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Picture: Thai Rath Khao San Road - once the thriving center where east met west in water battles among Songkran tourists - is expected to be reasonably quiet again this year. Though Thai Rath quoted the head of the local business traders' association Sanga Reuangwattanakul that occupancy at the area hotels and hostels was 30-40%. This was an improvement on 2021 but nothing like pre-pandemic when all rooms would be taken at Songkran. Regarding water fights in the street he said it was hard to stop. He expected businesses in his association to push the boundaries as to what to allow but maintain Covid protocols where possible. Chana Songkhram police station is at the end of the road, notes ASEAN NOW. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Thai Rath Caption: Happy memories of fun in Khao San Road 2019 Sanga said that his group had pulled out of putting on a special event. It was just too bothersome given all the hoops and hurdles. These included having everyone test with ATK (troublesome with the large numbers) and wear masks all the time (impossible to properly regulate). Not being able to consume alcohol also contributed to the cancellation of the event. Sanga asked why people couldn't buy booze from 11-2 pm, as is their right? Health insurance plans that meet the long stay visa requirements -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-13 - Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

Tourists in Phuket exposed breaking the water splashing rules - police are nowhere Daily News Thai Caption: Breaking water throwing rules Daily News reported from Soi Bangla, Phuket, on the eve of the official start of the Songkran holidays yesterday. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256645-tourists-in-phuket-exposed-breaking-the-water-splashing-rules-police-are-nowhere/

Daily News Thai Caption: Breaking water throwing rules Daily News reported from Soi Bangla, Phuket, on the eve of the official start of the Songkran holidays yesterday. Towards evening large groups of foreign and Thai tourists were throwing and shooting water contrary to Covid-19 rules. Yet there were no police in sight. People on the holiday island cannot throw water in the traditional sense this year because of the fear of the spread of infection. Picture: Daily News But they can in the ultra-traditional sense - dribbling a bit of water on the head of a respected granddad for example. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Deputy governor Pichet Panapong put another term into the debate when asked for his reaction to the watern throwing scenes. Sprinkle. Pichet said that throwing water - using water guns and vehicles to get about - was a no-no. But sprinkling, that was alright. He said he'd have a word with the police. Health insurance plans that meet the long stay visa requirements -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-13 - Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

Pareena Kraikupt: Ruling party firebrand who burned bright before being banished After 17 years in politics, four-time MP Pareena Kraikupt from the ruling Palang Pracharath Party has been dealt a political death blow by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders. Last Thursday, she was stripped of her MP status and banned for life from running for political office. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256644-pareena-kraikupt-ruling-party-firebrand-who-burned-bright-before-being-banished/

After 17 years in politics, four-time MP Pareena Kraikupt from the ruling Palang Pracharath Party has been dealt a political death blow by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders. Last Thursday, she was stripped of her MP status and banned for life from running for political office. The sentence came after the court found her guilty of severe ethical misconduct for encroaching on over 1,700 rai of state land in her home province of Ratchaburi. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Her offense was ruled a conflict of interest and damaging to MPs’ integrity — together considered ethical violations as per the Constitution. Unlikely support from enemy The outspoken Pareena, 45, described the court verdict as a “political death sentence” and urged her supporters to “meet again soon outside Parliament”. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pareena-kraikupt-ruling-party-firebrand-who-burned-bright-before-being-banished/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-04-13 - Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Stories of suffering and struggle reveal tragic side of Thailand’s ageing society Workers under the Mirror Foundation’s Work From Homeless project take a short break in Minburi, Bangkok. (Photo courtesy of Mirror Foundation) Eighty-year-old Chalong does not just sit at home waiting for his monthly government subsidy payment. Instead, he keeps himself busy doing odd jobs four days a week. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256639-stories-of-suffering-and-struggle-reveal-tragic-side-of-thailand’s-ageing-society/

