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From Thai Enquirer Lawmakers Put off Vote on Constitutional Amendments BANGKOK (AP) — Scheduled voting by Thai lawmakers on six proposed amendments to the country’s military-backed constitution was canceled at the last minute Thursday as Parliament voted instead to set up a committee to further consider such proposals. The action, taken after two days of debate, means any vote on constitutional amendments is likely to be postponed for at least a month, and likely longer. At least 1,000 protesters pushing for charter reform gathered outside the Parliament building, and were angered when they heard that the voting might be postponed. They issued three demands for changes to the charter, including reform of the monarchy, limits to the powers of the unelected senators, and the election, not appointment, of any constitutional drafting committee’s members. Protest leaders threatened that they would hold another rally in October if their demands are not met by Sept. 30.

From Bangkok Post 7-day quarantine if tourist test succeeds A seven-day quarantine for foreign tourists can be put into effect in November if the first batch of inbound tourists in October is clear of coronavirus infections, says the Tourism and Sports Ministry. After next Tuesday's cabinet meeting, the government will announce more details of the special tourist visa (STV) that will allow long-stay visitors, the first international arrivals in almost six months, to enter the country by Oct 1, said Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. If the first two groups of 300 foreigners complete the 14-day quarantine on Oct 15 and Oct 21 without a positive case, then the ministry plans to propose an increase in the number of tourists per week by Nov 1. "Only 300 tourists per week will not be enough to fill up the whole supply chain and help operators," Mr Phiphat said. "However, the figure has to comply with the capacity of the healthcare workforce from the Public Health Ministry to prepare swab tests." For instance, the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office can provide swab testing services of up to 1,000 tests per day. The ministry has spoken with private hospitals about providing more health personnel to support the virus testing process at airports, or allowing groups of tourists to get the test at alternative state quarantine facilities instead to disperse the flow of tourists at the terminal. If the tourism plan runs smoothly, the ministry will consider shortening the quarantine period to seven days in mid-November, Mr Phiphat said.

Not that i can go there at the moment, but where is this place for my fantasy purposes?

From Khaosod English BANGKOK (Xinhua) — Thailand planned to provide the so-called wellness quarantine for foreign visitors under the anti-pandemic measures at hotels alongside massage and spa parlors, confirmed a senior government official on Tuesday. Health Service Support Department Director General Tares Krassanairawiwong said foreign tourists will be provided the 14-day wellness quarantine at the hotels where they will stay and concurrently visit massage and spa parlors in their neighborhood. Nevertheless, all foreigners visiting the massage and spa parlors will be strictly separated from Thai customers under social distancing and anti-pandemic measures, the director general said. That will be part of the government’s Medical and Wellness Program for foreign tourists, who will be obliged to carry a health insurance package upon arrival to Thailand, Tares said. Many foreign tourists are expected to use the massage and spa services, such as those in southern coastal provinces of Thailand, and may be given a Special Tourist Visa for a long stay allowing a maximum of nine-month stay in this country, he said. However, the government-run Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration and the cabinet of ministers are yet to approve the Wellness Quarantine plan for foreigners.

