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August 31, 2020 Thai Enquirer Summary Political News

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August 31, 2020
Thai Enquirer Summary
Political News

 The big news today that is on the front pages of all major media outlets is
 The government has decided to delay the procurement of the 2 more submarines worth 22.5 billion baht by 1-year
 The deal is reportedly already struck with the Chinese authorities to delay the procurement

All major navicular Thai language media have the delayed procurement story on their front page
 Such a report is said to prompt government MPs who sit on a House committee scrutinising the budget bill for the fiscal year of 2021 to propose a cut to a budget of more than 3 billion baht earmarked for the first down payment for the 2 subs to be cut.

 There is a report that the navy has succeeded in negotiating with China to ask it to delay the procurement of the 2 subs for 1 more year. Deputy finance minister Santi Promphat, who is chairman of the main House committee examining next fiscal year’s budget House budget committee, said he will inform the committee’s meeting about the delay of the acquisition plan today (August 31).

 The government of embattled Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha seems to be twisting the facts again in order to gain acceptance and also try to wade off pressure that has been building over the weekend on how the government has already spent more than 200 million baht to fight a case of mine closure (Akara Resources that is owned by Australian firm Kingsgate Consolidated)

 Kingsgate has already filed a case that would see the government lost up to US$ 1 billion
 This amount and the amount used to fight the case of about 300 million baht in total (if 2020/2021 budget was included) has been raised by the Kao Klai party as being something that the country should not take the burden because Gen. Prayut as the leader of the coup had used the absolute power under Section 44 to close the mine.

 Pheu Thai’s Sudarat Keyuraphan has come out to say that not a single Satant (cent) should be spent for the ‘stupidity’ of the coup

and that the Thai people should not waste their tax money on decisions made by the coup makers.

 Amid all the rising tide against the government it seems that the government of
Prayut is backing out on this issue of using Section 44 to close the mine as well as the master of the law in this government – Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Kreangam, came out to say that the mine was not closed using Section 44 but that the

then Prime Minister Prayut had only ‘temporarily’ suspended the operations and

that Akara Resources should have come back to negotiate the reopening
 But all data from the past indicates that the Section 44 was used for closing the mine

Copy of the new budget to fight the case
 Meanwhile the weekend saw interesting developments as many hashtags were generated some being

  •  #ไดเ
  • ้

วลาออกจากบาน (time to get out of the house)

้

 #ไม่ยอมให้จบในรุ่นเรา (will not let it end in our generation)
 This new hashtag of not letting it end in our generation is the opposite of what the students have been saying that it should all end in our generation.

 This hashtag was started by Army chief General Apirat Kongsompong put

up on Twitter “#Will not let it end in our generation” after his trip to

Prachuap Khiri Khan province to preside over a ceremony to open Seapine Recreation Centre in the province on August 28.

 The Army’s PR page which highlighted the theme “SMART solider strong

Army” posted photos of Gen Apirat talking to soldiers who were based in three

southern border provinces. At the end of photos, the page put up the hashtag “Will not end it in our generation”. The message is seen as a response to anti-

government protesters who posted the hashtag “#let’s end it in our generation”.

 The army’s hashtag appeared to taunt anti-government protesters. It drew fierce response in Twitter with the strong message that said “#I want you to die in my generation”.

 Human rights lawyer Anon Nampa among pro-democracy activists later commented that the army chief announced his stance to stay on the opposite side of the public. His action triggered a reaction that will make things end faster than expected, Anon said.

 Anti-government protesters led by the Free People Group gathered yesterday (August 30)

under the theme “Samut Prakan twiddled fingers against dictatorship” near an

observation tower in the province.

 Pro-democracy activist Parit “Penguine” Chiwarak, Ammy of the Bottom Blues band, Panupong “Mike Rayong” Jadnok of the Free Youth’s Eastern chapter and

Juthathip Sirikan, chairwoman of the Student Union of Thailand (SUT), showed up at the rally and addressed to supporters of the pro-democracy movement amid tight security of more than 100 police officers.

