News from Thailand – September 20, 2012

The municipality of Bangkok and the government are once again at odds with each other. The government accuses the municipality of draining water far too slowly after the heavy rains on Tuesday afternoon.

The municipality of Bangkok blames the extremely heavy stir. 400 mm of water fell in four days, half of what fell so far this month.

On Tuesday afternoon, 23 places in Bangkok experienced flooding, the most serious for the Army Club on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road and at the Sutthisan intersection, to the chagrin of motorists and other road users. According to Royol Chitradol, chairman of a flood monitoring panel, the sewage system for the Army Club is too small and the sewage system at the other site is said to be clogged.

Prime Minister Yingluck also contributed once again. The slow rainwater drainage, she said, could be caused by clogged sewers and canals and the possibility that the underground tunnels are not functioning adequately. She defended the government's role, saying it had worked with the municipality to prevent flooding. "But we can't force the council to follow our orders."

Royol says the tunnels are not functioning properly because Bangkok's territory is mostly flat. 'We have told the municipality to improve the water drainage. But she has done nothing and claims that in some places the work is the responsibility of the Highway Department.'

Bangkok has seven tunnels with a diameter ranging from 3 to 5 meters. Deputy Governor Wallop Suwandee says water was previously drained from city canals to make room for floodwaters, but the rains filled the tunnels so quickly that drainage was hindered.

Meanwhile, according to the newspaper, "many people" are beginning to wonder whether the authorities are able to control possible floods.

Other flood news

• The Rajaprajanugroh foundation (patron: King Bhumibol) distributed emergency kits to 1.000 villagers in Bang Rakam (Phitsanulok) yesterday. Water from Sukothai has destroyed 50.000 rai of rice fields there.
• Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has provided boats and survival kits for the victims in Bang Ban (Ayutthaya). This district has been declared a disaster area.
• Pheu Thai MPs are meeting today with the governor of Bangkok about the delay in paying compensation to residents of Muang district for last year's water damage. On Tuesday, angry residents blocked Vibhavadi Rangsit Road to push their demands. They want every family to receive 20.000 baht quickly.

– A study trip or a sweet trip? The second seems likely in view of the program of the nine-day trip of 39 media professionals led by the Speaker of Parliament. In England they sit in the stands at football matches of the English Premier League. They will also go to France and Belgium, where visits will be made to the French Parliament, the Louvre and the European Parliament in Brussels.

The trip costs 7 million baht and it is no coincidence that it takes place just before the budget year 2011-2012 ends on September 30. There has been criticism not only of the costs and the programme, but also of the fact that the president of parliament came along while parliament is in session.

– Political observers assume that the government wants to use the threat of criminal prosecution from the leadership of the opposition party Democrats as a bargaining chip against amnesty for former Prime Minister Thaksin.

Democratic MP Suthep Thaugsuban, who is the target of such a persecution, says his party will stand its ground and does not intend to support a blanket amnesty, which could benefit Thaksin. In 2010, Suthep was in charge of CRES, the body responsible for maintaining the state of emergency.

The possibility of a prosecution for first-degree murder has been raised by Tarit Pengdith, head of the Department of Special Investigation, because Suthep and then Prime Minister Abhisit allegedly ordered the use of firearms by the army.

However, Suthep points out that the government only approved the use of firearms after armed 'men in black' killed soldiers and innocent people on April 10, 2010. "The army was forced to use weapons to protect itself and the people," Suthep said.

– About thirty Muslims protested in front of the American consulate in Chiang Mai on Wednesday against the film Innocence of Muslims, in which Mohammed is poked fun. A statement was handed over to a consulate representative. Incidents did not take place.

The US Ambassador to Thailand gave a speech on the US election yesterday at Chiang Mai University's Political Science Department. Extra safety measures had been taken, but incidents did not occur here either.

Prime Minister Yingluck thinks that the current anti-American sentiment will not affect the relationship between Thailand and the US. She called on the demonstrators not to use violence.