Workers under the Mirror Foundation’s Work From Homeless project take a short break in Minburi, Bangkok. (Photo courtesy of Mirror Foundation) Eighty-year-old Chalong does not just sit at home waiting for his monthly government subsidy payment. Instead, he keeps himself busy doing odd jobs four days a week. “What I want more than state assistance is a job,” the octogenarian says. “I want to make a living. I prefer using money I have earned myself.” Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Chalong does not just have himself to support, but also his physically challenged daughter. “I had been homeless for nearly a decade until the Mirror Foundation accepted me as part of its ‘Work from Homeless’ project. Now I’m able to rent a room and look after my daughter,” the poor but proud father said. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/stories-of-suffering-and-struggle-reveal-tragic-side-of-thailands-ageing-society/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-04-13 - Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

In Thai villages, Chinese gangs recruit desperate for phone scams Thai police say they have rescued some 700 Thais held against their will by Chinese gangs in Cambodia. By Vijitra Duangdee Thai police say they recently rescued two dozen people being held against their will by Chinese scam gangs in Sihanoukville, Cambodia [Courtesy of Sai Mai Will Survive Facebook group] Bangkok, Thailand – The brokers arrived with promises of high-paying online sales jobs in Poipet, a Cambodian border town just an hour’s drive from Teerapat and Dao’s home in eastern Thailand. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256638-in-thai-villages-chinese-gangs-recruit-desperate-for-phone-scams/

Thai police say they recently rescued two dozen people being held against their will by Chinese scam gangs in Sihanoukville, Cambodia [Courtesy of Sai Mai Will Survive Facebook group] Thai police say they have rescued some 700 Thais held against their will by Chinese gangs in Cambodia. By Vijitra Duangdee Bangkok, Thailand – The brokers arrived with promises of high-paying online sales jobs in Poipet, a Cambodian border town just an hour’s drive from Teerapat and Dao’s home in eastern Thailand. After more than two years of pandemic-induced poverty, Teerapat and Dao were willing to take virtually any work away from their remote, rural village. But by the next day, the couple began to realise they had made a terrible mistake. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe After being driven deep across the border to the crime-ridden Cambodian beach town of Sihanoukville, Teerapat and Dao allege that they were ordered to stay inside a guarded 12-storey compound where Chinese “bosses” laid out their instructions via an interpreter. Full story: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/13/in-thailand-chinese-gangs-recruit-the-desperate-into-phone-scams -- © Copyright AL JAZEERA 2022-04-13 - Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

COVID-19: Thailand reports 106 deaths, 23,015 new coronavirus cases, 27,626 recoveries File photo Thailand on Wednesday (April 13) reported 23,015 new COVID-19 cases, 27,626 recoveries and 106 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256631-covid-19-thailand-reports-106-deaths-23015-new-coronavirus-cases-27626-recoveries/ //CLOSED// /Admin

COVID-19: Thailand reports 106 deaths, 23,015 new coronavirus cases, 27,626 recoveries File photo Thailand on Wednesday (April 13) reported 23,015 new COVID-19 cases, 27,626 recoveries and 106 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256631-covid-19-thailand-reports-106-deaths-23015-new-coronavirus-cases-27626-recoveries/

File photo Thailand on Wednesday (April 13) reported 23,015 new COVID-19 cases, 27,626 recoveries and 106 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Wednesday’s cases bring the total number of COVID-19 infections in Thailand to 3,948,869 with 26,395 deaths. The news comes as the Rural Doctor Society (RDS) has endorsed a proposal by a senior doctor at Ramathibodi Hospital urging the government to allocate about 1 billion baht towards subsidizing elderly visits to COVID vaccination centers. The notion was proposed by Dr Vijj Kasemsup, a doctor with the Department of Community Medicine at Ramathibodi Hospital’s Faculty of Medicine. Dr Vijj suggested that the government cover the cost of transporting senior citizens to vaccination centers, noting that the cost of covering half of all unvaccinated seniors would be much lower than for ICU treatments.** **NNT contributed to this report Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-13 - Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

