News from Thailand – September 23, 2012
Airports personnel or Thailand and officials, a total of 135 men, played passenger at Don Mueang airport yesterday to check that all systems are working properly. They also had suitcases with them to make it all seem real.
The simulation was performed because Don Mueang must be fully operational from October 1. Then AirAsia will move to the old airport with three companies. Nok Air and Orient Thai already fly from Don Mueang. The other budget airlines that still fly from Suvarnabhumi are still waiting for the cat out of the tree before making the switch.
According to director Paranee Wathanothai, the airport is 95 percent ready to make the restart as an international airport. After the official opening, a bus runs between Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang every 20 to 30 minutes. Eight buses are deployed on the route.
Flood news
- The Yom River in Bang Rakam district (Phitsunalok) overflowed its banks on Saturday, flooding the town of Bang Rakam and the village of Ban Wang Klum. The water reached a height of 50 cm. About 50.000 rai of farmland has been flooded. Hundreds of villagers had to rush to get their belongings and livestock to safety. On the higher Phitsunalok-Bang Rakam Road, they set up tents to spend the night. The water level in the Yom has been rising since Wednesday. The Phitsanulok Irrigation Project has increased water discharge to the Nan River. According to the director, the amount of water in the city is no greater than last year.
- Water levels are beginning to recede in Sa Kaeo and Prachin Buri provinces after the rains ended yesterday stir. Five districts in Sa Kaeo and five districts in Prachin Burin began flooding after continued heavy rains that began on Tuesday.
- The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reports that 14 counties have been affected by flooding this year. Almost 70.000 people have been duped as a result.
- In Bangkok, 400 detainees unblocked sewers on Saturday, including on Sukhumvit, Si Ayutthaya and Phahon Yothin.
- The Royal Irrigation Department has pledged to install more water pumps in eastern Bangkok to speed up the flow of water to the Gulf of Thailand. The municipality of Bangkok discussed the situation with Irrigation yesterday. The capital has been hit by heavy rains for days.
Other news
– Some Pheu Thai MPs from the North and Northeast want a new investigation into the disturbances of April and May 2010. They are 'dismayed' by the report of the Truth for Reconciliation Commission (TRC). A new commission should prove the TRC wrong information has provided on the 'men in black' [heavily armed men who operated out of the red shirt camp and are held responsible for the deaths of soldiers]. That new commission should also consider the bullet trajectory of army firearms.
Pheu Thai spokesman Jirayu Huangsap said yesterday that the TRC and the National Human Rights Commission, which had previously investigated the disturbances, are on the other side of democracy. According to him, some academics say that the conclusions of the TRC do not benefit society. Jirayu suggested renaming the TRC into "Committee to Protect Democratic Party Leader Abhisit."
Somchai Wongsawat, former prime minister and brother-in-law of Thaksin, said yesterday at a Pheu Thai seminar that he was surprised by TRC's recommendation regarding Thaksin's political future. According to the TRC, Thaksin should end his political role for the sake of national reconciliation. "A wrong recommendation because Thaksin has done a lot for the country and that's why he has many supporters."
– The legal team of the opposition Democrats is looking into the allegation by Tarit Pengdith, head of the Department of Special Investigation, that former Prime Minister Abhisit and Suthep Thaugsuban, then Deputy Prime Minister, could face murder charges because they obtained military clearance in 2010 granted with live ammunition.
– He confessed to the police, later he accused the Thai army and now drug lord Nor Kham again confesses to have ordered the murder of 13 people on board two Chinese ships in October on the Mekong River. Nor Kham made his turn after five co-defendants testified against him. Nor Kham and those five are on trial in China for the murders.
– Speaker of the House of Representatives Somsak Kiatsuranont should resign, says opposition party Democrats. Somsak is under fire because of a nine-day study trip, say a sweet trip, with 39 media representatives to Europe. A rather one-sided group, say the Democrats, because only media and commentators who are pro-Pheu Thai have been chosen by Somsak. Because a chamber president must be neutral, he no longer deserves that post, say the Democrats. They are going to complain to the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Ombudsman. The trip cost 7 million baht.
– Has fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin been secretly in Thailand? That suspicion is confirmed by a photo that has caused controversy. The photo hangs in the office of Kamromvit Thoopkrachan, chief of the Bangkok municipal police. He shows Thaksin pinning the corresponding police badge on Kamronvit's uniform plus a text and Thaksin's signature and date.
