April 23, 2021 Thai Enquirer Summary General News Unofficial numbers that have leaked out shows that Thailand is going to record the single largest number of infection today at just over 2,000 new cases. Although no official confirmation has been given on this number but ‘if true’ it would show how the government’s measures to “contain” the virus has not worked which has been stated by doctors a few days ago. https://www.thaienquirer.com/26569/new-restrictions-not-doing-enough- to-stem-third-wave-senior-doctor-says/ A day after former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said he could procure Sputnik V vaccines from Russia due to his close relationship with Vladimir Putin, incumbent Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has come out to announce that his government succeeded in negotiating with Russia in order to import Sputnik V Vaccine directly from Russia. He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has got a “yes” from Russia over the matter after the Russian President expressed support for the Thai government on this matter thanks to long diplomatic relations between Thailand and Russia and continued improvements of ties between Russia and the current government. “Our Health Ministry will now urgently talk to the company importing the Sputnik V vaccine on the timeframe for delivery, the amount and price”. At the same time, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirkul revealed the success of negotiations with US-pharmaceutical company Pfizer. He said the company agreed to supply additional 10 million doses of Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine to the Thai government but he cannot specify a definite timeline of the delivery. Although Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha suggested early this week that 5-10 million doses of Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine be shipped from July to December this year. Currently, Thailand is negotiating and waiting for price quotes from the US-based vaccine manufacturer. In addition, Anutin said he had received a letter from the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, informing him that the Chinese government is ready to ‘donate’ 500,000 more doses of Sinovac vaccines to Thai people without any conditions. Thailand continues to see the daily increase of the virus exceeding 1,000 cases as it logged 1,470 new cases of Covid-19 infections, with the death toll reaching a new high yesterday. The government’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reported 7 Covid-19 deaths, most of them with underlying conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension or heart disease as 1,470 new COVID-19 cases being recorded yesterday. All the 1,470 new cases over the previous 24 hours were local infections, of which 1,370 were confirmed at hospitals and 100 via mass testing. Health officials yesterday said Thailand may have hit the peak of that wave, which include the highly transmissible B117 variant. Department of Disease Control projected that the number of cases will gradually drop in 1 or 2 weeks, says director-general Opas Karnkawinpong. The Covid-19 situation in Lampang province is somewhat worrisome following reports that 150 people experienced side effects after receiving China’s Sinovac vaccine. Health officials, however, said such side effects are not severe including swelling and pain in the injection areas, dizziness and exhaustion. Only 1 vaccine recipient develop stroke-like conditions, considered a serious symptom. Some Thai-language news outlet Kom Chad Luek reported that as many as 40 medical personnel at Lampang Hospital developed undesirable symptoms after getting Sinovac shots. As a result, the hospital decided to suspend the vaccination to its staff immediately to observe the symptoms. However, in a latest report, Dr Opas Kankawinpong, director-general of the Disease Control Department, has come out to say he has ordered the vaccination plan for medical staff at Lampang Hospital to be resumed as he said reports that 40 medical workers but 1 at the hospital suffered severe side effects are not true. Election Commission (EC) Secretary-General Jarungvith Phumma, reportedly, tested positive for Covid-19 after taking a swab test. The EC chief, however, said he had no idea of what source or how he contracted the virus. Jarungvith fell into the category of Covid-19 patients who are asymptomatic. He is surprised by the discovery of his Covid-19 infection as he said he had not travelled to any places but stayed home and went to work at the EC Office since the Songkran Festival. The EC has now asked relevant health agencies to test people in close contact with Jarungvit. The EC chief said he is self-isolating himself for 14 days. Reports have come out that 6 senators and 30 Senate officials have been ordered to undergo self-isolation for 14 days after being identified as a high-risk group after coming in to close contact with