Anutin Charnvirakul, man in firing line for Thailand’s COVID crisis

[webfact]

Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul during an interview with Agence France-Presse in Bangkok on April 3, 2019. (Photo by Romeo GACAD / AFP)

 

By Thai PBS World’s General Desk

 

Tycoon-turned-politician Anutin Charnvirakul may arguably be Thailand’s most-hated public health minister by now. But to be fair, his predecessors never had to tackle the world’s worst virus crisis in more than a century.

 

Heading Bhumjaithai Party whose key election pledge was to legalise medical marijuana, Anutin took up the health portfolio in July 2019. But while his cannabis push has progressed well, Anutin’s campaign against the COVID-19 outbreak that emerged in early 2020 has been hit with repeated criticism and controversy.

 

COVID-19 situation

As soon as COVID-19 hit Thailand, Anutin became a target of fierce criticism. To many, he is guilty of undermining anti-virus measures by sending confusing messages. Some of his comments were rash and had to be followed by clarifications or retractions. In other cases, the public criticised him for being too slow, especially in implementing the 14-day mandatory quarantine that protected Thailand from the pandemic overseas.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/anutin-charnvirakul-man-in-firing-line-for-thailands-covid-crisis/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-05-03

 

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[RandolphGB]

Nobody gets into politics to become poorer. This  is particularly true in Thailand. 

[bluesofa]

3 minutes ago, webfact said:

Anutin Charnvirakul, man in firing line for Thailand’s COVID crisis

How long is the queue to pull the trigger?

[internationalism]

both him, and the prime minister, just holed up when the 3rd wave stroke.

The PM went even further, by defending the transport minister cristal club visits and threatening media not to publice anything about ministers and civil servants.

It was the PM who was making all major health policies, not anutin. 

To sail through the incoming crisis after songkran, Anutin tried to publicly blame prayuth - instead he was completely moved aside and prayuth nominated himself the guru.

Now at the helm is a thicko with 68k grey cells, who can't read properly names of vaccines, yet it's exactly him who is deciding which one to buy.

Doesn't look bright for thailand, going deeper into dark feudal ages.

The third wave will last till autumn, with the african and after the indian mutations riding through thai towns, with tens dead every day 

 

 

Edited May 3, 2021 by internationalism

[dinsdale]

Yep he's useless but look up the ladder a little farther and you have the true villian of the story.

[NanLaew]

15 minutes ago, internationalism said:

To sail through the incoming crisis after songkran, Anutin tried to publicly blame prayuth - instead he was completely moved aside and prayuth nominated himself the guru.

 

How could the DPM and Health Minister possibly be blaming the PM after he himself very publicly gave the all-clear for Songkran travel?

 

“Although provinces have been divided into zones, designated by colours according to the infection rates, none will be locked down. People can still travel to other provinces without having to go into quarantine on arrival at their destination. Only people who have been infected with the virus, or are considered to be at high risk, will be quarantined.”

 

https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/songkran/songkran-travel-okay-to-visit-elderly-relatives-not-to-party-health-minister

 

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

18 minutes ago, internationalism said:

The PM went even further, by defending the transport minister cristal club visits and threatening media not to publice anything about ministers and civil servants.

They are answerable to no-one, and completely entrenched.

 

19 minutes ago, internationalism said:

both him, and the prime minister, just holed up when the 3rd wave stroke.

The PM went even further, by defending the transport minister cristal club visits and threatening media not to publice anything about ministers and civil servants.

It was the PM who was making all major health policies, not anutin. 

To sail through the incoming crisis after songkran, Anutin tried to publicly blame prayuth - instead he was completely moved aside and prayuth nominated himself the guru.

Now at the helm is a thicko with 68k grey cells, who can't read properly names of vaccines, yet it's exactly him who is deciding which one to buy.

Doesn't look bright for thailand, going deeper into dark feudal ages.

The third wave will last till autumn, with the african and after the indian mutations riding through thai towns, with tens dead every day 

 

 

 

Looks like it is shaping up to be the perfect storm. 