From Bangkok Post Airports deploy rapid virus tests, sniffer dogs to unlock travel LONDON: A handful of European airports are implementing trials of quick-fire coronavirus tests, working with airlines to push technologies still being developed as a way to revive stunted international air travel. The tests, which can be carried out in 30 minutes, are seen as the best hope for the aviation industry to overcome new travel curbs that have brought a modest traffic rebound over summer to a shuddering halt. Other initiatives include a Finnish experiment with dogs that can sniff out the virus. Rome's Fiumicino hub became the first worldwide to introduce rapid screening, while London Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, has trialled three rival technologies. The International Air Transport Association is backing mandatory checks on departure to unlock flights before the arrival of a Covid vaccine, and Deutsche Lufthansa AG wants to use tests to reopen the trans-Atlantic market. The aviation industry is turning to a do-it-yourself approach after earlier efforts to rally global authorities around a united plan fell flat. A recent surge in virus cases triggered a haphazard set of fresh restrictions, upending a recovery in air traffic. Now companies are working to get pre-flight testing under way in a handful of markets in the expectation that other locations will follow. "We did not come to this decision lightly," IATA director general Alexandre de Juniac said of its support for universal checks. "Systematic testing will present logistical challenges and impact how people travel. But if you look at the reopening of borders, results have been dismally disappointing. Quarantine measures are killing the industry's recovery." The latest global traffic figures show long-haul markets are still largely grounded and that a recovery in domestic and regional operations has leveled off. Restrictions have been especially fluid in Europe, making it impossible for travellers to know whether they'll need to self-isolate when they return home. Heathrow, which sought to introduce PCR tests costing £150 (about 6,000 baht), had also proposed a second test five days later to allow for the virus’s incubation period, during which time people would need to self-isolate. Britain declined to ratify the plan, saying it was unlikely to entice travellers put off by an existing 14-day quarantine period for arrivals from at-risk countries. The airport is now pressing the case for rapid testing before departure, though Chief Executive Officer John Holland-Kaye cautioned Wednesday that it will be “more challenging” for the model to gain acceptance, since destination countries would need to take the accuracy of the checks on faith. Anyone found to be infected is denied boarding and will have to return home to self-isolate, having previously completed a form undertaking to do so in the event of a positive outcome. AdR said it is in talks with Lufthansa, Russia’s Aeroflot and Dubai-based Emirates about introducing the tests for their flights from Fiumicino. It is also keen to offer the procedure for services to New York, restoring a vital trans-Atlantic link that is currently closed to all but repatriating passengers. Lufthansa said separately Tuesday that it is planning to buy test kits from manufacturers including Roche Holding AG, after the Swiss company said the day before that its rapid antigen scan was available in Europe and that it would be filing for emergency authorization in the US. The German carrier said it is working with partners to use the tests to open up American routes. One, devised by GeneMe of Poland, can detect the Covid-19 genome in nose or throat swabs in about 30 minutes, while the other, from US-based Mologic, uses a saliva sample to identify viral antibodies in about 10 minutes. The hub also tested the less conventional Virolens system from British startup iAbra, which deploys a digital camera and microscope to produce a highly magnified hologram-style image of a sample in just 20 seconds. That can then be scanned for the distinctly shaped virus using artificial intelligence software.

From Bangkok Post BoT sees slower recovery in 2021 Thailand's economic recovery is expected to take longer than previously anticipated, mainly due to the drastic decline in foreign tourist numbers, says the Bank of Thailand. The central bank slashed its GDP growth forecast for 2021 from 5% to 3.6% as the pandemic continues to hamper international travel. The central bank has revised down its foreign arrivals forecast for next year from the previous 16.2 million to 9 million, said Titanun Mallikamas, secretary of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). The outbreak situation and the offshore impact have been more severe than expected. Several countries have been facing higher infection cases, second-wave outbreaks and longer lockdown policies, Mr Titanun said. These factors will incur an impact on foreign travellers with plans to visit Thailand. "With this scenario [the slow recovery of foreign tourist figures], overall economic activity will take at least two years to return to pre-pandemic levels," he said. The central bank earlier warned that Thailand's tourism industry would face greater risks next year if the government continued to restrict foreign travellers from entering the country.

The Thai Enquirer today begins a series of articles looking back at the little appreciated Free Thai resistance movement during the period of occupation during the Second World War. In this installment, it discusses the roles of the United Kingdom and the United States. From The Thai Enquirer An Oral History of the Seri Thai – Part One By Pear Maneechote And Jasmine Chia There are a few watershed events in Thai history that should be celebrated, honored, and remembered. This is definitely one of them. During World War II, Thai Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkram famously allied Thailand with the Japanese and the Axis Powers and declared war against the Allies. Yet, at the end of the war, Thailand somehow emerged as a friend of the Allied Powers – not exactly a victor, but not a defeated nation by any means. Most importantly, Thailand emerged from WW2 as a free and independent nation. This was the doing of Seri Thai, Thailand’s underground ‘Free Thai’ resistance movement, which worked with the US and UK against the Japanese occupation. The movement involved people from all walks of life — from anti-royalists, to purebred royals, schoolteachers, government officials, family members, to students. It was a coordinated resistance against the multiple oppressions that Thailand faced and continues to face today: the oppression of a nationalist military government, and the imperialist occupier that the military had invited to its doorstep. Although the Seri Thai movement is well remembered, it is not often remembered correctly. It was a movement driven as much by students as by politicians, young people who put their lives on the line to stand in defiance of a military government. Today, some of Seri Thai’s descendants are on the front lines of the democracy movement, as students drive their own open resistance against the current military dictatorship. 75 years after the declaration of peace, we revisit another pivotal turning point in Thai democratic history, as told through the words of direct participants and their descendants. Continues with photos https://www.thaienquirer.com/18327/an-oral-history-of-the-seri-thai-part-one/

