News from Thailand – January 21, 2013
The strike of the 400 ground staff of Thai Airways International (THAI) was called off on Saturday evening. But the strike is still going strong.
The Transport Minister has instructed Bangkok's railways and public transport (bus and subway) to prepare contingency plans in case their staff go on strike. The Ministry will consult with the Ministry of Defense about the deployment of soldiers during strikes.
On Saturday evening, the 400 strikers who handle baggage handling at Suvarnabhumi returned to work after THAI President Sorajak Kasemsuvan agreed to the demanded 7,5 percent wage increase instead of the 4 percent offered. But that commitment still needs to be confirmed by the board of directors, which will not meet again until February 8. No agreement was reached on the other requirement, a bonus of 2 months instead of 1 for 2012.
Minister Chadchat Sittipunt (Transport) has called on other public transport companies to learn lessons from the strike. Passengers should not be held hostage. A work stoppage must not affect passengers, cause damage to the organization and damage to the country as a whole. The strike should not have happened. Their demands are not urgent. It's not a matter of life or death. It can be negotiated.'
As a result of the strike, about thirty THAI flights were delayed and passengers often had to wait more than an hour for their luggage. Even yesterday morning, flights would still be delayed, Sorajak said, despite the fact that the strike had ended, but everything would be back to normal by noon.
– No refugee camp in Rayong. There are already 100.000 migrants living in the province and they are already causing more than enough social, safety and health problems. This is what Sucheep Patthong says on behalf of a group of residents in response to the call by human rights groups [?] to set up a camp for the Rohingya refugees in Rayong. More than 900 Rohingya have been detained in southern Songkhla province in the past two weeks.
“Although we have sympathy for the Rohingya migrants, we are very concerned about the possible negative consequences of setting up a refugee camp here. When those human rights organizations continue their plea for a camp, we will take action.' Sucheep believes the government should focus on solving the problems of Thai citizens before addressing migrant issues.
In Songkhla, residents of two villages went into the forests in search of Rohingya who are believed to be hiding in the border area, but they came home empty-handed. They had brought an apprehended Rohingya to help with the search. He had to shout in their own language that it was safe to come out.
The Islamic Committee of Narathiwat, Yala, Songkhla, Pattani and Satun has set up a center to receive donations to buy items for the Rohingya.
– The cabinet is meeting today during its meeting in Uttaradit on development plans for five provinces in the North worth 6,5 billion baht. They were submitted by the provinces of Tak, Sukothai, Phitsanulok, Uttaradit and Phetchabun and include the establishment of a special economic zone in Mae Sot in 2015, the upgrading of the Phudu border post, the extension of a highway, the construction of a dike along the Nan River in Phitsunalok and improving health care.
Prior to the meeting, Prime Minister Yingluck and ministers visited Srisatchanalai Historical Park in Sukothai. Yingluck also laid the foundation stone for a new building of the Lap Lae hospital in Uttaradit.
– The ultra-nationalist Thai Patriots Network is holding a rally at the Royal Plaza today in protest against the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague to hear Cambodia's request for a 'reinterpretation' of the 1962 Preah Vihear verdict. to take. In 1962, the Court awarded the Hindu temple to Cambodia, but now Cambodia also wants to elicit a ruling from the Court on the disputed 4,6 square kilometers at the temple. The police are deploying an extra 100 men to manage the expected traffic congestion.
Opposition Democrats have called on the State Department to issue a statement rejecting Cambodia's claim that Thailand has invaded Cambodian territory near the temple [meaning the 4,6 square kilometers].
In April, Thailand and Cambodia will give an oral explanation of the case in The Hague. The Court is expected to make a ruling in six months. According to opposition leader Abhisit, Thailand is at a disadvantage if the ministry remains silent.
– Of the 800.00 disabled children in Thailand, 200.000 go to school. The rest receive some form of home schooling [if any]. The Disabilities Thailand Association therefore calls on the Ministry of Education to provide more educational facilities for disabled children. Representatives of interest groups recently spoke with the Minister of Education.
Usually, schools reject disabled children because they do not have the appropriate facilities. Many parents are therefore forced to send their children to special education. Thailand has approximately 42 special education schools.
– A man in Prachin Buri has received an ID card with the date of birth February 31, 1961, 'a date which does not exist', the newspaper adds for the sake of clarity. Earlier it was revealed that an assistant village chief from Khlong Thap Chan was born on February 30 according to his ID card (see Five strange stories from Thailand, January 19). February 31 should be January 31, says the district head. The error will be corrected.
– How many cyclists appeared at the start, the newspaper does not state, but the publisher of Bangkok Post and the City of Bangkok yesterday organized a cycling event to promote Bangkok as World Book Capital 2013, an honorary title awarded by Unesco.
– Fog lights must remain off when there is no fog, because then they dazzle motorcyclists. On his Facebook page, Worasak Nopasithiporn, deputy chief of the Bangkok municipal police, warns that motorists risk a 500 baht fine if they do turn on their fog lights.
– About 45 residents and activists from Nakhon Si Thammarat have started an 800 kilometer march to the Government House in Bangkok as part of an anti-drug campaign. They urge the government to step up the fight against drugs. The hikers hope to arrive in Bangkok on February 9.
– A 47-year-old member of the Tambon Administration Organization in Pitumudee (Pattani) was shot at and injured in the hip and right leg yesterday. The pillion passenger of a passing motorcyclist fired at him.
In Pattani, police also arrested two men who worked for a drug network run from Pattani Central Prison. One was in possession of 68.800 methamphetamine pills, the other 3.000 speed pills.
In Yala, two security cameras were set on fire on Saturday evening. On January 14 in the same province, 43 cameras were set on fire in 76 different places in one evening. On December 22, 26 cameras went up in flames in Pattani. Suspects have not yet been arrested.
www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post