November 23, 2020
Thai Enquirer Summary
Political News
The country is likely to see more political tension and now with rumours of a possible coup that was spread by pro-democracy activists.
Pro-democracy Khana Ratsadon activist Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, came out to defy embattled Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha’s threat to use Section 112 of the criminal code against him during his speech at a political demonstration at Aksa-Utthayarn Soi 13 road yesterday. The rally saw a large number of anti- establishment protesters including red shirt members.
Parit got up on stage and told the crowd that he did not feel threatened by the law and told anti-establishment protesters that their feeling of threat will change into anger and hatred. He insisted to continue to talk about the royal institution and called on supporters to join the planned rally in front of the Crown Property Bureau to “smash” the “Sakdina system (social hierarchy)” and state coffers on November 25.
Parit also praised a large crowd red shirt supporters who turned up to give support to pro-democracy rallies on Aksa road where Bangkok’s Thawi Watthana district
and Nakhon Pathom’s Buddha Monthon district adjoin. Aksa road used to be the site of mass protests by the pro-Thaksin United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) in April 2014.
During his speech, Parit has raised issues about budgets set aside for the monarchy and asked yellow-shirt royalists if the royal institution gave anything in return to them. He also told police to take a video clip of his offensive speech as evidence.
Later Parit posted on his Facebook that he could “smell” a strong scent of another military coup as the current political atmosphere started to resemble the atmosphere prior to the 2006 coup that toppled the Thaksin Shinawatra administration. He accused former army chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong, who is now deputy director of the Crown Property Bureau, of lobbying fellow military officers to help him stage a coup.
Parit urged people to show the power of masses to resist a possible coup.
His call was echoed by the Human rights lawyer and another pro-democracy protest co-leader Anon Nampa, who also claimed on his Facebook page that army snipers have now been shipped to the capital while a high-ranking military officer was lobbying support for his plan to stage a coup.
Meanwhile, Suvinai Pornavilai, strategic chairman of the Thai Direction Institute and a former lecturer from the Economics Faculty at Thammasat University, announced on his Facebook page that the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) plans to seek court orders to arrest “masterminds” behind the Khana Ratsadon rallies today.
Pol Maj Gen Piya Tawichai, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB), admitted that the MPB is planning to issue police summons against protest leaders who staged rallies at Kiak Kai intersection and the Royal Thai Police Office. Currently Bang Pho, Tao Poon and Pathumwan police are looking into evidence and could identify protest leaders and protesters who committed wrongdoing, Pol Maj Gen Piya said. When asked if there are more than 30 wrongdoers, the deputy chief of the MPB only said the number keep rising.
As rumors of possible coup starts to circulate, talks are focusing on December 2, 2020 and other days through the month of December.
December 2, 2020 is the day that the Constitutional Court is set to give its verdict on the case filed against embattled Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who has been residing in army assigned house ever since he retired from the position in 2014.
December 14 and December 20-30 are other days that are likely to be crucial for the survival of the government of coup leader Prayut.
A classified document was leaked out showing National Security Council (NSC) director-general Gen Natthapon Nakpanich’s order to the Ministry of Interior to find measures to block the mobilisation of the masses from upcountry regions. The same document also showed the NSC chief’s instruction to provincial governors nationwide to organise activities show loyalty to the country’s key pillars in regional areas during November 23-27.
Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri came out to deny knowledge of the leaked document.
Over the weekend there was another anti-government protesters from the Bad Student, which held their protest on Saturday called ‘Mob Fest’ in front of Siam Square shopping mall under the BTS station after heavy rain forced them to relocate rally from Ratchaprasong intersection.
The groups named their rally a “Bye-bye Dinosaur” protest as the Bad Student group used the word “dinosaur” to describe Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan, fellow MPs and senators who voted against a charter amendment
motion filed by the Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw). The group said they would become “meteors” to wipe out these dinosaurs.
However, another big issue arisen from this rally is when a female high school student put up a placard that says, “I am a victim of sexual harassment, school is not a safe place during the Saturday rally.
The scene drew criticism from Phalang Pracharat Party (PPRP) MP Pareena Kraikupt who put up a Facebook comment that, “the person that came out to hold up the sign is not a student. When you are not a student, you can spread rumours on social media. It is now time for you to be held accountable for your action,”
Pareena said she is preparing to take legal action against the person in question at Pathumwan Police Station today.
Nong Urn, the university student in the center of this pictures talk, came out to say that she more than welcomes the case that Pareena is looking to file.