 However, the protest was cut short at 17.00 hrs after the superintendent of the
Muang Samut Prakan police station ordered protesters to disperse and the stage to be dismantled, citing that the rally is unlawful under the Public Assembly Act which requires protest organisers to seek permission from authorities concerned of planned gatherings 24 hours in advance.

 The Student Union of Thailand (SUT) announced special flash mob at Srinakharinwirot

University in Nakhon Nayok campus under the theme “Mor Sor Wor against

Dictatorship”.
 The flash-mob rally is to reiterate 3 demands issued by the Free People Group:
The dissolution of the House, the writing of a new constitution and an end to harassment of government critics, plus a demand for the proposed dusting off of a project to build a nuclear research reactor in Ongkharak district of Nakhon Nayok.

 The rally will be held at 16.30 hrs today (August 31) at Srinakharinwirot
University in Nakhon Nayok campus.
 On the other side of the capital, about 1,200 royalists gathered at the Din Daeng Youth
Centre on the same day to support the monarchy in parallel with student-led, antigovernment protests calling for change and seeking reforms of royal institution.

 The royalist Thai Pakdee group led by former Democrat Party MP Warong
Detgitvigrom announced manifesto including the protection of the monarchy, no constitutional changes and strict enforcement of the law, with action to be taken against those who offend the revered institution.

 Around 1,200 Thai Pakdee supporters, who are mostly adults, attended its first rally. Warong, also founder of group, said his group has no intention of confronting the anti-establishment groups but will resort to truth in its fight to win over the others.

 The group spelt out 3 demands that
 1) It opposes a dissolution of the House;

 2) It opposed amendments to the 2017 constitution;  3) It demands serious legal action against all groups that offend the monarchy.
 The Thai Pakdee group called on the Education Minister and all university rectors

to “close space on campus”, to prevent lecturers, who may harbour anti-Monarchy leanings, from “brainwashing” their students. The group has also set up a fund,

with seed money of 100,000 baht, to provide legal support to people who allege that they have been harassed by anti-monarchists.

 On the navy’s contentious procurement of 2 submarines from China, rumour has it that the government is backing down on the navy’s procurement plan for 2 submarines

following objections from the opposition.
 Rumours have swirled that the government decided to back down on the procurement scheme following reports that the Chinese government agreed to delay an agreement for the 22.5-billion-baht purchase of 2 Chinese-made subs.

 Such a report is said to prompt government MPs who sit on a House committee scrutinising the budget bill for the fiscal year of 2021 to propose a cut to a budget of more than 3 billion baht earmarked for the first down payment for the 2 subs to be cut.
 There is a report that the navy has succeeded in negotiating with China to ask it to delay the procurement of the 2 subs for 1 more year. Deputy finance minister Santi Promphat, who is chairman of the main House committee examining next fiscal year’s budget House budget committee, said he will inform the committee’s meeting about the delay of the acquisition plan today (August 31).

 On charter amendments, parties in the coalition government are ready to table a motion seeking to amend the constitution to parliament. Wirat Ratanasate, chief government whip, said the motion will be submitted to House Speaker Chuan Leekpai tomorrow (September 1).

 The thrust of the motion from the government coalition parties will be to amend
Section 256 of the constitution to pave the way for formation of a constitution drafting assembly (CDA) comprising 200 members to draw up a new charter.

 Government coalition parties agreed to make no changes to the constitution’s

Chapters 1 and 2, which contain general principles and sections associated with the monarchy, Wirat said.

 The Democrat Party proposed that the composition of the assembly to come from a direct election of 200 members; 150 of whom to be drawn up from all sectors of society including academics, experts from various fields, student representatives and 50 representatives of political parties.

 The CDA is given 240 days to finalise a draft for presentation to Parliament, said
Democrat spokesman, Rames Ratanachaweng.

 Reports have come out that Pheu Thai Party MPs who sit on the House Budget
Scrutiny Committee, are seeking a cut of 389 million baht allocated by the Department of Primary Industries and Mines as legal expenses to defend the suspension of the goldmining operations of Akara Resources Company by the military government in 2016.

