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From The Diplomat The shrinking Tonle Sap, the river’s “beating heart,” is the latest wake-up call of the damage wrought by dams. By Tom Fawthrop The miracle of the Mekong, where the pulsating force of the monsoon-driven river every year pushes its tributary to back up and reverse its flow into the great Tonle Sap lake in Cambodia, has again been disrupted and obstructed by dams, drought, and climate change. “This is a terrible disaster for the whole Mekong region,” Thai academic Chainarong Setthachua declared. He told The Diplomat, “If we lose the Tonle Sap we lose the heart of the biggest inland fisheries in the world.” The lake is a critical fishing ground for Cambodia, as well as supporting fish migrations along the entire Mekong. Back in 2014, Chheng Phen, the former director of Cambodia’s Inland Fisheries Research and Development Institute, told the New York Times, “If the Tonle Sap does not function,” he said, “then the whole fishery of the Mekong will collapse.” That is exactly what the Mekong region is facing today. For the second year running, the wild pulsating waters of the Mekong have failed to work their traditional monsoon magic, which in normal times empowers the Tonle Sap lake to expand to five times its dry season size. The Tonle Sap’s area before (left) and after the annual flooding expands its banks. Image courtesy of Eureka Films. It is hard to exaggerate the extent of the unfolding disaster caused primarily by Chinese dams upstream, trapping both water and sediment that is vital to the healthy survival of the Mekong ecosystem. The Tonle Sap crisis has also been greatly exacerbated by the two Lao dams – the Xayaburi dam and the Don Sahong launched in 2019 – that have blocked fish movement and sediment. Thailand and Malaysia are the developers and prime investors for those projects. The Mekong-driven reverse flow had for centuries transformed the Tonle Sap lake, flooding what was once a sizable forest into part of the largest inland lake in Southeast Asia. In normal times the arrival of the rainy season flood and the reversal of the Tonle Sap tributary replenishes an amazing nursery of the fisheries by giving birth to the flooded forest of the lake. But in 2020, like last year, too little water arrived and too late in the five-month rainy season from June to October. In 2019 the belated arrival of the flood pulse in mid-August led to the influx of shallow, warm, oxygen-starved waters and countless thousands of dead fish. The same drought syndrome is happening again in 2020, with the damaged Mekong monsoon flow too weak push the Tonle Sap tributary back into the lake until mid-August (in a normal year it starts in June). The Stimson Foundation’s Mekong specialist Brian Eyler recalled the wider impacts of last year’s disaster, now repeating itself: “The Tonle Sap’s 2.5 million fishermen took on higher levels of debt to cope with the extremely low fish catch. Now in 2020 it is maybe worse. These cycles of high debt and low fish catch can only be repeated so many times before the economy around the lake and likely the country itself begins to fall apart.” Senglong Youk, the Tonle Sap team leader of local NGO FACT (Fisheries Action Coalition), estimates that 20-30 percent of all fishermen have abandoned their livelihood to look for alternative employment. Eyler, who is also the author of “The Last Days of the Mighty Mekong,” closely monitors China’s dams upstream. His research has now confirmed that “Chinese dams in July 2020 began to restrict an unprecedented amount of water while the countries downstream suffered drought in a repeat performance of last year.” While the Chinese government and the Mekong River Commission (MRC) have claimed the primary causes of the drought are extra low rainfall and the El Nino effect, several studies have convincingly shown that these factors are far less important in causing the decimation of lower Mekong fisheries than the rapid expansion of hydropower. A 2013 study from Aalto University in Finland conducted by Timo Rasanen demonstrated the impacts of upstream dams far outweighed climate change in its effects on the Tonle Sap lake. Ian Cowx, director of Hull University’s International Fisheries Institute (HIFI) in the U.K., explained via email that the biggest long-term obstacle to the recovery of fisheries would not come from climate change and this drought, but rather from the dams upstream. “All fish species are adapted to periods of droughts and floods,” he wrote. “The big issue here is the reduction in flows caused by Chinese dams, the Lower Sesan 2 dam [on a Mekong tributary in Cambodia], and the loss of the Hou Sahong channel because of Don Sahong dam.” All these dams – not only the Chinese but also Thailand’s massive Xayaburi dam in Laos and the Malaysian-promoted Don Sahong dam – have changed the hydrology flow of the river and undermined the flood-pulse. Continues at https://thediplomat.com/2020/09/the-last-farewell-to-the-mighty-mekong/ (Tom Fawthrop, based in Southeast Asia, has been a regular contributor to the Guardian, Economist, South China Morning Post, and The Diplomat for many years)