– The head of the Bangkok municipal police may have a disciplinary investigation on his pants because he urged his subordinates to demonstrate Tuesday in front of the headquarters of the Democrats. The Democratic Party has asked the House Committee on Police Affairs to investigate.

On Tuesday, some 500 officers gathered in front of Democratic headquarters to show support for their chief Kamronwit Thoopkrachang, who had announced that he would file a protest. Kamronwit wanted to protest against the Democrats' attack on him because he has a photo of himself and Prime Minister Thaksin hanging in his office. In the end, Kamronwit did not come to headquarters himself, but sent a representative.

– The E-Sarn University in Khon Kaen has been closed after it was found that they had sold teaching certificates to students last year. Yesterday, the Minister of Education signed the withdrawal of the university license. The closure will take effect at the end of October so that the current 8.565 students can complete their semester. The rector of the university is appealing against the closure to the administrative court.

The Teacher Council of Thailand discovered the fraud last year. She revoked hundreds of graduate students' deeds. Subsequently, the Higher Education Commission confiscated the school's records and delved further into the matter. It has emerged that the permit holder still has to repay tuition fees up to a total amount of 42,6 million baht to the university.

– It has been said before, but now the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) also says it: significant successes have been achieved in the fight against drugs. The number of methamphetamine pills seized last year rose from 45 to 73 million units and crystal methamphetamine went from 1.058 to 1.446 kilos.

More assets were also seized. Prisoners who transacted drugs from behind bars have been transferred to EBIs, including Khaobin Central Prison in Ratchburi, which has equipment that jams mobile phones.

The ONCB has intensified cooperation with counterparts in neighboring countries, particularly in Myanmar, where it has promoted the cultivation of cash crops to replace opium. The smuggling of pills containing pseudoephedrine, a substance used in the production of methamphetamine, has also been stopped. The pills were stolen from hospital pharmacies, among others.

– So far, in the four lower northeastern provinces, nine people have died of leptospiroris and 466 people have been infected. Most deaths have occurred in Surin. The number of infections this year is below last year, when 1.062 people became infected. People working in water are advised to wear boots to prevent infection.

Economic news

– The bill for investments worth 2 trillion baht is likely to be discussed by parliament at the end of the year. The Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) is currently working hard on the proposal. If parliament gives the green light, the government can borrow money outside the annual budget for investments in transport networks and international trade facilities for the next 7 years.

The proposal is essentially a compilation of projects planned by the National Economic and Social Development Board and related services over the past few years. The FPO estimates that government debt will rise to 2016 percent (currently 49 percent) of gross domestic product in 42. But this estimate assumes that the economy will grow at an annual rate of 7,5 percent, including inflation. A reduction in business tax has also already been taken into account.

– We are pleased to announce: the first biogas plant for households. It was invented in 2006 by the Thailand Institute of Science and Technology Research, patented in 2010 and presented today at Investor Day.

The installation, simply a bucket, processes 15 kilos of cooking oil, food waste and waste water into methane gas in an amount that is half the gas consumption of an average family. The unit made of stainless steel costs 50.000 baht, a fiberglass or plastic version comes at 20.000 baht. The space requirement is the same as that of a refrigerator or washing machine.

– China is putting pressure on Thailand to allow the import of cooked and pre-processed chickens from China. The country has been trying for several years, warns Anan Sirimongkolsakem, president of the Thai Broiler Processing Exporters Association. "Our losses would be gigantic if the government complied with that request." There would be no benefit to Thailand in the face of opening up to Chinese poultry.

China annually exports 200.000 tons of drumsticks to Japan and only 10.000 tons of chicken breast to the EU. Since chicken breast is not very popular in China, Beijing is trying to find other markets. The EU has banned the import of raw poultry from China, as the meat is still considered unsafe due to a recent outbreak of avian flu and ongoing vaccination in the poultry industry.

Thailand's annual poultry production is 1,92 million tons. Of this, 520.000 tons are exported.

www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post