November 27, 2020
Thai Enquirer Summary
Political News
Pro-democracy protesters are expected to take to the streets from 16:00 hrs today near Lat Phrao junction to prepare protesters in case that a military coup is staged.
The venue and the timing of the planned protest was announced the Khana Ratsadon (People’s Party) group despite its 15 leaders being charged just yesterday with insulting the monarchy under Section 112 of the penal code during recent demonstrations.
This time, the pro-democracy group said on its Facebook page that the new rally would not end today but it will be a protracted one.
The Khana Ratsadon group also called on its supporters in “Phra Khanong- Bang Na-Samut Prakan” to gather from 16:00 to 22:00 hrs at Imperial Samrong shopping complex to march to Bang Na intersection to reiterate its 3 demands, according to the group’s Facebook page.
The group referred to its supporters who will join this rally as labour workers, students, the red shirts and the Ratsadon “the People”.
Meanwhile, the recent movement of military forces, armaments and military equipment from one unit to the other were witnesses yesterday. Col Sirichan Ngathong, deputy spokeswoman, came out to clarify that the movement is for a new army training program scheduled for November 27-29, 2020.
The student protest movement has come under criticism from social media as a lot of ‘excesses’ can be seen at the protest sites.
Social media was buzzing on how the organizers were buying inflatables of aliens which cost as much as 20,000 baht a piece, and other expensive gimmick are being questioned but the protest leaders are not buying enough equipment for guarding the front-line guards at the protest sites.
Social media are raising question to the Free Youth Movement
CSILA, a online investigative page, has come out to show pictures and say that the person who created the havoc @ SCB may have been the same person who had done it during the Ramkhamhaeng University incident by the Yellow shirt supporters when they attacked the pro-democracy protestors.
This was confirmed by one of the protest leaders who said this morning that an investigation has revealed that those responsible for the bomb and shooting that injured 2 people on Wednesday’s protest at Siam Commercial Bank HQ was a ‘Yellow Shirt’ guard who had tricked into joining the Khana Ratsadorn guard in order to create havoc.
At the same time Lumpini police issued 2 new police summonses for pro-democracy activist Jatupat “Pai Dao Din” Boonpattarasaksa and Atthaphol Buaphat when they participated in the anti-government protest in Ratchaprasong intersection on October 25.
In addition, the Criminal Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Passapong Kulamornkarn, a security guard of the Ratsadon group, who is suspected of shooting another guard after the end of the protest in the park of the Siam Commercial Bank head office. The court’s arrest warrant was requested by Phaholyothin police. Passapong, a former student of Minburi Polytechnic Technical College, was with a group of vocational students believed to fire shots at a group of rival students.
In the light of the police’s push to bring lese majeste charges against Khana Ratsadon group leaders, embattled Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha came out to say that the enforcement of the lese majeste law under Section 112 of the Criminal Code lies in police’s powers and that the government has no authority to interfere with the enforcement of the controversial law.
When asked about prominent social critic Sulak Sivaraksa’s call for him to revise the imposition of Section 112, Gen Prayut said he is not the one that imposes this law but law enforcement officials who exercise their powers to impose the law.
He feared that he will be violating Section 157 of the Criminal Code for negligence of duty if he sits back and does nothing.
Sulak has joined anti-government protesters in calling on Gen Prayut to resign.
Army chief Gen Narongphan Jitkaewtae has again denied Twitter report that the army used private firms to carry out information operations (IO) through 17,000 Twitter accounts. Gen Narongphan insisted that the report is “fake news”. He has assigned the army’s spokesman team to clarify the matter.
In relation to the matter, Twitter page@SaraAyanaputra yesterday claimed that the Royal Thai Army used 2 apps, Twitter Broadcast and Free Messenger, to coordinate with 17,562 accounts in its IO.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai reassured the public that pro-democracy rallies the international community is not worried about pro-democracy rallies in Thailand. He said political turmoil in Thailand was perceived by the international community as being at the “kindergarten or primary school” levels.