From The Nation 'Bad' students make a strong case for reforms with huge rally at ministry "Bad student", a group of high school students and student organisations from 50 educational institutions nationwide, has gathered outside the Ministry of Education on Saturday (September 5) to press its demands for reforms. At 2pm, the protesters placed a lot of wreaths in front of the ministry's wall with messages stating that schools do not want dictatorship. At 3pm, the road in front of the ministry was packed with students who came out in large numbers for the rally. The group demanded that the ministry stop threatening students, cancel outdated regulations and reform education with the condition that the education minister must resign if the ministry cannot do as they demanded. Some 50 police officers from Dusit Metropolitan Police Station and Metropolitan Police Division 1 are providing safety to the protesters, while the protesters have requested permission to hold the rally until 8pm today. Meanwhile, the hashtag #หนูรู้หนูมันเลว (I know I was bad) was trending on Thai Twitter as school pupils rallied to demand democracy.

Resiliency is something people with jobs can more readily summon than those without.

Have not had that problem but you can use his secure (https) Twitter site: https://twitter.com/RichardBarrow (I spot checked several of the main links on his site and I did get an "under construction" message on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs link which could have resulted from a possible hack.)

On my first visit to Bangkok 18 years ago, I recall regularly seeing a handicapped young man on upper Silom rd. He had no legs below the knees and no hands on either arm. He propelled himself on a roller board of the type mechanics use to work under cars. I'd put a 20-baht note in his cup and and we eventually managed to exchange a few words. He was strikingly handsome and had an infectious smile. I also saw him a few times on Saturdays when I visited Chatuchak Market. After my third trip I no longer ran into him but I still frequently think of him when I walk along that portion of Silom that is now a construction site where Robinson's used to be. When I spotted thew following article in the Vietnam news today, I immediately again thought of that young man. There's a lot of sad news out there these days but this is not one of them. From Vietnam News Student gives piggyback to friend for over 10 years Ngô Minh Hiếu carries his classmate Nguyễn Tất Minh on his back to school every day. — Photo: nld.com.vn by Khiếu Tư THANH HOÁ — Nguyễn Tất Minh was born without any legs, but fortunately he has a friend – a classmate – who gives him a piggy-back to and from school. Ngô Minh Hiếu has been Minh’s legs for the past ten years. With his friend’s assistance, Minh has never missed a single class. The story of the two teenagers has been widely shared on social media and received widespread media coverage, describing the friendship as “so inspiring and touching". Hiếu started carrying Minh to school when they were in second grade. Due to his disability, Minh faces a lot of difficulties. His father’s health is also bad while his mother struggles to make ends meet. This meant getting to school was always going to be difficult for him. Understand Minh’s desire to study and his strong determination, Hiếu decided to help him. Hiếu still remembers what he told his parents when he was only 7 years old. “I’ll carry Minh to school every day,” he recalled. His parents thought it was simply a childish impulse, but over the past ten years, Hiếu has become Minh’s legs. They play and learn together, helping each other improve. Minh said although they shared a lot of memories, there was one that left a deep impression. “I will never forget going to school together on a rainy day when we were in third grade. We fell together because the road was slippery.” The duo have finished 12th grade and both of them got good scores in the national high school exams. Hiếu got a score of 28.15 while Minh got 28.10. This was a joint effort that created the motivation for them to realise their dreams. “When I was in second grade, I felt sympathy for Minh and volunteered to carry him to school on my back. Minh give me more strength to accomplish what I want myself,” Hieu said. Continues at https://vietnamnews.vn/society/771908/student-gives-piggyback-to-friend-for-over-10-years.html

