organisation ranks countries by their levels of public sector corruption. Out of 180 countries, Thailand ranks 104. South Sudan and Somalia both ranked last as the most corrupt countries. Prayut mentioned the Thailand’s ranking on the Index during a broadcast today, adding that the Thai government is working on solving the problem of corruption in the public sector. To help with plans to improve transparency, government agencies in Thailand are told to complete a self-assessment by Integrity and Transparency Assessment. The results will be used to improve the management of government agencies. “I’d like to encourage all Thai citizens in government offices in every department nationwide to take part in improving Thailand’s transparency to meet international standards by jointly completing the transparency assessment online via NACC website or ITAS application from now until May 31, 2021.” https://thethaiger.com/news/national/pm-prayut-chan-o-cha-announces-20-year-plan-to-take-action-against-corruption

From The Thai Enquirer Transparency and clarity needed in government’s digital response to Covid Metaphors about going to war have been used widely in discussions about COVID-19. China’s President Xi Jinping vowed to wage a “people’s war.” “COVID-19 war zone” posters with a bomb-shaped red germ were displayed in South Korea. Expressions like “enemy”, “frontline,” and “battle plan” framed discussions on the need to “combat” COVID-19 in many places, including Thailand. Sacrifices of civil and political rights are justified during this “wartime.” Over the last year, this has resulted in the suspension of the separation of powers, principles like due process, and checks and balances, for maximization of efficiency and effectiveness. We should do “whatever it takes, fast,” or die. This wartime mentality has also shaped the way authorities handle information. The flow of information is very asymmetric. It tends to be more difficult for the citizens to get information from the government, and the citizens tend to have less protection when the government wants to collect their data. Around this time last year, there was a debate over suitable approaches for apps intended to facilitate COVID-19 containment efforts. Should it be mandatory or voluntary, who can see what data, should the database be centralized or decentralized, is GPS location accurate enough, what about the Personal Data Protection Act that was soon to be enforced (at the time)? And so on. There were names like “Sydekick for ThaiFightCOVID”, “PedKeeper”, “AOT Airports”, “COSTE”, and many others from Chana-family and Prompt-family. Dozens of apps and chatbots for immigration control, symptom screening, contact tracing, and quarantine enforcement were released since, both publicly to general audiences and internally to staff at healthcare and quarantine facilities. Some of them were run by for-profit companies with endorsement from government agencies like the Digital Government Development Agency and Department of Disease Control. Many of them were announced without clear data governance in place. Today, many of those apps are no longer in operation and it is unclear where the personal data that was collected ended up. While digital technology that enables the faster, bigger, and more sophisticated collection of data may make citizens worry about their privacy, the technology itself is not the only source of concern. In some cases, it’s not about overcollection, but oversharing of data. For example, provincial and local governments post infected individual detailed timelines on their social media outlets. These timelines can include date, time, place, activities, age, gender, nationality, and profession of each individual. With privacy protection in mind, agencies exclude individual names from the timeline. Unfortunately, with that amount of information, it may still be possible to reidentify the person by name, especially for people close to the individuals. It is understandable that authorities want to share this data with the public so anyone who found they may have been in contact with the infected person can report themselves to the public health authority and start any necessary processes. But to meet the same goal, a smaller amount of data can be published. It may be sufficient to just announce the specific place and time, without publicizing “anonymized” personal timelines. Nationality, age, gender, and profession for example, seem not necessary to announce publicly for contact tracing purposes. If there is anything statistically significant about a category of people, the information should be carefully communicated statistically and not at the individual level. We need public trust for a successful public health measure. Trust cannot be forced, it is earned, for example, through Rule of Law. Comments and criticism must be taken positively and constructively as an observation from the field. It make not be entirely accurate, but it’s also not “fake news” to be entirely dismissed. The government must guarantee transparency and facilitate an informed decision by all stakeholders. And, yes, everybody is a stakeholder in this pandemic. We’re all in this together. https://www.thaienquirer.com/27551/feature-transparency-and-clarity-needed-in-governments-digital-response-to-covid/ ============================================== Daily new Covid cases hit record of more than 9,600 Thailand reported a new single-day record of more than 9,600 coronavirus cases on Monday following a discovery of new clusters at eight prisons. “Of the cases reported today, 6,853 were in prisons,” said Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, the spokesperson of the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). The CCSA reported 9,635 confirmed cases and 25 related deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases found in the third wave between April 1 and May 17 to 82,219 cases and 520 deaths. Of the 2,773 local cases (excluding the 6,853 cases in prisons) that were found in the past 24 hours, the highest numbers by province were 1,843 in Bangkok, followed by 155 in Samut Prakan, 146 in Pathum Thani, 129 in Nonthaburi and 53 in Samut Sakhon. Bangkok, the hardest hit province in the third wave which started at entertainment venues in the capital and surrounding provinces since April 1, has reported on Monday that they have found 28 clusters in 19 districts so far, the CCSA said. https://www.thaienquirer.com/27578/daily-new-covid-cases-hit-record-of-more-than-9600/