On the charter amendment process, Parliament speaker Chuan Leekpai is said to submit letters to the Council of University Presidents of Thailand to invite university presidents to be included in the 21-member reconciliation panel comprising 7 groups.
Progressive movement leader Piyabutr Saengkanokkul came out to comment that he does not care about who will sit on the panel but he is more concerned about issues that will be raised by the panel and the scope of the panel’s responsibilities.
Piyabutr reiterated 3 conditions for the opposition to join the panel. The 3 conditions are
1. The resignation of Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha and a smooth transition to a new government
2. Charter amendments 3. The monarchy reform.
Ahead of the Constitutional Court’s ruling on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha occupying an army residence scheduled for December 2, Seri Ruam Thai Party leader Pol Gen Sereepisut Temiyavet, as chairman of the House committee on corruption suppression and prevention, has come out to rule that Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o- cha is not entitled to remain in a military residence since he retired as army chief because he was not a state official.
Section 128 of the Prevention and Suppression of Corruption Act barred a state official from receiving gifts with a value of more than 3,000 baht; hence, a lengthy stay in state housing beyond legal stipulation is worth more than 3,000 baht, Pol Gen Sereepisut said, warning that the court will likely face a public backlash if it rules in favour of Gen Prayut in the army housing case.
Thai Civilised Party list MP and leader Mongkolkit Suksintaranont announced his departure from the coalition government (again).
Mongkolkit said he had notified his decision with the coalition parties and he would not return to the coalition bloc as long as Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan- o-cha remains in office as prime minister. He blamed Gen Prayut as the cause of the current political conflict. Mongkolkit also said he had talks with the opposition and plans to defect to the opposition bloc.
Mongkolkit said he had been thinking about withdrawing support from the coalition government for quite some time. Other party members also backed the party’s departure, Mongkolkit said, citing that his decision is based on the public’s demand.
One has to remember that Mongkolkit, is a 1 man party and has been swinging back and forth from the coalition to ‘independent opposition’
and at times showing 3-finger salute at the rally of the students and then a day or 2 later wearing yellow shirt and on the street with the Yellow Shirt movement.
Thailand confirmed on Thursday it had returned three Iranians jailed over a 2012 bomb plot in Bangkok, in an announcement that came after Tehran freed an Australian-British lecturer imprisoned for alleged spying.
The country's corrections department said two of the men — Masoud Sedaghatzadeh and Saeid Moradi — were transferred as prisoners while the third, Mohammad Khazaei, was granted a royal pardon in August.
Thai officials have not explicitly linked the transfer with the release of Middle East scholar Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who returned to Australia after two years in detention in Iran on espionage charges. But Iranian state TV said Wednesday that Moore-Gilbert was swapped for three Iranians.
Economic News
Meanwhile, Kalin Sarasin, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC), said the private sector is deeply concerned by ongoing political demonstrations which may affect consumer spending sentiment. He said political rallies started to cause concerns among Thai and foreign investors amid increasing investment activities. He urged the government to seek negotiations with protesters to end rallies in a peaceful manner.
Kalin said the TCC is planning to submit a white paper to the government today via Deputy Prime Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow that aims to stimulate the local economy under a “Happy Model”.
The Economic and Business Forecasting Centre at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) expects the Thai economic growth in the 4th quarter to recover gradually or see a contraction of around 4-5 per cent in line with the consumer confidence index that edged up thanks to government economic stimulus measures like the co-payment scheme and improved farm prices, said UTCC’s Economic Center Thanawat Polvichai.
Industry Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit is stepping up efforts to make a car trade-in proposal a New Year gift to Thais as part of measures to increase car sales, which turned sluggish during the pandemic.
The measures are scheduled to be tabled for discussion at the Center for Economic Administration Situation meeting on Dec 2.
Among the measures is a move to stimulate car purchases, notably electric vehicles (EVs), through a trade-in scheme worth 100,000 baht for individual car owners. Owners can use the expense as an income tax deduction, according to the National Economic and Social Development Council. Only owners of cars older than 10 years can join the scheme.
Sauwanee Thairungroj, an advisor to the Thai Chamber of Commerce, urged the government to provide urgent assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who have yet to receive assistance and access to financial liquidity under current economic woes stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak.
