BANGKOK — Twenty-two provinces were named in an updated list of areas where no new pubs, clubs or other entertainment venues can be opened, an official said Tuesday.

The ban, first enacted during a populist morality crusade waged by then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was renewed in a Royal Decree published Thursday. Although existing bars and pubs are allowed to continue operating, new business licenses, theoretically, cannot be issued.

“They can’t open new ones,” said Wisitthipat Anantarasuchart, who oversees the Interior Ministry’s legal division. “The ones that are already there can renew their licenses every Dec. 31.”

The 22 provinces are Kamphaeng Phet, Chai Nat, Chumphon, Nakhon Nayok, Nonthaburi, Nan, Pathum Tani, Pattani, Phayao, Phang Nga, Phichit, Phetchaburi, Yasothon, Ranong, Sakon Nakhon, Satun, Sing Buri, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Nong Khai, Ang Thong and Uthai Thani.

The ban was based on a law passed by the military government in 1966, which grants authorities the power to regulate drinking and entertainment venues “to protect public morality.”

In 2002, the administration of populist premier Thaksin laid the ban over 26 provinces. Bueng Kan was later added to the list when it was established.

The military government in 2016 reviewed the list and asked the affected provinces whether they wanted to remain or opt out of the prohibition, Wisitthipat said. Five wanted out, so they were exempted in Thursday’s order.

The five provinces were Kanchanaburi, Bueng Kan, Ayutthaya, Nong Bua Lamphu and Si Saket.

Source:  http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2018/11/27/thaksin-era-ban-on-new-bars-renewed-in-22-provinces/

UDON THANI — Travelers to Udon Thani City may be forgiven for momentarily thinking they’ve stepped out of Isaan and into the beating commercial heart of Tokyo.

A new pedestrian crosswalk near the provincial center’s train station was completed today featuring a large diagonal zebra crossing, and it didn’t take long for comparisons to Tokyo’s bustling Shibuya Crossing to start rolling in.

The crosswalk is part of the an urban planning project organized by the Thai Association of Town Planning along with various architects and developers. It aims to reorganize roads and increase safety for pedestrians.

A member of the project said the inspiration indeed came from the Shibuya Crossing.

“The intersection was mostly filled by motorbikes, buses and food stalls which cause traffic congestion,” a project member who would only identify himself as Ton said. “So we wanted to enlarge the pedestrians’ footpath space.”

The large diagonal crossing makes it convenient for people to walk between several attractions in the area, including a KFC, 7-Eleven, shopping mall and the train station.

“Now people do not have to cross twice to get to their destination,” Ton said.

The project took months of study and experimentation at many intersections before the U.D. Town intersection design, named for a nearby shopping center, was chosen.

The new intersection was set to undergo a “test run” at 4pm today, with pedestrians invited to come try it out.

The Real Shibuya Crossing Tokyo

A wildlife official in Chachoengsao, east of Bangkok, has been found dead after being kicked and dragged by wild elephants.

Officials at the Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary in Sanam Chai Khet district revealed that one of their colleagues was found dead at 6am yesterday morning. The victim, 46 year old Manop Karasuk, was on the Monday night shift to watch out for wild elephants.

Manop was found about 100 metres away from his watch post where he was stationed and tasked with preventing them from leaving the wildlife sanctuary. There were signs that his body was kicked and dragged along the ground.

The officials said there are about 30 wild elephants in the area and they often came out at night to eat the crops of villagers. Officials were taking turn to guard the spot and to try and frighten them into retreating back to the forest.

Sourced from The Thaiger which in turn sourced it from The Nation

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BANGKOK – City Hall’s efforts to regulate the use of pavements is damaging one of Thailand’s biggest tourism draws, an expert at Chulalongkorn University’s Urban Design and Development Centre (UCDC) has warned.

“The government is trying to make street vendors disappear, despite the global recognition of Thailand’s street food scene,” said Adisak Guntamuanglee, an expert on urban planning at the UCDC.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) must find a better policy to manage space, or risk losing its tourism magnet status and hurting the local economy, Mr Adisak said in a seminar entitled “Brainstorming for Practical Rules for Street Vendors” held at Thammasat University.