a male cleaner working for the Secretariat of the Senate. The infected cleaner was among 220 people at the Secretariat of the Senate who underwent Covid-19 tests. To make the matter worse, the cleaner in question has come to work and joined the Senate Food activity up to his diagnosis with the virus. As a result of this discovery, the Secretariat of the Senate has asked 6 senators including Peerasak Porchit, Wallop Tungkananurak, Chaweerat Kasetsunthorn, Wongsayam Pengpanichpakdee, Maj Gen Osot Pawilai and 30 Senate officials to self-isolate for 14 days before getting another Covid-19 test. Political News Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, chairman of the Progressive Movement, may not be indicted for applying to be an MP knowing he was not qualified as accused by the Election Commission (EC), according to Office of Attorney General (OAG) spokesman Ittiporn Kaewthip’s announcement. Ittiporn said although prosecutors have yet to formally announce their decision, they have delayed it to May 25, saying that the decision would not run against the Constitutional Court’s ruling on his media-shareholding case. Meanwhile, Thanathorn’s mother Somporn Juangroongruangkit yesterday reported to the Environmental Crime Suppression Division to acknowledge charges for encroaching on more than 450 rai of forest reserves on the left bank of the Pachi River and her unlawful ownership of more than 2,000 rai of forest area in Ratchaburi. Seri Ruam Thai Party leader Pol Gen Sereepisut Temiyavej, as chairman of the House Committee on Corruption Suppression, claimed that irregularities involving funding for Covid-19 vaccines---in which he referred to as “a loose change” are the key reason behind the slow progress of the government’s vaccine distribution plan. He said those in power in the government decided not to order more Covid-19 vaccines from overseas producers if there are no “change” back from vaccine deals. Pol Gen Sereepisut alleged that the government’s vaccine deals intertwined with conflict of interest and personal gains. He said he had no evidence to back his claim because evidence was overseas. However, Pol Gen Sereepisut is convinced that irregularities are involved, causing delays in the vaccination process, speaking from his experience. He pledged to put the issue on the parliament’s agenda if sufficient evidence to proceed with a probe. National police chief Pol Gen Suwat Jangyodsuk has signed an order to appoint a fact- finding committee to carry out a further probe into 249 police officers from the ranks of police lieutenant general to police lance corporal, at Provincial Police Region 2 which covers Rayong and Chon Buri in connection with a gambling network operating illegally in these provinces that stemmed outbreak clusters. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday vowed to support whatever action is proposed by tomorrow's special Asean summit on the political crisis in Myanmar, despite not being able to attend in person. The Myanmar military, or Tatmadaw, ousted the country's democratically-elected government on February 1. Since then Myanmar has seen protests across the country. The junta recently started cracking down on protesters, resulting in the deaths of several hundred pro-democracy activists and the detention of more than 3,000 others. The Tatmadaw also launched airstrikes on Karen villages near Thailand's north western border, sending thousands of people fleeing into the kingdom. Indonesian President Joko Widodo recently called for a special Asean summit and invited several leaders, including Gen Min Aung Hlaing, the Myanmar junta leader, to help resolve the crisis. Gen Prayut announced this week he could not attend, however, and would instead send Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai to represent him. Traisuree Taisaranakul, deputy government spokeswoman, said Gen Prayut conveyed his message to Mr Widodo during a telephone call yesterday. The Red Shirt movement came out to say that they were ready to support the movement of the students once the Covid-19 situation dies down. In a gathering of 2 key Red Shirt leaders – Jatuporn Prompan and Nattawut Saikua, along with one of the key youth leaders Passarawalee ‘Mind’ Thanakitvibulphol. During the talks the key points said were Jatuporn said that the Red Shirt would continue with only 2 points of amending the charter and the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut without touching the issue of reforming the monarchy. He stressed that once the Covid-19 situation is over then there is going to be a major protest against this government. Passarawalee, who represented the students, said that their group would continue to press for the reforms but that is not a short term thing and that it may take a long time to do it. Nattawut on the other hand stressed that there was a need for people to understand what is going on and that he suspects that this protest movement is not over yet.