From Bangkok Post Amnesty International presses for dropping of charges against activists Amnesty International has called for the government to withdraw charges against anti-government protesters and asked its own supporters to send letters backing the demand to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. The charges laid against 31 protesters for the July 18 rally against the government were aimed at silencing critics and were a violation of freedom of expression, the London-based human rights advocacy group said in a statement issued on Friday. The statement said the charges, which included sedition, should be immediately dropped. Amnesty called on people around the world to send letters to the Thai prime minister supporting its demand. "This recent slew of arrests of peaceful demonstrators illustrates the authorities' intensifying crackdown on freedom of expression and assembly," it said. Rights lawyer Arnon Nampa and university academic Panupong Jadnok were among the 31 people charged by police. The two are being held in custody after the Criminal Court on Thursday revoked their bail at the request of Samran Rat police. The court accepted the police argument that the two men broke the court bail stipulation that they refrain from similar offences. The charges carry a maximum penalty of seven years behind bars. The two activists are being detained in Bangkok Remand Prison. A rally was planned outside the prison on Friday to demand their release. Protest leaders have set Sept 19 for another major rally, and promised there would be a much larger crowd at the Democracy Monument and in Ratchadamnoen Avenue that day. Mr Anon posted a Facebook message on Thursday calling for people to go out on Sept 19. "Let my detention be a 'receipt' of intimidation against people. Sept 19, 2020 will be the day to respond," he wrote.

From The Nation Covid insurance approved for foreign tourists from high-risk countries The Thai insurance regulator has approved Covid-19 coverage for foreigners entering Thailand, including those from high-risk countries. To buy a policy, foreigners must have a certificate of entry, a Fit to Fly Health or Fit to Travel health certificate, and a medical certificate confirming they tested free of Covid-19 via the RT-PCR method 72 hours prior to departure. Suthipol Taweechaikarn, secretary-general of the Insurance Commission, revealed today that he had approved the insurance for foreigners at a premium rate on August 28. The policies will be sold online and become valid as soon as the traveller passes through Immigration in Thailand. Coverage will be divided into two parts: 1. In cases of death caused by Covid-19, the company will pay benefits/compensation for the cost of the funeral and repatriation of remains equal to Bt3.2 million. 2. For medical treatment related to Covid-19, the company will pay benefits or compensation of up to Bt3.2 million. Premiums will cover periods of 30 days up to one year and be priced according to the Covid-19 risk in the country of origin. Travellers from low-risk countries will pay between Bt1,600 and Bt14,400.Those from moderate-risk countries will pay between Bt2,560 and Bt23,040. Those from high-risk countries will pay between Bt4,800 and Bt43,200. These rates include stamp duty and tax. The policies will be offered jointly by the following 12 insurance firms: Dhipaya Insurance, Bangkok Insurance, Chubb Samaggi Insurance, Navakij Insurance, Thaivivat Insurance, Pacific Cross Health Insurance, The Falcon Insurance, Mittare Insurance, Muang Thai Insurance, Viriyah Insurance, Syn Mun Kong Insurance, Southeast Insurance, Asia Insurance 1950, Bangkok Life Assurance, Muang Thai Life Assurance, and Ocean Life Insurance.

From Channel News Asia PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian government will impose an entry ban on citizens from countries with more than 150,000 COVID-19 cases starting from Sep 7, said Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Thursday (Sep 3). Countries on the list include the United States, Brazil, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Bangladesh, he said. On Tuesday, Malaysia announced that long-term pass holders who are citizens of India, Indonesia and the Philippines will be barred from entering the country effective Sep 7. The decision was made after considering the surge in the number of COVID-19 cases within the three countries, said Mr Ismail Sabri. “The barring would be applicable to permanent residents, holders of Malaysia My Second Home passes, expatriates of all categories, those with resident passes, spouse visas and students who are citizens of the respective countries," he said.

From Vientiane Times VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN): While domestic travel is on the rise following government efforts to reduce the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on tourism-related businesses, the upturn is unlikely to offset the complete absence of foreign tourists. President of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Oudeth Souvannavong, told Vientiane Times on Monday the slump in tourism was not only affecting businesses but was having a huge effect on the income earned by local people. “Many people are cautious about spending because of the prevailing uncertainty, ” Oudeth said, adding that only a small percentage of the population could be categorised as rich and middle-class so overall spending was not doing much to boost tourism. The sharp drop in travel has resulted in job losses in tourism-related businesses such as hotels and restaurants, which account for 11 per cent of all jobs and 22 per cent of jobs in urban areas. Oudeth said many people had taken trips with their children during the school holidays but only a few places such as Vangvieng and other popular places close to the capital had benefitted. And with the start of the new academic year on Sept 1, domestic tourism is certain to see a downturn. According to a recent World Bank report, hotels and other places of accommodation, restaurants, tour companies and transport operators have been the hardest hit. Some small concerns are reportedly going out of business, while many expect recovery to take up to one year. “If the local and global virus outbreak continues over the second half of the year, the loss in tourism revenue could be more than US$500 million, or 2.7 percent of GDP, ” the World Bank report stated.