 Pheu Thai MP for Maha Sarakham province Yutthapong Charassathien, who is a member of the House budget scrutiny committee, said Pheu Thai MPs on the committee will seek to cut the budget on the grounds that Prime Minister Prayut

Chan-o-cha has no right to seek the funding because he is not a “state official” as

defined by the Constitution.
 Gen Prayut, as then head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), invoked Section 44 of the interim Constitution to close the Chatree gold mine in Phichit province, operated by Akara Resources, on the grounds that they were causing health and environmental problems for people living close to the mine.

 Yutthapong claimed that Pheu Thai had objected to the use of the executive decree from the start.

 He said Pheu Thai MPs will propose the budget cut to the committee today
(August 31).

 Australian-based Kingsgate Consolidate, which owns Akara Resources, took the case to an international arbitration tribunal, to seek compensation from the Thai Government over the closure, claiming that it had violated the Thai-Australian Free Trade Agreement.

 Former senator Ruangkrai Leekitwattana will ask the Office of the Office of the Auditor-
General (OAG) at 10.00 hrs today (August 31) to scrutinise if the performance of Airports of Thailand (AOT) was costing the government billions of baht after changes in contracts with the private sector.
 Ruangkrai’s move came after the AOT reported an adjustment in contracts to the
Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) which he said is expected to hurt the AOT, including the share value and dividend.

 The Ministry of Finance is the major shareholder with 10 billion shares, making up a 70 per cent stake. AOT's shares closed at 56.75 baht per share on August 28. If AOT’s value drops by even 1 baht per share, the loss for the ministry in market valuation will be 10 billion baht.

 He said the report to the stock exchange was evidence that AOT had caused damage to the Ministry of Finance and the Social Security Office, which also held 164 million shares and was likely to face the same consequence.

 Social activist Srisuwan Janya will today submit a letter to the National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC) asking it to investigate leaked audio in which Mongkolkit Suksintharanon, leader of Thai Civilized Party, allegedly asks for a 12-million-baht bribe from a CCTV company.

 Meanwhile some of the people who posted issues that are banned in Thailand, have been threatened in countries such as the United States and in Scotland.

 BBC News (Thai) coverage had a story on this issue and had details of how these people were threatened.

Economic News

 The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects 2.29 million Thais who registered for

the government’s tourism stimulus campaign known as “Rao Tiew Duay Kan” program

(We Travel Together) to help generate more than 8.8 billion baht for the economy during a long weekend from September 4 to 7.
 TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said in terms of hotel bookings, registrants had paid for more than 837,353 hotel rooms per night, with 15,680 air tickets being paid on a 40% discount offered on airline tickets to Thai tourists.

 This information was scoffed upon by Siam Commercial Bank, which in a research report had suggested that the people do not have money to spend and therefore it is unlikely that the expected spending by the government will happen during the upcoming September 4- 7 holidays that are being given in lieu of Songkran in April.

 Separately, Wichit Prakobkosol, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents
(Atta), has come out to welcome the Tourism and Sports Ministry’s and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s plan to reopen Phuket as the first model for Thailand to welcome back foreign tourists in October in a bid to bring back jobs in the tourism and tourism-related industries and generate more income.

 Wichit warned that more than 2 million workers in the tourism and related sectors would likely to lose their jobs if Thailand fails to open the country to foreign visitors by the fourth quarter, citing that more than 99 per cent of tourism-related activities in the sector have been suspended for several months.

 Regarding a conflict between Finance Minister Predee Daochai and his deputy Santi
Promphat which caused the proposed reshuffle of directors-general of several key departments to be postponed last week, reports said the cause of the conflict came from a

large capital group that is connected with a military general with the initial “Por” is

behind the conflict.
 It is said that the capital group in question tried to have its say in the reshuffle of

the Finance Ministry’s directors-general.

 The reshuffle is expected to be resubmitted to the cabinet meeting on September
1. The original list of 3 candidates for the director-general of the Customs Department are Patchara Anuntasilpa, head of the Excise Department, Yutthana Yimkarun, head of the Treasury Department and Fiscal Policy Office director Lavaron Saengsan.

