Latest news with #Somsak
Bangkok Post
a day ago
- Health
- Bangkok Post
Pro-cannabis group wants Somsak axed
A cannabis policy advocacy group, Writing Thailand's Cannabis Future Network, submitted a petition to the Government Complaints Centre at the Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday, calling for the dismissal of Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin. The group claimed that Mr Somsak's crackdown on marijuana favoured certain cannabis business groups while causing widespread harm across the industry. The petition referred to the Notification of the Ministry of Public Health on Controlled Herbs (Cannabis), which the group said marked a major departure from previous regulations in effect since 2022. For example, the new notification removed protections for vulnerable groups such as youth, effectively making cannabis more accessible to them -- despite claims that a medical certificate would still be required. The regulation also introduced new standards for cannabis cultivation and distribution without clearly informing the public. Under the new rules, cannabis must come from sources certified by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, yet no official certification standard has been announced. The regulation was enforced immediately without a grace period, leaving nearly 20,000 licensed producers unable to sell their products through the existing system. This abrupt change, the group said, has caused millions of baht in financial losses. The network also criticised the opaque implementation of the GACP (Good Agricultural and Collection Practices) standard, which they claim was applied selectively. Only certain groups were trained and certified, resulting in discriminatory practices that allowed a limited number of businesses to continue operating. The group accused Mr Somsak of violating the ethical code for politicians, citing alleged misconduct such as disregarding principles of justice, repeatedly meeting with specific cannabis business groups, withholding key information on licensing standards, and fostering division among licensed operators by favouring some. "The network and members of the cannabis community urge the PM to consider replacing the minister by appointing someone with knowledge, competence, and a commitment to good governance -- to restore public trust and end the harm to cannabis entrepreneurs," the group said.
Bangkok Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Weed networks still fuming
The Writing Thailand's Cannabis Future Network on Tuesday filed a petition with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to probe Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin and other officials for issuing the latest cannabis regulations to please investors rather than small-scale growers. The complaint outlined five key concerns, including the removal of protection for vulnerable groups previously included in the 2022 regulation, such as a ban on cannabis sales to young people under 20. The 2025 version replaces the ban with a medical prescription system, making access far easier for the young, whom the state should protect, said the network. The group also touched on the imposition of Good Agriculture and Collection Practice (GACP), which requires that distributors and exporters must be certified by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine. However, the criteria of the certifications and the sources of the cannabis are never announced, and thus, only a few are ever granted. The complaint addressed cannabis growers, many of whom have held legal licences and have been operating under the 2022 regulation. They now find that their products are unsellable, resulting in major losses for small businesses and communities. The regulation will also take immediate effect upon publication in the Royal Gazette, without allowing time for adaptation for the nearly 20,000 licensed shops, the network noted. The pro-cannabis network also accused the minister of unethical conduct due to his association with certain business groups in public and a lack of transparency, which limited access to economic opportunities for growers. The network said Mr Somsak, as public health minister, understands the cannabis industry in Thailand and the repercussions once the regulations come into effect. Yet, it added that he proceeded without any backup measures, which suggests his intention to benefit certain investors.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Health
- New Straits Times
Covid-19 fears prompt mass screening at Thai prison
KOTA BARU: Following a recent outbreak in Thailand, nearly 4,000 family members of Narathiwat prison inmates, including some from Malaysia, were screened for Covid-19 to prevent the spread of the virus within the correctional facility. The prison's Prisoner Development Division director Somsak Paddeang said the five-day mass screening programme, which began on July 21 and concluded yesterday, was held within the prison compound. "The screenings are a preventive measure following the rise in Covid-19 cases in Thailand. "We want to protect the health of the inmates and staff," he added. According to Somsak, the swab tests were conducted by nearly 10 prison officers with assistance from district health personnel. He said visitors who displayed symptoms or tested positive were immediately barred from entering the prison premises. "This proactive step is vital to stop any potential outbreak among the inmates," he said. Somsak added that all visitors, including Malaysians, were allowed to visit the inmates only after testing negative for Covid-19. According to Thailand's Department of Medical Sciences, the country has so far recorded 23 cases of the new Covid-19 strain XFG. Thailand's Department of Disease Control (DDC) reported on Covid-19 situation that Bangkok continues to have the highest number of daily cases, with the nationwide total reaching 439,527 confirmed cases for the year. As of June 11, a total of 7,527 new cases were reported, including 7,164 outpatients and 363 hospitalized patients. This brings the total number of cases since Jan 1, 2025, to 439,527. Additionally, 6 new deaths were reported, bringing the total number of fatalities since the beginning of the year to 130.