From Bangkok Post His Majesty the King has issued a royal command reinstating all royal and military rank and titles to royal noble consort Sineenart Wongvajirapakdi, who was stripped of all titles in October last year. An announcement published in the Royal Gazette on Aug 29, but seen only on Sept 2, states that Miss Sineenart's record is without blemish. The King had then issued a command to appoint her Chao Khun Phra Sineenart Pilaskalayanee, and a royal official with military rank. She has been given all royal decorations. This is as if she was never stripped of her royal title and military ranks, and as if her royal decorations had never been recalled, according to the announcement, which was dated Aug 28. Last October, the King issued a royal command stripping Chao Khun Phra Sineenart Pilaskalayanee of her royal title and military ranks, and recalling all of her royal decorations. The announcement was published in the Royal Gazette on Oct 21 last year.

From Reuters / Bangkok Post Growth weakens, protests heat up SINGAPORE/HONG KONG: A selloff in the baht, underperforming stocks and pressure on the bond market reflect growing concern from global investors over political instability and the growth outlook in Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy, analysts and fund managers say. Thailand suffered its deepest economic contraction in two decades last quarter and a long haul to recovery looms as the Covid-19 pandemic has hammered its mainstay tourism industry. At the same time, the government is facing a student protest movement which is gathering momentum and disruption to its policy agenda by the surprise resignation of Finance Minister Predee Daochai on Tuesday, after less than a month in the job. "I think no other country has these two or three problems going on at the same time, as if the Covid-19 situation isn't bad enough," said OCBC Bank economist Howie Lee. Thailand's benchmark stock index is down 17% for the year, having suffered foreign outflows in every month till August - lagging a 5% gain in Asian markets. "The only foreigners left in Thai equities really are the passive investors, the ETFs and the funds which track the index. The active managers are gone," said Jeep Chatikavanij, founder of the Ton Poh Fund which manages $150 million. A global selloff in longer-dated government bonds has also hit Thailand slightly harder than elsewhere, as investors struggle to digest the big debt sales that are paying for governments' spending. Widening corporate credit spreads, as investors demand a greater premium for lending to Thai firms, also shows creeping default risk, said BNP Paribas' head of Asean Economics, Arup Raha.

From the BBC Will you need an immunity passport to travel? Some of the earliest countries to be impacted by the virus have been quick to adopt health certificates – but can immunity passports really help us travel safely again? By Justin Meneguzzi The global economy has been severely disrupted by Covid-19, with the virus wreaking particular devastation on the travel industry. While international travel will eventually return, either as governments start to bring infection rates under control or with the development of a vaccine, it’s a waiting game that many airlines, tour operators and hotels aren’t willing to play. In recent months, the idea of introducing digital immunity passports has begun to circulate as a potential lifeline to jumpstart international leisure travel. “An immunity passport is a presentable proof of immunity to Covid-19,” said Husayn Kassai, co-founder and CEO of Onfido, a London-based technology company specialising in facial biometric certification. “It is designed to help an individual prove that they have been tested and that their test result belongs to them, but without having to share any personal information.” Immunity passports are currently being examined primarily for the benefit of frontline medical workers, allowing them to continue working safely with reduced risk of an outbreak in hospitals. In April, Onfido was invited to submit a proposal for digital health certificates to the UK Parliament’s Science and Technology Committee. In their proposal, Onfido casts immunity passports as “the linchpin of a new normality”. They would allow users to create a digital identity by uploading an official document (such as a passport or driver’s licence) along with a selfie taken on their phone, which would be verified using AI technology. The identity would then be paired with a certificate of immunity issued by a national health service. The end result would be a code on their phone that could be scanned to enter workplaces, public buildings or even airports. Onfido would provide the technology to verify users’ identities, but it would be up to the UK government to securely manage the health data and introduce a system of testing for immunity. Consideration of immunity passports in the UK is still in its early stages, with the British government examining submissions from other facial recognition and identity firms, such as Yoti, Nomidio and Berlin-based IDnow, as well as a range of medical experts and academics on the viability of an immunity-based scheme. The jury is still out on whether the UK will formally adopt immunity passports, but the potential for such documents to accelerate reopening parts of public life has caused similar proposals to pop up in Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Israel, Colombia, Argentina, Estonia and the US. Restoring travel is crucial for global economic recovery. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, in 2019 tourism contributed nearly US$9 trillion to the world’s GDP and accounted for 330 million jobs – roughly one in 10 jobs around the world. However, for travel to fully recommence, governments will understandably require proof that people aren’t bringing Covid-19 with them. Presenting verified proof of immunity might become a requirement for passengers before airlines will allow them to board a flight, similar to a passport or visa. John Holland-Kaye, CEO of the UK’s busiest airport, Heathrow, has welcomed the introduction of an internationally recognised immunity passport, while acknowledging the success of such a scheme would depend on other countries adopting similar systems. “If the UK government, with one of the biggest aviation sectors in the world, were to get together with the European Union and United States, between them they’d have the global diplomatic and economic power to set the international standard,” he told Sky News in May. On a call with investors in April, CEO of Delta Air Lines, Ed Bastian said he would “make whatever changes to the business model that will be necessary”, including adopting immunity passports if required by the US government. Bastian pointed out how readily travellers adapted to new security regulations introduced by TSA and Home Security in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and said the most important thing for travellers is confidence their safety is being well managed. Continues at http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20200831-coronavirus-will-you-need-an-immunity-passport-to-travel

