News from Thailand – April 28, 2012
Yesterday, the mercury in Bangkok rose to 39,4 degrees C, the highest temperature on April 27 in 30 years. In 1983, 39,9 degrees was measured. The Meteorological Department has issued another warning of severe thunderstorms and hail in the North, Northeast, Central Plains and East.
– In the past six months, 28 prison guards and officials have been fired for being involved in smuggling mobile phones, drugs and other contraband into prisons. This has been announced by the Corrections Department. The forbidden stuff is sometimes hidden in bottles of oyster oil, bars of soap and sugar cane that visitors take with them.
Some seized cell phones turned out to be satellite cell phones; jamming equipment cannot block that signal. Only in nine maximum security prisons visitors are not allowed to give anything to the detainees. Mobile phones hidden in cement bags and other materials have been smuggled in during flood recovery at the Central Correctional Institution for Drug Addicts.
– Phuket emptied yesterday. Many shops were closed, cars were stuck in traffic on the highway to the north, bus terminals and the airport were busier than usual. And all because of a rumor that today the island would be swallowed up by the sea.
– Yesterday morning, a man took his girlfriend hostage in bus 13 (Khlong Toey-Huai Khwang) under threat of a knife and a toy gun, because she wanted to end their relationship. The man gave up his action after a police commander talked to him.
– This weekend, cabinet members will visit the South on a mission to curb unrest and regain the confidence of investors, tourists and residents. The highlight is a dinner, at which cabinet members will speak. Prime Minister Yingluck will visit the region tomorrow, where she has not been since the election.
According to economist Abdulloh Abru (Prince of Songkhla University), the two-day visit will contribute little to solving the complicated problems in the South, but it does convey a message. Critics say the government wants to make good on the local population because it has allocated a budget of 2,8 billion for compensation payments to victims of southern violence. Today it is 8 years ago that soldiers shot dead 31 suspected insurgents in the Krue Se mosque.
- Thailand and China to jointly develop a guided missile launcher. It will have a greater range and be more accurate than the current systems, says the Minister of Defense. Both countries had previously developed such a system, but it only had a range of 60 to 80 kilometers and was less accurate. Both countries have also agreed to hold a joint military exercise in which the air force will also participate. It was missing in previous exercises. Between May 9 and 29, 130 Royal Thai Navy officers will participate in an exercise in Guangdong.
– Policymakers should consider raising VAT to finance the infrastructure works planned for the next ten years, says economist Virabongsa Ramangkura. The government plans to invest 2,2 trillion baht. That money comes from two sources: bonds and tax increases. As international competition is increasing, it will not be possible to increase corporate tax which is already higher than in neighboring countries. What remains is the VAT, says Virabongsa. At the moment, according to him, taxes do not have to be increased because bonds can be issued.
– The private bus operators have called off their announced strike on May 16, after the Ministry of Transport promised to allow further fare increases if the price of CNG (natural gas) rises above 9,5 baht per kilo. On May 16, the bus ticket will be 1 baht more expensive; the operators had demanded 2 baht due to increased fuel costs. CNG now costs 8,5 baht per kilo.
– Forty policemen raided a house in the Nong Khae district (Saraburi) on 3 tons of marijuana. The drugs were packed in boxes destined for a warehouse in Kent, England. The drugs have a street value of 50 million baht in Thailand and 1 billion baht abroad. The owner of the house has been arrested.
– Two members of a gang engaged in car burglaries have been arrested in Pathum Thani. Some other members of the gang have already been arrested. The two now caught were active in Rangsit and nearby areas in Pathum Thani.
– The evidence against UTAC Thai Co Ltd is not strong enough to accuse the company of smuggling pills containing pseudoephedrine into the country. Tarit Pengdith, head of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), has admitted this after the company, which assembles and exports semiconductors, strongly denied it.
According to the Korea Food and Drug Administration, the company had ordered pills from South Korea nine times. Tarit considers it possible that the name of the company has been misused. The DSI is currently investigating the smuggling of the pills from China and Korea, as well as from hospitals and pharmacies. They are processed into methamphetamine in Laos and Myanmar.
www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post