Thailand News
Farmers rally for use of banned chemicals–VIDEO
A group of about 30 farmers on Wednesday rallied in Bangkok, calling for the government to revise its ban on the use of paraquat and chlorpyrifos in agriculture.
The ban on the use of these two chemical pesticides went into effect on June 1, and some farmers oppose it, calling other substances ineffective in pest control.
Led by Sukan Sangwanna, secretary-general of the Safe Farming Confederation, the group rallied outside the Department of Agriculture building, the Bhumjaithai Party headquarters, the Foundation for Consumers building and Government House yesterday.
The group reiterated their message that “there is no substitute for the chemicals” and that “farmers know how to use them safely”.
Mr Sukan said many farmers have become frustrated because they are required to return any banned chemicals they have left to shops or face 10 years in prison and a fine of 1 million baht.
While these farmers are being forced to return the banned chemicals by Aug 29, the shops are not obligated to return their money, he said.
If the government insists on banning the chemicals, it should ban the import of agriculture products from countries still using paraquat and chlorpyrifos for crops, he said. The state should also impose a zero-tolerance policy towards the import of food products tainted by the chemicals, he added.
If the government failed to do so, the farmers would consider the import of the goods as “double standards”.
The group also renewed their call to have the government limit the use of paraquat and chlorpyrifos instead of imposing a total ban.
On June 11, the group filed a petition with the Central Administrative Court, seeking an injunction to allow the use of paraquat and chlorpyrifos, which was banned by the National Hazardous Substances Committee. It cited the need for the substances to deal with weeds during the planting season.
The move was the group’s second attempt to seek court protection.
Source: Farmers rally for use of banned chemicals
Photo by Sandy Zebua on Unsplash
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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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