[Kiujunn]

Just now, Mr Meeseeks said:

They are answerable to no-one

Not true

[gunderhill]

1 minute ago, Kiujunn said:

Not true

Looking  in the  mirror doesn't  count though.

[colinneil]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Anutin’s campaign against the COVID-19 outbreak that emerged in early 2020 has been hit with repeated criticism and controversy.

 

Anutins campaign, only campaign he has been involved in, is anti farang.

[ikke1959]

It will be the first head that starts rolling.. the beginning of the end for this Government. And put them in dungeons with water and bread

[mtls2005]

Given that the pm has both emasculated dpm anutin, and taken over his power at the MoPH, not much he can do.

 

Falling on the sword just isn't done here.

 

He'll muddle along, probably show up again in some government in 10 years.

[holy cow cm]

No matter what, everyone knows it is him and the junta clowns above him who are at fault. The people need to get stronger.

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, colinneil said:

Anutins campaign, only campaign he has been involved in, is anti farang.

 

Oh get over it can't you?

 

It's about his disregard for all Thai people less well-off than himself. More like the behavior of a sociopath.

 

Your whining and that of the other blinkered, perpetual TV Thai bashers (including those who think 'farang' is a racial epithet) is so much like the rambling of a different bunch of sociopaths.

Edited May 3, 2021 by NanLaew

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, mtls2005 said:

Given that the pm has both emasculated dpm anutin, and taken over his power at the MoPH, not much he can do.

 

Falling on the sword just isn't done here.

 

He'll muddle along, probably show up again in some government in 10 years.

 

The PM has simply taken away the DPM's microphone.

 

The PM still needs the DPM's party.

[EricTh]

He should have locked down Bangkok at the beginning of the month and banned Songkran, then this third wave wouldn't have happened.

 

I am worried there might be a fourth wave because they banned non-Thai from India one week too late.

 

There were some infected Indians who were in quarantine and the virus might have slipped through the quarantine center (it's not 100% foolproof).

 

They were too laxed during the 3rd wave.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 3, 2021 by EricTh

[billd766]

2 hours ago, bluesofa said:

How long is the queue to pull the trigger?

About 27km if social distancing is applied or 500 metres Thai style. ????

[RichardColeman]

All Thai politicians appear smug in all photos to me. I guess that's due to the knowledge of no matter how bad they are , they know they are safe and wont be replaced even if they make a pigs ear of everything

[Neeranam]

Chia Kok Min(head of CP group) is the one who should be getting the blame. 

[brommers]

He is combative, ignorant, a loud mouth and basically a thug. Obviously prime characteristics for his current position. He will not be removed as the result of public pressure because he has the PM by the b*lls when it comes to the balance of power. No doubt his continual promotion of the Sinovac vaccine is based on something other than efficacy because even the Chinese admit their vaccines are inferior. I wonder what is the reason?!!

[harada]

As if he would give a rats backside, I don’t think he’ll end up on the dole queue.

 

[NanLaew]

3 hours ago, EricTh said:

He should have locked down Bangkok at the beginning of the month and banned Songkran, then this third wave wouldn't have happened.

 

I am worried there might be a fourth wave because they banned non-Thai from India one week too late.

 

There were some infected Indians who were in quarantine and the virus might have slipped through the quarantine center (it's not 100% foolproof).

 

They were too laxed during the 3rd wave.

 

 

 

Should have, would have, could have...

 

Spilt milk syndrome.

[NanLaew]

2 hours ago, Neeranam said:

Chia Kok Min(head of CP group) is the one who should be getting the blame. 

 

While tiptoeing around any defamatory remarks, why?

[Andycoops]

Well if being a so-called tycoon is a qualification for being a health minister, good luck Thailand.

[spidermike007]

Both Anutin and Prayuth bear 90% of the blame for this latest wave. It could have been stopped. When you pick from the bottom of the barrel, it can be a recipe for disaster. My dog knows more about the medical industry, than he does. Has he even bothered to attempt to explain anything, at this point? What has he done? If he has explained anything, it is not enough. 