Yes, and the sky is falling and the moon is blue. What I can't understand is if all you're having are bad experiences with scamming Thais and scheming boys, why the hell are you still there writing about it?

Agree. The aviation authority doesn't seem to want to acknowledge that the flights are actually arriving and departing but you can check sites like "Flight Aware" and see evidence that they do indeed exist. Smoke and mirrors.

From The Thaiger Vietnam is gearing up for international flights and some trips are planned to start as early as this month. The country’s Civil Aviation Authority says they’re set to start international flights on September 15 after being put on pause for the past 5 months. The authority’s director says travellers will need to quarantine for 14 days upon entering Vietnam. Japan and South Korea are first on the list. Vietnam has 4 trips per week planned for each route. The plan is still being discussed with the transport ministry along with the ministries of foreign affairs, defence, health and labour. Vietnam is gearing up for international flights and some trips are planned to start as early as this month. The country’s Civil Aviation Authority says they’re set to start international flights on September 15 after being put on pause for the past 5 months. The authority’s director says travellers will need to quarantine for 14 days upon entering Vietnam.Japan and South Korea are first on the list. Vietnam has 4 trips per week planned for each route. The plan is still being discussed with the transport ministry along with the ministries of foreign affairs, defence, health and labour.

From Bangkok Post Finance Minister Predee Daochai has submitted his resignation after 26 days in the job, citing health reasons. The former president of Kasikornbank reportedly submitted the letter on Monday but Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has yet to approve it. Mr Predee was royally appointed on Aug 6 under the quota of the prime minister. According to earlier media reports, Mr Predee disagreed with his deputy, Santi Prompat from the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), over the reshuffle of high-ranking officials, in particular who should head the Excise Department. Mr Predee reportedly wanted Lavaron Sangsnit, director of the Fiscal Policy Office, for the post, but Mr Santi preferred Prapas Kong-Ied, director of the State Enterprise Policy Office. The cabinet on Tuesday appointed Mr Lavaron as chief of the Excise Department, but Mr Predee resigned anyway. Sources at the PPRP said news about Mr Predee’s resignation came on Monday. “We’ve always thought he wouldn’t last long because he had no political experiences,” he said.

From Bangkok Post Bank of Thailand warns of tourism meltdown Thailand's tourism industry will face greater risks next year if the government continues to restrict foreign travellers from entering the country, says the Bank of Thailand. Foreign arrivals could be downgraded from a projection of 8 million this year and 16 million next year given the deflated tourism outlook, said Don Nakornthab, senior director of the economic and policy department. The Tourism and Sports Ministry and the National Economic and Social Development Council already cut their projections for this year's foreign tourist arrivals to 6.7 million and next year's to 12 million.

