Thailand News
Embassies Won’t Issue Extension Papers for Citizens Stranded in Thailand
BANGKOK — Several embassies in Bangkok on Tuesday said they will not issue any further visa extension letters for their citizens when the overstay amnesty in the coronavirus pandemic expires on July 31.
In an announcement published last week by the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, American citizens who are residing in Thailand will have to decide whether to stay or leave the country, since it will no longer provide an extension of stay requests for its citizens. The letter is mandatory for most foreigners who wish to extend their stay for another 30 days.
“U.S. citizens have between now and July 31, 2020, to either return to the U.S. or their country of permanent residence or to obtain the appropriate visa type for a long-term stay in Thailand,” the post said. “The U.S. Embassy is unable to give advice on individual visa issues. Please refer to specific visa questions directly to immigration.”
Immigration spokesman Phakkhaphong Saiubon on Tuesday said again that another round of amnesty extension is “unlikely.”
Another round of visa amnesty for foreigners stranded in Thailand is unlikely, an immigration spokesman said Friday. The amnesty, extended back in April, will expire at the end of this month.
♦️Visa Amnesty Extension Unlikely, Immigration Spox Says https://t.co/2SbxvQElqI pic.twitter.com/cvALs0RrdP
— Richard Barrow in Thailand 🇹🇭🇬🇧 (@RichardBarrow) July 10, 2020
He also recommended foreigners whose respective embassies refused to issue the required papers to leave the country before July 31 to avoid being fined or arrested.
“Thailand has shown enough mercy for foreigners,” Col. Phakkhaphong said. “It’s been nearly four months already. If you have a letter, you’re good to stay, but if you can’t get one, then there’s not much we can do.”
The British Embassy in Bangkok said on its website that requests for visa extension letters will not be possible.
The spokesman refused to comment on the motive behind the embassies’ decision to stop providing extension letters.
“It’s up to them and Thailand has nothing to do with it,” Phakkhaphong said. “If a foreign embassy refused to provide the service to its citizens, no one else can. We have done our best to help foreigners.”
The amnesty, approved by the government in April, allowed foreigners whose visas expire between March 26 to July 31 to stay in the country without the need of applying for an extension at immigration offices.
The measure was introduced after a large number of foreign tourists and travelers found themselves stranded in Thailand amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
Overstay fines and the 90-day report requirements will resume after July 31 should the government decide not to extend it.
Source: Embassies Won’t Issue Extension Papers for Citizens Stranded in Thailand
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Thailand News
Police chain suspects doors and windows until next morning
On August 9, A man attacked an officer, took his gun, and fled to his house in Plang Yao District, Chachoengsao Province. The officer then tried to persuade him to surrender for more than 6 hours but still failed.
Later at 6:00 pm, Plangyao Police Station decided to send 50 officers from a special operations unit in Chachoengsao Province.
The standoff lasted until 11:00 p.m. and the villain still showed no signs of surrendering.
So, they decided to chain his doors and windows preventing him from escaping until the next day rather than risk any of the officers or even the suspect’s life.
Meanwhile, the Royal Thai Police in Chachoengsao Province started to process a search warrant for the next morning after leaving a couple of police officers to watch the house.
Later, Col. Sonthaya revealed that the perpetrator was named Mr. Anon, 45, at the house in Tha Bunmi Subdistrict, Koh Chan District, Chonburi Province, who went into a drunken methamphetamine rampage and destroyed his neighbor’s ricefields.
Police tried to intervene but Mr. Anont took a gun from Officer Or Sor and ran away. Mr. Anon’s daughter also reported his unusual behavior saying he was showing signs of aggressive behavior telling officers to exercise caution especially since he had a gun.
Police hope he will surrender after bringing a search warrant after the drugs wear off. To be continued……..
Later, it was reported that the suspect had escaped through the back of his house prior to officers boarding up his doors and windows. Police then conducted a search of the house and did not find the stolen gun. Police are still searching for the armed and dangerous suspect now.
Source and photos: https://www.khaosod.co.th/breaking-news/news_4678351
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Thailand News
2 Thai embassies hit by Covid-19 outbreaks
Thai embassies hit by Covid-19: Staff members of Thai embassies in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have contracted the novel coronavirus, according to the Foreign Ministry. The embassy in Manama reported that a foreign employee suffering mild symptoms tested positive for Covid-19, ministry spokesman Cherdkiat Atthakor said on Sunday.
Source: 2 Thai embassies hit by Covid-19 outbreaks
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Thailand News
‘Sick’ policeman jumps to his death from hospital
A policeman in Si Sa Ket province who suffered from mental illness reportedly killed himself on Saturday (August 8) by jumping out of the hospital building. The deceased, Suwaroj Khumthong, 53, was a police officer at Muang Chan Police Station who was admitted to Sisaket Hospital due to his mental condition.
Source: ‘Sick’ policeman jumps to his death from hospital
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