 Latest report said Patchara is Predee’s preferred choice. Predee proposed Patchara

to Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha and received his approval.
 The Business Development Department reported new registrations of tour operators during a 7-month period from January to July this year tallied 247, down 54.52 per cent from 513 in the previous year.

 The value of registered capital is worth 444 million baht. There were 112 tour businesses that closed down during the period, up 25.85 per cent year-on-year, Sorada Lertharpachit, the department’s deputy director-general, said.

 However, Sorada is positive that the government’s tourism stimulus packages will

have both direct and indirect impacts on operators in tourism and services sectors.
 The aggregate net profit of SET-listed companies for 2020 is projected to fall by 36 per cent year-on-year to 613 billion baht, dragging down earnings per share (EPS) for listed firms to 56.65 baht per share, the lowest in 11 years, according to an Asia Plus Securities (ASP) analysis.

 ASP’s downward projection came after SET-listed firms posted a 46 per cent
YoY drop in net profit to 117 billion baht in the second quarter, the lowest in 13 years, causing the first half net profit to plunge to 198 billion baht or a 60 per cent drop YoY.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

General News

 No cases of the novel coronavirus were reported over the past 24 hours in Thailand, the government’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration reported yesterday (August 30).

 The CCSA reported that no cases of Covid-19 were found in people arriving in the country, along with no locally transmitted infections, leaving total confirmed cases at 3,411.

 Thailand’s accumulated cases stand at 3,252. The death toll has remained at 58 since June 2.

Political News Headlines in Thai Media

 Pro-democracy sentiments have taken root in Thai society with young people increasingly vocal about their demands for accountability and pluralism from the government. But along with that, another phenomenon is also growing just as fast — the urge to hold others accountable, and the urge to persecute.

o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/17657/opinion-a-line-must-be-drawn-on-these- online-witchhunts/

 It was late in the afternoon on May 22, 2014, the tanks were rolling down the streets in front of the Victory Monument. This was the day that the junta seized power.

o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/17667/opinion-the-coup-makers-and-the-elites- have-had-a-wonderful-relationship-but-the-people-are-waking-up/

 Fifteen university students and political activists turned themselves in to the Samranrat
Police Station on Friday to listen to outstanding charges filed against them by the government.

o Link-

https://www.thaienquirer.com/17674/fifteen-student-leaders-charged-with- altercation-at-protest-government-has-now-charged-28-protesters/

 Police Lieutenant General Suwat Changyodsuk was appointed as the new national chief of police on Friday.

o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/17700/government-appoints-new-police-chief/

 Democrat Party member of Parliament Thepthai Senapong and his brother Manoch
Senapong were sentenced to two years in jail after being found guilty of fraud in a Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) election seven years ago.

o Link-

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30393670?utm_source=category&utm_mediu m=internal_referral

 Army chief General Apirat Kongsompong presided over a ceremony to open Seapine
Recreation Centre in Prachuap Khiri Khan province after appointing a professional management team to run the hotel on Friday (August 28).

o Link-

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30393721?utm_source=category&utm_mediu m=internal_referral

 The UN Human Rights Office said it is profoundly concerned over continuing reports of enforced disappearances in Southeast Asia and has urgently called on all countries in the region to criminalise the act and ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

o Link-

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30393682?utm_source=category&utm_mediu m=internal_referral

 The government has decided to temporarily back off from the controversial purchase of two submarines worth 22.5 billion baht from China after the Chinese government allowed the purchase to be delayed for a year, a source said.

o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1977083/govt-backs-off-subs- deal

Economic News Headlines in Thai Media

 Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang will extend the filing period for land and property tax until the end of October according to local media reports and press statements.

o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/17711/bangkok-extends-filing-period-for-land- and-property-tax-to-the-end-of-october/

 Gulf Energy Development PCL (GULF), one of Thailand’s largest electricity-generating

firms, announced that the Board of Directors has approved its acquisition of up to 10 per cent of ordinary shares in INTUCH Holdings PCL (INTUCH) from 7.99 per cent.

