Thai news in brief – January 16

Meanwhile, 14 countries have a warning about possible terrorist attacks Thailand handed in.

Prime Minister Yingluck, who met with her cabinet in Chiang Mai this weekend, says that the population and tourists should not worry, as police, soldiers, the National Security Council and the National Intelligence Agency are on the case.

A Lebanese-Swedish man was arrested on Suvarnabhumi on Thursday. He admitted, according to police, that a group of Lebanese were planning terrorist attacks, but the plans were scrapped because of his arrest. A second suspect is said to be still in Thailand, possibly in Bangkok or a tourist hotspot. The other group members have already left the country.

– Fraudulent loans from state banks, illegal land ownership and the evasion of import duties on luxury cars. The office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission is getting busy this year. It will investigate the involvement of civil servants in these three cases.

These are loans taken out by President Agri Co with commercial and state banks with forged rice commercial papers as collateral; illegal land ownership along the southern coast of the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand; and imports of new cars from England that were declared as used cars, which meant less import duties had to be paid.

– In addition to the victims of political violence between 2005 and 2010, the victims of Thaksin's was on drugs to be compensated in 2003, says Athawit Suwannaphakdi, Democratic MP for Bangkok. Yesterday he introduced the press to the uncle and an aunt of a boy who was shot dead by the police at the time. He and his parents were in a car that was attacked by the police. The family received 50.000 baht in compensation, a pittance compared to the 7,5 million baht the government currently gives to families of victims.

– Hundred residents blocked a road for Khao Laem National Park yesterday. They protested against the shooting by park rangers of two villagers who were fishing. One was hit in the hip. The rangers thought they were dealing with poachers.

– Two houses in Narathiwat, owned by a drug trafficker, worth 35 million baht have been seized by the police as part of a money laundering investigation. One house had already been emptied, the other is still under construction.

– At the proposal of the Ministry of Education, the cabinet has awarded the father of the current king the honorary title 'Father of Thai Higher Education' for his services in this field. On January 1, it was 120 years ago that he was born. Previously, he was awarded the title of 'Father of Modern Medicine and Public Health of Thailand'.

– 129 motorcycles and 3 cars were seized on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road yesterday and 25 street racers arrested. The police had set up two checkpoints to intercept them. Many fled, leaving their motorcycles behind.

– The Express Authority of Thailand goes free e-toll make devices available to motorists. Until now, a deposit of 800 baht had to be paid. The device is mounted on the rear-view mirror. Via an electronic signal, the required amount is automatically deducted from the credit loaded on the toll road when passing the barrier on the toll road.

– Red shirt leader Arisman Pongruangrong claims that in April 2009 it was not the intention to disrupt the Asean summit. He has apologised. The top was taken down when redshirts it hotels in Pattaya where the meeting was to be held. Arisman says they entered the hotel because they felt threatened. He recently turned himself in to the police after being on the run for 18 months. He is on trial for terrorism and leading the storm, among other things

– Thai children between the ages of 6 and 8 do not sleep enough and that is not good for their brain development. Kids that age should get at least 11 hours of sleep, says Manoon Leechawengwong, president of the Drowsy Don't Drive Fund. Manoon recently launched the Mind your Brain Project, which points out the importance of getting enough sleep. He believes that children should go to bed early and have breakfast. Schools should let them take a 10 to 15 minute nap after lunch.

– A group of academics and human rights activists has started collecting signatures in support of amending the lese-majeste law. They hope to collect 10.000 signatures, which are needed to submit a bill. The proposal includes a reduction of sentences and the designation of the Office of His Majesty the King's Principal Private Secretary as the sole body that can bring cases to justice. Now everyone can. According to many, the law is being misused for political purposes to silence opponents.

– Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung has been asked by the cabinet to study the proposal to have the constitutional amendment prepared not through an assembly of citizens, but by a panel appointed by the cabinet. This proposal was recently made by a government committee. Government party Pheu Thai is in favor of an assembly and does not think a panel is the appropriate way. The government whips think so too. An Abac poll showed that 69,8 percent of those polled are in favor of the assembly idea.

– The cabinet has decided to allocate 400 billion baht for 128 projects in the North to improve the infrastructure. The cabinet met in Chiang Mai on Saturday and Sunday. The projects include improvements to railways and measures to prevent flooding. The next mobile cabinet meeting will be held in Udon Thani on March 18.

– Residents of the Muslim community in Ban Krua (Bangkok) demonstrated yesterday against the construction of a 2,8 km slip road (to the Bang Khlo-Chaeng Watthana highway) through their neighborhood. The Ministry of Transport's plan was first launched in 1988. So far, the residents have been able to stop the construction, but the ministry has recently taken the plan out of the closet.

– Fifteen districts in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat have been declared a disaster area after they were hit by water flows from the mountains on Saturday evening. Many roads are impassable, a bridge in Nop Phi Tam district has been damaged and hundreds of residents have had to find a safe haven. The victims are given temporary shelter in the capital.

Phatthalung province was also hit by heavy rains. In three districts the water is 40 cm to 1 meter high. People living along the coast, on riverbanks and near mountains should prepare for the worst.

Many areas have also been affected in Pattani and Narathiwat provinces. Three rivers in Narathiwat overflowed their banks.

www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post