Sauwanee warned that 72.81 per cent of 3 million SMEs are at great risk of shutting down for good as only low ratio of them can access loans due to a lack of loan guarantors, citing a latest survey.
Business operators want to see the continuity of government economic stimulus policies to help boost purchasing power and support the labour force. It is predicted that it will take at least 3.8 years for SMEs to recover.
SET-listed GMM Grammy Plc, the operator of One 31 and GMM 25 digital TV channels, is preparing to undertake a major organisational overhaul in One 31 and GMM 25 channels. The overhaul is expected to be completed in early 2021, says a source with the company.
It is also reported that Grammy will bring in Takonkiet Viravan to oversee One31 Channel and GMM25 content. Under the new structure, the company wants Channel One31 to target its mass audience while GMM25 channel will target the younger and new generations as key audience groups. This way will help cut costs and better re-position both channels.
Grammy is expected to halt operations on December 31 to carry out this organisational overhaul. Grammy plans to take over operations of the GMM25 channel with plans to lay off workers. GMM25 channel’s employees will be axed from 190 to around 50.
A report said Dr Praset Prasarttong-Osoth emerged in Grammy’s new shareholding structure under conditions that he is taking part in injecting fund to the One 31 Channel.
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) signed five more contracts, worth about 40 billion baht, for work on the Thai-Chinese high-speed railway project between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat).
Chayatham Phromsorn, permanent secretary for transport, presided over the signing of the contracts at the Transport Ministry for the Bangkok-Nong Khai high-speed train development.
They were part of the first stage of the project from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima. The contracts on construction work, covering a distance of 101 kilometres, will take 1,080 days to complete.
Supachai Panitchpakdi, former director-general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad), voiced his optimism that Thailand’s economy and exports will bottom out next year in line with its key markets China and Asean economies.
Echoing his positive view when giving a speech at the annual seminar of the Office of Industrial Economics (OIE), will gain from Supachai said China’s quick recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic would benefit Thailand and other countries in Asean because the Thai economy is tied closely with China’s supply chain. He noted the economy is expected to contract 5 to 6 per cent this year, up from the previous forecast of 7-8 per cent contraction.
Supachai, however, urged the Thai government not to rush to open the country to foreign tourists amid the ongoing threat from the pandemic as he pointed that western countries are loosening and re-imposing lockdowns in a cycle that is resulting in a large number of infections and deaths, as well as severely hurting economies.
He warned of the long-term impact of Thailand lifting its restrictions on foreign travellers.
“Thailand should gradually open the country, because human resources are the most important factor. It takes about 20 to 30 years for human development, and if those people die it will be very difficult to restore the lost human resources,” the former Uncad director-general said.
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General News
Thailand logged 16 new case of coronavirus in the last 24 hours, according to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).
The new cases are from Kuwait (2), Qatar (1), Sweden (1), Switzerland (1), Turkey (1), UAE (1), and the United States (1).
The new discoveries bring the total number of cases up to 3,942. There were no new fatalities leaving the death toll at 60.
Eight new patients have recovered from the virus with the total number of discharged patients now at 3,788. Currently, 94 people remain in the hospital.
A forward contract to acquire a Covid-19 vaccine that can be produced locally will be signed on Friday, marking the next step forward in the battle against the virus, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Thursday.
The prime minister gave the details in a video posted on the government's Facebook page on the eve of the contract signing between the National Vaccine Institute and vaccine developer AstraZeneca Plc.
The contract is for the purchase of 26 million doses, enough for 13 million people.
Gen Prayut said the world was suffering a worst-case scenario, with the Covid-19 pandemic claiming a large daily death toll, the World Health Organisation warning of a possible third wave, and lockdowns in many European countries.
Thailand's overall English proficiency has fallen for the third year in a row, according to the annual English Proficiency Index.
The 2020 index was drafted by global education company EF Education First. The report showed Thailand's ranking dropped from 74 out of 100 countries last year to 89 out of 100 this year.