Thai authorities estimate that there are about 150,000 people in the country who, for various reasons, have overstayed their visas. Saturday is the deadline for requesting extensions buy many are not expected to be able to complete the process. From the Thai Examiner Particular problems associated with long-stay Non-Immigrant B visa holders under the present extraordinary conditions are being identified as the closure of the kingdom’s borders has prevented expats from earning income and regularly travelling outside the kingdom while business owners with the visa in Thailand have seen their personal circumstances diminished to such an extent that many cannot comply with the normal conditions. The next few days, for thousands of these people, will be stressful as they weigh up and consider exiting Thailand to avoid ending up on the wrong side of the law while facing a highly uncertain future. A senior Immigration Bureau officer in Bangkok on Monday warned that the bureau would make use of its live database to track down visa overstayers from midnight on Saturday who failed to extend their visas as the Covid 19 visa amnesty finally comes to an end. As well as over 150,000 tourists believed to be still in Thailand since January, there are also many small business people, caught in peculiar circumstances, who now have a matter of days to decide whether to leave their life in Thailand behind them and return home or see if they can find a solution to their predicament as they can no longer meet extension requirements because of the disruption of their business and diminished financial circumstances. Senior Thai Immigration Bureau officers throughout Thailand are working frantically to process a deluge of last-minute applications as it becomes clear that the visa amnesty issued because of the Covid 19 crisis will not be renewed after it expires on Saturday next, September 26th, at midnight.

From Bloomberg News Universal coronavirus tests for departing passengers offer the only realistic hope of reviving demand for flights in the absence of a vaccine, the International Air Transport Association said. The 100% adoption of rapid antigen tests, which should be available next month, would remove any need for quarantines that are currently “killing” the market, IATA chief Alexandre de Juniac said on a media call Tuesday. While the call for testing isn’t new, the outlook has turned increasingly grim for airlines taking stock of a disappointing summer with rising infection rates and restrictions dashing hopes for a recovery. Just this week in Europe, Deutsche Lufthansa AG has said it will slash more jobs and planes from its fleet, the chief executive officer of Air France-KLM warned of further cost cuts, and tour operator TUI AG lowered its outlook for capacity through year-end. To date, the industry’s many calls for a unified approach to air travel have been hampered by individual countries loath to surrender health policy responsibilities to outsiders. Even proposals for so-called travel bubbles between pair of countries have run up against red tape and authority split among various agencies. IATA will seek to convince governments of the case for rapid testing through the United Nations-mandated International Civil Aviation Organization, De Juniac said, adding that all of its members back the proposal. The airline industry’s main trade group has repeatedly blamed travel restrictions for holding back demand. Tests would cost as little as $10, could be performed by staff without professional medical training, and would deliver a result in 15 minutes with 97% sensitivity, IATA said. As well as allowing nations to relax curbs on flying, a universal testing regime would provide people with reassurance that fellow passengers were Covid-free. Governments should fund the program, De Juniac said.

The sex workers are looking for acknowledgement that they are service providers and desire equal protection under the law. Those services attract a considerable share of tourism in any given year, bolstering the Thai economy. That's your sociology and economics lessons for today. As always, there's no need to thank me.

Nothing to be sorry for: much of what you say is confusing. Nothing personal, that's just a fact. In this case it seems you can't keep your continents straight. I'm not in South America so it impossible for me to "stay" in Brazil. That's your geography lesson for today. But on to more important matters. You have called me a racist. That's an outright lie. I've never said anything racist. And I'm not anti-Chinese. That's another lie. I called attention to the fact that China is intent on unjustly confiscating territory within their "nine dash line," territory belonging to SE Asian nations. That's being against China's policy but does not constitute being anti-Chinese. That's your lesson in logic for the day.