From TTRW Travel (via Richardbarrow,com) Emirates claims Bangkok flights are back BANGKOK, 31 August 2020: Emirates says it has all the permissions in place to operate flights to and from Thailand as of 1 September despite a contradictory post by the Royal Thai Consulate in Dubai. The Thai consulate in Dubai posted an announcement on its website at the weekend that cast doubt on the 1 September resumption of flights from Dubai to Bangkok. While not identifying the airline explicitly the statement quoted the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand saying no commercials flights were allowed to enter Thailand until further notice. Popular travel blogger Richard Barrow first posted the consulate’s statement on his Twitter account. Within hours the announcement was withdrawn from the consulate’s website without an explanation. However, in response to questions from TTR Weekly, Emirates head of communications said on Sunday: “We can confirm that Emirates has all the required government permissions to operate the flights that we have announced. “Passengers flying to and from Thailand have to meet the requirements of their destination – details on www.emirates.com/travelrestrictions.” The airline announced Friday it would resume daily flights to Bangkok from Dubai. Booking for the flights opened 27 August with the flight timetable the latest of the airline’s updates. Efforts to gain a response from the consulate in Dubai failed, but the consulate statement did refer to an Etihad repatriation flight EV406 that would depart Dubai for Bangkok 9 September. Organised by the embassy and consulate in the UAE, the flight is open for Thai national and foreigners eligible to enter Thailand bookable only via the embassy and consulate. Emirates’ flights between Dubai and Bangkok will be operated with a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft offering seats in first, business and economy class. Starting from 1 September, flight EK384 will depart Dubai daily at 0150 and arrive in Bangkok at 1130, while the return flight, EK385, will depart Bangkok at 0325, and arrive in Dubai at 0635, from 2 September.

From South China Morning Post Looks to cut Malacca Strait shipping time by land link between Indian, Pacific Oceans Thailand is looking to construct a land passageway that would connect the Indian and Pacific Oceans, bypassing one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. The Strait of Malacca, a narrow sea lane along Peninsular Malaysia's southwest coast and extending east past Singapore, is currently the shortest sea route linking the Asia-Pacific region with India and the Middle East. About a quarter of the world’s traded goods pass through it each year. “The Strait has become quite congested,” Transport Minister Saksiam Chidchob said. “Using an alternative route through Thailand would cut shipping time by more than two days, which is very valuable for businesses.” Thailand plans to build two deep seaports on either side of the country’s southern coasts, and link them via highway and rail, according to Saksiam. The 100km “land bridge” would replace an existing proposal to dredge a canal through the isthmus. That would cause too much destruction to the environment, he said. The idea for a canal that would traverse the nation’s narrowest point and trim the travel distance by 1,200km (745 miles) has been put forward and dismissed several times over the past few decades. The government has approved a 75 million baht (US$2.4 million) budget for a study to examine the construction of two seaports, and another 90 million baht to examine highways and rails linking them, according to Saksiam.

From Channel News Asia Thailand delays US$724m China submarine deal after public anger BANGKOK: Thailand delayed on Monday (Aug 31) its US$724 million purchase of two submarines from China, following public outrage over the controversial deal as the kingdom's economy flatlines due to the coronavirus pandemic. Under a 2015 deal, Thailand was one of the first countries to buy Chinese naval hardware and finalised its purchase of three submarines in 2017, with the first one expected to be delivered in 2023. An order for two more for 22.5 billion baht (US$724 million) was approved earlier this month by a parliamentary sub-committee - a move which drew public outcry as Thailand struggles with a freefalling economy. Angry Thais took to social media to criticise the deal, and the hashtag "People don't want submarines" trended on Twitter. Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri announced Monday Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha - also defence minister - had "requested the navy to consider a delay" in the purchase of the two additional submarines. "The navy will negotiate with China to delay for another year," Anucha told reporters.

You're giving away our best secrets. Next you'll be telling him our number one ploy: hiding in the trunk of a tuk-tuk.