Panya Sisan, a core leader of activist monks, has now been slapped with a charge of violating the Computer Crime Act and Section 112 of the Criminal Code. Panya, one of leading activist monks got up on the Khana Ratsadon rally stage, said he was abused by the state system and said he is planning to seek political asylum abroad.
He posted a message to thank political activist Nuttaa Mahattana for seeking donations to fund a monk targeted for violating the lese majeste law sought a donation to build a temple for political exiles in Europe. Natta also announced on her Facebook page that 151,578.5 baht has been donated to her account to secure the monk’s political asylum.
Nattaa’s attempt to seek a donation was slammed by Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a political exile and anti-establishment academic, who said building a temple could not be a reason for seeking asylum in other countries.
Senator Wanchai Sornsiri, as speaker of the Senate’s committee on religious, ethical and moral practices, slammed activist monks for participating in political activities. He said these monks should be defrocked before joining political demonstrations as their actions are deemed extremely inappropriate.
There are reports that Phalang Pracharat Party (PPRP) list MP Virat Rattanaset is set to vie against Pheu Thai MP for Nan Cholnan Srikaew for the post of the chairman of a 45- member committee set up to scrutinise the charter amendment drafts before their 2nd and 3rd readings.
However, Chart Thai Pattana party-list MP Nikorn Chamnon, as a member of the committee, came out to deny knowledge of the report and said he expected government whips to hold a meeting on November 23 to discuss the issue.
He said Pheu Thai’s push for Cholnan to compete for the post is not unusual.
Fire broke out in front of Thai Summit Building near the Pheu Thai Party’s headquarters yesterday. Authorities said short-circuit sets off blaze in tangle of cables which spread to a tree nearby on New Petchaburi Road.
Economic News
The private sector has hailed the Bank of Thailand (BoT)’s new measures to tame the baht rise. The Central Bank announced at its meeting on Friday new measures to mitigate pressures on the currency and to address structural issues in the Thai foreign exchange market.
The BoT’s 3 measures to liberalise Thai investments in foreign securities and the holding of foreign currencies in a bid to rein in the strengthening baht are for Thais to freely open foreign currency deposit accounts (FCD), freely make transactions between FCD accounts and enable exporters to effectively manage liquidity and foreign exchange risk, according to BOT assistant governor Vachira Arromdee.
Visit Limlurcha, vice-chairman of the Thai National Shippers’ Council (TNSC), said although these measures might not yield result instantly, he is happy that the BoT take some action, rather than allowing the baht to keep rising further and do nothing while allowing an influx of foreign capital inflows to enter the capital market. He said conventional methods might no longer work in intervening the baht’s strength. He said these new policies to liberalise investments should yield
positive results for Thai exports along with the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)’s decision to hold its key interest rate unchanged.
The TNSC suggests maintaining the exchange rate at a level of 34 baht per US dollar.
The Ministry of Finance confirmed plans to roll out the 2nd phase of the half-half co- payment scheme early next year with clearer details to be announced in December. The announcement came after Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha’s instruction to extend the scheme in a 2nd round following positive response from the public.
The co-payment scheme, which started on October 23, had total spending of 23.023 billion baht as of November 21. A total of 782,169 stores have registered to participate in the scheme, Pornchai Theeravet, adviser on financial of the Fiscal Policy Office (FPO), as the Finance Ministry’s spokesman, revealed.
Pornchai said those who registered for the 1st phase of the scheme must exercise their rights within December 31, 2020 before they can register for the 2nd round.
Meanwhile, Kasikorn Research Centre (KResearch) said it expects the government’s 3 stimulus campaigns, the half-half co-payment scheme; the “shop dee mee khuen (Shop and Cashback)” project and the Rao Tiew Duay Kan (We travel together)” to help generate a cash flow of more than 100 billion baht in the economy or boost the economy by 0.50 per cent, according to assistant managing director Natthaporn Triratsirikul.
The “shop dee mee khuen” campaign is expected to stimulate the economy by 0.15 per cent of GDP, getting nearly 30 billion baht circulating through the economy while the half-half co-payment scheme is forecast to boost the country’s GDP growth by around 0.2 per cent or contributing more than 34 billion baht and the Rao Tiew Duay Kan scheme 0.25 per cent or around 40 billion baht.
The Employers’ Confederation of Thai Trade and Industry (EconThai) warned of the dim unemployment prospect for workers aged 45-50 and new graduates next year, citing fragile economic directions and uncertainty as a result from the COVID-19 pandemic.
