News from Thailand – June 25, 2013

Yesterday was the 81st anniversary of the so-called Siamese Revolution, in which the absolute monarchy was replaced by a constitutional monarchy.

Speaking at a memorial at Wat Phrasimahathat in Bang Khen, the now 71-year-old daughter of one of the leaders at the time said that "democracy for all" has still not been fully achieved. She described the white masks as fanatics who are trying to bring back the old regime to replace the current electoral parliamentary system.

A lecturer from Rajabhat University called them a minority movement that puts rights and freedom above the egalitarian concept. 'It seems that the revolution of 1932 has not yet succeeded in instilling the principle of equality in the population. […] The minority does not want the common people to have a fair share in the democratization of the country.'

– The government is starting to worry that the rapidly growing white mask movement is a threat to the administration. On Sunday, V for Thailand, as the group is officially called, mobilized three thousand people in Bangkok and elsewhere in the country there were demonstrations in 37 places against the government, which they call the 'Thaksin regime'.

The so-called online rallies, a new form of protest via social media, are also attracting more and more participants. Starting with three hundred, several thousand now show their aversion to the current government and former Prime Minister Thaksin.

Although Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung calls the protesters "a handful of familiar faces," he must admit that the movement is growing rapidly. According to Chalerm, the movement is supported by liquor and poultry business owners, bankers, some politicians and people who run illegal casinos and lotteries. The demonstrators are said to have ties to people who do business in the 'grey market'.

Sonthiyan Chuenruethainaitham, founder of INN News and T-News, says he supports the group. He believes she is doing the right thing and expects the group to continue to grow. His T-News agency has had white masks made to sell to the protesters. They wear the mask as an anti-government symbol. More than 10.000 masks have been sold so far and orders are still pouring in.

"As the movement continues to grow," says Sonthiyan, "Thaksin and his family must ask themselves how they can continue in a place where people hate them and how long they can count on the support of the red shirts."

Suriyasai Katasila, coordinator of the anti-government Green Politics group, announces that the movement will become even more important in August when parliament returns from recess. There are some controversial subjects on the agenda, such as the constitutional amendment and the amnesty and reconciliation proposal. Whether the movement will continue its current strategy of rallies without any activities or increase the level of protest is still an open question.

“I think Thaksin is afraid of the white mask group, which uses an international symbol in its opposition to a government that is democratically elected but behaves dictatorially. The rallies aim to pull off the government's mask of false democracy.”

Former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat questions whether the rallies calling for the government to be ousted are against the law because the Pheu Thai government was democratically elected.

– Two men, wearing white masks, robbed a 7-Eleven store in Don Muang (Bangkok) yesterday. They made off with 1.592 baht and two bottles of liquor.

– The Department of Health has instructed the Food and Drug Administration and the Medical Sciences Department to test rice sold in grocers and department stores.

The ministry is responding to reports of spoiled rice, which is said to be contaminated with insecticides and chemical fungicides. The reports suggest that 17 million tons of rice in government warehouses have been treated with chemicals to preserve the rice, which cannot be sold quickly enough.

The test measures moisture content and chemical contamination. "The aim of these tests is to restore consumer confidence," said Minister Pradit Sintawanarong (Public Health). 'I understand that the rice quality is tested several times before the rice is packed. So there can be no problems.'

– Thai Rath cartoonist Somchai Katanyutanant reported to the police yesterday to hear Prime Minister Yingluck's defamation suit. About a hundred people had come to the police station to encourage him.

Yingluck has been disturbed by comments made by Somchai on his Facebook page following her speech in Mongolia. The complaint alleges insult to a government official, defamation through publicity, and violation of the Computer Crimes Act. The police did not have much work, because Somchai refused to make a statement. He will keep it for court.

On Sunday, Somchai wrote on his FB page that a senior police officer had threatened him. He would be arrested if he did not report to the police. "I've never had such a threat in my entire career as a journalist."

– The first inspections of luxury cars have confirmed what the Department of Special Investigation (DSI, the Thai FBI) ​​already suspected: taxes have been evaded. Five Mercedes Benz cars were viewed; four turned out to be suspicious. They were supposedly imported in parts and assembled in Thailand (reducing tax), but in reality they were imported completely.

The DSI is still busy for the time being, because a total of 548 cars are being inspected. She has called on the owners to report with their car. Thirty-one did so yesterday. The DSI initially assumes that the owners were in good faith. When the tax is evaded, the cars are not seized, but docking is required.

– The foreign trip of Minister Woravat Au-apinyakul (Science) to promote longan fruit has been criticized because this would not be his responsibility. Woravat confirms that he has visited Indonesia. He is about to travel to India and will also visit Japan and the US.

