News from Thailand – January 26
The death toll from Tuesday night's fireworks disaster in Suphan Buri has risen to four. Not 30 houses went up in flames, as the first reports said, but 734.
Provincial authorities have banned fireworks displays for the remaining five days of the six-day Chinese New Year festivities.
The blast killed 3 people instantly; a fourth later died in hospital. 75 people were injured, 2 of whom are in critical condition and 15 people have been hospitalized. Of the 734 homes damaged by the explosion and subsequent fire, 71 were completely destroyed.
– Former Minister Thirachai Phuvanatnaranubala (Finance), who had to leave the field at the change of ministers, continues to oppose the way in which the government has released money for water management projects through an emergency decision. And he once again points out that his successor Kittiratt Na-Ranong used incorrect figures to push through that decision.
Thirachai explains it all again on his Facebook page. 'My purpose is only to give the right information, not to throw a bomb or because I am bitter. My concern is for the country, and I feel that the public should know the truth.'
According to Kittiratt, interest payments on the national debt would amount to 12 percent of total spending in 2012. Thirachai says they amount to 9,93 percent, which would have eliminated the need to shift the FIDF debt (a holdover from the 1997 financial crisis) to the Bank of Thailand.
– A 48-year-old burglar who had stolen 401.000 baht from a safe of Metro Praken 2001 Limited in Phlap Phla Chai district, has confessed to collecting women's underwear since he was 18. He also confessed to stealing valuables and money from numerous homes and businesses. Thousands of panties, both washed and unwashed, were found in his home. According to the police, he had a habit of smelling panties while driving. Together with a co-defendant, the man is also suspected of the theft of 1 million baht and 10 gold-rimmed Buddha amulets from a business premises.
– The drug bust of more than a billion baht in Thanyaburi (Pathum Thani) has now led to the arrest of a drug courier who, according to the police, has admitted to transporting drugs on behalf of a military officer in Phitsanulok.
An earlier report stated that this man is in possession of a fake ID from the Internal Security Operations Command, which enabled him to operate more easily.
The army officer has been suspended. He arranged the transport from Mae Sai (Chiang Rai) to Ayutthaya or Pathum Thani from where the now arrested man took care of further transport.
– The Stop Global Warming Association is demanding from the government that the families of the 816 fatalities of the floods each receive an amount of 7,7 million baht, the same amount as the victims of political violence between 2005 and 2010.
– 'Professors of law who demand that legislation on lèse-majeste be changed should be aware of the many services the royal family has rendered to the country. The king has reigned for a long time and is now 84 years old. Have academics who are 30 or 40 years old and have only studied done something good for the country?' With these stern words, army commander Prayuth Chan-ocha responds to the so-called Nitirat group, a group of law teachers at Thammasat University who are arguing for an amendment to Article 112 of the Penal Code, which regulates lese majeste.
– Thailand continues to run the risk of flooding this year like last year because the water in the major reservoirs is currently higher than last year. Several speakers at a seminar on flood risk agreed on this point. According to the secretary of the National Economic and Social Development Board, the situation calls for a better balance between the conflicting needs of agriculture, electricity generation and flood prevention.
On January 24, the Bhumibol Reservoir was 86 percent full and the Sirikit Reservoir was 84 percent. The rains are expected to start early this year. Rivers could overflow in as little as two months.
– The Ministry of Finance proposes to increase the salaries of civil servants with a university degree by 64 percent over the next two years. This involves an amount of 18,8 billion baht per year. The proposal will be submitted to the cabinet next week. Civil servants with a bachelor's degree will earn 11.680 baht per month (now 9.140) and 15.000 baht in 2013, civil servants with a doctor's degree will go from 17.000 to 19.000 baht this year and next year to 21.000 baht. The increase in civil servant salaries is one of Pheu Thai's election promises.
– The colorful MP Chuvit Kamolvisit accuses the police of turning a blind eye to 22 illegal casinos and football gambling establishments in Bangkok, Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi. He also accuses two police officers of protecting them. Some are even located near police stations.
– The police have raided an illegal gold factory annex drug den in the Phasicharoen district. 15 people have been arrested. Among other things, the police found stamps with the logo of well-known gold stores. The gang members confessed to buying real gold, melting it down and mixing it with other metals. With that they made false gold necklaces.
– A music teacher (47) is suspected of assaulting a student of Mathayom Suksa 3 at a school in Lampang. He must report to the police within 3 days; If he doesn't, he'll have an arrest warrant hanging on his pants.
– A student of the Rajamangala University of Technology was killed during a brawl in Rangsit with students from a rival school and another was seriously injured. Both, bleeding heavily, sought refuge in a 7-Eleven store. There they received first aid. One died on the way to the hospital.
– A former student of the Dusit Technology school has been sentenced to life imprisonment. In July 2009, he stabbed a student from another school to death and wounded a second. Two co-defendants are still on the run.
– A soldier accidentally shot a comrade in the leg when he fell during a border patrol in Surin.
– The police and officials of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation seized 51 elephants, which were kept in a private camp in Sai Yok (Kanchanaburi). They suspect the park of being involved in the poaching and smuggling of wild elephants. The owner denies that at high and low.
www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post