Thailand & Pattaya News, from Fabulous 103fm (21 February 2022)

Perhaps after reviewing how other asian countries operate the internet, the Ministry of Digital Economy is said to be considering a suggestion to create a single national internet gateway which would afford them total control of what can and cannot be viewed here. Plauded as an initiative to reduce cyber crime and more, it would possibly negate the successful use of VPNs but also create a society where any websource that doesn’t meet Thailand’s criteria for any reason could be blocked. Police lay claim to resolving close to 4000 cybercrimes in the past year, especially call centres outside the country that target users here.

As Thailand mulls the reopening of the Malaysian border, so there this weekend has seen Covid-19 cases reach a record high, with expectations of upward of 30K new cases there daily by the weeks end. 8-% of Malaysians have been double vaccinated and the Omicron variant is, as we know, far weaker in it’s attack on patients than previous types.

A two in the morning operation by officials and army in Prachuap Kiri Khan saw 226 job seekers nabbed in a remote area, following reports to authorities by locals. All were deported quickly, except guides who were held in detention. A representative of a migrant labour development network is quoted in national press as stating that he believes upward of 100K migrants have made it into Thailand and already are working, albeit illegally and the PM has stated that efforts to register foreign labour should be sped up, to facilitate the filling of an estimated 800K jobs here.

A rights group in the US, overlooking their own recent history, is demanding that fishing nets and other goods, manufactured here in Thai prisons, be refused import licences to the US. Workers in prisons here volunteer to work, to keep themselves busy AND earn pocket money. They aren’t forced, however, until very recently forced labour WAS an active part of US prison life. Nevertheless, a petition was handed to the US Customs last week.

The toings and fro-ings of politics begins in earnest this week, as candidates begin to consider registration for the upcoming election for the position of Pattaya’s mayor. With reported disagreements among many already, the prime candidate still appears to be the current mayor Sontaya Kunplome, who inherited a bustling city and then spent his entire time in office steering it through the effects of the global covid epidemic. Unelected, due to a ban on elections followed by Covid-19, the mayor replaced army style management which took over after his popular brother, Ittiporn had to leave the position as, according to Thai law, once his term of office expired, and with no elections available, he had to move on. He, now a government minister, is seen as supportive of his brother.

At Laem chabang port, a truck driver lost control of his vehicle at the harbor, seeing it roll into the sea. Despite every effort the driver drowned and
an investigation is underway, along with a full truck inspection.

A Chinese man, along with his Thai wife have been arrested; charged with farming some 4 dozen full size crocodiles in Nongprue without a licence. The eledrly couple claim to have bought the business, along with licences, to attract tourists 2 yrs ago but, as covid saw their business dwindle they closed to the public. All the crocs were captured and moved to a registered location as the matter is resolved.

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