Thailand's English language proficiency scored 419 out of 800 under the company's new point scale, which is considered "very low". For comparison, the Netherlands scored 652, which is the highest out of all the countries surveyed this year.
Political News Headlines in Thai Media
Lebanese-British barrister and international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, through the Clooney Foundation for Justice Initiative, released a statement on Thursday criticizing the Thai government for threatening pro-democracy protest leaders with the lèse majesté law.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/21101/amal-clooney-and-other-rights- foundations-criticize-thailands-use-of-lese-majeste-laws/
A Ministry of Public Health official told Thai Enquirer on Thursday that the government’s decision to buy a vaccine developed by British pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca is in question after the company revealed discrepancies in its trials.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/21072/doubts-emerge-about-thailands-pursuit- of-astrazeneca-vaccine-due-to-companys-spotty-disclosure/
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha told the press on Thursday that investigators will soon find the truth about the gunshots that were fired when protesters were dispersing on Wednesday night.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30398623?utm_source=category&utm_mediu m=internal_referral
The “Gear of Red Thonburi”, the security outfit of the Ratsadon group, announced on Wednesday night that the violence at the rally site will not weaken their resolve in the battle for democracy.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30398619?utm_source=category&utm_mediu m=internal_referral
The yellow-duck food coupons distributed during Wednesday’s anti-government rally are illegal, according to police, and the wording may amount to lese majeste.
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2025899/protesters-yellow- duck-food-coupons-deemed-illegal
In a Facebook post on Wednesday night, Thai Civilised Party leader Mongkolkit Suksintharanon said he was pulling out of the coalition because he could not tolerate Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s moves to incite conflicts and for using the monarchy to hang on to power.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30398616?utm_source=category&utm_mediu m=internal_referral
An executive from the Thammasat University’s Rangsit campus advised the government on Thursday to avoid using the lese majeste law against pro-democracy protesters because this action can reflect badly on the Palace.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30398614?utm_source=category&utm_mediu m=internal_referral
Army chief Narongphan Jitkaewtae has denied that the military hired a private company to spread pro-government propaganda through hundreds of Twitter accounts.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30398621?utm_source=category&utm_mediu m=internal_referral
Human-rights lawyer and protest leader Arnon Nampa said in a Facebook post on Thursday morning that two summonses have been issued against him over the alleged violation of the lese majeste law.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30398620?utm_source=category&utm_mediu m=internal_referral
The Criminal Court yesterday issued an arrest warrant for a man suspected of being involved in the shooting during a rally near the Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) head office on Wednesday night.
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2026027/warrant-out-for- suspected-rally-shooter
A forward contract to acquire a Covid-19 vaccine that can be produced locally will be signed on Friday, marking the next step forward in the battle against the virus, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Thursday.
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2025963/covid-19-vaccine- purchase-contract-to-be-signed-friday
Economic News Headlines in Thai Media
Share price of SCG Packaging PCL (SCGP) rose 5.13 per cent to trade at 41 baht per share with a transaction value of over 2.24 billion baht during intermission on Thursday, as investors were optimistic about the company’s sustainable growth.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/21116/scgp-proven-to-be-strong-player-in- packaging-industry-says-analyst/
Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) reported through the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) on Wednesday that it had adjusted its air traffic projection down in the next two years and predicted that its airport operation would only return to the pre-COVID-19 levels in 2023.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/21108/21108/
Hana Microelectronics, South East Asia’s leading electronics manufacturing service (EMS) company, said that it was expecting its sales and revenues during the last quarter of 2020 and leading into 2021 to be stronger but warned that the strength of the Thai baht could have an impact on its bottom line.