...from the the seemingly endless on-again, off-again travel news, Richard Barrow might be just the ticket. I was introduced to his blogging by DivineMadman and remain grateful for the tip. He writes widely about travel throughout Thailand, giving his readers authentic reports because he gets actively involved and punctuates his posts with great photography. Whether it's sites he visited in Samut Prakan this weekend or an upcoming buffalo race in Chonburi, he forces us to share his appreciation of what Thailand has to offer. When I'm lucky enough to return, hopefully I'll heed his advice and get more adventurous. Richardbarrow.com

The PM appears to be the strongest advocate in his administration for opening the nation to foreigners. But other long-simmering political issues have come into play and subordinate ministers now seem less inhibited in challenging his decisions. In a statement made Wednesday, he acknowledged just how fragile the situation is becoming. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said political polarization due to the growing protests could destroy the nation. “If each side insists on defeating the other politically, our country will collapse,” he told reporters. “If that happens, just wait and see, everyone will live on a fiery land, consumed by flames. If that happens I am at a loss for what to do.” Covid has been a catalyst that helped bring the dilemma to a head, but it's far from the root cause. Inequality in wealth, education and opportunity have always been there, as they have been in nations across the globe. Thailand alone isn't unique in this regard. A small minority seeks to hold on to power while the majority is no longer content to remain silent. Eventually Covid will be cease to be a public health menace and tourism will be restored everywhere. But what of the gap between the haves and have-nots.

File under TIT. From Thai Examiner Phuket breakthrough on foreign tourism walked back on Friday by government spokeswoman This is despite what appeared to be support for the proposal from Prime Minister Prayut Chan ocha when asked about it by reporters in Rayong during a visit there by the Thai cabinet. However, it has emerged this week that there is opposition to the move from top medical experts. We also know that the PM advised the Minister of Tourism to focus his efforts for now on domestic tourism which is, in fact, floundering. A breakthrough scheme to galvanise the recovery of Thailand’s critical foreign tourism industry, once the jewel in the country’s economic crown, has hit conflict and confusion at the end of the week with a government spokeswoman pouring cold water on its immediate launch underlining that it has not yet been fully approved and is being looked at critically. A week after what appeared to be a breakthrough when a new package for foreign tourism was announced by the Chairman of the Tourism Authority, Yuthasak Supasorn, last Friday, comes news that the proposed reopening of Phuket to foreign tourists from October 1st, which was reportedly agreed in principle last Friday and which was defended vehemently by the Prime Minister, during the week, may still be only on the drawing board. Doubts were raised about the proposal on Friday when Deputy Government Spokeswoman Traisulee Traisoranakul asserted that the reentry of foreign tourists to Thailand as outlined for Phuket would not be happening in the short term and that the government was only still in the process of examining the proposal closely. It is not clear what is driving the new reticence about the proposal that appeared to be gaining in momentum during the week. It could be linked to reported opposition from medical experts to the scheme who warn of a possible second wave of the virus if doors are further opened to foreigners. In Rayong, the prime minister appeared to vociferously support the proposal when he claimed that local people in Phuket will suffer if no effort is made to reopen the island to foreign tourism. ‘If nothing is done, things will get worse. Premises will be shut down. Employees will be laid off. How can the government afford to help them all?’ he said. His position was echoed by the Deputy Chief of the Thai Army and a key member of the Centre for Covid 19 Situation Administration, General Nattapol Nakpanich. General Nattapol warned that severe hardship is being felt in former Thai tourist hotspots because of the current ban on foreign tourists.

From Reuters BANGKOK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Thailand plans to turn about half its prisons into tourist attractions to boost visitor numbers as the Southeast Asian nation struggles to recover from an economic slump caused by the coronavirus outbreak. Sporting events, art exhibitions, cooking contests and souvenirs made by inmates will be rolled out in 72 of the country’s 143 prisons, Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said this week. A pilot scheme is being tested in five prisons, including those in the cities of Trat, Rayong and Ratchaburi, he said. This would not only bring much-needed visitors, but also prepare inmates for a “normal life in society” and change the image of prisons from being “a twilight world to a world of opportunities”, he added. The concept of prison tourism is not new. From tours of Alcatraz in San Francisco to the notorious Hoa Lo prison in Hanoi that is now a museum, prisons are major attractions worldwide. Some defunct prisons have even been converted into luxury hotels, while a women’s jail in Colombia has a restaurant run by inmates, and a Singapore prison hosts an annual charitable run. Thailand has the largest prison population in Southeast Asia, and inmates have limited access to medical facilities, food, water and sanitation, according to a 2017 report by the International Federation for Human Rights. A 2017 law was aimed at improving prison conditions, and Thailand’s Justice Ministry has vowed to ease overcrowding, as well as provide vocational training for prisoners. The tourism project is a part of this plan, Somsak said.