Prachuap Khiri Khan suffers first road death of Songkran holidays By Online Reporter Prachuap Khiri Khan suffered its first road death of the Songkran holidays, following a motorcycle accident on Monday (April 11). Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256623-prachuap-khiri-khan-suffers-first-road-death-of-songkran-holidays/

By Online Reporter Prachuap Khiri Khan suffered its first road death of the Songkran holidays, following a motorcycle accident on Monday (April 11). Prompiriya Kitnuson, Deputy Governor of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, who chaired the meeting of the Working Group of the Center for Preventing and Reducing Road Accidents during Songkran Festival 2022, said there were a total of five accidents in the province on Monday resulting in five injuries and one death. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe The death was confirmed as a 60-year-old man from Sai Thong Sub-district, Bang Saphan Noi, who died when his motorcycle collided with a pickup truck. Officials said the man was not wearing a helmet and driving on the wrong side of the road. Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/local-news/prachuap-khiri-khan-suffers-first-road-death-of-songkran-holidays/ -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-13 - Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

Memorial day to honour Hua Hin boxing legend Pone Kingpetch By Online Reporter Pone Kingpetch statue in Hua Hin Hua Hin Sports Development Association and Hua Hin Municipality are hosting a “Remembrance Day for Thai fighting legend Pone Kingpetch” on April 16, 2022. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256622-memorial-day-to-honour-hua-hin-boxing-legend-pone-kingpetch/

Pone Kingpetch statue in Hua Hin By Online Reporter Hua Hin Sports Development Association and Hua Hin Municipality are hosting a “Remembrance Day for Thai fighting legend Pone Kingpetch” on April 16, 2022. The event will take place at Pone Kingpetch Park, the park next to the municipal offices and where the statue of Pone Kingpetcch is located. There will be a memorial event at 9am, with an evening event starting at 7pm. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe The event will feature a seven-pair Thai boxing competition, as well as Wai Kru Muay Thai bouts and displays. Pone Kingpetch, also went by the name of Mana Seedokbuab, was a professional Thai boxer and three time world flyweight champion, who was known for his ferocious jab. Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/hua-hin-news/memorial-day-to-honour-hua-hin-boxing-legend-pone-kingpetch/ -- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2022-04-13 - Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Chinese tourists allegedly trying to drive home drunk attack and injure hotel worker who tried to stop them in Pattaya By Adam Judd Pattaya-A 29-year-old hotel worker was injured last night, April 12th, in Pattaya after he reportedly tried to stop a group of drunken Chinese tourists from driving home intoxicated. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256621-chinese-tourists-allegedly-trying-to-drive-home-drunk-attack-and-injure-hotel-worker-who-tried-to-stop-them-in-pattaya/

By Adam Judd Pattaya-A 29-year-old hotel worker was injured last night, April 12th, in Pattaya after he reportedly tried to stop a group of drunken Chinese tourists from driving home intoxicated. The incident took place around 11:30 P.M. at a hotel located near the Dolphin Circle in North Pattaya. The name of the hotel was withheld pending a further investigation. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe The hotel worker, Vegyan Rodyu, 29, suffered wrist injuries in an altercation with two Chinese tourists. He was given medical assistance at the scene. The altercation took place when four Chinese tourists entered into an argument with the hotel worker, allegedly over their intoxicated state and ability to drive. Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/04/13/chinese-tourists-allegedly-trying-to-drive-home-drunk-attack-and-injure-hotel-worker-who-tried-to-stop-them-in-pattaya/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-04-13 - Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

459 road accidents reported on first day of seven dangerous days during Songkran, Thai government reveals By Nop Meechukhun PHOTO: Department of Probation National – Vittawan Sunthornkajit, the Director-General of the Department of Probation, Tuesday, April 12th, revealed the statistics of probation cases ordered by the court on the first day of the seven dangerous days campaign to prevent and reduce road accidents during Songkran. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256620-459-road-accidents-reported-on-first-day-of-seven-dangerous-days-during-songkran-thai-government-reveals/