EconThai vice-chairman Tanit Sorat warned that out of 37 million people in the Thai labour force in which 50 per cent are covered by a social security scheme, more and more workers aged between 45 and 50 will be forced to enter early retirement schemes next year while the number of unemployed young graduates who will leave universities in February next year will rise to around 400,000, raising the total number of unemployed new graduates to 900,000.
EconThai estimated that Thailand’s unemployment rate will mount to 2.9 million in 2020, more or less depending on the extent of an economic recovery.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) plans to attract singles who want to pray for marriage early next year via its pilgrimage tour campaigns in Thailand.
Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT deputy governor for tourism products and business, said the TAT’s planned campaigns are to attract Thai singles with pilot river cruises for single tourists with recreational activities on board along the Chao Phraya River in early next year or around February which is the valentine’s month to encourage them to pray for move and successful relationships.
Moreover, TAT will join hands with Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) to launch religious pilgrimage programs to attract those who enjoy merit-makings to fly to temples across various locations across Thailand.
Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) chairman Supant Mongkolsuthree said the FTI will propose the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) to form a committee to create an online booking app for plane tickets, hotel rooms and
restaurants for the domestic tourism market, taking after the online booking platforms like Agoda and Airbnb.
A probe by the Department of Business Development has turned up five juristic entities suspected of using local nominees to illegally help foreigners invest in Thailand this year.
Director-general Thosapone Dansuputra said the probe covered tourism, property and hotel businesses in Thailand's key tourism provinces of Phuket, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Surat Thani, Petchaburi, Prachuab Kirikan, Bangkok and Chonburi.
Thai nominees are often used by foreigners to do business or hold stakes in companies in Thailand, thereby breaching the Foreign Business Act, BE2542 (1999).Of the five suspected cases, two are in the tourism sector and three in property businesses. Four are in Chonburi and one is in Prachuap Khiri Khan.The department has forwarded its findings for further investigation by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).
Breaches of the Foreign Business Act are punished with up to three years in jail and/or a fine of Bt100,000 to Bt1 million.
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General News
Thailand recorded 11 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, including a locally transmitted case, according to the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).
The locally-transmitted case is a 48-year old Myanmar manual worker who lives at a shelter for displaced persons at Ban Um Piam in Phob Phra district of Thailand’s western province which borders Myanmar.
The man showed symptoms associated with COVID-19 and was subjected to a test on November 20 which was positive. He was then admitted to Mae Sot district hospital for treatment.
The other 10 new cases include arrivals from France, Switzerland, Norway, Britain, Hungary, the United States and the Netherland.
Cumulative infections in Thailand, to date, are 3,913, including 2,451 locally transmitted cases. Five more people have recovered today, bringing the total to 3,761.
MAGIC is REAL in Thailand
If one remembers November 12th you would remember that nearly 29 billion (YES Billion) baht worth of ketamine was seized.
The drug haul was so big that it became the single largest haul in Thailand’s history and was confiscated at a warehouse in Chachoengsao. So big was the drug haul that the Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin came out to announce the success.
The shipment was destined for Taiwan but 10-days later magic seems to have happened.
The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) announced that as many as 60 odd sacks of the 11.5 tonnes of the drugs have tested not to be ketamine but Sodium Phosphate (a chemical component used in detergent etc.)
Moral of the story .. well, magic is real in Thailand
Pix – Manager Online
Political News Headlines in Thai Media
At almost every pro-democracy protest to date, it is noticeable to see individuals dressing in black or brown helmets and military-style vests, with green armbands written “We Vol, short for We Volunteer.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/20973/understanding-the-protest-guards-from- the-perspective-of-their-leader/
Thailand’s protest movement has drawn the attention of the world. Media from across the globe are now well aware of #whatshappeninginthailand. Thai university and high school students are making heard their demands for a democratically elected government and reforms of the country formerly untouchable institutions.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/20962/for-thais-that-grew-up-abroad-the- protests-have-felt-both-alien-and-at-home/
If the Pheu Thai Party continues to be unsure and not willing to take a stand, they will lose more ground to the Move Forward Party.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/20950/opinion-pheu-thai-are-fast-becoming- irrelevant-and-it-is-their-own-fault/
The first question I’d hear at virtually any family reunion or social gatherings I’d be dragged to by my mother is “So, what school do you go to?” I’d reply back saying “I attend an international school in Bangkok.”
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/20966/opinion-if-international-schools-are-so- great-then-why-are-thai-students-the-most-aware/
Anti-government protesters held a light-hearted rally on the western outskirts of Bangkok Sunday afternoon, where they were joined by red-shirted veterans of a 2014 protest at the same site.
