Daily news from Thailand

[halfway inn]

Will Thai prisons become tourist attractions?

24 Aug 2020

Project: "Happy Heart Trip"



At 11:30 a.m. on August 24, 2020 Mr. Somsak Thepsutin, Minister of Justice, with Mr. Wiwat Niti kanjana, consultant minister of justice and Mr. Wisit Wisitsornth, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, visited the ministry of the Ministry of Justice and launched the "Happy Heart Trip" project to give people the opportunity to make mistakes in society at Khao Mai Kaew Temporary Prison and The Open Office of HuayPong, Rayong Province.

- Man charged with murder ingesting cocaine in New Year.
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- Get to know the elephants "Ya Boonma" The owner of the nickname "Mammoth Muang Thai" is a tourist favorite.

Mr. Somsak has started visiting the area management as a tourist attraction of Khao Mai Kaew Temporary Prison.
We are here to see services from foreign language-trained inmates.
He then went on to the Huai Pong Open Correctional Facility to launch the "Happy Heart Trip" project, giving people the opportunity to make a social visit and watch the "Chef's Cage" cooking competition between the two prisons.
Mr. Somsak was dressed in a chef's uniform.
Visit cooking closely Guests can also talk to inmates in a friendly manner before visiting activities such as horse riding.



Mr. Somsak said he was pleased to visit the operation.
In 2014, the Department of Corrections and Human Services released a "Happy Trip" program that provides opportunities for people to make mistakes in the face of the Ministry of Justice, especially the Department of Corrections. By creating opportunities for acceptance from external societies.

Mr. Somsak said that promoting skills for inmates to be ready to go out into the outside society, as well as to create a prison image that is seen as a twilight land, is a land of creation and opportunity, starting with establishing guidelines for the development of inmates.
Systematic management of space, utilities, energy and the environment.

"The potential of the Department of Corrections is to have resources in both personnel and areas, which will see that many prisons are on the main route of tourism. If it can be developed and transformed into a tourist attraction, it will open up a space for inmates to have the opportunity to show their potential to the outside society, so they have a policy for inmates to learn the skills they need to live after the penalty, such as training in foreign languages. Household accounting for inmates" Mr. Somsak said.

Mr. Somsak said that traveling today will be seen as the Department of Corrections is ready to drive the tourist prison policy to complete the tourism policy.
It is a pilot area and will expand operations to other locations, according to the Department of Corrections, as well as today, to train the cooking skills of inmates under the Steel Cage Chef Program.

In addition Mr. Somsak added that the development of tourist prisons across the country has a plan within the next three years, with the next year expanding by nearly 50%, we now have five tourist prisons such as Trat, Rayong, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, with an additional 67 facilities, a total of 72 out of 143 prisons.

How will the development of the prison become a tourist attraction? Mr. Somsak said that the Ministry of Justice supports tourism in the country.
We can use our own budget, but the days ahead of cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism may occur.

When asked how inmates would benefit or earn money, he replied: "Yes. Mr. Somsak said that regular inmates working outside earn an average of 1-3 thousand baht per month by deducting money after deduction.
Inmates will get 50% because they have a fund, which many inmates can bring back to their families.


Source: Thairath Online

[thailandgr]

Official #COVID19 update in #Thailand on Wednesday:
🔸3,490 people infected (+10)
🔸3,316 discharged from hospital (+1)
🔸116 in hospital
🔸58 dead (+0)
The 10 new cases are 2 foreigners who came from Myanmar (1) & Ethiopia (1), and 8 Thais from India (2), Indonesia (2) and Yemen (4).

[thailandgr]

“The tourism index plunged for two consecutive quarters, with 10% of operators already throwing in the towel and 537,280 employees laid off.”
♦️TCT says 10% of firms have closed https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1994547/tct-says-10-of-firms-have-closed

[thailandgr]

Today in Bangkok

[thailandgr]

BREAKING: This is the scene at Lat Phrao in Bangkok as thousands of Thais join anti-government protests, defying a ban on gatherings of more than five people.
Protests are currently taking place at various locations across the city. The authorities have responded by closing down much of the Bangkok's public transportation network.