o Link-

https://www.thaienquirer.com/17665/gulf-to-acquire-up-to-10-per-cent-of- intuch-shares/

 Seven locally operated airline businesses will receive soft loans worth 24 billion baht from the government to help them counter the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha said on Friday.

o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/17704/pm-promises-soft-loans-worth-24-billion- baht-for-seven-airlines/

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  • Thailand's 2019 Vote: the General's Election

    Thailand's 2019 Vote: the General's Election

    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University Singapore Management University Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University Research Collection School of Social Sciences School of Social Sciences 1-2019 Thailand's 2019 Vote: The General's Election Jacob RICKS Singapore Management University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research Part of the Asian Studies Commons, and the Political Science Commons Citation RICKS, Jacob.(2019). Thailand's 2019 Vote: The General's Election. Pacific Affairs, 92(3), 443-457. Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/3074 This Journal Article is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Social Sciences at Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Research Collection School of Social Sciences by an authorized administrator of Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University. For more information, please email [email protected]. Thailand’s 2019 Vote: The General’s Election Jacob I. Ricks Abstract Thailand’s March 2019 ballot was the first for the country since 2011, and for many it signaled the potential end of the military junta’s five-year rule. But was it truly a return to democracy? This essay argues that the election was far from a democratization event. Instead, it was a highly orchestrated exercise to ensure authoritarian longevity. The junta employed techniques of institutional engineering as well as managing the election’s outcomes in an effort to extend the premiership of Prayuth Chan-ocha despite increasing pressure for a return to civilian rule.
  • July 5, 2021 Thai Enquirer Summary COVID-19 News • the Data for July 5 Covid-19 Infection Just Came out and Thais Are Advised

    July 5, 2021 Thai Enquirer Summary COVID-19 News • the Data for July 5 Covid-19 Infection Just Came out and Thais Are Advised

    July 5, 2021 Thai Enquirer Summary COVID-19 News The data for July 5th Covid-19 infection just came out and Thais are advised to brace themselves for possibility of the situation getting worse. Total New Infections - 6,166 Community Infection - 6.082 Prison Infection - 84 Total New Death - 50 Total New Recovery - 2,534 The local community infection has surpassed the 6,000 mark for the 1st time in history of Covid-19 outbreak. The data for the average for 1st 5-days of July suggests that over the past 3 months the numbers are rising fast From May 1-5 Total New Infections - 1,949 Total New Deaths - 23 For June 1-5 Total New Infections - 3,001 Total New Deaths - 36 From July 1-5 Total New Infections - 5,986 Total New Deaths - 51 Missing partying? Well, there are options for you even if Krystal & Emerald Thonglor, the 2 pubs/bars that has been the root cause of the 3rd wave are closed. These 2 pubs was frequented by supposedly Transport Minister Saksiam Chidchob, who was also infected with Covid-19. Parties are still allowed in the area, so claims MCOT news early this morning. MCOT early today made the allegation that private parties continues into the wee hours of the day at ‘CU_E EKK_M_I One needs to fill in the blanks to find out where that is The allegations were made by a HiSo who reportedly knows things on his Instagram posting. Talking about parties, well Thonglor/Ekkamai area is taking the lead from the leaders of the country who were partying in Phuket after the ‘Phuket Sandbox’ opened up on July 1st.
  • Thailand's 20 December 2020 Provincial Elections: a Contest

