News from Thailand – Thursday, April 23, 2015

This page contains a selection from the Thai news. We include headlines from major news sources including: Bangkok Post, The Nation, ThaiPBS, MCOT, etc., as well as some regional newspapers such as Phuket Gazette and Pattaya One. Behind the news items is a web link, when you click on it you can read the full article at the English source.

News from Thailand, including:

– Government is considering using Article 44 for fisheries 
– Fisheries afraid that the US will introduce sanctions
– Fugitive Briton arrested in Hua Hin 
– Hole in the road: motorcyclist dies

THE NATION

The Nation is today issuing a follow-up to the EU's yellow card for fisheries in Thailand. In an analysis in the newspaper it is suggested to use Article 44. In any case, the right priorities must now be set because time is pressing. Thailand has only six months to put things in order and convince the EU. Various ministries are already working on shaping the measures. The Department of Labor will focus on protecting workers in the fishing industry with an emphasis on requiring workers to have contracts with their employers and be at least 18 years old. Furthermore, at least 10 hours of rest per day or 77 hours of rest per week must be obtained. The fishing boats will be inspected by the Thai navy. The Thai fishing industry and government can learn from South Korea and the Philippines, which previously received a red card from the EU and have now put things in order: http://goo.gl/qjkFKq 

BANGKOK POST

Bangkok Post also writes about the official warning from the EU. The government is considering using Article 44 to solve the problems quickly. This article gives Prayut the power to rule by decree. Not all ministers support that idea because the EU is against the undemocratic Article 44, they do not want to upset the EU. According to BP, importers in Europe are already looking for alternative suppliers if there is an import ban on fish from Thailand. Rittirong Boonmechote, the boss of TUF, Thailand's largest producer of canned and frozen fish, warns that things could get out of hand if other countries follow the EU. For example, the US is the largest buyer of Thai fish products. A ban from the US will then cause enormous damage to Thailand's economy. An EU delegation will visit Thailand in mid-May for further consultations. According to the Agriculture Minister, the EU has asked Thailand to solve three problems: law enforcement and strict sanctions (such as high fines), a national action plan on IUU fishing and better and intensive controls: http://goo.gl/oZQn28 

OTHER NEWS

 – A Briton was arrested in Hua Hin who was wanted in England for tax evasion. The man tried to smuggle cigarettes to England to avoid excise duty. The Brit had been in Thailand since 2008: http://goo.gl/Sls3E7

- A driver (25) of a motorbike died and his passenger (23) was seriously injured when he drove into a large hole in the road in Pathum Thani. The hole was 15 meters long and 1,5 meters deep: http://goo.gl/97TvFF

– You can read more current news on the Twitter feed of Thailandblog.nl: twitter.com/thailand_blog