Mr Adisak floated the idea of a so-called “co-eating space”, a concept he said could possibly replace street carts that are seen by some as old-fashioned and unhygienic, while allowing food vendors to remain on pavements.

In several countries, pavements are designed with rest areas that can be used by street vendors, he said.

“Public spaces, including sidewalks, are not only intended for pedestrians,” he said.

Mr Adisak said that certain places, such as the area underneath the BTS Skytrain station in Ari, should be declared off-limits to vendors as they are reserved for ambulances.

However, other areas with pavements that are wide enough to be split and designated as space for street vendors should be redesigned to make them attractive for both Thais and foreigners, he said.

The government will, however, have to invest more in sanitary and waste disposal systems to ensure food hygiene and prevent the vendors’ activities from affecting the environment, he said.

“The BMA has the power to manage and address all these issues through better regulations. It can do more than just keep vendors off sidewalks,” he said.

It is estimated that there are about 300,000 street vendors in Bangkok alone, 37% of who are food vendors, said Poonsap Suanmuang of the Foundation for Labour and Employment Promotion.

Assuming that each vendor family has four to five members, the BMA’s regulation may affect the lives of between 1.3 million and 1.5 million people, she said.

“All they want is a space where they can earn a living. They are not asking for any financial support from the government, or anything else,” she said.

Narumol Nirathron, an academic with Thammasat University’s Faculty of Social Administration, concurred with Ms Poonsap and said the BMA’s regulation is a top-down policy that adversely affects a large number of people.

BMA executives tend to view street vendors as non-Bangkok residents who are causing problems with the city’s cleanliness and waste management, according to Ms Narumol.

Natdanai Kulthatchayakaranan, a street vendor on Silom Road, said many vendors like him have been cooperating with the BMA’s efforts to better regulate the use of Bangkok’s pavements.

They were always willing to move when asked to stay away from roads and keep the pavements clean, but in the end they were told to leave nonetheless, he said.

Aom, a street food vendor who works on Soi On Nut 70, said the area has won numerous awards for being an outstanding place to get street food.

But when the BMA implemented its strict policy, street vendors in the area were forced to move away from the pavements to a new location, where the rent is simply too high, she said.

“We are living solely on the income we earn from selling things,” she said.

“They are taking the money that we have set aside for our children’s education, as well as to pay off our household debts.”

Source:  BANGKOK POST https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1582794/street-vendor-rules-in-bangkok-hurting-tourism

BANGKOK:It looks like Bangkok’s now infamous “Axe Auntie” will get 5000THB from her victim, which should be enough to upgrade to a new weapon to wield against the next person who dares block her mansion driveway.

Rotchanikorn Lertwassana was found guilty of causing a public nuisance to the Saengyotrakarn family, who responded to the illegally parked vehicle by smashing it with an axe and makeshift weapons, footage of which launched them to internet fame this past February.

Apart from the fine, Rotchanikorn was originally sentenced to 15 days in prison, but the court reduced it to a year of probation because she had no previous convictions.

Rotchanikorn told the media at the time that she parked her Nissan there and went shopping at one of five illegal markets that operated around the Saengyotrakarns’ mansion.

Officials only closed down the marketplaces after the axe incident went viral, where many were sympathetic to the Saengyotrakarns.

The “Viral” Video.

Scroll Forward It Takes A Minute For The Action To Commence.

 

Aunties Murder Nissan Because Illegal Parking Killed Their Neighbor’s Dad

By Asaree Thaitrakulpanich, Staff Reporter February 20, 2018 12:55 pm

“If you look at what I had to fight in court, you’d be surprised how much I’ve kept inside,” said the axe-wielding woman, who refused to identify herself at this morning’s press event outside their home in the Seri Village community.

Yuwanuj Pongcharoen, another family member, this morning described how, five years ago, she broke her leg and haid to wait two hours for a car to move so she could go to the hospital. She called police for help, but they couldn’t get in because of the cars blocking the road.