o Link- https://www.thaienquirer.com/21091/impact-on-hana-microelectronics-from- coronavirus-mitigated-by-work-from-home-trend/
Planned changes to the Sugar Cane and Granulated Sugar Act will not solve Thailand’s problems at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) warned on Thursday.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30398625?utm_source=category&utm_mediu m=internal_referral
Rice farmers will receive subsidies of Bt500 per rai, up to a maximum Bt10,000, on December 1 this year, the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) said on Thursday.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30398622?utm_source=category&utm_mediu m=internal_referral
PTT Group Oil Situation Analysts (PRISM Expert) together with the Federation of Thai Industries’ Petroleum Refinery Industry Club have forecast the 2021 Dubai crude oil price at US$45-55 per barrel – higher than 2020 due to Covid-19 vaccine development, international stimulus measures and renewable energy trends.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30398634?utm_source=category&utm_me dium=internal_referral
SET-listed Bangkok Chain Hospital (BCH) projects annual revenue growth of between 10 and 15 per cent next year, said director of finance and investor relations Pumipat Chatnoraset.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30398570?utm_source=category&utm_me dium=internal_referral
Noise tests will be conducted on a section of the skytrain after complaints about noise prompted the train operator to take steps to correct rail track faults, a source said.
o Link- https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2026051/noise-reduction-work- on-bts-to-face-expert-tests
SET-listed TPI Polene Power (TPIPP) said it will join bidding to construct two waste-to- energy plants expected to break ground next month.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30398644?utm_source=category&utm_me dium=internal_referral
SET-listed RS Plc has maintained its revenue target of Bt10 billion in 2024, said the entertainment company’s chief financial officer Wittawat Wetchabutsakorn.
o Link- https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30398635?utm_source=category&utm_me dium=internal_referral
Issues to be watched out for
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 2, 2020 – The Centre for Economic Administration Situation (CESA) is set to consider measures to stimulate domestic car sales, including the trade-in incentive.
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 1,433.56 +17.84
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 26, 2020
Buying, Selling or Transfer of shares by Owners/Management
Stock Code Volume Value Action
BCPG 20,000 14.05 Sale BCPG 40,000 5.85 Purchase CPI 210,000 1.52 Purchase EP 330,900 5.1 Purchase EP 440,700 4.87 Purchase HTC 50,000 34.25 Purchase JCK 300,000 0.22 Purchase META 3,500,000 0.38 Sale SKN 19,500 2.33 Purchase COLOR 9,600 1.19 Purchase COLOR 8,500 1.2 Purchase COLOR 21,000 1.21 Purchase SISB 1,000,000 9.12 Sale SISB 120,000 9.11 Sale SISB 70,000 9 Sale
SISB 483,600 9 Sale SONIC 100,000 1.31 Purchase SYNTEC 1,064,000 1.52 Purchase TM 20,000 2.29 Purchase TQM 5,000 114 Purchase VRANDA 80,000 5.93 Purchase VRANDA 40,000 6.06 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 26 Nov 2020 Unit: M.Baht Investor Type Buy Sell Net Value % Value % Value % Local Institutions 8,027.72 9.98 5,874.62 7.31 2,153.10 - Proprietary 10,061.06 12.51 9,839.72 12.24 221.34 - Trading Foreign Investors 30,485.94 37.91 31,035.83 38.6 -549.89 - Local Individuals 31,834.78 39.59 33,659.34 41.86 -1,824.55 - Monthly Cumulative between 1 - 26 Nov 2020 Unit: M.Baht Investor Type Buy Sell Net Value % Value % Value % Local Institutions 154,810.06 9.33 156,597.17 9.43 -1,787.11 - Proprietary 196,080.00 11.81 185,892.15 11.2 10,187.85 - Trading Foreign Investors 657,280.59 39.6 619,765.86 37.34 37,514.73 - Local Individuals 651,813.37 39.27 697,728.84 42.03 -45,915.47 - Yearly Cumulative since 1 Jan - 26 Nov 2020 Unit: M.Baht Investor Type Buy Sell Net Value % Value % Value % Local Institutions 1,513,045.06 10.59 1,459,774.86 10.21 53,270.20 - Proprietary 1,534,433.97 10.74 1,520,043.91 10.63 14,390.06 -
Trading Foreign Investors 5,104,577.97 35.71 5,366,613.45 37.55 - - 262,035.49 Local Individuals 6,140,881.96 42.96 5,946,506.73 41.6 194,375.23 -
Total Trading Value 80,409.51 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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