Article 44 used on four issues of airlines, travel, medical supplies and electricity

By THE NATION

 

 

THE NATIONAL COUNCIL for Peace and Order (NCPO) yesterday approved the use of special powers to handle four major issues involving airlines, travel, medical supplies and electricity.

 

The first seeks to pave the way for the revocation of substandard airlines that are registered in Thailand, the second discontinues Thais’ use of departure and arrival cards, the third addresses the purchases of medical supplies for the universal healthcare scheme, and the last endorses the Energy Ministry’s plan to stretch electricity transmission lines into national parks and forest zones.

 

After emerging from an NCPO meeting, Government Spokesman Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd yesterday said the NCPO exercised Article 44 of the interim constitution to empower the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand to revoke the permits of between 10 and 12 Thai-registered airlines that failed to meet safety and related requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

 

The NCPO also exercised the power to revoke arrival and departure cards, known as TM6, for Thai travellers.

 

 

The move is to solve problems of delaying the arrival and departure of Thais, to facilitate travel for Thai nationals, Sansern said.

 

Foreign travellers will still have to fill out the form but it will be adjusted with fewer questions.

 

The present TM6 forms will be used until they run out of stock, Sansern said, before the new style is introduced.

 

Procurement power

 

Sansern added that the third order allowed the National Health Security Office (NHSO) to procure medical supplies for the universal healthcare scheme until the end of this month. 

 

The scheme now covers nearly 50 million people across the country, with health activists long worried about a recent legal interpretation that is depriving the NHSO of procurement power. Though armed with the special power, the NCPO has ruled that the NHSO should not handle procurement beyond September 30. 

 

“Under one of the latest NCPO orders, hospitals or their network will arrange medical-supply procurement themselves from October 1 onward,” Sansern said. 

 

He also said the NCPO enabled the Energy Ministry to install power lines in national parks and national preserved forests for 13 projects, while the process of seeking some necessary approvals was still ongoing. 

 

The Energy Ministry has insisted that it needs to install transmission lines before the process is completed or the country will not be able to get power from domestic and international sources on schedule and face fines. 

 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30326529

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-09-13

16 minutes ago, webfact said:

Sansern added that the third order allowed the National Health Security Office (NHSO) to procure medical supplies for the universal healthcare scheme until the end of this month. 

 

The scheme now covers nearly 50 million people across the country, with health activists long worried about a recent legal interpretation that is depriving the NHSO of procurement power. Though armed with the special power, the NCPO has ruled that the NHSO should not handle procurement beyond September 30. 

 

When I see a government that is not very transparent messing about with procurement rules, the alarm bells go off at a deafening volume.

 

Thailand suspends international flights by some Thai airlines

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's military government has suspended international flights by Thai airlines that have not received new operator certificates from the country's aviation body, a spokesman said.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1001895-thailand suspends-international-flights-by-some-thai-airlines/

 

The NCPO also exercised the power to revoke arrival and departure cards, known as TM6, for Thai travellers.The move is to solve problems of delaying the arrival and departure of Thais, to facilitate travel for Thai nationals, Sansern said. I think someone should visit immigration the main problem is tourist delayed ! But then again do they really care about tourists ?

"The move is to solve problems of delaying the arrival and departure of Thais, to facilitate travel for Thai nationals, Sansern said.

 

Foreign travellers will still have to fill out the form but it will be adjusted with fewer questions."

 

I fill my card out completely on the plane. Are the Thais waiting to fill the card out at immigration when they are asked for their passport?

 

How about a ATM type ID card for expats with retirement extension of stay or other long term visas? Just swipe while looking at passport.

 

 

 

 

 

 

13 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

"The move is to solve problems of delaying the arrival and departure of Thais, to facilitate travel for Thai nationals, Sansern said.

 

Foreign travellers will still have to fill out the form but it will be adjusted with fewer questions."

 

I fill my card out completely on the plane. Are the Thais waiting to fill the card out at immigration when they are asked for their passport?

 

How about a ATM type ID card for expats with retirement extension of stay or other long term visas? Just swipe while looking at passport.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nah! That would be too easy and convenient!

They need god like powers to deal with such mundane tasks?  Thailand certainly has more than its fair share of problems.

2 minutes ago, yellowboat said:

They need god like powers to deal with such mundane tasks?  Thailand certainly has more than its fair share of problems.