[thailandgr]

King Vajiralongkorn was taken to Bangkok Hospital about midnight last night. He left around two hours later.
Staff were ordered to keep quiet about it.
The reason for his hospitalisation is not yet known, but earlier this week one of the bodyguards in the royal entourage, who had accompanied the king from Europe, tested positive for coronavirus.
None of the royal entourage quarantined or took precautions after arriving on a flight from Zurich on October 10.

[thailandgr]

Official #COVID19 update in #Thailand on Friday:
🔸3,818 people infected (+8)
🔸3,639 discharged from hospital (+10)
🔸119 in hospital
🔸60 dead (+1) *

Foreigners travelling from: Switzerland (1), India (1), Myanmar (3) **
Thais: Saudi Arabia (1), Ukrainian (1), Netherlands (1)

* A Thai male aged 66 sadly died yesterday. He was said to have underlying diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. He arrived from the UK on 19 October and tested positive with #COVID19 a few days later. He was patient No. 3,719 on 22 October.

** The three Burmese men who tested for COVID are truck drivers. They weren’t in quarantine and were tested at the border. They showed no symptoms. They have been sent back to Myanmar. The other five people were all in quarantine after arriving from abroad.

[thailandgr]

oday one reported local case.....

Official #COVID19 update in #Thailand on Saturday:
🔸3,830 people infected (+9 imported, +1 local, +2 not in quarantine) *
🔸3,644 discharged from hospital (+5)
🔸126 in hospital
🔸60 dead (+0)

Foreigners travelling from: France (2), India (1), Mexico (1), Netherlands (1), Myanmar (2)
Thais: UAE (1), US (2), Switzerland (1)

* I will update later when more information is released. At the moment all I know is that the local case is an Indian. The two imported cases that weren’t in quarantine were probably Burmese drivers tested at the border. The ones reported yesterday were sent back.

[thailandgr]

Official #COVID19 update in #Thailand on Sunday:
🔸3,837 people infected (+7 imported cases)
🔸3,654 discharged from hospital (+10)
🔸123 in hospital
🔸60 dead (+0)

Foreigners travelling from: Austria (1), Canada (1), Russia (1), USA (1), Myanmar (1)
Thais: US (1), Canada (1)

[thailandgr]

[thailandgr]

According to Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Department of Disease Control, the Ministry of Public Health has been testing all those who came into contact with the patient and there has yet to be a positive result. He said widespread COVID-19 transmission is unlikely because people in Chiang Mai are still predominately wearing masks on a daily basis. The ministry will continue monitoring the situation for a further 14 days.
Of the 328 people believed to have come into close contact with the 29-year-old Thai woman who worked in Myanmar who tested positive, 107 were initially classified as being at high risk of contagion. Of those, 65 have already seen negative test results returned.
Dr Opas asked people to remain calm and cautioned against "overreacting" after some schools announced their immediate temporary closure after the news first broke at the weekend, and reassured  that all necessary precautions were being taken.

[thailandgr]

The strong northeast monsoon prevails over the Gulf and the South bringing isolated heavy to very heavy rain in the South, the Thailand Meteorological Department said on Tuesday.
People should beware of the severe conditions that may cause flash floods and water runoffs, the department warned.
Meanwhile a rather strong high-pressure system covers upper Thailand and the South China Sea, causing cool to cold weather and strong winds in upper Thailand.

[thailandgr]

The Samut Sakhon governor has announced the province is now locked down.
All local schools, sports stadia, boxing stadia, nurseries, beauty salons and restaurants are to close. Only take-away food is permitted.
Local department stores will now be closed until Jan 3rd.
All local convenience stores are to close between 22.00hrs and 05.00hrs.
Local migrant workers are not allowed to leave Samut Sakhon.
Local Thai citizens are allowed to leave only after informing authorities of their names and destination.
As for tomorrow’s local elections, the province says it is ready with preventative measures already in place.
Authorities are asking people to stay at home from 22.00hrs to 05.00hrs (curfew) until further notice.

[thailandgr]

[thailandgr]

Chiang Mai Public Health department is rushing to set up a field hospital within the convention center.
There will be enough beds for 280 patients, 140 male and 140 women.
It’s due to open tomorrow