PHOTO: Department of Probation By Nop Meechukhun National – Vittawan Sunthornkajit, the Director-General of the Department of Probation, Tuesday, April 12th, revealed the statistics of probation cases ordered by the court on the first day of the seven dangerous days campaign to prevent and reduce road accidents during Songkran. According to the report, a total of 459 road accident cases were reported. Of that, 328 cases were drunk driving, accountable for 71.46 percent, 8 cases involved reckless driving, accountable for 1.74 percent, and the remaining 123 cases were drug driving, accountable for 26.8 percent. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe The top three provinces with the highest statistics of drunk driving cases were Nonthaburi with 55 cases, Ubon Ratchathani with 47 cases, and Ayutthaya with 44 cases. Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/04/12/459-road-accidents-reported-on-first-day-of-seven-dangerous-days-during-songkran-thai-government-reveals/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-04-13 - Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Central Bank Reports Unexpectedly High Inflation BANGKOK, (TNA) – The Bank of Thailand informed the finance minister that inflation exceeded its expected level and should return to its normal pace late this year. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256619-central-bank-reports-unexpectedly-high-inflation/

BANGKOK, (TNA) – The Bank of Thailand informed the finance minister that inflation exceeded its expected level and should return to its normal pace late this year. BOT governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput sent an open letter on the high inflation to the finance minister. The letter dated on April 8 read that the average headline inflation would be above the 1-3% range that the Monetary Policy Committee and the finance minister had jointly set on Nov 16, 2021, for 2022 and a medium term. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe On March 30, the MPC predicted that the headline inflation in the next 12 months (from the second quarter of this year to the first quarter of next year) would run at 4.1%, exceeding the earlier set range. Full story: https://tna.mcot.net/english-news/line-today-english-news-922134 -- © Copyright TNA 2022-04-13 - Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Authorities Urged to Consider Subsidizing Vaccine Trips for Seniors Paul Rujopakarn BANGKOK (NNT) - The Rural Doctor Society (RDS) has endorsed a proposal by a senior doctor at Ramathibodi Hospital urging the government to allocate about 1 billion baht towards subsidizing elderly visits to COVID vaccination centers. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256617-authorities-urged-to-consider-subsidizing-vaccine-trips-for-seniors/

by Paul Rujopakarn BANGKOK (NNT) - The Rural Doctor Society (RDS) has endorsed a proposal by a senior doctor at Ramathibodi Hospital urging the government to allocate about 1 billion baht towards subsidizing elderly visits to COVID vaccination centers. The notion was proposed by Dr Vijj Kasemsup, a doctor with the Department of Community Medicine at Ramathibodi Hospital’s Faculty of Medicine. Dr Vijj suggested that the government cover the cost of transporting senior citizens to vaccination centers, noting that the cost of covering half of all unvaccinated seniors would be much lower than for ICU treatments. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe According to the RDS, senior citizens with underlying health conditions accounted for more than 90% of COVID deaths in the first quarter of 2022. With the number of daily COVID fatalities exceeding 100 in recent days, the group is urging the government to act quickly to get more people vaccinated. It also predicts that the number of people requiring supplemental oxygen will climb during and after the Songkran festival. The Department of Disease Control (DDC) had previously proposed a similar scheme to the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), but it was rejected due to cost concerns. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view -- © Copyright NNT 2022-04-13 - Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Thai PM happy with tourism rise, but reminds all to guard against COVID-19 Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has reminded all concerned, especially those in the tourism sector, not to lower their guard against COVID-19 while expressing satisfaction with the recovering tourism sector. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256616-thai-pm-happy-with-tourism-rise-but-reminds-all-to-guard-against-covid-19/