In Indonesia, he explained what Thailand is doing to reduce the use of chemicals, especially sulfate dioxide found in fresh longan. In India, the minister will demonstrate a new packaging in which the fruit stays fresh for 2 days at a temperature of 5-30 degrees. According to the minister, it is indeed the task of his ministry to conduct research into food safety.

– Since the beginning of the peace talks between Thailand and resistance group BRN, violence in the three southern provinces has doubled, mainly targeting government employees rather than civilians. This has been established by a fact-finding committee set up by the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre.

Attacks on civilians have fallen by half, says the committee. No teachers have been attacked since the talks began. The committee fears that Ramadan will be used by the insurgents to commit more attacks.

Yesterday, two soldiers were slightly injured when a roadside bomb exploded in Muang (Pattani). They were part of a patrol of six soldiers protecting teachers.

– A school teacher (32) suffered severe burns after her boyfriend set her on fire. The friend, a taxi driver, suspected that she wanted to end their relationship after 1 year. Which, indeed, she intended.

– Parts of the southernmost province of Narathiwat are covered in smoke from forest fires in Sumatra. Visibility has decreased slightly, but there is no danger to public health and traffic is not yet affected.

– From a brothel in Muang (Rayong), the police rescued thirteen women and a 16-year-old girl, who were forced to work there. Nine women came from Myanmar. The owner has been arrested.

– Thirty university teachers went to the Ministry of Education yesterday to demand a salary increase. They are entitled to this, according to them, because teachers' salaries were increased on January 1. The increase applies to government employees with a bachelor's degree.

Economic news

– The slide of the Thai stock market could continue for a while and the index could fall below the psychological mark of 1.300, said Pichai Lertsupongkit, vice president of Thanachart Securities. He notes that foreign investors are selling assets in every field.

This month they sold 44,9 billion baht worth of Thai stocks and 66 billion baht since the beginning of the year. On Friday, net sales amounted to 3,84 billion baht.

Like other stock markets, the Thai stock market has been under pressure from sales by foreign investors. They worry that the US FED's potential exit strategy will end the period of cheap financing and evaporate demand for assets in emerging markets.

The FED has recently said it is optimistic about the outlook for the US economy, hinting that asset purchases worth US$85 billion per month will be slowed later this year to end in mid-2014.

Since the peak of 1.643,43 points on May 21, the SET index has fallen by almost 15 percent. On an annual basis, the index rose by 2,45 percent. In addition to ordinary shares, foreign investors mainly sell bonds, gold and other commodities.

– The plan to form a Thai branch of the Vietnamese no-frills carrier VietJet Air will become reality on Wednesday with the signing of an agreement on the formation of a joint venture. Kan Air has confirmed a 51 percent stake in Thai VietJet Air; the other 49 percent is owned by VietJet Aviation.

With this, yet another foreign player is trying to grab a piece of the budget market. Lion Air, the largest low-cost carrier in Indonesia, and AirAsia X will make their appearance in Thailand in the coming months under the guise of being subsidiaries with Thai shareholders.

Thai VietJet Air's corporate structure meets the Civil Aviation Department's requirements that ownership be divided 49:51 between a foreign and Thai company and an initial capital of 200 million baht has been deposited.

Thai VietJet Air takes to the skies at Suvarnabhui in November with two Airbus 320-200 single-aisle jets. The maiden flights go to Chiang Mai, Phuket and neighboring countries.

– Real estate developer VMPC Co Ltd has big plans. The company wants to achieve a turnover of 5 billion baht within 3 years. That money should mainly come from the rental of apartments as well as hotel and housing projects.

VMPC was founded 10 years ago by Prinya Tieanworn after he left Citibank. It started non-performing buy, renovate and rent out bank properties. The company now has three apartment complexes in Ramkhamhaeng, Vibhavadi Rangsit and Sathon.

Because apartment rental grew slowly, Prinya bought the Astera Sathorn hotel 5 years ago. In September, detached houses were added on Rama II Road, the Astera@Phutthabucha. Only 3 of the 10 units are still for sale. The cheapest costs 14 million baht.

A second project with prices from 25 million baht will be completed in the first quarter of next year, also on Rama II Road. A third project is planned for the end of 2014 with prices up to 10 million baht. And as if it can't be finished, the company buys two plots in Bangkok and one in Pattaya for the development of detached houses and a hotel.

– Small and medium-sized publishers should have better access to the financial resources and activities, such as scholarships, of the Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand (Pubat). This has been formulated as policy by the newly elected president of Pubat, Charun Hormthienthong, after being elected as successor to Worapan Lokitsataporn. Charun believes it is important that SME publishers improve ahead of the Asean Economic Community which will take effect in early 2016.

A problem that has not yet been solved is the level of the storage and distribution costs of the central bookstores Se-Ed Book Center and Amarin Book Center. The problem has already been addressed under the previous chairman. A special team is still studying it.

Thailand has 398 registered publishers. This year Bangkok is World Book Capital.

www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post