Oh get away! I'm encouraged to believe it's the hub of perfection!

50 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

"The move is to solve problems of delaying the arrival and departure of Thais, to facilitate travel for Thai nationals, Sansern said.

 

Foreign travellers will still have to fill out the form but it will be adjusted with fewer questions."

 

I fill my card out completely on the plane. Are the Thais waiting to fill the card out at immigration when they are asked for their passport?

 

How about a ATM type ID card for expats with retirement extension of stay or other long term visas? Just swipe while looking at passport.

 

 

It's a very smart idea, therefore will never be reality here in Thailand.

"...the NCPO has ruled that the NHSO should not handle procurement beyond September 30." Corruption is now to be spread around? 

 

Cynical comment, I know. History can make one cynical though.

 

1 hour ago, NCC1701A said:

"The move is to solve problems of delaying the arrival and departure of Thais, to facilitate travel for Thai nationals, Sansern said.

 

Foreign travellers will still have to fill out the form but it will be adjusted with fewer questions."

 

I fill my card out completely on the plane. Are the Thais waiting to fill the card out at immigration when they are asked for their passport?

 

How about a ATM type ID card for expats with retirement extension of stay or other long term visas? Just swipe while looking at passport.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What, you mean not have a stamp in your passport? No chance. Thailand is well known as the World Hub Of Rubber Stamps.

And the  10 airlines in question are ?

I understood that Section 44 was invoked for Security issues , like stopping fugitives fleeing from justice etc.

 I didn't realise it was for such " important " issues like immigration cards .

1 hour ago, realenglish1 said:

And the  10 airlines in question are ?

The airlines that failed to pass international safety standards include low-cost domestic carriers such as Orient Thai Airlines, Thai VietJet Air and Siam Air Transport. The rest – mostly private charter jet and cargo carriers – are Mjets, K-Mile Air, Jet Asia Airways, AC Aviation, Siam Land Flying, Asia Atlantic Airlines, VIP Jets, H.S. Aviation, Advance Aviation and Skyview Airways.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/transpo/2017/09/05/13-airlines-blocked-flying-abroad-await-judgment/

 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Article 44 used on four issues

Why the focus on only four issues?

Through May 2017 the NCPO enacted 149 Article 44 orders. Some seemingly to be very petty use of absolute power such as stripping the police rank of Thaksin Shinawatra (when the police leadership refused to do so). http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30316131

Perhaps the frequent use of Article 44 is best explained by Prayut himself:

“Talking in terms of using the Article 44 in this country, I don’t have to be held accountable at all. I can do whatever,” http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2017/08/30/absolute-power-means-can-whatever-prayuth-says/

 

46 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

The airlines that failed to pass international safety standards include low-cost domestic carriers such as Orient Thai Airlines, Thai VietJet Air and Siam Air Transport. The rest – mostly private charter jet and cargo carriers – are Mjets, K-Mile Air, Jet Asia Airways, AC Aviation, Siam Land Flying, Asia Atlantic Airlines, VIP Jets, H.S. Aviation, Advance Aviation and Skyview Airways.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/transpo/2017/09/05/13-airlines-blocked-flying-abroad-await-judgment/

 

Thanks for the info Nice to know carriers like Asia Air and Nok Air are not on the list 

Why the focus on only four issues?
 

Gold mines,coal fired power plant,riverside slums,459 meter observation tower.

1 hour ago, NE1 said:

I understood that Section 44 was invoked for Security issues , like stopping fugitives fleeing from justice etc.

 I didn't realise it was for such " important " issues like immigration cards .

Lol.... as it didn't work very well in stopping fugitives, they may as well give it a go on other issues

bin the tm6 form save, trees, and pollute less, no one really cares about what wrote on TM6 card and add at least 30 new immigration booth to fasten the passport stamp

everyone understand there is a good connections on printing and producing millions of tm6 forms, but we are the iphoneX age .... paperless is a word of 20 years a go.... 

business travelers, tourist, residents, Thais are all very fed up of the long queue at the immigration barrage, as its a real barrier instead to be a service.

 

19 hours ago, yellowboat said:

They need god like powers to deal with such mundane tasks?  Thailand certainly has more than its fair share of problems.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.  Having to invoke Art 44 just to get these things done makes it seem like the government can't handle its day-to-day business by any normal means. 

The only valuable thing here is a new lucky lottery number. Article 44 for 4 meaningless issues. 444.