You are among the few who match great description of sensuality with profound sensitivity toward your sex partners. You also make us feel a sense of place, wherever that place may be at the moment. Please keep it up (although we all know that has never been a problem for you).

From Reuters Activists say Thailand's prostitution law, which criminalises sex work, does little to protect sex workers By Nanchanok Wongsamuth BANGKOK, Sept 22 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Sex workers in Thailand have launched a petition calling for prostitution to be decriminalised and urging authorities to remove all penalties for selling sex. Empower Foundation, a Chiang Mai-based group that supports sex workers, said it hoped to collect 10,000 signatures and present the petition to parliament to help persuade lawmakers to consider changing the country's prostitution law. "The law punishes sex workers - 80% of whom are mothers and the main breadwinner for the whole family," said Mai Junta, a representative from Empower. "It turns us into criminals," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation on Tuesday. More than 1,000 people had signed the petition since it was launched on Saturday. Thailand is predominantly Buddhist and deeply conservative, but is home to an extensive sex industry, largely catering to Thai men. Hordes of tourists also flock to the bright lights of go-go bars and massage parlours in the Thai capital Bangkok, and the country's main tourist towns. Women and LGBT+ rights activists say the current law, which made prostitution illegal in 1960, does little to protect sex workers, while repeated arrests and fines for doing sex work has driven them further into poverty. The women's affairs department at Thailand's Ministry of Social Development and Human Security said it was in the process of amending the prostitution law and would launch an online public hearing next year, without giving further details. "We are aware of complaints regarding rights violations of sex workers due to this law... and we are not neglecting their suggestions (to repeal the law)," a spokesman said. A 2014 report by the U.N. agency fighting AIDS estimated that there were 123,530 sex workers in Thailand but advocacy groups put the figure at more than twice that number and say it includes tens of thousands of migrants from neighbouring Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Prostitution is currently punishable by a fine of up to 40,000 baht ($1,274) or two years in prison, or both. People who pay for sex with underage workers can be jailed for up to six years. More than 24,000 people were arrested, prosecuted and fined for sex work-related offences in Thailand last year, according to the Royal Thai Police. Surang Janyam, director of the Service Workers in Group, a Thailand-based support organisation for sex workers, said the prostitution law should be repealed to allow sex workers to be protected under labour laws.

From The Thaiger Government tentatively approves visa amendments to bring in more investments In an attempt to bring in future investments to the country, the government has tentatively approved amendments to the criteria of granting permanent residence and smart visas to foreigners. The Centre for Economic Situation Administration says the new amendments may allow foreigners who purchase condominium units under certain rules to gain permanent residency. Such stipulations, however, include applicants purchasing the properties without using a mortgage loan and not selling or transferring the properties for a period of 5 years after purchasing. As for those foreigners who wish to develop start-ups or create jobs in fields away from science and technology, the amendments would decrease restrictions for granting such investors smart visas. It also could cover independent experts who do not have a work contract in Thailand and allow current smart visa holders to work other jobs that are not listed on the visa. Originally, Thailand’s smart visa programme was created to attract skilled workers, executives, investors and entrepreneurs to work in specific industries. As the new amendments have been approved in principle, there is no word yet on when they will be made final.

Just finished reading Namazu's reports from Brazil that he posts on Boy Toy. Absolutely sizzling accounts of sauna happenings. Guaranteed to take your mind off what we miss most. https://www.boytoy.com/forums/topic/32503-the-reopening-of-brazil-to-foreigners-some-observations/

From Thai Enquirer The pro-democracy plaque installed by protesters has gone missing A pro-democracy plaque installed by demonstrators this weekend at Sanam Luang has gone missing less than 24 hours after it was laid down. Tens of thousands of anti-government demonstrators braved rain and heat to rally in Bangkok this weekend calling for a change in the way the country is run and touching on previously taboo topics in Thai society. The protesters used the opportunity to address the royal institution, something which had previously been punished by the application of lese-majeste laws that blocked the discussion of the monarch and his family. On Sunday morning, the protesters installed a commemorative plaque on the grounds of Sanam Luang to replace an earlier one that had been removed two years prior. The removed plaque was installed after the 1932 revolution that deposed of the absolute monarchy and replaced it with a constitutional monarch. Sunday’s new plaque was to remind the country that the power still belongs with the people, student leaders said.