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2023795/red-shirts-join- protest-with-temple-fair-atmosphere
The majority of vocational student groups will continue to volunteer as guards for pro- democracy rallies, their representative said on Friday, but two groups will pull out over les majeste and the use of profanity against the monarch.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/20940/some-vocational-school-groups-pull-out- of-anti-government-rallies-because-of-lese-majeste-content/
“Good evening. So Congressman John Lewis, before his passing, wrote: “Democracy is not a state. It is an act.”
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/20922/america-is-showing-why-strong-political- institutions-are-needed-in-the-fight-against-authoritarianism/
Around 200 farmers and ethnic groups from various districts in Chiang Mai and its neighboring provinces, on behalf of the Federation of Northern Farmers (FNF), gathered in front of Chiang Mai’s Tha Pae Gate to protest against the Prayut Chan-Ocha government on Thursday.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/20936/farmers-in-northern-thailand-protest- against-government/
A coup attempt is seemingly underway in the former British colony of the United States of America after a disputed election and refusal of the ruling party to accept the results.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/20927/foreign-affairs-coup-attempt-underway- in-former-british-colony-to-keep-president-trump-in-power/
Welcome to this week’s edition of the weekend events guide! For this edition, the special place of honor goes to the Bangkok Theatre Festival, which is running from this weekend to the next.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/20924/the-progressive-readers-arts-events-guide- for-the-weekend-of-20-22-november/
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha on Friday said he had never offered to resign, quashing rumours that he would step down before November 25.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30398341?utm_source=category&utm_mediu m=internal_referral
The "Bad Students" group, in defiance of government threats, called for reform of the monarchy at their rally at Bangkok’s shopping district.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30398378?utm_source=category&utm_mediu m=internal_referral
Hong Kong youth activist Joshua Wong has sent an email on Friday to NonLethal Technologies, a tear gas manufacturer in the US, calling for suspension of the sale of tear gas canisters to Thailand.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30398356?utm_source=category&utm_mediu m=internal_referral
Pro-democracy activist Sombat Boonngamanong has criticised famous songwriter Nitipong Honark for demanding the use of the lese majeste law against protesters.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30398386?utm_source=category&utm_mediu m=internal_referral
The government will hold prayer ceremonies every Saturday until December 5,Anucha Nakasai, Minister of the Prime Minister's Office, said on Sunday.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30398380?utm_source=category&utm_mediu m=internal_referral
His Majesty the King will give royal land title deeds worth "10 billion baht" to four educational institutes in a handover ceremony.
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2023475/hm-donates-royal- title-deeds
Economic News Headlines in Thai Media
Following reports that Alibaba-owned e-commerce giants Lazada had suffered a data hack, the company said on Saturday that the leak was from a third-party provider and not in-house servers.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/20953/lazada-suffers-data-hack-of-13-million- accounts/
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) announced on Friday policies to manage the strengthening baht, both on a short-term and long-term basis.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/20938/central-bank-takes-step-to-manage- strengthening-baht/
The Thai National Shippers' Council predicts the export sector will grow between 3 and 5 per cent next year, vice chairman Visit Limluecha said on Friday.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30398298?utm_source=category&utm_me dium=internal_referral
Analysts expect a resurgence in initial public offerings (IPOs) next year, when many companies that delayed listing on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) because of the pandemic are likely to offer shares amid renewed market enthusiasm.
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2023875/2021-forecast-sees-upsurge- in-ipos
Khon Kaen Sugar Industry Pcl (KSL) expects sales next year to rise about 10 per cent, driven by a 20 per cent increase in the sugar price from 13-14 cents to 16-17 cents per pound.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30398307?utm_source=category&utm_me dium=internal_referral
Festive items for the New Year holiday, including calendars, diaries and cards, are likely to have sluggish sales as their purchase orders are down 15-20% from the third quarter last year because of the impact of the pandemic, says the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2023887/dour-prediction-for-festive- new-year-sales
Private funds saw huge growth in the first nine months of the year, despite the outbreak and the shrinking economy, according to data from the Association of Investment Management Companies (AIMC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2023871/private-fund-growth-booms- in-search-for-yield
Issues to be watched out for
November 25, 2020 – Pro-democracy protesters plan to rally outside the Crown Property Bureau to reclaim public assets protest leaders said were transferred to HM the King by the government.
November 26-27, 2020 – The Thai Chamber of Commerce plans the 38th annual meeting of the nationwide chambers of commerce to design a “white cover” book to present to Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha.
December 2020 – The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI)’s “Faster Payment” scheme to increase liquidity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) during the pandemic is set to end.
