News from Thailand – February 24

A teacher instructs his Matthayomsuksa 4 (Grade 10) students to write an essay on red shirt compensation payments and compare them to those paid to troops in the South. He shouldn't have done that, because the assignment has aroused the anger of red shirts who are demanding his transfer.

The director of the school has now lectured the man. According to him, the teacher suffers from stress. The red shirts have also asked the education authorities to investigate. The purpose of the assignment was to test the students' analytical skills, according to the teacher.

– Captains of industry are cautiously optimistic about government policy to prevent flooding like last year. Nevertheless, they remain concerned about the possibility of new floods. These sounds were heard yesterday at a conference organized by Bangkok Post.

Kan Trakulhoon, president of the Siam Cement Group, warned authorities that they have only three to six months to implement their plans and regain investor confidence. A clear timeline is needed, he said, and transparency in the new investments is of the utmost importance. Corruption is a major concern. It is not just in the interest of the private sector, but for everyone to stop it.'

– A large amount of grenades and heavy artillery was found three months ago in Surin. They were hidden under bushes between shophouses in the Prasart district. The Department of Special Investigation only announced the find yesterday information about the persons who hid the weapons. Found were 36 RPG-7 grenades, 36 RPG-7 launchers, 64 60mm rockets, 144 40mm rockets and 1.437 rounds of .88 ammunition.

– The police are looking for the man who put the stickers with the word 'Sejeal' on electricity poles and signs. A security camera from a bank in Sukhumvit caught the man sticking a sticker. The stickers were found along Ratchadiphisek Road, at the Asoke Montri intersection, along Rama IV Road in Klong Toey and at the Din Daeng three-way intersection. The Israeli Embassy is located in the Ocean Tower II, near the first two locations with stickers.

The police link the stickers to the Iranians, who allegedly planned to carry out attacks on Israeli diplomats. However, their plans fell through when explosives exploded prematurely in their home. Two suspects are in Thailand arrested, a third in Malaysia. The word Sejeal is used by Tehran to designate projectiles.

Minister Sukumpol Suwannatat (Defense) believes that the media should not pay so much attention to the explosions, because tourism could be adversely affected.

– Uncle SMS is a flight risk. That is why the Supreme Court yesterday refused to release the 61 man on bail. Ampon Tangnoppakul has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for allegedly sending 4 text messages that were offensive to the royal family. Ampon's attorney is appealing to the Supreme Court.

– Low-lying provinces such as Bangkok, Samut Prakan and Samut Sakhon can be protected against flooding from the sea by a 90 km long dike. This suggestion is made by Smith Dharmasaroja, former head of the Meteorological Department and now a member of the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management. The dike should be built between Chachoengsao and Cha-Am in the Gulf of Thailand.

– The police arrested 12 money runners who worked for a money loan shark in Nonthaburi. Customers who had difficulty getting a refund had complained to the police that they were being harassed. The money lender in question charges 20 percent interest per day.

– Geologists have inspected a crevice with a length of 2 kilometers on a mountain in Phangnga. Villagers are concerned about the fissure, which is 1 meter wide and 20 meters deep, as the area has also been hit by a series of small earthquakes. On Tuesday, the area was hit by an earthquake measuring 2,7 on the Richter scale.

– The government has set up a committee to tackle the fog problems in the northern provinces. The situation is still critical. In Chiang Mai, authorities sprayed water into the air, but it had no effect. The level of dust particles in the air in Mae Sai District (Chiang Rai) exceeds the safety standard. The level is also high in Lampang. Thick fog at Lampang airport delayed arrivals of domestic flights yesterday. Flights from Bangkok to Mae Sot are diverted to Phitsanulok.
 

– Prime Minister Yingluck has accused four MPs from the opposition Democrats of libel over their comments on her visit to the Four Seasons hotels. A report has been made to the Lumpini police. Yingluck has defended her visit on her Facebook page. She spoke to businessmen at the hotel about economic and other issues. According to Yingluck, private matters, expropriation of land for waterways and postponement of land appraisals, all things that could benefit individuals, have not been discussed.

– The parliamentary debate on the amendment of the constitution started yesterday. Opposition Democrats again accused ruling party Pheu Thai of wanting to change the constitution with the sole purpose of paving the way for the return of former Prime Minister Thaksin, who fled after being sentenced to 2 years in prison.

Three proposals will be discussed first, submitted by the cabinet, Pheu Thai and coalition party Chartthaipattana. Three other proposals, submitted by citizens' groups, will be discussed later when supporting signatures have been checked.

Broadly speaking, all six proposals amount to the same thing. An assembly of citizens will be set up to scrutinize the 2007 constitution, which was drafted under military rule, and make proposals for amendment. These are put to the people in a referendum. Parliament is not involved in all cases.

www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post