Contrary to the "quarantine-at-home" scheme discussed yesterday, the new flow chart seems to ignore mention of it. From Bangkok Post Special visa provisions prompt TAT inquiries The special tourist visa (STV) scheme is starting to gain momentum as overseas offices under the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) report high interest from tour agents. After the cabinet approved the STV scheme last week, all TAT offices in Europe received a number of calls and emails asking for more details about the visa process and available period, said TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn. For instance, the TAT London office reported 31 inquiries on one day after the news broke. But the scheme still requires an official announcement from the Immigration Bureau, meaning the TAT can clarify little at the moment. Mr Yuthasak said that although tourists and tour agents from many countries have shown interest in booking long vacations via STV, Thailand may begin with low-risk countries first, such as those in Scandinavia and Central Europe that have lower infection rates. TAT London conducted a tourist survey polling 1,200 respondents last month, the results of which showed that 22% of tourists are ready to come back to Thailand from October 2020 to March 2021 if borders are reopened to tourists from October this year. Of the respondents, 45% said they will consider their trips after March 2021. But as 23% still haven't made a decision, the TAT reported that Thailand has a chance to use safety travel measures to persuade this group to consider new trips again. Srisuda Wanapinyosak, deputy governor of TAT for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, said the 14-day quarantine is an obstacle for tourists who would like to spend a holiday in Thailand, as only 6% accepted this rule. For those who've already agreed to be kept in quarantine for two weeks, the TAT will help them reduce stressful conditions by conducting online recreational activities for in-room practices, such as virtual yoga and meditation class, and will work with alternative state quarantine sites that agree to arrange offline activities, such as live music shows that tourists can watch from their windows. "We're aiming for digital nomads and healthcare seekers. They are often younger and can work remotely from anywhere," she said. "Before the pandemic, seaside Thai destinations already welcomed a substantial amount of digital nomads. If we can provide safety measures, they will consider coming back again."

From South China Morning Post Covid-19 travel bubbles may require flights to forgo transit passengers, commerce minister says Transit passengers may not be allowed on some flights between Hong Kong and its future travel bubble partners in order to ensure everyone on board is coronavirus-free, the city’s commerce minister has said. Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah also noted, in a Sunday interview with local broadcaster TVB, that Hong Kong citizens travelling to some destinations, particularly larger countries, could face restrictions on their movements given how the Covid-19 situation can differ among regions. Yau also took aim at the ongoing “Made in China” row with the United States, as the city’s secretaries for administration, finance and labour used their official blogs to offer their own takes on how Hong Kong can tackle issues ranging from unemployment and a swelling budget deficit to the overall economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. As of Sunday, Hong Kong had recorded 5,023 coronavirus infections, with 103 related deaths. Earlier this month, the government announced it had been in talks with 11 destinations, including Japan and Thailand, to form travel bubbles, potentially throwing a lifeline to the struggling tourism industry but also raising concerns about the potential impact on public health. Tourism stakeholders have supported the concept but have yet to be given a timeline, leading some to warn the city’s embattled economy was in danger of collapse. But Yau said the city government needed to be cautious in negotiating such plans. “[We need to discuss] whether the planes can include people coming from outside Hong Kong [and the partner city] … and certain flights may only fly from this city to Hong Kong and back,” he said. “We have had initial discussions with 11 countries, and have discussed issues such as what I’ve called ‘double insurance’, requiring travellers to get tested before they fly and after they have arrived,” he said. Such tests must meet high standards, Yau added, otherwise, even one infected traveller entering Hong Kong could mean a turn for the worse in the city’s pandemic situation.

