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Just as a point of clarification, the numbers I posed above pertain only to Covid19 deaths and not deaths from all causes.

Yet another alternative to the alternative travel scheme from the folks who brought you the original Special Tourist Visa. From Bangkok Post Looser quarantine eyed The Ministry of Public Health has proposed a new type of Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) that will allow short-term visitors to travel to designated areas during their 14-quarantine period in some selected provinces. Director-general of the Health Service Support Department, Thares Krassanairawiwong, said a new type of ASQ was being discussed for short-term visitors in the provinces ready to reopen. This type of ASQ would allow tourists to travel to designated areas during the 14-day quarantine period instead of confining themselves to hotel premises, the doctor said. The new ASQ will come with terms and conditions to be discussed between government units and entrepreneurs. People in each of the provinces must be informed of the new ASQ and approve of it, the official said. Foreign visitors must accept travel routes set by the provinces and must not veer off course. Most importantly, they must come from countries with low Covid-19 risk and no local infections for three months, Dr Thares said. Tourists must test negative for the virus in 72 hours prior to departure and stay in home quarantine for 14 days before leaving their country. They must also book flights and accommodation through travel agents. The provinces which are ready to reopen must make sure that routes for foreign visitors will not be used by local residents. Recommended activities for tourists include wellness tourism activities such as massage, spa and gastronomic tours. Hotels where they can stay must be hotels with SHA (Safety and Health Administration) standards, the doctor said. The areas where foreign tourists can visit will be fixed, he said. They are required to use tracking devices with representatives of agencies responding to Covid-19 travelling with them at all times.

There are many Americans on this board and none that I'm aware of are Trump fans. Most of us detest him. But I'd hate to see a discussion become a US-bashing exercise because we have a jackass in the White House. Everyone I know wants him out of there. The next month--or possibly more--could be the most decisive in the US since the Civil War. Not unlike a some EU countries, America is experiencing a resurgence of right-wing nationalism. This will test the ability of political systems to peacefully resolve these conflicts. I hope that all of us will continue to bear in mind that our true common interests are our adventures in Thailand and other Asian countries and beyond. In the end, that has nothing to do with our particular nationalities. That's what keeps us coming back here.

The US isn't alone among western nations posting high death rates. Deaths per million pop. Spain 704 US 671 UK 644 Italy 598 France 487

From Channel News Asia TOKYO: Tokyo on Sunday (Oct 11) opened its first major community hub for LGBTQ people this month, part of a pre-Olympics project that campaigners hope will tackle stigma and raise awareness of discrimination. Pride House Tokyo is based on similar inclusive pop-up sites set up at past Olympics, but will offer a permanent meeting space and information centre, seeking to educate the public about sexual diversity and offer refuge to those suffering harassment or discrimination. While Japan has some protections for sexual minorities, it remains the only G7 country that does not recognise same-sex unions, and many couples say they can struggle to rent apartments together and are even barred from hospital visits. Those challenges mean spaces like Pride House, set up in coordination with Tokyo 2020 Olympic organisers, are sorely needed in Japan, activists say. "Japan, not just in sporting circles but society as a whole – including schools and workplaces – is not friendly to LGBTQ people, and it is hard to come out," Gon Matsunaka, who heads the project behind Pride House, told AFP. While the centre is being set up under a recent Olympic tradition, the project is officially named Pride House Tokyo Legacy, and activists hope its influence will extend beyond the Games. The venue "will be a landmark that could change the landscape for LGBTQ people in Japanese society", Matsunaka said.

Dozens of injured passengers were rushed to nearby medical facilities for treatment, said provincial hospital director Sombat Chutimanukul Photo: AFP / Mladen ANTONOV From Bangkok Post CHACHOENGSAO: Eighteen passengers were killed and 44 injured on Sunday when a bus collided with a train in Chachoengsao province, officials said, after earlier saying 20 had died. The collision happened at about 8.05am at a railway crossing near Khlong Kwaeng Klan railway station, around 50 kilometres east of Bangkok, as the bus passengers were on their way to a temple for a ceremony to mark the end of Buddhist Lent, said a district police chief. Provincial governor Maitree Tritilanond earlier told reporters that so far about 29 people were injured, but the number was revised upwards to 44, all but 13 of them discharged from hospital by early afternoon. Footage shared by a government department showed the bus edging from the road onto train tracks before a blue cargo train slammed into its side. Witnesses said the railway crossing had no barrier, but they heard the noise of a train alarm shortly before the horrific crash. The bus was taking about 60 people from Samut Prakan province south of Bangkok to Wat Bang Pla Nak temple for the traditional tod kathin, an annual religious ceremony where Buddhists present monks with new robes and make merit to mark the end of the Buddhist Lent.

As I followed the links in the above article, I zeroed in on the Twitter feeds. It was then that I discovered what a truly remarkable and inspiring story the life of Jordan Windle really is. It left me with the feelings I remembered from the rescue of the 13 footballers from the cave in Thailand. If there was ever a time in my life that I could use some inspiration, this is one of those times and this is ones of those stories that's providing it. Continues with Jordan's account of his life from an orphanage in Cambodia to discovering diving in Fort Lauderdale and beyond. Wonderful writing, photos and video. http://www.jordanwindle.com/mystory.html

From Outsports.com Jordan Windle is straight but has a gay dad. Now with Greg Louganis’ help, he’s aiming for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Jordan Windle is a diver at the Univ. of Texas and is focused on making the United States Olympic team and competing in Tokyo. Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images Jordan Windle has been around gay people almost all of his life. Having been adopted from Cambodia at 18 months by Jerry Windle, the national-champion diver has, as a straight athlete at the top of his sport, become a defender and champion of the LGBTQ community. On the latest episode of the Five Rings To Rule Them All podcast, I talk with Jordan and Jerry about the young star’s rise, and his personal and professional friendship with Olympic champion Greg Louganis. The similarities between the two — both adopted, both young diving proteges — have led some to call Jordan “Little Louganis.” Also, Jerry gives us insight into the life of the parent of an elite athlete and how Jordan was “discovered” by a diving coach when he was just a kid. Plus they talk about the added complications of being of different races, especially when Jordan was a boy and didn’t fully understand what that was. Now Jordan is competing for the Univ. of Texas, where he has won multiple NCAA championships and set an NCAA scoring record. Now back on campus in Austin, he talks about the disappointment of the delay of his Olympic dreams and how he’s prepping for Tokyo next year. You can listen to the conversation with Jordan Windle and his dad, Jerry, on the Megaphone player, or by visiting Spotify for an easy browser player. Five Rings To Rule Them All is also available on Google Podcasts, Apple podcasts and many more platforms. Just search for Outsports wherever you get your podcast. And be sure to follow Five Rings To Rule Them All on Twitter. https://www.outsports.com/2020/9/15/21433902/jordan-windle-dive-texas-usa-olympic-diver

This becomes more ridiculous by the hour. From Bangkok Post First batch of arrivals via the special tourist visa scheme must be 100% clear of Covid-19 The entire batch of tourists coming to Thailand via the special tourist visa (STV) in the first phase must be 100% clear of the coronavirus or the reopening plan will be scrapped indefinitely, says Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the tourism and sports minister. He said that if the scheme sees no infections for the first groups in October and November, fears about a local spread will subside. "Before we approach the second stage on Nov 17, which aims to shorten the quarantine period, we must evaluate the first phase," Mr Phiphat said. "If there's even a single case, we cannot continue to the second phase." Mr Phiphat said he would like to propose a 7+7 plan where tourists are kept in their room for seven days, then allowed outside the room but still within the hotel area for another seven days.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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