From Pattaya Mail Buriram province in northeast Thailand requires everyone to get vaccinated Buri Ram governor Thatchakorn Hatathathayakul has issued an order requiring everyone in the province to get vaccinated against COVID-19, or risk being fined or jailed for up to two years. According to the order, people aged 18 and over, who live or work in the province, must assess their risk of COVID-19 infection, with the help of village health volunteers, via an online system or through a vaccination coordination center, before the end of this month. Disease control and public health officials will have the authority to force people at high risk of infection to be vaccinated and provide dates and places for their inoculation. Violations carry a maximum of one month in prison and/or fines that could be as high as 20,000 baht, under the 2015 Communicable Disease Act. Those who actively refuse to get vaccinated may also be liable to a maximum of two years in prison and/or a fine up to 40,000 baht for breaching the emergency decree. (NNT)

From The Irrawaddy Myanmar People Fleeing Conflict Won’t Be Pushed Back by Thailand Karen villagers displaced by fighting between the regime's troops and KNU wait on a riverbank to flee Thailand in March. / The Irrawaddy Prime Minister Prayut Chan-Ocha pledged Friday to UN Special Envoy to Myanmar, Mrs. Christine Schraner Burgener, that Thailand will not push back people fleeing from conflict in Myanmar. Prayut gave the guarantee during the meeting at the Government House with Burgener Friday morning. He also took the opportunity to congratulate Burgener, whom he met previously when she served as the ambassador from Switzerland (2009-2015), and lauded her diplomatic ability, which led her to be tasked with overseeing the situation in Myanmar. Prayut said that Thailand will do everything possible to ensure that the situation in Myanmar moves in the right direction. On humanitarian assistance, he said that the country has long been providing such assistance to neighboring countries. “We will not push back people fleeing conflicts if they face danger,” he emphasized. Following the coup in Myanmar on Feb. 1, there were reports of sporadic fighting between various armed ethnic groups based along the Thai-Myanmar borders, which have caused thousands of peoples to flee the areas opposite Mae Sot, Tak province and cross over to the Thai side. According to the Ministry of Defense, most of those who fled Myanmar have returned to their villages because the situation has returned to normal. Burgener, who has been in Bangkok since April 9, has met with Bangkok-based diplomats and stakeholders to exchange views and learn about the situation in Myanmar. Before she arrived in Bangkok, she urged the UN Security Council on March 31 to consider “potentially significant action” to reverse the course of events as “a bloodbath is imminent.” On the sideline of the Association of South East Asian Nations Leaders’ Meeting in Jakarta at the ASEAN Secretariat, she had the opportunity to meet for one-hour and a half with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, chief of the State Administrative Council. She also made another request to visit Myanmar with Min Aung Hlaing. During the meeting with Burgener, Prayut told the special envoy that Thailand fully supports the five-point consensus agreed at the leaders’ meeting in Jakarta. He also reiterated Thailand’s position of Myanmar’s crisis through the “D4D” principles, which calls for de-escalation of violence, delivery of humanitarian and medical assistance, discharge of political detainees and dialogue participation. These four Ds, he said, would lead Myanmar back to normalcy and sustainable development. The “D4D” principles were put forward by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai at the ASEAN meeting. Don spoke on behalf of Prayut as his special envoy. At the meeting, he also proposed the setting up “Friends of the Chairs,” which will allow the ASEAN chair to appoint representatives to help out with the challenge facing the bloc. Thailand shares a 2401 kilometer porous border with Myanmar, which has yet to be demarcated. Currently, there are approximately 100,000 displaced persons from Myanmar living in nine camps along the Thai-Myanmar border. As of the first quarter of this year, Thailand hosts more than 2.3 million migrant workers from Myanmar who have registered with the Ministry of Labor. https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-people-fleeing-conflict-wont-be-pushed-back-by-thailand.html