Headlines summary as of 29 March 2021

 News

• Updates related to COVID-19 (as of 28 March):

• On Friday, the CCSA has approved the Phuket province plan to open its resorts to international tourists without quarantine from 1 July onwards. As, the Southern beach resort has not witnessed any local transmission for more than 90 days. The proposed scheme is to allow vaccinated tourists with negative covid test results to enter the island, providing that population on the province have sufficient rate of inoculation. The President of Thai Chamber of Commerce believe that during the reopening, there will be 100,000 tourists travelling to the province.–Prachachat, Reuters
• The Ministry of Public Health has put private hospital advertisement of covid vaccine on hold as it is against the law to have medical facilities to open for vaccine reservation.—Thai Rath

Politics

• Yesterday, the police cracked down a minor protest site next to the Government House for two times. At dawn, the police cleared the protest site. After that protestors called for support to take the site back before being cracked down again by the Riot Control Police.—Krungthep Turakij
  • Wassana Nanuam, Army reporter, posted on her FB that the reason why the crackdown occurred yesterday was that the new cabinet is scheduled to take a group photo in the Government House lawn this Tuesday. Security forces concern that the protestors which has been camping there for quite some times will yell at the cabinet. And it is also reported that the PM has ordered the police to clear the protest site as the yelling disturb his work concentration.—Wassana Nanuam
  • A group of protestor is going to gather in front of the Government House on Tuesday when the cabinet is going to take a group photo.—Krungthep turakij
• Nida poll released it latest political popularity poll where PM Prayut remains on the second most popular candidate for the country leader, followed by former Pheu Thai Chief Strategist Sudarat. Meanwhile, main Opposition Pheu Thai party remains on the second most favourable party Thai people support, followed by main ruling Palang Pracharat Party, Move Forward and Democrat. The popularity of the PM dropped by two percent from the latest poll late last year. On both the candidates and political parties, ‘do not support any of the choice’ secured the top of the chart.—Nida Poll
• The Royal Gazette published a Royal Decree to hold special Parliamentary session on 7 April.—Royal Gazette

Myanmar

• On Sunday, around 3,000 ethnic Karen villagers fled to Mae Hong Son province in Thailand following air attacks by the Myanmar army on an area held by KNU. It is reported that the villagers fled as there were rumours that the Myanmar army would strike again on 28 March.–Matichon And it is reported that there have been at least 2,000 people sought asylum in UNHCR on the Thai side.–PPTV, Bangkok Post
• On the Myanmar Army Establishment Day, there were delegates from eight countries attended the military parade, including Thai Army representative. On the same day, there was a report that the Army killed 114 protestors.—Krungthep Turakij
• Former Deputy PM and FM Surakiart Sathirathai came out to comment that the situation in Myanmar is too violent to claim ASEAN’s non-interference principle. The former Thai top diplomat said he concerns that Bangkok inaction in such a mass violation of human rights will tarnish Thailand image in the international community. He proposed Bangkok to conduct ‘Quiet Diplomacy’ having Myanmar Army to hold talks with Aung San Suu Kyi.–Matichon

Economic

• Here’s the updated timeline of welcoming international tourist back to the Kingdom—Krungthep Turakij, Than Settakij
  • Phase 1 from 1 April-30 June:
    • Minister of Tourism and Sports had outlined the Area Quarantine scheme which will ease up the quarantine timing. For tourists with vaccination, the quarantine will be down to 7 days; 10 days for unvaccinated tourists and 14 days for tourists from high-risk countries.
    • The scheme will be tested in 5 provinces spearheading by Phuket and followed by Krabi, Phang-Nga, Chiangmai, Koh Samui and Pattaya.
  • Phase 2 from 1 July-30 September:
    • Sandbox model with a potential ‘travel bubble’ between city-to-city or island-to-island.
    • The scheme will be held in Phuket, Koh Samui and Chiang Karn in Loei.
    • For Phuket, any vaccinated tourist can enter the island wihtput the need to quarantine from 1 July onwards.
    • This phase will attract tourists from China, UK, Singapore, UAE, Israel and Russia. And from 1 October, the scheme will includes tourists from India, Australia, China, Russia and UK.
  • Phase 3 from 1 October onwards:
    • No Quarantine but with vaccine certificate and tracking systems.
    • On conditions that more than 70 percent of medical staffs got vaccinated.
• Deputy Government spokesperson said that the government will sign three contracts relating to the Thai-Sino high-speed train project between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima today. The contracts will be signed by the State Railway of Thailand’s governor and the contracting parties.—Bangkok Post
• Yesterday, the government spokesperson conveyed the usual PM weekend message that The government stands ready to help businesses affected by a giant container ship blocking the Suez Canal in Egypt as the supply chain in many countries is beginning to feel the pinch from the blockage.—Bangkok Post