According to Kamronvit, the photo was taken in Hong Kong when he visited Thaksin. In the section About Politics in Bangkok Post the author points out an interesting detail. The photo shows a row of books in the background, giving the impression that the photo was taken in Thailand and not Hong Kong. That makes the rumors credible that Thaksin has been to Thailand. He is said to have flown to Chiang Mai once with his private jet and to have taken a flight to Don Mueang in June.
The visit plus photo went down the wrong way with the Democratic party. Kamronvit should have arrested Thaksin, who is on the run from a prison sentence of 2 years. Because he failed to do so, he would have been guilty of dereliction of duty.
Last week, some 200 officers demonstrated outside the Democratic headquarters, where Kamronvit was supposed to hand over a letter of protest against the opposition party's accusation. That action has also aroused the wrath of the Democrats. In the end, he did not show up himself, but had the letter delivered by an employee. He denies calling the cops. The Commissioner believes he has done nothing wrong in demonstrating his allegiance to the former Prime Minister. He has already announced that he will resign if the political tide turns and the Democrats return to power.
Economic news
– In the past eight months, Thailand has exported 4,47 million tons of rice worth 93,9 billion baht, respectively 45 and 33 percent less on an annual basis than last year. The export price increased by 18 percent this year to an average of $676 per ton.
The top buyer was Nigeria, followed by Iraq, Indonesia and South Africa. India and Vietnam sell their white rice for $435-465 per ton against Thailand for $577. [So two different prices are mentioned in the same message.]
Last week, the Commerce Department auctioned 586.000 tons of government stockpile rice. Nine companies have offered prices of 29.800 to 30.000 baht per ton, the same as at a previous auction. On Monday, the ministry will announce who can buy the rice.
The ministry has been authorized by the government to auction rice for domestic use and export every week until the end of the year. This will be done with due care to avoid affecting [read: going up] the domestic price.
The government's stock consists of the rice it bought from farmers last season under the rice mortgage system at prices 40 percent above market prices. The mortgage system has attracted a lot of criticism because it represents an enormous burden on the national finances.
– Mining companies are urging the government to speed up the granting of permits. Over the past 7 years, out of 100 applications, only six have been awarded, said Chadap Padmasuta, president of the Mining Industry Council. He doesn't know why it takes so long. The Ministry of Industry says it needs time to monitor the impact on the environment and local residents.
According to Chadap, the unapproved projects have already received the green light from the Forest Department and the Mining Council and they have also completed the mandatory environmental impact assessment. "So what's the problem?" Chadap wonders. “Is someone trying to stall the case? When it is the policy to prevent new mines, they should inform us so that we can vote for a change in the cabinet.'
Industry Minister Pongsvas Svasti said last month that the procedure will be changed to an auction system to promote competition. The same system is followed when granting permits to the petrochemical industry. 'That's great', says Chadat, 'but what do you do when companies collude at the auction. Can you take them then? And ultimately investors will do anything to get hold of a permit, for example by approaching someone in the ministry they know.'
Thailand only exports a limited number of minerals, such as cement, zinc and lignite (lignite with a woody structure).
– State revenues in fiscal year 2012 [which runs from October 1 to October 1] are 1,1 percent below target after eleven months. Last month, the debit side of government accounts was 1,858 trillion baht, or 19,8 billion baht less than budgeted. At the end of this month, revenue should reach 1,98 trillion baht. 2,38 trillion baht has been budgeted for expenditure.
The authorities expect that the final position will hardly deviate from the budget due to the growing economy and government stimulus measures. However, tax revenues are under pressure due to the euro crisis and more tax benefits granted for 'green' investment projects by the Board of Investment. Other factors at play include increased reservations by banks, which reduce their profits, and cuts in diesel excise duty, which have led to a loss of revenue of 8,24 billion baht this year.
– The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) must collect 80 billion baht in deposits over the next six months if it is to meet its financial needs. Over the past two months, government services have withdrawn a total of 40 billion baht, as the 30-2011 fiscal year ends on September 2012. Next month they top up their account balance with at least the same amount when the new budget year starts.
The BAAC has a target of 80 billion baht in additional deposits for its financial year, which ends in March, but so far the deposits have been disappointing. Vice President Arun Lertwilai of the state-owned bank remains optimistic despite the fierce competition between banks. He bases this on the bank's attractive pricing and a varied product mix for customers.
www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post
About this blogger
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Known as Khun Peter (62), lives alternately in Apeldoorn and Pattaya. In a relationship with Kanchana for 14 years. Not yet retired, have my own company, something with insurance. Crazy about animals, especially dogs and music.
Enough hobbies, but unfortunately little time: writing for Thailandblog, fitness, health and nutrition, shooting sports, chatting with friends and some other oddities.
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