From Khaosod English Protesters Reinstall Plaque Symbolizing Democracy BANGKOK (AP) — Anti-government demonstrators occupying a historic field in the Thai capital on Sunday installed a plaque symbolizing the country’s transition to democracy to replace the original one that was mysteriously ripped and stolen three years ago, as they vowed to press on with calls for new elections and reform of the monarchy. The mass student-led rally that began Saturday is the largest in a series of protests this year, with thousands camping overnight at Sanam Luang field near the royal palace. On Sunday, they began marching to an undisclosed location, saying they want to hand over a petition to the king’s adviser. A group of activists drilled a hole in front of a makeshift stage in Sanam Luang and laid down a round brass plaque, commemorating a 1932 revolution that changed Thailand from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. “At the dawn of Sept. 20, here is where the people proclaim that this country belongs to the people,” read part of the inscription on the plaque. In April 2017, the original plaque vanished from Bangkok’s Royal Plaza and was replaced by one praising the monarchy. “The nation does not belong to only one person, but belongs to us all. Therefore, I would like to ask holy spirits to stay with us and bless the people’s victory,” student leader Parit “Penguin” Chirawak told the crowd. Another activist, Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul, said their demands do not propose getting rid of the monarchy. “They are proposals with good intentions to make the institution of the monarchy remain graciously above the people under democratic rule.” ============================================ From Bangkok Post Activists end rally after submitting demands Movement leaders to gather at Parliament on Thursday, call for general strike on Oct 14 Pro-democracy protest leaders ended their overnight rally early Sunday after presenting a list of their demands to the Metropolitan Police Bureau chief. However, activists plan to gather again on Thursday outside Parliament, while student leader Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak has called on the public to take part in a general strike on Oct 14 — the anniversary of the 1973 student uprising. The movement’s three core demands have been a new constitution, the resignation of the current government an end to harassment of critics of the government. After the demands were presented to the city police chief, Mr Parit announced the end of the rally, which had drawn tens of thousands of people to Sanam Luang since Saturday afternoon. However, he said protest leaders would gather again outside Parliament on Thursday, the second day of a two-day debate on motions to amend the constitution.

From Channel News Asia / Reuters The Thai protest leader who emerged with a kiss Tattep Ruangprakitseree (left) and his partner Panumas Singprom, also a member of the committee of Free People group, sit in a flat in Nonthaburi province, in Thailand, Aug 22, 2020. (Photo: REUTERS/Jiraporn Kuhakan) BANGKOK: It was with a kiss that student activist Tattep Ruangprapaikitseree first took centre stage in Thai politics. His embrace with his boyfriend at parliament as they campaigned for gay marriage rights last December shocked conservatives and stirred a social media storm. Nine months on, the changes he now demands for Thailand are even more fundamental for the protest movement challenging an establishment long dominated by the army and the palace. "I'm confused as to how I got here," Tattep, 23, told Reuters. Since mid-July, protesters have been calling for the departure of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, a former coup leader. They want a new Constitution, fresh elections and an end to the harassment of activists. Although there is no overall leader of the fragmented movement – and activists say they want to keep it that way – a Jul 18 protest by Tattep's Free Youth Movement unexpectedly drew some 2,500 people and helped to build momentum for almost daily demonstrations since. "At that time, there was no one leading the protest, so I decided to do it," said Tattep, also known by the nickname Ford. Tattep grew up in the heart of Bangkok. His father works as a delivery driver for a mobile phone app. When Tattep's mother died six years ago, they moved into one room in a shared house while he completed his studies. "I support him because the movement is for the country: It's not only about him," said his father, Somrak Ruangprapaikitseree. But his father worries the protests could turn violent, recalling the decade of bloody street turmoil before Prayut's 2014 coup. Tattep said his political awareness began during those protests, when pro-establishment yellow shirts shut down Bangkok in clashes with red shirt supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. While Tattep had initially hoped to be a pharmacist, he switched to political science and graduated from Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University this year. He and boyfriend Panumas Singprom met on Tinder and realised they had been going to the same political meetings. "We don't want to grow old and have our kids ask us, 'When the country faced injustice what did you do?'" said Panumas, who is often by his side. Last year's election fuelled calls for change after Prayut returned as prime minister in a vote his opponents said was unfair. Prayut says the vote was fair. As well as campaigning for LGBT rights, they set up a discussion forum on Facebook that became the Free Youth Movement – and later the Free People Movement to broaden its appeal. "Let it end in our generation," shouted Tattep as he took the stage on Aug 16 at a Bangkok demonstration of more than 10,000 people, the biggest yet.