    Thailand's 20 December 2020 Provincial Elections: a Contest

    ISSUE: 2020 No. 145 ISSN 2335-6677 RESEARCHERS AT ISEAS – YUSOF ISHAK INSTITUTE ANALYSE CURRENT EVENTS Singapore | 18 December 2020 Thailand’s 20 December 2020 Provincial Elections: A Contest among National Political Parties and a Quasi-Party? Evidence from the Andaman Coast Michael J. Montesano* EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • Voters across Thailand will go to the polls on 20 December 2020, to elect chairmen of provincial administrative organisations and members of the councils of those organisations. • At a time of deep-seated political crisis in the country, observers have assumed the “nationalisation” of Thai provincial politics, and the central relevance of political parties to that process. • Consideration of political parties’ decisions on whether formally to contest the 2020 provincial elections and close scrutiny of races for the post of provincial administrative organisation chairman in four provinces on the Andaman Coast of South Thailand suggest that this relevance, along with the role of parties, remains minimal. • In 2020, provincial-national dynamics in Thai politics, as mediated by political parties, thus demonstrate little change from patterns of the recent past. • Even the much-noted effort of the Progressive Movement led by Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit to nationalise provincial polls does not seem to defy this pattern. • Thai political parties may rely on local structures of power, respect and influence in fighting national elections. But to see candidates in provincial elections simply as torch-bearers for national parties is to adopt a flawed understanding. * Michael J. Montesano is Coordinator, Thailand and Myanmar Studies Programmes, ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, and a co-editor of the forthcoming book Praetorians, Profiteers or Professionals? Studies on the Militaries of Myanmar and Thailand (ISEAS Publishing).
  • May 11, 2020 Thai Enquirer Summary Economic News • the Federation Of

    May 11, 2020 Thai Enquirer Summary Economic News • the Federation Of

    May 11, 2020 Thai Enquirer Summary Economic News The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) chairman Supant Mongkolsuthree reportedly sought a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak to address temporary closures of hotels due to the COVID-19 crisis. The FTI chairman has proposed the government to set up a working committee comprising members from various sectors to address hotel closures amid further concerns that the pandemic may force some operators to sell off their assets to foreign investors at a cheap price. Mr Suphant said once given the greenlight the committee will hold talks with the Thai Hotels Association (THA) to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with no more than 200 rooms and discuss the idea of setting up an equity fund to allow interested parties to buy stakes in struggling hotel businesses. According to THA’s statistics, 27 hotel operators in Bangkok decided to temporarily shut their doors since the Covid-19 outbreak while 52 hotels in Phuket continue to announce temporary shutdown from May to October. The 2020 tourism revenue is poised to decline by 59% as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan admitted. The decline is a result of a drop in the number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand. The Ministry estimated Thailand will receive merely 18 million international tourists this year, generating around 828 billion baht in tourism revenue. The figures contrast to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s projection of more than 40 million tourists, as the highest number of international tourists Thailand might achieve this year.
  • May 5, 2021 Thai Enquirer Summary Covid-19 News • Today's Official

    May 5, 2021 Thai Enquirer Summary Covid-19 News • Today's Official

    May 5, 2021 Thai Enquirer Summary Covid-19 News Today’s official numbers are out with Total infection at 2,112 vs 1,763 seen yesterday and 2.041 on Monday. Total deaths at 15 The new death figure is nearly 50% of what was reported yesterday (27) and on Monday (31) and also on Sunday when 21 deaths were reported. The government is under pressure to set up more field hospitals as the number of cases continues to rise. The biggest cluster has been Bangkok and in Bangkok it is the ‘Klong Toei’ cluster that has now spread to the area of Wireless/Soi Polo and Bon Kai area. Bangkok Governor – Aswin Kwanmuang, came out to say that a field hospital in Thungkru district in suburban Bangkok would have 342 ICU beds Mass vaccination is ongoing in the Klong Toei cluster and calls are being made to vaccinate the entire population in the so called ‘deep red’ or ‘red’ zones which includes Bangkok, Samut Prakarn, Nonthaburi and other peripheral provinces around the capital city. The plan is to have about 60 per cent of Klong Toey residents vaccinated. This the doctors say is the way United Kingdom has gone through by vaccinating the 1st shot to lower the transmission rates and then undertaking the 2nd shot later. The headline of mainstream media says it all when it comes to the situation in Bangkok Matichon says Bangkok’s Covid in bad shape The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)’s meeting chaired by Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha resolved to set up a new committee called “the Covid- 19 Direction Centre to address the Covid-19 situation in Bangkok and adjacent provinces”.