 

Has he explained why Thailand is so dreadfully behind the curve?
Has he explained why Thailand is dead last in ASEAN with vaccinations?
Or has he explained how we could have been beaten by even the PI?
Or has he explained why he did not order a tiny lockdown of a 2km. radius around the Samut Sakhon market, which very well may have led to this huge spike?
Or has Prayuth explained why he stuck with a health minister, who has no experience in the medical field, during a national emergency?

Currently, the US is at well over 50% of people with at least one jab, for those over 18 years old, and at over 80% for those over 65. Thailand is at just over 1%. What can one even say?

I know, I know, I know. I should have reacted when the outbreak happened back in December, and done the right thing by shutting down that area in Samut immediately, instead of waiting days, allowing the super spreaders to travel all over the country, in the seafood trucks. I know I was really, really dumb to do that. 

I know. I should have taken the vaccine thing more seriously. I know, I should have been a more qualified health minister.

 

I know, my PM's pathological fear of the optics of a lockdown are causing many more cases than need be. And I know, I should he been more diligent with the borders, and he should have cracked down on corrupt immigration officials, and he should have kept his promise to fight corruption, and both of us should have and could have done better.

Do you want me to resign now? I know what is what you are thinking. I probably should. It sure would be the right thing to do.

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Heading Bhumjaithai Party whose key election pledge was to legalise medical marijuana, Anutin took up the health portfolio in July 2019. But while his cannabis push has progressed well,

As leader of the Bhumjaithai party he was in favour with Prayut who needed the support, in return he got the pick of health minister so he could push through his own agenda of the marijuana programme, no-doubt making a nice earner on the side.

The mishandling of the Covid affair was inevitable as he had no experience in the health field, neither has his boss who has stuck to his idea of only allowing a favoured company to produce the bulk of vaccines for Thailand and has been caught out with a third wave...

Both should be kicked out for blatant self interests over the peoples welfare.

[Excel]

Just now, hotchilli said:

As leader of the Bhumjaithai party he was in favour with Prayut who needed the support, in return he got the pick of health minister so he could push through his own agenda of the marijuana programme, no-doubt making a nice earner on the side.

The mishandling of the Covid affair was inevitable as he had no experience in the health field, neither has his boss who has stuck to his idea of only allowing a favoured company to produce the bulk of vaccines for Thailand and has been caught out with a third wave...

Both should be kicked out for blatant self interests over the peoples welfare.

You give them too much credit. These muppets only do what the puppet master tells them to do.

[Neeranam]

13 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Currently, the US is at well over 50% of people with at least one jab, for those over 18 years old, and at over 80% for those over 65. Thailand is at just over 1%. What can one even say?

Thailand and the US are totally different, thank Buddha. 

How many died from covid in the US? 

His many died in Thailand? 

 

This fact alone explains the diffirence 

[Jai Dee]

4 minutes ago, Excel said:

You give them too much credit.

 

[Russell17au]

 

5 hours ago, EricTh said:

He should have locked down Bangkok at the beginning of the month and banned Songkran, then this third wave wouldn't have happened.

 

I am worried there might be a fourth wave because they banned non-Thai from India one week too late.

 

There were some infected Indians who were in quarantine and the virus might have slipped through the quarantine center (it's not 100% foolproof).

 

They were too laxed during the 3rd wave.

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry Eric Th but I was going to correct you on your claim that the Indian strain was going to be the 4th wave as I saw somewhere earlier today that the South African strain was in Malaysia just waiting to cross the border into Thailand but whilst I was searching for the link to that I found a link on Thaiger that the 1st case of Indian strain has now been found in Malaysia. 2 things could happen here and that is the Indian strain does battle with the South African strain and they kill each other off or they join forces into a super virus before they invade Thailand together.

https://thethaiger.com/news/regional/malaysia-en/first-case-of-indian-covid-19-variant-found-in-malaysia