Boonsri and the axe-wielding woman will be summoned by Prawet police and charged with property destruction, a crime punishable by up to 6,000 baht or three years in jail, plus restitution of 50,000 baht. They also face a charge of illegally carrying a weapon, which carries a month jail term or 1,000 baht fine.

“We bought this house and land so we can live out the last part of our lives with our children here. It’s next to the Rama IX Park, so we didn’t think we would have problems,” Boonsri said.

The aunties said people continuously trespass on their property and block its entrance with their vehicles or vendor stalls for a nearby market.

“We want to tell to the media and ask the [junta] to return peace and happiness to us,” Rattanachat said.

The women said that markets and vendors should not block homes in the community.

“There’s so many rats, and it’s filthy. It’s only legal to park on one side of the road but they park on both sides, so we can’t get in,” said another auntie.

Truck owner Rotchanikorn Lertwassana, 37, was fined 500 baht for parking illegally. She said that she thought the residence was deserted because she mistook the posted court rulings for eviction notices.

On Sunday, the aunties said they were unable to back out of their driveway due to the truck. After honking for several minutes, Rattanachat and the unnamed women came at it with metal rod and axe, respectively. The attack shattered the vehicle’s windows and damaged the bumper and front skirt.

Rotchanikorn returned to her truck after shopping to find her truck under assault. She apologized, but called the police after the women yelled she was stupid for not reading the signs.

Although some saw class dynamics at work and faulted the women’s sense of entitlement, the public has largely sided with the Saengyoktrakarns. Many on Tuesday were declaring for Team Auntie with today’s top-trending Twitter hashtag, #AuntiesWhackCar.

“People who are berating the aunties fall into three types,” user Sittikorn Hemkong wrote. “1. The market vendors 2. People with prejudices against rich people and 3. People who park like that truck driver.”

An industrial estate boss who slapped an Ayutthaya hotel employee after being told he could not smoke has apologised to her and paid 40,000 baht in compensation.

The case is now considered closed, but a hotel security video of the incident has attracted more than a million views and led to widespread condemnation of the attacker.

Panita Kochprapa posted a message on her Facebook page on Saturday to thank the Ayutthaya governor, senior police, hotel executives and media members for helping her to obtain justice.

Ms Panita, 25, said she had received an apology from Surasi Haengsuwan, director of the Nava Nakorn Industrial Zone in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Pol Col Anusorn Wayakham, chief of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya police station, invited Ms Panita and Mr Surasi to the station on Saturday to discuss the case. After negotiating, they reached a compromise, he added.

Police fined Mr Surasi under Section 3921 of the Criminal Code, Pol Col Anusorn said. The offence carries a fine of up to 1,000 baht and/or a jail term of up to one month.

He said the case was settled amicably, with compensation to be discussed later. Local media reports said a payment of 40,000 baht was agreed.

Ms Panita had filed a complaint with police earlier about the incident, which took place on Nov 6 at the Krungsri River Hotel in Ayutthaya. Police issued a summons to Mr Surasi to appear for questioning on Nov 15. He failed to answer the summons and a second one was issued, with police saying he would be arrested if he did not report by this coming Thursday.

Ms Panita said the incident occurred when Mr Surasi and other guests of the hotel went to have dinner in the VIP room. When he asked to smoke, she told him smoking was not allowed in the room as it had no smoke ventilation system. As well, she said, if he lit up the smoke detector would probably go off and the fire alarm would be triggered.

The man appeared upset with her explanation, she said. When she left the room to get some water for the guests, he followed and suddenly slapped her in the face before going to his seat.

On Friday, officials from the Bureau of Tobacco Control went to the hotel to offer their moral support to Ms Panita over the incident.

Seranee Chulasereekul, the bureau’s deputy director, praised Ms Panita and the hotel for doing their duty to protect the health of non-smokers by banning smoking in dining rooms and common areas used by guests.

Source: Bangkok Post: https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1581562/angry-smoker-apologises-for-slapping-hotel-staffer