Thailand ‘State of Emergency’ may be extended

[tribalfusion001]

Extend again, who would of thought that!

[madmen]

31 minutes ago, bwpage3 said:

May or May not news.

 

Useless!

Not useless. If they are putting it out there then rest assured the decision is already made otherwise why would they Even consider releasing such a controversial statement ?

Edited June 8, 2020 by madmen

[Psimbo]

There's no 'may' about it- unless its May 2021.

 

The 'Gov't' is going to keep this in play as long as possible as it clearly suits their agenda.

[webfact]

Skies may open to tourists end of June, though country may remain under state of emergency

By The Nation

 

Bangkok’s popular tourist attraction, the Grand Palace, reopened to visitors on June 7. 

 

Though Thailand is gradually preparing to reopen its doors to international flights, the state of emergency may not be lifted by the end of this month, senior officials said on Monday (June 8). 

 

Chula Sukmanop, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, said the authorities will meet with local airlines next week to find out if they are ready to resume international services. 

 

“At the moment, we haven’t yet decided whether we will extend the ban on incoming passenger flights as we are waiting for instructions from the government’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration [CCSA],” he said, referring to the flight ban order which is due to expire at the end of this month. 

 

“We also have to see if other countries will open their skies. Things will become much clearer in the next week or two,” he said. 

 

Many European countries have lifted the ban on flights within Europe, while many other countries plan to reopen their international flights on July 1. 

 

An informed source said Thailand may start reopening its skies to countries that have been successful in controlling the spread of Covid-19, or may only allow some groups, such as businesspersons, to fly in. 

 

Meanwhile, Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam said the government’s decision on whether it lifts or extends the state of emergency depends largely on the number of new infections in the country. He said the current situation is acceptable and the government may further ease restrictions in the fourth phase. 

 

“However, my biggest concern is that schools will reopen on July 1, the state of emergency is scheduled to expire on the same day and international flights will resume bringing foreigners into the country. We have to take all these factors into account when considering the easing of more restrictions,” he said. 

 

He added that in case the government decides to extend the state of emergency, it may allow large gatherings of people.

 

Putting the country under a state of emergency allows the government to respond quickly, but under the Communicable Disease Act, the public health minister cannot mobilise police or military personnel to enforce the law, he said in reference to proposals to replace the state of emergency with the law. 

 

Civil groups, meanwhile, have been accusing the government of using the state of emergency to silence the voice of political activists and people.

 

Wissanu, however, said if the Communicable Disease Act was used, it would not be clear how to control interprovincial travel, because this comes under the jurisdiction of governors. 

 

One perfect example of the difference between the state of emergency and authority under the Communicable Disease Act is that the government can close all pubs right away in case there is a second wave of infections, but under the law’s regulations, the authorities can only close individual pubs, he said. 

 

As to whether the government will lift the state of emergency before allowing foreigners to land in the country, Wissanu said that closing the country to foreigners was consistent with the state of emergency.

 

“However, stringent rules can be eased as it depends on the advice of medical doctors,” he said. 

 

Thailand plans to launch the fourth phase of easing lockdowns next week now that there have been no new Covid-19 infections in the country over the past two weeks, with the exception of infections among Thais who have been repatriated from overseas and put under state quarantine. Though foreigners holding residence or work permits were allowed recently to register for their return, the flight ban imposed in early April remains in place until June 30.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30389274

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-06-09

 

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[smedly]

[Don Mega]

9 hours ago, Brunolem said:

Is that official?

 

Monday 6 is Khao Pansa (candle festival) holiday...and then they are going to add 3 days, until Thursday, which obviously most people will extend by 1 more day, the Friday, making it a 9 day holiday!

 

 

 

 

Am hoping it works out like as Ive already got annual leave for the Friday approved !!

[Geoffggi]

IMO it is perfectly obvious that if the state of emergency is extended then outside visitors should not be allowed to enter the country, I would have thought this should be a clearly rational way of thinking to anyone with a modicum of intelligence..!! They have had ample time to realise that certain dates will clash with the way they have planned things - just too slow to act........

[BobbyL]

The extending of it is not really surprising. However, when he refers to a 'holiday', is he referring to the previously absurd idea of rescheduling Songkran at the start of July? 

[sungod]

15 hours ago, Brunolem said:

What long holidays??? 

 

Do the children need holidays after 4 months at home? 

 

And what are long holidays going to do for the millions of unemployed? 

 

The real emergency is for everybody to get back to work! 

 

 

 

 

Couldn't agree more. Great boost/start for the tourism sector (getting many back in work) as those who have worked at home for months want to get away from the house and take a break with their families.

 

We could see more killed on the roads over this holiday than died of Covid 19, so some may choose to stay home ....... ????

[GaryAdriaenssens]

As long as Thailand exists they always have lived under "a state of emergency", so no real difference here... Isn't it Anutin and Generalis!?  ????

[Mr Meeseeks]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

“However, my biggest concern is that schools will reopen on July 1, the state of emergency is scheduled to expire on the same day and international flights will resume bringing foreigners into the country. We have to take all these factors into account when considering the easing of more restrictions,” he said. 