From Bangkok Post Pro-democracy crowd settles in for overnight stay Thousands of protesters have gathered at Sanam Luang in Bangkok for what they say will be a two-day protest to press for a new constitution and an end to military-dominated government. The mostly young demonstrators, who began the day by assembling under a steady rain at the Tha Prachan campus of Thammasat University nearby, have also vowed to press for reform of the monarchy, an issue that has provoked strong reactions from more conservative segments of society. However, an increasing number of seasoned protest veterans from the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), after keeping a low profile for the past few years, have decided it’s time to throw their support behind the movement. This story will be updated regularly and readers can also follow live feeds on Facebook and Twitter. Continues with photos, timeline of events and video at https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1988239/pro-democracy-crowd-settles-in-for-overnight-stay

I goal posts are changing by the day. From Bangkok Post Tourists must isolate in home countries The Ministry of Public Health on Friday unveiled its latest plan to reopen to visitors from abroad with 2,270 foreign tourists already reportedly planning to visit Thailand. Dr Chakrarat Pittayawonganon, director of the Bureau of Mental Health Strategy under the Department of Disease Control, (DDC) said in a press briefing yesterday that foreign tourists must present proof of a negative Covid-19 test no more than 72 hours prior to travel. They must also have quarantined in their country of origin and have health insurance for international travel and a specified minimum amount of money in their bank account as well as a record of not visiting crowded places prior to their departure. During their domestic quarantine, visitors must have been tested twice for Covid-19 at the beginning and end of the process. If both tests are negative for the virus, they will be allowed to travel to Thailand. The DDC said it planned to increase staff at international disease control checkpoints and allow people from low-risk countries to enter Thailand first. The department will provide training on Covid-19 control and prevention for entrepreneurs as well as the general public and government officers whose jobs place them in contact with foreign travellers. Related state bodies are currently deciding when these measures will take effect. Director-General of the Health Service Support Department, Dr Thares Krasnairawiwong, said 735 medical tourists from China, Myanmar, Oman, Australia and Cambodia were receiving treatment in Thailand after they completed a 14-day quarantine. The tourists were expected to generate around 25 million baht for the country, said the doctor. More than 2,270 foreigners from China, Myanmar, Japan and Kuwait have reportedly expressed their wish to enter Thailand, and are expected to generate 115 million baht in revenue. O

For those considering air travel, and long haul routes in particular, the following study answers many questions about potential for contagion, mask efficacy and related issues. From Harvard School of Public Health PDF can be accessed at the following link: https://cdn1.sph.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2443/2020/09/Face-Mask-Use-in-Air-Travel.pdf

From Bangkok Post The Ministry of Transport will remove tollway booths and remodel billing systems to incorporate vehicle recognition next year. Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob on Tuesday told reporters that the ministry's vehicle registration database will be shared with the Department of Land Transport, Department of Highways and Expressway Authority of Thailand under a memorandum of understanding to track vehicles using tollways and expressways when barriers and toll booths are taken away next year. He said a toll system without barriers and toll booths is being developed. According to the new system, called M-Flow, licence plate detectors will be used to later match the vehicle information in the licence registration database and bill motorists every month to post-pay without the assistance of barriers and toll booths, the minister said. "This system has another benefit ... we can check for illegal vehicles," he said referring to the linked database and the licence detection system. Laws will be amended so that failure to pay road tolls will be considered an offence, he said. Current users of M-Pass will be able to link their pass with their vehicle licence and pay the tolls automatically.

From The Cambodian Daily Thailand plans to allow a group of 500 Cambodian workers to return to work legally in Thailand for the first time since borders were closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, officials said on Tuesday. Ham Samkhan, chief of the Doung International Border Checkpoint, said officials met in Thailand on Thursday about a plan to allow 500 Cambodian workers to cross the border to work on fruit harvests. The original plan was for the workers to leave on Tuesday, but Thailand had yet to make its official request based on what was agreed in the meeting, Samkhan said.