December 2, 2020 – The Constitutional Court is set to rule on the status of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha PM for his prolonged stay in an army house since retirement.
December 20, 2020 – Tentative date for elections of Provincial Administrative Organizations (PAOs) in 76 provinces.
December 30, 2020 – The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) for 3,500 products from the 119 designated beneficiary countries and territories are set to end.
February, 2020 – A law amendment bill that allows women with pregnancies of not more than 12 weeks to get an abortion is to take effect.
February 28, 2021 – Tentative date for municipality elections and the election of tambon administrative organizations (TAOs).
April, 2021 – The central bank plans to officially implement the new rule on the rate of penalty imposed on loan defaulters in a bid to ease borrowers’ burdens and motivate them to repay their debts. Key Data
SET Index 1,389.34 +19.92
Link - https://www.set.or.th/en/company/ipo/upcoming_ipo_set.html
Global Commodities
Metal -Link http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/commodities/futures/metals/
Energy -Link - http://www.bloomberg.com/energy/
Baltic Dry Index (BDI)-Link - http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/BDIY:IND
Global Equity Market’s Movements
Link - http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/stocks/world-indexes/asia-pacific/
Asian Equity Markets Movement
Link - http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/stocks/world-indexes/
Information on November 20, 2020
Buying, Selling or Transfer of shares by Owners/Management
Stock Code Volume Value Action
BLA 200,000 18.7 Sale BTS 25,000,000 0.34 Sale BTS 35,160,228 0.22 Sale CMAN 70,000 1.28 Purchase CPT 50,000 0.81 Purchase DDD 60,000 15.1 Sale MTC 3,900 54.25 Purchase ORI 80,093 7.55 Sale PDG 422,500 3.44 Sale PDG 297,900 3.37 Sale SKN 14,900 2.32 Purchase STA 70,000 26.04 Purchase STGT 1,000 71 Purchase STGT 5,000 70.85 Purchase SFLEX 100,000 5.3 Purchase SFLEX 103,000 5.55 Purchase TACC 80,000 6.55 Sale TPS 48,600 2.34 Purchase THG 12,500 19.4 Purchase THG 57,500 19.5 Purchase THG 23,600 19.6 Purchase THG 56,400 19.7 Purchase THG 900 19.6 Purchase THG 36,000 19.7 Purchase THG 142,700 19.9 Purchase THG 268,400 19.8 Purchase THG 252,000 20 Purchase VGI 15,000,000 7.32 Purchase VGI 19,381,600 7.23 Purchase
XD, XE or XM or other notifications
For list of Companies that have dividend payment and AGM meeting schedules click on http://www.set.or.th/set/calendarofevents.do
Trading Breakdown on the Stock Exchange of Thailand
Daily as of 20 Nov 2020
Unit: M.Baht Investor Type Buy Sell Net Value % Value % Value % Local Institutions 8,284.43 9.15 6,361.00 7.02 1,923.42 - Proprietary 12,452.55 13.75 10,926.36 12.06 1,526.19 - Trading Foreign Investors 36,350.26 40.13 33,963.32 37.5 2,386.95 - Local Individuals 33,488.73 36.97 39,325.28 43.42 -5,836.56 - Monthly Cumulative between 1 - 20 Nov 2020 Unit: M.Baht Investor Type Buy Sell Net Value % Value % Value % Local Institutions 123,601.60 9.85 123,537.35 9.85 64.25 - Proprietary 148,044.32 11.8 138,564.28 11.04 9,480.04 - Trading Foreign Investors 500,040.85 39.86 468,884.29 37.37 31,156.56 - Local Individuals 482,892.89 38.49 523,593.74 41.73 -40,700.84 - Yearly Cumulative since 1 Jan - 20 Nov 2020 Unit: M.Baht Investor Type Buy Sell Net Value % Value % Value % Local Institutions 1,481,836.59 10.67 1,426,715.04 10.27 55,121.55 - Proprietary 1,486,398.29 10.7 1,472,716.05 10.6 13,682.25 - Trading Foreign Investors 4,947,338.22 35.62 5,215,731.88 37.56 - - 268,393.66 Local Individuals 5,971,961.49 43 5,772,371.63 41.57 199,589.86 -
Total Trading Value 90,575.97 Million Baht
Background Information –
The strength of each party in the Thai Parliament as of May 8, 2019 as per the report by the Election Commission of Thailand. Elections took place on March 24, 2019
https://www.ect.go.th/ect_th/news_all.php?cid=24
List of MPs - https://www.ect.go.th/ect_th/download/article/article_20190508184334.pdf
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