Sounds to me like they will use the opening of the schools as an excuse to further extend the international flight ban, citing foreigners as too high-risk to be allowed back until later in the year.

 

Can't blame them really, if you are stuck overseas and can't get in you should be directing your ire at the US and UK governments, both whom have made a complete disaster out of handling the crisis.

[Mr Meeseeks]

3 minutes ago, sungod said:

Couldn't agree more. Great boost/start for the tourism sector (getting many back in work) as those who have worked at home for months want to get away from the house and take a break with their families.

 

We could see more killed on the roads over this holiday than died of Covid 19, so some may choose to stay home ....... ????

Domestic tourism may help a few out but international tourism is gone for this year.

[Don Mega]

14 minutes ago, BobbyL said:

. However, when he refers to a 'holiday', is he referring to the previously absurd idea of rescheduling Songkran at the start of July? 

Hopefully.

[davemos]

Another if and maybe report .

[dinsdale]

16 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

The delayed Songkran holidays from 7-9 July.

There are loads of people who have been working throughout the pandemic, they would like a holiday.

The state of emergency everyone knows has nothing to do with health and has everything to do with almost unlimited powers in the hands of one person. The so-called PM. 

This paper explains this very well and is worth a read. It's old and may have changed to give the gerneral even more power. Still you'll get the idea.

https://www.icj.org/wp-content/uploads/2005/08/Thailand-accountability-advocacy-2005.pdf

Edited June 9, 2020 by dinsdale

[Titan1962]

Open up Thailand to the people of Thailand and let them have their freedom. Allow social gatherings and go about business as usual. If Thailand becomes free of the virus that’s great news,but it has been shown that people entering the country from overseas could trigger another outbreak. Look after your own backyard first,as for the school holiday people don’t need that right now. 

[MJKT2014]

I thought schools open on 1-Jul ? Why don't they wait until after the long delayed Songkran Holiday?

[decca60]

Just like most of the governments around the world: Yed, but no, maybe perhaps, if !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! great decision making.....

[meechai]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

The emergency decree may remain in effect for the sake of swift solutions,”

They have learned from the USA never let a crisis go to waste & use it to remove freedoms while giving the govt ever more sweeping power.

 

The Declaration of National Emergency put into effect by Bush on  9-14-2001 due to the 9-11 attacks has never been lifted & is still current.

Extended by Obama & probably will also be extended by Trump for above reasons

 

 

Current

Bush

September 14, 2001[4]

Military

Declaration of National Emergency by Reason of Certain Terrorist Attacks (Proclamation 7463)[62] – the first of two national emergencies declared following the September 11 attacks, allowing the president to call troops from the National Guard or from retirement, to apportion military funding, to exercise more discretion over hiring military officers, and to promote more generals than previously allowed.[63][64]

 

[dave moir]

I smell a rat!!!! Why is there only pubs mentioned when talking about maybe having to close quickly in the case of a second wave?

Why are the government so anti bars?

[dinsdale]

33 minutes ago, MJKT2014 said:

I thought schools open on 1-Jul ? Why don't they wait until after the long delayed Songkran Holiday?

Indeed. What this shows is once again an absolute inabilty for the empty heads running the show to apply even a modicum of logic. It will have already been 1.5 months missed so what difference will another 4 days make. Go back to school Wed 1. Then school Thurs and Friday. Then Songkran. Then come back to school Fri 10. Then Sat and Sun off. Then back to school on the 13th. This is when schools should open. July the 13th. I dout this will happen because it would be the logical thing to do. TIT. Think of the logical solution, reverse it and that's what will happen.

 

[maddermax]

I'm retired here. I need to travel to Hong Kong in the next 30 days. If I manage to get a flight will I have to undergo the 14 day quarantine on return having already been locked down for 3 months?

[Venom]

1 hour ago, sungod said:

We could see more killed on the roads over this holiday than died of Covid 19, so some may choose to stay home .......

Could? There's more killed on any given day, 365 days a year.

[Darkside Gray]

And that mad perfect sense! I think not government double talk!

[bander]

I am sure tourist from the whole world want to travel to a country who is under state of emergency and at the same time fine everybody who post pictures of alcohol on their facebook.  Another nail in the coffin for Thailand as a tourist destination.

 

[PumpkinEater]

Fear = Insanity!

For all of you crazy people scared to death to opening the skies and country after only 58 deaths need to wake up and get rational.

99.9% chance of living if you catch the virus.

If you are still afraid, I suggest that you live inside of a bubble suit and drink soup from a straw.
 

Require a test to inbound tourists, but get this country up and running IMHO.

[sahibji]

it would be more prudent to excercise caution and not open up too fast. the outcome could be disastrous if the situation is not well handled.

 

[Stargeezr]

Well if that is great thinking, I guess I will be nice and stay away from Thailand for 2 years

as that will be about the shortest time before they can actually get their act

together. Hello Vietnam.

Geezer

[DirtyHarry55]

No surprise there they probably need the SOE to prevent any protests.

[rtco]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

It is possible to extend the imposition of the emergency decree

I have just a one word question ... why?