News from Thailand – November 29, 2014

Sixty thousand people living near a gold mine in Pichit may have heavy metals in their blood, says Porntip Rojanasuwan, head of the Central Institute of Forensic Science.

She makes this calculation based on research of 600 blood samples from residents of the Thap Khlo district, who live near the mine. Manganese and arsenic were found in 329 samples. Porntip calls the results "very worrying."

The company insists that it meets all international environmental and health criteria. From the fact that the company is not subject to an operating ban, a spokesperson concludes that 'we comply with the rules'. The company says it had employees tested in June and their levels of arsenic and manganese were normal.

– The government will spend an additional 1,9 billion baht each year on the fight against HIV/AIDS. Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Yuthavong says he wants to reduce the number of new infections to 2030 per year by 1.000. Currently, 7.695 people become infected each year. Of these, 90 percent contract the virus during unprotected sex.

In recent years, the annual budget for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment has amounted to 9 billion baht. Of this, 2,8 billion baht goes to the national insurance (universal healthcare scheme). The extra 1,9 billion is intended to fund more anti-retroviral drugs, blood tests, campaigns and preventive measures.

Since [no year] began registering the number of patients, 1,9 million people have contracted HIV/Aids, of which 438.629 are still alive. Since October 1, medicines are provided free of charge regardless of the CD4 count (an indication of the severity of the infection). Previously, this only happened when the CD4 had dropped below 350.

The president of the Thai Network of People Living with HIV/Aids calls for hospitals to publish the results of a blood test the same day. In most government hospitals, this only happens after a week. Experience shows that many do not dare to return for fear of 'bad' news. When the results are reported the same day, this encourages people to start medication at an early stage.

– Jaded Chaowilai of the Women and Men Progressive Movement Foundation calls on education to boycott the teacher in Si Sa Ket, who has a hand in luring students into bed. He believes that he should never teach again if his guilt is established by Rajabhat University. The man was caught on Monday when he allegedly had sex with a 19-year-old student in a hotel in exchange for a higher grade. The police had to let him go for lack of evidence.

– The Court of Appeal, like the lower court, did not fall for it: the allegation of lèse-majesté made by the defendant's older brother. Because, the Court ruled: the accusation was made by one person who was known to have been at odds with his brother. The defendant who runs a car wash company was taken into custody in September 2012. Seven requests for bail were denied. In September last year, the court acquitted him.

– Shortly after the Pattani court sentenced five men to death for the murder of four soldiers in 2012, the southern resistance retaliated again. Two 17-year-old students were fired upon as they returned home on a motorcycle from Yaring, Pattani, on Thursday afternoon. One died in hospital in the evening, the other is in critical condition.

– What should be done with the 200 Uighur refugees who were arrested at the beginning of this year? The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working on a solution. Turkey says it is willing to take in refugees claiming to be Turks. According to China, it is a matter for China and Thailand and Turkey should not interfere.

Minister Prawit Wongsuwon (Defense) says the Uighur are safe when they are repatriated to China, but they have fled that country precisely because they are persecuted there. According to the Turkish foreign minister, they risk the death penalty if they return.

– Local fishermen have taken the law into their own hands in Thai waters off Nakhon Si Thammarat and detained two Vietnamese fishing boats plus the 18-person crew and brought them to Pak Nam Preak Muang pier in Hua Sai. There they were handed over to the police. According to one of the Thai fishermen, two to three hundred foreign trawlers operate in Thai waters. They use destructive fishing methods to sea ​​cucumbers to collect. Local fishermen have tried to chase them away, but they keep coming back.

– In a cassava field in Sai Yok (Kanchanaburi), the lifeless bodies of a couple and their 9-year-old daughter were found. They all had multiple stab wounds. The police suspect that these are guest workers from Myanmar who were killed on their way to work.

– The police intercepted a hijacked tanker off the coast of Narathiwat and arrested the eight Indonesian hijackers. The tanker contained 2,7 million liters of palm oil. The hijackers were probably waiting for a buyer. Earlier they had already managed to sell 300.000 liters to Indonesian intermediaries in Pattani.

– The new online 'Uber' taxi service is illegal, warns the Land Transport Department. Based in San Francisco, the company has gained some popularity over the past six months as an alternative to local taxis due to its good service.

According to LTD head Thiraphong Rotprasoet, the taxis charge a higher rate and many drivers do not even have a driver's license. Passengers must pay by credit card. Customers must register for a fee.

– Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha yesterday defended the government's decision to shut down Human Rights Watch's Thailand page. JRW's criticism of the recent detentions of opponents of the coup is regarded by the government as a violation of national security rules.

Prayuth, who just returned from a visit to Laos and Vietnam, immediately criticized some local newspapers. They write unproven messages about side issues, he thinks. 'I am not your enemy. I read your papers every day, but I choose the stories that are more constructive and intellectual," asking the media to write more about the government's policy initiatives.

www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post

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