Bangkok Post
7 days ago
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Cambodia's attacks kill 12 Thais
The number of fatalities from Cambodia's attacks on Thai civilian areas has risen to 12, including an eight-year-old boy, with over 30 injuries, according to the Thai army. As of 2.15pm on Thursday, Thai authorities confirmed that civilian zones were hit by supporting fire, resulting in fatalities, injuries and property damage after Cambodian forces launched artillery strikes into Thai territory following a morning assault on a Thai military base near the Ta Muen Thom temple in Surin province. The affected areas included: Surin: Two civilians killed, including an eight-year-old boy; four civilians injured; five soldiers wounded. Ubon Ratchathani: One civilian killed; four seriously injured. Si Sa Ket: Eight civilians killed, including a 15-year-old; 15 civilians injured; one soldier killed, two wounded. Buri Ram: One civilian injured. The attacks also caused property damage, with reports of residential damage and damage to agricultural property and livestock in affected areas. In a statement, Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin condemned Cambodia's actions, labelling the attacks as inhumane and a severe violation of human dignity and Thailand's sovereignty. He highlighted ongoing efforts to coordinate emergency medical responses, with additional personnel and resources dispatched to the impacted zones. Mr Somsak reaffirmed Thailand's commitment to safeguarding its people, stating: "The government will pursue all necessary measures to respond to the aggression and ensure the safety of its citizens." The army reiterated its commitment to protecting Thailand's sovereignty and its citizens, stating it is prepared to take all necessary military measures in response to what it described as violations of humanitarian principles. "The Royal Thai Army strongly condemns the violent actions targeting civilians by Cambodian forces," the statement read. "Thailand stands ready to defend its sovereignty and protect its people from such inhumane acts." Thai villages hit by Cambodian rockets In Surin's Kap Choeng district, two people were killed and two injured when BM-21 rockets fired from Cambodia struck their village in the morning. Evacuations of up to 40,000 residents to emergency shelters were under way. District chief Sutthiroj Charoenthanasak confirmed that two rockets struck the village at 9.40am while residents were awaiting evacuation. Four people were wounded, with two later dying at hospital: a 12-year-old child and an adult. Authorities were evacuating people from 86 villages to emergency shelters at schools in the neighbouring Prasat district, Surin. Mr Sutthiroj said shelter capacity was adequate and most evacuees had arrived safely. Officials have not yet surveyed the attack site due to concerns over continued Cambodian artillery fire, he added. Patients in Kap Choeng were being evacuated from Phanom Dong Rak and Kap Choeng hospitals after rockets fell near the Ta Muen temple ruins. Further casualty reports were not immediately available. In Si Sa Ket, two people were reported killed and many other civilians hurt when Cambodian rockets fell into a supermarket at a petrol station in Ban Phue, provincial governor Watthana Phutthichat said. Fire and Rescue Thailand reported that the two deaths at the supermarket were students. A Thaipbs reporter said their bodies were found in the ruins. The 2nd Army Region posted a video of the incident on its Facebook page at 11.30am.
Bangkok Post
24-07-2025
- Health
- Bangkok Post
Strikes on civilians a 'war crime'
The Ministry of Public Health yesterday strongly condemned Cambodia following deadly rocket attacks yesterday that killed civilians, among them two schoolchildren, and struck areas in border provinces, including a hospital in Surin's Phanom Dongrak district. Describing the attacks as inhumane, Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin said he was angered and saddened by the assaults on the hospital and other civilian targets in Surin and other provinces. These attacks, which killed at least 11 people and injured several others, not only violated Thai sovereignty but also trampled on human values, he said. Mr Somsak said the attack on the hospital was a gross violation of human rights and of the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949), which protects civilian hospitals during armed conflict. The loss of innocent lives, including children, is unacceptable and cannot be forgiven, he said. "The Public Health Ministry condemns in the strongest terms the attack on the hospital and on Thai citizens," he said. "Hospitals must always be safe areas. A deliberate attack is crossing the line. Article 18 of the Fourth Geneva Convention says that civilian hospitals may in no circumstances be the object of attack and parties to the conflict are obligated to respect and protect [them]." Mr Somsak said Cambodia's aggression is a serious violation of international law and a war crime, noting that those issuing an order to attack and those who carry it out must be held accountable. The ministry demands that the Cambodian government cease any further attacks and take full responsibility, he said. In a media interview, Mr Somsak said patients at Phanom Dong Rak Hospital and Kap Choeng Hospital, which are located in high-risk areas, have been evacuated or sent home with Surin's public health office raising the emergency to Level 2. Somkhuan Singkham, chief of Kantharalak district in Surin, said seven people, including two schoolchildren, were killed in the attack on a 7-11 convenience store inside a petrol station in Ban Phue. The petrol station is reportedly located 20 kilometres from the border. In Kap Choeng district, about 40,000 people in 86 villages were also evacuated to emergency shelters in schools in the neighbouring district of Prasart, said district chief Sutthiroj Charoenthanasak. He said shelter capacity was adequate, and most evacuees had arrived safely. Two rockets struck a village at 9.40am while residents were awaiting evacuation, he added. Attacking hospitals is potentially a war crime, he noted.
